voice | un: karma

[torpour]

My name is Nehan-- I'm researching how medicine works here, and how to merge it with the methods I'm used to. If my research goes well, for instance, I will be able to act as a doctor and pharmacist, among other roles found here.

To that end, I'm requesting samples of blood from fellow Sleepers. I understand it can be quite personal, so whoever does not want to do that need not respond. Those who do, so I can perform the phlebotomy myself, and can privately send you my address, and answer questions you may have.

Whoever wants to help but doesn't want a needle in their arm, I still have a job for you, if anyone is interested.

[very straight to the point, almost unwelcomingly so. but at least people know what they're getting into if they decide to deal with him?]

Comments

[torpour]

This is fine for now. Any more, and I'd be at more risk.

[as he says that, he cleans up both the scalpel and vial, and drops the paper towel into the basin with the blood in it. tucking his tools away, nehan draws a match, holds his face away, and raises his eyebrow at the man before him in warning.

because he's already lighting that match and dropping it into the basin to burn its contents.

in a corner of the yard, unseen by nehan but unnoticed with the way his ears turn towards it, a wolf is suddenly sitting, alert and watching them.]

[unsheathedfromreality]

[Of course, there is blood pollution to consider. Illarion nods at the wisdom of this--and takes a hasty step back at the sound of the match. Darkblood's not particularly incendiary as-is, but fire is as terrible for the undead as the living and he wants no part of it, thank you.

His attention snaps toward the ((feel)) of an Omen at the periphery of his senses.]

Something is the matter? [he addresses the creature directly.] Or you are merely cautious?

[torpour]

Don't mind him, he comes when he likes. [with a kick, nehan upends the basin when the fire has consumed the blood and paper and smothers it against the dirt ground, to snuff it out before it tries to eat anymore.]

He's like a pet rather than a guardian.

[unsheathedfromreality]

[This gets a hmph out of Illarion, a noise near a laugh.] Understood. I am not in the habit of ignoring omens, [a pun,] but for him, I make an exception.

[Though his caution remains heightened. He trusts they've made themselves as safe as they can, but nothing was safe enough in Trench.

At least his own Omen has not deigned to put on an appearance.]

Though if you do not mind, I will leave the incense until it burns down. [Not that there was much left, at least.]

[torpour]

[the wolf leans itself against nehan's left leg, snuffling against him and licking his gloved hand. nehan looks down at it briefly in acknowledgement, before he returns to adjusting his tools and wrapping up the vial of darkblood in thick cloth to keep it safe.]

Best to do that anyway, Willful Machine is a hotbed for beasts.

[then a pause, as he pushes the basin back upright.]

Do you have time? I have a few questions I want to ask, to open a file on you.

[unsheathedfromreality]

Unfortunately so. [As both a Disciple and an occasional Hunter, Illarion's not fond of that fact. It comes through clearly in his tone.

At the question, he nods, palming his Omni out of the pocket he keeps it in to check the time with a swipe of his thumb over the face. He doesn't even look at it before putting it back.]

Most of an hour before I am needed elsewhere. I am at your disposal.

[torpour]

It will take ten to fifteen minutes at most. Less if we do it right now, and I wont spend time writing anything down until later.

I just need physical data, and blood information.

[unsheathedfromreality]

Then we will do this, to spare you time. [His own, he's not so worried about spending.]

Before we begin the questions: This is something you will keep private for your own research, yes? [are nehan's notes hipaa-compliant]

[torpour]

Yes. And repeat patients, if anyone decides to come by. If I have to, I can simply keep everything memorized, but putting them on paper will make organization easier in the long run.

[unsheathedfromreality]

[He nods once to that.] Not all of what I say must be kept secret, if you wish to share or use it. That which does, I will say, and it does not bother me that you put it to paper so long as you keep it safe.

[It occurs that if he becomes a repeat patient that will spare him having to share his secrets more widely.

He makes a note to ask about that after.]

Your questions?

