Jack Pine
Archduke of the NDC
- Joined
- Nov 3, 2021
- Messages
- 38
- Reaction score
- 22
Medbay
The ship's new doctor slowly went through his medical supplies, counting and restocking things he'd felt that he would need. He cursed to himself, finding that no one competent had ever done the same. "Uuuugh... Klaus's debt is paid 12x fold." Dr Tarkus muttered to himself, as he began creating blood bags from his own supply.
As his blood flowed from his hand into the bags, he heard the padding of feet down the hall. Turning his head, he found...
Setsuya, a bit frazzled and disheveled in her appearance, but it was indeed the captain. "I hope I am not disturbing you doctor, and I hope you will excuse my appearance. I have not been resting well to say the least, and was hoping you'd have something to give me to help."
Stepping in, the raven haired nekomata with surprisingly tired golden irised eyes, took a seat on the nearest stool. Everything about her seemed worn, tired, even a small air of fear about her. It was clear that the woman was dealing with much, but at the same time, with a sense that she wasn't sure what it even was at fault.
The doctor watched as she sat herself down on one of his stools. "It's fine Captain. Let me finish up here." He said as blood flowed from his wrist into the bag in his hand. As it filled, he sealed it back and put it into the freezer and put his white glove back over his hand.
Taking a seat across from her, he took her in. The bags under her eyes made it clear that she wasn't getting enough sleep. "What seems to be the trouble? What keeps you up at night?" He asked. Zoren had meds to put the woman to sleep on the spot, but most of the time trouble sleeping had a deeper meaning.
"That's the damndest thing, I don't know, and I feel like it should be something I remember. Whatever it was, had to have been before we came here, the time none of us can remember for some reason. I feel..... Like something terrible happened to me." Setsuya worriedly explained, finding it odd how she could recognize that the cool and analytical side of her was all, but long gone. She used to be so calm and able to let things just run their course with indifference, but whatever happened to her had changed her deeply.
She continued on however, hoping that by some means, the doctor could finally help her bury these feelings and sensations of a nightmare long forgotten. "Every time I sleep, I see the dark behind my eyelids, or even in a pitch black room. My lungs strain and become sore, and my eyes begin to hurt with intense pain. I find a strong unease, as if expecting something to come, and at certain times in a repeating loop. I flinch when I feel it coming, even though it never does, and I jump at rough or even spontaneous touch. I feel like a cat who's been abused, and is paranoid of everything around them now."
"I see..." He said, tapping his chin. He'd seen such things before. Signs of PTSD. It was hard to treat when the trauma had been so ingrained into a mortal creature. "I see. Well I'd like to try something to help you sleep a bit easier. Lie down on the stretcher will you." He said, pointing to one of the 2 beds he had prepared in the med bay. "I have heard similar stories over my many years, and this seems to be the best method. I can meld with your mind and walk you through what has been plaguing your mind."
As he spoke, he moved and pulled back the sheet covering the stretcher. Patting the mattress, he made his best attempt at a smile, a little upturn in the corner of his mouth. "We will go at your pace, and we can stop whenever you like. But, I feel this will be the best way to have long term effects." He said.
"You're probably the only doctor I've ever met, who left medicating as the last resort.", Setsuya answered nervously as she hopped up onto the bed. Pulling her two tails around to her lap, before laying back, waiting for Tarkus to begin.
The doctor chuckled as he patted the woman's arm. "It's easier to do this than to waste my medication." he replied as she got comfortable. As she closed her eyes, he placed his hand on her forehead and slowly chanted. As she lulled into his trance, their minds melded bringing the two into a similar scene.
Tarkus had planned on seeing the woman's past, and yet they appeared in his...
Damn it... He thought he was past this. It had only happened a handful of times, but he knew how to handle himself.
The two appeared in a grove of wildflowers, ringed by tall trees and vines. Tarkus hid his own feelings as Setsuya came to, resting in his lap. The colorful bouquet of flowers stretched for miles in any direction, only to be engulfed in trees and forest.
Waking up his lap was enough to jolt her, as she sat up straight, suddenly taking in the colorful view. "Um doc, not to question, but I'm sure this isn't my trauma unless I'm just that broken.", came her voice that held doubt as to how this had anything to do with her. Slowly getting up, it did remind her of something she had seen once, a faint echo of a forgotten friend but still very much different. Looking around, it was definitely a sight to behold however, her fears were lost in a sea of awe.
Zoren Sighed as she came to. "No it isn't..." He replied as she began to speak. "But it will work just the same." He replied, allowing Setsuya to stand. "This isn't your trauma... it is mine..." He replied softly. "But it still helps." He said, standing with the woman as she did. "This trauma is mine... I'm sorry. It was on my mind today." He replied as he began walking to the center of the groove. The flowers parted in his wake, leaving a path through the thorny underbrush for Setsuya to follow. "This might not be as helpful, however being in such a place may help you sleep a tad easier." He replied, as he walked through the brush.
"I don't suppose I have to visit the medbay every time to visit though do I? Klaus and Alex would miss me terribly if I was never in bed. I wouldn't want to have them pile into the mebay late at night either." It was already hard enough to stay awake during the day, when lack of sleep takes its toll, but she didn't want to sacrifice her nights too.
Following him, it was almost strange to her to think about, that a blood demon would have some place so beautiful within their dreams. In an ironic sense, it was a small corner of heaven tucked away within Tarkus's mind. "So, should I ask why, or hold my questions for the end of the tour?", she asked with a nervous chuckle, unsure how to go about this.
He chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. "No. Being here should help you sleep easy... Though me being here will keep me up for weeks on end..." He replied as he walked. Thorns and brambles parted as he walked till he reached the center. A stone sarcophagus awaited the pair in the center of the grove. Tarkus seemed to stand a ways away, not daring to enter the area.
"This... is my own pocket dimension. I cannot go beyond this point, but you may go as you please." He said reluctantly. "This place is where I go when I have trouble concentrating, but you might find it comforting." He said turning his back to the sarcophagi and Setsuya.
"What am I walking into though, what is the story here? Surely there is something deeper to all this. You even called it, your trauma.", was her only reply, taking a few tentative steps forward. The box gave her a shiver, everything screaming at her to stay away, but that was her trauma saying that. If she wanted answers, she would have to venture forward, a small fear without basis that this would all change into a nightmare.
That didn't make sense though as it would mean this was not actually a place to make her comfortable. Setsuya trusted the doctor enough to know it wouldn't, especially after all he had done for her sister. "Who's grave?"
He covered his face, making absolutely sure his patient couldn't see him. "This is the tomb of my brother." He replied softly, not bringing himself to look where Setsuya was. "It... is the location of my greatest failure." He said softly. "I couldn't save him. Even though he was to be a father... His wife had to raise their daughter alone." He replied, the flowers around him slowly changing to black and wilting in his presence.
"I did everything I could... but still it wasn't enough. I... wasn't enough." He sighed, walking away from the grave. "This wasn't supposed to happen. We were supposed to see your trauma. Not mine..."
In a flash, Setsuya was back in the medbay with Tarkus already across the room. "Here this will help you sleep." He said, pulling a bottle from a cabinet. "One a day will help you sleep." He said, avoiding eye contact at all cost, bloody tears falling from his lifeless eyes.
Gently she took the offered bottle, not sure what to even say at first to all that. Her troubles suddenly seemed like they deserved a back seat on this one, as she offered a hankerchief, then a hug. "Yet your place here, has kept this family in one piece, and closer together then we've ever been. I would say, that failure made much more then you were, and I more then proud to count you among this family."
He took the handkerchief and wiped his eyes, the hug caught him by surprise. He was at first, his muscles as tense as steel cables. Slowly he relaxed into the hug, before remembering himself.
Clearing his throat he stepped away from his patient. "I'm sorry." He said, turning away. His cheeks were flush with embarrassment. "And thanks."
"I should be the one thanking you, you've helped me prevent my past from tearing me down. Hopefully this will buy the time I need to work past the scars it left. But it's also clear to me that there is much we can help you with, and that's what family is for." Her words were earnest, and she gave a hopeful smile. Setsuya was prepared to leave if all was done now, giving on her way to the door, "I will take the meds, then try and rest. I suggest you try and do the same... Uncle."
Tarkus's eye widened and eyebrow quirked at Setsuya's last word. "Uncle?" He asked, moving back to the stool he was sitting at originally. Taking his glove back off he cleaned his palm with alcohol then nicked himself. Blood began flowing in a stream from his palm into an awaiting clear bag.
"I give off uncle vibes do I?" He added, the corner of his mouth turned up into a smirk.
