Not the bird flu / closed

[moreweaponsthanyou]

Who: Fil, Liam and Aaron
What: Fil dragging Liam off to Aaron's clinic in Locke to get him some REAL medical attention
Where: The clinic
When: Around 1/17?
Warnings: Nothing.

[He has never met anyone so...utterly frustrating. It had been an adventure in itself, getting Liam off the mountain in one piece. (Fil was seriously thinking about getting a leash on the guy.) Then there was the short car ride to the teleporter in Vegas. (He hated driving these days, mostly on account of how he had to have cushions just so he could see over the dashboard). The teleporter, as much as he disliked that too, at least was working properly now and he was getting used to the sensation of going through it. The convenience of being able to travel so far so fast outweighed his past prior experience with it. Then it was followed by another, thankfully short drive to the clinic.

It was with a sigh of relief that he parks the car.]

C'mon, we're here.

Comments

[bythewaves]

[ Arnold all but visibly sags in relief ]

Thank you! Thank you. Please, you said it was Numbered business? What is wrong with Liam?

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

Sorry, no one mentioned I'd have to log in to visit my friend.

But, fine. You can dress me however you like, doc. And I work from home as it is.

[elfstoned]

[He thinks she's hinting that she has numbers, too, but doesn't make a move to confirm it. That's not his biggest worry right now.]

Follow me.

[He'll lead the two of them to a room in the back. They're both instructed to wash their hands, then are given a gown, a respirator, a pair of goggles, and a pair of gloves apiece.]

I'll let him tell you himself.

[He doesn't have permission to release Liam's medical information to Isabela, and with the kinds of patients that come through here sometimes? Patient confidentiality is taken very, very seriously.

When they're dressed, and when he's got his own hands clean and a fresh set of gear on, he'll finally lead them back down the hall and usher them into the room Liam is in.]

[bythewaves]

[ Arnold gets visibly more distressed to see all the equipment, but he does not argue, being careful to follow his instructions carefully ]

Please. [ His voice is muffled behind the mask but his eyes beg ]

Just one thing. Is... how serious is it?

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

[Isabela mostly just rolls her eyes at the protective gear, but puts it on, grabs her stuff and is walking more beside Aaron than behind him.]

He didn't even comment on the salad, so I know it's for real. But I doubt it's going to kill him. Liam's mostly mentally fragile than physically.

[elfstoned]

[To Arnold:]

We'll find that out tomorrow.

[And as long as Isabela does it, she doesn't have to be happy about it. He's talking as he holds the door open for them:]

Whatever it is, it's worse than it would have been if he'd been eating better.

[arrowpoint]

[Liam has been half-awake since the commotion started, but sleepy enough to not pay attention. Dr. Strider would take care of it, whatever it was. However when the door swings open his eyes. The sight of people in protective gear has him nervous and trying to sit up quickly - too quickly, as he falls back down to the exam table and has a harsh sounding coughing fit. When that's over, he turns on his side to look at them. He doesn't recognize them at first, since they're so covered, so his eyes are wide and anxious... He's also looking very clearly unwell.]

...Are you guys from the CDC? Did the test results come back?

[That would be why they were here, surely. If his test results were positive for whatever Aaron wasn't telling him, he needed to be taken into isolation somewhere... and he was probably going to die.]

[bythewaves]

Alright. Thank you. You'll let me know when the results come in?

[ Distress sharpens to something behind the mask ]

What do you mean, 'eating better'?

[ And then Liam speaks and Arnold is rushing right to his side, fluttering worriedly over him, afraid to touch if he's hurt ]

Liam! Oh Liam, are you alright? What's wrong? Do you hurt?

[ Scolding ] What's this about you not eating right?

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

Hey, hey, I'm working on fixing that. Brought you soup, Liam, as promised. Two kinds.

And you still need to take me up on cooking lessons, or a certain vegetarian failure will never be forgotten.

[elfstoned]

No, they're not from the CDC. You've only been here a few hours.

[Aaron's tone is...let's call it longsuffering.]

You just have visitors.

poor Aaron. /pats him

[arrowpoint]

...Visitors?

[There's a lot happening at once, so it takes Liam a moment to register what was going on, but he does recognize their voices after a moment. His father's voice in particular both relieved him and made him anxious all over again. Now he does manage to sit up, going slower this time. Outside of the blankets he's shivering slightly.]

Dad, I told you not to come...

[Those were his words, but his eyes very much spoke of a child who was feeling sick, scared, and so relieved to see his parent. He doesn't even hear the bit about not eating right. As for the other voice...]

Isabela? Seriously? You brought me soup when I'm in quarant --

[Ouch those are some rough sounding coughs.]

poor, poor Aaron XD

[bythewaves]

You're sick Liam, what did you expect me to do? [ Arnold settles for sitting beside him and running a hand through his hair ]

Get back under those blankets, Liam. I'm here. We can talk about eating later.

[ When Liam starts to cough Arnold tuts worriedly, rubbing his back ]

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

[She puts the thermoses of soup on a table nearby.]

I promised I'd bring you something. If I'm going to actually make a promise, I typically follow through with it. The fact that I found your dad desperate to get in and got to break into the place was just bonus. Besides, I've spent enough time in very close proximity to Julien, I'm pretty sure I've got every antibody I could ever need to counteract avian disease.

