[006]

[oliverplus]

[Oliver is leaning against a wall in the docking bay, most definitely not looking well. he's still in his spacesuit, his helmet held under his arm, and he's pale and sweaty and looks ready to fall over, very much showing how queasy he is after his mecha adventure. but even worse than seeming ill, his expression is terrified]

H-hey. [pauses

Comments

[chappi_fan]

[Fortunately, Rukia's own loss of hearing hasn't hit her quite yet.]

From what I can tell, everyone is alright overall.

...You cannot hear? Are you injured?

[oliverplus]

[dismayed, he shakes his head as she speaks] Sorry, but...I really can't hear. [his tone betrays that he was hoping up until that moment]

[but now what? what he wouldn't give for a...wait!] Could you type through the sphere? Or maybe there's a setting. Like, closed captioning or something... It's got everything else... [grabs his sphere and starts to fiddle with it] Rukia, could you say something else?

[chappi_fan]

[She frowns, trying to see if there are any outward injuries. She starts to head towards her room- she had been in the process of making sure everyone on board was properly buckled in when the dream came.]

Is something wrong with your sphere? I am able to hear you without difficulty.

[oliverplus]

Oh! Hey, it can caption! [is silent for a moment, reading the scrolling words at the bottom of her broadcast. frowns, shaking his head. makes eye contact again] It's not the sphere. I...I can't even hear myself. It's like I was fine and then...then it all went silent.

[hopeful] But if you can still hear, that's a good sign.

[chappi_fan]

[She stops- If he can understand her, there's no need for something to write on.]

Were you injured?

[oliverplus]

[pauses again to read, then shakes his head] No. I mean, I was tossed around a bit, but I don't think so... [worriedly reaches up with a hand to rub first one ear, then the other] No. They don't hurt, and there's no blood or anything. And I could hear fine at first! I don't know what happened.

[chappi_fan]

Either way, it is best if you were to visit the clinic. There is no telling when your next chance will be.

[oliverplus]

[sighs] You're probably right... [starts forward, keeping a hand against the wall. he's a bit unsteady--and clearly reluctant] You're too practical sometimes, you know that? [gives a wan smile as he makes the joke, hoping to distract himself from yet another visit to the medical bay]

[chappi_fan]

[She gives a light snort.] There is nothing wrong with being practical. It is too often people are not practical enough.

Do you need help?

[oliverplus]

Oh, there's nothing wrong with it. You just don't always have to be practical, you know.

[frowns once he's read the question, pausing where he stands] I can see just fine, so I should be able to get there okay... [but his tone screams his reluctance. he doesn't want to be in the medical bay alone]

[chappi_fan]

Now is not one of those times.

[She's already moving through the halls, first towards her own room to retrieve a pad and paper on the way there.]

Where are you?

[oliverplus]

[she has a point there, which is why he doesn't say anything more about it]

[blinks, surprised, but also relieved. smiles a little, grateful] I'm just on my way out one of the docking bays. [starts forward again, keeping a hand against the wall to help him stay as steady as possible despite the queasiness and whiplash] But Rukia, really, you don't have to come.

[chappi_fan]

There is no point in needlessly pushing yourself. I will be there shortly.

[She reaches her cabin to take a small pad of paper and marker, now heading towards the hanger.]

[oliverplus]

[is quiet for a moment, continuing forward as he considers whether to protest, then thinks better of it]

...thanks.

[chappi_fan]

It is nothing.

[After a small while, she arrives in the hanger area. Being under five feet, she's not deterred by any height difference in moving over to help him.]

[oliverplus]

[jumps when she moves to help him because he totally did not hear her coming. but he relaxes when he realises who it is. he's embarrassed to be helped, but not so much that he would pull away] Ah...thanks, Rukia. I'm just a bit queasy and stiff. It's not too bad.

What about you? Oh, uh...you can just shake you're head if you're not hurt, I guess.