The Plague Doctor's Growth

Cautious Cartyr

Grem had wandered off from the group since they had walked in and had curled up at the main entrance to the back halls. Only them falling into a peaceful sleep. Cartyr quickly zips past Grem, disappearing into the main halls, the flow of air lightly tickling him as Cartyr passed by. Cartyr merely avoided him with a simple jump and disappeared into the back halls.
Cartyr entered his secret underground experiment room after sliding through the tunnels in the walls. Slowly making his way to some giant machinery, it whirls around, causing electricity to be generated and zapped around. However, Cartyr prepared for this, as their was severe hard glass protecting him from a separate room, practically being used as a shield and a big window.
More electricity sparked, bouncing around the room before the main voltage shot forward. The electricity hit the window, it bounced off, hitting an advanced Tesla coil, which then turned the electricity black, as it was powered back into the machine, and ran through. The now black electricity comes back through, and fires downward on a small table with Green mellow and the machine shuts down once the jello is shocked. Cartyr slowly entered the room, being quite cautious.
"Did this trial work? My calculations were quite accurate... this time..." In that moment, the jello that was shocked slowly comes to life, it starting off cute until it's grows teeth, and this very teeth became sharp fangs. The green color of the jello turned black. As it jumped at Cartyr, only to attack him. The jello had become hostile. Cartyr knew, in that moment, the trial was a failure. He quickly unsheathed his katana and sliced the jello in half. The black jello flopped down, and evaporated.
"Hm... Test 642... failure... Lets rerun it.." He walks back out and attempts another test with a different thing. Cartyr would do more trials and errors. On bowls, cups, more food, etc. However, he couldn't get his calculations quite right. After a few more attempts, now being trial 1,192. He did this for a while now before becoming peckish. Cartyr decided to head out and grab a quick bite. He turned off the machine, and headed into another tunnel, leading outwards. But what was happening in the kitchen?
Rae, now being in the kitchen, began to wash the dishes. Chester rested a hand on their shoulder, causing them to drop the plate they were scrubbing and tense up for a moment. They quickly caught the plate and looked at Chester while asking with an annoyed expression. "
"What?" Chester recoiled at their hostile tone. They softened, returning to the dishes as they mumured, "Sorry, pal... Got a lot on my mind is all. I'm okay. Thank you." Chester joined them in doing dishes, the two silently listening to the scrubbing off the sponges on the plates and glasses accompanied by the running water. As the two quietly washed dishes, Rae slowly zoned out as they stared into the soapy water. Their scrubbing slowed as they just stared at the swirling soap. Suddenly, the felt a hand grab their wrist. Gasping, they yanked their hand away and dropped the plate and sponge into the sink.
Chester looked over with concern, noticing Rae's distressed expression. They stared at the sink with a sort of confusion, wondering where the hand had gone. They swore it was there a moment ago. Sighing, they grumbled, "I swear sometimes the Gods just enjoy fucking with me." And within those few moments, the Doctor soon entered. Rae almost immediately noticed Dr. Eri's bleeding hand, in that time, Rae asked. "Do you need some help, Doc?" They glanced over at the blood trail, Chester taking the signal to begin cleaning it. He grabbed a mop, starting to clean the trail Dr. Eri had left.
He'd make a soft apology to Chester before turning his head to Rae. "Tried to pour a glass of wine.. and well.. the wine won." He'd try to make the situation light hearted to some degree before reaching for his medical kit with his uninjured right hand. "I'm just getting the glass out of it, and then wrapping it.. It shouldn't need anything else put on it.. That's the magic of alcohol.." 'You're only cracking jokes because your hand hurts. And Rae is only helping you because you're pitiful...'
"Shut it.." He'd say lowly, his good eye gazing passed Rae and at a wall behind them. Rae hummed softly, cleaning out the sink and putting the last of the dishes to dry. Chester had finished cleaning, even cleaning Eri's room. One if the perks of being super lanky was you could get stuff done pretty quick. Rae patted Dr. Eri's shoulder and suggested, "You should eat. Chester made pancakes with OJ."
He tensed at the touch for a moment, almost seeming to flinch, "I'm not hungry right now..." He'd say softly, tilting his head for a moment. His eyes still staring at that same wall."I'll eat later, I promise." He said  softly once more as he grabbed gauze and placed it in the palm of his injured hand before then grabbing the surgical tape and wrapped his hand. He then gently places the extra surgical tape back into his medical kit. He then picked it up before beginning towards the front door.
'Starving yourself now? How fcking mature.. You need to lose a few pounds anyway.'
