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neighbourskid · 3 years

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Dave? Dave.

It's been quite a bit since I've written anything here, huh? Well, I guess as it has been for pretty much everyone, life has been kinda strange for a while now. Despite vaccine roll-outs and continually changing safety regulations, there's still a global pandemic on, and everyone is trying to navigate this reality the best they can. For once, we are all, generally speaking, in the same boat now (sure, there are huge differences between countries because capitalism fucking sucks and rich greedy humans are once again proof that things need to change asap, but overall, we all have to deal with this pandemic).

But I don't actually want to talk about the pandemic, it just exists as a frame of what I do wanna talk about.

As I have mentioned before, when the pandemic hit, I was in the last semester of my undergrad studies and writing my Bachelor thesis. Or that's what I was supposed to do, anyway. I did do a lot of reading for it, early in the first lockdown after university closed and we were all attending from home. I was lucky, I had no classes, I only had like three scheduled meetings to check in on progress of the thesis, but otherwise I was free of zoom calls and attempting to attend university digitally. So I read.

After a while, reading became taking a book with me into the sun, glancing at one or two pages, and then just napping for most of the day, and spending my evenings either playing video games or watching some tv show or movie. At some point, I felt like now was the perfect time to rewatch all fifteen seasons of CRIMINAL MINDS, so I did that, instead of writing my thesis. I still occasionally read, but most of the days I just felt exhausted and unmotivated so I stayed in bed and binged my crime show.

As the deadline for the thesis started approaching, and the time I had left fell under a month, a switch in my brain seemed to be activated and, oh, hello, suddenly there was a certain drive there for that thesis again. Which lasted exactly until an email from university dinged into my inbox a few days later, informing me that I would get another month for my thesis, due to the pandemic. And away that motivation and drive went, immediately.

Not much later I had a session with the therapist I was seeing at the time, because of the hormone treatment I had started early that same year. I had talked to him about my concern that I might have ADHD before because I didn't feel like there was anything we needed to talk about related to my transition, so I brought it up again here. I told him how my thesis was going -- or rather, how it wasn't going at all -- and finally, as I told him about some of the issues I experienced while trying to do work for it, he acknowledged that I may indeed have some attention regulation issues. He prescribed me medication to try out, and -- wonder oh wonder -- suddenly I was writing my thesis. I ended up finishing it on time (even though a week before I had a moment of "all of this is garbage, I will never pass, I should start the whole thing from scratch") and got a decent grade for it, too. I've been on those meds since.

Over the last, I don't know how many years, I've always known that there was something a bit wonky about my brain. There were always these things that seemed to come so easy to other people, and try as I might, I just couldn't make them happen. I, presumably, had a lot of neurotypical friends. I also have friends with depression, BPD, anxiety disorders and other neurodivergencies. I have family members with autism. I know my mom suspected I might be on that spectrum as well.

Reading up on many of those things I never felt like any of them described what I was experiencing. There were certain traits, sure, but mostly there was a lack of what I actually did experience in most of them. Even ADHD, when reading about the "required" issues and traits, doing those self-diagnosing questionnaires, I just never saw what I felt represented. And then I started reading about what people with diagnosed ADHD had to say about how they experience things. I ignored the more medical or clinical information, and just looked for people talking about how they navigate their lives with ADHD. And then all of a sudden it was, oh, yeah this, this is relatable. This is where my brain's at.

Suddenly it made sense that caffeine didn't do nothing for me, that a nice, warm cup of coffee put me right to sleep. It made sense how, after only a month, suddenly a well beloved hobby or tv show was suddenly of no interest whatsoever. Staring at the wall for three hours instead of doing a simple task. Drawing in class so that I could pay attention to what is being said. The inability to remember much of my life before 6th grade. Having to bounce my leg so I could read a simple text. Needing to visually break a book down into chapters with colourful post-its to keep me from being overwhelmed by the length of the book. And so many other things. Suddenly, there was a reason for that.

I've always liked doing personality quizzes. Or doing stuff related to my zodiac sign even if I don't believe in astrology per se. Finding out what my Enneagram number is. Or my Myers-Briggs type. Not because I think those things define me or describe me to a T, but because they give me a vocabulary. They give me options. I love answering a bunch of questions and then getting a wall of text telling me This Is Who You Are and then I get to pick out what is accurate and what isn't. It gives me words to describe who I am that I didn't have before.

And it is the same thing with posts or videos of people with ADHD. It gives me a vocabulary for the things I experience and it lets me express those things in a way I wasn't able to before. Before, I was like, doing things that my brain doesn't want to do, feels like running headfirst into a wall because there is no way above, around, or underneath it. There is no door, no ladder, no tunnel, no nothing. There is only running headfirst into it until maybe, hopefully, it cracks. Preferably before my head does. But that is exhausting and most of the time, I prefer to not get through the wall at all, if what it takes is going headfirst through it. Now, I know that what that is, is a dopamine deficiency. The task that needs doing, the task that this wall is, doesn't give my brain enough dopamine. There is no satisfaction, there is nothing to gain from that task, so the brain isn't interested.

One of the things that I recently discovered and helps me a lot in this quest of figuring out how my brain works, is this guy Connor on tiktok, who also has ADHD. His videos are both hilarious and informative. And also incredibly relatable. They might be silly haha funny videos on the dear old internet, but I walk away from most of them going, oh! oh that makes sense, good to know.

He occasionally talks about how ADHD is completely misnamed and how Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder does not actually accurately describe what exactly people with ADHD lack. In one of his videos, he calls it DAVE instead. It's silly, and sounds a bit dumb, but I kinda like it. Dave. Dopamine Attention Variability Executive-Disfunction. Dave. I like Dave.

Y'know, I don't mind having ADHD. Presumably, I've lived with it my whole life so far. And it's annoying as shit some of the time. Especially when things need to get done and they just won't. But I don't mind that, especially now that I know that this is what it is. I've always feared that if I finally do go to a therapist and try to figure out what my brain is up to, they'll just tell me that I'm fine and there's nothing to worry about. And at first, my therapist did say I was psychologically unremarkable. But I guess if you've lived like this your whole life and nobody has really picked up on it, even a therapist doesn't notice (it's called masking, I've learned, thanks Connor).

But knowing is good. Knowing means I can learn things that help. I can take medication when needed. And, looking at the grades I'm currently getting in my graduate studies? Hells yeah, taking that medication and knowing how to deal with certain aspects of my brain helps a lot. It is incredibly funny to me that the best grades I have gotten in my entire academic career have been achieved in my Master's studies during a global pandemic. There is currently an actual real possibility that I may graduate summa cum laude. In my MA. That is insane!

Anyway, I am avoiding tasks by writing this right now. Oh, the irony. I'm gonna try and do those tasks now. Y'all take care. Cheers!

#personal blog #alex talks #adhd #connordewolfe #tiktok

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freshlyjuicedbeetles · 4 years

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Commodore Norrington x Reader Fic! Chapter 2

Dearest Readers: If you are in Galveston or the coast of Louisiana, please make sure you are safe! Please, no one worry about me, I’m in Oklahoma, safe from Hurricane Laura. I know a lot about Galveston because I visit regularly, and it’s where my grandma was born and raised, and grandpa was stationed in the Coast Guard. A lot of my family history took place on the island!

Title: The Same Water

Genre: Romance, Supernatural

Rating: General Audiences thus far.

Warnings: Mentions of trauma, drowning, and racism.

Summary: Commodore Norrington washes up on the shore and you must find out why.

Notes: I intentionally kept the main character ambiguous (but female) so readers can fill themselves in!

The next morning, Jericka and I visited the man. We sat mostly in silence. I barely registered the bustle of the hospital and the beeping of the machines he was connected to. I was still buzzing from yesterday. I was still in a bit of shock about what had happened and was trying to process it. He was on an IV drip of saline, a nasal cannula, and a heart monitor.