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Shirtless and down in the engine grease, Kai in his nerdy past time, was working on doing engine maintenance down in the Sadistic Spriggan. The man was clearly working hard on just that, as he could be heard grunting as he gave his tools a turn, or twist. For someone so handsome, and with blood of a rich noble merchant family in him, he was not your average pretty boy.
It showed in each pastime he took part in, from reading science digest literature, to what he was doing currently. Though this was probably his less safer of the two hobbies. One that would soon become evident as he found a part that seemed to have a crack in it's casing. Giving one of it's securing bolts a turn however, caused the stress to make it burst in a puff of smoke and exhaust.
"FUCK!", came from his throat in pain as the exhaust and bits of metal sprayed his arm. It burned his skin, as bits embedded and cut, a few making it past to pelt his face and torso. Crawling out from underneath, he was not looking too great when it came to his arm, smacking a button on the intercom. "Tomoe, call the doc please, I've had a bit of an accident down here."
Tarkus was lounging in the Medbay when the call came through. Bolting up, he sprinted down to engineering to find Kai covered in burns. "What the hell did you do!?" He said, taking the man by his good arm and leading him back to the medbay.
Putting him on the stretcher, the doctor started popping locked cabinets and grabbed an injector. "Hold still." He ordered as he pressed the injector into his thigh. The sharp sting was quickly replaced with a calming warmth that spread throughout his body.
"Well it started as just maintenance, then I found the grenade left in a handbasket that someone labeled Hell.", Kai said with a pained yet lighthearted smirk. Giving a small chuckle with a flinch, he clarified without the playful sarcasm, "Found a part past it's lifetime, and it ruptured when I went to replace it."
Tarkus rolled his eyes as grabbed more tools. "That's what we have safety equipment..." the doctor muttered as he put an IV in Kai's good arm. Taking out a bag of chilled blood, he hooked it up to the IV. "This will start repairing some of the damage but I'm gonna have to cut away the dead skin." The doctor pulled another injector and placed it on a tray, with a pair of scissors and forceps.
"From flagship pilot, to independent deckhand, quite a jump huh. Maybe this is a sign I'm just getting old doc.'' Kai offered in small talk as the doc continued his work on him, trying to lighten up the situation. "To be fair, this isn't the worst I've gotten, have been shot before in the line of duty, now that was far worse."
He looked away from his arm as the damaged flesh was removed, still opening to continue the conversation as additional distraction. More for himself, then to Tarkus of course. Clearing his throat with a grunt from the sting, he felt like adding one other thing, "Also... thank you, for what you did for my daughter the other day."
Tarkus took his time, cutting away the dead tissue and listening to Kai talk. He nodded along, more caught up in making sure that he got all the fragments of metal as he worked. Chuckling, he replied. "If you think that's a leap, try a warrior to a blood mage doctor..." he said poking around his arm.
When he mentioned helping his daughter, Tarkus seemed to focus more on his arm. "Yeah... no problem." The doctor said as he cut another patch of skin away.
"The things that were done to that girl,... Had no right to be done to her. I can understand why it keeps her up at night. As much as I've never been one for killing, I'm happy the bastards are dead." Kai wasn't as cheerful as he was a moment ago, able to remember what had been done to her, but only vaguely the specifics around it. What was done to her, was the clearest part, a father's anger, keeping it burned into his memories forever despite the attempt to wipe everything from before, by whatever had seen fit to do so.
He brought the smile back somewhat however, "Not trying to be downer sorry, but I do appreciate the help you've shown us after everything we've been through. We're strangers out here, in a space we have never known, so having a local friend is wonderful."
Tarkus grimaced as he poured cool water on the burn and began to expertly bandage the wounds. "Its ugly, the things that people get subjected to. I've seen my fair share of it through the years." He replied as the blood continued it's slow drip, drip, drip. "All you can do is be there for her when she needs you."
"And it's fine. It's what I do. " he added, placing the last few bandages to his face.
"In a number of ways, it's probably best she doesn't remember any of it. Doing so, would likely just freshen the trauma." Kai hissed with the irritation the initial touch of bandaging caused, but was able to keep the reaction down as he finished. The man was just about ready for this to be over, he still had to repair the damage down there. "You're a wonderful doctor, don't suppose you got a remedy somewhere in here like relationship glue do you.", he added with a soft chuckle to ease off the other subject.
"Relationship glue...?" He asked as he finished up the bandaging. "Thanks, but I don't have anything for that. I have physical problems." Tarkus replied, pulling the IV out. Taking out a bottle of pills, he handed it to him. "Take these for pain. No operating heavy machinery if you take it."
A soft grin crept across his lips as he sat up and took the bottle, "Was worth a shot, and aye aye captain. Guess I'll have to put the twins to work on finishing that repair then, or let Sachi handle it if they can't." Hopping down from the bed, Kai inspected the bandages, and admired the work done. "Quite skilled indeed, maybe next time, we can hangout without me almost blowing myself up."
Tarkus smirked. "That be preferable, it's less work for me." He replied, cleaning up the medbay. "Now don't cause any more explosions, or else I won't use Anesthesia next time."
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In the med bay, the ship's resident doctor was sitting at his desk spinning a pen in his hand. Chewing on his lip, he contemplated what other things the ship's med bay could possibly need. After contemplating for a few minutes he decided to call the other demon onboard. "Lucas, can you come down to the med bay for a minute? Need to run something by you."
“Would kinda prefer a house visit doc, as I’ve got a full order for the shop this week. I can talk, but I need to be able to work while we do. Come down to the hab block, executive quarters level, last door on the right towards the lounge.” Lucas was quick to reply, but it always seemed the other demon was rather busy, along with the woman who looked remarkably the same when he was nowhere to be found. Suppose it would be a good chance to meet her as well, along with anyone else who was available at the coven abode.
Tarkus grumbled out a single word reply. "Fine." Standing, the doctor stretched his arms causing the joints to pop. He didn't want to go trekking all over the station. It's such a pain…
The doctor tried his hair back into a ponytail as he walked. Dusting off his lab coat, he knocked on the door that Lucas had specified.
The door would open, revealing a much more spacious interior compared to what an executive quarters should have contained. A maid with bunny features was the one to open it, giving a slight bow in greeting as she met Tarkus at the door. “I’m Abigail, the mistress has been waiting for your arrival, so please follow me.”, came her cheery reply before leading him into the very modest yet lavished house-like space.
The place was rather large with several bedrooms, and several additional rooms at first glance, all spacious with no logical way that it all could fit into the compartment the door was connected to. Following her though, Tarkus was led into a sewing room, complete with loom even, Lucas working diligently on producing his enchanted clothes and attire. “Mistress, the doctor is in!”, Abigail announced as they entered.
“Ah Tarkus, what was it that you needed? One of ours hasn’t done a dumb and gotten themselves hurt have they?”, came Lucas’s reply as Abigail left to go make tea.
Tarkus nodded to the bunny maid as he followed her into the large space. As he walked he realized there was some type of magic at play. For all this to fit in what was to be a much smaller space, maybe Lucas was using a pocket dimension…
His thoughts quickly returned to the task at hand when he walked into the room Lucas was in.
Doctor Zoren shook his head, and began speaking in the language of demons. "No. I need tomes on artificing. Do you have any lying about?" He asked, cutting straight to the point.
He raised an eyebrow at the chosen language used in the request, “Not really needed to speak in that tongue here, but I digress. Yes, I have infernal artifacts of the abyss I - XI, Artificer’s Folly I-IV, and The Artificer’s Codex. Are you looking for a particular edition, or a particular object you want to craft?” His hands never stopped their work as he answered, occasionally switching to the loom and other contraptions that produced his craft.
Tarkus switched back to common before continuing. "Apologies… haven't dealt with another demon in quite some time. They aren't for me. I'm trying to teach someone in the school of Artificing, however that isn't my field of expertise." He explained watching Lucas work.
“It’s fine, I am just not one for the language of our kin. As for training in this skill, I can gather a few tomes then, as well as a few pieces to help aid in the teaching. I also have a number of materials for use in their work, as some of which is used on my own here too.” Lucas paused on his work, before standing from his bench and walking over to another door. Opening it there was a large study on the other side, it’s walls covered in high shelves, the majority of which held books. His eyes quickly looked over their contents as he entered, a hand wandering over the shelves as he looked over every title.
“You’re trying to teach a very valuable and almost forgotten skill. Who are you trying to teach if I may ask?”, Lucas asked idly as his search went on.
Tarkus moved to lean against the wall. "A young girl named Sachiko. She is a very talented mechanic and expressed interest in becoming an artificer so I thought I'd help her out a little." He explained with a shrug.
