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[drawsblood]

// username: joric

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[morethan084]

[Daisy strokes her thumb across his skin, her heart aching to see him like this.]

I know, but it will help.

[She takes his glass from him once he's done with it.]

Lay back down.

[Once he's settled, she adjusts the washcloth on his forehead again.]

Do you want me to turn off the light?

[drawsblood]

Yes.

[ Already he's shut his eyes again to try and ease his pounding head. ]

I am not very good company for you right now.

[morethan084]

[Daisy gets up to cross the room and turn off the light, blindly finding her way back to the bed she kicks off her shoes as she lays next to him.]

You’re always good company.

[She tells him, fingertips running up and down his forearm gently. ]

Try and get some sleep, I’ll be right here.

[drawsblood]

[ He exhales a wheezy sigh before he takes her advice, being too exhausted to really protest her staying. But he does worry about her catching this from him, even if she doesn't seem as concerned.

His sleep isn't easy, as the coughing keeps him up and his body switches between being too chilly and too overheated within minutes of each other. But soon enough the medicine starts working and the pain in his head subsides while the low grade fever he's running goes down as well. It's then that he's comfortable enough to fall asleep and stay asleep for a couple of hours. ]

[morethan084]

[Daisy stays beside him the entire time, trying to comfort him anytime he wakes up with a coughing fit. There isn’t much else for her to do when she can’t even see enough to read, so she ends up falling asleep at some point too. She sleeps lightly, so when she feels Joric stirring next to her she’s already waking up.]

How’re you feeling?

[She asks softly, hand reaching up to put the back of her hand against his forehead.]

[drawsblood]

[ He smacks his lips together. ]

Mouth's dry.

[ Which makes sense since he's had to breathe through his mouth. ]

But I'm not feeling as poorly as earlier.

[morethan084]

[Daisy reaches for the water bottle, taking the top off and handing it to him.]

Here. Sip it slowly.

[drawsblood]

[ He sits up enough to drink and he tries to follow her advice, but he's so parched that soon he's drinking it down faster. It makes him cough a little, but nothing terrible. He hands it back once he's had his fill. ]

My thanks. You didn't have to stay, but I appreciate it.

[morethan084]

I wanted to.

[Taking the bottle from him she sets it down and blindly leans over to kiss him on his forehead.]

You don’t feel as hot as before. Can I get you anything?

[drawsblood]

Food?

[ Said in a hopeful tone. It's been a long time since he's had anyone care for him, but he can't really say he minds when he feels so rotten. ]

[morethan084]

[She smiles when he asks about food, clearly he's feeling at least a little better than before.]

Sure. I'll be back in a little bit, is it okay if I put the light on? I'll leave it low.

[drawsblood]

Yes, that's fine.

[ He can't really blame her for wanting to be able to see. While she's gone he's going to attempt to freshen up so he doesn't look so disgusting. Hair brushed, deodorant on, and face washed. Doing just that makes him feel a little better, even if his nose is still running and his throat hurts. ]

[morethan084]

[Daisy shows up about 20 mins later with a tray holding soup, plain toast and two more bottles of water. Juggling the tray with the door, Daisy looks over at the bed as she enters.]

Hey. You’re looking a little better.

[drawsblood]

Am I? Well I've managed to not repel you, so that's good.

[ He'll sit up a bit more in order to get the trap over his lap. Already his stomach is growling for the food. ]

[morethan084]

[Carefully placing the tray on his lap, Daisy opts to sit on the side of his bed for now.]

You could never repel me.

[drawsblood]

[ He wants to make a joke - something about how he'd manage to find a way or something - but it's not coming to him. Either because his brain is so overheated you could fry an egg on his forehead, or because what she says is actually sort of touching, he refrains. Instead he takes a bite of toast, giving her a smile as crumbs fall into his beard. ]

Thank you, elskan.

[ Knowing what afflicts him, knowing why he's here trying to cure it, and coming from that place where he was so lonely to this is something he won't take for granted. Wei Wuxian and he talked a little about when they leave this place and the idea was brought up that the people here would leave imprints of themselves on his soul. So even though they are meant to forget, maybe - just maybe - some feeling of Daisy will remain with him, even if it's fleeting. ]

The same holds true with me. I think you would look good even with a red nose.

[morethan084]

[She loves it when he calls her that, and her smile proves that.]

Even if my nose was running?

[Like his is right now, which reminds her…

She pulls out a packet of tissues from the pocket of her hoodie and hands it to him. Ever since their talk about their relationship, Daisy’s felt closer to him.

Which would make going back home more difficult, if she weren’t going to forget him.]

[drawsblood]

Even then.

[ He takes the tissues and gives his nose a good blow. It would be nice if he turned away from her while he did it but alas, much like talking with his mouth full he was never taught that it was bad manners to blow your nose right in front of someone.

When he's done and the tissue is balled up and tossed onto his bed, he tries the soup. It's perfectly heated through and delicious. Of course he's hungry after being bedridden most of the day. ]

I don't want you to catch this from me, but if you do I will take care of you.

[morethan084]

[Daisy finds even Joric blowing his nose endearing, and she leans over to kiss her forehead.]

I appreciate that, but I’m sure I’ll be okay.

[drawsblood]

How can you be so sure?

[ To him, illness seems very easy to spread. ]

[morethan084]

Because I rarely ever get sick.

[And even if she does, she’ll just brush it off like she does with every other illness/injury she gets.]

How’s the soup?

[drawsblood]

Then you are very lucky.

[ He lifts a spoonful. ]

It's good. Really good. Soothing on my throat.

[morethan084]

Good. I won’t even pretend to take credit for making it, I guess you and Newt are the only ones who’ve come down with the flu.

[She tucks some of his hair behind his ear before settling back down on the bed, scooting so her back is against the wall.]

[drawsblood]

Newt.

[ He lets out a mild grumble. ]

He kept walking around doing tasks, saying he was not ill. I should have avoided where he was.

[ Joric eats slower than he normally does, taking a bit of time to savor the heat as he swallows and his throat feels soothed. But soon enough he no longer feels like he's starving and the toast is finished off with the last of the broth. ]

I hope it spreads no further than he and I.

[morethan084]

Even if you did, we're in an enclosed space. It's pretty much inevitable.

[He doesn't ask for it, but Daisy opens up the water bottle for him and hands it to him.]

Do you want more?