[locked] backdated like crazy, to space station plot, locked to Alex and Pike

[st_donkeyballs]

He was in his heaven. Space station. Technology that made sense. It was like a weight was lifted from his shoulders - though in his case it was literal. The lower gravity was such a relief on his system, even if it was still higher than what he was used it, it was closer to his normal. He didn't even realize the difference it made on his joints until he went back to get some more water and ice. (What? He had spent most of his life in space. He knew the importance of water on a station like this).

The pain when he got back wasn't bad, as such. He was used to it. It was just... he'd enjoyed being without it. The normally optimistic and affable Alex was quiet, as he got reused to it.

This time he knew he didn't have to fight it alone. He hunted out someone he knew had shown interest in his problems before.

Comments

[st_ealthless]

Pike was back from the station in time for her shift at the clinic, but just barely. Thanks to Scanlan's silver tongue and a hefty bribe, she'd gotten access to the medical bay and was busily learning all she could. She'd seen what being on the space station could do to residents who spent too long and she wanted to be prepared. There was so much her magic could do, but if she didn't know how to properly use it then that didn't matter.

She'd just started to settle in when Alex arrived. A smile blossomed across her face when she saw him, "Hello! I was just thinking about you!"

[st_donkeyballs]

For all that Alex wasn't feeling at his best, her greeting made him smile. "Awww darlin', hope it was good thoughts," he said, grabbing a chair and sitting down with a groan. "You been havin' fun on the ol' space station?"

[st_ealthless]

“Always, darlin’,” she laughed, “I’ve been learning medicine from the doctors on the station, so I don’t know if I’d call it fun, but it has been very educational. The view is stunning, though.”

His groan pulled her attention from her own thoughts and back to why she’d been focusing so intently on her studies. Walking over, she rested her hand on his knee and cast a 7th level Cure Wounds for his pain. “And how are you holding up”

[st_donkeyballs]

"Now, that's why I love being in space," he said happily. "I could stare out at stars forever and never have enough of it." It's why his marriage had failed, it's why he ended up on a crappy ice hauler instead of re-upping for another term of service. This way he could go and pilot pretty much anywhere instead of transport runs.

He winced for a moment, still unused to the magic, but appreciating the relief that it gave. "Loved being back on the station," he admitted. "Even though it was higher than what I'm used to, it was relief for a while. Now I'm back... yeah, it's bad again." Alex wasn't proud, if he was struggling he was man enough to actually ask for help.

[st_ealthless]

"It is really wonderful. There are just so many of them? You know, I always thought the stars were closer. That once you got up high enough they'd start getting bigger." She was sure that some of the people here would think that was a ridiculous statement, but it wasn't something she'd ever actually learned about. It was just what she could come up with.

She rested her hand on him again, this time on the other side of his body and cast the spell again. "So, what if I were to tell you that I think I might have a solution to your pain rather than just managing it?"

[st_donkeyballs]

"So many stars, so far away," Alex said with a grin. "It's only when you're out there you really realize how far away everythin' is, and how insignificant anything you can build is." It was part of the reason he enjoyed staring into space so much.

He looked at her for a long moment, suddenly serious. "How? Even with us the only way to treat it is with meds, which ain't a lot of fun by all accounts."

[st_ealthless]

"With magic," she gave him a half-apologetic smile. She knew that not everyone liked the idea of magical healing. "I have a spell for regeneration. It is usually used for regrowing limbs but apparently, it works by encouraging the body to repair itself. I've done some tests with the doctors on the station and they think that it will help, if not cure you completely."

[st_donkeyballs]

The whole idea of magic was just alien to Alex. He had half accepted that it existed, but the idea of being done to him? That was something that kind of still creeped him out. "Wait. You can regrow limbs?" Seriously, what the fuck? That was all kinds of screwed up, but he could see a good use for it out in space, after all. Dangerous place, and all that. "And you want to use it on me to, what, encourage my bones to functions properly?"

[st_ealthless]

"I can," she nodded, watching the disbelief on his face carefully, "It would help by returning you bones to what they were supposed to be, without the effects of living in space."

[st_donkeyballs]

"My bones have been like that for all my life," he pointed out. "I ain't sure just what they are supposed to be." But he'd been in space, or on Mars all of his life, not normal 1G. Alex was just a worrier.

[st_ealthless]

"I don't really know either, but the medical staff on the station think it will work." She smiled at him reassuringly, "If it makes you feel better, I could start with something small like your foot and see if it makes any difference?"

[st_donkeyballs]

A chance to be able to walk without feeling it in every single joint. To walk as normally as he did out in space. It really was a no brainers, and he wasn't sure why he was even thinking about it. "Try the ankle first," he countered. "Joints would probably be better to try out."

[st_ealthless]

"Let's do it," Pike beamed up at him. "It's a pretty hefty spell which means I can only cast it once today. That will give you time to walk around and see if it helps."

She rubbed her hands together then sat down on the ground in front of him. With a little wave, she gestured for him to give her his ankle. "Okay, so, this is going to be a little different than the spell I usually cast on you. It will take about two minutes rather than a few seconds."

[st_donkeyballs]

"Don't hurt yourself while doing it," he said, concerned that she was pushing herself too far. While he appreciated it, he didn't want her to do too much. He could live with the pain if he had to.

He looked at her for a moment. "Will I feel it more than the normal spell?" A fair question, he thought.

[st_ealthless]

"Don't worry," she gave him a reassuring smile, "I have more magical energy than I know what to do with on most days."

Looking up from her seat on the ground, she gestured for his ankle again, "From what I've been told, the area will be filled with the same healing warmth of my other healing spells but it will last the whole two minutes. But it won't get hot or hurt."

[st_donkeyballs]

He shook his head as he settled himself down, ready for Pike to do whatever she had to do. "Even so," he pointed out. He was always slightly embarrassed when someone did things for him. "I think the heat will be nice on it as well."