Shoshin

Buying Life [Shoshin and mmidnight]

"Deal. Your next brew's on me."

Being a doctor hadn't always meant being a person of "status"; there was a period of time when doctors were merely skilled individuals with the desire to heal others. Then, as society "progressed", the medical profession became another way people could compete. Doctors competed for prestige, for salary, for the chance to work in hospitals such as the one they were approaching now, a gleaming technological hub boasting all the latest advancements. The latest machinery, the latest treatment, the best doctors. It was a cutthroat place, but the cutthroat side was a side most of its patients were blissfully ignorant of.

"Connecticut, huh? Never been there, honestly..." If he'd been completely honest, he'd barely had the finances to even leave his neighborhood as a kid, struggling to even attain a scholarship. He'd been a constant, insistent presence at the local library, becoming almost the adopted son of the resident librarian, a woman he still remembered to this day. She'd allowed him to take whatever he wanted, as long as he kept the books in good condition and returned them when he was done. Sometimes, things at home kept him so isolated that he'd spent his hours in the library itself, reading in some secluded corner. The chance the librarian had given him - it'd been invaluable.

"...and nope; I'm from California." He allowed himself a small grin at his answer. Most people associated California with amazing summers, beaches, celebrities and the rich and beautiful. All those things you saw in the movies, the television shows, the commercials. Few people actually acknowledged that there were poorer areas there, where people fought tooth and nail just to keep living. His neighborhood had been a particularly dangerous one, and there had always been a note of trepidation each time he'd been forced to walk home alone. That experience growing up had bolstered his spirit, however, and boosted his independent nature.

By the time they cleared the crosswalk, the hospital lay right ahead; passing through the sliding glass doors, Gabriel was greeted by that all-too-familiar sight of immaculately polished floors, well-maintained walls and impeccably dressed staff. Some of them greeted him as they passed, or acknowledged him with brief, curt nods. Stretchers, attended to by clusters of nurses, trundled noisily past, bearing patients in varying states of consciousness. There was an energy in the place; and though sometimes lives weren't necessarily saved, the fact that work went on round the clock in attempts to save these lives...well, that was good enough for him.

Turning towards his ever-cheerful new acquaintance, Gabe gave a brief, but amused smile, wondering how this place went up against whatever medical establishments James might have worked in before. "Welcome to your new home. And by "home", I mean it quite literally. You'll probably be spending most of your waking life here."

Buying Life [Shoshin and mmidnight]

Totally cool. :)

Buying Life [Shoshin and mmidnight]

"James. It's a pleasure."

Although Gabriel wasn't usually this chatty with residents, the guy did just rescue him from a potentially embarrassing situation. It was a surprise, to be sure, and the other surprising coincidence was quick to follow. He was a resident in cardiology. Gabe was notorious amongst his residents for pushing them towards perfection, hardly ever sugarcoating his criticism. Every patient represented a life; every mistake could potentially cost that life. Sometimes, he considered himself lucky that he'd been estranged from most of his family, even his parents. That way, he'd never experienced the emotional blow of losing, or possibly losing, anyone close to him - because there weren't any. Everything he had, he'd earned. It was a little hard to see grit behind an expensive suit, but it was there. It'd always been there.

And there was one rule Gabe always went by - never show favoritism. Some residents were obviously more talented than others, but he kept that under wraps. Nothing was worse than a medical professional with a huge ego. It didn't necessarily mean they couldn't have egos, but when it came to the delicate preservation of health, even life, complacency could be fatal. He couldn't count the number of times he'd seen worried families gathered outside wards, holding prayer circles. Some stared blankly, eyes bloodshot; others openly wept. Sometimes, he thought he might be a little insensitive - he did function with a sense of detachment - but detachment was important. You couldn't let yourself get dragged into cases for personal reasons.

