PSE RPG Chatroom - 2024-04-27

Sciborg

5:57 PM

\o/

i lack my usual coffee, as my coffee machine has decided to cease being a functioning coffee machine

AncientSwordRage

@Sciborg oh no...

Sciborg

sadly sips nonexistent latte

AncientSwordRage

I'm here but going to pray then I can focus on the game

bobble

\o

Mithical

o/

@Ginger pong

Ginger

6:04 PM

hello

!

Sciborg

we have summoned them

Mithical

Our player summoning incantation complete, we pick up following two different threads: One where Jack, Darrion, and Brune, have just exited from a discussion with Dr. Bardot, and one where Alex is... going through other things.

Apr 20 at 20:00, by Sciborg

"I'm sorry, lad." Brune looks out into the hallway, watching students walk by as he speaks. "If I had known that would happen, if I had known she was... I would never have let you come here. I knew we shouldn't have revealed too much..."

Apr 20 at 20:01, by Ginger

Once they're back in their office, they dump the food on the mattress and wake up their computer, trying to remember through the hunger what it was that was misbehaving

Ginger

oh also: can we retcon things slightly so Alex's office is in the basement of the building next door and the basements are connected? since I forgot their office isn't actually in this building

AncientSwordRage

(works for me)

Mithical

Sure, not an issue.

AncientSwordRage

6:06 PM

Jack is still quickening his pace trying to find Alex

Sciborg

Brune waits quietly outside the bathroom door for Darrion, knowing that when people are in their darkest moments, sometimes it is comforting to simply have someone nearby - not interfering, not interrupting, just being present.

2

Ginger

Alex starts up the computer with a careless slap of the power button and spins around to grab some food

bobble

Bereft of paper towels, Darrion makes do by using his shirt to mop up his face. He stands, wobbles a bit from standing so quickly his vision blacks out, goes to lean against the door. "Doc?"

Sciborg

"I'm here, lad."

Mithical

@Ginger It takes a bit, but it boots up. It looks normal.

bobble

6:10 PM

"I came here to work with her, you know? Top in her field. It's not the best university overall, but-" choking sob "-she was here and I wanted to - wanted to - wanted to - learn everything I could..."

Mithical

@AncientSwordRage You've been given directions, so you'll be able to get there in a couple minutes.

AncientSwordRage

(dirty cat issues, brb)

Sciborg

"I know. You didn't do anything wrong." Brune has gone into full doctor mode and is speaking calmly, slowly. "We don't know yet the full extent of what is going on here. Something could have happened to the Dr. Bardot that you know. It's all right, lad. Do you need anything?"

Ginger

Alex tries to remember through the hunger what the thing was that they were supposed to be fixing... something with the LAN?

Mithical

@Ginger The landline, the WiFi, and all cell service seems to be down.

bobble

6:14 PM

Darrion fumbles around for the handle without really looking, sort of accidentally hits it open, and then steps back so it can swing inwards. You can see his eyes are puffy with still-visible tearstreaks down his face. "What now? Please - please tell me, you know what to do? Please?"

Sciborg

"I know what we can do. Or rather, I have a plan." Brune digs around in his pocket and emerges with a tissue, offering it out, trying to sound steadier than he feels. "We need to rest. It's been a while since we had a good rest and a talk. Maybe we can regroup somewhere, have something to eat, and you can have some time to think?"

Ginger

Alex goes through their mental checklist of Things That Could Be Broken With Networking, and tries to ping Google's servers as well as the local IP of the uni's website server

it's a very long checklist :p

bobble

"Kiko - m' text bounced"

AncientSwordRage

(back)

Mithical

@Ginger All packages dropped. You do realize that you typed in one of the IPs wrong, probably due to being unable to focus on what you're doing.

Sciborg

6:17 PM

"Well, we can go see her after we find the others, how about that?" Brune soothes. He remembers Kiko being a comfort anchor for him. "We'll figure this out."

bobble

"sounds good, 'kay"

Ginger

@Mithical for both? (I presume you mean packets)

Mithical

@AncientSwordRage Jack, following the instructions given to you, you arrive after a couple minutes at a door. It is slightly ajar, in a way that does not seem to be intentional - as if someone got distracted and forgot to close the door.

