recommence | [VIDEO] get that boy some citrus

Entry tags:

[VIDEO] get that boy some citrus

H-hey, guys! Long time, uh. Long time no se-- chat. Sorry I've been... quiet.

[Ben... you know, he never looks GREAT, but he looks a lot less great than usual. He's got a deep, black bruise on his cheekbone, but it isn't swollen at all... if anything, he looks more gaunt than usual. For a guy that's maybe a hundred and forty pounds sopping wet, it's a little scary. The lights in his room are pretty low, but he's back lit by his porthole window.]

Question for the masses: is, um, i-is everyone feeling all right? I've, uh. Kinda been hiding out because I felt under the weather, but... I thought I'd sleep it off, and it never... really, um. Offed.

I started to think, I, um. You know, hadn't... airwaves've been kinda quiet? And I was worried. Maybe there's something going around, and that's... I dunno. I, I, um. Sorta. I f-fell earlier, and normally I don't bruise, but, uh.

[He gestures at the black patch on his face. He is telling the truth, at least. Mostly.]

If anyone, um. Needs me, I'll-- I'm in the library. Or, will be. Just. Diagnosing.

[He doesn't want to bother poor Kenna and he hasn't heard from Carter, so... off to solve his own problems like the idiot he is! The feed clicks off.

And clicks back on not a minute later.]

...I just realized I've been here seven months? does that mean my birthday's soon? I have to do the math...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[That comment about bruising was certainly interesting, even if he couldn't see it decently on the communicator's screen. When he speaks, he sounds quite curious.]

Is that so? Must be a handy ability to not bruise from much -- unless you landed on some sort of object with a lot more force than you expected. [Or was hurt by some sort of weakness.]

As for your question... I've been feeling quite fine. [That's because you died back in December, San. Even though he was redeveloping the same symptoms as before.] Although I almost thought I was alone on this ship with the crew and the mindless minions.

It's-- I mean, yeah, it's normally handy. But when it isn't there, it means something's screwy, and I can't figure out if it's... j-just me, and my weirdness, or something affecting more people.

Other than the loneliness, I'm glad you're okay, though.

[Beat.]

It has been very quiet around here lately, hasn't it? I haven't-- haven't seen the crew much, either...

I don't think it is just you. A few abilities of my own seem hindered since I've arrived. [There's a flash of annoyance in his voice, but he covers it with a scoff.] Then again, this boat is quite unusual.

Thanks. [A chuckle is heard.] One could say that this place became a 'ghost ship' with the lack of presence on board.

[Don't mind him as he suddenly changes subjects.]

...Have you seen anyone about your bruise?

Wh-what are you missing? The only way it's really gotten to me is, it's, uh. When I change, it, the aches last longer and I'm more tired. But, I'm... you know, approximately as strong as before.

[He killed a chipmunk with his bare hands. That's more or less perfect form, as far as he's aware.]

I-- uh.

[The change of subjects does actually manage to startle him. San couldn't see the self-conscious way he touches the bruise, even in spite of him pointing it out earlier.

Pfft. Like he's got anyone here to impress with looks.]

N-nno, no, I-- um. I, I know poor Kenna is, i-is so busy, I can't-- um. I can't bring myself to harass him for something that isn't life threatening.

[Okay, logically? Kenna couldn't possibly be busy with how quiet everything's been around here lately. But, at the same time... Ben always feels like the ship's doctor has his hands full with keeping Hound out of trouble, on top of whatever other problems of his own he might have.]

And, uh. I-- you know, I'm-- I haven't seen Carter. I'd, I'd be embarrassed to bother either of them with something this--th-this small...

A few things and I'll spare you the details. [Talking about it will make him angry. So, he'll be moving on to another subject.]

I'm going to assume that is someone who is either a healer or a doctor of some sorts. [Since he doesn't know the doctor of the ship by name. Although, his tone shifts to one of fondness when Carter is mentioned. It only lasts for a moment.] Hm... He's probably hiding away in his room like everyone else. We can only hope they're not starving themselves.

I suppose I could drop by and help you out with your situation? Unless you have a lot of ice packs stored up in a miniature fridge.

I-- I should go see him, you make a point...

[There's a pang of guilt somewhere deep in his gut, all of a sudden. His first thought is, "family's supposed to look out for each other."

His second thought is, "I am absolutely the shittiest family anyone could hope for."]

