Sick and Tired Of Being Sick and Tired [Open]

[unrecovered]

Who: Wash and whoever cares to join him
Where: All around the temple
When: After the return from Struxta
Rating: PG?
What: Being sick sucks. Everyone being sick is even worse.

1. Could Be Worse (Week 1)

[It's one thing for the plants to get sick. It's another thing for literally everyone to get sick, all at the same time. It's almost like going to a plague-ridden world unprepared leads to catching the fucking plague.]

[To say Wash is not happy would be an understatement. At least this time around he's not yelling at anyone - instead, he's taken his anger deep into the forest, alone. Astoria couldn't have known beforehand, and none of them were prepared for a plague of all things - the only way this could have been avoided would have been for Astoria not to send them out world hopping at all, which isn't really an option for her. He can't take it out on her; he won't take it out on anyone else; and so he's yelling at a tree. It's wilting in his presence, sure, but they're all doing that and he's refusing to take it as some sort of bullshit metaphor.]

-and we've all come down with a case of who even knows what, and God only knows what's going to happen now, and it's all a bunch of bullshit-

[He stops abruptly, cut off by a coughing fit. God dammit he hates being sick.]

2. Yep, Now It's Worse (Weeks 2 and 3)

[It still feels like the cold from hell, but at least Wash has stabilized. The same can't be said for everyone: fevers, hallucinations, and worse are breaking out, and Wash for one is refusing to let people suffer alone. There may not be much that can be done to lessen the symptoms, but whatever there is, he's doing it to the best of his ability. Right now, he's checking in on someone whose sickness has only gotten worse.]

Hey - how are you feeling?

3. Is Cabin Fever Contagious? (Weeks 2 and 3)

[Wash can only spit into the wind for so long - his attempts to care for those sicker than he is are only so helpful, and he can only do them for so long before he has to step away and convince himself that he is helping and everyone will get better. Somehow. Maybe with magic. He doesn't know.]

[That's the crux of it, really; he doesn't know and it's killing him.]

[So he wanders the temple grounds and the forest outside, looking for anything to take his mind off the situation at hand. Maybe he's exploring a room or a part of the grounds he hasn't seen before; maybe he's checking the kitchen to see if a cure has magically (ha!) appeared; maybe he's in the forest, seeing how close he can get to a tree to study it before it threatens to topple. Could be anything - he just wants to get his mind off how daunting (he refuses to call it hopeless, because they have to be able to do something) the situation at hand is.]

4. Wildcard

[Got something else you'd like to do? Toss up a prompt and let's do the thing!]

Comments

2

[purrtagonist]

[with how his symptoms have only exacerbated as the first full week of the plague crawls into the second, Akira really should be in bed. especially since he spent most of that first week fluttering about the temple, making curry and coffee and requesting blankets from the shadow servants and otherwise making sure people were comfortable. and yet. . . here he is, still meandering the hallways, red-faced and fever flushed and with one hand pressed over his mouth as he coughs]

[I'm okay, he tells himself, I'm fine, it's fine, it's just a cold, I'll sleep later tonight, let me make sure everyone else is resting first, and then I can rest too--]

[his rambling thoughts are interrupted by the sound of a gun being cocked, and then the sharp rapport of a gunshot]

[Akira jerks violently to the side, hackles raising like a startled cat as he presses his back against the wall. his hand falls to his waist, as though he's reaching for something (a weapon??) and it's by some stroke of luck that he doesn't have his dagger strapped to his belt, so he winds up grasping at thin air]

[a moment passes, and he realizes there is no gun. only a concerned member of Astoria's circle asking him if he's okay]

Huh. . .?

[his shoulders slump, and he responds in a raspy voice]

Sorry, I'm-- yeah. I'm feeling okay. Are you?

[leeeet's just ignore the kneejerk fight response that an auditory hallucination just triggered, hm?]

[unrecovered]

[That's a combat reflex.]

