#bergen_county

The left overs , and there are some, are brought over to Anne Marie's by Dirk

Anne Marie smiles "How nice, Symon will love this, ah, once it's properly prepared"

As though summoned by the mention of his name, Symon slinks in the back door. He sniffs the air. "Smells like canned ham in here."

"Well, yes, " Anne Marie says "Turns out that new pooka? Nolan, put canned Spam in the cauldron and Kerri had an emergency feast last night.. still with extra"

Dirk blinks "I didn't tell you all that."

Anne Marie smiles and pats the young man who is already taller than her, "I'm a boggan, dear"

Symon swallows a bit, almost surprised to find his mouth watering. He rarely has a hearty appetite, but thinking of buchim, musubi, budae jigae...

"I guess we could handle a few cans here."

"Sweet of you, Symon darling" Somehow the woman has zero sarcasm "I think I'll try break out some Musubi recipes, or maybe.. so much to choose from"

Dirk shrugs "You know me, I'd eat the cans if you want"

"Yeah, maybe I'll print out a few for the Hearth too, in case they get tired of American spam dishes. I bet they'd like spam gimbap." Naming the sushi-type roll with rice and seasoned spam.

"Gimp-Bap?" Dirk blinks "SOunds like you're hitting someone in a wheel chair" He smiles at such a hilarious notion. Redcaps humor is ..err some would say dank

"Dirk, we don't use that word, please. " His adoptive mother says, then nods to Symon "I think the hearth would appreciate that, Symon. And it's clever, she'll have one more dish to ready for your visits"

Symon shrugs a bit, and says as though absently, "She bakes good, but your Korean is better."

"Awww" Anne Marie does not hide her pleasure , even if she's not sure she agrees, "I'm afraid I'm not even in the top five of cooks in this barony, but that's a blessing of abundance, not a curse. ANd i'm glad you like my cooking"

"Well, yeah, I eat cans, I'm not picky" Dirk shrugs. He.. means that well

The front door opens, as Bruce Lee .. pardon me, DOCTOR Bruce Lee enters. He'd been on a 13 hour call and is only now getting home

Symon doesn't need sluagh senses to see his father looks tired, and a bit grim

"Appa." He greets in casual korean, but he looks a bit concerned as he moves over to take his dad's 'wash bag' - the container with his scrubs and clothing he wore in the hospital, to go straight into a disinfecting cycle.

"adeul" He answers, exhaustion slipping from his voice. A nod of recognition at his son's help

Anne Marie comes out and sees her husband and moves to him "Food or shower or rest?"

"Mom was going to make spam." He offers, as he moves to chuck the clothes into the washing machine with bleach and detergent.

Even as his nose wrinkles in distaste at THOSE scents.

Dirk says "yeah, Doc, you should try some"

"I think I will.." he nods and looks to his wife "I'll..rest after, but not too long. The hospital is short staffed still" Though Covid has been dying down in the area, there is fall out still, and those without the condition are finally getting their time

"The hospital doesn't want you half asleep" Anne Marie fusses "You're a cardiac surgeon, let the general practiioners handle the..."

Bruce takes his wife's hand and squeezes it, llooking at her eyes "You are too kind hearted to mean to keep me away from those in need."

Anne Marie makes a face, that face of realizing someone has you pegged, but you don't have to LIKE it

"Don't they have GPs, nurses, that stuff to deal with the patients?"

"Some nurses, my son, are quite unpleasant people. More are good hearted men and women, but most are just trying to make a living doing important work to help. " A sigh "Alas, burn out is rife. Don't misunderstand, I'll not be changing bedpans. That is one advantage to higher education, as you'll learn"

Symon's mouth twists into a small frown, but... his dad is already tired and worn out. He's not going to start this argument again. At least, not now.

"Symon has more sense than his father, some days, you maybe short nurses, but degree or not, there are somethings that your'e not going to be as good at doing as them even beyond bedpans." Anne Marie says "Don't let your pride prod you on past your limits"

"Doc ain't got no limits" Dirk says proudly

"The Doctor has no limits" Dr. Lee corrects "is more grammatically correct, Dirk. Though still untrue. " A look to Anne Marie "Not to be rude, but.. food?"

"Hmmph" Anne Marie kisses her husband briefly on the lips and goes to prepare him a dish

"Momento Mori." Symon mutters.

His father raises a brow not sure he heard that, but fairly certain if he did he'd be both irked and kind of proud of his boy

Scrot leaps up to get pets from the Doctor. Still the sweetest if ugliest cat around

Indeed, Scrot has learned not to spend too much time around Symon. Somehow she keeps getting pushed off shelves when she lingers

It's rather funny, actually. Bruce may think the poor cat is just goofy and poorly balanced, the way she keeps falling off surfaces, though landing on her feet.

The Doctor soon is putting the bald cat to the side and eating.

Symon fetches the jar of kim chi and brews a pot of good, strong green tea.

"How'd it go at work today?" Dirk asks

"Not well. One patient died pre surgery... and a transplant has been delayed three whole days"

"News says that COVID is slowing down all operations. People with broken legs and sh- and stuff? Can't get in because all the beds are filled with unvaxxed... assholes... who caught it."

He censors his first swear, but can't prevent the second. A scowl. "They are."

"They are," Dr. Lee nods "We'll save them anyway "

Dirk says "But what if you could have like, anti vaxer fights? You know, they're both weak, but you let them beat each other up as best they can, winner gets hospital treatment. We stream the fights and charge, proceeds go to the hospital for supplies and stuff?"

Symon can't help but stifle a snicker.

"Dirk, that's horrible" Anne Marie says]

"Inappropriate, Dirk" But while Dirk may have missed it, Dr. Bruce let a tickled look slip out JUST for a second