#regular guys

[The Respondent: /

Me: // ]

Nira leaves the apartment and closes the door behind her, having first made sure that the cord is not in the way. (It seems to have... disappeared? ...Or not?... Weird... It's like she sees it, but at the same time she doesn't...)

In a brief moment she notices Maison's reaction.

Lately, she began to notice and evaluate his every micro-movement in general a little better.

Even though only a week and five days passed since their acquaintance, seven of which the doctor had not seen him, the experienced eye of the veterinarian observer became a little more accustomed to the behavioral peculiarities of one of her patients each time.

And now she saw how Mister Talo's figure noticeably relaxed as soon as he left the apartment.

Apparently this new experience, coupled with something that touched the cord, still caused him some kind of stress...

But at least Maison visited a real human apartment for the first time in his life. And even without tragic consequences. When else will he get to do that?

The girl exhales quietly and looks at him from behind with a small sympathetic smile, which immediately changes to her usual, calm ease in the voice.

— No need to thank me, Mr. Talo. Let's go check on your cord, — she says and hurries ahead of him down the staircase.

— Nothing to worry about, I suppose. It happens all the time, — he shrugs, half-closing his eyes. — Even you, knowing what I am, can't always see it. It's a peculiarity of the place. As I've learned in my long life, outside the Uncanny Valley many laws don't apply, and all the "monsters" look... different.

— Mm, I see. But it probably happens often that people step on or touch the cord because they can't see it? — asks the young veterinarian.

In the meantime they have already left the entrance. The girl removed the brick that was propping up the door, and it slowly and firmly closed.

The two started walking towards Maison's "house".

— What about the roadways? So you have to avoid them then?

— True and... True. I avoid crowds, popular roads and shops. Although sometimes I have to take risks, — Mr. Talo looks around carefully, surveying if anyone is watching them. And then he speaks more quietly. — But I've already gotten used to people not watching their steps. Although the first ten years were painful and unbearably scary. I grew up, got used to it...

— Mm. It's hard for you I see...

The girl was looking around as usual.

Suddenly her gaze notices something small and black in the distance, scurrying around in one of the dark alleyways.

Her instincts first identified this black lump as a cat, but a second later Nira realized that it was not a cat...

The creature moved completely differently. And it was somehow... round. Something was not right here...

The vet squints, trying to make sense of what she was seeing.

— I adjusted. And when it becomes part of everyday life, you stop worrying and being afraid, — this was an obvious lie despite his relaxed gestures and facial expressions. Because as soon as Maison also notices the creature, he stops, rooted to the spot. — ...crap.

— What is that...? — the girl carefully watches the creature which was a good thirty meters away from them, still immersed in searching for something from the garbage heap.

Maison's comment made Nira a little uneasy.

— ...a shapeshifter, — Maison mutters quietly under his breath. — And judging by the fact that this one doesn't have a body... It most likely didn't fit into society... And that means it could be a carrier of some kind of disease.

— ...oh. — she looked at the creature carefully. On the one hand, it was extremely curious to examine this thing, but on the other, more obviously screaming "DANGER" hand, they should quickly move further and not attract attention.

— ...and then what, they... find a body? — she asks in a whisper, not taking her eyes off the black furry lump.

— They mold it themselves to look like people, like all of us here... — Maison frowns. — The only problem is that I won't be able to get around it.

And indeed, the cord stretches right up to that furry creature.

— ...maybe... It's not as bad as it seems at first glance! We need to distract it or burn it.

— Burn it..!? — she whispers loudly, looking at Maison in surprise. — Maybe we should just pass by and it won't notice us? How dangerous are they?

If the creature is low-conflict, then it is possible to calmly pass by, without attracting attention. But if not, then what to expect?

What can it attack with? Does it bite? Maybe it has claws or poison? What is the level of aggression?

Thoughts race through her head.

— My cord extends right there, down the street. Right where that... Abomination is, — Maison narrows his eyes in disgust, very slightly and almost imperceptibly. — If I go around it, I'll have to come back later... I don't want to test the strength of my organs and nerves.

Pause.

— And these balls are dangerous... Incredibly, — he slows down again, choosing his words carefully. — They devour emotions, memories... Sometimes attention. Some of them can distort time. And lock you in a time loop as long as they want. I... Let's say, I knew one of them. Indirectly. We agreed to part ways peacefully. But only after the fortieth reboot.

His words sent a chill down her spine.

"My goodness..." - Nira thought with horror, squeezing the strap of her bag tighter. So, it wasn't their claws or poison that were dangerous.

The girl looks ahead where this black lump was swarming, still not noticing them.

— Then... We go straight ahead? — the girl suggests quietly after a short silence.

There wasn't much choice. If they were to force it, then force it.

— God save the queen... — Maison mutters quietly a quote from an old hymn under his breath, taking a sharp and stern, but noticeably cautious step forward.

