#meliwirth

Meliwirth had, somewhere along the way, lost track of the time. The cheery glow of her inner arms told her that dawn was still distant - but there was no telling how distant. There was also no telling where she was, since she was so drunk she could barely keep ahold of the (empty, sadly) bottle she'd been carrying around, let alone put her one foot in front of the other AND keep track of the minutes as they ticked along. Drinking hadn't helped. Nothing had helped. She wanted - blearily, she glowered at the only house around, some big-ass fancy thing up on the hill, and then cocked her arm back to throw the bottle at it. It fell far to the side, smashing on the mossy stones; irritated, she drew her dagger and stalked up the walkway.

Harumen spent his night staring off into the night, his only companions the glow of the jungle and the rhythmic chimes of the crickets outside. While by day he enjoyed his work, keeping the homes of  Astoria maintained, at night he embraced the solitude of his own home, shaped by his own hands. Was it a bit flamboyant? Of course, but his home was his sanctuary. He was free to do as he wanted in the quiet solitude. Or, at least, it was normally quiet. Yet the sound of a breaking bottle stirred Haru from his thoughts as he realized he was not alone "...Hello?" He nervously asked.

Meliwirth bared her teeth in something like a simile - so someone was home. She should have known, seeing the glow through the thin door, but she'd cut herself some slack. "Hey in there," she called back, her voice thick and slow, her hand unsteady as she reached out to test the resiliency of the membrane. She might could cut through it. "M'a bit lost.”

Harumen took his time as he approached the opening of his home, finding a woman standing there and evidently drunk. Of course, of all the luck. "You... You're lost?" He asked as if that was not clear. Well, the faster he sent her on her way, the better. "W-Well, are you trying to... get to Astoria? Or...or all the way to the Grove?”

Meliwirth's dagger was loose in her hand, hidden behind her back; her grip tightened when the door opened and a little man not much bigger than herself poked his head out. Easy. "Nah,” she said. "Nah, not lookin' to get anywhere. Where am I? Where's this?" She took a step closer, tempted to push him inside and bring her dagger to bear.

Harumen took a step back, a shiver running up his spine at the tone of her voice. Something was of about her, he could tell. He was not a social butterfly, but he was able to see that she was up to no good. Why else was she out at his house in the middle of the night drunk? But what could he do, just a man with a knack for growing and shaping plants? "I... um... if you j-just cross the bridge there, and walk down the path, you... you'll be in Astoria." Haru pointed behind her, to the bridge down the road. As if that was enough to send her on her way.

Meliwirth followed his arm to where he was pointing, then turned her grin back on him. She'd wandered right into the thick of the Wardens. That'd make this more interesting. Taking another step towards him, she made a wild grab at his arm and let her arm drop from behind her back, the blade catching the light.

Harumen, unfortunately, did not have good reflexes. He was unable to pull away in time, even though she was drunk, and shuddered as she gripped his arm. Once he caught sight of her dagger, though, his heart stopped. What was she doing? Was she trying to rob him? "H-H-Hey please... don't..." He tried to say something, anything, but the words were lost to him.

Meliwirth tittered to herself as her fingers closed around his arm; she squeezed until she felt his bark click in her hand. "Y"think – haha, you think, cuz you're right up under the Warden's noses, in this, this - is this just yours? Haha!" As focused as she was on him, she wasn't looking at her feet; the low threshold was only meant to keep out the rain, but it was high enough for her to catch her foot on. Yelping in surprise, she went down, close enough to clip him as she fell - her dagger went skipping off across the floor.

Harumen nearly shrieked as his uninvited guest tripped upon stepping into his house, losing her grip on him and tumbling to the floor. For a moment, he was unsure what to do. Did he go for the dagger that she dropped and attempt to defend himself and his home? Or did he run for the safety of Astoria and leave everything behind? Either was, he needed to act quickly, because she obviously intended to hurt him if she got the chance. So Haru made up his mind, making a break for the doorway and into the dark of the night.

Meilwirth waited for the floor to stop wobbling under her before she levered herself up with her palms and climbed to her feet with exaggerated carefulness. "Fuck," she hissed under her breath, her head snapping around to track the little pink guy, already down the hill. Her head was spinning but she darted after him and tripped again, her feet catching on the uneven stones of the walkway and sending her tumbling down the path. It got her to the bottom quickly but she laid there, stunned, for another few seconds before standing again. “You fucking - little -” Rage simmered

in her veins. "Little - M'gonna, fucking -”

Harumen glanced back to find that, unfortunately, his assailant was attempting to chase him down. In poor fashion, though, as she tripped yet again and fell. Had his life not been in danger, he would have laughed at her. At that moment, he picked up the pace, making a break for that very same bridge he pointed out earlier. Not without trying to talk sense into the drunk woman, yelling over his shoulder, "P-Please don't do this...I didn't do anything t-to you!”

