#ir event: mistified rerun

[herbalremedied]

THE mist reached infinite, a path paved in monochrome grey seemingly stretching endless. Footsteps persevered, carrying the doctor toward a destination of nowhere—to someplace that wasn't here, that only showed itself in the distant, echoed sounds of the ocean, chattering of merchants, the croon of cranes at the shoreline. His body weighed heavy, each step like moving lead, but something kept him moving; the itch of one's brain as it tried to recall why it had walked into a room. Another foot forward brought buildings climbing into view. They reached skyward from the ground itself, his vision suddenly thrown into the orange and reds of the Harbor at sunset—and Baizhu recognized the path he was on. This was the route he'd take back to the pharmacy after returning from a house call to Hongdou's residence. The visit sat fresh in his mind as though it had only just happened. Little Hongdou lay bedridden, her mother perched woefully at her side. Doctor Baizhu came bearing medicine for the girl, medicine he had tirelessly spent the night adjusting upon hearing of the worsening of her condition. Medicine Hongdou had not wanted to take, for no amount of Sweet Flowers could bury its astringent taste. But he had smiled, tempting her with the promise that were she to take it she could sooner be at play again. And Hongdou finally smiled back, fond of the thought of no longer being bound to her bed, and complied as she always did after her protests. Baizhu stayed 'til she stabilized and fell asleep, checking her vitals before setting off into a sundown sky. Exhaustion made the trip back a blur. He would blink, and he was climbing up the grand stretch of stairs of the pharmacy, holding poise with every bone in his body. Another, and he was in the lobby, walking past Herbalist Gui as he spoke words Baizhu did not parse. The next he was standing over his mortar and pestle, cold with sweat and lungs ablaze. Hongdou's medicine would need adjustments to continue keeping her symptoms at bay. If only he could do the same for his own... It was growing much harder to stay upright.

______

❝ You're here to see Doctor Baizhu? ❞ Asks the young man the at counter, his dark robes to his ankles, hair cut choppy and short. His expression is uncertain as he looks to the area beyond the front desk, where the boss of the pharmacy had disappeared not a moment before.

The man has a tentative quality about him as he gives this unknown visitor an inquiring glance, as though aware of some fact he assumed the other was not.

❝ Are you an acquaintance of his? Doctor Baizhu isn't seeing any more patients for the evening... That said, if you're a visitor I can pass the word of your arrival to him. ❞ @originskey —— mistified.