Event Log: Flu Season

[hadrielmods]

Who: All characters
What: The event log for the Flu Season event
Where: All over the city
When: March 20th-March 30th
Warnings: Gross sneezing, sick people, and paranoia

It starts with a cough, a sneeze, a sore throat - something small and simple, easily ignored. But then your symptoms get worse. It's probably been awhile since you've been sick, that sort of thing doesn't usually happen here. You might be able to raid the shops for some tissues and tea before it gets too bad, and hopefully you've got a friend to help out until you get better. Surely it'll be over soon, right?

Until the fever sets in, and you start to understand why your friend is really there. They don't want to take care of you. They want to make sure this is the last anyone will ever see of you. They want to learn all your secrets. They want to steal your most precious possession. You know they're plotting against you, you know they're keeping something from you. What will you do to find out what it is?

Then, as the sickness fades, you realize it was all in your mind. Let's hope you didn't do or say anything too awful. But that friend of yours... they seem to have picked up your cough. Maybe you should help them out?

► This log covers March 20th-March 30th.
► Feel free to make your own logs, as well
► Please tag headers of threads with content warnings where they apply
► Please put your character's name and open/closed in the subject line of your starters!
► If your paranoia ends in murder, please let us know here.

Comments

Washington | open and closed

[hardwearing]

at the beginning; this was a mistake | ota

When he first started sneezing, Wash honestly wasn't sure what to make of it. Dust? He'd never had a problem with it before. Then the tickle in his throat turned into an actual cough, and grew sore and painful. It got hard to breathe through his nose, and he had to admit to himself that the heat radiating from his skin wasn't just from being out in the sun, he had a fever. He was sick.

He hasn't been sick since he was a kid. Since before he was a solider, excepting a few episodes of stomach issues here and there that hadn't really slowed him down. So this whole flu thing is unacceptable, and he's not going to let it win.

As if an illness is something he can fight with willpower, he stubbornly refuses to ease up on his training regimen. He's decided to go without armor for awhile until they can shield their implants, which means when he goes out for a run he also doesn't have his vitals conveniently displayed on his HUD. Doesn't realize just how far he's pushed it until he's collapsing, hacking up gunk and feeling like he's being burned alive between the suns and his fever. He stumbles into the shade of a nearby building, sinks weak and dizzy to the ground. That's where anyone walking by can find him, sitting leaning against the wall and hoping his strength will come back so he can get home.

fever spikes; paranoia sets in | closed to close cr

Being sick is horrible, and Wash doesn't deal with it particularly well. Once he's admitted defeat he really only leaves his bed to go to the bathroom, feeling increasingly shittier as the fever rises despite all this maddening rest. Something else is wrong, though. He's always sort of paranoid already, worrying about everything that could possibly become a problem, but now he literally can't think about anything else. His mind jumps from one disaster scenario to the next, most of them wild and unreasonable but too real to shake.

Ephemera has been faking good intentions and now he knows they all live together, he's going to rig the house. Kyna has been filing away his every negative quality, every screw up, and this shitty attitude about being sick is the last straw. When she comes in with a glass of juice he's certain she's going to declare her hatred. Name is summoning the Null as this very moment, and will hack them all. No, they're here already. Everyone who's offered them help is secretly working for the Null, and they can't trust anyone. By letting people have access to his implant they've even found a way for the Null to fully control them this time. Get in their heads properly, impersonate them convincingly. His team is compromised. These aren't his friends anymore. He has to handle this himself before it's too late.

Luckily he's too sick to do anything about any of these thoughts. But soon...

towards the end; taking on a new mission | ota

...soon enough the fever breaks. And he's feeling dramatically better. Well enough, in fact, to don his armor and weapons, against his previous assessment that it wasn't safe. Because now it's necessary. Now, he has a job to do. He has to hunt down Name and interrogate it, then destroy it so thoroughly no one here will ever be able to put it back together. He has to save the city. He has to get his friends back. The Null are here already and no one else knows it. Maybe they're out in the desert, lying in wait. Should he search first? No, Name will tell him. He'll make it tell him.

Wash can be found systematically searching every building in the city, perhaps even barging his way into your home. And his explanation sounds insane, but arguing with him might only convince him you're the enemy, too. Somebody needs to talk some sense into him before it's too late and he does something he'll regret.

the beginning :')

[evocation]

Wash might be too stubborn to consider himself sick, but Kyna knows what's up, and every time he denies anything being wrong, she can't help but give him the side eye. Apparently space marines don't get sick. Who knew? She figured it would be safe, despite his unending stubbornness, to leave him alone for a bit. Just long enough to get some food for him. Apparently, she guessed wrong.

