On the Mend

[Myth Celebrantè (D)]

The sun was peaking its crest when I finally got out of bed from a lengthy morning nap. I felt like I'd been run over by a mob, but better than I had yesterday, when I'd spent most of my day vomiting. My hands were peeling though, and I hated it. It had to pass before I could go back to work; no one of noble blood wanted their clothes on a girl whos skin was falling off.

Shuddering at the thought, I made my way to my kitchen in my nightshift, too big for me, but comfortable. It was threadbare in places as well, but it covered everything as long as I didn't bend too far forward. I wasn't expecting anyone today anyhow; I somehow managed to convince my parents that I would be ok, and to not bring any of this sickness back to my brothers and sisters.

Yawning, I put water on for tea before making my way to my small couch, curling up on it and tucking my legs into my nightshift.

[Devon Kirasic(H)]

I hadn't seen Myth in a few days and with the illness, things had become slow; in the interest of safety and finance I'd decided to close for the duration, which left me a great deal of time, so I went to check up on her. I'd brought some tea leaves, in case she wasn't well, for I knew the drink relaxed her and she enjoyed it.

The boarding house was unusually quiet, but I forced the thought away and simply went to her door, knocking quietly so as not to disturb her if she was resting.

[Myth Celebrantè (D)]

No sooner did I sit than a knock came, and I groaned softly to myself. Untangling my legs from my shift, I stood and made my way over, opening the door. "Momma, I thought..."

My voice cut short when I realized it wasn't my mother and father. "Devon," I said, a smile blooming across my face. "Gods, it's good to see you." I stepped back and held the door wide for him, happy to see him again.

[Devon Kirasic(H)]

"And you," I replied, stepping in with a smile of my own. "Here, I brought you some tea. Are you feeling alright? I haven't seen you in some time and grew worried about my old friend."

[Myth Celebrantè (D)]

I started to reach for the tea, but as soon as I did I stopped, gasping and tucking my hands behind me. "Oh, gods, no - I've caught the sickness," I said, mortified and blushing. "You should go, truly, I'd hate for you to as well, I'd never forgive myself..."

I was rambling, I realized, but I was highly worried for him, and I didn't want him to ... Oh gods, I was still in my nightshift. My blush deepened.

[Devon Kirasic(H)]

"You seem fine- I've seen a good deal of the illness in the past few days and have resisted it in any case," I told her with a smile, not in the least bit worried. "Besides, yours has passed, and no one seems to get sick from people in that stage. You need some company."

She was pretty scantily dressed, but after I realized that fact I did my gentlemanly best to not stare at her curves. "And I can see you've not been eating well in the past few days, and I happen to have some bread and such sitting in the Patron going stale for want of eating. Brew yourself some tea and I'll be right back with it."

Smiling and hoping she would accept my help I handed her the bag of leaves, then turned and headed back to my nearby inn to pick up the foodstuffs I knew were there.

[Myth Celebrantè (D)]

I was still standing, torn between covering myself and not letting him see my hands when he pushed the bag of leaves at me and left again. Mortified still, I closed the door and put the bag in the kitchen before going to my bedroom, the sickness the only thing keeping me from fleeing. Coughing, I sat for a moment on my bed to catch my breath, looking at my feeble closet. I had a few nice clothes at least, beautiful and hand sewn by myself out of scraps of cloths leftover from the Ladies I worked for. Standing, I stripped my gown off and carefully tucked it into a dresser drawer, then began sifting through my dresses, shivering. After a moment I put on a soft lavender one, the cloth well worn, but still comfortable and not thread bare yet. Stepping into it, I donned it and went back to the kitchen still tying it up, then set about making the tea. I'd left the door open; all Devon had to do was open it when he retured. Not for the first time, I counted myself lucky to have him as a friend.

[Devon Kirasic(H)]

It took as little time as I expected to gather the fruits, breads and smoked meats that were likely to go sour before the City began bustling again, and I was soon back at Myth's open door, which I took as an invitation and stepped inside. "I'm back," I called, probably unnecessarily as I set the bag of things on the table, then caught sight of her. She'd changed clothes and I could only hope she hadn't gone to too much trouble.

"You look lovely," I told her with a grin as I stepped into the kitchen. "Where do you keep your plates so I can get this food set out?"

[Myth Celebrantè (D)]

I looked up as Devon entered, and gave him a somewhat shy smile as he complimented me. "Thank you," I said as I got out two cups - one smaller, for me, and the other more Devons size. "They're there," I said, indicating with my hand. "Do you want tea? I'm afraid all I have is this and water." I gave him a rueful look. "I haven't been able to get out much."

[Devon Kirasic(H)]

"Tea sounds wonderful," I assured her with a smile, then went to the place she indicated and pulled down a couple plates, then glanced around for a knife of some sort. "I hope you like what I brought, I'm afraid the rest was distributed among my family so they could use it before it all went bad. Are you feeling better now?"

[Myth Celebrantè (D)]

"I'll like anything you bring," I said, giving him a soft smile before pouring the tea into two cups. "I'm not sure if I can eat it, but I'll like it from a distance," I teased lightly as I picked the cups up and carried them to my small living room, setting them on a coffee table. Clea, my orange tabby, made her way over as I set the cups down, rolling her body against my ankle before hopping up to sprawl on the couch. Picking her up, I sat down and waited for Devon, Clea curling up in my lap. "Things have been slow at the Patron then?" I asked. "I haven't been out much lately, unfortunately."

