#chickenpox

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Warning, this chapter has scenes of physical and emotional abuse, and sexual harassment. Reader discretion is advised.

Angel lay on a bed, surrounded by cameras. Above him stood four men, wearing almost nothing. As they grabbed him forcefully, he remained stiff. Once again, Angel was trapped in Valentino’s studio. Today, though, every movement made his joints creak painfully. And any brush against his skin made it light up in pain like a sunburn. He wanted to return to his soft bed, but his invisible shackles kept him trapped in this sex dungeon. Since he couldn't escape physically, he escaped mentally. After doing this for so long, Angel had learned to turn his brain off during the more intense scenes. The intoxicating poison Valentino force-fed him helped him go into his trance-like state. During this, he lost all recollection of time. It was like a fog filled his head, but it could not cover his eyes.

The only thing that snapped him out of it was the bell ringing for the lunch break. For a minute, Angel remained on the bed while the rest of the actors left. Every part of his body felt sore or inflamed. He swallowed a glob of saliva only to wince as it grated against his raw throat. Once it felt like the tiniest movement wouldn't make him collapse, Angel slipped on his pink robe as he climbed off the bed. He didn't say a word to anyone as he took a plate of small triangular-cut sandwiches to his dressing room. He locked the door behind him before relaxing on his couch.

Fortunately, the concealer didn’t get rubbed off during the shoot. Unfortunately, he couldn’t wear the calamine underneath without putting on a thicker layer of makeup and raising some eyebrows. He scratched at the new spots on his neck as he tried to force mushy bread down his throat. He was only able to get through one sandwich before his stomach twisted. He set the plate on a table and then curled into a ball on the couch. He retreated further into his robe as a chill ran up his spine. He was so tired, he was ready to fall asleep at the studio instead of dragging himself back to the hotel.

There was a knock at the door. Angel groaned as he dragged himself off the couch. Grabbing a tissue on the way to clear his sinuses, he tugged on the door handle without a second thought. But when he noticed who knocked, his heart sank. In front of the entrance stood Valentino with his seductive smile.

The moth overlord sauntered into the room and shoved Angel aside like he was a pile of laundry. “Angel, I couldn’t help but notice that you were a bit sloppy on set,” Valentino said in a calm voice that sent a chill down Angel’s spine.

Angel didn't respond and simply started walking back to the couch, pulling the robe closer to him to combat the chill. His boss’s static squeaks were more grating on his ears than usual. He also felt his anger reaching a boiling point faster. His head was pounding, his skin was burning, his body was freezing, and here he was being forced to listen to his boss bitch and moan about his performance. All he wanted right now was to shove a Tommy gun into the moth’s mouth. As Valentino continued to talk, Angel curled back onto the sofa, his head squished snuggly into a heart-shaped throw pillow. Only when he was semi-comfortable did he start listening to his boss.

“We’ll have to re-do the scene and do the next scenes, so I’ll be cutting your break. Better get ready in a minute.”

“No,” Angel muttered.

“What?”

Angel slammed a hand over his mouth.

Damn it, mouth! You can suck three dicks at the same time, but you can't keep it shut?! He scolded himself.

“What did you say?” Valentino asked menacingly.

Angel tried to suppress his rapid heartbeat before saying anything. Each second he didn’t answer, he could feel Valentino’s rage increasing tenfold.

“N-nothing! Nothing, Val!” Angel stumbled out.

Valentino stared silently at him until he said, “Why don’t we try again?” He grabbed Angel by his neck and then lifted him off the ground. Angel could feel the air being squeezed out of his sore throat like a python squeezing its prey to death. Valentino got as close to Angel’s face as he could until their eyes locked.

“What. Did. You. Say?” Val repeated with sharpened anger.

“Yes, Val,” Angel weakly choked out.

When Valentino loosened his grip, Angel fell to the ground in a heap. He struggled to regain his breathing as one after another cough burst from his lungs. Val crouched down to be at Angel's eye level as he continued to sputter. His golden claws sunk into the cheek fur until they reached skin and forced Angel to face him.

