(open) Beware the Forest Mushrooms

[koopacrusher]

Who: Bowser and You
What: February and March Prompts
Where: In various places in the void
When: February
Content Warnings: Overgrowth and what you might expect to result from it

Comments

[koopacrusher]

As Oak speaks, Bowser shifts from surprised to annoyed. He's right, of course, but Bowser has no intention of acknowledging or admitting that.

"Look, I'm sure you get how human and pokemon health work, but we Royal Koopas are made of tougher stuff. It's not like I can afford to stop working on figuring this place out because I'm a little sick."

"And yeah, flower petals. Not- not sure what that's about-" Bowser suddenly kneels and starts coughing again, this time more violently and onto the floor. Once again, blood and combustible petals that quickly ignite are coughed up, this time in slightly greater quantities.

[symbolofstrength]

Sam crouches down with him, showing no apprehension or fear at the drops of blood flying out of his mouth despite the risk of contagion, the idea that each drop might contain countless numbers of... whatever's making Bowser sick. He's never let a little danger stop him from helping someone before, and he's not going to start now.

Instead, he goes to rub Bowser's back while he coughs, eyes taking in the flaming petals. He hasn't seen anything like that before. When it seems like the coughing has passed, he speaks:

"I see what you mean by petals. If those are coming from inside your lungs, no wonder you're coughing up blood." It's a reasonable assumption, he thinks, that the petals and blood are related; having solid objects inside the lungs is never a good thing, anyway.

[koopacrusher]

"I don't get it." According to Bowser's understanding of his own koopa physiology... "That shouldn't be possible."

Bowser stands back up, ignoring the hand on his shell as he does so. "It doesn't matter. Whether or not I'm coughing up petals, I've got work to do."

[symbolofstrength]

"I really can't recommend that. Can't it wait until you're better? Do you really want to take that risk?" It's true that as far as they know, the world doesn't fully understand death yet -- but that might have changed, could change at any time. Sam does, however, have another option:

"You might not be a Pokemon, but I think you're similar enough to a few I'm familiar with that I might be able to help. Your lungs should be around the same place, anyway." He gestures toward the vague area of Bowser's chest. "I could give you an examination, even surgery if we both decide it's the right thing to do."

He really hopes it doesn't come to resorting to surgery, though. They just don't have the supplies to make it safe. Like anesthetics.

[koopacrusher]

Bowser hesitates. He's not willing to rest, to waste time, but understanding whatever's infecting him is something he needs to do. He's still doubtful that Sam will truly understand his physiology, but an examination couldn't hurt. "Fine. I'll let you give the examination."

[symbolofstrength]

Sam lets out a sigh of relief, a soft smile across his face. Good, he can keep Bowser from recklessly killing himself for a little while longer.

"Thank you. Can we head outside, do this somewhere with better light?" A cave is not his idea of a good examination table. "I have a thermometer and a flashlight back at my apartment." Even if the thermometer doesn't exactly work completely correctly. With another glance at Bowser's chest, though, he knows what tool would really help: "I wish I had a stethoscope."

An X-ray or ultrasound would be even better, to let him really get a good look at whatever's in his chest causing this, but he knows better than to hope for one of those. Medical wishes can start with a stethoscope.

[koopacrusher]

"A stethoscope? Gwahaha-" Bowser's laughter is interupted by more coughing, but once it's over he continues with what he was saying anyway. "I've got one of those." Bowser pulls a stethoscope from his satchel. Like anything Bowser owns, it features his emblem and some unnecessary spikes, but it nonetheless is a perfectly functional piece of medical equipment.

"But yeah, let's go somewhere with better lighting." Bowser starts walking to the cavern's exit.