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]

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

[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."

[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."

[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."

[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."

[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.

[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.

[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."

[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."

[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?"

[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."

[fadingworld]

"Oh but you can't have your bath completely alone," Mal scolds softly. "You might pull a muscle if you try to wash your own back."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"I'm old but I'm not decrepit," Regis grouses back. "But by all means, if you wish to scrub my back for me I shall not complain."

[fadingworld]

Mal laughs, "I actually heard that a fifty year old Duke pulled a muscle like that two months ago. At least that was the talk." He smiles, "Why don't I draw your bath for you and let you relax?"

[mandragoraspiritus]

"No, you make breakfast and I shall deal with the bath," Regis says and then adds to tease; "you need the practice." Besides, it's much easier for him to carry in the tub and bring in enough water from the well outside.

So with that thought, he kisses Mal good morning and then nudges him to get up.

[fadingworld]

Mal groans playfully as he rolls off the bed. "It seems like there is no escaping it." He blows a kiss to Regis and heads to the kitchen.

Going to do something like making breakfast without making sure he looks perfect is a new departure for Mal recently, showing how he is starting to grow away from his former life.

He sings as he has a quick wash and sets to work. He will most defiintely be keeping it simple once the stove is going with eggs, bacon and tomatoes.

[mandragoraspiritus]

While Mal is practicing his cooking skills, Regis brings out the tub and sets it in a corner of the kitchen. After that he goes to bring in bucketful after bucketful of water, pouring them into his largest cauldron to heat up over the fire while they eat.

"Shall I bring in more water for you, if you want to bathe as well?"

[fadingworld]

Mal considers it, looking up flustered from the cooking. "I think, yes please, if you do not mind doing it. I cannot say no to a bath and it would save us drawing more for one tomorrow."

[mandragoraspiritus]

There are no flames from teh frying pan, nothing smells burnt, so flustered or not Regis lets Mal continue with his cooking while he carries in more buckets of water, setting them to the side. That water can be heated up while he takes his bath.

"Anatomy studies today?" He could simply tell Mal that that is what they will do, but he does like Mal to have some say in his studies.

[fadingworld]

"That sounds great," Mal says, carefully putting the food onto the plate and bringing it to the set table. He looks at the food a little doubtfully, but there is nothing obviously wrong with it.

He drops a kiss on Regis' cheek before pulling a chair out for him with a flourish. "What part of the body are we going to do next?"

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis sits down as he's bid, then waits for Mal to do the same before tucking in.

"Some repetition of the bones in the spine, pelvis and ribcage, but after that I think it is time to move on to the internal organs." Not as easily traces out on the body, perhaps, but certainly fascinating.

[fadingworld]

Mal settles down opposite him and nods his approval at the plan of work. "I've been studying the spine when I go to bed," he confesses.

He looks amused at himself. "I started to dream of dancing spines."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"Truly? That must be some medical condition I have not yet heard of," Regis jests.

[fadingworld]

Mal's eyes dance, "Perhaps you should make a study of it and write a medical entry on it. I am sure it would make on or two publications."

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis laughs. "Oh yes, I would love to see what the scholars of Oxenfurt academy would make of that." Some of them might actually take it seriously, which says a lot about the state of higher education.