[center][h1][b] [color=f6989d]Darryn Fletcher[/color] & [color=DAF6C7]Ríoghnach "Riona"[/color][/b][/h1]Location: Danrose Castle Infirmary
Time: 11:00
Interaction: Darryn [@princess][/center]
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Riona watched the doctor’s face light up with a triumphant smirk when he saw her step into the infirmary. He stood up from his chair, arms spread wide, not in welcome, but to show some invisible audience that the day he was to be proven right had finally come. All of which quickly vanished the second Darryn followed in. His arms dropped down to his sides.

The maid stole the smirk the doctor intended for her. [color=DAF6C7]“Sorry to disappoint, but I still don't need or ever will need your services, Quack.”[/color]

The doctor clucked and shot a look at Darryn. “Aren't ya supposed to be dead or somethin’ already?”

[color=f6989d]“Aren’t you supposed to be taking care of the ill?”[/color] Darryn had shot back indignantly.

“Yeah, but when ya get paid more as a mortician, takin’ care of the livin’ ain’t really worth the trouble, ya know?” Despite his complaints, Quack started gathering things for Darryn’s treatment. “We even ordered the casket and everythin’. What a damn waste. Ya sure ya ain’t have any plans of droppin’ dead today? Ya look like ya already have one foot in the grave, might as well hop right in.”

He shot him a glare through the strands of hair that fell in his face. After a moment of brooding to himself, he turned his body to face Riona. [color=f6989d]“It’s not that bad.”[/color] He told her with a wince.

Riona arched an eyebrow. [color=DAF6C7]“Uh-huh. Could’ve fooled me. Come on.”[/color] She guided Darryn to the closest bed and carefully sat him down. [color=DAF6C7]“And seriously, Quack, do your f**king job.”[/color]

“Why waste the good stuff when we gotcha witchcraft crap? Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and caldron bubble.”
[color=DAF6C7]“First of all, it’s not witchcraft and you damn well know it. Just cause Darryn isn’t going into a coffin today doesn’t mean I’m switching places with him. Secondly, what’s the point of this infirmary if you're not going to use all this? Stop trying to short-change us.”[/color]
“Yeah, yeah. Whatever ya say. I’m just bein’ frugal. That’s all. We don’t get as much as the fancy medical chamber. Gotta cut corners where we can.” Quack placed a bowl of water on the medical cart and rolled it over to the bedside. He pointed his chin in Darryn’s direction. “Ya know the drill.” Riona nodded, placed her satchel and cape to the side, then began washing one half of Darryn with a damp towel while Quack cleaned the other half.

Each scar on his back felt alive with the pain of the strikes even though some time had passed. But it was nothing compared to how he felt.  [color=f6989d]“Are you doing alright, Riona? They aren’t working you too hard, are you?”[/color] His voice was low and rather dull, but the care was genuine underneath the tone.

Riona scoffed weakly, “Don’t you worry about me. I’m not the one who got beaten half to death and was about to be executed before lunch.” She pressed the towel gently against the injuries. [color=DAF6C7]“Are [i]you[/i] doing alright, Darryn?”[/color] Quack’s scoff came out much harsher than Riona’s. They both knew it was a stupid question.

[color=f6989d]“Physically, I’ll live.”[/color] Darryn said lamely. [color=f6989d]“Just got a lot going on in my head. Trying to figure out what’s real… Just feels like a nightmare right now.”[/color]

“Ya gotta concussion too? What’s there to figure out?” Quack twirled the towel in his hand and snapped it against Darryn’s back. “Does that feel like ya sleepin’?” A whip in the face from Riona’s towel backed the doctor away. “Agh! Damnation quean! Clearly somethin’s wrong with his head if he can’t tell the difference!”

[color=f6989d]”GAH!”[/color] Darryn turned around, ready to throw something at the doctor. [color=f6989d]”Seriously fuck off!”[/color]

[color=DAF6C7]“Change the water. It’s getting really dirty.”[/color] Riona shooed the doctor and sighed when he did leave to change the water. [color=DAF6C7]“You’re in shock, Darryn. I think it’s… taking a while for you to process what happened to yourself.” [i]Better be careful when he finally does,[/i][/color] she reminded herself. How he handles this after it all sinks in, could be the difference between the path to a (possibly slow but still) healthy recovery and a downward spiral. At least, that was what the others before Darryn taught her.

