FILSS had been pestering him on and off for the past two days. Variously inquiring about his health, pointing out that he was currently running a fever and gently suggesting that maybe he should visit the Med bay. In each instance he would tell her to kindly go to hell and leave him alone. And it would work for a while... but she always found another reason to interject. He had briefly considered telling her to go offline for a while, but he needed her to keep working on various other tasks.
Leonard took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, willing himself to continue on. He felt like his head was going to explode and his sides ached from coughing. Still, there was simply too much work to do as the program entered one of several critical phases and he couldn't afford to let his health get in the way. Nor could he afford to take the provided cough medication, the last thing he needed was to risk his sobriety... even if it would make his recovery easier. So he just had to push through it.
For the umpteenth time he started reviewing the data on the last round of experiments. Checking his notations to see if there was anything he missed or if he'd said something that didn't seem right. The standard UNSC neural interface was inadequate to do what they needed with the AI integration experiments and while he didn't have to redesign them from the ground up, heavy modifications were needed.
The idea had it's genesis in talks by Dr. Halsey and discussions of hypotheticals at AI conferences. But the damnable woman was so opaque about her research and guarded it so jealously, he'd only been able to glean so much from her papers and correspondence. Now he was troubleshooting the issues that came up in the first round of human trials... some of which were deeply unsettling. As a scientist, he knew it was inevitable that problems would come up, but was still difficult to set aside guilt for what happened. He had to get this right before they tried again. He just wished he could concentrate better.
Price was the opposite of the Director under many aspects, and constantly looking fresh like a rose was one of them. He would never get sick, not even when overworking himself, and his senses were always sharp enough to catch anything that didn't align with current goals and norms.
"Here are the files you requested, sir."
He laid them on his boss's desk at about 1.30 am. He blinked as he received no response, and the Director's cough filled the silence.
"You might want to do something about that cough."
He said in a blank tone. If only the man cared about his health, he would have answered with 'No shit, Counselor', but he clearly did not.
All of those differences hadn't gone unnoticed and frankly, he found them somewhat annoying. The man never seemed perturbed or impacted by anything.
He wasn't inclined to respond but the coughing made sure of it. Once he was able to get himself back under control he took a few deep breaths and cleared his throat. Maybe he'll switch from coffee to tea for the time being... just until his throat felt a little better.
"This isn't the first cold I've had, Councilor."
He shoots Price a scowl but turns away to suppress another coughing fit. Leaving his chest aching with the effort. He knows it's more than just a cold but he also just wants the other man to leave him alone to work. He's already being fussed over as it is.
He bristles at the question. But since it was only a question he keeps his tone level. Clearly annoyed, but level.
"That isn't necessary."
He's well aware that he's running a fever, thank you. It doesn't change anything. Leonard busies himself with cleaning his glasses before putting them back on.
"If I wanted the damn cough syrup, I would have gotten some myself."
Now he's building up to shouting. He doesn't need to be babied, he's a grown ass man and he knows how to take care of himself goddamnit.
"I don't need any coug..."
At that point irony decides to intervene and knock the wind out of his sails... and his lungs. He doesn't look at Price when he's done and he doesn't have the energy to shout.
Price holds back a chuckle, the Director can be so unintentionally funny sometimes with how miserable he is. And this is just the beginning, he still doesn't have an idea of how much more of a mess the man is. The Project has started only a couple of months ago, the agents are being trained, and they were still waiting for a response from the UNSC regarding AI matters.
It is a great honour, though, to be able to work with a man who wrote such a revolutionary thesis. Price is excited for what's to come and gladly brings him that coffee.
Good. He had zero desire to debate the merits of cough medication. Not when at best it would be like downing a couple of beers and at worst he might as well just take a shot of whiskey. And that discussion would eventually touch on his past issues with sobriety.
He does feel like day old crap though.
