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Post by Alexander Ludovico on Apr 22, 2012 4:08:17 GMT -5
*I hold out a hand for the papers, and after reading through them, the medic reluctantly hands them to me. I don't look at the data, feeling Riley's eyes on me. I'm all one for invading his privacy in most cases, but the man's been through enough discomfort for the day* Is he in immediate danger?
*The medic shakes his head and starts to elaborate, but I cut him off* Will he recover on his own, provided he keeps the IV going and doesn't overexert himself?
*The medic nods and again starts to speak, but I hold up a hand* Then you're dismissed. I'll stay here, and call downstairs if anything goes wrong. There's no need to make a fuss, and you're not liable for anything that happens while you're gone. Now go, please.
*Clearly unhappy with having to leave his patient on the floor, the man looks from me to Riley - who doesn't have the most inviting expression on his face - before getting to his feet and leaving. I follow him over and close the door behind him, then return to Riley once again* Here are your papers. Let me know when you're ready to move.
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Post by rileywilson on Apr 22, 2012 4:12:31 GMT -5
*I take the papers and quickly read through the report... then I read it again. Yes, there can be no doubt about it. I slowly get up over the course of ten minutes and have Vico help me to the couch. I stare out at the city, my right arm rotated upward to accommodate the IV drip. Eventually, I decide to speak*
I... I have diabetes.
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Post by Alexander Ludovico on Apr 22, 2012 4:16:22 GMT -5
*I sit next to him on the couch, leaning forward and resting my elbows on my knees. I'm not sure what to make of the admission. On the one hand, it's significant news for anyone to receive, but on the other hand, I can almost guarantee it falls under Riley's category of 'weaknesses' - those things he isn't allowed to have. And he's telling me... why? And how do I respond? If there's one thing for sure, it's that pity is the last thing he wants.* All right. How do you want to handle it? *Not the diabetes itself, of course, but the news*
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Post by rileywilson on Apr 22, 2012 4:25:38 GMT -5
No one must know. I'll handle it quietly, discreetly. Blood sugar monitor, insulin shots... no problem.
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Post by Alexander Ludovico on Apr 23, 2012 2:01:26 GMT -5
Right. *I nod. My cord finds its way into my hands, but for once I don't start knotting it up* No problem. *I pause, debating how to phrase my next words. I remember Riley telling me to get out of his office, and feel a bit unsure.* You know that doesn't... change anything, right? In terms of your abilities as a leader.
*The last bit is tacked on, and I realize I'm not sure if I want him to notice or not. I tell myself to snap out of it; there's plenty of sincerity and hallmark moments to go around without my adding to them. What happened to the jokes? I force a smile, and quip* We'll just have to hope the killjoys don't start attacking with jolly ranchers and marshmallow guns.
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Post by rileywilson on Apr 23, 2012 2:08:20 GMT -5
*I don't smile, but I do notice how Vico tries to lighten the mood... and something else*
This doesn't change anything because they won't notice anything. They can attack with anything they want, Vico, Unit 8 will never go down.
*I straighten my tie, a little hard to do with the IV, and make sure my shirt is tucked in. As my sugar levels balance out I'm feeling more and more like myself. My mind starts making plans and preparations. There is still so much to do, killjoys to kill, minds to rewrite, citizens to keep happy. I really do love my job*
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Post by Alexander Ludovico on Apr 24, 2012 0:29:59 GMT -5
*Riley's looking better with each passing second, and I put my cord in my pocket and get to my feet. The mugs of coffee are still on his desk, and I bring them over to the couch and hold one out to him* Do you want this? I still maintain you need sleep more than caffeine, but they're still warm and I doubt you're planning on turning in any time soon. In case there's any chance in hell that you /are/ considering it, however, I'm at your disposal if there's anything that needs to get done. I am a consultant, after all, and I know my way around an incident report or the like.