“Good morning, ladies!” Dr. Greg said, cheerfully, a chart in his hand. “So, I ran his blood sample, and it yielded interesting results. This man has no titers for anything we currently vaccinate for, but he has antibodies for smallpox. Thus, I can assume he was never vaccinated but survived smallpox.”

Jericka whispered in my ear, eagerly, “I’m telling you! He was a part of that mess my nana told me about! I bet he was the Admiral! What’s the more likely scenario here?”

“I dunno. Maybe he’s Amish or something,” I shrugged. I turned back to Dr. Greg, “What do you think it means?”

“Logically, I would say his parents didn’t believe in the efficacy of vaccinations.” He answered.

“Or they weren’t invented yet,” Jericka muttered.

The man started coughing. Dr. Greg rushed to his side.

“It’s okay, sir, we’re taking care of you. You’re at the University of Texas Medical Branch. My name is Dr. Greg. We’ve got you on supplemental oxygen and IV fluids.” He said in a calm voice as he checked the man’s vitals manually, even though the machines were monitoring him. “Can you tell us your name?” He asked.

“Norrington…James.” The man answered, and I was able to register an English accent. He opened his eyes, still confused.

“Good, do you know what day it is, James?”

“May…1729.”

The doctor chuckled, “No, not quite. Do you know who the president is?”

Norrington had slipped back into unconsciousness. Dr. Greg continued to check over him before saying, “He’s getting stronger. I expect him to be in and out today, but tomorrow is a new day.”

After Dr. Greg left, I scrambled to my phone.

“Google his name! Google! Google it!” Jericka ranted.

“I am, I am!” I said, typing the name.

I hit pay dirt. He had a Wikipedia article and dozens of other sources. “James Norrington was an officer of the British Royal Navy and the East India Trading Company. Bewigged and resplendent in his uniforms, Norrington owed his allegiance to King George II. Norrington took pride in his service to others before himself, showing a strong dedication to the law, until the occasions of pursuing the right course that demanded acts of piracy.” I read it aloud.

I continued scrolling with Jericka watching. I skimmed the article. It talked about his early life in London, the notable battles and commendations he earned. I scrolled back up to the biographical information bar. I had purposely ignored looking at the painting of Admiral James Norrington because I wasn’t ready to confirm if the man in the hospital bed was him or not until now.

I stood up and held my phone up to his face against the painting on the article. Jericka’s eyes widened, and my heart raced.

“It’s him,” I said.

“Am I in the colonies?” He asked, not opening his eyes. I must have jumped a foot back, not expecting him to reawaken so soon.

“Yeah, well, sort of,” I answered.

“The colonies declared independence in 1776. There are fifty more called the United States of America. It’s currently the year 2020.” Jericka explained.

“Do you understand what’s going on?” I asked gently.

“Indeed,” He answered and took a deep breath. He opened his eyes.

“You’ve must have seen some things if you’re taking this news so calmly,” Jericka said.

Norrington remained quiet, the far-off look of stoic contemplation on his face. Jericka and I gave him his space to sort it all out but stayed close to keep him company. Dr. Greg returned a little before lunch to check on him and was happy to see him awake. He pulled us aside into the hallway after a quick examination of Norrington’s reflexes and cognition.

“I am releasing him into your care tomorrow. If desired, of course. We’ll continue an investigation, maybe he’ll turn out to be a missing John Doe, but since no foul play is suspected, it’s not likely to go anywhere. Here’s some information about services that can help him.”

I took the information, “I’ll take him. I have an extra room.” I didn’t even look at them. I wasn’t about to let him get lost in the system and fall through the cracks. This was something extraordinary. I couldn’t bear for him to be treated like a freak show.

When the nurse came in with lunch, Jericka and I excused ourselves to the cafeteria.

“We’ve got to get him some clothes. He can’t run around in that hospital gown, and his uniform is at the police station being tested for fibers and whatnot.” I said, toying with an empty bottle of water.

“Dang. How do we dress a high-class guy from the 1700s?” Jericka asked, eating a bag of chips. “Whose closet do we raid? Our dad’s or our grandpa’s?”

“I dunno, but the Coast Guard Station over on Fort Point Road is looking pretty good. Think they’ll let us use their uniforms?” I joked.

“I’d think he’d miss the brocade and feathers,” Jericka said, popping a chip into her mouth.

I sighed, “Well, I’m heading over to Houston, maybe I can find something. Can you sit with him?”

“Yeah, of course.”

As I drove over the causeway that connected the Island of Galveston to the mainland, I thought about how I would explain things to Admiral Norrington. How would I explain a car? Electricity? I barely knew how such things worked. Maybe I needed to get him a book.

I had to guestimate his sizes; I didn’t want to embarrass him by outright asking him. I could tell he was very reserved, even for someone from his time. I went for conservative styles and patterns, quality, and modesty. Even men back then tended to cover up. I had to balance the Texas heat against it. I made sure to have a fair amount of navy blue, gold, and white.

I found several outfits that I knew he’d look good in and hoped he found comfortable. He was a very handsome man with aquiline features, short chestnut hair, and beautiful eyes. I suppose the powdered wig he wore in his portrait did not make it.

After procuring his clothes and other sundries, I zipped over to Barnes and Noble for a history book. I settled on a hefty book by the Smithsonian that spanned the dawn of humanity up until the present day; well, 2015.

On the way back over the causeway, I had to wonder about what I would do with him come Monday when I went to work. Would he be okay on his own? Should I take the day off? I didn’t want to smother him or disrespect his abilities. Maybe it was a good thing he was a high-ranking military man, they were logical, right? He would probably be okay.

I found Jericka in the hallway upon arriving back at the hospital, “Has he said anything?”

She shrugged, “Not really. He’s still processing everything. They’re taking him off all those machines and IV right now.”

After the nurses left, Jericka and I entered his room. He was looking at his hand where the IV was.

“Hello, Admiral. We never got a chance to introduce ourselves.” I introduced myself and Jericka. “Tomorrow, you’ll come home with me if that’s alright with you.”

He nodded, “I suppose that is for the best, but don’t call me Admiral. James will suffice.”

Jericka and I were surprised that he didn’t want to be addressed by his title. I decided not to question it. “I got you some clothes and this,” I said, pulling out the book and handed it to him. He looked at it with interest and immediately started flipping pages. “It’s the history of the world. Of course, you can ask either of us anything.”

Jericka nodded earnestly.

“I appreciate your charity,” Norrington replied. “I endeavor not to be a burden.”

“No, no, no! Never think that.” I said.

“Yeah, you’re stuck with us.” Jericka teased.

Jericka and I vowed that nothing would happen to this man.

James was released the following evening. He was dressed in the new clothes I bought for him. He looked perfect in them and didn’t seem to mind them. I must have done well!

As we were walking out of the hospital, there was crowding at the door. It was a going home celebration. James and I smushed ourselves against the wall, waiting for the ado to die down, and we could leave.

A patient was wheeled in from the opposite corridor. We watched as a nurse wheeled him to the edge of the entryway. On new titanium legs, this man stood and walked out with his family. He was in the Navy; I could tell by the signs his family and care team were holding.

I could tell this experience moved James, he wanted to say something to the young soldier but thought better of it.

I purposely kept the car ride as underwhelming as possible. I turned the radio off and kept the A/C blowing gently. He seemed to be taking it all in stride, learning from my actions.

James mostly watched the water as we drove the short drive home, occasionally interested in the wide range of vehicles on the road; cars, trucks, vans, golf carts, motorcycles, and four-seater bikes.

“I see that the seagulls and pelicans are just as intrusive as always.” He commented, watching a horde of seabirds steal tourists’ food.

I giggled, enjoying the familiarity. We had something in common, and it was a link to his past.

Home was a raised bungalow on a heavily tree-lined street.

James looked at the stilts it rested on, “For flooding?” He asked.

“Exactly. Galveston has had several bad hurricanes hit, but the house has weathered them all. It’s up high enough that you can go around back and see a bit of the Gulf.”