“Ah Setsuya and Klaus’s daughter, she bought an outfit from me recently for her partner. Nice to see her applying a magical trade as well, I wish her the best.” By this point, the priest had a couple of books in hand, pulling yet another off the shelf as he said this. Abigail would enter quietly, setting a tray of tea and biscuits on a side table, before leaving after a curtsey.
“Please, enjoy some tea, this will take a few minutes to find all the volumes you need. It tends to be harder when I have copies in more then one language. Lucina would rave on the tea if she were here too, the maid making it especially to her tastes.”, Lucas added with a chuckle.
The doctor's eyes shot to the maid as she set out the tray. Nodding his thanks to her, he grabbed a cup. He was more of a coffee drinker but he wouldn't turn down the chance at a hot beverage.
"I understand, take your time.' He replied, taking a small sip of the fresh tea. "Lucina?" He asked."I haven't heard that name around the station." He added.
“Guess you could say she’s the other me. Did you notice that despite my asking not to, Abigail referred to me as “Mistress” when she brought you in?” The man answered before spying the last book he needed, and adding it to the small stack that he had. Setting them on the desk, Lucas then began to rummage in a shelf of items, and other things. “She’s kind of like part of my curse. I wasn’t born a demon, I was turned, as the price paid for a deal I made with the devil. Part of what she did to me…. Well, I was never the same obviously, but in more ways then one. Now I have more then one of me in my head, me and her.”
"Ah, I see. I just wasn't gonna ask about that." He admitted. "I was turned as well a long time ago. "My own deal… didn't go like it was supposed to. Didn't even get what I wanted in the end. Funny how they tricked us into signing away our souls but didn't tell us about the additional costs when we were signing." Tarkus scoffed.
That was met with a shrug, “Was just something I had to learn to live with, and if I’m honest, her shenanigans amuse me at times. Elenor has taken a liking to her too.” A wrapped set of tools were pulled from the shelf finally, before being added to the book stack. Lucas then grabbed an extra satchel he kept nearby, and placed them all in it. “So how long ago was it? If you don’t mind me asking, one old man to another.”
"It's been quite some time." He said, rubbing his chin in thought. "I'd say it's been close to 35,000 years ago now if I had to guess. What about yourself? How long have you been one of the infernal." Tarkis asked in turn.
Lucas had bent behind the desk for something, likely some other item to place in the bag for him. However, the voice that answered was not Lucas anymore. “10,000 years give or take. Same for my sister, who I made the deal to save. Think my daughter is only just entering her 3,000s?”, came a feminine voice which was followed by long raven hair as Lucina stood up.
Placing the item in the bag, and carrying it over to Tarkus with a smile, the habit was replaced by a dress. “Also before you say anything, yes I know I completely stole the reins from father. I wanted to say hi, maybe gauge how fun you are.”, Lucina added with a smirk of a smile as she handed him the satchel.
Tarkus quirked an eyebrow at the change. Odd indeed… "I see. Well a pleasure to meet you." He said, taking the bag and offering his hand in return.
“Well at least it’s nice to see chivalry and gentlemanly manners do in fact exist among our kind. Not to discount the old softy Lucas is of course. It was a pleasure to meet you, as the wilder side, maybe you’ll come play with me or the maid sometime.” With a small mischievous giggle, Lucina shook the man’s hand gently with delicate fingers.
Tarkus's face remained neutral as his eyes scanned over Lucina briefly. At the proposition, a faint smirk danced across his lips before his face returned to it's neutral expression once more. "An interesting proposal to be sure. I may have to consider it." He replied, his gloved hand gave her delicate hand a gentle squeeze before releasing it.
“This should cover your needs sweetie, and give her the tools to do the work, just remind her it’s very delicate work so no rush. Was there anything else you needed perhaps, or any other way I could help while I have you here?” Lucina’s question was innocent enough, though Tarkus would find in time that everything that came out of her pretty mouth had a sexual edge to it. Even when not actually meant in that way, but she would never argue it coming across that way either. She was one thirsty, cheeky succubus, who knew what she liked and how she liked to have her fun.
The doctor looked back at the tomes for a moment then shook his head. "Nope, that should cover it. Thanks for the help." He replied, tucking the books under his arm as he began making his way to the door. Turning to Abigail, he bowed his head slightly now that his hands were full. "Thanks for the tea." He added.
Lucina gave a little nod, “He seems like he’d be fun to play with later, if a bit stubborn.” She was here now though, time to get to work in Lucas’s stead, but first things first. “Abi my lovely, come here, mommy wants some playtime.~”
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Medbay - Waiting Room
The shorter of the sisters, and somewhat most modest in chest size, was Kyoko. She unfortunately, was also the most cold and grumpy in how she emotionally came off to others. It wasn’t because she was some terrible person, but the training of her old job that she once had, working in intelligence. It left a very cranky stick worked up her bum, that no one had really the audacity to pull out of her.
You’d never hear her complain about it though, as she was used to it, and therefore ignorant of her own behaviors most days. If anything, she felt like a retiree, with nothing suiting her skills to do in an out of the way, civilian station such as this. So she games, snacked, napped, lounged around, bitched at Klaus, loved her sisters, and pretty much all around took it easy.
Maybe she was embracing this new feline aspect of her new body just a bit too much? Either way, things seemed to be working out so far, and she got to be lazy. But it annoyed her to get called in for matters like these, the check up she now was waiting for, about to be inappropriately handled by some man whose very people embraced lust and other such degenerate natures.
Dr. Zoren ran a hand through his snow white hair. He was feeling exhausted, this was just one of many such check ups he had to perform today. And with no nurses or staff to assist him he had to do everything. Letting out a sigh he moved to the waiting room and looked to the room's soul occupant. "Ms. Kyoko, this way please." He said simply pointing into the room.
As Kyoko entered, she'd notice that his office was covered wall to wall in ancient looking books. It was odd to see so many ancient artifacts intermingled with modern medical equipment. In the center of the room was a simple examination table. "Hop up on the table and I'll get this over with quickly." He said sitting on a rolling stool by his desk.
“Quite the gentleman, and straight to the point, applaudable qualities. Will there be needles involved today, and please tell me you gave Klaus a nice jab if so.”, Kyoko answered as she took a seat as requested. She had a faint grin at her humor, remembering the… “Spectacle”, that was her sister’s new youth a few days ago. The nekomata girl had no intention of bringing the matter up in any sort of sore, or weird way, as she knew not to poke fun at the man with blood tendrils.
"Thank you, and just a small Lancet. Just a tiny poke on your finger." He explained, showing the small device to her. "And don't worry, Klaus got the biggest needle I have for his checkup. Served him right, making my OR dirty with his nasty bath water." He grumbled as he rolled over to his patient.
He gently took her hand and cleaned her thumb with alcohol. "Poke on three. One. Two. Three." On three he pressed the lancet into her thumb, and the small needle pricked her skin drawing out a drop of blood. The drop lept from her thumb and hovered over Tarkus's outstretched hand where he began examining it intently.
“It’s strange to remember a time when something so simple would have sealed up instantly. Not that remembering is entirely the appropriate term, since I can’t remember places, years, people, or anything concrete in detail. “ If she was going to be here, might as well small talk she guessed, with at least someone paid to listen. That and they were a lot more affordable, and pleasant, then a shrink. The neko girl just seemed to stare at the sight of the prick in a thoughtful look, as if wondering when it had ever even gotten there.
"That appears to be a recurring theme around here. Everyone losing a large portion of their memories. It's an odd phenomenon to say the least." He replied studying the blood.
After several more seconds the blood scattered and Tarkus replied "You have a clean bill of health. Wasn't too terrible was it?"
“Well it’s more then that obviously. None of us came here as the race we were born as. We’ve been altered, wiped, and were lost until finding this place.” The admission sounded melancholy but neutrally given at the same time, a duality that Kyoko managed to pull off at all times, even when just talking about the weather. At least it was, unless she was in her more grumpy states of being, which tended to be the majority for months now.
Tarkus mulled that over as he rolled away to toss the spent Lancet in the trash. So on top of the memory loss they had been physically altered. The gods… or demons were up to something. They were the only ones capable of such things, at least to Tarkus's knowledge. "Well for what it's worth, sorry that it happened. But it's not like you can do anything about it so there's no point in moping." He replied just as neutrally. "All you can do is make the best out of the cards you got dealt."
“Kinda why hired you isn’t it? To help us do that or something? Not like we could ever expect some normie doctor to be able to help this gene spaghetti family.” Kyoko wiped the finger off on a tissue, as she asked that question, not really expecting much in terms of answers. What she added next however, did noticeably have a bit of a cynical tinge to it. “My hand kinda sucked. On one hand, more time with mum and the sisters, even if that means suffering Klaus and that man. But, I’ll never see my father ever again.”