Hands behind the back. Face and gaze are directed straight at the road. Ignore. Do not notice. Do not be afraid and don't think. Then it won't notice. Then it will pass.

The girl straightens up a little. Decisively but carefully, she walks next to Maison, stubbornly pretending not to notice the creature.

Cold fingers tightly clutch the strap of the bag. Closer...

If Maison were human, he would probably already have cold sweat running down his forehead.

However, his calm, peaceful face did not in any way betray the storm that was going on inside.

Keeping the emotions under control during a particularly stressful period was incredibly difficult.

For Nira as well.

Even though the girl had been in life-threatening situations while working with animals (and more recently - not only with animals), it didn't change the fact that her hands became wet and her heart turned cold with every step they took closer to the creature.

It was much harder for her to hide her emotions. In this, she could envy the REALTOR in his ability to maintain a calm expression.

Almost at the level with that alleyway...

But the lump clearly felt something. Or saw something.

A single eye from a black bush of hair stares at the walkers. A moment, and the shapeshifter crawls after them.

There was a low growling and hissing sound. The creature didn't look as dangerous as Maison had described. Quite the opposite. It looked clingy, but...

Sweet?

Maison quickens his pace, studiously ignoring the purring.

Nira tries her best to ignore the creature, but unable to help herself, she still occasionally steals glances at the hairball.

It really didn't seem that scary in appearance, but the girl preferred to believe Maison's words and was vigilant.

What strange sounds...

And, wait- , does it only have one eye!?

Her eyebrows distort in slight surprise.

As soon as Nira looks at the ball, it runs exactly after her with renewed effort and even louder purring.

The hair, like a bur, clings to the girl's ankle, carefully braiding and gently pressing against her, like a cat that had been waiting for its owner for a long time.

Maison didn't even look at this scene nor at the situation the girl was in. The thoughts were filled only with the direction forward.

The girl flinches as soon as the hairy tendrils touch her leg.

Oh no.

She did not feel the affection that the creature showed her.

Instead, her heart sank to her heels. Or, to be more precise, it sank into an icy, deep abyss.

What to do - what to do - whattodowhattodo-

She didn't think she would ever do this, but -

"HISSSSSSSSSSSSSS"-

Nira stops and instantly turns to the hairball with a sudden hiss. Not feigned, but the most cat-like hiss. Sharp, loud and extremely threatening.

Nira jerks her leg hard while the creature is confused and, rushing forward, grabs Maison by the hand.

— RUN!

And bolts.

The lump, not expecting resistance, falls off with a quiet smack. "Kh" - and the shape-shifter rolls, collecting road dust with its hair.

Maison, caught under the elbow by the doctor, almost falls, losing his balance.

— I can't run..! — he hisses quietly, tripping over his own feet every two steps. — Careful!

The girl hears his words.

In a rush of adrenaline she suddenly turns around and picks up the REALTOR in her arms. Like back then by the pond, but now in reverse.

And the REALTOR turns out to be... not as heavy as she imagined, but still heavy.

Nevertheless, the doctor rushes on, confidently carrying Maison in her arms and not looking back.

— Where to turn?! — she blurts out through her noisy breathing instead of explaining. If Maison had any objections, Nira had no time for them now.

/: he weights literally, like, 20-30 kgs...

//: ahah 😂

/: You unlocked an achievement "pick up the REALTOR"

/: NO ONE...

/: NO ONE HAS THOUGHT ABOUT THIS BEFORE YOU

//: ahahah 😂

//: yeeee, two achievements already ^^

[Note: for the context, I've received the first "achievement" after the operation, the dialogue was as follows:

*The Respondent's post about when Maison's neck becomes damp with a sweet-smelling liquid*

/: you are the first one who tried squeezing a realtor by the neck

/: congrats, you unlocked an achievement :)

/: phehehph

//: phahahaph 😆

]

Maison frightenedly yelps something unintelligible like a squeak.

The legs twitch uncontrollably, trying to feel the ground, but couldn't.

It looked like an attempt to escape, even though there was no possibility.

— T-to the right! — even in a state of panic Maison was not screaming. Perhaps because he simply does not know how to do it. Just like running. – Moss under my porch, corrosion on the handle, what are you doing?

He was shaking and continuing to squeak quietly from time to time. Apparently, it was some kind of residual reflex.

In any case, it didn't matter now.

What's important is that the creature ran after them. Much slower, but it was running.

Nira makes a sharp maneuver to the right and continues to escape.

— Avoiding the problems, — is all the girl could quickly say.

The bag on the side jumps and rattles, the steps echo loudly on the asphalt, the breathing becomes ragged, and the burning sensation in the legs and lungs slowly but surely increases.

But she can't stop. She mustn't.

With a determined expression Nira frowns, hugs the realtor a little tighter and steps on the gas.