I, um. I'm-- I mean, if-- if you've nothing better to do? I-- I suppose you have some sort of... uh, power. Like that.

Maybe bring some easily digestible food with you when you visit. Just in case.

[A chuckle is heard.] You would be correct that I don't have anything better to do and I have some form of a healing ability. I take it you're still in the library?

[Bennett IMMEDIATELY worries that Carter's off experimenting with his limits with alcohol again, but tries to put the thought out of his mind.]

A-ah, yes, I'm-- pretty close to the front, you should be able to see me from the door.

Good to know. I will see you in a few minutes.

[He falls silent but a few footsteps is heard before he ends the communicator feed.]

[Ben can't help but teeter nervously on the edge of his chair. He always gets anxious asking for help-- he did ask, right? Or did San offer? It doesn't matter, Ben's being a burden either way-- and it's the only thing to really give him a burst of energy recently. His transformations have been getting weirder and weirder and making him more tired...

...unless it's mononucleosis. This particular book lists exhaustion, headaches and depression as symptoms in addition to cold-like issues, but it mentions nothing about bruising.

Diving back into the reading thoroughly distracts him, to the point that he doesn't even hear Sandrath approach.]

[The fallen arch-angel arrives with his hands in his pockets. Those brown eyes of his scanning the aisles for the man who accepted his offer before flashing black to narrow down the search even more. Despite getting muddled information, he's able to pinpoint at least one person the library and make his way over.]

Hello, Bennett. [He says with a smile.] Any luck with the diagnosis?

...Uh. Kissing Disease seems unlikely, so, n-no. Not really.

Thanks for, um. Stopping by.

[...oh, right, you're obnoxiously good looking. Ben's just. Gonna look back at the book now, excuse him.]

Ah. That's one down and several more to check through. [He laughs a little.] Then again, our conversation on the phone interrupted your progress.

[The tall man steps even closer before pulling out a hand from his pocket.] You're welcome. Did you want me to take care of that bruise now or wait until you're finished with that book?

O-oh! Oh, no, I--

[Ha. Of course he smells nice. Then again, anyone with access to soap can smell nice.]

N-no, no, please. Um. You can do it, n-now. You know, so you can get on with the rest of your day.

[He does mutter something about it aching before rushing headlong into another thought.]

I-- I mean, i-ideally I won't-- uh, it won't be happening again, so, uh. Hopefully the rest of your day will be free?

[It also depends on the amount used and how heavily scented the soap is. But there's an underlying trace of old blood with San's scent.]

Of course. [He reaches over to gently grasp Bennett's chin.] Majority of my days are unoccupied. By the way, this might hurt a little.

[With that warning out of the way, he starts to use his healing ability. There's a slight burning sensation but it does more good than harm. Except, it doesn't remove the bruise or the aching associated with the illness.]

[OH SURE GIVE A GUY SOME WARNING, SAN. Bennett freezes when San takes his chin and does his damnedest to reign in his wide-eyed look at the warning.

It does hurt, just a bit, but Ben's got more than enough pain tolerance to handle it. It feels a bit like a sunburn from the inside.

When Sandrath finally lets go, Ben sheepishly ducks his head a little below his shoulders, nervous.]

S'it, uh, look any better?

[Don't be expecting an apology from him because he doesn't feel any guilt.]

Hmm... I don't see any changes. [He tilts his head to get a better look.] That is rather odd.

[Without another word, he reaches over to try his healing ability again. Staring intently at that bruise, looking for any signs that his healing has done anything.]

[Ben sits as still as he can for as long as he can before the burning finally, finally wears him down. He grabs San's wrist with one hand and no warning and pulls back.

His grip is unusually strong.]

O-oooohoookay.

[He glances at his hold on San and drops the angel's arm immediately, embarrassed.]

I-- s-sorry. I-- um. It, it hurts more than, t-than it's... h-helping right now, so, so let's give it a minute?

[The grab causes him to lift his eyebrows, not surprised that Bennett wanted him to stop but they were still maintaining physical contact and his healing ability continues. Although that grip was a little stronger than he expected.

When Bennett finally lets him go, he doesn't rub the spot on his arm. It was something minor and his attention was still fixated on that bruise.]

...If you insist. [A beat.] You may have to see the ship's doctor if Carter can't heal you either.

Y-yeah, a trip to Kenna could be in the making. I'm... I'm worried about Carter, though, I should... I should talk to him.

