[ It's funny. Most of Aether's prior encounters with Baizhu have involved him being mildly unscrupulous and even somewhat threatening. Aether also knows, from the incident with Jiangli, that Baizhu can be brisk, efficient, professional. And yet, for all their past meetings, this is perhaps the first time he's interacted with Baizhu as a doctor. In the past, he's played the part of merchant, medicine-man, poisons expert — but today, it seems, he would heal Aether's ills.

The traveler sits where he's bid to sit, resting his hands lightly on his thighs. His posture is upright, but relaxed, particularly in the shoulders. There is a little hint of weariness in his golden eyes, but Baizhu himself has likely known and felt that look. ]

I'm alright. [ The mechanical response, given on reflex. If he were alright, he wouldn't have scheduled this appointment. Sighing, he grimaces and continues: ] I'm — well. I wouldn't be here if I were alright, I suppose.

[ Aether's eyes flick towards Baizhu's, but he can't seem to hold the man's patient gaze. He lowers his eyes again. ]

...It's nothing I'm not used to. It's just — I'm in a lot of pain, these days.

[ The flicker of a shadow crosses his features; the searing, burning ache through his back has flared up again, and he knows he just has to ignore it, but it's so tiresome, sometimes. He wishes he could just rip the nerves out of his spine, sometimes. There's no getting back what he's lost, so why does his traitorous body have to constantly remind him of it? ]

I've tried a lot of different painkillers. But nothing really seems to work.