futurology | video; un: fiona

[ Squints...

Maybe he should have brought coffee, but her blood might as well be coffee at this rate. ]

Please, there is no need to thank me. We are all to look out for one another, no?

[ She finally stops outside one room that leads to another. It's difficult to take anyone to toxiology now so she's set up another place to take samples that counts as just bloodwork. Most of the time they aren't infected anyway. ]

Take a seat.

[ She indicates to the chair, pulling the curtain back in the meantime -- it's one of the few ways to get privacy when there are this many people around. ]

Donno if you've noticed, but not everyone on the team's really a team player, y'know.

[ Not that anyone runs around sabotaging the rest of them, but there's a couple pretty talented lone wolves here. She totally deserves thanks. ]

[ He follows, sits obediently, watching her futz with the curtain. Whenever she goes for the equipment, however, a thought strikes. Way later than you'd expect a thought to strike in a situation like this, but you know it really doesn't come up a lot. ]

Uh, so... [ He raises a hand in an attempt to put her on hold. ] There any way we can do this not in the arm?

[ Right. All the privacy they've got is a curtain, and this probably isn't the kind of stuff you mention trying to blend in in a 1990s medical environment. His voice quiets. ]

'Cause these pythons are true to life but neither of them are the genuine article.

[ For emphasis, a few stiff Robot gestures with his hands. ]

To a point. [ Though she'd argue that some can be convinced if you give them the right price. You just have to use diplomacy to a point that gives very little leeway for argument, Sigma!

With the curtain shut and him taking a seat, she thinks everything is ready to go when he interrupts and opens her mouth to say something only--

What. ]

Pythons?!

[ Too loud, girl... and probably too high pitched too. She actually takes a moment to stare at his arm, trying to figure out if there's anything weird going on there (she has seen some things from being on this team ok) then only it all seems to click into place. ]

Both of them?

[ At least this time she's quieter, quicky remedying her last error by continuing on with: ]

Not at all, I much prefer the Cobras as a team.

[ It doesn't sound false at least, but she does direct it away from him just to ensure he knows that was to... hide her slip up there. Oops. ]

[ jfc He nearly leaps out of his seat when she shrieks, and he reflexively flaps both hands at her in a keep-it-down gesture. But thankfully he doesn't seem too frazzled to catch on to what she's calling out over her shoulder; he's sure as hell had to cover up many a stupid outburst before. ]

Man, I donno if I can trust a Cobras fan as my doctor, but desperate times, desperate measures, I guess... [ Then lowering his voice again into a (perhaps not helpful) hiss, ] They're not snake arms, they're cybernetic. Y'know. Terminator. Up to here—

[ He draws a line with his finger on one at about armpit level. Whole arm. Both of them. Tragic accident. His brow is furrowed, half sorry, half praying she's seen enough weird shit in ALASTAIR to not play 20 Questions with him on the subject right now. ]

They don't really bleed real blood, but, [ patting himself on the chest, ] I've got plenty of blood in the rest of me.

[ Sorry... again Sigma... Though at least she's calmed down now. She takes a deep breath. ]

After what abilities I have seen, I would not have been surprised if they could transform. [ Or apparently she would have been... but this is less exciting. Robotics vs super cool demons... Not her thing to be fascinated by. The bigger problem is where else she can take the blood from that's easily accessible and not dangerous.

It sadly might be cringe worthy. ]

Many places can cause trauma to blood vessels... You do not have any long term illnesses, I hope?

[ Why is this happening to her... ]

Honestly, I wish they could. At least then they'd be worth it. Or at least had like, Wolverine claws or something. [ Throw him a bone, future Sigma, come on... ]

[ He seems almost more concerned with his lack of cool robot functions than she seems with serious medical concerns. He waves those off reassuringly. ]

Nope, I'm healthy as a horse. If that horse barely even caught colds. And I heal up pretty quick these days.

[ At least the little things do. Like blood vessels, probably. That ability's pretty new. Come on, Sonia, how bad could it be? ]

Claws? [ Jesus. ] Perhaps you can try and upgrade them at a later date?

