IC Inbox (v1.0)

[jumpthegun]

You've reached Dr. John Watson. Please leave a message.

Comments

[circumsutus]

[He doesn't switch back to text, there's too much effort involved in trying to see and type letters on a screen. He's been using the text reader for months now, and Watson might be able to hear that in the video.]

I revived in the chapel during a break in the static, and I've been traveling since then. I went to the gas station... today. This morning. I need to get to the school, I need to find Kid. He has no idea how to take care of himself, he's not human and he's never had to eat or sleep before. He's suffering from MN poisoning in the form of physical illness.

[jumpthegun]

Okay. Keep heading west toward the school. Try to get to the clinic. Those two houses right west of it. We're coming north and should be able to meet up with you there. You'll have food and there'll be a little hot water for a shower. Should be able to warm up your head. Do you have any pain medication?

[circumsutus]

[That's a lot right now, steps and plans and things to do and consider. One thing at a time, just the last thing he heard.]

No. No pain meds.

[jumpthegun]

I'm going to prescribe you some, then. Do you have any allergies to medication?

[circumsutus]

No. [He says, struggling for clarity, for clarification. It's difficult right now, but when has doing things that came easily ever benefited him?] I don't want them.

[jumpthegun]

Why? You must be in a massive amount of pain.

[circumsutus]

No, I- I can't. I can't be compromised more than I am already. It's not safe. I'm not safe.

[jumpthegun]

[John would pinch the bridge of his nose, except that would be excruciating.]

You're compromised if you can't think because you're in too much pain. Not narcotics. Would you accept a mid-grade painkiller? Prescription strength ibuprofen rather than standard. That won't compromise your judgment, but it will offer some relief.

[circumsutus]

[A mid-grade painkiller, non-narcotic and anti-inflammatory. He should have thought of it before. He prescribed them to his students all the time after missions. He should have thought of it. He doesn't know why he didn't.

The pause goes on too long, but he does respond.]

All right. But I don't... I don't know how much the pain is really impacting me.

[He needs someone else to think for him right now.]

[jumpthegun]

Pain is always going to impact you when it's at the level you're at. Let's plan out your travel route. Do you know where Kid is?

[circumsutus]

The shed. That's where he was. He can't take care of himself, he's never been human before.

But I don't. I don't know where I am.

[jumpthegun]

Tomorrow, after lockdown lifts, I want you to contact me and show me the area you're in with a video on your tablet. We can try to figure out where you are from that and other videos you take throughout the day.

[circumsutus]

[He stays silent, only vaguely aware that no, he won't be reporting in tomorrow. He knows he won't remember this. He knows it's already slipping away.]

[jumpthegun]

Good night, Dr. Stein. I'll talk to you tomorrow and we can discuss what the Admin's response is, too.