Tarkus smirked. "I'm not a shrink. I just put you all back together again." He replied, listening to her story. At her last statement, he was silent for several long seconds. "You have it backwards. You still have family. I have no one. My entire family died, turned into a demon in an attempt to save them and it didn't help." He said before forcing himself to stop talking. He wasn't ready for that conversation. "All I'm saying is you still have family. It's sad that you won't see him again and you'll miss him. But if you only focus on what you've lost then you will be stuck in the past." He finished before turning around and jotting notes down on his tablet.
“Easy enough for you to say, I have to watch the way they smile at theirs who giot to come. That insufferable man Kai. It’s a reminder that mine isn’t here every time, and they act like i’m happy to see him too.” Her hand that had been pricked, was now clenched in frustration, angered by the fact it was like some cruel taunt. If she weren’t the cool and collected type, chances were, she’d have shoved kai out an airlock long ago.
"Oh? Easy for me to say?" Tarkus said evenly, turning only slightly to see her out of his peripherals. "Seeing all of you, happy and with loved ones. Even if it's just your siblings, is just a reminder that I have nothing and no one." He replied before turning back to his work. "It can always be worse, remember that."
“Maybe we all deserve a game of hopscotch out the airlock. And I guess you’re right, I could still be a slave to the system.” It was the only blunt reply Kyoko would give before turning to leave out of the medbay. She was content to go back to moping in the toasty server room of the station for the rest of the day. At least no one bothered her there.
Tarkus smirked once more at the last remark, before sighing and returning to his charts. "At least then I wouldn't have to finish any of my documentation." He muttered as he continued to type.
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There would be a knock on the office door, announcing the need to enter. Once the door slid open, a pink haired woman in more urban punk style clothing was waiting. “Doc you busy? I was hoping for a quick check in and dropping a gift off from Sachi.”, she said as she poked her head in to look about.
Tarkus was in the process of restocking the office's blood supply when the knock came. Placing the last of the bags in one of the coolers, Tarkus turned to find his visitor. "Gift from Sachi? How can I help you?" He asked, wiping blood off his hands and putting his gloves back on.
“Oh yeah, she made you this box of cookies as thanks for helping her with the artificer stuff.”, Vivianna said as she offered Tarkus the box. “As for me, I was wondering if you had anything for phantom pains. I get them in my right arm and leg.” Said limbs were actually still flesh and blood, which should have come off as odd to the doctor. She seemed to remember that however, “Oh right, i should explain. I actually lost them some time before we came here, and Sachi replaced them with prosthetics for me.”
She extended her arm to show it off, “But as you can see, it was restored when we got brought here. Got an idea on how to help?”
Tarkus smiled as he took the treats from her. "Let Sachi know I appreciate it." He replied before listening to her issue. "Hmm, I have a couple options. Either I can give you some medicine, or I can try a procedure. The procedure involves me manipulating your blood and stimulating the nerves causing the phantom pains. The choice is up to you." The doctor added.
“Either is fine, but preferably the more permanent option. It’s distracting, and a bit disorienting.” Vivi looked thoughtful at the choice as she continued to offer details, mostly to see if anything stuck out to the doc. Rubbing her right arm, she went on, “Some days before I’m even fully awake, I still get up and reach for a prosthetic, but then realize it’s not there and I just did with the arm that shouldn’t be there.”
It was all very strange like her body had not come to terms with it being whole again. Sometimes in the day when she let herself become more absent minded, completely forgot those limbs existed. Creating very embarrassing scenarios of clumsiness, where she would bump into something easily avoided, and working in her wife’s workshop tended to make such fumbles sting.
“Alright, I’ll see what I can do. Go ahead and lay down on the bed.” He said moving to grab a monitor and several other instruments. “Like I said, I’m going to try and manipulate your body’s blood to stimulate those nerves.” He explained as she laid down.
Vivian was a bit apprehensive to do this, knowing it was going to be oddly invasive. But then again, what surgical procedure wasn’t? Laying back though, Sachi seemed to trust the doctor, so Vivi was willing to as well. She braced for how this might feel.
Tarkus held both his hands over Vivian. "Sit still and relax as best you can. This shouldn't hurt, but it will feel a bit uncomfortable." He explained. His eye began to glow as he felt the blood coursing through Vivian's body. Following the path down to her affected limbs, he began channeling more blood to the Veins and capillaries surrounding the nerves in question. Vivian could feel pins and needles traveling down her arm as Tarkus channeled extra blood to the site.
The woman winced slightly as it tingled and prickled under her skin, feeling her own blood move on what felt like it’s own accord. In a way, it felt deeply violating, in a way that was indescribable. “Thanks new universe, for some new brand of PTSD”, she thought to herself. It caused her to shudder as her skin quite literally crawled down to the veins. “Doc, I… might… ugh.. Need a barf bag.”
Tarkus grimaced and a bloody tendril sprouted from his back and reached across the room to grab a bag as he concentrated. He could feel the nerves that were causing Vivian's issue. "Almost done. Hold on just a little longer. Take some deep breaths." He ordered.
Vivian clenched the bag tightly, feeling her stomach rolling from her discomfort. This was horrible, like living through a body horror movie scene. Somehow she was managing to hold her breakfast in, keeping the bag empty for now at least. Vivi was definitely going home after this and passing out from how exhausting this was already feeling to be.
As the extra blood reached the spot, Tarkus stimulated stem cells around the inflamed nerve.as he did the pain began to lessen. After a moment or two Tarkus released his spell and all the pressure disappeared. "There. Give it a few seconds then tell me how you feel." He said to Vivian.
Even as the tingle faded, the whole experience made her feel nauseous wobbly on her feet. Slowly the woman lowered to the nearest chair, with a very uncomfortable expression on her face. “I hope most of your treatments don’t feel like that doc, might need a therapist living here otherwise. Feeling my blood move like that, it just ain’t natural.”, Vivian said with a shudder. It was possible that at that moment, she was scarred just a bit, enough to find blood an uncomfortable sight or thought.
Tarkus just shrugged. "If it works, it works. Pretty sure most would prefer to feel uncomfortable than dead." The doctor said matter of factly, but without any callousness in his words. He was merely stating a fact.
“I guess you’re right, and probably why i’ll never understand the hoodoo some people living here are capable of. As someone without magic, it’s all just odd to me, so nothing against ya or anything doc.” The reply was apologetic, but still a bit weak as she waited for her stomach to settle. Hoping to get her mind off all that though, went ahead with her next request, even as it rosed her cheeks a little. “I uh.. Don’t suppose you got some, male stimulating meds?”
Tarkus waved his hand dismissively. "None taken." After being asked about a stimulant he cocked an eyebrow in confusion. "You mean hormones, sexual enhancement, or…?" He prompted.
“Yeah… bedroom stuff, like the stuff to improve… stamina and stiffness.”, Vivian said, averting her gaze just a bit as she raised her hand in a slight gesture. Her finger arched before being lifted stiff and straight, hoping he got what she meant, and saving her from further embarrassment of explaining. She also desperately hoped he didn’t get the wrong idea, thinking they were for some side guy.
Tarkus's own hand shot up and he looked away. At the same time one of his blood tendrils shot across the room to grab a bottle of medicine. The tendril lazily tossed the bottle to Vivian. "One 30 minutes before you do it. If it lasts more than 4 hours, come back. Don't need any more information than that." He replied quickly.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you. I appreciate this!”, she said in a hasty apology and thanks. Finding the sudden embarrassment a stabilizing factor, stood and decided now was probably best to leave. “Please tell me how much I owe you for the visit, and i’ll clear out of your way.”
He shook his head. "Don't worry about it. How's the arm?" Tarkus asked as she stood and moved to exit.
“Oh um, the pain is gone and so is the tingle. It just feels like an arm again, just like before the day I met Sachi. It’s something in itself that I am getting used to again. Thank you again for it, adn.. Uh for these too.” Embarrassment changed to nervousness, just much less so as things were less awkward at this point. Maybe it was a blessing he didn’t want to know, but at the same time anxious at what he possibly might be thinking from such a bizarre request.
This was probably the most uncomfortable doctor visit she had ever had, or the most tiring as she still wobbled just a bit. “I’ll let you know if either start acting up, or weird, but I doubt they will.”, Vivian said with a nervous chuckle.
"If the arm starts acting up we can try some medicine instead." He reassured as he moved to clean up the space. "And… don't worry about it." He added.
A vigorous nod of the head in thanks yet again, before making her exit. Sachi would be so pleased with the improvements, as well as those for bed.
