recommence | [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...

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[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'?

[VIDEO] get that boy some citrus

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