[Devon Kirasic(H)]

"Most places have been closed," I told her, slicing some bread and putting it onto a plate for her. "It's unsafe and unprofitable for everywhere but the lowest establishments to stay open at the moment, since nearly everyone is staying in their homes. The Patron has done the same, for now."

[Myth Celebrantè (D)]

I stroked Clea as I listened to him, her purring loud enough to drown him out if my kitchen hadn't been so close. "That sounds horrible," I said, saddened by the state to which our beautiful City was brought to. "Are you going to be all right, with the lost business?"

[Devon Kirasic(H)]

"There's some money saved up for such instances- you can never be too careful," I told her soothingly. "And I'm sure most things will be back to normal after a time." I sliced an pomegranate and set it onto the plate by her bread before cutting a small hunk of roast pork from what I'd brought. "And you? I know your job depends on the health of others as well as your own."

[Myth Celebrantè (D)]

I drew in a soft breath, thinking of my hands and wondering how long it would be before I could go back to work. I was weak still, but that didn't matter so much. Appearances mattered more when it came to matters of wealth. "I have some money stored away," I said, wincing as Clea began kneading my thigh. "I should be all right if I watch what I spend, and I do it carefully. Have you heard from your sister? She hasn't caught it, has she?"

[Devon Kirasic(H)]

"She's fine, and been staying in her rooms as much as possible to avoid catching the disease in her condition," I replied as I brought her plate to her, then went back and retrieved my own. "If you need anything I expect you to come to me and let me find something for you to do," I added as I sat beside her on the chaise, patting her hand where it stroked the cat in her lap.

[Myth Celebrantè (D)]

"Oh, good," I replied in response to the question on Allisande. I'd hate for her to get sick at all, but sick while carrying... I shivered and rubbed my arm, my other hand holding onto the plate. It smelled wonderful and repulsive at the same time, but I knew it all had to do with the illness. Devons food was always wonderful, and I had never eaten anything I didn't care for there.

Keeping it off of my face, I smiled softly at him as he sat and patted my hand. Turning it over, I squeezed his fondly. "More lemon slicing?" I asked, teasing him softly.

[Devon Kirasic(H)]

"Or potatoes, I'm sure I can find something," I told her with a grin. "No onions though, I promise- I know nearly everyone hates doing those, so I just do them myself. Besides, it's much more amusing to see me crying over vegetables than it would be anyone else."

[Myth Celebrantè (D)]

I laughed at the image of Devon - in all his burly, muscely mass, crying over an onion. The laugh turned into a cough and I covered it, wincing at the pain that flared out of my throat and through my head. "Ah by the gods I hope you don't catch this," I moaned as I picked up my cup and took a drink of the tea. "I'd have to tend to you, then, and we both know how much of a pain you can be when you're feeling ill."

I peeked up at him, giving him a secretive, teasing smile.

[Devon Kirasic(H)]

"Oh, I likely won't get it if I haven't yet," I said with a wink, stroking her hand slightly before taking a drink of my own tea. "It's too bad I didn't get to take care of you, though, so I could say the same thing and tease you as beautifully in return."

[Myth Celebrantè (D)]

"I'm not that bad," I protested as I put Clea back on the floor, then settled back again, my plate in my lap and my cup of tea held snugly in my cold hands. I liked the way he touched my skin, and I gave him a smile. "You do so many things for me, though. I'd like some way to make it up to you."

[Devon Kirasic(H)]

"You do them for yourself- I'm only offering job opportunities to a friend," I told her sincerely and fondly. She seemed to bask a bit in basic human contact, so I continued, glad to see her growing happier and more comfortable when she'd obviously been so discomfited when I'd come it first. "But if I ever need for anything I promise I will come to you first."

[Myth Celebrantè (D)]

"You'd better," I replied, patting his hand softly. "That goes for holes and tears in your clothing or other fabrics as well."

I smiled fondly at him and picked up the bread, tearing off a small bit and chewing. "Do you have any idea of when shops will reopen?"

[Devon Kirasic(H)]

"Likely it will be a week or so," I said once I'd swallowed a drink of tea. "At least until no new cases of plague have turned up."

[Myth Celebrantè (D)]

I nodded as I ate more bread, balancing my plate on my knees still. "I hope it's beginning to wear off and go away," I said. "Have many of your employees come down with it?"

[Devon Kirasic(H)]

"One of the tenders and one of the servers," I told her with a sigh. "But luckily, both are beginning to mend. What of your friends and family- have any of them become ill?"

[Myth Celebrantè (D)]

I shook my head, breathing a subconscious sigh of relief. "None yet, and I hope to keep it that way. I've been trying to keep momma and poppa out, but they're as stubborn as you are, I think," I added, giving him a teasing look.

[Devon Kirasic(H)]

"I'm not stubborn!" I protested innocently though I returned her wink and motioned for her to eat. "I just always know what should be done."

[Myth Celebrantè (D)]

I turned back to my food, taking a few bites as I tried to keep my grin to myself. "If you say so," I said, my voice teasingly pointed to appear as if I were only appeasing him. "I'm glad you came over today, Devon," I added, my voice natural.

[Devon Kirasic(H)]

"So am I," I replied, lightly squeezing her hand for a moment before taking another bite, then swallowing. "And I'm even more glad to see you recovering."