firm_detective | Friday night: Epidemiology

L lies in bed, listless, half-asleep, with aches, chills, and a bad headache.

In the previous few days, in spite of his deteriorating health, he'd done his best to gather information about the strange new events that have been plaguing the Mansion. But he's not superhuman -- not by a long shot -- and his protestations of being "fine" were finally proven to be the lies they were.

The night before, he'd fallen unconscious in one of the kitchens -- the same one, in fact, where he'd found the decomposing corpse a few days earlier. Fainting was accompanied by a rising fever. Fortunately, a number of people were around, and a few of them made sure he was carried to a nearby bathroom, where his temperature was lowered in a cool bath.

After he regained consciousness, several of the people who assisted him also helped to carry him back to his room and get him to bed, under Misa's direction. It's not a choice he would have made if he were well, but he'll deal with the repercussions later.

He's been sleeping a lot today, still feverish. He rests against the pillows, eyes his abandoned snack cup of oranges on his nightstand, and closes his eyes against the light from the bathroom. Misa is insistent that he needs a cool drink, so she's gone to fetch something from the kitchen, and for the moment, he is alone.

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*There's a very polite knock on the door, as though something as simple as a door would stop him, were he determined.*

*Calls out weakly,*

Can't. Who is it?... Should be locked.

It's the Beyond that helped you get back here, Ryuuzaki. I wanted to be sure that you were feeling a little better, and to ask if there was anything I could get you.

*He's present enough to think to himself, And now a B knows where my room is. Perfect. But he replies,*

Is it locked? If not, I will try --

*He begins to pull the covers back. They feel heavy in his hand.*

Edited Date: 2008-07-26 07:14 am (UTC)

*He's inside the room.*

You must have forgotten to lock it. *They didn't,* Lie back, you still look unwell.

*He blinks a few times, frowning, then rests against the pillows again without quite relaxing.*

Yes, I am still feverish. Though not as much as yesterday.

And do you have everything you need?

I believe so.

*He peers across at the other man.*

You are the Beyond who arrived a few days ago. You are settling in?

I am, though I'm given to understand that things aren't usually this chaotic.

No, not usually.

The Mansion plays tricks, but... they usually seem... to be just that -- trickery. Nothing too serious.

I wouldn't call what's been happening not-serious. I'm very worried for you, Ryuuzaki.

*He feels half-present, as if the fever is beginning to climb again, and murmurs, between breaths,*

Yes, it does... seem like it might be... something new. We have never seen... the Mansion's phenomena... in a hallway. For example.

What theories do you have?

*He feels almost as though he's talking in his sleep, as if he cannot stop himself.*

There's some talk of... a ghost... escaped from Hell... utter nonsense, no such place, of course, but... something to think about.

That body... in the kitchen... something about it... and the green, the green discharge, people are....

The ghost and the illness can't possibly have anything to do with each other. *Gentle pressure.*

*His chest twitches with the smallest of laughs.*

Of course they could not. How ridiculous.

The illness... is real... and any attempt to blame it on the supernatural... will... will only be harmful in the end. It is...

It might...

Could it have come... with a new arrival? Maybe the body... someone arrived, ill... nobody noticed, and... no, that seems unlikely....

*He trails off and stares at Beyond.*

You must have some idea?

If I did, then wouldn't I be sick too? If it came with me.

Yes, but... I thought you might have seen something... some Bs are perceptive, we trained them for it....

And you seem a lot like him... he went away again, like I wanted him to... he... yes... he might have seen something... always watching... following....

Edited Date: 2008-07-26 08:33 am (UTC)

I'll tell you what I've noticed in my watching. I've noticed that there haven't been efforts to cointain the spread of this, and that it's probably too late for that.

*He feels as though he is sliding away. His tongue is fat and dry in his mouth.*

Two problems... I don't have the... power to make peo...ple stay... where they won't, here, and nobody... knows how it... is spread. Can't make people... do anything here... frus...trating.

If... I could, then... ever...yone would... still think... trick. Of this... place. Not a real disease.

Anyway, once... something is sym... symptomatic... it's too... late, it will have... spread... yes, spread....

I can get you a glass of water. *moving in that direction.*

Yes... water. Something cold.

I'll be right back. *He returns, in just a few moments, with a cool glass of water.*

Having someone who cares to bring you these things must be nice, your Misa, I mean.

*He begins to shiver, a little; his eyes are half-lidded.*

Misa... yes... she is... it is nice.

Had to do every...thing myself, when... I first arrived....

*He doesn't know why he's still talking, or why he seems unable to stop himself*

After the burning, I was always thirsty. *He leaves the room, to find a damp rag, for L's forehead.*

The burning...?

*He continues to shiver, aching, and flames dance in his peripheral vision.*

You have not....

Forget I said anything, L. *Laced with the same honeyed suggestion. If he just gives in, he'll feel a little better. B sets the cloth on his forehead, smoothing his hair out of the way first.*

*He's very far gone now, still shivering, white-lipped. But the cloth on his head does feel good.*

Mm... Misa... is that... you?

There is a man... can you see...?

Shh, L.

*He doesn't reply, but after a few moments, the shivering begins to subside.*

*He opens his eyes, blinks, focuses on B. The damp washcloth is cool and heavy on his forehead.*

I drifted off... you brought this?

You didn't drift off, the fever worsened. You should have another cool bath, this is dangerous.

*His voice is weak.*

Yes, a bath.

Misa will help me with a bath.

Do you want me to run the water now? So you can get in as soon as she gets back.

That... would be kind of you....

*he replies, sounding bewildered.*

*B stands and slips out of the room again, and starts the water.*

*He hears the noise of water running into the bathtub. B's shadow crossing in and out of the bathroom occasionally decreases the ambient level of the light coming from it; when his own room darkens a little as a result, it feels good on his eyes.*

*The taps turn off, and B re-emerges.*

I'll leave you, if you think you'll be alright.

*B is backlit by the bathroom light, looking like a looming shadow.*

Yes. She will be back soon.

I don't know why you would --

*He stops himself from finishing the sentence.*

But -- thank you.