She doesn't look back. There's no time for that. Better to spend those seconds running than distracting.

The doctor takes a long leap over the curb, hanging in the air for a moment mid-air and once lands - runs with renewed confidence toward the REALTOR'S house, listening to his instructions.

The already narrow pupils narrow to the limit. Maison clings tighter to Nira, squinting and guiding her blindly. Fortunately, it was easier to feel the road than to see it.

— Straight ahead, then after two houses sharply to the left. And then... W-well, you can see it, yes...

The shapeshifter was noticeably lagging behind. Still, it's size was clearly not playing into its hands. It purred sadly and plopped down in the middle of the asphalt road, watching the fleeing veterinarian with the REALTOR in her arms with its one eye.

— You... Are stronger than I thought.

— ...I work out.

A small smile creeps onto her face, lifting the corner of the lips.

Yes, try periodically lifting fifty-kilogram dogs onto the operating table. That's one way of a workout.

The positive comment gave her a little encouragement which was enough for the doctor to run in the direction he told.

A little more, and the familiar red roof appears behind the wall of a house. The girl picks up the pace with effort, ignoring the burning in her legs.

Maison opens his eyes and turns around to look behind his savior.

— Noone. We got away, — he describes the situation briefly, in one word. — You can... Let go.

By this time the girl had already reached the porch. Her heart was pounding through the clothes, the pulse was echoing in the ears. The doctor slows down only after his words.

She carefully lowers Maison to the ground near the door.

— ...Yeah... It's been a long time since-... I've run like that... — the girl answers, gasping for air, bending over and resting her hands on her knees.

At least they reached the house and the danger was over.

Maison doesn't immediately realize he is on the ground. And so, like a rag doll, his knees buckle and he almost falls flat out of the vet's hands. But he quickly pulls himself together and keeps his balance, straightening up and dusting himself off.

— Ahem...! – the REALTOR opens his door. – Thank you. But next time, warn me.

In a state of heightened alert due to the remaining adrenaline in the system, the girl immediately jerks to support Maison, but seeing that he is okay she calms down.

She tries to even out her breathing by taking deep breaths.

Nira walks through the open door, adjusting her bag on her shoulder.

— Well, if I can think quickly. In a state of-... acute danger, there's usually-... little time to explain... — the doctor smiles.

He smiled. But not in his usual polite smile. He smiled tiredly. Calmly.

— Maybe... Some tea? I bought a pack of a new one... I remember people often drink it. This one... Is some kind of red.

The girl takes off her shoes and walks deeper into the house. She smiles at his offer.

— Yes, I won't refuse.

Now that the situation was calm and the adrenaline was leaving her system, Nira begins to feel the effects of her abrupt run.

Her legs ache and begin to tremble slightly, but at least the unpleasant burning sensation is almost gone. Her heart was still beating faster and stronger than usual, gradually slowing down. Fatigue was visible in her polite smile.

Nira follows Maison.

The walls of the house had long since stopped hiding their true nature in front of Nira. Now they were pulsating tensely, and the rapid beating of a huge heart is felt under the parquet floor as clearly as ever.

Maison was scared too. Still is.

So, technically, they are in the same boat.

The REALTOR goes into the kitchen first and demonstratively, solemnly presses the button on the electric kettle. After such a long time he finally learned how to do this.

— We'll have to wait a bit.

The girl walks into the kitchen, glancing at the familiar walls along the way.

Normally she would have preferred to immediately start examining the surgical site, but their little adventure made the offer of tea and rest sound much more tempting.

Nira slips off her bag from her shoulder in the corner, walks into the kitchen and sits down on a chair. She breathes out in relief, closing her eyes, feeling the tension leave her legs.

— That's alright. We can rest for now. — she smiles tiredly.

A muscle mound lifts barely under the table, forming some sort of footrest with the parquet beam to help relieve the tension at least a little. Maison himself doesn't know why he suddenly wanted to do this. Most likely – as a token of gratitude... Yes.

Just gratitude. Nothing more.

The cup is placed on a potholder on the table, and a tea bag is clumsily dropped into it. Maison sits down opposite, giving control to his own appendages.

So safe when all the windows and doors are closed. Safe, and no one will break through either the window or the wall.

Safe. Peaceful. No one will harm.

It was strange to feel so safe near someone. Especially within your own walls. Especially with a potential dinner.

/: you unlocked another achievement

After a long time you begin to being trusted a little

/: domestication of the realtor goes strictly according to the plan phphphph

//: yippee! (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)

//: ghk

/: he doesn't realise yet that he's beginning to get attached

/: doesn't even think about such an outcome

//:🤌

At the movement under her feet the girl opens her eyes a little to see what was happening there. Raising her eyebrows in a slight surprise, she watches as the parquet floor changes shape.

“Thank you,” - whispers out loud with gratitude and closes her eyes again, leaning her head against the wall with a sigh.

