The other man just quietly watched, his impeccable suit unruffled and unmarred by blood. Even though there seemed to be surgical tools on another surface, this was most definitely not a hospital, though it was a surgery of sorts. Gerwulf listened and watched; however, he also didn't touch Aesa as the tubes were still pumping something into her body, and he had no way of knowing what detrimental effects could occur if he helped free her. Listening instead, he gave an awkward, almost embarrassed cringe. "Good news, the supernatural world exists?" Gerwulf murmured half-heartedly as he couldn't exactly hide the half-dissected creatures in the other tubes. Nor the fact that some of them were still moving.
"We're in Cicero's realm," Gerwulf almost whispered, though Cicero, the thin man, raised a hand before doing a theatrical bow. Piercing blue eyes met Aesa's if she looked; the stare was predatory. Not the type where a woman would be afraid of a dark alley in case a stranger lurked, but the kind where a human stared into the darkness, wondering what monsters lay beyond the light. "That would be myself, you were knocking on death's door, and so, a bargain was struck. You will have little say in the price; otherwise, I will just take back what I've given," He said smoothly as he stood at his full height, stepping aside to place a palm on one of the tubes.
Gerwulf grit his teeth, sucking in a breath before sighing. "You were operated on, you had lost too much blood. Cicero may be... eccentric, but they are one of the best surgeons in the supernatural world. The problem is that he deals in... augmentation, which means that there wasn't any normal fluids to replace the loss of blood," Or so Cicero told Gerwulf. One knew not to trust the Fae-like creature, while the other believed it was hilarious to change the werewolf's friend into something more. "I know it is a lot to take in," Gerwulf whispered, though Cicero spoke up. "The process could have been faster; however, the Mercenary didn't want to cause you undue pain. The needles are piercing into your bones and spinal cord, just don't move too harshly. Otherwise, I'll need to put you under the knife again."
Aesa's eyes snapped to Gerwulf when he spoke. The supernatural was real? Her head was clearing a little, but not fully. Enough that what was in the other tubes was still moving. "Gods." His voice drew her gaze back and she tries to wrap her mind around what he could mean by realm after his other revelation. She had to be hallucinating right? It was the drugs. She was in a hospital. Dreaming. Hallucinating one. "I must be on some really good shit."
She opened her eyes meeting Cicero's gaze and wanted to flee and run away. While he wasn't physically doing anything that made her feel threatened, the very presence of him made her blood run cold. "The price? I don't have a lot of money, but I can make payments..." What else could he possibly mean except money? "Thank you for helping me... both of you, but... I have insurance. They can pay some of it, I'm sure." She closed her eyes as her head spun a bit. She took in what Gerwulf said, though she opened her eyes when he said augmentation trying to look down her own body. What had he done to her?
The supernatural comments were starting to sink in. "A lot is... an understatement." Her eye opened and she took in what Cicero was saying once more. She gave Gerwulf a soft smile. "Thanks for that." Though the smile faded and her eyes went wide as he mentioned the needles. A small whimper left her and she took a deep breath. "Fuck. Fuck... fuck. What have you done to me?" She took a few slow deep breaths. "I won't move if I can help it." She looked between the two of them. "So if... supernatural stuff is real... are you both... you know." Her mind went to Gerwulfs stamina. The odd things he said about his life. "The last day or so makes a lot more sense though." WHen she said it, it didn't sound angry or upset. More of her having an 'ah ha' moment.
Cicero just chuckled, a lilting thing that seemed to echo into the recesses of one's mind, tickling a part of it that made you want to forget yourself. "Yes, a little venom that I've worked into the relaxant, it will wear off," He seemed to assure her from where he stood, giving Gerwulf and her distance as he was a stranger. The fact that he had a type of bedside manner for what he was was giving Gerwulf second thoughts about having brought Aesa here. At least the hunger shown wasn't sexual in any manner, which would likely have been worse for Aesa. Gerwulf also wanted to say something, but his mouth shut as soon as payment was discussed.
The trick to the deal was related to what Cicero and Gerwulf spoke of before Aesa awoke. They couldn't influence whatever was to be discussed in either a negative or positive light. Fairness, in the face of someone who had lived to become Methuselah, was laughable. "Oh, I don't take human currency; you will just have to pay me back in another manner." That was all Cicero said, mirth evident in his state as he turned to the bloody table as well as the instruments. A slender-fingered hand was going to stroke his jaw as he thought to himself.