[color=f6989d] “I’ve processed.” [/color] The stableboy turned on Riona. His voice lowered for the doctor not to hear. [color=f6989d] “I just don’t know about Annie I guess. This morning I had accepted all the sweet words she gave me were lies and she was no different than her selfish father… I had even thought her brother was in on it. But the both of them stood up for me.“[/color] His shoulders slacked.

The strong tone in his voice was crumbling. His voice started to shake with anger and he clenched his fists as he continued after a pause. [color=f6989d] “As uncertain as I feel, I still feel furious with them… They disregarded me and so many others as if I meant nothing. Just let some servant take the blame, right? Then she kept up the charade so she can continue to toy with me ?  …I bet that’s what it is… ”[/color]

Riona stayed quiet as Darryn spilled his heart out. Faintly, she heard the voices of others (the people who left, the people who struggled to stay, Lady Morrigan, herself) behind Darryn’s trembling words. They resonated as one. Quack returned with clean water and the two resumed cleaning him when she finally found her own voice amongst the many. [color=DAF6C7]“You’re probably right. They’re using us. As useful pawns, punching bags, a favorite pet, charity work, or just something to pity. It doesn’t matter. We’re not their equal in their minds… and it always will be… always be about them. How they feel. How it’ll affect their reputation. How they want to be remembered. They don’t actually care about us.”[/color]

Riona’s words made Darren’s eyes dart around the room as if searching it for the answers. [color=f6989d] “No…Annie’s not like that…”[/color] His tone shifted to uncertainty but the emotion remained all the same. He seemed like he had about to say more when the doctor moved over into earshot.

“Take off ya pants,” Quack cut in. Two pairs of eyes turned to stare at the doctor. “What? Are ya tellin’ me Darryn was leanin’ on ya like a walkin’ stick because his legs were in pristine condition?” He looked down at Darryn, “Sly one aren’t ya? Well, whatever gets ya over that ridiculous crush of yas.”

Darryn stared at him then suddenly stood up. He stumbled forward but intently got his footing for a few steps. He leaned against the wall.[color=f6989d] “ I am not taking my pants off. I am [i]fine[/i].”[/color]

The doctor rolled his eyes and his head back, complaining at the Gods above. [i]Can you believe this?[/i] He seemed to say to them while moaning, “Ya damn nipper. No one’s tellin’ ya to take ya undies off too. Ya want me not to fix ya damn legs or not? If it makes ya feel any less embarrassed, none of us here are interested in what ya packin’.” He glanced over at Riona. “Amirite?”

Riona rubbed her eyes, [color=DAF6C7]“Darryn, I get that this quack doesn’t know the first thing about bedside manners, but he can help you get better. I can wait outside for a bit and I’ll come back when he’s done.”[/color] She pointed at the clean clothes, [color=DAF6C7]“You can change into those.”[/color]

[color=f6989d]“Ugh. Alright.” [/color] He sighed and moved back over to the bed. He sat back down and decided to cooperate to get this over with. After the doctor had tended to him, he changed and awaited Riona’s return.

As soon as she closed the door behind her, Riona pressed her forehead against it. [color=DAF6C7][i]“Annie’s not like that”? After all that, he’s still trying to protect her integrity? Gods, she really has him whipped.[/i][/color] Darryn needed to leave, soon. Before it was too late. She stood like that until she heard her name.

Without Riona, the doctor stitched up all the open wounds with surprising speed and grace. He used poultices for good measure and administered a dose of painkillers. All in all, he treated Darryn as any decent doctor would’ve. If it weren’t for the fact that he was an unlicensed medical practitioner, Riona might’ve nicknamed him differently and entrusted him with Kristoph. Quack was working on a leg splint when he called her back in. She studied Darryn, [color=DAF6C7]“Looking better already. Anything I can help with?”[/color]

“It’s ya turn to comfort the babe. He’s been a right whiner.”