I showed James to the guest room and how a modern home worked. After dinner, I gave him his space. Around midnight, I heard a door sensor chime. I found James sitting on the balcony, watching the ocean ebb and flow. I sat down across from him.

“How are you doing?”

“It’s overwhelming.” He answered, “I have so much to learn, new vocabulary, all the major events. I cannot fathom how much progress I have missed, but the ocean is the same, and I take comfort in that.”

“Well, if you’d like, we can get out on the water tomorrow. I’ll show you around the island.”

“You know how to sail?”

I laughed, “No, my boat has an engine, but I assure you that the art of sailing by wind has not been lost yet.”

For the first time, I saw a genuine smile on his face, “I’d like that.”

I endeavored to make him smile that cute boyish smile as much as possible.

#commodore norrington #James Norrington #pirates of the caribbean

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kusunogatari · 5 years

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[ Plague || Chapter Two ] [ @abyssaldespair ] [ Uchiha Obito, Suigin Ryū, Hatake Kakashi ] [ Blood, vomit ] [ Verse: When Dead Walk ] [ Previous || Next ]

A few more hours’ travel sees them reach the designated village. It’s nearly nightfall, but the village head hurries out to meet them. “You are the medic from Konoha?”

“Yes sir - do you have someplace we can speak without being overheard?” Best to avoid panicking the populace.

“Yes, yes of course - this way.”

Fubuki on her shoulder, Ryū and Kakashi follow into the man’s office, declining an offer of tea. “What did Tsunade-sama tell you?”

“Only that the illness is spreading, must be quarantined, and that you would be coming. Is it...just one of you…?”

“I’m here to get a grasp on the situation and report back - depending on the severity, Konoha will be sending more medics as they are able. We have reports of cases spreading across Hi no Kuni. We have to ensure the areas most affected receive the most help.”

“Of...of course. Um...we have a population of about three hundred. Of that, we’ve had seven cases...so far.”

So, about two percent… “And where are the patients now?”

“They’ve all been taken to the clinic, and regular patients are being seen elsewhere. We didn’t want to risk it spreading.”

“Smart,” Ryū praises. “Thus far, we know the illness spreads through bodily fluids - typically blood or saliva, the latter of which occurs the most through bites as the illness increases aggression. So as soon as someone starts exhibiting symptoms, they should be isolated for their and others’ safety.”

The elder gives a quick nod. “I’ve had our local guards keeping an eye on things. If anything seems suspicious, they let me know immediately.”

“May I see the patients?”

“Yes, though...I must warn you, many are very, uh…” A pause. “...angry.”

“I’m prepared.”

They cross the street and head down a ways before reaching the small local clinic. Within is another medic, who bows in greeting.

“Are you the attending physician?”

“In…a manner of speaking. I haven’t had the formal training you lot in Konoha have, but...I’m the most knowledgeable here. I mostly deal with herbs and old practices without chakra. I’ve, um...I’ve been recording what I’ve found.”

That gets Ryū to perk. “Good - the more data we have, the quicker we’ll hopefully find a cure.”

“You really think this can be cured…?”

“I certainly hope so...or at least I’m hoping for a vaccine to stop the spread. This particular illness is dangerous and lethal. We need to curb its progress as soon as possible. If you don’t mind, I’ll take your notes and the information the clinic has of the population and send a note to Tsunade-sama right away.”

“Y-yes!” Fumbling for a folder, the local medic hands it over along with several others. “The records from the last few months. Our first case was about two weeks ago...and it’s been steadily increasing from there.”

Nodding, Ryū lets the village head lead them to some temporary housing. “If you’ve need of anything, please just let us know. I’ll have a supper brought for the pair of you immediately.”

“Thank you.” Turning on a lamp, Ryū sits and begins going over the notations. To her frustration, there’s not much to it...and almost nothing she wasn’t already aware of from her own research in Konoha. “...that medic is right...she’s lacking training. It’s clear she’s missing things...but overall, it follows the same pattern as what I and the others in Konoha observed.”

“...is that good or bad?”

“...good. For now, we have consistent data from multiple pooling points. So far, that means it probably hasn’t mutated, or not very far as to present varying symptoms.” Taking down copies of key parts of the notes, Ryū then seals them in a tiny scroll along with her note explaining her own thoughts thus far. Tying it carefully to the white owl’s leg, she murmurs, “Fly fast.”

“Of course.” Let through a window, Fubuki quickly disappears into the night.

By then, rations are sent, and the human pair eat in silence.

“...so, what do you think will happen here?”

After a pause, Ryū swallows. “I...embellished a bit.”

“...oh?”

“I need to get back to Kusunokizan and tend to Obito. I can still collect research on him, and it might actually be easier with a single individual, let alone in such secluded, consistent conditions. And for that to happen...Tsunade needs to send at least one more medic here to take my place.”

“...did you tell her you want to leave?”

“I did. I said we ran into a man in the wilderness with the disease, and that I sent him home for further study by my teacher...and that I’d like to continue my own research there. I don’t know if she’ll agree, but...either way, I’ll be leaving once they send another medic.”

A silver brow perks. “...and if they don’t?”

“They will.”

“Well, if you’re sure…”

Ryū nods, finishing another bite. “At the very least, they’ll want a second set of eyes and hands.”

“...won’t that be a moot point if you leave?”

“I’ll still be working. Just not here.”

Kakashi can’t help a snort at that. “...true. So…I take it I’ll be going with you?”

“I’d assumed you’d want to, given who he apparently is.”

“You really had no idea?”

“I’d never met him before my trips to Suna, and he never revealed anything troubling. I had no idea he was even Uchiha. All I knew was that I was supposed to call him Tobi. I never saw a cloak...he always appeared without it - he just had traveling gear. I thought he was a mercenary, maybe a low-rank missing nin given I don’t really know the Bingo book...but I never thought…” Her tone trails into silence.

“...well, I’ve got no reason to doubt you. It’s going to be...tricky, not letting this slip. As of now...we’re withholding valuable information from the village about a pivotal enemy.”

Something in Ryū’s face hardens. “...I’m not turning him in.”

“Oh…?”

“He’s…” A sigh. “...it’s a long story.”

“And we’ve got nothing but time.”

Silence for a time. And then, “...he’s never done anything to hurt me.”

“Even terrible people can play favorites.”

She shoots him a look. “...how many people have you killed, Kakashi?”

“Honestly? I can’t say. Between war time, my stint in ANBU, and just...regular missions...probably hundreds by now.”

“And how many of them were just serving their village like you serve yours?”

“...Ryū…”

“Every shinobi kills. Every shinobi does terrible things to people just because they live on the other side of an imaginary line. Sometimes even people of their own nation! I don’t want to make that judgment yet...not until he tells me the truth.” Ryū’s jaw sets stubbornly. “...back in the third war, Iwa shinobi massacred my entire village. Others were razed to the ground, too. But that was because they had people to protect. A land to defend. A Kage to serve. Did Konoha really never do anything as gruesome?”

His silence is telling enough.

“...Akatsuki nin are killing people. And it’s probably for an ideal they have. Just like all the other factions of shinobi.” She pokes at her food, expression soured. “...my clan never paid attention to borders. We traveled everywhere, healed everyone. Because when push comes to shove...all shinobi are the same. They just fight for different reasons. They kill. They torture. They destroy. And most come back to families. Husbands, wives, children, parents...and they keep living. But that monster is always just beneath the skin. A monster I’ve never been able to understand. And probably never will. But I do know that, if a shinobi can love just as they hate...then there’s still enough good in them to be worth saving.”

A lengthy pause, and then she whispers, “...so...if he can love me, then...there’s good in him. I know it…”

Kakashi heaves a sigh. In truth, he wants to argue her naivety, but...she’s seen war firsthand. Maybe not the same way he has - victim as opposed to soldier - but...she still knows life and death. Love and hate. Loss and joy.

