doctornota

[doctornota]

PLOTTER / RELATIONSHIP AD.

interested in forming a dynamic with bones? not sure where to go with it? down below you can find some ideas on how to jumpstart an interaction or develop a relationship with him! additionally, this post serves as a permanent starter call; by liking this post, you're basically saying you're cool with me jumping into your inbox on meme days. i may also reach out in dms or on discord to talk about thread ideas or touch base on where you'd like things to go between our muses.

brief cliffnotes: Leonard McCoy is a doctor, and that is the first and most important thing anyone will ever learn about him. he's also a scientist, a whiskey enthusiast, a father, and very, very divorced. he's abrasive, argumentative, and grouchy, with a fiery temper and a persistent anxiety towards most aspects of his life and everybody else's. he's also perhaps the most loyal member of the Enterprise crew and deeply empathetic: the medical work he cares so much about also regularly drives him to tears. get past his act and he's a good old fashioned romantic, a country boy, and very good at dispensing advice or just offering his company when it's needed.

COLLEAGUES & PATIENTS

For now, though he will likely eventually open up a private practice of some sort, McCoy works at one of the hospitals in the Golden Ward. Actually, he practically lives there. He feels the most at home when he's working, and because of his multidisciplinary background is experienced with just about every treatment under the sun. Back home, he spent his free time developing new surgical techniques and vaccines for dozens of different species. This is going to be the easiest way to run into him. Just know that if you bring in a long-term medical mystery he will absolutely take you on as a patient and do his level best to help to the point of being insufferable. He has a tendency to hover. Around other doctors and nurses, specifically, he is much more relaxed ( as relaxed as McCoy ever gets, of course ) as medicine is one of the easiest topics for him to talk about. You will learn more about him if you work with him than if you just try to approach him outside of the job.

FRIENDS

Although McCoy is perpetually grouchy, it's just a well-honed act he's very fond of putting on. Stick around him long enough and within just a week or two it's easy to see that the core of him doesn't lie far beneath the surface at all: he's a man who feels things very deeply and spends a lot of time worrying about the people he cares about. Because of that, he's incredibly loyal. It's difficult to lose his friendship once you've put the work into earning it. You'll need to be able to handle some verbal barbs - he loves arguing and complaining just for the fun of it, but despite all his whining will still willingly allow himself to be dragged around. He also loves a good drink and will hang around bars when he has free time. You can find him in the Golden Ward most frequently, as he lives and works there, but he's also fond of the beach when it's warm enough. If you're trying to take him anywhere, though, just know that it's going to be an uphill battle to get him to step foot into a car. He surprisingly thrives around people who are a little more impulsive, to balance out his tendency to fret and over-think. Spontaneous people who can push him out of his comfort zone and give him plenty of things to really bitch about, though if it leads into thrill-seeking just know you're going to get an earful every time you end up hurt. He's also pretty good at drawing quieter or more introspective people out of their shell and appreciates having someone calmer to turn to.

ENEMIES

Bones tries not to make snap judgments - he's had a low point or two throughout his life - even when people irritate or rub him the wrong way, so it genuinely takes real villainy to earn your way onto his shitlist. He doesn't tolerate purposeful pain being inflicted upon others, and most importantly won't stand for medical malpractice of any sort. He values his oath above just about everything else. He's not above getting into physical fights when he's standing up for something ( or someone ), or even just if someone ticks him off badly enough. However, he will try to avoid killing if at all possible.

RIVALS

As mentioned, Bones loves verbal sparring. Arguing, swapping insults, debating, writing scalding research papers back and forth... you name it, he feels most invigorated when he is engaging in someone that can match his level of intelligence and push back on his viewpoints. When he's interacting with his closest friends, it can be difficult for outsiders to tell if they dislike one another or not. It pushes him to reconsider his opinions and further his own critical thinking and research - this sort of dynamic works out well with other scientists or just headstrong opinionated people.

MENTEES

Bones is arguably one of the best doctors in Starfleet— Chief Medical Officer on the flagship throughout the duration of its entire five year mission. Though he doesn't have the personality of a teacher ( his temper flares too easily ), he's wholly devoted to the art of healing and would be completely invested if someone else wanted to learn medicine, or surgery, or xenobiology... listen, he's got a lot of specializations under his belt. If you can handle a Gordon Ramsay-esque approach to teaching, he's available.