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Post by rileywilson on Apr 25, 2012 0:54:28 GMT -5
*We work for the next few hours, sending more dracs out and coordinating the rotation of staff. I then dismiss Vico, claiming that I need to rest. The unit's preliminary reports lay unopened on my desk. I mean to go look at them, but as soon as I sit down I start to nod off. My last thought is of The Oracle and I wonder if he really will meet us later today...*
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Post by Alexander Ludovico on Apr 25, 2012 19:38:40 GMT -5
*I leave the office without protest when Riley dismisses me, appreciative of the fact that he let me help at all. Besides, I managed to take care of several smaller tasks at the same time without his noticing, so there's really not much left for him to do. It's getting late and I take the elevator downstairs, nodding to the night watch at the front doors and stepping out onto the street. The air is cool but not cold, and the stars are winking in the clear sky overhead. It really is impressive, how Better Living regulates the weather here. No smog to be seen, either. A city bus pulls up to the curb as I reach the first corner but I don't get on; no matter how much the transportation system has been cleaned up since the wars, I'd still rather walk.*
*Back at my apartment, I lock the door and go straight to my bedroom. Everything's tidy; grey carpet, white walls, white comforter on the bed. There's an old postcard from Italy on the nightstand along with a bottle of pills, and I pop the cap off and take a few tablets before shrugging out of my clothes and turning out the light. This whole diabetes development is an interesting turn of events... I wonder how the self-proclaimed Superman will adjust to his new found Kryptonite.*
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Post by rileywilson on Apr 27, 2012 3:05:41 GMT -5
*I wake up several hours later and immediately call the medic again when I realize I can't get off the couch. After (1)he stabilizes my glucose levels, (2)I threaten him repeatedly not to breath a word of this to anyone, and (3)he leaves, I get up as usual to make coffee. Once a pot is brewing I schedule an appointment with Dr.Brian, so I can get my own blood-level monitor and all the inglorious trappings of a diabetic*
*There are still a few hours until the scheduled appointment with The Oracle, so I get up to go check on Orwell and my unit*
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Post by Alexander Ludovico on Jun 13, 2012 11:17:08 GMT -5
(writing partially for Wilson, with permission)
*When we return from the meeting with the Oracle, Riley heads straight for his office. I stop by my cubicle and pick up my netbook, carefully unplugging the various cords and cables. The halls are hushed but as busy as ever as I start up to Riley's office; I catch snatches of water cooler gossip along the way, and pass a pair of women who sound concerned about the recent breakouts. I meet their eyes and pull out my bottle of emotion stabilizing medication, giving it a little shake. One woman flushes but the other just smiles and nods, and as I continue down the hall I hear the quiet pops of two pill bottle lids coming off.*
*At the office door I knock twice and enter, waving Riley off when he starts to say something about needing to wrap up some work so he can get the unit out in the Zones again.*
I promise not to distract you, love. Don't mind me, I'm just going to do some snooping and my cubicle is rather dull.
*I sit down on the couch and flip open my netbook, entering a complicated string of passcodes before I set about hacking into the main system. Textbook stuff, really. Within ten minutes I'm flipping through incident reports and security camera feeds, resting my chin in one hand and looking for anything interesting. Who knows, maybe I'll catch the Oracle on something - but if nothing else I do like to know what's going on in the Tower.*
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Post by Alexander Ludovico on Jun 14, 2012 13:13:22 GMT -5
*It takes me about ten minutes to notice anything unusual, and when I do, I’m not entirely sure if I’m seeing what I think I am. I’m looking at a series of feeds from one of the guard towers near the city wall, and nothing in particular is happening. But that’s just it – nothing is happening. No people walking past, no birds flying, no trash blowing down the street. I make a face, looking from one grainy feed to another. Two long minutes pass without any change, so I start trying other views. None of the feeds facing the tower show any movement either, but when I try a traffic camera one street away, it’s fairly busy. I watch the traffic lights cycle through twice before a pedestrian crosses the intersection and turns down the street leading past the tower. As soon as they’re around the corner I switch back to the tower feeds – no pedestrian. I can see almost all the way to the intersection; it should have only taken them a few seconds to come into view, but there’s no one there. So someone’s got the tower feeds on a loop, then…*
*I pause, thinking. I should probably tell Riley… but there are probably other units closer to the scene, and I could be making the whole thing up. One missing pedestrian doesn’t mean the guard tower’s been commandeered. I should tell Riley… and I certainly shouldn’t go looking on my own… I decide to get some coffee for Riley and myself. I’ll make up my mind along the way.*
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Blackout
Crash Queen
You're not afraid of the dark, are ya?
Posts: 3,351
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Post by Blackout on Jun 14, 2012 13:28:31 GMT -5
((copied from Approaching the Firing Line))
*two dracs grab the girl and half drag, half carry her the rest of the way to Wilson's office before she wakes up and he knocks on the door* mr. Wilson?
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Post by Alexander Ludovico on Jun 14, 2012 13:32:09 GMT -5
*I leave my netbook on the couch when I head out, logging out of everything but not shutting it down. In the coffee room I pour a cup, but then stop short of pouring a second. I really do want to know what’s wrong with the feeds at the edge of the city, and Riley’s awfully busy. It’s a terrible idea to go on my own, though. It’s not safe, especially if I think there might be criminals or killjoys involved. And if I /am/ going, I should at least tell someone before I leave. So it’s decided; I’ll tell Riley what I saw, wait to hear if a unit is being dispatched, and then follow along at a safe distance.*
*Five minutes later I’m walking down the street, coffee in hand. I’ll tell Riley what happened, when I get back.*
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Blackout
Crash Queen
You're not afraid of the dark, are ya?
Posts: 3,351
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Post by Blackout on Jun 14, 2012 13:38:59 GMT -5
*i mumbled incoherently when I wake up and I start to panic when I see Wilson's door. I try to struggle but I'm too weak to do much*
*he smirks* what's wrong killjoy? Finally gave up?
Killjoys never give up *i say weakly*
the more to tell yourself that the longer it will take for you to realize you're lying to yourself
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Yes, I'm still running - sort of. But it is lonely out here. Haven't seen anyone else for a while.
//