VIDEO | 05

[patchricide]

[This one might seem like a strange video feed.]

[The camera is focused on Allura, lying in bed, sound asleep. With an emphasis on sound — her body is not just still, but actually appears to be motionless, as if not even shallow breathing is disturbing this deep rest.]

[Her expression is calm and yet... not content? There's something sad playing on her features, as if she's slightly in pain, but too tired to properly show it.]

[The camera rests on this, as if she might disappear at any moment. Or, more accurately, if lingering on this view is meant to add to the drama factor of this particular post...]


[... ... ...]


[And then—]

HATCHOO!!

[Her whole body flinches with an aggressive, un-dainty sneeze. It's followed by two more—] HATCHOO!! HATCHOO!!! [— and then Allura sits up, grumbling and groaning, her cheeks flush, her sparkling rainbow eyes now red and bleary. And that's not even touching on her hair. It's normally voluptuous, but after having spent the better part of the day in bed, she has a remarkable case of bedhead that's causing the fluffy curls to go everywhere.]

[She blows her nose, finishes a glass of water that was sitting on her nightstand, and flops back down on the pillows with a soft groan.]

I didn't think there was an Earth virus that Alteans could catch. I hope this fever breaks before I start breaking out in spots...


[This is a public service announcement: Please vaccinate your aliens. We don't want them catching any viruses, bacteria, or other unsavory entities.]

Comments

[monster_san]

oh dear... Excuse me, miss? Your device is switched on.

[she thinks this may be an accidental posting, given the unfortunate state.]

[patchricide]

... mice? Did you turn my camera on?

[There's a nearby squeak in response. A little mouse paw, blurry and out of focus, covers up the corner of the video camera.]

I apologize. They can be curious about these things, sometimes.

[monster_san]

Oh, what an interestingly-colored paw Mr. Mouse has. [cute... but.] They must be quite astute of they can operate advanced technology.

[may be low key trying to distract her from feeling awful here]

[patchricide]

[She's managed to distract someone, at least. The mouse peeks down from above, now blocking a third of the camera with big green mouse ears.]

[Yup, green. Fuu was right about the interesting color!]

Oh, they're remarkably intelligent. It's not just technology they can understand, but language as well.

... even if they can't say much back on their own.

[The mouse squeaks.]

video;

[storyseeker]

Fluids, cold meds and rest should help you out. Do you need to barf too? Because ginger ale will probably do some good even for alien physiology.

[Well, she's guessing.]

video;

[patchricide]

Barf? Does this sort of virus normally lead to barfing?

[She looks a little frazzled by the thought.]

... I should get some, just to be safe...

video;

[storyseeker]

Depends what you've got? I'm guessing not, judging by your reaction. But yeah, fluids are good. And watching cartoons on TV always makes me feel better, but that's not medical advice.

video;

[patchricide]

Given everything else I've been hit with, maybe it's still waiting for me... I really hope not, but...

[Her eyes go glassy for a moment. Who knew Earth viruses could be such an ordeal?]

Oh, like the ones with the childrens and the nearly dead tree that they were showing the other day?

Video

[drivesadesk]

Huh. Makes me wonder if there's anything here that I could catch.

Eh, probably not.

Video

[patchricide]

You may want to be cautious, just to be certain. For all the similarities between Alteans and humans, I didn't believe any of the illnesses could— - could -

HATCHOO!

[Sorry. She sniffles a bit, and tries again.]

At any rate, this one seems to be aggressive enough that it doesn't care what it's attacking.

Re: Video

[drivesadesk]

I mean, my physiology is pretty different from a human's, but...I guess you never know for sure.

Video

[patchricide]

How different? Do you still have a respiratory system? Because this started with a full-frontal assault on my yulschtrix, and it's only spread from there.

Voice;

[articulations]

Where are you currently located?

Voice;

[patchricide]

At home, in Nonah. I haven't even managed to leave my room all day. Why do you ask?

Voice;

[articulations]

Do you have anyone who’s able to help take care of you?

Voice;

[patchricide]

One singular roommate, who right now I'm very glad I talked into moving here. And that he's kind enough to help me, even if it means running himself ragged.

[Which says a lot about what's going on there, really.]

Not that I'm trying to do that to him of course, but... the only other company I have is my mice. And they can only carry so much to my room.

video;

[legionnaires]

Allura...do you want me to bring you something?

[ Earth diseases could vary too. He rarely got sick (he's guessing because he's Galra or because he was vaccinated) but still took time off to recover. ]

video;

[patchricide]

Hot cocoa.

[... this is how you get better from a cold, right?]

And I suppose tea and soup as well. Anything that's a hot liquid, really, we're bound to run out of all of it at this rate.

Oh! Someone recommended "gingerelle" as well. [By which she means, of course, ginger ale.]

video;

[legionnaires]

I don't think hot cocoa is a good idea if you're sick, Allura.

[ He chuckles a little bit. Allura with a cold was not something he ever expected. ]

I can do that. Give me a few minutes and I'll be over. [ A small pause. ] This isn't anything like what Coran had, right?

[ACTION]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Darin wasn't one for getting sick. Not that it was entirely impossible, it's just that whatever it was tended to pass within a day or so. Perks of being the reincarnation of an evil demon god he supposes. Regardless, just because he'd never been sick, it didn't mean he had no experience dealing with it. As sturdy as Acteon was, even he got sick every now and then, and he'd picked up enough home remedies from the fishermen's wives in his hometown that he could handle any minor illness.]

[Minor human illness, that is.]

[He doesn't even know if Allura would respond to any of the medicines here. Not to mention, if he was going to help, he had to figure out just where her illness began. So, he has to somehow diagnose an alien strain of virus in relation to a human one.]

[Peace of cake, right? Let's find out.]

[He raps lightly on her door, balancing a tray in his other hand.]

Allura? You awake? Decent? Can I come in?

[ACTION]

[patchricide]

Yes, come in, the door's open.

[She's still lying in bed, staring at the ceiling dismally. Decent? What, did he really expect her to be changing clothes? Even the prospect of leaving bed sounds like such an ordeal.]

Re: [ACTION]

[forgeabettertomorrow]

[Look, better safe than sorry, and the last thing he wants is to cause a commotion.]

[He walks in with the tray and starts setting a number of things down on her vanity.]

How are you feeling? Hungry? Thirsty? Lay it on me.

[lasersounds]

It's just a cold, Allura. I doubt there will be spots.

[He does NOT want to explain chickenpox to her right now.]

Just stay in bed. Rest and relaxation is some of the best medicine, but I can bring by some stuff to help you feel better if you want.

[patchricide]

There will be, if this fever doesn't break soon. It's an unpleasant side effect of the high internal temperature on my skin camouflage.

[... speaking of, isn't her complexion starting to look a little splotchy?]

Keith did already say he would bring some things by, but... if you're looking for reasons to visit, I wouldn't mind more company. As long as you aren't worried about catching this.

[She sneezes again.]

[lasersounds]

Oh uh...[Alien physiology. Right.] If you bundle up you could sweat the fever. It's what my mom made us all do...

[It's pretty sound advice really.]

Do friends need reasons to visit? We want to help you feel better--What's Keith bringing you? We could just come by and keep you company...