Meliwirth laughed at that. She could taste sap – one of the falls had split her lip. “Not the point," she called back. Had the path always been this treacherous? Although she was fast, staying upright it was proving to be enough of a challenge that it slowed he down. She'd underestimated how drunk she was, but still, she could - gritting her teeth, she reached out for him. If she could just get her hands on him... She didn't actually need her dagger.

Harumen yelped as he realized that the woman was catching up to him. Why was she so determined to try and hurt him? He had done nothing but mind his own business his whole life, yet tonight was the night that luck was not on his side. Running with all his might, he hoped that his pathetic legs outran her drunken stumblings.

Meliwith's focus narrowed to the Sylvari in front of her; she knew the bridge was there, but the sudden tange of roots under her feet tripped her up again, and this time she went down hard. The impact knocked the wind out of her. Grimacing, she pushed herself up to her hands and knees. "Don't - don't fucking go to sleep, you -" Breathless, she shouted after him, her laughter following him even though she couldn't anymore. "Better get some guards for that f-fancy house!"

Harumen nearly tripped in response to her words. He had heard similar scorn towards Dreamers in the past, by those representing the Nightmare Court. So... was this stranger aligned with them. Her aggressive and nonsensical behavior made more sense, under that context She was looking to hurt him purely because she was able to. Which made her even more intimidating, and more dire to keep his distance from her. He was not about to let her corrupt him too. "Help!" He called out, hoping to get the attention of the Wardens. "H-Help me!”

raumlet

There was nothing like a good fight to get the sap flowing, in Mel's honest opinion, although this time the flow was a bit too literal - sap bubbled up between her fingers with each step, and despite the switch of her hips, she was in a considerable amount of pain. The Warden hadn't gotten serious until it'd been too late - his mistake - but before she'd cut him down, he'd caught her in the side with that sword of his. One more scar for her collection, but first, she'd have to ensure she survived it.  Drunk, bloody, and grinning, she pushed the Mender's door open and stepped into the little clinic. "Yoohoo! Patient here!"

Bromeliad

She wasn't the only one. Llyiss was still in the clinic. He mostly drifted in and out of the hazy sleep that painkillers brought, awake very little, moving around even less. He was much more noticeable  on them, despite a couple stray attempts at meditation things were too foggy and soft and warm to properly keep up blocks. Not that that changed much. He still kept to himself almost entirely, avoiding talking and really doing much of anything but resting. Right now, though, Llyiss was up and about. Testing his strength, washing his face, doing what he could while he was still awake but not in too bad pain. At the moment he rested against the table, carefully retying his 'hair' back into something more manageable after actually fingercombing it back out. Mel's loud entrance drew his attention and he looked up. Who was- the green sylvari didn't say anything out loud.

raumlet

Meliwirth stopped dead in the infirmary door, her hand tightening over the dripping gash cut into her side. There was a Dreamer in the clinic, or at least a Sylvari who was decidedly not Court, walking around free - no chains. No cage. To be sure, he didn't seem comfortable here, but his wounds had been tended to, not left to fester; there was pain, but no fear, no horror staining his face. No, he was fixing his long ferns. Her eyes darted around the clinic - there was no one else. Which didn't bode well for her, with how deep her injury was, but... Desire warred with her caution. A Dreamer wouldn't have made it here under his own power; he was here for a reason, and she needed to find out why before she let her twitchy fingers drift to her knife. "You're definitely not the doctor," she managed with a wobbly grin, straining to keep the hunger out of her voice. As much as she wanted to take her knife and carve the Nightmare into his bark, she wasn't in any shape to do it, even if she knew it was safe to attack him. "Where is he? Any clue?"

Bromeliad

There were a few more moments of silence as Llyiss finished tying back his foliage, letting his arms fall carefully to his sides as he stood a little straighter. Tried to look a little sturdier. He missed his armor, it was still gone, bandages the only thing wrapped around his torso. His blue eyes were cold and wary when he finally answered, matching his icy tone. "No." A long pause broke the sentence in half, silent watching. "I haven't seen him in awhile."

raumlet

Her grin shifted into a grimace, partly annoyance, mostly pain. Every time she needed that goddamn Mender, he was nowhere to be found - her glove was sticky with sap, she was dripping on the floor, and her buzz was withdrawing quicker than expected as the pain made itself known, so she wasn't feeling particularly patient. And to top it all off, there was prey in front of her, tantalizingly wary of her even though she was swaying on her feet. "F'course," she breathed. Cautiously, her eyes fixed on the Dreamer, she stepped into the clinic; she began to rifle through the drawers one-handed, the other still pressing tight to her wound, until she found what she was looking for - gauze pads. She swapped her hand for a sloppy bundle of pads and pushed it tight to the wound with both hands, then turned to stare again. Her eyes roved over him, head to toe and then back up. "He's expanding his clientele, huh?"

