There are rather few pleasures that came with being part of this existence in the form of a changeling if an honest answer was to be given. After all, so despised on all fronts with hisses of tricksters, liars and noteworthy backstabbers, where could you ever snatch anything positive...? True, they could enjoy things one side had over the other such as proper dental hygiene and wine or the quicker transportation routes of below ground but the wise know that there is no true safety in either of those worlds. It would perhaps come as a surprise to outsiders that the Lady had foreseen that while they may walk in the sun’s light or the moon’s glow unheeded, even the cleverest amongst them would still be left fighting the tide in her name. Thus when she had first begun her research into those who would be declared her children in the future, it was decided that she would gift them favours to give them an edge. For example? Their bodies filled with magics rarely face the same sickness the likes trolls or humans suffer. Such a small thing and yet this proved highly advantageous for careful nudging or infiltrating knowing there would be no risk of being struck down with the rest of the unwashed masses.
Alas, the same could not be said for injuries or the equally infuriating concept of cracked glasses.
A mere fleshbag managing to get the jump on him of all people? Ugh, perish the damn thought of anybody finding out! Or worse, Stricklander doing. He is still firmly on his immense power trip caused by having a private assassin in his pocket and this would be an opportunity ripe for the picking. No no, there is no point worrying about that now. Better to keep trying to stem the bleeding with a pilfered jacket lest somebody notice the colour was hm, unusual? Yes, that is probably a good word. It’s not like the owner will be needing this anymore. Their knife might have slipped under his rib cage because they were stupid enough to follow the attack first ask questions later mindset but they had severely under estimated the strength belayed by this humble face that was his preferred appearance in the process. Or at least, would have done until their head cracked into concrete. Their blood being the correct colour would help add to the illusion of a walking wounded. He texts a number for clean up and steadily made his distance from the cause.
Hospitals however and whatever form they came in would never cease to disgust him. Utterly rancid places under the mask of cleanliness, filled to the brim with the breath of those dragged into this life as much as those slipping away and wrapped in shiny whites accompanying relentless footsteps on ill suited floors. How misfortunate it was that this wound would look too suspicious without stitches holding it together and a safe house risked passing far too many eyes to get to. This American system, as ugly as it was, had the decency to place him in a room with privacy away from the other humans when a credit card was flashed. The rare advantage of worshipping infinite Gods of nothing he supposed. The jacket he kept is allowed to drop to the floor as uselessly as the owner had while he works gingerly away at the buttons of his own under shirt after letting the suspenders drape off his shoulders. A small kindness in the form of easier access to whomever might come in and lets him assess how best to wrangle a suitable story.
The doctor who enters the room with an apology for tardiness causes surprise if for but a moment and when his eyes quickly scan the ID tag, it was though everything had slotted into place at once with conniving recognition. Her. Stricklander’s little beau he seemed so desperate to hide as much as his lax attitude with the Trollhunter. How delightfully ironic and him without the means of testing the waters. A shame, truly.
“Dr. Lake I presume? Ah, please forgive the ramblings of the injured! A close colleague of mine has mentioned you a few times and I,” the smile is wide and friendly despite the flinch of pain when he tries to giver her a mock bow.
“I must admit the pleasure of meeting you in the flesh for myself could have been in far better circumstances than these. Your reputation truly proceeds you, I have heard nothing but good things.”
