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

[psychadrellic]

There's an upside to most things, if you look hard enough.

[Thane, pls stop.

Also, okay, now she's just fishing for compliments!!]

I'll have to take your word for that one.

[Because lizard aliens don't have any!!]

[otiosity]

[There's an awkward pause. Hawke hitches a breath as she tries to think about what to say next. And comes up with the clever-]

How are you feeling? And don't say "like death". That's too obvious.

[Smooth criminal over here.]

[psychadrellic]

[Hawke, you are so very, very awkward, and yet somehow endearing at the same time. What a balancing act.]

To be honest, I've been better. But, I've been worse, too, so all in all, I really can't complain.

What about yourself?

[How are you feeling, Hawke? Hmmmm?]

[otiosity]

...That's the nice dismissive line I was planning on using if you asked me.

Beaten at my own game.

[psychadrellic]

[He tilts his head curiously at that response.]

I wasn't aware we were playing a game.

[Silly Hawke.]

Your use of the word "dismissive" leads me to believe you weren't planning on responding truthfully.

[There's a slight? Question? at the end of that statement. Just a slight one.

You can tell Thane your worries, Hawke; he won't share them with anybody.]

[otiosity]

It's a game many people play. Effective for getting by in the world with as few questions as possible.

[She gives a shrug. Like she hadn't really decided on if it was going to be truthful or not.]

I've stopped throwing up. Does that count as a truthful answer?

[psychadrellic]

I suppose it does count, if you have, indeed, managed to conquer your nausea.

[Is he teasing her???? Is he being serious??? No one knows!]

And that being the case, I am glad to hear that your physical well-being seems improved.

[Unspoken but heavily implied: He hopes her emotional well-being improves soon, too!]

HOW DID I MISS THIS I'M THE WORST

[otiosity]

Ohh. Conquer. That certainly makes it sound a lot more exciting than "got off thing that moved too fast to deal with". I'll take it.

[Her emotional well-being is fine, dude. So fine.]

Me too. It wasn't even good vomiting like when you're drinking. It was just... horrible.

[psychadrellic]

[Uh huh. Suuuure it is.]

There's a "good" way to vomit?

[That sounds fake. What the heck, Hawke?]

[otiosity]

[Oh, you sweet summer child.]

If you've been drinking and you drink too much sometimes when you get sick, you feel better afterwards. No more nausea.

[psychadrellic]

...I'll take your word for it. I've never been inclined toward alcoholic consumption, myself.

[Losing control of one's faculties in Thane's line of work had a tendency to be fatal, after all.]

[otiosity]

It's a terrible habit, honestly. Don't recommend it.

[psychadrellic]

No? Then why do you do it?

[This is genuine curiosity here; no judgement, just interest.]

[otiosity]

...It makes things easier to swallow.

[Simple yet effective.]

[psychadrellic]

...A coping mechanism.

[Oh boy does he understand those. 8')]

[otiosity]

If you want to be cynical about it.

[psychadrellic]

I was actually going more for "realistic."

[otiosity]

Reality is often cynical don't you think?

[psychadrellic]

Hm. I suppose that depends on who you ask. Everyone experiences life differently.

[otiosity]

I suppose that's true.

Mostly, I'd argue that reality is exhausting.

[Said through a yawn.]

[psychadrellic]

[Aw, sleepy Hawke]

I doubt you'd find many who would disagree with that.

[Thane sure doesn't.]

[otiosity]

[So sleepy. She yawns again and rubs at her eyes. Maker that year had taken a lot out of her. What does not feeling tired feel like?]

There you go. A common philosophy.

[psychadrellic]

[Who even knows.]

Who would have thought that mutual exhaustion would be the uniting thread tying us all together?

[otiosity]

Maybe we've all been too tired to think of it before.

[She crosses her arms and rests them on the back of the chair before her chin comes to rest on her arms.]

[psychadrellic]

That does seem a likely explanation.

[He watches her rest her chin on her arms with a small smile.]

Perhaps you might take this discovery to the appropriate authorities, once you've rested.