02's Dorm
Stranger: ...As everything goes down, Stranger can feel an uneasiness well inside of him.
...Something that wells into nausea, an all-consuming anxiety. It's like he's dying.
He's dying.
He's dying.
He can't help but puke from the stress as he stumbles out of his bed, grime and filth now coating his sheets. The confusion and fear he holds mixes with disgust as he crawls into a corner, clutching himself tightly, coughing and heaving from how hard it feels to breathe.
He's dying. He's dying. He's...
MX-Z0: Beep.
Someone is heard opening his door...picking the lock, and coming in.
It's MX-Z0, and upon seeing the mess Stranger has found himself in, immediately feels all the tension she now holds become validated.
"...Stranger?"
Stranger: "W-Who- Hefgglk-" He gags again. "Who's there?"
MX-Z0: "It's Mixzo. I'm right in front of you right now."
Stranger: "I'm dying- I'm dying, Mixzo. I-I-...I feel like I'm-"
MX-Z0: "You're not dying. You're exhibiting signs of intense stress," MX-Z0 explains...despite her robotic voice still being, well, that of a robot, there's a newfound softness to it.
MX-Z0: "...Stranger. Is there anything you can focus on right now? Anything at all."
Stranger: "I- I-I I-"
He's still struggling to speak. It's hard to see, to hear, or even think...but he tries. He tries to focus. To find anything to focus on.
MX-Z0: "You're going to be fine, Stranger. I promise."
Stranger: ...He could focus on her. For now, that would be enough.
For once, a clear vision pierces his mind-- and its her voice. The sound of it...the robotic tone...it's an odd thing to focus on, but its enough for now.
It's enough. It's...enough.
...
He's...not dying, perhaps.
MX-Z0: "Can I touch you, Stranger? I'd prefer if you didn't sit in your own filth."
Stranger: ....Nod, nod. Slowly.
MX-Z0: And then, as gently as she can, she picks Stranger up like a little ball. Cradling him in both of her hands, she carefully drags Stranger to the bathroom located in his dorm.
Stranger: And while he would find this incredibly embarassing, he has bigger concerns right now. Just keep focusing on MX-Z0...man, this is awkward, isn't it? Would she be annoyed at her being the thought keeping him together? He had no idea...but that rabbithole of a thought was soothing his nerves. His vision became clearer, the sounds of his room no longer sounding far-away and muffled.
And then he felt the sensation of water over his body. He was in...his bathtub. His coat was no longer on his body.
Stranger: And by the time his breathing slowed, he realized that MX-Z0 was washing him like a dog, using a towel and water....damn, very embarassing...but he was too drained to mind. He just...stared at her, quiet, trying to take a moment to process everything.
MX-Z0: "Are you feeling better, Stranger?"
Stranger: "Y...Yeah...I think I am...sorry, but...seeing that...it made me feel worse then I've ever felt."
MX-Z0: "I understand. I broke into your room because I sensed you might've had an...extreme reaction. Apologies."
She was still wiping him off.
Stranger: "I-It's fine...a little embarassing, but I'd rather deal with that than whatever just happened."
MX-Z0: "...You should be clean now." She comments. "Another apology for the privacy intrusion...and staring at you naked."
Stranger: "I mean, I don't normally wear clothes...none of us normally do." He replies. "And it's not like I was--- you know."
MX-Z0: "You were what?" She tilts her head.
Stranger: "...I'm not saying that out loud, sorry." He lets out a little chuckle, slowly stepping out of the bath. He shakes like a dog to wipe off the little wet bits out of his fur, and then grabs his (thankfully clean) coat.
MX-Z0: She smiles. "Alright."
As she heads out of the bathroom, she looks back at him. "The party is in about an hour, by the way. Will you be attending?"
Stranger: "I mean, I'll try to rest a bit first...if all goes well, I don't see why not."
MX-Z0: "Noted. See you there."
And as she left the room behind, MX-Z0 felt an odd feeling enter her circuits...but quickly shook it away, just glad that Stranger is alright.