She spots him collapsed against a wall, and her heart stops as she rushes over. He's okay, though, she thinks. When she gets closer she realizes he's conscious, but that doesn't stop her voice from sounding a bit panicked as she kneels beside him. "What happened? Are you okay?"

[hardwearing]

Oh, perfect. Wash looks very much like he's been caught in a lie, that lie being insisting that he was fine. He's not fine, time to admit that. He's sick. Gross.

"Yeah, I just got overheated."

[evocation]

"Yeah, it's like a million degrees out." Kyna brushes his hair back from his forehead, shaking her head at how feverish he feels. "Why are you even out, anyway? You should be sleeping."

[hardwearing]

She's going to rip him a new one if he admits he wanted to train, but he's also a shitty liar. Might as well just get this over with.

"I went for a run."

[evocation]

Kyna just stares at him for a moment, as though she doesn't quite comprehend what he's saying. "You did what?"

[hardwearing]

"You were right, okay? I'm sick. This is me accepting that." And trying to get up, now, so he can go back to the bed she'd told him not to leave in the first place. But he'd still had just enough energy to be restless and foolish at that point.

[evocation]

"Yeah, I was right." She scowls, placing both hands on his shoulders and trying to get him to stay down. "Stop it. I'll get you back. You look like you're going to pass out. Why the hell did you go on a run, anyway?"

[hardwearing]

"...get me back how?" He shrugs her hands off worriedly -- she's touching him too much, she'll catch whatever he's got -- but stays down for the moment, sniffling miserably. "Because I thought I could. This is a bad time to slack."

[evocation]

"Resting when you're sick isn't slacking, Wash. Jesus Christ." It might not be entirely fair for her to be this frustrated at him, but she can't help but think about how awful this could have gone, and how insistent he was on not listening to her, so she rolls her eyes. "Wizard, remember? Your place or mine?"

[hardwearing]

Ugh, she's mad. But she doesn't understand, he doesn't get sick like this! He's just as frustrated by the fact that apparently, despite all the immune boosters and vaccinations he's gotten over the years, he's caught something nasty. Maybe it's an alien bug native to this planet? With all the traveling going on someone could have tracked something back.

"...mine. You shouldn't stick around and risk catching it."

[evocation]

"You're not going to scare me off. I don't care if I get sick. Stay still." She doesn't actually have to touch him to cast the spell, which he'll certainly be happy about. It just takes a few seconds of focus—visualizing every detail she can remember of the new house—and the next time Wash blinks, he'll find himself on the floor, with Kyna still next to him.

[hardwearing]

He cares if she gets sick, but he feels like this argument is one he's going to lose so for now he just holds still as requested, and then suddenly he's back in his room, feeling extremely disoriented. There's another wave of dizziness, then sour heat in the back of his throat.

"--I'm gonna be sick." A slightly different kind of sick. He makes a desperate attempt to get to his feet and out of the room, but doesn't quite make it to the door before doubling over and puking. At least he hasn't eaten anything significant lately so it's not too gross.

[evocation]

She's so used to the teleportation spell that its physical effects don't even register with her anymore, but as soon as she sees the look on his face, she knows she's screwed up. Kyna winces as he throws up, her anger giving way a bit to sympathy.

"Shit, I'm sorry." Is touching him okay? She just sets her hand on his shoulder gently. "Just come lay down, okay?"

[hardwearing]

Wash just groans a little in response, disgusted and embarrassed. But he accepts the touch this time and lets her steer him back to bed, sitting heavily and wiping at his mouth. Just taking a moment to make sure his stomach's settled before he leans down and unlaces his boots.

"Not your fault. I'm sorry I went out."

[evocation]

"It was stupid." She has to say it. "But I forgive you. Stop that and let me help you." And if he does, she'll pull off his boots for him.

[hardwearing]

Yeah, she wins this battle. He goes still again, letting her get his boots off, then shifts to lie down properly. The bed is made but he's too hot for a blanket anyway, and the pillow is blissfully cool under his cheek.

"This sucks."

[evocation]

"I know." Kyna sets the boots aside and brushes her fingertips against his cheek. "Stay here. I'll be back."

It takes her a while to return, mostly because she has to clean up the vomit, and that's not exactly fun, but when she gets back, she has a glass of water in one hand and a damp cloth in the other. She perches on the edge of the bed beside him, setting the glass on the bedside table and laying the cloth over his forehead. "Better?"