'Please do not starve yourself Doctor. You must eat.' Eri would let out an exhausted sigh as he placed the kit back into its cubby before heading back passed the kitchen. Pausing, he then nodded softly to Rae. "Thank you anyway. I do whole heartily appreciate it..."
'You thought they were gonna hit you? Pathetic.' Eri made an annoyed sigh as he began back towards the stairs, annoyed to high hell at this point. He felt his chest tighten as he felt his sanity slip away slowly, drop by drop. He grasped at the sides of his mask. And just sunk to the floor. He reached for his pocket and grabbed a small shot of night-night juice, literally about to dose himself so he didn't freak out and hurt someone. He paused, calming himself shakily. 'Willing to drug yourself to save 'them'..? How 'heroic'...'
Quietly watching Dr. Eri leave, they turned to Chester. He was holding his tail, head low as he stared at his feet. Rae walked over and patted his head as they said, "C'mon, pal. Let's go listen to some music." They went up to the crawl space, Rae using Chester like a pillow as she pulled up some music. The crawl space was small and cramped, but Rae liked it. It was normal to find them asleep in the crawlspace.
Eri made a few shaky breaths before slowly standing. He put the needle back into his pocket. Grumbling for a moment about where he was in the house. He then began go head upstairs, back to his room. He would pause at his doorway, finding it still but his room now clean. He sighed and walked to his bed, not bothering with the door at this point and just flopped onto the bed. His head turned the left, unable to see at all at this point. But he didn't seem to care. "Get out.." He'd mutter softly, reaching for his pillow that was back on his bed thanks to Chester. "...You need to eat, Eri.." 'Oh, shut up. You know he isn't going to eat until he absolutely needs to.' Eri then heard screaming in the back of his head again, a headache ensued, groaning in response.
With most gone, Cartye finally walked into the kitchen. He immediately headed straight for the fridge and opened it up. Cartyr began rummaging through it for a quick moment or two before pulling out just some string cheese. "Score!l He said as he opened it up and took a bite. Quite enjoying the moment for the time being. "Hm.. What to do... After I eat.."
In that moment, Grem appeared as he jumped forward, snatching Cartyr's string cheese as he scarfed it down his throat. "I- Well.. okay then.." He sighed, legitimately just grabbing another string cheese and begsn eating that one, all while throwing an opened one on the table for Grem if he ever wanted another string cheese. However, with Cartyr's own snack, he was now more aware. This one will not be stolen. Grem leaped up onto the table, scarfing down the other cheese. Satisfied with his snack, Grem passed out on the table. Sleeping in a deep slumber once again. Not like he just came out of one.
Eri calmly raised from his bed. Signing softly as he heard music playing above him. He'd pause, thinking now he's hearing music in his mind before remembering that there are two occupants of the building that love to hide up in there. He'd calmly walk down the hall, looking up at the trap door that was slightly open still. He calmly reached up and grabbed the strong before yanking it hard down, the trapdoor flew open and a ladder flew down and bumped against the floor. "Rae?"
He'd say softly. Now going to investigate the noise, Eri walks out, stumbling at first but catching himself as he followed the sound. The entrance to the attic was a trapdoor in the upstairs hallway. Music could be faintly heard playing from pretty much anywhere upstairs.
There was a shuffling before a familiar pair of eyes peered down at Dr. Eri. They then moved so there were in full view, sitting cross legged by the edge in the confined crawlspace. Chester crawled over and sat beside them. They replied in a quiet voice, "Yeah."
"Are you alright? Hiding in a dusty place like that." He would respond, his eyes gazing up at them. From an outside perspective it would be somewhat funny to see how his head tilted up to look at them. Resembling a bird in a suit. He would gaze up at them silently for a moment before turning his head to gaze down the hallway. "I haven't seen Cartyr since he escaped from me.. He drank so much last night..." He'd have a worried tone to his usual monotone voice. Rae, tucking their knees to their chest, merely shrugged a little in response. They mumbled, "I guess. I haven't seen him either. I don't know how he hasn't had a-"
They stopped themselves, not wanting to feed into Dr. Eri's worries. "massive hangover yet." The Doctor  would nod softly, and sigh deeply. "Anyway... if you see him, tell him I want to talk to him." He would then turn and began down the hallway. Humming a soft tune to himself as he then sighed and fell silent as he paused at the stairway. "Rae, would you like to come to my next job in the town?" He would say over his shoulder.
The request surprised Rae slightly. They replied, "Uh, s-sure. Of course. Sounds fun. And I'll let him know if I see him." Eri nodded and began down the flight of stairs.  He kept a hand on  the railing as he walked down. Pausing at the bottom step, he just saw red.
