snowblindrpg | [network] Day 24; @standardissue; Fatigue [open]

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[network] Day 24; @standardissue; Fatigue [open]

[Morning]

[He's more tired than he should be.

No. Really. It's easy to chalk it up to the cold, to the fact that he's been trudging through snow with the barely adequate protection of a coat and a scratchy sweatshirt found in the house he'd woken up in, a thin satin bathrobe wrapped around his neck and face like a scarf, but the fact of the matter is that he still shouldn't be this tired. Not so weary that he'd dozed off while skimming through the contents of the tablet within the first couple hours of his first night here. These are hardly the worst conditions he's ever been through. It's nothing compared to some of the grueling days he endured back in the Wutai war. But it's almost a struggle to get his body to get up and get moving when he wakes up in the morning the next day.

In fact, at first, the only thing Kunsel can manage is the near-habitual motion of pulling his PHS out. Only, not his PHS. Not the one he spent half of one of his mission paychecks on so he could get the latest upgrade available. That one's safely stowed in his backpack, unfortunately useless while he's this far from any ShinRa cell tower. This one is... well, he can definitely admire the model, even if he still finds the whole thing a little suspicious.

Then, more to get his brain active than anything else, he types out a simple text.]

[Network: text; @standardissue]

Someone tell me how to go to hell. If the rumors are true, at least I'll be warm.

[Once it's sent to the general network, he gets around to the business of eating what counts for a breakfast of a tasteless ration bar and water.

[After nightfall]

[The lingering exhaustion doesn't clear up the way it should in anyone with SOLDIER enhancements. It helps once he gets going, continuing his search of his surroundings, but it shows in the way he doesn't search the buildings he comes across as thoroughly as the ones he found the first day.

Even so, at the end of the day, when he finishes his reconnaissance of the house he's found himself in for the night and has curled himself up in a bed, he finds he can't sleep. Too many thoughts. Too many worries. He hasn't found any running water yet, or any significant caches of food, other than a can of creamed corn. (The bag of opened and highly suspect potato chips doesn't count, even if the bag itself might prove useful in another way.) He hasn't found any way to contact HQ. He still has no idea where he really is, even in relation to the maps people have made. His sore muscles only add an extra edge of anxiety.

Well, anxiety's at least something he has a familiar coping mechanism for. With little else to do, he pulls his tablet out and spends some time just browsing. Eventually, he even puts together another text.]

[Network: text; @standardissue]

Am I the only one experiencing abnormal fatigue? I mean, obviously I'm still awake, but the rest of my body feels like a lead weight, even though I haven't done anything besides hike through the snow. Vision's not as sharp, either, and my hearing seems duller.

Are these symptoms of something I should be worried about, or is this normal?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[When Al welcomed Kunsel to their fun little holiday destination it had been over the laborious method of text, now he opts to go with audio even though the initial question is still written.]

Hmm.

[His voice is high and concerned, though he has a tight leash on any panic. He's seen illnesses here already but one case doesn't mean anything. Probably.]

It could just be from the extra effort of slogging through so much snow, but... that doesn't explain your eyesight or hearing. Maybe you're catching a cold?

[Kunsel blinks in surprise when he hears a child's voice coming through with that ID attached. He sounds like he's eight, though he doesn't talk or type like any eight year old that Kunsel has ever met.

Curious, he decides to stick with voice.]

If it's a cold, it's not giving me any of the normal symptoms of one. No runny nose, no fever, no congestion.

[He pauses, then can't quite hold back the urge to ask, to make sure. Someone might have borrowed Al's PHS, after all.]

Al?

Uh huh!

[He sounds pretty pleased that Kunsel has remembered his name after only one meeting, and doubly pleased that it hasn't defaulted to the hated LELRIC.]

Do you feel different in any other way? Or just a little fatigued?

[Regardless, this probably isn't a good thing.]

[OOC: I am sorry for making you wait for my reply. I was unavoidably away. I will understand if you wish to drop this thread with no hard feelings, but I am happy to carry on too.]

[Kunsel has a pretty good memory for things like this. He's got to, if he wants to have any chance to keep all the rumors he's heard and all their sources straight.

Besides, remembering Al's name is easy. "Al Elric" isn't that far off phonetically from LELRIC.

But sheesh, what a way to cement an introduction in his head.]

Wow, you don't sound at all like I expected.