The ship's new doctor slowly went through his medical supplies, counting and restocking things he'd felt that he would need. He cursed to himself, finding that no one competent had ever done the same. "Uuuugh... Klaus's debt is paid 12x fold." Dr Tarkus muttered to himself, as he began creating blood bags from his own supply.
As his blood flowed from his hand into the bags, he heard the padding of feet down the hall. Turning his head, he found...
Setsuya, a bit frazzled and disheveled in her appearance, but it was indeed the captain. "I hope I am not disturbing you doctor, and I hope you will excuse my appearance. I have not been resting well to say the least, and was hoping you'd have something to give me to help."
Stepping in, the raven haired nekomata with surprisingly tired golden irised eyes, took a seat on the nearest stool. Everything about her seemed worn, tired, even a small air of fear about her. It was clear that the woman was dealing with much, but at the same time, with a sense that she wasn't sure what it even was at fault.
The doctor watched as she sat herself down on one of his stools. "It's fine Captain. Let me finish up here." He said as blood flowed from his wrist into the bag in his hand. As it filled, he sealed it back and put it into the freezer and put his white glove back over his hand.
Taking a seat across from her, he took her in. The bags under her eyes made it clear that she wasn't getting enough sleep. "What seems to be the trouble? What keeps you up at night?" He asked. Zoren had meds to put the woman to sleep on the spot, but most of the time trouble sleeping had a deeper meaning.
"That's the damndest thing, I don't know, and I feel like it should be something I remember. Whatever it was, had to have been before we came here, the time none of us can remember for some reason. I feel..... Like something terrible happened to me." Setsuya worriedly explained, finding it odd how she could recognize that the cool and analytical side of her was all, but long gone. She used to be so calm and able to let things just run their course with indifference, but whatever happened to her had changed her deeply.
She continued on however, hoping that by some means, the doctor could finally help her bury these feelings and sensations of a nightmare long forgotten. "Every time I sleep, I see the dark behind my eyelids, or even in a pitch black room. My lungs strain and become sore, and my eyes begin to hurt with intense pain. I find a strong unease, as if expecting something to come, and at certain times in a repeating loop. I flinch when I feel it coming, even though it never does, and I jump at rough or even spontaneous touch. I feel like a cat who's been abused, and is paranoid of everything around them now."
"I see..." He said, tapping his chin. He'd seen such things before. Signs of PTSD. It was hard to treat when the trauma had been so ingrained into a mortal creature. "I see. Well I'd like to try something to help you sleep a bit easier. Lie down on the stretcher will you." He said, pointing to one of the 2 beds he had prepared in the med bay. "I have heard similar stories over my many years, and this seems to be the best method. I can meld with your mind and walk you through what has been plaguing your mind."
As he spoke, he moved and pulled back the sheet covering the stretcher. Patting the mattress, he made his best attempt at a smile, a little upturn in the corner of his mouth. "We will go at your pace, and we can stop whenever you like. But, I feel this will be the best way to have long term effects." He said.
"You're probably the only doctor I've ever met, who left medicating as the last resort.", Setsuya answered nervously as she hopped up onto the bed. Pulling her two tails around to her lap, before laying back, waiting for Tarkus to begin.
The doctor chuckled as he patted the woman's arm. "It's easier to do this than to waste my medication." he replied as she got comfortable. As she closed her eyes, he placed his hand on her forehead and slowly chanted. As she lulled into his trance, their minds melded bringing the two into a similar scene.
Tarkus had planned on seeing the woman's past, and yet they appeared in his...
Damn it... He thought he was past this. It had only happened a handful of times, but he knew how to handle himself.
The two appeared in a grove of wildflowers, ringed by tall trees and vines. Tarkus hid his own feelings as Setsuya came to, resting in his lap. The colorful bouquet of flowers stretched for miles in any direction, only to be engulfed in trees and forest.
Waking up his lap was enough to jolt her, as she sat up straight, suddenly taking in the colorful view. "Um doc, not to question, but I'm sure this isn't my trauma unless I'm just that broken.", came her voice that held doubt as to how this had anything to do with her. Slowly getting up, it did remind her of something she had seen once, a faint echo of a forgotten friend but still very much different. Looking around, it was definitely a sight to behold however, her fears were lost in a sea of awe.
Zoren Sighed as she came to. "No it isn't..." He replied as she began to speak. "But it will work just the same." He replied, allowing Setsuya to stand. "This isn't your trauma... it is mine..." He replied softly. "But it still helps." He said, standing with the woman as she did. "This trauma is mine... I'm sorry. It was on my mind today." He replied as he began walking to the center of the groove. The flowers parted in his wake, leaving a path through the thorny underbrush for Setsuya to follow. "This might not be as helpful, however being in such a place may help you sleep a tad easier." He replied, as he walked through the brush.
"I don't suppose I have to visit the medbay every time to visit though do I? Klaus and Alex would miss me terribly if I was never in bed. I wouldn't want to have them pile into the mebay late at night either." It was already hard enough to stay awake during the day, when lack of sleep takes its toll, but she didn't want to sacrifice her nights too.
Following him, it was almost strange to her to think about, that a blood demon would have some place so beautiful within their dreams. In an ironic sense, it was a small corner of heaven tucked away within Tarkus's mind. "So, should I ask why, or hold my questions for the end of the tour?", she asked with a nervous chuckle, unsure how to go about this.
He chuckled and waved his hand dismissively. "No. Being here should help you sleep easy... Though me being here will keep me up for weeks on end..." He replied as he walked. Thorns and brambles parted as he walked till he reached the center. A stone sarcophagus awaited the pair in the center of the grove. Tarkus seemed to stand a ways away, not daring to enter the area.
"This... is my own pocket dimension. I cannot go beyond this point, but you may go as you please." He said reluctantly. "This place is where I go when I have trouble concentrating, but you might find it comforting." He said turning his back to the sarcophagi and Setsuya.
"What am I walking into though, what is the story here? Surely there is something deeper to all this. You even called it, your trauma.", was her only reply, taking a few tentative steps forward. The box gave her a shiver, everything screaming at her to stay away, but that was her trauma saying that. If she wanted answers, she would have to venture forward, a small fear without basis that this would all change into a nightmare.
That didn't make sense though as it would mean this was not actually a place to make her comfortable. Setsuya trusted the doctor enough to know it wouldn't, especially after all he had done for her sister. "Who's grave?"
He covered his face, making absolutely sure his patient couldn't see him. "This is the tomb of my brother." He replied softly, not bringing himself to look where Setsuya was. "It... is the location of my greatest failure." He said softly. "I couldn't save him. Even though he was to be a father... His wife had to raise their daughter alone." He replied, the flowers around him slowly changing to black and wilting in his presence.
"I did everything I could... but still it wasn't enough. I... wasn't enough." He sighed, walking away from the grave. "This wasn't supposed to happen. We were supposed to see your trauma. Not mine..."
In a flash, Setsuya was back in the medbay with Tarkus already across the room. "Here this will help you sleep." He said, pulling a bottle from a cabinet. "One a day will help you sleep." He said, avoiding eye contact at all cost, bloody tears falling from his lifeless eyes.
Gently she took the offered bottle, not sure what to even say at first to all that. Her troubles suddenly seemed like they deserved a back seat on this one, as she offered a hankerchief, then a hug. "Yet your place here, has kept this family in one piece, and closer together then we've ever been. I would say, that failure made much more then you were, and I more then proud to count you among this family."
He took the handkerchief and wiped his eyes, the hug caught him by surprise. He was at first, his muscles as tense as steel cables. Slowly he relaxed into the hug, before remembering himself.
Clearing his throat he stepped away from his patient. "I'm sorry." He said, turning away. His cheeks were flush with embarrassment. "And thanks."
"I should be the one thanking you, you've helped me prevent my past from tearing me down. Hopefully this will buy the time I need to work past the scars it left. But it's also clear to me that there is much we can help you with, and that's what family is for." Her words were earnest, and she gave a hopeful smile. Setsuya was prepared to leave if all was done now, giving on her way to the door, "I will take the meds, then try and rest. I suggest you try and do the same... Uncle."
Tarkus's eye widened and eyebrow quirked at Setsuya's last word. "Uncle?" He asked, moving back to the stool he was sitting at originally. Taking his glove back off he cleaned his palm with alcohol then nicked himself. Blood began flowing in a stream from his palm into an awaiting clear bag.
"I give off uncle vibes do I?" He added, the corner of his mouth turned up into a smirk.
