13325/Casualties

Casualties
Date of Scene:	18 May 2021
Location:	Bellevue Hospital - Lower Manhattan
Synopsis:	Shang-Chi brings some injured thugs to Sandy in the emergency room
Cast of Characters:	Shang-Chi, Sandra Billings

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Shang-Chi has posed:
A particular gang of ruffians thought they'd shake down a local hot dog vendor and get some free dogs. They pushed him around, squirted condiments on him, and basically had every intention of making off with free food. Unfortunately for them, they did this while Shang-Chi was in the nearby park.

Twenty minutes later, the ambulances arrive at the hospital, carrying five men with various broken bones and at least two concussions. Shang-Chi has ridden along, wearing a simple white t-shirt and black pants, his slippered feet landing down first as he helps them get one of the toughs now.

"I think you should regain all movement in your arm, young man. Perhaps think about your actions in the future - and their consequences."

Sandra Billings has posed:
Heading out to meet the ambulence is Sandra Billings, otherwise known to the streets as 'Sandy'. That's how gangster she is. Technically, only the barista at Starbucks calls her Sandy. No one else really konws who she is. The plumply rounded woman with the thick brown hair is holding a clipboard as she looks at the injured men being taken off, then lifts her brows upwards.

"Again, Mister Chi?" She says as she gives a slow blink of her eyes, followed by giving the men a glance over as she taps her pen against the clipboard. She is at least on good terms with the street heroes, having worked with Daredevil and Luke Cage on a number of ocassions. She is starting to put faces to names.

"What did these guys do to deserve this?" She loves superhero stories. They're so entertaining and she gets a chance to dish gossip in the breakrooms afterwards. "Name?" She says to the first one, who gives a grumbly answer that she scribbles down. "Pretty sure your arm isn't supposed to bend that way, 'Ant'."

Shang-Chi has posed:
Shang-Chi allows the attendants and the nurse to do their business, saying a bit off to the side. "They were tormenting a local businessman. I believe his name is Shep. He has a hot dog cart. They were taking his processed meats for themselves. I do not partake of meat myself, but they were cruel and injust. However, I did respond perhaps more violently than I had intended. A failure of my own discipline."

He's obviously disappointed in himself, but he looks quite calm overall and certainly not a scratch on him. "The breaks should at least be clean. They will all, I believe, recover fully."

Sandra Billings has posed:
"I wouldn't worry about it. It's cruel and unjust to destroy hotdogs. They're delicious." Sandy says as he gives a glower to 'Ant' as the man gives her a defiant look. She pokes him in the nose with her pen, then moves on to the next person as she scribbles down notes, letting him get lead off by one of the doctors. "I know Shep. Why are you guys messing with Shep for? You know he's a single dad with two kids and his wife passed away from leukemia two years ago? I had to hold his hand through the whole ordeal. It was /terrible/. You boys should be ashamed."

As she speaks, she narrows her eyes and the men's reaction move from smug to shock. They glance at each other a bit nervously now, followed by a couple of muttering apologies. Her eyes roll upwards and to the side once the last man is processed and wheeled off in a chair since his leg was broken. Once he's inside, she gives a glance over to Shang Chi, giving a slight snort of amusement. "I made that shit up. I never met the guy. But, he's okay, right? This Shep fellow?"

Shang-Chi has posed:
Shang-Chi nods promptly, "Yes, I believe Shep is an 'okay' guy. I do not know his biography, but he seems pleasant and I have seen him feeding his stale buns to the ducks in the park. I have told him that is not necessarily healthy for them, but I believe it shows a good spirit and I don't believe he will listen to me anyway. Luckily, I was able to intervene before anything but his wardrobe was harmed. He will have a hard time getting out those mustard stains. I told him where to find a good laundry in Chinatown. My treat."

Sandra Billings has posed:
"Oh, yes, ducks and bread is not a good combination. Well, as long as the ducks don't eat a lot of it. They just can't maintain a total diet on yeast based substances. Fruits though are a lot better, but people don't walk around with a pocketful of grapes these days." Sandy says as she continues to scribble down some notes on the patient records, then taps her radio. "Sandy to command, I'm taking a fifteen. Those five handsome men that are being booked attacked a street vendor. They can get Advils, not the good stuff."

She hears a 'roger' in return, quietly cackling to herself. The night nurses tend to be a bit more spiteful than the morning crews. They are the ones stuck working into the early morning hours, and thus, have to deal with the drunks and dickheads.

"That's really nice of you by the way. You and Mister Cage do a lot of great work for our community. I got a treat for you!" She says as she digs into her pocket beneath her scrubs, then pulls out her wallet. After opening it, she hands out a gift card to him. It's for a coffee shop, a small one, family owned. "Here you go, sugar. Ask for Jamie. She's my galpal. Tell her Sandy sent you."

Shang-Chi has posed:
Shang-Chi smiles, "I do not consume caffeine, but perhaps they have something I will like," he says with a smile. "I appreciate the gesture greatly. I do not enjoy administering violence. These young men are merely wayward, not evil," he sighs. "Perhaps the bit of pain I have given them today will awaken something within them. Perhaps not. The wheel turns as it will."

"It has been nice to meet you, Sandy. I hope that I will not have too many more casualties to bring to you, but I do not always have control over such things. My spirit is compelled to intervene, at times, even if my wiser mind says otherwise."

Sandra Billings has posed:
"They have amazing bagel sandwiches. Also, keep them coming. It's job security for me and I like it when bad guys get a fist or a foot in the mouth. It's the only way people like this learn. Bullies will keep bullying until someone bigger gives them a beating. They just need to be humbled in life." Sandy says as she reaches into her pocket to pull out a stick of gum and pops it in her mouth.

"It's also been awhile since I've seen the Los Vatos in here, so if you get bored and want to hang out near the docks, that is where they sell drugs like tic-tacks. I've had quite a few patients stumble in here that have OD'd on their budget smack. They don't even bother making the good stuff, they just do it on the cheap. It has a higher dependence rate and a higher body count, especially for those with pre-existing conditions."

As always, she has a nose to the streets when it comes to some of these angles and has been known to tuck a few tid-bits in the Devil's back pocket through her friend Claire.

Shang-Chi has posed:
Shang-Chi shakes his head, "That is very terrible indeed. I am troubled both by the cutthroat tactics of the criminals and the sense of despair that drives so many to seek refuge in intoxicants. My father had extensive investments in opium and heroin - less extensive after I was through. I saw so much misery hidden beneath the veil of the poppy."

"I do not know that a beating is always the best solution to such things. BUt neither can I stand by and let helpless people be harmed. It is, as most everything is, a paradox."

Sandra Billings has posed:
"It is terrible. It's worse than beating up street vendors. When people get hooked on that stuff, their lives are ruined pretty much forever. Even if they go through therapy, there is always that itch in the back of your head, demanding more. It's how I am with brownies. I tell you, you put a plate of homemade brownies in front of me, especially chocolate mayo brownies, I will murder anyone who gets in between me and that plate." Sandy gives the pen a spin around her knuckles, then gives a glance over to the radio as it starts to squawk loudly and franctic.

"Shit, I gotta go. Got ourselves a bleeder." She says as she salutes him with the pen across her brow, then turns as she starts for the doors. "See you later, Iron Foot!" She calls over her shoulder to him. She obviously knows he's not Iron Fist, but she figures he does more kicking than punching.