voice| on the other (octopus) hand

[ohrlyeh]

[Usually Howard interacts with the network through text, since he's nervous of using any other format, but this time, his deep and weary voice can be heard.]

Um. A question out of curiosity, I-I suppose. If you've "received" a physical change through Retrospec, what was it? If you've received several, what is the worst one...?

[There's the sound of something falling off a table onto the floor. He lets out a shuddering sigh, his tone slightly exasperated.]

Yeah. [A pause.] Before I forget, I need someone who can go out and get some groceries for me. I'll pay you for it. I just don't feel like going outside for a while. I-I'm fine...really...............

[ooc: somebody's got tentacle hands now. life is fun!]

Comments

[ohrlyeh]

I mean, you're a doctor...I think that's too much to ask of you.

[A beat.]

...I guess I wouldn't mind it, though. [He twists his head in the direction of the kitchen area.] I'd just be fine with cereal. But you don't have to do anything if you don't want to...

[erythristic]

It's not a problem. I came over to make sure you're alright - I can't in good conscience leave you hungry.

[to the kitchen she goes! and then in about five minutes she pokes her head out.]

Is this how you eat regularly?

[ohrlyeh]

Thank you...you're too kind.

[He sits and waits, thinking it won't take long, and...]

Hm? [Why does she sound so surprised? He shrugs, clearly not understanding why she looks upset.] Yes? What's wrong with how I eat...?

[erythristic]

There's not a single scrap of evidence that you're consuming anything that would put you even close to the nutrients you need in order to maintain a healthy body! Do you often feel fatigued or weighed down?

[oh my god. how did he survive this long. why does she keep finding people she needs to feed healthy food.]

[ohrlyeh]

Uh.

[One of his tendrils goes to rub at the back of his head, sheepishly.]

I mean, does it matter? I'm always tired, I don't really think it has to do with anything I eat...

[erythristic]

Of course it matters! Poor nutrition leads to fatigue! No wonder you're tired all the time, if this is how you're treating yourself. Your hands notwithstanding at all, which is a separate issue.

[she retreats to the kitchen to pour him a bowl of whatever cereal has the least amount of sugar in it, and returns with it in hand.]

I realize no one asked me, Mr. Carter, but how long have you lived alone?

[ohrlyeh]

I...didn't think they were related. I've always eaten what I eat, I didn't think it was a problem.

[He blinks at the offered bowl, one tendril raising slowly into the air as he...tries to figure out how to hold it. God, he misses fingers.]

[He eventually slips it around the rim, holding it like one would hold a mug.]

Since college. Which was...about five years ago.

[erythristic]

That would explain a lot...

[at least cereal can't hurt him too bad.]

You might find an increase in energy and an uplift in mood from a changed diet, however.

[ohrlyeh]

I doubt that.

[Okay, now how to figure out how to actually feed himself. He lifts a slender tentacle, fumbling with the handle of the spoon as he tries to get a good spoonful of the cereal - it trembles as he tries to raise it to his mouth quick enough to gulp it down.]

[He swallows. This...this is hard.]

I've always been like this, food or not. It's not going to do anything for me.

[erythristic]

Yes, but now you have octopus hands.

[this is hissed out, and if he'll allow, she'll reach for one of the tentacles to pick it up, examining it surface wise.]

[ohrlyeh]

[His eyes narrow, annoyed.]

I highly doubt Retrospec returned this ability to me just because I didn't eat enough fruits and vegetables.

[He turns back to attempting to eat his cereal. The tentacle she picks up wriggles in her grip, like a confused worm - it's a sickly green color, with suckers and strange holes interspersed along its surface. It clasps to her hand, tip feeling over her wrist.]

[erythristic]

I'm saying that your new physiology can only benefit from you being in health. Then it'll be less likely for you to have to discover what a cold does to more aquatic type individuals.

[the tentacle she examines with curiosity, as she's not seen one with this type of structure - the holes are just confusing, okay.]

When did this start? And how precise is your control over them? I know I saw you open the door, and you're holding that - so that means all of them are under your conscious control?

[ohrlyeh]

A-aquatic? Are you calling me a-a fish?!

[He opens his mouth, as if to argue that point further, and then his cheeks flush - right. He has tentacles. He can breath underwater. That's pretty aquatic. He shuts his mouth, turning back to his bowl.]

This morning. Woke up with it. [He swallows down another spoonful of cereal.] And yes, it's like having a hundred arms...I can feel them all at once. It's rather disorienting, to be honest...