[Closed]

[ofthursday]

Who: Castiel (ofthursday), Merlin (dragonspeak), and Nakama (whatagoodgirl)
What: The three test out powers in the name of science!
When: Uh, let's say day 75 at some point that works.
Where: The hospital
Rating: PG-13 for blood and injury and all that.

As was the norm lately, Castiel was at the hospital.

Mostly, it was because Sam was there, and Castiel didn't want to leave him. Sam couldn't sleep, and his hallucinations were getting worse, and the least Castiel could do was stay with him and try to help. Particularly considering this was all his fault.

It was part of the reason that he wanted to learn the limits of his power's new strength; he planned to try it on Sam again once he thought he could get away with it without stressing Sam out worse if it didn't work. The other part was simple curiosity, and a desire to develop and master a power that might be of use to his other friends in the future as well. Of course, working at the hospital was also his new job, but that was easily the least of his reasons for this experimenting.

He waited near the lobby of the hospital, wearing the shirt he had when he'd arrived at Asgard a few months earlier, the white shirt spotted with bloodstains that were impossible to get out. It was already ruined, so ruining it even farther wouldn't be too much of an issue, and he probably would end up doing so. Using his power was dangerous but it held also a strange combination of accomplishment and an oddly human rush from the risk, and he was getting more and more reckless, less and less concerned about consequences, especially in a place where death seemed impermanent.

But at the same time he knew that Nakama and Merlin would balance the risk and Castiel's own disregard of it, and help make certain they actually learned what they wanted to learn from it and nothing more. So he waited, even if he paced slowly back and forth instead of standing in his usual stillness.

Comments

[whatagoodgirl]

"I'm not used to backing up Damage Drain. Castiel'll have to say how that is, because I'm just trying what I do with everyone else. I hope it's okay."

She isn't quite beaming, but she looks much more relaxed.

[ofthursday]

Castiel wasn't relaxed or had even dropped much of any tension, but he didn't seem as frustrated anymore either. "Working with Nakama's power makes focusing mine less strenuous." It took less effort and strain to concentrate and focus so carefully, which made it easier to do, at least on the ones he was practiced with. The larger wound from before he was beginning to think was simply an issue of skill in not knowing how much power to use in the first place.

[dragonspeak]

There was a big difference between their first and second attempts. While part of it could have been attributed to the severity of the wounds they'd tried to heal, Merlin was also convinced that the mistake from before had simply been due to the change in power. A little adjustment from Cas, and he was in fine shape, from the looks of it.

"You gave me a little something, too, didn't you?" Merlin tilted his head in Nakama's direction. "It felt different."

[whatagoodgirl]

She nods, looks unsure. "I just wanted to make sure it was completely healed. I hope you don't mind."

[ofthursday]

"How are you on strength, Nakama?" Castiel asked, upon hearing she'd loaned it to Merlin as well. He knew she wasn't as powerful as he and Merlin were at the moment, and he didn't want to run down her energy to what might be dangerous for her unintentionally.

[dragonspeak]

"Of course I don't," Merlin quickly reassured her. "You're brilliant--and it's a relief knowing you've got my back."

He took a step back, frowning as he tried to assess his own reserves. "I've still got a lot more power left, I think. Nakama's boost really helped--how are you on strength? Both of you."

[whatagoodgirl]

"I don't feel weak yet." It's not a total lie - she can feel her power waning slightly, but the weakness hasn't gotten into her body. "I just might not be able to give as much, but I can keep working."

[ofthursday]

"I'm fine." Castiel answered the question, though like Nakama he was tiring a bit. Part of it was simply from a general lack of sleep, though, rather than his power. "We can still do a few more tests." If they could find a worthwhile patient, anyway. Castiel wanted to test on a more serious one again, but there wasn't likely to be another soon.

[dragonspeak]

Merlin sighed and leaned against an empty cot, rubbing absently at his neck as he surveyed the room. There actually weren't that many patients left--most had been seen to earlier and left already--but it was worth a look anyway.

