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Mm, focus on how it feels when you use one of the fountains to heal yourself, [Natori says, clapping his hands around the top of the stick with the ofuda sandwiched in the middle. The truth is that there isn't actually anything that Kate needs to do, but it feels like a good idea to give her a task to focus on.

He leans the stick into the outline of the circle and concentrates; light briefly fills the grooves that he carved out in the dirt, and a rush of wind swirls around the two of them as Natori activates the spell. He opens his eyes once it's finished and looks Kate over.]

How do you feel? [That's "did it work or what," phrased a little more delicately.]

[She'll believe that's how it works until told otherwise, and she tries to steady her breathing, picturing herself at one of the fountains, splashing the cool water on her face, rinsing her mouth out.

The wind rushing past her gives her hope, and she tries to keep her concentration, but when he speaks, all she can do is shake her head, slowly and gently to avoid feeling more awful.]

Still like shit.

[At least she's honest.]

Well, honesty's the best policy, especially when it comes down to whether you're carrying a mysterious virus. [He leans his weight slightly on the stick, biting his lip as he looks down on the circle.] I guess that means it's not based in something spiritual...

So. What's the next steps? How long does this take to cure itself on its own?

When we get out of a trial we're cured of any injuries or sickness. Other than that... An' other than the fountains, there ain't nothin' for it.

[Which means that this is a problem. How long would it last? Would she just have to stay sick and infected like this? Or would it eventually pass on its own?]

Hmm. Well, there are a lot of people here with healing abilities, right? Between them, I'm sure we'll find someone who's able to do the same thing as the fountain would. My expertise is pretty limited here, you know?

[He's just here for the exorcisms, man.]

If you think my wards might stop her-- like the ones you'd find at a Shinto shrine [he adds, since he remembers that she's been to Japan (presumably before all of the insane murder trials stuff) and actually has the context for what he's describing] I can also set them up at your home so she can't try to get at you again.

[Thanks, Natori. Totally helpful.]

I don't think they would. She's not like- the Spirit. [Who was more ghostly. The Plague was more of a rotting priestess herself, though definitely not one of Japanese origin, if she thinks hard enough.

Which is hard to do, trying to keep bile down her throat.]

Thanks anyway, though. Who d'ya know whose capable of healing?

["The Spirit," "The Plague." Even the implications of the things that Kate's been through are a lot to handle. He'll defer to her judgment on this one, because it's not like he has any idea of what to do there.]

Mm, Sokie's got some healing abilities. There's also a newer guy named Vangeance who can heal, though I don't know if his extends to sickness along with injuries.

[Names she takes note of between fits of coughing, chest starting to hurt from just the force of it.]

Y'think they'd be able to help? I don't know much about magic.

[Other than her own injuries, which seal up quickly enough all on their own in crackles of golden and black.]

Honestly, I don't know much about that sort either-- my world doesn't have healing abilities like that. I'd try Sokie first. She's the one that I'd bet would have more experience with illnesses. Vangeance seems like the type who's more used to being a field medic, but his magic is extremely powerful.

[It's only occurring to him now that this is the sort of thing he should really know more about-- the last thing they need is to waste time in an emergency finding out the healers' limitations the hard way.]

I ain't ever met her. But it'd be a good thing to go meet both, I assume. Abilities like that are valuable.

[She knows that first hand, with Zarina's uncanny ability to take the wounds off of someone else and take them in their stead, no matter how deadly. It's an ability that she sorely wishes to have, with how useful it might be in the future.]

Yeah. I was just thinking along the same lines. It's not paranoia if there's really something out there, right? [He gives her a humorless little smile.] I think you'd get along. You and Sokie. She's the sort of person to complain about useless young adults who can't feed themselves, then drag them into her kitchen to learn.

[Three guesses who this description applied to.]

[His description makes her laugh, and oh, that's a bad choice that has her laughing turn into a coughing fit that she takes a wheezing moment to recover from.]

Sounds like you have first hand knowledge?

[But really, that probably was a bad choice; he hesitates for a second, warring between wanting to step forward to help and wanting to back away so he doesn't, you know, become infected with the virus no one can cure. Instead he cuts the difference and doesn't move at all, fantastic.]

I'll have you know I can make rice, and I could do it before I got here. [But he frowns slightly in concern.] Can I at least get you a drink or something?

[To be fair to him, she absolutely does not want to infect anyone else.]

I feel like rice is the lowest bar possible, next to instant noodles.

[The shade? Has been thrown.]

Maybe. Might be nice to have another flavour to taste.

And for your information, I can do both. That's two staples down. [There is a reason Sokie is forcing him to learn. But his tone softens as he suggests] Do you want to wait here? I can run into the grocery store and grab you something.

[so they don't have to worry about sanitizing everything after her.]

[Kate is fairly certain that instant noodles are not a staple, but he quickly moves on, and Kate doesn't have the energy at the moment to protest more.]

That'd be lovely. Something warm, if you can? [She's freezing, and the warmth might help soothe her throat and stomach a bit.]

I'll make this up to you later.

Don't worry about it. I'll try to be quick, okay?

[He wishes he'd thought to bring the blanket he was using earlier-- he's accepted that she's not going to take his coat out of concerns of the germs, but he still wishes he had something to leave her. Instead, he hurries off to the grocery store, then a quick swing by the microwave at the anime library to warm it up for her. When he comes back, he's holding a bowl of soup in one hand and a coffee in a thermos in the other.]

I know it doesn't really go together, but I wasn't sure which one you'd prefer. Uh, it's not decaf either, sorry.

Coffee and soup. Maybe she's right.

[Sokie, she means. Kate barks a soft, wheezing laugh.

Thanks, sugar. I appreciate it.

[For as much as she feels like shit, she's grinning all the same. It's funny how company can just cheer you up, even in a dire circumstance like this.]

I'll grab it if you set it on the bench.

Hey, hey, would you rather I have made you wait for a full three course meal? [he grumbles defensively, as if he didn't just dump a can of soup into a bowl and stick it in the microwave... He does set it on the bench for her, and though he steps away to give her some space, he's still awkwardly hovering.]

But feel better, okay? Let me know how it works out.

[Absolutely husband material, Natori. What a catch.]

I will. I'm grateful to you for even comin' out here.

[And she says it softly, earnestly as she grabs the thermos full of soup. She can tell he's concerned by his hovering, but there really isn't much to do at this point.]

Y'should go on and get some rest. Just be careful, alright? If she's out there... [She doesn't want anyone else to get sick. Or die, because she couldn't do anything about it.]

Yeah, of course. [To coming out when she called, that is, though of course he'll also be keeping an eye out for the embodiment of the plague on his way back.] Night, and stay warm.

[Probably a lost cause, since he's still chilly from his own wave of sickness even when bundled up as best as possible, but still. Off he goes back to the cottage!]

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itt just wear a mask

WASH YOUR HANDS, KATE

what if she touches his face instead

that's the opposite of helpful???

he could be a corona cutie tho

SIX FEET AWAY, KATE

:(

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