030215merrowmiloko

 -- timidTheurge [TT] began trolling aspiringArchon [AA] at 20:41 --

 [08:42] TT: hey M-Merrow, can you m-meet me at the i-infirmary? I n-need to c-change y-your b-bandages?

 [08:43] AA: Oh, shore. I will be right over.

[08:43] -- aspiringArchon [AA] shifts to in-person as he arrives in the Infirmary. --

 [08:46] TT: When Merrow enters Miloko is busy checking the labels of several small bottles "t-take off y-your s-shirt and h-have a s-seat o-over t-there, p=please?"

 [08:47] AA: Merrow does so with a wince as he irritates his shoulder trying to get the shirt off.

 [08:47] AA: "I fear the infection is getting worse."

 [08:48] TT: Miloko peels off the bandages and her eyes widen in shock almost instantly "oh g-gods?"

 [08:51] AA: "It feels even worse than it looks, I am afraid."

 [08:52] TT: "it l-looks h-horrible? w-when did it get t-this bad?"

 [08:53] AA: "I do not know. It's just been getting worse and worse."

 [08:54] AA: "I am more or less resigned to the fact that I am probably going to lose the arm, unless the sylphs can perform a miracle."

 [08:56] TT: "I d-don't e-even t-think t-they can fix t-this, w-what you n-need is s-surgery? and s-soon? y-your arm is n-necrotic?"

 [08:57] AA: "How soon?"

 [08:58] TT: "we s-should h-have r-removed it a-already?"

 [08:58] AA: Merrow sighs.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [08:58] TT: "l-like you h-have, a day max, b-before the i-infection r-reaches y-your h-heart, and at t-that p-point...?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [08:59] AA: "Very whale then. There is no point putting it off."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [08:59] AA: "I hate to ask this of you, Miloko, but would you be willing?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:00] TT: "w-what if I m-mess up? w-what if I m-make t-things w-worse?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:02] AA: "If you know of someone else with more experience in the matter that could perform the surgery on such notice, then I am open to suggestion. But if not....I trust you to perform the operation."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:04] TT: "w-well, t-trolltec s-sacrifices are m-more s-surgery t-than m-murder? so I am the m-most q-qualified p-person h-here, s-since all the m-medical p-personnel w-were k-killed d-during the c-coup?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:05] AA: "That was my thinking as whale."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:06] TT: "I h-have to w-warn you t-though, no one who I've e-ever 'o-operated on' has s-survived?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:07] AA: Merrow chuckles nervously. "So death by fin rot or death by shock, is it?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:08] AA: "There's no kelping it. My life is on the line either way. I will trust whatever decision you make."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:12] TT: "I can try? you g-going to be o-okay t-though? w-with o-only one arm?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:12] AA: "I think that I am going to have to be okay with it."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:14] AA: "It's going to take some practice not to swim in circles after this though, admittedly."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:15] TT: "I n-need to w-warn you t-though, if we do t-this, d-don't get any i-ideas a-about any r-robo p-parts? I'd h-have to s-start c-cutting i-into y-your n-neck to a-attach t-them?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:16] AA: Merrow nods. "I was not shore if it was within Rubi's capabilities anyway."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:18] TT: "it is? I k-know she c-could, but I a-also d-don't t-think we'd h-have the t-time to w-wait? m-making h-high f-functionality p-prothetics is a v-very c-complicated and t-time c-consuming p-procedure?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:22] AA: "Understood. My dexterity is not a priority. My role in the team is primarily mental and social, and therefore a loss of physical capabilities is not worth sacrificing too much fixing."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:23] AA: "If I had lost both arms, I might insist on trying to make somefin work. But I will still have one fully functional arm. It will be fin."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:23] TT: "a-alright? any l-last w-words?" she gives a nervous chuckle

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:27] AA: Merrow smiles at her. "If I do not make it, tell Acenia I love her. And know that having you for a sister has made me very proud. And that if anything goes wrong, it was not your fault."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:27] AA: Merrow terns away. "I would rather not sea it happen, if you do not mind."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:28] TT: "n-neither w-would I, if I'm b-being h-honest?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:28] AA: Merrow chuckles. "Not to be a tyrant, but I am going to have to insist that you watch what you are doing."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:31] TT: "w-well, h-here g-goes n-nothing?" Miloko picks up a saw and gets to work on disarming Merrow

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:32] AA: Merrow makes a few rather unappealing faces and noises as Miloko works.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:35] TT: ((I am going to make note here in case LL wants to actually do rolls for this, so we know where to 'cut'))

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:38] TT: after a few tense minutes Miloko finishes her handiwork, letting out a loud sigh of relief