FAMILIAL

Leonard has a complicated relationship with his own family, having cut himself off from most of them following the death of his father ( and being cut off from the other half following his divorce ). Still, he holds fond memories of them and is a family-oriented man - it's just shifted more to found family these days. Back home he has a daughter who he raised to age six, lost custody of, and rekindled a bond with now that she's a teenager: he's got a major soft spot for kids and is much kinder to them than he is to most other people. He was raised in rural Georgia and had a pretty traditional home life, but their doors were open to every neighborhood kid in a ten mile radius, so if you're close to him in a platonic or familial manner you can probably expect him to swing by to bring you dinner or let you crash at his place ( unfortunate news for anyone who might be rooming with him ) when needed.

LOVERS

Bones hasn't officially sworn off long-term commitment following his divorce ( which he swears he's over ), but he struggles deeply with the prospect of dating ( or, god forbid, marriage ). Because of that he'll rarely take that step unless the other person initiates it. He's more open to things on a casual level, though he's objectively terrible at flirting. And pretty bad at navigating that sort of thing in general; he catches deep feelings too easily.

[doctornota]

@maledinner

SO MAYBE IT'S TIME TO PUT MORE THAN JUST BEER IN THE FRIDGE.

Here's the thing: Leonard is perfectly fine with letting his own nutrition slip a little every now and then ( he's busy, this place is weird; he buys something from the break room vending machine every day and picks up food on the way home, so he's not doing too terribly ), but he draws the line when it comes to Jim. Jim, who went the long way back from class most days during the Academy to make sure Bones had bought himself a sandwich and stashed ration bars in his medical bag but was so damn sneaky all the time that Leonard could never quite figure out how the hell he was surviving. For somebody with what seemed to be such a deep-seated anxiety regarding food - the cause of which Leonard has never identified, but he's a doctor, not a psychologist - he was real damn evasive about his own habits.

They had worried about one another too often back then. It had gotten old fast. On the Enterprise, they ate most of their meals together. The replicators made it easy. Here? Christ alive, he's gonna have to pick up cooking again, if that's the only damn way to ensure they're both not regressing into starving alcoholics. It's been five years and some change since those days - he stands in the meat aisle with Spoogle results for easy cheap meals pulled up on his phone and wonders just how many ground beef-based dishes they can tolerate in the span of one week. He's there for a while, which is the only reason the other man in the aisle catches his attention at all.

He's been standing there even longer than Leonard has, hands folded behind his back, gaze intently focused on the refrigerated raw chicken. He watches him out of the corner of his eye; is he new around here? Just plain broke? He looks a little too well put together for either of those options.

"It all mostly tastes the same," Leonard advises him finally, because it's kind of weirding him out, and points to chicken breast and then chicken thigh to indicate what he's talking about. "Might as well just flip a coin for it. Or buy whatever's cheaper. That's my approach."

[doctornota]

BONES ISN'T SURE HOW MUCH MORE OBVIOUS he can make the warning signs short of building a big-ass, neon keep away; as if anybody hitting the bar at this early in the damn morning is in any sort of mood for conversation. But go figure Jim Kirk's the only human stupid enough to ignore that - he'd probably ignore the actual sign, too.

"Maybe by your standards." Bones snorts, not even acknowledging him with so much as a look, but he also doesn't shove him backwards off the bar stool so nobody can claim he's not merciful. "Don't you got a hot date to be on, or something? Whatever it is you usually do around here." He's only ever known Kirk as owner of a ship and a whole lot of shit to run away from, or towards, or wherever he's going - he struggles to envision what he does with his feet planted firmly on the ground like this and figures that frankly it isn't his business to worry about it.

Not Jim's business to worry about him, either, but here they are.

@doctornota liked for an event starter.

❛ Bones ? ❜ There's not another Krogan around , so it's not like he's hard to miss. He makes his way to the bar , sidling into one of the adjacent barstools. He taps his fingers against the bar's wooden surface , turning to look at him. For a split second , he swears he can put a human face to him like he's supposed to be one ―― brown hair and all. It's such an outrageous thought , however , that he just shakes his head.

❛ A little too early to be hitting the bar , don't you think ? ❜ It's hypocritical of him to ask and he knows it. It's even more hypocritical when he waves down the bartender to order a drink for himself.

