Smog... under quarantine.

[Keppit]

It was night and, at last… the skies were calm. The only signs that they had been raging all the day and the night before remained in the form of those grey puddles of dank mud that spotted the ground, and in the almost eerie quiet that pursued the storm. In the SMO headquarters, a man peeled a curtain away to stare out into the darkness- seeing only a black, quiet sky.

Jen sighed, and let the curtain drop, turning back to where his cousin sat. Tawn turned at the sound of the sigh.

“Something wrong?”

The redheaded skull monkey anthro shook his head. “No. Just tired. Read that number back to me again.”

“4,678g.” Tawn thumbed through the rest of the papers. “It looks like that’s the final count. Did you want last quarter’s, too?”

“No. That’s all taken care of. It’s just this one that’s… floating.” Jen walked wide around the old couch to practically collapse next to his cousin. His arms, his spine- even his tail he let lay limp against the slightly musty-smelling brown material. They’d been running over the accounting figures for hours, trying to reconcile their current debt amount with any possible way of acquiring the funds. Jen found that his mind- quite like the sky outside… was quiet, almost deadened- struck to muteness by how tired he’d become.

He turned his head towards Tawn- it was the only body part he bid move, letting the rest hang limp. “How about a loan from your mother?”

It was the black man’s turn to shake his head, his eyes still rapt on the figures ahead of him. He, too, was tired- nearly exhausted- but where Jen had become collapsible, the father of two was almost statue-like: stoic, and rigid where he sat, his sleeves pushed up to the elbows and his jaw set into an acharacteristically solid line.

“She wouldn’t consider it a loan. We’d never be able to give it back to her. I’d prefer it to be a last resort. …What about Aunt Keppit?”

Jen lolled his head back to stare up at the ceiling. “Still in The Past. But she’s pretty much strapped at the moment.”

“What about Ranald?”

If Jen noticed the lack of the word ‘Aunt’ on Tawn's part- he didn’t remark on it. He realized how touchy their odd living situation was with that side of the family. Best that they come to terms with that on their own time. “I doubt it. No one in the family really knows her finances. …If she even has any.” He laughed. It was a dry, half-hearted chuckle, diminished mostly by the yawn that crept up behind it.

If Tawn had something to say in response, however- it would never be heard. They were interrupted by the sound of a knock on the door. Something about it echoed through the house- whether it was for the sake of the knocker, or that the headquarters, so abandoned at that hour of the night, had become cavernous- for whatever reason, both were struck by how booming, how insistent the sound. Tawn’s hands were still filled with the papers, so he nodded in the direction of the hallway. Jen only sighed and eased himself out of his languid position, moving towards the door even as the knocking continued- louder, more impatient.

“Hold on, hold on,” he called as he neared the great wooden double doors, “I’m coming. How can I help…” he was muted again- now, not by a yawn. If anything, the sight that revealed itself as he swung open the doors had wakened him- fully, and instantly.

A woman stood on the step before him- clothed nearly head to toe in an insistent wrap which allowed only the barest strip of skin above and below her eyes- which had also been freed- to show. She was also soaked- no doubt, she had been outside since before the rain had ceased… and in her arms, a woman who seemed half dead hung, water dripping from her fingertips where they lay slack and pointed to the earth, and also from her tail. Jen had only time to notice the black and white tail on the woman- and also, a familiar sort of white furred ears- when the woman who carried her thrust her into his arms.

“Oh good. You’re still here this late. Help me take her inside.” The woman’s voice was deep and gravelly- yet soothing, in a way. She brushed passed Jen as he struggled- not with the weight of the anthro SMO in his arms, but rather, the lack of balance he faced from having been so suddenly surprised with the burden. He turned, though, and followed the swaddled woman into the center.

“Who are you? And… how do you know who we are?” He said we, then, for Tawn had come, surprised at the voice, to stand in the doorway which led to the hall.

The woman narrowed her eyes- though it seemed more of a punctuation of her speech than a sign of irritation. “My name is Vayle. I’m an Escort. This is Luna. And we don’t know who you are. Just what. …You are a Skull Monkey Headquarters, are you not? We were here earlier this week... but no one was here.”

“Yes. ...I mean, yes, we're the Skull Monkey Headquarters.” Tawn chimed in from the down the hall, and Vayle spun to see him.

“Good. Then I’m assuming you can help take care of Luna.” She turned, quite matter-of-factly, and walked to where Tawn stood. She peered in at the main room as if considering, then nodded. “This will do. Come, you can lay her down in here.” And then, without another word, Vayle disappeared into the main room, leaving the two startled cousins to stand slack-jawed at each other for a moment. Then Jen adjusted the unconscious woman in his arms and hurried to do as the ‘Escort’ had said. Tawn followed- and only after Jen had laid her down on the couch did he straighten and turn back to Vayle.

“What’s wrong with her?”

Vayle had taken up position behind the couch, her mummy-like hands in all their tight swaddling resting on her hips as she looked down, ever the protector. She shrugged at Jen’s question- still looking down at Luna.

“We don’t know, exactly. Only that it’s not Smog. Well, she has Smog, of course, but this is something different. Her symptoms are provoking it, though. Speeding it along.” She looked up at Jen- Tawn had since knelt down to examine Luna more closely. “She only got this sick when we hit the shore.”

“The shore? …Where do you come from?” Jen raised a reddish brown eyebrow- his curiosity about their origins outweighing that of the ‘smog’ issue- but before Vayle could answer, Tawn interrupted.

