oo2 | video then voice

[bleedaffected]

[When the feed clicks on, it's difficult to see much of anything, as Desmond's hand is obscuring most of the camera. More than that, the entire picture is shaking, because his hands are shaking. Needless to say, hitting the video function wasn't intentional.]

Jesus Christ, this fucking thing. It never does--

[He pulls his hand away momentarily in

Comments

Voice

[ysobritish]

I'm not a doctor, but I believe it depends on your level of activity. Most won't last more than 72 hours, some will take a little longer. Almost none will last more than a week.

Personally, I don't have a problem staying awake for long stretches, but a companion of mine back home was able to last for weeks without food or sleep, while relying on diazepam and pentazemin. It also helps if you have something to focus on.

Voice

[bleedaffected]

[There's a brief, freaked-out pause.]

--you can die after seventy-two hours?!

Voice

[ysobritish]

It's possible, yes. As I said, some won't last much longer beyond that. Wolf was an extreme case; she could last for nearly a month. But ordinary people won't be able to handle it.

It might be wise to start sleeping.

Voice

[bleedaffected]

Okay, so, wait a minute. Define "ordinary." What made her so special?

Voice

[ysobritish]

The fact she was addicted to the tranquilisers I just mentioned. And the fact she literally didn't move during all that time. She never ate, slept, did anything but watch.

Voice

[bleedaffected]

[There's a small second as he puts two and two together.] Oh. So that's how snipers stay awake. I feel like I've just stumbled onto some big government secret, but, hey, good to know.

Voice

[ysobritish]

Not all government snipers stay awake using tranquilizers, but pentazemin in particular is popular among them. It's somewhat of a muscle relaxant as well; it prevents hand tremors.

Voice

[bleedaffected]

[Aaaaand now Desmond's honestly intrigued. YOU ARE A BAD INFLUENCE, SNAKE.] Yeah? No shit.

Voice

[ysobritish]

[Oh, Liquid knows he's a bad influence, but what do you expect from an amoral soldier turned international terrorist?]

Indeed. It can be addictive with prolonged use, but if taken in moderation it has its uses; Wolf was able to escape infection of a bioweapon due to it. It doesn't even have any side-effects.

Voice

[bleedaffected]

Yeah, but, correct me if I'm wrong... I thought tranqs were supposed to put you down, not keep you up.

Voice

[ysobritish]

The purpose of the tranqs is to reduce the activity of the body. Most tranqs are meant to put you down, but there are some whose purpose is simply to put the body in a more relaxed state. Not to reduce them to sleep; it doesn't even diminish awareness, but to settle their body into a state where they do not require excess activity.

Wolf also used diazepam, which is an anti-anxiety medication, which helped her stay in her alert state.

Voice

[bleedaffected]

Huh. Well. You learn something new every day.

I'm not going to go ahead and assume any of these drugs are explicitly legal.

Voice

[ysobritish]

Diazepam's prescription only, but pentazemin? It's legal. You'd be surprised what they push through when it'll help them.

Re: Voice

[bleedaffected]

"They"?

You're talking about AGI and SERO, right?

Voice

[ysobritish]

Not really. I doubt either of them cares too much about things like that.

No, I was referring to something from outside.

Voice

[bleedaffected]

Who, then?