[ Really she doesn't know his story as to why he has arms that aren't real but there we go. ]

Then in that case, it may be best to use your leg or foot. If I am honest, the foot is a rather delicate area so that would not be advisable.

[ Which leaves... the other alternative. She wants to go home. ]

Oh... Yeah, hadn't thought of that. [ Like he doesn't think about a lot of things. Also the claws are cool okay. ]

[ But not quite cool enough to distract from her explanation (thankfully), and his face scrunches up a little at the thought of jamming a needle into his foot anyway. Theoretically, he should be grateful for the other option. Which he is. For a second. ]

So I guess, leg it is.

[ But as he leans over to yank up the cuff of his jeans, he can only wrestle it to about halfway up his calf before the fabric bunches up... and before the hesitation in her voice really sinks in. He glances back up at her and— ... had she looked that mortified before? ]

[ He glances down again. Then back up. ]

[ ... ]

It's not in a spot we're gonna get to working from this end, is it...

Then I am glad to be of help. [ With that too, anyway.

Though it isn't going to help with everything else going on here, that is true. She watches as he struggles with his jeans, trying to pull them up. The 90s were fine for jeans being quite spacious, but it still isn't enough to get them up over his thigh which is why she looks so... ashamed and mortified, yes.

Her poor virgin eyes-- jk. ]

No, I am afraid not. If you are comfortable with this route, I can get a blanket to cover you in the meantime. I feel that might be the best option we have. I will need to use the vein around here-- [ She dips her hand to press against her own inner thigh, somewhere near the middle ] --for it to be successful. After that I will need you to check on it after to ensure there are no further problems. There should not be as I have taken lots of blood by this point, but it is a difficult area.

[ ...So much explaining, sorry Sigma... ]

[ As his eyes follow her hand to her thigh, they narrow once more as a little medical nervousness tingles in his gut. He's never had a problem with needles, but the only needles he's ever dealt with have been into his old normal arms, not right up in there between his legs. ]

[ Honestly, sorry for wasting your breath, Sonia, he kind of zoned out at we're gonna have to pants you and jam a needle in your thigh and stopped there. He takes a deep breath, lets it out. ]

Let's be real, I've had my pants off for way less important reasons. [ Is this reassuring her or him. Is this an even remotely reassuring fact in the first place. He sets his hands determinedly on his belt buckle, but thankfully waits for her approval. ] More importantly, are you even comfortable with this route? You kinda look like you're gonna pass out...

[ Maybe she's just... tired. Or nervous too, he did hear problems and difficult in there somewhere. Don't be shy about the pants thing, Sonia, they can be professional about this.......... and if they can't he's been told pantsless is a great look on him anyway so there's nothing for her poor virgin eyes to worry about... it'll be a good... first pantsing... ]

[ It isn't that high up Sigma slow your roll here??? I mean, fair, it'll still probably hurt but she would be a lot more mortified if it were further up. For the meantime though she pauses to turn to reach for the curtain so she can grab a blanket from a wheelcart next to the area, only to freeze as her face definitely colours a little.

She's seen people in swimwear and even... for other occasions, it's just that fact that he's even bringing anything up to do with it that's the problem. ]

It does not matter if I am or am not. [ She grabs the blanket, unfolds it a bit, then holds it out for him. When he's got it, she'll pointedly turn around so he can get ready. ]

It is important that we know the truth, after all.

[ ~~it's still intimidatingly close when your D's this bomb thank you!!!!!!~~ ]

[ Okay, it's the third option after all. Come on Sonia you're supposed to be a doctor! Sigma bites his lip against the tiniest laugh, because this is a very serious issue that needs absolute sternness. ]

I mean it kinda matters, you're the one with the needle...

[ But... when she holds out the blanket, he'll concede that she's serious about this, even if she doesn't want to be. After a sigh, he accepts it and tucks it under an arm to work on undoing his belt and jeans once she turns to avert her gaze. Kicking them off and to the side, he wraps the blanket around his waist. As he's adjusting it, ]

Okay, which leg do you want? Does it matter? ... You said "problems", I'm not gonna be walking funny after this or something, am I?