“Jen… you’re going to want to take a look at this.” There was a peculiar tone to his voice, and Jen obeyed- kneeling down almost immediately. Tawn was the cousin he had always been closest to: for although the man had always been older than him, they were closer in age than many of their own siblings- and had, to some extent grown up together. So Jen knew that when Tawn- ever the consummate ‘gentleman’- interrupted… it was something important.

He hadn’t been down on Luna’s level for three seconds that the woman jerked in her sleep- and sprayed a noxious vomit all over the redheaded man.

They all quieted a moment in shock as the vile smell hit the air, and the substance- almost purely liquid- dripped from Jen’s cheeks and soaked into his shirt. It was thick, but not so thick that it obscured the swirling marks on his cheeks. He had been thrown up on before- he was, after all, a father and quite familiar with the company of the young… but it was never, ever an experience… that he would become ‘used’ to.

“Yup.” He finally said. “She’s sick alright. Thanks Tawn. I think I would have taken your word for it.”

His cousin, who had since stood and walked to the corner to get a towel that waited there- shook his head. “No. I don’t mean that.” He handed the bit of cloth to Jen. “I meant those.” He pointed to a very particular point on Luna, and after he’d wiped his face clean, Jen saw what his cousin had intended him to see: several raised lines against the unconscious Skull Monkey’s neck, beneath which a red, almost lace-like framework rested.

Jen turned in surprise to Vayle. “She has gills?”

The Escort crossed her arms before her irritably. “Of course she has gills. Don’t any of you?”

Tawn and Jen had only the presence of mind to shake their heads dumbly. Then it was Vayle’s turn to look surprised.

“Well.” She dropped her arms, flustered. “We’ve heard that the Shore Monkeys are a little different… but we figured that was mostly custom-based. You mean to say you don’t have any of the random mutations?”

The looks on their faces prevented Vayle from having to hear their answers aloud. She shook her head and joined the silence. Tawn took the opportunity to stand.

“I think she’s going to be okay. It just looks like a V Tech Virus. …They were going around like mad a few months ago.” He turned to Jen. “Airborne. Dalton had it, and so did Sarabi. Perhaps it took a while for it to get to… where did you say you were from?” The latter he referred to Vayle.

“I didn’t. Origin Island. Thank you… for Luna, I mean. She’s always getting herself into trouble- thus why I came with her.”

“But why did you come here, exactly?” Jen asked. Tawn had left- he’d gone to find a blanket somewhere on the edges of the main room, where the younger SMO’s often crashed during their mid-play naptimes.

“Well, I’m just The Escort. Luna here was supposed to be the Emissary- we’ve heard you’ve found a way to live with Smog.” Vayle laughed then- her gravelly voice thick with a sort of ironic mirth. “I’m sorry- I don’t mean to laugh. It’s just that Luna is so… well… impetuous. It’s strange to call her the Emissary.” Her voice, though chiding, was also filled with a sort of warmth- and Jen could sense that she had a true fondness for the girl. “…She was only chosen to come because she’s the least contagious.”

An alarm went off in Jen’s head- and Tawn froze where he stood, having just returned and tucked Luna into the blanket.

“Contagious?”

“Well, why would you think I’d be swaddled?” Vayle put her hands on her hips again, petulant for the sake of the two slow-witted anthros. “I don’t exactly want the Skull Monkey Plague now, do I?”

Jen’s head was suddenly a recording center- and in it, he rewound the events of the past few minutes. He had carried Luna to the couch… Tawn had prodded at her gills, and felt her pulse- held his hand against her clammy skin… and Jen was still sticky, his shirt sweet with the results of her sickness. The Skull Monkey Plague. The world shrank.

“The Plague?” It was Tawn’s voice- deep, incredulous- and even, Jen sensed… afraid. “We’ve never heard of it. …The SMO’s are a generally healthy bunch.”

Vayle, her eyes wide with something- whether it be fear, or realization- shook her head, and drew her brown cloth tighter around her head. She looked at Tawn- then settled her eyes on Jen, a sort of apology waiting in her green eyes.

“Not anymore…”

Luna, where she lay, still unconscious- coughed up a sort of raw, white sputum… and then shuddered a bit before lying still once more. Tawn and Jen could only bring themselves to stare, open-eyed and slack jawed… at what they feared was a harbinger of what was to come.  

[Keppit]

Jen and Nell

Jen sniffed and ran a hand under his nose as he walked to the front door. He wasn't in the best of moods... I mean, who would be after learning that their species had this plague-like illness that seemed to be specifically targeted to their DNA? He sniffed again and pulled open the large door. Standing on the other side was Nell Floppi. Nell was not only Jen's cousin, but a scientist and geneticist, and she'd agreed to try and help out here at the HQ. Jen had told her over the phone not to come... that she'd get sick... and what was her response?

"Piss off you worry wart! You think I'm going to let a plague situation scrape by me without trying to get a good day's work in... maybe even win a science award for my outstanding work on the only cure to Smog?" She grinned at him as he stood in the doorway. "Hey how's your houseguest doing anyway?"

"She seems to be stable now. She's still sick mind you, but she's awake and talking." He sighed and smiled at Nell. He really was glad to have her here... it was about two days since Luna and Vayle had officially arrived, and it had been all he had thought about since. Now as he looked out on the front stoop of the Smo Hq all he could manage to see was the Quarantine sign that seemed to frame Nell's pink hair... What were the Smo's going to do? "Are you really sure that you want to come in here?"

"Like I said now and like I said over the phone... Piss off. I'm a big girl and I make my own damn decisions." And without another word she pushed past Jen into the building, and he closed the door behind her. That was that.