Unfortunately, it was easier said than done. Even with experience, it never got any easier. Some lessons had to be taught early, which was how he justified his treatment of the residents. "You don't say," said Gabe with raised brows, giving a muted sort of chortle. "Looks like we'll be working real closely together. I think I should just inform you in advance, though, that I'm not exactly cuddly with my residents. If you mess up, I'll definitely let you know it." He paused, walking out into the busy street and wincing at the momentary roar of an engine as some guy's flashy Lamborghini sped past. "Call it a form of thanks for getting my coffee. I'll be paying you back by the way - I don't like owing people any favors."

Perhaps that was a bit harsh, but Gabe had never been the type to feel indebted to anyone. No ties, no obligations. He hadn't meant it in an insulting manner, and most who worked with him understood it was just the way he was. Making their way across to the hospital, he tried to keep up some form of small talk; because once they passed the entrance doors, he'd be obligated to get right to business, no time for coffee and chatting. "So, what made you decide on a career in medicine? You a native New Yorker?"

Buying Life [Shoshin and mmidnight]

Gabriel had to shake himself to see if he'd heard right. Across the street? There were a couple of buildings across the street, including several fancy law offices and the like. Maybe this guy worked at one of those; or maybe not - he seemed really casual, laid back. Not the type that would -

Wait. Hang on a tick. He was nodding and looking towards the hospital. There was no doubting it now.

"The hospital? Well, that's one hell of a coincidence." Those thoughts were meant to be private, but he ended up uttering them anyway. What were the odds? And yet, that realization only made the situation more embarrassing - for Gabe, at least. At the hospital, he'd always been known as a hardass. He gave the interns no quarter, and questioned some residents to the extent that they devolved into fits of nervous sputtering. There, he hardly ever smiled. He was cordial, to be sure, but always maintained a stern, professional exterior some interpreted as "coldness". Mention the name "Dr. Morris" anywhere in those halls and no doubt there'd be someone who hated him, but still managed some form of grudging respect. Nevertheless, the hospital wasn't a "one specialty" sort of place. This interesting stranger could be working anything from ortho to ENT.

"Sorry, that was rude of me. I'm Dr. Gabriel Morris - I work at the hospital. Cardiothoracic surgery. I was just...surprised. These sorts of things don't usually happen to me." He shrugged, taking a generous swig of his coffee. Being a doctor was hard work, and hard work deserved a generous, caffeinated reward. The coffee was still hot, but not hot enough to singe his tongue. Utter perfection. Having never been in a long-term relationship, he sometimes liked to think, jokingly, that he already had a significant other. Two significant others, who didn't seem to mind the other's existence. Coffee, and his career. They seemed to go well together.

And besides, meeting fellow doctors was always a good opportunity for networking. Many of the nation's top medical professionals had chosen to work at this very hospital, giving it an amazing track record. It had top-notch facilities, friendly employees and was as luxurious as a place smelling of disinfectant could probably be. Some of the wealthiest people depended on this very hospital, and as a result, the pay was good. And it better be, considering the hours he had to work. "So, you're a transfer? What hospital did you work with previously? What's your specialty?" Maybe he'd fired off those questions a bit too enthusiastically, but he had his reasons. "Oh, and I didn't get your name."

Buying Life [Shoshin and mmidnight]

"Come on, it's a Monday!" Gabriel hadn't been feeling particularly argumentative, but the fact remained that he'd just been in line for the better part of an hour. That, and caffeine deprivation was a serious condition, as far as he was concerned. He had to be able to work, and to be able to work, he had to stay focused. It was hard to maintain that focus when he hardly enjoyed three hours of sleep the previous night. One of the caveats regarding work as a medical professional was that emergencies could occur at practically any time, and with one straightforward call, you were expected to just drop whatever it was you were doing - a date, lunch with your parents, stay-at-home Netflix - and rush over. The barista fixed him with a glare so sharp, he thought he felt its point settle right between his eyes.

"I got it."

