Stuck in the Medbay: Visitors Wanted [OPEN]

[psychadrellic]

Who: Thane Krios and YOU
When: All through October
Where: THE MEDBAY
What: Visiting the terminally ill assassin
Warnings: Terminal illness? Probably nothing major, will edit if that changes.

Thane had known for a while now that his last days would be spent in a hospital of some flavor, probably hooked up to a respirator and peppered with sessions of physical therapy designed to maximize his comfort even as he slowly suffocated, until he did finally, inevitably, slowly suffocate.

He had also expected it to be a fairly quiet and isolated time, disturbed only by the occasional hospital staff member.

The only person he'd told of his new whereabouts was Shepard, and he knew the commander could be trusted to be discreet. The only other person who knew he'd been hospitalized was Hawke, since she'd been there when the hospitalization had happened. Somehow, even in the somewhat brief time he'd held acquaintance with her, Thane could tell that the woman did not possess a discrete bone in her entire body.

So, naturally, he blames her entirely for any concerned visitors that might show up.

Not that he particularly minds company, because he doesn't. It's just that he never expects it, and so is, in turn, always surprised by it.

Hospital Room
Visitors can often find him in his assigned room, sitting lotus-style in the middle of his bed, back ramrod straight and hands resting comfortably on his knees. He's shirtless, dressed in nothing but a pair of soft cotton pants. He's also hooked up to a respirator, which hums quietly and soothingly in the background as it delivers much-needed oxygen to his soggy lungs. He seems to be meditating, or maybe just sleeping, but will look up regardless when someone comes in.

Physical Therapy
Sometimes visitors can catch him on his way to or from physical therapy, which for him are short but frequent sessions of being hooked up to a different respirator as well as various monitors while performing a series of Tai Chi-like exercises designed to encourage oxygen flow to his muscles and organs. The ship's doctors, to their credit, are working their butts off studying his disease and formulating treatments to decrease the severity of its effects. The doctors won't allow visitors while he's in the middle of therapy, but before and after is just fine.

Exam Room
The exam room is doctors only, but it's a great place for said doctors to study Thane up close, ask him questions, and attempt to get a feel for what exactly is wrong with his stupid lizard physiology.

[ooc: I'm down to match brackets or prose, whichever is preferred!

Thane's going to be hospitalized all month, while the doctors do their best to figure out how to fix him. PC doctors are welcome and encouraged to come poke and prod him as well!]

Comments

Hospital Room, early parts of the month

[otiosity]

[Bad shit happens and it's Marian Hawke's fault. Must be Wednesday. (Since Tuesday is the day they adventure and steal people's things, that's the rule). Okay, it's probably not really her fault but she functions in a state where bad things are always her fault and that's just the way the world works.

When she's released from her own hospital bed after they find out that, no really she's just a sad motion sick, exhausted woman and not actually ill. She immediately goes over to find Thane. And at the sight of him lying in the bed with a resiperator, promptly runs away before the guilt makes her start throwing up again.

Wash, rinse, repeat for a few days.

Finally, she decides she's just going to force herself to do it. Feelings of guilt be damned! She marches in, one of her stupid birthday hats made from her own medical records in hand, and drops down bodily in the chair next to him.

...

...Shit, she never planned past this part.]

...Hi. Fancy meeting you here. In this place. You can't leave. Haha.

[psychadrellic]

[He blinks when Hawke marches so boldly in, but smiles easily when she plops into the chair by the bed.]

...What a coincidence, indeed.

[He's not really surprised by the visit, or her abruptness. It's all very in keeping with what he knows of her so far, and that's actually rather comforting.

But enough about him.]

Has your stomach finally settled?

[otiosity]

It has. Funny how much easier things are when you're not hurtling through space in a small metal pod.

[Hawke makes a dramatic show of turning the chair around and moving to straddle it instead of sitting like a normal person. Oh well, she can rest her chin on her arms easier that way.]

Physical Therapy - Before

[poolhall_killer]

Venom spent a good portion of time holed up in either his room or the library. Their time on that pleasure planet or whatever illusion it was made him all kinds of moody. Then there was the sudden book delivery. Granted, the hitchhiker one was rather enjoyable. The others... not so much.

But now that it's behind them, he feels like he can come out of hiding. He has a new position, after all. No more handling chemicals and washing windows. As he makes his way towards the garden, he spots a recent acquaintance from the party. The one who shares his interest in books and being away from crowds.

"Hello, Thane," Venom walks towards him, hoping he remembered the other's name correctly. "How are you?"

[psychadrellic]

He notices the other man's approach, of course, and isn't surprised by it or by his address. He smiles briefly and nods his head in acknowledgement.

"I've been better," he responds truthfully. The portable respirator he's currently wearing is small, but not particularly subtle, and also likely self-explanatory. "It's good to see you again," he continues, because - well, it is. "How have you been?"

[poolhall_killer]

He does notice it but won't bring it up. It looks uncomfortable enough as it is. But he can't help wondering why Thane requires such an apparatus to begin with.

"You as well," He starts. "I've been keeping to myself, honestly." Just him, his trashy romance novels, and Mr. Dent with his towels. "I haven't been feeling up to going out. Not after realizing how much time had passed."