Inhale, exhale...

The kettle boils up slowly. Maison takes it with his probes more confidently and pours water into a cup. After thinking for a bit he puts down a second cup and pours tea for himself too. Still, it’s probably not nice to just sit and stare at each other.

For the first time the silence did not oppress, but gave peace.

Nira listens to the movements of the house around her. A pleasant, calm silence.

She opens one eye slightly and looks at the mug of tea. It was still hot, and the girl herself was too hot to drink it, so she would wait.

In the meantime, through half-open eyes, she watches with interest as the house manages himself.

Amazing...

Maison closes his eyes, resting his head on his fist. He knows exactly where everything is, because he can just feel it.

The kettle is returned to its place. Several fetters pull the towel and soap dish from the bath.

— I recommend you wash your hands. You can do that here in the kitchen, the sink is working...

A jar slowly descends from the shelf. It wasn't there before. But now the REALTOR's gaze falls vaguely on it, and his hands reach out to open it.

Successfully. Several shortbread cookies with chocolate chips are poured onto the plate that was lowered here as well.

— I remembered... – he begins calmly. – Remembered that people usually drink tea with something. And so... Here.

/: polite, yep, uh-huh

The girl opens her eyes wider and stands up.

— Oh yeah, right. Thank you.

She walks to the sink and turns on the tap. The water feels good on the sweaty palms.

Having finished, Nira returns back. Her gaze falls on the plate with cookies. She didn't feel like eating yet, right after the run, but she was still grateful for the offer. Maybe she'll eat a little later, with tea. She still needs to regain her strength.

— Thank you, — the doctor replies with a smile.

Maison nods quietly.

Excellent. That means he did everything right.

— ...Thank you. This is the least I can do in return.

Nira exhales, laughing slightly.

— No need to thank me. But you're welcome.

And again that sweet, sincere smile of hers in response, reaching right up to her eyes and leaving small wrinkles in their corners.

Still, it's nice when someone tries that hard, even if they're not obligated to. Being grateful in return is also the least she can do.

Nira is silent for a moment. One thought enters her head.

— By the way, can you absorb food not only with the house, but also with the bait? — the young veterinarian asks curiously, turning to Maison.

— Well... Not quite, — he stirs the empty tea with a spoon, not adding sugar to it. Points to his lips. — I can taste it here, but can't digest it. I have to... Um... Eject it on the carpet through the same path it came in through, if the volume of food is relatively large. Otherwise it will rot. And rotting from the inside is terribly unpleasant.

At this explanation the girl's face stretches a little in surprise. But not in a "ugh, how disgusting", but clearly saying "Can I see!?"

Naturally, this did not leave her lips, since the girl still restrained herself, but from the expression on her face everything was clear anyway.

— Ohh... Wow. And I thought you could do with both. Hmm. — she raises her hand to her chin. — So you can't taste with your walls?

— Of course not. It would be extremely inconvenient... And the taste sensation of the lure is something like a defense against the questions "what does dark chocolate taste like, Mr. Realtor?"

Pause.

— And the jaws are not strong enough to chew even something very soft. You have to play for the crowd and swallow the piece whole without being noticed.

— Oooh, — the girl stretches.

How interesting. So there is nothing in the bait that digests food, and the mouth apparatus is not adapted for chewing. Well, as it should be for an artificial bait, she supposed.

— So you don't even know what people taste like? — she tilts her head with interest.

— Well... I suppose in that case I would be disgusted to eat you, — he chuckles a little nervously, tapping his spoon lightly on the rim of his cup to shake off moisture into the tea.

— Considering how many different human foods I've tried, I figured I'd like people the least. And so I sometimes imagine that the buyers inside are like steak. Or chocolate. Or a fishburger. Unhealthy trash, but enjoyable.

— Heh.

The girl laughs a little with her hand on her chin.

— Yeah, that would be unpleasant. I read somewhere that people taste salty because they consume a lot of salt during their lifetime, which is logical. But obviously, I'm not going to try that.

She looks at Maison. Tried a lot of food, hm?

— And what human food is the most memorable for you from all of your sixty-three years?

— A lot of things, actually. But especially the fish products. Amazing texture... — he smiles half-dreamily, not quite controlling the smile, it seemed. — The medium-rare steak at the restaurant nearby is also incredibly good. Oh, and as I mentioned earlier, chocolate, caramel. I liked it. Sometimes I even feel a little happier when I throw something sweet into my stomach.

A rumbling runs through the living room, echoing the narrative. Even though a good buyer who was willing to purchase had recently been found, it was not enough for the huge creature for long.

— Ahem. My apologies, I was lost in thought.

— Oh, you like fish!? — the girl's eyes lit up with joy. She very rarely met someone who would like fish as much as she does. Well, that's pretty good news.

— Well, then I'll have to visit that restaurant sometime. Can you tell me the way? — she smiles brightly.

