02 ▒ EVENT: STASIS SICKNESS ▒ MAZE

[ataraxites]

CHARACTERS: Ensemble production!
LOCATION: The mysterious maze.
WARNINGS: Sickness, body horror, encounters, etc.
SUMMARY: Dying slowly, getting into trouble, adventures in exploration.
NOTES: Open to all!

The corridor stretches on before you. THIS WAY ☺, the farthest wall says, before turning into a darkness you haven't explored before. Perhaps now's a good time to consult that map.

Comments

[tumbleweeds]

You look like shit.

[ From the look of him, he probably feels like it, too. Frowning, she shifts closer, trying to figure out what the damage is. She's had broken bones before and all sorts of other injuries, though she's not a doctor herself. She tends to self-diagnose based on how things feel. ]

What happened?

[ And don't mind her while she shuts the door all the way. ]

[shoyu]

[ he'd laugh at that first remark, except it hurts enough to just breathe and talk. soysauce inhales sharply before forcing himself to sit up -- slumping against the wall with a muffled hiss. it would be awfully rude to just lay there like that in front of another person, after all. ]

-- bumped into another person while looking around. And we -- we got near one of those -- those dark holes.

[ there's marked hesitation as he pauses, before he adds with a weak smile, ]

... I tripped and fell in.

[tumbleweeds]

[ He's tough, she'll give him that. Respect points, since it looks like Soysauce has had the shit beaten out of him. Jaye shifts a bit closer, trying to get a good look at the rest of the injuries. ]

How'd you get out and into that room, then?

[ Hope you're feeling up to Jaye prodding you in the ribs, Soysauce, because... well, she's doing it, trying to feel for anything that's broken. ]

[shoyu]

[ nope, not really up for it. that first poke to his ribs is enough to make soysauce cringe -- gritting his teeth to try and keep quiet. nothing's shattered, but there's a lot of hairline fractures everywhere. ]

-- he carried me. [ a hard gasp before he can finish that thought. ] Carried me away from the dark hole, but I can't remember anything after that.

[ it worries him, really. the fact that he can't make a logical connection as to why he ended up in that strange room. but he'll try not to think about it. ]

[tumbleweeds]

'He'?

[ Not shattered, but definitely broken. Collarbone next, she thinks, then arms and legs. Whoever he is, that's worrying. That's a threat. ]

You're probably aware of this, but you've got some broken bones.

[shoyu]

I think I could have guessed.

[ he tries to laugh, but it comes out as something closer to a hoarse wheeze. but still, soysauce inhales deeply to calm his breathing, then ducks his head in lieu of a polite bow. ]

-- so I must thank you, m'lady. For your help.

[tumbleweeds]

You didn't answer my question, you know.

[ But she nods, frowning as she steps away. ]

You need to get to medical. I can give you a ride, if you can hold on.

[shoyu]

[ there's an uncomfortable pause, before soysauce attempts to gloss over that first question. he's not sure what to think about AM himself, really.

so he instead looks up to give jaye a dazed stare. ]

... a ride? [ pause. ] That seems slightly -- inappropriate.

[tumbleweeds]

[ Cue eyeroll. ]

I'd be a horse. It wouldn't be weird. But it's going to take way too long to walk and carrying you would probably hurt worse.

[ And she'll be asking you about AM later, Soysauce. ]

[shoyu]

... a horse. [ a vaguely impressed smile. ] Your capabilities know no bounds, I see.

[ soysauce stares blearily at his hands for a long moment after that, weakly flexing his fingers. his arms might be fractured, but his hands feel functional. ish. ]

-- I'll -- I'll try my best to hold on.

[tumbleweeds]

[ Now there's a snort. Still, he's smiling, at least. That's good, right? ]

There are some limits. You can hold onto my mane if you want. Tell me if I need to slow down or if I can go faster, and if your legs are okay, grip with those.

[ That's about all she needs to say, she thinks, so she steps back and then shifts before settling down onto the ground. He can crawl on from there, get a grip, and then she'll stand up. ]

[shoyu]

[ it's been a while since he's handled horses, and soysauce can't help boggling at jaye's rapid transformation for a moment. really quite an amazing ability. -- but he really shouldn't be wasting so much time.

he tries to move as quickly as possible, shakily crawling forward until he can haul himself up onto that broad back. (trying really hard not to think that he's climbing onto jaye's back.) and while it's a little unsteady when he grasps at that soft mane, it'll hold for a little while. hopefully. ]

... I think I'll manage somehow.

[tumbleweeds]

[ She's got no intention of throwing him off, but if he starts sliding, she's not sure she'll be able to shift her weight and balance to catch him without sending them both toppling down. Still, he's managed to get onto her back and she can feel his hands in her mane, gripping but not tight enough to hurt. There's a nicker, a warning that she's going to get up -- and then she does, rocking forward and then back as she stands.

Once she's up, one ear flicks back toward him and she snorts. You okay back there, Soysauce? ]

[shoyu]

[ how strange it feels to ride on a horse again, in this odd place. soysauce grasps as gently at jaye's mane as he can manage without sliding off her back -- delicately managing to keep his balance on her back by keeping himself low down. (it hurts too much to sit up straight, anyhow.) ]

I suppose I'm, ah -- good to go.

[ it definitely feels strange saying that out loud. but what else can he do? soysauce nervously ducks close against jaye's back after mumbling that, hoping to god he won't fall off and shatter something. ]

[tumbleweeds]

[ There's a whicker in response to let Soysauce know she's heard him and then Jaye moves. She starts out slow and easy, letting him get used to the movement and listening for any gasps of pain before picking up the pace. She'll carry him to medical and then head back into the maze to poke around once she's sure they've got him. It shouldn't take long. ]

[shoyu]

[ probably a good thing that the trip to the medbay won't take too long. soysauce is quiet enough, clutching low against jaye's back, but each step still does jostle him -- something shown only in the way he periodically grasps a little tighter at jaye's mane before loosening his grip once more. still, he'll have to find a way to repay this favor to jaye somehow. ]