Gloria sighed, more than used to rude men in her life. "I don't need another fucking asinine and ill behaved man in my life either, but here we are."
Gloria was used to hospital patients and, worse, men in her field who thought she didn't belong. She could handle some lip from a punk.
"I am." She acknowledged that they were dating and then frowned. "It does appear talking less keeps your face from bleeding so often."
The sassy sarcasm wasn't held back as she set her things down on the bed side table.
"Take off your shirt." It wasn't a request really. There was weight to her words and she wanted to check his ribs to make sure they weren't fractured. "And your shoes."
The swelling in the ankle caught her eyes as well.
Viktor sighed and removed his shirt. To be honest he hadn't expected Gloria to come around and start doting on the injured band members. Had she already been to the Dane or was he next? She had a mouth on her which the punk did have respect for. It seemed she was no wilting flower and the woman had guts talking back to the rather imposing singer.
"Fine. I just----this whole fucking mess shouldn't have happened! It was a fucking joke and harp boy took it too far."
He screwed his vodka bottle back up and chucked it to the bottom of his bed as he removed his blood encrusted t-shirt, baring his bruised torso. It wasn't that bad. At least---it didn't feel that bad to Viktor. That prick had landed a few kicks and punches but nothing serious.
"How long have you and Weird been together? I've heard him play bass on the radio. It's pretty decent. He knows how to hit the low notes just like my bassist, Joe."
Slowly, the punk was beginning to act more like a respectable human being.
"It should not have." She agreed. "He came to speak to me after it happened. He was still feeling sick and from his symptoms, I think it came close to stopping his heart."
There was no accusation in her voice just the facts of the situation. The young man had came very close to needing an emergency room or losing his life. Gloria accepted that it was part of the life these people lived but it should be a choice. Though she didn't share her opinion about thinking it was wrong to take that choice from people, especially for a prank.
"I've known him for almost two months." She talks to Viktor while checking his ribs, running pressure down each one. Not only is she looking for how it feels but also his reaction. "I like music. My parents wanted me to do ballet and dance but I prefer this even if I still love music."
Viktor frowned at that. Shit. The Dane nearly died? Fuck---
"I didn't know. Shit, it wasn't supposed to kill him. It was meant for Billy because I know he does coke and it wouldn't have affected him so bad."
A pang of guilt welled up inside of the punk's being, knowing full well that he might have fucking murdered the guy. Viktor wasn't a murderer and didn't want to harm Rik---not at all like that. Sighing, he felt Gloria touch his ribs then hissed in pain when she touched one below his right pectoral muscle.
"Shit!---that stings a bit."
He wasn't going to mention that he thought ballet was for ponces. That would be rude and she was trying to help him.
"Everyone makes decisions that have unintended consequences sometimes." She was honest because she had made them too, so many recently. "Well, they are staying together for the rest of the tour so you might want to be more careful." She paused smiling at the singer as she looked up from checking on him. "Or get him involved. It's my understanding that Rikke lives for pranking people."
It couldn't hurt to mention some common ground. It might be a menace for others but it would cure some of this injured pride and maybe keep the pranks a little safer. She felt over the space where he hissed and frowned.
"We're going to need to bind your ribs for a few weeks. It might be a bone bruise which will be better in two weeks or a fracture. That will take a month or more." She starts digging in the kit for some elastic bandages. "Either way, binding the area will reduce the pain when you sober up."
Viktor was drunk and wasn't in the mood for much talking at the moment. That and he'd nearly lost a fight to the tall, lanky Dane. The harp boy. He then frowned when she told him he'd have to wait weeks for the ribs to heal. Fuck that. He had to sing for the band and couldn't afford to just sit in bed all day like some fucking ponce.
"Two weeks? A month? Fuck! I can't afford to sit in bed all day waiting for this to heal. I'm a singer and I have a band to look after. We go on tours. Is there no easy fix to this?"
He knew it wouldn't be easy. Viktor just drank some more vodka and sighed. She was helping him though and Weird wasn't such a bad bloke. He could rock a bass guitar just as good as Joe could.
"Thanks for doing this though---for me. Not many people bother looking after me."
She shook her head, laughing good natured. "You aren't bed ridden. You should leave them unwrapped while you're resting but on stage it will help keep your ability to perform from suffering."
Gloria was still feeling over his ribs and shrugged. "They feel bruised. That needs to heal on its own time." She knew he had a job to do and considered it. "Icing it before doing anything physical and I can show you a way to lay that will reduce the swelling. Try eating more meat and dairy for awhile. It will help you heal. You should get some practice singing with your ribs bound before you go back on stage. The area, even without the binding, will feel stiff for awhile."
