Hunting Vampires (Job, Private)

Their they stood. Beaten down, wounded and probably on the brink of exhaustion. After their continuous struggle against the vampiric queen and her endless waves of minions. Yet despite everything, the two of them were more determined then ever. Sharing a single goal, a single mindset. One where they would ultimately stand victorious over the Matriarchs dead body, no matter the cost.

Frederick nodded in agreement. What supposed to be just some routine job, like pest control, had turned out in quite the struggle. An endless turmoil. So seeing the queen destroyed, would be more then just satisfying.

He looked at his partner, his largest wound now closed through a rather horrid method. It was a quick fix, of burning the wound shut. One that dealt an equal amount of pain as when the wound was inflicted, yet it was probably the only solution for Ryo not bleeding out.

'You ready'

There was no more time for words. The small moment to catch their breath passed quickly as the Queen already recovered from Fredericks attacks. So when Frederick spoke out, it was more a statement. An indication that he was about to attack again, instead of an actual inquiry. And besides, the plan was simple, it was the one they had used before. Attack, distract and strike. It was a plan with a very simple concept, one that relied more in the hope that the two mages were in sync with each other.

'Black Barrage!!!'

A shout. One that echoed through the hall. An attack that took form in five separate black beams, when Frederick threw his right arm open wide. The beams shot forwards, similar to his dark void. Yet instead of straight lines these five separate beams where much thicker, and more importantly homed in on the target.

Following that attack, Frederick dashed forwards again. Running straight for the Vampire Queen, as she herself tried to dodge the incoming assaults from the man's attack.
Frederick on the other hand was using this as chance to push the queen back. Back towards the spots of light that partially illuminated the room. Just like you would see on a musical stage.

Ryo stood next to Frederick rummaging through his deck boxes eventually finding the cards he needed and he was ready to get things started. When Frederick told him to get ready he nodded his head smirking “Attack Combo: Sword of Light” in his right hand where his cards were a sword made of brilliant white light energy filled his hand. It was a one handed sword that was typical in its appearance. This was the perfect weapon for Ryo to use in order to settle things with this damned wretch, and he would make sure that nothing got in his way. It wasn’t long until the woman tried to launch an attack against the pair, and while it was a commendable effort Frederick was ready and already moved to counter the attack.

As soon as he moved Ryo was right next to him ready to attack and strike with his sword as soon as he got close enough. Still the Vampire Matriarch was being pushed back, and she wasn’t aware of just where she was being pushed back to. This was to their advantage and Ryo would be ready, but there was one thing they weren’t counting on. True the Vampire Matriarch was able to dodge Frederick’s attack, but she was pushed into the light of day. With a terrible scream of true agony, she shot forward leaping into the air and over both of her pursuers with such speed that even Ryo had to be impressed. Still that briefest of moments was enough to cause her serious damage, much to Ryo’s joy.

What dampened his spirits however was the sounds of loud growling coming from the hallway where they had emerged from. The agonized scream had called forth more of these damned beasts, and Ryo wasn’t going to let it happen just like that. He glanced over at Frederick before he took off towards the hallway entrance as fast as his injured legs and body would carry him. No sooner had he arrived than a beast leapt at him from the shadows aiming to end his life. The card king only had the briefest of moments to bring up his brilliant light blade and cut through the beast ending it swiftly. He brandished his sword and his knife at the remaining four beasts “I’ll handle this! Keep her from killing me, and stay alive!” he bellowed trying to sound tougher than he was feeling. The blood he had lost was substantial and he was feeling the effects more and more. Still the fight had to press onward.

OOC:
Attack Card Combo Sig spell (S Rank): Duration Begin
Card God S rank- CD 3/14
Card Clone A Rank- CD 6/6
Lightning Strike D rank- CD 7/9

HP: 250/500
45/100 % Mana Remaining (Natural Regen)
Gloves Mana 90/100% Remaining

Resonating with the rest of the abandoned guild hall, the high pitched scream from the vampire matriarch beckoned a couple of her own wicked beast. That until now had roamed through the darkness of the guild, waiting for her call. Their growls emerged from the very hallway, Frederick and Ryo just earlier came through. Their growling was quickly followed by their stench of death and the blackened silhouettes taking a more vivid shape.