@Ginger Yes, nothing gets through properly.

AncientSwordRage

@Mithical knocking suddenly at the door "Alex, are yer in here?"

Sciborg

"All right, lad." Brune starts rolling, his facial expression being held carefully in a way that suggests he is holding back a great deal of inner turmoil for Darrion's sake. "How about we go find Mr. Rivers and Alex and make sure they're all right. We'll go slow."

Mithical

6:19 PM

Jack is knocking at your door, bringing a faint smell of the sea air with him.

Ginger

"Fantastic", Alex mutters, retyping the IP but stopping partway through at Jack's knock

bobble

Darrion follows, still sniffling a bit but trying to hide it

Mithical

Darri, you do know how to get to Alex's office, I think.

Ginger

Alex takes a few seconds to reply, distracted again by the salty smell. Their mind goes immediately to seafood.

Sciborg

In the back of Brune's mind, he faintly and wistfully remembers having to talk to his daughter like that when she was hiding in the bathroom crying about being rejected by her crush at prom. How long ago that seems now.

Ginger

6:22 PM

"yeah"

The acknowledgement is only barely audible through the door

bobble

Unfortunately Darrion is currently following Brune without thinking independently

AncientSwordRage

@Ginger straining to hear Jack says "Why did yer run off...“ and he searches for an alternative for Lad, before giving up, "... When we were with Bardot's?"

Sciborg

Brune glances back at Darrion as they near the elevator, realizing that Darrion isn't leading him. "I assume I'm going the right direction?"

AncientSwordRage

And then pushing the door a fraction, "Can I come in?"

Ginger

"Sure, come in"

bobble

6:24 PM

"To- Alex? Uh, this way?"

Should I roll to remember the way while in mental distress?

AncientSwordRage

@Ginger Jack walks in (is there a comically low ceiling for me to roleplay around by any chance?)

Mithical

@bobble Sure, make a Navigate check.

Ginger

most likely :b

Alex is leaning over in their beat-up desk chair, staring blankly at the screen upon which a terminal window is slowly filling up with ping errors.

Mithical

@AncientSwordRage There are definitely low-hanging shelves and cabinets.

bobble

5 < 10 = Navigate. Wow, Darrion can't find his way out of a paper bag, except for right now

AncientSwordRage

6:26 PM

Jack lopes in, hunches to avoid the ceiling, and low hanging shelves.

Mithical

Right foot, left foot. Right foot, left foot. It's a comforting sensation to focus on just moving your feet, making turns at the right places, instead of thinking about the conversation you just had. Right foot, left foot.

AncientSwordRage

"Did something spook you... To make yer run off?" Jack offers to Alex

Ginger

"Something... what now?"

Sciborg

I should call Emily later, Brune ponders, silently, rolling after Darrion as they make their way to the office. He hasn't called her in weeks. She's probably worried about her father by now, that he's run off to some port town in the middle of nowhere and hasn't called. He doesn't know how much her mother told her about... about... he clenches the armrests of his chair tightly, and shakes the thoughts from his mind vigorously. Not now, not now. Focus.

Ginger

They push the chair away from the desk to pick an apple up off the floor

AncientSwordRage

6:28 PM

@Ginger "You ran off, mid-conversation... Looked like something were up with you."

Ginger

"I'm fine, just- hungry" *crunch*

Mithical

Jack, feel free to make a Psychology or Mythos check to get a glimpse into what's up with Alex.

AncientSwordRage

@Mithical 75 Vs 59 (fail)

"That makes sense, it's been a long day."

Ginger

"I guess"

Sciborg

"You know, lad, I don't believe you ever mentioned where you met Kiko," Brune says as they walk and roll, figuring he should distract him from his own thoughts. "You two seem quite close."