Maybe her hopeful view is just as valid as his cynical one.

“...well, for now, keep up your work...and we’ll see what Tsunade says. Until then, our hands are a bit tied.”

“...I’ll see the patients tomorrow. See how far they’ve all progressed. And see if I can learn anything from some blood and saliva samples.”

“Understood.”

Sleep doesn’t come easy for either of them. Curled on her side, Ryū does nothing but worry. About Konoha’s patients, those here...and Obito. It’s so strange to address him by another name, but...well, she’d always suspected it was a monicker. She just...didn’t know why he kept it from her.

Now she knows. Someone supposedly dead, from a nearly-extinct clan...and part of a gang of criminals. Surprisingly...she feels rather...calm about it all. Probably because, to her, in the end...shinobi really are all the same. Sure, some have better morals than others, but...they all have blood on their hands.

Blood she enables every time she heals one.

It’s been a moral debate within herself from the day she arrived in Konoha. Part of her, still, is afraid of them. Part of her, even now, considers leaving and shifting her practices. Whether strictly to a civilian village, or just back home.

And yet...and yet…

Sighing, she buries her face under the blankets. Now is not the time for psychological dilemmas. Now is time to rest, and get ready for what will likely be weeks solid of work. Maybe no different than her typical schedule...but this is far, far more pressing. A world full of people driven to madness with hunger and pain is one she cannot allow.

The rest she can debate once this is cured.

Come morning, she throws herself out of bed and gets to work. Kakashi follows. Her mind shifts into work mode, expression a practiced neutral as she listens to the local medic, observing her patients.

...it’s not pretty.

The most advanced, two weeks infected, is hardly even human anymore. Slamming hands against the locked door, he peers wildly through the small window in the metal. Blood stains his front and face. The same condition as Obito, perhaps another week or so in advancement.

The rest are tapered down from there, the most recent of which begs to be released. “P-please, I...I’m not that sick! It’s just a fever, a-and some chills! Really, I -!”

“I’m sorry, sir - we have to take every available precaution,” Ryū explains softly.

Tears well in his eyes, defeat plain in them. “...am I...am I gonna turn into one of those...those things…?”

“We’re doing everything we can to find a cure and vaccine. Until then, we’ll do all we can to make you comfortable, and keep you safe.”

...they feel like such empty words.

She hates herself for it.

...but what else can she do?

Using barriers and caution, she extracts blood samples from each patient, looking into the cellular structures and trying to pinpoint what precisely is causing the outbreak...and how it changes through time’s progression.

Just as she begins, Fubuki returns, this time without a scroll tied to a leg. “Ryū-sama!”

“Did she agree?”

“Tsunade-sama has decided to send a squadron of three medics to this location,” the summon reports. “They will be accompanied by a four shinobi cell. And you will be given leave to return to Kusunokizan as soon as they arrive. She asks you continue your work here until then.”

Well...a partial victory. She’d hoped to start traveling immediately, but...given the lack of training of this town’s medic, Ryū knows that’s for the best. “Very well. You’re free to go - thank you.”

Head bobbing in a makeshift bow, Fubuki heads out to likely eat and rest.

“So, another day at best - they likely were sent as soon as Fubuki left,” Kakashi muses.

“Mm.”

Observing cell changes throughout the day, Ryū realizes something. “...I think I know what this is.”

“You do?”

“...it has to be a virus. It’s too small for me to sense...and its behavior is that of a viral infection. It’s just so tiny...I only noticed because I happened to catch a cell bursting.”

“...I’ll pretend I know what that means.”

“Viruses are extremely basic in structure. Unlike bacteria, they need a cell host to replicate. When they do, the cell is reprogrammed to create more virus...and then bursts when it’s overrun.”

“Sounds gruesome.”

“It is, on a microscopic scale.”

“So...can you treat it?”

“...well, it’s more complex than a bacterial infection. Since a virus uses the body against itself - takes over the very cells of its host - the best way to prevent it from getting worse...is to find a way to prevent it from multiplying.” Turning to face him, she leans against the counter, arms folding. “This is usually accomplished by examining the DNA or RNA - the genetic code - of the virus, and finding its weak points: ways to inhibit it from successfully passing on its genetic code into a cell, and making more virus. That allows the immune system to catch up, and the virus dies, unable to spread further.”

“...so, you’ll have to take this thing apart before you can treat it.”

“Exactly.”

“...how hard is that?”

“Depends. Given that this is the smallest virus I’ve personally ever encountered...isolating it for study with our current methods will be difficult. But once we have more people working on it, our odds will go up. This will also mean making a vaccine, too. We just...have to break the code first. As soon as Fubuki’s had a chance to rest, I can send another note to Tsunade-sama...and she can spread word from there.”

For now, she keeps observing the cells, taking down any notes that seem relevant. Kakashi, mostly taskless in such a safe environment, takes to scouting the town and keeping an eye out for anyone else that might have come down with the plague.

The next morning, the other medics arrive. Doing her best to explain quickly but thoroughly, Ryū hands over copies of her notes she spent most of the night making.

“It is a virus.”

“You’re sure?”

“Positive. It’s just such a small scale, we missed it. I barely caught it the first time, but once I knew what to look for, it was obvious. We have to get as many medics as we can working on getting into the genetic code. For now...I don’t think there’s much point in trying to alleviate symptoms. They advance too quickly, and the patients are too dangerous.”

The other three nod in grave agreement. “You’re heading back, then?”

“To another location with a single, secluded patient. I’m hoping I can learn more, and have a more focused regimen there.”

“...good luck.”

Ryū wastes no time in packing up her gear once Fubuki takes wing to Konoha, Kakashi always ready at a moment’s notice. “Let’s go.” Back to the road they go, eventually veering north to the mountains between Hi no Kuni and Yu.

“Don’t suppose we can get a ride in on a dragon like Obito, can we?” Kakashi asks as they trek up a barely-discernible path.

“I don’t want to risk interrupting her...besides, I need to conserve my chakra. I’m getting to work as soon as we arrive.”

“What am I gonna be doing?”

“...making sure he doesn’t kill me,” Ryū replies under her breath.

“...wonderful.”

By sundown, they make their way into the valley proper. Ryū, spreading her senses, finds both Obito and her teacher’s chakra up atop the peak in the sage’s cave. “Great...more climbing.” But she supposes that makes the most sense.

As the pair crest the stone stairs to the small plateau, they’re both thoroughly winded. The sun has set, Ryū lighting their path with a spare orb of chakra in a hand. “Okay...this way…” They trek to the right, the peak continuing to rise...and in it, the mouth of a cave. Pillars carved into the sides are lit as she approaches. “...shishō…?”

Out snakes the sage’s head. “Have you learned anything during our time apart?”

“I’m nearly certain it’s a virus. One I’ve never seen before - I’ve sent Fubuki with word to Tsunade. I’m hoping, with other medics working in tandem, one of us will make a breakthrough. For now...I’ll keep working here, and keep an eye on him. How...how is he?”

The sage snorts a cloud of vapor. “Nearly the same as when you entrusted him to me. His anger is unrelenting, as is his hunger. Terrible spasms, vomiting, chills and yet fevers. This illness ravages him. I have offered him smaller prey, which he has accepted...but much of it is lost when he expels. I fear his caloric intake may be insufficient. And he may yet be susceptible to other disease while his body is so weakened. We must be careful.”

...well, that’s not what she’d hoped for, but honestly what she expected. “...I’ll need to take blood samples to try to work on the virus’ code.”

“Not tonight. You are weary from travel. Rest, and we will speak again in the morning.”

“But -?”

“No arguments, deshi. A tired mind means unsound work. Temper your eagerness with patience.”

For a moment Ryū nearly argues...but she knows her teacher is right. “...all right. But...must we keep him up here?”

“It is safer this way.”

“Yes, but...it would be more convenient if he were in the manor. If I have to make the trek every time I wish to observe him or take another sample, it will only waste time and energy.”

