[audio]

[yosukecantstop]

Not to ask a stupid question, but I've never had to- [Sigh. The teenage boy on the other end of the feed rustles some fabric and scratches his ribs audibly.]- it's just that usually if I'm sick, my Mom...

[He shakes his head, which you probably can't hear, but the slight embarrassment over the above admission probably seeps into his tone just a

Comments

voice;

[longaevus]

There's both a clinic and several hospital. If you can't make it someone can come to you.

What are your symptoms?

[yosukecantstop]

Right.

[Yosuke drops the arm he was just reaching to scratch with, sheepishly.]

Stop scratching. Okay.

[He squirms uncomfortably. UGH, it really itches.]

[boundbytreason]

[Perhaps fortunately for him, it isn't long before the door to his room comes into view. Stopping in front of it, Caster turns her head back towards him.]

So, can I trust you to keep your hands away from yourself and wait at least until I return?

[She waits for his answer, not releasing his hand just yet.]

[yosukecantstop]

[He flusters up at that. What did she just say? Keep his hands-how does she even know that?!]

[Oh. Oh, the scratching. Inexplicably red in the face, he nods affirmatively to her.]

I'll find something else to do until you get back.

[boundbytreason]

[Caster mistakes his sudden flush as the sign of a fever or a similar ailment, and silently, she wonders whether hot tea would really be a good idea.]

Good.

[She gives him another smile, one that's warm with relief, before she relinquishes his hand. She turns away, but she'll be back soon. It won't take long for her to gather what's needed.]

[yosukecantstop]

[Yosuke heads into the apartment and spends the next three or four minutes getting the absolute most out of the scratching that he possibly can before she gets back to make him stop. Oh, gods, that feels better. It also makes his skin red and warm and raw, but it's totally worth it.]

[boundbytreason]

[It takes a little while for Caster to gather everything and return. She had her guesses, certainly, but she was still, more or less, in the dark about the exact kind of rash besieging Yosuke's skin. She winds up bringing every kind of remedy that she knows, all of which she places into a dark blue purse.

With its strap around her shoulders, she's soon knocking on his door again.

Knock, knock, knock.]

[yosukecantstop]

[Yosuke stops mid-scratch and dashes over to open the door, trying to look like someone who hasn't been scratching himself crazy while Caster was away. Ow, his head. Running was probably not the best idea. He rubs his temples, but gestures inside and smiles anyway.]

Come in.

[Inside, the apartment looks barely lived-in. He's new, and it's temporary anyway, so he hasn't bothered to try and personalize it yet. But there's half a cup of cold tea and some picked-over toast on the table from earlier, which Yosuke forgot to clean up.]

[boundbytreason]

[Caster looks at him with slight concern, but she enters nonetheless. The polite, Japanese phrase for entering a person's home rises, but she swallows the words to keep in step with the Canadian tradition. However, she does shift to remove her black strap-on heels -- in either country, it simply wasn't proper to keep them on indoors.]

Did you call for a doctor yet?

[yosukecantstop]

[He actually glances guiltily at the empty shoe box by t he door...he can't offer her a pair of slippers, he only has the one pair, and he's been wearing them. His parents would have known that was one of the first things that needed to be bought, but it's completely slipped his mind until now.]

Um, sort of. It's a guy who says that he's a nurse...can men even be nurses? That doesn't seem right, does it? But that's the second time someone's said that.

[boundbytreason]

Yes, men can be nurses. In my experience, it isn't common, but it does happen. That aside, do you know how long it will take for him to arrive here?

[yosukecantstop]

I'm not sure. He might have been a little offended...

[boundbytreason]

[That gives her a pause, as she tilts her head in a slight, curious gesture.]

What did you say to him?

[yosukecantstop]

I asked about his qualifications.

[boundbytreason]

[She releases a softly sigh, letting her exhaled breath expel any chiding words that rose to her tongue. They were no more than acquaintances, and he wasn't well. Although, it might have been the last one that really weighed in her decision.]

Well, then, let's just see to your rash first. It should take some time for him to arrive here, and if he hasn't shown up by then, I'll make another call myself.

[Running her gaze across the room, her eyes eventually settle on the door to the bathroom. Beginning to cross over to it, she turns her head to look over at Yosuke and give him a set of instructions.]

You have a washcloth, right? Undress yourself, use that to cover yourself, and then come over to the bathroom. I'll have an oatmeal bath ready for you.

[yosukecantstop]

What? No! I-oatmeal? That's disgusting. And I'm not going to...uh, t-to cover myself with just a cloth. You'll see stuff!

[He actually wraps his arms around his middle shyly. Sorry, Caster. You're not talking to a full grown man here, you're talking to a skinny, nervous kid who doesn't undress for anyone but the doctor and the PE coach. And even then not all the way.]