Ginger

6:32 PM

Seeming to notice the errors piling up onscreen, Alex moves back to the keyboard and kills the command

Mithical

A loud grumble emanates from Alex's stomach, audible to Jack.

bobble

"Uni queer club. She was at a welcome-week barbeque. Complaining about a breakup with - Lilith? Lila? It started with "Lil-" - and we got talking about clothes, oh lordy can she talk about clothes, never found something like that back home"

AncientSwordRage

"Say, maybe once your done here we could go eat?"

bobble

He goes quiet again.

Ginger

"That sounds nice. Maybe a seafood place, huh?"

AncientSwordRage

6:36 PM

"Uh yeah sure, plenty of decent places here."

Ginger

Are there any pingable servers in Alex's office or a utility closet nearby?

bobble

[I have something written on another topic for Darrion to say, unless you want to respond to the Kiko bit]

Sciborg

"Yes, that does seem to be something you would have in common." Brune shoots Darrion one of his rare smiles, trying to keep his spirits up. "At my old hospital, I used to help run a workshop for affirming care and education about their surgeries, if they elected to have them. Seeing your campus and all of your friends reminded me. If I had been here longer, if things had turned out... differently. Perhaps I could have done something similar. But, well."

Mithical

You've probably got a Raspberry Pi running something.

Ginger

Alex will ping that, then

bobble

6:38 PM

Darrion makes a have you seen this? gesture at his ruined clothes. Even the bowtie is askew.

AncientSwordRage

"There's Harbour Wave, they do a good sushi meal deal. Bursar's Bar is another good place for Barbeque-style seafood..." Jack continues to name seafood restaurants for a short while

Ginger

does their computer show as actually being connected to the local network?

Sciborg

"I know. Perhaps we should replace your clothes." Brune sounds disdainful at the memory of the cat shirt getting ruined by the spider, as if the very notion is the worst thing that could have possibly happened.

Mithical

@Ginger Is this going through the internet, or is this a direct connection / intranet / local network?

Ginger

they're pinging the local IP of the Pi, like with the uni's web server

bobble

6:40 PM

"Whoops, slow down, there's a tight turn here." Darrion holds a hand up

The problem is a large cart that's blocking half the pathway and which has been there as long as he can remember

Sciborg

Brune slows down obediently at Darrion's command. It's strange, but he is acting very.... un-Brune-like. It's as if some dark cloud has been fully lifted from him at the need to comfort someone and the memories of better times. Even his face looks calmer and more settled, lacking the usual gruffness. "Oh. Thank you, lad."

AncientSwordRage

Jack is looking at his phone to try and check his Google maps save places list, a nice lady at the hotel made for him but it's obviously not working.

bobble

"We're almost there..."

AncientSwordRage

"Alex, do you think turning on blue...teeth... Will help me connect to the internet?"

Sciborg

"Mm." Something familiarly weary and haggard seems to slide back into Brune's demeanor again, abruptly, and he goes more quiet and dark, like his usual self. "I do hope Alex is all right."

bobble

6:43 PM

[Mith, feel free to have us show up whenever]

Mithical

@Ginger I'm a little out of my depth here, technically speaking, but I think it works if you don't need to go through any sort of central network. If you're running it and can connect on a localhost or something, that you can access, but you can't access anything you don't have a direct wired connection or local intranet access to.

Ginger

got it

Mithical

@bobble You arrive at a staircase through autopilot, and have to redirect to an elevator nearby. After that, you'll be right there.

Ginger

@AncientSwordRage "Not unless you're somewhat more technically proficient than I realize, no"

AncientSwordRage

"Oh..."

Ginger

6:45 PM

Alex tries a few more pings, making gradually more annoyed sounds, before slamming their hand on the desk in anger.

Mithical

The sound of footsteps and the slight creak of Brune's chair indicates to Jack and Alex that their companions will be arriving shortly.

Ginger

"This was all working fine, like, two days ago! Why is it broken now?!"

Sciborg

"Alex, Mr. Rivers," Brune calls, from down the hallway. "Are you two down here?"

bobble

Did you close the door after going in?

