Death and Tide

[VisAnastasis]

Tide wished Death would believe him - but he knew he can't expect miracles. It was miracle enough in retrospective that he convinced someone with no will to live to linger longer. He leaned back, only then.He focused on water and seemed to be thinking about it for a while.
" You better accept..." He murmured innocently after a moment, closing his eyes finally too." If you refuse, I may have to *punish* you with another hot water bath or a cuddle. Stay vigilant..." He grinned a bit, and, as innocently, he controlled water around Death, and made couple of nice steamy waves wash over creature's back, so it would remain comfortably moist.

[Mirach]

Death looked a bit apathetic and he didn't talk anymore, but he remained floating in the warm water.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide didn't speak anymore, remaining in the water too, and leaning back, watching the ceiling of the cave thoughtfully. He kept the water steamy and warm, taking a moment to take in everything too, but not forgetting to, every now and then, make little waves to soothe and cover the snake.

[Mirach]

"Shouldn't we return to our host?" Death asked after a while.

[VisAnastasis]

" Question is not *should*. Question is - do you want to?" Tide asked." We can take some more time, if you want. I can explain ourselves to Malachite when we decide to join him. If he had trouble with Xia, you could bet he would have already came to find me for help... "

[Mirach]

"I find it rude to stay here longer," Death said. "I would rather join them."

[VisAnastasis]

" Let's go back to first layer, then." He nodded, and extended his now healthy hand to the snake.

[Mirach]

Death coiled himself around the hand and followed Tide into the first layer.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide took them out and dried them both, before they slipped into the first layer. He carried him gently and kept him warm, as they left the cave and went outside to the garden again.

There, they could see, although uneasy in general, it was hard to be too afraid of a little kitten, as long as it behaved, and it did. They could see there was lot of skins of fruits on the table, and spirit was using a little knife to peel an apple currently - it seemed that he was regularly filling in Xia's bowl of fruit, and the tiny demon was eating idly and calmly, enjoying the attention she wasn't able to get much in the last days of constant escape, appearing better than last night, but pleased to not have to strain anymore right now.

[Mirach]

Death let Tide to announce their presence, not wanting to startle the spirit.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide made sure his steps are heard so that Spirit would notice them. When he did and was looked upon with raised eyebrow, he spoke up gently, apologizing for taking the time.
Malachite gestured him to keep talking, but do not waste time, and he pointed at the pillow, clearly wanting the snake to be placed back on it, as if he was a bit on the edge of his nerves and needed that orientation he was used to  from before, or perhaps didn't like watching the injured snake all twisted up in Tide's arms.

Demon explained that the snake and he bound as Semai so the snake could heal his burnt hand. Spirit must have noticed the injury before but did not question it. Now though, his attention seemed captivated. He looked at Tide's hand, unbandaged now, and clear, with no signs of any hurt, and then he turned back to the snake that was now lied down on a pillow, watching it expectantly.

[Mirach]

Death slowly stretched on the pillow, getting more comfortable. "I wasn't sure if it will work, but it did..." he murmured.

[VisAnastasis]

" You healed... Tide... " the creature whispered quietly, but with an echo of pleasure in his voice, sounding like he clearly enjoyed the fact, but at the same time, it seemed to grow curious with it, leaving the half cut apple in his lap, and watching the snake intently. " Does... it hurt... to heal? " he asked. " Is it... skill? Is it... nature? Is it mix, like... with Tide? "

[Mirach]

"Nature," Death replied. "But now I cab only heal in the layers where I'm not hurt myself. Otherwise it hurts or I'm not able to do it at all," he sighed.