[That's a polite way of saying he wasn't expecting a kid.

He pauses for a moment, considering the question.]

I've been feeling a little weaker, too, but I thought it might just be the cold. Like my body just didn't want to cooperate because it was too busy shivering.

[ooc: Shhh, gimme all your tags. I don't mind the wait. <3]

Edited 2015-08-22 03:15 (UTC)

O-Oh, really?

[He sounds embarrassed and a little wary, this is not the first time that his voice has defied expectations, but it never gets any easier.]

Maybe I have a little bit of a cold myself, and that's why my voice sounds different than you'd thought it might...

[A pause. Two fake coughs. Another pause.]

But, uh, let's focus on you, okay? It sounds like you're just adjusting to the temperature here, so maybe there's nothing to worry about. But I know the name of a doctor that I can give you, if you want?

[...Kunsel really hopes that Al doesn't think he's fooling anyone. Really, really hopes.

But sure, he'll let Al deflect. He probably gets reactions like this a lot, since there's such a disparity between the age of his voice and the way that he writes his texts.]

Hmm. I guess that could do it.

[Maybe he'll call him out on it later, when he has a better feel for how the kid might react to teasing.]

The problem is I've been in cold climates before. It's hard to tell without a thermometer, but probably as cold as this. I didn't react like this before, though, so I don't know what to make of it.

A doctor would probably be a good idea. [He feels like he should remember something about that, but...] You know the name of one here?

[The sad thing is, he does think that he's fooled Kunsel when the subject is changed to easily like that. His own acting skills go up in his estimation, and he logs the 'cold excuse' as a potential good one for the future.]

Mm, his name is Clayton Epps. He's been here pretty much as long as I have, and he's a doctor back in his own world.

[He isn't sure how good of a doctor, but anything is better than nothing.]

[Oh Al...

Oblivious to Al's train of thought, Kunsel just moves on.]

Clayton Epps... I'm pretty sure I spoke with him before. Do you know if he's had to treat anyone here?

I'm not sure if he's treated anyone directly, but I know that he's offered medical advice over the tablets a few times.

[It's hard to be an in-person doctor in this snowhell.]

Otherwise, maybe you should try resting up for a day or two and seeing if that helps?

Mm. That's probably what he'll have to do with me, too, since I doubt I'll see him in person anytime soon.

I'm not sure I can afford to rest that long with the food supplies I have. Maybe I can do that if I find someplace to restock. Until then, I think I'm just going to have press on.

I could try to take it a little easier?

[Food supplies again.... He really needs to get moving on the plan to shuttle supplies to different locations, because this is the pressing worry that a lot of people are having.]

That might be a good idea, maybe just travel in the morning or the afternoon for a few days, that might help a little bit?

[Kunsel nods, then catches himself with the reminder that Al can't see him.]

I'll try that, or at least I'll try not to push myself too hard. [A pause, then-] Maybe you should think about the same advice. If you've got a cold- [Or if you're actually really young.] -you should try to take it easy, too.

If I've got a cold?

[WAIT. That was his excuse, wasn't it? Abort! Abort!]

I mean... right! Of course, I'll make sure to get some rest too, and we'll both kick this in no time.

[...wow, Al is so not selling that lie. He really must be only eight years old.

Trying not to sound too amused, Kunsel leans back against a wall.]

I hope you feel better soon. I'll get right on my part of that, too. I'll talk to you later, alright?

Edited 2015-08-26 23:13 (UTC)

R-Right!

[NO FURTHER DELAY.

Before he can put his foot in his mouth again, he just hangs up the line. Wow, that was smooth.]

Are you warm enough?

[ It's a fair question. The body spent a huge amount of energy keeping a cold person warm enough to keep functioning. In a place like this, that could easily tire someone out in no time at all.

He rubs at his own eyes, ignoring his own tiredness for now. ]

Traveled too far?

[It is a fair question, and one Kunsel has considered, but ultimately discarded because it doesn't feel like enough to justify everything.]

For a given definition of "enough."

[Because let's be real, it's pretty hard to obtain a level of warmth that could be called comfortable here.]

Not cold enough that I feel like it should be draining me like this, let alone the other symptoms, and I've traveled farther on missions in similar conditions. It's only my second day, too, so I can't even blame compound effects.