AncientSwordRage

"Aye we are Doc"

@bobble (Jack didn't)

bobble

6:46 PM

Darrion knocks on the wall right next to the door, in lieu of a closed door.

Sciborg

"Good." Brune sounds faintly relieved that they're not currently being eaten by giant spiders.

Mithical

Alex looks noticeably paler as you enter the room.

Sciborg

"If the two of you wouldn't mind, I'd like us to grab something to eat and talk for a while. We need to rest and think about some things. But first I think we should stop by Kiko's dormitory again - there are some questions that have occurred to me that I didn't ask her." Brune seems to be subtly making it so that he is the one who needs to go see Kiko and not Darrion. He rolls inside and frowns. "Alex, you don't look well."

AncientSwordRage

@Sciborg "We were just talking about eating somewhere"

bobble

Now that he's near the IT person, Darrion will try (in vain, prolly) to text Kiko again dr bardot is weird & i nede change o clothes

AncientSwordRage

6:49 PM

"They're just hungry, I think Doc. Nothing to worry about"

Sciborg

Brune squints suspiciously at Alex. Can I roll something to get a medical read on them?

Ginger

"Yeah, I don't feel great"

"I bet I'd feel better if this stupid networking problem would go away, though!"

Mithical

@Sciborg Sure. Make a Medicine, Psychology, or Cthulhu check.

Sciborg

"How long have you been feeling this way?" Brune says, drawing out the words in the way that implies this is a common question he asks patients.

Mithical

@bobble bounce

Sciborg

6:52 PM

@Mithical Marvelous, 7 out of 70.

Mithical

Which skill?

Sciborg

Medicine.

Ginger

@Sciborg "Uh... about since we left the hospital?" Alex leans over again to grab food off the floor, almost falling out of the chair

Mithical

This patient is severely malnourished and deficient in several vital nutrients, such as Vitamin D and iron. Their blood pressure is weaker than it has any right to be, and their pulse-ox level is probably very low. Pupils are heavily dilated and seem unable to focus entirely for too long.

AncientSwordRage

Jack moves up to stabilise Alex in his chair

bobble

6:56 PM

Meanwhile, Darrion has been standing out of the way and staring at his hands

Sciborg

Brune's face takes on a sharp, keenly diagnostic quality for a few seconds, as if mentally cataloguing all of Alex's strange behaviors and symptoms from the past few hours. Then, reverting swiftly into hospital mode, he rolls towards them. "...Alex, I do believe you are suffering from severe malnourishment. Lie down. You're going to fall over."

Ginger

Alex mumbles "okay" and inelegantly slides out of the chair onto the floor

AncientSwordRage

"How can I help, Doc?"

Sciborg

Brune, who can't lean down that far and internally curses himself for it, says sharply, "Jack, I need you to take their pulse and tell me their heart rate, if you can. Don't put any solid food in them, if you put someone who's been starving back on a normal diet too quickly they suffer refeeding. They need to go to the hospital if we want to treat them properly."

AncientSwordRage

@Sciborg Jack, with some difficulty kneels down, putting his cane to one side and proceeds to take the pulse and heart rate

(is that too basic to roll for?)

Ginger

7:01 PM

"Wait, uh, I didn't lock it-" They try to stand up again, but bonk their head on the underside of the desk and sit back down with a dazed expression

Mithical

Brune, you do recall that Alex has been eating and munching on various things ever since you left Antonelli.

AncientSwordRage

"Easy there"

Sciborg

"Careful, careful, don't stand." Brune rolls over to try and get a better angle. "You've been eating all day. How can this be possible?"

Mithical

@AncientSwordRage What's your First Aid skill?

bobble

"Should I... help...?" Darrion draws out the syllables, unsure what to do

AncientSwordRage

7:02 PM

@Mithical base of 30%

Mithical

Eh, yeah, you can probably take a pulse without much trouble.

Sciborg

Brune digs around in his shirt, looking for his pocket flashlight on his keychain, and leans down as much as he can to flash it quickly in Alex's eyes - measuring if the pupils respond quickly to light and are the same size.

Mithical

Heart rate is elevated, but blood pressure is low.

