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: [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]

[lifetothefullest]

[He smiles, just a little, at that comment, and he's glad to see Rosen getting some more water down. Dealing with drunk people is not Lance's specialty, so this is going pretty well all things considered.

He glances around at the kitchen floor as he waits for Rosen to keep drinking water, eyeing the empty bottles.]

How much did you actually drink?

[drabsolutelynot]

[There's a heavy sigh]

Wellllll....

[Followed by 'ho-hum'ing as its clear he doesn't really remember]

....six....?

[His expression turns appropriately embarrassed]

The point was to fall asleep. Didn't happen.

[If that weren't obvious]

[lifetothefullest]

[Six? Lance makes a face that's somewhere between incredulous and surprised, and immediately wonders just how strong the alcohol was.]

If you hadn't already told me you're inexperienced with drinking, that would've made it obvious. You don't drink to excess in order to fall asleep.

[Moderation is a lot better for that. Also he'll just make a mental note about the fact that Rosen's apparently turning to alcohol to try to fall asleep in the first place.]

[drabsolutelynot]

No But you drink to excess to knock yourself out, no?

[Sleep. Loss of consciousness. It gets you to a similar place. He takes a somewhat larger gulp of water, wincing at a particularly sharp pain in his head]

S'not enough to just fall asleep like normal. I wanted m'brain to shut up for once.

[lifetothefullest]

If you drink enough to lose consciousness, then you run a risk of death.

[From the whole alcohol poisoning thing. Not at all worth it.

He's quiet several seconds at Rosen's next comments, understanding the sentiment behind them well, but--]

You're a psychiatrist. I don't need to tell you that alcohol is not the best way to go about that.

[drabsolutelynot]

You're not wrong

[His voice goes to almost a whisper. Head pounding, throat feeling raw, and mouth now with the sour taste of lingering drink, Rosen knows what he did was ill-advised. Stupid, even.]

You're not wrong.

[He murmurs a second time.]

S'not going to happen again. Promise.

[Its not really just a promise to Lance. Its a promise to himself. Get off the dirt. Pick himself back up, and get back on track. And start with going back to his 'dry' rule because he had had it for a reason. Its not who he ever wanted to be.]

[lifetothefullest]

[He nods at little the response, unable to really appreciate being right considering the circumstances and not sure he believes the promise; he'd like to, but promises made while drunk are not exactly the most reliable.

But he doesn't want to press further on the conversation, because it is another one that isn't fair to have when Rosen isn't sober. So instead he's quiet, fiddling idly with the sleeve of his hoodie and gesturing for Rosen to keep drinking the water.]

[drabsolutelynot]

[Rosen obediently takes another sip as per Lance's gesture. And after a few lingering minutes of silence he quietly ventures a glance at him]

Thank you. You know....for being here.

[lifetothefullest]

Of course.

[It's quiet but without hesitation; he really hadn't considering doing anything else, despite things being awkward between them at the moment. It was not only the right thing to do, but after everything Rosen had done for him it's the least he could manage to repay him.]