[doctornota]

ALTERNATIVE ALLEGORY: MASS EFFECT.

a krogan doctor, which probably tells you all you need to know regarding how he feels about the state of his species

specialized in disease research but effectively gave up that pursuit after failing to save the life of his father. instead switched to field medicine, hopping ships and stations, but feeling unfulfilled with his work

met one jim kirk on the floor of a bar one day and allowed himself to be gaslit persuaded into joining his crew in exchange for unrestricted access to the ship's medical equipment

still a grumpy bastard, still a bleeding heart, now able to punch people through a wall. retains only the vaguest memories of his original universe, particularly the fact that he had a daughter

I'm also going to use this as a STARTER CALL for this event, capped at 3 for now!

[doctornota]

[ txt ] starfleet should not be keeping track of that and neither should you.

[ txt ] they gave me a hoverboard, so I don't see why they wouldn't give you a car

[ txt ] unless they suddenly get a whole lot nicer and decide to spare me the heart attack by banning you from the roads

[ txt ] and before you ask, I already gave the hoverboard away. you're not getting that

He knows him better than they'd both care to admit. It's not unlike their academy days where their dorm room's fridge only had beer in it for the first few months - the only difference this time being that they don't actually live together.

[ txt ] where's the fun in that

[ txt ] i swear i set a starfleet record. most shirts ripped in a single mission

It's not like he's going out of his way to rip his shirts. They just get caught in the crossfire. It happens.

[ txt ] i mean

[ txt ] compared to the real thing all of those racing games are kinda boring

[ txt ] but i guess it's the closest i'll get to driving a car

[ txt ] bones do you think i can get a car here. or a motorcycle.

[doctornota]

[ txt ] hilarious.

[ txt ] but yes

Well. Whiskey mostly. He'd needed something stronger upon first arriving. He kind of still needs a better supply or the strong shit, but there's plenty of bars around his apartment, for better or worse, so the need hasn't been that dire.

[ txt ] you know most people actually manage to go months if not years at a time without ripping any shirts

[ txt ] so not sure what the hell you're doing wrong

But then he asks that question often where Jim is concerned. For someone so competent he is, at times, shockingly bad at keeping himself in one piece.

[ txt ] air hockey? really? thought you'd be all over those racing games

[ txt ] what'd you do with that starter balance they gave us ? spend it all on beer ?

That's one of the good things about this place , he supposes. They gave them houses , a bit of money , food . . but that's the bare minimum , isn't it ? Besides , no matter how many good things about it there are - a cage is still a cage. That's something he tries not to think about too hard as he closes the door to his condo behind him.

[ txt ] great

[ txt ] might as well get it out of the way now. maybe once i have some new outfits i can rip the shirt for good times sake

Arcades. Now that's an archaic concept. But he'd be lying if he said the prospect didn't get him excited.

[ txt ] guess we'll find out. i've always wanted to try

[ txt ] what was it

[ txt ] air hockey

[doctornota]

HE ARCHES A BROW RIGHT BACK AT HIM. "SOMETHING LIKE THAT."

Hey, at least the guy's got a sense of humor. Better that than intense judgment ( and lord knows if Leonard was the one on the other side of this equation there would be intense judgment ). He gives him a scan up and down. Looks human, or at least humanoid enough - that's good, in the event he needs first aid. Seems friendly, which could go either way as there is most definitely such thing as too friendly in Leonard's book. And then the musician thing... ehhh.

"I'd make for a pretty piss-poor delivery boy," he informs him, smile tugging at just the corner of his lips. Yeah, Leonard decides, he's had worse roommates. "Leonard McCoy, and I'd say that one depends on how well our definitions of a good tune align, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt just on account of the hair."

...It is pretty great.

" Mmm? Hello- " Elijah stared at the man, a bit dumb founded. Okay, so his roommate was a bit of an alcoholic, or maybe he just didn't need to eat...? Either way, the bard rested his hands on his hips and raised a brow at the doctor. Well well, at least he was quite easy to look at. " Ah yes, truly the bachelor's life blood, yes ? "

...He definitely wasn't going to survive off of beer alone... and beer in cans no less! No class in this world it seems. Where does a bard have to go to get a proper barrel around here, yeesh.

