Break the Skin (Dr. Gene)

[Edeline Wolf]

Edeline gave the vendor a thank you, and charming smile as she left with her purchase. Though many would find it odd for the owner of one of the most successful brothels in London would be going shopping in White Chapel. Truth be told however, these streets are where she lived when she and her husband came here when they were eighteen, to make a new life for themselves.

'Those days seem so far off' she thought as she walked down the streets. She still mourned for her husband who she lost to the consumption many years ago, and was too poor to get a doctor. It was then she decided she would claw her way up in order to keep another person she cared for die because of their station.

As she walked towards a stall selling some fresh fish, she noticed a young man walking past her drop something. She picked it up, and began squeezing through the crowd to keep up. "Excuse me, sir, you seemed to have dropped something" she called out to him, but he didn't seem to notice her calls. Once she got closer, she placed her hand on his arm. "Sir, I believe you dropped this" she said, holding out the handkerchief he dropped.

[Dr. Gene Menelaus]

'Let the skies open up and swallow these crowds.'

It was the only thought in the Doctor's head. Repeated over, and over, and over, each time he stopped to timidly request a vendor's attention. He wouldn't have come here, but he wasn't exactly rich enough to be choosy about certain materials. He inquired at a few places about glass bottles and tinctures, but he had misjudged his own tolerance for the jostling crowds today.

When a gentleman bumped him from behind, he lost all patience. He fled without realizing he'd dropped a handkerchief behind him. Or that anyone had seen it, or him.

He jolted away at a woman's sudden touch. His eyes widened--and then narrowed a bit in attempted calm, when he noticed the handkerchief. Surely it wouldn't be polite to seem upset in this situation. He extended his hand and ever so slowly took the piece of cloth back from her.

"I... I am quite grateful. Thank you, madam."

[Edeline Wolf]

"You're quite welcome though all I did was what any decent person would" she said with a smile on her red lips. She couldn't help but notice he was rather jumpy which she didn't blame him for in this neighborhood. "My name is Edeline by the way, what's yours? I'm guessing you don't come down here much since I'd recognize you if you did." She came down to the market quite regularly especially since she had many women living with her that keeping a well stocked kitchen was incredibly necessary.

There was something about him that was strange to Edeline. It wasn't anything visible unless you looked closely at his eyes, she could tell he had seen things that she dare not imagine.

"So, where are you heading to? If it's a vendor here, I can help you out with that" she said cheerfully, "some of these vendors can tell a new person right off the bat, and may try to take advantage of that fact, but with me around, that won't happen that is if you want my help."

[Dr. Gene Menelaus]

"Ah...of course, but decency isn't quite so... common, here. At times." The doctor offered a shy smile to the woman. She was quite direct, compared to the women he was used to. This didn't bother him. On the contrary, it meant that he didn't need to lead the conversation. Instead he could listen. He rarely spoke to anyone beyond the doors of the Orphanage. It had become his own Purgatory in a way. He left only when necessary, interacted only to obtain what he needed from the outside world.

In a way, he felt guilty for even speaking to her. "It is a pleasure, Madame Edeline. My name is Gene Menelaus. Ah, Doctor Menelaus, if you'd rather."

His eyes widened a little at her offer of help. Honestly, he would welcome it. The tough street-talking vendors pushed him around easily with their rough ways. He rarely came out of it with a bargain.

"If you wish... it is, ah, not necessary if you are needed elsewhere."

[Edeline Wolf]

"Here it is every man for yourself" she said, looking around at their surroundings, "many people came to this city with dreams of a good life only to wind up in the slums." It was a fact she herself was very familiar with, and judging by his appearance, he probably wasn't aware of the true nature of this neighborhood.

"I'm not needed anywhere right now. I'll be more than happy to help a person in need" she said as she walked beside him down the streets. "So, what are you shopping for, Dr. Menelaus?" she asked, making sure she got him to the right vendor.

As they continued to walk down the street, she heard her name being called. When she turned, she noticed a familiar auburn haired girl running towards her and the doctor. "Madame Wolf, thank goodness I found you" she said, trying to catch her breath,

"Helene, what on earth is the matter?" she asked, feeling some panic rise within her. The girls all knew she'd be out shopping today, but if one of them was seeking her out now, it was serious.

"It's Madeline, she disobeyed your orders not to meet any client outside our home when he stabbed her" Helene cried out, making sure not to be too loud for anyone to hear.

"Did you call Dr. Fritz?" Edeline asked. Dr. Fritz was one of the few doctors in the city willing to treat women like herself and her girls. Most thought they were scum, and one less whore was a good thing.

"He's busy, Madame. The Fitzgerald family is having a baby, and he went to help deliver it" Helene said softly.

Edeline glanced over at Gene, a look of guilt for even asking him this. "Doctor, I know we just met, but can you please come with us to have a look at Madeline?" she asked, her voice having an urgent tone to it.

