[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.]
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neverleave) wrote2022-03-03 11:35 pm
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[He considers arguing with Natsuno, but in the end decides they don’t have the time.] Rita, would you mind?
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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.]
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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.]
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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?]
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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.
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Like turning your head to the sun.
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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.]
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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...
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[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.]
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...thank you.
[He tries to open his eyes - no glowing, though he's still nauseous.]
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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.]