In which Sky feels funny...

[spd_blue]

[For spd_red but anyone who wants to play with a loopy Sky is more then welcome. Also, feel free to change the setting if you like.]

Looking back on the fight, Sky didn't remember getting hit with anything. Sure, he got some of the alien's weird smelling smoke to the face but he thought his shields had blocked most of it to the point that he hadn't even worried.

And even later, he still didn't think anything was wrong. In fact...he felt pretty darn good. He felt loose and relaxed and he couldn't wipe the happy smile off his face.

That should have been anyone's first clue that something was wrong.

The second was the fact that he was sitting in the common room, attempting to have pleasant conversations with everyone in the room. At least those who would talk to the Blue Ranger who usually only talked to his teammates. And was still beaming.

Comments

[spd_red]

[walking into the common room, whistling, carrying a big bowl of popcorn]

[spd_blue]

Jack!

[Sky looked up with a grin when he saw the Red Ranger enter the room.] It's good to see you! Isn't it good? I think it's good.

[spd_red]

[eyebrows up in surprise, but I'll work my way past people over to you]

It's, uh, good to see you, too, Sky!

[spd_blue]

[When Jack got closer, Sky stood up to give him a hug. The room around them went silent. Then he nodded to the couch as he sat back down.]

Join me?

[spd_red]

[what the...]

[there aren't many things that throw me, but yeah, that's one of 'em, but after a startled pause I'll hug you back awkwardly around the popcorn]

...sure.

[popcorn on table, butt on couch]

[spd_blue]

[Sky was still smiling.]

Today's a nice day. Don't you think it's a nice day?

[spd_red]

[bumping shoulders with you companionably, hey, if you're happy, I'm happy]

It's a damn fine day. We won again. We're gonna beat Gruumm. Popcorn?

[spd_blue]

[He takes the opportunity to lean against Jack, as if he liked touching people casually. This should be seen as very weird.]

Of course we won! We're the Power Rangers. And we have a good leader. Don't you think Jack is a good leader? [He asks of a nearby cadet who came too close to the couch and who ran off before answering.]

[spd_red]

[hoo boy, I like this so I don't want to object...]

[apologetic gesture at the kid you just scared off, then I'll turn back to you, not entirely managing to hide the concern]

You're squishier'n normal. Did someone give you sugar again?

[spd_blue]

Squishy? I'm always squishy, see? [He pokes his arm as a demonstration and gives it far more attention then one should.]

And I've only had water since we got back, why?

[spd_red]

[taking your face with gentle hands, trying to get you to look at me so I can check your pupils]

You sure it was just water?

[spd_blue]

[He leans into the touch as he looks at Jack curiously. His pupils are pretty dilated.]

It came out of the replicator. Unless Bridge and Boom were experimenting again. We could ask them! I like listening to them talk, don't you?

[spd_red]

[...dammit, I *like* you like this, all floppy and trusting, but this isn't you and your eyes look awful]

Maybe we should. You don't look so good, buddy.

[handstandsfortruth]

Really kind of a simple fight, Bridge thought. Probably bad news, since the bad guy escaped at the last minute, but such is life, and Bridge isn't about to complain.

He elected to bring his post-skirmish toast into the common room, maybe to discuss the fight, maybe to play some games or something.

Sky is... talking. Pleasantly. And smiling, too.

Bridge approaches him with a stack of toast and his head tilted to one side.

"Hey, Sky. How's it going?" He offers his snack. "Toast? It's buttery."

[spd_blue]

When Bridge spoke, Sky turned to him with a bright, happy smile. Bridge was his best friend, of course he was happy to see him!

"Hi Bridge! I'm great, how are you?" In opposition to his usual reaction to being offered toast, Sky happily took a slice. "Oh, yes please. You make the best toast," he said around a happy mouthful.

[handstandsfortruth]

Ooookay, something's wrong, something is definitely wrong. Sky never tastes his toast. He always offers, in a show of camaraderie and friendship, and Sky never ever accepted.

