2019-06-02 - A Brief Meeting

The hospital was bustling, as it always was. Chloe had been spending some of her free time here, getting to know various people who worked there. Asking them about how they liked it. What they thought of the higher ups, typical sort of research. At least, typical to her. She was currently making her way towards the hospital's cafeteria. Taking a brief break from shadowing to grab some coffee and check messages on her phone. She was clad in a pair of black dress slacks with a violet button down and a white coat over top with a special vistor's badge.

Soraya, on the other hand, has been here for six out of her twelve hour rotation. She looks like she's had a day, and that's mostly because she has. She is carrying a tray through the cafeteria, dark smudges showing under her eyes as she finds a seat to settle in. Her salad is stared at for a few beats before she picks up the packet of dressing to drizzle over it. She looks around then, spotting Chloe in the crowd. She doesn't recognize her, so that makes her interesting. She digs a fork into her food, takes a bite and waits to see where the other woman lands.

Coffee achieved, Chloe took a slow sip and exhaled with a contented sigh. It wasn't the best coffee, but it was caffeine and that was what mattered. She takes a quick stock of those gathered in the cafeteria. Recognizing a few here and there from long ago. Then she spots Soraya, who is looking at her. There is fleeting eye contact and then Chloe resumes her scan. A brief internal debate before a muffin is grabbed and paid for as well. Then she ends up right near where Soraya is sitting. "Mind if I sit?" She asked. Taking a bit of a closer look at the woman. "What department do you work in?"

"You can plant your ass anywhere you like, that's what the chairs are for." Soraya offers, taking another bite of her salad. "I'm a nurse, I work up in surgical." She pauses, putting down her fork before she offers her hand out. "Soraya." She eyes the badge, smirks for a moment, and then asks. "You are?" She takes her hand back swiftly, taking another bite of her salad. She opens her orange juice and sips from it, waiting for Chloe to settle down at the table with her.

Chloe looks a little amused at the response Soraya gives her and takes a seat. The handshake is confident, but quick. "Doctor Chloe Rose. Nice to meet you Soraya." Offering up a smile before taking another sip of her coffee. "Surgical hm? Must get pretty interesting sometimes? I'm going to possibly be on rotation for general care. Just working on getting a feel for the place. How long've you worked here?"

"Lived here all my life. I've been here for.." Soraya's eyes squint as she considers the question. "It's been about ten years now." She leans forward on the table, her fork pushing around the plastic platter it came in, spearing a piece of chicken so she can take a bite of it. "You always wanted to work in a hospital?" She asks, putting the fork in her mouth, chewing quietly while she listens.

Chloe looked thoughtful at that. "Sounds like you started here right when I left for school." She mused, starting to peel the wrapper off her muffin. Tearing a little piece off, she shrugged. "I worked at one this past year, after residency. It was...hectic." She wrinkled her nose. "I'm opening up a private practice of sorts. House calls and the like. But the reality is I'm far too nice." Chloe laughed then. "I can already see myself doing free visits or barely charging anything. So...the hospital would be a more steady source of income."

Soraya simply stares at Chloe as she talks, probably not considering that it might be unnerving to the younger woman. She obviously is considering her words as she chews on a lettuce leaf, her free hand tapping a beat on the table. "You can't be too nice when it comes to your finances. You need to live, just like the person you're treating needs your assistance. The hospital will probably be better for you if you barely charge people for your time." She waves the fork around, and then stabs into her salad again. "Any specialties?"

"That's true." Chloe didn't seem to mind the staring. Or maybe just didn't really notice it. Breaking off another bit of muffin, she popped it in her mouth. "We'll see if I'm able to get it off the ground," She started after swallowing. "That's my other concern. But...we'll see how it goes. I like to try and be optimistic, but it's always good to have a back up plan." She relaxed some in her chair and shook her head. "Not yet. I'm hoping to get a better grasp on what I enjoy and then go for that. Did you start your career as a Nurse here? Or were you somewhere else before the hospital?"

Leaning against the table, Soraya nods at Chloe, her gaze still settled on her. "Optimism can be a useful tool, and a backup plan is a necessity." She nods about the woman having no specialty in medicine, and then starts to answer her question. "I've lived here all my life, and once I got out of school I didn't feel the need to relocate, so here I am." She takes a last stab at the salad, shoving it in her mouth. "You from around here?" Is said after she swallows again.

"If there's one thing my parents taught me well, was about backup plans." Chloe mused. "Born and raised here too actually. Left for school when I was 18. Been gone for too long." Is her answer. "It's like nothing's changed and everything's changed all at once. Not such a bad thing I guess. Just going to take some getting used to."

"Well if you need any help getting around here at the hospital, please feel free to reach out. I'm not the nicest person in the world, but I don't mind helping someone settle in." Soraya says, a brief smile softening her features for a few moments. "Once you're settled back in, you won't really feel like you've ever left. Or that is what most people say." She rolls her eyes and puts the lid to her container in with her fork. "How long will you be a guest before you sign on for work?"

"I appreciate it." Chloe flashed another smile before taking another bite of muffin. "Yeah, I can see that. You just sort of fall into place I suppose. But yes - I'll definitely reach out if I need help finding my way around." She nodded. "Probably only a couple more days. I like it here. Everyone I've spoken with so far seems nice enough, and even though it's busy it's not...as large as the hospital I did my residency in. Which I like."

"Don't mention it. Really, just don't. Someone will give you an odd look if you say that I offered to help you." Soraya looks briefly amused by that, but tamps down the emotion as she shifts to get to her feet. "I've got to get back on rotation. Work to be done, always. It was a pleasure to meet you, Doctor." She holds out a hand, for a farewell shake. "I'm reachable by page down at reception if you really do need anything." She upnods, her chin jutting up before she turns to walk toward the trash can.

Chloe chuckled at that. "Your secrets safe with me." She promised. "It was a pleasure to meet you too Soraya. I'm sure I'll see you around." The farewell handshake is returned. "I hope the rest of your shift goes by quickly." And then would let the woman go and returning to her coffee and muffin. She should get going soon herself probably.