May 12: Frowning

[Tommy More]

Tommy was in the bar, not nearly his usual upbeat self.
((open))

[Zeryn]

"You don't have the appearance of one that the currents are being kind to," Zeryn mused as he joined him at the bar.

[Tommy More]

"Ah, Zeryn. No, I'm afraid I am not."

[Zeryn]

"Then I can only wonder what the solution for these badly-aimed currents is. If it is more drink, I'll buy, but that rarely seems to be the case."

[Tommy More]

"No, no amount of drink can solve this, friend."

[Zeryn]

"Well, then we drink out of sorrow for that fact," Zeryn said, nodding to the bartender to bring them drinks.

"What does seem to be troubling you?"

[Tommy More]

"It is nothing...nothing anyone can do anything for, though I appreciate the sentiments."

[Zeryn]

"Nonsense," Zeryn scoffed. "Are we not lords of land and sea? Do we not walk among those who could be called gods, or who once might have been? What problem could possibly be beyond help, or beyond finding help?"

[Tommy More]

"You may be lord of land and sea, but no one is a master of their own body..."

[Zeryn]

"And now your words make me even more concerned. Are you ill, my friend?"

[Tommy More]

"Not I, my friend, but the one I hold dearest to me."

[Zeryn]

Zeryn winced. "One of your wives?" he guessed.

[Tommy More]

"No, no, my darling sister, Charlotte."

[Zeryn]

Zeryn quirked an eyebrow at that. "Oh? Well... that's a tradition that's generally secluded to the lower hemisphere in the seas, but I suppose on land it would be different. To each their own, I suppose. What appears to be the problem?"

[Tommy More]

"She is wasting away, Zeryn. Slowly, but surely."

[Zeryn]

Zeryn frowned. "Is it an affliction that your people's healers know of? Or is it a mystery to them?"

[Tommy More]

"Oh, they've come up with a laundry list of things they were absolutely sure it was," he chuckled, humorlessly.

[Zeryn]

Zeryn frowned thoughtfully. "Perhaps this is a fault of the surface medicine, then. Methods beneath the waves are, obviously, different. I could arrange to make more resources available," he offered.

[Tommy More]

"I don't believe she could breathe underwater, my friend," he smiled, sadly.

[Zeryn]

Zeryn did look amused at that. "I do believe, my friend, that there have been methods invented of traveling and breathing underwater," he said dryly.

[Tommy More]

"She's really very frail; travelling is not likely a good idea for her."

[Zeryn]

Zeryn considered it. "It is possible for the resources to come to her rather than vice versa," he allowed.

[Tommy More]

"If you'd wish to arrange it; I am simply not sure that such a thing would ever be successful," Tommy sighed. "She has been frail since she was a little girl."

[Zeryn]

"Some are naturally frail," Zeryn allowed. "Growing more sickly, though, does not seem natural. Perhaps it is something that my people know of. It is, at least, worth exploring."

[Tommy More]

"I suppose...I mean, if you think it could help..."

[Zeryn]

"Will not doing it help?" Zeryn pointed out, sliding the glass of whiskey to Tommy.

[Tommy More]

"Well, she's had to go through so many painful tests...I would hate to put her through them again, and even more to raise her hopes..."

[Zeryn]

"An understandable dilemma," Zeryn said sympathetically. "However, as I said, our methods are not your methods. I will inquire as to the methods that will be used, but I would hope that it can be accomplished without causing her much in the way of discomfort."

"Have you inquired with those in power here? We walk among people who are almost gods, one would think that a miracle would not be out of the question."

[Tommy More]

"There are...complications."

[Zeryn]

Zeryn nodded. "I am listening."

[Tommy More]

"Just...complications..." he said, vaguely.

[Zeryn]

"I will be sure to relay that when they are selecting the specialties of the healers to examine her. 'The problem is complicated. With complications. Complicated ones.'"

[Tommy More]

"It....do not overly concern yourself, Zeryn," he said, a tad nervously.

[Zeryn]

"I hope that you don't believe I would be indiscreet with sensitive details you would give me. My family, after all, has a blood debt with a squid of all things. I'm well acquainted with the concept of words which should not be said save in confidence."

[Tommy More]

"A blood debt with a squid?"