smashacademy | backdated to the night of the 28th [text] and also [action]

Rhys too had heard about the bake sale coming up and wanted to support such a noble effort with all his might! He would probably wind up buying more than he could eat, but if it was for charity... Maybe he could share with someone? He bought a plate of cookies and other assorted goodies to set inside the nurse's office for petients to eat if they wished. Okay, so it wasn't the healthiest option in the world, but this was a special occasion.

...However, throughout the day, the priest began to feel worse than he had before. He was still feeble from all the damage drugs had dealt to him, but this was different. Quite different indeed. The first signs of change started in his hips. They felt swollen, almost bulging, and it was painful to walk. Following shortly came the shooting pain in his backside, right where his tailbone was. His whole pelvis felt heavy and strained, and it shot down to his legs. Moreover, his fingers began to hurt so much they would tremble no matter what he did, and then, the more shocking transformations progressed later on.

Jaundice? Oh my gosh, what was going on! He was getting really, really sick! When he took a trip to the restroom to get a better look at his yellowish hue, something stuck out amid his forehead. A... really big zit? A boil? Oh, gross! Prodding it with his fingers frantically, he came to notice its odd texture. It didn't even feel like skin. It was hard, encrusted over like nothing skin could produce. It felt more like a gem. And then, he noticed a weird bruise circling his neck like a collar. Swallowing, he decided he should probably... take an even longer break. Maybe call the hospital while he was at it.

To all students and staff afflicted with growing animal parts:

It has come to my attention that there is a common problem sweeping through the school. I can't tell you how many patients I have come in with complaints about growing tailbones or sprouting feathers and the like, so if you are starting to notice these bizarre symptoms, please be aware that you are not alone in your suffering! Even I am beginning to notice startling changes in my bodily composition. I'm trying to figure out if I can pinpoint a commonality between those with this problem so we can get to the root of it, but in the meantime, please hang tight!

Never fear. I'm sure we will come up with a solution eventually. We always do, right?

((OOC: If you would like action, please feel free to hit up this post and come see Rhys about your problems! Or just see Rhys. Whichever!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Oh..." The nurse shakily recovered from the ground, taking great effort to return to an upright position. "Yes, I'm afraid it i-i-is. I can't determine right away if the same is happening to you, but since you're so white hot to the touch, you might as well be cha-a-anging. Everyone seems to be turning into another species."

"Another species...?! No way!" exclaimed Chili. He didn't want to believe that for a second, but if it were true...

He wondered just how hot his temperature was. If his Pansear could reach temperatures of 600°F, then could that mean he was changing into something like a Fire-type Pokémon? Could it be true?

"C-Can you take my temperature?!" His concern sounded urgent.

Finding his balance again, Rhys replied, "Yes. I was just about to get the thermometer, but... I tripped." He showed an embarrassed smile. With that, he jammed both palms against the doorknob and twisted, prying the door open with success.

The nurse disappeared into the office for a drawer and came back with the promised thermometer. "Okay, hold this under your tongue and don't let any air in," he instructed, popping it right in his mouth just so he could avoid hand-to-hand contact. After all, he really WAS hot. A worry germinated inside his brain: would the thermometer even be able to handle the heat?

Chili complied, opening his mouth and allowing the thermometer to rest under his tongue. The display on the thermometer began measuring: 101°F, 156°F, 260°F, climbing at a rapid rate all the way until it reached its limit and errored. Chili kept his eye trained on the display, but nothing happened after that.

Keeping the thermometer balanced under his tongue, Chili looked up at Rhys with worry. "I think this one's broken," he said. Speaking of broken, Chili's incredible temperature caused the display to go flat-out blank, and the plastic at the thermometer's neck began to droop. Chili pulled it out from his mouth and gawked at what he'd done before dropping it.

He... had nothing to do with that thermometer anymore. No way. This wasn't happening.

The face Rhys was making would be perfect for a Halloween display. He kept his hands frozen in midair, ready to do something but not even knowing where to begin.

"How is this... possible? You're burning up! And I MEAN burning up! You soared past three hundred degrees easily!" His sights kept see-sawing between Chili and the thermometer, Chili and the thermometer. "You even melted the plastic..."

