[Center][h2][color=D2691E][b]Elijah Edwards[/b][/color][/h2] [/center]

[Color=D2691E][i]Tsk,[/i][/color][color=gray] the thought plumed with the milky-white wisp of this morning’s cigarette. Winter had come early, surpassing Autumn altogether for the citizens of Syracuse, New York. Not that Elijah minded, it got hot inside his workshop and as long as he stayed busy—he stayed warm. Though this morning had an unpleasant chill seeping past his thick jacket and into his bones. With a soft grunt he moved the cigarette from his mouth and flicked the ashy residue onto the ground beside him. 

[Color=D2691E]”Do I really have too?”[/color] Elijah muttered to himself, eyeing the clinic that towered before him. A week ago he received a letter saying everyone was to donate blood for some sort of genetic testing. Originally, he had tossed the letter into the waste bin. He had three big projects with looming deadlines he needed to focus on, he was sure that they wouldn’t mind if he skipped out on this. That was until his mother called to remind him to go. And then called again. And again, and well, eventually he got tired of the nagging.

Even his step father could be heard in the background, yelling about it being their duty or something. Elijah smiled a little at the memory. [Color=chocolate][i]Crazy old man.[/i][/color] With that he dropped the still smoking butt onto the parking lot pavement and ground it into the black surface. The sooner he got this over with the sooner he could go back home and get back to work. Even as he strode up to the building's double doors his mind was filled with heated metal and bright sparks flying into the air. He was almost done—a brilliant metal sculpture of a stallion rearing back onto it’s haunches and he was eager to complete it. 

Warmth greeted him along with the sterile smell of powerful chemicals as he stepped inside. A handful of people were scattered about, most cupping silver thermos that steamed into the air. A few curious glances were casted at him, and Elijah caught a few double takes as he moved up to the reception desk. 

[Color=chocolate]”Um, hello?”[/color] he called out with a little half wave as he tried to draw the attention to the gossiping duo hovering around the printer. Both of them rolled their heads in his direction, but it was the smaller of the two—a petite little brunette—that flashed him a smile and disengaged from her chatting partner to come up with him. 

[Color=mediumseagreen]”Good morning, how can I help you?”[/color] her voice was as chipper as her smile and Elijah felt himself falter a little. Morning people were a mystery to him, even with his early morning jogs he couldn’t muster the strength to people like a civilized human being. To put it simply, the woman before him was clearly a witch and was to be treated with caution. 

[Color=chocolate]”Yeah, I got a letter in the mail about a week ago. I need to donate bloo—“[/color]

[Color=mediumseagreen]”Oh, you’re here for the genetic screening! Bit last minute don’t you think? Most people came within the first few days of the letter,”[/color] she playfully quipped before settling down into the padded chair at her desk. [Color=mediumseagreen]”Alright, let’s get started mister,”[/color] she trailed off flicking her dark brown eyes from her computer screen and back up to him. 

[Color=chocolate]”Elijah Edwards.”[/color]

He watched her lips purse into a small smile while her fingers quickly tapped across the keyboard. [Color=mediumseagreen]”Alright, Mister Edwards, if you’ll just fill out the paperwork really quick then we can take you back and get you worked on.”[/color] The woman produced a small brown clipboard with thin white sheets of paper attached. As she pressed them across the desk, Elijah reached over for them. The woman recoiled, a shocked gasp escaping her lips. She had seen his hands— calloused and scarred. Elijah mustered his most friendly smile as he took the paperwork with him and said a polite, [color=chocolate]”Thank you.”[/color]

There was once a time he would trip over his words to explain the scars. He didn’t like the initial reactions from the people around him. And then the small amounts of disappointment from various people when he informed them it was nothing tragic as they had seemed to hope for. Just a byproduct of avoiding safety regulations and cheap welders gloves. 

Elijah ticked through the paperwork and handed it back to the receptionist. After a few more moments of awkward silence a nurse appeared from one of the corner doors. 

[Color=teal]”Mister Edwards, if you’ll come with me please.”[/color] She stepped back and motioned for him to follow. 

Silently he followed the nurse, taking in the little pictures of patients and staff they had posted up on the walls. [Color=teal]”Getting the genetic screening done,”[/color] she asked, clearly making small talk. 

[Color=chocolate]”Yeah, that’s what the letter told me. Not sure [i]why[/i] but who am I to question the government.”[/color]

The woman laughed a little before opening up a nearby door. [Color=teal]”It’ll only be for a minute then you’ll be back on your way. We just need a little vial of your blood,”[/color] she said in an assuring voice while she moved to fiddle some drawers attached the far wall. [Color=teal]”If you’ll have a seat, I’ll get started in just a moment.”[/color]

Elijah took off his jacket and settled down in a little cushioned chair. He looked around the room, he hated doctor’s offices. At least the ones for adults. For kids they got a t.v playing cartoons and vivid drawings of animals on the walls. Adults got a stock image of flowers against white walls and blue grey floors. It was cold and unfeeling. 

[Color=teal]”Alright, now if you would roll up your sleeves please,”[/color] she said while pulling over a little silver tray. 

Elijah followed orders, rolling up his right arm sleeve and laid it down in the chair arm. 

[Color=teal]”Those are some nasty looking scars you got there.”[/color]

[Color=chocolate]”I’m a sculptor.”[/color]

[Color=teal]”Of what, broken glass?”[/color] she joked while slipping the needle into his vein. 

Elijah laughed softly, ignoring the quick bite of the needle. [Color=chocolate]”Metal actually, I make metal sculptures.”[/color] He watched red fill the tube and quickly fill the little glass vial attached. 

[Color=teal]”Metal, eh?”[/color] her voice was colored with an impressed tone. [Color=teal]”You any good?”[/color]

[Color=chocolate]”God, I hope so. Or else I went 20 thousand in debt for no reason.”[/color] The two of them laughed at his response while the nurse grabbed a small cotton ball and placed it above where the needle punctured his skin. She pulled out the needle and set it down before grabbing a small bandaid. 

[Color=chocolate]”Alright, you’re all set. If you go out and take a left you’ll find a little sitting area. There we have some juice and cookies waiting to help.”[/color]

Elijah pulled his sleeve back down and slipped on his coat, giving the woman another polite smile before slipping back out the door. [Color=chocolate][i]I guess some juice and cookies wouldn’t hurt . . .[/i][/color][/color]