The Savant

~ Welcome to Sanctuary ~

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At first, he did not hear the swearing man and kept to his own thoughts as he looked at the ice bobbing up and down in the water below. It was something that distracted him for the time being. Distracting till he heard a louder noise that sounded like a forced laugh at first and it caught his eyes. A familiar face. A familiar face… It felt like a semi-truck hit the man full force right in the chest. An uneasy feeling altogether. There was a fine line between wanting to hug the man and punching him.

Then he felt sick to his stomach when the thought came to his mind, Nixie… and for some reason, he looked around the festival quickly to see if he could spot the red-headed woman. She was nowhere in sight for the moment and his eyes went back to Levi’s face.

Watching as the man approached and stood up in line to throw the softballs. It might not have been obvious but Tommy was purposefully trying not to look at Levi for the first part of realizing that he was approaching. Then he had to. He wasn’t going to leave. Why did he want him to leave? He didn’t. Did he? His heart was beating so quickly in his chest, he felt like the organ was playing his ribs like a piano. Frozen in thought while his eyes scanned up to Levi’s and locked on. All of this emotion and Tommy was not projecting any of it. A stoic expression.

Hey there, old friend.

Those words stung when he remembered how Levi never returned any of his calls, text messages, or emails the whole time he was gone. His brows furrowed and he stayed quiet while letting that mischievous tone ring in his ears.

Remember me?

This caused him to panic internally. Remember me? Those words stung in so many different ways he didn’t know which mental and emotional location to lock onto. Thomas remembered all the good days and all the bad times within seconds. Every time he and Levi got in trouble together or did something stupid. When they were climbing trees and playing tree wars Tommy fell and broke his arm and Levi ran to get help. Every time they got caught skinny dipping. Talked to by the police. Got into fights in school with other kids. Everything.

Everything was flooding back in and then he remembered Nixie. All those memories. Each time he stayed up late with her on or off the phone. Each tear she shed for the man in front of him. How her face would get red and her eyes would be puffy. How she would pour everything out on the issues they were having and how they affected her. How Levi thought his behavior was nice and kind.
Every good memory with Levi had a corresponding one that was bad in Tommy’s eyes. A part of his chest stung while he thought about how upset Nixie would get over their mutual friend. His best friend. He wasn’t sure if he was happy to see him or not. His hand began to shake a little and he hid the shakiness with his other. Holding onto himself as he was trying to cope with all these emotions at once.

“Aah…” Was the only thing that Tommy could get out of his lips before he felt the shock of ice water. Gasping from the initial shock his body went completely under and everything became soaked with the hose water on his body. For a second, he didn’t force himself up right away like the average person would since he felt like he needed to cool off and not be seen by Levi. He wanted to hide for some reason. Then he stood up and the ice water was up to his lower chest. Hearing how the water moved and the ice clashed together and against the metal tank. Oh god…

This was a shock. Physically, mentally, and emotionally, and he could only pray that the man wouldn’t be back in town leading on Nixie. Stroking a handful of fingers through his hair as he reset the dunk tank. “Aah didn't reckon ya would ever come back to town,” Thomas climbed back up onto the seat and looked over to his old friend with a warmer smile than he thought he could offer. He was happy. He was. It…

It…

What was it…

“Aah thought ya were too cool for us after ya left,” Referencing how the man never tried to keep in contact. It was disappointing. He wished they did. If they did, he probably wouldn’t have gotten so close to Nixie and so protective, especially with all those memories. The only thing that he truly knew was that he didn’t know if he could handle seeing Nixie cry over Levi again.

What was it one might ask? Thomas Fischer wasn’t the pushover he was when he was a kid. He already felt a small fire inside at the thought of Levi playing with the heartstrings of Nixie’s like a harp without any care. He was somewhat angry about the past. I hope he has changed…

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Location Sitting in the dunk tank at the police department booth
Time Festival Time
Mood Mixed feelings
Interactions @The Muse

~ Welcome to Sanctuary ~

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As the festival began and people started to fill the streets where all the rides, games, and booths were set up. The doctor decided to stand up with the little amount of coffee he still had in his styrofoam cup. Gulping down the last of it before throwing it into the bin and walking away from the soothing sitting park. Making his way into the crowd of people, Archer already found himself in conversation. People were curious about why he chose to work in a little town like Sanctuary. The individuals he was talking to at the moment referred to him as a city doc.

