Don't Skip Your Flu Shot

[purrtagonist]

Who: Everyone! It's a mingle post for the first week of Struxta sickness!!
Where: All around the temple
When: During the first week of the sickness
Rating PG?? At most??
What: Curry, blankets and pillow forts, and other assorted sick things

[With the Struxta illness sweeping through the temple like a wildfire, and with so many new arrivals trying to get adjusted to temple living, it's probably no surprise that things around the Astoria's little pocket of space have gotten a little hectic. Feeling under the weather? Looking for something warm to soothe that scratchy throat? Just want to curl up underneath a pile of blankets and not move for like, seven hours or so? Never fear! A Mysterious Helper (TM) has you covered]

A. Curry in the Kitchen

[The kitchen smells extremely nice during lunchtime this week, the only meal of the day that isn't pre-prepared by the misty servants. Like the scent of coffee intermingled with complementary spices. Those who take the initiative to investigate will find something pleasant waiting for them. A few pots of fresh made curry and steamed rice; a few pots of miso soup (a. . . little on the salty side, sorry); and some freshly brewed coffee already poured into individual mugs, along with cream and sugar and whatever additives your heart desires. It's all strewn out across the counter tops with a handwritten note pinned against the wall above the stove:]

Help yourself, and get well soon.

[There isn't any sign of the mysterious chef when you enter the kitchen, and if you arrive near the end of lunch hour, some of the food and coffee miiiiight be a bit cold. But hey! This might be a good chance to mingle with some of your new coworkers who are also seeking out a warm meal to help quell some of their cold symptoms. Just please don't sneeze into the curry pot, thanks. . .]

[Lunch will be laid out in the kitchen every day at lunchtime for the entire first week of the sickness. Help yourselves!]

B. The Temple Hallways

[THERE ARE BLANKETS AND PILLOWS EVERYWHERE]

[. . . no, seriously. For some reason, it's like you can't even walk down a hallway without tripping over a bundled up blanket or a pillow. What's up with that! For the most part, they're normal bedtime accessories, although you may find a bundle of pillows and blankets stacked up into an ENTIRE PILLOW FORT if you're lucky.]

[Pinned to the walls of the hallways (not every hallway, but enough of them that it should be easy to find one of the signs without wandering for too long) are more handwritten signs:]

Whoever can build the tallest pillow fort will receive one (1) high five as a grand prize. Good luck. Blanket provider is not responsible for anyone accidentally falling asleep in the hallways and blocking your route back to your bedroom.

[Hm. Well, that's weird. Anyway! You can build a pillow fort if you want, grab some blankets to take back to your room, or. . . nap in the hallways. Or do whatever! They're all free for the taking. Maybe you could even team up with another Circle member to try and win that extremely coveted high five??]

C. Wildcard

[Don't feel like interacting with any of the above? That's okay! Make your own prompt based on the event stuff over here, or just use this post for. . . whatever you want! It's totally and completely open for mingling for new and old characters alike, so. HAVE FUN ♥]

Comments

[seventhdawn]

In this instance, I don't think it was entirely your fault.

[As far as she's concerned, he hasn't lost any dignity to begin with. The whole arrangement is dreadfully enticing and looks warm and she has had to put all of her own discipline into not succumbing.]

Whoever has done this seems well-versed in the allure of such things, especially for the ill and exhausted.

[Speaking of ill and exhausted. His dark circles look as prominent as hers must. Minfilia stands back up, only to lean down to offer him a hand in rising.]

[spellweave]

[He doesn't want to look lame in front of Minfilia okay!!

It's still a little silly he conked out so easily but so it goes. Perhaps he was running himself too hard into the ground in his search for a cure. Yet whenever he thought of Arenvald suffering from its symptoms he could never bring himself to rest.

He takes her proffered hand and pulls himself to his feet.]

Ha... indeed. I don't quite recall how I even fell asleep. I believe I intended to straighten some of the mess instead but... alas. [He clearly needed the rest... which is obvious, as she noted.]

How have you been fairing in all of this, Minfilia?

[seventhdawn]

But it claimed you in its down-laden embrace.

[She's grinning, which was rare before and is rarer still here. Teasing him feels so ordinary.

Then she turns away to sneeze three times. That should not also feel so ordinary, but it's really starting to.]

Ah. As well as can be expected. [Almost everyone is ill, and she thinks she's doing better than the very bedridden ones.] What of yourself?