Blood pooling across the floor, the walls dripping with blood. Yet, he calmly stepped into it. Darkness surrounded him for a moment, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath in. The metallic scent twirled through the holes in his mask. He gently touched the side of his head and suddenly as he opened his eyes, everything was fine. He was standing somewhere he hadn't been before. Or maybe he was where he had been.
He couldn't tell. He gazed up and down the unfamiliar landscape of the house. His eye darting about, taking it all in.  "You're in the house.. you're in the house.." He would say softly. 'Are you sure?' What felt like a hand placed itself onto his shoulder, and he flinched hard but when he looked, no one was there. He shook his head and began to wander down this hallway. Finally recognizing the place; it was the back halls. How did he get here from downstairs? How peculiar...
Eri made it down the stairs, and was walking down the hallway, pausing at the kitchen door, and leaned on the doorframe for a moment. Gazing at the two with one good eye. Opting to remain silent, a menacing aura seemed to flow around him as he gazed towards Cartyr. His arms were crossed, and he blocked the doorway to get out of the kitchen. "Oh, Hey Eri." Cartyr pulled up a chair so casually, promptly sitting down away from the table to let Grem sleep, he looked over to the person blocking his path with a friendly and calm demeanor. "Did you want a string cheese too? We have more."
He would squint, trying to tell if Cartyr was going to bolt as soon as he moved. "No.." He would then just stop, his voice was shaking a bit as he spoke. "Cartyr.. Are you afraid of me?" He would say this almost under his breath, a whisper, really. It seemed that time slowed around Eri. He would gaze silently at Cartyr. He seemed to tense up a tiny bit while asking.
"I- what? Eri, me? Afraid of you? Eri! We've been friends for years! I've built this entire house, gave it in your name, just so we could be closer and so I may protect us! My room is connected AND right next to yours. Just so I can check up on you, and you can check up on me. I give you therapy, you give me therapy, we scratch each other's back, we take care of each other and the people here! Why, in anyway, would I do ALL OF THAT! If I was afraid of you? I could never, Eri."
The Doctor remained silent, his eyes just fully gazing at Cartyr. When he finally spoke, his voice was back to the monotone, usual way. "I don't.. I don't know.." He would then step back a bit, standing and gazing at Cartyr in mere silence. He almost seemed to hesitate. "Nevermind.. I'm going to go for a walk..." He would then turn sharply and began to briskly walk towards the door.
"Eri. Hang on!" He quickly walked over, promptly standing right in front of Eri, giving a huff then a hug to him kindly. "I k-know... No, I understand... life is.. tough... But if anything, you need this... and..." He removes himself and hands him a string cheese. "And this. Don't worry, it's tastes good."  Eri would stop, having been blocked from leaving by Cartyr. He stopped himself from flinching as he was pulled into a hug. He paused, feeling a calmness wash over him, but it was gone just as fast as it had appeared. He'd gaze down at the string cheese, unsure."I... No thank you."
He would then pause and pause and gaze unsure up at Cartyr. He then slowly stepped closer and hugged him back, pulling him into a hug this time. He was practically shaking at this point. Cartyr would hug back, feeling Eri shaking unnervingly. "Hey.. Eri.. it's okay... Eri.. You are okay. It is not the end of the world.. It won't ever be the end of the world until your heart stops, and even then... it's not the end of the world. It's just the end of yours, and that's okay! Even when your world ends... You have another waiting right after you and no matter where you go in that afterlife. You've left a legacy behind, Good and bad... I know the voices... they're trying to get to you. Aren't they? Just... Remember, it's not the end. I promise you. Stay safe on that walk.."
He would seem to calm at Cartyr's words, stepping back to break the hug. "Would you mind.. walking with me, Cartyr..? I-I don't.. want to get lost.. again." His words would be broken up, and normally Cartyr was the only person Eri would show any real emotion to, as he had known him the longest, and didn't consider him a child but a friend. "I understand if you cannot.." He would say almost weakly, his right side facing Cartyr at this point. His blind eye moving back and forth as though he were thinking of something. He couldn't see Cartyr at this point, and opted not to. He didn't want to see if Cartyr made a face or something at his proposal to go for a walk. Overall... he just wanted to be around someone...
"Well Of course I can! I was merely just now thinking of something to do after I finished that string cheese of mine! That sounds like a wonderful idea Eri. Let's go for a stroll, shall we?" Cartyr walks over to the door, lightly opening it for Eri to take charge, in which Cartyr would follow afterwards. "After you, Doctor."