[001] video + action if that's preferable!

[surveyor]

[Despite the rather serious reason for his broadcast, Levi addresses the network at large with the same vaguely irritated expression he might wear while complaining about someone leaving the milk out or sweeping filth under a rug instead of cleaning it properly. He's going for 'inconvenienced' instead of 'concerned', a specialty of his... Or maybe his face is just stuck like that, who even knows anymore?

In any case, though he isn't really a huge fan of asking for help- which is what this feels like to him even if it's a pretty simple request all things considered- going through the archives hasn't been particularly enlightening and that's left him with little choice than to utilize another tactic. Let it never be said that he can't adapt...

Anyway, he'll be brief- no introductions or small talk because ain't nobody got time for that:]

I have a few questions for those of you who've been stuck in those shitty tubes for longer than just what it takes to get through the Jump.

[He knows by now that that's a Thing, at least, but the details either don't exist or aren't in a place he can find them given his limited tech-savvyness, and that isn't acceptable. It's important he know what to expect.]

What was your experience like? How long did it last? [There's a short pause before the last question, and Levi's brows knit together even further.] ...And was there anything you needed when it finally spat you back out?

[...Other than a month's worth of showers, of course. That's a given.]

Secondhand accounts are fine, too. [Casting a wide net, here- he needs all the info he can get.] Either way, if this is something you'd rather discuss in person, I'll be in the kitchen on the tenth floor for a while.

Comments

Action!

[fade_away]

[Cole finds Levi in the kitchen, because he's still getting used to the unfamiliar communication devices after all. And they're hard to really get a read on people across.]

He's asleep.

[video]

[circumitus]

Been comatose in one of those pods before. Don't really know what to tell about the experience, other than that some may have strange "dreams", others may not.

Well, not so much dreams as memories. They felt like memories, in any case.

[She pauses.]

Someone you know in a stasis coma?

[surveyor]

[GOD DAMMIT COLE.......

But for real, part of the reason Levi had offered to be so 'accommodating' with people's preferred method of communication is because he'd rather talk face to face. So there's some points for you, creepy brat.

But even so, Levi can't help the way his face folds into a scowl at Cole's comment. Of course he'd zero in on precisely what this is about. Of course.

Levi huffs.]

He picked a pretty shit time for a nap, then. [But seriously:] ...It doesn't feel like sleep. [A pause and then an amendment to that, he supposes, since it might not be the same for everyone.] Not for me, anyway.

[Levi himself feels sluggish to an almost ridiculous degree, and it'd happened after the second Jump too- it could be because of the way his body has been trained to only take a few hours of sleep at a time... Or it could just be psychosomatic- he really isn't too jazzed about the grav couches.]

[surveyor]

[BUSTED.

Was it that obvious? S i g h.]

Yeah, my superior. [...] Since this last Jump.

[He isn't sure if that's typical or not, but it doesn't really matter- it's cause for concern either way. He can't imagine a scenario in which a 'stasis coma' is in any way pleasant and so whether or not it's common doesn't factor into his unease about the whole situation.]

These dreams, or memories, whichever- were they ever interrupted by consciousness, or were you unaware until you woke up?

[He knows which answer he'd prefer to hear, obviously, but either way he wants the truth. Or one person's version of it, anyway; like the Jumps themselves, he imagines it's subjective, maybe even unique to the individual. That's why he's asking- he wants to be prepared for as many outcomes as possible.]

[fade_away]

Because you're awake. [Levi hasn't told him to leave yet, so Cole hangs out. He's trying not to comment on the turmoil inside Levi. He'd asked about the first thing, so that was probably okay. The rest though, Levi wanted Cole to pretend he didn't know. That was harder.]

It's only scary if it isn't happening to you. When it does, it's nothing. Like death.

[surveyor]

[Oh my god Cole you can't just liken his husbando's coma state to dying!!

Levi's expression shifts rather quickly from mildly sour to "the yellow warhead no one wants" sour.]

...Oi. If you're trying to help, you're doing a pretty pisspoor job of it.

[Sighing, Levi hops off of the stool he'd been perching on, stalks over to a nearby cabinet, throws the door open, peers around with a huff... And then eventually produces a kettle which he sets down before heading to another drawer to hunt for something to drink. He's more or less learned how to prepare the essentials here, and what's more essential than tea...? Especially when he's feeling exceptionally touchy, like his now.