'Easier said then done!' shouted Frederick back

It was quite the predicament they were both in at this moment. Almost back to back the two Sabertooth mages were about to be surrounded. Ryo trying to hold off the group of undead beasts, while hoping that no more would emerge after them. While at Frederick's side the vampire queen already recovered herself from the burst of sunlight she just now endured, and without any further delay already closed in on the two mages.

Surely the daylight that had broken through the ceiling was painful, but it didn't stop her. No enraged as she was, she rushed for Frederick. The only line of defense right now. But something was different this time, her moves, the way she acted. Even the look in her eyes, it was all different. It was something new, something that she didn't showed before. But what.
As she appeared in front of Frederick ready to strike, he jumped aside. Leaving not but the ground for her to hit. While in the meantime Frederick tried to take a good glance at her face. Looking straight into her eyes and through them. And then it hit him, he knew what was wrong. She was scared.

That's why she called for help, after being pushed back into the sun. As well as being struck with the silver blade gifted to Ryo. The Matriarch had realized that this could be turning out into the entire opposite of what she figured at first.
Quickly Frederick swung his fist into her face, the moment her claw crashed into the ground. Sending her back a couple of meters. Creating once again distance between them, and giving Frederick the room to channel a more stronger attack then just a mere punch.

Ryo hissed as he watched the beasts start to close the distance on him and Frederick. He didn’t trust himself, but what he really wanted to do was get his next spell ready. He quickly snapped his hand into his deck box pulling out several cards dropping them until finally he drew the two he wanted. These he stuffed into his pocket for a later use and he put the knife in his hand once more. Now the first shadow beast launched itself at Ryo with a speed that was impressive. This wasn’t a great concern to Ryo as he feinted with his silver blade and as the creature dropped to the ground just in front of Ryo the Card King slashed into the beast with his sword made of light and he sliced the beast’s head clean off. It was not enough to save him from the second attack however.

He only just had time to turn and let the beast bite down on his silver blade, but the claws of the second shadow beast. He hissed in agony as he felt the attack, but with a slash of his blade of light it destroyed the beast entirely. Now with his bleeding wound he looked to the others and sighed pulling the cards out of his pocket “Frederick get out of here! Get into the sky as high as you can!!!” He threw the cards in his hand towards the ceiling they were nearly touching it when he snapped his fingers and the cards exploded shattering a giant section of the ceiling flooding nearly a 30 meter radius around them with sunlight and thankfully the explosion destroyed any debris that may have fallen on them directly in the circle. Ryo now turned slashing another shadow beast to ribbons, but only just as it had slowed in the light of day.

He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a Tarot card that he didn’t want to use. It was the card known as “The Devil” He sent his magic into it and threw it upwards. The card flew up into the air and Ryo took the time to throw a green card towards the door of the foyer. He knew he wouldn’t actually be able to save himself from the blast he was about to cause, but it would shatter the foyer’s roof entirely and the Vampire Mistress would be trapped in the light of day, and if Ryo was right the shadow beasts would be caught in the big blast. He only hoped Frederick had taken his advice.

Above the card shot down towards the earth with a horrifying speed but Ryo simply waited right under the card dropping the light sword and instead holding a green card in his hand. The Shadow Beasts saw him kneeling and leapt at him as one unit thinking he was doomed. The card above was coming down and at the last possible second Ryo placed the green card to his forehead and his body shattered into dozens of cards surging to the card that had landed 25 meters away near the door. No sooner had he started to travel than the card slammed down into the earth. The remaining shadow beasts were caught in the POI radius and were ripped to pieces by the resulting shockwave. This didn’t stop there and shot out for another 60 meters reaching up to 20 meters in the air. The vampire Mistress would be caught in the blast wave and not only that, but the walls of the foyer would take a serious pounding and the weakening roof would then fall inward as some walls gave out and now unless she was goddess she would be bathed in the fading sunlight.

Ryo was not able to escape the blast and he was struck full force, but thankfully he was in the air and the blast wave shot him through the guild’s doors and he went tumbling into the dirt groaning and gasping in agony from the attack. Whatever happened would be up to Frederick now if he avoided the blast.

