Death and Tide

[VisAnastasis]

Malachite did not seem to notice or take offence - on the opposite, it seemed less oversight had less pressure on him and helped him work with more pleasure. He looked a bit proud of himself for being able to finish it without disturbing the resting snake with questions.
" Balm is done. " he proclaimed quietly. " Only to take a bit into the bottle.... and adjust it for the use with the needle... liquid enough to pass... if needed... and that is all. Just a minute or two... " he reassured him.

[Mirach]

"Alright," Death said quietly. "Could I try the other part while you do that?" he asked, his voice a bit strained with pain that was slowly, gradually returning as the effects of the balm were fading.

[VisAnastasis]

Spirit took some of the new balm in the glass, for liquid preparation. He then closed the jar, and put it in the middle on the table, before returning to his distant enough place at it, so he could continue his work.
 
" The cottage... is good for testing," he whispered quietly. " You are... my quests. As long as you test it... thoroughly... and share your observations... you can take time... as you need... "

[Mirach]

"Thank you," Death said and looked at Tide, suggesting just with his look to go there.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide didn't need any more encouragement - he knew, if Death was asking himself for something like that instead of waiting that it had to be bad. He took the jar with one hand, and he carefully took the chair with the snake on the other hand and thanked Malachite gently and warmly, before he carried the medicine and little creature back through the doors and the hallway, to the little familiar cottage.

[Mirach]

Death curled himself around the pillow, squeezing it rather forcefully.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide carefully lowered the chair on the floor and knelt beside it, so he could be on snake's eye level.
" Is it that bad? " he bit his lip, with some worry. " You should have said something sooner... Maybe ... the snake form is... less suitable for your injury? Maybe when you're human, with a les flexible spine that can't bend in all directions, it'd be easier to manage.. "

[Mirach]

"I guess... that's possible..." Death admitted. "I tried to relax my muscles, but it's hard..."

[VisAnastasis]

" It's... a nice feeling to be close to you... But not at the cost of making you sicker. " Tide smiled sadly. " You like the touch of my skin... and I like having you close... but we will find another way. I'll take my stupid shirt off if need be. " carefully, as if to trying to check on its fever, Tide placed the finger on snake's little head. " We'll adjust... You are as tiny human as a snake, compared to me... Now, my hands are okay... I'll carry you to the end of the world if need be. May you please take on a human form for me now? " He asked hopefully. " Let's get you to bed... "

[Mirach]

The snake uncoiled its body slowly and a bit stiffly and stretched on the bed where Tide laid him. Only then he turned into his human form.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide took off his mask and left it aside, and measured him up from head to toe only then as if he wanted to take a closer look.
" I know it's not the most proper thing to ask a Being... But you're my Semai. You know how I mean it. Injury is in your neck mostly, but it manifests in the nerves, and they go along the whole spine pretty densely... I'd like to check everything this time, so we can apply the balm the best way for you. Will you let me help you take off your shirt? "

[Mirach]

"Alright," Death said quietly, but it seemed he didn't actually mind it from Tide.

[VisAnastasis]

Demon nodded, with a little smile - it did not seem like he actually doubted that he will be allowed, but he still enjoyed the readiness with which permission was given. Slowly to cause the least pain possible, he first helped Death take off his tunic, and he placed it at a chair close by. Then, he helped the Spirit lay down on the bed into a comfortable position, on his belly, with his back exposed.
" Would you like me to call Xia, so you can hold her paw, or she can purr at your side? " he asked him quietly then. " Or do you not wish her to see you like this? "

[Mirach]

"No, do not call her," Death replied, pain visible in the tension of his shoulders and all muscles along the spine.

[VisAnastasis]

" I won't do anything you're not okay with. " Tide replied simply and quietly. He went to a cupboard, and he searched through it and took out something in no way magical this time - a simple dark blue hair tier. He used it to tie his own wavy hair in a ponytail, so it wouldn't get in the way. Then, he took out two more, and he went back to Death. He was careful with Spirit's hair, and he tied it into a bun, on one side, so it wouldn't get drenched in balm, either, and on the other side, to reveal his neck too.