Gabe's attention shifted in surprise as in stepped an unexpected benefactor. The man shelled out the cash like he'd been doing charity work all his life, and the barista handed Gabe the receipt with a condescending stare before motioning the next customer forward. Was he embarrassed? Sure as hell. Was he relieved? Definitely. The stranger had saved him the trouble of having to come back later, and even then he wasn't sure if he had time to. Rounds needed to be made, charts updated, residents tested. And V...he definitely needed to arrange a meeting. But not now. Later. The weight of responsibility pressed heavily upon his shoulders as he made his way to the far end of the counter, shrugging loosely as he turned to his deliverer.

"Thanks, appreciate it." Gabriel inclined his head with a polite smile as he swiped his fresh brew from the countertop, relishing in the cup's radiating warmth. Nothing better than a hot cuppa on a cool morning. The guy who'd helped him seemed younger, upbeat, complete with jeans and a set of earbuds to drown out the noise. Gabe made a mental note to upgrade the ancient mp3 player currently taking residence in his apartment drawer, and to bring its replacement along the next time he had to deal with unwanted, relentless aural assault. Besides, the Rolling Stones would be a great start to his day, unlike the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the start of this particular day. "Headed to work?" He questioned in an attempt at making casual conversation.

In retrospect, the answer was pretty obvious, but hey - he didn't see the harm in making friends.

Buying Life [Shoshin and mmidnight]

Drink coffee - do stupid things faster with more energy! Never be latte again!

The sign - complete with a cartoon of a maniacally grinning man - was displayed outside the interestingly named "Daily Grind" cafe where a queue of assorted individuals snaked out the double glass doors and onto the street. People checked their watches, yawned, shook their heads and complained grudgingly. There was even an interesting specimen at the queue's rear, talking loudly on his cellphone about how he was going to close a million-dollar deal. Behind that self-assured corporate drone, Gabriel Morris, M.D. wished there was some way to exorcize the man's pompous, grating voice from his head. After a series of routine angioplasties, a combination of exhaustion and disruption of mood meant there was only one possible remedy.

More coffee.

Rolling up the sleeves of his crisply-ironed shirt, Gabriel - who was referred to at the hospital as Gabe by his esteemed colleagues and Dr. Morris by residents and oppressed interns - expelled a muted groan of annoyance as Mr. Wall Street's frenzied chattering heightened in pitch. At least the queue's moving, he thought in an attempt to dissuade himself from kindly telling the man to shut his trap - albeit not in such friendly terms. Having finally made it inside the cafe, he found it clustered with the usual crowd - college students, working professionals, and even the odd family or two bearing backpacks and baseball caps. The cacophonous mixture of voices only served to magnify his pounding, caffeine-withdrawal headache. It provided an odd kind of amusement for him to know he resided in the "city that never sleeps". A true child of NYC if there ever was one. Clutched in his palm, his cellphone buzzed, the popup indicating he'd received a message from "V".

New shipment soon.

A brief, serious frown crossed Gabriel's face, but was quickly dispelled as the overeager businessman finally ordered his extra-something-soy-something latte with chocolate sauce. Returning the cell to his pocket, Gabe stepped up just in time to flash the pretty barista a disarming grin, cranking the charm to full throttle. "Triple Americano." The woman looked surprised at the fact that he didn't rattle off something that sounded like a grocery list, and asked for his name with marker poised and ready. "Gabriel," he answered, feeling a yawn get lodged somewhere in his throat. No milk, no sugar, bitter as hell. Just how he liked it. The barista placed the cup aside and rolled off the price with a winsome smile. Hell-o. He probably would've had a decent chance at getting her number, but at the instant his hand touched his right pocket, he reached a terrible realization. His wallet wasn't there. His shiny, brand-name leather wallet.

Well, shit.

"Sir?" The barista was still smiling, though said smile was growing increasingly forced. He could practically feel the hostility of those waiting behind him, their eyes burning smoking holes into his back. Someone cleared their throat - loudly. It looked more and more likely that he'd just have to walk away, a pathetic bid in preserving the shredded remnants of his dignity. He could hear it already - guy in the thousand-dollar suit can't even pay for his cup of morning coffee. Thoroughly embarrassed, he ran a hand through his head of dark hair, hazel gaze returning to the confused woman drumming her fingers against the countertop. Her mounting impatience was far too obvious now. Feet were tapping rapidly on polished linoleum, voices muttering lowly.

