Can I Have That Back?

Down the long corridors of halls and passages in the Temple of Daeus, in areas so secure that few are allowed to tread here at all, are a few moderately sized rooms. In one such, is very little in the way of furniture. A small bed, a bedside table, three stools, and two tea pots situated on the small table. The pots are of two different colors and two different sizes. The larger of the two is orangish, and the smaller is blue shading to purple at the bottom.

A tall sith-makar who is blue of scale sits on one of the stools, sipping tea and keeping an eye on the only other person currently in the room - Dolan. Zeke is watching him carefully, like a lioness might watch a cub at rest. Distantly, but with intent in his gaze.

The figure on the bed is unmoving, and most thoroughly asleep. The room itself is kept warm thanks to magics unseen, and is a bit warmer than normal room temperature, certainly warmer than the hallway. Why is evident enough - Dolan is covered by a blanket only to the waist, leaving his chest bare. The blood has been cleaned up, the knives removed, leaving only normal-looking scars that are odd only for their curiously precise pattern that looks like nothing so much as a basket-weave across the expanse of his chest. There's a set of healed fang-marks on his right collarbone, but much of the coverage comes from the pads and bracing that lash his left arm completely to his side in a comfortable position that would be relaxed were it less firm and secure. The right side of his body faces the stone wall, and he does not move or stir.

A polite knock comes upon the door, followed by a pause before the door is partially opened. It only does so enough for a temple Sunguard to insert head and shoulders. The man looks over Dolan only in passing before inquiring to Zeke in respectful volume, "One Verna requested to visit the patient, if it is permitted?" Beyond him, a bit of gray robe and starkly yellow dress beneath is visible.

Zeke rises to his feet slowly, nodding to the cleric to allow Verna entry. "Thisss one believesss ssshe isss a friend. He isss ssleeping now, but when he wakessss, he may make the choisce for him-ssself." He nods low to Verna as she enters the room. "Peassce on your nesst."

There's a stir from the bed, but it's not an alarming one. No, it's a gradual thing, and an opening of the lone remaining eye that clearly indicates the fuzzy mind of awakening from deep and restful sleep - or perhaps unconsciousness. It's hard to say. "What-" Zeke's tones are enough to not be alarming, and he shivers a little.

Verna nods to her escort and offers polite thanks as she steps in. Her cloak hood was previously doffed and cloak loosened during her wait in the temple, revealing her typical clerical robes and vestments absent in favor of a bright yellow sundress. She returns the greeting to Zeke quietly, even as she turns to regard Dolan. "Peace on your nest, Sunguard. I hope that he is healing well? I-" her words promptly halt at Dolan's stirring. Her steps, as well, so that she remains well outside of the working area between healer and patient.

Zeke blinks at Dolan, tail shifting behind him as the man regains consciousness; this time without the rough awakening. The sith keeps his eyes on Dolan, but it is the woman he speaks to. "Hisss body iss better. But you ssshould not touch him." He seems as though he might say more, but in the end does not. It is not his place to give out information about his patient that they might not wish others to know. Only enough so that Verna does not cause incidental issues. "Dolan, do you know where you are?"

Clearly, the man is more than half-asleep, and closes his eye again, his words a touch slurred. "Temple. Cold." he doesn't seem to be wholly aware of Verna, and does not look at or speak to her yet. "IS it time for class?"

Verna nods to Zeke, remaining in place and folding her hands before herself. Her glances to Dolan are colored with concern and her lips purse, but she is silent until a pause after the response from Dolan. "I am only a visitor concerned for a friend," she notes softly to Zeke. "I shall do nothing to interfere with his care nor well-being. Your word is law, here and now."

Like Verna, Zeke does not seem best pleased by Dolan's response. He shifts his weight, pouring out some warm tea for the man from the red pot. "There isss no classs Dolan. You are with Zeke, do you remember thisss one?" He inquires gently, and does not offer the tea yet to Dolan. "Thisss one hasss ssome tea for you. It will warm your body, but do not try to ssssit up."

Dolan's good hand reaches up to rub at his face, as if trying to rub sense into it. "Mmmm. Yeah. So that was the dream, then." There's still a little confusion there, but he seems to be regaining a measure of coherence. He makes no effort to sit up. "Weird dreams. Is-"

It's about then that he seems to realize that someone else is in the room, and his head snaps over sharply, until he makes recognition. "Oh, brightest of days, Mourner Verna. Told I owe you a thank you." He's still a little slurred.

Verna's countenance brightens at Dolan's growing awareness. "Rest easy, Dolan. You owe me nothing... save for reserving your energy for your own recovery."

Zeke leans in slightly, offering the tea to Dolan's lips. "Here. Drink sssslowly. The tea will help you recover. It isss ginger and cranberry. Good for you." He talks around their words, allowing them to share what it is necessary to share without much interruption.

