Dictation - ERROR 000 - [Voice] (Forward-dated for the 28th)

[drabsolutelynot]

Sans? Remember…rember…about the frog? The frog- The one that, um, that--[jesus, SansWhoIsn'tHereRightNow, can't you just follow his thinking on this?] --YOU KNOW THE FROG.

[Does Rosen think he’s actually talking to Sans?  Was he maybe trying to call Sans? Its unclear and as he is going to proceed either way, we may never know.]

What the fudge does the frog do when its half, um, half fudging boiled, hm? Does it realize whats going to happen? Or is it stupid and f…fluffing blind until the bitter freighting end?

[Rosen’s mind is reaching for the word ‘fucking’ but keeps landing just off mark. Even in his drunken haze he’s sensing he’s not getting the word he’s looking for, and the annoyance of that can possibly be sensed in the increasing agitation in his voice. That, coupled with what distinctly sounds like a glass bottle, or several, rolling across a table or, in this case, a floor.]

Flick the frog.  

[Closer, but no cigar. At least he got the F, a vowel, and the ‘ck’ in there. Points for trying? Rosen feels like he gets points for trying. For a few moments all that can be heard is Rosen half-singing ‘Jeremiah was a bullfrog’ under his breath before he goes very quiet]

Sans.

[Rosen’s voice is now serious. Contemplative.]

Can someone be the frog, the fr’pan, and the dick who has a frog and a frying pan all at the same time? 

[A long, labored sigh] 

I think m’doing it.

[End recording]

Comments

Re: [Video--Private]

[drabsolutelynot]

Jus' say it.

[Video--Private]

[lifetothefullest]

What, that you're drunk? I think you're already aware of that.

[He has a feeling that's not what Rosen meant, though perhaps he's mistaken.]

Re: [Video--Private]

[drabsolutelynot]

[there's a sharp inhale and then another mumbled]

m'fine.

[No. That hadn't been what Rosen meant. But he's not sure what he had wanted Lance to say. Something Maybe. Anything. They haven't SPOKEN in days and really he just wants lance to keep talking even if its him being annoyed with him.

It feels less lonely that way]

[Video--Private]

[lifetothefullest]

[Lance sighs quietly, mentally going over the options here, but he knows there's really only one of several options that he's going to end up choosing.]

Are you at your apartment?

Re: [Video--Private]

[drabsolutelynot]

wh'else would I go?

[There's a heavy shudder of his shoulders after a particularly ragged breath. Whimsical is phasing out to make room for the jackhammer headache and nausea]

[Video--Private]

[lifetothefullest]

I'm taking that as a rhetorical question.

[Even though who knows, when someone's drunk.]

I'll be there shortly.

[Let him gather a few things first.]

Re: [Video--Private]

[drabsolutelynot]

[A bloodshot eye peeks out from around his elbow, his cheek now resting on the spot where his forehead had been]

y'don't have to.

[Its said weakly. Certainly he's not proud to have anyone, let alone Lance, see him this way. But at the same time
he's not telling you not to.]

[Video--Private --> Action]

[lifetothefullest]

I'm aware.

[He's doing it because it's the right thing to do; however he might feel about Rosen's actions in the past, he still cares about his wellbeing and Rosen had done a whole lot more for him since arriving. The least he can do is make sure the old man doesn't keel over from too much alcohol.

About twenty minutes later and he'll show up with a duffel bag, dressed in a hoodie and jeans and vaguely smelling like bourbon, but it's clear enough from his eyes and how coordinated he still is that he obviously hasn't had as much alcohol as he would've liked.

He just lets himself into the apartment--that key's coming in handy after all--and wanders in, looking around.]

Dr. Rosen?

Re: [Action]

[drabsolutelynot]

[There's a grunt from the kitchen, Rosen still in his drill-position between the kitchen table and the counter. There are a few bottles here and there. Some that have rolled away across the floor, others nearer to him, one tucked under his arm. So far he's been spared any vomiting, but even in his drunken stupor he's aware thats not 1. necessarily how things are going to stay or 2. a good sign.]

[Action]

[lifetothefullest]

[Great. He's seen worse in college, and he's much more capable of dealing with such a situation now, but it's still not the best scene.]

You should sit up.

[He offers the advice as he kneels next to Rosen, the motion now only slightly painful when it had been agonizing just after he'd arrived. It's a nice change.]

Re: [Action]

[drabsolutelynot]

[Rosen shifts his head enough to finally reveal his face fully, looking particularly flushed and ill. He knows from his medical training that what Lance is saying is correct. But his nerves and his muscles are screaming otherwise. And for that reason he starts to protest, starting to say 'it feels worse when I sit up' but it turns into-]

...Can I just sleep?

[lifetothefullest]

In a little bit, yes.

[But he's not taking no for an answer right now, especially when he gets a look at Rosen's face, and he reaches out to begin trying to pull Rosen up into a sitting position.]