Only being able to lightly laugh at the comments or references they used to refer to him. He definitely was known as a city boy with a big house and a big job in this town. Always being the humble individual he is or at least how he is in public, Archer thanked them for their feedback and was able to walk away from the conversations in an attempt to enjoy the festival that was around him.

Already spotting a handful of families and a ton of other people while walking around. He was scooping to see what Sanctuary had for population-wise, especially individuals who would come out for things. This was a way smaller area than Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte was the place that he lived and studied in during his bachelor's degree before transferring up to the northern area of the U.S. and grabbing an internship while working on his master's in Baltimore Maryland. The man found him working on his doctorate in a teaching hospital where he was working under another trauma surgeon and also teaching interns himself.

Someone approached him and he began talking to them. They were curious as to why he moved to Sanctuary and this individual did not have the best intentions while speaking with the doctor. A comment that showed that not everyone in the town was welcoming to new people but he barely had to try to keep that smile on his face. A warm and welcoming tone stayed consistent throughout the whole conversation even if it seemed to piss the individual off. Once the conversation was going to an end, the individual left Archer with a, “You should’ve stayed where you came from,” comment, and Archer nodded his head in response. Telling the man to have a good day and maybe he would see him again.

Turning on his heel, he sighed, since he knew there were going to be quite a few people that had that man’s mentality. The mentality of not trusting doctors or people from large cities. He added quite a bit onto Archer’s plate of thought for he needed to be careful with some of the townsfolk. They seemed to be on edge when speaking with him and that guy was probably the worst yet. The man wasn’t anything compared to what he had to deal with in the bigger cities.

During his first few weeks in his internship in Baltimore, he found himself in a lockdown situation and he had to help police find an active shooter in the hospital. An active shooter then came in for medical help and quote on quote, did not like what the so-called professionals were trying to do. Those so-called professions were Archer and two others, they were doing their best, but he came to a place of help and really didn’t want help at all. The man had some mental issues and one of the nervous people who was a very religious individual from South America stated the man had “demons” in him. Archer was somewhat of a religious man himself even if he wasn’t open about it or in practice, his grandmother was a god-fearing woman who went to church every Sunday to praise the lord. She was Christian and she loved the religion so much. Bringing her grandchildren along each and every time. It was pleasant memories in the church and listening to the music. It reminded him of his grandmother a bit, she would have probably said the same thing.

Archer has been stabbed by mentally ill patients in the ER before. Harassed. Attacked. The list could go on and on with the things that he could tell about his past in North Carolina, Maryland, and New York City. There were a few times that he had to physically restrain patients and one time he clocked a guy to knock him out. It was not the best way and he was written up for the ordeal though if his overseer actually was doing their job properly, Archer would not have had to take physical means as a solution.

The doctor has a few scars from working in the trauma center though it doesn’t make him shy away or any more nervous than he naturally was which isn’t much at all. A mother walked up to him and began to explain that she has an appointment on Friday in the afternoon. How her son and daughter are excited to finally go to the doctors for one of the first times in their lives and her son was looking around eight and the daughter about five or six. Archer couldn’t help the bits of concern that blew through his gentle look since he had so many questions. Were they vaccinated? Did they survive chicken pox? How have they not really been to the hospital before? A general check up annually? All these thoughts process through his brain within seconds and he sighed in a more content way while showing a warmer smile. Telling her that he will try his best to make their experience a good one. Once he goes back to the hospital tonight, he would check to see what they have for children. If they didn’t have much, he would go out and buy children-based bandaids. The ones with princesses and cartoons all over them. Maybe a bag of lollipops and small toys from the dollar store or something. Something that kids would enjoy.

Leaving that conversation, he was looking at all the rides and everything else, and he couldn’t help but notice how a certain individual looked on the dunk tank. He wasn’t going to dunk the sheriff, but he internally wished that man good luck as he passed. Going over to another game. A fish game. Archer was watching everyone participate and deciding if he wanted to participate as well.

Deciding that he needed another drink in his hand first. The man went over to one of the food trucks and ordered a freshly squeezed lemonade that had watermelon in it as well. It tasted amazing and he paid the worker and thanked them. Going back over to the fish game and deciding if he really wanted a pet fish or not. A fish wasn’t a bad pet to have and would keep the man a little bit of company in his large house. A large house that felt extremely empty because it was.

Then he went on to pay for a pitcher of balls and he began to play the game.

