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

[fadingworld]

"I don't feel hungry but I will try it," Mal says. "If it is something you've made it will be worth trying. If it smells as good as your herb combinations I am sure it will tempt me."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"My medicines are chosen for thier efficiency, not for their taste. Luckily for my patients, a fair few doesn't taste so terrible."

He leaves the bedroom for a moment and returns with two bowls of soup. The smaller he gives to Mal, knowing better than to try to fill his belly too much. After this long asleep its better to start slowky.

It is good soup, the broth rich from the marrow bones that has cooked along with it.

[fadingworld]

It smells good, and after a spoonful Mal is able to compliment Regis on his cooking. After a couple more spoonfuls, he sets the spoon down feeling that he's had enough.


"Would you mind if I saved the rest for later? I honestly am full for the moment."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"That is quite alright. It is good that you dont force yourself." After finishing his own portion he returns the bowls to the kitchen. When he returns he carries with him a towel, wash clother, soap and a bucket of warm water. He even has a straight razor tucked into a pocket.

"If you feel up to it, a proper wash would no doubt do you good," he states. "I can give you some privacy and leave you to it, or lend some help if you wish." Again it feels important that Mal has a choice in the matter.

[fadingworld]

Mal cocks his head on one side trying to decide which option Regis prefers. At this point he is proving hard to read. So it means the decision is his. He would make a mess if he did it himself and he would like to feel truly clean.

"Some assistance would be lovely," he says slowly. "I feel so sticky."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"No small wonder, after two days of sweating the sickness from your body."

After Mal has made his choice, Regis brings the items over. Giving Mal some little time to rethink and protest if he wishes to, he then peels back the covers. Sitting down on the edge of the bed he wets and lathers soap into the cloth and gets to it. His touch is gentle but not lingering as he washes and dries Mal's body part by part. Even when coming to more intimate parts his expression or approach doesn't change. It is just a natural thing to do, each part just a part.

[fadingworld]

He's a washed a client before but never has a client wanted to wash him. So this is a fresh and untarnished experience for Mal. There are soft, natural sounds of contentment during the process and he leans into more than one of the touches.

There are none when it becomes more intimate, Mal watches the movements dispassionately. His next sound is a very natural laugh as Regis hitch a ticklish spot on his thigh.

[mandragoraspiritus]

Somehow Regis isn't as all surprised when Mal almost seems to shut down when the washing goes between his legs. It becomes readily noticable in comparison to how at ease he seems with the rest of his body.

Then the laugh at a ticklish spot and that dispassionate stillness goes away, and Regis' lips quirk in response. "My apologies."

After he's gotten Mal as clean from neck to toes as he's going to get, he takes out the razor. "A shave as well?" He is a barber as well, after all.

[fadingworld]

Cleaned, it brings a little of the sparkle back to Mal's eyes. He feels more himself and he nods readily. "Why not, I need to get back to looking my best. Thank you for this. It's been a treat for me."

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis moves upto Mal's head, then, offering a thigh for the man to rest his head on. Seated like that he leans over to lather up Mal's face. His movements are deft and practiced as he shaves the stubble from the other man's face, his expression calm but focused. The result is a close shave without a single nick or cut. As a finishing touch, Regis uses what is left of the warm water to rinse out Mal's hair for him.

[fadingworld]

Mal's expression remains relaxed and unguarded as he lies there, his head comfortably pillowed against the thigh. Keeping his eyes on the calm face above him, Mal finds a sense of peace. For a second he's glad he's bee ill, for this moment. It was intimate without being sexual.

When Regis finishes Mal doesn't raise his head. "I didn't know," he says softly, "It could be this simple and uncomplicated to be around someone."

[mandragoraspiritus]

Afterwards Regis' clothes are more than a little damp. He needs to go change but he gives Mal another moment of simple relaxation. After this moment, which he can tell has indeed been a treat to the young man, he has to move his hands away that he doesnt end up mindlessly combing his fingers through the damp hair.

"It should be," he answers somewhat solemnly.

[fadingworld]

It has given Mal a taste, to want to experience moments like this again. He smiles up, "I won't forget what it's felt like, or that you showed it to me."