Bromeliad

Llyiss of course made zero motions to help, watching her hunt around from the other side of the table. He silently weighed his choices- there wouldn't be any running or fighting, but it looked like that was the same for her as well. Would one of the two that kept him here lash out if he just let her bleed all over the floor? Would it matter if they did? "I didn't ask to be here," came the simple reply, still cold.

raumlet

"Didn't figure you did. You don't seem the sort," Mel said. The other Sylvari was unarmed; her pistol hung heavily on one hip, her dagger on the other. It would be the simplest thing to draw them and jump the table - but she held back even though the desire vibrated under her skin. Dragging her eyes away from him, she looked down at her wound and resettled the pads. "Whose pet are you, then, huh? Not the Mender's. Not his style."

Bromeliad

"I'm not a pet," his flat tone gained a ripple of annoyance, even as Llyiss focused inwardly on shutting it all down. "So, nobody's." The idea pissed him off, and there was no way the sylvari was about to admit it might be a little true. Biting off any more of a reply he shifted his weight and hid a grimace. Still no offer of help, and still watching very carefully. The courtier across from him might be smaller but that really meant nothing when it came to a real fight.

raumlet

The laughter that bubbled up out of her wasn't kind, a nasty-edged bite that she immediately regretted - the stab of pain in her side was worse than the initial cut without the thrill of the fight to distract her from it. Cautiously, she eased up on her wound and leaned against the counter. "Not a pet, but you didn't choose to be here? Sure, sure. Happens all the time," she said with a weak chuckle. "Wounded Dreamers show up on our doorstep, and we treat them and let them tool around the place to see what it's like in the Court. We woo 'em. You think that's how it works? Who owns you?"

Bromeliad

Icy eyes fixed on hers as Llyiss stared Mel down. He pushed off the table to stand on his own again, crossing his arms carefully over his bandaged chest. "No one owns me. I'm leaving the moment I'm able. I don't feel like playing a stupid game right now, how about you just finish bleeding and leave me alone." His words were picking up more anger. If only he had one of his weapons, something other than blunt sentences and... a surprising unwillingness to give up who had dragged him here. It wasn't purely because it would be a confirmation of her words. It just felt wrong. Like throwing a friend under wheels. Even if Kai was not a friend.

raumlet

"So you're saying, frankly, that you're a wounded, vulnerable Dreamer trapped in the middle of the Court. And no one has a claim on you." Mel's grin was wide and unsettling despite the strain evident on her face. Oh, she wanted to draw her knife and jump him, but she knew he was probably lying - he couldn't have gotten here without a Courtier bringing him; if he'd come in under his own power, he'd be in a cell, or worse. Leaning forward, she said, "That's not very wise."

Bromeliad

Llyiss rested his elbows on the table, using the excuse to prop himself up against it as he too leaned closer. "Soundless," was all he said, a simple correction.  There was no fear in his expression or tone, no matter how true her words were and how stupid and dangerous the situation. It just wasn't there. He was tired.

Vos

Ceph shouldn't have been as surprised as he was when he slid the door to the clinic open. In fact he shouldn't have been surprised at all. Leaving the ex-warden alone had been a mistake. It was a lapse in judgement on his part. However, Opiate withdrawal wasn't so easy to shrug off.  He might be a good doctor, but that was the extent of the mender's positive traits.    "Meliwirth," Ceph greeted with a hint of exasperation. He slid the door shut behind him with a sharp clack. He was keenly aware of the tense atmosphere in the clinic  and the smell of sap.

raumlet

"Ceph!" Meliwirth called back in greeting, throwing a sap-sticky hand in the air in genuine excitement. The movement made her wince, and she dropped her hand back to her side quickly, pressing on the gash. "Thorns, but you make your patients wait, don't you? Come stitch me up before I bleed out. And while you're at it," she added, her eyes flicking back to the Soundless Sylvari for a moment, "Tell me who's keeping their toy hidden away here, huh?"

Bromeliad

The sound of the door made Llyiss straighten back up again, but it was only Ceph. His shoulders relaxed, and he almost sighed. Taking the moment of Mel's distraction he slowly moved to one of the chairs, pulling it out and sitting down. The green sylvari just didn't trust his legs to hold out much longer and didn't want Meliwirth to see him wobbling. Yes it was pretty obvious he was weak now, but he didn't really want her to know HOW weak. "I told you, I'm not a toy," Llyiss interrupted, blue eyes still entirely on the woman.