There's nothing to her tone other than kindness. The thanks gets a quiet giggle as she digs in her medical bag. "Back home there's a bike gang I've spent some time with. I've seen your type before and dealt with more than enough men who pretend like they are too tough for everything, including needing a doctor."
She has a sweet spot for men like Viktor because they were the few in her life than never discouraged her from being who she wanted to be. The smile she has is bright and genuine because it is serious but it is also little teasing. "You're no less a person in pain because you act like a tough punk. I've seen a lot of tough situations and the ones on the street aren't as useless as people think."
"Good because I need to be able to walk and hold a mic. I can't play the old bloody cripple at this stage in the game. We're on tour in a few weeks and I have to be able to jump around and be able to breathe properly."
Viktor may be overreacting but he wasn't when it was his career on the line. People had booked tickets to see the Hell's Angels and they had to perform and be at their best. Getting his ass handed to him by harp boy was more of a hindrance more than anything. Besides, he had his own painkiller which was always readily available. Alcohol.
"Oh yeah? I just didn't assume you hung around with those types of guys. I'm just being me because it's all I've ever known since my parents called me a delinquent and threw me out."
That stung. It still hurt even to this day that they gave up on him so easily. Yes, it was partly Viktor's fault for being a disruptive kid who got kicked out of school. Yet, his father was no saint, being a criminal himself, selling dodgy second-hand cars. The cops were always around the house and Viktor hated seeing his dad being arrested and taken to a police station more than one time a month. It fucking sucked.
"My father---he didn't really have much faith in me. I burnt my own curtains down when I was a kid because I was fascinated with fire. I guess my bad behaviour started at a young age. Didn't help that my old man was being arrested a lot for criminal shit."
He slumped back on the bed and winced a little at the pain. Why was he even telling her this? Did she even want to hear it? Viktor had hardly spoken to anyone about this and he just wanted to talk.
"I'll be on tour. I can work with you to find binding that will help you heal and let you move." She was serious. After all, medical care was part of the reason Weird had invited her along. A small part, perhaps, but one she took seriously.
She sighed listening to him while she prepared to wrap his ribs. "You don't have to be a delinquent to be disowned. My parents threw me out if thier life because I wanted to be a doctor instead of just a nurse like respectable girls."
Gloria was used to patients talking to her about any number of things while they were cared for. Family problems were a common topic.
"I've been arrested before." She looked up at Viktor from where she had been sorting things. "I've seen a lot of the darkness in this world. A loud mouth punk, who scuffles with people and starts fires is nowhere near the bad end if the spectrum."
She laughed and offered him a glass if water and some medication to help with the swelling. "Most of the punks on the street are tough guys because they think it is cool and gives them status. I've known enough of them to see more than most people do."
"Oh yeah? That will be helpful if any of us gets sick or gets set on fire or run over."
He was mostly joking and being a jerk but these sort of things might well happen considering the band members that were crazy enough to do those sort of stunts. Joe and Aarne? Well, they liked to fuck the cops off so getting run over seemed mild compared to what they usually got up to. It seemed lately those two wanted to get into some shit to piss society off. Viktor liked this idea.
"You've been arrested? I hardly believe that, love. A nice girl like you getting banged up in a cop shop? What did you do? Stab someone with a syringe because they were a shit patient?"
Viktor realised that Gloria was gaining more respect around him because she wasn't the wilting violet he first thought she was. Getting arrested? That took the punk by surprise. He shrugged at her words about punks trying to act tough. He only acted the way he did because he knew no better. This was his world and it was him trying to make a name for himself. It sort of came with the band name too.
"I act tough because I can't well be a fucking pussy with a band called the Hell's Angels can I?"
"Weird asked me because Ziggy can't go to the hospital like the rest of you can." She was starting to wrap his ribs as they spoke. "I've taken care of someone who was hit by a car, and mauled by.... an animal."
She wasn't about to say mauled by a zombie and sound crazy. In just a few weeks she realized there would be some injuries to care for because they were all wild but they were good people. Their humor and wildness felt liberating in ways she couldn't find back home.
"Several times." Her expression fell and she turned to look down at the bandages. "The first two times were to get my roommate and I into school. Where I live women aren't allowed to go to medical school to be doctors, and colored women like Judith aren't even allowed to go to a lot of schools. I might not be a loud punk like you but I don't give in to things that are wrong in society."
There's a tension and tone in her voice that's both sad and angry. "The last time I was banged up. The government came to take my research and interrogate me." That was something she didn't mention to many people. The experience was horrific but she shrugged. "I live in a.. I guess you could call it a warzone."
