006 :: VIDEO

[stimulations]

[Josias returned from the impromptu trip through the corridors a few days ago, but had unfortunately been stuck in the medbay, recovering from the symptoms of one of those rat bites. Or at least, he'd thought he'd recovered, and that's why when the video clicks on, it shows the inside of his room, the edge of his recently-slept-in bed.

But his expression, when he manages to turn the camera to face himself, is pained. Fevered, almost, disorientated and confused. He can manage enough focus past the pain in his head to remember that he activated his device, that he was attempting to contact someone - anyone.

But when he opens his mouth to speak, all that comes out is a garbled, guttural series of noises. He stops, seems to try and steady himself, then tries again. It comes out just as incomprehensible as before.

Clearly growing more distressed by this, he tries to speak faster, louder, but nothing that comes out of his mouth is in any way legible as any known language. The communication devices definitely can't translate it. He drops the comms to one side, frustrated, the pain in his head spiking.

The feed continues uncut, but all it shows is an off-angle view of his arm and shoulder as he curls into himself on the floor, a completely confused and desperate attempt to abate any of the pain he's currently experiencing.]

Comments

video; 1/2

[redhotsummers]

Josias?

[Alex watches, his concern spreading as it goes on. There is a flicker of guilt, that he should have gone after him--that whatever is going on is because he didn't--but he stamps that down quick.

That is a stupid thought, and not one that is fair to Josias or himself. He can't save everyone. Deal with the situation now. Can't change the past.]

Josias--you need to get to the medbay.

[He's trying to stay calm; something is fucked up with his head, but he doesn't have a damn clue what it is, or if Josias can even understand him.]

video; 2/2

[redhotsummers]

[And then, as an idea (really the only one he has)]

Can you type okay?

[Because if it's part of his brain...maybe its just speech or something. Maybe nothing else is messed up, right?

He speaks again.]

I'll come get you.

[Because he can, now. And he wants to. But he frames it as a choice for Josias...because he knows the boy (too well). Dealing with him in any state other than one where he has full control can be difficult.]

[stimulations]

[There's a slight frown, a shake of his head (and that was a mistake, he regrets it immediately, needing to take a moment with his eyes closed to stop himself throwing up). Then, as suggested, he attempts typing.]

fB$6B2 ZV,E: oI9cS

[ text | and brain touching (?) ]

[sexting]

St. John are you DRUNK

[ ... except not even Cambridge is that grossly insensitive (at least not to people who regularly put their hands in his hair), so what follows is a tentative, snaking tendril of thought sent along the network - a toe in the water, as it were, or a knock on the door to see if anyone is actually home. ]

[stimulations]

[He gets a little bit of a glare for that comment, an annoyed tip of Josias' head that could almost say I wish I was or does this really look like drunk to you.

Not currently plugged into the network, Cambridge's knock finds only Josias' communication device, and nothing else.]

[sexting]

I'm not being (entirely) rude - you look how I feel after a Jump. Jump drunk. I make sense, I promise you

[ But the brain thing is a little worrying. There's only one thing that Cambridge is good at (namely, being a nosy bastard when it comes to all things technological) so another cajoling little text quickly follows: ]

Be a sport and put yourself online

video;

[chromosomes]

Aw, shit.

[ He'd been the one to carry Josias up from the labs after the rat had bitten him, dealing with complaints all the while. He'd stuck around as much as he could to make sure Josias was taken care of and then had left; he had reports to give, details to fill in, and he had really wanted to take a shower and sleep. (It had even been a rather restful sleep; apparently he should just wander around lost for days more often.)

Now there's this, though, and it's different from how Josias had acted after the rat bite -- no one else was speaking in tongues, for one thing. ]

Hey, Josias, remember me? It's John. We're going to get you some help, okay?

[ Not that he's particularly sure who "we" is or that he's certain Josias can even understand him, but he's got to at least try. If Josias doesn't sass him at least a little with that "remember me", even with an eyeroll, then he'll really start to get worried. ]

video;

[stimulations]

[John doesn't quite get an eyeroll for the remember me comment, but he does get a withering look. As withering as Josias can manage, in his current state.]

video;

[chromosomes]

[ Well, that's something. ]

Right, stupid question. Did this just start today?

[voice]

[jurisimpudent]

St. John?

[Edgeworth stares at the screen, some sick dread clenching in his stomach.]

You're - Are you in your room? Nod if you are in your room.

[stimulations]

[He nods - slowly, because shaking his head hadn't resulted in anything good - but then lifts a hand, sweeping it to the side like he's brushing something away.]

[jurisimpudent]

All right. I'll be there in a moment.

[And there's the sound of him gathering up his things.]

text » encrypted 100%

[starked]

[ The fuck. ]

Stop trying to speak. Seriously. I will find duct tape to tape it shut.

[ Good god how to put this question. ]

Pain? Pain + more?

encrypted 100%

[stimulations]

[The question gets a slow and careful nod in response, and then he reaches up to tap two fingers against the side of his head.]

encrypted 100%

[starked]

[ and then we've got some video on tony's side. where apparently he can come up with about a million different ways to motion for degrees of pain. starting with the decapitation motion. ]

That bad? As in, cutting off my head is better. [ and then he shuts his eyes. ] Or I've got a migraine/hangover from hell turn off the lights or I will speak in tongues to you.

t e x t » stark locked

[became]

If you can try typing, not speech.

t e x t » stark locked

[stimulations]

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t e x t » stark locked

[became]

Right, okay. I can tell this isn't helping, so I'm going to think of something-- or wait for you to right yourself fast-- and we'll come at this again.

I told you, Josie, you needed to keep being our special case. No fair joining the crowd.

voice, private;

[jilt]

What's happened? What's hurt you, Josias?

[ irene hasn't travelled down to the medical bay, didn't see those affected, only heard secondhand. she can't be sure if this is that same illness, or something else entirely, and if she's afraid for him, she's careful to keep it to herself. ]

private;

[stimulations]

[He frowns slightly, head ducking low for a moment. Then he gives a very tiny, careful shake of his head, looking up at the camera and making a gesture with his hand like sweeping something to the side.]

private;

[jilt]

What about text? Can you manage it?

Video

[goldshirt]

Josias.

[he frowns because this isn't right- it didn't take a genius to figure that out. he was obviously still coherent, in some way]

Is someone coming to get you?

Video

[stimulations]

[Coming to get him isn't quite right, because he's got no interest in being dragged back down to the medbay right now. But he still gives a careful, slow nod (not to disturb his head too much, it seems more upset by motion), because it's all he can give in answer to the question. Anything more detailed or nuanced is currently beyond him.]

video;

[handelaar]

The hell did you do.

[While he sounds pissy, the video kind of gives away how worried he is.]

video;

[stimulations]

[Josias is still in a lot of pain, but he can manage an insulted looking frown at the screen, like who said I did anything. Even though he's strongly suspecting the cause is something he did.]