A medical emergency

[fadingworld]

A deep navy cloak hides his features and the more ornate tunic the courtesan usually wears to greet his clients. Mal hunches his shoulders and slides through the crowds hoping to avoid notice. He keeps his head down until he reaches the home of the doctor and wraps smartly on the door. "Open up," he calls in a voice that expects to be listened to.

How much time did he have? He could not have a client bleeding out. Not this one. Not one who had come to him for help, to be treated privately.

Comments

[mandragoraspiritus]

Ugh, that is unsettling, with that woman's tone and gestures coming from Mal. Regis plays along, though, and simply points a long fingernail at himself. "Vampire. In case you have forgotten already."

[fadingworld]

“And vampires need it more than most.’ Mal suppresses a giggle and brings them back to that silly tale. “Why with proper care you might actually be able to sparkle in sun light.”

[mandragoraspiritus]

At that Regis huffs out an exasperated sigh. "I should not have let you read that book."

What he does next can be considered showing off, he's aware of this. But it would at least put an end to the teasing of his humble self. Between one breath and the next he's simply no longer there but has rather dissolved into a cloud of thick, graphite-colored smoke hanging in the air. It flows forward past Mal, around him, toying with his long hair for but an instant and messing it up, then out the door of the kitchen. In moments Regis' voice is heard from the study. "Are you coming?"

[fadingworld]

Okay. That was unearthly. Mal stands staring at the space Regis had occupied. His skin tingles and his heart is definitely racing a little.

"Okay, that is a seriously unfair advantage," Mal calls out. He smooths his hair down again as he makes his way more slowly to the study. He grins as he steps in the door, "You could scare someone if you snuck up on them that way."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"Let me then say again; vampire." Sneaking up on someone should be the least scary thing about him.

It isn't now that he wants to scare Mal but he does want to understand, for it to be perfectly clear that Regis isn't a human. Yes, Mal has seen his fangs by now but those are nothing compared to other things he might have to witness. At least the dissipating into smoke doesn't look so... Monstrous as other things he might have shown to prove his point.

Even so, now he does again seem perfectly human where he stands searching through a drawer in his desk for something suitable for Mal to use to tie up his hair.

[fadingworld]

Mal wont forget what he has seen. It has given him some healthy respect that he might not even understand a fraction of what Regis could do.

"I know but...wow," Mal says."I don't think many people would get to see you do that and live."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"A surprising amount, I must admit. Some of my other states, though... Not as many." He grimaces a bit, but ah! There is a suitable piece of leather chord that should serve Mal's purposes.

[fadingworld]

Ma comes to pounce on the chord when he spots on it. It is going to take him a little time to put it back with his desired neatness."I have to admit, that one is a skill I wish was possible to pass on. It does look useful."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"It admittedly is." Regis confesses with a bit of a smile. It has helped him to get into more than a few places.

He watches Mal fiddle with his hair and wonders quietly if it will get in Mal's way. Hair like Mal's is often a sign of status. Only people living a life of leisure can really manage to keep hair like that. Those in the working classes need to be more practical. But, for now he will leave Mal to figure that out on his won.

[fadingworld]

For now, Mal thinks nothing of it. Tidyng his hair up is second nature to him. "How much money should I take out with me?" ke asks. "I don't plan to buy much."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"If you aren't planning on buying much then don't bring much," Regis advices, gesturing for Mal to follow him so they can keep talking as he packs up his satchel with the materials he will need today while visiting his patients. Then from his own pockets he counts out ten crowns which he hands over. "That should cover the baker and the butcher just fine."

[fadingworld]

"Alright, thank you," Mal darts to add a little extra coin to an inside pocket just in case he sees something (or finds a small gift for Regis).

He perches to watch what Regis is packing. "What basics do you always carry with you on visits just in case it's needed or someone else calls for you?"

[mandragoraspiritus]

This is something that could be useful for Mal to get aquatinted with so Regis gestures him over once they have entered the room where Regis had examined Mal that first day when he fell ill. On a table he starts laying out the various things he has in his satchel.

"Most of what I always carry with me are focused on first aid," he begins to explain. First comes some vials of medicines and packets of dried herbs, each neatly labeled. "These are mainly for pain management, to lower fever and to promote blood clotting in wounds."

