25. [Video]

[justcautious]

[Video turns on to reveal a very scared-looking Chris huddling in the corner between his bed and the wall. His eyes are wide enough that it's obvious that his usual mismatched green and blue eyes are, for some reason, a yellow colour. He's hyperventilating a bit and he sounds completely terrified when he speaks.]

Help! I think I'm dead!

[He is very

Comments

[valentineluke]

You're hardly unique. At least a third of City's population falls under the category of 'non-living'.

[justcautious]

But that weren't me until today!!! Don't care about bein' unique! I jus' want t'be alive!

[valentineluke]

It will more than likely be reversed come tomorrow's end.

[justcautious]

Y-yeah. You're prob'ly right. Yeah.

[lady_wandering]

Chris, you need to calm down.

[justcautious]

But I'm dead, Romana! I died! How'm I s'posed t'be calm about that!?

[lady_wandering]

Because panicking isn't going to help you discover what happened.

[justcautious]

I know it don't help but I can't help doin' it...

[favoritetraitor]

Signs that death has occurred
1) No breathing for a prolonged period of time
2) No heartbeat
3) Eyes fixed and slightly open, with enlarged pupils
4) Jaw relaxed, with the mouth slightly open.

Signs of City Death
1) Reanimation after 24 hours
2) Lower body temperature
3) Senses and emotions sometimes dulled
4) No heartbeat
5) No need to breathe
6) No need to consume food or liquids
7) Wounds and injuries will heal as normal

[justcautious]

Okay, um...I'll go down your list, I s'pose.

Proper death:
1. Well, I am breathin', an'...no, alright, I s'pose I'm still moving. S'not what I meant.

City dead:
1. I don't remember dyin'. Far as I know, I came 'ome at around 3 in the mornin', went t'sleep and then...gradually worked out I were dead.
2. Think I've got that. I feel sort of colder, anyway.
3. Uh....I dunno. Don't think so.
4. Yeah.
5. I'll check. ... No. Still need t'breathe.
6. Am I meant to still be 'ungry if that's true?
7. I dunno. And I'm not injurin' meself just t'find out.

Um....what's all that mean, then?

[favoritetraitor]

Things I'm still capable of despite being cursed
1) research
2) work in the E.R.
3) seeing patients
4) ascertaining the status of City Death or not
5) romancing Saya providing for Saya's needs
6) everything except speaking in a normal manner

[justcautious]

Okay, so I'm not City Dead, then. So where's me 'eartbeat gone? Why'm I so cold?

[nicholasheat]

Whoa, whoa, Skelton, calm down. Just, take a breath a moment.

[justcautious]

I'm calming, yeah. Mostly. Still dead. But I'm sort of breathin' now.
...
Do I know you?

Soooo late...

[horrible_penny]

What? Dea--but you're talking...

What happened? What girl?

But still welcome!

[justcautious]

Heart's not beatin'...

[This bit is trickier because he's fairly certain Penny might almost maybe be his girlfriend. She hasn't SAID anything and they haven't KISSED yet but, um...?] I stopped to 'elp some drunk bird on th'way 'ome from work an' I...think she killed me. Or, um...turned me into a vampire.

<3;

[horrible_penny]

She turned you into a vampire. small>[Actually... that's not as surprising as it should be. Still, rather worrying. Chris isn't supposed to be dead or a vampire.]

Wow.

Um. ...Can I help you, maybe?

[justcautious]

Think so... The doctor I talked to thinks so anyway an' I s'pose it would make sense...

Um...jus' by stayin' away, really. I feel like...well...can't control meself around blood an' all, so I don't want to...you know.