Pupils do not respond to the light.

AncientSwordRage

"Alex... What was yer dream about...?"

Mithical

Alex, the light does bother you, though.

AncientSwordRage

7:04 PM

@Mithical Jack relays that to Brune

Ginger

(was afk for a bit, sorry)

AncientSwordRage

(👍)

Sciborg

Brune instantly does the math on what that means. "They don't have enough blood volume and something's wrong with their nervous system. Darrion, call an ambulance." He tries to restrain himself from barking Now!

Ginger

"mmm, what's that light about"

bobble

attempt to dial 911

Ginger

7:05 PM

"call? with what cellular connection?" Alex seems to find this strangely funny

Mithical

No service. Emergency calls don't work.

Sciborg

"...Oh, hell's bells." Brune swears violently. He forgot about that. "We'll need to get them out of here. Jack, if you could lift them - Alex, my dear fellow, do you happen to know your blood type?"

bobble

"I can get the cart...?"

Ginger

"Oh, maybe you can use the landline? Good old-" sits up "copper and sound, huh? It'd sure be a shame if that were dead, wouldn't it?? Wouldn't that be funny?"

Sciborg

"Get the cart, yes, we'll see if they can fit." Brune tries vainly to push them down. "Stop moving, for the love of God, you'll pass out."

AncientSwordRage

7:07 PM

Jack dutifully picks up Alex, "can someone grab my cane?"

Mithical

Alex, you do seem to have energy at your disposal. You're animated, just starving.

bobble

Darrion jogs out to the cart - it had a few knick-knacks (as usual) on it when they passed, but he sweeps them off onto the floor - and then carefully maneuvers it back, taking a longer route to use the larger elevator

Sciborg

Brune struggles, trying his hardest to lean down and grab it, but can't. He swears again, seeming faintly tearful. "Great Scott, you useless -" He catches himself angrily. "Alex, stay still."

The comment seemed directed at himself.

AncientSwordRage

"Doc, you can leave it. We can come back" Jack says sympathetically

Ginger

"And what 'love' would that be, huh? The last 72 hours have been some kind of elaborate... practical joke? The universe having a little fun at Alex Null's expense? I'm so SICK and tired of it. I'm tired! I expect that when I wake up tomorrow everything will be precisely, EXACTLY as it should be!"

bobble

7:10 PM

[when do I get back?]

Sciborg

Brune grits his teeth, gives Jack a look of deep, sorrowful apology, and rolls towards the door.

Mithical

@bobble Three-four minutes.

Sciborg

"They might be delirious," he says, patiently enduring Alex's tirade.

Ginger

Alex finally stops resisting Jack, and goes limp in his arms.

Mithical

Alex, do you have a radio set up in your office?

AncientSwordRage

7:11 PM

@Ginger Jack finds it much easier to carry the now limp Alex

Ginger

Depends on how you define "set up" :p

bobble

"c'mon, c'mon" Darrion complains to the elevator, "open up already"

Mithical

Something with an antenna connected to a speaker :)

AncientSwordRage

"Sure, let all hope for that, right?" Jack offers to Alex

Mithical

@Ginger He still smells like the sea.

Sciborg

7:13 PM

"Useless," Brune mutters again, to himself. He looks very much like he would kick the chair if he could. He massages his temple with his hand and looks back at the others. "Jack, try to keep their head level, if you could. The blood will rush into their head."

Ginger

They have a cheap SDR plugged into one of the numerous computers in the room, which itself is connected via several other pieces of equipment to a crappy set of computer speakers in the corner. Alex usually keeps the speakers off, since if they're on for too long they begin emitting a 60hz hum

(that's Software Defined Radio)

Mithical

Got it, so nothing analog

Ginger

not really; the SDR has analog radio circuitry in it, of course

AncientSwordRage

@Sciborg "Sure thing Doc"

Mithical

There's a crackle of static from the speakers, but nothing else.

Ginger

7:15 PM

Alex is too out of it to notice d:

bobble

Am I here yet?

Mithical

Yeah, Darrion arrives with the cart.

