thebastion | Day 203 | The sick are recovering! (Open)

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Day 203 | The sick are recovering! (Open)

WHO: Colin, any recovering folks, any visitors.
OPEN: Open like a door
WHEN: Day 203 (BACKDATED)
WHAT: The cure has been found and administered. Check up on the sick, why don't you?
WHERE: The hospital
FORMAT: However you want, go nuts
WARNINGS: Recovering people, probable sass, and of course, Colin.

After six days of paranoia, and three days of absolute terror, things were finally looking up. A cure had been delivered, and with it, the calamity survivors had been able to synthesize more than enough doses of cure for the plague to safeguard the Bastion. It had been administered to the sick, and now all that was needed was to make sure that everyone recovered.

Colin, of course, was going to be visiting everyone to make sure that there weren't any complications. It wouldn't do to have anyone in danger after they'd made it through to the end. He had yet to take off his environmental suit though, his own paranoia was significant.

(OOC: I figure this will be a good opportunity for people to do a little more mingling, and get their bearings after the plague. The quarantine has been lifted, though Colin still wants people washing their hands frequently. If you want Colin to check up on the sick, he can do that! If you want someone else to check up on the sick, by all means! The threat is passed, now rejoice, hug your sick loved ones, and let's move on!)

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[Colin walks beside him, and sits down next to him on the bed.]

You can't make yourself useful right now. But you can still lead by example. People here do look up to you, you know. Lots of people like you. If you do the responsible thing, other people will follow. If you head out and take on more than you can handle, others will do the same.

I'm not as old as you are, but I do know what it means to get into certain habits. I may give my sisters a hard time, but I have learned to listen to them when they tell me not to push myself.

What can I do to help you?

[... He never asked to be looked up to. He sighs and leans against Colin a bit.]

I thought I gave up being a leader a long time ago.

I don't... know. I don't stay in one place for long. I haven't for a long time, not unless I've committed to working somewhere. I've wandered for all that time. Not moving is... strange.

... I suppose I'm... scared, in some way. The Pokemon that gave life to Floette and I... sustains itself by absorbing the life of the people and Pokemon around it. I don't know if that effect was passed on to us, but I've never wanted to stay around long enough to see. I don't... I didn't make bonds. Even if... it wasn't the case... people die. It's difficult to keep wanting to be around someone when you know they'll die and... leave you, even if they don't mean to.

I just... try to keep moving. I don't settle. I've settled here and... I don't know. Maybe I'm not... making sense. I've had too much time to think the last few days...

...

[Colin gives him a sad look, and he puts an arm around AZ in what he hopes is a comforting gesture.]

Nobody ever gave you the lifespan talk, did they?

I suppose nobody'd ever figure they'd have to. It's common where I'm from. Elerians outlive most other races, as do Elves. As I have ties to both cultures, I'm pretty used to it myself.

I outlived my mentor. By a considerable margin, actually. Dad warned me it was coming. Sam was his best friend for over five decades.

If you focus on the loss... the inevitable... that's all it'll ever be. Inevitable loss.

What you focus on is the time you have with them. Making the most of it. Making memories.

[He reaches up and taps AZ's temple.]

Nobody can take those from you. And they'll be with you for as long as you've got thoughts in your head.

[He just won't mention certain schools of telepathic torture, it's irrelevant at present.]

[It helps, a little. But he lets out a short laugh, before covering his mouth with his hand briefly.]

... I know... I shouldn't think that way. I've gotten better at it... but it's hard to break those kinds of thoughts away from where they go.

There are some Pokemon who are long-lived. There are some Pokemon that are legendary and have existed for longer than humans have been around.

There are no humans who live this long. I only do because of my own hubris and grief. So no. No one's given me 'the lifespan talk'.

Most of you short-lived races don't really think about it. ... Pardon the gross generality.

It's not something I can really just tell you and expect you to believe, to take to heart immediately. It's something you've got to live.

But look at your friends. Golurk, Torkoal. Do you think they want to be distant just because you'll outlive them?

They just want to enjoy their time with you. I'm sure Floette thinks much the same way, even though your circumstances are... quite unique.

No. I just...

[he shakes his head, leaning on Colin a little more.]

... I've gotten better at... dealing with people over the years in situations I wasn't instructed in. That doesn't mean I always get it right. It's not... an excuse. I'm just... I'm not sure how to build bonds the right way. I'm trying, but...

[He's not sure if he's making sense anymore. He hunches his shoulder and tries to take a deep breath.]

... Sorry. I shouldn't... I probably shouldn't be... talking about this. It's my problem to deal with.

And if you keep thinking like that, it will always be just your problem to deal with.

Don't get caught in a recursion, AZ. It's bad enough when it happens to a program. People are even harder to break out of them.

[He gives AZ a gentle grin, and he reaches up to pet back AZ's hair.]

Mm.

[He freezes for a moment, looking a bit like a Deerling caught in the headlights. He relaxes slightly and closes his eyes. It's been a long time since someone bothered to do this.]

[Physical contact is second nature to him. For as long as he lives, he'll NEVER understand how people can be resistant to it. Oh, he knows there are exceptions, but it's a comforting gesture in the natural world. It is a basic program.]

Just relax, AZ. You don't gotta be strong all the time.

Eventually, I'll probably need you to do something like this for me.

Well, I'm pretty sure I can pick you up, so we won't have a problem there.

[He chuckles a little bit, though it's a little wheezy.]

[Colin smirks up at him, and continues to gently pet his hair back.]

I don't know about that. I can pick you up, and it's still been a decent challenge.

[He's teasing you, AZ. He likes you, you get teased.]

We'll see about that. And I always have Golurk, who can drag us both.

That is certainly an option.

I... think I can start allowing visitors, if you like. I'm sure your friends would love to see you and verify that you're okay for themselves.

... I'd appreciate it. Floette should probably still stay away until we're sure we don't need to disinfect people. Fire's not an option for her.

She is going to wibble at me so hard. And then at you.

I know, but I don't want to get her sick.

I don't think that she can get sick. The disease doesn't seem to have crossed species lines. It seems to target humans.

That said, yeah, it's probably not a bad idea to keep her from getting too close for another day or two.

Yeah. ... I know she's worried. She's seen lots of people and friends die. But I don't want to lose her, either.

Do you want me to bring anything to her in the meantime? A little doodle or anything? I'm sure she'd love something to show you're okay besides me saying so.

... My hat, if you don't think it's contaminated enough to warrant getting rid of. Which I'd prefer you don't, but if you have to...

No worries about that.

[Colin grins warmly.]

I can wash your hat easily, clear it right up. We can cook it pretty easily without damaging it to kill any viruses residing on it, and then it'll be all set to deliver to her.

Thanks. She likes to sleep on it.

[Even though it's like three times her size... details.]

You should have told me that when you first got in here. I could have gotten it to her then.

[He gives AZ a gentle grin.]

But it's easily taken care of, now.

I wasn't exactly thinking very well then.

[He nods, though. He knows Colin is reliable, if... somewhat dangerous.]

Ha, yeah, that's certainly an acceptable reason for it.

[He gives AZ a smile then.]

I'll make sure it's cleaned and delivered, then. You should only be here another day or three, tops. You going to be able to handle it? Or should I assign you an observer?

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gianthobo - 2014-07-07 05:48 (UTC) - Expand

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