Someone dial 999

[hellandbackpack]

[Sorry everyone, this is all written out in a jagged scrawl, very jumbled and run-on in nature.]

Help-

Rin just collapsed? We were talkin' and I went to leave and- they just went down? No warnin' or nothin' just on the floor-

This drone is useless, wouldn't go get help-

They're not responding? Like there's a pulse but barely it's slow, there's no blood, nothing looks wrong, I can't see anything wrong, they just won't wake up and I don't know what the hell to do-

[Clearly Charles is doing Amazing here. Thriving even. He's absolutely not about 5 seconds from an epic little meltdown and is only holding it together because SecUnit needs help.]

Comments

oh noooooooo

[not_scrap]

[Is it time for her Library's Okayest Doctor tee shirt reveal? IT MAY BE.]

Where you at?

[codeswitchcraft]

[Siobhan's handwriting looks like it was scribbled down at haste.]

Where are you? I might be able to help.

[hellandbackpack]

In the stacks- by the garden door? Maybe? UGH this drone is useless I'm about to just let the bag EAT IT

[He wouldn't. It's not the drone's fault, and SecUnit would likely be Displeased. But Charles is Upset and the drone is a safe target for ire in the moment.]

[hellandbackpack]

In the stacks? We weren't too deep I think, not if you come from the circulation desk-

Unless everything shifted again then who the hell even knows

[codeswitchcraft]

I'll be there as soon as I can.

[codeswitchcraft]

Don't do that! Rin needs all their drones!

[not_scrap]

OK.
Wanna give me an idea what happened? [Because she can hustle but she's small and short little legs and all!]

[dreamquestion]

[Well there's a few replies now that means he knows roughly where to start looking, so very shortly there's the familiar heavy clap of Oxfords on hardwood in the stacks approaching Charles, even if Roland's a little ways off.]

Charles- lad, where are you?

[hellandbackpack]

I wouldn't be so tempted if it would've gone and got help!

[hellandbackpack]

I don't know? Like... we were just talkin' yeah? And I went to leave, and then when they were close, they just collapsed-

Do

Did I do it? Was it sommat I did?

[hellandbackpack]

[Sorry, Charles is about five degrees shy of utterly checking out of the situation, so the call doesn't yet get a response. The drone's definitely visible first, just hovering in place like nothing was wrong. And was it cold in this aisle of books?

Here was hoping the wet across the rug and hardwood wasn't going to damage any books, or the Librarian would get pissed. Not that Charles seemed to care about that at all, just alternating between glancing at his journal, and checking on SecUnit. The call finally seems to sink in after a moment, and the startle is almost audible in his reply.]

I- over here!

[codeswitchcraft]

It needs Rin to tell it what to do! It's not going to listen to you!

[not_scrap]

[???WHAT.]

Unless you have mysterious scary voice powers, or some KILLER cologne.
I'mma say no.

Probably blood sugar or something.

But if it's the cologne, let me have some. For. Reasons.

[dreamquestion]

[There's a slight skid as the shoes quickly change direction, and a few seconds later the old man's turned the corner, looking deeply concerned behind his glasses. He's definitely noticing the wet floor and the sudden chill - too much lived experience to discount even the smallest changes - and even though the range of touch they have is limited he still goes to put a hand on Charles's shoulder.]

It's alright, my boy. Whatever happened, we can find a solution. Firstly, are you harmed?

[hellandbackpack]

Rin can't tell it anything! Because they're unconscious!

[hellandbackpack]

I mean I'm-

What if they have a pacemaker? Ah hell, I didn't even think-

But there's still a pulse. Pacemaker messin' up'd mean they have a heart attack, not... whatever this is!

[hellandbackpack]

[Charles definitely wasn't looking too great. In fact, he looked more like a proper ghost now than he had since he'd been here, what with the pallor of his skin, the blue tinge to lips, or the deep bruiselike shadows under his eyes. And if putting a hand on him was like laying a hand on a trembling hunk of ice, well surely that was normal.]

I'm fine- it's Rin they just... they collapsed and I dunno why but I think it's my fault-

[codeswitchcraft]

Exactly. And you don't have the feed.

[dreamquestion]

[His hand doesn't move from Charles's shoulder, though he knows his own hand will likely suffer for it later. The poor boy feels frostbitten, and he shudders to think what happened to him in his time spent alive.]

Perhaps your fault, lad, but by this richness of guilt certainly not your intent. Remember that. [He squeezes Charles's shoulder, bending a little to meet his eye.] So then, let's get a better look at Rin, that we can diagnose them further.

[hellandbackpack]

[Did intent really matter, when it still ended up with someone hurt? Charles didn't look convinced, not in the least, but he was willing to push that aside for the moment. Not that it left him any calmer, as he shifted to one side to let Randolph move closer to where SecUnit was laid out, a bundled up blanket tucked under their head.]

I... didn't think I should move them. I just... I was going to leave, and they stepped in front of me, and before either of us could do anything, they just went down-

[dreamquestion]

A good instinct, in the case of injuries we might not be able to immediately ascertain.

[That being said, he gives Charles another squeeze before he scoots past and kneels down next to Murderbot, doing a quick and dirty check of its vitals. Pulse, pupil reaction - he's not a doctor, by any means, but he knows what a dead body feels like.

And then he sits back with a slight frown.]

I suppose there's some good news for you, Chuck - whatever might have passed, you certainly haven't killed our friend.

[hellandbackpack]

[Charles feels better for someone else being there. Someone who might know what the hell is going on. Does he still feel entirely miserable? Absolutely. But he feels slightly less like he's about to crash out in the next ten seconds, so he'll take it.

Just watching the exam quietly, unable to help the way his voice shakes on the soft sigh that the news gets.]

There's that at least... but why haven't they woken up then? Isn't that bad?

[dreamquestion]

That my medical expertise were so extensive.

[It's a droll, if regretful comment, as he glances up at Charles again - and his eyes catch on the drone nearby, hovering steady and apparently unbothered.]

What of their extant parts? [He gestures up to the drone.] I'm unfamiliar with how they function, only that they're under Rin's possession. If they aren't damaged as well, might it be something more complex than mere humanity can account for?

[birdchasingecho]

Understood. Will approach.

Have training in basic first aid and initial evacuation.

Garamond is text, italics Sendjewel.

[ohaiyo_isekai]

I am no healer but I can offer comfort and a sounding board. Do you need anything yourself?

I assume you have this in hand, Shivhan. What are we looking at? I could help diagnose.