"Nothing, Aesa, calm down. You're safe here for now," Gerwulf stated in response as he slowly reached out as she whimpered, hesitating as he retracted his hand, as both of them were covered in her blood. "Not nothing, however, that will be discussed later. As for supernatural, the Mercenary can fill you in. I broker many things, and secrets are for each person to tell." It was a statement toward Gerwulf more than Aesa, as he wanted it under no uncertain terms that the werewolf not mention what Cicero was. "Yes, I'm a type of Lycanthrope... It helps with a lot of physical things," He couldn't help but grin in response with that goofy look in his eyes.
Calm down. Calm down? That was hard when this Cicero fellow was looking at her like food and seemed to be enjoying her situation a bit more than she liked. She tried to focus on Gerwulf and she appreciated him reaching for her, but she couldn't miss the blood on his hands. Was that hers? She took another deep breath as he spoke. That grin did help her relax. Hearing that, everything seemed to fit together. "A lycanthrope... so a werewolf? Who can sing, fight, and..." Her face turned red. "Well, you have a range of talents. You must have been holding back... a lot. At least if any of the stories about supernaturals are true" Her voice still wasn't super steady and focusing was difficult, but the shock of the situation was helping her some.
After a moment she closed her eyes and then looked at his hands. "Is that... mine?" When he indicated it was, she frowned and looked back at Cicero. "You don't deal in human currency? Then how is a human supposed to pay you?" She knew they'd done something to her. Or was it they? Or was it just Cicero? But was what they'd done something that rendered her more than human now? She was having a hard time accepting she was safe around this man. What choice did she have? The needles were in her bones and whatever he'd done to her was... done. "Why do we have to discuss what you've done to me later?" Though she was feeling the strain of the conversation. She almost wanted to demand that she be told. The thought that demanding wouldn't go over well hit her and she decided against it. "How long do I have to stay in this tube?" She dropped her head with care, taking in the bandages again. "I don't mean to seem ungrateful, but damn, this is a lot. I've been shot, near beat to death, and now this." She looked at Gerwulf. "Can we rewind to the lake and start over?"
All while they were talking, blue liquid continued to drain into her bones and body. It was related to something arcane or perhaps genetic, Gerwulf didn't know; all he could tell was that whatever Cicero did, Aesa didn't feel a thing as the tubes began to run drier. "Yeah, a type of werewolf," Gerwulf confirmed for Aesa as she read off his talents. "Well, I didn't want to break you. A lot of the strength-enhanced beings have that issue when finding partners," He shrugged, knowing that she had read some kinds of supernatural novellas that spoke of the same type of issues. "All stories are true; it just depends on which reality you frequent," Cicero cut in as she spoke of truth.
The suited man walked closer then, moving to the side of her tube and began to touch and fiddle with some of the machinery that was behind and to the side of her. Gerwulf nodded, trying his best to ignore Cicero, as it would just give Aesa something scary to focus on. "Yeah, you were a few pints down by the time I got you here. Car seats probably ruined," He said lightheartedly before the conversation moved toward repayment. Gerwulf closed his mouth; the rules were still in effect. "Labor and services rendered, something in kind as equivalent exchange. It all depends on how creative you are and what your life is worth," Cicero commented, all while turning another dial as a different liquid surged through the tubes to enter Aesa's body.
She'd likely feel cool and calmer with the new addition. Cicero noted her panic, or at least the direction that she may have been heading, and thought it best to make her feel a bit better. Brushing his hands together like he was dusting himself off, he looked back at the woman as she spoke of the discussion. "Because your adrenaline, cortisol, and bodily functions will spike. Which may kill you, so relax as best you can." Speaking of her dying, like it would be an inconvenience now that he had sunk whatever he had into her. "Not long, five minutes more at most. Then I will unhook you and clean the puncture sites." - Gerwulf, on the other hand, spoke up in response to the rest of her statement. "I wish, but temporal issues are looked at quite closely by entities above my pay grade," glancing a little at Cicero, who shook their head.
