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]

[nehan first pinches a few spots on kaeya's arm, before pulling back and dabbing alcohol onto a cotton ball and holding onto it with the forceps.]

Make a fist, but don't pump your arm. I need to see which veins are the most prominent.

[unmelting]

[Kaeya does as he's bid, fingers curling into a fist as he watches Nehan.]

You're not as cute as the healers I'm used to.

[He opines, because that's exactly the sort of thing you say to a man who is about to stab you with a needle. But in fairness, Barbara is adorable so that's a pretty high bar to get over.]

cw: uhhh unsafe medical practices

[torpour]

[nehan is fairly certain that kaeya is just saying that to get a rise out of him. and while there are many things he thinks he could say to the man, such as the idea that he must be scared to get pricked by a needle for just a few seconds, nehan decides not to insult him. even if children know how to handle it better.

instead, he just stares at kaeya in the eye as he swabs cotton onto the spot he's chosen, using the periphery of his vision to guide himself.]

You don't think I'm cute? [his tone is grave, as if he's just been dealt a grave insult.

and he never takes his eye off of the human's, even as he prepares the syringe and uses his fingers to guide it into the man's skin and vein. and gently as well, because he is still someone who needs to have integrity in his work, no matter how shady he is. the procedure is gone quickly, from the erune inserting the needle and pulling it out, full of blood, over in just a few seconds. usually, people feel nothing but a prick and nehan did his best to make sure that was the case.

then, still holding eye contact for as long as kaeya will allow, nehan places another clean cotton swab on top of the wound, and straps it down with medical tape.]

[unmelting]

Oh now I didn't say that, exactly.

[Kaeya glances at his arm curiously before lifting his gaze back up to Nehan, his own tone its usual casual lilt.] Though honestly, cute isn't really the word I'd choose for you. You're too serious for that. More dashing, in a vaguely scary way.

[It's honestly a compliment. He looks down again when he feels the tape, breaking off eye-contact with a quiet hum.]

Painless. I can't fault your technique.

[torpour]

[mollified, nehan breaks from staring, ears twitching, and he meticulously cleans his tools in the sink, tucking the syringe away for safekeeping until he has a moment to himself.

then again, he never was insulted. he was just reacting in the way he thinks some regular people would.]

You can remove the cotton in thirty minutes-- or whenever you get back home and can light some incense.

But I still have to ask you some questions, for my records.

[unmelting]

[A nod of understanding and he moves to roll his sleeve back down, slipping back into his jacket as well.]

Yes, Doctor.

[He'll be a good and obedient patient and not go picking at the tape immediately.]

I'm ready to answer. If I can anyway. [Probably even honestly.]

[torpour]

You'll get a reward after this, don't worry. [like he's interacting with a child, instead of an adult.

instead of leading the way towards the living room where one of his notebooks are, full of information on the people who have visited so far, nehan simply stays on his counter, resting his feet on his omen. his hands on his thighs, he leans forward slightly with his ears pointing forward, towards the human.]

First, age and height. I'm sure I can determine your height just by measuring myself against you, but best to know from your own mouth.

[unmelting]

Because I've neem a very brave boy?

[Kaeya laughs because he's fully aware he's being treated like a child. He's certainly had worse, and as he makes sure his clothes are sorted again -- image is important, after all -- he turns back to Nehan.]

Twenty two. Six feet, without my boots.

[But he can also be serious enough to answer questions.]

[torpour]

[nehan tilts his head to look at kaeya's boots, gauging how high those heels are. perhaps an inch, not much to them. then he looks back up, clasping his hands together before him.]

Any chronic illnesses, or diseases that run in the family?

[unmelting]

Ah, that's a trickier question.

[A shrug of his shoulders and he spreads his hands.] I wouldn't really know.

[Like it's not a big deal or anything.] My father disappeared when I was a child. I was brought up by Diluc's family, so I don't know too much of my family's history.

[You know, except for the fact that many people of his destroyed homeland are cursed and corrupted and turn into monsters. Minor details. Kaeya seems to have mostly dodged that at least.]

[torpour]

I see. That's fine, that you don't know. [coldblood is useless for transfusions, anyway. but nehan was mostly asking for himself, in case he needed to be more careful around kaeya's blood.]

Here, something I know you can respond to-- do you have magic separate from your coldblood? What elemental affinity?

[thanks to diluc, he knows the sad state of magic in that world, and he has to be sure.]

[unmelting]

I do.