“That’s what I thought, bitch." Valentino then ran his unnaturally long tongue over Angel’s cheek. Angel prayed to whoever was listening that this would end. Suddenly, Valentino pulled back, coughing and sputtering. Angel took this chance to worm out of Valentino’s grasp. Once freed, he could finally see a white hairball sticking to Valentino's tongue. Angel felt his cheek to find a bald spot. He looked over his entire body and only now noticed the thinning hairs and the ones all over the floor. Angel poorly attempted to rein in his frazzled mind, but it soon became more unhinged when Valentino yelped.

“What the fuck are those?!” Valentino exclaimed while pointing at Angel.

Not only had Valentino licked off his fur, but also his make-up, revealing the ugly blisters festering on his skin. After spitting out the fur, Valentino got closer to see Angel’s spots better, his eyes squinting to the point that they looked closed.

Angel would have laughed at Val’s poor eyesight if he wasn't face to face with a dilemma. Angel was not sure his heart could beat any faster. He hadn't felt this much fear in one day since Charlie set fire to the studio. His aching mind searched desperately for any kind of excuse. Suddenly, he blurted the first word that came.

“Hives!” Angel screamed out.

Valentino looked confused.

“Y-yeah!” Angel shakily composed himself. “Someone at the hotel served mint daiquiris, and it made me break out in hives.”

That seemed to satisfy Valentino as he gave Angel back his space. A wave of relief was about to wash over Angel until Valentino smiled.

“Is that so?” Valentino said in a deep voice. He took a single golden claw and poked at a blister. A wave of pain and irritation shot through Angel like a bullet. Valentino continued to press further until Angel was nearly brought to tears.

“Unless you want that to happen in a more sensitive area, you’ll be out there in 30 seconds.” Valentino walked out of the room.

As soon as he heard the door click, he shoved his head into a trash can and threw up the single sandwich. Stomach acid burned his throat and his stomach squeezed painfully with each retch. He spent a few minutes dry heaving when there was nothing left to throw back up. Angel shook uncontrollably like he had been dropped into the arctic tundra.

He didn't attempt to stand up until his shaking slowed down. But as he slowly pulled himself back onto his feet, his legs shuddered at the thought of holding his weight for more than a second. He then wiped away the stray tears that threatened to spill down his face. After spitting out some remaining bile, he left his dressing room.

By the time Angel limped back into the hotel, the sun had set hours ago. Once again, the lobby was almost empty aside from Husk serving himself a drink. Angel rubbed fiercely at the fake fur the make-up crew glued to his cheek.

How is this shit itchier than the pox?!-

His thoughts were cut off by him running into a column. He rubbed at his poor nose that banged into the statue. Thankfully, his aches were dulled by the pills he took earlier. A string of laughter came from the bar. Angel looked over to see Husk suppressing a few chuckles. Angel was too tired to work up a snarl and walked over to the bar where Husk was already preparing him a drink. Angel collapsed into the bar stool like a sack of bricks. Immediately, Angel started nursing the glass of alcohol, hoping it would get him drunk while not burning his throat too much.

“I didn't think you could look more like shit,” Husk remarked with a smirk.

But the only response he got was a groan. Angel only got halfway through the glass before he gave up. Angel dug his face into his crossed arms to rest more comfortably and to rub his cheek further. He could feel his hair soaking into the booze, but he didn’t care. Exhaustion was slowly sinking its talons into the spider, and he did not fight it.

A set of claws against his forehead made him jolt and bang his head into the bar’s cover. Not even the medication could numb out the new sharp pain that spread through his skull.

Husk’s neck fur puffed out in surprise. He took a step back so the glass Angel knocked over didn’t spill onto him. He looked at Angel, who had returned to slumping against the table but was now clutching his bruised scalp. He grabbed a rag and sopped up the alcohol.

“Sorry about that,” Husk apologized. He poured another drink for Angel to further the apology. “Are you feeling okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I’ve taken worse hits on stage,” Angel reassured him, drowsiness still having a grip on his voice

Husk simply gave Angel his signature scowl. “For an actor, you’re shit at lying."

Husk turned to set the bottle back on the shelf.

“You really should get some rest,” Husk said with his back turned towards Angel.

Even without seeing his face, Angel could feel crotchety energy radiating off the barkeep. He would have rolled his eyes if he didn’t fear it would make his head hurt more.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m going,” Angel said with almost the same level of grouchiness. He took a big gulp of his drink, slammed the glass down, then hopped off the bar stool. The only trace he left was the empty glass and a few hairs on the seat.