"Well where do you want to start?" He sniffed again, not even thinking about it, and ran his hand under his nose. "Luna's in the other room, she's supposed to be sleeping, but I'll wager that she's not. She seems to have a hard time with authority."

Nell smiled. "Sounds like my kind of woman." She stopped a moment to tie a shoelace that had come undone. "That used to be me... nobody could tell me what to do." As she stood a strange look came over her face... "Jen... your nose..."

"Yeah... it's starting to run... it's been weird all morning..."

"No... Jen... Your nose is bleeding."

He quickly looked down at his hand only to see twin streaks of pale blood running from his thumb right on down to his wrist... "Oh, it's just a nosebleed... C'mon... let's go introduce you to the lovely Luna." As he pinched his nose shut he put on a brave face and pushed Nell down the hall... But he was worried... Really worried.  

[Keppit]

Jen, Luna and Nell

It was late evening of the day that Nell had come over. Jen was sitting in and armchair in the corner with a grumpy look and his hand pinching his nose shut. He was staring at Luna, who in turn was staring back. She winced and growled as Nell poked at her gills.

"Oh stop it! You're driving me crazy! How was I supposed to know that you landmonkeys didn't have the Smog!" Luna looked like she had the flu... her eyes were red and tired, and her voice was crackly... "I wouldn't have come, but we thought that you might have had a cure." she sighed.

"How lobg id by bode goibg to Bleed?" He was irritated.

"What?"

Nell sighed and didn't look up. "He asked how long his nose was going to bleed..." She turned the popsicle stick she was holding and used it to pry open Luna's gill so she could see inside. "Can you actually breathe underwater with these gills?"

"Yes... But only for about twenty minutes, then I need real air." She shook her head at Jen. "I dunno. Smog symptoms are different for everyone."

"Abd 'ow do bou know I gobt da Smob?"

Luna looked to Nell for translation, but instead Nell turned around and frowned at Jen. "does your nose often bleed for hours on end? How long has it been bleeding now anyway? Four hours?" She shrugged. "You've got the smog Jen, get over the thought and get some rest so you can get better."

Jen frowned and stood up. He couldn't be sick... how was he going to help Nell? How was he going to help the Smos? How was he going to watch over... oh heck... Jim... he sat back down in the chair... he'd have to have someone watch Jim...

"Hey, you two... Where's Vayle?" Luna pushed Nell's chair away, with Nell in it.

"She's gone out." Nell stood to go to her equipment which was layed out on the table. "You need something from her?"

"Naw. I just..." But a short fit of coughing overtook her before she could finish the sentance. Nell and Jen waited patiently for the end of the coughing, and the end of the sentance. "She's got three pebbles... they're orphaned and we thought..." She turned to Jen.

"Beah beah..." He nodded sadly, half lost in his own thoughts. "Bye bnow of somb peopble..." He knew of three Smo owners whos smos and sm's were always at the center and were undoubtably already infected... they could each take one of these new pebbles and probably deal well... He sighed and stood... he needed to make a few calls... he needed to call the three owners for the new pebbles that Vayle had, and he needed to call the other owners and warn them all... and he needed to call Dan... Poor Jim... Poor Dan.  

[Keppit]

Tawn and Sarabi

Tawn took the phone in hand- and stood facing away from the doors. They had been blocked- marked with those glaring yellow and red warning and quarantine signs: and he couldn't bear to look at them.

It was early the next morning... and he did not know whether his wife would be yet awake. But he had been waiting since those late hours the night before to call... and he couldn't wait any longer.

Tawn covered his eyes with one hand- and held the phone up to his ear with the other... listening as the phone rang through the other end.

Sarabi had indeed been awake for a couple hours now, puttering about the kitchen in a nervous stupor, coffee in hand. Tawn hadnt come home, and Sarabi and tossed and turned all night. He was probably busy with things and crashed at the center, yes, him and Jen had been doing some accounting was it? Well whatever it was, she wanted Tawn home. Now. The news couldnt wait, and she needed to tell him in person. She had put off calling him only because she thought he might still be sleeping. But it was strange of him not to call her before and tell her, which only made her more nervous. She had been pacing in the kitchen for about and hour when the phone rang. She flew across the room, spilling her third cup of coffee on the floor, but not caring a bit. "Hello? Tawn?" She asked into the phone, trying to steady her voice to sound less worried.

He heard her voice saying his name on the other end, and his own voice caught in his throat. It was a moment before he was able to answer.

"Yes. It's me, sweetheart. ...I'm sorry I didn't come home last night. Something happened at the center."

It took a moment for the words to sink in. "Somethings...happened?" She blinked, leaning her weight against the counter for support. This didnt sound good. "Whats going on Tawn? Is everything ok?"

"We... don't know yet. A Skull Monkey who says she comes from... an island came last night. And apparently she has some sort of contagious disease. Jen and I have quarantined the center- we're trying to figure out what's going on. But until then, Jen and I are going to stay here."

He sighed, and hated to hear that his voice sounded ragged. He needed sleep. "Anyone who comes to the center will be exposed to... whatever it is. And apparently the woman- Luna- she was here earlier in the week, too. So anyone who came after she was here may carry it, as well. So sweetheart... you just need to know to stay away from the HQ, and to not bring the boys anywhere near here."

Sarabi's face turned several shades paler as she tried to process the information that was just given to her. Her hands began to shake, and she gripped the phone tighter so she wouldnt drop it. She took a couple of deep breaths, and straightened, trying to regain control. "Tawn, I cant leave you alone. Whatever this..thing is, whatever's happening, you cant go through it alone. Especially if this includes you being sick. Besides, I was just in the center the other day, which means I might be infected." She said the last part in a half wisper. She had been feeling off for the last couple of days...