OOC:
Attack Card Combo Sig spell (S Rank): CD Begin
Card God S rank- CD 4/14
Lightning Strike D rank- CD 8/9
Explosion Card Used C rank
Blink Used B Rank
Orbital Card Strike A rank Used

HP: 100/500
15/100 % Mana Remaining
Gloves Mana 90/100% Remaining

In a mere instant Frederick stopped channeling the magic power that resided in him for his next attack. As he bore witness to the entire ceiling breaking apart and fall down. Crushing anyone who was foolish enough to stay in one place. Just like Frederick, who right now didn't had any means of escape, as Frederick didn't had any ability to fly or anything similar. Not like Ryo who could transport himself by scattering into a thousands cards and travel to an entirely different spot.
Or at least Frederick hoped that Ryo did, as he only saw the man disperse into his own magic and flutter away. Whatever happened or where he ended up was a mystery and Frederick could only hope that the card king of Sabertooth had managed to escape this death trap.

As the ceiling broke apart more and more, to the point that his death might be imminent. Frederick was left with only one choice. Not to evade the incoming boulders that are plummeting down, but to blast straight through them.

Quickly Frederick raised his hand high up, and focussed all his magic above him. Which manifested themselves into enough pentagrams that would cover his entire being and the next few meters or two directly around him. But was it enough? Was it strong enough to pierce to the falling debris and render it nothing but dust.
The large chunks of stone and wood closed in, to the point that it was nearly inescapable. But in the nick of time Frederick shouted the name of his spell, which blasted up to twenty dark magenta colored beams packed together. Which obliterated anything in their path, and reached up into the sky itself.

And when the dust settled, Frederick was left standing. Surrounded by large boulders and broker parts that obstructed his view. But directly around him, the very ground he was standing on. There was nothing more then small debris. Pebbles and small rocks, the leftovers of what used to be big and falling down towards him. However there was no sight of Ryo whatsoever, nor from the Vampiric Queen.

Ryo had been sent rolling into the dirt a long way, but he finally managed to come back to a stop. He grunted in pain as he slowly got up to his elbows unable to get any higher right that minute. He groaned as he pulled out a deck of cards using the last bits of magic to turn them into crutches. Using these he pulled himself up and looked around trying to spot where the Vampire Queen was, and where the rest of her group was. It was clear he had done what he was supposed to, but there wasn’t much else involved with this plan of his, and he really couldn’t move much.

To his great horror however, he couldn’t see Frederick. He rushed; or more appropriately hobbled into the ruins he had made. He had only used this spell once before and there wasn’t much he could really understand about it being that he had tested it in a dessert and that meant he saw little to no actual damage from the area around him. It was a terrible spell, and he knew now that he would only be able to use it under the direst of circumstances, and even then he wasn’t sure he wanted to use it all that often.

As he arrived he saw the boulders and began to call out “Frederick! Frederick! Can you hear me!?” He called out loudly looking around for his partners. What he did not notice however was that the sun was starting to set over the mountains and there were more shadows. From these shadows in the guild hallway staring out into the ruined foyer the Vampire Mistress was standing there scorched from the brilliant sun and injured by Ryo’s spell. She had seen it coming, but didn’t manage to avoid it as it was just too fast for her, and the escape had made her suffer sunblasts. She was on her last legs and hurting, but she would see Ryo dead. She only had to wait a bit longer and the shadows would reach where Ryo was standing around the boulders. She also noticed what he did not which was the silver knife that he had been carrying was stuck in his leg.

She was getting ready to strike now, and she would kill Ryo before Frederick could join the fight and kill her she didn’t have the strength left to fight either of them head on now.

OOC:
Attack Card Combo Sig spell (S Rank): 1/4
Card God S rank- CD 5/14
Lightning Strike D rank- CD 9/9
Explosion Card CD 1/3
Blink CD 1/4
Orbital Card Strike 1/7

HP: 90/500
15/100 % Mana Remaining
Gloves Mana 90/100% Remaining

Looking around him, Frederick couldn't see anyone who even remotely looked like Ryo. Not the monstrosity called the Vampire Queen. No nothing but large boulders, fallen debris and pieces of large cross beams that once support the very roof of the Abandoned Guild Hall. Frederick had to admit one thing though, seeing the open sky again was a sight for sore eyes. Even if the sun was already setting behind the mountains.

