PC - Ludger

[maladied]

Comments

[sideline]

It's not the same letter that Sage saw, and unfortunately, the person who has the letter is someone whose partnership I don't want to lose.

[ look man. he should know how aggro everyone has been (general) towards the puppets!!! excuse fran for valuing it, however, he'll try something. ]

That letter does imply saving "monsters", but in the same way that I want to save everyone here.

[ so, if ludger can understand what he's saying without saying it?? hopefully?? ]

[chromatized]

[ naru why do you do this to me ]

... Someone can cure people who transform?

[ maybe??? ]

[sideline]

[ plausible deniability!!! ]

Not yet; there's much work there that needs to be done, but if we can find them before things get to be that dire—then maybe it won't be as much work.

[ you know. not exactly preemptive medical care but close enough. ]

[chromatized]

So you'd have to be able to identify people who are in the process of changing...

[ looks down at Sage's thread, hm! ]

... Were you able to find Yuki or Lynne? As in, did either of them get extra treatment ahead of time?

[ he assumes not, but it's better to be sure. ]

[sideline]

[ he'll just nod to that. seems about correct one way or another but as for the real question. well. ]

No, I wasn't.

I was only able to treat them after they had been identified and brought into our care. [ which, clearly, is a huge point of contention among the crowd but that's okay. there's a way to handle that in the future. probably.... ] It's not a welcoming environment out there for us.

[chromatized]

... Everyone's afraid. And we don't understand what's happening to us.

[ and then there's the puppets, who seem like they "know" so much more. ]

Is- is there something that means you have to use the puppets as intermediaries? It makes it harder for people to empathize. And-

[ ... ]

I think we all want to know what we're in store for.

[ because Foxglove still hasn't told Ludger what comes next. ]

[sideline]

We were just as wary of all of you when you arrived as you were of us. We came to this place without realizing we'd find others here, but at least we knew why we were here.

[ you know. all the things that they had said up to that point and then some. ]

I don't have an answer for you—for anyone here. However, if you think that I'll stand by and do nothing then you're all mistaken.

[ and because ludger does deserve an explanation...kind of. ]

If that substance is what I think it is, then you're probably fine as you are right now—if it's only a small amount. I can't promise you that things won't get worse if you somehow absorb more of it.

[chromatized]

... And if I do?

[sideline]

[ THE ANSWER SHOULD BE OBVIOUS BUT IT'S FINE. he'll say it. ]

Then it's likely that you end up like those who have become infected...or worse.

[chromatized]

[ some things you just gotta say out-loud, Foxglove. ]

... That's the other reason why I wanted to talk to you, actually. You said your current treatment is only good once. That's still true?

[sideline]

It should be.

I'm in the process of creating a new formula using samples that I've been able to gather here but none that I feel comfortable trying on anyone.

[chromatized]

[ that's good. ]

Could I be a source of samples for you?

[sideline]

[ i had to debate which icon i wanted to use and i did not use the more deranged one. tragically. ]

Source in which way?

[chromatized]

As an active, repeat source of samples while the concentration of illness grows. Wouldn't that be useful for figuring out treatment options?

[ he thinks it would be. he's been around Jude and Julius enough to know that more data is always better. ]

[sideline]

It would but—

[ the man of science sees the opportunity at his feet but good thing that fran has evolved beyond his more flexible ways. ]

I can't just recklessly treat you like just some test subject! [ he's starting to wonder what kind of background you've lived through, ludger. ] I'd want to make sure it was safe before giving it to a person, at the very least.

[chromatized]

Oh.

[ ah, things got a little crossed somewhere. guess he wasn't clear enough! ]

I didn't mean you needed to test the treatments on me - you need uncontaminated samples, right? I meant that if I progress to a point you think is on the borderline of transforming, I'd want you to give me your current formula. And then if I did transform, I'd want you to give me a second dose.

[sideline]

[ ...this.

makes him feel better but only slight. ]

I hope that it won't come to that. I don't like using my inventions to hurt people. [ ... ] However, having access to uncontaminated samples is invaluable.

I would never ask more from you than you'd be willing to give.

[chromatized]

If you can save everyone else, it would be worth it.

[ he's already given everything for his one. and- his wish-

... well. Elle would understand, wouldn't she? she was so much braver than him. even when she was afraid. ]

So? What do you need from me?

[sideline]

It's not "everyone" if you're not included.

[ what about those who have already died? well. that's not his realm here. ]

A blood sample will do for now. I'm not sure if that substance can be found somewhere so simply, but it's been where I've had the most luck when creating treatments.

[chromatized]

[ it's ok Milla will take care of them, trust ]

... Do I want to know what the best sources of the substance have been?

[ but he's already moving to oblige, taking his coat off and rolling up the sleeve of his shirt. ]

[sideline]

[ DO WE? ....should we???

and thank you ludger for making things easier for him because he'll get to work immediately and pull out all of the necessary supplies. nothing fancy—a needle, vial, a cleaning pad, and a bandage. ]

Are you asking about here or what has been my best source previously?

[chromatized]

Both, if you don't mind sharing.

[ can we assume a convenient chair nearby? because Ludger will sit in it, uncovered arm extended on the armrest for cleaning and vein tapping. ]

[sideline]

[ we can always assume this when it comes to rp because yeah. anyway, fran's an expert at this sort of thing so it won't take more than a few short moments before he gets everything he needs. ]

I haven't been able to find a suitable sample here until you all arrived.

[ make of that as you will. ]

...as for back home, it wasn't too difficult. [ ... ] Many infected had it.

[chromatized]

[ oh so F(ran)oxglove's sample taking doesn't trigger the weekly ouchies? incredible. puppet rights.

Ludger does the whole song and dance, pressing the gauze against the crook if his elbow as he watches Foxglove putter around. until they had arrived, huh...? ]

Desires sure work in strange ways.

[ were they coincidentally coinciding desires though? or... ]

Well, let's hard to make sure it doesn't get to that point, Foxglove. I'll be in your care.

[ literally. ]

[sideline]

[ it won't be direct skin-to-skin!!! ]

It certainly does. Perhaps not always this strange.

[ whether or not ludger catches that and whether fran meant to drop it are two different things but regardless, he'll continue on with this conversation with a bit of a smile. ]

I'll do my best to make sure it won't be, and you can call Victor or Fran—unless you're more comfortable with "Foxglove".