Riona simply hummed and sat down next to Darryn on the bed. She fidgeted with the hem of her apron, [color=DAF6C7]“Hey, Darryn… What did you mean by ‘Annie’s not like that’? You just told me yourself that she lied to you, toyed with you, and that she’s selfish as her father. How’s that any different from ‘using us’ or caring more about themselves than us ‘lesser people’? Or are you referring to how she ‘stood up for you’ for the mess she caused? The bare minimum, no, [i]less[/i] than bare minimum, she could’ve done for you?”[/color]

The maid waited for the stableboy to answer, but he didn’t. Not immediately, so she waited longer. The silence started to stretch long past being comfortable. Quack looked up from the splint and then exchanged glances between Darryn and Riona. He let out an exasperated sigh, throwing his arms into the air, “For Pete’s sake! Edin’s a pig; I bet 20 silvers that the prince is a serial killer; I’ll bloody pay 20 silvers for anyone who can tell the princess apart from any other rich bairn; and for a lad who says he doesn’t want to spread his seed, real suspect that the youngest chap loves takin’ trips to the brothels and hasn’t…” His fingers cut the air. “Snip snip. Ya think he and Edin are competin’ for how many bye-blows they can make or somethin’? [i]HA![/i]”

The sharp exhale, a noise that could be mistaken for a laugh, sounded acrid. Riona didn’t have to look at his face to see how much the topic repulsed Quack. Not that she blamed him. If she hadn’t felt slightly (just a little, tiny bit) defensive, she’d laugh right along with him. [i][color=DAF6C7]Is he wrong, though?[/color]

“It’s all for show.”[/i]

“There. Now stop bein’ so jumpy, you funk. I’ve heard all kinds of slander in this room.” He returned to the splint, mumbling incoherently.

Riona crossed her arms and tried again. [color=DAF6C7]“You said you’ve processed what happened, but honestly? I don’t think you actually did. Is ‘Annie not like that’ or is she no different?”[/color]

[color=f6989d] “No.. She’s .. She’s a good girl. She stood up for me and tried to help me this morning… I was wrong… Wrong….“[/color] He was muttering quietly now so that only Riona could hear. Darryn had not only switched his tune suddenly, but his irises were dilated and unstable as his gaze cast down toward the floor. His fists was clenched. He was barely audibly as he mumbled to himself. [color=f6989d]”But then she asked me to take them there. Her and Callum always have me sneak them out… Maybe they just didn’t know… But then again I knew… I knew where we were going. I have to know because…”[/color]  Darryn had been a little off recently, but the strange smile pulling at his lips despite his stress could have certainly unsettled those around him. He put a hand to his forehead.

The lines on Riona’s face deepened as she stared at Darryn. [color=DAF6C7][i]Why is he acting—... Sh*t[/i][/color] She scrambled off the bed then grabbed his face. [color=DAF6C7]“Darryn. Hey. Darryn. Look at me. Hey!” [/color]She tapped Darryn’s cheeks repeatedly. [color=DAF6C7]“Hey, hey, hey! Come on Darryn, look at me in my eyes. What did they do to you? Do you remember?”[/color]

Quack raised both of his hands, “Ey, I did nothin’.”
[color=DAF6C7]“I know that, I’m not talking about you.”[/color]

Darryn looked up upon the assault on his face as his eyes widened with surprise. He grabbed her wrist tightly, [color=f6989d]”What do you think you’re doing.”[/color] He said lowly and angrily.

Riona’s muscles tensed, the spike in adrenaline rippled from her to the other man, who also froze. A silent exchange passed between Riona and Quack. The doctor moved away from his patient. He wandered over to the trolley, as nonchalantly as he could, where he opened a bottle and covered the mouth of it with a cloth. She swallowed. [color=DAF6C7]“Darryn, you’re acting weird and I think it’s getting worse. Focus. Please. What do you remember?”[/color]

Darryn stared at her as his expression fell and his face took on some semblance of normality. [color=f6989d]”... Sorry. I’m sorry, Riona. You’re right… I’ve been weird.”[/color] He dropped his hand from her wrist with shame. [color=f6989d] “I…It’s not what they did to me here. It was what I had to do for… ”[/color] He bit his lip. Darryn didn’t want to lie to her but he couldn’t tell her everything. Not only was it dangerous to speak about, but he wasn’t sure if she’d involve herself in some way. [color=f6989d] “I have been going through some other… things. Sorry.”[/color] He sighed and smiled at her.  [color=f6989d]”Thank you for caring about me.”[/color]

He started to rise from the bed, [color=f6989d]”And thank you for your help. I mean it. You’re truly kind Riona…I’ve always appreciated you. ”[/color] Maybe it was best he kept some distance. He hadn’t expected it all to affect him so soon. But what choice had he had? It wasn’t like he could escape his role nor his fate.  Darryn knew maybe his best chance would be to leave, but there was a part of him, a part of him that honestly scared him, that wanted to stay here and take his revenge.

