[Palamedes repeats this point flatly, his lips pressing into a thin line. This really isn’t the time, but Emperor almighty, he would very much like to knock Natsuno and Clarke’s heads together.
And the worst part? He isn’t even that surprised.
Natsuno’s biology is absolutely wild; Pal has studied his blood enough to understand the basics, but this is a whole other level. He just has to hope that he can apply the same kind of pressure to his immune system that he would to a person to give his body the extra protection it needs to survive this.]
[It sure was Ebalon's, and Rita's determined to have some words with Clarke about this.
Later, though, because despite her words, she's concerned about Natsuno's state first and foremost, and so she hovers close by, her foot starting to tap with worry and impatience. Can anything be done to help him?]
[His friends are absolutely dunking on him over his sick bed and Natsuno agrees. He would honestly prefer Rita to hit him because that would mean he's recovering.
Luckily, Pal's efforts are successful. Natsuno's body reacts to necromancy like it did to the sun el, and the magical wine from months ago. He takes a deep breath - just one, to get the air he needs to speak.]
[The glowing doesn’t dissipate, but it seems to dim. Palamedes can feel Natsuno’s temperature dropping, fraction of a degree by fraction of a degree, but stopping it from going back up still takes effort. Like Natsuno’s body, Palamedes’ necromancy is fighting a tide that hasn’t given up yet.]
Good. You’re doing an excellent job, Yuuki. Keep up the slow breaths.
[Better. That one simple word brings some relief to her anxiety, and her foot stops tapping as she glances between Natsuno and Palamedes. Although impatient for details, she doesn't ask Pal anything that could interrupt his concentration. No, better to let him keep doing whatever it is he's doing.
She'd touch Natsuno, smooth his hair away from his face, if only she was certain it wouldn't affect Palamedes' magic. And since she isn't certain, she instead just leans a little closer to talk to him.]
Hang in there. I know it hurts, but keep telling us if you feel any different, okay?
Hey- [So much for not interrupting Pal, but as soon as the thought enters her mind, she has to ask-] He's in a lot of pain. Can't you...I don't know, do something for his nerves, or...?
[He obediently keeps up the slow breaths, not because he needs them but because it might help ease a fraction of Rita and Pal's concern, and because it makes Natsuno feel less of a freak.
He looks up at Rita and nods. Yeah, he'll tell them. When she suggests Pal does something for his nerves, he manages:]
[Maybe Natsuno doesn’t need to breathe, but taking breaths gives him something to focus on—and yes, it makes both Pal and Rita feel a hell of a lot better about the situation. He keeps his voice low as he answers Rita.]
Pain receptors are difficult. But I can try.
[As he continues to concentrate, he can feel blood sweat prickling along his hairline, and eventually a nosebleed start up. That isn’t ideal, but it also isn’t unprecedented. It also gives Palamedes an idea.]
Yuuki, would blood help? A donation, let’s say. [Half to himself, he adds] If I’m going to be losing it anyway, it may as well go to some use.
[Both his continued slow breaths and the nod do bring Rita some relief, small as it is. He's responding and he's moving. He's alive. Her fidgeting is small but clear, fingers curling and uncurling for lack of anything else to do but watch and worry.
At the mention of blood, though, she glances to Palamedes--she hasn't typically watching him in action, considering how she's felt about his magic up until now, after all.]
[His nostrils flare at the scent of Pal's blood. Natsuno is getting hungry burning his body's resources to fight off the sun El's effects. Blood would help a lot, but...]
...Coffee machine. Not yours.
[He's not going to feed on a human, even if they are willing. He won't act like a rabid monster.]
[Sometimes Palamedes forgets just how little Rita knows about his abilities, particularly compared to the other people in their shared tight-knit circle. The girl doesn’t always pay the best attention.] I’ll explain later.
[He considers arguing with Natsuno, but in the end decides they don’t have the time.] Rita, would you mind?
[She can surmise that it has to do with his powers, at least--boy, they just get freakier the more she hears about them, don't they? But it's also whatever right now, because Natsuno would be her priority over Palamedes' weird death stuff even at the best of times, but especially now.
And oh, Natsuno... She's already straightening up even before Palamedes asks.]
Geez, you're so stubborn... [She says it softly to Natsuno, even as she gets why. She can only hope that one day, they'll get him to see that his well-being matters way more to them than what he eats.] Alright, I'll be back as soon as I can. Hang in there, okay?
[Her gaze lingers on him a moment longer before she glances to Pal and gives him an awkward nod. They may not get along all that well, but at least...she doesn't have any worries about leaving Natsuno to him. So, with that, she's out the door--and dashing for the buffet.]
[He nods again and closes his eyes. Seems like he's going to keep calm and focus on breathing.
That's the plan, at least. A couple of minutes after Rita's steps fade away, Natsuno leans over to throw up more glowing slime into a trash bin. His eyes open to make sure he doesn't miss, and they are definitely glowing like miniature suns.]
