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As a Doctor, it was good to never forget a patient’s face, nor, of those who sat by their bed and helped with the patient’s medicine and the like. He treated a great number of people but, he tried his best to never forget a face. One face he never did forget was Tessa. As a doctor he needed to see the latest books on medicines and studies. On the human bodies. When in town, he made a point to visit the library, check out a book, and spare a few words with the girl. She was nice, as was her grandmother. The only issue now was Somnium being fully grown, refused to let him go into most places alone. Like a library.

So, the doctor tried to sneak his guardian in. Not willingly at least, but, once the deer got in, it was in. Somnium proving he was far too sneaky for his own good. Marco just wanted to say hello and get a few books for his practice. “Good day Tessa.” He gave her a wave, hoping that from where Somnium was in the back he’d go unnoticed. “Doing well I hope?”

The book dropped and he took a step back. One book could always lead to a whole bookself. He'd had that happen enough he'd like to avoid it if possible. Still, Tessa moved quickly, gathering the fallen tome and checking for damages. "Like a doctor for knowledge." She smiled to himself over her fretting. It was much like her. "I'm doing well. Come to town for supplies, get caught up on what the news is from the upper crust. Apparently my brother wants me to see what rumors might be stirring about him. The only rumor I could find is that he's the same as ever. Very exciting, I know." He laughed a bit, looking back to where he thought Somnium was... only to see him missing.

"Ah, and Somnium is the same as ever. Larger than when you last saw him I think. But that is not why I'm here. I-" The deer peeked through the shelf with a snort, antlers preventing him from sticking his head through. "I wanted to ask if you might have the lasted medical journals? I managed to buy a copy of the latest college publication, but, it's taken a bit of my funds. Checking it out for a few days to copy what I need seems a better course of action. In any event. It's good to see you're doing well. Your mother?"

Books were sources of knowledge, and as more people were advancing in society, knowledge was proving a very powerful driving force. Those who tended to the tomes of knowledge perhaps the keepers of a power soon to be fully unlocked. “Better someone with a passion for literature than someone just doing it for coin I expect. You treat them better than I do some of my patients.” A sad shake of his head. “People can be so stubborn. I don’t imagine your books give you half as much trouble.” Unless one had a particularly nasty binding that had gotten so stiff it would hardly open.

Rumors waved off, Marco idly looked at the section. Nothing he needed sadly, and leisurely reading was a bit on the back burner until he finished up the latest publications. No new books on this that or the other he told himself.

When she laughed, Somnium lit up, pulling away to wander around the bookcase for a more proper greeting. And show off his fully formed rack. Wasn’t he impressive? He was a buck now! A handsome one, hey did you notice his rack? Did you? The guardian came close, head down at if to say, touch touch they are real and very impressive. Marco shook his head, amused with how excited the supposedly proper guardian was acting. “Act your age Somnium.” A light chiding, the deer wasn’t likely to let up. “Thank you. They’re coming out in larger volumes these days. A sign of more medical practice… and more passive aggressive arguments about this and that treatment from one doctor to another. Still, they’re useful. Common Life though?” He looked over at Somnium who was happy to trail them. “Not sure how common my life is anymore.”

He gave Tessa a quirked brow, the lightest hint of a smile on his face. She thought too highly of him, she really did. "Good is subjective. I like to think myself as competent. Less egotistical and then I have less people to worry about offending." His smile widened a bit as she looked at the books with fondness. "I don't think I have a true favorite given what I read. Pity really, but I do enjoy a few of the horrors time to time. If just because the can be.. amusing with how incorrectly the describe how a body functions." Humans didn't survive this or that- it was all very unrealistic, just why they could be alluring to some.

Somnium's tail gave a flicker as he snorted his pleasure at Tessa. Proud and vain. "But at least a book does not have legs or is prone to eating herb gardens." Marco's comment however made the buck turn away as if to deny such accusations. The small action made the doctor shake his head. He couldn't take the deer anywhere. "Books and intelligent conversation that doesn't involve talk of how we're going to be attending this or that seminar. You'd be rather amazed how we more 'rural' doctors tend to get addressed like we have no idea what we're doing. A lot of hot air, especially from the nobles who sit in for the sake of sitting in."

Taking the book offered, he gave it a glance before looking at Tessa. "Some days? Yes. Others-" Somnium gave him a glance before going to a table, scooting chairs back into place, "-my unusual companion has some merit. He does carry my supplies which saves me from hiring a mule."

A better compliment in his mind. Nice to hear, he felt Somnium roll his eyes at him. Not seen, but felt. The connection with the guardian having nothing to do with that particular feeling. But Somnium could roll his deer eyes all her wanted, Marco was content. “A good mystery captivates and if done well, means that even if you cheat and read the ending first, you’ll still be left with something unsolved. Sleepy Hallow however… can’t say I have. Have a copy I can check out?” Marco hardly was adverse to the suggestion, trusting the resident reading queen’s suggestions.

“If books had legs, I’d fear you’d reach the end and then they’d go running off before you could finish. A true cliffhanger. That or when I would need to reference something they would up and hide from me. It’s hard enough to look up chemical compounds, much less if the book itself wanted to play hide and seek.” He chuckled, thinking of having to chase a book down just to get what he needed. “But I guess we do chase books in a way. After all, we do chase after knowledge don’t we?” He tapped the medical journals.