He's already had to watch over Erwin like this once, and having to do it again... Well, he's only human, and his nerves are a little frayed. Add to that the fact that he has Eren to look after now and you have the makings of a tin-a-day habit. Horrors.

(There's a little bit of gratefulness there, too- he hadn't had access to these sorts of luxuries often home or during his time as Traveler. It's the little things... He's not so proud that he won't take advantage of them while the option is available.]

...Do you drink?

[It's a potentially loaded question, maybe, carrying the implication of Cole's inhuman-ness... But coming from Levi it can be taken at face value- if he'd meant offense, he'd have been directly offensive about it.]

[fade_away]

[Cole makes a face at the question. It's rather like the face of a child who has reached the age when they don't want to eat anything at all, often seen by parents attempting to reason with the small human and getting nowhere with it.

Bleh the expression says.]

No.

[He used to, when he lived in the spire, because he thought he had to. Or he was pretty sure he did. Maybe he just imagined it. Eating and drinking was one of the first things Cole stopped doing when he realized he didn't need to. It seemed troublesome, and someone else always needed the resources more.]

I don't need to.

[circumitus]

[It's pretty obvious if you've been around long enough, fff.]

Apologies, then.

[She pauses. It's been a little over a year since she's experienced her own coma, but she's also not equipped to forget anything.]

It depends. People who dream while comatose don't seem to recall them immediately after awakening, but rather over time.

Chances are, your superior will be disoriented-- [if he wakes up] --but physically he should be fine. In case you're concerned.

[surveyor]

[Levi hasn't seen much of that expression- mostly because of the less than stellar food situation he's lived with since birth- but since it's no skin off his ass he doesn't have anything to say about it.

Well, nothing to say in argument, anyway. He's not about to lecture someone who doesn't need to eat or drink about not eating or drinking. MORE FOR HIM TBH.]

Suit yourself. Shit. [Or there would be, if there were any left. He's blown through what'd been brought with him already, apparently. ...Coffee it is.

He switches the kettle off with a grunt. During the time he'd spent at the University as a Traveler (and another him, one who'd been familiar with this sort of shit) he'd probably consumed his weight in coffee weekly, definitely monthly... But as himself he isn't much of a fan. It'll do the job, though. He needs a boost, especially if he's gonna be dealing with bad news all damn day.] Anyway... Is that your... Whatever it is you do, or have you been through it yourself?

[Considering he's seen firsthand how real Cole's abilities are, it's not meant to decide if he believes the kid or not, more to assess where his claim is coming from so he can file it away in the proper spot with like information. He likes to organize, okay? It's soothing even if it's just in his head...]

[surveyor]

That's... Good to know. [The physical part, anyway. It's a relief. Disorientation can be dealt with a lot easier than, say, intestines falling out of your ass, and at this point he'll take what he can get.] Any side effects to look out for that might show up later on?

[circumitus]

[Yeah, ass-intestines are significantly more challenging.]

Hard to say for certain. It can be different for some people, what memories or symptoms they experience after a coma.

Either way, you'll want to have him checked out by the medical staff. If there are any irregularities, they can usually find out beforehand.

video;

[blackmagus]

[ While Fortescue's never been stuck in the tubes, she has talked to a few people who were. Secondhand it is, then. Hi, Levi. ]

A few months ago, many people were in there for a full Jump cycle. They came out... disoriented, but they dreamed quite a bit, I think.

[surveyor]

Right. [He'd... Almost forgotten about the fact that they have (allegedly) decent medical facilities here- 3DMG harness tourniquets and the most basic and useless pain management options should be a thing of the past- literally- and so it's possible Levi's a little more concerned than he needs to be.

Not that it changes much. He's gonna worry either way- one of the shittier side effect of giving a fuck. Maybe they have something for that here, too...] I guess they'd know what to look for better than anyone else- the information I could find didn't give me the impression this is uncommon.

[Which is a little disturbing, obviously, but could also means that treatment should be fairly streamlined by now.]

[video]

[surveyor]

[Levi frowns. That's news to him- if it was in the archives he'd missed it, somehow.