The tea cooled down by then, and the girl pulls the mug in her hands, taking several large sips. She didn't even notice how dry her throat was after the escape.

Nira nods at the realtor's words, takes a cookie and begins to wash it down with tea. Energy was gradually returning, as was her appetite.

— It's that little restaurant where you and I seem to have been before, — he narrows his eyes thoughtfully, staring at his own wall. — I think. Ah... No. This is a different place. Where a good friend of mine works. We can visit him some other day. I assure you, you won't regret it.

— Oh, that would be wonderful! — the girl beams. Honestly, she didn't think Maison would agree to go somewhere with her, much less propose it himself, but oh, that was just great!

Another cookie disappears from the plate, followed by tea. Hmm. Quite tasty.

— ...I see you like the cookies, — the REALTOR politely notes. — I'll take that into account.

— Hmm, yes. Good choice, — the girl replies, nodding. — The tea and cookies, I mean. Thank you.

The tea is almost finished, there are some cookies left on the plate. After such a meal, a pleasant tiredness spread through the body, but the girl was not to rest. Still, first of all, she came to see how things were after the operation.

— Alright, if you don't mind, we can go and begin the examination? — the doctor suggests, looking expectantly at Maison.

— Of course, — Maison rinses his mouth with tea, spits the contents back into the cup and pulls it with one of his fetters toward the living room to pour it on the floor. — Come on in.

The operating room was stable. Surprisingly, an absence of pus. But the inflammation was prevalent. The exposed areas were covered with a rough, but not drying crust. Healing was slower than it should have been.

The girl leaves the kitchen, picking up her bag on the way.

As she walks into the room, her anxiety grows. She was confident in the success of the operation, but still...

The tension was evident in the increasing trembling in her fingers.

She walks into the room and...

"Phew...!" - breathes a sigh of relief.

Things don't look as bad as she feared.

There was inflammation, it was noticeable. But the damp wound raised doubts.

Nira ventures deeper into the room, leaving her first aid kit nearby.

She walks over to the healthy wall that was closest to the surgical site and reaches out to check one of the tentacles after briefly glancing back to make sure Maison was definitely in the room.

Maison follows her closely and drills the doctor with his gaze at every step. Still, for some reason, he didn't want a repeat of that incident... It is too easy to overeat, and now she was more useful as a worker than as a dinner.

Noticeable tissue depletion. Compared to a couple of days ago, the current state of the entire house looked more like a slight withering.

Nira takes the tentacle in her hands and begins to examine it as usual, muttering observations under her breath.

— Reaction is positive, the surface is rough, humidity, — she gently runs her fingers along the tentacle, — is reduced. Hmm. The state of integrity, — she turns the gripper back and forth, squinting and moving her hand, checking every centimeter by touch, — Not damaged. No ulcers, no rash, no overlays.

But overall, the tentacle was somehow... sluggish? And the room itself changed, clearly indicating that the house's organism had thrown all its strength into healing the wound.

— Hmm, well, the healthy tissue around it is all right, that's good. It means the wound hasn't started to spread further, and your body is coping with its healing. But slowly. Although the surgery was only yesterday, I can't judge what normal healing speed REALTORS should have. — the vet answers, turning to Maison, holding the tentacle in her hand and stroking it a little.

— So that's how it is... — Maison, noticeably calmer, sits down on his own sofa. — Exceedingly... Interesting information.

He had a hard time understanding if everything was really alright, or if it was only from a medical point of view that everything was alright. But if the wound was healing, then everything is good?

— The wall hurts and itches, to be honest. Unbearably.

— It itches because it's healing. And it hurts because the nerve endings are damaged. But this is all curable.

Nira leaves the tentacle alone and goes to her bag. From there, the vet takes out a coat and gloves, which she immediately puts on, and then a syringe gun, into which she inserts a needle and screws on a bottle of medicine.

— Now I'll put in an analgesic for the pain. It will work for about fifteen hours, but then if it hurts badly again, you'll need to take it once more.

After these words, the veterinarian turns around and begins to inject painkillers into the wall, having first sprayed an antiseptic at the injection site.

— Please bear with it for a bit, it will take effect in five to eight minutes. Unlike an anesthetic, this medicine only removes pain, all other functions remain. So it won't be as scary as during the surgery. — the girl smiles.

— Thank you for the explanation, — Maison looks at the syringe less warily now and even relaxes a little. — I hope everything will be fine.

He settles into his bed and burrows into the warm blanket. The soothing soft texture adds even more comfort.

The doctor meanwhile walks along the entire lower half of the wall, injecting doses of painkillers with intervals. Fortunately, the drug is complex and has an anti-inflammatory effect (as do most modern analgesics), which will also undoubtedly help.

Having finished with this half, Nira turns back. Seeing that Maison had already managed to get comfortable, she hesitated about her next proposal.