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Shirtless and down in the engine grease, Kai in his nerdy past time, was working on doing engine maintenance down in the Sadistic Spriggan. The man was clearly working hard on just that, as he could be heard grunting as he gave his tools a turn, or twist. For someone so handsome, and with blood of a rich noble merchant family in him, he was not your average pretty boy.
It showed in each pastime he took part in, from reading science digest literature, to what he was doing currently. Though this was probably his less safer of the two hobbies. One that would soon become evident as he found a part that seemed to have a crack in it's casing. Giving one of it's securing bolts a turn however, caused the stress to make it burst in a puff of smoke and exhaust.
"FUCK!", came from his throat in pain as the exhaust and bits of metal sprayed his arm. It burned his skin, as bits embedded and cut, a few making it past to pelt his face and torso. Crawling out from underneath, he was not looking too great when it came to his arm, smacking a button on the intercom. "Tomoe, call the doc please, I've had a bit of an accident down here."
Tarkus was lounging in the Medbay when the call came through. Bolting up, he sprinted down to engineering to find Kai covered in burns. "What the hell did you do!?" He said, taking the man by his good arm and leading him back to the medbay.
Putting him on the stretcher, the doctor started popping locked cabinets and grabbed an injector. "Hold still." He ordered as he pressed the injector into his thigh. The sharp sting was quickly replaced with a calming warmth that spread throughout his body.
"Well it started as just maintenance, then I found the grenade left in a handbasket that someone labeled Hell.", Kai said with a pained yet lighthearted smirk. Giving a small chuckle with a flinch, he clarified without the playful sarcasm, "Found a part past it's lifetime, and it ruptured when I went to replace it."
Tarkus rolled his eyes as grabbed more tools. "That's what we have safety equipment..." the doctor muttered as he put an IV in Kai's good arm. Taking out a bag of chilled blood, he hooked it up to the IV. "This will start repairing some of the damage but I'm gonna have to cut away the dead skin." The doctor pulled another injector and placed it on a tray, with a pair of scissors and forceps.
"From flagship pilot, to independent deckhand, quite a jump huh. Maybe this is a sign I'm just getting old doc.'' Kai offered in small talk as the doc continued his work on him, trying to lighten up the situation. "To be fair, this isn't the worst I've gotten, have been shot before in the line of duty, now that was far worse."
He looked away from his arm as the damaged flesh was removed, still opening to continue the conversation as additional distraction. More for himself, then to Tarkus of course. Clearing his throat with a grunt from the sting, he felt like adding one other thing, "Also... thank you, for what you did for my daughter the other day."
Tarkus took his time, cutting away the dead tissue and listening to Kai talk. He nodded along, more caught up in making sure that he got all the fragments of metal as he worked. Chuckling, he replied. "If you think that's a leap, try a warrior to a blood mage doctor..." he said poking around his arm.
When he mentioned helping his daughter, Tarkus seemed to focus more on his arm. "Yeah... no problem." The doctor said as he cut another patch of skin away.
"The things that were done to that girl,... Had no right to be done to her. I can understand why it keeps her up at night. As much as I've never been one for killing, I'm happy the bastards are dead." Kai wasn't as cheerful as he was a moment ago, able to remember what had been done to her, but only vaguely the specifics around it. What was done to her, was the clearest part, a father's anger, keeping it burned into his memories forever despite the attempt to wipe everything from before, by whatever had seen fit to do so.
He brought the smile back somewhat however, "Not trying to be downer sorry, but I do appreciate the help you've shown us after everything we've been through. We're strangers out here, in a space we have never known, so having a local friend is wonderful."
Tarkus grimaced as he poured cool water on the burn and began to expertly bandage the wounds. "Its ugly, the things that people get subjected to. I've seen my fair share of it through the years." He replied as the blood continued it's slow drip, drip, drip. "All you can do is be there for her when she needs you."
"And it's fine. It's what I do. " he added, placing the last few bandages to his face.
"In a number of ways, it's probably best she doesn't remember any of it. Doing so, would likely just freshen the trauma." Kai hissed with the irritation the initial touch of bandaging caused, but was able to keep the reaction down as he finished. The man was just about ready for this to be over, he still had to repair the damage down there. "You're a wonderful doctor, don't suppose you got a remedy somewhere in here like relationship glue do you.", he added with a soft chuckle to ease off the other subject.
"Relationship glue...?" He asked as he finished up the bandaging. "Thanks, but I don't have anything for that. I have physical problems." Tarkus replied, pulling the IV out. Taking out a bottle of pills, he handed it to him. "Take these for pain. No operating heavy machinery if you take it."
A soft grin crept across his lips as he sat up and took the bottle, "Was worth a shot, and aye aye captain. Guess I'll have to put the twins to work on finishing that repair then, or let Sachi handle it if they can't." Hopping down from the bed, Kai inspected the bandages, and admired the work done. "Quite skilled indeed, maybe next time, we can hangout without me almost blowing myself up."
Tarkus smirked. "That be preferable, it's less work for me." He replied, cleaning up the medbay. "Now don't cause any more explosions, or else I won't use Anesthesia next time."
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In the med bay, the ship's resident doctor was sitting at his desk spinning a pen in his hand. Chewing on his lip, he contemplated what other things the ship's med bay could possibly need. After contemplating for a few minutes he decided to call the other demon onboard. "Lucas, can you come down to the med bay for a minute? Need to run something by you."
“Would kinda prefer a house visit doc, as I’ve got a full order for the shop this week. I can talk, but I need to be able to work while we do. Come down to the hab block, executive quarters level, last door on the right towards the lounge.” Lucas was quick to reply, but it always seemed the other demon was rather busy, along with the woman who looked remarkably the same when he was nowhere to be found. Suppose it would be a good chance to meet her as well, along with anyone else who was available at the coven abode.
Tarkus grumbled out a single word reply. "Fine." Standing, the doctor stretched his arms causing the joints to pop. He didn't want to go trekking all over the station. It's such a pain…
The doctor tried his hair back into a ponytail as he walked. Dusting off his lab coat, he knocked on the door that Lucas had specified.
The door would open, revealing a much more spacious interior compared to what an executive quarters should have contained. A maid with bunny features was the one to open it, giving a slight bow in greeting as she met Tarkus at the door. “I’m Abigail, the mistress has been waiting for your arrival, so please follow me.”, came her cheery reply before leading him into the very modest yet lavished house-like space.
The place was rather large with several bedrooms, and several additional rooms at first glance, all spacious with no logical way that it all could fit into the compartment the door was connected to. Following her though, Tarkus was led into a sewing room, complete with loom even, Lucas working diligently on producing his enchanted clothes and attire. “Mistress, the doctor is in!”, Abigail announced as they entered.
“Ah Tarkus, what was it that you needed? One of ours hasn’t done a dumb and gotten themselves hurt have they?”, came Lucas’s reply as Abigail left to go make tea.
Tarkus nodded to the bunny maid as he followed her into the large space. As he walked he realized there was some type of magic at play. For all this to fit in what was to be a much smaller space, maybe Lucas was using a pocket dimension…
His thoughts quickly returned to the task at hand when he walked into the room Lucas was in.
Doctor Zoren shook his head, and began speaking in the language of demons. "No. I need tomes on artificing. Do you have any lying about?" He asked, cutting straight to the point.
He raised an eyebrow at the chosen language used in the request, “Not really needed to speak in that tongue here, but I digress. Yes, I have infernal artifacts of the abyss I - XI, Artificer’s Folly I-IV, and The Artificer’s Codex. Are you looking for a particular edition, or a particular object you want to craft?” His hands never stopped their work as he answered, occasionally switching to the loom and other contraptions that produced his craft.
Tarkus switched back to common before continuing. "Apologies… haven't dealt with another demon in quite some time. They aren't for me. I'm trying to teach someone in the school of Artificing, however that isn't my field of expertise." He explained watching Lucas work.
“It’s fine, I am just not one for the language of our kin. As for training in this skill, I can gather a few tomes then, as well as a few pieces to help aid in the teaching. I also have a number of materials for use in their work, as some of which is used on my own here too.” Lucas paused on his work, before standing from his bench and walking over to another door. Opening it there was a large study on the other side, it’s walls covered in high shelves, the majority of which held books. His eyes quickly looked over their contents as he entered, a hand wandering over the shelves as he looked over every title.
“You’re trying to teach a very valuable and almost forgotten skill. Who are you trying to teach if I may ask?”, Lucas asked idly as his search went on.
Tarkus moved to lean against the wall. "A young girl named Sachiko. She is a very talented mechanic and expressed interest in becoming an artificer so I thought I'd help her out a little." He explained with a shrug.
