#memory:Brundle

[medicalmagician]

The Red Plague didn’t come on suddenly; for several years, there was the odd case here and there, and it became increasingly more common. We knew there was a problem, but response to it was mostly “stay away from the red beetles” and to make the dying more comfortable in their last days, especially during the last 24hrs or so, when the symptoms were worst. There was a sudden influx of beetles though, which is what caused the rise in cases to become an epidemic.

There were a couple of cases within my first few months at the clinic; it was something that upset Ilya, more than other issues. He didn’t like losing patients; he did his best to make sure no one in the clinic died, but when people came in with the red sclera, it shook him. He still kept good bedside manner, and made sure that he stayed calm and collected with his patients, but sometimes he cried in the back after the clinic had closed, especially when we got news one of the patients had died. When I caught him, I’d bring Brundle in and sit with him for a while; once we were together, I’d cuddle him then too.

[medicalmagician]

My relationship with Ilya started off as workplace flirting; we got along like wildfire, and there was a lot of banter between us. I also adored Brundle.

When we finally got together, Ilya tried to ask me to dinner and to chat by the docks after work, though he was extremely nervous. And apologised profusely. I shushed him and told him I would love to, and he thought he’d misheard me. It was a lovely time, especially since this was long before the Lazaret became what it was; we sat and spoke about a lot of things, he told me a little about growing up in Nevivon, about how he came to Vesuvia, and many other things. I told him about my aunt and how she taught me pretty much everything I knew about magic, which he had... interesting ideas about; he wasn’t necessarily bad about it, particularly because he had seen my use of it in some of what I did in the clinic, but he didn’t understand it and was frustrated by that. Most of the rest of the time we were there, it was just in comfortable silence, looking out at the horizon in the night. I rested my head on his shoulder and we were just content there together. It was lovely.

He walked me home after that, and gingerly held my hand and kissed it when we arrived; we got back pretty late, else I’d’ve asked him if he wanted to stay for tea. He did kiss my forehead before he left though, and played with my hair a little. I felt completely comfortable with him.