un: Bachelor | text

[thantagonist]

Attention Fellow People of Etraya,

I am Doctor Daniil Dankovsky, Bachelor of Medicine. As I understand it, few of you have seen a doctor lately. That simply won’t do! Please, don’t wait to get sick to establish care. I am situated in the hospital, ready to take consent forms and make updated medical histories. At least a few of you have unaddressed concerns, I just know it. The average person comes to see the doctor when it’s too late! Though we cannot die here, there is no reason to suffer unduly.

And if you are otherwise healthy, perhaps think of it as helping me out. In the event of an outbreak, it is far more helpful to have complete clinical pictures of the inhabitants. Especially, as I understand it, there are many biological differences in this population.

Please come visit me during my clinic hours, every day from 10am to 6pm.


[What Daniil really wants is to meet more of the unusual inhabitants of Etraya more quickly as well as conduct casual interviews of the sort of people who are slated to save the universe. But he can’t just say that completely outright.]

Comments

closed to Tristan. CW: addiction, suicidal thoughts

[thantagonist]

[It is ungodly late at night when Daniil starts pinging Tristan. He’s feeling desperate, hasn’t slept in days. He doesn’t even really realize what time it is when he contacts them.]

You said you could help me whenever.

Are you there?

Tristan?

[numinousname]

[good thing elves don't sleep! the ping is an easy prod out of meditation.]

Hello Daniil.
Yes, I can help whenever you require.
Are you in trouble?

[thantagonist]

I’m just feeling ill. Where did you say you lived? I’ll go to you.

[numinousname]

I stay in the apartments.
If you are unwell, please let me come to you. It will keep me from disrupting Junpei's sleep, besides.
Tell me where I can find you.

[thantagonist]

I’m outside the hospital. I can’t be in there right now.

I’m just going to walk until the lights aren’t so bright. It’s giving me a headache.

[numinousname]

Very well. I will find you shortly.

[they're very true to their word, as they'll be but minutes trotting along one of the vacant streets connecting them. they hope their own glow, where it shows, will not irritate an already aching head.

they slow upon spying his shape, walking up and speaking only when they can be certain those features are his.]

Daniil. [their eyes, glinting as a cat's would in the dark, are already scanning for tells of injury or other unrest.]

Cw blood??? I forgot to mention earlier

[thantagonist]

[The sharp tang of blood hits the air where Tristan draws close. Daniil turns, startling at the animalistic reflection of their eyes.

He clutches his chest. His heart already felt like it was going to explode. As his right hand comes up, he reveals that he’s not wearing his gloves and his knuckles are town and bleeding profusely.]

[Daniil looks horrendous. His shirt is soaked through with sweat. His hair is plastered to his scalp. The bags under his eyes are dark, the vessels bloodshot red. He’s shaking violently.]

[He smells like bile.]

[numinousname]

[they go still, eyes widening as the take this information in.]

Daniil-- [the flurry of questions rising to the surface have to give way to action, and Tristan moves to gather him up.

hushed, but urgent:] Steady. I will help you. [I will help you.

barring any protest or flinch of raw pain, Tristan will coax one of Daniil's arms over their shoulder to help prop him upright, freeing up their other hand to press on his chest as they murmur a healing spell to tend to the cuts and scrapes and the residual head pain. that part first. again the glow, surging and then abating as gently as the exhalation of a breath as magic is passed over to the man.]

Tell me what pain lingers so I know how better to help, Daniil, yes?

[thantagonist]

[Daniil’s flinch is very hard to notice above his outright shaking. It doesn’t seem to be pain? Or not anything specific.

As Tristan pulls Daniil’s arm over his shoulders and presses a hand to his chest, it’s clear he’s even thinner than he looks. The layering of clothing helps conceal this.]

[Daniil lets out a staccato shuddering as his wounds on his hand mend like magic.]

[With magic.] [He reminds himself as he lets out a breathy little laugh. Daniil rests his head atop Tristan’s as he mutters a little nonsense. He brings his hand up to his face and laughs. His speech is fast, coming out as a harsh whisper.]

Oh- it hurts everywhere. Inside me, in my stomach, in my blood. Behind my eyes. My mind is on fire.

[With Tristan’s hand on his head it pounds hard and fast in his chest, like it’s about to vibrate out of his ribcage entirely. Danill grasps at Tristan’s clothes.]

[Make it stop, make it stop.]

[He can’t seem to form words after that point.]

[numinousname]

[moved with pity and the adrenaline of urgency, Tristan foregoes any further checkpoints; that they asked at all up front is already progress, rather than simply charging forward on instinct and hopes and magic, and the tiger cannot change their stripes after one scary moment in the face of another they wish to change.

they murmur an assurance, eyes briefly fluttering closed as they pivot their thoughts from the healing magics for battle injuries to the kind they used to dispel disease - the way they'd reach out and embrace a violent foe to sponge the corrosive darkness off them, coupled with that restoration spell from days prior. it means a brighter, more long-lasting light, more effort, but no less sincerity.]

It will be alright.

[thantagonist]

[Daniil’s heart slows, no longer poisoning himself with his own adrenaline like a prey animal. His tremors cease. (He still has like 3 stacks of exhaustion though.)]

[Daniil allows Tristan to take his weight, feeling calmed and cared for, held aloft and unthinking after the buzz of thoughts just moments before. His voice turns languid, soft.]