Sciborg

"It's all right, Alex, we'll get you help." Brune talks to them as they wait for Darrion. "Just stop moving. We need to get you hooked up to some fluids and put some vitamins into you. You'll be peachy in no time."

bobble

I imagined it like this

Ginger

Alex doesn't respond; their eyes are closed

bobble

7:16 PM

uline.com/Product/Detail/H-3325BL/Utility-Carts/…

You see them around uni campuses

Sciborg

Brune stares in alarm at their sudden comatose state, suddenly remembering their ravenous desire for food. A vague idea occurs to him, one that goes against all medical science.

Mithical

It's an unconventional gurney, but it should work.

Sciborg

"Jack," he says, "I just thought of something. Put them on the cart and -" He stops himself, realizing he can do it, and rolls vigorously back towards the room to go get Alex's stash of food.

bobble

Probably a tad too short for comfort of laying him out straight but if it curls up it would work

AncientSwordRage

@Sciborg "Doc... Doc?" Jack says as Brune heads off, "...sure"

bobble

7:18 PM

Darrion clicks the wheel-locks in place so that the cart doesn't move while they hoist Alex up

Sciborg

I'm assuming there are some morsels left that Alex didn't completely destroy.

Ginger

Their computer is still powered on and logged in, patiently awaiting commands

bobble

"I can get their legs?"

Mithical

There's an energy-bar-like snack half-unwrapped but uneaten, and a banana

Sciborg

Brune grabs both and rolls back towards Alex. He shakes them gently by the shoulder. "Alex, my dear fellow. Can you hear me?"

Mithical

7:21 PM

(Alex, you can in fact hear Brune.)

Sciborg

Then, at Darrion and Jack: "Start pushing, start pushing."

Ginger

Alex mumbles something affirmative, keeping their eyes closed. They're internally amused by Brune's unwavering politeness.

AncientSwordRage

@Sciborg Jack pushes gently

Sciborg

"Can you eat something for me?" Brune offers the energy bar. "I have a feeling that will help for a bit."

bobble

"This way for the bigger elevator"

Sciborg

7:25 PM

Brune rolls swiftly alongside the cart in a way that implies he is used to traveling quickly alongside fast-moving gurneys. It gives the feeling that he received some snide comment from a nurse once about Doc Brune can't keep up with the other doctors and personally decided to spite them for the rest of his life.

Ginger

"absolutely, I love eating things"

Alex snatches the bar from Brune's hand and wolfs it down, oblivious to what exactly they said

Sciborg

"Better?" Brune checks their pulse again.

Mithical

The energy bar disappears immediately, but it does not sate your hunger at all. It does remind you that it's absolutely not what you're craving.

bobble

"mm, Doc, I'm not sure if the elevator will take both the cart and your chair"

Ginger

"no, no... fish."

"seafood"

Mithical

7:27 PM

Alex's blood pressure increases slightly for a minute but then drops again.

It's as if someone dialed their metabolism up to 20, on a scale of 10.

Sciborg

"Go up without me, I'll take the second one. Don't wait for me, we need to get them to Jack's car straightaway." Brune is staring intently at Alex as if silently putting some pieces together.

AncientSwordRage

(BRB, will come back after I've prayed)

bobble

Darrion sends Jack and the cart up, but comes back outside to wait with Doc after hitting the floor button

elevator waiting

AncientSwordRage

(please continue without me)

Sciborg

Brune looks at Darrion with a pained expression. "When I wasn't in this damn chair..." He trails off. It's suddenly clear that this is not at all the first time the chair has presented an obstacle to treating a patient as quickly as he wants to.

bobble

7:31 PM

While they're waiting for the elevator, Darrion bursts out, "Ajanda - graduated last year - accidentally learned when Dr. Bardot's birthday was." He looks down. "We all wanted to do something for her, and, long story short, we bought little plush chickadees, one from each of us, and I swear she smiled when we showed up at her office to hand them over, in this big basket that was made to look like a nest-" gulp "-and she's doing something for the stuff that's hurting Alex-"

Sciborg

Brune looks at Darrion sympathetically. "You could never have known. There's no way in which you could have known this would happen. We still don't know what's going on."

bobble

"She still has the chickadees. She just put 'em in a cabinet."

