Appointments

[semper_cogitans]

For any mundane, non-critical one-on-one interactions with the scientist here, whether it be poking him for whatever reason, maintaining continuity, throwing him an item, or in general doing something that isn't momentous enough to require a whole post or log for it.

Please copy and paste the following for the first comment in any new thread you're

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[i_speak_softly]

Date of Thread: Evening of May 19
Type of Thread: Voice, probably quickly becoming Action
Location: House 55, Robert's apartment, points between?

[It's been three days since Raphael's return, two since Vivi's disappearance. That's enough time to resume a semblance of normalcy, right? In the confusion, those two things Don meant to give Robert slipped from his mind, but he's remembered them now, and he hopes it isn't too soon, too insensitive, to bring them up again.]

Robert? Can I talk to you?

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert has, actually, been wanting to talk to Don too. What with the uncomfortable and downright distressing occurrences that have happened today, he really wants to just... cling to him.

So, yes. This is... getting his attention fast.]

Please do...

... I h-have things to relate to you as well, a-actually.

[i_speak_softly]

- Are you all right?

[semper_cogitans]

... In a word, no.

[Distressedly:] I... I would explain to you, but... I w-wouldn't wish you to be upset.

... However, you deserve to know what occurred... So it is more important to inform you. I should give you some background first, though...

[Robert exhales slowly.] To preface this... A friend of mine, Ms. Ingrid Grimmholtz, almost died today.

[i_speak_softly]

[He's upset already. Three disasters in half a week? Excuse him while he turns away from the journal to swear.]

Is she okay?

[semper_cogitans]

She is now, thanks to a magical healer. [This thread hasn't actually been finished yet, though.]

... But, essentially, she has Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Syndrome. And when she was... f-first deposited here in Luceti, she was obviously e-exposed to infection.

... The sterile bubble that she lives in here in the Battle Dome clinic, plus Doctor McCoy's regular check-ups, must have helped to keep her healthier for longer... but she developed visible symptoms yesterday.

[With some shame in his tone:] ... I... I thought she was... essentially without r-recourse, and so I took her outside on her request... a-and I realize now that th-that was an exceedingly stupid thing to do, but... b-but, she did not want to die in her bubble.

... In the process, something... exceedingly uncomfortable o-occurred...

[i_speak_softly]

['Uncomfortable'? That's the kind of word you apply to all sorts of things most people aren't bothered by. Don can't imagine where this is going.]

... Do you want me to come over?

[semper_cogitans]

I... I-I would appreciate it if you did, yes.

[Robert thinks that Don will be bothered by this, though. Because he's an overly-socially-awkward failure.]

... It... it would b-be a comfort, to have you here...

[Even though it will make the confession even more uncomfortable.]

[i_speak_softly]

[This is somewhat reassuring.]

I'll be right there.

[And indeed, it will take him only ten minutes to arrive.]

[semper_cogitans]

[When Don arrives, he will be instantly greeted by a very clingy, post-weepy scientist who looks like he needs hugs for the next month or so.]

D-Don...

Thank you for c-coming over.

[i_speak_softly]

[Don will immediately begin providing hugs, and recap the story so far.]

So the Malnosso tortured Raph, sent Vivi home, and put your friend in a situation where she was sure to contract a life-threatening illness. You did a kind thing for someone, and... what happened after that?

[He's sort of dreading the answer. In Luceti, no deed at all goes unpunished.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert looks immediately uncomfortable, but... his bluntness and complete inability to lie means that he wants to be honest about this.]

Ingrid became more incoherent over time due to her feverish symptoms, to the point where it b-became genuinely worrisome... and, eventually... well, she... [Nervously:] She asked if I would... k-kiss her.

...

[He looks genuinely, deeply affected by guilt here, and actually cringes as if expecting a verbal blow. Still, he tries to explain a little better.]

A-Apparently she had never been able to do so b-before. And, I, er, had neglected to mention the fact I was involved with you before then... certainly, when she was incoherent it would have... not been a good time to try to explain it.

... I sh-should have stopped her from... from kissing me, but... b-but I... I d-didn't react in time, and then she had actually done so and I feared that if I were to push her too firmly she might have fallen over by that point, and I was c-concerned more about her health and...

... I-I'm sorry, Don. I... I

[i_speak_softly]

Did you catch her fever?

[Because kissing is not something you should do with a sick person, and obviously the biggest concern here is the potential germ-sharing.]

[He'll be feeling your forehead, by the way.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert's immune system isn't the greatest. But this is actually the first time he's thought of this as a possibility, and so he startles a bit. What's more surprising is that Don doesn't seem to care about the actual kiss.]

I-I... I am not certain.

[His gray eyes flutter closed as Don's palm strokes his forehead.]

I may have, but I have... not checked...

... A-Are you really not upset at all...? I, I just... I thought you w-would be angry.

[i_speak_softly]

Didn't you say she recovered?

[Biggest concern part two: Whether Ingrid caught something from you.]

[semper_cogitans]

Yes. She was... somehow purged of all the pathogens in her body by a magic-user.

[One that Robert might learn the name of eventually. Also, this hasn't happened yet either.]

And I... made no contact with her after that point, so she should be fine.

... Assuming the... magic worked. I will make sure I analyze her state with Doctor McCoy.