[video]

[waitingforhope]

 [The feed turned on just in time to catch Mai in another sneeze.  Nothing overly dramatic or explosive, but strong enough and with a subsequent slow recovery time to indicate this was not the first.  And she was no expecting it to be the last.]

Ugh...I'm sorry.

[Taking a deep breath, she sat back and looked directly into the camera with a slightly glassy stare.  Hints of red on her nose and cheeks that--for once--didn't come from blushing.  At least, not the usually blushing from her.]

One of the kindergartners I was trying to answer a prayer for a while back must have gotten me sick.  [At least, that was the closest to an explanation she'd managed to come up with.]  I didn't even know I could still get sick, but...it's been weeks, and I only feel slightly better.

Does anybody know if cold medicine works on gods?

[That seemed to be the end of her line of questioning...except, at the last possible minute...one final thought occured to her.  A thought that promptly caused her to frown.]

Oh, and whoever thought to leave that package on my Temple doorstep?  Not funny.

Comments

Re: [Action]

[light_of_willpower]

[Sorry Mai, Trunks is deliberately playing dumb. Still with that half-smirk (albeit amused) of his own, and his arms crossed.]

Hmm? I'm sure I have no clue what you're talking about.

[But he accepts the teasing good-naturedly at least--it's seen in his eyes.]

[Action]

[waitingforhope]

I'm sure you don't.

[Spoken in an I-know-you-know tone. Completely with side-eye and a confident smile. And little else, as she turned back to wait for Hakkai's return.]

[Action]

[reformedsinner]

[Hakkai doesn't leave them to wait too long. A few minutes later, he returns with a neatly folded paper packet in one hand, and holds it out to Mai.]

Just a pinch of this in hot water, twice a day -- morning and night. Don't mind the smell, it's really quite good for you!

[The smell -- a faint ghost of which is emanating from the package -- is earthy and a little rancid, reminiscent of compost.]

It tastes a little better if you mix it with tea instead of water.

Re: [Action]

[light_of_willpower]

[...it's a very good thing Trunks already trusts Hakkai, because that faint ghost of a scent has him doing his best to keep his expression normal. His unlucky self being cursed with a sensitive nose, in this case.]

Tea we can do. What about on an empty stomach or not?

[Because Mai's appetite was still up and down, and Trunks is overprotective.]

[Action]

[waitingforhope]

[Mai had dealt with worse scents in her living years.]

[...although...that was was quite up there in unpleasantness.]

Don't pay attention to him. I've been eating.

[A little.]

Re: [Action]

[light_of_willpower]

[Rude, Mai. So rude--and have a dry look in return.]

Not like you usually do though.

[Yes, he's protective. Really--this is normal behavior for them both.]

[Action]

[reformedsinner]

Eating properly will help. But it doesn't have to be taken with food -- in fact, you might want to try the first cup without, in case it upsets your stomach.

[Better nausea on an empty stomach than losing one's dinner.]

[Action]

[waitingforhope]

[dwi, Trunks]

I eat more than you think I do.

[And then, to Hakkai:] Alright. I'll try a cup before my next meal and see how things go.