hadriel | issue #4 | video; backdated to the 6th

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issue #4 | video; backdated to the 6th

[Ellie looks wrecked. Are hangovers supposed to last several days? Maybe that's how things work when you flood your system with magical shots and the most alcohol you've ever consumed in your short life by far. She scrubs at her tired eyes and sighs at the camera.]

Hey. So. I've got a question for everyone. There are scientists and shit here, right? Probably? Doctors, definitely. Is there anyone here who could, like... potentially help me make a cure for something? Maybe this is a dumb idea, but I've gotta try.

[She's been thinking about it ever since Chris mentioned to her that time freezes back home when you're gone. So long as she's here, she has unlimited time to try and manufacture something to cure people back home- and she has both the disease and the cure inside her body. That's gotta be worth something, right?]

Also, uh. Sorry if during that party I was- if I did anything- sorry.

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What is it for which you wish to develop a cure?

It's like... a fungus that grows outta people's brains. It makes them angry, really violent. Eventually it spreads and that kicks off a bunch more symptoms, but the main thing to know is that they aren't capable of rational thought anymore.

They aren't human.

I see. I have heard of such fungi, but only insofar as they form parasitic symbiosis with ants. Do you have a specimen of this fungus?

[Ellie immediately switches the video to private. Thank god she finally knows how to do that. There are certain things she doesn't exactly want spreading to the entire network if she can help it.]

Yeah. I think I remember reading something about that version of it.

Look, before I tell you anything else, I gotta know you're above board and not just here to entertain yourself. What are you, a doctor?

As well you should. There are, unfortunately, any number of unsavory persons about. I am a doctor. A psychiatrist to be precise, although I've practiced other specialties as well. My name is Dr. Hannibal Lecter.

Yeah. No kidding.

[Ellie scoffs, but doesn't elaborate. She's gotten some weird vibes from a couple of people.]

Okay... Doc Lecter. You gotta promise not to freak out about this, okay?

[Hannibal gives her a gentle, reassuring smile. He is almost always quite in control, and has very rarely freaked out about anything, even in his world of violence and death.]

You have my word.

[She nods, still looking a little hesitant, but... well, she's not going to get anywhere keeping it to herself.

Ellie pulls back her sleeve, and brandishes her arm towards the camera. The fungus can be clearly seen collecting itself around the prominent bite mark.]

I'm not- I'm not sick, though. I'm immune. But it's in me.

[Why, isn't that interesting. Hannibal raises his eyebrows as he views the teeming wound.]

Are you contagious?

[The way he seems to view it, clinically and without emotion, strangely calms her. She's too used to freak outs, the few people that have seen in losing their minds.]

No. I- uh. Actually, I'm not sure. I don't think so? It's definitely not airborne, or anything like that. I once bit a guy, but I- [killed him.]

He died, before I could see what would happen.

It is good to apologize — but you were far from the only one influenced by Rage. I am sure others will understand.

[ If Saber looks tired, it's because she's spent the last week trying to keep angry people in line... but she's also aware it wasn't really their fault. ]

[Ellie nods slowly, but doesn't look like she entirely believes it at the same time. There's a strange sense of camaraderie Ellie feels, born of both looking like they've been hit by a truck. Gods, huh?]

Yeah. I hope so, anyway.

Nothing important was destroyed, and I have not heard of any serious injuries.

[ Just a whole lot of minor ones... and incredible hangovers. Case in point. ]

Are you well? If you cannot remember your actions, you must have struck your head... or drunk quite heavily. [ She's from medieval times, she's not really judging. ]

That's good... I'm kinda surprised, considering what I remember. I think I went mattress surfing down some stairs with one dude.

[She scrunches up her nose, trying to remember. Yeah. Yikes. That happened. So did Jade setting fires...]

Uh... Yeah. I'm okay. Just the worst headache I've had, like. Ever.

[ Well. ] Some less vital structures were affected. But the housing, the guard post, and the clinic are all intact.

[ And that's all she cares about, really. Gotta prioritize in a war. She tries to soften her voice from her usual sharp, clipped tone, trying to come across a little more gentle. ]

You should continue to rest. Your body has been pushed well beyond its limits. [ Saber herself hasn't slept a wink in two weeks, but that's an advantage of being a spirit. ]

What's the matter, kiddo? You sick or something?

[Wade hopes it's not cancer-- there's only one cure they've been able to manufacture in his world and it technically isn't even a cure, just a way of reproducing the cells that end up dying from the disease.]

Also it totally figures there was a huge party and I wasn't invited. Wish I could say it was the first time that's happened to me.

[She's quick to shake her head and fling up her arms, hoping to dispel any worry immediately.]

No dude, I'm fine. I'm all good. Promise.

[Kind of. Technically.]

It's some people back home I'm worried about.

Anyway, for the record? You were too cool for this shitfest of a party.

[Says you. Wade personally thinks the lady doth protest too much, but far be it from him to pry into someone else's personal affairs. Er-- in this instance, anyway. Ellie's assessment of him, false though it may be, nonetheless causes the mercenary to grow bashful and shy, and it shows in the way he awkwardly grips the back of his neck.]

Heh. That's one hell of a flattering indictment, little missy, but I have it on good authority that I'm never too cool for a shitfest. An' from the way you're lookin' right now, I'm sorry I missed it.

...Gatorade helps, bee-tee-dubs. Any kind of sports drink you can find, really. Get some carbs in you, too-- if you think you can keep food down, I mean. Toast is a good start, in my experience.

[Ahaha! Awwww! This is the first time Ellie has thought of him as kind of strangely adorable. Who knew. She grins at Wade.]

Don't be. I'm glad at least one person missed the disaster that was me for the past like... week.