[ Good point. Even wrapped in blankets and back to back with Zelda, things could still be icy. Link rubs his eyes again, focusing on the words as they float across his vision. He really ought to get some shut-eye soon. ]

This place can get to you. It could be that.

I'm not feeling it but other people have had something similar.

[ He thinks, at any rate. It's hard to tell for certain. ]

[Well, at least he's not alone in this.]

Do you remember if any of those people mentioned how long the symptoms lasted?

They didn't say it on the network.

[ Not that he saw, at any rate. If Kunsel had been here for longer, he would have said to move house as soon as he could. But if it's only been his second day... ]

Try to build a fire and rest?

[Kunsel sighs, though really, he knows there's not much else anyone can suggest, and it's not the guy's fault he doesn't know more.]

That's probably the best thing I can do at this point. I haven't found tools I can use to start a fire yet, but if this keeps up, I may have to stop and rest anyway.

[ Link forgets that not everyone found what he and his teammates had been able to. ]

Sorry.

Get inside before it gets dark.

I'm already inside. But I may call it an early night. At this point, I think it's all I can do.

Thanks.

Take everything you think can help.

I will.

[He doesn't have any qualms about taking things from abandoned, ruined houses.]

Good luck

I hope you feel better soon.

Thanks. I hope so, too.

[With that, he turns his tablet off before lying down for the night.]

[hello yes did you say abnormal symptoms]

[Clayton briefly checks the rest of the network for similar reports and Enoch to make sure he isn't showing signs of illness and comes up empty. Well then. He's not exactly in a position to travel and investigate, and he's only now feeling lucid enough to even consider holding thought-intensive conversations with people on the network again, but the man has a job to do here.]

Symptoms caused by the area itself usually come in waves, but I don't see any signs of one going through right now. Can you describe for me exactly what you've done so far today? How far you've traveled, what you've eaten and drank, anything unusual you've come into contact with recently, etc.?

["Claytonator." Wait, this is the man who said he was a doctor. Perfect. Even if he can't give a perfect diagnosis over a distance, it could still be better than Kunsel's blind guesses.]

I'm not sure I can give an accurate estimate of how far I've traveled. Maybe eight blocks? Less than a mile. There were two houses between where I started and where I am now that I paused in to search and catch my breath.

For the past two days, the only things I've consumed are the rations and water provided for us. One ration per day. The only suspect things I've come across are an open bag of potato chips and a wet sponge. I did not eat the chips, though I took the bag, and I left the sponge where it was.

The house I found the chips in had a leak in the roof. There was a lot of mold, especially in the kitchen.

Edited 2015-08-17 19:01 (UTC)

[Clayton reads through this given information several times, not only for the sake of thoroughness but also because his attention is kind of transient as of late and the repetition is needed for him to successfully take it all in. Illness from the mold is the most alarming option here, since it doesn't seem likely that the unopened rations and water bottles would give someone food poisoning, and his symptoms don't really follow that sort of diagnosis anyways. Exposure to mold could cause a flu-like reaction, which the lethargy and dizziness could be the start of, but he would have needed to be in the area for some time or at least have consumed the chips. Really, the most likely explanation is that he's just exhausted, though at less than a mile and from the military...hmm. None of it quite adds up on its own. Some combination, maybe...?]

When did you first start noticing these symptoms? Just recently, after a certain point, or have they been getting steadily worse over the day?

I noticed the problems with my vision and hearing almost as soon as I woke up the first my first day here. The fatigue didn't settle in until later, after I'd started hiking through the snow. I know that part sounds like I just wore myself out, but this isn't the first time I've hiked in conditions like this. I shouldn't have felt that tired as soon as I did.

[Now that's interesting--Clayton's heard of people being healed when they're brought here and having their powers taken away from them, but never getting sick en route.]

[...Although, given the list of possible confirmed changes, Clayton's starting to think that Kunsel isn't sick at all.]

This might seem like an odd question, but do you have any supernatural abilities? Traits that the average person where you're from doesn't have, that sort of thing?

[Kunsel stills at the question, not responding immediately. If he were back home, he wouldn't have a problem answering honestly. Here, though... He has no idea why he was brought here, or what motivations the people here have. Not even just the admin, but the other people trapped here, too. He doesn't know enough to know if it's dangerous to reveal who and what he is.

But he also understands that it's important for a doctor to have all the facts, to know what he's dealing with. Kunsel grimaces, but really, there's not much other choice.