"No!" Chili denied, forcefully shaking his head. "That's impossible! I'd be dead if that were true, it's just broken!"

He had a point. However, the thermometer wasn't the thing broken around here. It had to be Chili. The evidence was radiating off his skin, like an industrial heater. Rhys paused, unsure of what to tell the boy at first.

"Oh dear... This is problematic. I'd he-e-e-e-elp you with your fever, but this seems like something that goes beyond my abilities. You must be transforming if you can stay alive under those types of conditions."

Transforming, like what Rhys was doing...? No, it couldn't be. He didn't look like it. Though Chili tried to convince himself that it wasn't happening, another part of him started to wonder what he was turning into. He had no hints at all yet - just a high temperature. As long as it stayed below a certain point, then at least Chili could have an idea...!

"D-Do you have any other thermometers that won't... melt?" he asked, the question seeming far-fetched to him. "I want to know how high my temperature is. I know a lot about Fire-type Pokémon, and I just wonder if maybe I'm turning into one of those. A temperature would help." He looked back up to Rhys. "So... Maybe a thermometer that you are able to use on a Fire-type Pokémon?! Do you have anything like that?!"

"Yes, I do! Hold on just a second. I'll be back in a jiffy." Rhys disappeared, hobbling away like he was trying to run but wasn't able to move his joints and muscles the way he wanted to. Despite his clumsiness, Rhys came back pretty quickly with a more specialized tool, one designed to withstand insane levels of heat.

"Please use this!" he offered, setting it down on the counter, on top of a paper towel for sanitation reasons (though he was probably going to wind up burning it to a crisp...). "I don't know what getting an accurate temperature reading will do, but it will make a nice reference. ...Honestly, I'm very curious to know, too."

Edited 2013-07-03 21:55 (UTC)

Chili was about to reach for it before smiling at Rhys. "Some Fire-type Pokémon have different temperatures than each other, especially depending on the species or the evolution," he clarified. For a moment there, he almost forgot that he was taking this heat-proof thermometer for himself. While Rhys may have thought that Chili would break this one too, Chili didn't think he would. If it was for Fire-type Pokémon, surely it could handle his temperature!

"For example, Magmortar is a Fire-type Pokémon with an internal temperature that can reach 3,600 degrees Fahrenheit, but Pansear is only around 600 degrees Fahrenheit. See the difference? I know this stuff! The temperatures of Fire-type Pokémon vary, so I might be able to tell!" Very carefully, Chili reached for the thermometer and plucked it from the paper towel. He stuck it under his tongue and waited for the temperature to show up.

...It felt weird to him to have to use something so specialized for creatures with a naturally high temperature.

Edited 2013-07-03 23:27 (UTC)

Rhys waited with bated breath for the results. He didn't want to get close to his sweltering aura. "I suppose that's why they're called Fire-types," he remarked. "Fire is the hottest thing I can think of!"

The high-tech device didn't take long to judge Chili's internal temperature, and it let out a chime to notify the two of them that his temperature was being displayed. Chili pulled the probe out of his mouth and looked at the display.

It read 1,125°F.

While there were plenty of Fire-type Pokémon that could meet or exceed that temperature, Chili sure didn't expect that number on himself. He swallowed.

"It... It doesn't feel that bad, really," he insisted.

"I believe you- ooh, ah-CHOO!" Sparks flew out from the partially changed man, rattling a jar or two of swabs and cotton balls and whatever else was on counters and tabletops. After that power sneeze, he glanced up with droopy lids, somewhat stunned by the impact.

"Oh, goodness... I'm so-o-o-o sorry," he apologized dully.

Chili jumped at the abrupt sneeze, only realizing afterwards that Rhys just sneezed sparks. Sparks.

"It's okay! Hey, uh, maybe you should take it easy while you're transforming, you know? Sorry to cause you trouble and stuff. I didn't know what was going on."

And even still, this transformation thing... He wasn't sure he quite understood what a ride this would be. It only just begun.

backdated to the night of the 28th [text] and also [action]

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