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Location Festival, Fish Game
Time Start of Festival, around 2 PM
Mood Curious
Interaction Random townsfolk who are curious in him

~ Welcome to Sanctuary ~

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Looking down at his watch, he sighed. Two o’clock rang out to him as a sour candy tingling in your mouth. Dryness was behind his lips as he gathered the items that he needed from his work truck. Gathering the usual training outfit, he wore a black long-sleeve shirt with the yellow letters S.P.D. and his tactical pants and boots. Carrying them over to one of the porta potties in the area, Tommy decided to change into his training outfit for the police department as he went into the dunk tank.

After a few minutes, he was all ready to go as he began to string the laces up and tie the boots to his lower legs. He was securing everything. Socks and all. The man wasn’t comfortable wearing swimming trunks or being shirtless in the eye of the public. People didn’t need to see their chief and sheriff shirtless…

The man exited the moveable bathroom before dusting off his long sleeve shirt that complimented his athletic frame while he moved back to the police department booth. One of the squad members and he began to chat for a few minutes as he began to make his way over to the tank even more. Why did he feel so nervous? Tommy had no clue but he was.

Climbing up to the secure seat of the dunk tank, he sat down and he sighed while leaning back. Looking up into the air before looking down underneath him. The bottom of his boots were just touching the surface of the water and he began to allow his legs to swing as he waited for the inevitable to happen — someone was going to pick up one of the three softballs and whip it at the target. Placing a hit and making him fall into the icy water beneath. Ice-filled water during such a hot day sounded nice to a point. It was going to be a shock, he knew it would be, but he agreed to this.

It was about ten minutes after two o’clock when he climbed up into the dunk tank and not a moment later a child was already trying to dunk him. Each throw was a failure and he tried a few times before giving up. The chief tried to give the kid words of encouragement which made the kid flush out of shyness and the mom told him to tell the sheriff thank you. Another officer stepped in and gave the child a sticker.

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Location Sitting in the dunk tank at the police department booth
Time Afternoon, beginning of festival
Mood Nervous

~ Welcome to Sanctuary ~

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Archer chuckled at the man’s response and he could not help but notice the woman that was behind him. She looked familiar and he couldn't help but ask himself where he had seen her before. Only glancing over his shoulder for a few seconds at the woman before keeping his eyes on Alice and Levi. His brain was multitasking till he hit a lightbulb and realized the woman behind him was Jewel Navarro, the assistant to the mayor. Deciding that it was better to not hold up the line, he tried focusing on the man more than everyone else who was entering the small cafe. It was getting busy.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Levi, I am Doctor Archer Graham,” He knew that the man knew him as the ‘savior’ but he rather gave him the option to call him something else. Naturally, he went to be more formal and knew he was going to have to break out of that habit sooner or later.

As Alice was ringing him up on the register, he quickly pulled out his wallet and placed a twenty dollar bill, telling the woman to keep the change, as he removed himself from the line. Not wanting to hold it up any more than he already was. Grabbing all of his items, “I will try my best. I hope your slave driver gives you a little bit of leeway to have fun at the festival tonight,” All this was said in jest with a smile that backed up the atmosphere around the man.

He could not help but notice the woman who was asking for a pancake special and gave a smile but said nothing. Removing himself from the line and into the busy area. Archer found himself back on the street, scanning the surrounding area, before heading towards where the festival was going to be. Downtown there was a nice little area with a pond and a small restroom. It was like a little park or sitting area. It was pleasant and some of the picnic tables had umbrellas, so he went over to one of those and set down his items. Putting the umbrella up and sitting down under the shade as he began to enjoy his small breakfast.

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Location Little downtown sitting park
Time Morning
Mood Content and good
Interaction Levi @The Muse
Metions @PrinceAlexus@QueenBea

~ Welcome to Sanctuary ~

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Turning off the hose for the dunk tank and walking over to the food stands, he began to set up more with the help of Tim, the volunteer. Chatting here and there to learn more about the individual and he seemed like a nice kid. Tim seemed excited about the dunk tank and talked about how quite a few people were excited to hear that the sheriff was going to be in it for at least a little bit. This caused Thomas’s stomach to turn. He regretted saying yes. Keeping a mental note that he was going to get a front guard for next year.

"Howdy Sheriff, il pay the permit on monday. Good luck and Rock on" caused Thomas to glance over to the familiar feminine voice and he smiled with a friendly wave. “Mornin' Talie!” His voice sounded positive and energetic. It might be that he was excited and nervous about the festival coming up, especially nervous to get into the dunk tank. Could he wear a long sleeve shirt or would people think that is weird? Did he have to wear no shirt? Glancing down at himself, he couldn’t do that, but he might have a spare t-shirt in his truck.

