Don't eat the food; don't drink the tea.

[heartofarapier]

Who: Eirika and You, [Open]
When: Dec. 01 - Late Afternoon / Early Evening
What: The academy's custodian is down for the count. Eirika's gone to FDC to get him something—anything—that will help.
Where: Anywhere between the faculty quarters and into various places in FDC. YOU GET TO PICK THE PLACE. If it exists, Eirika has probably been there.
Warnings: Nope. This is CHILD-SAFE zone.



I can't believe what I made him made him sick. I was so certain I was improving my skill.

Not that it made any difference in the present. What happened certainly happened and questioning the how or the why was something she could think about when he was feeling better. And she wanted to assume anything exchanged between them was a consequence of some type of delirium. It didn't prevent her from excessively contemplating all that had been laid out. She'd have to investigate further when he felt better, she supposed, even if she didn't necessarily want to.

First thing was first, though. And that meant with all of the haste she could muster, getting to FDC's main department store. And not getting distracted by things along the way.

Comments

[givemeyouranswerdo]

By distraction, clearly she meant not running into someone as she bolted out of the campus. Because it was happening anyway. When she opened the door, she collided with Daisy, who was on her way in, causing her to tumble backwards.

"Oof!" she declared, sitting up and rubbing her butt. "Eirika? What's the rush?" she asked.

[heartofarapier]

It was a face she didn't see oft. Not because she didn't want to, but mostly because Eirika was easily caught up in other things. Her mind was still reeling over the recent days. The way illness seemed to be claiming others from an indication at the network, which made her begin to wonder if Connor's affliction had anything to do with her. And naturally, the things Connor said that sat with her.

Was he mad when he said them? Not 'mad' as in 'angry.' But 'mad' as in 'insane.'

"I'm sorry," she found herself saying as she tried to right herself, almost instinctively shifting a hand over her front. Just in case Connor wasn't completely full of horse crap. Shaking her head, she leaned over and offered a hand to Daisy, "Sorry," she repeated, like once wasn't enough. "I was trying to find some medicine. I suppose my feet got a little carried away."

[givemeyouranswerdo]

"Oh!" she said, taking the offered hand as she got to her feet. "Are you feeling sick? Can I help? I can go with you!" she suggested. Eirika was not a face she saw often, but she did think of her as a friend. And she was eager to help out.

[heartofarapier]

It was with a characteristic demure manner than she helped Daisy up, careful to keep herself on her feet as well. "No, no," the teal-haired princess began to laugh gently. "It isn't for me. The academy's custodian, I mean. His Grace. Young Master Kenway."

His Grace. She almost chortled. He didn't like it when she called him that. "All the same, if you should like to come with me, I would not turn down your companionship." And when she really thought about it, she was even beginning to speak like him. But maybe that wasn't a completely bad thing.

[givemeyouranswerdo]

"His Grace?" Daisy asked with a bit of a chuckle. "I'd love to!" she added, dusting herself off. "So what kind of medicine are you looking for? We'll probably have to hit the mall in town..." She crossed her arms, thinking about a game plan for this shopping trip.

[heartofarapier]

"Aye," she agreed with a subtle smile, even a bit bashful. "His Grace." And after a moment's consideration, as if it dawned on her that Daisy might not have been acquainted with him, she felt an explanation would be better. "Ah... Connor. Tall man, dark hair, dark skin, dark eyes. Rather muscular. White robes and hood. I'm certain you've seen him around before..."

She trailed off as she thought about what kind of medicine to get. "...Mm... To be honest, Daisy, I'm unsure. He didn't know what would be best for him. And I'm not well-versed at all in addressing illness. Abrasions and wounds of such natures I can attend to. This is entirely out of my field of expertise, but I have enough coin to cover whatever I may need. Or may feel would be useful. What do you suggest?"

[givemeyouranswerdo]

"Never fear, I'm here to help!" Daisy declared confidently. "C'mon, I know just what you need. If he's going down with whatever seems to be spreading around here, then he's probably got the same symptoms as a lot of other people, right?" she asked, as they set off in the direction of town. Daisy was a ray of sunshine, always ready and happy to help her friends in their hour of need.

[heartofarapier]

Eirika nearly snorted in reply. Daisy's enthusiasm outweighed her own by so much, that Eirika had to wonder just where she got such. Was it her world, perhaps? Or it could have been natural. Undoubtedly curious, she made a note to ask about it later, when there wasn't an absolutely sick custodian protected beneath her proverbial wings.

"Mm. I am not completely certain everyone is suffering the same symptoms or affliction. He ate something I ate, so I was under the impression perhaps I gave him something he simply could not agree with." Odd, but not improbable. "I can tell you that he certainly didn't seem like he was feeling well. Mostly a bit like a bumbling fool with some odd chatter. I'm not certain how the people here would call it."

After some thought, she gave a slow nod, as if reaffirming her thoughts personally. "He didn't seem like himself at all."

[givemeyouranswerdo]

As they walked, Daisy asked for clarification. "Most of the other people I've seen have been nauseous, weak, fevery... Was Connor feeling that way?" she asked. "Odd chatter... Was he talking to himself? Maybe hallucinating?"

She placed her hand on her chin. "If nothing in town works, then maybe Mario has something for it. He's got those Megavitamin things that are supposed to work really well against all sorts of things."

[heartofarapier]

"A lot of that seems to properly sychronise with what I witnessed," Eirika admitted with a slow nod. "Not the hallucinations and everything he said was definitely directed to me, but it led to some interesting conversation." At the very slightest, which she was still mulling over in her head.

