hold your burning hands up, the emblems of eternal youth

[heardmermaids.livejournal.com]

Who: Only Velcro is owning up to his real name in this one.
What: A visit to the mob doctor.
Where: The backroom at a dodgy apothecary.
When: Newdi evening.
Warnings: Exposure may cause or contribute to: itchy rashes, full body hair loss, projectile vomiting, gigantic eyeball, the condition known as 'hot dog fingers,' children born with the head of a golden retriever, seeing the dead, bone liquification, possession by the Prince of Darkness, tail growth, elderly pregnancy, and back pain.

A city as diverse as Baedal provides a glut of strange medical practitioners and without much to base his opinions on, Sebastian is forced to scan the local papers, trade on word of mouth, and spend a fair portion of his spare time calling on various practices. Once he'd put out a quiet word at work, the staff at Hellsing have been quite helpful in suggesting magically-inclined doctors, healers, shamans, and a few truly alien specialists that left him confused but pleased by the thought of progress. Admittedly, there had been a good deal more walking and interviewing than actual headway, but a little CONSTANT VIGILANCE caution when describing his condition was the prudent course of action.

One consultation led to another, which lead to contacting a small apothecary that was known for poor bedside manner and efficiently dealing with odd problems. After sending off a brief description of himself and his problem, Sebastian consoled himself that no matter how suspect the apothecary, he had the luxury of time and choice -- no more stitches by veterinarians or hasty and ill-brewed healing by untrained students. Still, as he reads a book in 'waiting room', there's a touch of same atmosphere and he's not sure if it's worrying or comforting.

Comments

[heardmermaids.livejournal.com]

"Nearly is the key word. Given a dim room and some aspirin, I can recover." He's always known that sooner or later the rest of the Death Eaters would learn of his existence and come for him. "And, while it's not the way I would've preferred testing it, we've proof that I'm still connected. Not as strongly as I was before, but it's there."

When he was younger, Harry wondered where Voldemort left off and he began. Did speaking Parseltongue strengthen that Other part of him? What could weaken it? Was there a way to starve it out? Without ready answers, he turned to Hermione and then to practical research.

"When we've more time, I'd like to go over the mess of the connection, because that's tied into why I can't cast, but for now, I'd best return to Hellsing and speak to Malfoy before anything else goes horribly awry."

[inkdamage]

"It isn't your head I've particular concern for in this instance," he says, "But rather what might happen when the older Lucius Malfoy and younger pair inevitably begin to compare notes on the excuses they've been given."

Severus speaks as he rises and moves to walk out the door - not far, he just pulls open a cabinet in the dark hallway, and pulls a few things out. He's pulling a long coat on when he returns, and hands Sebastian a vial of some pale blue liquid with his off hand as he does so. "It's not aspirin." That would be for his head.

"I was doing something foolish with a client that caused the reaction, and we never saw each other. Obviously you're going to have to tell the Malfoys, but as for the rest of them - they can blame me."

(It's hard to tell just how furious with him self he is - it's so far gone it's almost manic, swimming somewhere behind his eyes.)

"I'll not be going to your guild hall. Contact me again when it's safe for you to speak." He'll write his own CiD number down, now.

[heardmermaids.livejournal.com]

"The elder knows who I am and is, for now, keeping the younger's secrets about it. Probably more for Narcissa's sake than his own." This may be because he cares about her or because all the Blacks are mad as a box of frogs and women all twice as frightening.

Sebastian is probably less upset by this than he might otherwise be since he'd long harboured nasty suspicions that his life with Hellsing -- filled with painting, plastering, and the occasional zombie fungal ant attacks -- was too good to last. With any luck and a lot of lies, they can hold back the tide for a little while longer, but this madness is familiar and what he's used to.

"Be well and as safe as you can."

[inkdamage]

"Hand to fucking Merlin they're like a plague," he says, nearly a hiss, and it's difficult to discern if that's an insult or... what. Surely it can't be fondness.

He heads out the back, obviously expecting Sebastian to follow him - he'll let him out, lock up, and they'll both be on their ways for the time being.

(Severus has a few things to rip out of his head before he faces anyone. It's just something that has to happen.)