[He drops a hand to tap the blue crystal that hands at his hip.] It's not necessarily an intrinsic thing. I can't wield my Cryo ability without my Vision. But it's particular to me, and no one else can make use of it.

[So who knows exactly what it is in him that resonated enough to draw the Vision to him.]

[torpour]

You're aligned with ice? [that would just be a subset of the water element, in nehan's world. he knows that much, but doesn't know why some individuals lean towards frost in particular-- water is not his strongest element, after all.

skies above, he doesn't even know if he still has that potential anymore.]

How does your blood type affect it, then? Did it gift you fire?

[unmelting]

That's right.

[And water and ice are entirely separate elements in his world, strangely enough.]

Here I can wield ice without needing my Vision -- which is strange, if I'm being honest. But yes, I also have some fire ability now. It's... not the strongest yet. I'm working on it still.

[It's a learning curve. One that has left him burning himself more often than not, but he has gotten better than that at least.]

[torpour]

That's in line with what Diluc has told me about your world. [because of course they spoke about that. nehan may not have been lying about how they first met, but he never said they didn't interact more afterwards.]

It's a steep learning curve, isn't it? Being accustomed to having only one element, then this is thrust upon you... [then he shakes his head.

he has to wonder if he should offer the same as he did with diluc. well, it cant hurt, can it?]

But in my world, it's common to master more than one, because magic is an innate ability, not bestowed on by the gods. If you wish, I could help you.

[unmelting]

Very steep, yes. Fire feels alien still, like it's at odds with everything I'm used to.

[And it is. Fire and ice are as opposite as things can get in many ways.

He's not expecting the offer, and there's no hiding the interest in his expression.]

I'd certainly appreciate the help. The better grip I have of the powers in my blood here, the better off I'll be, I imagine. There's too much unknown and troubling unknown at that to simply rely on my old tricks alone.

[torpour]

I can imagine. Fire and ice-- water, in my world-- are opposites, but finding harmony between opposing elements is still possible.

[then he raises one finger.]

You could start by only using fire for a while, and ignore the Vision. It may have disastrous results, but I'm working on a batch of salves, and can send them to you soon enough if you need them.

[unmelting]

Harmony would be nice. In battle, ice and fire can combine to be a powerful force to be reckoned with.

[But that involves a Cryo fighter and a Pyro fighter.

He considers the suggestion before nodding.]

Like swordplay, relying on the off hand and foregoing the dominant until the former feels strong as the latter. It makes sense. ...though I may well need some of that salve in the process, yes.

[torpour]

[the salve would be made from vileblood as a base, but kaeya doesn't need to know that.]

Until I send it over, just wash any burns you may have with cold water, then apply a slice of tomato. [he's not kidding. he's very serious about this.

then he checks the status of kaeya's blood in the syringe, and tsks in annoyance-- the blood has frozen over, and the syringe is unsalvageable. he thought that might be the case, but that's annoying nonetheless.]

[unmelting]

Tomato?

[That's new, but in his world half the time healing is accomplished through a decent meal, so not the weirdest thing he's heard of. So he nods.]

Got it.

[He notices the syringe too.] Yeah, not exactly easy to work with, is it? It's still weird to think of that flowing through my veins.

[torpour]

[it's useless as a test subject now, nehan thinks, as he holds the syringe with his gloved left hand, unable to feel the cold simply because of how his left hand just refuses to be anything but numb. a miracle he can still move it around today.]

I'll turn it into jewelry and set the results to you, along with the salve. [there's a faint note of irritation in his tone, but it's tempered by thoughtfulness, over how he can work with it in the capacity of an architect, rather than a blood minister.]

[unmelting]

Oh? Well, I'll be interested to see how that comes out then.

[Jewelry made of blood, which he's seen and heard of in this place, but not yet of his own blood.]

In any case, hopefully my errand services will be slightly more useful than my bleeding.

[See? Looking on the bright side.] Any other medical questions, or shall I get myself out of your hair?

[torpour]

You may go now, get yourself into Diluc's hair instead. [because if kaeya has no problem trying to get into nehan's business with diluc, then the erune is rather sure that he'll be asking diluc about nehan.

he hopes they'll have an enlightening gossip session so they don't bother nehan about it anymore.]

Just leave me with your address so I know where to mail the package.

[unmelting]

I think I will.

[Kaeya answers with a grin. Why not? He's curious enough that he will go annoy Diluc about how he knows Nehan.]

Cellar Door, but I'll send you the exact location. [He'll slip his omni out to do just that. Finished, he tucks it back into a pocket and lifts a hand to wave.]

I'm sure I'll see you soon.