But there was something he needed to know before he went down that path.

Riona watched Darryn move with open skepticism. He wasn’t making any sense to her. Why was he flip-flopping so much? Did someone get to him? Who, if not those loyal to the Danroses? She clasped her hands over her chest. [color=DAF6C7]“Darryn… are you in danger?”[/color] She stepped in front of him, blocking his exit. [color=DAF6C7]“Because, if you are, you can tell me… [i]Please[/i] tell me.”[/color] She looked at Darryn, desperation creeping into her voice.

Darryn stared at her sadly but did not immediately reply.

[color=DAF6C7]“T-that includes being a danger to yourself. I… I don’t know what’s going on or why you’re not being straight with me right now, but whatever is doing this to you, if it’s messing you up this much, it isn’t good.”[/color]

The faces of past employees flashed across Darryn’s features, overlapping one another to create a face she was both familiar with and didn't recognize at all. Some she barely knew, others she knew intimately. They came from various backgrounds and they all came to work for the Danroses for their own reasons. The one thing they all had in common was that they left the castle broken in mind, body, and spirit or dead. Many tried to soldier on. They reasoned with themselves that what they were enduring was worthwhile, or they somehow convinced themselves that the suffering would only be temporary. They tried and tried and tried until one day, they snapped.

Just like her cohort—Quack’s sister who started training the same time Riona did. They worked alongside each other for years and they were friends for just as long. One night, Lady Morrigan ordered her friend to deliver a nightcap to the king. She never returned to the servants’ quarters that day. When Riona finally spotted her, she asked what happened. Was she okay? “Nothing,” her friend replied through a brittle smile, “I’m okay.” She wasn’t, but she tried to be and that took a toll on her. With each passing day she deteriorated, even breathing seemed to drain her. Every time they met, Riona asked how she was doing and her friend lied every single time. When she tried prodding her for an honest answer, she evaded. So Riona gave her friend some space, hoping she’d tell her when she was ready to. Three months later, Riona found her friend hanging from the ceiling.

[color=DAF6C7]“And if whatever it is has anything to do with the Danroses, the castle, or this damn city… then you need to leave. You have to quit this job and move away before it kills you. Don’t stay here. These lot are not worth sacrificing yourself for. They don’t deserve your devotion!”[/color] She glared at Darryn, though her anger wasn’t directed at him, [color=DAF6C7]“You’re no plaything and you are [i][b]not[/b][/i] nothing! How, HOW DARE she choose some host’s identity over your life! Does she really feel so deprived that she’d rather sacrifice a life than lose a place to party? If she cares SO DAMN MUCH, SO GODSDAMN GOOD, why isn’t she HERE? Why’s she out THERE hanging out with her friends, the ones she partied with all f**king night, WHEN YOU’RE HERE? YOU’RE THE ONE WHO NEEDS COMFORTING NOT HER!”[/color] She sucked in a shaky breath, [color=DAF6C7]“HOW DARE THEY USE YOU LIKE S-SOME, SOME, SOME DISPOSABLE TOOL!”[/color] Riona’s hands trembled as she forced herself to lower her voice. [color=DAF6C7]“You can start a new life away from all this f**king bullsh*t. If you need support until you can stand on your own two feet, we—”[/color] Quack’s loud sneeze cut Riona off. He sniffled a bit and mindlessly touched the items on the trolley, pretending to organize them. [color=DAF6C7]“I… can help. I—”[/color] Quack coughed this time. [color=DAF6C7]“I can help,”[/color] she reaffirmed and left it at that.

Darryn was silent as she had gone on. After she had finished, he gently took both her trembling hands and comfortingly rubbed the backs  of them.  [color=f6989d]”It’s going to be okay, Riona.  “[/color] He then smiled at her though his voice was hollow and serious as he continued,   [color=f6989d] “Maybe you should take that advice too. I am going to…”[/color] He winced as he stood on his own two feet.   [color=f6989d] “I am going to go to my room for now. But know this and take it to heart, Riona… The Danroses aren’t the only ones you need to worry about. “[/color] Darryn held her gaze a moment longer before slowly making his way out of the infirmary.