Then again, if this is some kind of ship-wide pandemic, he's-- he's not going to be affected. Anyone rooming nearby might not, either...

[Sorry, San, Ben's off muttering to himself.]

You should, but I'm going to assume that you're more preoccupied about figuring out what is causing you trouble. Did something happen between you two?

[Like he is one to talk, Carter always seems unsure to talk to him. Probably doesn't help that he's caused conflicting feelings in the younger man. He snaps from his thoughts at the mention of other people being unaffected.]

...What do you mean 'anyone rooming near by'?

[It's been a rough few months, and Tammy can't seem to get her energy up. She'd figured her general reticence to eat anything the ship had to offer was to blame, but even forcing herself to eat more hadn't helped. So hopefully Bennett can appreciate the energy it takes her to drag herself to the library. Seeing his post, his face, had been an eerie reflection of her own state, though thankfully all of her bruises were under her baggy, ill-fitting clothes.]

Ben?

[She makes it as far as a chair and folds herself into it. She just wants to rest for a minute, then she'll go back to looking for him.]

[He hears his name and perks up from behind his stack of books. He managed to find a newer-looking book that listed common and somewhat uncommon ailments by symptoms first, instead of diagnosis, and it seemed promising.

Tammy's meager call got his attention, but her gaunt, ill look got immediate concern. The professor dashed the thirty feet from his desk to the chair by the library door, kneeling on the floor next to her.

He's got more energy than Tammy, at least, but he also does have more werewolf-y healing powers on his side.]

T-tammy, hey. H-hey, are-- y-you look like hell, kiddo.

Charmer.

[She smiles, wanly, her arms loose around her legs as she rests her chin on her knees. In person he looks even worse, the bruise even more pronounced. She winces in sympathy as she tugs the loose cuffs of her too-big sweater off her hands.]

You look a little more like purgatory. How'd you get that?

[Bennett could easily lie about it, but...]

I, I collapsed. Uh... s'what prompted me to ask everyone about... you know, on the post. I've never just swooned like an old belle, you know?

I'd, uh. I just got out of the shower and I guess the steam left me lightheaded. Woke up on the floor. I, I think I hit the towel rack on my way down.

[Pause.]

The shrunken heads thought it, uh, thought it was hysterical.

Bet they'd get a kick out of America's Funniest Home Video.

[She sighs, looking him over and shaking her head.]

So you fainted after a hot shower and got all banged up. That was today? Yesterday?

That was last night, yeah. The-- the thing, though, is, I-- I collapsed. But I've been eating the same; other than some weirdness with my changes, nothing's different.

So the fact that you're, y-you're this messed up is worrying me kind of a lot.

[Link hadn't exactly noticed, but now that Ben has brought it up...]

I've been having more headaches lately....

I just thought it might've been the food or something....

[If there are any symptoms Link hasn't otherwise observed them. He's used to pushing past feeling off and unless it's outright dying, he doesn't really notice.]

[Ben makes a grumpy little sound in the back of his throat, trying to think. He's now surrounded by books, multiple pages tabbed and marked.]

Do-- h-have you been having any other symptoms at all? With what frequency did you, you, uh, have headaches before?

[Link had to think back.]

I...normally don't get headaches? At least not this frequent...I didn't have them when I first got here, but the past few months....

[Link tried to think of how many headaches he's had over his life, and then compared it to this month. It was rather hard.]

I think one a week...?

[Anything else, Link? Come on, think man! Well he'd been feeling ill for a while, but he figured that was just depression and homesickness. And he hasn't done much activity except watching the sky, although now that he thought about it he kind of hurt more than from when he jumped off of the windmill back when he and Starfire were figuring out mini-golf.]

I haven't done much activity but...thinking about it I probably bruised my feet up good last month. I don't ever remember landing being that jarring before anyway....

[Was it last month? Link wasn't sure. He sighed.]

Sorry for not being much help. Fi normally paid attention to my 'bodily function' back home. I didn't have much time to focus on how I was feeling.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[VIDEO] get that boy some citrus

[Audio]

[Audio]

[Audio]

[Audio]

[Audio]

[Audio]

[Audio]

[Audio]

[Audio]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[commentlog]

[action]

[commentlog]

Re: [commentlog]

[commentlog]

no subject

no subject

AUDIO

AUDIO

AUDIO