Bad luck: The sniffling trials [OPEN]

[Genevieve Duval]

She was sick. Of course she was. She'd tried ignoring it at first, but with her usual sickly state and having been all wet in the cold for so long it was actually inevitable. She caught a cold. No, it was more than that. She'd been throwing up and feverish and sneezing and coughing and- was there a symptom she didn't have? Was this the flu? Maybe an infection? She didn't know. At least the place was empty enough, what with most people in class, that she could sneak out from her bedroom and grab something to drink. Ah, how she hated being away from home. Back there, she would be taken care for by her mother, getting someone to spoil her, make her something nice to eat and hold her hair while she threw up in the bathroom. So unfair that she was all alone here, and she couldn't even bother Julien with this. Even Vivian was gone for the day, now that her powers were faulty because of how down she felt.

Genevieve made her way to the vending machine, wearing her oversized pyjamas, light yellow with tiny flowers all over, making her look more like an old woman rather than the fifteen year old she was. At least she'd managed to cover herself with a thick blanket, thrown over her shoulders to keep her warm while she was out of bed. She needed some liquids, right? That was what you took when you were sick? Maybe some orange juice or something. Was it orange or pineapple that had vitamin C? Or was it both? She really couldn't remember.

She sneezed as she came closer to the machine, and then leaned against the cold glass. Why did she have to get sick anyway? Why couldn't she be like a normal girl and not get sick over every little thing? It felt nice against her very warm skin. She moaned, eyes closed. Couldn't she just stay like that? Would it be too bad to fall asleep like this? She let out a deep breath, already forgetting why she'd come downstairs to begin with... yes, this was nice... 

[Alexei Strauss]

Alexei couldn’t believe he had managed to forget his sketchpad in his dorm room that day. It wasn’t like him to just forget something that important to him but nevertheless he had done so and now he had to go back to his room to fetch it. It felt wrong without it, somehow…like something was missing.

He knew most people wouldn’t be in the dorms this time of the day anyway. He himself knew that he only had some time before his next class for today. He had to make his visit quick. Alexei had just entered the dorms and was about to pass the vending machines to ascend the stairs when he had to backtrack because he realized that a girl was there leaning on the surface of the machine.

She looked sick, like she had the flu or something. Heck, she even had a thick blanket thrown over her shoulder. But, her eyes were closed and she was leaning on the machine and there’s got to be something wrong with that, Alexei thought.

Alexei knew he had to be hurrying but he couldn’t just leave the girl alone in there so he sighed and stepped towards her and gave her a tap on the shoulder. “Um, hey, do you need any help? Should I…call someone? Or do you just something I could get you? I don’t think you should just stand there like that if you’re sick.”

[Genevieve Duval]

It was nice. Genevieve felt her chest raise and lower raggedly as she tried her best to get air through her very sick throat and lungs. Her mouth was a tad open, considering how congested her nose felt, and she almost felt a purr inside her chest with every breath, but that was probably whatever it was now living in her lungs. Her cheeks were pink, almost red, the fever already taking a toll on her. And yet, despite all this, the light head, the nausea, the difficulty with even standing, she was smiling, all because of the cool surface of the machine against her forehead.

She felt a tap on her shoulder and it made her open her eyes slightly, still feeling sluggish. She turned, her back resting against the cold surface as she stared at what had touched her. Who was that? An angel? "Beau..." She whispered as she saw grey eyes staring at her. And the angel was speaking. Wait- angel? What?

Genevieve blinked her eyes open, realising where she was and that it was in fact a boy in front of her. She flushed even further, her face turning tomato red as she realised what she'd said. Oh no. "Vous n'êtes pas censé être ici!" She said suddenly in her mother language, having forgotten where she was, and then she shook her head. No, English! "Ah... you are not in class." She said, looking down at the floor. "I think- thought...." English was much harder with a fever. "I thought I alone. Was alone." She took a deep breath. "I thought I was alone." What had he said though? Help? She shook her head. "Non. No. I-" She turned to the machine and sighed. Oh yeah. "I get juice." Getting. "I was getting juice."

[Alexei Strauss]

Alexei was worried especially since the girl seemed so out of it. She had opened her eyes and muttered something while looking at him. He was just about to open his mouth to tell her of his intentions to help once again when she suddenly said something in a different language. Her face was flushed and that worried him even more. Was her fever getting worse?