While he waits, he might as well go over the papers Price brought him. Make some preliminary notes. When Price returns he's surprised to find his head resting in his hand and an illegible scrawl on the page. For a second he almost forgets he'd asked for the coffee and takes it without comment. The man might be grating and occasionally borderline creepy but he was efficient. And willing to do what the Project is going to need. Most psychologists are squeamish about human experimentation of the sort he's proposed.
He takes his first sip with a grimace and sets the mug down.
"Thank you, Councilor."
As much as he expects people to simply do what he says, in this case he is grateful and just feverish enough to actually give voice to it. Not enough to actually use Price's name though. Propriety and all that.
Price is genuinely happy to be appreciated, the Director is...Well, very competent and rigorous and handsome, and he wants to make sure to meet all the standards required, even exceed them. He has someone to make proud now, someone that will prove that his prodigious intelligence can be used for good. And! He gets to interview agents and find out about them, it's the life he has always dreamt of.
"You're welcome, sir." he smiles softly "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
"Hmm?" He looks up at Price, bleary eyed and shakes his head slowly. "No. No, that will be all."
The last thing he wants is someone hovering around, seeing him like this. Doesn't exactly do his image any favors. Once he's alone he can have FILSS turn the heat up, because it's getting freezing in here. He fights off another bought of coughing and clears his throat.
"I'm just... going to review these papers and call it a night." Any other night it would only take him an hour or two, leaving him plenty of time to catch a few hours sleep before getting back to work. The coffee he had Price get him should help keep him going until then.
"You can always do it next morning when you are feeling better, you seem to be having trouble with completing the task."
Price points out with a blank tone. Sure, he did bring him coffee as ordered, but that doesn't meant that he doesn't think that the Director should get up and go to sleep already.
He scowls at Price and considers just yelling at him until he goes away. It isn't his place to call him out or question his personal decisions. The scowl gives way to a frown though as he looks at the way his handwriting has deteriorated. Damn him for being right.
"Oh, very well." Leonard runs a hand through his hair and grumbles in protest. "Perhaps it would be better if I worked on the papers back at my quarters."
He may budge, but he isn't going to fully concede... if only for appearances sake. So he gathers them up out of pure spite before angrily standing up. It's a decision that he immediately regrets as the room moves around him, making him reach out for the nearest stable surface.
"I'm fine, Councilor." He shoots Price a look and waves off his concerns both metaphorically and literally. "Don't fuss at me!"
To prove the point, he steadies himself and stands up straight. You see... he can do this on his own, thank you very much. He starts to walk, very deliberately and with just a touch of wobble, but he makes it. It takes more effort than he wanted and he has to pause and brace himself against the doorframe... He gives a dismissive harumph to make his point.
He's been completely self sufficient since... for nearly thirty years now. He doesn't need anyone's help.
"I already completed all my tasks. I would like to make sure you get to your room safely and then I shall proceed to end the day as well and go to sleep since it is almost two in the morning, with your permission."
He walks all the way through the hallway, seemingly disappearing, hiding next to a door frame. He'll be there when the Director falls onto the floor and needs assistance.
Leonard gives Price a dismissive grunt and waits. Once he's satisfied that he's on his own, he starts walking again. It's not a big deal, as long as he stops once in a while he'll be fine.
And he's managing it... inelegantly perhaps, but he's getting there. At least until his last stop to cough ends up with him dropping some of his papers. He looks up at the ceiling with a groan.
"Son of a bitch."
When he reaches down is when it goes wrong for him. He starts to lose his balance, overcorrects and hits the floor with a thud.
He should have just stayed back in the damn room and saved himself some dignity. At least he could have claimed to have simply overworked... after all it wouldn't be the first time he'd fallen asleep at his desk. This is too important for him to jeopardize it by looking a fool and losing respect.
Leonard passively accepts when Price takes his arm but when he puts his hand at his hip, his body initially stiffens... but he relaxes as he adjusts.
"I'm perfectly capable of doing it on my own."
He snaps irritably in protest but doesn't actually stop Price from helping him up. He's perfectly aware that he's not in any condition to actually do it himself without further embarrassment. Once he's on his feet however, he moves to separate himself... even if it means he has to brace himself against the wall again.
