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]

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.

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis doesn't expect Mal to be able to actually study anything now. The young man is still tired from the illness, even more so than he thinks himself to be. When he asks about the bones in his arms, Regis decides to indulge him, starting from the shoulder joint and going downwards towards his fingers, counting out the bones as he goes. "The humerus, then the radius and ulna. Down in the wrist, the carpus bones; the lunate, pisiform, triquetrum, hamate..." He lists them all, right to the tips of Mal's fingers.

[fadingworld]

Mal follows every bit of it with fascination. With a few missteps and mispronunciations, he tries replicating it.


"Again please," he requests with a sweet smile and yawn. "I'd like to try and remember this the right way around."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"I think you shall be back asleep before I finish," Regis softly says but nevertheless does as asked. If it is a way to have Mal drift off to sleep then what harm is there. So once again his fingers move over Mal's arm, naming the long bones there, then far more slowly thumbing over Mal's wrist and hand, naming all the small bones there once more time.

[fadingworld]

The touches on his wrist bring a soft gasp from the half asleep Mal. Subconsciously it stirs a little something in him. But tiredness stops him from dwelling on it and he lets sleep wash over him.

Later when he wakes, he doesn't immediately draw attention to the fact that he's awake. He lies there peacefully, tracing over the spot on his wrist.

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis knows right away when Mal awakes. There is a change in his heartbeat and the rhythm of his breathing that oh so sharp ears have no problem picking up on. He doesn't let in on knowing this, though, rather stays in his seat by the desk where he has been writing thoughts into a journal, humming softly on a slow little tune and leaving Mal to wake up in peace.

[fadingworld]

Mal's ears pick up the tune and after a little he begins to hum along too. Music has always brought him a sense of peace. He slowly sits up, leaning his back against the wall and arrange himself to look decent.

He smiles across at Regis, "Where did that tune come from?"

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis glances up when Mal starts to move but then returns his eyes to the paper to finish what he's writing. "It is some folk tune or other, I'm sure. Just something I remember from when I was very young." He sands wipes the tip of his quill clean, then sands the ink to dry it before closing the book. He smiles, standing up. "So ages and ages ago, in other words. How are you feeling?"

[fadingworld]

"I like it," Mal says. He grins, "Do you feel that old?" He ducks the questions for the moment, his body aches sitting upright but he feels more relaxed this way. Lying flat on his back makes him feel a little helpless.

[mandragoraspiritus]

"I regret to say that often times I feel rather ancient." At least there are no signs of any physical aches or pains. Now in the lighter layers of indoors clothes it's clear he's in good shape, his posture is good and he moves with the ease of a man far many years younger than his appearance would place him.

[fadingworld]

Mal's expression softens. "I always thought age was a matter of heart," he says gently. "Not looks." And here perhaps he can help Regis, to bring some lightness back into his life over the next week.

He smiles, "You certainly don't look ancient, there is something very appealing about your looks.

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis gives Mal a bit of a look as he leans in to feel for his temperature and feel his pulse. "I look like the aging man that I am, and I shan't pretend otherwise."

[fadingworld]

"You look attractive," Mal says firmly. "I like what I see, and I've been with enough people to have an opinion on it."

He shifts his weight trying to make himself more comfortable. "It's about the whole person to me."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"I won't argue with your opinion. Don't get me wrong, I have no issues with my appearence. I dare say that it suits me." At least it suits his purposes. He could easily present himself differently, if not completely young and vital anymore as he's still reviving, himself. But being this aging and approachable man suits his needs.

"But you have yet to tell me how you are feeling now after your sleep."

[fadingworld]

"It does," Mal says and leans his head back against the wall. "I feel more tired than I was before I went to sleep." He rubs at side of his neck. "Achy," he admits finally. "But please, I don't want to lie down."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"You don't have to," Regis assures him. "It is better for your lungs if you are up a bit. If you are up for walking some steps there is a couch you could take your rest on. I dare say it would be more comfortable than sitting up in bed.

[fadingworld]

"I'll walk," Mal says quickly. A couch is far more appealing to him than a bed. He shifts to the edge of the bed keeping the blanket draped around him. He's comfortable with his body but for once he doesn't feel like he must be on display.


He raises himelf gracefully to his feet. "I would not mind an arm to lean on," he says as he doesn't feel completely steady.

[mandragoraspiritus]

"You shall have it." He comes to stand beside Mal, drawing one of his arms over his shoulder and hooking one of his own around the other man's back, hand coming to rest on his waist. Gently at a slow pace and supporting him all the way he leads Mal to another room, clearly a study. Another writing desk and more books, so many books. And, as promised, a couch.

"If you wish to borrow some clothes I can fetch some for you. I have yet to get around to washing out your own, and I think you might appreciate something clean."

[fadingworld]

Mal thinks he might have fallen without the arm keeping him secure and he's glad to be settled down on the couch. "If I could borrow something simple to wear, I would be grateful. I wouldn't mind if it was the oldest garment you had in the house."

He settles back and eyes the book collection. "This would take a whole lifetime to read," he marvels.

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis does have some few things that could be seen as finery but that isn't what he plans on bringing Mal. Rather he will pick the softest and most comforable clothes he has, made so by use and repeated washings.

"That would depend entirely on how much time one had to dedicate to reading, and how quickly one reads," he responds on the matter of his collection of books. But then again, when one is immortal, a lifetime is but the blink of an eye.

[fadingworld]

"I think I would never leave this room again," Mal says. And in some ways that is an appealing thought. "May I roam around the books when I am stronger?"