“Ah Setsuya and Klaus’s daughter, she bought an outfit from me recently for her partner. Nice to see her applying a magical trade as well, I wish her the best.” By this point, the priest had a couple of books in hand, pulling yet another off the shelf as he said this. Abigail would enter quietly, setting a tray of tea and biscuits on a side table, before leaving after a curtsey.
“Please, enjoy some tea, this will take a few minutes to find all the volumes you need. It tends to be harder when I have copies in more then one language. Lucina would rave on the tea if she were here too, the maid making it especially to her tastes.”, Lucas added with a chuckle.
The doctor's eyes shot to the maid as she set out the tray. Nodding his thanks to her, he grabbed a cup. He was more of a coffee drinker but he wouldn't turn down the chance at a hot beverage.
"I understand, take your time.' He replied, taking a small sip of the fresh tea. "Lucina?" He asked."I haven't heard that name around the station." He added.
“Guess you could say she’s the other me. Did you notice that despite my asking not to, Abigail referred to me as “Mistress” when she brought you in?” The man answered before spying the last book he needed, and adding it to the small stack that he had. Setting them on the desk, Lucas then began to rummage in a shelf of items, and other things. “She’s kind of like part of my curse. I wasn’t born a demon, I was turned, as the price paid for a deal I made with the devil. Part of what she did to me…. Well, I was never the same obviously, but in more ways then one. Now I have more then one of me in my head, me and her.”
"Ah, I see. I just wasn't gonna ask about that." He admitted. "I was turned as well a long time ago. "My own deal… didn't go like it was supposed to. Didn't even get what I wanted in the end. Funny how they tricked us into signing away our souls but didn't tell us about the additional costs when we were signing." Tarkus scoffed.
That was met with a shrug, “Was just something I had to learn to live with, and if I’m honest, her shenanigans amuse me at times. Elenor has taken a liking to her too.” A wrapped set of tools were pulled from the shelf finally, before being added to the book stack. Lucas then grabbed an extra satchel he kept nearby, and placed them all in it. “So how long ago was it? If you don’t mind me asking, one old man to another.”
"It's been quite some time." He said, rubbing his chin in thought. "I'd say it's been close to 35,000 years ago now if I had to guess. What about yourself? How long have you been one of the infernal." Tarkis asked in turn.
Lucas had bent behind the desk for something, likely some other item to place in the bag for him. However, the voice that answered was not Lucas anymore. “10,000 years give or take. Same for my sister, who I made the deal to save. Think my daughter is only just entering her 3,000s?”, came a feminine voice which was followed by long raven hair as Lucina stood up.
Placing the item in the bag, and carrying it over to Tarkus with a smile, the habit was replaced by a dress. “Also before you say anything, yes I know I completely stole the reins from father. I wanted to say hi, maybe gauge how fun you are.”, Lucina added with a smirk of a smile as she handed him the satchel.
Tarkus quirked an eyebrow at the change. Odd indeed… "I see. Well a pleasure to meet you." He said, taking the bag and offering his hand in return.
“Well at least it’s nice to see chivalry and gentlemanly manners do in fact exist among our kind. Not to discount the old softy Lucas is of course. It was a pleasure to meet you, as the wilder side, maybe you’ll come play with me or the maid sometime.” With a small mischievous giggle, Lucina shook the man’s hand gently with delicate fingers.
Tarkus's face remained neutral as his eyes scanned over Lucina briefly. At the proposition, a faint smirk danced across his lips before his face returned to it's neutral expression once more. "An interesting proposal to be sure. I may have to consider it." He replied, his gloved hand gave her delicate hand a gentle squeeze before releasing it.
“This should cover your needs sweetie, and give her the tools to do the work, just remind her it’s very delicate work so no rush. Was there anything else you needed perhaps, or any other way I could help while I have you here?” Lucina’s question was innocent enough, though Tarkus would find in time that everything that came out of her pretty mouth had a sexual edge to it. Even when not actually meant in that way, but she would never argue it coming across that way either. She was one thirsty, cheeky succubus, who knew what she liked and how she liked to have her fun.
The doctor looked back at the tomes for a moment then shook his head. "Nope, that should cover it. Thanks for the help." He replied, tucking the books under his arm as he began making his way to the door. Turning to Abigail, he bowed his head slightly now that his hands were full. "Thanks for the tea." He added.
Lucina gave a little nod, “He seems like he’d be fun to play with later, if a bit stubborn.” She was here now though, time to get to work in Lucas’s stead, but first things first. “Abi my lovely, come here, mommy wants some playtime.~”
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Medbay - Waiting Room
The shorter of the sisters, and somewhat most modest in chest size, was Kyoko. She unfortunately, was also the most cold and grumpy in how she emotionally came off to others. It wasn’t because she was some terrible person, but the training of her old job that she once had, working in intelligence. It left a very cranky stick worked up her bum, that no one had really the audacity to pull out of her.
You’d never hear her complain about it though, as she was used to it, and therefore ignorant of her own behaviors most days. If anything, she felt like a retiree, with nothing suiting her skills to do in an out of the way, civilian station such as this. So she games, snacked, napped, lounged around, bitched at Klaus, loved her sisters, and pretty much all around took it easy.
Maybe she was embracing this new feline aspect of her new body just a bit too much? Either way, things seemed to be working out so far, and she got to be lazy. But it annoyed her to get called in for matters like these, the check up she now was waiting for, about to be inappropriately handled by some man whose very people embraced lust and other such degenerate natures.
Dr. Zoren ran a hand through his snow white hair. He was feeling exhausted, this was just one of many such check ups he had to perform today. And with no nurses or staff to assist him he had to do everything. Letting out a sigh he moved to the waiting room and looked to the room's soul occupant. "Ms. Kyoko, this way please." He said simply pointing into the room.
As Kyoko entered, she'd notice that his office was covered wall to wall in ancient looking books. It was odd to see so many ancient artifacts intermingled with modern medical equipment. In the center of the room was a simple examination table. "Hop up on the table and I'll get this over with quickly." He said sitting on a rolling stool by his desk.
“Quite the gentleman, and straight to the point, applaudable qualities. Will there be needles involved today, and please tell me you gave Klaus a nice jab if so.”, Kyoko answered as she took a seat as requested. She had a faint grin at her humor, remembering the… “Spectacle”, that was her sister’s new youth a few days ago. The nekomata girl had no intention of bringing the matter up in any sort of sore, or weird way, as she knew not to poke fun at the man with blood tendrils.
"Thank you, and just a small Lancet. Just a tiny poke on your finger." He explained, showing the small device to her. "And don't worry, Klaus got the biggest needle I have for his checkup. Served him right, making my OR dirty with his nasty bath water." He grumbled as he rolled over to his patient.
He gently took her hand and cleaned her thumb with alcohol. "Poke on three. One. Two. Three." On three he pressed the lancet into her thumb, and the small needle pricked her skin drawing out a drop of blood. The drop lept from her thumb and hovered over Tarkus's outstretched hand where he began examining it intently.
“It’s strange to remember a time when something so simple would have sealed up instantly. Not that remembering is entirely the appropriate term, since I can’t remember places, years, people, or anything concrete in detail. “ If she was going to be here, might as well small talk she guessed, with at least someone paid to listen. That and they were a lot more affordable, and pleasant, then a shrink. The neko girl just seemed to stare at the sight of the prick in a thoughtful look, as if wondering when it had ever even gotten there.
"That appears to be a recurring theme around here. Everyone losing a large portion of their memories. It's an odd phenomenon to say the least." He replied studying the blood.
After several more seconds the blood scattered and Tarkus replied "You have a clean bill of health. Wasn't too terrible was it?"
“Well it’s more then that obviously. None of us came here as the race we were born as. We’ve been altered, wiped, and were lost until finding this place.” The admission sounded melancholy but neutrally given at the same time, a duality that Kyoko managed to pull off at all times, even when just talking about the weather. At least it was, unless she was in her more grumpy states of being, which tended to be the majority for months now.
Tarkus mulled that over as he rolled away to toss the spent Lancet in the trash. So on top of the memory loss they had been physically altered. The gods… or demons were up to something. They were the only ones capable of such things, at least to Tarkus's knowledge. "Well for what it's worth, sorry that it happened. But it's not like you can do anything about it so there's no point in moping." He replied just as neutrally. "All you can do is make the best out of the cards you got dealt."
“Kinda why hired you isn’t it? To help us do that or something? Not like we could ever expect some normie doctor to be able to help this gene spaghetti family.” Kyoko wiped the finger off on a tissue, as she asked that question, not really expecting much in terms of answers. What she added next however, did noticeably have a bit of a cynical tinge to it. “My hand kinda sucked. On one hand, more time with mum and the sisters, even if that means suffering Klaus and that man. But, I’ll never see my father ever again.”