She finally looked up at Viktor with an amused smile that crinkled up her eyes and pinked her cheeks. "Just promise you won't get so injured I have to do a field amputation. I have done more of those than anyone should ever have to."
It doesn't take long to get him bound lightly to take the pain down a little while he moved around. Right now it might feel restrictive but most people quickly get used to it and he won't have to wear it while resting or sleeping. Standing back up she gently touched his shoulder.
"While I am here you don't have to act any way other than you are. I took an oath to keep my patients in confidence and I won't break it."
"That Weird bloke---he's alright and he can play bass. Not sure what's up with those sideburns though. But, you seem to like him."
Viktor just shrugged and then felt the bandage around his midriff. His breathing was slightly restricted but he would get used to the binding because he wanted to get better. What Gloria was telling him though, that got him listening and frowning. A coloured woman? Also, she wasn't allowed to be a doctor? America was quite a strict place after all and this surprised the punk. He thought it was land of the free or supposed to be.
"They banged you up because you wanted to be a doctor and you were a chick? Fucking dumb. So what if you've got a black girl friend? I know some black blokes. America sounds fucking harsh on that."
He felt sorry for her in that she couldn't live how she wanted and Viktor hated that kind of restrictive life style. He'd burn down the cop shop that arrested her and her friend. Fuck them.
"I'd throw a couple of molotovs through that cop shop's window that arrested you. They can shove their laws up their asses. Fuck them. You can be a doctor and your black friend can do what the fuck she wants."
That's how he saw it anyway.
He also wondered why Ziggy couldn't visit a hospital. Viktor hated them too so he could understand that.
She had the same feeling about his facial hair when they first met but it quickly didn't matter. "Everyone has something that makes them different. I thought your eyes were intense and very beautiful when I first met you."
It was a complement and an honest one. Gloria knew some people didn't get enough nice things said about them and it was easy enough.
Gloria shook her head and laughed quietly. "It's good they didn't know she was my girlfriend or I could have been taken to court for a crime and put into a mental hospital."
It was the truth of her life and, though where Mick and the others lived was still strict, Gloria saw it as a little better. She didn't talk much about that part of her past but they had remained friends, close as sisters, through all the fear. "They still don't like that she is my roommate and research assistant, but we don't care."
She set aside the supplies and sat down on the floor by Viktor's feet. "Let's have a look at your ankle."
"You like my eyes? No joke? I suppose they can be, yeah. I like giving the stare to bastards who think they can take me on in a fight."
Viktor always acting the tough guy even when talking about his eyes and someone such as Gloria complementing him on them. It was more he wasn't used to someone offering him compliments because he just didn't know how to process them without offering a snarky or rude comment back. Always on the defensive.
"They'd put you in a loony bin for being with a black chick? Fucking harsh."
Shaking his head and shrugging, Viktor then looked down at his ankle. He didn't think it was that bad but then he would just drink vodka, get smashed and sleep through the pain like he always did. Gloria was a doctor and knew what she was talking about.
"You can simply accept a compliment." Gloria tells him. "Attractive doesn't mean weak."
She's heard this before where men try to act all tough when they are told they look nice. It didn't bother her but she was also going to remind him that it wasn't a bad thing. He needed to let his guard down a little and Gloria could only imagine what put those walls up to start with.
"For being a lesbian, too. Attraction to people of the same sex as you are is considered a disease still where I live." She tells the punk. It was an awful thing that existed in a lot of places unfortunately.
"It's better to check before it swells." Gloria knows he's going to resist but she's firm, if compassionate about making sure he's not injured in a way that needs more attention.
He could accept a compliment but Viktor often accompanied it with some macho comment or something equally as defensive. It was just his way since he'd not been brought up with many compliments in his life, instead mostly abusive remarks by his parents. Delinquent being the main one. Shrugging he understood what Gloria meant but wasn't going to say as much.
"You like chicks too? A disease? Shit, it's not that bad if you love someone the same sex as you. I've fucked girls and boys, mostly punks and I don't give a flying fuck what people think of me. I suppose it's different to where you come from."
America sounded harsh for Gloria and the way she wanted to live her life. She seemed strong. Couldn't she just slap any guy who told her what to do? Viktor's views on life were simple; deck or light up anyone who fucked you off. Looking down at his ankle, he wiggled it slightly and felt a twinge of pain but didn't reveal any emotion on his face.
"I prefer women." She admits openly and then shakes her head. "It's also different when you're a woman. We have less sexual freedom than men in many ways that aren't always obvious but Judith and I are still friends. You might meet her sometime when we're in America for the tour."
Judith would probably get along well with Viktor and his crew. She had even more sass than Gloria. She turned her attention down to the man's ankle.
