'Cause I'm just a girl, little 'ol me / Don't let me out of your sight

[tess_thiess]

Day 352, Tuesday May 18th
Just before lunch
The ApothecaryThere's water on my cheek, which is strange. I wipe it off on my apron and go back to heating the tincture of belladonna. There's a few women as want it t'look nice fer their fellas, and it's got plenty 'a uses 'asides that. The fumes could be a problem, though, and so I keep an eye on

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[jaeresteade]

It might be my imagination, but I think she's smirking a little as she sets everything out. I try not to pay her any mind and not look at the knife, just sort of breathe and think about how much better it'll feel when it's healed. And really, it's not I haven't been cut by people with a lot less in the way of concern for my health. But somehow a fight, where you can at least try to give as good back, and your blood's up so you don't feel things so much is easier to think about.

Don't twitch, she tells me, and I roll my eyes. "Not going to twitch, sweetheart. Just get it over with." And, to give it to her, she does do that. Two little slices, and then the pain, but a sharper, deeper pain than the hot throb from before. I set my teeth in my lip hard. Well all right, then.

Frown a little as she grabs my wrist and tells me it's going to hurt. Thought we were over with the worst of it, but no, she feels the need to daub iodine all over the blood welling up over the bite before she attacks it with a rag.

I don't shriek. I really don't think anyone could call it that. It's more like a strangled explosion of breath that turns profane really quick. Sure I've felt things that hurt worse. Hot iron and the crunch of bone. My knee, that time with Joshua. But this, this is here. "Jesus Christ," I mutter, after she takes her hand away. "A minute, yeah."

[tess_thiess]

"Not going to twitch, sweetheart. Just get it over with."

I suppose I could 'a bin a bit more gentle. My husband always rolls his eyes when I go off on him, and I'm trying t'be a bit more mild, but I've got my limits. "Jesus Christ. A minute, yeah." I frown, even though I've got a satisfied sort 'a grin fightin' it.

"Watch you language, Mr. Aeresteade. I thought you tended door for the 'Boy 'n bar at the Whitechapel. I'm sure you've got all sort 'a bad influences, but you ought t'be able t'stand a little pain." I wonder 'f my husband 'll be home fer lunch? I ought t'cook somethin' up quick.

[jaeresteade]

She gives me a little frown, but the corners of her mouth are twitching like she's trying not to smile. Just not seeing a whole lot of comfort in this girl. I sit back in my chair, looking at the mess of red and yellow-orange on my hand as she lectures me. Wonder if the sting of it will die down ever.

"Just didn't expect you to go at it like that, is all." She really doesn't know anything about me and pain. Look up at her. "And I wish you wouldn't show me the sharp edge of your tongue when I'm bleeding in your back room." And then tell me to watch my own language.

[tess_thiess]

"Just didn't expect you to go at it like that, is all." He's poutin', he really is. "Well, there's no point in dabbin' gingerly at it. I doubt the doc'd be more gentle. 'Sides, I learned healin' on my brothers 'n the farm animals. Better t'get it over quick."

He looks up at me as I tidy up my tools. "And I wish you wouldn't show me the sharp edge of your tongue when I'm bleeding in your back room."

I smile at him. "Well, next time you'll wash it proper and regular, won't you?" I shrug and scrub the table where he bled a touch. "There's no sense in bein' too nice when it's at least some your own fault." I sit back down and dig one rag in honey, wrappin' it firmly 'round his hand, but not tight 'nough t'cause problems. "You'll want t'leave this on 'till tomorrow at least, and then replace the bandage every day or two. Earlier 'f you get it too dirty." I wrap two more clean strips over his hand so the honey dunt leak out, and examine my work.

"I'll ring you up, 'n you can either pay now, 'r I can send the bill t'your lodgings."

[jaeresteade]

Really don't feel like having a conversation with her about farming, so I don't put in that doctoring the animals was Jacob's skill, and that I never wanted to touch anything that was his.

She feels the need to lecture me as she bandages me up none too gently. Girl must have a heart of ice, and I pity her husband for it. Her brothers, too, if she did practice healing on them. I nod to her orders, knowing that answering back will just get me another tart suggestion.

She sets out honey and another roll of bandages on the counter, and what she's asking isn't too much more than I think they're worth, so I don't try to dicker with her over the price. Besides, a girl with a tongue like that could probably bargain a cat down from a tree.

Do thank her, but don't say much more before I gather up my things in my good hand and leave. I think about poking my head in the salon to see if Verite's in the mood for me, but I don't think I could stand it if she's not. Not with my hand still throbbing and my ears full of how I shouldn't have let it get that way. Maybe tomorrow.