Then, she began speaking in a somewhat broken English though it was enough for him to understand the gist of things. He was also trying to see whether he could recognize the language she spoke in. His family had gone to vacations overseas in the past and the language seemed familiar enough.

Still, first things first, he had to help her for now. She seemed to have difficulty just standing and the flush a while ago could be a sign of her fever going up. “I came here to get something that’s why I’m not in class. You really look like you shouldn’t be standing. Come on,” he said, guiding her gently to a couch near the large TV. “I’ll get you your juice and some water, maybe.”

He placed his palm on her forehead, frowning at the heat from it. “I’ll try to find a cool cloth to place on your forehead too. Just…try to get some rest for now, okay? Uhhh…you understand what I’m saying, right?”

[Genevieve Duval]

Genevieve blinked in confusion as he lead her about and she moved along, still feeling sluggish and dazed. Where was he taking her again? She nodded along as he explained why he was there although she barely listened, moving to wherever he was guiding her to. She flopped on the couch, sighing as she felt the soft surface under her, almost melting against it. It was so nice. She blinked her eyes as well as she could, barely opening them as she stared at the boy. Who was he? Was he really an angel? It couldn't be, right? Even in her fever she could know how crazy that was.

"There is no need." She said, miraculously managing to come up with a sentence in English. The language was so difficult when you couldn't think straight. "I-I get juice." Well, that didn't last long. But that made some sense right? Despite her best effort she could barely lift herself from the couch. And she felt so congested too. The reminder made her sniff and cover her face with her thick blanket. She looked like crap, didn't she? With her messy hair sticking to her face and her flushed cheeks and disgusting watery eyes. And there was a guy here trying to help, one she'd actually confused for an angel. Ugh... She almost buried herself into the blanket. Somebody kill her, please. Now would be good.

He touched her forehead and she only felt her face turn warmer and redder. "Non." She whined like a little girl, moving away from the hand. It wasn't that she didn't find comfort in it, it was just that she was embarrassed. The place was supposed to be all empty! Why was he here? And why was he helping anyway? She didn't even know him.

"I understand." She muttered, still feeling shy. "It is... difficult to speak. Not to listen." She looked down at her hands, peeking out from the cocoon she'd formed and looked up at him through her eyelashes. "Why do you help?" She wondered. Was he just... nice? Normally someone wouldn't be so worried about a stranger, right? So why?

[Alexei Strauss]

Alexei was even more worried when the girl tried to strain herself and insist on getting the juice herself. He placed a hand on her shoulder and gently kept her down on the couch. He was already crouched beside the couch so that she could be on level with her. “Hey, take it easy. It’s no problem. I’ll get it for you.”

She tried to move away from his hand on her forehead and suddenly he felt like maybe he really was being intrusive. But, then again, he couldn’t just leave someone who looked helpless alone like that. He bit his lower lip thinking of what to do so that he could help her without seeming like he was intruding on her business.

He blinked in surprise at her question of why he was helping him. Was it so weird to help someone in need? It was something that seemed normal for him. “Well, you look like you needed help so…I just did. Besides, it’s not good to be alone when you’re sick. People should have someone to care for them, shouldn’t they?” He answered, giving her a warm and friendly smile.

He stood up then, heading towards the vending machine. “I’ll go get you your juice, okay? Stay put. It’s not good straining yourself when you’re sick. Leave it up to me, okay? Just use your energy to get better.”

[Genevieve Duval]

"But-" She started, trying to move but settled when she felt his hand on her shoulder. He was now in front of her and she blushed again. He wasn't a... telepath like Alanna, was he? He couldn't know she'd thought he was an angel at first... right? Oh, she wouldn't hear the end of it if he had. "I do not want to trouble." She muttered, still blushing and feeling embarrassed. But he'll insist, wouldn't he? He seemed so... nice. And in a weird way too. Genevieve was usually touched by acts like this, but she'd never seen anyone approach her so openly before, much less take care of her like this. Maybe her friends would have. Colton was willing to help her with her English, and Alanna was willing to bring her to shows and events, and Osiris had saved her life. So maybe it wasn't that odd, right? Still, it felt awful to always be a burden to others. Just once, she wished it could be her helping them and not her needing help.