“Aah know ya will git to it! Just do it by the middle of next month, okay?” Thomas tried to be casual with most things unless they were criminal activities. Most people in Sanctuary were good people and there were a few crazies who always loved to call on everyone that they possibly could. At this point, he might as well just pay the permit and give it to Talie if she shows up Monday or maybe he will do one of his casual visits to her sights or workplace and drop it off.

Then he continued to chat with Tim and was getting everything else set up. Everything besides the dunk tank was being set up smoothly and easy to do with only one person but quicker with Tim around. He should thank Jewel again for that.

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Location Festival - Police Department Booth
Time Morning
Mood Content and settled down
Interaction(s) @PrinceAlexus

~ Welcome to Sanctuary ~

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Archer seemed to have that caring and gentle atmosphere around him at all times. The one that most patients wanted in a doctor. A faint smile could be seen when Alice thanked the Russian man who was leaving and Archer had to glance back, wondering what he did. He was an interesting man and one that seemed to have odd wounds or requests when it came to medical help. The man has even bought syringes from the hospital which caught the medical man’s attention, but they sold them, so he couldn’t say anything about it. It wasn’t illegal to buy syringes but there were plenty of reasons why someone would purchase those but he had none.

Then he had to let out a faint laugh when the man called him, the savior of Sanctuary, finding it funny that he earned that title with at least one individual. “I believe you give me too much credit,” He offered the more humble side of himself. The side that came naturally in most interactions. The doctor did not see himself as a savior but as a helper.

As the man began to put donuts into the bakery display, Archer seemed to glance in curiosity at what he was doing and what they had. Levi was naming some good ones, but he felt like he wanted the simple cake donut with white frosting and sprinkles. “I am a doctor but I am not a dentist. Sugar isn’t bad unless that is the main thing you consume in your diet,” The one that would tell you about sugars the most was a dentist. Archer warned people about overconsumption of sugars but mainly left long speeches for the diabetics and others who could be negatively affected by sugars.

“I’ll take a dirty chai, a blueberry muffin if you have one, and a frosted covered donut with sprinkles,” That seemed like a good order for a day off. “How is that for such a healthy doctor?” Archer jokingly gestured his hand at the donut case that he had ordered.

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Location Cozy Bear Cafe
Time Morning
Mood Content and good
Interaction Levi @The Muse

~ Welcome to Sanctuary ~

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Thomas noticed the individual on their bike right away and she seemed to have a friendly atmosphere while approaching. He returned to that similar atmosphere with a friendly smile, “Yes?” Putting all of his attention on the woman that seemed to be ready to inquire about something. Keeping an approachable look as he put his hands on his hips.

“Welcome to Sanctuary, we are happy to always see new faces 'n aah'm chief 'n sheriff Fischer,” Right when the woman asked about the grocery store, he began to run on his heel and he pointed in a direction to another side of the downtown area which was not blocked off. Pointing towards the gas station down the road as he put his attention on the woman.

“If ya ride down that way 'n git by the gas station, ya will see the grocery store across the road from it. It's small but nice,” Thomas was always happy to help someone out when they needed it. They did not have any large superstores or anything in the town. Nothing too big. All casual and small establishments in the city and most civilian-owned businesses. Family-owned. Small town.

Deciding to add a few more things, he politely added, “If ya need anythin' else, ya can always ask, don't be a stranger now,'' Wanting the people of Sanctuary to feel comfortable around him. He was trying his best to be on most people’s good side.

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Location Festival - Police Department Booth
Time Morning
Mood Content
Interaction(s) @Expendable

~ Welcome to Sanctuary ~

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The woman had a pleasant handshake, strong, but he could feel how soft her palm was. Indicating that the woman might not have found herself in physical labor. She was a mayor's assistant after all. He would be slightly surprised if her hands were too beat up. “Aah did. Aah appreciate your praise,” The acknowledgments and thanks for the things he did felt good though he didn’t know if it should be considered hard work… Rubbing the back of his neck at the thought. Don’t say anything. Don’t say anything. Don’t say anything. Already knowing he made himself look somewhat dumb or at least dumb in his eyes. Thomas decided that he would keep his mouth shut about how the work wasn’t that hard.

