fadingworld | A medical emergency

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

mandragoraspiritus

"There's no pain," Regis assures, "though I am far from peak form. It doesn't help me that I abstain from blood - for while we don't need it to live it does give us strength - but I am willing to stick to the slow path to recovery to not have to risk another dive into addiction."

From:

fadingworld

Mal nods. HE can understand it. A couple of suggestions spring to mind on a way to take blood if was given in a glass or put into food. He decides not to voice these otherwise it may look like he is encouraging an addiction.

"Are you glad..." Mal pauses. "This is a very personal question. Are you glad he restored you with his blood?"

From:

mandragoraspiritus

"I am, yes, more than I can ever put into words. The experience of..." He trails off for a moment, for there is another thing he can't put into words. Death?

"It was not pleasant, where I was before he found me, and in that state I would have had to linger there for decades, perhaps centuries. He could have just left me there but instead with no personal gain he took care of me and in so doing created a bond between us stronger than I could ever even begin to explain. I didn't only regain my body but I gained a close companion, a brother."

From:

fadingworld

Mal thinks back to the reason Regis had to be shunned by his kind. It tugs at his heart strings now as he fully comprehends the weight of his decision. It came at so much personal cost. More than his heart could fully comprehend.

He swallows and presses his lips, soft and understanding to the vampire's.

From:

mandragoraspiritus

There's a soft little noise from Regis when Mal's lips presses to him, the kiss not entirely expected. He quickly relaxes into it, though, the next sound coming from him being a contented sigh.

From:

fadingworld

The kiss lingers on, ending as Mal drops his head to nuzzle the side of Regis' neck. "I will do my best to look out for trouble for you so you don't get into a situation like that again."

Would Regis hate him if he gave his own blood to help strengthen him in dire need? He hopes they don't have to find out.

From:

mandragoraspiritus

"Do not worry, Mal," he comforts, gently petting his hair and keeping him tucked in close. "It was a situation risen from deep care, and that is not something I intend to avoid."

From:

fadingworld

Mal makes a noise of contentment at the touch. "Good," he murmurs. "I definitely like you in one piece. Or," his eyes dance, "In smoke."

He yawns. "The most trouble I could cause is a discontented Duke looking for me."

From:

mandragoraspiritus

There's a chuckle from Regis, then. "I am almost surprised that we haven't heard anything from the Madame so far." He has half expected that she come at least offer to take Mal back.

From:

fadingworld

Mal grins, "I wonder if she is waiting to see if I will walk back in of my own accord. She always said we would not survive out in the real world."

From:

mandragoraspiritus

"Perhaps in some time, we should go offer our medical services to make sure she knows she is proven wrong." Tucked in as Mal is he might not see the wide and toothy grin, but even so his tone is full of glee.

From:

fadingworld

Mal laughs in sheer delight. "Lets," he says, "Please! We could also offer the Madame the once over." And what fun that could be!

From:

mandragoraspiritus

"Let's," Regis echoes in agreement. "As soon as you are trained enough to handle things mostly on your own."

From:

fadingworld

Mal all but wriggles with glee. "It's a pity it would be wrong to disturb her by making her think there was something seriously wrong with her."

From:

mandragoraspiritus

"That would indeed be going against our very profession." Still Regis doesn't sound appalled by the idea. "Still, I suppose some deviation from the healer's path would perhaps be justified, should she get it into her mind to cause us trouble."

From:

fadingworld

Mal grins and looks up. "Of course, it won't really do her any harm." He could spend a fair bit of time thinking of fake illnesses. But there he goes go yawning again.

"I will dream a few ideas up."

From:

mandragoraspiritus

There's a fond noise from Regis, who bows his head to press a kiss to Mal's forehead.

"Sleep. And dream pleasant dreams."

From:

fadingworld

"Thank you," Mal says softly, shutting his eyes more firmly. "Remember, you don't have to stay all night if you want to get up and read or do your own things." His voice is sleep filled and he's soon sound asleep.

From:

mandragoraspiritus

When morning comes Regis is right where he was when Mal fell asleep, still under the covers next to him, cradling the much younger man against him. He's awake, as he has been for the larger parts of the night, but all the same he is rather content. It's restful in its own way, to with breath after breath fill his nose with Mal's scent and to listen to the slow, steady beating of his heart.

From:

fadingworld

Mal barely shifts during the night, completely content to be tucked in like this. When he does start to stir, he stretches against Regis.

"Morning," he says, a smile on his lips. He doesn't lie when he says he wakes up with a smile straight away.

He touches Regis' cheek, "Thank you, for one of the best night's sleep that I've had."

From:

mandragoraspiritus

"It was my pleasure, I assure you," the vampire says, as softly as the early morning hour requires. He makes no sign of being in a hurry to leave the bed.

He does flash a quick grin, though. "Though this morning, you will get the pleasure of making breakfast."

From:

fadingworld

Mal grins back good naturedly. "The drinks at least I know will come out okay. Should I leave you in here and try bringing you breakfast in bed?"

From:

mandragoraspiritus

"No," Regis says with a chuckle. "No, I was thinking more in the ways of preparing to draw up a bath. It is early still and I needn't be out the door so early to see my patients today. I thought I would indulge in starting the day with a soak."