[Dr. Gene Menelaus]

"Indeed, Madame." The doctor spoke in a grave tone. He momentarily folded his gloved hands together, more a habitual gesture than anything. His face had a faraway look to it. Distant, rather than concerned. It didn't match his body language. "However... this is not only the case in the poorer sections. Many men, and women, are as you say, regardless of station."

Gene's own demeanor had an aristocratic echo to it, if marred by his nervous tics. "I can show you to the...ah, vendors I was considering." He started to edge toward one of the shops when a third voice interrupted them. He stepped courteously to the side to allow the two women their conversation. He tried to remain politely unaware at first, but he couldn't quite help his surprise. Clients? Stabbings? What manner of place were these women involved in?

Of course, it could be no worse than his own occupation. He smiled ruefully to himself, contemplating that. His expression turned anxious when Helene mentioned the lack of a doctor. He'd half opened his mouth to offer his services, but before he could, Edeline herself asked him. He should have expected that. He couldn't help but envy her calm, straightforward manner.

"O-of course, yes. I am willing. Ah... are there medical supplies of any kind at your... where you are taking me?"

[Edeline Wolf]

"We do have basic things since sometimes our doctor is busy if the injuries aren't too severe, but in the case, it may be a bit difficult" she said, "Doctors don't want to treat "our kind". She nearly spat the last part out with some anger. She hated being looked down on because of her profession. There weren't many options for women in this world. They either got married, got decent honest work if they were from good families or if they were like her, become a prostitute unless you'd want to work in the factories only to have your limbs torn off.

"We'll be taking you to where we conduct our business. We don't have any special rooms for this sort of thing so my apologies that you have to work in an unusual location" she said as she headed towards her brothel.

She hated not being completely truthful was to where they were going since she wasn't sure how the doctor would react. She didn't want to risk him being disgusted, and just run off. 'Maddie's life is on the line, I refuse to allow her to die' she thought as they drew closer to their location.

"Well, here we are" she said as they reached the steps of a large house at the edge of White Chapel.

((We can end the thread here, and start a new one in the brothel board or we can continue here))

[Dr. Gene Menelaus]

"Madam, in my opinion..." Gene began, and his voice had a bit of heat to it.

He flushed and swallowed the rest of that sentence. He hadn't meant to sound quite so...forceful. "Rather that a doctor should not refuse to treat anyone," he went on more gently. "If you should find yourself in need of a doctor again, I, ah...practice at the St. Anne's Orphanage here. You may come and ask for me."

"Ah...of, of course," he said, and he couldn't help but stammer that out. Despite his aristocratic upbringing and his father's...insistence on the matter, he'd never visited a House of Ill Repute. Though Edeline had phrased it delicately, he suspected he would be visiting one for the first time.

Still, he had promised. He'd try to keep his fears in check. "Lead on and I shall follow."

((you can start another or continue here. I don't mind either way.))

[Edeline Wolf]

Edeline opened the door quickly, and began to make her way upstairs, leading the doctor to Madeline's room as Helene went to get the supplies they needed. She didn't notice the girls poking their heads out, whispering and giggling at how cute the doctor was. Once she arrived at Madeline's door, she opened it up quickly.

Laying on the bed was a young girl, barely eighteen with golden curls cascading over the pillow. Her skin had lost much color, her breathing was ragged, and cold sweat dripped down her face. Edeline's brow knit with worry as she approached Madeline's bed side. "Maddie, it's me, Edeline. I've brought a doctor for you so please hang on" she whispered to the young girl stroking her cheek.

The girl opened her eyes which were a hazel color, and filled with tears, "I'm so sorry, the man promised me more money if I left this place for a bit" she managed to get out weakly. Edeline just shook her head, "Don't worry about that, now let's have the doctor look at your wound." She gently removed the blankets that were over the girl, seeing a blood stain seeping through her gauzy white nightgown. She lifted it up to reveal a wound below Madeline's rib cage. Edeline turned her head away, feeling like she was going to throw up. "Well doctor, can you help her?" she asked.

[Dr. Gene Menelaus]

The doctor made his way through the building as quickly as possible. He couldn't quite ignore the feminine giggles and curious eyes peeping at him through several doorways. His pale face flushed red and he refused to meet any of their gazes. Instead, he kept on the heels of sensible Edeline and prayed that none of those girls would accost him for his 'company.'

All such trivial thoughts flew out of Gene's mind when he entered the sickroom. He knelt at the girl's bedside, noting her color...that kind of pallor and sweating was not a good sign. "May I ask how long ago this happened?"

He blanched at the wound itself. He'd seen worse, but this needed immediate treatment or it could become infected. "I need medical supplies... this needs to be treated and bandaged. Please have someone bring water or wine to this girl." His tremulous manner of speech had all but vanished. Nor was he acting modest. Medicine was his only means of confidence.

[Edeline Wolf]

"A few hours ago, the man didn't take her very far before he did the deed. She managed to stumble onto our doorstep before passing out" Helene said grimly before rushing downstairs to get the needed supplies. Edeline had a wistful look on her face. "Madeline and Helene are very close so this really hard for her" she said softly to no one in particular. She knelt at her bed side, and took out a saint medallion. It was of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of prostitutes.