Word of mouth, maybe. But whatever, he can worry about his failure to play detective later.]

Some kind of mass detainment...? Do we have any idea why?

[Naturally, his first thought is that they'd caused trouble as a group... Since he's so familiar with that, and all.]

[fade_away]

"I haven't been caught in one for longer than everyone else... not that I know of." He wondered, sometimes, if some people showed up long before they woke. He hadn't noticed that yet though. It was a curious idea. "But I listen to the sleeping ones sometimes. Netted in nightmares or nothing at all."

[surveyor]

...Huh.

[Coffee set to brew, Levi turns to lean against the edge of the counter, arms crossed and frowning. The nightmares he's heard about, the fact that they happen and that sometimes remembering them can take a while...

His mouth opens automatically to ask if Cole happens to have listened to Erwin, but snaps shut a moment later when he realizes what he's about to do. It isn't that he doesn't want to know- because he certainly does- but asking seems a little too desperate for his tastes, even more than the broadcast had been...

And that isn't the kind of image he wants to put forward, even if he suspects that's all Cole can see regardless. ...Or feel, or however that works.

Brooding brooding brooding......]

[video]

[blackmagus]

[ She shakes her head slightly. ]

I don't think so. When I asked about it, everyone I spoke to who'd been on the ship for a while told me it's not uncommon. The sheer number of people was uncommon, but being detained isn't, apparently.

[ Fortescue's a bit grateful she hasn't experienced it herself. ]

[surveyor]

[Hmmm...]

I've heard that much, that it happens every once in a while for no apparent reason... But a bigger group than usual is something worth looking into. I heard there was some sort of recon attempt a while back... Do you know if anyone involved in that was part of the group that got stuck together?

[He knows that didn't go well and had ended in casualties... Maybe the comas were punishment of some kind...?

He's getting ahead of himself, though- he should probably wait to see if that's even related before jumping to stupid conclusions.]

[fade_away]

[Cole watches Levi, unbothered by the silence, with the same eyes that are both far far away and far far too perceptive.]

Would that make you feel better?

[He doesn't really need to clarify what he's asking, does he.]

[blackmagus]

No, I don't.

[ She wouldn't put it past the ship, though, or whatever is behind it. ]

But there were so many in the pods, no doubt there was crossover of some kind. Many people came out very... disoriented.

[circumitus]

[Sorry, Levi. No such thing as No Give A Fuck pills here. Though Valium might be a close enough prescription.]

It isn't, sorry to say. Have seen it happen countless of times before.

For what it's worth, am certain he or she will be fine. Even the ones who experience dreams usually are.

[It's the closest thing to consolation Rey can really get.]

[surveyor]

[Levi looks up, studying Cole for a moment. He wants to be pissed off (since he did say he'd prefer that Cole keep his insight to himself) but surprisingly enough... He isn't.]

I don't know.

[He wasn't expecting something quite as actually helpful as this.

He sighs.]

Maybe.

[It depends on how bad it is. Look, every person who joins the Survey Corps is as brave as they are stupid for joining in the first place... But Levi isn't immune to the occasional night terror and he knows Erwin isn't either. Not a comforting thought.]

[surveyor]

It could just as easily be random, I guess... [A sobering thought... Not that it'd deter him from throwing his lot in with whatever group of troublemakers he deems most likely to have the best outcome if it were a punishment, of course.] But it's dangerous to think that way.

[Which means it'll be back to the archives with him, probably, once this current situation has been resolved. He isn't great at research this probably won't turn anything up whoops.]

Anyway- disoriented like when we came here, right?

[surveyor]

[Levi can respect that- it's all he'd be able to offer with any sort of sincerity if their positions were reversed.]

That's good to hear. [Fine aside from the headache he's going to have when Levi has to fill him in on a month's worth of bullshit. There isn't nearly as much to report as there had been about their world, but it's enough.] Are you speaking from experience?

[...Is that a personal question?]

[blackmagus]

Not precisely. [ Fortescue thinks of Blake, struggling with his memories. But she doesn't want to name any names without permission; that would be rude. ] A bit more than when I arrived, at least. Some of them weren't fully aware of what they were or... who they were, or weren't in complete charge of their memories.