@bellissorte — cont. from HERE !
AMONG THE TEAM ARE A LIST OF CERTAIN SUSPECTS whom Medic might expect to come knocking at his doors in the early hours of the morning. Scout, for one, on account of sheer clumsiness and his inevitable attraction towards anything that seemed vaguely capable of dealing him near-fatal injury; just as often Soldier, who shares the same impulsivity as the boy and even a higher threshold for pain, useful only in helping him strain whatever injuries came out of his nonsense to even further extremes; and occasionally Demoman and Engineer, both candidates not so much for medical issues, but in pursuit of scientific collaboration.
For Ludwig, the very last suspect on such a list would be Stefano Valentini – the oft-present observer whose participation during battle is an almost entirely passive one. Thus the man hardly ever seems to find himself in the direr of situations very often, and nor does he live on base, for that matter.
And yet, to his surprise, it’s the face of their photographer that comes into sight when Medic unlatches the locks on the door, ready to receive whatever adventurous soul might have dragged their feet to his office for the anticlimactic finale of their latest nighttime escapades. ( It’s a fate much more preferable than bleeding to death, anyway. Even if only by a small amount. )
Ludwig pauses, a brow ascending raised in question as his eyes sweep his visitor’s body. Blood-covered is an odd look for Stefano, though not a startling ( or unfitting, if he thinks about it ) one – simply this time unexpected. He's never quite seen the photographer so jacketless and disheveled, painted in a colour Ludwig himself is far too accustomed to working with. But, nevertheless, he hauls open the door further, stepping aside to allow Herr Valentini into the medical bay.
❝ Evaluation or not, I’ll be sending the bill to your house for arranging sudden check-ins during my off-hours. ❞ Though the words are half-mumbled drowsily, the light hint of humour in Medic’s tone is still evident. The door is shut, left unlocked, and he moves about his lab in search for proper supplies.
❝ This is a rare sight. Have you grown more adventurous in picking fights, or have you been showing up to other doctors’ doorsteps after bathing in blood, without my knowing? ❞ As usual, Medic’s chatty, even during these hours. He does not stop to consider whether or not Stefano might be in the mood for it. ❝ Not to worry. Death won’t have you today, tempting of a mistress as she might be. As for the weakness, that will be resolved, and preferably within the hour. Show me your wounds. I’ll need to know what happened if we’re going to get you cleaned up and back home – and myself back in bed – quickly. ❞
... though, of course, curiosity is too easy to get the best of him. ❝ — perhaps you have a photo or two to illustrate tonight’s events? ❞ Whatever those might have been. So rarely does he see the other man in his infirmary that Medic can’t quite help himself. Especially when it is the work of Stefano Valentini that’s the subject at hand... few things intrigue Ludwig as much as their photographer’s work.
