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[truth_is_cold]

[Open Spam]

[Today is a very special sort of day. Because Rhade also had a cursed object, only he didn't realize that it was one of his leather jackets. His plan to go to the CES is somewhat hindered by a sudden inability to think up a lie.

He's on his way there, anyway, not realizing yet that how exactly the flood has caused this. He knows that he needs to check up on Ben, because whatever was happening there was really.... strange. Just strange. Basically somehow candy has made Ben act slightly creepier than usual.]


OOC: So, for the first time ever on spontaneous whim I'm doing a truth thing with Rhade. He won't ramble on the network but if he runs into someone he will.

Comments

[ Spam ]

[warisart]

[It's easier to actually make progress when no one is talking to him. Ben is still sucking on the lollipop, his mouth gone cornflower blue, and snickering from time to time but there's no one to trigger a full blown laughing fit. It feels... good, even if he doesn't really understand it.

He's en route from the inmate showers to the deck when he spots Rhade ahead of him, and jogs to catch up. Why not? He was about to go running anyway when his initial attempt at it hadn't done much to curb his returning energy. May as well start now.]

Gaheris! [Better, also, not to run with the lollipop stuck in his mouth.]

[ Spam ]

[truth_is_cold]

[And here comes his oddly giggling inmate. He slows down to look at him.] I'm glad to see that you're fully recovered, but I'm perplexed that your mouth is changing colors.

[That last bit felt unnecessary somehow. He glances around warily, as if those words were pulled out of him and he needs to find them again.]

[ Spam ]

[warisart]

I told you - and a number of other people - that I would be fine.

[This cheerful, and then his eyes are rolling down until he's nearly cross-eyed as though he can see his mouth. He twirls the candy thoughtfully.]

I've decided it's obviously the candy. I don't think it's natural, though.

[ Spam ]

[truth_is_cold]

The flood probably created it, but I don't know what my problem could be because I didn't eat any candy today and I only started acting unusually recently.

You're almost cross-eyed. Which isn't really relevant but for some reason I took note of it. Okay, now you're not.

[ Spam ]

[warisart]

[Ben's gaze straightens out and he considers his warden, still almost-smiling although not actively laughing.]

Do you feel well otherwise?

[Spam]

[hunt4commonwealth]

[Dylan's running laps around the deck when he sees Rhade. He changes direction and runs up to him, jogging in place to keep his blood pumping and muscles warm.]

Gaheris, hey. How're you doing?

[Spam]

[truth_is_cold]

[Rhade is walking briskly at this point, knowing something is wrong with him but not why it only started now when the flood has been going on for at least a day.

But when Dylan stops to ask him how he's doing, he answers quickly without thinking about it.]

I'm physically fine, but I'm slightly confused as to what's going on and still a little depressed. [He rubs his hands together, turning in place again to stare around him accusingly. You did this, ship, is what this look says.]

[Spam]

[hunt4commonwealth]

[That is not how Rhade usually answers questions. He stops jogging in place. Exercise can wait.]

Uh...

I'm guessing you've been affected by the flood.

[Spam]

[truth_is_cold]

I wasn't until an hour ago. [Irritated, but not at Dylan. He puts his hands on his hips and huffs.] Which makes no sense.

[Spam]

[hunt4commonwealth]

That is strange. Maybe something about this flood is contagious somehow?

What are the effects you're feeling?

[SPAM] - if too late, no worries. ^__~

[some_kinda_hero]

[Claire's heading back for her cabin to hide in when she crosses paths with Rhade. Blushing, because she's well on her way into becoming a teddy bear (tail, bow, her entire left side minus the face), she fiddles with the tails of her new 'necklace'.]

Oh, um, hey, Gaheris.

[SPAM]

[truth_is_cold]

[He is jarred as he sees her come out, obviously affected and very different from everyone else.

He slows and blinks at her.]

Are you alright?

[SPAM]

[some_kinda_hero]

[She makes a noise of indifference while lifting and eyeing the teddy arm.]

It doesn't hurt, if that's what you're getting at. [Arm drops.] Otherwise, yeah. I'm okay. You look normal...not that that means a damn thing this time around.

[Because Rorschach looks the same too, but he's clearly been affected.]

Re: [SPAM]

[truth_is_cold]

I don't think I'm normal. I'm being more honest and less filtered than I usually am. Which is usually very useful because it helps protect the identities of the people I've slept with.

[He clears this throat and looks at her flatly.]

[SPAM]

[some_kinda_hero]

[Claire blushes and blinks a bit too quickly.] Uhh, yeah, I'm sure they appreciate it your, heh, partners. Sorry to hear that, but...why aren't you hiding, then? Seems the easiest way to avoid saying anything risky.

/late

[silvestris]

[Selina has one, too: a teddy bear with its head half-cut off. The bear is chattering away, reciting the alphabet in a garbled sing-song.

Selina is Not Impressed, but she still pauses when she bumps into Rhade.]

Re: /late

[truth_is_cold]

[He's not in his jacket at the moment, which he hasn't put two and two together quite yet, but at least he's feeling more normal. The bear is a little startling...]

That is unsettling. [He says first. Because it is. Then he looks up at her, trying to ignore the chattering.]

Are you alright? I saw mention that your friend had left. [Friend, carefully pronounced in the way that he didn't want to make assumptions.]

[silvestris]

[She lifts it up by its paw, grimacing, starts to tell him she's going to go throw it overboard. But talking about Bruce, even without his name, makes her smile snag a little.]

He'd been here a while. And he's always liked to have more control than he'd ever get here, so.... At least he said good bye, right?

[truth_is_cold]

[Una left while he was here, and having spoken to her recently has reminded him of what that felt like.]

At least. But I don't doubt you still miss him. [He does walk around that bear, though, a doubtful look on his face.]

[silvestris]

[She moves around with him, to slip her free arm through his, and tug him down the hallway.]

Like I've lost a limb. He's the reason I decided I'll graduate. Or I'll try...seems the Admiral likes to punch holes in everyone's dreams.

[Spam]

[inhistorybooks]

[Trip isn't affected, and that's perfectly fine by him. He's got more than enough stuff on his plate without worrying about clucking like a chicken or bursting into song at every opportunity, and so when he heads up the stairs to the deck and runs into Rhade, he seems like he's in a pretty good mood.]

Afternoon.

[Spam]

[truth_is_cold]

It's always awkward running into you. I hate whatever is happening. I apologize, I didn't want to say that. I'm saying things that I don't want to. It's as if the filter between my mind and my mouth has completely shut down.

[All this as he's slowly going past, and he ends up wrinkling his nose and wringing his fingers in irritation.]

[Spam]

[inhistorybooks]

[Well.

That's definitely awkward, and Trip looks surprised, because he doesn't know if he should ask why Rhade hates running into him, or respect the fact that he doesn't want to be spewing this kind of stuff and it's just the flood.]

Sorry? [...] There something I can do to make it less awkward?

[Spam]

[truth_is_cold]

It's not necessarily your fault. The ship brought you in prior to being acquainted with me and I was very close to your wife. Who is likely not your wife yet.

[He tries to make an apologetic shrug but it doesn't quite feel right after that.]

[Spam]

[inhistorybooks]

My wife? [He has absolutely no idea how to respond to that, because it's just so out of left field in some ways.

In others, it's really not, but holy crap, when the hell did that happen?] You mean T'Pol?