[MINGLE] Worried/Sick 2: Snake Expedition & Recovery!

[sixthiteration]

WHERE: Anywhere; multiple locations
WHEN: Apx. 19-27 November
OPEN TO: ALL - MINGLE
WARNINGS: Serious illness and reactions to such, snakes, hallucinations

IMPORTANT NOTES: This is the second of two mingles. Please see the timing and general event details here.

Not putting any mod top-levels in this one — Just make sure you label your own top-level clearly as to whether it's Expedition or Recovery, and as always, whether it is OTA or not!

Please keep in mind the established plot details, but creative license is welcome and encouraged as long as it doesn't step on toes.

Comments

recovery;

[tosavecocoon]

Vanille takes friendship very seriously. Ty was one of the first people who really wanted to be her friend here and the first she felt truly connected to aside from Fang. With Fang gone, she's clinging to these friendships, to people like Ty who seem to care about her for being who she is. She hasn't told him everything about her, but for now, their friendship stands as solid as any other she has cultivated in the last few hundred years. That means she will do her best to help him and take care of him, no matter what happens.

She might also feel a bit responsible for him getting hurt. Like so many people in her life. The least she can do is try to help him recover.

Which is why she stays by his side as much as she can, bringing him anything he needs to stay hydrated and whatever he can manage to eat. She even tries to work him through whatever the hallucinations are, difficult as those seem to be on him. The mumbles of "I'm sorry" feel all too familiar to Vanille. That's just what she would say if she were the one hallucinating, after everything she's seen and done.

"It's okay," she says softly after one particular moment, reaching out to touch his shoulder. "You're fine. Everything's okay. You'll see."

[succored]

It might be Vanille's gentle and cheerful disposition despite the losses she had suffered, but when he looked at her, all Ty could see was his mother. For as long as he could remember, she had suffered from an illness that had seemed to rob her of all of her energy, but despite it all she didn't seem to complain. Growing up, he'd been teased about being a mama's boy, but it was from his mother that he'd learned compassion and had helped shape him into someone who wanted so desperately to help others.

Having Vanille around was both a blessing and worrisome, her face flickering to one that was older and more gaunt, Ty grasping onto her hand when he felt her reach onto his shoulder.

"Mom." He sounded half relieved and half worried, trying to sit up. "Are you really okay? I know you got out of New York but after that-"

[tosavecocoon]

Vanille has been called a lot of things in her life, but "Mom" is definitely a new one. She fights down another wave of worry, keeping her hand on his shoulder for another moment or so to try to prevent him from getting up out of bed. Upright is okay, she supposes, but not on his feet. Whatever he thinks he sees, or whoever, Vanille doesn't want to leave him by himself. A thousand reasons for that flit through her head, circling round her ears in a confusing mesh, but it really boils down to guilt. Preemptive guilt, even. If anything happens to him and she isn't there to at least lend a hand, work him through whatever this is, she might never be able to live with herself.

"I'm not-" She pauses, sighing softly. "It's me. Vanille. I don't even know what New York is, remember?"

[succored]

It was so difficult to focus, but as Vanille spoke, sounding confused and looking worried, Ty had to squint at her. His mom's face bled from her features, a trick that was as distressing as it was trippy, and he covered his face with his hands. He focused on breathing deep and even. Maybe it would be easier to hold this conversation if Vanille wasn't switching between his mother and herself.

"Sorry, you just-" There wasn't a need to explain right? Even though it was highly embarrassing to see his mother in Vanille. "Was a cure made?"

[tosavecocoon]

Vanille lets Ty take his time figuring out who she really is rather than who his mind wants her to be. She tries to smile, but it falls a bit flat, mostly because she's still so worried about him. At least he seems to be coming out of it okay.

"It's okay," she says with a shake of her head. He doesn't need to explain, wouldn't even if he hadn't been sick and hallucinating. "I think they're working on getting it out. How are you feeling?"