exsilium | four; video

[There's been a tremendous spike in patients recently, and the influx is only worsening as the days pass. The clinic doesn't have a robust staff as it is, so Adrasteius--and probably anyone else on the roster--is more than a little overworked. His expression over the feed is harried, haggard, and more than a little frustrated. Normally, diseases wither into nothing under the influence of the Light, but this illness has proved alarmingly resistant. He can treat the symptoms well enough, but the sickness itself keeps surviving. It would drive him to drink, if he even had time.]

This situation is getting out of hand. If you're still able, and you have the skill, the clinic needs you. I don't just mean healing skill, either--we need people to run supplies, prepare food, organize files, maintain records, all that sort of thing. Just tell me what you're able to do and I'll find you a place.

[Adrasteius runs a hand over his tired face, but his eyes are as bright and steady as ever. They might be bogged down, but he's damn sure not going to turn anyone away--not until taking in more people becomes unsafe.]

And if you think whatever this damn thing is has gotten hold of you, come see us. Not just because we aren't the Initiative--but because even their hospital is probably overflowing. We're busy, but we've still got clean beds and I'm still going to take care of you. I can't eliminate the disease, but I can mitigate whatever pain you're feeling, at least.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Oh, that's definitely not good.]

Catsovi? You sound like hell.

[ uwwrghhhh. Cat's got a sore throat that's thoroughly destroyed his voice and the beginnings of a fever. He is not happy about any of this. ]

Do I? I didn't notice. Will you come over?

[He'd tell Cat to just come to the clinic, but the man really does sound terrible. He tarries for a while, attending to various things, and replies about ten minutes later.]

All right. I'll be there shortly.

[It's another ten minutes before he's knocking at the door.]

[ Ten minutes? Ten whole minutes? Catsovi nearly tears his hair out in the meanwhile. He doesn't send a reply to Adrasteius, though he does scream at the tablet-- 'Be here now!'

However, he's composed himself by the time Adrasteius knocks. Cat opens the door for Adra as soon as the first knock lands, leaning heavily upon the handle. He grins, his face pale, his hair sticking to his forehead. ]

Ooh, doctor. I don't feel well.

[He can't even scowl at Catsovi's theatrics--the man really does look awful. Adra steps forward in alarm, setting the back of his hand against Cat's forehead. Burning.]

You are mostly certainly not well. Come on, back into bed.

[ The eye etched onto his forehead pulses just once as Adrasteius touches it, then dulls back again. Cat himself doesn't even flinch. In fact, he leans against Adra's palm. ]

Yes.... [ Cat nods in agreement. He doesn't have the energy to be any more dramatic about it. Going back to bed does sound like a good idea. He steps back, nearly tripping over himself. ] Oh... I haven't been sick like this for ages.

[Adra takes hold of Cat's elbow to steady him, helping him along until they've reached Catsovi's ('Catsovi's') bed. The image of that eye pulsing stays in the back of Adra's mind, but he can't address it right now. He's far too worried about the situation at hand.

Once Cat's got into the bed, Adra presses a Light-limned palm to his cheek. Soothing energy flows from his palm and into Cat's body--it's not going to cure anything, but it will lessen the aches, the pains, the fatigue.]

You and everybody else.

[ His bed. Come on, please, it wasn't like Bariyan was using it anyway.

Cat all but rolls onto the mattress, curling up on his side. He grabs at Adrasteius' hand as Adra touches him, clinging to it, basking in the soothe. Yes, sure, he'd spouted all that crap about how Adra shouldn't give so much of himself for the sake of others -- but unsaid was the sentiment that Catsovi wouldn't mind at all if Adrasteius opened a vein for him. Catsovi's important, after all. ]

Ahh.... [ Cat closes his eyes, coughs. ] No, I mean... I don't usually get sick at all. It's the immortality. Part of it, I believe.

[Adra's not sure about that, but he's keeping his hand where it is, in any case, and continues to channel the Light. A worried frown creases his brow as Cat reminds him of the immortality thing.]

Right. That's--that's concerning. [he shakes his head, his deep voice scratchy with the weariness he feels.] I've never seen a disease like this before.

No? What's different about it? [ Cat shivers. He feels much better, but he still doesn't feel well. But he never feels well. This sickness has just brought all his wretchedness to the surface. Now he feels delirious, feverish, angry. And he thirsts, suddenly, jealousy and loathing welling up in him all at once. He wants Adrasteius to go away and he wants to keep Adrasteius for himself.

He starts to dig his nails into Adra's wrist. ] I don't know... I haven't been following....

[Okay--that--that hurts a bit. Adra winces, but he doesn't move his hand. In fact, he sets his still-free hand against Cat's other cheek.]

Well, for starters, I can usually clear away any illness without a problem. But I only seem able to treat the symptoms of this disease--not the root cause.

Root cause... those are usually difficult to dig up, aren't they? [ Catsovi laughs, weakly, for no reason. He lets go of Adrasteius's wrist.

This doesn't feel too bad. Catsovi likes having his face held. It's like a physical assurance that right now, the only thing Adrasteius is thinking about is Cat; a thought that Cat is more than willing to entertain.

He stares back at Adrasteius with all three of his eyes and smiles. ]

I feel much better.

Especially in this case ...

[Adrasteius really wants to ask about the third eye, but now doesn't seem like an appropriate time. The thing is unnerving the fuck out of him, though.

He keeps channeling for a few moments more, and then finally he steps back.]

But--good. Try to stay in bed and rest. I'll bring you some soup this evening, all right?

[ Catsovi nearly snatches at him, nearly drags him back. Cat wants to. He wants to break Adrasteius, crack his bones open, make him weep, he wants to wake up from the daze of this illness with Adrasteius' blood in his mouth and Adrasteius' goddamn skin plastered all over the walls--

--but now is not the time. It is too early. And Catsovi is too weak.

He mumbles curses, grabs for a pillow instead. ]

Yes. [ Maybe he will stay in bed. For a while, at least. He doesn't hurt quite so badly anymore so maybe he can sleep, now, yes-- sleep-- that sounds lovely. Cat buries his face into the pillow. ] Don't get sick, doctor....

[Those intentions are all a mystery to Adra, of course. He touches the back of Cat's head gently, one more time, before leaving.]

I'll do my best.

[ Catsovi shudders. That touch angers him with its well-intentioned gentleness and so it lingers with him long after Adrasteius leaves, long after Cat falls asleep, colors his dreams with half-remembered memories of a better time, when happiness did not seem quite so alien a concept....

But Cat's never put any stock in his dreams and he never remembers them upon awakening, anyway. When he wakes up, he wakes up sweating and shivering and still sick, and he wakes up thinking about murder. ]

four; video

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject