thebastion | Day 201 [event post]

Day 201 [event post]

Who: Zahi and everyone who wants to go hunt down the cure
Open: Open
When: 201- onwards
Where: the monument, and then out on the Skyway
What: People in the Bastion are falling sick, and Zahi knows where a cure can be found. Unfortunately, it won't be easy to get to.
Format: action
Warnings: none

[On Day 201, after several people have fallen ill, another meeting is called. This time, however, it is not Nathaniel who has called for everyone. It's Zahi.]

Okay, I know everyone's been worried about the people in the hospital, and it looks like our fears weren't unfounded: some of the people who went on that last trip, they caught something.

I've been watching the symptoms, and I think I know what this is. A long time ago, back before Zayna was born, there was a terrible illness that claimed the lives of many Ura. Everyone who fell sick here, they had the same symptoms as those who caught the disease before.

On the plus side, this means that it can be cured. I know of a clinic, way out in the Terminals, where there should be some medicine stocked. Not only can we cure the sick, but we can give another kind of medicine to those who aren't sick yet, so they won't catch it at all.

The downside is that it's gonna take a while to get there. It'll be at least two days there, and possibly more to track down exactly where the clinic is, and then the same amount of time back. We're looking at a four-day minimum, which means we won't be much help to those who are sick right now. They'll either be dead or getting better by the time we get back.

Then there's the fact that it's really dangerous out there. Zayna and I were out on the Terminals before we came here, and let's just say that there's a reason we went looking for somewhere safer to stay.

If you'd rather stay here, I can understand that. The Bastion is an amazing place, and I wouldn't be surprised if someone here managed to save everyone. But I'm not a fan of putting all my eggs in one basket, so I figured it's worth a shot to go and try to get some of the medicine.

What do you guys think?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The phrase you're looking for is "fucked up beyond all recognition", Rin. And the one Zulf is looking for is "I told you so".]

[Not that it gives him any particular joy right now as he makes his way silently into Rin's room, bags under his eyes and pale skin like a ghost's. The Cubone is now taking a more active approach to things, clinging to his skirts as he comes up besides Rin's bed.]

[If the others can return- he hopes they return- then he just needs to keep Rin comfortable until then. If the don't...]

[He just needs to keep Rin comfortable until then.]

[Nothing's said, he simply gets to work trying to turn her over so that he can wash her face with a warm wet cloth.]

[Bon had come in to tell Rin that he was going to try to find a cure. She had been in a state somewhere between attempted sleep and being painfully awake, so she had done little more than nod, mutter something about coming back safely (and something else that might have actually been "I love you") before drifting somewhat back in to a doze.

It had only been later that she realized he was gone at all, and it pained her to think she couldn't even drag herself out of that state long enough to properly talk to him.

If he didn't come back, that would have been their last conversation...

But sleep came and went in waves after that, only to wake every time to the same body aches and pounding head and inability to move on her own. It's only when Zulf comes in and physically moves her on to her back that she regains some semblance of coherency.]

Heard... anythin' yet... ?

[About the team that had left, obviously.]

Ah-

[He freezes up a little when she actually wakes up and speaks, and still isn't entirely comfortable when he gets out a reply.]

No... Not yet. They're likely still traveling there...

Oh.

[She knows he's upset. He's been upset from the start, though she had made it a point to try and keep her optimism up for his sake before she had gotten to ill to even remain sitting.

Now, though, there's just a grim, tired smile to him.]

'msorry.

...Please don't.

But... I am... sorry...

[Speaking was difficult, and her breath came in pained wheezes, but she forced it out because she couldn't deal with his heartbroken looks. Not without saying something.]

I've... never been sick... when we were little... it was always Yuki...

Don't- [His rises for a brief second, trembling and unwieldy, not at all like the usual practiced just-right level he so often prefers normally and that gives away his profession. Zulf actually takes a step back, fingers clenching tightly onto the washcloth. When he speaks, his tone is back down to normal again- but obviously it's quite forced.] Please. Just don't.

I'll... tell Yukio that you're a bit awake. I'll tell him that.

[With that, he quickly hustles out of the room.]

[Five minutes later, the door opens again, there's a whistling noise, and a sleepy looking Rattle-tail wobbles inside to hop onto Rin's bed. It's feathery body is quite warm as it makes itself comfortable alongside her and prepares for its own rest.]

[Damn it. That's not what she wanted to do. She didn't want to upset him, she just wanted to talk, to have him there, so maybe for a little while she could actually pretend that she wasn't really terrified of what was happening.]

Zulf--... I'm sor-- don't go... don't--... please...

[But he was already gone, and the tears she had been trying to hold back since the start flowed freely. She rolled back over on to her side, burying her face in the pillow as soundless sobs escaped from her.

She didn't even realize that she had company those five minutes later, far too upset to pay attention to anything else.]

[Rin, that sobbing is very disrupting to bird nap! The Rattle-tail gives a wiggle and opens one wing to flop it onto her, covering her in white feathers.]

[Nope. Can't stop won't stop really wants to stop.]

[It's also not at all easy to walk past and miss. Hi Rin, have a spaceman here.]

Whoa, Rin, you... No, of course you're not okay.

Hang on, hang on.

[Colin's rushing in and he's coming to her side, reaching out to put a hand on her shoulder.]

I'm here, Rin. I'm here. Take my hand, Rin.

[She's not exactly being noisy, but that Rattletail sure is making a lot of fuss about the crying.

It's really difficult, by the way, to cry when you barely have a voice and can't breathe very well. She's trembling violently under her blankets, and when Colin speaks to her she does as he says, but with a weak grip and shaking hand.]

[In a hospital, all sounds are amplified. Especially for someone listening for something going wrong. Trufax.]

You're not alone right now, Rin... Tell me what's getting to you, tell me what you need. I'm here for you.

[He's going to squeeze her hand reassuringly and tightly. His suit isn't terribly thick, it's not going to get in his way here. He also knows that the poor Rattletail is unsettled. But speaking snake-bird is harder for him. Just another thing to get on Zulf over... He needs to learn that.]

[It is a Skyway creature, one that Rin can actually kind of understand, but in her current state there's no way to communicate with the Rattletail that will make it calm down.

It's difficult to catch her breath well enough to speak, and following a few tries she just... shakes her head.]

...

Okay, I apologize for my helmet getting in the way. Just ignore that for a sec, okay?

[Colin shifts position, leaning over and sliding his arms under her. He's just going to give her a tight hug all of a sudden. Sorry, little Rattletail, this might get a little tight all of a sudden.]

[It's probably not too pleased about that, but whatever. Rin needs that hug. That's the sort of thing she wanted from Zulf, as well as not being left alone (you jerk) because she's been alone way too much already.

Even awkward hugs are good, though she's going to keep crying.]

[Colin keeps hugging her tightly, and he's just going to speak quietly to her as he does so.]

I can't keep doing this forever, but for right now, you've got my full attention. I'm sorry I haven't been able to give you more of that. I know this is scary, I know this is wrong, and I know that it's not fucking fair.

You're going to get through this, Rin. You've got the most cocky asshole in the galaxy working to make things better.

What can he do for you right this moment? You've got his undivided attention.

I... I j-just... wanna sleep... a-actual sleep...

[At least in sleep she can ignore how painful everything is. In sleep she can pretend, for a while, that she's not ill.

In sleep she can pretend that Zulf didn't abandon her.]

'mso tired...

I can perform the dance to ease your brain, again. I suspect everyone here could use it if some of the choking haze of this situation were lifted, if only for a little while.

Gimme a squeeze, Rin. I'm here to take it, you don't gotta hold back.

[To emphasize, he squeezes her in his arms again.]

You don't gotta be strong right now, you're in a strange spot, something you've never experienced before. Don't keep it in, you've got someone here who's going to help you through whatever you'll give me.

[That would get a laugh, if she could actually voice it.]

I-I can't... I can... barely move... everythin' hurts so bad... n-not even... almost losin' my arm... hurt this bad...

[She doesn't want to pretend to be strong anymore. She can't keep up that facade right now, not when she can feel her human body trying to give in to the plague and submit to death while her demonic traits violently attempts to fight it off.]

[You sweet, innocent, naive little demon... they really did shelter you.]

How about this? I'll give you a reason to hit me when you get better. And you WILL get better.

This is what sickness does. It makes you weak, makes you feel helpless, like there's nothing you can do. You are not alone in this.

The good news is, it gets better. And I have every confidence that you will get better. If only so I can tell you that I was right. Again.

[Yep, still hugging her, not letting go yet.]

[Shiro was surprisingly good at that. Crouching pervert, hidden badass.]

I don't... even wanna hit you... anymore. B-but I ain't... that dumb... Colin... I know what a fuckin'... plague is...

I know you aren't that dumb.

But you continue to do things that make me think you haven't realized that the universe is no match for me.

I'm not gonna say we aren't in trouble. We are. But seriously, I'm still here, working to keep everyone alive.

[He lets go of her for one moment, and he raises a hand to touch her cheek.]

So long as I'm here, you guys have got great odds of making it out of here with nothing more than being pissed off at my methods.

And how is that any different from the usual way things go?

You... you better... be right... 'cause I really don't wanna die...

[She managed a tiny smile then, exhausted, barely a shadow of her normal expressions, but there.]

Who... would take care... of Bon... if I'm not here... ?

I'm always right, and you're not gonna die. Not so long as you're willing to keep living. I'll do my part, all the heavy lifting. You just gotta stay alive. Easy.

And yes, I'm still trying to get you to hit me when you get better. I know exactly how difficult that sounds.

[Colin hugs her again, laying his helmet-covered head to her forehead.]

It's a good thing we won't ever have to find out, huh? You and Bon will be together to keep each other happy and safe for a very long time.

Day 201 [event post]

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