[Okay, that was gross, but also…kind of interesting? Palamedes isn’t quite so committed to the spirit of scientific discovery to peer at the slimy contents of the trash bin, but he does make a mental note to add causes the subject to expel glowing bile to his inevitable write-up of the entire event.
The glowing eyes, meanwhile, are downright freaky. When Natsuno lies back down again, Palamedes speaks.] Yuuki, tell me, are you still able to see? Does everything look as it normally should?
[Palamedes is interested in the answer, but more than that, he hopes that describing his symptoms might distract Natsuno from his pain. So much of their friendship has been built around cataloging observations about the strange world they find themselves in, so what better way could Pal have to engage him now?]
All right. That's a little better. Keep your eyes closed. [Pal glances towards the door, worry creeping onto his features despite his best efforts.] Rita should be back soon.
[It takes her a bit of time to return; for all that she dashes to the buffet until she's gasping, she can't do the same on the way back--not when it would spill the blood she collected from the coffee machine. So she has to settle for something between jogging and speedwalking.
Return she does, though, quickly shoving the cabin door open and striding in with a breathless-]
How is he?
[She sets the tray she's carrying on the nightstand, because no, she didn't bring just one cup. She brought several. And a little pile of plastic drink straws. She opens the lid of one, drops a straw in, and crouches near Natsuno's head--ignoring the glow coming from the wastebasket--as she brings the warm cup near his mouth.]
Here, drink up...as much as you need. I brought plenty.
[Holding the blood with one hand, her other hand reaches out to smooth hair out of his face.]
[He keeps his eyes closed like Pal instructed, but attempts to sit up the moment Rita arrives with the tray. Natsuno can smell the blood coming from multiple cups, and the more he smells the more he realizes that he's starving. The only reason he waits for Rita to bring the cup over instead of reaching out for the nightstand is that he's too weak. Instead he turns his face in the direction of the scent, shaking with hunger, pain and shame.
It's a very empty hunger. No one can resist it for long.
He sighs softly when Rita strokes his hair. After a bit of fumbling with the straw, Natsuno drains the cup in a few large gulps. The blood sooths his burning throat like cold water in a desert. It's makes him feel a bit better, but still not enough.]
Hanging in there. Too stubborn not to be, if you ask me. [He flashes Rita a tiny smile and moves out of the way so that she can see to Natsuno. At this point, the blood will probably do more to heal him than he can.]
[She doesn't spare Palamedes a glance, although she does give him a quick response-] Good. He doesn't give up.
[Any relief is still tempered by just how painful it is to see him shaking, but with another stroke of her thumb over his cheek, she nods and quickly swaps the straw to a new cup, which she offers him. The back of her hand brushes his forehead to see if there's any improvement in his temperature, and she keeps talking to him gently.]
Here you go. Be as greedy as you want. You're allowed when you're sick.
[And here is Rita's hypocrisy in action: Palamedes' blood magic is still gross and creepy, but Natsuno having to drink blood to feel better? Not even worth a second thought.]
[Rita's gentle, loving touch only makes him more ashamed. It feels like he doesn't deserve such sweetness when he's downing cup after cup of human blood. Still, there's no denying it's helping: Natsuno's shivering less and less with every cup and while the fever doesn't break, it's at least what you'd expect from a normal, non-life threatening disease. If Pal's checking, it doesn't seem like it will spike any time soon.]
...thank you.
[He tries to open his eyes - no glowing, though he's still nauseous.]
[In any other circumstances, Palamedes might have noted Rita’s hypocrisy, but here and now he doesn’t even notice it, his focus entirely on Natsuno. He nods encouragingly as his friend drinks, periodically reaching with light fingers to feel his pulse and check his temperature. Gradually, he’s stabilizing. For the first time since he entered the cabin, Pal allows some of the tension to leave his body.]
Good, good. Now rest, Yuuki. For at least twenty-four hours, and then we can re-assess the situation.
Agreed. [Palamedes glances at Rita] Text me if there’s any change. [He can only hope she listens; either way, he will be coming back in a few hours to check in.
Gently, a little awkwardly, Pal pats Rita on the shoulder. Then he turns to go. There isn’t much more he can do here, and Rita and Natsuno deserve their privacy.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
neverleave) wrote2022-03-03 11:35 pm
no subject
[Palamedes repeats this point flatly, his lips pressing into a thin line. This really isn’t the time, but Emperor almighty, he would very much like to knock Natsuno and Clarke’s heads together.
And the worst part? He isn’t even that surprised.
Natsuno’s biology is absolutely wild; Pal has studied his blood enough to understand the basics, but this is a whole other level. He just has to hope that he can apply the same kind of pressure to his immune system that he would to a person to give his body the extra protection it needs to survive this.]
no subject
[It sure was Ebalon's, and Rita's determined to have some words with Clarke about this.
Later, though, because despite her words, she's concerned about Natsuno's state first and foremost, and so she hovers close by, her foot starting to tap with worry and impatience. Can anything be done to help him?]
no subject
Luckily, Pal's efforts are successful. Natsuno's body reacts to necromancy like it did to the sun el, and the magical wine from months ago. He takes a deep breath - just one, to get the air he needs to speak.]