— Mr. Talo, as I said this morning at the restaurant, I would like to teach you how to give yourself injections. But... It all depends on you. If you don't want to now, I can show you another time. — she smiles softly, looking at the realtor wrapped in a blanket.

Perhaps he is too relaxed for the lessons.

— Oh... — Maison drums his fingers on his knee. — I suppose that would be helpful... But I'm still not used to it enough. So I don't think I can give myself an injection.

— Well, that's why I'm here, to teach you! — the girl smiles brightly. Then her expression changes to a more thoughtful one, a hand props up the chin. — Hmm, but yes, you're right. I think you still need to get used to the feeling of the process and the injections to give them yourself. So we can wait with that. — she lowers her hand, looking at Maison. — Well, then I'll do it myself, I guess. In that case, get ready to lift me higher if necessary.

Nira turns back to the wall. The syringe is replaced with another one with an antibiotic. In the same way the girl walks along the wall and gives injections, replacing the bottles with new ones as they empty.

Wow, the second day and she's already used up so much medicine, heh. But it's worth it. You can't skimp on your patients.

Nira yawns, pausing for a moment. Her legs hurt a little from walking and squatting, but the doctor tries to ignore it and continues the process.

And the REALTOR notices this well.

A calm draft of measured breathing passes through the corridor again. The window opens a little wider.

And the parquet raises again, but in order to provide support similar to a full-fledged stool.

— ...if you find it hard to stand, you can sit down.

"Oh," - the girl exclaims quietly, noticing the "stool" in front of her, looking at the object with interest.

— Thank you, — she replies gratefully. With the stool now it was much easier to work.

After some time the syringe with the antibiotic goes into the first aid kit and is replaced with a spray bottle with antiseptic. The wound should always be kept as sterile as possible to avoid the ingress of harmful microorganisms, and therefore treated regularly.

Nira walks along the wall again, spraying it with the solution. Immediately there is a sharp smell of alcohol.

A little more, and every centimeter of the lower part of the wall was disinfected.

Maison winces slightly from the unfamiliar smell but endures it.

— I think I'll get used to it with time, — he grins, half-closing his eyes. — Someday I'll be able to accurately guess your steps on the porch.

— Heh, I have no doubt. — Nira smiles.

She herself could easily guess the steps of her relatives around the apartment. It's not that hard.

The alcohol evaporated quickly from the wound's surface, and the doctor moves on to the final step. She takes a tube of wound-healing ointment out of her bag. Unfortunately, she hadn't taken much of it, as she hadn't expected the wound to stay open, but at least this amount should help. She hopes.

Squeezing a small amount of ointment onto her fingers, she goes over the wettest, unhealed areas, spreading a thin layer of the healing paste onto the surface.

The REALTOR would occasionally flinch, unprepared for the touch of the sick part. However, his face remains calm.

— ...can I ask a strange question?

— Hm? Yes, of course, — the vet replies casually, finishing with the bottom half of the wall. It's done here. Now everything exactly the same is up.

The girl goes to her bag and begins to take out the necessary instruments and medications from there, putting them into the pockets of her robe.

— ...is it normal that sometimes all this seems meaningless to me? — he tries not to meet her gaze. — If suddenly it becomes incurable, I will be sad, but nothing more, I think. I want to live, I love life. But sometimes I have thoughts. It just... doesn't matter. Whether the disease devours me, or I it. Someone will win. And the odds are simply in my favor for now.

The hand with the bottle of medicine stops above the bag, hanging in the air. Nira turns around.

What...?

Thoughts race through her head.

Pointless? Win? Doesn't matter?

Is he tired of living- no-no, well, after sixty-three years, maybe- Is he bored?- maybe. But he is a REALTOR- well, that might be the case- has he already resigned himself to such an outcome?- But how- What- But-

She didn't know what to answer.

This question left her stumped.

After a short silence, she finally answers, raising her head and fixing her gaze on Maison.

— I... I don't know. Honestly, don't know, but... I think, maybe sometimes it's normal to feel like that. Still, it's not always possible to be cheerful, a bad streak follows a good one, all that stuff. And there's little we can do about it.

She puts the bottle in her bag, leaves the dirty gloves and robe behind and walks over to the bed, sitting down next to him and resting her elbows on her knees.

She can take a break for now. Especially since her legs were barely holding up.

— But still. I think there's no point in being sad. Even if this disease is incurable, I'll come and do my best to help somehow. And maybe keep you company. Until you get bored, heh.

She laughs a little as she looks at Maison.

Her encouraging and sympathetic smile, although small, reaches her eyes.

Maison studies his own wall with his eyes, as if he was seeing it for the first time.

— I believe it can be cured. I really do... — a pause. He shudders slightly. — But I never thought about the fact that... Anyway, it doesn't matter. You're right. Thoughts are just thoughts.

— Mhm, — the girl answers calmly, looking at her clasped hands.