"You are kind." She said and if she hadn't been feeling so bad, she would've smiled at him. "But I am afraid that you will- ah get contagious?" She wasn't saying it right, was she? Still, she hoped he understood what she was saying. Whatever it was Genevieve had, it was probably spreadable, especially if he got close to her like he was.

She sighed, nodding when he said he would get her juice. "I-" She sniffed and rubbed her itchy nose. Even talking was difficult. "I have money." She added. If he was going to be kind enough to care for her the least she could do is pay for it. "Um..." She wiggled until she managed to pull out her little purse full of coins. Those darn coins. She still didn't understand how dollar coins worked, so she kept collecting them. "Here." She said, stretching it out for him. "Um... Merci."

[Alexei Strauss]

Alexei was confused about the feelings he could get from her…embarrassment. He wasn’t sure why she was embarrassed. Maybe he was doing something wrong or maybe she didn’t want him seeing her like this? Alexei knew there were people who didn’t like being vulnerable in front of others. Alexei’s brother, for one, was pretty stubborn even when he needed help.

“Don’t worry. It’s not really any trouble,” Alexei assured her, after she said so. He gave her a smile so that she would be more assured of that. If that was what she was embarrassed about, it really was nothing.

“You mean, if I’ll get infected?” he asked after she voiced her fears of the sickness spreading. “I’ve never been sick much. I don’t think I’ll get infected if I’m careful. Don’t worry about it, really. Even if I do, it’s not your fault.”

Once, she tried to hand her a purse with coins, he gave it back. He grinned at her, “Nah, it’s okay, I got this. My treat! You can just answer my question in return since I’m really curious about it…um, your language? What is it? It seems familiar though I can’t decide between Italian and French, for some reason.” Alexei said, filling the silence even as he fed the vending machine some money and getting the juice that she wanted. For good measure, he also got her some water.

He returned to his place, sitting down on the floor beside the couch. He handed her the juice as he said, “Do you need anything else? I could probably find you some medicine for a cold in a first-aid kit somewhere. I’m sure there’s something in here. The dorms should have some…uhh, so would you like for me to look for it?”

[Genevieve Duval]

Genevieve nodded. "Infected. Yes." Still he refused. She sighed, leaning further down on the couch until she was almost laying down, still curled up under her blanket. "But it be my fault." She argued weakly. It seemed no matter what she said, he still would stay. It was so sweet for him to do this but it was still painful for her to keep bothering others. She still eyed him though, from under her blanket. How nice could people be? Sure, if it'd been her, she would've tried to help whoever was in need, but it was never others, always her. It was her who couldn't talk properly, who couldn't get to know people on her own and couldn't even swim. And now, she couldn't even get her own juice. She sighed sadly. It was so unfair. Why wasn't the universe as annoying to others as it was to her?

He gave back her purse and she blinked in surprise. "But I have coins." She refuted in a weak voice. Oh well. She could always go to the bank and change them for bills. Bills she could work with after all. And if they didn't, well, coins were always good souvenirs.

"French." She said somewhat proudly and her tone would've appeared cocky had it not been for her sickness. "I am from Kocher." That part wasn't said so proudly. She'd hated it there. She felt a nagging emptiness inside her stomach at the memories of that place. She was sure if she'd been sick in the common room back then like she was now, no kind boy would've ever offered his help, much less offer to buy her juice.

"Non. I just- I am fine. I just need... Wanted juice." She answered shyly. Medicine? No. Ugh! It was far too gross. "No need for medicine." She said, cuddling down into her blanket. "No. Thank you for help." She added and looked down at her hands. Was it her or the room was growing colder? Or maybe warmer? She couldn't tell.

"What is your name?" She wondered, looking at the boy shyly. She needed to thank him after all. "I am Genevieve." She added, just in case he was wondering.

[Alexei Strauss]

“French, huh?” Alexei said after she had answered his question about her language. She looked proud as she said it so he grinned at her before playfully saying “France is the country of love, yeah? I’ve heard it’s a nice country. I’ve never been there, though.”

There was something down in the emotions he sort of got from her as she mentioned coming from Kocher. It almost made him feel down and sad as well. If Alexei remembered correctly, Kocher was a school in Europe that took in meta-humans, much like Hammel does here in the United States. He wondered whether there was something that had happened in that place that made her feel that way. He was curious but he knew it would have been rude to ask.