"You have some swelling." She pressed gently on the ankle to test the inflammation and pain response. "We should ice it and you should keep it propped up for a few days. It will keep it from getting stiff or painful."
She knew he needed to be on stage so whatever would aid the injury healing would be beneficial. "If you have any issues, let me know and I can wrap it for you and cushion it for the stage."
"You prefer women? Then, why are you with Weird? Or do you like blokes too?"
Not that Viktor really cared who she liked because it was her business. The punk himself had dated both boys and girls and liked both. He did have a soft spot for rebellious punk boys more though, especially the Norwegian Vars. Did everyone know this? It wasn't exactly a secret.
"I need to be able to move around on stage with it. Being a fucking cripple will make me look like a total pussy."
He frowned and looked at his ankle wondering just how bad the swelling would be. The Dane had done a number on him. But Gloria was being kind which made the punk offer her a small smile.
"I do." Gloria sighed heavily and looked up at the punk. "I worried back home that if I got involved with a man he would make me stop my career. A lot of men do that to their wives when they get married. Weird is the first man I've been around that encourages me in my work instead of telling me to go back to being a nurse like the other women."
That was an honest answer from her, and one of the reasons that she agreed to date the bassist. He was sweet but also open about letting her choose her way. That was important, more important than his looks or even money in her opinion.
"Just ice it and prop it up at hip level or higher when you can. That will keep the swelling down." She got up to get some ice from the small fridge in the room to put in the cloth bag she had in her things so they could ice his ankle now. "If you don't rest it I'll have to call the Norwegian in to carry you for me."
She had noticed them looking at each other and though she wouldn't pry a friendly jest about it might get the punk talking or at least laughing while she took care of the ankle. "Why don't you pour us some drinks while I get ready to take care of your ankle?"
"Is that right? I can't see you letting some asshole tell you what to do, love. Fuck them. If you want to be a doctor then be one. Don't let a bloke boss you about. Weird seems a decent man and he can play bass."
Viktor was actually surprised at just how good Ziggy's Spiders were on stage and on the radio. They could really play and Weird was just as good as Joe or Vars on the bass guitar. It made a change to see what other bassists were like listening to different bands. He seemed good for her anyway.
"I'll do that. Now, you want to drink with me? You're a fucking riot, love."
Smirking, Viktor didn't want Vars carrying him anywhere since that would make him look weak as well as a total cockhead in front of everyone. Pouring out some vodka into a clean glass, he passed Gloria a drink. Would she drink it neat? It wasn't very ladylike but then what the fuck was that anyway? She was strong and social norms could take a hike.
"It's quite strong on it's own but I'm sure you've drank before, haven't you?"
"That's why I was with a woman for so long." She wasn't going to be told what to do an Judith was the same. They fell in love for so many reasons and they always would love each other even if it was more familial these days than romantic. "You're all descent people, even if some of you have an attitude like a bull in a ring."
She smiled at the punk as she began relaxing around him. The more they talked the more she could see how he was, who he was outside of the badass he pushed in public.
"Why not? Are you afraid I'm a better drinker and will make you look like a pussy?" She turned his own words back on Viktor as she brought the ice over. She took the glass and downed half before setting it on the bedside table to kneel down by Viktor's foot.
"In America, we have people called Greasers. They remind me a lot of you and I've spent most of my socializing with them. They don't like social norms either, ride motorcycles, all the leather, and have obnoxiously bad attitudes toward others." The last part has humor to it while she holds the ice on his ankle.
"Makes sense to date a chick if all the men around you were dick bags. I've dated girls and blokes before."
Viktor shrugged and didn't mind telling her about his past love life, even if it was a pile of crap must of the time. Punk love didn't last long since he was always on the move with the gang and no one stayed very long. It was mostly a few one night stands here and there.
"I'm not a pussy, sweet cheeks. I just don't want Weird thinking I'm chatting up his girl and giving you drink."
Underneath all the bullish behaviour was a man with values and knew that flirting with another bloke's girl was not cool. Gloria belonged to Weird and everyone knew this. It was just if someone walked in the room and saw them drinking and being over friendly then it could turn to shit. He preferred rougher people though and Gloria probably knew this.
Grabbing the bottle, Viktor necked a few gulps and wiped his mouth. He nodded to the Greaser reference since he'd heard about the bike gangs over in the States. It was big there in the 50's and was to this very day. The UK borrowed some of that culture and this is why Viktor was in a bike gang. The badass attitudes and fuck the society thing.
"Most people I dated didn't stay that long. That, or because I was spending too much time locked up inside a prison cell each night. Fucking bastards. It was a casual fuck here and there pretty much."