[drabsolutelynot]

[There's a tired and noticeably pathetic look that comes across Rosen's face but he yields. Lance gets to be the doctor this time. And its only a moment or two before he's trying to aid Lance in his efforts to pull him up, palming at the ground and groaning sharply when his head raises anywhere above his shoulders]

F-fuck'sake [He hisses]

[lifetothefullest]

[It really is like college all over again, only his roommates had been significantly younger than Rosen.

Once he manages to get sitting up, Lance pulls a bottle of water from his bag and holds it out.]

Here. It'll help pretty quickly.

[It won't be a miracle cure or anything, but still. Never underestimate the effects of a bottle of water after drinking.]

[drabsolutelynot]

[Lee nods weakly before taking in and fumbling with the cap a moment. Once he's succeeded in that task, he proceeds to drink. He's successful at first, but predictably his now angry system attempts to revolt, gag reflex forcing a cough that ends with splash of water dribbling onto his chin and shirt.

He sighs, raising his other hand to wipe at it]

I, um, I h'vn't been drunk in over 20 years

[He swallows against another gagging-reflex]

Wish i'd kept it that way.

[lifetothefullest]

There's no rush.

[Lance assures him, ready to catch the water bottle or try to get Rosen to the sink if he looks like he's going to be sick, then raises his eyebrows slightly at the admission.]

That's a long streak to break.

[He wonders if there's a particular reason for the dry spell, and how concerned he should be that it's been broken now.]

[drabsolutelynot]

[Rosen focuses on steadying his own shaky breathing for a minute or two before answering]

Don't worry [His eyes focus back on Lance. He can see the young man's cogs at work] I wasn't an alcoholic. S'not an AA type thing.

[He attempts another, much smaller sip of water]

S'just, once you've been through med school, seen what it does to a body, and once you've had so many patients whose lives 've been ruined cause they drank it away, you don't really see the appeal anymore. Least I didn't. Decided it wasn't worth it. 'Nd for all the time I haven't touched it, never missed it at all.

[lifetothefullest]

[That makes sense, and he's glad that's the explanation, though it's still worrying.]

And yet you decided to start again now.

[Not that Lance blames him or anything, but he wonders if there was some specific reason or just a culmination of everything that's happened here, especially lately. In some way, he feels like he might've had a part in it.]

[drabsolutelynot]

Didn't plan for it to go as far as it did. Just wanted it to be a one off.

[He coughs, trying to clear his throat as once again the muscles tighten to try and fight the water that he tried to get down]

But yes. I decided to break my no-drinking rule.

[lifetothefullest]

[He's talking more, and coherently, so Lance is starting to feel a little less concerned. He shifts to sit on the floor instead of kneeling, crossing his ankles and drawing his knees up toward his chest so he can rest his elbows on them.]

I assume you forgot your tolerance would've diminished.

[Or at least he'd like to hope that's the reason why Rosen went so overboard.

He's silent a few seconds, before deciding to go ahead and ask--]

Was there a particular reason?

[drabsolutelynot]

[Is it likely that a man who has been a physician for 30 years would have overlooked something like that? Unfortunately not. And Lee is fairly certain Lance must have a gut feeling about that as well. So for the moment he doesn't answer it. The reality is Lee had been banking on that. Hoping it would knock him out at least long enough to get a night of sleep.

And that brings him to Lance's second question, which he doesn't really want to answer that either.

He sets the water bottle against his temple, trying to ease the angry thudding, eyes closing]

Is there something specific you are trying to ask me, Lance? Or is it- [a hum as another gagging reflex makes his shoulders shudder, but they seem to be getting weaker, at least] - is this just a general question?

[lifetothefullest]

[He sighs quietly at the question, because even drunk Rosen is sharp. Admirable and yet annoying, at the same time.]

Not right now, no.

[Because he thinks it's a conversation they should have when Rosen is sober, for many reasons.]

Drink your water.

[drabsolutelynot]

[Rosen would agree with Lance's assessment. Something that sensitive should be left for another time and for clearer heads. However he can help but chuckle weakly when Lance orders him to drink the water. And that soft, breathless chuckling quickly turns into another hiss of pain as his head retaliates against the action]

[lifetothefullest]

[Lance is too concerned to really be amused as he might've been if this were, say, Booth, and the reason for his drinking weren't serious, but he also can't help but feel like he'll have to make fun of Rosen for this later. If that ever ends up being appropriate once again, anyway.

Still, he thinks it's okay to offer sort of a joke, while still continuing to try to keep Rosen on track.]

Less pained laughing, more water.

[drabsolutelynot]

You're making that a challenge

[The words are mumbled distractedly before he lifts the bottle to his lips once more, successfully trickling water down his throat. Its easier if he tricks it with small driblets rather than trying to swallow anything substantial]