[torpour]

Your name, age-- [a pause, before he reminds himself of circumstances and moves to elaborate.] Age when you died, and how long you've been undead.

And if healing potions still work for you.

For safety reasons, I wont attempt any medical-related experimentation with your blood outside of the one I'm planning. [which negates quite a lot of the standard questions nehan has, and the undead part just... removed a good number of them as well.]

[unsheathedfromreality]

I would ask you use an alias for me.

Six-hundred fifty, give or take a decade. [They did keep accurate records; it's a Long Story why he has that much error on his age.] I have been undead for the better part of four years.

Yes, though they may not work very well in many cases. It varies by ingredient.

Can you share what it is you are planning? [A pause.] This is curiosity, not a prelude for an objection.

[torpour]

A personal file for you, if you come back here for treatment. There are specific things I need to know about my patients, just in case their bodies don't react well to the potions I give, or they need specific treatment that I need to learn.

[his methods are just brusque, because he's used to dealing with bratty adults, and then children.]

[unsheathedfromreality]

Mmm. [He lapses silent to consider that for a solid quarter-minute.]

How are you at suturing? I presume you are not a necromancer.

[torpour]

I use light magic, not dark. [and that's his answer about his elemental affinity, as well.]

And I know how to suture. I reserve it for people who either do not want potions, or shouldn't take them.

[unsheathedfromreality]

[Oh well that explains everything.

...Actually, it doesn't, but that's entirely a deficiency of Illarion's metaphysical framework when it came to magic. He frowns faintly.]

"Light" is not an element I am familiar with. [And elemental magic, period, is something he's...vague on.] But I presume it makes you inclined to life, over death?

What goes into these potions?

[torpour]

[nehan shrugs, he could say that-- it's not as if nehan knows the philosophies behind the elements, when he's just a man who plays with plants.]

Flora and fauna-- more the former than the latter. But the exact ratios and ingredients depend on whether or not I'm brewing it as a healing potion, or a stimulant. [and he gives a partial list of them. caffeine, ginseng, tea extracts, fruit extracts, so on and so forth.]

[unsheathedfromreality]

[Illarion listens to the whole list attentively.] Some of these would be poisonous to me, if I still lived. And--

[He pauses, holding up a finger as he works through this thought.] --my blood is still alive, even if I am not. I do not know what this means for a potion. Something like what you describe would heal me a little, back home, but have no stimulant effect.

[Now?? No idea.]

[torpour]

Tell me.

What are poisonous, and what are you allergic to?

[unsheathedfromreality]

My kind tolerate less caffeine than humans or orcs. Avocado. Any fungus, [and he goes on to list several other substances that are poisonous to birds.

Finally,] And grapes are not poison, but they burn us as peppers do humans.

[torpour]

Hm. I'll have to find alternatives for you, then. Or learn healing magic, myself.

[because nehan is not the type to say "no, i cant help you", when he still has so many avenues available to him. and not when he's presented with such a puzzle he's never come across before. this is an opportunity to challenge himself, and learn more rather than grow stagnant in his field, and by the skies, he will take it.]

cw: cannibalism + suicide mentions, okay illarion

[unsheathedfromreality]

You would do this? [He's not incredulous as much as pleasantly surprised.]

I would welcome the attempt, and be in your debt. The alternatives, if I cannot find a necromancer--I do not like them. [Frank cannibalism or repeated suicide, if he were injured enough. Fun!]

If this requires experimentation, I am your subject.

[torpour]

[nehan nods, acknowledging the need for him. he's not about to back down from this challenge, when it will make him truly work for something. but first...]

Not today-- some other day. There's a lot of preparations to be done on my end before I start working on healing magic.

[unsheathedfromreality]

Understandably. [He falls silent briefly, considering. They seem to have reached the end of their questioning, and he should not stay in a living place past his utility.]

Have you any other u--any other questions for me, now?

[torpour]

Nothing for now, unless you have something you want or think you need to share.

[and then he waits, leaving the other man with his cue.]