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]

"No, I would imagine not." It's quick work for Regis to pack up his few things and return them o his satchel. "Until later, then." With his hands again comfortably folded around the strap of his satchel he gives a slight bow and disappears out through the secret passage.

Upon his return home he prepares the few things he would need for his return, chooses a book for Mal to borrow just as he had promised, and then sits down to names his notes in Mal's book while he waits for the summons.

[fadingworld]

Mal busies himself when Regis leaves. He dims the lights and draws the blinds lower. Out of the line of sight of the door, he puts a bedroll out for himself and changes into old comfortable leggings and a shirt which he leaves half unbuttoned.

Two more visitors come through the secret passage. One leaves the same way and the other takes the Duke's cloak and strides out the main way wearing it. The deception for the moment appears complete.

Mal settles down by the Duke, reading quietly until two hours have passed. Then the theatrics begin, and half an hour later a messenger is sent to Regis detailing the headaches and tingling in the legs.

[mandragoraspiritus]

Not long after the summons has gone out, Regis returns to The Rose Thorn, this time escorted through the front door by a servant of the house, through the hallways to Mal's room. After he's been let in he waits until the servant has gone and the door has been closed. "So, then..? How is the neck?"

[fadingworld]

"Tense," Mal says, holding his neck very still, "It's hard to turn my neck one way or the other." He demonstrates, his eyes dancing with amusement.

"Honestly, it's awful." And he sounds like a limp, pampered courtesan who dreads even the slightest malady.

[mandragoraspiritus]

"Well then, let us see what we can do to remedy the situation." Regis chuckles softly, smiling his close-lipped smile and of course doing to the duke's bedside rather than to Mal himself, bending down to see to his real patient.

"The fever stays steady, pupils are reactive, his pulse slightly elevated but that is to be expected. All within the realms of normalcy, all things considered. Has he woken any?"

[fadingworld]

"No there has been no change," Mal says keeping his voice low. "It has been very peaceful to watch over him." Mal brushes the Duke's hair back from his forehead.

He laughs, "The most exciting thing to happen is actually stiffening up by sitting in one position for too long."

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis fetches some water, into witch he stirs a few drops of a cloudy fluid from a vial from his satchel. Then he gently props the duke up a bit to make him drink. The duke groans in protest but Regis does manage to get him to swallow before returning him to lay on the bed, the duke out like a light before his head even hits the pillow.

"Do you mean to tell me that our fabricated excuse are starting to become reality?" he asks, Mal as he finishes arranging the covers around teh unconscious duke.

[fadingworld]

Mal grins sheepishly, "Only on a minor scale. It's almost like I've wished it into reality." But it was nothing some mediating and stretching wouldn't sort later.

[mandragoraspiritus]

"Oh, I might as well earn my pay, I should say. It wouldn't do to leave just yet, it would be too soon." And so he goes to retrieve things from his satchel yet again. First the book he had promised Mal, and then a jar of ointment. Opening it produces a strong but not unpleasant herbal scent, dominated mostly by mint.

"Kindly sit straight and relax best you can." Having rubbed a dollop of the ointment into his palms, Regis goes behind Mal and lays his hands to the back of the man's neck. His fingers may be tipped by long and sharp nails, but there is not a hint of them as he with sure and firm motions works the tension out from stiff muscles.

[fadingworld]

It's easy to relax, Mal settles down and shakes his shoulders out to relax them. There is a soft moan as the tension starts to bleed away. "Your hands are very talented."

[mandragoraspiritus]

Again that soft chuckle from behind Mal as Regis continues his work. "I have been doing this for quite the number of years. It would have been strange if I hadn't developed a talent for it by now."

[fadingworld]

Mal leans back into those hands. "How did you end up in your profession?" he asks curiously, enjoying the attention. "Did you care for someone close to you who was ill?"

[mandragoraspiritus]

"No, nothing like that," he says more quietly as he continues working his fingers over Mal's neck. "I had a rather misspent youth, I am ashamed to say. But after an incident left me with ample time to think I realized that I had to change my ways. This was the best way I could think of to atone for my wrongdoings, by helping and healing those in need around me."

[fadingworld]

"What type of incident?" Mal says his voice low and inviting. "I pass no judgments in here." He had found that people found him easier to talk to than those nearest and dearest. Secrets could make a person very lonely and isolated.

