fabrecation | 024 [Voice/Video]

[When the journal opens, there's a redhead who looks as if he wants to do nothing more than climb into a bed and sleep. A good explanation for that should show itself just as he opens his mouth to speak.]

Hey –

[Because he suddenly lurches forward and coughs harshly, though he tries ducking out of view of the camera. There's a slight sniffle before he leans in again, just after he wipes his mouth and nose with the back of his hand. His cheeks are slightly flushed, too, with signs of a fever.]

I'm back. Anyone know what day it is? [And he ducks his head again to cough, though not quite as hard as before. As for the question? Because he'd really like to know how close it is to that accursed Valentine's holiday.

... But now that he's got that journal open, he pauses, looks off with an expression of uncertainty towards the village and flexes his left hand, then squints slightly as he works on a filter. Ugh, it's hard to work with this stupid foggy ache in his head. Yet he knows that it'd be dangerous otherwise, especially with the topic of his questioning.]

[Filtered to Jade... and Dist//100%]

Could you take a look at me when I get back to the village? Something happened to me back there... [He does hate getting examined, especially for medical reasons. But this is extremely important.]

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[Luke takes the medicine and water and downs them both rather quickly. After nearly getting sick, he does feel rather thirsty, and maybe the water can help him with his ravaged throat thanks to all the coughing. Once he does that, he lowers his head and rests his hands on the bed he's sitting on for a moment, just to let the water cool him down and to get a grip on the spinning in his head. And he pretty much ignores the last part of what Dist says; he's pretty sure it'd only make him more stressed anyway.

He's scared. Sure, he's scared. Luke hates medical tests, always hated them, and now that he knows what Dist is doing these examinations for, he hates them even more. He doesn't want to hear more hopeless news, he doesn't want to hear more about how he's going to die...

But this is something he has to do, lest he walk into this illness of his completely blind. So, after a few minutes, he lets out a breath, lifts his head, and squares his shoulders.]

All right. I'm ready for it.

[Dist raises a brow, and gives Luke a long, hard, judgmental look, up and down. He looks ready to faint...that or be violently ill (preferably the former, Dist muses to himself). Pursing his lips, the older of the two exhales and nods. He takes Luke by the arm, guiding the boy carefully but quickly toward a room a few doors down. Inside that room is something much like a mechanized dome, with a bench for an individual to lay on.]

Please lay down. This will scan your body completely, providing information of your internal organs and other things. [Brain waves, heart beat, abnormalities, etc.] It'll only take a moment. ...You may close your eyes, if need be. In fact, I recommend it.

[Seeing how sickly he looked already, a light scanning Luke may be a bit much for him currently.]

... Right.

[Luke doesn't feel like saying anything beyond that, and the fact that his tone is softer and more hesitant than normal speaks volumes about how he's really feeling. Scared, so scared. But he can't just break down here... Not in front of Dist. Not in front of anyone.

He does as he's told; he lays down on the bench and shifts slightly to get comfortable, then stares up at the ceiling for a moment before shutting his eyes. He takes in a deep breath, and then he relaxes himself a little. He's ready. As ready as he can be, at least.]

[The silence persists well after Luke has spoken, broken only by the quiet whirr of the machine as he's pulled - drifted, more like - into it. A light passes over him with the same quiet sound, but other than that, the test runs for a few minutes in the same fashion. Quietly. Both doctor and patient have much to think about, despite how vastly thought thoughts may differ.

After the tests run their course without incident, and Dist saves, resaves, and resaves again the data he gathered, Luke is brought out of the machine. Again, the only thing that breaks the heavy quietness in the room is the sound of Dist's footsteps as he goes over to Luke, nudging his shoulder a bit, in case he fell asleep.]

...We're finished. There's a rest area here if you feel it necessary.

[Luke had not fallen asleep, though it might have seemed like it. Instead, he shifted his wings to get into a more comfortable position, then just stayed still with his eyes shut and let his mind drift.

It was quiet, and Luke isn't sure if he welcomes it or desperately wishes Dist would talk and let him focus on something else. The noise of the machine helps a little, but it also just makes his thoughts run faster.

He'll die sometime soon. He might come back, yes... But what will it be like? Will it hurt? Will he be aware? Will he be alone, or will there be people with him? He isn't even sure what he wants in that regard. For that matter, how is he supposed to tell anyone? He doesn't want anyone to know. Does Asch know? God, what's Xion going to do? She's already lost Axel, so -

It's about that time that Dist nudges his shoulder, and Luke opens his eyes and snaps out of his thoughts. He looks at the other man for a moment, as if he isn't sure what he just said, before he turns his gaze to the ceiling again.]

... Thanks.

[It was uncomfortable, lying there and thinking while light passed over him. So, he wastes no time in getting up, even though it makes him cough and want to lie back down, and looking around for the rest area. Ah, there... A question hits him as he slides off the table and heads toward it.]

Do I need to wait for the results, or...?

[It's strange, being thanked by the replica. Considering their last run-in regarding fomicry, it's doubly strange. That, and Dist sees Asch every time he's around the replica. The perfect mirror image, yet worlds different. How very strange indeed... Dist doesn't respond to the thanks, though he nods to show he appreciates and heard it nonetheless. He's not doing this for thanks, or even because he wants to save the replica's life. No, he wants to see how far he can stretch Jade's theory.]

No. [Dist watches Luke as he wobbles toward the bed, and takes a few steps towards him, in case he falls.] The data I received needs to be reviewed and compiled into a more managed and readable form. Normally, it'd take me a few days to complete...but because this has interested me to such a degree...mm, I'd say I'll have it by the end of tomorrow, if not sooner.

All right. [All business. At least, that's what he hopes he's going for as he slides onto the bed, not even bothering to get onto his back. He just stays on his side, slightly curled up.] I'll contact you tomorrow night. Or... should it be the other way around?

The other way around. I'll present my findings, however imperfect, to you come tomorrow. I also want to inspect your health regarding the miasma you inhaled. If need be, contact me at your convenience regarding the latter, though I'm certain the hospital staff here could assist with treatment as well. I'll leave information regarding the medicine with them.

[He also wants to, maybe, schedule an impromptu appointment with your original sometime afterward. Dist needs to check his health soon, too. But first things first - this information needs to be compiled. Dist leaves Luke relatively quickly afterward. He has a lot of work to begin on, and the sooner he gets home, the sooner he can begin.]

[Luke doesn't answer, though he glances at him as he leaves. And now he's alone.

He has a lot to think about. Things he doesn't want to think about, lest he leaps into a downward spiral of depression and fear. So, after about ten minutes, after he actually feels the tug of that spiral, Luke shuts his eyes and pushes himself up, then slides off of the bed and heads out. He's a bit pale, and not quite steady, but - he needs to see someone else now. Now it's Jade's turn.]

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