The Plague Doctor's Growth

The Dangers Of A Stroll

Stepping out onto the porch, Eri would turn his head to the side to look at Cartyr. "You.. you don't have to." He offered, knowing full well Cartyr had more important things to do.. maybe? 'He's only coming with you because he feels bad for you.. He doesn't even like you as a friend..'
Eri would turn his gaze out at the now sunlight front yard. The grass was beautiful and green, and there was a flower bed along the perimeter. Especially because Eri loved plants, there were huge succulents, aswell. His favourite were christmas cacti, that bloomed around certain holidays. His favourites were halloween cactus. He slowly stepped out further onto the porch.
The Doctor's eyes trailing down the scenery towards the main gates until Cartyr responded. "Shit, I don't have anything else on my plate. What the hell am I supposed to do? Feed Grem? He eats anything. Should I drink more? Meh... Already drank enough. Dance? I'm fuckin' terrible at dancing. Or sleep in the bathroom and have you tease me more? FAT chance. I think a nice, casual stroll is exactly what I need. Maybe. Hopefully! I've already had a busy night and morning overall. I'm glad you invited me for a stroll!"
He said, admiring the scenery as the passed by. Touching the gates as Cartyr walked passed them, and talking to Eri. This was a thing he needed, and he was glad to be out of the house. He never really had motivation to do it without a friend. So he was thankful to Eri for this.
Eri began down the main path with Cartyr, sighing softly. He seemed to relax once out of the house, but the voices still trailed after him. Mere whispers at this point. "I could teach you to dance, you know." He offered, trying to give a topic to talk about.
He then paused for a moment, hearing a scream, but sighed, another voice.  ".. They're screaming right now." He would say in a soft tone, "whispering into my ears about how pathetic I am.. Having to have someone walk with me so i don't get lost in my own damned house.."
"I wouldn't worry to much. Eri, you are partially blind in one eye. So it's highly likely for you to get lost. That's not a bad thing, that's actually logical to happen. You're not pathetic for it. The voices are merely lying to try and ruin the time we have. And I don't need you to show me how to dance, it's alright, however. The reason I don't add. Lights, torches, or anything of that kind is to protect the house. That would attract attention. Maybe I could engineer a flashlight on your mask? Never mind that...  Just enjoy your time here. It's not like we both have all the time in the world." Cartyr's voice was calming, and he was merely being truthful with his friend. Only trying his best for the doctor as they were close friends.
Would smile under his mask, gazing down at the path in front of them. "Could always just have oil lanterns." He offered, remembering how much of a deal it was to have one. "That's the issue.. I do have all the time in the world... at least.. I haven't died yet." He rambled on for a moment before stopping, 'Behind you..'
He shook his head and kept walking. The sensation of someone watching crept over his being. He put a hand into his pocket, holding the knife's handle just in case.
Paranoia setting in, now Cartyr had spoke one more. "Eri, that may be your issue. But you got to remember. I'm not immortal like you. The issue here is, At least for me! I will die sooner or later. No clue when though. Well, I have that clue but... not the point... How about? let's not just focus on my life, nor yours, or those pesky oil lanterns. How's the mentorship going along, Eri? I haven't really.,.. paid much attention. I actually forgot that you had an apprentice. Isn't that a little dangerous for them?"
Eri paused entirely in his tracks, he was right, Cartyr wasn't immortal and Rae could honestly be in danger if Eri ever flipped out on them. A panic settled in his chest, dread seeping through him. He didn't want to see anyone near him die.. not again. "... I.." He wasn't sure how to answer, and honestly felt like shutting down. "... G..good I think.." He felt like his world was about to tear itself apart.
'They are all going to die... You're going to be alone forever afterwards.. Unable to look in the mirror.' The Doctor was trying not to panic at this point. Remaining as calm as he possibly could, gripping the switch blade quite aggressively by the handle. Cartyr chimed in to the Doctor's aid.. "Eri... Chill my guy. I may not be immortal, but I have immunity, I've marked out the consequences of my actions, I'll be dying by the time I'm 126. Eri. That's just a minimum. I may live longer if I stop drinking so much."
Cartyr turned to Eri with a chuckle. "I am over 21 years old. I have DECADES ahead of me. Fuckin' DECADES ERI! We have SO MUCH TIME. To do whatever we want! Literally ANYTHING. You wanna go rob a bank? Ight, lets go rob a bank. I am not leaving you, for a very long time. You're stuck with me, you silly bird." Eri turned to Carter slowly.