"I think most of you have." She meant the bands. Almost all of them seemed sexually open to many types of people. It was a good group to be around because it felt freeing.
She patted Viktor's leg playfully while getting into her med kit. "The idea that a man and a woman can't be friends without someone trying to have sex is one of the stereotypes I've learned to hate. We should be able to talk and share a drink as friends. If Weird or anyone else says anything that is their lack of trust in who we are and nothing about what we are doing."
That was more honesty as she got out a needle. "I'm going to give you an injection to help prevent swelling. I can give you another one if you have problems before a performance."
She sympathized with the punk and his plight. "I'm sure you'll find someone when it's right. I waited so long that people thought I was going to be a spinster."
Her natural tendencies were to encourage the people around her and she smiles while drawing the medication for Viktor's ankle. "I think you already have someone in mind that you're interested in."
"I guess you're right. Not that I would try and chat you up because that's fucking stupid."
He won't mention anything about him liking Vars because it was a secret in his eyes, even if most, if not all, the hotel knew about the two punks being together. How could everyone not when they went around fighting and being aggressively hot with one another? It was just their way.
"Oh yeah? Who do you think I'm into, love?"
Viktor was curious as to how much Gloria knew. Did she know about Vars? The punks had only met each other for a few weeks but already the Brit had found an interest in him. He looked down at his ankle and moved it a little. If he had to have an injection then so be it. The singer just had to be able to perform.
"Then we can share a drink ans not worry." Gloria had no issue being friends with Viktor, even knowing he just had a fight. Sometimes that was the only way things could be settled.
Drawing some of the anti-inflammatory she giggled. "The other punk. You two harass each other and I've seen how he looks at you."
She was as gentle as she could be giving the injection but it would probably hurt given the swelling. "You both check each other out all the time. I've seen you staring at him too when he's sitting by himself drinking."
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ninetydegrees
(no subject)
Gloria was used to hospital patients and, worse, men in her field who thought she didn't belong. She could handle some lip from a punk.
"I am." She acknowledged that they were dating and then frowned. "It does appear talking less keeps your face from bleeding so often."
The sassy sarcasm wasn't held back as she set her things down on the bed side table.
"Take off your shirt." It wasn't a request really. There was weight to her words and she wanted to check his ribs to make sure they weren't fractured. "And your shoes."
The swelling in the ankle caught her eyes as well.
(no subject)
"Fine. I just----this whole fucking mess shouldn't have happened! It was a fucking joke and harp boy took it too far."
He screwed his vodka bottle back up and chucked it to the bottom of his bed as he removed his blood encrusted t-shirt, baring his bruised torso. It wasn't that bad. At least---it didn't feel that bad to Viktor. That prick had landed a few kicks and punches but nothing serious.
"How long have you and Weird been together? I've heard him play bass on the radio. It's pretty decent. He knows how to hit the low notes just like my bassist, Joe."
Slowly, the punk was beginning to act more like a respectable human being.
(no subject)
There was no accusation in her voice just the facts of the situation. The young man had came very close to needing an emergency room or losing his life. Gloria accepted that it was part of the life these people lived but it should be a choice. Though she didn't share her opinion about thinking it was wrong to take that choice from people, especially for a prank.
"I've known him for almost two months." She talks to Viktor while checking his ribs, running pressure down each one. Not only is she looking for how it feels but also his reaction. "I like music. My parents wanted me to do ballet and dance but I prefer this even if I still love music."
(no subject)
"I didn't know. Shit, it wasn't supposed to kill him. It was meant for Billy because I know he does coke and it wouldn't have affected him so bad."
A pang of guilt welled up inside of the punk's being, knowing full well that he might have fucking murdered the guy. Viktor wasn't a murderer and didn't want to harm Rik---not at all like that. Sighing, he felt Gloria touch his ribs then hissed in pain when she touched one below his right pectoral muscle.
"Shit!---that stings a bit."
He wasn't going to mention that he thought ballet was for ponces. That would be rude and she was trying to help him.
(no subject)
It couldn't hurt to mention some common ground. It might be a menace for others but it would cure some of this injured pride and maybe keep the pranks a little safer. She felt over the space where he hissed and frowned.
"We're going to need to bind your ribs for a few weeks. It might be a bone bruise which will be better in two weeks or a fracture. That will take a month or more." She starts digging in the kit for some elastic bandages. "Either way, binding the area will reduce the pain when you sober up."
(no subject)
Viktor was drunk and wasn't in the mood for much talking at the moment. That and he'd nearly lost a fight to the tall, lanky Dane. The harp boy. He then frowned when she told him he'd have to wait weeks for the ribs to heal. Fuck that. He had to sing for the band and couldn't afford to just sit in bed all day like some fucking ponce.
