Senecio adn Tide II

[VisAnastasis]

Hans sighed, seeing he won't talk his way out of this.
" Well... I could argue being useful shouldn't be the highest priority in life, but coming from he it'd be too hypocritical... So instead of leading on, I'll settle on leading. Come with me, then, " he gestured to them to follow him to the free room. " You can tail me to the room, and then, I guess I wouldn't mind letting you heal my tail in exchange for some appetizing tale. " he raised his finger in an act of truce. " Gotta be really delicious one, though, deal? So it is a proper Being trade. "

[Mirach]

"I'm not sure if the tale is that good or when I'll tell it to you, because I'm certainly not going to chatter while focusing on a healing spell and you look too busy to chat afterwards, so I would rather not do a full Being trade," Svarik said.

[VisAnastasis]

" No, seriously, I know I am totally human passing and great, but I am a Being and have to work under Being rules. " Hans reminded him a little embarrassingly as they walked." It's the rules agreed in the old days... We literally can't do for humans something we really don't want to do unless we are given something we want in exchange. That's how humans found loophole and forced Janus's obedience, by blackmailing him to make deals with them for nuggets of food. It's a silly spot to be in, but currently I really feel  like I'd be too selfish if I let you do this, so I need something symbolic in exchange. I am a real gossip girl, though, so giving me some nice update of your day so I don't get punished by pesky laws of physics should be pretty easy. "

[Mirach]

"Oh, it's that? I should think of something then, but from my side it's also a bit of a rule, although not such a strict one. But I've been healing all day, and I would rather respect the privacy of my patients. Would you accept some gossip from the City instead?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Only if it's about sir Falcon over there. " Being shrugged sheepishly, speaking a bit more openly and freely as they entered the hallway where there was no more crowd that could overhear them. " Other than that, I will never go back to the capital city, remember? So, it'll be sort of a waste, don't you think... giving me gossips about the people I'll never know? That's a tad depressing. Sooo... how about instead we pretend you're my cool super-secret spy, and give me couple pointers about how the Master and the children are getting along and if there are bumps on the road of their relations that need... outside guidance to be ironed out? Normally, I'd single out that info from the gossip, but with you being tired, what about we skip the middle part and you just tell me that? " he grinned a little. " You don't strike me as a secretive type, but would your rule bend a little if it's for a good cause? It is in both of their interests, that I have as much useful data... "

[Mirach]

"I can share that much because I know you have their best interest in mind," Svarik said. "But only if you promise to not use any hand puns where they could hear you."

[VisAnastasis]

" Considering I've spent the last half hour thinking them up, normally I'd say you're driving a hard bargain, but in this case... really? Do I look like I'd be telling that jokes to the kid's face? " Hans turned his head a little to meadow king as he walked, his jesty attitude growing more uncertain. " Well... Shall it reassure you if I say I see no way how me making the kid feel angry or harassed would be of any help to anyone? I don't plan on befriending the kid, anyway, so I don't see a future where I'd be teasing him or testing around to see how freely I can jest and be playful and free with him. " he shrugged a little more gloomily, looking aside. " I imagined your morning would have been rather bleak... I was merely trying to lighten the mood with something over the top. Since you disliked my sense of humour when we met, I imagined some puns would be a pretty safe bet to test out... "

[Mirach]

"Considering I've spent the last half an hour putting that kid's mangled hand together and it wasn't a pretty sight, I'd say that was a little bit over the top. Sorry, usually I appreciate a joke, but you've got some hidden talent to find exactly the one that's just a bit much to be comfortable in the given moment. I don't mind, but I wanted to make sure you don't do that around Emmet." 