She talks a lot with the patients' owners. After all, working in a clinic does not mean only working with animals, but also, first of all, with people. You have to explain to them what's wrong with their little one, to encourage, sometimes... to console. It can be tough. But when it's not about a pet, but about... a person...

Well, she realized that things can be harder.

"And how do even psychologists cope..." - Nira wondered thoughtfully.

Well. She'll help as much as she can. She had no doubt about that.

The girl turns her head to Maison. Well, while he's resting, she might as well ask questions. Rest can also be spent usefully.

Therefore, she then makes a request:

— Can I take your hand?

And she extends hers in calm expectancy.

Maison narrows his eyes slightly and slumps, throwing the blanket further over his shoulders and burying himself in it, still sitting in an extremely strange and bizarre position, judging by the lump of fabric crumpled by all his limbs.

— ...why? – he asks cautiously. But slowly extends his hand.

The girl politely takes his hand in hers and brings it a little closer to her face.

Her eyes narrow slightly, looking closely at the palm. After a short silence, she simply answers,

— Why are your nails red? Do you paint them?

And while waiting for an answer, slowly turns his hand in hers. She runs her fingers along the tendons, joints. Tries to find veins, compares them with the layout on her own hand. Carefully bends and straightens each finger back and forth. Examines the smallest details.

So interesting...

After all, the brain understands that these are not human tissues, but they look so... human? Although they feel different from normal ones, they still replicate the structures with amazing accuracy.

Marvelous...

The skin was quite dense. But it was clear that the veins were pretty much real. And the blood was circulating in the lure part. But they were not in the same places as in the usual sense.

The joints stood out more clearly. And the palm itself, although it was dense to the touch, was still for the most part incredibly bony. The bones protrude noticeably, creating a beautiful picture.

— Oh... Um... – Maison, in a stupor, doesn't even know what emotion to show on his face. And so he remains with a standard polite smile. – No. I don't paint them. They grow like this. The bones of the bait basically are like... this. Reddish.

She looks up from her hand and gazes at him questioningly.

— What do you mean, "reddish"? — tilts her head slightly.

She had long wondered whether the lure had bones at all, and if so, what did they look like?

Like humans'? Then where does enough calcium and other microelements come from to build them? Only from food or from somewhere else? Hmm.

But this information apparently changed everything. And, wait, how does he know what his bones look like??

— Well... During shedding, the skin comes off completely, and... – Maison tries to explain so it wouldn't sound wrong. – You can see on the joints that they're about this color. And the texture, too.

He points to a table in the room that was not part of the house. It was a three-legged table made of dark, mahogany wood.

— Ohh, — the girl draws out.

A spark of amazement flashes in her eyes.

— Heh. Mr. Talo, you never cease to amaze me. — her calm smile shines like her eyes, lowered to his hand, still in her palm. But now the doctor was just slightly spreading and moving his fingers, putting her palm to compare the size difference and was simply playing a little.

— And when do you moult? — she raises her eyes back. — Still... it would be extremely interesting to observe this process. If you don't mind, of course.

— I can't say for sure. Sometimes it happens too suddenly, as soon as it gets warmer... — he watches the other person's actions with interest. — The closest one should be from spring to summer, something akin to when flowers fade.

— Mm, I see. So, if you shed your skin when you molt, so to speak, then what do you do with it afterwards? — she looks at Maison in the same way.

Playing with the hand simply turned into light stroking.

Without even noticing it, Nira was trying to memorise the structure for some reason. The way each tendon and vein felt on his dry, bony hand.

– Eat.

It was a short and completely calm answer, as if Maison was expecting that question.

— Of course, it is difficult to digest... But it’s enough for two weeks of recovery.

Nira blinks.

— Aahhh.

And she thought he throws it away. A waste of research material, if you will.

In that case, she won't be able to take samples. Oh well, that's okay. He needs it more, since it's for recovery. She can at least observe the process, if she's lucky enough to see it.

— Heh, just like lizards or insects. Almost all of them also eat their old shell after molting since it still contains a lot of nutrients.

— I simply have no choice. But, I guess, you're right.

He lowers his serious gaze to the girl's knees. The next second his head slowly, but languidly and brazenly descends onto them.

The girl only manages to raise her hands so as not to disturb him and looks at Maison with a little surprise. She clearly did not expect this, but in all she was not at all against it.

Soon a small grin creeps onto her face. Her hands drop.

— Comfy? — all she askes, looking down at the REALTOR with a smile.

— Quite, — he answers briefly, closing his eyes and fidgeting a little, as if trying to physically bury himself in the blanket, already wrapped up to the ears. But it was clearly not from the cold. It was something else. — Your knees are quite comfortable.

"Pfft" - she laughs quietly.

— Glad to hear it.

A slight blush appears on her cheekbones.

