itinere | Oversized wolf pup splice is cranky

Truth of the matter was, as long as Jupiter was in this place, Caine wasn't entirely hating it. He'd love to have Stinger there as well, but it was safe here, and they didn't have to worry about Jupiter's not quite children.

At least that was his thought right until he found himself sick. Beyond the sickness some splice's endured, there was not much that made them sick without intentionally introducing such things into their system. It was part of the genetic engineering that created them, making perfect warriors and soldiers that wouldn't even need sick days unless wounded.

It was why, as it started, Caine wasn't even sure what to think about it. Coughing had only ever happened when he was exposed to smoke or other toxins. Sneezing much the same. As it started, he was confused by dismissive of it.

Now though, he was pretty sure he was dying! That was the only answer. Why else was he hacking so hard he was sure he separated his ribs, his nose brilliant red from blowing it, eyes red rimmed and his skin looking pale and sickly. Even his wings looked sickly, hanging limp against his back, looking dull and sort of a mud brown rather than their regular rich mink shade.

Caine though was trying not to let it get him down. Which meant trying to work out, to keep the perimeter he had set for himself and Jupiter, and to monitor for the arrival of anyone that they were still hiding from. All the while looking just about like he was going to fall over, his gait rather crooked as he paused often.

At least he wasn't still trying to fly. Not after crashing on the beach during a coughing fit.

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He had been cursed with a headache and a cough that would not stop, however there were others that had been worse off than him and he was attempting to help wherever he could.

This...fallen angel however was ill and he'd had to stop a moment and just marvel at the wonder of this place, that he could see something like this. And he wanted to share it with Kit, a keen yearning to tell his sorcerer about all that he had seen.

"Can I assist you?" Because the angel did look like he was about to pitch over onto one side.

Caine paused, not even realizing that he wasn't alone again. Turning, wings fluttering out to catch his balance as he did. Managing to catch his footing, eyes wide, stunned.

"I..."

He paused, considering.

"Perhaps? I am uncertain of what could be done though. I fear..." he took a breath, chin rising. He had faced death often enough not to fear it. "Perhaps death has finally caught up with me just as I've found Her Majesty."

Lucrezia was more and more becoming accustomed to this place called Itinere. It was a magical place that gifted it's citizens everything they wanted at the mere suggestion of desire. For some time, she had found it most unnerving to think of something and have it suddenly appear before her. Now, she was finding herself slowly easing into this new reality where such wonders were possible. Why should she question such gifts when she had yet to see a reason not to in the three months she had been here.

Three months...

It was with hope in her heart that she stepped out into the city that day. For she had asked for a church in which to say her prayers and something told her that the city of Itinere would now find itself with just such a thing added to its landscape. Today she wears a fine gown and carries with her a parasol to shade her from the Spring sun.

At some point in her progression through the city, she spots a man with wings on his back. It matters not that they look limp. To new eyes they are a marvel. He starts to cough and she approaches him. "Good sir, you are unwell. Do you need assistance?"

The place was certainly miles above the prison Caine spent so much time in. Better than the harvested planets he had seen. In truth it was better than the city Her Majesty called home, though he had not made that a vocalization due to her feelings about Chicago.

It was dangerous though, only in so much as the door seemed to be fairly open and that meant at any time those seeking to remove Jupiter from the equation of Her Majesty's family might well be there with them.

Of course that was secondary to trying to avoid Jupiter and not pass on whatever disease he had, one that he feared might render him incapable of doing his job as the head of the guard. Permanently.

Glancing up though at the sound of a voice, the elegant gown and accroutrements should have worried him. While it was much more dated to a certain time that he might not have seen one of the heirs in, it certainly wasn't beyond their means and motives.

"Assistance may be beyond me," he admitted, voice rough, choked with all the couch. His eyes red rimmed and skin looking pasty pale. "I'm not quite certain if there is help left to a splice when they begin deteriorating. You are kind though to offer, ma'am."

