IC INBOX {driftfleet}

[idealistic]

"Hey, this is Lloyd! Sorry I didn't catch this; just leave me a message and I'll get back to you as soon as possible!"

"...Did I do it ri--" -click-


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[idealistic]

Just because my blood is glowing a little doesn't mean you gotta do this. [ yep he sure did forget about those poor test results coming from his blood.

but FIIIIIIIINE he'll listen. he starts to take off his gloves and coat, setting them aside. how did he know to do that? who knows, maybe the augment had something to do with it. ]

[save_the_souls]

[Honestly, the bickering is starting to wear on him and make him annoyed. And since Lloyd is right in that he can't FORCE him to do this, he'll look him right in the eye and give him the true answer.]

No, you're right. I don't have to do this. I can't force you to do anything, and you don't have to agree to anything I ask you to do. I'm not even your ship's medic after all, that's Dr. Keller.

But if I don't get to the bottom of why your blood is acting abnormally? Then I'll have to throw out your donation and bar you from donating again, because it's too dangerous a risk to transfuse into other people.

Would you prefer that option, Mr. Irving?

[idealistic]

[ --oh. yeah, he didn't expect that, but considering how he's been behaving, his reaction was more than expected. the tools were different, but being here with Allen was pretty much the same as when he was with the Professor...

they weren't all that different, so why did he decide to act different? ]

No! No, you're right, I...

[ jeez... way to screw up by not knowing anything again, self. ]

...M'sorry. I shouldn't have acted like that. You're just trying to help, I know that.

[save_the_souls]

[He gives a huff, before relaxing some. Lloyd's difficult, but he wasn't a bad person. And at least he wasn't continuing to argue]

...It's alright. You're not the most difficult patient I've had by far.

[He starts wrapping the blood pressure band around Lloyd's upper arm, making sure it's secure then turning it on. After a pause, he'll finally speak again]

Besides, I'm...familiar with people from your world. So I thought I might be a little more qualified to look into this.

[idealistic]

[ the only reason why he's not arguing back is because he feels like a turd for having argued in the first place. he doesn't even fight back when Allen puts the cuff on him, though he does frown at it when he feels the pressure building on it. is it supposed to do that?

augment says yes. okay. whatever, the last bit Allen said definitely catches his attention, so he moves his attention to him.]

You are?

[ this is news to him. ] So you mean you knew someone from home?

[save_the_souls]

[The blood pressure machine squeezes until it gets its measurements. It beeps and Allen seems to frown a little in confusion. It's not just healthy blood pressure - it's ideal. Weird. He removes the wrap and picks up a little white clip thing]

Hold out your index finger, please.

[Then he'll actually answer Lloyd's question]

None of them were my patients, but yes. A number of them, including- [You. But. This guy is thick enough he doesn't seem to understand the idea of blood tests, so let's go with a simpler answer] - your father.

[idealistic]

[ hey, he can understand dimensions well enough! ...kinda. Kaneis explained that to him!

the frown Allen has on has Lloyd confused. is that a bad frown? was their something wrong with his arm? did this have to do with how weird his blood is now? he doesn't think much as he lifts up his left index finger, processing just what Allen was saying.

especially when he feels his brain screech to a halt the moment he hears the "F" word. ]

You... [ he instantly goes quiet, his voice a mix of fear and hope. ] You knew my dad?

[save_the_souls]

[Don't worry Lloyd, it's just the frown of this shit is weird and that means I'm gonna have to do extra work to sort it out ew. But whatever, he attaches the clip onto his index finger so it can read his oxygen levels. Plus side, no squeezing here.]

Mm, for a little while. When I was about your age? Maybe a little younger.

[He gives a little nod. There's a smile on his face, faint and nostalgic.]

I have...a rare condition. Your father tried to help me. It didn't work, but I was always grateful that he tried.

[idealistic]

[ at first, Lloyd was surprised by the "when i was your age" line from Allen — he already looks like he's his age! — but after thinking about it for a moment, he… really has no room to talk. angels don't age when they reach a certain stage, and Mithos was 14 for over 4000 years. ]

…Heh. Sounds like him. [ like Allen, a small, nostalgic — albeit sad — smile appears on Lloyd's face as well. ] He acts like a jerk a lot, but I know he's always looking out for others.

I'm glad he tried to help you.

[save_the_souls]

[God he hopes he doesn't make it to 4,000 years without aging. 7 extra years of puberty has been bad enough]

Mm...he's a good man.

[He knows Kratos always meant well. Even if things didn't work out the way he intended, he never bared ill will towards the guy. After a moment, the little finger device will beep and he takes it off. Huh. Perfectly normal.]

So if I can help out his son, I'd like to.

[idealistic]

[ it feels a little awkward hearing Allen say that, and he can't even stop the slight blush that appears. it's a little embarrassing, admittedly, but he knows Allen means well.

it fades when he realizes why he's here and why Allen is helping him in the first place. ]

So what's it saying? [ at least, he's assuming those weird machines are saying something. ]

[save_the_souls]

[It's okay, it's an adults job to embarrass you teens. But he'll let the subject drop in favor of talking what they are actually here to talk about. Meanwhile he grabs a thermometer and holds the end out at Lloyd] Hold this under your tongue please.