The elevator will probably get back to us soon

Sciborg

"I think..." Brune brushes Darrion's elbow. "I think we don't know what she's tied up in. Perhaps she's not in it willingly. Perhaps there's more to this than we know. She said herself she never wanted to hurt you, or do anything untoward for your research."

He looks at the elevator. "When you were upset, I could tell it genuinely affected her."

bobble

ding!

Sciborg

Brune rolls into the elevator, with a little clatter over that one part where the elevator crack meets the wall.

Mithical

7:38 PM

Darrion, make a Spot Hidden check, please.

bobble

50 < 68 = Spot Hidden, yay!

Sciborg

"I shouldn't have shouted at her like that. I don't think she really wanted to do you harm." Brune keeps looking at Darrion searchingly, trying to read how he is feeling. "I just thought... the things she was saying. I didn't like it one bit."

Mithical

@bobble Something catches your eye in the mirror. As you look to see what it is, you notice it: In the back left corner of the elevator, by the ceiling, there's a web, hanging, empty. Its builder is nowhere to be seen.

bobble

"Doc?" Darrion gives the distinct impression of not having heard a word you were saying. "Spiders- spiders-"

Sciborg

Brune follows his gaze, and the color drains from his face at once. Can he reach high enough to smack it away?

Mithical

7:42 PM

@Sciborg Not without using something such as a stick; the chair is a bit too low.

bobble

The elevator chugs upwards; Darri is in the opposite corner from the web

Sciborg

"Damnit -" Brune looks at Darrion. "Do you have anything we could hit it with?"

bobble

Darrion produces pencils and toothpicks from a quick search of his bag for pointy things

"It's empty... can just leave...? When does this arrive...?"

Mithical

The elevator definitely seems to be going slower than it should, but that may just be psychological.

As you pull the pencils and toothpicks out, looking for something longer, the elevator arrives at your floor, the doors slowly opening.

Sciborg

"Oh, thank God." Brune promptly rolls out vigorously. "Let's hope they've made it to the car."

AncientSwordRage

7:46 PM

(back)

Sciborg

How far did they get in our absence?

Mithical

They've made it to Jack's car, but have not yet gotten in.

bobble

Anyone else around?

Mithical

There are people on the grounds, but fewer than normal. Nobody in close proximity. The parking lot is also emptier than normal.

Sciborg

"Jack!" Brune shouts, as they near. "How is our patient?"

AncientSwordRage

7:50 PM

@Sciborg Jack takes look at Alex who's sat in the back

"Darrion, you should ride shotgun, so Doc can stay in the back with Alex"

bobble

"Got it" Darrion looks relieved that someone told him what to do.

Sciborg

"Actually... I have what very well might be an entirely absurd idea." Brune rolls up to the car and looks at Alex, remembering their muttering from earlier. "Seafood, you said. That's what would help?"

Ginger

Being moved into the car wakes Alex up a little, and Brune's comment gets a somewhat intelligible response out of them. "yeah... that would be nice right about now"

AncientSwordRage

@Sciborg "I know a few places..."

"Habor Wave is closest, they have plenty of seafood"

Sciborg

Brune looks at Jack with an expression that says let's do something just as insane as this situation we're in. "What do you say we get this poor fellow several extra-large seafood platters before we take them to the hospital?"

bobble

7:53 PM

"Mickey's has cheap -- oh, they're close for renovations, yeah."

Mithical

Darrion, make an EDU check for me quickly, please.

AncientSwordRage

"Sure thing, just what the doctor ordered..."

Sciborg

"Just what the doctor ordered, indeed," Brune mutters, sounding like he has never in his medical career looked at a patient with malnutrition and instantly suggested their family bring them to Red Lobster.

2

bobble

11 << 70 = EDU

AncientSwordRage

Climbing into the driver's seat, Brune's chair safely stowed. Then says to Darrion who's next to him. "Can you check the glove box, just in case I left any snacks in there?"