He frowned when she insisted that she had no need for medicine. He was sure that medicine would help her get better, at least. But, he wouldn’t force her if she didn’t want to. “Well, if that’s what you think is best. We should still do something to at least lower your temperature.” He handed her the bottle of water that he had also gotten from the vending machine. “The water’s cool. You should try to place the bottle on your forehead or something. It will feel good. That was why you had your forehead pressed to the machine a while ago, I believe. It would be better if we have a cloth or something but this will do, I guess.”

Alexei was kind of surprised when she asked for his name. It was just that he hadn’t realized that he forgot to introduce himself. He really should pay more attention to his manners more.
“Ah, it’s Alexei. You can call me Al…or Alec…or really just call me however you want,” he said, smiling at her. “I don’t mind.”

“Genevieve is a beautiful name,” he said as a comment to her introduction. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m sorry if I talk a lot. It’s a habit.”

[Genevieve Duval]

Country of love. She blushed, suddenly feeling shy and looked down at her hands. "They call it that." She admitted, "But I do not know why." Maybe because couples tended to go there? She knew French people had some sort of reputation world wide. Romantics, artsy, a tad snobbish. She knew Julien somewhat fit the category, at least from her perspective, but did she? she wasn't artsy and she certainly wasn't that snobbish... right? Romantic... well, who knew? If given the chance. But she was sure it was something impossible for her. She was followed around by bees! Well... not now, but most of the time. Who'd want that near them? Besides, she was still far too young to be thinking of that.

"It is best." She agreed in a sluggish voice, pouting and dropping her blanket over her face. "I do not like medicine." She said in the voice of a spoiled girl, one much younger than she was. Lower her temperature? "I am fine." She insisted, despite her headache and the fact that she looked like crap. She took the bottle of water and blinked down at it. Put it on her forehead. She stared at him for a couple of seconds, before placing it on her forehead as suggested, and immediately she closed her eyes, sighing in pleasure. Much better. "Better." She said in a whisper, eyes still closed. She opened her eyes slightly after a moment, still staring at him.

"Al." She repeated in a whisper, the cool surface of the bottle of water pressed against her warm forehead made her feel even drowsier. "Al." Another whisper. She closed her eyes again. "Al." Once more. It was her thing to remember names, although she wasn't sure she'd remember this one, considering how sick she felt. Wait. Did he say her name was beautiful. Her eyes opened suddenly, her face flushing further. "I did not choose it." She said quickly. Well, of course she hadn't right? That'd been an odd thing to say. She nodded. "You too. Nice meet you." To. "Nice to meet you." He talked too much?

"Do not." She said and then blushed. No, that wasn't it. "You do not. I- I do not mind." It was so hard to think when she was sick. "I like." And she offered him a small smile, just to reassure him of it. In fact, she was enjoying the company.

[Alexei Strauss]

Alexei smiled as she kept on repeating his nickname over and over again. She looked like she was about ready to fall asleep and it would have probably been good for her health if she rested like that.

Alexei laughed after she told him that she did not mind him talking, that she even liked it. “That’s good. I wouldn’t want to be bothering you when you’re sick like this. I wouldn’t want to be the cause of your sickness becoming worse now, would I? On that note, I wouldn’t force you to drink medicine but I think it would really help you recover so you should think about it.”

He knew he was going to be late for class but he found that he did not mind. He could catch up with the lessons, most probably and he could face the consequences like detention. It seemed much more important to say with Genevieve now and help her since she seemed like she really needed it.

“Do you want to sleep?” He asked, remembering how sleepy she looked as she whispered his name just a few seconds ago. “I’ll hold a bottle for you, if you want.” He reached out, offering his hand for the water bottle.

He laughed, then as he thought of something even better. “I could try to tell you a story or maybe sing you a lullaby…or is that too childish for you? Personally, I find it nice to fall asleep to both.”

[Genevieve Duval]

She shook her head. "Not bother." She added and shrugged at the medicine part. "I think. I do not like it." She answered with a small pout, turning away from him. Well, at least he wasn't forcing her to take anything she didn't want to take. Medicine was bitter after all, and anything that didn't taste like honey or fruit wasn't good for miss bee.

Genevieve's eyes snapped open at his question. "Non!" She said a tad too loudly. When she realised this, she blushed and hid under her blanket once more. "Non. I am okay. I just-" She looked down at her hands once more and then looked up at him. "Can you stay?" She asked. What was she saying? He probably wanted to leave anyway. It was school hours after all, and it wasn't like everyone wanted to skip school like she had. Besides, she probably could get a sickness permit or something, if she went to the infirmary. She didn't want to though, mostly because they would make her take that bitter medicine.