" I can only assume you're the other fine occupant here, hm ? I can't imagine a delivery boy also putting things away... No matter, I am Elijah Torvis, and my friend, I do hope you enjoy a good tune every now and again, because I come with a knack for music, a fine lyre, and great hair. "

[doctornota]

Oh my god I can never let Jim meet this guy

[doctornota]

[ txt ] beyond me how you can even afford it. i was dead broke when i got here

He sends Jim over the address to one of the places he's been frequenting, which he hopes doesn't reveal too much about just how much he's been slacking in the nutrition department. In his defense, he's been digging his heels in, dead-set on not allowing this place to feel normal. The apartment can't be home, the kitchen can't be used - if he falls into a routine it'll be a little too real and up until now he couldn't bear the thought of that. Of really being stuck here, maybe forever. Rebuilding a life from scratch all over again. He didn't think he was going to survive the effort it took last time around— and last time around, Jim had been there.

[ txt ] i'm afraid you just sealed your fate. trust me, the uniforms get some Looks

[ txt ] you're lucky i like you enough to tolerate hitting a mall

And then, because Leonard could never claim to be anything but a complete and total pushover where Kirk is involved:

[ txt ] think they still have arcades here? place seems trapped in the past enough for it. i mean that's the thing you do when you visit malls, right

[ txt ] really? because you tell me i’m wrong at least once a day.

[ txt ] do you want free food or not

Jim’s already halfway out the door before he gets the confirmation - even if he didn’t say yes he would’ve been there anyways. He looks at his Starfleet uniform for a second. He really needs to invest in some normal clothes.

[ txt ] sounds good to me

He laughs. There’s a part of him that’s surprised that Bones isn’t afraid of toasters. Or microwaves.

[ txt ] if you want to do something boring i need to get some clothes. all i have right now is the uniform

[doctornota]

[ txt ] you're wrong about most things. i just try not to remind you to spare your ego

He leans back in his chair, runs his hands down his face, and resigns himself to the fact that he will not be getting any reading done for the better part of the day. Now where did he put his jacket...

[ txt ] what sort of man do you take me for that i can be bribed so easily

He locks the apartment door behind him, stares at the sky for a while in a silent prayer for insight into why exactly his willpower is equivalent to that of a wet paper towel where Jim Kirk is involved, and hopes Jim hasn't already run off to god-knows-where.

[ txt ] fine but i want curry

[ txt ] and whatever we do i am vetoing that stupid whateverspace thing, jim, i'm serious

[ txt ] with my luck they'd lose my body while i was in there and i'd have to live out the rest of my days inside a damn machine

[ txt ] i thought you could still be saved. guess i was wrong

There's nothing stopping him from just going over to Bones' apartment right now and dragging him out - but if there's one thing he hates as much as space itself , it's technology. And while Jim does derive great pleasure from annoying him , he knows better than to try and force him to do something he doesn't want to. Hell , they can't even get him on the transporter half the time.

[ txt ] riveting.

[ txt ] look. you come out and do something with me and i'll buy you lunch

[ txt ] deal?

[ txt ] you can even choose what it is what we do. i dont care

[doctornota]

[ txt ] and it took you this long to figure that out?

He's not even dignifying that one with a response. Actually, he very strongly debates just setting the phone aside and letting the conversation end here, because he's seen where this sort of thing leads and never enjoys the outcome ( which usually involves Jim in the hospital and Leonard with an incident report to fill out ). Small miracle that they're no longer in the Fleet - the report is no longer a contributing factor, but the hospitalization is most definitely still on the table.

Anyway, the only thing stopping him is the fact that Jim knows where he lives. He'd be prolonging the battle, not ending it; though, really, that's already what he's doing. He's never once come out victorious in this particular battle of wills.

[ txt ] i have two medical journals checked out from the library. you can borrow one. you love reading about myeloma

[ txt ] you're no fun

There's a simplicity to this that he deeply missed. Not the tormenting, ( although that was a bonus ) but just having Bones here. He never realized how much he had taken him for granted until he wasn't there.

[ txt ] a little danger is good for the soul bones

[ txt ] but FINE 🙄

[ txt ] if you don't like my ideas that much, what do YOU want to do

[doctornota]

[ txt ] I'm sorry which part of fuck no was unclear to you

How, he wonders, did he ever manage to trick himself into believing he missed this man. He frankly hasn't spent enough time appreciating just how nice it was to not get dragged into some Absolute Bullshit for a few short weeks.