Sciborg

7:56 PM

Brune hovers protectively over Alex, occasionally measuring their vitals and flashing their pupils again.

AncientSwordRage

Jack definitely has in the past put a pack of six energy bars in the car, but in all this excitement he can't remember if he's eaten 5 or 6 of them.

Mithical

The discussion of local seafood places does bring up something odd in your memory. You recall hearing from a classmate who had worked as a waiter for a while to earn some spending cash that all of the places that serve fish in New Rivaille get it from the same source: A local monger. On an Extreme success, you recall that the supplier is known as the Marsh Mongers.

bobble

"There's only one supplier for fish 'round these parts" Darrion is clipping the ends of his syllables to avoid letting crying get into his voice. "Marsh Mongers"

Ginger

On the third flash, Alex makes an attempt to smack the flashlight out of Brune's hand.

AncientSwordRage

Does Jack recognise the name, from all his Kid searching?

Mithical

7:59 PM

@Ginger Make a Strength check with a bonus die.

Ginger

They're not really trying to hit it out of his hand, just indicate that they're annoyed

Mithical

@AncientSwordRage You do recall seeing an office somewhere with that name on it, and possibly their logo on a ship in the harbor.

Sciborg

Brune hastily pulls back. "All right, enough of that. My apologies." He tucks the flashlight away. "You're going to be just fine." In his head, he's silently calculating their pupil response time and measuring the potential extent of their severe brain damage.

AncientSwordRage

@bobble "That name rings a bell...?"

Mithical

@Ginger Sure. You do have a certain manic strength right now, though.

Sciborg

8:01 PM

....oh o-o

AncientSwordRage

"Darrion lad, did you find anything in the glovebox?"

bobble

"I'd suggest Googling it, but, well," Darrion gives a small shrug which is most likely lost on everyone else, as no one is looking at him

"Whatcha looking for?"

AncientSwordRage

@bobble "Anything edible...? For Alex"

Mithical

Make a Luck check to see if there's something in the glove compartment.

What fish place are you heading towards?

bobble

42 > 35 = Luck. No dice.

AncientSwordRage

8:03 PM

@Mithical Harbor Wave, they serve sushi, sashimi and a few other Japanese dishes

Sciborg

I'm assuming that Brune is still making occasional checks on their pulse, if Alex does whatever they're about to do :p

bobble

[end soon, right?]

Mithical

Got it. As the name indicates, and as you'd expect for a fish place, they're located by the sea, on the boardwalk by the docks.

AncientSwordRage

@bobble (I could go on, but I'm equally happy to carry on a smidge more)

Ginger

@Mithical 12 < 50

Sciborg

8:04 PM

I need to see what Alex is gonna do

Mithical

Hard success on a Strength check. Brune, as you lift up Alex's arm to check their wrist, there's a certain tenseness in Alex's body. Without knowing their own strength, it seems, Alex slaps your hand away and jerks against the window of the car from the force of the slap.

Brune, your hand is bruised. Alex, your shoulder bangs hard against the window, but you don't feel any pain from the impact. It's probably going to be sore later, but for now, you don't feel anything.

Sciborg

Brune curses in surprise at the force of the blow - it's the arm that has the spider bite from yesterday, so the strike makes pain flare up in his elbow - and nearly falls back against the seat cushion in shock. "Damnit!"

AncientSwordRage

"What's happening back there?"

bobble

Darrion tries to use the mirror to look back

Mithical

There's a slight crack in the window.

AncientSwordRage

8:08 PM

(happy to end whenever)

Ginger

"...sorry"

Mithical

(call it here for now?)

Sciborg

Brune hisses out a breath and massages the smarting bruise on his hand. "...My fault. I shouldn't have been fiddling." His white-faced look of terror says otherwise.

Ginger

(sure)

Sciborg

(sure)

bobble

8:10 PM

:thumbsup:

Mithical

ty all :)

We shall pick up in two weeks to see what happens, I am unfortunately not available next week

Ginger

:(