[hardwearing]

That's nice -- Wash rolls onto his back so the cloth stays in place, eyeing the glass but not wanting to sit up for it right now. Or put anything in his stomach just yet. Later.

"Yeah. Thank you. I'll be okay, though, you should get out of here and hope you didn't catch it."

towards the end

[roseofthetyrells]

[Wash bursts into the apartment shared by Margaery and Daenerys, sending Margaery scrambling to her feet. the past couple of days, she's spent holed up in the apartment, sword in hand, convinced that Cersei Lannister and the creature Qyburn created to defend her is in Hadriel, not satisfied with killing Margaery once.

she holds the sword at the ready for a moment before shaking her head and muttering] Cersei--?! No. No, you're not Cersei. You're Wash. What are you doing here, Wash?

Re: towards the end

[hardwearing]

[ No, he's not Cersei, or some monstrous creature. Just himself, which some people might argue is a monster but right now he just believes he's on a mission. Margaery's apartment doesn't get a pass just because she's a friend. ]

Stand back, Margaery.

[ He has his magnum out and at low ready, and his steps are swift and certain as he moves farther inside. Each room is checked with military precision. Their closets are thrown open, he even looks under their beds and in the kitchen cupboards. ]

Re: towards the end

[roseofthetyrells]

[she wouldn't say that he's a monster. in fact, she'd defend him from the accusation. that doesn't lessen her confusion about why he's in her apartment, though]

All right. Is something wrong?

[she watches him check through the apartment and doesn't move to hinder him. she's just curious about what he expects to find there]

fever spikes

[uptightness]

She's been ignoring it for the most part since she started to sniffle and cough, or as much as she could anyway. It's not like she's gotten sick all that often. Stabbed, punched, broken bones, sprains, bruises... Those are all part of being Carolina, but being taken down by some bug? There had been a little bit of denial there, brushing it off as nothing, until it had progressed to a fuller cough and a raspy voice.

Today though, it does feel like a train's fallen on her, and perhaps she's running a little bit of a fever? It's the start of one, if it is, although she's doing her best to stay hydrated and get as much rest as she can. It has slowed her down, which only adds to the overall irritation, but she's not going to be taken down by some cold if she has anything to say about it.

She's wearing a sweater she's found, a little big, but it works, with a cup of water in one hand that she's been sipping at. Her intentions had been to read a little more, although a yawn that turns in to a cough makes her debate whether she does just want to crash on her bed instead. It is inviting, although every time she does try to go down for a nap, she's too congested to get much sleep. It likely doesn't help that she's still pushing herself, still going around town, as if familiarizing herself with the area will keep danger at bay.

It is a light rap of her knuckles on Wash's door that comes once she's returned upstairs. She's more nasal than before, which does seem to add a certain whine to her voice. He seems to have it worse, although she's not doctor. Yet she is a friend, which prompts her knock. "Need anything?"

Re: fever spikes

[hardwearing]

Wash is pretty much at the worst of it, fever blazing and paranoia rising. He's avoiding the others, knowing he's too sick to fight but certain they're no longer themselves. At this point he doesn't emerge from his room except to struggle to the bathroom and when he does his eyes are bright and wary. Kyna's been taking care of him pretty much full time, but has to go back to her place to walk Lando and Carolina happens to knock in one of those gaps where Wash is alone. He was dozing, light and fitful, and the sound of it startles him awake. He forces himself to sit up and scramble back against the headboard, grasping for his magnum where it rests on the bedside table. It's uncomfortably heavy, a testament to how weak he is right now. He doesn't trust himself to make a safe shot if the Null controlling Carolina attacks him... it'd be better to play dumb, wouldn't it? He sets the weapon back down.

"No, I'm okay," he calls out, voice also rough and nasal from the flu. "Thanks."

[uptightness]

"You and I need to talk about the definition of okay." Which... is a bit ironic coming from her. They've fought in different situations over the years, been injured and kept going. Of course there had also been a time where Carolina could have had a life serious injury, and she would have kept going. She still pushes herself now, but she is a bit more realistic in what she can and can't do- or maybe what she should and shouldn't. It doesn't stop her from pressing if it is serious enough, but she does also back off.

"Cover up, 'cause I'm coming in." Considering he has been all but a ghost recently. Yes, feeling like shit doesn't exactly make one want to be social, but she would like to at least make certain that he's not bad enough that she's going to need to talk to Kyna about what else they can do for him.