Video 11 → Flu Season.

[irregular]

[This isn't so much an accidental video as it is a deeply impulsive one, because some people never learn. The feed clicks on to show Ken, still dressed in a coat and scarf with snow melting on his shoulders, standing in an apartment kitchen surrounded by brown paper shopping bags, holding the camera about a foot or so from his face.]

Hey, guys. I have a question.

[Serious face on.]

Is it starve a fever and feed a cold? Or is it the other way round? See, my roommate's sick and I just got all this stuff and I don't normally - I don't get colds so I'm kinda... what do you do for them? Should she be eating or not and is packet soup okay, I'm not that great at cooking or anything so I don't wanna poison her and - and maybe I should call a doctor.

Okay. Is there a doctor out there? Who isn't Muraki? I think I need a doctor. Not for me!

Comments

[stillneedsakiss.livejournal.com]

...Is there something wrong with the couch?

[insorrow.livejournal.com]

I don't know what's wrong with it!

[And I may or may not be reaching the end of my patience with this situation. Nothing personal, guys... you're just DRIVING ME CRAZY.]

[doctor-tatsu27.livejournal.com]

A bed is more suitable for rest and it will be closer to her bathroom should she need it. At a time like this, it is the best place for her. [That part is explained to Ken. The next part is explained to Aya.]

I've seen and smelled worse. Please don't make my job difficult.

[stillneedsakiss.livejournal.com]

[Aya is exhausted. She feels like hell run over. She has just gotten past a panic attack and mad rush to get herself presentable and whether Hatori cares or not is completely irrelevant. Aya cares. Now being forced to choose between two humiliations from the one she likes has her feeling horrified at the thoughtlessness and devoting all of her energy to not making it obvious that this has upset her, because the last thing she wants is to be seen as a child. What to do, then? She can protest-- and give just that impression-- or go back into the room that she wanted him not to be in if it could at all be helped and just deal with being mortified.

Please don't make my job difficult.

She pushes herself back up, head turned so that the hot tears threatening to leak from her eyes won't be seen.]

I can walk myself.

[insorrow.livejournal.com]

Aya?

[Ken frowns.

[Okay, to Hell with being pissy because this? This is Very Not Good and frankly, it's about time he asserted himself. First and foremost because Ken knows Aya a Hell of a lot better than Hatori does - not that you'd need to know the girl to know something's up here. Secondly, he lives here. This is his house and he's sick to death of having to stand there and take being talked to like some combination of caretaker and idiot kid brother.]

Dr. Sohma? I spoke with Aya a bit before you got here and she made it pretty obvious she'd much rather we spoke out here. I'll make sure she gets back in one piece one you've left, but I really think that right this minute she'll be a lot more comfortable in the living room.

[And you know something? This is not actually up for debate. We're staying.]

So. I'll go get her blankets.

[And yes, this would be me presenting you with a fait accompli and walking out. This discussion is over.]

[doctor-tatsu27.livejournal.com]

[Ken gets a frown before Hatori goes over to kneel in front of Aya. His eyes are gentle and soft. It's the look he only gives to her. Something she may be aware of just from their outings together.]

Aya, I don't want to upset you. The bed is the best place for you to be. You shouldn't be walking around though and I cannot carry you.

[She knows why. He gets a look of concern on his face as he gently takes one of her hands.]

Please, let him carry you into the other room. I don't want you to get worse. If I could I would do this myself...

[stillneedsakiss.livejournal.com]

[Bless you, Ken.

Aya hadn't expected Ken to speak up in her defense, and given the choice, she probably wouldn't have had him do so. Nonetheless she's grateful that he did. With one swift move he's eliminated the pressure and said what she wanted to say for her and changed the game in the process. The only way Hatori would get her into her bed now would be if she walked herself.

At the same time, she feels for him, too. She knows that in spite of the massively uncomfortable position he put her in, he has her best interests at heart and just wants her to feel better. And he's made a special trip out to her apartment just to check on her. She can't be mad at him for doing his job. And she can see in his expression that he's not pretending they're on strictly professional terms.

The request, however, takes her a little by surprise. She doesn't quite want to, but she can't help it either: she laughs. It's a weak, helpless laugh and followed by a small cough into her free hand, but a laugh. She looks at him warmly.]

It's no use, Hatori; Ken won't budge from here. He's made up his mind that I'm staying on the couch for now. Even if I agreed, he would refuse to pick me up.

I'm sorry. Your job is being made more difficult. But I don't think it would be smart to argue with him any further. From someone who knows him... it's probably best to drop it now.