Suigin’s eyes narrow in thought. “...prepare a room with proper seals to create a barrier, like that which surrounds the manor. Once that is done, I will move him.”

A curt nod. “Come on, senpai - let’s go.”

There’s a palpable relief at being home. Ryū quickly clears a guest room of dust for Kakashi, apologizing for the mess.

“Not like you were expecting company,” he offers dryly. “I’ve stayed in far worse places.”

Mind restless and body tense, she employs some therapeutic breathing once she crawls into bed before managing to sleep for a few hours. By dawn she can’t sit still any longer, and gets to work.

Finding old sealing paper, she chooses a room fairly close to her own. Carefully recreating the seals that surround the house, she erects one in each corner.

“...so, this makes a barrier?”

Glancing up to see Kakashi, she nods. “Mhm. One that draws energy from the nature around it, like sage meditation. That way I don’t have to keep it up myself. It’s slow...but should be enough to keep him contained.”

“...you’re sure?”

“I’ll be keeping a close eye on it. He’s just one person, and in all our research and observations, none of the people infected have used ninjutsu. The impairment to their fine motor skills means they can’t control or manipulate chakra. So he’ll only have his regular taijutsu to bang on this with. It’ll be fine.”

Kakashi doesn’t look convinced, but for now doesn’t argue. He’ll see it with his own eyes first.

“...there, that’s the last piece. Now to just...get him in here.”

“...you sure you’re all right with all this?”

“What do you mean?”

He eyes her warily. “...you’re not going to have issues because of how...personal this is, are you?”

“I can handle it.”

“...like you did when we found him?”

“That was -!” She cuts off. “...that was mostly due to surprise. By now I’ve had time to...process all of this. I’ll be fine.” A pause, and then, “...and you?”

“I’ve seen enough people I care about die to be ready for one like this. Between that, war, and missions...not much surprises me anymore. Besides…” His eye closes in a smile. “I have faith you’ll get this done...and then everything will be fine.”

Surprise widens her eyes for a moment...but then she gives a weary grin of her own. “...I’ll give it all I’ve got.”

Rather than make the trek back up, Ryū employs Fubuki to fly up to her teacher’s hiding place and have her bring Obito down to the manor. In the meantime, she paces nervously back and forth in the entry hall while Kakashi watches, leaned against a wall with folded arms.

“You know that won’t make him get here any faster.”

“No, but it makes me feel better.”

Twenty minutes after sending her summon, Ryū senses her teacher approaching. And with it, the subdued chakra of Obito. The dragon has henged into a human form, the unconscious Uchiha in her arms.

Lip nibbled pensively, Ryū wordlessly guides her to the room she chose. The sage then lays him atop a futon before checking the seals for herself.

“...these will suffice. Be sure to examine them regularly. They should draw enough energy to sustain under his aggression, but vigilance is of the utmost importance.”

“Of course. I’ll be careful. And Kakashi-senpai is another set of eyes and ears.”

“Yes...I am glad you do not face this alone. Though...you must tell me more about this one when you’ve a spare moment,” Suigin muses. “I am most...curious about him, and your connection.”

Ryū’s startled expression tinges pink. “Er...right.” Now, however, is hardly the time. With Obito unconscious...it’s time to take a blood sample, and get to work. Bowing to her teacher, Ryū watches her go before turning to Obito.

He’s been stripped of his outer Akatsuki cloak - surely by now the dried blood and vomit was a scent to gag even the strongest stomachs. Instead, he’s left with a body-fitted shirt to his wrists and chin, standard trousers, and his socks and sandals. Gloves cover his hands, but his mask is nowhere to be found...he must have lost it after becoming ill. Suigin, to Ryū’s relief, has also cleared the mess from his skin...but she knows it won’t be long until he’s soiled again.

For a moment, her expression softens, threatens to crack. Though her senses keenly watch his chakra for the smallest sign of him waking, she takes a moment to cup a hand along his right cheek. Teeth grit in her jaw to the point of creaking.

“...I’m going to fix this,” she whispers. “I’m going to help you...just...w-wait a little longer. I promise…” A harsh swallow tries to clear the lump in her throat. “...so don’t you dare give up…! You have to keep fighting it…! I’ll...I’ll never forgive you if you let this win…!”

Outside, beyond the door and leaned against a wall, Kakashi wilts with a light sigh, head bowing.

Taking a slow, steadying breath, Ryū holds it a moment...and then exhales. Ever so carefully, she takes an arm, rolling back his sleeve and making a minute incision along his forearm. Her leg pack provides several phials she fills with blood before smoothing the wound shut. “...I have to get to work now...rest while you can. I’ll...bring you something to eat later.” She knows there’s no point in talking. Not only can he likely not hear her...but as he is, there’s no reason left to interpret her words. But it makes her feel...calmer.

Standing, she moves through the doorway, turning back to face the nearly-empty room. Hands shift through several signs before murmuring, “...bōei no kabe…!”

With a thrum of chakra, the seals ignite, glowing a bright red as the energy begins to gather and feed into the jutsu. In a perfect mold of the room, her clan’s signature white chakra forms a half-translucent barrier, like mist trapped to walls. Lifting a hand, she presses it to the shield, finding it firm. “...there.”

“...ready to start?” Kakashi murmurs.

“...yes.”

Oh hey, look what's getting more chapters! As if I don't have enough WIPs to be working on xD We've got more zombito! I have one more chapter written thus far, I need to proofread before I can post, but uh...yeah! This one will now be multichap as well. No idea how far we'll take it, since this is partly based on RP, partly based on ooc plotting. But for now...here's a little more! Thanks for reading!

#abyssaldespair #uchiha obito #suigin ryū #hatake kakashi #blood //#vomit //#when dead walk [ au ]

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violetsystems · 3 years

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#personal

While life has been incredibly isolating in ways, I’ve had a taste of what real independence feels like. Everybody in America is always expressing their freedom by telling other people what they believe they are free to do. But they’re not very free to listen. They never seem to have any time to be free in public. I live in a city with no car so I walk a lot. I’ve walked cities all over the world at this point. Half of Seoul by myself for years on end. Spent an equal amount of time roaming New York with no real reason or invitation. You meet a lot of people in passing. In passing is a very unique space. You share a moment with a person and it passes completely forgotten yet it feels poignant and unique. And like that your interaction with a person is gone. People forget you exist. That you had meaning to them for a moment. That you opened up in public and acknowledged their existence. You tend to get less sensitive about talking to people. If you are me, it’s mostly because nobody ever makes it a point to reconnect. I always feel like I am a blink to most people. Thanksgiving is a cold reminder of that. I spoke with my parents. My mom reminded me for five years I would leave after her birthday to spend a month in Korea. So most of the time I would miss American Thanksgiving entirely. Truth be told, I went to the Asian grocery store instead this year. Alone again. It’s a mindfuck sometimes when you try to be open and understanding and all doors are shut. Last Sunday, my landlord called to speak about some issues on the property. It’s mostly because I am open to talking about these things. I am in a unique relationship in regards to where I rent. Everything about me and my relationships with people when they work are nuanced. Americans tend to be very by the book. Most of my agreements are silent understandings at best. I’ve always thought of it as the perks of being responsible and transparent. That can bite you in the ass when everyone judges you and what they think you have a right to do. But this is America in some ways. We learned from the virus outbreak that you can’t really tell anyone what to do here in this country. And yet everyone is always hellbent in expressing themselves in comparison to what you get away with. Everybody wants to know the inside scoop or the dirt. Mostly because people define themselves by scarcity and having more than others. Nobody really shares. It’s most apparent when you look at your own life. I was let go from a job after twenty years in July. I haven’t heard anything from anyone in my professional network since October. I was ghosted and it hurt. And I blamed myself for awhile. Then out of boredom and depression I figured out a way to survive. And in some ways feel more free than I’ve ever been. This at a time when everyone is totally closed off to the world. Even in a city where everybody seems to know your name and everything about you. Everybody seems to know your struggle but won’t acknowledge how hard it is to do alone. And you begin to care less altogether about what other people think.