Vos

His eyes followed the thin trail of sap along the floor to Meliwirth. Stitches it was.   Ceph indicated for her to take a seat on the table as he gathered a pair of suturing scissors and toothed forceps.  "What makes you think he isn't mine?" he asked, humoring her. He pulled up a stool next to the table so he could sit eye-level with her midriff.

raumlet

Mel planted her butt on the table as directed and hitched her jacked up to give the Mender better access to the wound - unfortunately, that disturbed the fragile crust of sap, and the wound began to leak again; sap beaded on her side and rolled down to add to the mess already coating her side. "Doesn't seem your style," she said, shooting another glance at the Soundless sitting at the table. "Too much effort."

Bromeliad

Llyiss just listened, tucking what long ferns had escaped back behind his ears one at a time. He stayed silent now, letting his chin dip forward when he was done, eyes closing.  It wasn't safe but what did it really matter, honestly.

Vos

The doctor clicked his tongue in annoyance as he noted the debris in the wound. Ceph leaned over to grab a bottle of saline that was sitting on the adjacent table. He sighed and picked up the forked forceps, taking a second to plan his approach before he gently grasped the wound by one side with his tool and slowly forced the crusted gash to open wider. He paused  as he uncapped the saline and angled it over her wound so he could pour it through the dead space and clear it. "Really? He's pretty enough," Ceph argued with a laugh, eyes still trained on her.

raumlet

"If you like that sort of thing," she replied, her voice strained as he picked at the gash. Her knuckles were white on the edge of the table - as careful as Ceph was being, it still hurt. Her eyes flicked down to the top of Ceph's head, then back up to the man at the table. "Maybe I've got the wrong idea, but you don't seem like you'd take on extra work outside of, you know." With an airy little wave of her hand, she gestured at him as he worked. "Can't see you - ah - dragging a wounded Dreamer back here to patch him up."

Bromeliad

Said pretty sylvari just pinched the bridge of his nose, head still lowered as he just listened to them. Laying back down would be nice, just fading back into... no. Llyiss opened his eyes again, voice tired. "I'm right here. Do whatever the end result of this stupid game is already so I don't have to listen to you gossip like dawn saplings."

Vos

The medic cast a brief glance over to Llyiss as he set the saline back on the table. "What can I say? Im a bleeding heart," Ceph replied, tone thick with sarcasm. Without releasing the forcep, he leaned over and plucked a needle driver from the surgical tray. He selected the appropriate sized suture material and turned back to her. "But if you must know, He's Kai's," he finally revealed. If she knew what was good for her, she'd leave it at that.

raumlet

"Oh." Mel's voice dropped to a flat, bored tone, a little frown furrowing her brow. Maybe if it had been someone else, she might have risked it, but Kai was practically an antique. It wasn't even that odd that the Dreamer was here, then - he preferred persuasion over force, ensuring his converts were, if not loyal, at least willing to listen. "A future Courtier, then!" Her expression brightened, and she gave him a broad grin. "Guess I'll see you in the ranks soon enough."

Bromeliad

"I'll die before that happens," Llyiss replied, that anger rising in his tired tone. He almost stood up, his own weakness the only thing holding him back. "Trust me, my stubbornness doesn't end." He hunched his shoulders up, a twinge of pain cutting through the haze that kept it down. "I dare you to try."

Vos

Ceph snorted, giving the wound one more light wipe down. He grasped the suturing needle with the needle driver and held edge of the wound open withe the forceps, manipulating it so the needle pierced at an appropriate angle. He decided on a simple running suture, taking care not to put too much tension as he began to close the dead space.  The area was problematic. Meliwirth would be at risk of ripping her stitches if she wasn't careful.  "Don't agitate my patient, Llyiss. It's a miracle she's sitting still as it is."

raumlet

"I'm not so dumb that I'm gonna move while you have a needle in me, Mender," Mel snapped down at him, wincing as the little sliver bit into her again. As much as she wanted to squirm and kick her feet, she knew better. Her lips set in a thin line, she looked up at the Dreamer again, her eyes narrowing. "I am not going to try anything - you think I feel like sticking my nose into a Duke's business?" She laughed, the sound cutting out quickly as it pulled at the stitches Ceph had already done. " I don't want him pulling favors just to put me back in my place. You are stuck with whatever he's gonna do to you. I have better things to do."

Bromeliad

A what? The green sylvari honestly didn't care, glaring right back at Mel and ignoring Ceph's words. "I'm not stuck with anything." He dragged himself slowly to his feet, finally looking at the mender. "Where did you put my armor?" It was probably the painkillers talking, but he wanted to leave. Now.