Her blush had his chuckle growing into laughter. “Am I? Modesty suits you Tessa, but don’t ever sell yourself short. We’ll just have to keep our intelligent conversations to ourselves. Might hurt someone by having them thinking too hard.” Somnium had skipped around the corner, tail flicking, waiting for the pair to move on.

“And yes, much to my chagrin. I think I might you know, get to enjoy some semblance of an educated person’s opinion? No, just hot air and attitude.” Looking to the entry, Marco huffed, wondering if she’d had trouble with one noble or another. “Third son or not, I’m still a ‘part’ of certain social circles in theory. Mostly when they need me to help out because someone thought it funny to try and ride a horse standing.” A smile and shake of his head, he walked over to Somnium giving the guardian an affectionate pat on his flank. “If I didn’t have Somnium… perhaps I’d be bored. Or maybe I’d just be another face. He certainly does make me a memorable person. The doctor with the deer.”

To see Tessa happy and opening up was always good in his mind. She was the bookish type, and well. Sometimes getting a book to open when it came with a lock was difficult. Books to open up the usually quiet bookworm, a fitting thing really. “Afraid I’ve cheated on a few. Usually when I reach a long dry spot in the novel. But I still end up needing to go back and finish it, otherwise it often doesn’t make sense. Medical journals are much like that in the same way. But…” He sighed. “Cheating on those would be a bit more detrimental towards my career.” If not deadly, he’d rather be thorough when reading things that might save a person’s life really.

“But yes please, do add it to my list. I’ll take your word for it, given the praise. You’re not the type to settle for ‘good’ books. Always going after things that might draw you in ever more. As always I won’t tell a soul how well you treat me.” He shuffled the various books in hand. “Even if I check out far too many as is.” As they walked on, he smiled a bit more and more. Somnium staying by Marco’s side. Setting the books down on the desk, the doctor gave a shrug. “No one is perfect, not in reality anyway. In our minds we might see them as such but the truth of the matter is I’ve never seen a perfectly healthy person with a perfect attitude about having a doctor fussing over them. And don’t flatter him.” The guardian puffed up his chest, going to Tessa to give her a friendly nudge.
“Next he’ll think he’s responsible for getting me requested as often as I have been. I like to think people request me to use my skill, not see a buck that’s full of himself.”

Said buck was happy to ignore him in favor of paying attention to Tessa.

Hands held up. “It was needed, helped motivate me to reach the end.” He tried not to cheat but really, some novels just got into a rut. “You’re stronger then I am, sticking through it. But then, perhaps my flattery is just to get to your books.” He smiled in jest. Somnium rolled his eyes, waiting and watching. “Or perhaps because like I said, intelligence is a trait hard to come by. I’ll let you decide which you think it is Tessa. Just keep in mind how often I come back.” Less often than he would have liked actually. Perhaps come spring he’d manage to visit and read more often. People hurt themselves less in spring for some reason. At least provided he wasn’t out tending to the farmlands and their lot.

Too many brats liked to try and run horses down or attempt to prove themselves for lady loves. Girls tended to just fall ill, (usually claiming it was love no less. Marco knew better, often it was allergies).
“I’ve been hurt while treating a few. Usually small children who don’t know I’m trying to help them, elderly patients who think they don’t need me, or men and women who are just… a bit daft to start with. Emotional distress often pairs with physical trauma sadly.” He gave a shrug. “It’s a part of the hazards of work. Why man creative sedatives, thank the gods.” As Tessa pet Somnium the buck gave a nod, careful to not hit with his antlers.

“Oh he always says I treat him poorly. Yet he’s the one that gets pampered by everyone. But.. I’ll admit it. He does keep some patients from acting out or up.” A sigh and the doctor smiled at bit at the both of them.

Looking at the guardian, Marco had his turn to snort, not missing how the buck seemed pleased with himself. Somnium just puffed his chest out and gave Marco a smug look. He might not like the fact Somnium got pampered and had attention on him all the time, but the buck wouldn’t have had it any other way. Besides, it kept people from bothering Marco while he worked. Everyone wins, just mostly Somnium.

A shake of his head and a smile, Marco took the pen signing his name. “Prince of the pompous perhaps. But you are right. He does watch my back, so I can’t hate him too much. Keeps me from trouble time to time. After all, with legends lingering, bandits and marauders less likely to attack a man with a figure of lore hrm?” He liked to think that at any rate. He’d never had trouble on the road with Somnium but before? His supplies had been stolen once, and that was one time too many in his opinion.

“I’ll probably be out a month at most. Two weeks at least. Depends on if I get any distant house calls. For safety I’d say put me down for the month. If I’m late this time.. well.” He shrugged. “It’s probably because I spent too much time reading.” Smiling he gathered the books, pulling them under his arm. “It’s been lovely to see you again Tessa, and I’ll try my best to get them back on time. Somnium, you can help remind me no?” The guardian tapped his hoof, bowing his head. “That is a yes I think. Good day Tessa.” A small wave as he went out the door, the doctor looked briefly at the book recommended.

A thing to pass the time and keep his mind from melting over medical journals.