Of course, Lucrezia was loathe to think that assistance of any sort was beyond anyone. She could be so naive in such matters even if that naivete had been damaged somewhat. She wasn't completely hopeless as of yet. Hopelessness, after all, was too close to turning your back on God.

She can tell the creature before her is quite ill though, and perhaps in pain. After retrieving a kerchief from the sleeve of her dress and pressing it against her lips and nose to avoid contamination, she rests a gentle hand to his forearm, shaking her head adamantly. "Do not despair, gentle Sir. Such things seem to be running rampant throughout the city at large."

Lucrezia casts one more curious glance to his wings before looking around the immediate area. "Perhaps if you sit for awhile. Or I could assist you to the physicians."

It was a hopefulness that Caine had seen in few, and yet that didn't change that it left him wanting to feel such emotions. He hadn't yet, and he wasn't sure he ever would. Not in that kind of way, but it was a hope for the future. A small one but there.

He couldn't help but smile as she protected herself, a slight twist of his lips. "Thank you for thinking of yourself first," he asid, being quite sincere about it all. It wasn't sarcasm but honesty. "It is an epidemic then?"

That thought bothered him more than it should, and he didn't try and hide that.

"I've not seen a physcian outside of the military, though that is because my kind is engineered not to get sick. I'm not sure how this even happened," he said, looking sheepish. "Why I worry about my fate."

He shouldn't have ever gotten sick. That would waste time of a professional soldier.

"Epidemic." That is the perfect word, in fact. Lucrezia had been searching, and this strange being had found it. "I would suspect so, wide-spread, every person is susceptible to it." At least that was what she was coming to understand of the problem. Everyone seemed to be getting sick.

The thought was terrifying. Itinere seemed to offer all of them wonders beyond anything Lucrezia had ever known. A mere thought could win a person the object of their desire. But it seemed that it had a darker side as well, a frightening side, also inexplicable to Lucrezia.

Her hand remains on his arm to steady him. "You will not die under my care, my lord. I've had experience with the sweating sickness and with poisoning. Neither discriminate." Anyone could fall prey to both, as far as she knew. She had never known anyone entirely immune to either.

But she is hopeful that this man, at least, will not fall prey to the point of death while in her company. "Surely I can assist you should the need arise between here and the physician. I assure you, I am quite capable."

"That is worrisome. Especially something that might take its toll on those genetically engineered not to be brought down by viruses." He hadn't thought that was a possibility and it was frightening though he had not ever known fear. Not even when in prison or staring death in the face.

"Please, I am not a Lord. I am but a splice," he said, offering the best type of a smile that he could give her, just the slightest curve of his lips. "Caine will do fine. You are a trained medical personell? You are much too attractive and well dressed for such things," he admitted, still keeping his manners despite his illness.

"I would appreciate that though. I know about wounds and injuries but not illness."

"No, my L-..." Oh now that was going to be difficult. How deeply ingrained some things were for her time and culture. Such familiarity with a man she did not know was going to take some time to overcome what was well-learned and executed for her. She trips over the words before continuing. "But I have both lived through and assisted those bedridden with plague and poison."

They continue on their way through the streets. She is determined to get him to a hospital and under better care than her own. "If I may ask, what is a splice? And..." She glances back to his wings and then to his face, watching him in profile. "you have wings."

He nearly smiled then, having spent enough time around the privileged to know what had brought about that stop in her words. He wasn't used to being nearly so informal himself. Jupiter had assured him that most weren't ever going to be royalty in his life. He would have to point to her how wrong she had been.

"You are a good woman than. Most would want to avoid that. You are a medic then?" It was the first assumption, her elegant gown aside.

Again that slight curve of his mouth, nodding. "I do, ma'am. The wings are a genetic enhancement. They were added as part of my rank as a skyjacker. A splice though is one who is neither human nor animal, but made of both," he said, having gotten that answer from Jupiter though he had also spoken of not taking of it, but then he wasn't hiding his wings, either.

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I lost this in notifs. I'm so sorry