''Maybe the Queen got smashed by the debris. I didn't see her escape'' he said out loud, whilst it was basically just talking to himself. Yet Frederick doubted that very thought that was just nothing more then a shimmer of hope. Until now the Queen had proved to be quite resilient to both him and Ryo. In fact even with the two of them, they had their hands full just dealing with her alone. Only the problem now, the debris all over, basically created a large maze, with no clear sight. And enough choke points that an enemy could be just hiding everywhere. And with the sun setting, the shadows casted down by the boulders around him, gradually started to grow larger. Ominously stretching further and further, basically just clawing at him.

Not before long he heard a familiar voice calling out for him. Belonging to no one else then his partner in crime Ryo. ''Ryo?! is that you! Where are you! Are you Allright!?'' He could be anywhere in this abruptly made maze, not even by his voice he could pinpoint the Card King of Sabertooth. Problem was even, that Frederick had no idea if the man was hurt or not. He could at least assume that Ryo was in a far better place then he himself was, since the man managed to escaped majority of the falling guild.

''Ryo!! Can you use any of your cards like a flare gun?! Maybe that way we can pinpoint each others location?!'' Frederick could only hope he had something like that, because as of now he had no idea which direction Ryo was. Even though he could hear, didn't mean that the man was necessarily nearby, no a maze like this could carry someones voice a long way.

Ryo looked around summoning up as many of his cards as he could, letting many of them drop to the ground. He could pick them up for spells if he needed the others he let float in his left hand while his right hand picked out the cards he needed. He didn’t notice that he was being watched and as he finally selected the cards that he thought he would need for his plan, as well as the plan of Frederick’s to give him a flare he felt something terrible in the pit of his stomach. He looked around quickly trying to find out where the feeling was coming from. He didn’t have a flare, he didn’t have anything like that, but he did have an idea that would allow him to try and make a signal.

With a great haste he lifted his hands up and was about to cast the spell when he felt a pain in his gut. It gave him enough pain to cry out loudly and he looked up to see the wicked smirk of the vampire mistress. He gasped as he frowned holding onto her hand which was buried in his stomach. He coughed out a splatter of blood and cast his spell. From the cards emerged nine bolts of lightning eight of these slammed against the woman sending her back, but one went up solidly illuminating the area and serving as a line and tether to his location right up in the air for Frederick to follow and find him.

The vampire mistress was stumbling back hissing in pain as she tried to put out her clothes “You foul little rat! I will enjoy drinking your blood and ripping you apart piece by piece! Oh it will be so sweet, and when I have done that I will rip your head off and place it at that other’s feet!”

This made Ryo smirk more as he coughed up more blood shaking his head “G-go ahead wench…I-It’ll only make your death…t-that much more painful…” another spurt of blood and Ryo did his best sending out the playing cards from his left hand out to slap against the vampire mistress the forces like Ryo’s own punches, but he was falling against a boulder as he grew weaker due to this serious possibly mortal wound.

OOC:
Attack Card Combo Sig spell (S Rank): 2/4
Card God S rank- CD 6/14
Lightning Strike D rank Used
Explosion Card CD 2/3
Blink CD 2/4
Orbital Card Strike 2/7

HP: 20/500
22/100 % Mana Remaining
Gloves Mana 80/100% Remaining

Moments passed and Frederick started to worry. Did Ryo hear him? He had to right, after all Frederick could hear him. Then he certainly should have heard him shouting back. Did something happen? Did the queen caught up to him? Frederick didn't know, but one thing was certain something was wrong. Being separated like this made the both of them easy targets. They were already wounded, tired and used a great portion of their magic. So if the Vampiric Queen decided to strike now, at this very moment, then it could easily mean the end of the line for both of them.

Luckily a moment later, a lightning strike shot up in to the air in straight line. Which could only mean one thing, Ryo found a way to signal Frederick. As no one else in their nearest vicinity could use that magic. At least not as far Frederick was aware. Yet something was wrong, very wrong. The lightning flash was to abrupt, to short even to considered normal. In fact, Frederick was sure that the line of lightning was a bit off. And considering the situation they were in, it didn't take a genius to know that this wasn't Ryo's own doing. But instead someone else launching one more final assault on the card mage.

''Damn it'' cursed Frederick knowing that he had to move quickly. But didn't had any clear idea on how to do that. Around him were still the large boulders and debris blocking his path. Sure he could blast his way through, but that would mean risking the life of his partner, and besides. It certainly would take to long. Not to mention, what if he blasted through one of the boulders and managed to reach the parasite which was the queen. What then, just as Ryo Frederick was tired, scarred and hurt from all the fighting.
Again he cursed, all this left him with no option besides one. One that would empower him to face the queen right away, one that would mean risking his own sanity in addition to Ryo's life.