I really thought I was going to die…

[His vision starts to return to normal, no longer blurred with potent mania.]

[numinousname]

Your distress was palpable. [the ease of that heartrate is a relief, but Tristan still feels cause for concern. they adjust their footing to better take Daniil's weight, keeping one arm around his waist and the other propping him upright at the chest. it's not a good position for better examination, so they scan the area around for a place to sit.]

Walk with me just a little. Over to there. [they jut their chin in the direction of one they can see closeby.] Once we're sat, please tell me what happened to leave you in such a state.

[thantagonist]

I can- I can walk.

[He doesn’t do a very good job of it. Even without worst of his own chemicals, he was now just severely dehydrated. Still. They make it over and he drops himself into his seat.]

[Daniil had basically two choices.]

[I either explain this honestly and answer a barrage of humiliating questions that will give them the wrong idea.]

[Or make up a comfortable lie or excuse. I don’t prefer lying. And I’m not sure I could even remember it later in my state.]

[Its fine. If I describe it abstractly enough, they likely won’t understand.]

[What actually would come out of Daniil’s mouth was another matter.]

I punched a mirror by accident.

[numinousname]

[Tristan slips out from under Daniil's arm and turns to crouch before him, setting the arm down in Daniil's lap and inspecting his knuckles. the wounds are healed, but blood remains, they should--

blink.

their eyes lift to Daniil's face.

'by accident.']

...What were you aiming for?

[thantagonist]

Myself.

[Whatever, just say whatever I guess. Who needs me, the brain of the operation?]

Just… saw myself in the mirror in the dark. I guess I scared myself.

[numinousname]

[their expression pinches with sympathy.]

From...working late, alone? In an unfamiliar place?

[thantagonist]

[Daniil shakes his head. How does he explain any of this in a way that does not make him pitied and feel humiliated? Perhaps just going with what Tristan suggests is good enough.]

Yes. That’s it.

[ Okay. That would work better if you could keep all the insincerity out of your voice. Jesus Christ. Want to try again?]

Yeah. I’m scared of being alone at night.

[That was worse, Dankovsky. What are we trying to do here?]

[numinousname]

[Tristan likes to take people at their face-value word, but they are also a bit to emotionally insightful as to feign ignorance to a feint. still, if playing along is what is necessary to make him feel better, they can accept it.

and to that point, they simply resolve:] Then I will stay with you until daybreak. [they've finished checking his bloodied knuckles and gently guide his fingers to straighten, that they may press each hand in turn between both of theirs and get a little warmth into them after all that clenching and chilling fright.] It will not trouble me to do so.

[thantagonist]

Where should we go?

[His immediate pain may be resolved, but he still stinks bad with fear sweat and bile and blood. He actually manages to start to feel hunger and thirst like this.]

[Daniil shudders as Tristan holds his hand. He’d left his gloves somewhere in his mania, and now he feels so bare without them. Affection blooms in his chest.]

[numinousname]

[good question. if the florescent lights of the hospital trouble him (and they can't really blame that), it won't be back where he'd run from. Tristan hums thoughtfully as they press the other hand between their palms to warm the fingers.]

I won't ask you to make too many decisions all at once, but...I do need to know if you prefer the outdoor air, or would rather be more confined. I think I can narrow it down from there, yes?

[thantagonist]

Indoors. There’s already insects that have started to wake from their winter slumber. I don’t need a case of malaria in addition to all of this.

[Daniil soothes and sighs with his other hand being brought between Tristan’s. His hands are surely bigger than the other’s, but he feels well encapsulated like this.]

[numinousname]

As you wish.

[they don't know what malaria is, but they'll assume it's unpleasant if Daniil doesn't want it. they smile mildly, hoping to convey reassurance and some confidence in what they decide.

but they haven't decided yet.

He's exhausted. The bright lights bother him, but the outdoors would be too exposed. What is nearby...?

they comb their memory and do a brief skim of the area as they rise to stand, the hand still encased in theirs. their focus fixes down the street, past the hospital. the cafe.]

Come with me. It is a short walk. Please let me take your arm, for my own sense of ease.

[thantagonist]

[Their unequal height makes an amusing image. Daniil, all his puppet strings cut, clinging desperately to Tristan.]

[Daniil lets his eyes slip mostly closed. He drags his feet so he cannot trip. It’s easier to stay at pace this way with his longer legs.]

[He has no idea how long it actually takes, nor does he pay attention to where they’re going. He figures it’ll all reveal itself when then stop.]

I’m so tired… [A little complaint slips from him, barely more than a whisper.]

[numinousname]

[there's a brief halt so Tristan can get the door open, but they ultimately guide Daniil to sitting in the little wedge that a booth corner makes, lightly pushing some of the table aside with their hip for the space to do so.

mildly:] If you are like humans where I am from, then you do require some hours of sleep, no? [once they've got this tree of a man sat, they keep a stabilizing hand on his shoulder.] You may put your feet up, if you like. You needn't fight sleep if you crave it. [they'll just have to move quicker to provide a bit better support for his poor neck.]

[thantagonist]

I definitely do need sleep. I’ve slept in poorer situations.

[He lays down in the booth seat and pulls his legs up. He’s so exhausted that he starts to drift immediately.]

[Daniil’s out like a light. He seems like he has troubled dreams. Just continuing to sweat into his clothes for the next few hours.]