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

[deus_ex_phs]

[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?

Comments

[armoured]

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.]

[deus_ex_phs]

[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]

[armoured]

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?

[deus_ex_phs]

[...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?

[armoured]

[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.]

[deus_ex_phs]

[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?

[armoured]

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?

[deus_ex_phs]

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?

[armoured]

[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?

[deus_ex_phs]

[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.

[armoured]

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.

[deus_ex_phs]

[...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?

[armoured]

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.]