[With that done, he'll actually answer the question.]

Something...odd. I mean, your blood pressure and oxygen levels are normal- no, not just normal, they're ideal. I've only seen these numbers in text books.

[Since hey, any place he's study medicine? Far from ideal, stress-free experiences]

Which, on its own that's not bad at all. It's good, actually. But it doesn't make much sense. Because according to your blood tests? Your nutrient levels are so low you should either be dead or suffering from severe malnutrition.

[idealistic]

[ ugh, a thermoscope? (at least he thinks it's a thermoscope-- it looks different than what he's used to) why did he have to pull those out HE HATES THOSE THINGS SO MUCH but fiiiiiine he'll let him stick it under his tongue.

but his explanation... that's definitely concerning. his nutrient levels are really that dangerously low? but he feels fine! he doesn't feel like he's dying!

even though he technically is, but that's uet to occur to him. ]

How cuuhd idh be hhat bahd dho? I reahhy dohd feeuh ih.

[save_the_souls]

I'm not sure. I'm trying to figure it out myself.

[It takes a moment before it beeps, he takes it from Lloyd and looks at it]

Hmm...a bit on the cool side, but nothing unreasonably so...

[He dispenses of the used thermometer tip, and puts it away. He reaches over for Lloyd's wrist to check his pulse.]

You wrote something on your blood drive information- "Toxicosis"? Did you mean you've been exposed to a poison or toxin recently?

NEVER MIND

[idealistic]

[ oh thank Martel, he hates those things. he gladly lets him take the thermoscope once it beeps. it doesn't sound like nothing's wrong with his temperature either, which is only adding to his pile of concerns… which quickly gets swept under the rug when Allen mentions "toxicosis". ]

--Huh?

[ nnnnnno, he hasn't been around any poisons besides engine fuel, and he knows better than to drink that. and besides… ]

No, it's supposed to be some sorta disease. People get that when they're turning into an angel.

[save_the_souls]

[He pauses as he looks up at him, his fingers still on his artery on his wrist]

So you're saying you're turning into an....angel?

[did he hear that right?]

1/2 FOR REAL FOR REAL

[idealistic]

Yeah.

[ yep, you heard that right. Lloyd sobers up as he tries to think of the right string of words, frowning at the finger on his wrist. ]

It's… not exactly an easy thing to go through. Sometimes, it's actually…

[idealistic]

[ and then it hits him. ]

…Holy crap, that's it!

[ Allen might notice a slight spike in his pulse, and how. the malnutrition, the glowing blood-- it all makes sense now. ]

That's probably why my blood is being so weird now!

[save_the_souls]

H-Huh?

[He blinks]

You think becoming...er, an angel is why your blood tests turned out so unusual?

[idealistic]

Yeah! It has to be! It's, um…

[ he has to take a moment to properly word it. how would the Professor explain it… ]

It's pretty nasty stuff-- Angel Toxicosis, I mean. It happens a few times when you're going through the transformation and it can make you really sick for a little while. After a while, it even messes with your body: you can't eat anything, taste anything, you can't sleep, you can't feel stuff like hot or cold-- it's… bad.

[ angel toxicosis: 0/10 would not recommend ]

[save_the_souls]

[Wow all of that is brand new information. And it's pretty freaky sounding, even if part of him feels like it sounds familiar in a far-off memory sort of way (what? It's been like 5 years since Kratos explained this to him). He's really not sure what to make of the idea of someone transforming into an angel- but one thing sticks out in his mind]

- Eh? You can't eat?

[Sweet mother of Christ what would the point of living even be then.]

[idealistic]

I can eat now! But I couldn't before.

[ now he only refuses to eat willingly because screw those proteins. ] After the Toxicosis first hit, every time I tried to eat, it was like I was always losing my appetite. The food just felt weird in my mouth and it would just make me feel sick.

[ it was the worst three or so days of his life. ]

[save_the_souls]

That's terrible....

[Absolutely terrible. The worst. He's never going to whine about gray skin or feeling like there's things in his head again]

[But...it would explain the low nutrient levels]

But you've been eating now?

[idealistic]

[ he's glad to see a kindred spirit in you, Allen. he legit cried a little when he was able to taste beef again. ]

Sometimes. I can eat now, but I still don't need to. I usually try to pack a lot of food onto the ship when we're on planets and waystations, but sometimes we get low, and I'd rather let everyone eat real food. [ again: because screw those proteins. ]

So I let the ones who actually need to eat have the rest.

[save_the_souls]

I see...

[That is very noble of you Lloyd. Very self sacrificing. Even Allen's not that nice.]

[But honestly, this whole thing still screams very weird to him. So he'll finish checking his pulse then pull away to wheel over a whiteboard. He writes down "ANGEL TOXICOSIS" at the top and begins listing the symptoms: glowing blood, loss of taste, loss of appetite-]

Let's start with food-

Has your appetite returned to normal? Er- do you still get hungry, even if you don't need to eat? And what about your taste buds?