Actually, she planned to inspect the lure and study it in more detail, but since Maison was so well wrapped in a blanket, the vet did not want to disturb his peace (to her slight dejection). But the research spirit burned within with a steady flame.

Therefore, since the only accessible area was the head, the girl’s hands go there.

Fingers carefully take strands of hair, bring them closer. Attentive gaze studies their structure, scalp, ears. At the same time, the hands gently touch and stroke everything.

Except for the cord and the hole.

She never even comes close near there.

And Maison squints, sometimes deliberately turning his head for more touches. He definitely liked this kind of study much more than what happened between them last time. That time was rather awkward, chaotic, tensely strange. But now it was as if he was simply... Pet?

And, realizing this, the REALTOR freezes, his eyes wide open. A wave of goosebumps runs along the walls.

Has he finally found a touch that doesn't make him want to eat someone?

Half-closed eyes calmly watch his state. Apparently, he likes it. The bags under Nira's eyes, it seemed, were more clearly visible now. A pleasant fatigue fills the body.

She yawns softly.

How much did she sleep yesterday? ...today?.. She couldn't remember anymore. Studying pollen was too exciting to go to bed before dawn.

But then the girl’s hand which was in his shock of hair, stops and rises up, ready to move away if necessary.

Nira notices his reaction, the reaction of the walls. It was... Goosebumps?

— Are you cold?

Oh, maybe that's why he wrapped himself in a blanket?

...What if he had chills??

The hand gently rests on his forehead, feeling its temperature.

— ...if I was cold, I'd close the window. And it would still be cold, I can't control the weather, — to prove his point, Maison wiggles one of the window shutters, closing and opening it without getting up from the vet's lap. — If you mean the blanket... I simply like the texture. It's soft.

— Oh. Ahh, now I understand.

The hand disappears from his forehead back onto his head. Since there was nothing left to study, she simply massages his scalp, slowly moving her fingers through the dusty gray hair.

— Hmm. But I thought you didn't like the feeling of any fabric over the lure?

— True. But this one is not irritating, — he pulls his hand out from under the blanket and hands a corner to Nira. — It does not itch. And it is not rough. This blanket is as old as I am. Maybe even older. And it's very well preserved, considering... The constant humidity. I haven't found any others like it. And I probably won't be able to find.

Nira takes a corner of the fabric in her hands and rubs it gently. Yes, it is surprisingly well preserved.

"Truly, it is nice..."

She has a similar soft yarn at home.

"Maybe... I should crochet him a plaid...?" - she lets go of the edge of the blanket with a thoughtful expression.

— Speaking of humidity. To help the wound heal faster I recommend airing out the room more often. And disinfecting, too, — she yawns quietly, covering her mouth. — I'll leave you a bottle. — adds in a very low voice, closing her eyes.

The hand slowly massages the scalp again, simultaneously memorizing the pleasant sensation of his hair between the fingers.

Stiff but pliable, they feel like a mixture of straw and green spring grass.

— ...you can stay here if you are really tired. It is safe to sleep in this room, — the REALTOR suddenly says, unexpectedly for himself.

— Mm? — the girl opens her eyes. What an... unexpected offer. But pleasant?

However, Nira only exhales loudly,

— But the upper part of the wall is still left. I can't leave it like this, I need to trout- treat it thoroughly... Cure it...

Her tired tone and sluggish movements betray her determined words.

— It's alright if you continue later. I won't suffer from it, — a calm but convincing look. The floral scent begins to spread along the walls. — And you can get some sleep. At least a couple of hours.

— Hhhheuuuuuhhhh... — she exhales dramatically, dropping her shoulders. Deciding, weighing her options.

Nira was hesitating.

It is better, of course, to do everything at once and right away. It's faster and more efficient. But...

Oh, how she didn't want to get up now...

— I'll think about it...

"I'll just... sit a little bit longer, and..."

She closes her eyes. The hand continues to stroke the hair, but slower and slower, until it almost stops...

The probes drag the body a little further onto the sofa and wrap it in a blanket on the other side. Carefully and gently, so as not to wake her up. Maison also slowly closes his eyes, plunging into thoughtfulness about today.

What the hell was all that?

And he himself did not notice how, having come to complete appeasement, fell asleep, leaving the lure in a room that was not meant for that.

(this is a second take, so I don't really remember what I wanted to say here, but I'll try anyway)

So, there we go! A lot happend, heh. We escaped from the Regular Guy, drank tea, treated half of the wound and, surprisingly, fell asleep next to each other. That last part was even a shock to me ⁄⁠(⁠⁄⁠ ⁠⁄⁠•⁠⁄⁠-⁠⁄⁠•⁠⁄⁠ ⁠⁄⁠)⁠⁄ (😭💖)

I don't know when the next part will come out, most likely not on schedule, but later. I'm currently sick and trying to juggle between projects and uni homework. But I'll try to get it done.