He does at least switch this to a private call first. Not that he necessarily trusts even that, since the admin presumably has full access anyway, but at least it will cut down on how public this is.]

Yes. I've had mako enhancements. Do you know what that is?

[It feels odd even to ask that question, but then, hadn't Clayton been the one who hadn't known what materia was?]

Not sure I would call it a supernatural ability, since it's grounded in science and natural planet energy, but it does enhance my senses, endurance, and strength beyond what humans are normally capable of. Is that what you mean?

[The reply comes over a private line and Clayton breathes a heavy sigh of relief. A private call means Kunsel's willing to open up to him. Good. This makes his job a lot easier. And, sure enough, the answer gives him everything he needs to confirm his theory.]

I don't know exactly what mako enhancements are, but from the sound of it that's something our hosts would have decided to take away. They've done something similar to multiple people. [Clayton included, though that information is on a strictly need-to-know basis.] How long have you had these enhancements? Quite a while, I'm assuming?

It can't have been taken away completely. The mako's still visible in my eyes. That means it's still present in my DNA.

[That means that whatever was done to him (and to others as well?) is only suppressing his enhancements.]

Maybe what we're looking at here is more like a Silence spell. It's cutting us off now, but it might not be permanent.

I've had the enhancements for years now. Almost half my life. Is that important?

Edited 2015-08-31 13:19 (UTC)

I think I understand. It wouldn't make sense for them to removes those genes entirely. Turn them off for a while, maybe.

[Clayton doesn't know the precise details of the "spell" action, but he can infer that it's some kind of ability, in this case one that represses other abilities. He imagines it's possible, although he's never encountered someone with those kinds of powers before. All you'd have to do is stop Element production somehow...it's what they had to have done to him, right?]

[Speaking of things that make sense: ]

...Yes. I believe you're suffering from withdraw.

[Withdrawal. That makes sense, but Kunsel still grimaces at the idea. How does someone even deal with mako withdrawal after it's already fully integrated with their body? He's not sure he can even use cases of mako poisoning as a reference, since those happened when someone's body refused to accept the mako in the first place, or couldn't do it fast enough before they got overexposed.

Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like Clayton knows anything about mako. It's unlikely he'll be able to help, even if Kunsel was willing to give more detail than the basic information he's already given.]

So about the only thing I can do is get used to it, then. What kind of time table does that typically entail for withdrawal from other things? Assuming your patient is otherwise healthy.

[Maybe he can at least get an idea.]

I'm afraid so. Unfortunately what we're dealing with here probably isn't equatable to something like substance withdraw--you can wait out substance withdraw. For a permanent set of sensory enhancements, I imagine what you're going through is more like going deaf, or suddenly losing a limb.

[looks like SOMEBODY has amputation on the mind, I wonder why, it is a mystery]

In that case, I would advise a regimen of physical therapy. Keep yourself fit and active, but understand that you have different limits than you're used to. Today was probably a good time to discover some of those and learn them. I wouldn't make a habit of pushing yourself too hard in a place like this, though. Get plenty of rest when you start to feel fatigued and please be careful.

[It is a mystery, but clearly it is because Clayton is a doctor. Doctors think about these kinds of things. For fun. Or something.]

This isn't going to be fun, is it..

[It's not really a question. Kunsel presses his fingers to the bridge of his nose, trying to stave off a headache he knows is coming. It's not the answer he wanted, but it's the one he'll have to live with, though, so there's not much use in complaining about it.

'Life's not fair, soldier. Deal with it.']

I'll do my best. If something else comes up, though, can I contact you?

I'm afraid there aren't a lot of things around here that are. Sorry.

[Life is hard here. It's not a mantra Clayton would like to go by, and it's not something he'll ever say directly, but this is about as close as he'll ever get to it. Maybe. We'll see how long that lasts.]

You're always free to contact me for anything. I'm happy to help, it's what I'm here for. Alright?

Thanks.

[Whether or not Clayton will be able to do anything is another question entirely, but that's a bridge Kunsel will cross if he comes to it.]

I better get some sleep now. You probably should, too.

[They all need their sleep so they can deal with Snowhell.]

Agreed, and no problem. Stay safe.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[network] Day 24; @standardissue; Fatigue [open]

night; audio; @LELRIC

audio; @standardissue

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night; text; @LINK

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night - text - @claytonator

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[private]

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and this should wrap things up!