Toast, huh? Maybe I'll try that.

[She hasn't been able to keep anything down, but toast doesn't sound too awful.]

There's gotta be someone in this apartment that knows how to use the toaster without blowing shit up.

[Shhh... don't tell anyone, Ellie-- you're gonna ruin his reputation.]

Pretty sure I wouldn't have judged. I mean, I've been a disaster my whole life. It'd be kinda hypocritical of me, y'know?

...Also wait. Is there seriously not a single person at your place that knows how to use a toaster? The hell?

[Okay, so he might be judgmental of that, at least.]

[She laughs sharply at that and raises an eyebrow at him. Oh Wade, you hot mess, you.]

Dude! Okay, look. Shut up. Listen. Firstly, they are just not a thing where I come from. I had to ask what they were called. Secondly, they're covered in weird dials and languages and shit, and according to Jade, look nothing like toasters as she knows them. So.

[big shrug]

I am certified in pharmacology. I may be able to help. But i'm afraid I'll need more information.

[Now this sounds closer to what she was hoping for. Ellie switches the feed to private.]

Um. You guys [doctors] have like a whole confidentiality thing, right?

[Rosen does his best to smile reassuringly]

Of course.

[It's good to hear him affirm that, but she's still going to start small. Less personal.]

The thing I'm trying to cure is a fungal infection. It's called cordyceps, and it grows in people's brains and basically makes them just entirely lose their shit. Do you know much about shit like that?

There are several varieties of fungi and bacteria the can have such an effect on the brain, yes.

I'm sorry to be blunt, but are you concerned that you have been infected with such a condition?

[At this question, Ellie laughs rather sharply. Seconds later, all traces of mirth are wiped from her face. It's almost eerie.]

The thing is, doc, I don't have to worry about that.

[She twists and untwists her fingers together; an old nervous habit.]

I'm immune. Found that out the fucking hard way.

[And just as she had for Hannibal earlier, she pulls back her sleeve and presents to Rosen the bite mark on her arm, dotted with fungus.]

[Rosen's eyes go wide at the sight of the wound. This poor child, how painful that looks.]

So... [His voice waivers as he puts two and two together]

...you are worried for someone else?

[At this stage of her life, Ellie isn't feeling any terrible effects yet, but she does get the occasional tremor in her hands. Phantom pain around the bite. Like teeth are digging into her all over again.

She nods.]

It's kind of ruining my world. Fuck. Not kind of. It's ruined. It's a god damn mess. If I go home, I want to go home with a cure.

Edited 2017-07-24 04:59 (UTC)

[Lord, Ellie, you look terrible.]

How much did you drink?

[She groans dramatically, and pouts at Jo, looking for sympathy for her bad choices.]

Too much.

[Jo does have a little sympathy for her. While Jo stayed away from the party because she didn't want to get involved with Rage, she knows a little bit about Delight's shots and how they can work.]

No water either I bet. Have you been able to eat?

I had some water...

[She remembers one bottle, after prompting from someone else. Maybe two. Certainly not anywhere near enough, and the guilt in her tone implies this.]

Ugh. No. I don't even wanna think about food. I tried earlier to-

[Ellie groans again, louder this time, and brings a hand up to her mouth.]

[Poor girl. Jo remembers the first time she was hungover. It probably wasn't as bad as this.]

Don't try to eat yet. Just keep drinking water for now, okay?

[WELL, after that first set of comments, Zoe is going to be watching this space like a hawk as much as she possibly can. She knows it's a huge, huge longshot, and she's telling herself right out the gate that it's not going to happen, but if, if anyone here might be able to develop a cure for one off-world parasitic infection, if it might be possible to look into another...

...well, going back home won't be anything to be afraid of anymore.

She starts recording coming off the end of a sigh, quiet but voiced and breathy. Her voice stays constricted low a bit, but it's inflected and soft enough at the edges.]

I don't see what's dumb about the idea. You're right -- ...it's worth a try. [Quieter and falling flattened a little:] As long as you can get ahold of samples...

[And, back to clearer:]

-- Good luck.

[It's a strange sort of message, really, breathy and quiet, so that Ellie has to lean in towards the phone to properly hear it. Is it a stretch to wonder if this person has something they wanna cure, too?

...Or maybe they're just a weirdo.]

Uh, yeah. Thanks. Looks like there's a couple of people here that might be able to help.

I can see that.

[Slight, but with a certain light, earnest lift in her voice!

It carries over into something just as muted, but more... breezy?]

I hope they're looking like the right people for the job.

For your sake.

Edited 2017-06-18 02:03 (UTC)

[Huh. Maybe the network was just being glitchy again.]

Thanks. Who are you, anyway? [Tactful, as always.] I'm Ellie.

[Of course, it isn't as if she's able to see much, but... go figure that even at this point, the hope of something like what she's gathering being undoable is still something.

She's not going to be one to object to lack of tact, though. She'll take the name, and reply, with something... roughly equivalent to nonchalantness, at least...]

I'm Zoe.

You... [Small tying up into a note of purely conversational quasi-humor.] ...most likely wouldn't know me.

I haven't been here long.

And I haven't been that loud, here.

[Ellie snorts.]

Yeah, well. There's enough loudmouths here that if you aren't one, you're probably gonna get drowned out on the network. So. Yeah.

[Said as though she isn't a loudmouth...]

Zoe. [Ellie commits it to memory, even though she doesn't have a face to link it to.] Nice to uh, meet you.

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issue #4 | video; backdated to the 6th

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[Voice]

AAAA!!!

FUNGUS DAUGHTERS!

HI SRY BACK FROM HIATUS

Ahh, no worries at all!

<3 !