Vos

Ceph looked up from his work with clear and plain annoyance written accross his face. "We're not doing this now. Sit down and we can discuss your departure later," he replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. The courtier was nearly done with the suture. He needed only to apply a poultice and a wrap. His tools clinked as he deposited them on the surgical tray. "Meliwirth, I trust you remember how to take care of stitches?" He questioned, sifting through jars on a shelf until he selected one filled with a gritty green substance. He opened the container with a sharp pop;The sour smell of herbs wafting from it.

raumlet

Mel didn't say anything more to the Dreamer - she just grinned at him over Ceph's head. "Haven't forgotten since the last time I was in here," she said, dropping her gaze to him as he seated himself on the stool again. "Mind giving me some of that when I leave? I'm all out, been too busy to drop by and get more."

Bromeliad

He most certainly was not going to sit down. Nope, Llyiss... stood there instead, a hand pressed to the scarred up patch under his bandages. He didn't say anything to either of them, just stood silently, defiance written into his expression and the tenseness of his arms.

Vos

Ceph dipped his fingers into the poultice and scooped out a liberal amount. He gently glided his fingers over the irritated looking suture, spreading the cold fragrant substance. "I'll fill a tin that you can take with you," Ceph muttered, concentrating as he wound gauze around her midriff . He didn't seem to notice , or perhaps didn't care, that Llyiss was attempting to be rebellious.  "Try not to tear your stitches this time."

raumlet

"I'll try. Best I can do," Mel said. Now that she knew who owned him, she'd lost interest in the Dreamer; there was no sense throwing away her life just to satisfy the itch in her fingers when there were plenty of less dangerous marks within easy reach. She was jittery again; her leg swung in front of Ceph, back and forth. There was nothing else for her here.  "Are you almost done?"

Bromeliad

Finally Llyiss moved, slowly working his way around the clinic looking for where his armored top might be. It was gone for awhile but maybe it was back somewhere, he hadn't really spent a whole lot of time in a state that would let him look around and pay attention to much detail. "I'm still leaving, even if you burned it." The armor of course. He rested a hand on a counter, propping himself up as he glanced around.

Vos

"Finished." He announced curtly, setting down the remaining gauze. He finally turned his attention to Llyiss. "You can't leave yet. Burns heal slowly and your wound especially has a high risk of infection," he paused, gathering his thoughts. He couldn't let the green sylvari leave yet. Ceph cast a glance over at Meliwrith. It was likely his courtier patients that were putting the soundless Sylvari on edge; feeling too exposed.  "If you'd like you can stay upstairs. I can promise you won't be bothered by my patients. " He offered, trying a suprisingly kind approach. He didn't mind the idea of Llyiss using his bed, the Sylvari might even appreciate sleeping on an actual bed. Although the idea of Llyiss getting into his things was a concerning thought.

raumlet

"Thanks," Mel said, pushing off the table and landing with a bounce and a wince. Carefully, she smoothed her sap-crusted top over the dressing, letting her hand linger over the painful stitches. "Our good ol' Duke must see some potential in him if you're willing to go that far," she said, giving Ceph's shoulder a playful little pat. "Poultice, please, and then I'll be out of your branches."

Bromeliad

"It's good enough." Those blue eyes had turned cold again, Llyiss' fingers gripping the edge of the counter he leaned on. "I really. Really don't want to play these stupid games anymore. Your nice little offers aren't going to work. End the game or let me try to leave." Mel was most likely the correct one here. Her actions and words matched up to what he knew of the Court. Out of all of them, she was the most trustworthy because she was the most predictable. And she was confirming this was all a game.

Vos

Ceph stood, rolling his shoulder with a grimace. He didn't seem upset or surprised by Llyiss's response. Instead he grabbed a small tin the size of his palm and spooned out salve into it. He smoothed it over and sealed it. The doctor placed it on the the table next to Meliwirth. It was only then that he spoke; his voice calm and clear despite his natural rough tone. "I'm not going to force you to accept my help. I'm not even going to force you to  acknowledge what I've done for you. But don't accuse me of playing games because I'm not living up to your stereotype." He tiredly leaned back on the table.

raumlet

"I'll live up to it for you," Mel said cheerfully. Scooping the tin into her pocket, she wiggled her fingers at the Dreamer with a lazy little grin as she headed to the door. "Good to meet you, Dreamer. I'll see you in the ranks soon enough!" As she reached to push the door open, though, someone opened it from the other side - Kai, who gave her a mild, innocuous smile and stepped back to let her through. Over her head, he glanced between Ceph at the table and Llyiss's agitated rifling through the counters; his smile took on a sharp edge. Mel bowed her head and hurried past with a little smile. "Hello, Ceph, Llyiss," he said as he stepped into the clinic, pulling the door closed behind him. "Have you had any trouble?"

Bromeliad

The sharp answer prepared for Ceph died on Llyiss' lips as Kai entered, the green sylvari turning  his gaze on the Duke instead. "I'm leaving," he said simply, turning and starting to walk the edge of the counter, still holding it with one hand. "She's right. This is a game, and I'm going down on my own terms." The deepset pain from the stab wound and subsequent burn had started to build again, the fog clearing from his head.