He offered to hold her bottle and she blushed again, before nodding. He was being really nice, it was so weird, but she wasn't complaining. Genevieve moved closer to him and stretched the bottle out for him to grab.

"I like childish." She said with a small smile. "And stories." She looked down for a moment, thinking of what story she wanted to know. "Story of you." She said after thinking a bit, eyes still half closed. She would make sure not to sleep though, despite her dropping eyes. She really wanted to know more about this angel.

[Alexei Strauss]

Alexei took the bottle from her, holding it to her forehead. He was really flattered that she really wanted him to stay. He would have thought that anyone would get annoyed with the kind of meddling he does. Well, he guessed it wouldn’t be that wrong to skip a class or two today. It wasn’t like it was something he hasn’t done before…for lesser reasons, too.

“A story about me, huh?” he said, smiling. He hadn’t expected her to ask him that after he offered to tell her a story or sing her a lullaby. Still, he guessed it wouldn’t hurt anyone and besides, he was more than willing to satisfy her curiosity. “Well, I’m not sure what you’d find interesting about a story about me but…sure, fine…I’ll tell you.”

“Let’s see…Well, like I’ve said, my name is Alexei, Alexei Strauss. But, most people either call me Al or Alec. Well, there was also that time when my older brother decided to give me a girly nickname when we were kids and he called me Allie but that was really long ago. I got my revenge on that but really was nothing but games between siblings.” Alexei laughed, remembering that certain memory. It had been a cause of many incidents of fighting between the two brothers.

“I love to draw and paint,” he said after thinking of anything to tell her. “I’ve done lots of it. Maybe, I’ll show you when you’re better, if you want to, of course. They’re not masterpieces or anything…and sometimes, I hate them but it’s what I love to do, you know. I got it from my mom. She’s an artist and when I was younger she’d put this big swath of cloth on the floor and we’d go about just doing whatever with it. Lucas and I used to have tons of fun putting our handprints and all that on it. Then, our dad would go home to find all three of us covered in paint. It was fun.”

“Well, what do you think?” Alexei asked, rubbing his neck in embarrassment. He sort of got away with the nostalgic memories and ended up babbling about them. He wasn’t sure what her exact thoughts on the matter were and it was making him nervous. “You know what…I feel like I still do a lot of that childish things even now.”

[Genevieve Duval]

She smiled as he pressed the bottle against her forehead and closed her eyes to enjoy it fully. He was so kind. Al he'd said. Well, the name angel suited him as well, what with both names starting with the same letter and all. Ange. Funny how she'd forgotten how embarrassed she'd been about her looks. Hopefully next time she met him it wouldn't be with a runny nose and wild hair.

Her eyes opened slightly to look at him as he spoke. He seemed happy, speaking of his childhood. It made her jealous, especially so when he mentioned a brother. "Frére" She whispered, looking down. He had a brother too, just like her. But instead of cold shoulders and being ignored, he had fun with his. What she would give for Julien to tease her like Al's brother had teased him. For them to joke and laugh and play pranks against each other. Genevieve had tried, many times too, to start something like that to no avail. Julien just wasn't the playful type or, at least, he didn't want to be like that with her. Didn't want to be anything with her actually. At least that was the impression she got of him. Julien had been her reason to leave Kocher and come to Hammel, and yet all she'd found since had been ignored calls and awkward conversations.

"He sounds... nice." She didn't know what else to say and couldn't help the jealous feeling at the pit of her stomach. "And it sounds fun." She wished her family had been like that or, at the very least, to have something to smile about like he did. Everyone seemed to have a thing except her. What was she good at anyway? She wasn't sure. Perhaps she should start figuring that out.

He was asking her a question now. What did she think? "I think..." She started, still whispering and trying to smile, "I want to hear more." She turned on the couch to be more comfortable and lean closer. His arm must've been getting tired for holding the bottle after all, and a change of position might help. "I like the childish too." She agreed in her broken English and thick accent. "Still do." She smiled gently again and narrowed her eyes.

"What is your power?" She wondered. He had to have one, right? He seemed about her age and was in Hammel so it was sort of obvious that he did.