But the prospect of something to help Connor reigned supreme, no matter how slim of a chance it might have been. "Mario... A friend of yours? I don't believe he and I have had the privilege of meeting." But chances were they'd at least seen each other in passing. It was near impossible not to see everyone. Just most of the time they were faces without names.

[givemeyouranswerdo]

"Mario's one of my best friends," Daisy explained. "He's kinda short, a bit plump, he's got a pretty awesome mustache... Saved the Mushroom Kingdom more often than I can count, and even saved me from aliens one time! I think right now he's got a job as the school nurse."

[heartofarapier]

"He's the school nurse...?"

Eirika's eyebrows lifted with some thought. "You mean he took Rhys's position, then." Rhys. Just saying the name made her feel wistful. She missed the fragile priest, but she imagined that perhaps he was better than when he was at the academy.

"He sounds like a very good person if you're speaking of him so highly. I should most certainly like to meet him. It would be nicer if it was on better terms, but we here cannot be so particular, I suppose."

[givemeyouranswerdo]

"Yeah, apparently he's a plumber and also a doctor," Daisy explained. "I don't know why he's still a plumber if he's also a doctor, but it works for him."

She nodded happily. "Mario is great. He's a real hero. Promise not to tell anyone, but I kinda had a crush on him once... Not anymore! But one time."

We'll say this is after Gordon's hallucinations...

[trustycrowbar]

What exactly makes pepto-bismol pink, anyway...?

This was what Gordon had been pondering the very moment he looked up from the store shelves, and saw a familiar shade of blue hair whisk around the corner. He'd come down to the city for all the gastronomical curatives and detoxifiers he could get to offer to everyone, only to find them mostly bought-out already. So he abandons his quest for the moment and follows her, to try to strike up a conversation.

GOOD IDEA...

[heartofarapier]

Daisy was of good help, which comes as no surprise. For all she thinks she knows of modern luxuries and advancements, she really knows next to nothing. Consequently, she's left staring at a wall of boxes with letters and words, most of which she can read, but still can't understand.

As her gaze drifts off, her thoughts do as well, still travelling the same path they were travelling when she was on her way to the department store. But when she catches an eye of Gordon, she finds herself pausing and after a moment, she lifts a hand and waves to him.

Re: GOOD IDEA...

[trustycrowbar]

"Eirika--" He chime in as a greeting, waving back. He follows her to her outpost against the unidentifiable wilderness of the pharmacy.

"I didn't expect to see you out here..." He lends a curious glance to where her gaze had been. "...Why are you looking at men's cologne? Oh hey, hold on, this one's got fire flower extract in it? Really?" He muses, picking up the bottle to mull it over.

[heartofarapier]

"Yes, well. I hadn't—"

She pauses when he continues and at first she has no idea what to say. Then she looks back at the wall. "Is that what this is? Really? Wait." Because there's a more important question at hand. "What... is cologne?"

[trustycrowbar]

"Err, I um... It's like perfume for men. Some buy it if they think the scent will make them more attractive or get them a date."

Nevermind that he was wondering if Ziio likes spicy scents just moments before she asked... He puts the bottle back.

"It's different from aftershave, which most guys use, well, after they shave. It's an astringent, you see, and after shaving the skin is very... you're... probably not here for that either, am I right?"

[heartofarapier]

Perfume. Perfume. Because she wasn't quite sure what that was either. What did they really use to smell nice back in Magvel? Flowers. Cinnamon, she supposed. How complicated. It was somewhat commonplace for most people to not smell real great. Baths were something of a luxury and only nobility seemed to experience it the most.

"...I..." She started to laugh and shook her head. "No, no. Connor's having some issues and I came here trying to find something that would help him. He ate something I made and I must have used something that went bad without knowing it. He has been all sorts of unwell."

[trustycrowbar]

Okay, THAT gets Gordon's full attention.

"He ate something you made at the school, and now he's sick...?"

[heartofarapier]

"Well—"

And it's not like she enjoys admitting to it. "I'm not very good at cooking, you see. Before, I was taking Princess Peach's class when she was here and she was helping. But it's not something I learned in Renais. That kind of work was considered below my brother and myself. We had servants who cooked for us."

Then she continues because that's all the explanation he really needs. "I was fairly certain what I'd made for him last would be good, though. I've actually been practising in secret. Yet my food's gone and made him utterly mad."

[trustycrowbar]

Utterly mad...

"He wasn't hallucinating, was he? Seeing things that weren't actually there?"

[heartofarapier]

"No, no. Nothing like that."

As far as she knows. Eirika frowns with some consideration before she continues. "He was just saying some strange things about him. Me. Us. He seemed very much not... entirely 'present.' I'm unsure of how to describe it. It seemed very unlike him. Assuming I know him at all."

[trustycrowbar]

A change in behavior is close enough.

"I don't think it was your cooking, Eirika. I had... some problems lately myself, and I traced it back to the coffee at the cafe. I have a feeling there's something in the water around the school lately."

Some problems. That's a euphemistic way to put it. He could have KILLED someone during his freak-out the other morning, and it's possible she'd already heard of it.

[heartofarapier]

"I don't think it was your cooking, Eirika."

Wait.

"I don't think it was your cooking, Eirika."

That's really the most important thing she's hearing. It isn't her. Possibly. Potentially. Hopefully. She forces herself to listen to the rest of what he has to say, despite the way her vain hopes are trying to choke her out.

"In the water...?" True, that she'd boiled the gnocchi. But... "I've had the water, though. I make tea frequently. I've not had any issues at all... But I suppose everyone could be different." Immune systems? She's so much more fragile than Connor. She has to wonder how a man of the land is capable of getting sick and she's been fine.