[VisAnastasis]

Creature nodded,  seeming intrigued, but also a little nervous, despite his interest, as he cleared his throat, working on his words.
" Little snake... Do you... Perhaps... Like helping? Perhaps you could... Help me?" He asked hopefully." I make p-potions. Nothing evil. Nothing b-bad. " He rushed to add, not wanting to be misunderstood, as he explained hopefully, struggling to be as clear as he could." Good potions... To make people better. When Being have healing n-nature, it sips into their bones. Into flesh. Into everything of them. Perhaps... Would you make a deal with me? For s-some of your hair and nails?" He rubbed his fingers nervously." To experiment. To make potions and mixtures of...  "

[Mirach]

Death considered the offer for a while. "I fear I'm currently stretched a bit thin..." he said. "I'm not sure how much I can afford to give safely. A few hairs should be fine, though."

[VisAnastasis]

The creature seemed a little confused.
" Why is...hair fine... but nails not? Is there... some reason hair is... different? Or... Oh... " he seemed to grow a little horrified for a moment as if he got afraid he was misunderstood. " Not whole nails. I thought... to say... Nail clippings. " He made a gesture as if cutting the upper white part of the nail, as he seemed troubled to think Death might think he wanted to rip off the whole piece from the flesh. " Never work with whole. " he shook his head with quiet discontent. " Terrible thing... Brutal. Much pain... I don't work with pain. "

[Mirach]

"Don't worry, I understood. But I'm usually keeping them short to not interfere with healing, and call will them to grow right now. Maybe some other time..." Death explained.

[VisAnastasis]

Spirit nodded, seeming a little relieved - it was probably a terrible thing in its eyes that someone might think he is implying he wants to gain anything through violence. He shuddered at the thought and tried to gather his thoughts, but he was quiet for a moment, staring at the half cut apple in his lap that was getting a little yellowish as if he lost himself in thoughts for a moment.
He finally realized he's supposed to say something, and he looked up at the snake again, and spoke up anew, a little more shyly now.
" Alright then... As many hairs... As can you afford... little... g-guest. Now... What do... you wish... in return? "

[Mirach]

Death thought for a while. "I would like to learn to make this potion, if you figure out that it works..." he said slowly.

[VisAnastasis]

" More hair I have... For experiment... More likely it works. " Creature whispered,. a little uncomfortable." I don't prefer offering... What is not certain. Make a deal with me for it when I suceed . Is there nothing I can offer... In case experiments don't work?"
Tide waved to draw attention to himself, and when he was given it, he suggested.
" How about that balm Emil gave you?" He asked Death's opinion." Maybe we can let Malachite check it out to see if he can improve it better for you. He is very good with those things...."
" A balm?" " That immediately captured Malachite's attention, and he turned to Death anew, and he was stuttering and pausing less when compelled." What kind of balm? Can I see?"

[Mirach]

"We don't have much of it though," Death said uncertainty. "Does the result depend on quantity like with the hair? And would the part you use to experiment be lost or still usable?"

[VisAnastasis]

" I have to know more. " Spirit replied with some confusion - it seemed he didn't understand how they may expect him to give his opinion before he has a better picture. " It is different, bettering one potion... or figuring out what potion the new ingredient may help. To the other possibilities are much more limitless, and I want to experiment in more than one brew... About this balm...  Let me see it. Tell me what is in it. Tell me how it is used... And I will tell you what I can do. "

[Mirach]

"Alright, that's reasonable," Death said and explained Malachite how the balm was made. "I fear some if the ingredients are only grown there, but I can actually give you some of my poison, if you want. It's easier than nails."

[VisAnastasis]

In meantime, Tide allowed the man to take out the balm from the bag, and observe and touch it with his glove while Death spoke. He was smelling the mixture for a while then, appearing thoughtful.

" It is a powerful mix... But it definitely craves some minerals. There is lot to unpack... " He whispered in the end, when deep in his thoughts and in elevated mood, speaking almost normally, when his thoughts were hopeful and not crippled with anxiety." I can mix it up with my Accelerated mending brew, to make the effects last longer. But I think... I may actually do you one better." He gazed at Death thoughtfully, almost as if looking through him, and half almost as if talking to himself." You need to rub it down where it hurts... Isn't that.. rather painful? It seems like, on it's own, it is rather inneficient solution, that brings at least  half as pain as it takes away..."