Hospital Room

[fingerstripes]

[ Nomo 27 has gone empty and silent, and in hindsight he should probably feel a little guilty for letting that prompt him into investigating. Asking around. Chasing leads until he’s invaded Thane’s privacy as if he doesn’t understand the need to get out from under the weight of prying eyes.

He takes his time building a care package, stocking it with reading material, an extra blanket, whatever the kitchen has for cookies. He doesn’t need to know Thane well to feel an ache now whenever he walks into his own room and sees the empty, untouched bunk. He knocks on the edge of the door before he sticks his head in, a broad grin already set in place. ]

Hey. Permission to come aboard?

[psychadrellic]

[He blinks at the interruption, refocusing his eyes back onto the here-and-now, and his lips twitch upward into a small smile when he sees Dick's broad grin. He's already facing the doorway - old habits and all - so there's little need to move beyond raising one of his hands to gesture at the chair next to his bed.]

Of course; please come in.

[fingerstripes]

If I'd known I was such bad company I would've swapped bunks a while back.

[ He would've have really blamed Thane if he'd shooed him out, but it's a good sign that he doesn't seem to mind. Dick takes the seat beside him with casual ease. ]

They treating you alright?

hospital room

[grandpaladin]

[Reinhardt was supposed to be checking in anyway. Angela would never let him hear the end of it, otherwise. His arm feels just fine, after so long at a party, not pushing himself beyond dancing and arm wrestling.]

[He doesn't expect to pass by a room and catch a flash of dark green. He pauses, of course, before knocking on the doorframe, his scarred face a mask of concern.]

Thane, my friend? Are you awake?

[psychadrellic]

[He's sitting up and facing the door, if that answers the Reinhardt's question.

But he'll blink, refocusing his gaze on the here-and-now, and smile at the large, concerned man in the doorway.]

I'm awake. How have you been, Reinhardt?

[grandpaladin]

Ah, good. I was not sure.

[Aliens could sleep with their eyes open for all he knows okay.]

[But he enters, once he knows for sure his buddy is actually awake, padding all the way over to the bed.]

A year older! I look it, don't I? [And then he laughs, briefly, sobering up with a significantly softer smile.] What has happened to you?

Hospital Room

[tearmeanewone]

[She expects that when she goes into his room, that Thane will be laying in bed and resting like a normal person. The meditation, and to some extent the lack of clothes, does catch her off-guard. Elizabeth opens the door and then balks when she realizes what he's getting up to, almost backing up back through the door.]

Oh, I'm-- I'm sorry I didn't think I would be interrupting a, uh... [Meditation session, looks like.] I heard you were here from a ship's briefing.

[psychadrellic]

[Elizabeth, please. What about Thane has given you the impression that he'd ever behave like a normal person?

He blinks, and tilts his head slightly to one side.]

Elizabeth? You're not interrupting anything. It's kind of you to visit - please, come in.

[tearmeanewone]

[...good point. A girl can hope a sick man is resting though, right?]

I try to visit everyone who has an extended stay here. I brought-- [She holds up a bag.] --something to read. I thought it might get a little dull in here. ...but I guess you're way ahead of me in terms of things to occupy yourself with. [She smiles a little and indicates him sitting on the bed.]

Physical therapy

[buttmurdered]

[It's rude to stare, but Leo can't help it. It's not so much Thane's appearance that throws him off, it's the fact that he's doing Ta-Chi like exercises while hooked up to various machines. Regardless, even with his eyes, Leo only gets a brief glimpse, because the session's wrapping up]

[Which means as Thane's on his way out, he can catch the gawker]

[psychadrellic]

[Looking doesn't hurt anyone, Leo, please feel free to take in as much of the alien eye-candy as you would like

He can feel himself being watched - more than usual, that is, because there are always a handful of medbay staff present studying his physiology while they run through these little sessions.

It's not until he's got rid of all the diodes and monitors and slipped his loose hospital gown back on and stepped out of the room that he spots the gawker, though.

He pauses, blinks, and tilts his head curiously. Maybe the guy is lost?]

Are you in need of assistance?

[buttmurdered]

[Dat hot dadbod]

[Thane may himself have noticed a blue glow coming from Leo's eyes as he peeped, earlier, but upon being caught now, he flushes a little in embarrassment.]

I'm sorry -- I didn't mean to stare, I just-- well, I wasn't sure what was happening, and I couldn't help watching.

[And because he's Polite and Japanese, he bows his head in contrition]

exam room

[cadeuces]

[ Angela lays no claims to an expertise on other lifeforms, but Thane has been a pleasant guest in the medbay and she has done her best to work with the other doctors to keep tabs on him and ensure he's comfortable and the machines work properly; yet it's only now, shortly after one of his physical therapy sessions, that she can find the opportunity to get ahold of him.

Her arm slips through his as he exits and she guides him toward said exam room with a soft smile, his chart tucked under the opposite arm. ]

I have the honor of being your physician for today, Mr. Krios. How was your therapy?