Dolan obediently lifts his head a little, to drink the tea slowly and carefully. The tartness leaves the mobile half of his features to screw up a little, but he does as bid. When the tea is removed, or finished, he lowers his head again, and stares straight up at the ceiling. "I - don't remember a lot. I think there were a lot of people."

Verna considers words to offer. Encouragement? Calming? "All shall come in time, Dolan. Your purpose here is to recover." She is not terrible adept at either.

When Dolan has had enough of the tea, Zeke steps back, his tail swishing once in satisfaction of having gotten something into the other man's system that wasn't medicine. "Would you like sssome broth brought Dolan?" He inquires gently.

"Yeah. Please. I don't remember the last time I ate." The idea of food is of _great_ interest, and Dolan's about to half-sit up -

And is forcibly reminded of how bad an idea that is. He immediately lies back down and turns his head fully towards Verna and Zeke, his stomach giving a pointed rumble and his lips a sigh. "Go to the Vast without me, Verna." As if that needs to be said, although he sounds disappointed. "Don't wait."

Verna winces sympathetically at the consequences, reflexively lifting a hand in gesture to urge Dolan to move less. After the fact, alas. "The organization of a venture there is already underway. We will learn what we may, and I will keep you fully informed if you wish it." Her mouth opens again, though closes without immediately adding anything further.

The blue scale gives Verna a stern look that says wordlessly not to touch his patient, and then moves toward the door. He doesn't leave however, merely sticks his head out of the room and speaks quietly to the Sunguard on duty out there. It takes but a few moments and then Zeke closes the door once again and returns his attention to Verna and Dolan.

"Yeah. Tell me if you find something. I - I can't stop. I can't give up." Dolan's head turns toward Verna again as Zeke moves to bespeak some broth. The tea does seem to help, and he has stopped shivering. "We're not done yet. I'm starting to dreamwalk with the Deaus totem again. See what I can learn."

Verna has not moved nearer and does not appear intent to do so. Zeke's look is acknowledged with a nod before she assures Dolan. "

Verna has not moved nearer and does not appear intent to do so. Zeke's look is acknowledged with a nod before she assures Dolan, "I shall inform you of all that occurs. No, all is not done yet, nor is your involvement in the same... yet I would ask that you mind the recommendations of your caretakers." She glances to Zeke as he turns back from the door. "None wish you to further harm yourself, Dolan."

"Thisss one hasss not asssked Dolan to give up hisss holy object. It isss a thing of the Dragonfather, and that meansss that it isss not evil." Zeke says this with some certainty, moving through the room, but remaining for the moment near the door in anticipation of broth.

"It's a Dream Realm artifact made by the Knight," Dolan explains wearily, unconsciously reaching for the statue lying in his bed, seeking to put a hand on it. "It's not going to hurt me. I don't figure - there's any safer place to do dreamwork than His temple." His gaze returns to the ceiling, wearily.

Verna nods to them both. "Indeed. I do not question the sanctity of His totem, nor question the safety of His temple," she assures firmly. Her expressions softens as she returns her attention to Dolan. "My only worry is that His dedicated and dutiful servant might push himself too hard. I would not seek you to cease all efforts any more than I would expect you to heed the request. As friend and ally, I simply wish for you to recover." A slender, if earnest smile follows in accompaniment. After her expression returns to her more neutral norm, she adds, "To that end, I shall keep my visit brief and not impose upon your impending meal. Are there any you would have me deliver news to on your behalf?"

Zeke remains silent at this, patient. It will be a few moments before broth can be brought. Though Verna's words to garner some reaction from him. The slight lifting of one blue ridge above Zeke's green eye. For now though, he keeps his peace.

Dolan relaxes into the pillows, but shakes his head. "I'll tell Andie if I need something." As if on cue, he seems to remember something. "Andie said you had my eye."

Verna blinks once at Dolan's mention, and her brow furrows lightly in annoyance. Not at Dolan, however. "Yes, of course..." as if she had not overlooked or mistaken its location due to recent events. She reaches into her satchel and retrieves a velvet-wrapped object and begins to lift it out, though stops short of a step towards Dolan. Instead, she looks beetween he and Zeke, uncertain where or to whom it best she offer or place it.

The blue-scale acts without such hesitation, accepting the velvet wrapped object and placing it on the stand at Dolan's side. The better for the man to pick it up himself without having to touch anyone, and at a time of his choosing. A knock comes then at the door and Zeke looks a bit surprised as he goes to check on it. It's the broth, covered and ready to be eaten. The sith accepts it from the cleric, and moves with the bowl into the room toward Dolan. "Thisss one mussst asssk you to leave Verna. Thisss one mussst asssisst Dolan in eating, and it will be difficult for him. He requiresss hisss attention upon thisss tasssk. Peasssce on your nessst."

His words are an obvious but polite dismissal, and he sits on the stool at Dolan's bedside, looking at the other man with care in his gaze. "Ssshall thisss one feed you, or sshall we try to sssit you up? Thisss one will help of courssse."