"Uh, we might have a tiny little problem here. I seem to have left my wallet at my workplace." He tried to look apologetic, but inside he was cursing himself out for leaving work in an exhausted haze. He'd barely been able to make the short drive home before collapsing on his bed and blacking out. Several meager hours later, he'd been roused by the triumphant screech of his alarm, all too ready to fling him into another day of guts and glory. "Look - maybe we can work something out. You give me my coffee, I'll come by later and pay what's owed. If it helps any, I work just across the street." He gestured to make his point.

The barista's meticulously plucked eyebrows shot straight up. "Nice try."

Gabe sighed. It was going to be a long day.

Buying Life [Shoshin and mmidnight]

Name: Gabriel Morris
Age: 36

Currently a cardiothoracic surgeon at a top New York hospital, Gabriel was raised in relative poverty, learning how to fend for himself at a young age. He built his career through a combination of hard work and natural charisma.

(casual/advanced) Sho seeks partners!

Hey y'all, thanks for dropping by to take a gander at my humble little interest check.

The first thing I'd like to get out of the way is that roleplaying is a hobby; it's not supposed to feel mentally exhausting or obligatory. Your existence behind the screen comes first. If the thought of replying is filling you with dread instead of excitement, let me know. I'll be perfectly fine if you decide to discontinue the roleplay or start a new one. I promise I will do the same, and you promise that you won't take offence if I decide to drop a roleplay for whatever reason (even if it happens that we're only into the first few posts). Not every partnership works out, unfortunate as it may be, and I'm not going to give you the whole it's-not-you-it's-me spiel (even if it probably is me). Cool?

Cool.

Now, then, please look over the following guidelines (they're important, and I'll know if you haven't read them):

Me

- Female, 18+ (but open to playing male characters).
- Roleplays through PMs.
- Over 10 years' worth of writing/roleplaying experience (on various sites).
- Post length averages 2-3 paragraphs, longer for introductions (but I am capable of writing more if particularly inspired).
- Usual response time averages 2-3 days, but I usually try for quicker.
- Tends to play tomboyish female characters (when playing female). Not always, but mostly.
- Fond of dark, gritty and realistic themes.
- Sometimes very busy, but will let you know when I am.
- Seriously patient; I have waited a few months to over a year for roleplay partners before.

You

- Are over 18.
- Will roleplay through PMs.
- Roleplay within the high casual-advanced bracket.
- Will manage at least one large paragraph per post.
- Are able to inform me when things get busy/when you will be unable to reply for a week or more (I will do the same; no need to provide a reason - "I'm busy" will suffice).
- Will inform me politely if you get bored or wish to drop the roleplay (again, I will return the favor). This is important because it makes me (really) sad when I start excitedly refreshing the page and get nothing. I can deal with roleplay drops, just tell me, for the sake of everything good and beautiful.
- Are comfortable with mature content which may or may not include violence, sexual themes and profanity. No fade-to-blacks, just to be clear.
- Will assist me in progressing the plot, and will not rely solely on my singular efforts.
- Will play characters aged at the very least 17 (or the average age of a high school senior); preferably older.
- Will not play the "damsel-in-distress" archetype, female or male version (nope, nuh-uh, nein, nyet, no).
- Are amiable, polite and pleasant to interact with OOC.

Our RP

- Will likely include romance between characters, but only as a secondary aspect. Main plot comes first.
- Can be FxM or MxM.
- Will not be constant, repetitive and plotless smut/PWP. There are (ahem) other places for that.
- Will emphasize quality over quantity; I'd rather a paragraph of excellent writing than a page of error-riddled, indecipherable letters.
- Will involve shared, additional characters.