[ ~~g r o s s~~ ]

[ She's supposed to be, but she's actually a student working as Urahara's intern here. She isn't completely qualified (then again, neither is he). Her shoulders hitch up slightly at the laugh, trying to hide the uncomfortable feeling of knowing she's been caught out there. ]

I will ignore it even if it is. Do not worry, I will not miss.

[ She's still not looking though until he gives her the go ahead, assuming he's still figuring this out. Why oh why is Sieglinde too young in this world to do this. Why oh why is Urahara just too weird to do this. ]

It does not matter really, no. There would only be problems if your blood is not thin enough too, which if you are healthy should not be an issue. The skin on the thigh is much more sensitive than the arm, however, so you may be able to feel it more. I will be gentle, so it should take off some of the pain.

[ ~~what did you think this journal was just for show??~~ ]

[ Okay maybe they're all flying by the seat of their pants here but... Doesn't that mean they should all be joking around a little more? Lighten things up!! ... Neither of them are remotely light about this are they, she's talking a lot again. ]

Okay, okay, just— Enough about the pain, I can take it...

[ He settles on the left leg, as if it would make a difference which he favored if one of them did freakishly go numb. Shifting the meeting edges of the blanket accordingly, he sits again, letting his leg stick out as unfortunately far as it needs to. ]

Alright, I'm decent.

[ Kind of... With the blanket tucked firmly in place, he folds his arms, expression the picture of stoic. Just get it over with. ]

[ ~~LALALALALA COVERS EARS~~ ]

[ It's hard to lighten up when you're two weeks on your own countdown to madness and that's something you've already had to live through, okay??? She does give him an apologetic smile though as she turns after he announces he's ready.

She definitely avoids looking at him for a moment though, picking up the tourniquet instead so she can focus on his leg and only his leg. It takes some wiggling to get it underneath and tied in place, but once it is the real hard part kicks in.

In one hand she holds onto the syringe with the first vial in place, the other lightly presses in one or two spots on his leg to try and find the best place to do it. ]

How long have you been here?

[ She starts up idle conversation while doing that, then gently presses in the needle.

Despite all that talk from before though, unless he's tensing up he won't actually feel much at all. smh. ]

[ ~~YOU CAN'T RUN FROM THE TRUTH~~ ]

[ Dude he's had to live through everyone else's countdown to madness once too, this is when you gotta cover your ears and lalala the hardest like a responsible adult!! ... But it's hard. ]

[ It's also hard to keep a straight face when she starts trying to snug a tourniquet into place around his leg, but with enough hard staring off to the right, he manages. In fact he's staring so intently, the casual question catches him so off guard he forgets to nervously tense up as one does in the presence of needles. Which he then promptly does. And the twinge it earns him sits him up an inch taller in his chair, but thankfully he doesn't squirm any more than that. More surprise than actual pain. ]

Uh— [ He lets out a breath in an effort to chill out again, as well as to count back the months. ] Little over a year now, I think... Jeez, it doesn't feel like it.

[ Somehow it simultaneously feels way longer, and not that long at all. ]

How 'bout you?

[ ~~NOOOOOOOOOO~~ ]

[ She would do that too, but she's also one of the people working on a cure. You can't just pretend everything is fine when you're doing something so important.

She gives him a tiny smile, apologising for the surprise but it really isn't too bad. He isn't jumping up out of his chair like Maya did. Thanks, Maya. ]

That is quite a long time. For me it has only been three or four months, I think.

[ It's hard to keep track, the only time she has been actively counting the days was once she knew she was infected. Once blood starts filling the vial though, she unfastens the tourniquet, holding the needle in place. ]

[ tell that to several people he knows. ]

[ Anyway, he's a deceptively jumpy guy, but at least he can usually kind of sit still when it counts. The smile he catches out of the corner of his eye, and he takes a break from staring obstinately off into the curtain around them to shoot her an awkward grin in return. ]

You're still kinda new, then, huh... [ Sort of. Newer than most. ] You still miss home?