[spellweave]

[There is always such amusement to be had at his expense...! But... he supposes he doesn't mind it coming from her. It still feels kind just like she always is. And... it helps him not think of what awaits her at home. Or what awaits him for that matter.

A nice moment of respite from the constant dread he just cannot escape. His weariness is not entirely related to the worry of the illness.]

Aside from a lack of energy and some sneezing I have escaped the disease for now. I have been working on mixing medicine for those worse off but keeping a steady supply of healthy herbs on hand is a challenge on its own. If only some miracle might allow me to find a cure within those woods....

[But he doubts it. He doubts it's possible for a lot of reasons....]

[seventhdawn]

[He's the first she has come across who is actively crafting a remedy of any kind.]

Have you found any of your medicines to be effective? [Here's a talent she didn't even know Alphinaud had.] Though if you find yourself sneezing I daresay you've not escaped at all.

[spellweave]

[A recently acquired talent, to be sure, and certainly not one of any decent skill. He's been practicing with it though and he is grateful now that he has.]

Aye. I have managed to make medicine to help reduce fevers which I found to be the most concerning ailment. Unfortunately it is very bitter and so it is difficult to get people to take it. But I have found it works for those who managed. [Which is very few. While it doesn't cure anything it certainly helps.

He brushes off the comment about his sneezing though. He's fine. Maybe he didn't escape it but it hasn't gotten worse since it started so... he won't dwell on it. He's much more concerned for those who more rapidly deteriorated upon catching it.]

[seventhdawn]

[One hopes a bit of bitterness would still be preferable to suffering prolonged fever...]

If it comes to that, I promise to do my utmost to swallow even your most vile remedy, provided I know it will help. Perhaps as a kindness you could combine it with something less outright offensive.

[There is an uncanny amount of orange juice in the kitchens here, for example.]

Were you able to secure a steady supply of the ingredients? With the way everything is withering at the slightest glance...

[spellweave]

[One would think but when the bitterness is so great it makes it near impossible to get down and, for some, to keep it down... then it's a problem he has to solve.

He nods.] I shall work on it. It is unfortunately a difficult flavor to mask outright but I am certain there must be a way. [He won't give up when people's lives may be at stake...]

I have so far but I cannot say how long that might last. I have noted plenty of plants have not withered and that the animals in the forest are drawn to certain ones for food. Based on this I was able to find those that may be immune to the illness and have medicinal properties. Despite what we saw in the previous world 'tis very unlikely for an illness to wipe out all forms of life. I am confident this will to be the case for us.

[Accounts of plagues always make mention of people who don't ever seen to catch the disease, after all... so surely...

He sighs.] These herbs are deep in the forest, however, and so it takes quite some time to travel back and forth. 'Tis a pity we do not have chocobos here. [......] Well... ones willing to carry others, at least.

[seventhdawn]

You have been busy.

[She says it with some pride! Leave it to the Scions to locate and perform the hard work when there is much to be done. So long as Alphinaud doesn't worsen from the strain, she'll support his efforts completely.]

I may not possess a chocobo, but I've a working set of arms and legs as good as the next. Together we might return with double your usual load, at the least.

[spellweave]

[He had a feeling she'd say that.]

I would certainly not refuse your help. Thankfully they do not grow that deep in the woods and so I would be happy to show you their location.

[Although eventually he may need to go in deeper as supplies run low in the current place...]

Ah... but not right this moment if you would instead prefer some rest. I daresay you could use it as well. [She always did work hard in her own way too.]

[seventhdawn]

I had a feeling you were going to say that. I'm all right, though.

[For now. She feels tired and sniffly, and it could be so much worse.]

Though I can scarce interrupt your rest, if you intend to go scavenging among the trees and I can help, then I intend to do it...and rest afterward.

[spellweave]

[He should have seen that one coming also but... he had to try.

He smiles with some defeat. Okay, okay...]

Then you are more than welcomed to accompany me now. I had intended to make a trip there before I feel asleep. It is not far.

[Her help would be appreciated, of course, but... so would her company too. Together he believes they can do some good then even if they cannot completely solve it.

Or if nothing else they can definitely gather more leaves than he could alone.]

[seventhdawn]

[Some small good is better than no good at all. Minfilia holds her breath a moment so as not to sneeze, then turns to head back down the corridor whence she came.]

We had best go now, then, before either one of us faces the allure of a warm bed proving irresistible again.