Then there are tightly wound rolls of bandages and rolls of string. Upon unrolling a leather case he displays a small surgeon's kit with small, sharp and utterly spotless blades, as well as needles and neat little rolls of thread.

"I also always carry alcohol with me," he goes on, indicating to the small flask of boiled, hardened leather he keeps attached to the strap of the satchel. "For disinfecting wounds."

[fadingworld]

Mal studies the items intently. Then he turns his back of Regis and the table. This is one of his tricks to remembering new information. He shuts his eyes and goes through what he can remember seeing.

"Did I miss anything?"

[mandragoraspiritus]

This is where Regis gets a sign that he's not done wrong in taking Mal on. It seems the young man really does have a way of retaining information and that will do him well in his studies. If he will be able to take studies and put them into practice remains to be seen, but it is a good sign.

"You did not," Regis says, smiling at him. "We shall see about making a basic set for you as well, to be expanded upon the more I teach you."

[fadingworld]

Mal grins pleased at the praise. Gracefully he pivots around to face Regis again. "I would love that." He runs his hands over the case. "I have a good memory for which I count myself lucky." He taps the side of his head, "I will be glad to replace some of the more ridiculous poems and ballads with more useful things."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"Ballads and poems have their place as well, I would not discount them," Regis says easily as he starts repacking his things into his satchel, then going around the shelves to supplement with additional things he will need for the day. "But you will indeed need to lean many new fact and skills. Along with the anatomy of the human body, first aid needs to be one."

[fadingworld]

Some were only useful for Coutesans and he will be glad to forget some of the bedding ones. " "Does that mean I will get to practice bandaging on you?" That could be quite entertaining as well as instructful.

[mandragoraspiritus]

"Hah. Yes, well, for practice purposes I suppose it does." He hadn't thought of that He does fully intend on having Mal take care of minor injuries under his supervision, but it will make sense that Mal gets some practice in before he gets to see an actual patient.

[fadingworld]

Mal grins, he thinks he can have a little fun while he studies. "Practical purposes," he agrees. HE closes the case up for Regis.

"I will be back in time for lunch. I promise I won't be late for my studies."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"No, I trust you won't be." Regis does trust that Mal's enthusiasm is genuine and he doesn't think his excitement about being able to roam the streets freely will make him irresponsible.

Regis hangs his satchel across his body again. All set for the day eh makes a small little bow, more like a nod of the head. See you in a few hours, then."

[fadingworld]

Mal's bow is much more sweeping. He heads out the door ahead of Regis, taking a right and then a left to see what he will find. And that is how he proceeds over the next hour, peering down small alleys and chatting with vendors.

He does not forget Regis request and makes sure that he gets some change. His problem is what to get Regis. Eventually, he comes across a leather notebook with herbs embossed in the leather. There, that would be nice. He buys it and borrows ink to write a note to Regis on the side ,

'For making dreams come true. I hope someday I can bring you some small joy.'

Regis is back before him, and comes in to find him, holding the book out the second he sees him.

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis' morning has gone much as he had expected. Wounds have been cleaned and redressed, cough has been treated, and expectant mother has been seen to. Se still have ab out a moth to go, poor thing, though he is hoping the labor will start prematurely. She is under much stress as it is.

Mal has yet to return when he comes back but that is no matter. He doesn't think his apprentice has ever leaned to cook so in order to feed the man he ought to see to it himself.

He has just gotten the fire relit in the stove when Mal returns and practically even before there can e any form of greeting there is a book held out. "What is this?" he asks wondering as he takes it from Mal's outstretched hand.

[fadingworld]

"A gift for you," Mal murmurs a little shyly as he places the errand purchases and the change on the counter. "I hope you like it." Maybe he was a little over zealous in how quick he gave it after coming through the door but it had been on his mind to give.

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis turns properly away from the chores of getting a meal going to give this his full attention. He studies teh tooled leathe rin the front first. It really is beautiful work. Opening it he discovers thick, high-quality paper. And, of course, the little message written there.

He blinks a few times before his somewhat bewildered expression softens into a smile. It isn't wide enough to show teeth but it doesn't need to be. "I'm touched, Mal. Thank you," he says looking up, and so the apprentice will find himself drawn into a hug by his master.