Sometimes it feels like my job is to listen to Bloomberg all morning and stare at numbers on a screen. And granted this is how I regenerated a large amount of liquid income over the last three months. From the outside it probably looks like I’m living the life. Except that it’s a life nobody wants to acknowledge exists. Like it’s some inside joke or some long play to prove something to the world. I’ve proven one thing. I rely on myself and I get by. I get mixed messages every time I leave the house from the world about what it is I’m supposed to be doing and what my value is as a person. And yet I know every time somebody new sees me on the street I’m only an excuse to talk about someone they’ll never stop to know. Sometimes this is good. I don’t really want any new fair weather friends. It’s incredibly demoralizing to have no one ever reach out or acknowledge how badly a situation has treated you. Only recently did somebody tell me openly that I was “done dirty.” I agreed quietly and pretty much threw my hands up and shrugged. People are being done dirty every day. Being coaxed into debt because they’re afraid to live within their means. Being lulled into a false sense of security with a stagnant salary that doesn’t pay all the bills to escape lifestyle creep. That everything is an investment upon an investment. An elaborate scheme of tax avoidance and shuffling of the buck. The truth is right now is that nobody has any money. Or if they do they’re sitting on it waiting until a vaccine and quarter two. All the while the pundits are talking about lost jobs and those who may never work again. Sounds greats actually. Except that I do actually want to continue to do something I’m worth and accrue some sort of income. I have no student loans and a college degree if that’s worth anything. I do realize now that I can do this all by myself. And for the time being with a year and a half of COBRA I can do that without worrying about health insurance. And for all the light at the end of the tunnel, you’d forgive me if I see things differently living what I have seen with my own eyes. Nobody calls back. Everybody is lowballing. People would rather sell you on an auto loan and dorm living on real estate they own than an actual job. It starts to feel like Sorry to Bother You. The coal boomtowns of the twenties in America had a similar feel. You worked for a company. You lived in company quarters. You were paid company bucks that weren’t legal tender anywhere but the company store. It was incredibly profitable for the company because the money filtered back into the company’s pockets. The same can be said for living in a community. Except when you live in a community where everything is owned by small business and immigrant families, it’s a little more democratic. Because we all pay our fair share of the taxes. And thus everything is a little more fair and free. So the way I see freedom these days is a bit of a mindfuck against the shadow of modern politics and the economy. And yet, everyone is so beaten down and shell shocked that an act of kindness is either completely ignored or never returned. I’ve heard multiple times progressive politicians say my job for the moment was staying home and stopping the spread of the virus. That’s what keeps the economy running. Not chopping qualified professionals from your bottom line to save money for your CEO and board members. I’m always qualified for that position. I have the Class A shares to prove it.

The one thing I’ve realized is that people just don’t have all the answers sometimes. I’ve had to make most of what I do up as I go along. I’ve had more luck trying to meet society half way with whatever it wants. Bring people together and make connections effortlessly without expecting much. Building an infrastructure of trust and predictability. Making people feel safer around me by being confident. I was watching a WHO broadcast on the spread of the virus. They had said something like masks acted as a firewall for the virus. Safe, accountable relationships in community act like block-chain. It speeds up the credibility and trust. People worry less. People are less paranoid and volatile when they know what to expect from you. And unfortunately, I went about it the way thinking everybody would have to trust me first. It’s not exactly the other way around. And sometimes, knowing how to keep yourself safe is also about shutting the door on things. I could feel bitter about always losing. It was a severe blow to be forgotten. It becomes more apparent over the holidays particularly Christmas and my birthday which both hallmark the dark winter. But there’s connections I’ve built through knowing this much. That for just as many vapid and frail friendships are out there, we still connect. We are never completely forgotten about. Not that the AI’s are the only hope or anything. People are locked behind their screens and shells looking for a chance to feel safe. And typically people lure people out under false pretenses. They take advantage of that trust and safety for dumb reasons. And it creates a history of hurt that keeps people buried. You have to move beyond the hurt and reach out. And sometimes the strength that the world is looking for from you is something you have to realize yourself. You have to move beyond the anger, the frustration, hurt, and isolation to connect. And sometimes you have to know deeply what you deserve before anyone will validate that. You have to walk the walk. Be the ball. Make up your own solution. One that isn’t just a spur of the moment passing of time. A plan that lasts. I wouldn’t exactly call it a pitch or a sale of why you deserve to exist. Knowing what you are worth and what it costs to breathe are two different things. But ultimately to be valued is something very esoteric. And there has been no shortage of years where people told me what they thought I should be. Worse, they suggested it without saying a word. Through negative reinforcement, bullying, and intimidation. Mostly out of jealousy. And it threw me off for years. But I faced it and still look it right in the eye. And what I see sometimes is frustrating. I don’t know where I am at this point of anything other than amongst friends. The real mindfuck is when you connect with someone and they never leave. You share stories. You share what moves you. Your passions. What turns you on. And for all the times you tried so hard to be noticed. You realize you don’t really have to try. Because you are loved. That is worth more than I can explain. And it keeps me pushing on through all the hurt that’s piled up. That’s the wall out there. The ice you have to break. People are walled off, unloved and isolated And to know how that feels is to know how to be free. I take it one day at a time. But I’m always amazed it never takes me too far away from you. Because you are always here in my heart. And that’s why I have the strength to fight to help others stay free. Because we’re all worth more than what people limit us to be. They think they have it all and fear losing a dime. They don’t own me and you know what I’m worth. <3 Tim

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secretagentspydetectiveninja · 7 years

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The Misadventures of Prince Kim - chapter 12

(aka the royalty AU story)

[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11] [AO3]

Max had wondered how easy it would be to tutor someone like Kim, but he needn’t have worried. For all his faults, one thing could always be said about Kim – he tried hard! Once he had set his mind to something, there was no stopping that boy. Now that he wanted to get better at school work for once, he was already improving in leaps and bounds, and Max couldn’t help but be incredibly proud of his best friend.

Kim was needing a lot less help with homework now too. He would at least attempt the questions on his own, sometimes referring to books in the library to help him out, and only if he was still stuck then he would ask Max for help. He really was being so considerate. It was so sweet! How could Chloé resist the charms of a guy like that? How could Alix too, for that matter? Kim was amazing! There was always something new to love about him!

“I’m an idiot,” was something Kim said a lot. It was true, Max had to admit. Kim really didn’t think anything through, he was always making rash decisions and getting into more trouble than he was supposed to.

“But you’re a lovable idiot,” was Max’s go-to reply. That was what mattered. Kim tried hard, he was a sweet person, he knew his faults and tried to fix them, there was just always something to love about him! And Max certainly loved him. He loved him a lot. Kim knew that.

Or at least… Kim knew part of that. Max had never told him the full extent of his feelings. How could he? It wasn’t like he would ever be able to act on them. Sure, even among the royals arranged marriages were rare these days, with people preferring to marry for love. Sure, even marrying commoners or people outside rank was not as frowned upon as it had been in the past. Sure, Kanté was a fairly tolerant kingdom, with more kinds of marriage legal than in many other parts of the world!

But still. Max was a prince, and so was Kim. Even if Kim did somehow miraculously love him back in the way he meant, what could they do? Would one or both of them have to abdicate? There was no way Max was going to, not when he was so looking forward to running the country with competence, and there was no way Kim would either, just considering the kind of person he was in general. Anyway, Kim didn’t even love him as anything other than a friend. No, there was no chance. It was time to move on.

Okay, so Max had been telling himself that for months already. Time to move on. But it was so much easier said than done! How could he just completely change the way he felt about someone? Why couldn’t love just be logical, like the sciences or mathematics? Why did it have to be the one thing that Max just couldn’t figure out, no matter how hard he tried?

