Aspirations.

[Shen]

Shen approached the council building after listening to some rather loud mouthed locals at the tavern. He had only eavesdropped to gather enough information about this town and to aid him in finding a place to stay and if he was lucky, some employment.

He was sure to make sure his hair was straight and that his spectacles were not crooked before he rapped upon the council hall door.

"Excuse me?"

[Margrett]

A blue woman answered the door, leaning on one side of the door with one hand and tipping up her hat with the other. She gave Shen an appraising look and tapped the doorframe twice, as if coming to a decision, then smiled and looked at him as if seeing him for the first time.

Hello there. What can I do you for?

[Shen]

Shen nodded his head in greeting, smiled and again pushed his spectacles back onto his nose. He wasn't entirely sure of what to say, but being far from the nervous type came out with it as pleasantly as he thought appropriate.

"Hello miss. My name is Shen and I am of the understanding your town does not have a practicing doctor?"

[Margrett]

That made her raise her eyebrows and give the man a new look.

Actually no. No we do not, surprisingly. I can set a bone, but not any real doctors since the blood mage left town.

She folded her arms and leaned against the doorframe.

I suppose you'll be stepping up to fill that position?

[Shen]

Shen smiled again and looked down the street.

"I see suffering in this town and believe your council could make use of my skills. I ask very little of course, I only wish to have adequate facilities in order to do my job. I had no idea there was such a vacancy though, is it a paid position?"

He seemed a tiny bit nervous when asking that, but if you never asked well; you simply never knew.

"I only ask due to the fact I would like to acquire some wares to better see to the welfare of your people. I am something of an eccentric you see. But I do enjoy helping wherever I may."

[Margrett]

Well...

She thought a moment.

We have a vacancy I know of. Nice place. Has some stuff you might like. As for payment...

She looked at him a little condescendingly. Whether or not it was fake he could decide for himself.

That depends on how much you charge per stitch-job, Sawbones.

[Shen]

Shen only laughed, though only a little; when she called him Sawbones. That was not at all a pleasant thought and quite far from his practice of medicine.

"You seem to have a misconception on my practice miss. I practice what you may consider internal medicince and a couple of other less invasive techniques. Perhaps I can demonstrate for you some time."

Shen nodded politely once more and folded his hands together in front of himself but looked somewhat out of place.

"I realize you must be busy, but if at all possible could you show me to this home you speak of?"

[Margrett]

She waved dismissively, stepping out of the council building and locking it behind her.

Just something my dad used to say. All doctors and medical types are Sawbones. Ignore me.She nodded to him, already setting off down the street.



Let's go see if no squatters have moved in, huh? And tell me a little bit about this internal thing you're talking about.

[Shen]

Shen hurried to catch up with her and matched her pace down the street. His hands now folded behind him as he walked and he smiled. Shen was rarely in a bad mood but the pleasant weather and the prospect of working in a town such as this was very exciting.

"Well you see, much medicine these days is concerned with causing more injury or simply alleviating symptoms without addressing the cause of the distress. I have studied internal medicine, dietary remedies, massage and acupressure amongst numerous other methods to form my own specialized form of medicine. It requires nothing so crude as a blade and thread, unless of course the wound is open.

But I do believe that many problems can be dealt with if not cured with a better understanding of how we function as people."

Shen looked at her for a moment and still smiled, then leaned forward and glanced at her shoulder.

"For example. I can tell just by looking that your primary arm has some trouble, your shoulder is sitting a little lower than your off side. This is likely due to your use of a heavy weapon and the constant wear and impact on your joints. If you don't address that soon it may become a permanent problem that will only give you more grief as you get older. As it stands right now, your energy flow is disrupted and could be the cause of your headaches."

He seemed quite happy with his diagnosis but continued to walk.

[Margrett]

Margrett stopped her stride for half a moment, surprised. She subconsciously put a hand on her shoulder, rubbing it and giving Shen a somewhat suspicious sidelong look.

That's....really good, Sawbones.

The diagnosis was spot on, and it made her a little uncomfortable. She blinked and tried to straighten her posture a little, self-consciously.

We'll maybe talk about that later. Here it is now.

She took a breath to clear her mind of his eerie diagnosis, and opened the door. A pile of papers greeted them, and spilled out. From what Shen could see, there were piles of papers and paper trash all over the floor. Margrett shrugged.

Be it ever so humble.

She muscled her way inside, kicking piles of paper away.

Belonged to an old man who died a little bit ago. There were some bookshelves, with various things. Chemistry sets if you're into that. Things to make potions and the like.

[Shen]

Shen entered the small abode with a curious smile and looked about. He kneeled to examine some of the papers and pulled his glasses out a little to read what was scribbled upon them. He gathered a few of the papers and then placed them on a table and took a look about, placing his hands behind his back again. He was smiling now, eyes quite large as he took in this very busy room.

"Oh my. This will do very well. It will take some cleaning of course, but I do think this will work quite well."

Shen then looked about quickly, frowned when he saw nothing to offer her in his new home.

"Well, as I have just now moved in I am afraid I have nothing to offer you in the way of refreshments. I do apologize."

[Margrett]

Ha. Don't worry. Having tea at a doctor's house isn't my idea of a good time. No offense meant.

Some of the papers were legible documents on medicine and healing magic, but some were completely random and scribbled, as if by a madman. There was no rhyme or reason for them. Margrett looked down at a few.

You know, the old man who was in here was...odd before he died. We found him with a couple of these papers, now that I think about it. Said something about a "bad book."

She looked around suspiciously.

Sawbones...let's say we take a quick look around. Wouldn't want our only doctor to find something mindscrewy in here.

[Shen]

Shen sighed then, perhaps a little agitated. His voice remained entirely pleasant but his words were not.

"Must you insist on calling me that? I haven't yet learned your name but can assure you; I am capable of something equally as derogatory."

He shuffled the papers at his feet impatiently but then didn't wait for a response. Really. Sawbones. The nerve.

He left this room and wandered into the next then, perhaps there was something worth investigating; but he was more curious to just explore his newly found home.

[Margrett]

Sorry.

She blinked.

Did I not tell you my name? Sorry, sometimes I assume everyone knows it. Bit of a superiority complex on my part. I'm Margrett.

She smiled and walked deeper into the home in the opposite direction. Shen saw that the next room was much like the first, but this one had alchemical equipment on the shelf, a series of bottles and knives and burners and mortars.

I run what little law enforcement we have around here. You sure you don't want me to help you have a look around?

[Shen]

Shen laughed at the thought but was quick to point out what he found quite so humorous.

"I should hope I have no need for law enforcement in my new home."

He found little of interest and returned to the main room, only to see she'd wandered elsewhere. He stood in the doorway to the room she'd entered and was pleasantly surprised to see the equipment.

"It is a pleasure to meet you then Officer Margrett. If you'd like to secure my home then by all means, please feel free."

Shen then looked over the dilapidated scientific equipment with mixed thoughts. He dusted one item off and looked at it in the sunlight.

"I wonder if perhaps I can trade some of these items for something much more useful."