Tarkus smirked. "I'm not a shrink. I just put you all back together again." He replied, listening to her story. At her last statement, he was silent for several long seconds. "You have it backwards. You still have family. I have no one. My entire family died, turned into a demon in an attempt to save them and it didn't help." He said before forcing himself to stop talking. He wasn't ready for that conversation. "All I'm saying is you still have family. It's sad that you won't see him again and you'll miss him. But if you only focus on what you've lost then you will be stuck in the past." He finished before turning around and jotting notes down on his tablet.
“Easy enough for you to say, I have to watch the way they smile at theirs who giot to come. That insufferable man Kai. It’s a reminder that mine isn’t here every time, and they act like i’m happy to see him too.” Her hand that had been pricked, was now clenched in frustration, angered by the fact it was like some cruel taunt. If she weren’t the cool and collected type, chances were, she’d have shoved kai out an airlock long ago.
"Oh? Easy for me to say?" Tarkus said evenly, turning only slightly to see her out of his peripherals. "Seeing all of you, happy and with loved ones. Even if it's just your siblings, is just a reminder that I have nothing and no one." He replied before turning back to his work. "It can always be worse, remember that."
“Maybe we all deserve a game of hopscotch out the airlock. And I guess you’re right, I could still be a slave to the system.” It was the only blunt reply Kyoko would give before turning to leave out of the medbay. She was content to go back to moping in the toasty server room of the station for the rest of the day. At least no one bothered her there.
Tarkus smirked once more at the last remark, before sighing and returning to his charts. "At least then I wouldn't have to finish any of my documentation." He muttered as he continued to type.
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There would be a knock on the office door, announcing the need to enter. Once the door slid open, a pink haired woman in more urban punk style clothing was waiting. “Doc you busy? I was hoping for a quick check in and dropping a gift off from Sachi.”, she said as she poked her head in to look about.
Tarkus was in the process of restocking the office's blood supply when the knock came. Placing the last of the bags in one of the coolers, Tarkus turned to find his visitor. "Gift from Sachi? How can I help you?" He asked, wiping blood off his hands and putting his gloves back on.
“Oh yeah, she made you this box of cookies as thanks for helping her with the artificer stuff.”, Vivianna said as she offered Tarkus the box. “As for me, I was wondering if you had anything for phantom pains. I get them in my right arm and leg.” Said limbs were actually still flesh and blood, which should have come off as odd to the doctor. She seemed to remember that however, “Oh right, i should explain. I actually lost them some time before we came here, and Sachi replaced them with prosthetics for me.”
She extended her arm to show it off, “But as you can see, it was restored when we got brought here. Got an idea on how to help?”
Tarkus smiled as he took the treats from her. "Let Sachi know I appreciate it." He replied before listening to her issue. "Hmm, I have a couple options. Either I can give you some medicine, or I can try a procedure. The procedure involves me manipulating your blood and stimulating the nerves causing the phantom pains. The choice is up to you." The doctor added.
“Either is fine, but preferably the more permanent option. It’s distracting, and a bit disorienting.” Vivi looked thoughtful at the choice as she continued to offer details, mostly to see if anything stuck out to the doc. Rubbing her right arm, she went on, “Some days before I’m even fully awake, I still get up and reach for a prosthetic, but then realize it’s not there and I just did with the arm that shouldn’t be there.”
It was all very strange like her body had not come to terms with it being whole again. Sometimes in the day when she let herself become more absent minded, completely forgot those limbs existed. Creating very embarrassing scenarios of clumsiness, where she would bump into something easily avoided, and working in her wife’s workshop tended to make such fumbles sting.
“Alright, I’ll see what I can do. Go ahead and lay down on the bed.” He said moving to grab a monitor and several other instruments. “Like I said, I’m going to try and manipulate your body’s blood to stimulate those nerves.” He explained as she laid down.
Vivian was a bit apprehensive to do this, knowing it was going to be oddly invasive. But then again, what surgical procedure wasn’t? Laying back though, Sachi seemed to trust the doctor, so Vivi was willing to as well. She braced for how this might feel.
Tarkus held both his hands over Vivian. "Sit still and relax as best you can. This shouldn't hurt, but it will feel a bit uncomfortable." He explained. His eye began to glow as he felt the blood coursing through Vivian's body. Following the path down to her affected limbs, he began channeling more blood to the Veins and capillaries surrounding the nerves in question. Vivian could feel pins and needles traveling down her arm as Tarkus channeled extra blood to the site.
The woman winced slightly as it tingled and prickled under her skin, feeling her own blood move on what felt like it’s own accord. In a way, it felt deeply violating, in a way that was indescribable. “Thanks new universe, for some new brand of PTSD”, she thought to herself. It caused her to shudder as her skin quite literally crawled down to the veins. “Doc, I… might… ugh.. Need a barf bag.”
Tarkus grimaced and a bloody tendril sprouted from his back and reached across the room to grab a bag as he concentrated. He could feel the nerves that were causing Vivian's issue. "Almost done. Hold on just a little longer. Take some deep breaths." He ordered.
Vivian clenched the bag tightly, feeling her stomach rolling from her discomfort. This was horrible, like living through a body horror movie scene. Somehow she was managing to hold her breakfast in, keeping the bag empty for now at least. Vivi was definitely going home after this and passing out from how exhausting this was already feeling to be.
As the extra blood reached the spot, Tarkus stimulated stem cells around the inflamed nerve.as he did the pain began to lessen. After a moment or two Tarkus released his spell and all the pressure disappeared. "There. Give it a few seconds then tell me how you feel." He said to Vivian.
Even as the tingle faded, the whole experience made her feel nauseous wobbly on her feet. Slowly the woman lowered to the nearest chair, with a very uncomfortable expression on her face. “I hope most of your treatments don’t feel like that doc, might need a therapist living here otherwise. Feeling my blood move like that, it just ain’t natural.”, Vivian said with a shudder. It was possible that at that moment, she was scarred just a bit, enough to find blood an uncomfortable sight or thought.
Tarkus just shrugged. "If it works, it works. Pretty sure most would prefer to feel uncomfortable than dead." The doctor said matter of factly, but without any callousness in his words. He was merely stating a fact.
“I guess you’re right, and probably why i’ll never understand the hoodoo some people living here are capable of. As someone without magic, it’s all just odd to me, so nothing against ya or anything doc.” The reply was apologetic, but still a bit weak as she waited for her stomach to settle. Hoping to get her mind off all that though, went ahead with her next request, even as it rosed her cheeks a little. “I uh.. Don’t suppose you got some, male stimulating meds?”
Tarkus waved his hand dismissively. "None taken." After being asked about a stimulant he cocked an eyebrow in confusion. "You mean hormones, sexual enhancement, or…?" He prompted.
“Yeah… bedroom stuff, like the stuff to improve… stamina and stiffness.”, Vivian said, averting her gaze just a bit as she raised her hand in a slight gesture. Her finger arched before being lifted stiff and straight, hoping he got what she meant, and saving her from further embarrassment of explaining. She also desperately hoped he didn’t get the wrong idea, thinking they were for some side guy.
Tarkus's own hand shot up and he looked away. At the same time one of his blood tendrils shot across the room to grab a bottle of medicine. The tendril lazily tossed the bottle to Vivian. "One 30 minutes before you do it. If it lasts more than 4 hours, come back. Don't need any more information than that." He replied quickly.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you. I appreciate this!”, she said in a hasty apology and thanks. Finding the sudden embarrassment a stabilizing factor, stood and decided now was probably best to leave. “Please tell me how much I owe you for the visit, and i’ll clear out of your way.”
He shook his head. "Don't worry about it. How's the arm?" Tarkus asked as she stood and moved to exit.
“Oh um, the pain is gone and so is the tingle. It just feels like an arm again, just like before the day I met Sachi. It’s something in itself that I am getting used to again. Thank you again for it, adn.. Uh for these too.” Embarrassment changed to nervousness, just much less so as things were less awkward at this point. Maybe it was a blessing he didn’t want to know, but at the same time anxious at what he possibly might be thinking from such a bizarre request.
This was probably the most uncomfortable doctor visit she had ever had, or the most tiring as she still wobbled just a bit. “I’ll let you know if either start acting up, or weird, but I doubt they will.”, Vivian said with a nervous chuckle.
"If the arm starts acting up we can try some medicine instead." He reassured as he moved to clean up the space. "And… don't worry about it." He added.
A vigorous nod of the head in thanks yet again, before making her exit. Sachi would be so pleased with the improvements, as well as those for bed.