"Oh god." He was torn- terrified- but ultimately, he had to think of the boys. "...Sarabi... if you really were in the center within the last few days, you have to come back. ...You have to leave the boys right away, in case they pick it up from you." His voice had turned into a whisper, because it was difficult to say. "You may not have been infected... but if you have been, you're putting the boys at risk." He prayed he wasn't dooming her.

"Alright." She had to think of her sons, they were the most important at this point. She glanced towards there bedroom, blinking back tears. She sniffed, trying to make it seem like she was fine. "Ill give Isto a call. If his family hasnt been infected, ill drop the boys there. If they have...Ill bring them to my mothers." She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, sniffing once again. At that moment, she remeberd what she had been meaning to tell him, and stood bolt upright. This, this would change everything! What-what if the sickness...she trailed off in thought, forgetting she was on the phone.  

[Keppit]

Tawn and Sarabi

"I think you should leave now. A woman named Vayle escorted Luna to the center- and she says that the carriers tend to become more potent over time. ...Those last few minutes you're with the boys- it could be the minutes that makes the transfer." He noticed her silence on the other end- but mistook the reason behind it.

"I know the thought of leaving them alone even for a minute is scary... but as soon as you leave, I'll call Isto and see if his family has been infected. Even if Isto and Slush can't pick the boys up, one of our mothers can take them. They won't be alone for long."

She snaped back into consiousness, nodding through the phone to Tawn even though he couldnt see her. "Ill write them a note before I go..God I hope this thing blows over soon. Is it serious?" She didnt let Tawn answer. "I better go quick, im going to throw together a bag of clothes for us and ill be there in a minute. Where are you in the center?" She wanted to see him a soon as possible, she needed to talk to him. Needed to be with him. This had all come so fast..As Tawn talked she pulled out a peice of paper and pencil, scribbling down a long note with instructions and goodbyes for her sons to find when they got up.

"You'll be able to find me.... I'll have to let you in myself. We've sealed all the doors and windows- just come and pound on the front door, we'll open the quarantine to let you in." It was a terrible thought. "Don't worry, sweetheart..." he decidedly didn't answer her question about how serious the situation was. "We'll get through this. Now, I'm going to hang up so I can start making some calls to get the boys picked up. ...Write on that note that I love them, okay? Alright sweetie, I'm going to go, now. I love you."

"...God.." She said, pausing from her note and shaking her head. This was worse than she thought. A couple of tears brimmed over and splashed onto the paper as she finshed writing, and she left them there not really careing. "Alright, im going to hang up. Ill knock when I get there, and ill bring my cell if you need to call me. I love you Tawn." She hung up, and stood there staring at the floor trying to collect herself. She headed towards the bedroom, and opened a suitcase, for once not caring what she was putting in. She was in the car in moments, driving like a maniac trying to get the center as fast as possible. She did a sloppy parking job, and sprinted to the center, banging on the door.

By the time the obvious pounding rang out in the center- Tawn had already tried to contact the Skull Monkey that had been the best man at his wedding to see if he and his husband could take care of their children. The phone had rang through to their answering machine- it didn't surprise Tawn, since it was so early, but he managed at least to find someone to watch the boys until he could contact Isto and Slush.

After that first, failed phone call- it hadn't been easy for the dark man to decide what to do. Although Sarabi had suggested her mother, and he knew that his own was likely available as well... there was just something frightening- and much too emotional- about explaining to either of the two loving women what was going on. They would have to know eventually- but those were the sort of phone calls suited better to having his wife at his side, providing that additional support. In the end, he'd called his sister- Tam, who needed little explanation to leave her apartment in Aekea at five in the morning and drive to the apartment above the Sarcastic Kitty shop. She was a stopgap measure- he would still try to find Isto and Slush. But for now- his wife was knocking.

He let her in, and although a part of him was so happy to see her- as he always was to see the beautiful woman he'd fallen in love with... not a small part of him wished she was not standing there.

"Hi sweetheart." The words were soft- and he beckoned to her, drawing her into the quarantine.

I seconds she was in his arms, hugging him tightly to her, the tears flowing freely now and she tried to speak. "T-tawn, what are we going to do? How long is this going to last?" She had to tell him now...it was now or never. She had been overjoyed at the news before, but now..it just seemed like the worst time. She stepped back from him and took a deep breath, mustering all her courage. "Tawn...im pregnant."

"Oh god." The words came, unbidden.

He'd meant to say I love you. But the sight of the quarantine sign- blood red where it hung, hovering beyond her shoulder... evoked only those two words. And then... the door was closed again, sealing them together in the ultimate 'come what may'.  

[Keppit]

Banda, Delia, and Luna

Blood. It had begun as a simple nosebleed, and Banda hadn't given it so much as a second thought, wiping away the blood with a tissue and stoppering the offending nose with further tissue to soak up the blood. But it hadn't ceased. An hour, two, the afternoon had passed, the evening was nearing, and, if anything, the nosebleed seemed only to grow worse.

Banda finally forced himself to accept something was wrong. It was too late in the day to visit the doctor's office, and he had no means of getting there or the hospital even had he considered it enough of an emergency to go. But the HQ across the lake... Maybe he could borrow Jen's car? Or even see if anyone there knew a way of stopping it. Bidding Ven stay put and behave, he had risked the walk over--and frozen steps from the door at the greeting of the quarantine signs.

At his side, having given up on stoppering the blood long ago, Delia blew her nose, tucking the bloodied tissue into one pocket and pulling a fresh one from the opposite pocket, only to tuck it under her nose once more and glance brightly up at her father, pleasantly oblivious to the message of the signs. Banda offered a weak, forced smile in reply, and stepped forward to knock loudly on the door, praying someone was coherent enough to answer.


