[log] IT'S A MONSTER PARTY [closed]

[devoutish]

Characters: Alfie Solomons, Ecks, Fiona, Francel de Haillenarte, Haurchefant Greystone, John Watson, Tifa Lockhart, Royce Melborn
Location around U4/V4, and then in various houses
Date: evening of 138 through morning of 139
Summary: various merry traveling bands are set upon and scattered by a RUDE AS FUCK anomaly
Warnings: n/a; will edit if anything comes up

Catch-all for EVERYTHING - running from the anomaly, settling in various houses, etc. Top-level and tag as you see fit.

Comments

[bywolves]

[ Royce probably won't stab, even if Watson gets close. He's in pain and literally cornered, but he's not an idiot. Hurting John would be a bad idea. Royce knows it. The shiv just makes him feel better. ]

All of that. [ Royce says, through gritted teeth. ] At first. Not so much now. Headache is all that's left.

[jumpthegun]

You're looking like there's something worse than a headache on for you. And what's wrong with your hand?

[ Why, yes, the doctor-investigator noticed the splint. ]

[bywolves]

[ Royce just pulls his hand further out of view with a scowl. ]

Broken finger. Splinted. Headache is really bad. Slightly nauseated. It'll pass if you go away.

[jumpthegun]

[ Rude. ]

Nah, see, nausea's got nothing to do with me being near you, and the reason I'm asking is because I've got aspirin. If it's been less than a week and you're nauseated, though, you're just going to end up throwing up if I try to give that to you for the pain, though.

D'you have crackers or bread in your rations? Should help to settle your stomach a little. Make sure you're drinking plenty of water, as well. I can fill up your canteen for you if you're running low.

[bywolves]

[ Stop... being so nice, what the heck. ]

No aspirin. [ He gets that out first, looking irritated. Alfie told him that's bad for concussions! ] What - what do you want?

[jumpthegun]

For you to stop looking for an ulterior motive? Barring that, some acetaminophen for you. I'll put in a request for that. Should work, and it's safe with the concussion, but we won't have it until tomorrow at the earliest. Think you can hold up until then, Duster?

[bywolves]

[ Wow, don't be rude, John. ] I'm fine. Been fine for three days. Headache isn't going to kill me.

You stick your nose where it isn't wanted, and you think that gives me any reason to trust your motive here?

[jumpthegun]

If your symptoms are coming back after a run, you're not really that fine, mate. Concussions take time. Couple of weeks at the low end of the range. The meds will help. And the headache might not kill you, but life's easier without it.

[ Duster might be less of a pain in the ass if he isn't in pain, as well. Maybe.

As for the rest... John just shrugs. ]

But you caught me. Honest motives here? Making you less of a git by helping you feel better faster. Bloody brilliant villainous master plan, yeah?

[bywolves]

[ John is right, though. A big part of the reason Royce is a pain in the ass is because he's in pain. He's on edge because of it, and because he's in a strange place with someone he doesn't trust. ]

Bedside manner could use a little work. [ He mutters it, pulling his knees closer to his chest. ] Go away. Wasn't looking for a lecture.

[jumpthegun]

Patient manner needs work, too. I need you to grant me attending physician rights with the Admin to prescribe you appropriate medicine for your concussion. And I'm still waiting on whether you've got enough water and something to settle your stomach. I've got bread and a banana. That should probably help, too. It's easy on the stomach.

[bywolves]

[ There's a little too much going on in his head to allow for him to stop and think about this past do what Watson wants so he'll go away. He sinks down against the wall, staring at Watson's hands to make sure he doesn't pull anything. ]

Have water. [ He mutters it. ] Have crackers.

[jumpthegun]

You wanna get up on the bed, as well? I'll sleep in another room. You can close the door or block it or whatever else you're going to do, mate. You'll get a better sleep with something comfortable to lie on.

[bywolves]

No. Floor is fine. How many times do I have to tell you to leave me alone?

[jumpthegun]

Few more. Why is the floor better than the bed? At least pull the mattress down off of it and sit on that.

[Look at that compromise, Royce.]

[bywolves]

No. [ The point of this is that the bed is between him and the door, obviously. And now he just repeats himself: ] Floor is fine.

[jumpthegun]

[Well, he'd still have the frame, even if that were true.]

D'you need me to check the mattress for booby traps? Is that what this is about?

[John sighs and rises up, going to the other side of the bed and beginning to pat it down.]

Nothing here. Imagine that.

[bywolves]

[ Yeah but... but mattress and frame is even better. Royce logic. ]

I'm not a child. [ Royce says, annoyed. ] No need to treat me like I'm stupid. I don't trust you, not the furniture.

[jumpthegun]

I'm treating you like you're an extremely paranoid man who's got something personal against me, but not my actual medical judgement, Duster. You've got a concussion. Do yourself a favor and actually sleep. You'll have an easier time of it on a bed. Like I said, I'll be sleeping in another room. I'll even help you move the bed over to the door. You can push it up against the door once I leave. You'll be 'safe' from me, and you'll have a bed to sleep on.

[bywolves]

[ He's very, very annoyed by the fact that Watson isn't taking him seriously, that Watson refuses to see why Royce doesn't trust him and continues to make things worse. His expression sours exponentially. ]

You don't understand a damn thing. [ Royce says, shaking his head a little. His voice is flat. ] I have nothing against you. Don't care enough to. Don't take things so personally.

[jumpthegun]

You're being a paranoid dick at me because I found out you pulled a knife on someone over your heritage. That seems a bit personal.

[bywolves]

[ Okay, see, that is crossing a line that Royce doesn't know if he has it in him to pursue. ]

You found out by asking Tifa and Ecks. You didn't leave it alone. You do not understand why this is important to me and you do not care. All that you wanted was to satisfy your curiosity, and in the process you broke a trust that you could have kept had you not pried your way into the situation.

You're as bad as House.

[jumpthegun]

It's important to you because you've suffered a life of discrimination because of what you are. It's important to you because it's your secret, and you're the only one who should be deciding who gets to know about it. It's important because someone used it to humiliate you and degrade you here without having any context for it. Something like that?

I can guess why it's important, Duster. And I do care. It's why I haven't run about spouting it off. That wasn't the answer I went looking for. I'm sorry, I am truly sorry that's the one I found, and if I could take that part of it back, I would. I can't. So we're going to have to live with that. You, apparently, not trusting me to the end of days, and me thinking you're being paranoid over it.

Sleep on the bloody mattress or don't. You making yourself suffer because you don't trust me is just plain stupid, though. Stay hydrated and eat something.

[Unless Royce stops him, John will depart, frustrated beyond belief by the other man. But at least he's gotten close to the heart of what Duster's issue is.]