[ txt ] you know I can't even count how many times you've told me that and it has literally never been true

[ txt ] and you've been here less than a week ffs you can't have a death wish already

[ txt ] this city is huge how are tennis and turning yourself over to digital overlords your only two ideas

@doctornota asked :

[ 𝒔𝒎𝒔 📲 ] HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

[ 𝒔𝒎𝒔 📲 ] fuck no 💀

[ txt ] come on, bones, i just wanna try it once

[ txt ] it's safe! i promise!

He absolutely isn't sure if it's safe or not. It's not like he read the fine print. All he knows is that it's like the holodeck , he needs some excitement , and he doesn't want to do it alone.

[ txt ] unless you'd rather play tennis instead

[doctornota]

THE NOISE HE MAKES IS DOUBTFUL, knocking his arm against Jim's as he stands. The faith might be misplaced in all regards, but the funny thing about Jim is that his confidence is almost enough to make Leonard believe in absolute off-the-wall bullshit most days. Maybe not in this - not in the notion that he could ever pull off half the shit Jim thinks he could pull off - but... hell, most things.

"Give it a week and that list is gonna be longer than you are tall, knowing you." But whatever keeps him occupied, he guesses. Leonard's certainly not going to complain if Federation tech starts hitting the markets around here. God, if he could take this hospital over— but first he may have to worry about Jim amassing a crew's worth of suckers to build the Enterprise 2.0, from the sound of it. "You know they still use money here, right? How well do you think building a starship pays?" He shakes his head. "Actually? Whatever your plan is there, I don't even want to know. I've got enough of a headache already."

But the reality is that Leonard barely uses his own income for a single goddamn thing, barely even uses it for food, so the employment thing is of lesser concern than the thought of Jim just never finding anything to do with himself and burning up while chasing whatever high he's after. Funny how often he has nightmares about that.

"Anyway, faith's got nothing to do with it, I've got ten years' worth of evidence of just how far you'll go to piss me off." Though it's a gross overstatement to say he'd even be too terribly annoyed with Jim crashing the place. His roommate might think differently, but it would be a damn near thing to home— closest they could possibly get without the Enterprise. Not much in Leonard's life has been constant, not for a real long time, but Jim is the exception. He gestures broadly towards the hallway of examination rooms as they leave the doorway. "And now I know you're here I'm setting aside a whole room. I know you."

He really had debated getting a biobed back home engraved with Kirk's name. He'd certainly earned it; the man seems perpetually dead-set on going out in a blaze of glory. Leonard supposes that's really the only way that would seem fitting - he can't imagine him wasting away like a caged animal, certainly. God, he hates this place. Leonard takes them out through the back to avoid having to say goodbye to any of his coworkers - actually, mostly to avoid Jim getting the chance to milk gossip out of any of his coworkers, thanks - and across the parking lot to the bustling sidewalk.

"You'll be missing the replicators sooner rather than later, believe me." At least then the quality was consistent, even if it just output those godawful little nutrient cubes half the time ( he swears they keep it on low-power mode on purpose just to piss him off ). "But I'll let you enjoy the novelty while it lasts. Now keep up or I'm ditching your ass, I've been craving onion rings all goddamn day."

Jim laughs , expression twisting to one of feigned shock. ❛ Really ? That's news to me. ❜

He supposes thoughtfulness really wasn't what they were going for here. If they were , they would have at least given them some sort of explanation as to why they were brought here in the first place. But no , instead they're just thrown into this place with no rhyme or reason and expected to live like normal. The thought is a little easier now that he knows he's not alone , but he is going to miss it. The Enterprise. The crew. Everything. ❛ If anyone can , it's you. ❜ He offers. The clinic is nothing compared to the Sickbay Bones is used to —— and yet Jim trusts him with outdated tools more than he does any other medical officer Starfleet or otherwise.

❛ Another thing to add to my list , then. I'm sure making a tricorder can't be too damn difficult. ❜ He went to the Academy for Command , not Engineering - and he hardly paid attention to the engineering courses he was forced to take. Still , he knew those devices. He's taken apart and put together a PADD or two in his time out of boredom. Tricorders are a bit more difficult than that , he reckons , but not impossible. A whole Starship is another story completely. ❛ I'm sure I could get some help. ❜ That's not even taking into account the materials or the technology needed to make one. But , hey , he has plenty of time to figure that out.

What else is there to do with his time ? Explore the city , sure , but the novelty of that will wear out fast. He knows that there's at least bars to keep himself occupied with - although he should probably pick a different one next time. It's funny how these things work out : he loses his command and immediately reverts back to his days before the Academy. Getting drunk and picking fights. So much for making his father proud.

