1963-10-03 - Say Sneeze!
Summary: Two sickies confer on their future plans.
Related: The pandemic plot.
Theme Song: None
sue heather 


Seo has been restricted to bed rest since Saturday. Not that anyone can tell when she's not in bed, thanks to her varying visibility that she has no control over. On top of which, things that might not seem like good ideas generally, seem like FANTASTIC ideas at the moment… like going to see Heather. There's a rap of knuckles at Heather's door.

Sue Storm, if she could be seen, doesn't look well. The pair of flannel pyjamas that knocks at the door are oddly unoccupied with the gentle rap of knuckles. Yeah, Sue should be in bed. Yes, someone will probably seek her out later. For the time being, she's out of the residence, but, at least this time she stayed in the building… that's progress, right?

*

Heather totters out of bed and answers the door. She's wearing pyjamas, her hair is in disarray, and her nose is red. "…SUE?" Maybe she's hallucinating again. She puts a hand to her own forehead. "I'm not that sick, am I?"

*

The declared name has Sue sighing exasperatedly as she stares at her friend's appearance. "You too?" the frown reflects in her tone, even with the raspiness that is her voice. Her toe drags on the ground. "Ugh. Two days in bed and I still feel like garbage." And am invisible. Clearly. It's fortunate that at least her pyjamas are visible at this moment. Who knows what it'll be like in a few more minutes.

*

"Come in." Heather steps back to let the pyjamas in. She's not perturbed now that she's worked it all out. "David's out — I didn't answer the phone so he came back. I've been so sick. I think he was supposed to check on you."

The apartment is not its usual tidy self. There are rumpled blankets on the couch and a wastebasket full of tissues by it. Empty glasses clutter the coffee table. "Can you eat anything? I've been living on soup."

*

Evidently the trash bin full of tissues and rumbled blankets are no deterrent for the set of pyjamas to sit down. "Juice and soup," she affirms softly. "No desire," for anything else. And even then, she only eats when coaxed and someone else heats it up. She presses a hand to her forehead, causing the sleeve of the pyjama shirt to rise. "Did we get this in Canada?" she murmurs quietly. "We were together the whole time…" only seems reasonable.

*

"Maybe. David says it was the conference, that everyone gets sick at a conference." Heather goes to get a couple glasses out of the dishrack and to open up a new jug of juice. "I'm assuming that the world's worst blind item about the mess at the Latverian embassy was something to do with Reed? Is everything okay? Victor isn't already causing trouble, is he?"

*

"Blind item?" Seo gapes at Heather. No, she hasn't seen the news. Yes, that is probably strategic based on the actions of those she shares a residence with. Her lips curve into an invisible frown and her expression, while not-seeable takes on a pinched quality. Even the most practice diplomat cannot keep this level of sour from her voice, "It was me." Her elbows rest on her knees and she lowers her chin to her hands pensively, causing the pyjamas to look oddly reflective with no one in them.

"I felt…" she attempts to explain her motivations, but it doesn't even make sense now, "I had to go tell Victor that I'm with Reed. And then, while there, I sneezed and broke the windows in Victor's office. And Reed and Joon were outside and…" she sighs heavily and exasperatedly, uncurls from her position to slump against the couch like the sad sack of sick which she feels like.

"I have no idea how they found me. Victor… ugh. What am I doing? Just. What am I doing?"

*

"You went to see Victor?" Heather comes back with juice, offers one to Sue. "Why would you do that? And — yes — how did Reed track you? Did he put a tracking collar on you that I can't see?" She plunks her butt down on the one clear spot on the coffee table.

Then Heather's brain catches up. "You damaged the Latverian embassy?" Her eyes go very, very wide. She's spent half a lifetime trying to avoid international incidents. "Well. That's not going to make Victor chase you less, Sue. If I ever saw a man who wanted a woman to put him over her knee, it's that one."

*

The questions only spawn more exasperation and unsettledness from the Invisible Woman. "I don't even know. It just felt imminently important. Like this obsession in the back of my mind. I had to tell him that I'm with Reed — that I don't need or want Victor to try harder." She pinches the bridge of her nose.

The mention of a tracking collar causes the pyjamas to wince. "That worries me. Just a little. I haven't asked yet," but there's no question she will.

She leans forward and scrubs her face with her hands. "And then I sneezed and I broke a window. And it wasn't remotely on purpose. Wasn't trying… I wanted to go home." She presses her face harder into her hands. "He was too nice about it. He almost acted like it happened everyday — a concern, but only because I'm unwell. And kept being… odd. So odd. With everyone else he's openly surly. With me, he walks a fine line between charming and… creepy. Weirder still? I leave a conversation with him and suddenly doubt everything."

