Sixth Cream Cake: [Written/Action]

[vor]

[Filtered to Ivan Vorpatril, 65% unhackable because it's early and he's sick.]

Ivan,

Would you please look in on the horse for me? The Imperial Ass seems to be having trouble getting out of bed today, as the Imperial Sniffles have turned into the Imperial Plague. We apologize for Our impending death and your impending resulting frustrations.

Regretfully,

Gregor

P.S. If this letter caused you alarm, please give yourself a refresher course in detecting the Imperial Sarcasm.

[/Filtered]

[Gregor is sick as a dog. Apartments adjacent to his have probably heard violent, deep, chesty coughing for about two weeks now. Ordinarily, he'd have on-site approved physicians checking him out and prescribing whatever antibiotic was necessary, but here, he has to actually go seek out help. So. To the Battle Dome clinic he goes, looking specifically to see Adele LeBlanc when she's in. He will wait for her, if necessary.

Afterwards, he's going to the library, then the bakery for coffee and something sweet. Anyone stopping in can see him sitting inside, devouring a psychology textbook and sipping coffee, the cream cakes reduced to crumbs. They are the only thing he has eaten all day. He is not looking great, occasionally falling into bad coughing fits, for which he ducks outside, but recovering fairly quickly. When he heads home, he goes straight to bed despite his plans to work out. And the fact that it's the middle of the day.]

[Filtered to Phoenix Ikki 79%]

PI--

I suppose we're supposed to be pen pals, whatever that entails. I hope you're adjusting to the village well.

--GB

Comments

[vor]

...Yeah, it's a breathing thing. [He can't help the little smile.]

[Action, Clinic]

[fleurdesel]

Adele steps away, the scope still looped about her neck. It doesn't take long for her to fetch and return with a small sample cup.

"I need you to cough, Greg."

[Action, Clinic]

[vor]

Gregor musters up a hearty cough into the cup.

[Written] - filtered 75%

[ivanyouidiot]

Can I set them up outside your door? Are you well enough for that, or would you prefer to stay in bed and just...not cough on me?

[Written] - filtered 75%

[vor]

No, just...wait until I get back from the doctor, I guess. I'll contact you.

[Action, Clinic] time for handwavium. Threading the entirety of the diagnosis will be tedious.

[fleurdesel]

It's not much, but it is more than enough for the test required. She takes the sample to a side room for a quick examination- finds the proper prescription for him. Cough syrup and an inhaler. Not contagious but worth the caution, especially for how thick and wet his coughs were.

"Bedrest, fluids, the syrup to ease the coughing and the inhaler when it becomes most difficult for you to breathe."

[Action, Clinic]

[vor]

He takes both meds carefully, like a snake.

"How do I use the inhaler?"

[thedicearecast]

Thanks goodness for technology then.

[If they'd been in the bar, Amelia would've ordered a drink then. Talking about killing kids--babies--doesn't settle well with her.]

[vor]

[Gregor coughs lightly into his hand, then appears to believe his quota of words for the day has been used up. He goes quiet, sipping his coffee.]

[Written] - filtered 75%

[ivanyouidiot]

Just...take care.

[If they were on Barrayar, this would be miles from Ivan's problem, but as it is it's hard not to worry.]

[Written] - filtered 75%

[vor]

That's what going to the doctor is for, I guess. [He has never in his life gone to the doctor. The doctor always came to him, before.

A couple of hours later, he writes again.]

I'm back.

[Written] Same filter Dated on the 16th due IC reasons

[uccellodifuoco]

[Oh, look, his "new" partner wrote... Too bad Ikki doesn't see this until the next day, spending his day with his girlfriend Ikki mostly ignored the journals. And by the time he paid attention to them he was too drunk to bother to read anything. But this message is the first thing he gets to in the Thursday's morning while nursing a hangover.

That's a curious birthday present to get. He's not sure if he likes it though, nothing personal just... It's just the way he is.]

According to that annoyance that claims to run this stupid project what it entails is that we talk to each other or exchange letters and become friends that way. But what that thing says and what we do don't need to be the same things.

You must be new or incredible optimistic if you think that there's a way to "adjust well" to this place, though.

- Ikki

[Written]

[vor]

It was a polite question to break the ice. Everyone hates those, and yet we live with them every day.

As it happens, I know at least one person who is adjusting unnaturally well. I wish he would stop.

-Greg

[So much for hoping the guy went home between yesterday and today.]

[Written]

[uccellodifuoco]

[Isn't that cute, Ikki has been hopping Greg would be sent back to wherever he's from since they were paired up first.]

You would be surprised how many people actually think that it's possible to adjust well to this place.

You sure he's not in denial? There are many of those around, claiming that this isn't such a bad place but when asked for ways to make it be "not that bad" they are suddenly at a loss of ideas.

- Ikki

[Written]

[vor]

No, he's just that laid-back.

-Greg

[Written]

[uccellodifuoco]

Push him into a volcano, see if he's laid-back then.

- Ikki

[Hard to say if he's joking, being sarcastic or what.]

[Written]

[vor]

Any idea where I can find one?

[Written]

[uccellodifuoco]

The Battle Dome has very realistic features. If not, give it time, I've heard that places like the beach weren't always there, maybe this Christmas we will get a volcano.

If you fine one before that, try to remember to tell me.

[He also wants one though not to throw people in... Not mainly at least.]

[Written]

[vor]

You have a deal.

Do you think we've satisfied the rabbit?

[Is it a rabbit?]

[Written]

[uccellodifuoco]

If I was any newer I would say yes. Unfortunately I know it's a "no", otherwise we wouldn't have been paired up.

[He has been in contact with Rin quite decently and look what that got him, another partner.]

But he just wants us to contact each other and talk. No one said for how long or how often so he has no place to complain.

[Even if he will.]

[Written]

[vor]

He had no place to complain to begin with. Why are we following an arbitrary set of rules if not to keep him from complaining?

[Written]

[uccellodifuoco]

To keep him from complaining and being noisy. And because in this village there are too many who wouldn't approve of beating others when they get too annoying.

[So killing or beating the rabbit or whatever it is isn't an option, unfortunately.]

And he had no place to even add us to his list to begin with. I, at least, did never sign up for it.

[Written]

[vor]

Neither did I. Somehow I don't think that's the point.

[Written]

[uccellodifuoco]

The point of his project thing? From what I gathered he just adds whoever he feels like.

[Written]

[vor]

The point is morale, I think. And yes, there are better ways.