''Ugh, let's just hope the man can pull be back!'' It was the only way, and Frederick knew that. At the same time he made his decision his power started to increase. But not the same way he did before. No instead of just increase and empowering his own magical capabilities, it would become clear to anyone around him that this time it was not just magic that increased. But a vile darkness instead. The core of his entire being, a stain from his past which he could never cast away.
The magical pressure started to raise, and darkness gathered around Frederick, twirling around him. Sticking to him like tar, slowly covering him until it forced him to his knees. While a scream of agony filled the air. More and more of the black substance covered the Sabertooth mage, crawling up from his chest to his throat. And eventually his face, and the moment it reached his right eye. Which was also the last thing that yet remained from being covered by the blackness he screamed out. But not a normal one, not one of agony or pain that would be fitting for a man. No instead a high pitched unnatural scream, more terrifying then that of the Queen.

The next thing happened in a single moment, from the blackness a shockwave erupted that transcended through the very debris all around him. And with it came a being covered in shadow and darkness. Something that was no longer human, just darkness taken on a form. A blackened silhouette, ripped and shredded from all sides. As if still tried to be human, on failed at doing so, resulting in nothing but a faint resemblance. Passing through the solid barriers of the world, it rushed towards the nearest target with the largest amount of magical energy. Which at this very moment was the Vampiric Queen. It rushed towards her, clawed at her, collided with her and eventually dragged her along. Away from Ryo and into a mount of debris. Where the two crashed into an explosion of dust and darkness materialized.

And as the dust settled, a truly terrifying sight was to behold. Down on her back, staring up towards a being that towered above her was Frederick. Or whatever what was left of him, slowly closing in, with such a vile intent that it even exceeded the Queens lust for blood.

Ryo panted slowly as he tried to get up to his feet. It was impossible the wound was too great and the vampire queen was moving towards him with clear intent. In his desperation he sent his elemental cards flying at her, and really they did not slow her down, and in fact she only laughed at him even more. Ryo swore in between his ragged shaky breathes he didn’t want to die and leave Frederick to fight alone, not to mention he still had so much to do back at the guild hall, he had Gora to look after, who would take care of his Dire Wolf with him gone, and who would deliver the news to his Mistress, and who would bury him. No he couldn’t die here, he wouldn’t die here and so he tried to pull himself up once more.

However, he and the vampire queen were stopped by this and the pair halted listening to that great scream. The queen looked around desperately almost as if she was finally afraid, and Ryo only had to smirk in rueful agony “What…has…he done?...” he asked coughing up another splatter of his blood. He didn’t move a muscle as he saw the pulse of darkness shoot out, and his eyes didn’t even go wide as Frederick burst through the debris at his back and then he groaned as the explosion happened. He was far too tired and this was due to the ever growing pool of blood that was coming around him.

At present, the Vampire Queen was on her back and through her chest was a skewering stone which had sealed her fate. She looked up at Frederick smiling “Y-you’re…j-just as evil as I am.”

With that she began to turn to ashes. Ryo looked to Frederick with a smirk which was dirty with his own blood. He panted softly “F-Frederick…I-I’m sorry…t-this is where I-I’ve gotta go…If there is any bit of you still i-in there…t-then please…. take care of Gora for me….”

It was at this point that the pendant that had been around the Vampire lady’s neck was floating up to the open hand of their employer who smirked widely showing his own fangs “Oh there is no need for dramatics young boy. You will not die here if you do not to choose to do so. As for you dark one, I am impressed with your power to be sure.” He slowly moved towards Ryo licking his lips slowly as he knelt down “Tell me do you wish to die? Is there nothing you would live for?”