From her place on the sofa Luna heard someone knocking on the door, and it was irritating. Didn't people understand that the word quarantine meant that they had to stay away? She sighed and pryed herself off the sofa in the den. Tawn and his wife... what was her name again?... were both upstairs, and Jen was in the livingroom laying back with tissue stuffed up both nostrils... it was actually Luna's favourite part, the tissues in Jen's nose.

As she got to the front door she leaned against the doorframe for support and pulled one of the side window curtains and peered out. It was an Sm... or an Smo... oh heck she didn't care. She wasn't sure what the main difference between the two types was, but she saw that the younger one was holding a bloddy tissue up to her nose... Luna knew what that meant, and so she flung open the front door.

"You got it too.... great." She rolled her eyes and noticed that the quarantine sign was missing from the front door... in fact it was over in the grass off to one side. "Welcome. She smiled cruely at Banda. The wind took our sign, but that doesn't really affect you since..." she pointed at Delia and widened her eyes... "You got it like Jen got it." And then she turned and took herself back down the hall, using the wall for support. "come in and close the door... we don't need any more people in here..."


Banda didn't immediately follow, quite sure he must have heard her wrong. Were the earphones faulty? But no, her lips had matched up with her words... Delia had... "What the hell's going on here?" he demanded, surprising even himself with the outburst.

Frowning, Delia elbowed his leg, earning an apologetic glance from her father. The little girl, remaining silent, led the way inside, tugging him after her while wiping another trickle of blood from her nose. At the sight, Banda hurried into the building and after Luna, releasing Delia's hand to walk ahead of her instead. "What's this about a quarantine? She's just got a nose bleed. And who're you?"

"Eh?" She turned her attention back to Banda as she grabbed at the blankets spread out on the sofa... "Quarantine... The whole place is supposed to be sectioned off and off limits and whatnot, but..." she swung her hand in a circular motion and handed Delia another kleenex. "You Sms and smwhatevers just keep showing up here to make your own lives even more miserable." She sighed and plopped back down on the sofa, wrapping the blanket up in her hands. "Oh.... Luna. I'm Luna. I'm from origin island and I'm the one who brought the smog... but it was an accident!" She looked both uncaring and appologetic... a strange combination ...

"Smog..." He echoed, staring at her in disbelief. "You...brought...?" He watched her a moment longer, utterly confused, then snarled, planting a hand on one arm of the couch and leaning forward to glare straight in her eyes. "You're the goddamn reason she's si--"

"DAD!" The girl snapped, whapping him on the leg to get his attention, lips pursed as she frowned up at him. "Watcha mouth," she ordered haughtily, waving her tissue at him.

"I'm sorry, Dee," he groaned through his teeth, straightening up and running a hand through his hair. He paced a quick circle, one hand falling to the pocket of his tattered coat to retrieve a cigarette, though he merely twirled it between two fingers as he returned his eyes to Luna. "You said Jen was here? Where is he? I want to talk with him."  

[Keppit]

Banda Delia, Luna and Jen

Luna simply rolled her eyes and pursed her lips at the accusation... what could she say? besides yes? "I'm the reason everyone's sick... and I'm sure it was an accident, and I'm sure I'm sick too as are my mom and dad and my sister and my best friend and everyone I've ever known..." She sighed and pointed towards the livingroom. "If you follow the blood spots on the floor then you'll find Jen... he's in the living room under the pillow." She snorted a laugh... "he's not feeling well at all though since his nose has been bleeding for about ten hours now..." She shrugged. "He's a little lightheaded.

"Ten hours...?" he repeated quietly, staring imploringly at Luna a moment longer before glancing down to the girl. This, at least, seemed to have registered with Delia, who turned her eyes to the tissue in her hand in a thoughtful manner. Clearing his throat to get her attention, Banda gave the girl a little shove towards the livingroom, forcing a smile once more. "Delia, why don't you go see if Jen's awake. You remember him, right? I'll be over in a few minutes."

"Kay then," the girl muttered, but it was clear she wasn't pleased. Blowing her nose loudly just to irritate her father, she made her way towards the living room, peeking inside and warily approaching the sofa where Jen was sleeping. She made no move to wake him, simply stood a few feet away, staring curiously at the pillow and debating poking it to see what would happen.

Banda, meanwhile, had watched silently until the girl was out of the room, then turned back to Luna and dropped to sit on the coffee table, still twirling the cigarette between his fingers. "So the nose bleed means she has this...Smog. Thing. What happens next? What's going to happen to her? It is curable, right?"

Luna sat forward and sighed. "The fact that she's a Skull Monkey and was standing at the front door means that she's got the smog." Her wandering fingers adjusted the blanket on the sofa. "It's bad. We all have it on the island... we're technically born with it. Smog... A Skull Monkey's Oncomming Grave... S... M... O...G. At least that's what my little sister always said." She looked over sadly at Banda. "We thougt that you might have a cure for it, since we assumed that you'd be born with it the same as us islanders are. It's symptoms range from sneezes and coughs to death... and it's incurrable... at least." She rubbed her eyes... "So far."

Banda was struck completely speechless. A Skull Monkey's Oncomming.. "Grave...?" he croaked, in a word pleading that it be some joke, that she be making up the whole situation. Better yet, let him be dreaming. Wake up. Wake up. Without thinking, he swept a lighter from his pocket and lit the cigarette, tucking it between his lips. Only a moment later, however, he plucked it away once more, eyes flickering back up to Luna. "She... She can't d-die, I..." A pause. "Do I have it too?"