[VisAnastasis]

Hans slowly stopped his steps, and took a deep breath, before turning back to Svarik.
" I really... wished I could tell you I don't mind, but I do. " he crossed his arms defensively. " Yes, I joke crudely with people I like, but I wouldn't hurt you on purpose. " there was a hint of confusion, but also a hint of hurt in his voice. " I'm-... I used to be a regeneration type Being. I know the feeling of chopped off hands, pulled off tails and more... And you are a veteran healer. We've seen all these ten times over. I was just making lame puns on an absurdist subject I thought was common ground... didn't describe to you how to mince the meat or bring you Manual 101 on how to hurt feelings of crippled kids. " he murmured, absentmindedly touching one of the scars on his face, hidden well beneath the makeup. " I... am a cripple too, Svarik. Do you really think I'd get a kick out of mocking other cripples? "

[Mirach]

"No. You wouldn't do it on purpose but I don't know you good enough to tell if you aren't desensitized enough to the topic to not realize. People take these things very differently. Like, I'm a veteran healer but I don't think I'll ever ger used to it, I just compartmenalize. A part that's fully focused on work, and a part that's allowed to feel everything, but locked down so it can't act. I need that part when healing the soul."

[VisAnastasis]

" Okay.. " Hans took a deep breath." Let's pretend I know what compartmentalizing means in this context... All that talk about locking down the part that's feeling? Really doesn't sound healthy. " He murmured." Listen... You just tell me you are actually sensitive to it, and you think I'd be peachy to let you heal a mangled tail right after healing the mangled hand? Especially... after I probably already made you gloomy with all the healing yesterday." There was a little more amiable light in Hans's expression." How about... We just alll sit down, and have a good drink? " He offered." I can already sit alright, that's huge enough for me. But you? Last night you were healing me, this morning Sea Deity and Emmet. You aren't.... A phisical worker here. You are our guest. So how about a drink? Let me tempt you to some good Being spirits, or maybe some good Chardonnay and red wine. How about we go to guest room and just be unproductive for a bit?"

[Mirach]

"Yeah, and let's sit there while your tail is still mangled and I can sense it and sense your pain while drinking wine, no thank you. We can do that after your tail is healed. Honestly I'm looking forward to that part. I'm not too keen on giving you reports about the relationship of Janus and his apprentices right now, though. Do you mind if I leave that part to Conrad while I heal you?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Senecio got me a really good balm, it honestly doesn't feel half as bad as it looks. It's not like we would have to hang out if my pain's distracting you. Buut I won't pretend to be an idiot just to avoid it. Do you really want to do this, even though it can be avoided? " Being tilted its head. " Listen, I honestly looked forward to seeing you when you're free today... But you do seem to have a secret gift for making me a bad host. " he seemed bewildered. " Tonight's the debut of my first play, a play I invited you to! Do you fancy me enjoying seeing you half asleep at it just because I tired you out? I am obliged to give you a good time. Name a thing you'd enjoy - do you fancy going on picnic, drinking, travelling the cost, maybe checking out some restaurants? Name a thing, and I can arrange it. But how could I possibly want you to heal me if you don't let me return the favour? Sure, I can not Sing anymore, but there has to be some human-like thing I can do... "

[Mirach]

"Actually, I would like to sleep for a few hours before the play. If you could lend me the guest room until then and let my clothes for the evening be brought here, that would be more comfortable than going back and forth between here and the mansion."

[VisAnastasis]

" Come, on, that's, like, 3 minutes of work for me to arrange. Barely worth mentioning. Of course, I'll do that. But it's hardly half the equivalent of making my tail grow in one day instead of at least a week or two. " Hans rolled his eyes. " Listen... if it's a deal between us, it has to be from you, not sir Falcon. So, how about if you're really for some reason totally not into telling me about Janus and the kids, how about you take your time while we do this to instead think up fo something nice I can do for you while you're here? I'll take nothing less. "

[Mirach]

"Okay," Svarik smiled a bit. "And I wouldn't mind telling you, just don't feel like doing that right now."

[VisAnastasis]

" Alright, we'll save that talk for some other time when we're in way better spirits and way less sober. Deal? " Spirit finally budged, a tad calmer when they cleared out the issue. He turned and gestured for them to follow anew, before leading them to today's designated guest quarters.