"That does not mean I won't lose you in the end, dear." Eri said calmly, pausing for a moment, realizing he called Cartyr dear, and instantly lost all train of thought, "ANYWAY- Where do you wanna go?" He tried to change the topic, a slip of the tongue because that's what he usually calls his patients, he promised himself.
'What is wrong with you?' Wri gazed out at the trail, no longer even making eye contact as they kept walking. "We could head into town..?" He offered.
""Head into town.. I'm not sure... maybe... However! I won't.. pas by that. I... Have to know- Eri ... do you see me as patient of yours? Like... I know.. I know! I'm not all here.. especially in the head- But do you still see me as a patient? If so, that's completely fine... I just... I don't know.." Cartyr's voice and demeanor became sorrowful. Clearly a mood drop from his severe depression, he just... didn't know what to believe anymore. What was Eri's view on him, did he have a diagnosis? All questions and more that roamed through Cartyr's mind. He was more concerned of Eri's view on him.
Eri was frantic at this point. "N-no, I don't. It was a slip of the tongue." He said this quickly and pretty panicky. His eyes wide, and he gently grabbed Cartyr's sleeve. "I promise.. I would tell you if I did, Cartyr." He said softly, his voice a bit shaky. "Besides.. I haven't cut anything off of you yet, have I?" He said, trying to lighten the mood. Just to move passed the topic entirely.
'Y...you screwed up worse than you thought...' He shook his head softly, putting a hand on the side of his head, his eyes shut tightly. 'You're so pathetic.. Can't handle what he says, huh?' He whispered something, muttering, "...He didn't.."
Cartyr sat there and thought for moment. "No... I- um... I don't believe you have cut anything off... How about we head into town. But, you can choose where we go. Whether that be the black market or just a regular spot in the base of the land. Sound fun? Yeah?" Eri hesitate for a second before nodding. Moving his hands down against his own sides, putting his hands in his pockets so that he didn't physically touch anything.* "Uh.. Yeah.. I have to do some shopping anyway."
He walked beside Cartyr, having him on his blind side so that Cartyr couldn't read his eyes as clearly. And so Eri didn't have to see the look on Cartyr's face incase he was still hurt by what Eri said. He hadn't meant to. It was a slip of the tongue. It was silent until Cartyr got a wonderful idea.
"Should we bring your apprentice along? In case we go to the Black Market? I hear that Welder's Winner's and Sinner's has new Welder masks! Could be a good look around!~"He chuckled, giving Eri a nudge showing that he was feeling better as they continued their light walk and pace throughout the pathway. "oh.. uh.. Alright. I'm sure that seems reasonable.
Eri would pause, taking out his flip phone. Calling Rae with it, he held it up on speaker. As soon as it connected, he would speak. "Hey.. Come down the pathway. We're headed to the black market and Cartyr thought it would be good to bring you." He would pause, gazing up slightly at Cartyr. He'd mumble something about how much taller Cartyr was but in a joking manner, the corners of his eyes crinkling with a smile. Making a small noise of surprise, Rae answered the phone.
They replied, "Uh, yeah. Sure. I'll be there in a bit." A loud knocking on the crawlspace door caused them to pause. When they checked, there was nobody there. They mumbled, "Strange..." They hung up before putting the notebook back and crawling out. Locking it, they put the key in their nightstand before leaving. They made sure to let Grem and Chester know first. It didn't take them long to arrive. He looked over and down to Eri "Well, I mainly decided to have you call em partially because.. well, If it's an apprentice. They can't learn anything by being stuck in there, now can they? And do not worry, I'll protect y'all. I promise. Katana and all!" He takes it off his shoulder and partially unsheathes it to show he's sharpened it lately.
Eri would smirk a bit behind his mask and pull put his switch blade, pressing down on the switch causing the blade to come out to say hi aggressively. It was an intricate blade, weird symbols written on it closer to the base of the blade. "I always have a knife on me." He responded, closing the switch blade and putting it back in his pocket with the safety on just in case he bumped anything.
With a dead expression, Rae also pulled out a butterfly knife. They did a trick when they did to open it, showing the shining blade. Afterwards, they did a trick to close it and put it back in their pocket. They glanced around the path out of habit, having not been to town often. "Welcome to the party! Glad you could join us, Rae. You're right on time."