[Mirach]

"This is quite nice, actually..." Death murmured, referring to the feeling of Tide brushing through his hair.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide smiled a little when he realized the reason why.
" It'll be even nicer later when I weave you the sweetest cutest braids... " he whispered. " I can't wait... but I just can't take time to do it right before I know you're feeling better. Now, I already examined your neck. May I... examine your back with my hands? " he bid, while gently tucking one loose lock of hair behind Spirit's ear. " Your muscles don't look right, and I'd like to take a closer look, to decide what's best... "

[Mirach]

"Alright, go on," Death agreed.

[VisAnastasis]

Tide sat down on the free place beside Death, since the bed that was very large easily allowed for a place for that. He was quiet for a moment, thoughtful. He was thinking about how back in the old age, Death was said to often sport wings in his human form, but now he did not. He was thinking about Erdel's theories, and he was thinking about how scared Death said he was of anyone touched him there ever again. It was layered beneath the skin, but he could still feel it and he hesitated at first. But then, slowly, he leaned forth, and he laid his hand on Death's shoulder blades and began tracing over the bones and muscles lightly with his fingertips, observing all irregularities from a common, healthy body.

[Mirach]

Death trembled a little with the touch, but Tide couldn't feel any irregularities - the muscles under his hand were tense, but otherwise perfectly healthy, without a trace of injury. 

[VisAnastasis]

Tide was a little surprised by that, observing it more thoughtfully.
" Isn't it... rather mentally straining... to maintain so healthily looking form? " he asked slowly as he was gathering his thoughts. " Is it something you can't help yourself but do, because of your healing nature? Or is it out of being so used to appear healthy before your court? " he asked wonderingly, tracing the tense but perfectly smooth muscles along the spine. " I mean, I am surprised enough you have it in you to manifest even your neck because if you were common Spirit with common sized soul, even that would be excruciating effort... The rest of you looks healthy, but it hurts a lot still, doesn't it? I think it's probably so... because to manifest yourself like this, you're stretching your soul too thin over your form... And things look proper, even though they are not. It's hard to relax without effort because maintaining your form to look like this since you lost that layer is an endless ordeal, and stiffness is its default state... isn't it? "

[Mirach]

"This is not a stretched form..." Death said with some strain. "It's not the one I was hurt in. It's... a new one. Made to look just like the hurt one, but healthy. No wings, though. I couldn't manifest the wings in it."

[VisAnastasis]

" I see... It's.... An economical solution. Until now, so far, that is...  Until you are better...." Tide whispered. He was hesitant, but he suggested then." And as for that... I have... A form with four arms. I think I would be able to treat you more properly, with more fingers. But... It is... An unsightly form.. I normally only slip into it in rare cases. " He admitted."  But... I would not mind slipping into it now, for your good, if you promise not to look..."

[Mirach]

"I don't mind..." Death murmured. "Whatever form you find suitable to wear."

[VisAnastasis]

" Okay... " Tide nodded. He removed his own hair tie, for now, and put on a mask, so he could transform. Death could feel a figure taking more space. He could feel a little shimmering, translucent feeling in the air, clear and refreshing. He did not look at Tide, but he could see a light coming from his direction, soft blue and soothing. Then, as it moves, he could hear the sound of the jar opening... And at last, he felt hands, drenched in balm, being laid upon him.

There were two pair of hands. Both of them were bigger than ones of Tide's common form. They were different, though. The first pair was as material, of flesh, but the fingertips felt softer, as if it had no fingernails  - and the other pair had a rather soft, water-like structure, smooth and soft, leaning against his skin. Tide began working from the bottom of his spine, rubbing down the strained pained muscles gently but thoroughly, observing Death's reaction and the reaction of his body, while he slowly progressed upwards.