*

"You can tell who a guy is by how he treats the staff," Heather says wisely. "Victor can wait. Right now, I'm worried about you. Your powers being out of hand is not good, Sue. I'm used to working with people with various powers and I know that's a sign something's wrong. I am assuming Reed checked you out, and that you saw a doctor?"

*

"I have the flu," Seo responds without actually answering the questions. But then she adds, "We took two samples. I looked through a microscope and nothing looks weird. I mean… it's weirdly normal. At least right now it seems weirdly normal." The thought of a physician, however, prompts her to roll her eyes invisibly. "Fluids. Rest. Flus are all the same." Probably.

*

"I've never seen a flu that made people's powers go haywire." Heather exhales slowly, then takes a drink of juice. "Pregnancy, I hear, can do it. Some kind of hormonal imbalance. But we're both just sick. I was very crabby with David the other day," she says quietly. "Out of sorts. But I put it down to the fever."

*

Whether or not it's related Heather's remark, Seo turns visible. Nothing about Sue Storm looks like herself. Her eyes are red and puffy. Her nose is red from constant running. Her skin is ridiculously pale.

Heather's thoughts prompt her expression to deaden and her hand presses tightly to her forehead. "I better not be pregnant," she deadpans almost too-seriously. "No. No, I'm sick. My head hurts, my muscles ache, I'm sneezy, cough-y, and exhausted. You and I are both sick. This is an illness. That's all. It'll pass like all viruses with rest and fluids. And then it'll be like nothing happened." She sighs softly, "And it's just evidence we're working too hard."

*

"Speaking of work, I should get back to it as soon as I can get out of the house without catching hell from David." Heather laughs, then it turns into a cough and a sneeze that has her reaching for the tissues. "He's hardly left my side since he came over. He's very devoted — it's kind of charming. I think I'll keep him. I guess he's seen me at my worst, hasn't he? And he's not gone running."

*

A smirk follows the remark. "I'm sure you will be translating soon enough. But honestly, it was a stressful couple of weeks." Sue sniffles. "Makes sense that you'd get sick. First this whole weaponizing people nonsense," she lifts a hand dismissively, "then having a house guest that has been through some rather… unusual circumstances. Then the whole Canada thing. And what that was like. And the conference and Victor." Her eyes roll.

An easier smile punctuated by a cough has her considering David. "Good. You deserve some happiness. And you should take it where it comes. So, he's been taking good care of you then?"

*

"Very. Better than my mother." Heather's smile is rather dreamy. "He's really good to me, Sue. I'm not used to people taking care of me. I take care of people instead."

Heather takes a breath, as though steeling herself. "It feels as though it's too soon to feel the way I do. I accidentally said I love him when I was in a state. But he seemed to take it in stride."

*

"You and I have that in common," Sue suggests. "Taking care of everyone else is our strength. It's difficult to be cared for." Or fussed over. She frowns slightly at Heather's words. "I… I definitely did…" her cheeks flush. "I told Victor I loved Reed. That's why I went there." She winces. "And then he told Reed…" her fingers rake through her hair. "What is wrong with me? This flu has made me foggy." She pouts.

*

"Is there a virus that attacks the decision-making portion of the brain?" Heather laughs at Sue. "You told Victor? Oh, Sue. That's not what I meant when I said to go public with it — strategically. Oh, life is so much easier when you're no one. I am so glad I'm not in charge of anything of import anymore — finally, I'm glad. How's Reed?"

*

"I… yeah," Sue can feel her cheeks flushing. "And then he made it seem as if," her eyes hone in on the ceiling, "the only reason Reed and I are together is because of proximity. Like I have no free will in the matter and of course believe that I love Reed Richards." Her eyes lid tightly. "But I couldn't not do it. You don't understand. I barely understand." She massages her temples.

"Reed…" a fond smile tugs the edges of her lips as her eyes open with a flutter of lashes, "…well. I told him. Victor had done it anyways. I have no idea what he thinks about it, or whether I'm just…" she rolls her eyes. "Whatever. I've loved Reed Richards for years. He may as well hear it." Her lips twist to the side, "To be honest, I think he's worried about me. He's been fussing. Checking my temperature, my pulse, blood sample…" her lips edge further downwards. "I don't understand why things are so wonky right now."

*

"I'm worried about you." Heather reaches out to Sue. "I mean, being sick is one thing, Sue. But having your powers go all weird like this. No offense, but it makes you a hazard, for yourself and other people. And people need you — we all do — because of what you do. But Reed and Joon, they really do need you. Joon must be half out of his head, if Reed is worried at all."