"I don't know..." She didn't Out of her family, she'd had one sister survive and live with the mutations, and one brother die... it was different for everyone... "And ... Yes... you do. Though every Sm is different when it comes to how badly they get it... it doesn't even seem to be the same for siblings and whatnot... I've known twins where one died and one just sneezed a lot." She shrugged. "I wish it was a joke..."

Jen stirred and lifted one corner of the pillow off his head. He thought that he had heard someone enter the room, and he also knew that the only people on this floor of the house were Nell, Luna and Vayle... and he didn't want to see any of them... but what he saw made him stop and sit up. His vision went black for three seconds and then slowly faded back in from the middle. "Delia..." He saw the blood smeared on her face and and caked on her hands where it had been allowed to sit... He himself still had tissue paper stuck up his nose. "Come here." It was kindly said with a smile and he picked up a wet cloth from the table beside him... this sucked.  

[Keppit]

Tawn

Tawn stopped at the foot of the stairs. He saw Banda... and, then, when he craned his neck around to see into the living room, he saw the small figure of Banda's little girl... and Jen. He sighed, and decided not to disturb Luna or Jen, and point out that he'd developed a symptom- that he was unable to unclench his left hand. He, instead, shoved it in his pocket and went back up to his wife, hoping that the time he spent around her did not worsen her own condition.  

[Keppit]

Banda Delia, Luna and Jen

He nodded slowly, sitting back in his seat with a sigh and taking a long drag from the cigarette. Banda remained silent, nursing at the cigarette, and finally rose to his feet, pacing the length of the room, a wispy trail of smoke in his wake. Upon nearing the couch once more, he slowed to a halt, lowering the hand holding the cigarette and eyeing Luna thoughtfully. "Delia and I... We live across the lake, in the old HQ. Could we go back? Or do we have to stay here?"

Delia jumped slightly when Jen suddenly sat up, nervously wringing the bloodied tissue in her hands. However, she returned him smile with one of her own, stepping forward without hesitation. "Sorry, din' wanna wake you. Dad's talkin' wiv Luna," she explained, pointing a hand towards the door. "Your noses bleedin' too?"

Luna shrugged. "dunno. I'm not in charge here... and I'm certainly not going to stop you... Tawn's in charge, and I think he's keeping people here, so if you wanted to be able to leave then I suggest you don't tell him you're here..." She looked Banda up and down. "I'm sorry, My memory... what did you say your name was?"


Jen took the bloody tissue from her hands and proceeded to gently wipe the caked blood from her little hands. "It's ok. I wasn't sleeping, I was just resting." He wished that he could go upstairs and cuddle his own son, but the thought of Jim with smog made Jen want to cry... the thought of Delia with smog made Jen want to cry but he didn't. "Yeah... But don't worry. Luna's seen nosebleeds like these before, and she says they cannae last too much longer." he hoped...

"Banda," he replied automatically, distracted by her previous words. Focusing a moment later, he looked up and offered a hand, only afterwards realizing it was holding the cigarette and switching the offending object to his left hand before offering a shake once more. "Sorry, I'm Banda. And sorry about my, er...greeting. I just... Delia's my life. I don't know what I'd do if... Well..."

"Thank ya," she chirped as he cleaned off her hands, obligingly holding her fingers spread for him. She didn't seem particularly worried by the situation. It didn't hurt, after all, so why worry? Her head just felt a bit fuzzy, like she had a cold. She was more worried about staining her sweatshirt than any lasting effects from the nosebleed. "That's good. It's been bleedin' alllll day! But not bad, just bleedin'. I din' get any on my shirt, though! I made sure I din'!"

Luna watched fascinated as Banda switched the cigarette between hands, and then she shook his hand without much enthusiasim. "I understand. I'll warrant that I've seen more Sm's die and known of more people with children lost to the Smog than you'd care to know." She smiled sadly. "She seems to be doing fine right now though." it was an offer of peace, though deep down inside Luna knew that she was the last person in the world to offer peace symbols to these Sm's.... and she felt awful!

"Nope." He looked over her shirt. "And it's a good thing you didnae, since it's a lovely shirt." He pulled her forward gently to wipe at the bloody smears on her face. This was breaking his heart, but he prommised himself every five seconds that he wouldn't let it show.

"...Somehow, that's not reassuring," he replied quietly, tucking the cigarette back between his lips and glancing towards the livingroom after the little girl. After a long pause, he sighed, shaking his head and rising to his feet. "I should probably check on her. Keep her in sight. It's become sort of habit after... Ah, nevermind." With a slight wave of goodbye, he wandered towards the doorway of the living room, peeking through to search of the girl. Since she had arrived in his life, they were rarely seperated for more than a minute or two at a time--both because she was young and, for a long time, he wouldn't have been able to hear had she called for him, and because banda was terrified of what might happen if Venoch got her alone. The feeling wasn't eased.

"It's my best sweater," she proudly explained, beaming down at the prized possession. Nevermind that it was one of two, it was still her favorite. Where was the point in lots of clothes? She had plenty enough as it was. She would have worn her blue sweater every day if Banda would have let her!

Luna watched him leave for the livingroom, and stared at him as he stood in the doorway... She really did feel awful! This was the first child that she had seen since she had gotten here, and the child was sick already. Luna rubbed her eyes in frusteration... she just couldn't do anything right! This was supposed to be her big chance to prove that she wasn't the screw up everyone thought she was.... but apparently she was more a screw up than she could ever have imagined... Poor Banda...