“Ugh, I am so not looking forward to the winter holidays,” Kim said, pulling Max away from his thoughts. They were working quietly in the library again, and for once it seemed like Kim had actually finished his work faster than Max.

“Why not? Don’t you want a break?”

“Well yeah, but I’m gonna have to go back home and talk to my parents. They’re just gonna tell me off for getting a detention and they’ll keep asking me about duelling club and Adrien and I don’t know what to tell them, I just wish I could stay here over the holidays instead and talk to them some other time…”

“Why don’t you come and stay with me in my kingdom for the holidays?” Max asked, somewhat surprising himself at how much confidence he said it with. “You always said you wanted to visit Kanté and see all the tech. Speaking of tech, Alix’s kingdom is right next door and she does like to visit a lot with trade shipments, so you’d probably get to see her too once or twice.”

“You’d let me stay in your kingdom for the whole holiday?”

“Yes, of course! You’d be an honoured guest.”

“Max, that’s… that’s really nice of you! Thanks! I’d love to!”

Max smiled and looked down at his work, hoping he wasn’t blushing. Not that he blushed easily, since there was so much melanin in his skin it made blushing quite unnoticeable. But still, he could feel his face warming up…

“It’s totally unfair, though,” Kim continued. “You and Alix get all the cool tech from your kingdoms and no one else does. Why not?”

“Trade restrictions, Kim. Very luddite, I know.”

“Very what?”

“Many countries have historically been very isolationist and resistant to change, preferring to stubbornly stick to the old ways even when it hinders them. Keeping culture and tradition is one thing, and very important too, but refusing to implement things like vaccination schemes even in the face of epidemics? That’s just unreasonable.”

“Vaccinations… that’s like, polio and stuff, right? I think we’ve got that in Lê Chiến, or at least I remember getting needles stuck in my arm when I was a little kid. But what about the other cool stuff? Like plastic and wind turbines and all the other wonders of modern technology I keep hearing you and Alix talk about? I wanna know about those! Everyone does!”

“Everyone does? Hmm, perhaps I should do a class presentation after our next world kingdom study lesson. I’ll teach the whole class about all of this, I’m sure they’ll want to know.”

“That’s an awesome idea! I can’t wait!”

Max put his homework aside and started making a list of all the things to talk about to the class. Homework was all very well and good, but perhaps if he could convince these students to open up their borders to trade even a little bit by impressing them with tales of advanced technology, well, that would be making a real change in the world! Something like that was much more important than homework.

“I am sure many of you have horseless motor carriages in your kingdoms,” Max said, standing at the front of the class the next day as they all watched him intently. “More commonly known as cars, or automobiles. However, how many of you can honestly say that your kingdom produces enough cars at a low enough cost that it is commonplace for even fairly middle-class commoners to be able to afford them? How many of you can say that your kingdom’s cars look like this?”

He swiped a cloth off a mysterious object in front of him to reveal a projector on the table. Pressing a button on it, it projected an image of a very sleek, modern-looking car onto the plain wall behind it. Many of the classmates gasped and leaned forwards to get a better look, interested properly now.

“Yes, these are the kind of cars we have in my kingdom. They have heating, cooling, even a place which you can put in a cassette tape and play music. You could even tune into the local radio station while on the move, and adjust the volume!”

Pressing the button again, the next slide was a picture of a fuel pump. “Now, I know some of you may be wondering what these cars run on. It is diesel? Petrol? Well, some of them do. But recently we’ve been investing in cleaner types of fuel that don’t pollute the air so much, or that have been taken from renewable resources. And speaking of renewable resources…”

The next slide was a wind turbine, standing lonely atop a mountain. “We try to use renewable ways to produce electricity, too. I know all of you know at least a little about electricity. It’s used to power lightbulbs and streetlamps, after all. But there’s so much more to it than that! Have a look at this!”

He knew that most of the students weren’t entirely listening to the words he was saying, but all of them were now eagerly awaiting the next slide. Sure enough, pressing the button, a mysterious big box with a picture on it now appeared projected on the wall.

“Yes, that’s a television. A home device on which you can watch movies, programs specifically made for television, et cetera. I’ll admit they still have yet to catch on properly in my kingdom, but I can tell you that in Alix’s kingdom there’s barely a house left without a TV in it. And don’t think it means that cinemas are obsolete because don’t worry, they’re still thriving!”

Pressing the button for the next slide, he talked about 3D movies at the cinema. Colour movies. Then telephones. Then holograms, then proto-computers, colour cameras, plastic, ballpoint pens (much easier to use than the fiddly, smudgy fountain pens everyone else seemed to like so much…). The classmates became more and more enraptured with his every word.

“And now for something incredibly special,” he said, flicking to the next slide. “Yes. The aeroplane. I’m not just talking about simple gliders. I’m talking about jet aircrafts, the type that can carry passengers and cargo across entire continents in just a few hours. There are only a few countries in the world with airports, so somehow most people don’t even seem to know that aeroplanes do indeed exist and have done for decades already. The coolest part is: they can fly faster than the speed of sound!”

The effect was immediate. Even Chloé, who had been fiddling with her nails and trying not to look interested, had finally taken notice. Max knew most of these students would not have known that supersonic speeds were even possible. Yet they had indeed been achieved before, and they would again.

“And last but not least, the rocket engine.” Max changed the display to the final picture. “Though this hasn’t been achieved yet, rocket engines provide sufficiently high speeds that using them, we could send probes and satellites out of the planet’s atmosphere and into space itself. Real rockets are being built right as we speak. Who knows, within a few decades we might have humans in space too!”

Lady Caline herself was looking impressed now, standing at the back of the room and watching the presentation quietly. As for the rest of the classmates, it appeared that Max had done his job fantastically. Now to finish off and drive the point home.

“So, what can we learn from this presentation? We can learn that the policies our forbearers have implemented that restricts trade and sharing of knowledge between countries is outdated, and has no place in a world that is advancing as rapidly as ours. If we can begin changing things, lifting trade restrictions little by little, we can promote growth and prosperity everywhere, not just in the few kingdoms that are lucky enough to have tech like this. That isn’t to say that everywhere should end up exactly the same, devoid of individuality or culture, but that we should reach a respectful balance between keeping the heritage and pride of our countries, and adapting to the modern world to make life a more comfortable experience for everyone. Thank you all for listening, and I hope that was informative for you!”

The hearty applause and cheering from his classmates gave him hope that they had all learned some valuable lessons today, and that maybe the world would change in the future – even if just these 14 countries. It was a good start. He felt rather proud of himself as he packed up the projector, still basking in applause. Yes, maybe his country’s GDP wouldn’t overtake that of its neighbour. But if he had a worldwide impact instead? That was much more worth celebrating!

With the winter party edging closer and closer, Alya confronted Marinette with some rather interesting plans.

“I know how you feel about Adrien,” she said, “and I’m not saying it’s impossible for him to love you back even though he is a higher rank. I’m just saying you’re going to have to stop being a stuttering dork around him all the time and actually speak to him!”

“But I can’t!” Marinette sighed. “I used to be fine at talking to him, but then when he deflected Kim’s duel challenge so honourably, and was being so nice and wonderful and kind and perfect…”

“Yes, yes, you fell in love with him on the spot and now you suddenly can’t say a word in front of him. Anyway, you and I both know there’s going to be mistletoe at the winter party, so you better drag that boy under there and ask for a kiss, alright?”

“What?!” Marinette’s face flushed pink. “I can’t just do that, Alya! He’s an imperial prince! And I can’t make him kiss me, what if he doesn’t want to? That wouldn’t be nice!”

“I’m not saying you have to make him do it, I’m just saying you should take him under the mistletoe and ask him for one. That way it’ll be clear your intentions are romantic, and if he likes you and says yes then you’ll get a kiss out of it. Where’s the downside?”

