IC INBOX; MoM

[pushtheboundaries]

"You've reached Robert Callaghan, Headmaster to the Heropa Organization for imPort Education. Please leave a message with your name, your phone number, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. As a reminder, my office hours are..."

Comments

[tadeadshi]

I know some professors around campus would get mad if you didn't call them 'doctor'. Worked hard for that title and all, you know?

But glad to know I can cross that one off the list.

[pushtheboundaries]

Technically, so did I...but like I said, I feel like I should wear a stethoscope. And the one time I did take a hard look at medical science...

[he chuckles a bit]

I could barely wrap my head around it. I was impressed, to say the least, with how you utilized it with Baymax. Certainly not something I could have done.

[tadeadshi]

Mm.

[He rubs at the back of his neck with his free hand, takes another sip of his drink before just setting the glass - nearly full - down on his side of the table.]

Helped that I had someone to help me figure it out growing up when I was a kid.

[pushtheboundaries]

Your brother, or your aunt? Or...?

[Callaghan's been steadily nursing his own, though he feels like he's been doing most of the talking. but maybe he just needs to encourage Tadashi to talk a bit.]

[tadeadshi]

[He keeps his eyes down, trained on the rim of his glass and the way the light bounces off it.]

My, uh. My parents. My father, mostly. Both worked at the hospital, but dad, he... Always talked a lot about medical advances.

[Actually, he feels better having that glass in his hands, just so his fingers have something to do, hold onto while he talks.]

Always went to conferences and came back with pamphlets and books about new things coming in the field.

[pushtheboundaries]

[...hm. this is not the response he expected, but...]

And your mother? What did she do there?

[tadeadshi]

Nursing. Phlebotomist, mostly, but trained on a lot of stuff.

[pushtheboundaries]

So...does that mean health care is in your blood?

[hi Tadashi

this is Robert's best shit-eating-grin]

[tadeadshi]

[Just.

This face.]

[pushtheboundaries]

Well, I had to ask. Like I said, I'm impressed by the people in the field. And don't even get me started on blood tests, they always take a lot out of me.

[WAIT FOR IT...]

[tadeadshi]

[Yeah he's just.

Going to slowly sip on his drink some more.]

It's a shame you're not a doctor, you could diagnose yourself.

[pushtheboundaries]

It's- probably for the best, I can't think of any more that wouldn't qualify as grounds for punishment.

[wait, did he- he reigns in his smile, shaking his head at himself]

They do sound like remarkable people. I think I'd have liked to meet them.

[tadeadshi]

[He sombers almost immediately at that comment.]

... They were, yeah. I think you would've gotten along with them really well.

[A lot of responsibility on his shoulders in more ways than Callaghan probably realized.]

[pushtheboundaries]

More's the pity, then. I'm sure they'd have enjoyed every moment of you at SFIT. How do you think they'd get along with your friends?

[tadeadshi]

[It's a tough subject, if the thickness in his voice is anything to go by. Their death is still fresh on his mind with the anniversary just before mother's day having not been that long ago.]

I, uh. I think they would've had a blast with 'em. Would've been so proud of Hiro too.

[And then he cuts himself off quick - if he says anything else about them, he's bound to break down and he's not going to do that in front of Callaghan.]

[pushtheboundaries]

[it's- different. even with the warmth of the alcohol clouding his thoughts, he can tell that it's not the same as when he was talking about his daughter; he, at least, knew he'd see her again, and if he didn't...well, it'd probably have him in a lot different mood.

he looks at his glass thoughtfully, furrowing his brow]

Do you want to talk about something else?

[tadeadshi]

Yeah.

[The simple word comes out thick and heavy in his throat and he rubs at his mouth like he wishes he could stop it from sounding like that.]

Yeah, if we could.

[pushtheboundaries]

No problem. How's the scotch?

[he's beginning to think they should put it aside for some water - that is, unless they want to enjoy the hangover. and he did promise Cass he'd help Tadashi pace himself.]

[tadeadshi]

Sorry.

[About being so down on that subject. It sounded like Callaghan was pretty interested but it's still such a tough subject. He shifts to sit up a little straighter at the question.]

It's all right? Don't really have anything to compare it to.

[pushtheboundaries]

Hm. You planning on changing that? [not that he figures Tadashi will be one of those running out to try every drink in existence, but if he's interested in trying more...well.] I can give you some advice, but your tastes may be different than mine.

[tadeadshi]

I... I dunno.

Maybe? [He rubs at the back of his neck. Honestly, drinking wasn't ever something he thought much about. Even less so once he found out he's going to die, he just mentally gave up the option altogether.

Why is he even considering getting advice from Callaghan. He should be afraid. He should be cautious. He should be looking out for himself.]

But sure, I'll try something once.