OOM: Treating Sinric

[cook_the_rude]

When Sinric follows Dr. Lecter to his office upstairs, he will find it's near the library, in an area of the non-linear rooms section that feels more business-like because of that location and the presence of the indoor chapel that had been used before Javert's church was finished.

It is small but functional, with clean-lined modernist furniture made of pale wood contrasting with the 18th and 19th century prints of Istanbul cityscapes and 'Turkish' harem scenes that were quite the fashion at the rococo period in ornate frames that adorn the walls. There are two comfortable chairs with end-tables, a small book-case, and a pale leather couch. There is a small drawing table with two straight-backed chairs that, at this moment, holds nothing but a flower arrangement. There are two doors, one slightly ajar to reveal a tiny pantry kitchen, the other firmly closed, with a covered lock that clearly labels it a bathroom door, lockable from the inside.

There are two floor-length windows obscured by pale, gauzy blinds, at the bottom of which a balcony is visible, and beyond its grate, the lake area, with a view to the stables, the garden, and the forge.

Dr. Lecter puts down his bag of medical supplies and gestures towards the couch.

Comments

[thewidewideworld]

"They had their right under law." Sinric mutters between short breaths. "I am property of the Emperor and by extension, the co-emperor. It is his right to use me as he sees fit." He says it as if to assure himself but the words sound weak, even to his own ears.

[cook_the_rude]

"Which is why I am just treating your injuries instead of securing evidence," the doctor says. "But it doesn't make that sense of violation and helplessness any less acutely traumatic for you as a person. Which you are, whether you are property in the eyes of the law or not."

[thewidewideworld]

"I will heal." He swallows, still trying to reassure himself. "It was an act of petty vengeance over a slight. I doubt it will happen again."

He's trying very hard not to think about how weak he felt as they held him down.

[cook_the_rude]

"You will heal, but your psyche is even more likely to scar than your body," the doctor says. "Also, you should avoid any foods likely to cause constipation for a few weeks, as well as any voluntary anal intercourse, of course. Your choices are going to be limited because of what happened to you for a while yet. You didn't do anything to deserve this, but it is you alone who will have to deal with the consequences, in the end."

[thewidewideworld]

"I will not be returning to my world until I am healed. My emperor can never know of this." That is the consequence most on his mind. " And no-one here has the right to use me without my favour, and those who I have shared myself with will not do so by force."

He goes quiet for a long moment. "How best should I deal with the scars to my soul, sir?"

[cook_the_rude]

"Deal with them if and when you notice them, immediately," the doctor says. "That is done best by talking about the trauma and letting it go, rather than dwelling on it in silence, which only makes it worse. Find me if you can to talk about it, if you don't feel the people here that you 'shared yourself with' are up to dealing with it. I specialise in that sort of trauma, at home."

He is still calmly working on the torn bits around Sinric's anus.

"I suppose they are the same people who you have been experience your first orgasms with, as you mentioned?"

[thewidewideworld]

"I will do so, sir. Thank you." He's by no means ready to talk yet.

"They are." He brightens, glad of the change of topic. "They both from my world but not of my time. Their insight has been of great help to me. And they have been very kind and attentive to me in ways I have not experienced before."

[cook_the_rude]

"How do you know they're from the same world, then, and not a similar one that might have or lack vampires, or magic?" the doctor asks.

[thewidewideworld]

"One of them knows me, met me in his youth when I was older. They are from a time that might be called my future." He pauses. "And I trust them. It feels right that we should have met here, even out of order. Like fate."

[cook_the_rude]

"That is a nice time paradox you have there," the doctor says. "You might like to use it in order to change things."

[thewidewideworld]

"I don't think so. There are history books here than speak of my emperor's campaign to come and what will follow. I know now how I am to survive after his reign ends. I cannot change what is to come but I can plan for what may come after."

[cook_the_rude]

"You could decide to do things differently, so the outcome for your friends will be different, and better," the doctor says.

He smoothes something cool and soothing over Sinric's anal area and then busies himself with his instruments again.

"Please sit on the couch with your back to me, now," he says. "The big, ugly gash on your back is next."

[thewidewideworld]

"My fellow birds? I have thought of that. I will warn them, as best I can. Any of them who trust in Leo's kindness are fools." There's a half sob that catches in his throat as he names his attacker. "I have no doubt all of them have thought about what the future will hold and are making plans of their own. All I can offer them is knowledge of when they must be ready to fly."

He nods and moves himself to a more conformable position, his back to the doctor. Closing his legs and the cool numbness where most there was pain goes a long way to calm him. "Thank you, sir."

[cook_the_rude]

"That will go a long way towards making their lives better," the doctor agrees, still busy with his tools.

"I am giving you another local anesthetic for that gash; it'll just be a little pinprick," he adds.

He swabs a bit of skin, then there is another of those cool, thin needles sliding in. Something cold seems to spread, and shortly, there is tingling and numbness again.

[thewidewideworld]

"Perhaps." He isn't so sure "Life within the golden cage is soft in some ways and hard in others. Many of the birds have few skills that will help them survive outside it."

He sits straight with his shoulders back, letting the torn skin of his back be stitched.

[cook_the_rude]

"It's still better than dying inside of it," he doctor says, working calmly on Sinric's back.

[thewidewideworld]

He shrugs minutely, trying not to disturb the doctor's sewing. "For some of them, the unknown would be worse. I will be a long way from the palace when the time comes. I cannot help them. I only hope they can act on what I know to make their own choices."

[cook_the_rude]

"That is all you can ever do," the doctor says. "At least they will know how to open their cage door."

[thewidewideworld]

"Or at least when to be ready to pick the lock." Sinric sighs. The numbness is soothing and his closes his eyes for a long moment.

"I was warned that people of a later age would not understand the ways of my time. And yet you seem to understand me well, sir. Are you a student of history?"

[cook_the_rude]

"Of history, and of art," the doctor says, "and of the human mind, in its cultural variety as well as its enduring constancy. There is nothing in human nature I can't at least reconstruct in its reasoning."

[thewidewideworld]

"You sound like a very learned man?" He asks softly.

[cook_the_rude]

"I had a good education, like to understand the cultural undercurrents of everything that is going on, and do enjoy the arts very much," the doctor says.

[thewidewideworld]

Sinric glances over his shoulder, offering Dr. Lecter. "I think you and my emperor would enjoy each other's company. He would value your intelligent conversation greatly."

[cook_the_rude]

"I would be very honoured to meet a Byzantine emperor," the doctor says.

He is calmly stitching the gash on Sinric's back.

[thewidewideworld]

"I'm not certain I could arrange it but I'm sure the meeting would fascinating." He feels the skin tug and grits his teeth.