[Wash has seen that particular flavor of startle reflex too many times from too many people not to recognize it on sight. Somehow, for some reason, Akira thought he was being attacked. Wash isn't sure of the how or why - he's paranoid, or the fever is messing with his brain, or something - but that's not priority one right now. Priority one is getting him to a bed before he collapses in the middle of the hallway.]

Yeah, you don't look okay.

[He loops an arm around Akira's shoulders to support him. He'll carry him if he has to; hopefully it won't come to that.]

You should get some rest.

[purrtagonist]

[it's absolutely a combat reflex, and Akira seems to realize that he probably startled out of nowhere riiiiight in front of this guy, for reasons the other Circle member can't understand. he tilts his chin up and gives a shake of his head, trying his best to pull up a disarming smile]

[with how wan he looks, it doesn't really work. but hey, effort, right?]

There are other people way worse off than I am.

[is his stubborn reply, although he does allow Wash to circle his arm around his shoulders]

I'm just a little tired.

[people who are "just tired" don't try to reach for knives]

1

[bleps]

[It isn’t the yelling that really garners Connor’s attention, but rather the coughing fit that follows. The sound of sickness has been something of a background noise as of late — coughing here, throat-clearing there, the shuffle of a low-energy gait that many possess — but he’s kept observant, kept aware. Refusing to let it become something shrugged off just because of its prevalence.

If anything else, how common it was becoming was more and more cause for concern.

At the distance, he spots Wash. The man seems to be arguing with a tree, and while the sight might be comical to most, Connor approaches with a seriousness he thinks the situation demands.]

You should try to calm down.

[-he offers, maybe a little nosily, but that’s never stopped this android before.]

You’ll only make yourself feel worse.

[unrecovered]

[Wash startles - great, someone saw him yelling at the local plant life - and deflates. At least Connor isn't likely to give him grief for it.]

Yeah, well, being calm hasn't exactly made me feel better about having the-

[He catches himself before he says "robot plague" - just because that's what he's been calling it in his head doesn't mean he needs to say it to Connor of all people. Luckily(?), he sneezes instead, because that's helpful.]

-ugh. The plague.

2

[spaceforged]

[Being prepared to get sick hadn't prepared him for seeing everyone else get ill. In the first week it hadn't been too bad. He spent the time staying in shift and hauling supplies back and forth as needed. People needed help and he could stave off his own illness.

It's difficult to see everyone he cares about getting worse. It takes a toll on him he doesn't notice because he can't. He can't allow himself to weaken or he won't be able to help them. Except he stays out of shift a little too long to stay by someone's side while they hallucinate.

He's no stranger to his body betraying him. That knowledge lets him pace his steady retreat to the outdoors where he can fix the problem. He should be in bed, instead he reaches for the magic of shifting and slowly, painfully slowly, he transforms in the Black Lion. He stands there waiting for strength to return with his head hanging low. It almost doesn't register when someone speaks up. He lifts his head and stares at them.]

Fine. I can change shape and stay immune for a while. What about you?

[unrecovered]

[Checking in on Shiro had involved hunting him down, because he hadn't been in bed resting like a sane person.]

[Well, pot, kettle. At least Wash isn't getting worse.]

[He folds his arms and ignores the question, looking at Shiro.]

And how much worse is it when you have to turn back to human?

At least lie down while you're doing this.

1

[metagame]

[All Atem wants is a better idea of the temple and forest surrounding it. And to clear his head and get some fresh air, something to help his itchy throat. Instead there's some guy yelling at a dying tree; though all the trees are dying– no matter where he goes.

Still a guy shouldn't be yelling at a tree. And the hacking fit? That's not quite endearing him to approach either, but he can't just leave someone like this. Mental note: take another shower when he's back inside, along with before and after he eats.

He's going to keep his distance, too.] Hey, do you need water or something? [Not the most eloquent way to phrase that question, but it's not like anyone knows who he is.]

[unrecovered]

[Wash startles, then sighs. Great. Someone's caught him yelling at a tree-]

[Someone new, he discovers when he turns to look for the source of the voice. His first thought - some snide inner crack about first impressions - gets immediately stampeded by his second thoughts - namely, why the fuck is Astoria bringing in new people in the middle of a plague outbreak?]

