acatalepsy_logs | Don't Skip Your Flu Shot

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Don't Skip Your Flu Shot

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 ♥]

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...and that takes its own toll.

[Keith murmurs, finishing the unspoken sentence. He knows Shiro's magic doesn't come without its own price. But if it's slowing the sickness down for the time being, it seems to be worth it. His fingers shift to tangle through Shiro's, and somehow, for a moment at least, that makes him feel better. It's probably in his head, but he'll take it for the time being.

He summons up a smile, as best he can, though it's a thin expression at best, one that touches his lips more than his eyes.]

I'm hanging in. Tired, but it hasn't knocked me off my feet yet.

[He hesitates to bring up some of the newer effects, though he will tell Shiro. He promised to be honest with him, and Shiro should know. Still, he hesitates on it, for the moment.]

We'll figure this out.

We will. [His smile is soft and just barely there as he squeezes the hands in his. This small gesture is helping him deal with feeling then desire to lay down and let the sickness have him. He couldn’t affford that before and he can’t now. He refuses to let it slow him down. He hasn’t been snappish at people for urging him to limit himself yet.

He will...probably. For now, he pushes out a chair for Keith to sit with him. It isn’t about asking him to rest. He wants company. Keith’s company to be specific.]

...Keith. I’m not sure how long I’ll last. Like I did before I can slow it down but I return to whatever state I was in when I shift back. I can only stay in the form of the Black Lion for twelve hours at a day.

[He struggles with the words as he says them. But he promised and the only way they can support each other is in knowing everything.]

[His expression turns somber as Shiro speaks, and he nods. He does a bit of math in his head. At best, that's buying Shiro double time, but the toll shifting takes on his body probably doesn't help the progression slow when he's not shifted.]

So you can slow it, but not stop it.

[Keith nods to himself, hesitating. His fingers tighten around Shiro's. He hates it. He hates not being able to help him, to do something to make this better. Seeing Shiro like this is worse than dealing with it himself.

But since they're talking about it.]

I think my fever is getting worse. I've been hearing things. Sometimes. [Which he's coherent enough to recognize as not real, some auditory hallucination his fever-muddled brain has cooked up for him.]

[He hates seeing Keith like this. He can’t do anything to help him. But he will never leave him to suffer alone. He closes his eyes for a moment. Hearing things.

He opens his eyes and despite the concern written on his face his voice is level.]

Try to drink a little more water and stay close to other people. It might help...it might not. [He takes one of his hands out of Keith’s to reach out and press his hand to cheek.] If you start burning up...As the Lion I stay pretty cool. You could lean on me.

[That will only help so far too. This is all stalling tactics until they can find a cure.]

[They're things he can do. Even if they don't help, they're things he can try. It's a small illusion of control, and Keith will grasp at it tightly, because the other option is admitting that there's nothing he can do. Not for himself. Not for Shiro. Not for anyone.

He turns into that touch, and even now he's seeking out the coolness of metal fingers, a fleeting comfort, though the comfort of Shiro's touch lingers. His lips stretch into a ghost of a grin.]

My own personal cooling station, huh? Sounds nice. I'm still okay though. Just... I wanted you to know, before I start not realizing they aren't real.

[Though he'd have to be pretty far gone for that, he thinks. Hearing his father's voice can only be a trick of his mind.]

Thank you for telling me. I'll do what I can to help you if the time comes. [When is more likely. He knows that but he isn't about to crush their hopes while they can still have them. He's an old hat to being sick and having illness take and take until he was thinking he didn't want his boyfriend to see him die.

Yet...this time they're both falling and he will never leave Keith to fall alone. If they die... they're dying together neither alone and not even death separating them. But they don't have to think like that right now. He leans forward and takes his hands from Keith's to wrap his arms around him and hug him tight.]

I'm still further back. No fever, a cough, weakness, and lethargic but nothing too far along. I estimate with using shifts I'm about one to two days behind you. I won't start hearing things for a while.

[Keith trusts Shiro to do just that, when it comes to it. When is right. Keith is holding onto hope as best he can, but time is working against them entirely, isn't it? Shiro has a day or two more than he does, at most, and that confirmation sinks his heart. He remembers what they learned in Struxta, what had happened to everyone and everything on that planet. It's a grim thought, and he pushes it back as soon as it rises.

However long either of them have... Keith intends to stay by Shiro's side, whatever comes.]

At least you've got the delay. [He manages a grin even as he sinks into that hug.] I guess that makes me a preview.

[He holds onto him a little tighter. He doesn't want to think of Keith's suffering like that. Yet...that's so very his own brand of humor he just laughs. They both need the laughter.]

Oh, I'm pretty sure I had that preview once already in my lifetime. I can give you pointers on it, old timer.