Ryo thought long and hard about this, he didn’t need to think about it, he nodded his head swiftly. It was done, he had chosen life and the man was happy to give it to him…after a fashion. He leaned down and sank his fangs into Ryo’s neck drinking a little bit of blood in turn, but afterwards he pulled himself away and opened his wrist to force Ryo to drink down his own blood. As he did this he looked to Frederick “I am turning him over to one of my kind. It is his only hope of life and he has grasped at it. You would do well to regain yourself, but if you can’t.” his face grew dark “I can offer you something in the way of aid.” He said returning his attention to Ryo only long enough to stand pulling his already healing wound away “You are truly powerful, as is he. I expect there are interesting stories to tell, but that is no nevermind.” He pulled out a bag and placed it on Ryo’s lap “That is your monetary reward seeing as you do not need, and I suspect do not want my gift. He will be out for the better part of a day if you wish to see him home then do so. I shall stay only as long as I think it takes to see you regain your sense or I shall give it back to you.” He said with great finality crossing his arms and watching Frederick coolly, but as one would watch a predator.

Screaming what was supposed to be a victory, but sounded just the same as the first anguished screams from before. Frederick, or better yet the Wraith version of him, bellowed once more. With the queen underneath him, pierced by a skewering stone which would be the end of her story. Smilingly she took her last breath and acknowledged the evil that had been present all this time. And the wraith itself started to close in on her corpse, ready to drain her from any remaining life force she might have.

However that process got quickly interrupted, not by Ryo with his last words, but by the new presence that joined the fray. Their employer, the vampire that had urged the two to take care of the queen for him. Quietly the being of shadow and shade watched him, not being able to make sense of the situation. In fact it might be possible that it didn't understand a single thing that was going on. The words that were spoken were hollow, similar as one would speak to a rabid or wild beast. You couldn't tame it, you couldn't interact with it, as it only had one primal instinct, to feed itself.
But when the Wraith wanted to feed, it realized one thing. The being he attack, the vampiric queen that had threatened them until now had no life force. She already was part of the dead, their employer was in a similar situation and so was Ryo. Even before his transition his life force was small, a faint flickering flame of a candle in the dark. Meaning there was nothing here.

Whatever the two were trying to tell him, the words didn't reach him. Nor did the wraith show anymore interest in the two. No instead it turned its head towards the nearest tree line and screamed once more, just right before it dashed off and disappeared into the night itself. Away from scene, away from their employer and away from Ryo.



Time had passed since their battle at the haunted guild hall, and what happened in the aftermath Frederick didn't know. In fact he only recently regained his conscious and broke free from the curse he had put on himself. So whatever happened to Ryo or the Queen he didn't really know, there were some flashes, but that was about it. Everything was still a bit vague. Only thing he did knew, was that the quite some time had passed, more then usual.
His appearance was worse for wear, for being over two weeks in his alternate dark form had ravaged him, his body and his fatigue. Yet his struggle didn't end right away the moment he stumbled through the giant guild doors. No instead he grabbed the nearest mage by the collar, and sneered at him. ''Where's Ryo!?''

Ryo watched as Frederick left him and a soft sad smile spread over his lips as he sank into unconsciousness. He woke up later in the night screaming due to his change and his eyes opened to reveal two sockets filled with eyes that were black as coal that seemed to absorb all of the light that was out there. He slowly rose to his feet feeling very different then he usually did. He was hungry, he was weak, but he felt no sickness, his wounds were healed, and he looked alive. So he guessed he was alive so their employer was truthful about what was on offer. He looked down and picked up the bag of jewels putting it into his coat.

A soft sound caught his attention and he snapped his head up to see a deer come walking into the vicinity of the guild hall now that all the evil was supposed to be gone. Ryo would never be able to tell anyone what had happened, but one minute he was standing there and the other moment he was on the deer sucking the blood from it and without a single thought of anything less than ravenous hunger. When he was done he thought of Frederick and immediately set off for the Sabertooth Guildhall. He didn’t see the mage when he had returned, but Gora was not entirely okay with the new look that Ryo had and it took quite the convincing in order to get the great wolf to relax and take him in once again.

~ 2 weeks later, Sabertooth Guildhall~

Ryo sighed as he shook his head moving about the Guildhall his pale skin coming out even more now, and his vampiric form was almost plain to those who would know what to look for. He and Gora were walking through the guildhall and he was starting to get used to it once more, but there was not much to be done, or to be had. He was exhausted and being up during the day was far too wicked to his form now. At present he moved along and heard the shouting from the front of the guildhall. He rounded and moved to the pair of wizards with a clearing throat in his tone “Frederick. I am right here, and there is no need to startle anyone. I am glad to see that you are well enough to make such a fuss, but you really do need to clean yourself up my good man.”