[Mirach]

Svarik followed him there, also relieved that they are on the same page now.

[VisAnastasis]

Being led them to the room, careful to lock the door behind them. He was hesitant, but he sat down then as others sat down, and let Svarik untie the bandage. Indeed, Senecio's balm was helping a lot, but nothing could quite dull the pain of the exposed growing spine. Being tensed as Svarik touched the tender flesh, but gritted his teeth, saying nothing. It wasn't pretty at the start, while spine and flesh were growing over each other under healing spell, but soon enough, as they were nearing the end of the tail and healing, it was getting much less messy. Light thin iridescent scales began to grow in spots over the tail, and even more beautiful, soft blueish sparkly feathers grew at the top part of the tail, even more pretty and healthy than the ones he used to have before the cutting, and it was fascinating to watch it grow at such speed, each lusher than the last one.

[Mirach]

"That's better," Svarik smiled, as if feeling relief himself when the wound was healed, despite looking exhausted. 

[VisAnastasis]

Hans only then dared to slowly relax, breathing out sharply. Hesitantly, he took a look at his tail, as it was hard to process the rapid change. His look was wondering, as he slowly tried to wag it.
" Your... magical signature is so harmonized. It's been ages since I... had as much stable energy put in my physical form so... eloquently. Usually, by the time it grows back the colours grow dull and it's all washed out and greezy. " he murmured, looking at the flowy soft tail, before managing a faint troubled smile back at Svarik. " For someone as powerful as you are, you've... picked a rather cute outlet to your power, you... a silly little sparkle. " his voice was unsteady and his ears hanging low as he spoke. " Is it... really worth it? Doing this to your mortal body, just to save me a little inconvenient time out of eternity? Was... the sight of me really so haunting to you yesterday when I had it cut that you couldn't be calm until it was grown back again? "

[Mirach]

Svarik just shrugged. "Yes," he said, as if the answer was obvious.

[VisAnastasis]

" Yes, to like, was it worth it, or yes, the sight of me haunted you terribly? " Hans raised his eyebrows bewildered. " How... can I know how to act to you if you just go along with things? You accepted it like it was no big deal. If you said it's hard for you, I'd not have troubled you. Sure, it's great not to hurt, and it's even greater that I could expose Janus to humans who don't suck and he can trust, but not everything has to be... optimal. Why didn't you stay aside if it's hard for you? The last thing I need is to get someone like you traumatized... "

[Mirach]

"I meant yes to both, but I understood the second part a bit differently," Svarik said. "It didn't bother me that you had it cut for Janus. What bothered me was that I wasn't able to heal it right away and had to leave you like that for almost a whole day. Like it didn't bother me to treat Emmet's hand, but the thought of how long he went with it in this state. That's what's hard for me."

[VisAnastasis]

" But I've lived like this for hundreds of years, one day of wait is nothing. It's not like you made me wait out of spite. You needed time to recover. And Emmet's been hurt since he was 12, so 7 years by now. Yet, you made his life infinitely better. Not everyone can do what you can. You are pretty amazing, Sparkles. " Hans said with worry." You didn't do what you do for your benefit or for payment, it was a gift. You are choosing when and how to give. But one thing is sure, you can not give infinitely. No one can. Not even I could." He murmured tensely." If... If you keep trying to give more than you can, you can end up broken. Soul, mind or body, take a pick, neither is good. I... Don't want that for you. I don't know how can I convince you I didn't think once about you not healing me all at once as a bad thing. I was really just grateful I would be able to sit fine right away  Likewise, pretty sure Emmet isn't wondering why weren't you there for him 7 years ago. No one was. Take it from an immortal. With time you just learn you can not take care of every single misfortune all the time...  It is admirable you choose to be there for him now. You made a difference in more than one life, and that's a cause for celebration, okay? It would have been a cause of celebration for me even with just half a tail, you understand?   "