Jen adjusted her face this way and that, checking for the last of the blood. "Yeah... you're not doing too bad here Kiddo, a little bit of bloody nose never hurt anyone." He smiled reassuringly at her, though his head was swimming, both filled with pain and too light to sit on his shoulders... he knew that he shouldn't let Dalia too close to him, but he was being selfish and taking pleasure in the company of someone who could remain optimistic... "It's amazing how much you've grown!"  

[Keppit]

Jen

Jen watched from the upstiars window, tears streaming down his face as Jim walked down the center walk with a suitcase under one arm and his rollerskates strung ove the other... Jen hadn't even had time to say goodbye, and now, though it was killing him, he couldn't take his eyes off his son as Ranald slung her arms around him. Jim was obviously upset, but Ranald was explaining things... Jen had all confidence in Ranald, she was, after all, sort of his mother..... He forced himself to stand there at the window until he could no longer see the car, and then... then he couldn't bring himself to move.

Soon enough it was the dreadded phone call that he had to make... He had to call Dan, but as he listened to the phone ring, he also listened to the answering machine pick up... and the sound of Dan's message played in Jen's ear. Jen couldn't help it as even more tears streamed down his face and he choked on his emotion... Beeeeep... "Dan it's Jen... I... I dinnae know how to say it so I'm just going to say it... God I love you..." He choked suddenly and sobbed over the message "It's just... there's an Sm here from Origin Island and she's got this disease... and she... she... she... threwup on me and now I'm getting sick. I dinnae want to believe it but so far it's pretty obvious..." He paused for breath and to get his bearings... "Tawn's got it and Banda and he daughter... oh there's so many, Dan. It's hard to believe... So I dinnae think you should come to the center, I dinnae want you sick... I've sent Jim to stay with ranald. I'm sure he'd love to see you... I... I didnae even get to say goodbye to him, I... I..." He laughed suddenly... "I hope you're the first one to get this message... Please dinnae think badly of me, I just..." Beeeeeep...

Jen paused in shock and momentary terror as the beep of the answering machine cut him off... He'd been cut off... like in real life.... He picked up the phone again and dialed, though this time it was the cabin where he grew up, and he proceeded to leave a message for when Jim got there... it was a nice message.  

[Keppit]

Banda Delia, Luna and Jen

"Toldja it din' hurt," she scoffed, obligingly turning her head this way and that so he could be sure the blood was gone. "I was a lil' dizzy earlier, but it stopped fast." She seemed terribly proud of this fact, especially seeing how miserably poor Jen appeared to be. She prooooobably should have left him alone and gone to find her dad, but she was having fun talking. She didn't see many people aside from Banda, and she wasn't allowed to talk with Venoch much. "I got big!! I can help Dad with all sortsa stuff now! He's teachin' me to cook, yup."

In the doorway, Banda sighed, smiling sadly as he watched the exchange. Luna was right on one aspect, Delia did seem just fine... Jen, on the other hand, from where Banda was, looked fairly miserable. Maybe Delia's case wouldn't be as bad? ...But what about himself...?

Jen sat back on the sofa, still smiling... "cooking huh? I do that sometimes too. What kind of things do you like to cook?" He moved the pillow from the cushion next to him in case Delia wanted to sit on the sofa. And with the mention of cooking Jen suddenly felt hungry... he put 'eat food' on his mental to-do list. That and get something to drink... why did he feel so thirsty all of a sudden? He smiled down at Delia.

"All sorts," Delia replied brightly reaching for the bloodied rag before climbing up to sit on the couch beside Jen. She took a moment to blow her nose, making a face at the small pool of blood it left in the rag, and folding the rag in half to hide it before continuing. "Whatever we decide to make. Dad's teachin' me to cook stuff a bunch of different ways, too. And paint! But we don' get to paint much, 'cause he only has a lil' paint left."

"Ahh, I see." Jen added 'Paint' to the mental list. "You ken... cooking is probably a good thing to know how to do. I know some adults that can't cook and never get to eat things that they like because they live alone." Inwardly Jen's brain was racing with pictures of all the people he knew... he could really use a hug... and he found himself wishing that Keppit wasn't still on her weird vacation. "I think... I think my favourite thing to cook is omlettes. I like them with mushrooms" .... and that was the truth.

"That's what Dad says." She grinned, absently dabbing under her nose with the rag. "But he's a real good cook... I'll get him to teach me, an' I'll cook you a nomlet, Mistah Jen," she announced, reaching over to pat his hand with her free one.

Forcing a more genuine smile to his face, Banda cleared his throat and stepped into the room, pacing over to the couch and offering Jen a nod in greeting before glancing to the girl. "Dee, we should probably let Jen get some rest now, sweetheart. Let's go home and I'll teach you how to make an omelette, and maybe you can come back and make one for him tomorrow."

"Kay then," she agreed without complaint, sliding down from the couch and setting the rag on the side table. "Feel better, kay?"

Jen smiled a genuine smile at the two of them. "I'll try. And thanks for talking to me Delia... I really aprechiated it." He watched them turn to leave... "Um Banda.... Dinnae let her blow her nose like that... that'll make it worse."

Delia merely smiled in reply, though Banda paled considerably with Jen's words. After only a slight nod, he scooped the girl into his arms and fled the room, escaping back the way they had come to return to the old HQ across the lake. It was within easy reach of they needed anything, and they couldn't infect anyone else from there.. For some reason, Banda didn't think Venoch would be catching the Smog.

Jen stood with a groan and waited for a moment as his vision faded slowly back into coherancy. The first place he went was into the kitchen for a bottle of water, and the second was up the stairs to the closet in the messy room... also known as the studio, though it really did suit the first name more. Once in the closet he started to go through the suplies, pulling out the rotten, dried up paints and separating them from the good stuff.  