He shifts his head away to let Regis move. "I will remember this any time my spirits are low."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"It was my pleasure," Regis says as he stands, finding that yes, it had been a pleasure. The simple pleasure of showing kindness to someone not used to it.

"I shall only be a moment," he promises as he takes out clean and dry clothers from a closet and then goes to another room to change.

[fadingworld]

Mal lies back, feeling drained. All he's done is take a few steps and get washed. It gives him an idea of how ill he's been over the past few days. He had come closest to his fear that he would die a courtesan.

He looks thoughtful when Regis comes back in. The man still gets a welcoming smile. "How long will it take me to recover from here?"

[mandragoraspiritus]

"I should say that you need to surrender yourself to a week of mostly bed rest," Regis says as he comes back into the room, still buttoning the last buttons of a clean shirt. "With some few excursions to stretch and test your legs. But this fever has thoroughly drained your body of resources and we shall need to rebuild them slowly. Recovery is not something to rush. Even after that week I would be rather reluctant to send you back to your establishment." Assuming its doors would even be open again at that point...

[fadingworld]

"I will have to go if it is open," Mal says quietly. "They will send someone to check on me when I can." His lips turn down a little but he's got a week. A week to relax and that is luxury in itself.

"If it isn't open..." Mal frowns to himself. Would he be sent elsewhere to work? "Oh well, I'll be told what is to happen when they come for a report on me."

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis wanders over to the chair at Mal's bedside, sitting down and leaning forward, elbows on knees, his long fingers lightly interwoven.

"If they come for you sooner than I deem appropriate, I shall inform them that I will be keeping you here under my supervision until you are fit to return. Make no mistake, Mal, you have been very ill and though you are feeling better now you still are. I shall not have you endangering yourself and risking your recovery by exerting yourself too soon, be it that it takes a week or a month."

[fadingworld]

Mal bows his head feeling for a second overwhelmed by the simple kindness. To have his needs put above the House...it is going to take some getting used to.

He puts a hand on Regis arm. "Thank you," he says softly. "I will be a model patient for you."

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis lets his stern and determined expression soften up into a smile as he pats the hand that lays on his arm. "I expect nothing less."

[fadingworld]

Mal really likes that smile, all the more because it is not permanently worn on Regis face. It's a real smile. He returns it with a genuine one of his own.

"Besides paying you, I have no idea how to reward you for taking me in and looking after me. And you do deserve something more."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"Let us save the worry for that for another day, shall we? I have enough coin to keep a roof over my head and food on my table, so I am in no pressing need for more. No, I would say that taking good care of yourself would go further in ways of repayment."

He rises, then, going to browse the shelves of books that line the walls in this room. "If you are serious about wanting to learn of the healing arts, then the time you will be spending in bed could be used for some reading."

[fadingworld]

Mal resolves to watch Regis and his home and find some way to say thank you. Something sweet and simple.

He props himself up on one elbow and studies the bookshelf himself. "I am, I have been reading the books from cover to cover that you left with me." He smiles, "I have the bedside manner down."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"Hah, yes, I'm sure you do. My own can be somewhat lacking at times, I have been told."

Regis runs the tip of a finger along the spines of the books and plucks out one, then two and three. These he carries over and sets on the nightstand. From the books Regis have lent him before, Mal should have a decent grasp of herbs and their usage, though some practical training on the harvesting, preservation and preparation of herbs would still need to be supplemented.

One of the books he brings now is a detailed study of the human anatomy, the other two of common illnesses, their causes and cures. Not light reading, perhaps, but useful. All books, like the ones Mal has borrowed before, have notes in the margins in Regis' sprawling hand.

[fadingworld]

"I have found nothing to complain about so far," Mal says easily. "Your presence has been comforting when I've woken up."

He glances at the books and choose the human anatomy one to curl up with. It will interest him to see where it differs from the lessons and focus he was given at the Rose Thorn.

He can't concentrate for long on the words and he does pause to ask some intelligent questions and to get Regis to trace where the bones would be on his arms.