Debt Doctor With The Hungry Scalple

[Aegil]

Aegil stopped, catching her breath. Her ribs ached, her chest burned, and her nerves were screaming at her. She wrapped an arm across her chest and leaned heavily on her staff, gasping. That man-beast had hit her pretty hard if she was still feeling it this bad, a day later. She needed to find a doctor. Or a healer. She needed something. It hurt a little to breath, and everytime she exhaled the sound rattled faintly. Not to mention the burning and the occasional sharp digging pains when she moved to quickly. And she was so very dizzy. She glanced around carefully, feeling hopeless. She had no idea where to even start.

[Shen]

Sometimes, less often than is needed and more often than is likely; the right person just happens to come along at the very moment they're needed. At least in a world of fantasy and dragons and the like.

And so it was that Shen happened to be strolling about the town on this evening, with closely concealed intentions and a stern but silent step as he went on his way.

Of course, anyone hoping to appeal to Shen's sense of charity, or general do-goodery (both of which are largely absent); might find him to be of very little help. Or interest. He certainly didn't mind if both were the case.

[Aegil]

Having caught at least some of her breath back, Aegil continued on her way. Had she been looking ahead rather then at the ground as she stepped forward, she would not have so roughly bumped into a rather... curious looking man. With a visible wince and a grunt she glanced up, glaring between her unruly tangles of unwashed hair.

"Watch.. it..." she hissed, her voice escaping between heavy breaths, a thin whispy sound like an eerie breeze. She grimaced and crossed a hand over her chest again as a voice flitted through her mind. Maybe...

Her hand shot out, seeking the mans elbow. "Wait..." she rasped, leaning heavily upon the worn wooden staff that looked so battered as if it would break under her light weight. "Do.. you know...where I... can find a.. doctor or...healer?" Her speech broken with every gasp trailed off in a whisper and broke into a wheeze.

[Shen]

She looked at her in a sideways, none-too-appreciative manner and thought for a moment. In all honesty, he was rather taken at that moment with the idea of smoking from his pipe and finding something new and altogether unhealthy to drink; but perhaps he could spare a moment for someone who was clearly in need of some medical attention.

Though weren't they always?

"Hm. I take it you don't have medical insurance. If that's the case, miss; you're going to be needing some coin."

[Aegil]

Aegil grit her teeth in distaste. After all, how did she know this was not just a man who desired to rob her and leave her for a dead? Not that she would let someone get that far, neither would Spectre. Still, in such a situation such as this... A sigh escaped, one deeply laced with annoyance. "How much, in theory, would I require for such a thing?" she growled.

[Shen]

Shen had moved from thinking about his pipe to actually packing and lighting it up, by way of the strange little ignition device he owned. He took his time to answer, as any man would when starting a pipe and after he exhaled a lazy, if aromatic first puff of his herbs; he answered.

"Well. You have multiple abrasions, contusions and at least two broken ribs, on top of multiple sprains. You tell me just how much something like that is worth and then, perhaps; we can talk shop.

If not, I have other things to attend to. I'm sure you'll recover in your own time, albeit with something of a permanent limp and a severe bend in your back."

[Aegil]

Aegils lip twitched, and a rare, cold smile appeared. This was certainly a man she could at the very least respect. She lacked the proper medical knowledge to understand his words, but upon questioning her shadow through their mental link she shrugged it off. Spectre at the least believed the man was skilled. "Eighty gold." It was not a question, as that would be a sign of weakness in her mind, a request rather then a plain answer. Another twinge brough a flinch to her features, but she bit back any sound.

[Shen]

Shen thought her response over a while, enjoying his smoke and still debating whether he'd rather see to being inebriated, or help this young lady. Eighty gold would certainly cover the cost of a good night, so he decided to oblige.

"Very well. If you'll follow me, I have my practice this way."

He turned without thinking to aid her of course and began the short walk to the run down, left over store he called home. Which he very rarely called anywhere.

[Aegil]

Aegil bit her lip against the pain and gave a short curt nod. Respectable and a jerk, but he wasn't all bad. She hobbled along, focused entirely on keeping her movements to a steady pace. She did quite well, considering.

[Shen]

It didn't take all too long before they'd gotten to Shen's place. It might be considered odd in that he lived in the murkiest, most dangerous part of town and that most healers, Galena or not; occupied the other end of Wistvale. Of course, they were all closed at this time of night.

He led the way down an alley and under a low awning, then unlocked his door with a clack of a rather large key. A snap of his fingers and the place was suddenly illuminated - a trick he managed with the aid of his light magic and a collection of peculiar glowing beetles he kept in a very large jar in the corner. He headed in, without a look back.

"Come on in."

[Aegil]

Aegil hesitated only for a moment in the doorway, taking in the room, before striding purposefully after him, and nearly stumbling in the process. "A... curious location for a place of healing.." she muttered. She was not generally a talkative person, but perhapes it was the man before her that was the cause of this. She felt more... comfortable in the mans presence, though he was more likely a man most would feel the opposite towards. It was probably because of this very fact, as it was something of a quality she herself shared, due to Spectres presence at all times.

[Shen]

He turned about after he fumbled some, rifling through a couple of draws and picking through some items on his shelves. Whilst the place was an oddity, a clutter of strange and rather dangerous looking objects, it was hard to miss the fact that he kept it rather clean. Well, clean save the cobwebs.

He pointed at a large chair (comparable to a rather antique dentists chair though luckily, somewhat more comfortable I assure you) and nodded.

"Sit. And you'll have to remove some clothing. No, it won't entitle you to a discount."

[Aegil]

Aegils respect dropped faintly. Had he not added the latter part of that comment, she would have thought less of it, but now a faint red touched her cheeks as she shot him a glare, one that would have, at the very least, been unsettling to most people. Then again this man hardly fit into that category.

Placing the staff and cloak by the foot of the chair, she eased herself back, making no noise to portray the pain that flitted across her face. Without the general protection of her cloak her confidence slipped a little, as well as her mask that covered her emotions from portraying on her features. Her eyes showed obvious distrust and unease as she watched him bustle about. She took notice of the cleanliness of his 'shop' and took this as a good sign, though not much of one.

[Shen]

Shen had finished gathering his things and dragged a stool over to the chair, then placed each item upon it. He then walked back beside the door and shrugged his way out of his large, black overcoat and sighed a she hung it up. He was rather lean, but hardly neglected his physique, but whilst that was of little consequence, there was the most horrific looking scar you're likely to encounter running down the center of his chest and stomach.

He snatched up a plain shirt and wriggled into it, before then walking back to inspect his patient.

"Right. You needn't be prudish, it won't assist me in assisting you. And as much as your concealing your pain is admirable, it won't help me ascertain just what needs to be done. So let's see the damage."

He was very frank, altogether direct. That was either an admirable trait in a doctor, or an unnerving one.

[Aegil]

Aegil let loose a breath she hadn't realized she was holding as she sat back with a faint nod. She trusted this man, though she could not ascertain quite why. Still, his frankness was refreshing and well appreciated. A small gasp escaped her lips, followed by a barely concealed groan. Her memory of being shoulder checked across the forest while suffering immense magic based fatigue, and further pushing her already batter form in battle hit her. At the time she had been far to busy to think upon the mess she had fallen into, and all over a blasted herb! Then again, she had succeeded, and that was worth every bruise and other affliction she had recieved.