He chuckled, sheathing his blade and putting it back on his shoulder. As he bends down to tie his shoe, letting the mentor and apprentice have a quick interaction before the set off to the city. He stays silent. After the two converse for some time, the trio head off.
"I need to get a couple of herbs and whatnot while we're there. And Cartyr," Trying to make him part of the conversation. "Was just telling me about a few things the black market is selling." He turned briskly then, waiting for Cartyr to get up before beginning to walk in silence. Something not sitting with him right. As they walked, Rae stuck oddly close to Dr. Eri. They didn't seem very accustomed to such a setting, constantly looking around and their hand never really leaving their pocket where their switch blade was kept.
Cartyr soon caught up with them. Adjusting his shirt as they paced to the town promptly. Cartyr enjoyed the company. He, himself, didn't really get out much, nor put himself around other people. Best thing for him to do in the least was to avoid the law. And with that thought, he chuckled. Rae glanced over at Cartyr, raising an eyebrow after hearing him chuckle. Their attention was called away by the sound of footsteps fast approaching from behind. But when they turned to check, they was nobody there. Pursing their lips, they returned their attention to the road ahead and to the Doctor.
Eri would walk beside Cartyr and Rae, they would be glanced at by passing people, even stared at due to Eri's mask, but he didn't mind it at all. His eye watching ahead, eventually he would break the silence, "Cartyr.. what I said earlier... in the kitchen.." He'd start quietly, pausing to gather his words. 'Don't bring it back up.. You'll only make things worse, you idiot.'
"Yeah..? That I was afraid of you? What about it Doctor?"
He promptly said confidently, turning to Eri has they continued their walk at the average pace. Cartyr quite literally giving no fucks to the people glancing. As anyone knows, especially Cartyr. They were just strangers, and he could care less for what they thought. He kept his focus on Eri politely, letting him finish. Slowly, Rae pulled up their hood. They merely thought to themselves.
'Why are they all staring? Doc has a plague mask of course they'd stare. But they're staring at you too. Eyes are everywhere. They're all looking at you. Gods above the eyes. Why are there so many? They haven't looked away.' Their thoughts became a jumbled, chattering chaos that they couldn't understand. The voices were then drowned out by a faint ringing as Rae quietly stared at the ground with a distant, zoned out expression.
Eri would pause momentarily as he was hesitating once more on what to say."...Nevermind.." He'd say in a soft tone as they made their way down to the black market. Creeping down a back alley. His eye remaining fixed on the ground for the most part. But he kept his hand in his pocket. Cartyr was merely confused as he tried to ask about the topic Eri was pushing away.
"It's okay, I'm fine with talking about it... Unless? I'm making you uncomfortable at the moment by trying to talk about it? If so.. I'm really sorry, I hadn't meaner too. We can talk about it if ya want... Unless you want to wait until we get somewhere private? And no around... people.." The ringing suddenly increased in volume for Rae while Cartyr and the Doctor woke. The pitch getting to the point where Rae abruptly flinched and covered their ears. It all happened in a split moment, like a sudden clap of thunder. Everything was louder than it was beforehand. The sounds of people talking, vehicles passing by, even the sound of their own shoes hitting the pavement. They kept their ears covered, trying to block out as much as possible.
He was about to respond to Cartyr when he saw what was happening to Rae. He instantly grabbed Rae into his arms, and pressed his side against the wall, letting them both sink to the floor for a moment. At this point they were in an alleyway. He gently shushed them, slowly turning his head to Cartyr, he then spoke. "We'll talk about it later..." He turned his attention back to Rae, "It's alright.. I'm here. It's me, Rae." Rae had suddenly flinched at the quick action at first, their breaths quick and shaky as they trembled. They were muttering under their breath in some other language, knees tucked to their chest as they. At first, they rapidly looked around trying to work out where they were. It seemed that being in the alley helped them relax a little. The buildings were closer together and they weren't out in the open anymore. They then looked up at Dr. Eri, seemingly reassuring themselves it was him. Their eyes were welling up, looking like a frightened child even with their mask.
Cartyr slowly backed up into the alleyway. Making sure no eyes were currently on the, whole Rae relaxed slowly. Keeping his eyes out for the law as well. He slowly stopped, keeping his eyes on the entrance and leaning on the wall, hiding the 2 as Cartyr's shadow casted over both of them, only hiding them further.