[ She is ever respectful, demeanor soft and always ready to offer up smiles and work her way into another's space without being terribly pervasive. ]

Would you possibly be up for a tissue biopsy? I would like to look into a few things for you and see if I can't be of help, but I will need to directly examine your lung tissue to see if I can't reprogram some of my technology.

[psychadrellic]

[He's quickly grown used to being handed off from one doctor to the next since his admittance into the medbay - so much so that his only reaction when Angela slips her arm through his is to smile.]

Hello, Dr. Ziegler. Therapy was tiring, but fruitful. I don't feel any better, but I also don't feel worse.

[Which is basically all he can hope for at this point. He's not sure whether or not everything that's being done to him here is going to lengthen his life at all, but he's also not opposed to trying. The med staff is very pleasant and he's more comfortable than he expected at this stage in his disease's progression, so really he has no reason at all to complain.

He allows her to guide him to the exam room and wordlessly takes a seat on the exam table once they're inside.]

If you would find it beneficial, then by all means.

[cadeuces]

[ Here's to hoping she will be his last, then, as she is confident given the time that she can at least keep him steady in his health. Fully reversing it is likely out of her skill range, but... She will do her best, as she ever has. It's gotten her along quite far in life before now. ]

You can just call me Angela; I'm not a terribly formal person. Do your therapy sessions always result in such an even trade, or do you feel any better given a few hours to recuperate?

[ Thane seems to know his way about the medbay by this point and he seats himself on the table the moment they step inside and she can close the door, letting her arm slip from his to fetch her rolling stool and have a seat before him, paging through his record as she speaks to have a more in-depth look at his workup. ]

I never had the chance to properly introduce myself, I realize, but back home I've spent half of my life researching nanobiology and technology; it essentially makes use of impossibly tiny machines that help repair damage to muscle, bone, and organs of the human body. They redirect blood flow, knit tissue back together, eradicate bacteria and I have even had some minor progress in stabilizing mutating cells such as those present in cancer, but that is all still far too soon to call a success. They're all made of biodegradable proteins that the body can absorb within hours— or at least, for those with human physiology.

I'm rather confident that given the time and a chance to figure out how your body works, I can help repair the damage already done, and perhaps even strengthen your lungs long-term. I just want to be clear that you're comfortable with the technology I would be using and understand that I will be entirely certain it will work with tissue samples before I ever turn it on you; I'll ensure no complications.

If I understand correctly, this is largely an issue with your lungs retaining the moisture from humid climates, yes? Are any of your other organs affected?

[ Death by gradual asphyxiation... is not a pleasant thing, by any stretch. No one should ever have to suffer in such a way; her determination is put into her words, her confidence bolstering her claims as best she can. She wants him to know that, even as utter strangers, she will fight for him and do her utmost. ]

And my last question— have our anesthetics been working for you? I want to be able to numb where I will collect tissue.

Hospital Room (comes late to the party with a Timmy's)

[beautifulspaceraptor]

Originally, it's checking the stock on the medi-gel containers that brings Nihlus in.

The sight of Thane sitting on the medical berth with a respirator on stops him from leaving, though.

Nihlus stands there for the longest of moments, idly turning the pack of medi-gel in his palm. It's another long moment before he finally strides on over.

"Krios," he says softly.

[psychadrellic]

[He's aware that he's being watched, but - as he has since taking up residence in this place - he leaves it up to the watcher to decide whether or not to approach him. About half the time, it's someone who knows him, and the other half of the time, it's someone who's (still) never seen a drell before. Typically, the latter kinds of people he doesn't have much interest in engaging.

This one, however, is one of the rarer former types. He blinks his eyes back into focus on the here-and-now to look up at the turian's approach, and to smile briefly in greeting.]

Hello, Nihlus.

exam room

[sickbays]

[ It's been a while, longer than it actually feels to the both of them, since they've last seen each other. Not that Leonard remembers a whole terrible lot, thanks to the alien swill and whatever else there was, that lowered his inhibitions so thoroughly. He's a little more like himself now, at least, stepping into the exam room after the medbay tech had shown Thane in, a slight frown curling across his lips. ]

I was kind of hopin', if we saw each other again, it wouldn't have to be here. [ He kind of hopes he never has to see anyone here. It'd be easier if things worked out that way. Bad for business, maybe, but better for everyone as a whole.

The doctor lets the door close behind him as approaches Thane, tablet in hand, his intake information open on the screen. He nods toward him. ] How are you holdin' up?

[psychadrellic]

My presence here was inevitable, I'm afraid. However, I admit I did not anticipate the necessity quite so soon.

[He'd be holding up a lot better if Leonard had informed him at some point in their brief acquaintance that he's a doctor!! Thane feels kind of like a tool for not showing the man more respect during their first meeting putting aside the fact that he's always highly respectful anyway]

I'm holding up about as well as can be expected. I could be better; I could also be worse.

[That's a passable response to a friend's inquiry after his health, but a poor one for a doctor, so...he'll add a little more detail.]

The respirator eases most of my discomfort. Physical therapy is difficult but tolerable. Overall the facilities here are so far keeping me more comfortable than I anticipated I would be at this stage.