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branchandroot
Sick Day
Date: 2021-04-14 04:47 pm (UTC)Leonard took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes, willing himself to continue on. He felt like his head was going to explode and his sides ached from coughing. Still, there was simply too much work to do as the program entered one of several critical phases and he couldn't afford to let his health get in the way. Nor could he afford to take the provided cough medication, the last thing he needed was to risk his sobriety... even if it would make his recovery easier. So he just had to push through it.
For the umpteenth time he started reviewing the data on the last round of experiments. Checking his notations to see if there was anything he missed or if he'd said something that didn't seem right. The standard UNSC neural interface was inadequate to do what they needed with the AI integration experiments and while he didn't have to redesign them from the ground up, heavy modifications were needed.
The idea had it's genesis in talks by Dr. Halsey and discussions of hypotheticals at AI conferences. But the damnable woman was so opaque about her research and guarded it so jealously, he'd only been able to glean so much from her papers and correspondence. Now he was troubleshooting the issues that came up in the first round of human trials... some of which were deeply unsettling. As a scientist, he knew it was inevitable that problems would come up, but was still difficult to set aside guilt for what happened. He had to get this right before they tried again. He just wished he could concentrate better.
Re: Sick Day
Date: 2021-04-14 05:35 pm (UTC)"Here are the files you requested, sir."
He laid them on his boss's desk at about 1.30 am. He blinked as he received no response, and the Director's cough filled the silence.
"You might want to do something about that cough."
He said in a blank tone. If only the man cared about his health, he would have answered with 'No shit, Counselor', but he clearly did not.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-14 07:23 pm (UTC)He wasn't inclined to respond but the coughing made sure of it. Once he was able to get himself back under control he took a few deep breaths and cleared his throat. Maybe he'll switch from coffee to tea for the time being... just until his throat felt a little better.
"This isn't the first cold I've had, Councilor."
He shoots Price a scowl but turns away to suppress another coughing fit. Leaving his chest aching with the effort. He knows it's more than just a cold but he also just wants the other man to leave him alone to work. He's already being fussed over as it is.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-14 07:38 pm (UTC)"Have you measured your temperature yet? The symptoms you are experiencing might be indication of a fever."
no subject
Date: 2021-04-14 08:50 pm (UTC)"That isn't necessary."
He's well aware that he's running a fever, thank you. It doesn't change anything. Leonard busies himself with cleaning his glasses before putting them back on.
"I'm well enough to do this."
He's not exactly doing anything strenuous.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-15 08:51 am (UTC)Price perceives the irritation but it's not threatening enough just yet.
"I will get you some cough syrup, do you need anything else?"
no subject
Date: 2021-04-15 02:24 pm (UTC)Now he's building up to shouting. He doesn't need to be babied, he's a grown ass man and he knows how to take care of himself goddamnit.
"I don't need any coug..."
At that point irony decides to intervene and knock the wind out of his sails... and his lungs. He doesn't look at Price when he's done and he doesn't have the energy to shout.
"Coffee."
no subject
Date: 2021-04-15 03:45 pm (UTC)It is a great honour, though, to be able to work with a man who wrote such a revolutionary thesis. Price is excited for what's to come and gladly brings him that coffee.
"Here."
no subject
Date: 2021-04-15 07:19 pm (UTC)He does feel like day old crap though.
While he waits, he might as well go over the papers Price brought him. Make some preliminary notes. When Price returns he's surprised to find his head resting in his hand and an illegible scrawl on the page. For a second he almost forgets he'd asked for the coffee and takes it without comment. The man might be grating and occasionally borderline creepy but he was efficient. And willing to do what the Project is going to need. Most psychologists are squeamish about human experimentation of the sort he's proposed.
He takes his first sip with a grimace and sets the mug down.
"Thank you, Councilor."