[Yeah, he's going to need to have a talk with Astoria. But for now:]

I need a lot of things, but right now water isn't one of them.

...I take it you're new here.

[Might as well state the obvious while they're here.]

1

[oathic]

[despite the sickness going around, babo kim appears utterly unconcerned as he approaches wash, coughing fit and all. he holds up his hands in a placating gesture, as he hovers awkwardly by wash.]

Hey, deep breaths. Shouldn't you be resting instead of abusing wildlife?

[unrecovered]

[The entire goddamn world seems determined to thwart him today, it seems. He just shakes his head.]

Better yelling at a tree than yelling at a person.

[Trees can't get hurt feelings or yell back.]

3

[formleg]

[Hunk was also in the small group of people who hadn't caught must of anything. He'd had a few day of stuffy nose, but as soon as it had come it had left him alone. The same couldn't be said for everyone else. It worried him and because he'd only just arrived a few weeks ago he wasn't too certain what was causing all this. He'd heard some theories of course, but he'd decided he wasn't likely to be the one to solve this crisis.

But he could help in other ways and Hunk wasn't one to sit around and not do anything if he could help it. He'd thought about trying a chicken noodle soup, classic "get better" food...but he hadn't seen any chickens. By this point he'd done a quick inventory of the kitchen and when Wash wanders in he'll be greeted with the sound of chopping an onion.
He pauses after a moment and wipes at his face. He hates chopping onion.]

Oh, hey, I could use some help. How good are you at peeling potatoes?

[There is a basket nearby, apparently he decided to make potato soup instead.]

[unrecovered]

[On one hand, Wash was not expecting to be immediately put to work upon walking into the kitchen. On the other hand, he can't say he's surprised. It should be fine as long as nobody asks him to do any actual cooking.]

I have no idea, but I'm good with a knife.

[Good enough?]

[Also is Hunk crying? That's. Potentially an issue.]

Are you okay, or is that just because... [He gestures at the chopped onions.]

3

[moneytwin]

[ Getting away from the sickness inflicted on her by strangers has had Vex lurking on the temple's outskirts moreso than its halls and bowers.

Her "den" isn't exactly set up to conceal its location: some dusty tarp has been pulled from storage and hung and draped to form at least partial tent cover at the forest's edge, where the outdoors reaches temple doorstep. The weather here in the Not-Feywild has been consistently temperate thus far, so the cold and sniffles the half-elf found herself afflicted with for the first week didn't escalate to a worse state later. And she's grateful for that, even as she feels sorry for those suffering inside.

Some of the larger throw-pillows pilfered from fort building litter the inside, but mostly, there's large plates of armor stacked on one side and one very large sleeping bear on the other. Vex herself? Currently perched up on part of the temple's roof, legs dangling over the edge, as she gazes out as far as the lands allow.

And watches Wash emerge and begin a lap around the building. When he reappears near her designated corner, she leans forward, calling down: ]

Did you lose something, darling?

[unrecovered]

[It's a quiet walk for Wash as he tries to gather his thoughts, with limited success - really, it's all he can do to prevent himself from going down the "what if everyone dies" rabbit hole. That helps no one, least of all him, and-]

[Holy shit that sure is a bear-]

[He stops short and takes a few very quick steps backwards. Bears aren't native to these particular woods, and the armor looks like it fits the bear, so...did Astoria pull in a sentient bear?]

[He looks up at the question. Honestly, a woman on the roof is not all that surprising compared to the fucking bear, but if she's that calm that near to it...]

[Okay. Okay.]

Yeah, my cure for the common plague. Have you seen it?

1

[reeliable]

[Wandering the woods in some desperate search for fresh air like it could be the cure, Noct can't really avoid how his path diverts and he ends up within hearing range of someone shouting. Approaching slowly until he can see just who it is - and see the poor unfortunate tree - Noct steps out with a water bottle in hand. He's been starting to carry two on him, because he drinks one too fast, but that coughing sounds worse than his own.]