Vos

The mender watched with annoyance , and masked concern. Llyiss wouldn't be able to leave hemlock coil without overtaxing himself. That much was clear. "Kai, my charge believes he's fit to return to naulshead," he explained, clearing off his surgical tray into the stone hollow in the counter that acted as a sink. "My medical opinion disagrees. I've avoided it , however, I could give him something to improve his mood while he stays here," the mender suggested.

raumlet

"If you can get him to take it, which I doubt. I don't care either way so long as he doesn't leave before he's healed. " Kai replied, his eyes fixed on Ceph; he sounded exhausted as he leaned against the table Mel had only just vacated. He hadn't been able to get to the Mender quickly after he'd had his fun with that little grunt - there had been the favor for Senwir, which had taken longer than expected; then some petty dispute needed settling, silly as it was, and that had taken all day; and all the while, the deepest of the cuts bled slowly under the bandages he'd thrown over his chest to hold him until he had a moment to spare. He shot Llyiss a look with the weight of two days of sleeplessness behind it. "Which you don't seem to be. Sit down before you fall and hurt yourself. Did that violent little woman have something to say?"

Bromeliad

He stopped walking but stayed standing, propped up on the counter. Llyiss knew he wasn't ready either, but failing now meant he chose. It tugged at his heart and pride, leaving now at least salvaged a little lost by accepting help from the ones that destroyed his home. "She said you must see some potential and she'll see me in the court later," he answered angrily. "That I'm just some toy." There was a pause. "The truth, for once."

Vos

Ceph wiped Meliwirth's sap from his hands and leaned over the sink. His broad shoulders shuddered with a heavy sigh. Fuck he was exhausted. The doctor composed himself. Now wasn't the time.  The courtier turned back to Kai. "Please say something to satisfy his obnoxious accusations. Now, are you stopping by for a visit or do you need something?" Ceph asked, sounding a bit more snappish than he intended Although he didn't apologize for it.

raumlet

"Meliwirth is an idiot who will find herself rotting in a ditch sooner or later, and I won't need to lift a hand to have it happen because she has about as much caution as a particularly stupid skritt," Kai said. As he spoke, he shrugged out of his overcoat and undid the buttons on his shirt, pushing it off to reveal the bandages wrapped around his chest. Cautiously, he unpinned the end of the wrapping with gentle fingers; the fabric stuck to the gash, and he winced as he pulled it off, revealing the crisscross of scabs on his skinny torso. Most of them were healing - but the deepest had yet to start knitting together. "I need a bit of tending. Nothing too serious."

Bromeliad

"At least she makes sense," Llyiss snapped back. He sagged against the counter, inwardly promising himself it was just for a little bit, he'd still leave that night. Just until he was glowing. Yeah. "I know what you are. I know what you do." The green sylvari lifted his head enough to watch Kai undo those bandages, his eyes unreadable as he looked over the wounds and all of the older scars.

Vos

Ceph grabbed the saline and a fresh wipe as he approached Kai.  He leaned over and examined the scrapes, they needed to be cleaned but only one especially nasty abrasion warranted concern. He wasn't an idiot. The mender exactly how Kai collected these types of wounds. He wisely didn't comment on it in front of Llyiss. "I'll be the one to decide if they're serious or not," he replied with a scoff.

raumlet

"I think that perhaps after all these years, I can be trusted to make that call, Ceph. None of these will kill me," Kai said wryly, leaning back on the table and bracing himself so that Ceph would have easy access to the entirety of his scarred body.  He'd patched himself up decently enough; the shallow cuts would heal, leaving only another scar for his collection. Finally, he looked up at Llyiss, leaning exhausted against the counter now. "Do you really think someone like Meliwirth has any insight into why I'm doing this, Llyiss? Frankly, that's insulting."

Bromeliad

"Is it about where I went? Because it's terrible." Llyiss shook his head, slowly letting go part of his death grip on the edge of the counter to drag a hand down his face. His deep voice was slightly dampened by his palm, but still clear enough they could hear him as he continued, more words strung together at one time than he'd really been willing to give. "You talked about doing something, getting out of Naulshead. Is this it? Joining you? It's what she said, and it's what makes sense. And. It's not going to happen. It's been... Two decades. Maybe a little more, I lost track of time. I've done a lot. Enough. You should have left me there, because I'm done opening new chapters, and I'll end it myself before I start one here."

