θ 40

[bit_impossible]

[when the Sphere turns on, it shows him sitting in an office somewhere on Level 12, hands covering his face and muffling his mutterings. his knuckles are bloody and the two fingers on his left hand still move with an odd detachment like they're simply along for the ride and not being controlled by him. he's not showing it, but those nerve endings in his burnt hand have started to come back--something he hoped wouldn't come around until much later.]

[when he finally does remove his hands, he doesn't look all that different than he did a few days ago. no dark circles, yawning, or even hand tremors even with his recent assault on the wall behind him; his hands are as steady as ever. it's the dark, acerbic look in his eyes that tell a different story. he might not need the sleep, but that doesn't mean he isn't frustrated as hell.]

There has to be a way of helping them. I'm just not finding it. Medications, hypnosis, meditation, not even--! None of it! And if they don't get some sleep soon, they'll... [he trails off, not wishing to think of the people he knows and cares for dying from something so easily preventable.]

If only there were some way to get to that man! [he's aware of the Sphere being on now.] Say what you will, Orion. You talk of saving "them", well my friend, talk can only get you so far! And that's saying nothing about the riddles and endless games you and Ganymede force us to play! For all your talk about him and blaming the man for what's happened, you two are terribly alike. Perhaps his madness had grabbed hold of you before you evacuated the ship, I wonder.

[laughs bitterly] How foolish of me. It's not like you're going to respond to this or anything else we say to you, is there Orion? If I could only get to you...

Comments

[bit_impossible]

I do, but I wonder if I should let you use them or not...

[oliverplus]

[glances up, quirking an eyebrow at him] What's that supposed to mean?

[bit_impossible]

These are sharp, you're tired, and you might hurt yourself more.

[oliverplus]

[gives him a flat look] Doctor, I am not going to cut myself on your scissors.

[bit_impossible]

[shrugs and lightly hits them across the desk towards Oliver.] Don't say I didn't warn you.

[oliverplus]

[rolls his eyes--lack of sleep has done nothing for his temper--and picks up the scissors, cutting at the bandages. mutters] You're the one who said I wouldn't be completely useless...

[bit_impossible]

[wags a finger at him; he heard those mutterings.] Being useless and being careless are two different things.

[oliverplus]

What, you think I'm gonna suddenly be careless on purpose 'cause I've got scissors? [he may have stopped watching what he was doing while he said that. good thing he didn't cut his hand]

[bit_impossible]

On purpose? Nah, only if you were stupid and wanted to hurt yourself.

[oliverplus]

Why would I want to hurt myself!? [okay, now he's gesturing angrily with the scissors]

[bit_impossible]

Because you're doing something foolhardy like that! Put those down!

[oliverplus]

Because...what? [looks down at his hand in surprise, frowning at the scissors. takes a moment to consider the situation, moving as if to put down the scissors, before he changes his mind and starts angrily cutting at the bandages again, keeping his gaze focused on his hand and grumbling faintly to himself]

[bit_impossible]

[decides that calling Oliver an obstinate fool would be rather counter-productive, and instead finishes treating his own wounds.]

Once you're done with that, go ahead and spread some of that ointment on there. [sends that across the desk too.]

[oliverplus]

[still annoyed; sharply] Yeah, cheers. [sets down the scissors, peeling away the old bandages before he dips into the ointment and begins to spread it on his hand and arm]

[bit_impossible]

So, Oliver, while we're on the topic of taking care of oneself, when was the last time you've had anything to eat?

[oliverplus]

[pauses in his muttering and his work to glance up at the Doctor. blinks] Uh...I don't know. But it can't've been too long or I'd be hungry. Well...I guess I am a little hungry...

[bit_impossible]

[sighs and pulls open a drawer. he's stuffed it and the rest of the desk full of water bottles and other food, and pulls out a bag of pretzels, tossing that onto the desk.]

[oliverplus]

Oh perfect, take-away! [he was afraid the Doctor was going to drag him off somewhere] Uh...could you just help me finish this first? [gesture at his burned arm]

[bit_impossible]

[mutters] Oh, gotten rid of the attitude, have we?

Of course I can. [gets up, grabbing the fresh bandages, and comes around the desk to start wrapping Oliver's hand.]

[oliverplus]

[pouts and mumbles] Well, since you stopped yelling at me for a minute, yeah...

[bit_impossible]

That wasn't yelling.

[oliverplus]

[looks up at him] Accusing me of being incompetent, then.

[bit_impossible]

I said nothing of the sort. You're misinterpreting everything I'm saying because of the state your mind is in. [though something still tells him that Oliver would've taken offence to it had he been well-rested as well...]

[oliverplus]

[grumbles] Then what are you saying, Doctor?

[bit_impossible]

I was only warning you. Can't I do that? I still gave you the scissors, after all.