Going over and helping Tim, Thomas continued to listen to the woman who was speaking to him. “Oh, aah can promise ya they-yur will be quite a few bags of ice. Ya can thank the po-leese department fo-wah that vote,” Ice was already put into the discussion and already voted on by the police department. It was going to be a nice day out and probably hot, so they all thought it would be a good idea to put ice in the tank. Keep ice in a cooler as well to re-ice the tank as the day goes by.

“It was a pleasure to become acquainted with ya! Aah will keep that en mind!” Thomas waved her off and almost dropped something doing so. Catching the item at the last moment and giving an awkward grin to Tim, who did not look amused and startled. The duo began to set everything quickly. This was going by way more smoothly with a partner than it was when Thomas was alone working on it. Getting the dunk tank up first, so Thomas could run a hose to begin filling it up.

Everything else was being set up while the dunk tank was filling with water. The food station and the K9 companion game were being set up as well. Everything for the police department booth was coming along smoothly at this point.

As he was checking out how the booth looked, Thomas ended up tripping backward on the hose and falling square on his ass while catching himself on his elbows. Luckily he wore a long-sleeve shirt that protected his skin. “Ophf!” The man let out a noise as he lay there on the ground for a few seconds before sitting up. Slowly rising to his feet while he began to pat the dirt and dust from him.

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Location Festival - Police Department Booth
Time Morning
Mood content with his embarrassment
Interaction(s) ended interaction with Jewel

~ Welcome to Sanctuary ~

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It was weird how the majority of places stated they would be closed today or have limited access even to the local clinic and emergency establishment. The hospital administration in Sanctuary put Archer on call and told him that he wasn’t needed unless his pager notified him, so he had to keep his phone volume up and his pager on. Since he was new to the small town, they wanted him to immerse himself into the community and meet everyone out of work terms.

Walking up to the doors of the Cozy Bear Cafe, it seemed like a sweet little establishment and he has been there a few times. Usually in the morning if he doesn’t go to work early or on his first break or lunch. It really depends on his schedule but this seemed to be his favorite spot to stop in for a dirty chai and something to snack on.

Archer opened the door and was faced with an unamused but familiar face, “Mister Anderelli, a pleasure to run into you outside of the hospital,” The doctor stepped to the side while holding the door open for the silvery-blonde man with cloud blue eyes.

Moxi walked out with a smirk on his face, “You do beautiful vorrrk doctorrr —” The Russain took a drink of his tea while locking eye contact with the Scottish man. They stared at each other for a few more seconds before the thick accent broke the silence, “Hopefully, ve kan meet on morrre kasual terrrms. Till next time,” Dipping his head to the doctor as he exited the cafe and began to disappear down the street.

Archer stepped a few feet into the cafe as the door shut behind him and a faint and friendly smile was expressed with soft eyes. A man that truly cared and saw the world in a gentle light even with darkness around him. Stepping up to the counter, “It’s a beautiful day for a festival, isn’t it?” Asked the individual at the counter as he began to look at the menu. He knew what he wanted, but he wanted to see if anything else stuck out from the menu today. Trying new things wasn't a bad idea from time to time.

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Location Cozy Bear Cafe
Time Morning
Mood Content and good
Interaction Levi @The Muse and a brief one with Moxi

~ Welcome to Sanctuary ~

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Moxi’s eyes scanned the man that was coming around the register before putting his eyes back on the woman taking his order. Alice. At first he didn’t answer the man right away. It was almost as if Levi was invisible to the man but he decided that he would be more open to the idea of talking to people when the brunette man continued to ask questions, “Euphorrria,” His tone sounded slightly annoyed because the man was so hooked up on the Eu part of the name.

“Eulogy is when you give speech to someone who has passed. Usually at zeirrr funerrral and Eugenics is study of desirrrable rrreprrroductive trrraits in human species,” The man’s typical expression was that unamused look, but he chuckled at the man’s guesses. Finding it amusing. Levi even got the Russian man to crack a faint smile before it quickly disappeared.

Thinking about the next question, How are you liking Sanctuary? Moxi shrugged his shoulders at the question. He wasn’t sure but he hasn’t been here for too long, so he was still learning about the town and the people. “It borrring but pleasant,” Grabbing the items as they were passed over to him. The man raised a brow in question as to why the man was giving him his items for free.

“Zank you,” Moxi ended up taking his wallet out anyway and put a fifty dollar bill in the tip jar. That was somewhat to get back at Levi for not allowing him to pay, but he stared at the man and took a drink of his tea before turning on his heel and beginning to walk out.

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Location Cafe, Moxi does not know the name of.
Time Morning
Mood Amused
Interacting Levi @The Muse