❛ I'll hold you to that. ❜ McCoy turning back for him was the first time in Jim's life that someone had actually stayed. His brother left , his mom was in space , his dad . . . Leonard was something special. A constant. He's not sure what he would do without him now. ❛ You really have that little faith in me ? ❜ He stands after he's clapped on the shoulder. It's about time they got out of here - it probably could've taken half the time if he wasn't so dead set on scolding him every time he got a new bruise.

❛ A little spontaneity never hurt anyone. Besides , not having a spot reserved for me was just poor planning. ❜ His eyebrows raise at the offer. ❛ An honest to god , non - replicated cheeseburger ? You don't have to ask me twice. ❜

[doctornota]

@astrallithid liked for a starter

"I HOPE YOU'RE NOT PLANNING ON GOING OUT THERE."

Leonard has never seen this man before in his life, but Kirk's got him trained like a dog: he can recognize that look in the eye from a mile away, the brewings of what just might be a bad idea, or at very least the inclination to get up and out and go. Most starship captains have it. It's enough to make him pause.

The other stands on a dock right up near the boat rentals, further down the beach than Leonard usually bothers going, but the shore reminds him of home - after long shifts it's a surefire way to clear his head. He keeps off the dock, himself, not too keen on standing right out over the water like that, but projects his voice from the sand enough to be heard.

"Water's chock-full of whirlpools," which just tracks for a place like this, doesn't it? God forbid anything be easy. "I wouldn't count on a boat to make it over, or down, or wherever the hell folks try and get to in one piece."

[doctornota]

Kirk, James T. He’s not cleared for duty aboard the Enterprise.

[doctornota]

LEONARD WAVES A DISMISSIVE HAND, turning in a circle to survey the place wall to ceiling. "Ah, it's not so bad in here. I've fixed up worse." Even before the Enterprise, whose mission often involves lingering behind to help clean up after... well, whatever went wrong. "I'm no - what, what'd you say? Blood fiend?" Whatever the hell kind of species that is, "but I'm not stupid, either." Not stupid enough to get injured, at least. Historically, he's got a pretty good track record where that's concerned.

Back in the day, his mother was a firm believer in community service. That and it helped having a doctor around when one of them inevitably got banged up trying to help repair storm damage or raise a barn. The McCoy family was often caught in construction projects of one kind or another. This place is dirty as all get out, but he's not spotting any immediate hazards; if the fellow's been walking around cleaning in here, clearly the floorboards are at least stable enough to hold a man.

"You need a hand?" He's heard dozens of claims just like that one, folks boasting that it's just plain impossible for them to get hurt. He doesn't believe it for a second, so yes, he'd feel better if somebody with a first aid kit hung around for a while. And he really wouldn't object to being put to work. "Looks like a big job for one person."

"It is fine! Bloodfiends such as myself cannot become injured by a mere building."

Curiambo himself is decked with cleaning supplies, the overwhelming smell of cleaning items as he washed and dusted with a face mask on. One to cover his nose and the other was...to not smell fresh, fresh blood coming from the other person. After all he was just so thirsty right now...

Resist, even if father is not here you must resist.

"Please do be careful, if you were to get hurt...I wouldn't be able to forgive myself."

[doctornota]

PLOTTER / RELATIONSHIP AD.

interested in forming a dynamic with bones? not sure where to go with it? down below you can find some ideas on how to jumpstart an interaction or develop a relationship with him! additionally, this post serves as a permanent starter call; by liking this post, you're basically saying you're cool with me jumping into your inbox on meme days. i may also reach out in dms or on discord to talk about thread ideas or touch base on where you'd like things to go between our muses.

brief cliffnotes: Leonard McCoy is a doctor, and that is the first and most important thing anyone will ever learn about him. he's also a scientist, a whiskey enthusiast, a father, and very, very divorced. he's abrasive, argumentative, and grouchy, with a fiery temper and a persistent anxiety towards most aspects of his life and everybody else's. he's also perhaps the most loyal member of the Enterprise crew and deeply empathetic: the medical work he cares so much about also regularly drives him to tears. get past his act and he's a good old fashioned romantic, a country boy, and very good at dispensing advice or just offering his company when it's needed.

