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.

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[mandragoraspiritus]

They have done this before, even after that time when Regis first traced out the bones in Mal's arm and hand while he was still sick, using that to lull him to sleep. It does seem to be a good way to help Mal memorize the names. Still, that had all been before the revelation of mutual feelings of attraction and fondness, and the change in their relationship. It doesn't at all make Regis hesitant of doing this, even if he wonders while he watches Mal remove his shirt, if this might go the way of the bandaging exercise.

There is certainly an appreciative gleam in his black eyes as he steps in behind Mal, fingers coming to rest lightly on his neck. "From the top, the atlas vertebra..." He begins, slowly walking his fingers down Mal's spine, counting out each and every vertebrae.

[fadingworld]

Mal hasn't forgotten how he engineered the bandaging lesson to draw Regis' feelings out. Will Regis do the same? Or will he be hesitant after Mal shied away when they tried to get more intimate.


A tingle runs through him as Regis touches him, shivering at the light touch on his neck. He listens but there are odd times he leans a little into the touch.

[mandragoraspiritus]

"The thoracic vertebrae, one, two three..." Regis' fingers keep on walking down and he feels the little shiver that runs through Mal. He wonders how far Mal will be alright with. Will he be able to trace this out right down to Mal's tail bone?

Well, to go slow, then, and give Mal time to protest or permit. "Continuing to the lumbar vertebrae. One, two..."

[fadingworld]

Mal’s back stiffens as Regis works lower. He tilts his head so he can peer over his shoulder and see the person standing behind him. It’s alright he reminds himself, and it is. The moment passes and Mal’s muscles relax and he settles again trusting the vampire.

Lower and lower. Mal’s breath catches but no noise of protest comes. This is just bones and work, Regis hasn’t made it anything different.

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis' fingers pause over the last of the lumbars. For the next two he would have to slip down past the waistline of Mal's trousers.

"There are two left," he says. With how he stands bent over somewhat he's close enough that his breath ghosts over Mal's skin. "Shall I continue? Or do you know them regardless?"

[fadingworld]

Mal’s lips part, his heart rate increasing. He is not immune to Regis closeness. “It would be detrimental to my training if you stopped,” he murmurs. He will not shy away from this. “Continue please.”

[mandragoraspiritus]

If the increase in heart rate is due to nervousness or budding arousal Regis can't quite say at the moment. Perhaps it's both. But he does as Mal wishes, slipping his fingers in past the waistline.

"The sacrum," he murmurs, continuing to slide his fingers lower still, dipping slightly into the cleft of Mal's buttocks until he reaches the last bone. "Finally, the coccyx, or as it is commonly known; the tailbone."

[fadingworld]

it must be a mixture of both because Mal can't decide himself. He's not tense and that is indeed something. He doesn't know quite what to do with himself.

"Tailbone," he repeats. "Once more? I can try and say the names along with you."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"Mmmhm," Regis hums his soft agreement, letting his fingers stroke upwards in a gentle touch, with just the faintest of traces of sharp fingernails along Mal's spine until he's back where he first begun.

"Let us see how much you remember. Here?"

[fadingworld]

It does have an effect on Mal, there is a faint gasp, and he doesn't immediately answer. "What was the question again?" he checks, his mind still on the touch of those fingernails.

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis chuckles warmly at Mal's response. So, arousal definitely does seem to be in the mix. "The first cervical vertebra," Mal he teasingly chides, tapping a fingertip to Mal's neck. "Here. What is it called?"

[fadingworld]

There is heat in Mal's cheeks as he returns to the task at hand. He is hyper of aware of Regis' touch now as he gives his responses to the next few questions.

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis has Mal naming the vertebrae by himself rather than doing it for him, only hinting when needed. But coming into the thoracic curve it gets easier, with the rest just being numbers.

Again he halts for a moment at the last of the lumbar vertebrae before again slipping his fingers in under Mal's trousers. "This one?"

[fadingworld]

"Sacrum," Mal says slowly. Yes that sounded right. He is pleased with his own composure the lower they have gone, he's been able to turn his mind fully back to the task.

[mandragoraspiritus]

"And finally?" Like before Regis slides a finger down along the curve, nestling in between firm flesh and pressing lightly against the tailbone. There is the sharpness of a nail present but he's careful to not prick or scratch.

[fadingworld]

Mal seems to be stimulated by those sharp nails. Again there is a soft pause and a definite pause for Regis get his answer. Mal tilts his head up to look up at Regis.

"Tailbone," he says with a soft smile and flushed cheeks.

[mandragoraspiritus]

There's a slight motion, a somewhat firmer press of that finger. Regis smiles down at Mal and settles his free hand on his shoulder. "The common name for it, yes, but can you remember its proper name?"

[fadingworld]

"Not at this precise second," Mal confesses. "You are making it difficult to recall," he accuses him fondly.

[mandragoraspiritus]

"Am I?" Regis lets his hand stay where it is as he leans forward to almost loom over Mal. There's a sparkle in his eyes. "Why is that, pray tell?"

[fadingworld]

Mal's eyes darken just a little more as Regis' leans over, stealing his space. "You increased pressure there," he says lightly.

[mandragoraspiritus]

"And why is that distracting?" Regis asks and there's again just a slight motion if his finger there. Yes, this is purposeful teasing and he's being rather obvious about it, but as long as there is a favorable response from Mal then all is well.

[fadingworld]

"You know why," Mal murmurs. He's used to playing these games on others and awaking desire. His clients never used subtlety like this, and it has him on the back foot. He's leaning back a little, to be closer to Regis.

"Maybe its like how you felt when I simply applied bandages to you."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"I was very much enjoying your touch," Regis easily admits in a warm murmur, leaning over further until his lips are right by Mal's ear. "You have a very pleasant touch and I confess that it did make it hard to focus on other things." He hasn't moved his hand from Mal's rear and by now his other hand has settled on the others chest.

[fadingworld]

Mal's heart is racing under Regis' hand. His head turns towards the lips but his expression is hesitant. It isn't that he doesn't want to...he just doesn't know yet what Regis wants.

He shifts his hips very slightly against the finger, judging Regis' expression to decide his next move.

[mandragoraspiritus]

That slight shift earns an equally slight response of that finger slipping just a little further. The hand on Mal's chest keeps him pressed back against the vampire.

"Is this what you want, Mal?" It's a gentle question, asked in a warm whisper by his ear?