"Two weeks? A month? Fuck! I can't afford to sit in bed all day waiting for this to heal. I'm a singer and I have a band to look after. We go on tours. Is there no easy fix to this?"
He knew it wouldn't be easy. Viktor just drank some more vodka and sighed. She was helping him though and Weird wasn't such a bad bloke. He could rock a bass guitar just as good as Joe could.
"Thanks for doing this though---for me. Not many people bother looking after me."
(no subject)
Gloria was still feeling over his ribs and shrugged. "They feel bruised. That needs to heal on its own time." She knew he had a job to do and considered it. "Icing it before doing anything physical and I can show you a way to lay that will reduce the swelling. Try eating more meat and dairy for awhile. It will help you heal. You should get some practice singing with your ribs bound before you go back on stage. The area, even without the binding, will feel stiff for awhile."
There's nothing to her tone other than kindness. The thanks gets a quiet giggle as she digs in her medical bag. "Back home there's a bike gang I've spent some time with. I've seen your type before and dealt with more than enough men who pretend like they are too tough for everything, including needing a doctor."
She has a sweet spot for men like Viktor because they were the few in her life than never discouraged her from being who she wanted to be. The smile she has is bright and genuine because it is serious but it is also little teasing. "You're no less a person in pain because you act like a tough punk. I've seen a lot of tough situations and the ones on the street aren't as useless as people think."
(no subject)
Viktor may be overreacting but he wasn't when it was his career on the line. People had booked tickets to see the Hell's Angels and they had to perform and be at their best. Getting his ass handed to him by harp boy was more of a hindrance more than anything. Besides, he had his own painkiller which was always readily available. Alcohol.
"Oh yeah? I just didn't assume you hung around with those types of guys. I'm just being me because it's all I've ever known since my parents called me a delinquent and threw me out."
That stung. It still hurt even to this day that they gave up on him so easily. Yes, it was partly Viktor's fault for being a disruptive kid who got kicked out of school. Yet, his father was no saint, being a criminal himself, selling dodgy second-hand cars. The cops were always around the house and Viktor hated seeing his dad being arrested and taken to a police station more than one time a month. It fucking sucked.
"My father---he didn't really have much faith in me. I burnt my own curtains down when I was a kid because I was fascinated with fire. I guess my bad behaviour started at a young age. Didn't help that my old man was being arrested a lot for criminal shit."
He slumped back on the bed and winced a little at the pain. Why was he even telling her this? Did she even want to hear it? Viktor had hardly spoken to anyone about this and he just wanted to talk.
(no subject)
She sighed listening to him while she prepared to wrap his ribs. "You don't have to be a delinquent to be disowned. My parents threw me out if thier life because I wanted to be a doctor instead of just a nurse like respectable girls."
Gloria was used to patients talking to her about any number of things while they were cared for. Family problems were a common topic.
"I've been arrested before." She looked up at Viktor from where she had been sorting things. "I've seen a lot of the darkness in this world. A loud mouth punk, who scuffles with people and starts fires is nowhere near the bad end if the spectrum."
She laughed and offered him a glass if water and some medication to help with the swelling. "Most of the punks on the street are tough guys because they think it is cool and gives them status. I've known enough of them to see more than most people do."
(no subject)
He was mostly joking and being a jerk but these sort of things might well happen considering the band members that were crazy enough to do those sort of stunts. Joe and Aarne? Well, they liked to fuck the cops off so getting run over seemed mild compared to what they usually got up to. It seemed lately those two wanted to get into some shit to piss society off. Viktor liked this idea.
"You've been arrested? I hardly believe that, love. A nice girl like you getting banged up in a cop shop? What did you do? Stab someone with a syringe because they were a shit patient?"
Viktor realised that Gloria was gaining more respect around him because she wasn't the wilting violet he first thought she was. Getting arrested? That took the punk by surprise. He shrugged at her words about punks trying to act tough. He only acted the way he did because he knew no better. This was his world and it was him trying to make a name for himself. It sort of came with the band name too.
"I act tough because I can't well be a fucking pussy with a band called the Hell's Angels can I?"
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She wasn't about to say mauled by a zombie and sound crazy. In just a few weeks she realized there would be some injuries to care for because they were all wild but they were good people. Their humor and wildness felt liberating in ways she couldn't find back home.
"Several times." Her expression fell and she turned to look down at the bandages. "The first two times were to get my roommate and I into school. Where I live women aren't allowed to go to medical school to be doctors, and colored women like Judith aren't even allowed to go to a lot of schools. I might not be a loud punk like you but I don't give in to things that are wrong in society."