[ He's careful to keep that question vague. Out here, it's always my parents are dead this, my world is destroyed that (he's just as guilty), but most people still have at least something... ]

[ which people ]

[ Still, at least the conversation is easing them both into this a little more. It's less awkward now, and while the vial is slowly filling she tries to not look and look at his face instead just simply because of the direction but she has to keep glancing down to check anyway.

Thankfully she's paused to change the vials and just finished up when he asks that question. She freezes in place, though the awkward smile on her face this time might be more painful than her being embarrassed about him having to ditch his pants. ]

I miss my friends?

[ Home, not so much. She is one of the "my world is destroyed" types so it isn't a pleasant thing. ]

[ so many ]

[ Ah, yep... Well, it was a little less awkward, but now there's that face. That's a face that jabs more like a knife than a needle. Quickly he'll latch on to her reply, something okay to talk about. ]

Yeah, same. But, I mean, they say everything kinda pauses when you fall out of your world, so at least they probably aren't missing us... Maybe they just say that to make us feel better, but who knows... Time's weird.

[ That last part, he can say with conviction. Who knows what all the hell it can do. ]

[ smh that's too many ]

[ Well, he might think so but after she closes off that second vial she changes it again, not speaking for a moment. She doesn't know how to reply without bringing up Other Things but. ]

Even if time had not stopped, many of my friends are in a coma, they would not be able to miss me.

[ She says it quietly, giving him a tiny smile in response. ]

Overall, even with this issue, it may actually be better for me here, I cannot really say.

[ What's too many is all this blood she's taking. That's a lot of blood. How much blood does she need to test for one thing? Not that he's worried, it's just the only observation to make at the moment. He's not the expert here. (And it's not a lot of blood at all.) ]

[ That little smile doesn't help with the way her explanation thuds into the conversation like a brick into a china shop. That sounds even worse than he'd imagined. ]

Oh. I'm... sorry. [ His face falls considerably, mouth hanging agape for a second too long. ] I guess I wish my friends were in a coma, so it's probably better for both of us, huh...

[ Now he's the one oversharing. He does his best to rustle up a smile again. ]

Kinda hard to say when we get thrown into stuff like this, but we'll figure it out. We'll clear it up and get back to Oska and everything'll be chill again.

[ Like they always do. ]

[ Each vial is only 20ml max Sigma??? It isn't much at all??????? She's just taking extra in case there are problems with the first (plus because he's getting non-conned into offering more so she doesn't have to ever do this again) Once the third is filled though, she's capping it off, removing the needle carefully and gently swabbing any blood that may rise after. There isn't much, she's actually done this really well. ]

Truly...? Though I do hope so. This mission feels more tiring than Perdition's Rest was, and I had only just arrived then.

[ Too much science, she isn't a natural at it like the other three... she only knows so much because she studied hard. ]

[ Look it just feels like a lot okay he's not looking she just keeps changing vials!! That's fair though... He doesn't want to do any of this over either. By her own skill and his own snazzy new healing power, by the time she's wiping away the last bead of blood, the pinprick has smoothed over completely without so much as a trace of a needle mark. Pretty neat. ]

Yeah... [ He sighs a little. ] This one's a little more involved than everything else has been... It's a lot closer to home, too. But we'll be alright.

[ He's been wavering on the steadfast optimism front lately and it sucks. Time to push past that. They've still got plenty of hope. ]

Seriously, even if it ends up not being what I wanna hear, thanks... And sorry for being such a pain.

[ He grins. Maybe they can... look past this and forget it ever happened. She seems like such a nice girl, she didn't deserve this... ]

[ Calm down, Sigma!! She might not be a professional at this but she's perfect at most things this is fine. Though she is glad to see he's also quick at healing. Thankfully there's no rising smoke like some people, but ...this is better. ]

Yes, of course. [ She's careful about dipositing the needle into the yellow box, then turns back around. ]

And please do not worry about it, in the meantime please feel free to get dressed. We can go to my workstation after and conduct the test there.

[ She really didn't deserve this, Sigma... ]

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