Husk watched Angel stagger to the next floor. A part of him wanted to follow, but another part of him reiterated that Angel needed rest more than anything to fight off whatever bug he caught. Besides, he would most likely be in a better mood after some sleep.

Angel leaned against the wall once he reached the second floor. When he was sure he was alone, Angel ripped off the fake fur. He scratched off the glue sticking to his inflamed skin. His claws were slowed by the glue which brought back memories of Val’s sticky slobber clinging to his flesh. He stopped scratching as the feeling of Valentino’s tongue sliding against his face made him shudder. Even after washing his face, he could still feel the saliva coating his cheek. He did his best to push the memory aside and make his way to his room.

Husk's ears immediately perked up when the doors opened again, but the Radio Demon walked in this time. Husk averted his gaze, even though his owner paid him no mind. He was too busy trying to get out a pesky bloodstain on his monocle. Alastor’s shoes clicked against the hardwood floor, each step on the stairs echoed loudly through the empty hotel. By now, he had given up on cleaning his eyewear and simply headed to his room while humming an old melody.

His soothing song was cut off by the sound of irregular tapping. As he turned a corner, he noticed Angel in front of his door, fiddling with his room key. The spider had yet to notice him, preoccupied with scratching a stubborn itch on his neck. Alastor did notice that his hair was falling off like snow. He shuddered at the idea of being completely covered in hair like an animal. Seeing the adult film star also reminded Alastor of last night’s game fiasco. His crimson claws gripped his staff tighter.

His rage was cut off by the sound of a door opening. Angel had finally gotten the key to turn properly. Just before he disappeared for the night, Alastor’s eyes caught something. Above Angel’s bowtie were a few swollen spots unhidden by a bald patch.

Alastor knew what those spots meant. And he smiled

Previous: ch. 3

Chickenpox (pictured above) is caused by a herpesvirus called varicella zoster.

Meanwhile, the true pox viruses (of which smallpox, cowpox, and mpox (pictured above) are the ones that have historically infected humans most commonly) are from the family poxviridae. The ones associated with human infections are from the genus orthopoxvirus.

We named chickenpox before we knew this, because it sure does look like a pox virus infection.

The main practical difference is that the smallpox vaccine protects against mpox and cowpox and other orthopoxviruses. You need the chickenpox (varicella, available by itself or as a part of the MMRV combo shot) to protect against chickenpox.

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The reason?

I got permanently disabled shortly after being hospitalized with chickenpox.

First, Miracle Mineral Solution (do not drink, you get it the other way) to remove the vaccine toxins.

Jennifer Bendery at HuffPost:

WASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. couldn’t say Wednesday if he’d vaccinate his kids today against polio, the highly contagious and deadly virus that was once the leading cause of paralysis among children. During testimony before a House subcommittee, Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) asked Kennedy, who is notorious for spreading disinformation about the safety of vaccines, whether he’d vaccinate his children today, if they were still kids, against a number of vaccine-preventable diseases. Pocan started with measles. “For measles?” Kennedy said, pausing. “Probably for measles.” “Would you vaccinate your child for chicken pox?” asked Pocan. “I don’t want to give advice,” Kennedy replied. “I can tell you in Europe they don’t use the chicken pox vaccine.” (This is not true.) What about polio, asked Pocan, which was eliminated from the U.S. in 1979? “I don’t want to be giving advice,” said Kennedy. The health and human services secretary insisted his opinions on vaccinating children were irrelevant to his job, which is literally to shape America’s health policy. “I don’t think people should be taking medical advice from me,” Kennedy said. “Everybody can make that decision” on whether to vaccinate their kids, he said, and the problem with the health and human services secretary giving advice on vaccinations is that “it will seem like I’m giving advice to other people and I don’t want to be doing that.” “But that is kind of your jurisdiction,” Pocan replied with a puzzled smirk. “Because [the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an agency Kennedy oversees] does give advice.” [...] His refusal to support the polio vaccine on Wednesday is particularly bonkers. Polio causes permanent paralysis and death, and the vaccine, which came about in the mid-1950s, has resulted in an estimated 20 million more people being able to walk today who would otherwise have been paralyzed. It’s also prevented an estimated 1.5 million children from dying.

RFK Jr. is a dangerous bozo that can’t be trusted for accurate health care advice.

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