Carry your tombstone like a backpack

"But you work in a hospital?" Aiden laughed. It wasn't a cruel laugh, just one from someone who appreciated irony. "That takes considerable skill, and you hold such powers of life and death in your hands. You are indeed an interesting woman, Ekaterina. I suppose we all want what we can't have, though."

Aiden shook his head.

"Unfortunately, none of my own. My brother, however, was suffering from lycanthropy. I ended up here for a medical internship since I already knew of the abilities people could experience." Aiden made a motion like he was popping open a soda can. "Once that can of worms was opened, everything changed."

"Have you always lived on the island?"

"We came here around the same time, or so it seems," Aiden said. "I was originally from the United States. I've always wanted to see St.Petersburg, though. The archetecture is supposed to be amazing."

Aiden shook his head. "Bitten. We thought it was rabies at first, but when you walk in on your brother and see him turn into something else...well it can make even skeptics doubt."

He hesitated outside an office door. "Say, would you like to join me for a cup of coffee? I don't feel like finishing this paperwork yet and some human conversation has been nice."

"Do you feel like cafeteria coffee or going down the street for some?" Aiden asked. "I'll buy if we go out. They have something nice, with extra whip cream if you're into that kind of drink."

"Fair enough," Aiden said, giving a laugh. "I find it that coffee always tastes better when shared with someone, so the location--or the whip cream--doesn't matter as much. There shouldn't be so many people at this time, either, thank god. I am not so patient when it comes to a line separating me from my coffee."

He laughed and then asked, "Have you ever tried the cafeteria's "noodle salad"?"