There's a tension and tone in her voice that's both sad and angry. "The last time I was banged up. The government came to take my research and interrogate me." That was something she didn't mention to many people. The experience was horrific but she shrugged. "I live in a.. I guess you could call it a warzone."
She finally looked up at Viktor with an amused smile that crinkled up her eyes and pinked her cheeks. "Just promise you won't get so injured I have to do a field amputation. I have done more of those than anyone should ever have to."
It doesn't take long to get him bound lightly to take the pain down a little while he moved around. Right now it might feel restrictive but most people quickly get used to it and he won't have to wear it while resting or sleeping. Standing back up she gently touched his shoulder.
"While I am here you don't have to act any way other than you are. I took an oath to keep my patients in confidence and I won't break it."
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Viktor just shrugged and then felt the bandage around his midriff. His breathing was slightly restricted but he would get used to the binding because he wanted to get better. What Gloria was telling him though, that got him listening and frowning. A coloured woman? Also, she wasn't allowed to be a doctor? America was quite a strict place after all and this surprised the punk. He thought it was land of the free or supposed to be.
"They banged you up because you wanted to be a doctor and you were a chick? Fucking dumb. So what if you've got a black girl friend? I know some black blokes. America sounds fucking harsh on that."
He felt sorry for her in that she couldn't live how she wanted and Viktor hated that kind of restrictive life style. He'd burn down the cop shop that arrested her and her friend. Fuck them.
"I'd throw a couple of molotovs through that cop shop's window that arrested you. They can shove their laws up their asses. Fuck them. You can be a doctor and your black friend can do what the fuck she wants."
That's how he saw it anyway.
He also wondered why Ziggy couldn't visit a hospital. Viktor hated them too so he could understand that.
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It was a complement and an honest one. Gloria knew some people didn't get enough nice things said about them and it was easy enough.
Gloria shook her head and laughed quietly. "It's good they didn't know she was my girlfriend or I could have been taken to court for a crime and put into a mental hospital."
It was the truth of her life and, though where Mick and the others lived was still strict, Gloria saw it as a little better. She didn't talk much about that part of her past but they had remained friends, close as sisters, through all the fear. "They still don't like that she is my roommate and research assistant, but we don't care."
She set aside the supplies and sat down on the floor by Viktor's feet. "Let's have a look at your ankle."
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Viktor always acting the tough guy even when talking about his eyes and someone such as Gloria complementing him on them. It was more he wasn't used to someone offering him compliments because he just didn't know how to process them without offering a snarky or rude comment back. Always on the defensive.
"They'd put you in a loony bin for being with a black chick? Fucking harsh."
Shaking his head and shrugging, Viktor then looked down at his ankle. He didn't think it was that bad but then he would just drink vodka, get smashed and sleep through the pain like he always did. Gloria was a doctor and knew what she was talking about.
"Doesn't look that bad, love."
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She's heard this before where men try to act all tough when they are told they look nice. It didn't bother her but she was also going to remind him that it wasn't a bad thing. He needed to let his guard down a little and Gloria could only imagine what put those walls up to start with.
"For being a lesbian, too. Attraction to people of the same sex as you are is considered a disease still where I live." She tells the punk. It was an awful thing that existed in a lot of places unfortunately.
"It's better to check before it swells." Gloria knows he's going to resist but she's firm, if compassionate about making sure he's not injured in a way that needs more attention.
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"You like chicks too? A disease? Shit, it's not that bad if you love someone the same sex as you. I've fucked girls and boys, mostly punks and I don't give a flying fuck what people think of me. I suppose it's different to where you come from."
America sounded harsh for Gloria and the way she wanted to live her life. She seemed strong. Couldn't she just slap any guy who told her what to do? Viktor's views on life were simple; deck or light up anyone who fucked you off. Looking down at his ankle, he wiggled it slightly and felt a twinge of pain but didn't reveal any emotion on his face.
"It's sore a little bit. Not much."
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Judith would probably get along well with Viktor and his crew. She had even more sass than Gloria. She turned her attention down to the man's ankle.
"You have some swelling." She pressed gently on the ankle to test the inflammation and pain response. "We should ice it and you should keep it propped up for a few days. It will keep it from getting stiff or painful."
She knew he needed to be on stage so whatever would aid the injury healing would be beneficial. "If you have any issues, let me know and I can wrap it for you and cushion it for the stage."
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Not that Viktor really cared who she liked because it was her business. The punk himself had dated both boys and girls and liked both. He did have a soft spot for rebellious punk boys more though, especially the Norwegian Vars. Did everyone know this? It wasn't exactly a secret.
"I need to be able to move around on stage with it. Being a fucking cripple will make me look like a total pussy."
