[Dr. Cole Ormont]

Although Cole had been kidding, his deadpan style didn't always read, and he shrugged one shoulder. "At least you have a blaster," the doctor spread his hands, showing that amongst the encumbrance of pockets and pouches filled with medical implements and drugs, there was no weapon holster anywhere.

[Teffa]

Teffa wondered if she should feel bad, "It's not exactly the fanciest thing around, just a self-defence model. I mean, the Republic must be willing to fork over a heavy piece or a detachment of guards at your disposal. Good doctors must be hard to come by and I didn't see other doctors lining up to take your job."

[Dr. Cole Ormont]

"I'm sure they would, but it wouldn't be worth it. Somehow I'm just no good with my hands," there was a hint of sarcasm in his voice, after all, Teffa had seen him at work in the hospital. "It's not a thrilling job. Being cooped up all the time. You don't get selected for missions."

[Teffa]

That doesn't sound like a bad thing, although Teffa could probably reason that a Republic soldier might feel being left out in all of the action around here. "That sounds like a lousy deal, being part of only one side of the war. But, I'm sure you get your due respect and thanks for everything you do. At least, everyone here doesn't communicate only in grunts and grumbles."

[Dr. Cole Ormont]

"It's not thankless, if that's what you mean," he shrugged a shoulder.

[Teffa]

"Aha, right!" She gave him a small smile. "I guess you kind of wish there's more you could do in your job, or maybe things are so busy that they're always running you ragged where you are. If anything happened to you, however, they'll be in a bind!"

[Dr. Cole Ormont]

Cole shrugged more fully now, "Jedis Vyliis and Rekara are more than competent, and can utilise the Force. I'm just a guy who can wield a scalpel." How was he supposed to explain that, as much as he enjoyed his work, in between surgeries he felt a vague sort of yearning, of loneliness?

[Teffa]

Teffa unfortunately could not decipher that sort of gap missing in Cole. She narrowed her eyes, clearly finding the application of the Force in healing more alien and peculiar. "The Force? What do they have compared to you? Do they slap on a bandage over the wound and asked the patient to trust in the Force while they're bleeding out? Do they used a light-scalpel?"

[Dr. Cole Ormont]

One corner of Cole’s mouth turned up. “Laser scalpels are old news. But Force healing,” Cole shook his head, “that’s the sort of thing to put a man like me out of work. They just frown a bit and the wounds close up right in front of your eyes.”

[Teffa]

"I see..." she said with a tinge of doubt. "Are there really that many Jedi around? Then again, I saw one eating and another one shopping. That's mundane enought but I kind of doubt that they'll becoming commonplace enough to do all of our jobs."

[Dr. Cole Ormont]

“Your job? probably not. But Jedi Ashla has a solid grounding in the same kind of doctoring I do. Just a matter of time before people start to realise they can call her.”

[Teffa]

...Is this guy jealous of a Jedi? "That's unfortunate, Doctor Ormont. I don't know what you'll do the day that happens and you find your operation room empty. I'd offer to bring you only but I'm not a bruise and don't get hurt often. I don't know how much mileage your skills will get when it comes to hanging around me. Sometimes my wrist cramp...but I don't think that's a medical issue."

[Dr. Cole Ormont]

“A generous offer, but if push comes to shove, there’s enough slums in the galaxy that anyone half-competent with a synthflesh applicator can eke out their daily bread.” Maybe Cole’s mother didn’t hug him enough, or maybe Cole’s father hadn’t given his approval but, as Cole pushed his hand through his curls, it was increasingly obvious that the man was fighting an uphill battle against ‘never good enough’.

[Teffa]

Teffa reached for the bottle again and took a swig from it, offering it back to him and making sure to place it closer to his side of the table this time around. She offered him a small consolatory smile. "...I'm pretty sure you could swing better than attending to my wrist or doing synthflesh surgery anyway. The Republic doesn't seem to be in the habit of giving people the boot either, especially if those recruitment posters are up there for a reason. Worst comes to worst, they could put you in the frontlines?"

[Dr. Cole Ormont]

“They’d have to be pretty desperate,” he returned dryly, “there’s a reason I don’t carry a blaster.” It seemed it was his turn at the bottle, and he took a swig, “between Brigadier Admiral Ormont and people getting shot, I’m sure the Medical Corps will have room for me.”

[Teffa]

Teffa shrugged openly with a relieved smirk, "So it's just an issue of sharing the spotlight then. I'm sure all of these Jedi will have to go elsewhere once the war is won and there's a mess to clean up. I hear that they around in an advisory capacity anyway."

[Dr. Cole Ormont]

Cole half shrugged and ran a hand through his hair. Yup, so long as the Brigadier Admiral has his way, he mused darkly.

[Teffa]

After a moment, she spoke up once more, "So...I'm still trying to find my way around here. Do you know most of these fine and dutiful folks that we're all serving the Republic with at the moment?"

[Dr. Cole Ormont]

“Not so many,” he admitted. “I’ve worked with Captain Organa before, but Medical Corps don’t get invited to the cool kid’s parties. Maybe they’re worried we won’t be able to pump their stomachs and treat their hangover headaches.” Cole pushed his spectacles up the bridge of his nose, “I’ve had the chance to meet a few. Was there something, someone, in particular you were looking for?”

[Teffa]

"You don't come as a nagging guardian, so I don't think that's the concern. Maybe it was just an oversight on their part," she gave an open shrug on that note.

"Well, I was hoping if you spot someone who had large pockets full of credits with a reckless disposition to complement it," she grinned briefly on that note. "No, not one in particular. I just like to know who's who and doing what around here. I suppose I know there are at least two other ships around here, The Three Drinks and The Turtle, both with their working crews. I ran into a pilot or two, and a mercenary. Two Jedi. I guess I might know a majority of people, by acquaintance."

[Dr. Cole Ormont]

Cole nodded thoughtfully. “I don’t usually scan a patient’s credit chits when they arrive in medical, but if I happen to notice anything, I’m sure I could let you know.”

[Teffa]

Teffa gave Cole a bemused look for a moment, getting the jist that he must have been sarcastic but she couldn't entirely be sure. She then smiled faintly and waved off a hand to show that she was dismissing that notion. "Ah, well...I'm just to stay busy around or be wherever things are happening, without the danger of getting shot, of course! Credits aren't that much of a big deal with me as long as I have enough for a reasonable buy-in."

[Dr. Cole Ormont]

Cole nodded, pretending to understand, and ran a hand through his hair. "I'll say as much for the Republic, they know their busy work."

[Teffa]

"At least you're taking it in stride! I'd really hate to see a Republic guy around here who hates being busy and useful. I could imagine that person would be a really sore spot at any place or party," she gave a brief shake of her head before continuing. "Well, probably I just need to put out myself there more, on the off-chance they might need cards for shuffling or playing."

[Dr. Cole Ormont]

"The Sith make work for idle hands, or so Brigadier Admiral Ormont used to tell me. I'd rather be busy than bored, but I'd rather be busy somewhere I'm properly needed, not because a bunch of Mandalorians decided to shoot each other."