[He leans forward to take more of Keith's weight. He strokes his hair with one hand, tangling his fingers in it. Keith is solid and warm against him...too warm. He frowns quietly, unseen over his shoulder. Oh, yeah.

He knows what's ahead.]

[Laughter is good. The joke that follows though has Keith frowning for a moment. At least Shiro's sense of humor seems to be weathering this illness well enough. Despite himself, Keith's expression melts into a smile. He knows Shiro has faced down something all too like this before, and knowing he may be walking down that path.

Keith hates it, hates not being able to do anything to stop it.

He leans into Shiro, eyes falling shut at the touch of those fingers through his hair; he's exhausted, and the touch is soothing.]

Mm-mm. You're still the old timer. [Though Keith gained on him a little in the interrim. He sets his chin on Shiro's shoulder.] All that white hair... even if it makes you look younger.

[Keith isn't sure how that works. But he is sure that Shiro is pulling off the look.]

Nice to know I'm pulling off the silver fox look with some reasonable success. [He presses a kiss to the side of Keith's neck. He has half a thought to suggest they get some sleep. They're both worn down.]

How about we head to the bathhouse and see about putting some life in our old bones, hm?

[It has helped. He also really likes the luxury of getting to recline in heated water and doze off for a cat nap. It helps him fuction so it's nothing to feel overly guilty about.]

Reasonable.

[Keith affirms, leaning back so he can run his fingers through that hair again, ruffling it a bit.] Maybe more than reasonable success.

[If he's being honest. But he's quick to nod at Shiro's suggestion, managing to bite back a relieved sigh at how good having a bath sounds. It has been a helpful thing, soothing aches away, easing some of the tension that's taken up permanent residence through his shoulders.]

That sounds great to me.

Then let's go. [He slowly lets go of Keith. He finishes off his coffee and washes out the mug. He does a brief check for anything that needs put away and dries off the mug, putting it back.

Keeping things clean is a good idea. He grabs his coat from the chair and pulls it on.]

For the record, longer hair is a look you pull off with far more than reasonable success.

[Keith straightens up and tries in vain to work some of the stiffness out of his joints -- god he just aches everywhere, in places that he didn't expect could even ache -- before falling in beside Shiro.

He's not expecting the compliment, but it brings a grin over his features.]

Think so? [He ducks his head.] I owe it all to the quantum abyss I guess.

[Which was a hell of a time. Someday he'll tell Shiro about that whole extended camping trip.]

Tell me about it some time? Whenever you're ready to talk about it. [He says as he grins back at him. Shiro takes a left once they're in the hall.]

I learned of a shortcut to the baths from the kitchen. I've been on the look out for one from the baths to our room. [He reaches out and brushes his hand along the side of Keith's face.]

It will be good to find one as we deal with this sickness.

Yeah. I'd like to... a lot happened.

[More than should have happened thanks to the back and forth of visions and memories. He's following along with Shiro before he adds.]

Sort of. A lot of it was also just... looking for firewood and trying to teach the wolf how to fetch.

[Trying. Failing. But trying.

Keith's step slows slightly at that touch, distracted as he is in the moment by it.]

A shortcut would be great... everything feels like it takes way too much energy right now. I'm not used to this. I didn't really get sick much. [Maybe it's the Galra in him. Who knows.]

[For a second his eyes gain a faraway quality. When he got sick back at the Garrison...he had started to suspect something was wrong with him. He'd had decent health before then it went downhill.

He steers Keith into the hall leading to the baths while his mind works. He's never discussed his sickness at length with anyone, except Adam. And over time they both stopped talking about it.

All they did was argue as their fears magnified and destroyed their relationship.]

Plan out what you intend to do with your energy for the day. Adjust your plans based on how you feel. ...don't...don't kick yourself if you can't get everything done that you'd planned to do.

[He stares straight ahead.]

It's not something you really get used to. Or least, I never did.

[Keith's gaze moves and stays on Shiro's face. He shouldn't be surprised to hear it, after all. He knows, he remembers that Shiro was sick, that a lifetime ago for both of them, Shiro was facing down something that Keith could barely wrap his mind around. Back then, Shiro'd seemed so invincible.

Now Keith knows better. As strong as Shiro is -- and the other man is the strongest person he's ever known -- he's lost him. More than once now.

So it's startling to hear the advice, spoken in the voice of someone who has tread this ground before, but he's grateful for it too, that Shiro is sharing it with him. For a moment he doesn't say anything, just reaches over to catch his boyfriend's hand with his own.]

The not kicking myself sounds like the hard part. But yeah... makes sense.

[And then, quieter.] Neither one of us is going to have to get used to it this time. This is just a bump in the road. [He hopes.]

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Don't Skip Your Flu Shot

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