CHARACTER INTRO:

❝gin❞

AL-HAITHAM AL-NAJJAR, M.D. — ❝ Silver ❞
Medical Scribe — SATH

Medical Scribe for the Diagnostics Department at the Sumeru Akademiya Teaching Hospital (SATH). His current position serves as that of a “glorified personal assistant” (his own words) to Kaveh — the very same man who is also his closest, and one true, friend. His previous medical experience and license includes a specialty in both neurology and infectious diseases.

A silver-haired, tired-eyed, obsessive smoker, casual drinker, and closet vicodin addict; casually nicknamed “Gin” by the local bartender — on account of it being the only thing he ever orders at the bar. Once a skilled specialist doctor working overseas in Inazuma, an undetected blood clot left him physically disabled: his dominant arm amputated and fitted with a prosthetic. In the aftermath of this ordeal, he chose to quit his profession and move back home to Sumeru... The trauma of the loss still remains, with residual angst accompanying it — both physical and psychological.

To most people who meet him, Mr. al-Najjar comes off as snarky and blunt, arrogant and blasé. Frankly, he simply doesn't care to dress up his words, or about the impact that they may have on others, much to his superior’s chagrin. With a casual, effortless gravitas — and a gravelly tone to match — he openly states what he observes and analyzes as the truth. Though his perspective leans towards cynicism, Alhaitham maintains a staunch position as a ‘realist’... Despite his standoffish nature, he garners respect from his colleagues due to his sharp intellect (...and his subtle softer side, which reveals itself shyly, on occasion).

…But — there is one truth that has never been able to grace the scribe's sharp tongue — which is, that he is silently, painfully, and unrequitedly in love with his best friend... The very same friend who is presently his colleague and direct superior — and the man who appears completely oblivious to this reality.

Alhaitham knows it would be a pointless endeavor to act on these feelings... and something much too vulnerable, that could tip the fine balance of their renewed friendship. So he keeps his lips firmly sealed — his emotions discarded and carelessly numbed through liberal substance abuse. For more than a decade, this truth has still remained unspoken.

Pain is no stranger to some, even the most privileged—❝ Circumstance strikes without prejudice. ‘Fate’ and ‘fortune’ have no hand in it. ❞

These cool, autumnal days, denial and indulgence are two of Alhaitham’s closer companions… Perhaps that's also why he seems to get along so well with the golden doctor — who equally can't seem to keep his own hands out of alleviating other people's miseries.

The need for relief, for some semblance of salvation... and the need to feel needed, to be depended on.These are simply two sides of the same metallic coin.

VOICE CLAIM

Legoshi — Jonah Scott
(Beastars)

[ full-screen video to unmute after playing ]

LYRICS

❝ It’s been such a long time since
I've been out on my own…
Bittersweet, to be so free and so alone
...
Makes you wanna drink 'til you feel like
you are someone else
Then another…
Then another—and another, and another, and another— ❞

❝ Deal me in, kick the sinup a notch
Divin' in quicksand's faster than sinkin'
I'm leavin' behind
all of the cares that I've been
overthinkin'
...
Gin never lies or fucks you over—
It goes down the same
every time
…
Love in a bottle, love in a bottle—
Can't have love when it comes in a bottle
Home in a bottle, numb in a bottle…
I don't need nothin' that's not from a bottle
…
Another round! ❞

Love In A Bottle — Keith David as "Husk"
(from Hazbin Hotel)

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

❝ You're not the saint that you claim to be
And I'm no angel either, but at least I'm transparent—
I hear the devil knocking at our door
Why am I tempted to open myself to him?
Am I broken?
...
Desperate times, desperate measures
Every prayer left unanswered...
Why not give in?
Don't resist it no more, no more... ❞

❝ What is a man without his bad habits?
...
The world the world the world
Is neither good nor kind
There could be no man no man no man
Without a vice to pass the time. ❞

❝ Baby, we, we were born to die (born to die)
So make the most of it, cause, baby this is life
(why don't you)
Drink a little, smoke a little, fuck a little
(cuz we're all gonna die)
Sip a cigarette, get your dick wet, babe. ❞

Born to Die — Shreea Kaul

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

❝ Humingang malalim, pumikit na muna
Took a deep breath, closed my eyes for now
...
Kala ko'y payapa, boses mo'y tumatawag pa
I thought I was at peace, but your
voice still calls to me. ❞

❝ Binaon naman na ang lahat
I already buried everything
Tinakpan naman na 'king sugat
I already covered my wounds
...
Hirap na 'kong intindihin
I’m struggling to understand... ❞

❝ (Dinadalaw mo 'ko bawat gabi)
(You haunt me every night)
Hindi pa ba sapat pagpapahirap sa 'kin
Haven’t you made me suffer enough? ❞

Cup of Joe — Multo

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

❝ 닿지 않는 너, 나 홀로 상상을 해
I can't reach you, so I imagine alone
빛이 나는 너, 옆에 선 나
You who shine, I stand next to you
...
So black, black as it can be
Like a black, black sorrow
A story of such woe.
...
그리고 너
To me you are
언제나 나에겐 너
To me, you are my
...
You are my
Black sorrow. ❞

Black Sorrow — PARK BYEONG HOON as "Ivan"
(from ALIEN STAGE)

—OVERD🍎SE—

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After a heated, cutting argument had splintered their unique and inseparable bond over a decade prior, the exceptional “Silver” and “Gold” (their antiquated student nicknames) were reunited by chance, following Alhaitham’s unexpected return to Sumeru. Once the best of friends and the keenest of bright minds during their Medical School days, they were an unmatched duo of impressive intellect and achievement...

Now, their past rift left behind —though still awkwardly left unaddressed — they’ve since rekindled their original dynamic in the workplace setting at SATH, solving the most perplexing of medical cases.