He frowned and looked at his ankle wondering just how bad the swelling would be. The Dane had done a number on him. But Gloria was being kind which made the punk offer her a small smile.
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That was an honest answer from her, and one of the reasons that she agreed to date the bassist. He was sweet but also open about letting her choose her way. That was important, more important than his looks or even money in her opinion.
"Just ice it and prop it up at hip level or higher when you can. That will keep the swelling down." She got up to get some ice from the small fridge in the room to put in the cloth bag she had in her things so they could ice his ankle now. "If you don't rest it I'll have to call the Norwegian in to carry you for me."
She had noticed them looking at each other and though she wouldn't pry a friendly jest about it might get the punk talking or at least laughing while she took care of the ankle. "Why don't you pour us some drinks while I get ready to take care of your ankle?"
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Viktor was actually surprised at just how good Ziggy's Spiders were on stage and on the radio. They could really play and Weird was just as good as Joe or Vars on the bass guitar. It made a change to see what other bassists were like listening to different bands. He seemed good for her anyway.
"I'll do that. Now, you want to drink with me? You're a fucking riot, love."
Smirking, Viktor didn't want Vars carrying him anywhere since that would make him look weak as well as a total cockhead in front of everyone. Pouring out some vodka into a clean glass, he passed Gloria a drink. Would she drink it neat? It wasn't very ladylike but then what the fuck was that anyway? She was strong and social norms could take a hike.
"It's quite strong on it's own but I'm sure you've drank before, haven't you?"
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She smiled at the punk as she began relaxing around him. The more they talked the more she could see how he was, who he was outside of the badass he pushed in public.
"Why not? Are you afraid I'm a better drinker and will make you look like a pussy?" She turned his own words back on Viktor as she brought the ice over. She took the glass and downed half before setting it on the bedside table to kneel down by Viktor's foot.
"In America, we have people called Greasers. They remind me a lot of you and I've spent most of my socializing with them. They don't like social norms either, ride motorcycles, all the leather, and have obnoxiously bad attitudes toward others." The last part has humor to it while she holds the ice on his ankle.
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Viktor shrugged and didn't mind telling her about his past love life, even if it was a pile of crap must of the time. Punk love didn't last long since he was always on the move with the gang and no one stayed very long. It was mostly a few one night stands here and there.
"I'm not a pussy, sweet cheeks. I just don't want Weird thinking I'm chatting up his girl and giving you drink."
Underneath all the bullish behaviour was a man with values and knew that flirting with another bloke's girl was not cool. Gloria belonged to Weird and everyone knew this. It was just if someone walked in the room and saw them drinking and being over friendly then it could turn to shit. He preferred rougher people though and Gloria probably knew this.
Grabbing the bottle, Viktor necked a few gulps and wiped his mouth. He nodded to the Greaser reference since he'd heard about the bike gangs over in the States. It was big there in the 50's and was to this very day. The UK borrowed some of that culture and this is why Viktor was in a bike gang. The badass attitudes and fuck the society thing.
"Most people I dated didn't stay that long. That, or because I was spending too much time locked up inside a prison cell each night. Fucking bastards. It was a casual fuck here and there pretty much."
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She patted Viktor's leg playfully while getting into her med kit. "The idea that a man and a woman can't be friends without someone trying to have sex is one of the stereotypes I've learned to hate. We should be able to talk and share a drink as friends. If Weird or anyone else says anything that is their lack of trust in who we are and nothing about what we are doing."
That was more honesty as she got out a needle. "I'm going to give you an injection to help prevent swelling. I can give you another one if you have problems before a performance."
She sympathized with the punk and his plight. "I'm sure you'll find someone when it's right. I waited so long that people thought I was going to be a spinster."
Her natural tendencies were to encourage the people around her and she smiles while drawing the medication for Viktor's ankle. "I think you already have someone in mind that you're interested in."
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He won't mention anything about him liking Vars because it was a secret in his eyes, even if most, if not all, the hotel knew about the two punks being together. How could everyone not when they went around fighting and being aggressively hot with one another? It was just their way.
"Oh yeah? Who do you think I'm into, love?"
Viktor was curious as to how much Gloria knew. Did she know about Vars? The punks had only met each other for a few weeks but already the Brit had found an interest in him. He looked down at his ankle and moved it a little. If he had to have an injection then so be it. The singer just had to be able to perform.
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Drawing some of the anti-inflammatory she giggled. "The other punk. You two harass each other and I've seen how he looks at you."
She was as gentle as she could be giving the injection but it would probably hurt given the swelling. "You both check each other out all the time. I've seen you staring at him too when he's sitting by himself drinking."
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