(Untitled)

[merrimanlyon]

Merriman is at the bar, doing the crossword in the Times and slowly stirring a glass of lukewarm water with a swizzle stick. The swizzle stick is a sparkly blue, but the water in the glass is cloudy -- and an empty packet of headache powder is close at hand

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[tea_and_honor]

Ako, in Fox form, settles down on his table and asks quietly,

"What, dear heart, can one do for a kit in withdrawals?"

[merrimanlyon]

The swizzle stick clatters lightly against the side of the glass as the motion of his hand stills.

'In withdrawals?' he echoes, thoughtfully. 'Of what kind, Ako-ue?'

[tea_and_honor]

"Laudanum, I think."

She just got a glimpse of the bottle, just heard a bit of the conversation. The jaunty black ears are half-flattened,

"The boy is British Navy, I think around the Napoleonic era or so. Possibly a bit later. I am not primarily a healer, but I can be here for him."

She pauses, and almost Fox-grins,

"He doesn't know that I am a Fox, he thinks I am a pet."

[merrimanlyon]

Merriman's gaze flickers to the glass of cloudy water for a moment before returning to her. And just as her ears are half-flattened, his eyes are slightly narrowed.

'Laudanum...it was cheaper than gin at one point in time. An opiate, which would make it difficult to break the addiction and even more difficult to wean someone off it gradually. It would depend upon the strength of the addiction, I think.'

He thinks for a moment. 'If he thinks of you as a "pet", then you would certainly be in a position to watch him closely. There is little that can be done during the initial stages of withdrawal itself except to ensure that he does not do himself further harm.'

[mmquitecontrary]

There is a small girl watching him from a few feet away.

"Why are you not drinking it?" she asks, after a few moments.

[merrimanlyon]

Merriman stops stirring as he glances over, with a faintly bemused expression at the question. It takes him a moment before he realises to what she is referring.

'Why?' He looks to the glass, then back at her. 'I was waiting for the powder to dissolve.'

[mmquitecontrary]

Mary gives him a dubious glance.

"Why were you putting powder in your water?"

[merrimanlyon]

He picks up the empty packet, and weighs it in his hand. 'It is a headache powder, and needs to be dissolved. Preferably in water.'

Taking the glass, he swirls it slightly to remove the last traces of powder from the sides.

'Do you ever take medicine for a headache?'