Vos

Ceph rolled his eyes and without asking took Kai's legs out from under him and scooped the courtier up . He plopped the Duke properly on the table with care. It was plain to see that Kai needed rest as badly , if not more, than himself. He flicked the cap off the saline with his thumb and dabbed some of the liquid on the rag he carried. "After all these years you can't even be trusted to avoid putting yourself in this condition." Ceph said, but his tone was colored with amusement. Although he wasn't oblivious to Llyiss' words he didn't feel it was appropriate to tag into the conversation.

raumlet

Kai hissed with pain as the Mender lifted him, making him jerk with the unexpected loss of control; he glared at Ceph. "I'm not here for a lecture, Mender, and I don't appreciate being manhandled," he said, but he eased himself back on the table and leaned back again. The cuts had to be tended to. Uneasily, he looked up at Llyiss again - he couldn't exactly speak his mind with Ceph in the room. Not here, not in the Court; and would Llyiss even believe him? It was a risk with no tangible reward. He focused on his own scarred chest again instead, fury building in him. "Yes, yes, what a hard life you've lead. Poor you. I'm in no mood to reassure you, Llyiss - clearly nothing I say will make much of an impression if a brief encounter with the likes of her is so much more persuasive, so I'll save my energy, if you don't mind."

Bromeliad

"Her and every other one I've ever come across. You were the odd one out. And she explained it." Ceph too was... weird, but he didn't say that, just dropped his hand and looked over at the mender with the words locked behind his teeth. Llyiss still leaned against the counter, wishing it hurt just a bit less, that the burn didn't sap so much of his strength. He couldn't even raise his arm on that side straight up into the air. "Let me leave or do your worst now."

Vos

"And I don't intend to lecture. Don't try to do my job and I won't tell you how to spend your free time." Ceph grumbled, patting away some of the dribbling sap from the large gash. The wound was weeping lightly, a bad sign. It seemed as if someone had dug their fingers in. He grabbed the entire bottle of saline and tipped it over the wound, irrigating the tear. Despite the Doctor's sour mood, he worked with care and attentiveness.

raumlet

"I don't care, Llyiss. Do what you like," Kai said, exhaustion winning out over his anger. Maneuvering around Ceph's deft hands, he pressed his fingers to the ridge of his brow and shut his eyes, a crease appearing in the rough bark. There was nothing for him here, but he was stuck here, trapped by his own decisions; what did it matter what one angry Soundless thought of him? Why did he even care? It wasn't as if Llyiss's happiness would redeem him. "Do whatever you like," he repeated under his breath. His hand, curled into a fist, dropped back to the table to brace himself as the salt sent stinging pain up his ribs. "I did your job before you came, Ceph, and I haven't forgotten how. Get it over with."

Bromeliad

"Where is my armor, then?" It didn't feel like a victory, and Llyiss' tone was as empty as it felt. "I still need it, even if it's got a hole." He didn't leave the edge of the counter, looking around to see if he could spot the leather and metal top. Enough of that painkiller fog had rolled away he finally got enough of a grip to just shut everything away- his own annoyance, Ceph's concern, Kai's tiredness. They were court, and didn't matter. It was all just echoes of what used to be.

Vos

The mender paused, a harsh laugh escaping him. "You couldn't do my Job, Kai," Ceph said not unkindly. He eased the mulberry Sylvari back on the table with forceful hand. Grabbing a clean towel, he rolled it up, making an impromptu pillow. He put it under Kai's head. With better lighting on the wound Ceph could confirm what he suspected. The acrid smell had grabbed his attention, however, once the light reaveled the discoloration of the wound he was left without a doubt. "You should pick better partners. This one obviously doesn't clean his knives or his nails." He sighed, his concern now palpable. "I'd like you to stay overnight. Your dressing will need to be changed often to keep this infection from further festering, " Ceph explained.

But before he dealt with that. Ceph faced Llyiss. The doctor crossed his arms, a frown marring his scarred lips. "Your armor is in the chest at the end of my bed upstairs. I had it repaired. If you can make it out of hemlock coil without collapsing then you're free to go. If not, I'll drag you back here until you're fully healed."

raumlet

Being pushed down was what did it - Kai snatched up his shirt as he pushed himself upright, shoving his arms back into it with his temper bubbling dangerously close to the surface. "What do you think I was doing while you were letting strangers fuck you, Mender?" He hissed, doing up the buttons without bothering with the bandages; they would need changing anyway. Distortion blurring along behind him, he tore through the cabinets until he found what he was looking for - needle, thread, the salve to keep it all clean - and headed towards the door, using his long legs to his advantage.

Bromeliad

The stairs. They were right over there, so close. But at the moment they seemed a forever away. Llyiss almost stopped before he started, maybe after resting again, but then Kai started thrashing through the cabinets. The anger cemented his decision and he turned away from them both to head to the stairs. All he had to do was manage to get out of Hemlock Coil. That was it. The green sylvari stayed silent, slowly picking his way over there.