Better.
no subject
Good. You’re doing an excellent job, Yuuki. Keep up the slow breaths.
no subject
She'd touch Natsuno, smooth his hair away from his face, if only she was certain it wouldn't affect Palamedes' magic. And since she isn't certain, she instead just leans a little closer to talk to him.]
Hang in there. I know it hurts, but keep telling us if you feel any different, okay?
Hey- [So much for not interrupting Pal, but as soon as the thought enters her mind, she has to ask-] He's in a lot of pain. Can't you...I don't know, do something for his nerves, or...?
no subject
He looks up at Rita and nods. Yeah, he'll tell them. When she suggests Pal does something for his nerves, he manages:]
Colder. Nothing permanent.
no subject
Pain receptors are difficult. But I can try.
[As he continues to concentrate, he can feel blood sweat prickling along his hairline, and eventually a nosebleed start up. That isn’t ideal, but it also isn’t unprecedented. It also gives Palamedes an idea.]
Yuuki, would blood help? A donation, let’s say. [Half to himself, he adds] If I’m going to be losing it anyway, it may as well go to some use.
no subject
At the mention of blood, though, she glances to Palamedes--she hasn't typically watching him in action, considering how she's felt about his magic up until now, after all.]
If it helps, I--wait, why are you losing blood?
no subject
...Coffee machine. Not yours.
[He's not going to feed on a human, even if they are willing. He won't act like a rabid monster.]
no subject
[He considers arguing with Natsuno, but in the end decides they don’t have the time.] Rita, would you mind?
no subject
And oh, Natsuno... She's already straightening up even before Palamedes asks.]
Geez, you're so stubborn... [She says it softly to Natsuno, even as she gets why. She can only hope that one day, they'll get him to see that his well-being matters way more to them than what he eats.] Alright, I'll be back as soon as I can. Hang in there, okay?
[Her gaze lingers on him a moment longer before she glances to Pal and gives him an awkward nod. They may not get along all that well, but at least...she doesn't have any worries about leaving Natsuno to him. So, with that, she's out the door--and dashing for the buffet.]
no subject
That's the plan, at least. A couple of minutes after Rita's steps fade away, Natsuno leans over to throw up more glowing slime into a trash bin. His eyes open to make sure he doesn't miss, and they are definitely glowing like miniature suns.]
no subject
The glowing eyes, meanwhile, are downright freaky. When Natsuno lies back down again, Palamedes speaks.] Yuuki, tell me, are you still able to see? Does everything look as it normally should?
[Palamedes is interested in the answer, but more than that, he hopes that describing his symptoms might distract Natsuno from his pain. So much of their friendship has been built around cataloging observations about the strange world they find themselves in, so what better way could Pal have to engage him now?]
no subject
Reporting his condition though, that's a welcome distraction. Dissociate, pretend it's someone else's body burning up from the inside.]
I can see, but. It's bright. Like a filter. Hurts my eyes.
no subject
no subject
Like turning your head to the sun.
no subject
no subject
Return she does, though, quickly shoving the cabin door open and striding in with a breathless-]
How is he?
[She sets the tray she's carrying on the nightstand, because no, she didn't bring just one cup. She brought several. And a little pile of plastic drink straws. She opens the lid of one, drops a straw in, and crouches near Natsuno's head--ignoring the glow coming from the wastebasket--as she brings the warm cup near his mouth.]
Here, drink up...as much as you need. I brought plenty.
[Holding the blood with one hand, her other hand reaches out to smooth hair out of his face.]
no subject
It's a very empty hunger. No one can resist it for long.
He sighs softly when Rita strokes his hair. After a bit of fumbling with the straw, Natsuno drains the cup in a few large gulps. The blood sooths his burning throat like cold water in a desert. It's makes him feel a bit better, but still not enough.]
More...
no subject
no subject
[Any relief is still tempered by just how painful it is to see him shaking, but with another stroke of her thumb over his cheek, she nods and quickly swaps the straw to a new cup, which she offers him. The back of her hand brushes his forehead to see if there's any improvement in his temperature, and she keeps talking to him gently.]
Here you go. Be as greedy as you want. You're allowed when you're sick.
[And here is Rita's hypocrisy in action: Palamedes' blood magic is still gross and creepy, but Natsuno having to drink blood to feel better? Not even worth a second thought.]
no subject
...thank you.
[He tries to open his eyes - no glowing, though he's still nauseous.]
no subject
Good, good. Now rest, Yuuki. For at least twenty-four hours, and then we can re-assess the situation.
replies in the right spot this time...
She glances to Palamedes, then back to Natsuno.]
...Thanks...for coming so quickly.
[And as if she wants to get past the fact she just thanked Pal as quickly as possible, she immediately follows it up with-]
I'm gonna stay here. If anything happens, I... I just think he shouldn't be alone.
Re: replies in the right spot this time...
Gently, a little awkwardly, Pal pats Rita on the shoulder. Then he turns to go. There isn’t much more he can do here, and Rita and Natsuno deserve their privacy.]