As much as he expects people to simply do what he says, in this case he is grateful and just feverish enough to actually give voice to it. Not enough to actually use Price's name though. Propriety and all that.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-15 08:24 pm (UTC)and handsome, and he wants to make sure to meet all the standards required, even exceed them. He has someone to make proud now, someone that will prove that his prodigious intelligence can be used for good. And! He gets to interview agents and find out about them, it's the life he has always dreamt of."You're welcome, sir." he smiles softly "Is there anything else I can do for you?"
no subject
Date: 2021-04-16 12:17 am (UTC)The last thing he wants is someone hovering around, seeing him like this. Doesn't exactly do his image any favors. Once he's alone he can have FILSS turn the heat up, because it's getting freezing in here. He fights off another bought of coughing and clears his throat.
"I'm just... going to review these papers and call it a night." Any other night it would only take him an hour or two, leaving him plenty of time to catch a few hours sleep before getting back to work. The coffee he had Price get him should help keep him going until then.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-16 12:55 pm (UTC)Price points out with a blank tone. Sure, he did bring him coffee as ordered, but that doesn't meant that he doesn't think that the Director should get up and go to sleep already.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-16 05:41 pm (UTC)"Oh, very well." Leonard runs a hand through his hair and grumbles in protest. "Perhaps it would be better if I worked on the papers back at my quarters."
He may budge, but he isn't going to fully concede... if only for appearances sake. So he gathers them up out of pure spite before angrily standing up. It's a decision that he immediately regrets as the room moves around him, making him reach out for the nearest stable surface.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-16 06:57 pm (UTC)Not even the time to finish the sentence that he sees the Director have trouble standing up.
"Director! Are you alright?" he takes a couple of steps towards him "Allow me to accompany you to your quarters."
no subject
Date: 2021-04-16 10:03 pm (UTC)To prove the point, he steadies himself and stands up straight. You see... he can do this on his own, thank you very much. He starts to walk, very deliberately and with just a touch of wobble, but he makes it. It takes more effort than he wanted and he has to pause and brace himself against the doorframe... He gives a dismissive harumph to make his point.
He's been completely self sufficient since... for nearly thirty years now. He doesn't need anyone's help.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-17 08:54 am (UTC)At least the Director is going to his room. Price walks past him so that he can watch him from the hallway, waiting for him.
"Let us go."
no subject
Date: 2021-04-17 04:26 pm (UTC)"Don't you have something better to do?"
no subject
Date: 2021-04-17 04:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-04-17 04:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2021-04-17 05:43 pm (UTC)He walks all the way through the hallway, seemingly disappearing, hiding next to a door frame. He'll be there when the Director falls onto the floor and needs assistance.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-17 06:50 pm (UTC)And he's managing it... inelegantly perhaps, but he's getting there. At least until his last stop to cough ends up with him dropping some of his papers. He looks up at the ceiling with a groan.
"Son of a bitch."
When he reaches down is when it goes wrong for him. He starts to lose his balance, overcorrects and hits the floor with a thud.
"Goddamnit!"
no subject
Date: 2021-04-17 08:34 pm (UTC)"Director?" he walks up to him, crouching next to him. "Are you alright?"
no subject
Date: 2021-04-17 09:20 pm (UTC)"Councilor?" He looks up with a mix of confusion and embarrassment.
"I'm fine. I just slipped, that's all."
He's not thinking clearly enough to realize he doesn't have to cover up for being dizzy.
no subject
Date: 2021-04-18 01:33 pm (UTC)He gathers the papers and then places the Director's arm around his shoulder, the hand with the papers wrapped around the Director'd hip.
"We are going to stand up now, alright?"
no subject
Date: 2021-04-18 03:37 pm (UTC)Leonard passively accepts when Price takes his arm but when he puts his hand at his hip, his body initially stiffens... but he relaxes as he adjusts.
"I'm perfectly capable of doing it on my own."
He snaps irritably in protest but doesn't actually stop Price from helping him up. He's perfectly aware that he's not in any condition to actually do it himself without further embarrassment. Once he's on his feet however, he moves to separate himself... even if it means he has to brace himself against the wall again.
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