[When he starts coughing, she gets him a cup of water from the nearest sink.]

Here, have some water. You need fluids. I'm sure Doctor McStuffshirt here has already told you that.

[elfstoned]

[And the pieces click. Ah, he thinks, you're Isabela. Aaron has never met her before and has only glimpsed her briefly when Julien used the crystal-ball to look in on her, but it's clear enough. It has to be her.

But, of course, he says nothing.]

Doctor McStuffshirt has had him on a drip for hours, and would also like to know what's in the soup you intend to feed to his patient.

/fails at elvish shhh... also echo time =D

[arrowpoint]

[Liam moves the IV line as his father makes to sit next to him. The gloved hand snags a little in his hair due to the latex, but he doesn't mind. When he's done coughing and his father rubs his back back Liam leans against him - he was wearing protective gear, so it was okay, right? It shouldn't be surprising he's too warm to the touch.

When Isabela comes by with the water, he takes it with a small nod of thanks and sips at it.]

Uh... I appreciate it and all, but I'm really not hungry.

[He closes his eyes, tired after the initial adrenaline rush from when they came in is over. He speaks to his father, sounding exhausted and a bit upset.]

Im iesto dadwen i bar. Im lhaew a dol nín i naegra... pân i naegra.

[Unfortunately, after hearing Aaron speak Sindarin earlier his fried brain has been shifting between two languages.]

/fails even more at elvish

[bythewaves]

[ The heat coming off his son makes Arnold's face crease with worry, and he wraps his arm around him in a gentle hug. He opens his mouth to encourage Liam to try the soup and then...

beat

hold ]

sîdh iôn-nin, av-'osto. Losto hí

I... what?

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

[Isabela just shakes her head.]

You two have been spending too much time around Julien, clearly.

As for the soup. Liam asked for something with peaches, so... imagine a milder, more liquid sort of peach-mango salsa. Vegetarian, but lots of good things in there. The other is Japanese health soup.

[elfstoned]

[Yep, that pretty much confirms her identity.]

I'm sorry, Isabela, but that salsa's going to have to wait a few days. And what the deuce is Japanese health soup?

[He sounds hella skeptical. He'll ask about Arnold's Elvish later -- his patient is the more immediate concern.]

[arrowpoint]

[Liam gives Isabela a confused and slightly green look at the description. He starts speaking a few words in Sindarin before realizing he had to switch to English.]

I don't remember asking for peaches...

[Wait. He pulls away from his dad then looks up at him a moment before rubbing his face tiredly.]

Oh... sorry about the echo. My brain doesn't want to pick a language right now.

[bythewaves]

Oh. [ Arnold blinks dizzily at his son in confusion as an entire language settles into place ]

That... that was an echo? It seemed. Worse than the ears, Liam. Wow. [ He reaches across to ruffle Liam's hair in assurance ] Fastest I've ever learnt a new language!

[ Something about it... sits uneasy, but perhaps that's just because it's new and Arnold dismisses the thought to smile at Isabela ]

They both sound delicious, but I think I will go with the doctor on this. Thank you for thinking of Liam. [ And then curiously ] But yes. What is a Japanese health soup anyway?

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

Basically, it's broth with veggie stuff and Japanese seasonings in it. It's good for you. I'll email you the recipe. You want to try it? Seriously, if I were going to kill Liam, poisoning him isn't my style. I'm sure he understands that. And they'll keep, kiddo. Just heat them when you're ready.

/too lazy for elvish

[elfstoned]

[Aaron absolutely recognizes it as a well-meaning gesture, but he's grateful that the general consensus is later. From the sound of it, the soups would just come right back up, and that would be fun for nobody.

So, instead, he looks at Arnold.]

Mr. Benedict. I know that language.

[He goes on in Sindarin:]

I speak it as well. Have you any other echoes?

italics elvish is legit elvish

[arrowpoint]

[When his hair is ruffled, Liam starts not looking so good, and he grabs his father's arm tightly, both to get him to stop and to steady himself. For a moment he's so dizzy that he's not sure if he was going to either pass out or throw up - thankfully he does neither.

He lowers himself back down so he's laying flat against the exam table so that he would feel more steady, still keeping his tight grip on Arnold's arm. He doesn't seem that interested in the conversation right now, but he does mutter to his father;]

...Don't let me fall off this thing.

italics elvish is far easier than breaking out a sindarin dictionary and cursing the lack of vocab

[bythewaves]

Gohena... I mean, sorry Liam. [ Arnold apologises and stops immediately, looking contrite, and instead shifting so Liam can lean on him ]

You aren't falling, Liam, trust me.

[ He perks up in interest at Aaron and answers in the same, hesitation slowly fading to ease as he goes (the accent is archaic, not entirely the same, but close enough) ]

Oh! How interesting. Yes - when I was visiting Liam a little while back, I apparently acquired pointy ears!

[mistakesmakeuswhoweare]

[For all Isabela might fancy elves... she was getting no benefit from a bunch of guys crowding around and yammering at each other in gibberish.]

...yeah, OK. So. My job here is done. I mean, unless you guys want me to bring back crackers or something from the vending machine...