And he definitely never complimented it.

Bridge takes one slice to fortify himself before setting the rest of the stack down on a handy table, leaning close to Sky and squinting at him.

"What's wrong?"

[spd_blue]

While Sky might not know why he didn't accepted before, no he couldn't think of any reason why not! Bridge was his friend and toast was a tasty snack. Isn't that what Bridge always called it?

Still munching his toast, Sky turned to look at Bridge, cocking his head curiously. "Wrong? Nothing's wrong. Why, is something wrong with you?"

[handstandsfortruth]

"Mmm, nope, but..." Bridge sits next to Sky and leans even closer, trying to meet his eyes. They're definitely a bit shinier than usual. His pupils are all blown. "Sky, you might not have noticed, since I know this is an unusual occurrence and probably there's a monster to blame, possibly that monster we were fighting earlier, though I didn't see you get hit with anything, but you're acting weird."

[spd_blue]

As Bridge leans closer, Sky just looks back at him with innocent curiosity, not leaning back or protesting the lack of personal space. In fact, he may have leaned towards Bridge in an effort to help the Green Ranger find whatever we was looking for in his eyes.

"Weird? How am I acting weird? I feel great! Better then ever! Whatever the monster did, it made me feel great!" Pause. "You have nice eyes."

[handstandsfortruth]

Well, yep, that's enough warning flags for Bridge. Sky hasn't let Bridge get this close in... well, okay, a long time. Not without shoving him away a second later, much less actually trying to be helpful when Bridge is trying to figure something out.

"Well, that, for one. You feeling so good, being real positive. And um, it's probably a bad thing, you know, if a monster did it. You're probably pretty complacent right now, which means you wouldn't be very useful in a fight, which means we'd probably have to leave you behind, and then we couldn't make a Megazord, and... You know what, just-"

Nice eyes?

Nice eyes?

"Sky..." Bridge sits back a bit, then holds up one hand, wiggling his fingers. "I can check you? Just to be sure?"

[spd_blue]

"Why is being positive a bad thing? Your talking nonsense, Bridge." Sky chuckled as he shook his head ruefully. "And I'm fine, I promise! Definitely fine enough to pilot a zord." He felt fine enough to take on all of Grumm's army but he'd rather stay here with his friends.

"But, if you insist. Whatever makes you happy." He shrugged as he agreed to Bridge's testing. If it made his friend feel better, then why not?

[handstandsfortruth]

"Well. You know, generally I'd say there's nothing wrong with being positive?" He claps Sky on the shoulder then sits back, working his glove of. "But it's a bit out of character for you, and I can say that honestly, partly because you're my best friend but mostly because I think you got a temporary alien space mist lobotomy and I'm pretty sure you won't even remember this once we fix it."

He gets his glove off and does a precursory scan of Sky's aura, and almost falls off the couch.

"I think we should go see Kat."

[spd_blue]

Sky's look was clearly one of amused disbelief but he sat still and patiently as Bridge scanned him, something that hadn't happened for a long time. As he'd gotten older, there had been more and more things he hadn't wanted to share with Bridge, so the idea of being scanned got more uncomfortable.

He blinked in surprise at Bridge's reaction and reaches out to steady him. "What did you see?"

[handstandsfortruth]

Bridge almost grabs Sky's hand with his bare one, but he manages to pull himself together before he does something that stupid. He clears his throat and shakes it a bit, and then muscles up a passable smile for Sky.

"I just think we should talk to Kat. I've never seen your aura like that, ever. It's all..." He wrangles his glove back up with a little grimace. "It's a little painful to be honest. Way too bright."

[spd_blue]

Even Sky's sudden positivity is shaken by Bridge's reaction to his aura. Both hands reach out to make sure he's alright, touching more then was probably necessary though careful not to touch bare skin.

"If it hurts you, then come on. Let's talk to Kat. The last thing I want to do is hurt you, Bridge." Now Sky sounded like a kicked puppy, not liking the fact that his good mood was hurting anyone, especially Bridge.