Leander leaned back against his workbench in exhaustion, running a tired hand through his hair as he watched his previous patient disappear through the rickety wooden door that creaked and groaned ominously at being opened. He really ought to fix that before it falls off its hinges... but...

No time like the present, he supposed.

The alchemist carefully packed away the needle and thread he'd used to sew up a gushing wound on the man's arm – one he suspected to be from a knife, not that it was any of his business. That was life in the poorer maze of streets unseen in Amaryth, the one he could do the most good in: “they don't tell, you don't ask”. He doubted that he would understand all of the man's words, anyway, jumbled and panicky and pain-stricken as they were.

He had only just set over to the door to inspect it when a woman burst in, a neighbour. Leander knew her well enough (Lily, he thought her name was) and even simply knowing of her profession made him blush beet-red. “Leander!” she called as if they were old friends. “I need a bit more of your... ahem, treatment!”

Lily strode over to the worktable, flipping her blonde braid over her shoulder and pulling the arm of her dress back over her shoulder. Back in Kalnach, she would've been killed for such an undignified appearance – at least, that's what he'd heard of the cities. Shamed eternally, with no reputation to use to find a husband, start a family. Leander could admit to being just a little apprehensive about treating such a girl, but he suppose if he had healed criminals and murderers in his time, a woman with loose morals wouldn't be so much worse. 

“Hi,” he replied awkwardly, turning around to fetch a vial of some colourless, odourless substance from its hiding place at the bottom of a jar. Time spent in his home village had taught him to be very careful with where he placed his cure lest an inquisitor find it easily. The flower crown from which the medicine derived from was sitting on the desk, three blooming specimens curling around it, and he was thankful that he didn't have to have it permanently attached to him.

“So you know,” Lily started slyly as she gulped down the medicine, legs dangling from her position on the table. “You've been helping me out a lot lately, and I know the Madam pays generously but... maybe you deserve a [i]bonus[/i].”

Leander gulped. “Maybe some other time...” he managed to get out.

“Oh? Too bad. We'll be so [i]overworked[/i] with the festival and all... you might want to take that offer.” Why – oh – why did Lily lace every word with innuendo? She cackled as she hopped down from the table and wandered towards the door. “A girl'll be 'round later with the money!” As she left, Leander sighed in relief and rubbed at his forehead.

[i]Women.[/i] He definitely wasn't going to help them while the celebrations were on. Definitely. (Even when a small part of him reluctantly reminded him that he said that last time.)