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:39] TT: "t-that's t-that, I g-guess?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:39] AA: Merrow is breathing heavily, and his eyes are wide and unfocused. He is not whimpering, but he is clearly having to fight off the urge to.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:39] AA: "That was....incredibly painful."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:42] TT: "I'll bet? but it's o-over now, if you n-need to cry I u-understand? h-hells, I t-think I n-need to cry a-after t-that?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:42] AA: Merrow gulps.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:42] AA: "Thank you for going through that with me, Miloko. It cannot have been easy."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:44] TT: Miloko gives him a hug "as bad as it was for me, it m-must've b-been a m-million t-times w-worse for you? I w-wouldn't h-have b-been a-able to do it if it was my arm t-that n-needed to be cut off?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:47] AA: Merrow does not respond, but his breathing gets a little more clam.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:47] AA: "I may pass out soon."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:51] TT: "so, y-your r-room or m-mine?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:52] AA: "Mine is probably best." He catches his breath before continuing. "Do not want to be in you and Darmok's way."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:53] TT: "I w-won't be s-seeing D-Darmok for a few d-days? I n-need to k-keep my eye on you, m-make s-sure you d-don't go i-into s-shock or s-suffer any i-internal b-bleeding or a-anything?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:56] AA: "You shore? After you two were just reunited?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [09:59] TT: "h-he'd u-understand?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:00] AA: Merrow nods. "Yes. He is good about that. I still hate to burden either of you."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:01] TT: "p-plus, I m-mean, y-you'll be p-pretty m-much out of it? we c-could j-just w-wait u-until you f-fell a-asleep?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:01] AA: Merrow chuckles. He is wavering a little already.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:04] TT: Miloko grabs a few bottles of antibiotics and pain meds, then offers her hand to Merrow "c-come on, you s-should get to bed? j-just l-lean on me?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:04] AA: Merrow allows himself to be lead away.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:04] AA: And nods.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:07] TT: as they walk Miloko keeps talking so Merrow doesn't pass out on the way to his room, "oh did I m-mention t-that I a-actually t-talked w-with m-mother r-recently? she m-made me a h-hoodie?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:08] AA: "Oh, that was nice of her."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:08] AA: "The veterans are all so much different than I was expecting."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:08] AA: He is slurring his words a little.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:08] AA: "Mother is not like the Condesce at all."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:11] TT: "I k-know, she s-seems so... u-unsure of h-herself?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:12] AA: Merrow chuckles drunkenly. "Wonder who that reminds me of."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:16] TT: "umm? L-Lily?" her tone is sarcastic

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:17] AA: "Hehehe. Yes, that must be it. She is so demure and unassuming."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:21] TT: "y-yeah, I was r-really s-surprised w-when she s-started k-kissing me? n-never w-would've s-seen t-that c-coming?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:23] AA: Merrow blinks. "She...w...?" He starts laughing deliriously.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:23] AA: "Are all of my siblings having sloppy makeouts with one another?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:24] TT: "no, u-unless D-Darmok and L-Lily h-have b-been k-keeping s-secrets f-from me?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:25] AA: Merrow starts laughing even harder.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:26] TT: "o-okay, I t-think t-the p-pain m-medicine is k-kicking in?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:27] AA: "FINALLY!" Merrow spits out, between laughter.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:30] TT: Miloko stops in front of Merrow's door, "a-alright, I t-think it's t-time for you to get s-some r-rest? d-doctor's o-orders?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:31] AA: Merrow nods. "Thank you for your kelp, sister. I would hug you, but..." He looks down at the nub where his arm used to be "...it might take me a whale to figure out how to do that correctly now."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:34] TT: "d-don't w-worry, I t-taught you how to hug w-with two a-arms, I'm s-sure I can h-help you f-figure out how to hug w-with one?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:37] AA: Merrow chuckles again. "It would hurt right now anyway."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:37] AA: "But I will keep it in mind in the future."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:42] TT: "if you n-need any h-help, l-like e-ever, j-just ask? d-don't be too p-proud and r-risk h-hurting y-yourself e-even m-more? no one w-will l-look d-down on you a-asking y-your o-older s-sister for h-help?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:42] AA: Merrow nods. "Thank you, Miloko."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:44] TT: "it's n-nothing? t-that's w-what s-siblings do?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:44] AA: Merrow smiles. "Okay. I am going to sleep now. Good night, Miloko."

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:46] TT: "n-night? if you n-need a-anything, I'll be r-right b-beside you?"

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:47] AA: Merrow nods and smiles to her, then stumbles back into his room, before crawling carefully into bed, and falling asleep almost immediately.

<p style="margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;"> [10:49] TT: Miloko tucks him in, before pulling up a chair next to his bed, ready to spring into action should his condition falter even briefly