COLLEAGUES & PATIENTS

For now, though he will likely eventually open up a private practice of some sort, McCoy works at one of the hospitals in the Golden Ward. Actually, he practically lives there. He feels the most at home when he's working, and because of his multidisciplinary background is experienced with just about every treatment under the sun. Back home, he spent his free time developing new surgical techniques and vaccines for dozens of different species. This is going to be the easiest way to run into him. Just know that if you bring in a long-term medical mystery he will absolutely take you on as a patient and do his level best to help to the point of being insufferable. He has a tendency to hover. Around other doctors and nurses, specifically, he is much more relaxed ( as relaxed as McCoy ever gets, of course ) as medicine is one of the easiest topics for him to talk about. You will learn more about him if you work with him than if you just try to approach him outside of the job.

FRIENDS

Although McCoy is perpetually grouchy, it's just a well-honed act he's very fond of putting on. Stick around him long enough and within just a week or two it's easy to see that the core of him doesn't lie far beneath the surface at all: he's a man who feels things very deeply and spends a lot of time worrying about the people he cares about. Because of that, he's incredibly loyal. It's difficult to lose his friendship once you've put the work into earning it. You'll need to be able to handle some verbal barbs - he loves arguing and complaining just for the fun of it, but despite all his whining will still willingly allow himself to be dragged around. He also loves a good drink and will hang around bars when he has free time. You can find him in the Golden Ward most frequently, as he lives and works there, but he's also fond of the beach when it's warm enough. If you're trying to take him anywhere, though, just know that it's going to be an uphill battle to get him to step foot into a car. He surprisingly thrives around people who are a little more impulsive, to balance out his tendency to fret and over-think. Spontaneous people who can push him out of his comfort zone and give him plenty of things to really bitch about, though if it leads into thrill-seeking just know you're going to get an earful every time you end up hurt. He's also pretty good at drawing quieter or more introspective people out of their shell and appreciates having someone calmer to turn to.

ENEMIES

Bones tries not to make snap judgments - he's had a low point or two throughout his life - even when people irritate or rub him the wrong way, so it genuinely takes real villainy to earn your way onto his shitlist. He doesn't tolerate purposeful pain being inflicted upon others, and most importantly won't stand for medical malpractice of any sort. He values his oath above just about everything else. He's not above getting into physical fights when he's standing up for something ( or someone ), or even just if someone ticks him off badly enough. However, he will try to avoid killing if at all possible.

RIVALS

As mentioned, Bones loves verbal sparring. Arguing, swapping insults, debating, writing scalding research papers back and forth... you name it, he feels most invigorated when he is engaging in someone that can match his level of intelligence and push back on his viewpoints. When he's interacting with his closest friends, it can be difficult for outsiders to tell if they dislike one another or not. It pushes him to reconsider his opinions and further his own critical thinking and research - this sort of dynamic works out well with other scientists or just headstrong opinionated people.

MENTEES

Bones is arguably one of the best doctors in Starfleet— Chief Medical Officer on the flagship throughout the duration of its entire five year mission. Though he doesn't have the personality of a teacher ( his temper flares too easily ), he's wholly devoted to the art of healing and would be completely invested if someone else wanted to learn medicine, or surgery, or xenobiology... listen, he's got a lot of specializations under his belt. If you can handle a Gordon Ramsay-esque approach to teaching, he's available.

FAMILIAL

Leonard has a complicated relationship with his own family, having cut himself off from most of them following the death of his father ( and being cut off from the other half following his divorce ). Still, he holds fond memories of them and is a family-oriented man - it's just shifted more to found family these days. Back home he has a daughter who he raised to age six, lost custody of, and rekindled a bond with now that she's a teenager: he's got a major soft spot for kids and is much kinder to them than he is to most other people. He was raised in rural Georgia and had a pretty traditional home life, but their doors were open to every neighborhood kid in a ten mile radius, so if you're close to him in a platonic or familial manner you can probably expect him to swing by to bring you dinner or let you crash at his place ( unfortunate news for anyone who might be rooming with him ) when needed.

LOVERS

Bones hasn't officially sworn off long-term commitment following his divorce ( which he swears he's over ), but he struggles deeply with the prospect of dating ( or, god forbid, marriage ). Because of that he'll rarely take that step unless the other person initiates it. He's more open to things on a casual level, though he's objectively terrible at flirting. And pretty bad at navigating that sort of thing in general; he catches deep feelings too easily.