[Keppit]

Rome, Trebble, Troy, and Luna

Rome was forced to make one of the most difficult decisions of his fatherhood. And what's worse, is he had to do it without Lundy... The two had gotten into a fight and weren't exactly on speaking terms. But that was the least of the father's problems. Trebble and Troy were starting to get what seemed to be a little bit of a cold, after hearing about the smog from the grapevine (aka Brice's big mouth who heard it from someone else down the line) he was getting scared. Not welcomed at home, Rome went to the only other place he thought he could go since Monkey was still out of town. Fighting down a cough, the blue haired anthro knocked on the door to the HQ, not a normal procedure but it was better than barging in and causing a stir. Trebble was on the ground, clinging to his adopted father's leg while he held passed out Troy wrapped up in a blanket.

Luna had been dozing on the sofa when she heard the knock. With a heartfelt sigh she slowly pulled herself to her feet and shuffled to the door. As had become her custom of late, she peered through the curtains she saw a Smo man with a baby in his arms and a child on his leg... She sighed and stepped up to the door but didn't open it. Instead she called through it. "You know we're under quarantine and all, and that if you come in here then you're gonna get sick whether you're sick now or not, right?..." She paused... "couse... the doorstep there could have been a bad place to stand as well..." She shrugged... this was all to normal for her.

Rome gave a confused look as he tried to place the voice to a face, but couldn't. But she sounded like she knew what she was doing. "Aye ma'am... My boys here are already sick, getting sick myself is just a risk I'm going to have to take."

Trebble looked up to his father confused. He didn't think he was sick, he just coughed a little bit. No big deal... But there must be something wrong with Troy...

Luna sighed and pulled open the big wooden door. "better come in then. I don't know where Jen is, Tawn and the pink haired Sm woman are upstairs somewhere, and Nell's in the other room poking at things..." Luna rolled her eyes. "That's what Nell does best I think."

As Rome listed off who the people were he nodded, he recognized each of them, but her comment on Nell produced a smile. Which was good since it was the only that had truely crossed his face. "Yes, yes it is... I'm Rome by the way," he doubted that she really cared, but it was the thought that counted "and this little handsome guy in my arms is Troy, my other son attached to my leg is Trebble."

Once the three were inside, Trebble took off towards the couch and jumped on it, looking for someone to play with... Which turned into a place to curl up. It was about the right time for a nap for him.

"What's been going on in here exactly? My sister told me bits and peices but I'd rather hear it from someone who's not glued to a cell phone all day long or who's head is not in the clouds..." A lifeless smirk came to his face, which was whiped off quickly via his infant's tiny cough.

"Ah well, if you've come to hear it from me, I'm afraid you're looking at a complete, chronic screwup... and I'll be head in the clouds is better than that." She looked Troy over out of the corner of her eye... This Rome guy deserved to know what he was in for...

"My name is Luna... and I'm the plaguebringer." It sounded both evil and sad... which it was. "I'm from origin island. Out there we're born with the Smog... We just assumed that you Skull Monkeys here were too... but you're not." Needless to say. "And the second worst news yet is that I'm the least contagious of all Skull Monkeys on Origin Island... Second only to the fact that as of yet the Smog is incurable." She sat back waiting to be yelled at again.

Rome took a second to chew on the information that he was being fed. "Dude... Seriously... I need... I need to sit down. So most of what I heard was true." Walking further into the HQ, he sat down in his usual bean bag chair, landing softer than his normal thump for Troy's sake. No where in his mind was he thinking anger, it was full of concern for himself and his boys, and Lundy. He planted a soft kiss on Troy's forehead to counter the whine and wiggling and put him back to sleep.

Looking down at him still, Rome gave a little sigh, "My Dad always said it was best to sleep when one was sick.."

Snapping back into the situation he looked back over to Luna and cleared his throat, "I don't mean to like knock ya'lls scientists, but Nell is amazing, as are the rest of the scientists around here. Nell made Troy and his twin Florence out of strands of my husband's and my's hair. Got to say something right?"

Meanwhile, Trebble curled up into a little ball, turned his Ipod up and tried to drown everything else out and get a little sleep. He hadn't been getting the best sleep ever lately.

"Knock our scientists all you like" she waved her hand... "We've got a few real brainy types, but we don't get much outside education, because we don't leave the island... for obvious reasons." She sighed. "I'm sorry you know... this never was my intention..."

Rome was still quite unsure of what was going on. "So... My boys and I are sick, only one of my twins is sick.. But he doesn't seem to be that bad; just a little cough and a snuffy nose. I don't think anything bad will happen, will it? Should I even botherto ask how many've died, or do I not want to know? How is Jen taking all of this? What of his boyfriend?" He asked looking a little confused, remembering his old mentor also had a same sex relationship to deal with. Lucky for both of them, it wasn't an uncommon thing and not scruitized against.

Luna shifted on the sofa and pulled a blanket up over her... "Nobody has ever been able to figure out what it is that makes some Sm's more sick than others, but every Sm that comes in contact with the illness gets it... just to different degrees." She paused for a beat and then continued. "I don't know how many have died, but everyone I know can name someone close to them who did... my little brother died from it, and so did my best friend... My little sister got it really bad, but I never had more than a stuffy nose. Even now, what I have is pnemonia..." .... "As for Jen? He's not feeling well at all. He's usptairs resting, and Dan's with him... not a good idea in my book, but I don't really care. If he wants to get sick then he wants to get sick." She shrugged... there was only so much she could do, and then it was all in other people's hands.