*

The touch is leaned into and Sue sighs softly. "I'll be fine. It's weird," she agrees wholeheartedly there, "but it's just a bug. We all get them sometimes." Her eyes lid lightly and she frowns. "Joon… I don't know. Baby brother has been very worried as of late. Now even more so." The frown deepens. "I shouldn't have gone walkabout. I… went invisible on them a few weeks back. It's kind of mucked things up. I promise Joon I wouldn't do that again. I won't. But." She shakes her head.

*

"Joon is a good kid. And a gentleman." Heather's smile is warm. "He could stand to be around some people his own age, though. It can't be easy for him, being isolated, caught up in the drama. If there's anything I can say — it's hard to be young in a world of adults who are all off about their own business, tormented by their own concerns. Does he have any friends?"

*

"He is," Seo confirms. "Aunt Margay did a good job. And our parents before," her eyes turn downwards. "I do what I can, but it's hard." Her shoulders sink. "I worry about him. He's too old too quickly. I know that school doesn't always interest him — he helped build a ship that has been in space. Not many engineers can claim that." She frowns lightly. "But school is about friendships and fun." She coughs lightly. "He saw me enjoy some grass a few weeks back," her cheeks hue red. "He was so scandalized. It certainly wasn't a first…" Her lips twist to the side.

*

"I was married and working for the government long before I was his age, so I can say, it does change you. It's good for him to see you being normal, you and Reed." Heather puts a hand on Sue's shoulder. "This new project of his, maybe some young people will apply. He'd be a great mentor."

*

A wry smile follows the observation. "Reed and I have never been normal. Your way of starting relationships is to get married first. My way? Wait five years and then make your move with little regard for anyone around you." The smile shifts into weak, but proud smile. "He'll get applicants. Joon has always been good at encouraging others. And he can inspire. I've seen it." Her lips hitch up on one side. "I tried my best. I'm proud of him, but I worry our parents would be disappointed. I should've done more to protect him. They wouldn't be happy about the whole Joon-on-fire bit. Or their invisible daughter."

"When do you think you'll be back at work?" Her eyes stare up at the ceiling.

*

"I think your parents would be proud of you. Confused, yes, but proud." Heather is pretty certain of that. She can't imagine anyone not being proud of the Storm siblings. "In a few days, I think. As soon as David is willing to let me out of the house. He makes quite a watchdog."

*

"Fair," Sue replies in a raged whisper. "I need to run out for a few things," she states quietly as she leans back in the seat again. "I just… was thinking… that maybe… I should go to campus to check on things. I'm supposed to defend the abomination in another couple of weeks, and it seems like I should check in." Her cheeks turn rosy.

*

"Are you sure you should be out like this?" Heather shakes her head. "I think you should stay right here until you're completely well. Can you imagine how well your defense would go if you sneezed in your advisor's office today?" Disaster.

*

"I.." Seo's eyes squint at Heather. "…can't just be cooped up in here forever," it's only been three days, but that feels like an eternity. "And I need to work. Need. And and and," her jaw tightens, "I… know I can pass…" Sue sighs softly and leans against Heather's shoulder. "It's that or spend the day staring at my own blood through a microscope…"

*

"Sue. Sneezing!" Heather worries about the university. "

*

"Let's just go out somewhere reasonable, if you want out. We can go together."

*

"…Welllllll…" Sue's eyes squint to a nearly feline state. "I…" her cheeks flush brighter. "…need to deal with this thing. We could, maybe," her eyes turn upwards, "possibly," her eyes squint more, "do it together. Not on campus. Maybe. IF. Timing."

*

"After a nap," Heather says firmly. "You can even stay here if your apartment is making you crazy. But you look and sound awful, Sue. And I only say that because I'm your friend. Drink your juice."

*

Seo groans. "I don't wanna," she closes her eyes and finally begins o sip the juice. "I want to go oooout. To see things. And do things. Think about it. I could show you things. Heatheeeeer." Yup, she's sick. Ahchoo! She disappears, including pyjamas this time. "Fine. A quick nap. And then… we go together, yes?"

*

"Well, yes. Definitely together." Heather wonders if Sue can sneeze off her clothes or if they always go with the rest of her. That would be the worst: invisible clothes, visible self. "I'll tuck you in and then you can tell me what you're upset about." She shakes out a granny square blanket for Sue… where she guesses Sue is. "David will understand."

*

ROLL: Sue +rolls 1d2 for a result of: 2

*

"Good," Sue murmurs softly as she curls in the blankets tighter. "Not upset. Need to give professor piece of my mind." As she lays down, however, her focus dulls further. "…for…" she yawns "…giving research…" her eyes lid. She sighs softly and can feel a tickle in her nose, but manages not to sneeze, luckily for Heather.

*

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