Genres

- Modern
- Crime
- Fantasy (Medieval/Urban)
- Science Fiction
- Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic
- Dystopian/Cyberpunk
- Horror/Survival Horror
- Historical

Fandoms

OCs only, no canons; I'll only do fandoms if you give me a really awesome plot, as I much prefer original roleplays.

- Dragon Age
- Mass Effect
- Star Wars: The Old Republic

Concepts

- Hunger Games/Battle Royale-ish kill-or-be-killed situation
- Memories of a deceased person transferred into another person (sci-fi setting strongly preferred)
- Something to do with human cloning, similar to Orphan Black (which I've never actually watched) or The Island
- Something to do with humans establishing a colony/living amongst dinosaurs (like Terra Nova or Jurassic Park)
- An Indiana Jones-type deal about two adventurers/treasure hunters going into some forsaken jungle in search of (possibly cursed) artifacts
- An astronaut recovered by an alien scouting vessel, and subsequently brought back to the aliens' homeworld
- Disaster movie scenario where survival is the main objective

Pairings

Not too enthusiastic about the supernatural pairings at the moment (vampires and werewolves, in particular), but will likely do it if you have a good plot idea to push.

- Assassin/Target
- Assassin/Assassin
- Kidnapper/Hostage
- Spy/Spy
- Spy/Civilian
- Spy/Handler
- Mercenary/Mercenary
- Mercenary/Civilian
- Soldier/Soldier
- Soldier/Enemy Soldier
- Soldier/Alien Soldier
- Soldier/Civilian
- Soldier/Nurse
- Soldier/Royalty
- Royalty/Commoner
- Journalist/Soldier
- Journalist/Criminal
- Journalist/Source
- Journalist/Celebrity
- Returning Soldier/Childhood Friend
- Returning Soldier/Psychiatrist
- Outlaw/Rancher's Child
- Outlaw/Lawman
- Outlaw/Outlaw
- Criminal/Civilian
- Undercover Cop/Criminal
- Detective/Detective
- Detective/Serial Killer
- Detective/Witness
- Detective/Informant
- Doctor/Patient
- Secret Service Agent/President's Child
- Government Operative/Government Experiment
- Government Operative/Resistance Leader
- Contemporary Dancer/Street Dancer
- Celebrity/Fan
- Celebrity/Manager
- Professional Athlete/Childhood Friend
- Professional Entertainer/Childhood Friend
- Bodyguard/Celebrity
- Bodyguard/Wealthy Businessperson
- Wealthy Person/Poor Person
- City Person/Country Person
- Bridegroom/Bridesmaid
- Bride/Best Man
- Boss/Employee
- Bully/Bullied
- Bullying Victim/Martial Arts Instructor
- Bad Boy/Good Girl
- Tutor/Student Athlete
- Coach's Child/Star Athlete
- Artist/Athlete
- Teacher/Student
- Roommate/Roommate
- Reaper/Human
- Merperson/Human
- Angel/Human
- Hunter/Hunter (Supernatural style)
- Dragon(shifter)/Dragon Rider
- Warrior/Rogue
- Warrior/Mage
- Mage/Mage Hunter
- Cleric/Necromancer
- Human Ranger/Forest Elf
- Summoner/Summoned Familiar
- Priest(ess)/God(dess)
- Prince(ss)/Sorcerer
- Adventurer/Adventurer

More will be added as they come to mind. In the meantime, if you're interested in possibly whipping up some kind of plot, drop me a PM because forgetful old me neglects to check threads. In addition, everything listed above is not the ultimate limit, so if you have a craving of your own (that isn't listed), feel free to run it by me. I will also state for the record that some of the pairings above need a good plot to keep the roleplay from dying, and dying fast. So - once again - go ahead and shoot me a PM, or browse other threads in this section, or grab some pizza, or organize a dance party, or, well...just have a wonderful day!

P.S.: I really, really sometimes forget to check my threads and realize people have posted only days or even weeks after, so PM me please.

Peace out.