He wondered who Regis had around him these days.

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis shakes his head but knowing that the young man can't see it he goes on to speak. "It is something that shames me to this very day even though it is many years in the past, so you will forgive me that I choose to not speak of it."

[fadingworld]

"There is nothing to forgive," Mal says gently. "I hope you find relief from the shame in your own time." He breaks the massage for a moment to twist and smile up at the older man. "Everyone deserves some release from pain."

[mandragoraspiritus]

How could he even begin to explain. Those wrongdoings were centuries in the past, and though Regis has come to terms with them and with himself, they do still shame him.

He smiles down at the young man, more wistfully now, and since by turning his head Mal had stopped the massage, Regis decides to end it there. "That is very kind of you," he says. "Do you feel any better?"

[fadingworld]

"I feel as good as I do when I have a week's holiday," Mal says. He turns fully and takes a hand drawing it up to his lips to kiss the back of it in simple thanks.

"I see so many people come through here carrying burdens. I like to send them away a little lighter."

[mandragoraspiritus]

The kiss on the hand has Regis raising an eyebrow even though he doesnt actually pull his hand away. It's a gesture that is only natural for a courtesan he supposed, one that he will not read much into.

"Is isn't so much of a burden anymore, but I thank you all the same."

The jar of ointment isn't returned to the satchel but rather left on the table. With that Regis has exhausted his reasons to stay.

"Our patient is sleeping as he should. Still, until he wakes I shall return every three hours to check on his progress."

[fadingworld]

"Would you like a bed arranged for you here so you can be on hand?" Mal offers. "Or are you happy to make the trips?" He's preparing for no more than catnaps himself.

His eyes twinkle, "You won't often get offered a free night's sleep in a courtesan's room."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"It is a first, I must admit, but nevertheless it is an offer I shall decline. A mere tension headache doesnt much warrant me to be on hand. But, as my abode isn't so far, I do not mind the trips." He makes another slight bow, hands again loosely gripping the strap across his chest as seems to be his habit. "I advice that you give yourself some rest as well. So, until later."

[fadingworld]

Mal returns the bow with a low sweeping one. "I will take the medical advice," he says, "And look forward to your return."

An easy pattern settled in over the next few days. Over each visit Mal was awake and alert and he handled the some what crochety Duke with ease. He ignored the comments the Duke made to rile him, ignored the suggestive touches. But by the time Regis came to clear him to return, he was heartily sick of his guest.

Regis' visits had been little points of light. Someone different, someone fresh who was interesting to talk to. Even if that had become more constrained as the Duke became more alert.

He waved the Duke off out the door with a smile and turned to Regis with a relieved smile. There are tired circles under his eyes but he's happy. "If he said one more time that the power of sex would speed his healing, I might just have repoisoned him myself," he confides.

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis smirked somewhat crookedly, relieved as well to see the duke be on his way. "At the very least I could have given him something to make his manhood falter." He wouldn't have been above it had the duke pressed matters more than he already had. But as it was he was more than a little impressed with the young man's abilities to handle the duke.

"And now I must strongly suggest that you make sure you get a full night of undisturbed sleep. Will you need anything to aid that?" Perhaps odd, but even with the routine of coming and going every three hours, Regis doesnt seem very tired. Either he has fatnaps down to an art or he simply doesnt need much sleep.

[fadingworld]

Mal laughs, "I think I might have been hanged if anyone found out I had access to the alter a man's prowess in the bedroom." But the sentiment does give him a warm feeling. Is it possible that he might be making a friend.

He does consider the offer, still feeling wired to stay awake. "You look like you could go another few days, you have more stamina than I do. The offer is tempting, but will it leave me groggy tomorrow?"


He gestures to a piece of paper on the small table. "I resume my duties in the early afternoon."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"I can give you a small enough dose that it should help a restfull sleep rather than outright induce it, without leaving you drowsy in the morning." He would have preferred the man had longer to rest, but he doesnt have the authority to order it, not when there has been several days already. "At least no more drowsy than some strong, sweet tea should alleviate."

He glanced at the drapes covering Mal's bookcase. Two of his own books nestled in there now. He'll leave them there. "Do call on me if you are in need of my services again."