VIDEO(s) | 1-3 September + the rest of September | OPEN | +assorted pm's to a hella lot of people

[waterbearer]

Morning, Sept 1

[ The first video, on September 1st, is an empty room in the healing ward, locket angled awkwardly as though it were left on a dresser or table surface, but not by the user. The voice is raspy and disused, and the picture is off-center, focused on an individual whose body is seemingly entirely submerged in a bathtub full of iced water, bright pink and yellow discolorations interrupting the natural color of the skin. ]

Πού είμαι εγώ? Ανεξ Οριν? Πού είμαι εγώ?

[ He is only awake for a few minutes, entirely disoriented and squinting in the direction of the device he seems to have remembered to activate. He falls back asleep again, and slips beneath the water. ]

Dawn, Sept 2

[ He is awake again, this time more alert, hand moving as though it would reach towards the device before falling entirely still with pain, limbs assuming a decorticate pose. Still he tries to speak again, voice still quiet and raspy. The off-centered image of the locket seems to pick up a very strong fanning of his neck, seemingly expanding and contracting in quick intervals, but it is hard to tell what is causing that effect since the image seems almost blurred. ]

Where is...? Nightwing? Black Canary...?

[ He seems to stay conscious for longer, but his questions end quickly and he looks about in confusion at the room before sinking into unconsciousness again. ]

Mid-day, Sept 2

[ Awake and much more conscious, shifting slightly in the tub, though clearly in some severe form of discomfort. The voice is calmer, though he still seems slightly confused. ]

There was a dragon–

[ He doesn't say more, simply tries to peer about his environment, trying to look for clues. Once someone else enters the room, the feed shuts off. ]

Morning, Sept 3

[ Moderately upright, Alert, and the locket is now centered properly on Kaldur's face, though little can be seen below his chin. Given the more focused view, this seems deliberate. ]

I would know that status of Redgate, as well as all those of my acquaintance who are traveling abroad and receive this message. Thank you.

[ He still looks a little peaky, but much more aware of himself and his surroundings. ]

{{ hover for text translation, pm threads to be started in comments }}

Comments

private. voice.

[vrykolakas]

[It takes the Brucolac a while to respond, until after the sun goes down, and he still won't open a video connection in response. (This is partly because he is squinting like hell at the tiny screen in an effort to make out details).]

Yes. [Preoccupied. He's gladdened by the apparent no-change in Kaldur's teeth and tongue, but can't be bothered to actually—state that, apparently.] Your pupils look normally dilated.

Your fever broke. Yes?

private. video.

[waterbearer]

I believe it has. I have been submerged in ice-water for the better part of two weeks. That I entered a coma was unusual, but there are many factors that could have contributed to such an outcome.

Other than minor complications from that, I am as I have always been.

[ He keeps the video feed open just in case. This is the strangest questioning he's had yet, and while he might be stretching the truth on how well he is, Kaldur isn't wrong that he is entirely himself. ]

private. voice.

[vrykolakas]

[There's a long silence, and finally:]

You should be safe.

If you worsen, especially if you display photophobic symptoms or your teeth hurt, tell your medics to contact me.

private. voice.

[waterbearer]

[ Give his probably post-coma-concussed brain to think that one through a minute. ]

You think I might have been turned into a vampire.

[ At least, that's what he thinks the more common name for that sort of legend is. Hell, that is one of the few things that Kaldur felt reliable certain was pure myth, even in his crazy world.

He is silent a little longer, while he dwells upon that. ]

I suspect my physiology is not compatible with whatever method or illness is required for turning. A neurological toxin would help to explain my previous comatose state, as my injures were not such...

[ Well, that is more than Kaldur wants to talk about how utterly weak his is, right now. ]

private. voice.

[vrykolakas]

I suspected you'd been infected. [His tone is brusque, and implies a correction, though Kaldur's perfectly right.] Fever is usually the first stage.

Congratulations. I've never heard of anyone surviving it.

private. voice.

[waterbearer]

My body has hardly had the chance to go into a fever, I have been submerged in properly cooled water this whole while. But I shall make note of it, should such a thing occur later, or in another.

I doubt you've heard of an Atlantean either. I have certainly never heard of such an infection that could... [ He trails off for a moment. ]

This has not been synthetically engineered, has it? [ His voice firms a moment. Neptune's Beard, that would be terrifying. ] This is something unique to your... species.