[ It doesn't have to be painless, Aether thinks. He of all people knows best that many things in life simply cannot be painless, and his treatment for a very painful situation, in particular, was never something that he expected to be perfectly soothing. He almost wants to apologize for making Baizhu get down on the floor to talk to him, but by the time he's got his thoughts together about that, the doctor has already moved and is standing behind the traveler instead.

Well — a gentle touch examination, like this — no, Aether doesn't mind it at all. It's only natural, as a physician, to try and identify where the exact issue is. For the most part, Aether doesn't react; his bare skin responds the way that bare skin does, and he even seems a little soothed by the touch. But when Baizhu's thumbs pass over or prod along a set of diagonal lines along his shoulderblades, that's when he shudders, the intake of his breath hissing slightly against his teeth. It's not too much for him, so he doesn't complain, but the pain reaction is quite clear. ]

Ah — there, that's where they... where they were.

[ To his credit, the traveler maintains a relaxed posture even through the slight twinge of pain that accompanies Baizhu's fingers brushing over his wounded wings. He isn't laughing anymore, but he sounds thoughtful, as if he's put thought — no doubt he has — into his own medical mystery. ]

It's funny... It's not as though there were ever structures there. No bones or feathers. They were made of light...