text | username: xXx_trueblue_xXx & redlion

[competing]

[With all the information coming out, it's apparent to Keith and Lance that one big elephant in the room has been ignored: the infection among the recruits themselves. Keith is tired and on edge, as he needs nothing to do with the infection to be cranky. Lance is jittery, too. But they have to talk about that elephant before it gets too late.

And for some of them, it might be. That's what Keith is really afraid of right now.]

Hey. It's Keith.

and ya boy, lance! [Because things are already pretty doom and gloom as it stands, and maybe things could use a little lightening up? Or something...

It’s a little more difficult to differentiate between people in a group message like this, but it’s a better idea to get something down on text in case they need to refer to it later, and anyone who knows either of the boys can probably tell them apart pretty easily through diction alone.]

we know your mind-phones have been pretty busy lately, but theres something keith and i wanted to talk to you guys about.

Before we get a move on in attacking Zymandis' agent, we need to look at our own numbers. A lot of us are sick. Maybe less than I thought. Or maybe more. Either way, we have to know who's sick and make a plan to help our own. And I'm serious about HELPING. Not putting someone out of their misery or any of the other stupid stuff I've heard from some of this team. We need to stop this disease. We need to help our own. Once everyone's BETTER, we'll make a plan for what to do next as a team.

[It's harsher than necessary but likely less harsh than how it might be normally, given Keith's frequently frustrated tone of voice. Text mitigates some of it, even if his frustration definitely does become CAPITAL LETTERS.

Lance, meanwhile, is quite eager to gloss over that sharp reprimand because seriously guys — kumbaya.]

yeeeeeah, so — helping! getting a head count is definitely ideal. we cant afford to be silent on this and we definitely CANT be alone right now, cuz every one of us affected and on our own can be a huge risk to everyone here. so we were thinking… since the city shut it down, we can use the middle school. those of us infected can stay there while we wait for our people to find that cure. like a quarantine safe house.. i know its not ideal, but its something. especially for those who dont have any other contingency plans.

[A pause. Well. May as well get the ball rolling, right?]

ill be there.

( ooc; p.s. there is an information plotting post for the quarantine space! )

Comments

video; un: deathweaver

[respired]

[ He knows Lancer's infected, but he also doesn't think that information is his to share. Lancer is dangerous, to be sure, but Koltira feels like he can handle it if it comes to that. More pressingly, hearing that Lance is infected, perhaps among others, only stokes his furious drive to find and exact retribution on the Zymandis doctor. He clenches his fist. ]

Would that I could spare you the pain ahead. Hunger such as this is not meant for the living.

video; un: xXx_trueblue_xXx

[competing]

[ on video now, koltira can see that lance has situated himself on one of the couches in shiro and keith's apartment. he may or may not be sitting right beside keith. unlike many others, he doesn't look too far gone just yet... not even bags around his eyes from any lack of sleep; you can thank the early stages of the sickness for that, and all his years of excellent skin care.

but there is a frazzled edge to him that seems to translate, just the same. ]

...yeah, thanks. [ his hands fidget nervously as he tries not to think about that. the hunger. he and keith had just had a full meal and a half of chinese take out, but his stomach still craves more. other. ]

It'll be okay, I mean... [ he attempts a laugh. ] Who hasn't gotten a little hangry once in a while, you know?

[respired]

[ Koltira can pick up on the frayed edges of Lance's emotions, sure as a bloodhound can catch the scent of prey. It's an ugly form of empathy, but it's nevertheless effective.

He pauses, about to offer more sympathies, but ... ]

What is -- hangry?

[competing]

[ he's a little caught off-guard by the question, making his own mind stutter for a moment. ]

Oh, uh. It's... You know — when you've been hungry for a long while, or I guess just when you're hungry enough, you get kinda grumpy. Or angry. Hangry.

[respired]

Hmm.

[ He thinks this over ... ]

I feel like that all the time. I didn't realize there was a term for it.

[competing]

Yeah, I guess it's kinda new...

[ wait. ]

Why don't you just eat, then?

[respired]

My hunger is sated only through wicked means.

[ Helpfully: ]

Much like this disease.

[competing]

[ ... ah. ]

That's... intense.

[ what do you even say to that. ]

There's no... I dunno. Magic thing that can help?

[ isn't that what magic's for? solving all these hard problems??? ]

[respired]

If there were, don't you suppose I'd have taken advantage of it by now?

ironically - i just realized olivia's empathy could probably invoke fake s!pleasure for him :||||

[competing]

I dunno, we get new people with new abilities all the time... Sometimes we forget to ask...?

ouuu girl thats NASTY

[respired]

I have burdened enough of you with my hardship.

LOOK AT YOURSELF???

[competing]

But... if you don't do anything about it, wouldn't it just be worse in the long run?

[ frenzy 3.0, third time's the charm??? ]

i like nasty :9

[respired]

Only if the rest of you do not listen.

[ which y'all never do ]

video; un: redlion

[secondnature]

I'd say it's not meant for anyone to experience. Not just the living.

[Leave it to Keith to simplify matters in such a simple way.]

[respired]

Perhaps. But I have dealt with it every day for years, and my unholy body is more suited to withstand the pain. I am loathe to watch the rest of you feel even a shred of such hunger.

[secondnature]

I think the only way we could've avoided it is by not coming here.

[respired]

[ Which was, of course, not an option. No point belaboring it, he supposes. ]

If I can assist in some way, you need only ask.

[secondnature]

All I need from you is to look for Percy with Loki. But ... beyond that, if you can't get sick and you have some downtime, being willing to be on call to bring in anyone who's on our team attacking others would help.

I doubt you want anyone on our team to be in the same position you were a couple months ago.

[It's not something he brings up to force Koltira into helping, but to appeal to reason. Keith could (and still) understands the fear of accidentally harming others. He's terrified of getting sick for that reason, among others.]

[respired]

I do not.

[ A pause. ]

Several people have already asked me to -- handle them.

[secondnature]

Yeah? Well, it's because you're pretty strong.

[Keith, a shounen protag at heart, can't help but admire that!]

[respired]

[ Koltira truly does not often give much thought to his strength or his powers; to him, they are unnatural, and a burden. He's effective, undeniably so, but he'd trade it all in an instant if it meant having his old self back again. ]

I suppose that is partly why. But they also know I can bear the weight.

[ His heart's so heavy with guilt as it stands; what's a little more? ]

[secondnature]

Is it that hard? I guess if I was sick, I'd want the strongest person to be able to stop me. I wish I was strong enough to help others.

[respired]

[ He shakes his head. ]

Keith ... they've asked me to kill them.

[secondnature]

I know what they asked, but I also know that you aren't going to do that.

[It's as simple as that.]

[respired]

Such confidence.

[ Though he's not wrong. Koltira wants to avoid it, if he can. ]