The remaining two stood there silent and still as stone until the door clicked shut. [color=DAF6C7]“Why did you stop me?”[/color] Riona turned to Quack just as he screwed the lid back onto the unlabeled bottle and tossed the drenched cloth into the bin. [color=DAF6C7]“He needs help.”[/color]

“And ya weren't listenin’ to a damn thin’ he was tellin’ ya.” Quack pointed in the direction Darryn left. “I ain’t lettin’ [i]that[/i] anywhere near the sanctuaries. I ain't risking it. [i]We[/i] can’t.”

[i]That.[/i] The word thrown at Darryn stabbed her in the heart and gutted her in one fell swoop. Riona shifted her weight. [color=DAF6C7]“Then we’ll place him in some other hideout. We can check what’s causing… whatever [i]that[/i] is and maybe we can treat it.”[/color]

“[i]If[/i] it’s treatable.”
[color=DAF6C7]“We have to at least try.”[/color]
“Do we now? Because my gut’s tellin’ me that whelp’s in the type of trouble we’re not ready to handle. And if ya actually were bloody payin’ attention, then ya’da also noticed he admitted he’s involved with some mighty sleazy people whose names don’t start with Dan and end with rose.”

[color=DAF6C7]“So what? It doesn’t change the fact that he needs help. Just because his situation isn’t like your sister’s doesn’t me—”[/color]
“[i]Don’t.[/i]”
Riona bit her lip and averted her gaze from Quack, instantly regretting the last nine and a half words that tumbled out of her mouth.
“Don’t… weaponize her against me. Not for him.”
She kept her eyes locked to the floor, rubbing her arm.  [color=DAF6C7]“Yeah… that wasn’t fair. I’m sorry.”[/color]

A long sigh escaped the doctor and he began cleaning up as if that helped to distract himself from thinking of his sister. He did this until it calmed his nerves enough to speak again. “Speaking of unfair, thankless jobs, some payments need to be made.”

Riona nodded, [color=DAF6C7]“Okay. I’ll head over to the bank.”[/color] She picked up her belongings and rifled through the satchel. She pulled out the coin purse and turned to the doctor, ready to toss the purse in his direction.  [color=DAF6C7]“Hey, were you serious about—”[/color]

“Keep it,” The doctor interrupted, “for the next poor sod. Though…” He eyed the satchel, “I know who’d appreciate that.”

For a time she just stood there with the purse in her hand. [color=DAF6C7]“You’re really not going to help him… are you?”[/color]

The old chair groaned under the doctor’s weight when he plopped onto it. “No.” He massaged his eyes. “But… I’ll keep an eye on him.” And that was the best she was going to get from him.
[color=DAF6C7]“Thanks.”[/color] Riona started towards the door.

“He’s right about one thing,” Quack said as she reached for the doorknob. “The Danroses aren’t the only ones having shady dealings.”
[color=DAF6C7]“Yeah.”[/color]
“Even if the Danroses all spontaneously die, there’s still gonna be problems that need solvin’.”
[color=DAF6C7]“I know.”[/color]
“So?”
[color=DAF6C7]“‘So?’”[/color]
“Ah. So, it’s an us problem and not a ya problem. Gotcha.” The chair screamed in protest as the doctor leaned against it. “It’s not gonna affect ya cause.”

[color=DAF6C7]“Now who’s the one being unreasonable?”[/color] Riona spun around, hands on hips. [color=DAF6C7]“I thought I made it pretty clear from the beginning that I’ll help where I can, but I have my own priorities.”[/color]
“That ya did.”
[color=DAF6C7]“‘So’, unless these mysterious ‘others’ are directly responsible for my family’s death. Then they’re not a priority.”[/color]
“I hear ya loud and clear. Yar devoted to gettin’ yaself killed just to flip the bird to the aristocracy instead of fightin’ the good fight.”

She narrowed her eyes and then shoved the door open without a word.

“Ya coffin’s still in storage if ya be needin’ it.”
[color=DAF6C7]“Still won’t be needing your services.”[/color] Riona faced the undertaker who buried more people than saved as a doctor. [color=DAF6C7]“The witches they burn get dumped in shallow graves. Helps to cut back on fertilizers.”[/color]
“...Huh. I thought I was the one bein’ frugal. Stingy bastards.”