And PLOT COMMENCES. Terrible plot. Horrible, whiny plot.

[starofchaos]

[There is a Liquid wandering the halls. Usually, Liquids are full of zest. This one... not so much. Odd, really. He's been feeling drained all day. His throat is scratchy and it's difficult to breathe properly. Worse, even his reflexes seem to be dulled! His head aches and his body is shaking with the cold. Why is he suddenly feeling the cold? He doesn't know! He's pale as death. He makes a quick call-]

Ocelooooot, where are you? I need you right now.

[-and hangs up. He can't help the rare whininess in his (particularly shaken and scratchy) voice. Liquid has never been sick a day in his life, excluding some of his imprisonment - and the less said about that the better. He leans against the wall, looking miserable, and sinks down to sit on the floor.]

This is a really rotten week... first the gray hair and now this...

DOES THE UNIVERSE JUST HATE ME LATELY?!

[His words break down into a fit of coughing and he buries his face in his hand for a moment as if that will hide his identity.]

(Long story short, Liquid is sick. It's not serious, even though he looks like hell, but prepare for whiny bitch syndrome if you approach him! He's not used to feeling this rotten.)

Comments

[identitycircuit.livejournal.com]

A gray hair, Brother?

[Have someone willing to make fun of you for that, Liquid.]

[starofchaos]

...gah.

[NO. DAMMIT. UNIVERSE THIS IS NOT FAIR.]

No gray hairs here! Look for yourself!

[...because he pulled it out.]

[identitycircuit.livejournal.com]

[And he's just going to run a hand through your hair, not really checking because, no matter wh- ahahah, he really was going gray]

Hm. It almost blends in, but I can see it now.

[starofchaos]

...!

There's more?! Goddammit! This isn't acceptable at all!

[Liquid sounds horrified.]

[identitycircuit.livejournal.com]

Now, Brother, dear younger Brother, it is a normal fact of growing old. Perhaps I could also find you some reading glasses?

[bb11]

...I don't know. What happened?

[Says the short little you, currently still with chihuahua ears, paws and a tail.]

[starofchaos]

...

What the devil happened to you? No, no, I don't want to know.

[bb11]

...There were two linked rooms and now it's day six, ugh. [Sigh]

[James looks up at his bigger counterpart, tail wagging slightly. His ears are perked up.]

- What's wrong?

[starofchaos]

...huh. You might be- [Cough.] -stuck that way then.

[He leans his head back against the cool wall. Now he's burning. Goddammit.]

Know where there's a fan around here or something? Hell, even a kitchen would do right now; it's far too hot and it'd have ice...

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

Oh no, a gray hair. Your life is over.

[Guess who's in a miserable mood himself lately?]

Count yourself fortunate that your concerns are relatively small.

[starofchaos]

Shut up. [He breaks down into a fit of coughing, shaking his head.] I don't have the patience right now. Just tell me who the hell is bothering you and let your little brother beat the shit out of them. When I can stand.

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

I don't want to talk about it.

[Liquid held out his hand, waiting for the other Liquid to take it.]

Come on. Let's get some cold medicine from an infirmary.

[starofchaos]

...'k. [He hesitates, then accepts the hand, using it to pull himself up. His legs are shaky and he's actually struggling to stand.]

Thank you. Sure I can't help?

[fancy-shooting.livejournal.com]

[Ocelot, baffled by the tone of the call, makes his way to Liquid's location. He almost wonders if it's a joke, until he sees Liquid balled up against a wall. He approaches cautiously, reaching down to put a hand on Liquid's arm when he's close enough.]

Liquid?

[starofchaos]

[Liquid trembles at the touch, turning his head slightly to look up at Ocelot. He's pale as death and clearly shaken.]

Adam...

[This? This is a Liquid clinging to an Ocelot. Tightly, although with not even minutely as much strength he would usually have. Then he lets go.]

Stay back.

[fancy-shooting.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't immediately get that Liquid is sick. The man's uncharacteristic distress confuses him for a moment, then he gets it when he's told to stay back.]

[As if Ocelot had ever listened to any snake tell him to stay back before.]

What's wrong? Did you catch something? Not from a room I hope.

[He gives a wry smile and kneels next to him, moving his fingers to the hair above Liquid's forehead.]

[starofchaos]

I said stay away!

[Liquid shoves him, although not with enough strength to dislodge him at all. His hands still against Ocelot's shoulders, tensing and curling into his jacket. He feels too cold still, but his temperature is high.]

...hmph. Listen to me sometimes, dammit! This is pure hell. I don't want you to get it too. And no, it's not from a room.

This just isn't his day.

[neurotic-insect.livejournal.com]

Getting old is hardly anything to cry about.

[He's totally peering at you with arms crossed, looking all not-dangerous and slightly annoyed at how you're crying like a little girl.]

[starofchaos]

[Liquid turns his head to look at him, and just thinks very loudly for a moment to see if Mantis can hear him with the mask on.

SHUT THE HELL UP. AT LEAST I DON'T WHINE ABOUT HOW I HAVE A DICK AND THAT'S TERRIBLE. OH NO, PEOPLE THINK ABOUT SEX.

And to accompany it, some images. Involving Ocelot. Can you see them, Mantis? He wants to know.]

I'm not crying. I'm sick.

[neurotic-insect.livejournal.com]

[Mantis knew better than to read the minds of the visibly upset and thus was spared from whatever horrific images Liquid dared to conjure with Ocelot in them.]

I can see that as well. We have a hospital now. It opened up a few days ago.

[starofchaos]

[Lucky for him. Although they weren't conjurations... They were memories.]

I am not going to a bloody hospital. I don't care if I die, I'm not putting myself in the hands of doctors.

NEXT MORNING

[starofchaos]

[Liquid slept fitfully but without nightmares, awakening early. He lay listlessly on the bed, listening to Ocelot's breathing. Odd. He felt so very drained.]

...Adam?

[He whispered, surprised that his voice was so quiet. Then he awkwardly forced his hand up to poke him.]

Adam. I'm thirsty.

[fancy-shooting.livejournal.com]

Mnhh.

[Ocelot grumbled at being poked awake. He blinked his eyes open, then slowly stretched his upper-body and yawned, cramped from dozing upright.]

[starofchaos]

Adam, get up. I need a drink.

[His voice was pitifully croaky.]

[fancy-shooting.livejournal.com]

[His hand fell to Liquid's forehead, lazily feeling his temperature.]

Hmm. Are you feeling better with rest?

[He carefully pried himself out of bed, taking the time to stretch again.]