Vos

Ceph wrung the sap stained rag in hands, eyes forward staring at nothing. Kai's words bit into him. He was sure the other sylvari had the satisfaction of feeling that before he made his hurried exit. He slumped over the counter, suddenly more tired than he thought he could bear. He cast a glance over to Llyiss watching the Soundless struggle through his pain in an attempt to climb the stairs and retreive his armor. He finally spoke. "If you make it upstairs and feel too tired to make it back down, my offer from earlier still stands."

Bromeliad

Ceph was, perhaps, a little too optimistic. Llyiss made it to the staircase, but with everything worn off and all the moving he'd been doing he only made it up 3, 4 steps before his knees hit the stairs and his elbows on the ones higher. It jarred through him, but he forced himself back up. And again. And again. Finally he stayed down, holding his side and silent still midway up, resting his cheek on a smooth step. His blue eyes were damp, but there was no way Llyiss was going to let anyone see just how bad it was. Much less feel. He just focused on keeping that disconnect in place.

Vos

He couldn't watch anymore. Ceph climbed the steps to the Sylvari, pausing once he finally reached him. There were no words he could say to ease the ex-Warden. So he said nothing. With care he arranged the Sylvari so he could pick him up in a cradle carry to avoid further agitation to his wound. The doctor hauled his patient up the steps leading into a small circular room. It was cool and sparsely furnished. The only lighting was the natural light that shone through the glass skylight above that was crawling with thorned vines. As for furniture? A few crowded shelves, a large bed, and an intricately carved sea chest sat in the room. The bed was truly a luxury compared to the hammocks and other simple furnishings that were common to the court. He laid Llyiss on the bed. "The door locks. I'm sure that doesn't make you feel safer. But perhaps it will keep you from crawling back to naulshead. I only ask that you stay here four more days. After that I will escort you out of Hemlock Coil myself."

Bromeliad

Exhausted, hurting, Llyiss let him without a word. The bed really was nice, he hadn't been in a real one in.... was it years now? It was too nice, all of it. "I'm not afraid. It's not about safety." He turned his head to look away from Ceph. "Why are you pretending to care? You can't. It's not how it works. If you could care, Naulshead would still be standing. It's all just games and thorns and fire."

Vos

"Kai was wrong to bring you here," Ceph spoke, exhaling deeply. "Nothing I say will ease your pain. I can mend bruises, cuts, and broken bones. But I can't erase the injustices done to to," the doctor admitted. He flipped the latches on the chest and lifted the heavy oaken lid. He sifted through the box, pulling out a thick gray blanket. "I'm not here to play Court politics, and I'm not pretending. Don't linger on it. Just rest." He spread the blanket over Llyiss.

Bromeliad

"Then why are you here?" It wasn't an accusation, just a simple question. "If you aren't one of them. You're not like me, you can still walk through that door. If you're still.... Why?" Llyiss didn't move, didn't shift around. Still wouldn't actually look at Ceph. Maybe he'd hit his head on the stairs or something, but try as he might to deny it... the green sylvari actually was starting to believe him.

Vos

Ceph fiddled with the iron lantern on the shelf. He was no longer sure how to answer that question.  "I belong here. The Court gave me security and purpose." he answered solemnly. The flame sparked to life, bringing light to the doctor's scarred face. Ceph leaned tiredly in the doorway. "I don't agree with many of the court's decisions but I don't pretend to be better than the rest of them."

Bromeliad

"I don't know how anyone can belong here. Doing what, fixing up people who murder and destroy? How many people is that bitch going to go kill? How many lives just got traded for her?" Now THAT was accusatory, the Soundless sylvari pulling himself to a sit with his hand over his side, the grey blanket still on him. "If you can care, why are you here?"

Vos

"I'm here because I need the Court as much as it needs me." he answered vaguely, his hand unconsciously rubbing his forearm. "I fix what needs fixing. It's not my job to measure a life's value. You should understand that by now. You could kill any number of my comrades and I would not regret saving your life." Ceph explained with wry smile.

Bromeliad

Llyiss didn't understand. It was probably some mender thing. Some lives were definitely worth more than others, no matter what side you were on. He sighed, wincing, and lifted his good arm to undo his ferns, half of them staying tangled without the effort extended to separate them out. "You should stop caring. It's easier. For you and me."

Vos

"Caring is not a bad thing," Ceph grumbled. Caring was the only thing that kept him from turning his back on Kai. The prideful duke was often more trouble than he was worth. Ceph knew when he was being used. He snapped out of his thoughts to find himself scowling again. He scrubbed his palm across his eyes, wiping away his tiredness. "Now if you'll excuse me I need to clean up the mess Kai left."

Bromeliad

Llyiss didn't answer that statement, just sunk back down again. He just sort of stared at the ceiling instead. "I'm not going to try to understand it. Four days." If it was a game and his head was just too cloudy to keep seeing it, he'd know then, at least.

Vos