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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[fadingworld]

Mal draws the hand in and kisses around the knuckles. "You saved me," he says firmly. "I am sorry I could not make it easier on you. Trust me when I say I am glad you did what you did?" He is starting to see the truth in the words it is easier to be injured than watch someone you love hurt.

[mandragoraspiritus]

It is hard, having to see Mal like this. Regis isn't powerless in the situation, he has already done much to help Mal, but he still feels terribly powerless. Humans are such frail creatures, especially compared to vampires. They are easily harmed, and heal so slowly.

"I only wish I could have made it less painful. Had I had better supplies, more potent drugs..."

[fadingworld]

"Had you gone for those the consequences would have been much worse," Mal reassures him in a warm steady voice. "Do not regret what you have done." Regret. As Mal says the word it seems to take on a life of its own. It had not been his choice of word exactly...he had felt it was right. Now he feel it radiating a little from Regis.


Perhaps the drugs had been stronger than he had thought.

"You have more than done right by me."

[mandragoraspiritus]

He had done what he could, to the best of his ability. A part of him can accept that. But another part wishes he could do more. It's the same part that keeps hims him working as a man of healing, more often than not among the lower classes, to make up for all the blood he spilled and the lives he wasted in his youth.

"Hopefully it was enough, but I fear that we will have to remain here for a time, until we can find a way to make the journey home."

[fadingworld]

"It will be, I am strong and not prone to sickness." He wishes he could lean up and kiss Regis and push some of the negativity to side for a moment.

"How soon could I walk out or stand horseback?"

[mandragoraspiritus]

"You might get up on your feet for a bit tomorrow, but you will not be in any shape to make the walk home." That was far too far. Grated that Mal had been carrying a pack here, but the trek to this place had been enough to wind him somewhat.

"The same with being on horseback, even had we had horses here. No, our best bet to leave here any time soon is if I make a stretcher."

[fadingworld]

Mal will accept the stretcher. He wonders if going to Regis' pace and accepting the decisions will make it easier for the vampire.

"Would you prefer the stretcher or to make this our home for a little?"

[mandragoraspiritus]

"We will be here for some days," Regis states. "Even with a stretcher it would not be a comfortable journey for you. Before we undertake it, we must be sure that you will not have developed an infection, from the wound or from the ribs. Some low fever is to be expected in any case, but so long as it doesn't spike it should be fine. But if it does it is better that we are here where there is shelter, rather than be caught out in the wilds."

[fadingworld]

Mal nods, it makes sense. He is none to sure about the woods at the moment but the cabin feels safe. "We will need more supplies then," he says cheerfully to raise their moods. "You can teach me what I could survive on out here, by bringing things back to the cabin." It would be another set of different lessons for them.

[mandragoraspiritus]

"Yes, there is that issue." Which is why he is willing to brave the journey by pulling Mal behind him on a stretcher. They haven't brought supplies for an extended stay, and while he can forage just fine a hunter he is not. With both loss and fondness he thinks back to the days where he traveled with Geralt and the others, thinks of Milva and her bow.

"The stream could be a source of food I hope. If not, you might have to settle for a largely vegetarian diet for a time."

[fadingworld]

"I am not that fussy an eater," Mal says lightly. He shifts his hips slightly to find a more comfortable position as he stiffens. "Though I do not propose trying something like chort meat any time soon."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"While I do think it would be edible, I will admit to not being very inclined to go back there to carve loose a chunk." They shouldn't be in such dire straits. The forest would provide some, and Regis himself doesn't need to eat. What they have brought will all go to Mal.

[fadingworld]

"No that would not be pleasant. Though I am sure it is a delicacy somewhere in the world." Mal shuts his eyes as fresh exhaustion comes crashing down. "Do you mind if I can find my way to sleep for awhile?"

[mandragoraspiritus]

"Not at all. In fact, you should sleep. Resting will help you heal, and give you an escape from the pain of your injuries." Carefully he eases off from the bed, laying Mal back down properly, pulling the blankets up around him before leaning over him to kiss him. "I will be right here when you wake, dear heart."

[fadingworld]

Mal lets the drowsiness from the drugs and exhaustion from the injury and the work done to them let him pull down to sleep. For long he sleeps he's not really aware.

He awakes thirsty and sore. "Hello," he calls out softly and winces as he shifts a little to look around. "How long have I been asleep for?"

[mandragoraspiritus]

While Mal sleep, Regis has done some tasks in and around the cabin, only venturing to the stream briefly to fetch more water for drinking, cooking and cleaning up. Then surveying the immediate area he collected some plants and herbs that, along with some of the dried and salted meat from their brought supplies he used to cook up a decent broth that now sits in a lidded pot, kept warm just beside the fire.

Now when Mal wakes he immediately comes to Mal's bedside, bringing him water as well as more bitter willow bark tea to help dull the pain. "A few hours," he answers, moving to help Mal sit up just a bit. "The sun is setting." Indeed, the light coming in through the open doorway is much dimmer now, the interior of the cabin much darker.

[fadingworld]

Mal pales a little at the move and gratefully takes the tea, knowing it will help in time. He turns his head to the door. "It seems even cosier in here as the light fades outside." He tilts his head to smile at Regis.

"I hope you have not been bored."

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis stays sitting by Mal, supporting him as he drinks. He smiles slightly, shaking his head. "I have kept myself busy enough." Even if all time had not gone to chores, he would not say he has been bored. He has been thinking, quite a lot.

[fadingworld]

"Good," Mal says with contentment. "Tonight we should talk a little before I ask for more old tales."

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis cocks his head to the side. "I shall certainly entertain you with old tales if you wish, though in exchange for you getting some food in you. I have made you a broth." He nods to the pot sitting there waiting.

"Is there anything in particular you wish to talk about?"

[fadingworld]

"I will eat," Mal promises. "There is something I would like to ask you about. It may be a bit probing." But he was not going to shy away from it, he wants to understand that shame he had detected earlier.

[mandragoraspiritus]

"Then ask," Regis prompts him. He had decided early on that there needed to be honesty between them if this was to work. That isn't to say that all things are easy to talk about but they need to be able to at least attempt it.

[fadingworld]

"Earlier when you were talking you sounded ashamed," Mal begins softly. "I couldn't place it. I thought at first it was what had happened but it continued even when you were treating me."

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis stiffens a bit. He's surprised at how preceptive Mal can be. But then, he would be, wouldn't he? It would have been a part of his training.

He draws a slow breath, letting it out in a sigh. Honesty. He had promised it. "I was ashamed," he admits. "I am ashamed."

He eases Mal back down, turning to the fireplace, putting on a couple of new logs as he continues to speak. It I easier of he doesn't have to meet Mal's eyes right now.

"I do not drink blood, you know this. You know that I do not need it and I have explained why I chose to abstain from it. But today... When I take on my more bestial forms, I am more ruled by instinct. My instincts, my nature is to drink blood. I did not only kill it, I fed. I suppose that awoke something in me. Even after I returned to this form, even through the stench of the chort, even with my mouth still full of its blood, I could smell yours. I smell it even now. And it... Calls to me." He sighs heavily, slumping like a heavy weight is on his shoulders.

"I love you and I never wish you harm. Yet even so, and with you so injured, there is a part of me that wants nothing more than to sink my teeth into you and drain you dry." The last words he hisses out with so much shame and so much disdain at himself.

[fadingworld]

"But you didn't do it," Mal says with so much strength and compassion in his voice. "And you won't." This he is sure of, unless the circumstances proved to be very extreme.

"It is part of your nature. You could not be ashamed unless you let it rule you again. Come here," he says with a soft command.