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]

"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?"

[mandragoraspiritus]

"You may," Regis assents, hardly pausing when going back to the bedroom to fetch clothes for Mal, just raising his voice so he'll still be heard. "But if you are looking for anything specific I would suggest you ask. The collection covers a number of topics, ranging over fiction as well as fact."

Once back he hands the clothes to Mal, a simple set of shirt and trousers. It will hang somewhat loosely on the young man, delicately built as he is.

[fadingworld]

"Fiction, I'm curious as to what you have," he alls back.

Mal takes the clothes with a murmur of thanks and changes into them while Regis is there. It doesn't occur to him to ask for privacy. The smells reach his nose, lavender being a special favourite of his for the scent of calmness it brings.

Oh but they felt good in, there is no roughness, no coarseness around the stitching.

"Is there anything around your house that doesn't have an interesting smell?"

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis pauses at that question. Its not something he has considered overly much. "Define interesting. I would say that most things in my laboratory smells unusual and rather potent, but those are also far from pleasant smells."

[fadingworld]

"Laboratory?" Mal looks up curiously. He's forever curious about the people he meets, their motives and their interests. "What do you experiment with in there? Is it dangerous."

[mandragoraspiritus]

"I am always trying to refine the various cures I have on hand," Regis begins to explain. "A herbal tea is one thing, a tincture another, a distillate yet another. Through studies of the various natural compound around us, as well as a fair deal of old-fashioned trial and error I must admit, I am trying to increase the potency of known treatments and cures, and perhaps find new aporoaches to the illnesses that plagues our world."

[fadingworld]

"That is an impressive goal," Mal says. "And one that will do a lot of good." He tucks his legs under him, curling up into most comfortable position he can manage.

"Did you use any of your recent new ones on me?"

[mandragoraspiritus]

"Nothing recent, but a few of my own designs, yes. You were not in a state fit to be my test subject, I felt." It is said jovially, but Mal really had been in very poor condition for a time.

Once again Regis is walking the shelves of his library, browsing the books to pick one or two for Mal. With an amused quirk of his lips he picks out an old vampire novel, one of the more absurd takes on his species in his own not so humble opinion. Glitter in the sunlight? Whatever had the author been thinking.

[fadingworld]

"Maybe, I could help you out another time, by taking some preventative remedies." Mal reaches for the books and tilts his head on one side as he reads the cover.

"A love story? Hmm," Mal flicks it open with a chuckle. "It sounds a little less absurd than clients who want to play pretend at being a vampire themselves."

[mandragoraspiritus]

Regis lets out an amused snort. Whyever do some humans fetishise the idea of vampires so much? "And that is common, is it?"

He gestures at the book. "It is a rather silly story, but mindlessly entertaining."

[fadingworld]

Mal hums, "It is a fad that comes and goes. They like the idea of having control over the blood in veins, holding a fainting virgin in their sway." He laughs, "I think they would wet their pants if they met a real vampire."

He skims the first paragraph. "It takes everything in my power not to laugh when they put the fake teeth on.

[mandragoraspiritus]

At that Regis actually barks out a laugh though he quickly turns away and covers his mouth with a hand. "Indeed?"

Perhaps is is best that he sees to getting them some food, and it is high time to get some more strengthening tonics into Mal.

[fadingworld]

"Once," Mal says, "The teeth fell out when they tried to bite me." He is still amused by that memory. "Poor man, I could have overpowered him. I wonder what a real vampire would think?" He looks up at Regis. "I've wondered if they would take offense or be flattered."

[mandragoraspiritus]

Oh, this is a discussion he has trouble resisting.

"What would a vampire think? Well, let us then consider the vampires through various stories. What they generally have in common is that they are often old and cunning, often powerful and views humans as their prey, yes? If we imagine such a creature, I should say it doubtful that they would be flattered by human's imitations for sexual gratification." At most, merely amused by it.