sixthiterationlogs | (no subject)

WHO: Jean-Luc Picard
WHERE: near the Inn
WHEN: mid-February
OPEN TO: Erik Lensherr
WARNINGS: None at the moment

For all that the earlier parts of the month have already had their share of unusual difficulties (and ones he could have done without, besides), the worst seems to have - finally - past. Which is here read that he's actually capable of getting more than a handful of feet away from Beverly's side without becoming suddenly and violently ill. And to be honest, while there are certainly worse things that could have happened, he's grateful to no longer be forcibly reminded of the last time the two of them had ended up connected by the metaphoric hip.

Whether or not it's intentional on the part of the Observers is another question entirely, but just at the moment it's not anything he means to spend to much time thinking about.

In retrospect, however, he probably should have. Or at least, should have considered the possibility that the Observers might not have been satisfied with just the one round of leaving him stuck in close proximity to another person. As it is, the first he's aware that there's even so much as a suggestion that he might be due for another round of what he's just been recently been through is the by now all-too-familiar feeling of nausea.

Which is complicated, slightly, by the presence of the Inn not too far away. But he figures that looking to see if anyone else has also stopped dead in their tracks is a decent place to start.

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Erik has, thankfully, been spared that particular connection before now, but whatever advantage that might have been is lost when he tries to walk away from the inn and is struck by the sudden onset of a wave of nausea. Every time he tries to take a step, he's thwarted again. He was hoping he could make it home to lie down, but it seems like he's better off turning back to the inn and finding somewhere there to stay until this passes.

Navigating by nausea is, perhaps, not exactly the most precise science. But it seems to get momentarily better when Picard turns back towards the Inn, and he figures that's a good enough start. It gets better when he spots Erik attempting to make his own way somewhere and largely not succeeding at it. Which is, of course, no guarantee that the Observers haven't decided to toss something else at them as well, but it's as good a place to start as any, and if he ends up looking a little ridiculous as a result of making his way over there are worse things that could happen.

And in any case, given that the nausea continues to lessen the closer he gets to Erik, he figures that he's at least heading in the right direction.

"Excuse me," he begins, once he's close enough to hold a conversation without having to yell, "I know this is going to sound unusual, but you wouldn't happen to have been slightly nauseous just now, would you?"

It does sound unusual, and it's not the kind of thing he would ever expect someone to ask him by way of conversation. But it's not as unusual as it could have been -- because in this case it's correct, although he's not sure how someone else could have known that.

"Was it that obvious?"

In any other situation, it wouldn't be anything even close to the top of Picard's mental list of what might make for a decent conversational opener. As it stands, however, it's more than a little bit relevant, not least of which is for the fact of making sure he has the right person. And to be fair, the fact that he hasn't ended up getting nauseous again is a good.

"In a sense, yes." There's a pause there, as he tries to figure out how best to explain. "I'm afraid the Observers have ... decided that we need to spend some time in close proximity. Getting too far apart results in the effects you felt earlier."

He just stares for a moment. Not because he's trying to figure what Picard just said -- he's smarter than that. But because he's taking in the ridiculousness of the situation, trying to make sense of it. He'd almost be tempted to step away and test the truth of it for himself, but why would someone make that up?

"I'm getting really tired of what they think up next."

"Likewise."

Once had been quite enough as it was, and for all that there's no getting out of it, he can't really say that this is something he's going to be looking forward to. Not least of all for the awkwardness of the two of them being near-strangers.

"If it's any consolation it should wear off after a couple days."

A couple of highly inconvenient days, yes. But certainly not a long as it could have been.

Erik has searched for answers before, even done a little searching for a way out, and come up empty at every turn. It frustrates him no end, but he's smart. He knows that sometimes it's better to go along with the situation and keep alert for something to take advantage of, which is about all he can do right now. The trouble is that faking complacency is difficult for him to do.

"Well that's something at least." He only has to put up with inconveniences for a couple of days.

Sooner or later, there will have to be something they can take advantage of. Or so he has to keep hoping, anyway. Otherwise he's not at all certain that he'd be able to keep going as well as he has been. And if that means that the Observers see rather more of him simply doing his best to get along then they might have bargained for, so be it.

"It's a start, yes. If not necessarily one that makes up for the inconvenience in the first place."

There's a pause, and then it occurs to him that if their going to be spending the next few days in enforced proximity to each other, introductions might be a good idea.

"Ah, and I'm Jean-Luc Picard, since I don't think we've met before."

"I don't think at this point, they could do anything that would make up for the inconvenience." Someone else may disagree, of course, but as long as Erik's missing a large part of himself, those behind this are going to have a lot to make up for.

"Erik Lehnsherr."

"Most likely not. But short of being able to lay our grievances at their feet more directly...."

Not that he would object to doing precisely that at the very least, should the option present itself. It's simply that there hasn't been even the slightest suggestion as to how one might do so, and for all that he doesn't mean to stop trying either, it's been getting more than a little frustrating.

But for the time being, he leaves that be in favor of introductions.

"Jean-Luc Picard. I'd say it's nice to meet you, but I'm afraid the situation, at least, leaves something to be desired."

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apologies for the delay, here

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apologies again; May kind of kicked my ass

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