She clasped the medal in both her hand and Madeline's as she began to murmur a soft prayer. She couldn't thought of losing someone close to her was just too much, and she felt tears slide down her cheeks as she continued to pray. Suddenly, Helene came in with their first aid kit, a towel, and a hot bowl of water along with a drinking glass of water for Madeline. "Madame, one of Madeline's customers is here. He wants her, but when I told him that she wasn't feeling well, he said only you would be the only one he'd have" she said, not wanting to ask such a thing of her employer.

"If that's how he feels, then so be it" she said softly, letting go of Madeline's hand but leaving the medal in her hand. She got behind the changing screen, beginning to strip down to her slip and over bust corset which were both black. She let down her hair which was piled on top of her head which spilled down her shoulders in soft curls. She stepped out, and gave Gene a serious look, "I'll be back shortly, please do your best. We're counting on you." Soon she left the room, and went to the private room that Madeline always used.

[Dr. Gene Menelaus]

"Perhaps you might speak to the authorities--" Gene said, absently. His mind was entirely on the medical situation before him. He knelt to carefully examine the edges and depth of the wound. Perhaps it looked more serious than it was... but if it festered in that location, this woman could easily die of her injury. His fingers itched for his well stocked equipment. He'd have to start bringing a kit with him for just such emergencies, not that they happened often.

His eyes softened a little as he watched the prayer. This woman obviously cared for those in her service. This seemed more like a family to him, rather than a brothel. Those earlier giggles aside.

"I shall do my best..." He barely noticed the 'business,' exchange of Edeline for Madeline. He was too busy digging through the medical kit and discerning how well he could treat and bandage the wound. He soaked a cloth in cleansing fluid and gently advised the woman to hold still while he treated the wound. Then he would see how deep the bleeding went and attempt to sew it together, and bandage it.

He flushed a little when he looked up and saw Edeline...thus attired. Yet he would not judge, and could not be so embarrassed as he wanted to be right now. "You have no reason to worry, Madame." Then he turned his attention again to the injured young woman.

[Edeline Wolf]

What may have seemed like not too long for Edeline, it was about an hour for everyone else. When she returned to Madeline's room, her hair was messy, rope burns marred her skin as well as a bite mark on the top of her right breast and bruises forming hand prints on her neck. "So doctor, how is she?" she asked as she grabbed a rode hanging from the wardrobe by the door, wrapping it around her to easy the doctor's discomfort.

Helene, who had stayed with the doctor glanced at Edeline, and said simply, "It's was Mr. Hargreaves wasn't it?" Edeline nodded and too her spot by Madeline once more. She along with the injured young woman were the few who took on the more violent clients since they had a high tolerance for pain.

"You're right, he got a bit rougher tonight because I wasn't Madeline" she said softly, brushing some hair from Madeline's face. "As you can tell by my appearance doctor, some of our clients don't treat us gently. We're nothing more than toys in their eyes to do with what they wish, but only a few of us take the ones willing to take things further than the others" she murmured, looking down at her unconscious friend.

[Dr. Gene Menelaus]

Dr. Menelaus had worked feverishly for that hour. Sweat stood out on his brow and his breathing was a bit shaky. However, the injured woman lay sleeping as peacefully as she could. Her wound was sewn and bandaged. Gene had given her a sleeping draft once he was sure it was safe to do so. Now he sat in a chair in the room, both to rest and to keep watch on Madeline's condition.

He half rose from his chair and blanched at the sight of Edeline. Those rope burns and marks of violence appalled him. Hypocritical as it seemed in retrospect. "M-madame. Shall I...ah..." He meant to offer treatment for the injuries. Instead, he blushed scarlet and slowly lowered himself back into the chair. He no longer had a patient in critical condition to distract him from his modesty, and general shy nature.

"I...could take my leave," he tried again, after listening to the woman's explanation. "Your friend should see her own doctor in the morning. If he cannot be found, I might, ah, be willing to come back. She is out of danger for now. That wound must be watched, however." He managed a graver tone rather than flustered, at least momentarily.

[Edeline Wolf]

"You can stay if you don't have to leave right away. The least I can do is pay for your services and give you a nice cup of tea" she said, standing up and gesturing Gene to follow her down stairs to the parlor. "Now, have a seat, and I'll be right back" she said, going into the kitchen to put some water on the boil.

She was very grateful that she ran into Dr. Gene. Had they not met, Madeline would be dead as a doornail. Once the water was done, she poured the water into two cups, placing them on the tray and setting it on the table in the parlor. "I hope you like earl grey" she said softly, going over to a painting, removing it to reveal a safe.

She turned the lock a few times before a small click, opening the safe, and removing some cash and a pouch. She closed it shut, placing the painting over it once more before she went over to Dr. Gene. "This is payment for what you've done for us" she said softly, "though I wish we could offer more, that's all we can afford at the moment." She sat down across from him, picking up her cup and taking a small sip.