“The downside is if I mess up, or he doesn’t like me, or–”

“Don’t worry, Marinette! You’ll never know if you don’t try, and you’re a lovely person! Even if he doesn’t love you like that, I can guarantee he’ll still think you’re awesome. Because you are.”

“Aww, Alya! You’re awesome too!” Marinette hugged Alya tightly. “And I guess I’ll try talking to him at the winter party then… but no guarantees on the mistletoe!”

“That’s fair enough. Go for it, Marinette, you’ve got this!”

Somewhere not too far away, Nino and Adrien were having a surprisingly similar conversation.

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed the way you look at Marinette,” Adrien said, raising his eyebrows playfully.

“Alright, fine, I like her!” Nino replied. “She’s really cute and amazing all of a sudden! I don’t know if it’s because I went to the autumn ball with her or what, but…”

“You should talk to her at the winter party. In fact, I hear there’ll be mistletoe, so why don’t you ask her for a mistletoe kiss?”

“No, I can’t do that! That would be embarrassing! What if my breath smells bad, or there’s something in my teeth, or if she thinks I’m weird for asking her and doesn’t want to do it, or–”

“You may as well try!” Adrien laughed. “At least speak to her, won’t you? I’ll be hanging around nearby if you need my help. I promise.”

“Thanks, Adrien. You’re right, maybe I should try talking to her properly. One-on-one.”

“Nice. You can do it, Nino.”

Adrien held out his fist, and Nino gently fist-bumped it.

#royalty au #I LOVE MAX SO MUCH OKAY HE'S A COOL NERD #and yeah the tech levels in this au are a complete mess i'm sorry idk #it runs on rule of cool okay #i'm on such a roll with the writing i've been keeping up a chapter a day for 11 days now #tomorrow's chapter's already done too #when will i run out of steam? who knows #miraculous ladybug #ml fanfic #le chien kim #max kante #random stuff #the misadventures of prince kim #aish writes

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tamboradventure · 4 years

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Travel is Never Going to Be the Same Again

Posted: 6/22/2020 | June 22nd, 2020

If you’re like me, you might be wondering what the future of travel holds now that more countries are easing lockdowns and opening borders. I wrote about the future of travel back in March but, like everything COVID related, a lot has changed since then.

Lately, days feel like years and months feel like decades.

Given how much has changed — and how fast things are still changing — I want to revisit this topic.

There have been a plethora of articles lately about how destinations and companies will change and what travel will look like once we head out on the road again.

I agree with many of the points my colleagues make.

Yes, local/domestic travel will be big over the next few months as people forgo international/cross-border travel for travel within their own country. Yes, many countries will require a COVID test at the border or, at the very least, proof of a recent negative COVID test to enter. Yes, most companies will tout their cleaning policies more as a way to attract customers.

And, yes, the travel industry’s recovery will be slow as people cautiously head out into the world again.

But I think too many have blinders and are underestimating just how bad it’s going to be for the industry. They simply don’t want to see the ugly truth:

The sky is falling – and this industry is about to see a massive shakeup.

Because people make travel happen.

Without people, travel doesn’t exist.

And the more I talk to readers, friends, and other travelers, the more I realize people will not travel again in large numbers until there’s either a vaccine, treatment, or a decline in cases after reopening.

Humans are hardwired to minimize risk and uncertainty. We didn’t leave the cave after dark because of the danger out there. The night brought terrors and risks. That risk-reduction psychology has stayed with us through the millennia. It’s why we always go with the devil we know and stay in jobs we don’t love but are stable.

Humans always reduce risk.

So, even as countries open their borders, most people are taking a wait-and-see approach.

And I can see that not just through my interactions with friends and readers but through Google too. Even as parts of the world have started to reopen, this website has seen no increase in our search traffic. We rank for such a wide variety of keywords and often in the top 1-3 results that I can use my site’s traffic as a good barometer for consumer sentiment. (But TripAdvisor and Kayak have shown similar research though.)

People walk before they run and they search for travel and begin to plan months in advance before actually booking it.

That means if people aren’t searching for travel now, they are unlikely to take a trip in the next few months.

That is not good news.

If companies talked to end consumers more, they would know this. Maybe they do. But their press statements suggest there is just a huge pent-up demand waiting for travel that will save the industry anytime now.

Yeah, people all want to travel. Just not anytime soon.

Twenty percent of people will go traveling the second they can and another twenty are so risk-averse they are probably going to wait for some vaccine.

Everyone else? They want to see what happens to the first 20%.

There are just so many unknowns.

Will you be quarantined? Will you pick COVID up and bring it home? What happens if you think you’re fine but end up sick, aren’t able to get home, and you’re now stuck somewhere for two weeks?

And what about the destination itself? will attractions be closed or restricted? Will some activities be canceled? Will transportation be limited? Will distancing regulations interfere with meals, transportation, tours, and other activities? Will you have to spend your vacation wearing a mask? What if others aren’t wearing a mask?

There are too many variables and people don’t want to spend their one big trip worrying all the time. Travel is supposed to be a relaxing escape.

It doesn’t matter what hygiene or social distancing measures countries, tour operators, or airlines take. In a recent poll, only 28% said open borders would make them feel safe. That’s the crowd that will travel. The rest are staying home.

Right now, most of the travel industry is relying on meager savings, government loans, and a lot of hope. The industry is in a severe depression right now with 60% of jobs lost. Things are bad. We’re all just hoping for some semblance of a summer travel season to get through the rest of the year and keep our businesses afloat.

But I think hope is going to smack into reality really soon when this travel season is a lot shorter than we imagined — and with a lot fewer people. While local travel will grow, there simply aren’t enough local tourists to make up for the missing international ones.

Plus, let’s not forget capacity restrictions.

How many hostels, hotels, or airlines can operate at 50% capacity? How big can Airbnb remain if no one wants to stay in other people’s homes? How many walking tour companies can be sustained by vastly fewer tourists?

I think this fall we’re going to see many tour operators, hostels, independent hotels, magazines, creators, and other businesses in this space go under. A bloodbath is coming. (And this site is not immune. We’re barely treading water. At our current spend, we’ll be bankrupt by Feb 2021 if something doesn’t change.)

But, while the job loss will be terrible, travel was in need of serious reform. It had simply grown too big. We were in a Gold Rush. From VC-backed startups to hostels to influencers to tour companies, there was just too much of everything. Overtourism was a huge problem. Destinations just weren’t built to handle so many people and the environmental impact from all this travel was staggering.

In my opinion, we were due for a realignment.

I want people to go explore the world but, if so many of us are going to do that, then we need to do so in a more sustainable and managed way.

We need to take a step back and say “Ok, how do we make this work for everyone involved?”

Many destinations will use this downtime to change their policies to ensure more sustainable numbers of visitors in the future. You can already see this happening in Venice, Amsterdam, Prague, and Barcelona.

Everyone can literally start from zero to create a more sustainable travel sector.

Will this mean it will be as easy to travel in the future as it was in the past? Maybe. Maybe not.

We should spread out our tourism more. Iceland is more than Reykjavik and the Blue Lagoon. Spain is more than Madrid and Barcelona. Venice isn’t big enough to handle all our numbers. Indonesia has over seventeen thousand islands not just Bali.

That might raise prices for some destinations but long before this boom in travel, there was budget travel. There have always been ways to save money on the road. There will still be ways to save money on the road when this is all over.

I’m not worried about travel becoming too expensive. Even if some places become less accessible (and, honestly, to protect places like the Galapagos, Everest, or the Machu Picchu, we should greatly reduce the numbers who go there), there’s still plenty of places in the world on a budget!

But that is a problem for later because, as the crowds grow slower than destinations and companies hope, by the time we have a conversation about what “the future” looks like, most travel companies will be out of business anyway.

What is coming is a seismic shift as large as when the Internet transformed how we book travel and get information.

And I don’t think we’re prepared for that.

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines, because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the largest inventory. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com, as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it, as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all those I use — and they’ll save you time and money too!

The post Travel is Never Going to Be the Same Again appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

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