Hey - here, don't work yourself up too much. [Hey Wash, you're a sort of familiar face now.]

[unrecovered]

[He'd retreated to the woods to take out his frustrations alone, but evidently that isn't an options. Wash shakes his head and waves Noct off.]

I'm fine. Just- [He waves a hand uselessly at the trees.] Stress relief.

2

[lonered]

[Keith is still on his feet, so there's that. But half of it is through nothing but outright stubbornness about not being taken out by a damn cold. It's more than a cold, but the worst of it hasn't quite hit yet -- save in a few bits and pieces. He's hearing voices.

But you know, no one needs to know that just yet.

Anyway, he's on his way out of his room when he nearly bumps into Wash. His reflexes are off too, because he nearly stumbles back.]

Good. Yeah, I'm good. You?

[Keith looks like death warmed over, and there's something downright haunted in his eyes, but you know. Good.]

[unrecovered]

[Wash reaches out to steady Keith on instinct and pauses on contact. He can't tell for certain by feel alone, but...is Keith running a fever?]

[Given how Keith looks, he wouldn't be surprised.]

You look like you woke up from a nightmare and found out it was real. Go back to bed.

week 3

[weremongoose]

[Well, out in the woods, he may run into a redhead who is... honestly he's pacing, stalking, back and forth. God he's worse than the wolves, acting like this. But he's agitated, and he doesn't have any real outlet for it.

He's been dropped in a strange world full of strange people, and there's a plague that he can do a grand total of nothing about. And he's sick on top of it, though thankfully mild. Still, the virus that makes him what he is usually kills off any other potential bacteria or virus before it can take hold, territorial as it is, so this is not usual for Barabas. So he feels useless and sneezy. It's wonderful.

But he catches sight of the man staring down a tree until it collapses.]

...I think you're contributing to deforestation.

[unrecovered]

We could always use more firewood.

[It's remarkably blithe considering that a tree just gave up the ghost just because Wash was nearby. That's only a little disturbing.]

I don't think I've seen you around. When did you get here?

wildcard

[oculusriffs]

[Dave's been pretty much perfectly fine since the end of the first week, so he understands the desperate need to get out of the Temple, if only for a few minutes.]

[the sick slammer? yeah, let's go with that.]

[which is why, sometime toward the end of the third week, he's defacing one of the walls surrounding the training grounds. it's ... unclear what he's drawing at a first glance, exactly, but that absolutely is a bright red paint pen, and that absolutely isn't coming off with the next rain.]

[unrecovered]

[Wash is spending some time trying to get his head back in order. He's been worrying about the friends he's made here, and everyone in a much larger sense, and it's been absolute hell on his stability; given that, it's a good day for a walk in the fresh air. Hopefully it'll help.]

[...evidently it's also a good day for vandalism. Wash pauses behind Dave and looks over his shoulder.]

What the hell are you doing?

1

[cuedoves]

[ that's rough, buddy. honestly though, he picked the right person to complain.... in front of, complaining is one of zuko's many talents. a wiser person would probably tell wash to calm down, but captain surly's wisdom comes and goes. right now, it's going. ]

Tell me about it. [ he crosses his arms, not coughing himself yet, but looking sweaty and gross. ew. anyway, he doesn't comment on the fact that wash is yelling at a tree. he just chimes in. ] How did we even get sick from--- metal things?

[ what's a robot. but uh, actually, he is going to going to comment on the fact that wash is yelling at a tree, after a bit of an awkward pause he adds: ]

You do know that you're talking to a tree, right?

[unrecovered]

[Look, there's something therapeutic in a good vent session, and it's nice to find someone who actually understands that. Even if that person did come right the fuck out of nowhere.]

Because the plague that killed all the living things never fucking died itself!

[...really? Really? They were having a bonding moment and then he pulls that? Wash returns to addressing the tree, feigning shock.]

You mean to tell me you've been a tree the whole time?

[He then turns, excruciatingly slowly, to level a flat look at Zuko. He fucking knows.]