One caught his eye, and he eyed the native thoughtfully. "What about that one?" Merlin pointed him out to the other two. The native in question had a fairly nasty-looking gash on his head, but head wounds tended to bleed a lot. It probably looked a lot worse than it actually was.

[whatagoodgirl]

"I can handle that." She glances over at Castiel. "How about you?"

[ofthursday]

"Yes." That looked simple enough, even allowing for the possibility of a concussion; if there was one, it would give Castiel more practice trying to draw the external injury and the internal one at different times and in different parts.

He stepped over to the patient, waiting for Nakama to activate her power once again before touching the native gently on the shoulder and activating his own. There was indeed a minor concussion involved, and Castiel successfully drew off only the gash itself first, the wound splitting open on his head as it closed on the patient's. Castiel didn't seem bothered by it, pausing for a moment to check and make sure he'd truly only gotten what he'd intended to, and he had. Good.

[dragonspeak]

Once Castiel finished siphoning off the native's injuries, Merlin stepped closer and touched his shoulder, healing the head-wound carefully. When he found the traces of concussion, Merlin paused, a little puzzled by the sensation. It didn't feel like a normal flesh wound would. He took extra care with that, slowly sponging the damage away with his healing magic until the odd sensation could no longer be felt.

Finally, he scans Castiel's body with the magic, and then the native's before pulling away. "All right there?" Merlin looked at Castiel curiously. "There was something new there, but I think I got all of it."

[whatagoodgirl]

She definitely feels the wear of both that draining and healing process, and finds a nearby chair to sit down and rest for a moment. Silent for now, she just waits to hear the explanation.

[ofthursday]

"I'm fine. It was a concussion." Castiel said, tone slightly dazed; it had been a weird feeling to draw off, and different from other more normal injuries. But he was fine now, and he glanced toward Nakama at her sitting down. "Are you alright, Nakama?"

[dragonspeak]

"Oh, yeah. From hitting his head, right?"

Surprisingly, Merlin had heard of the term before, most likely from Gaius. Familiarity, of course, did not come with instructions on how to treat it normally, and Merlin could not be more thankful for his healing ability.

Merlin looked between Cas and Nakama, a sudden wave of exhaustion hitting him. He was definitely feeling the strain now.

"All right, this might be a good place to stop for now. I think we're all getting a bit tired. We did just heal three people in a row."

[whatagoodgirl]

"I'm..." She's about to say fine, but when she sees the state the other two are in, she feels safe in telling the truth. "... I'm a bit tired. I'm usually only on one side of this, not both, and Damage Drain is hard to support when you're being so specific. It obviously takes a lot of energy from you. "

[ofthursday]

Castiel wasn't registering his own exhaustion, mostly because it was difficult to separate it from how tired he already was from having not slept in two days, and also because he simply willed himself through anything of the sort. But he didn't want to push the other two if they were wearing out, so he nodded slightly. "I believe the experiment itself was a success, so there is no need to risk any of us any farther." He nodded again at them both, this time in thanks for their help.

[dragonspeak]

Merlin waved as the native they'd healed slipped quietly out of the room, then took a seat on one of the empty cots.

"I think I'll be good as new if I take a short break. If our power's increased, it might mean we our recovery rate's been affected, too. When I tried healing a serious wound a month ago, I was completely wiped out for the rest of the day."

He toyed with the edge of the cot's blanket, expression thoughtful. "Anyway, it looks like our three powers work together pretty well. If we work with it a few more times, I think we could try to introduce this at the next Teacher's Council meeting, too. We did say we'd try to help everyone work together."

[whatagoodgirl]

"I have no problem demonstrating it again." Her head is held high. "Or even just talking about it. If you want me to write up a report of my experiences today, I can."

[ofthursday]

Castiel nods. "I would be willing to demonstrate again as well, in the future. Learning to combine abilities is worthwhile for everyone here."

[dragonspeak]

"I think a report would be great, actually. Or...a log for people recording their joint ability experiences. Something people can keep contributing to," Merlin said, quickly warming up to the idea.

"That way, even if a Traveler doesn't attend the meetings, they can still read and learn on their own. Or at least have an idea what they could do with their abilities."