JENNA: * In another part of the country, Kalaani is making her weekly pilgrimage to Mack's mansion in the middle of nowhere, feeling silghtly depressed that he continues to treat her with outright hostility, in spite of the fact that he appears to have become accustomed to her visits. She makes her way up the walk with slightly slumped shoulders, but she straightens stubbornly as she reaches the door, ringing the doorbell firmly and settling back to wait.

JUSTIN: * The ringing of the doorbell goes ignored, the man inside the house currently lying in bed and feeling downright miserable. For once, his misery isn't brought about by the arrival of the unstoppable acolyte, though that doesn't much help. This time, it's a mere common disease -- a virus or bacterium, and Mackenzie has no idea how in the world he fell victim to it. It's been literally decades since the last time he was bed-ridden, and he can't even remember the last time he sneezed or coughed from anything other than household dust. All of this considered, he desperately wishes that the girl will just -- for once -- give up and go away, as he lacks the strength to fight her tooth and nail.

JENNA: * Kalaani, puzzled at the lack of response from within, rings the doorbell again, concern rising on her features. When the second ring goes unanswered as well, she puts her hand to the doorknob and opens the door, slipping inside to have a look around. She pauses for a moment in the foyer, folding her hands uneasily. "Mr. Malachi?" she calls tentatively, and takes another few steps in. "Mr. Malachi, are you all right?"

JUSTIN: * The distant, quiet sound of Kalaani's voice carrying through the empty halls causes Mackenzie to sit bolt upright in his bed -- and then immediately slump in dizziness. While the room spins around him, he stubbornly gets to his feet and attempts to dress himself, eventually settling on no more than a robe over trousers. Even that much effort tires him to the point he won't bother to fully clothe himself, and before he can attempt to face the bold intrusion into his house, he first must fall back onto his bed to rest.

JENNA: * Kalaani, not hearing any sound of Mack's struggle, continues searching for him, her steps eventually taking her down to the area near the guest room and eventually to the man's bedroom. She hesitates there and knocks on the door. "Mr. Malachi?" she calls again, clearly uncertain about invading his bedroom. "Are.. are you all right?"

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie manages to regain his feet, tiredly tying his robe tighter around himself, and steps toward the door with an undignifying lack of balance. "What..." He takes the handle of the door and twists it, pulling the door open just enough to look out, eyes red from lack of sleep. "What are you doing in my house? I live... miles from the city... and I am to start locking my door to maintain my privacy?" He sounds just as exhausted as he looks.

JENNA: * Kalaani, more than used to the harshness of his words, looks frankly alarmed at the sight of his apparent exhaustion. "You -- you look terrible!" She refrains from asking the obvious question, as he's clearly sick, but she does attempt to push the door open, concern overriding her near-compulsive politeness. "Please go lie down -- I'll get you some tea."

JUSTIN: "Don't be ridiculous!" Mackenzie stumbles slightly at her forced entry, but despite his sickness-induced weakness, he manages to hold it firm and deny her further entry. "You'll do nothing short of leaving, and letting me do as I wish. You are either bold or stupid, child, to barge into my home and give... give me... orders..." He stops his yelling to catch his breath, brow knotting with the effort.

JENNA: "/Please/, Mr. Malachi," Kalaani protests. "You aren't well." She reaches out instinctively to steady him, once again attempting to push the door open. "You'll only make things worse if you don't lie down." It is clear from her manner and concern that she does not intend to go anywhere until she's seen to it he's safely in bed and medicated.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie, despite all his wishes to the contrary, is just feeling weaker and weaker the more Kalaani insists, and -- as is unfortunately often the case -- it becomes evident that the most efficient way to get rid of her will be to go along with her ridiculous plot. "Fine! Fine! Get out of my bedroom and make your damned tea!" He rarely resorts to such simple vulgarity, but he doesn't have the breath in him for his usual, intelligent reprimands. He's almost gasping for breath again as he stumbles away from the door and moves to sit on his bed, feeling at least a fourth his real age with all the aching, and the burning in his lungs. His head lowers to rest in his hands, and he manages to slowly regain his breath and composure, sniffling audibly.

JENNA: * Kalaani pauses just long enough to make sure he's made it, the she retreats up the hall and, after a moment of disorientation, goes to the kitchen. She takes no time at all in searching out ingredients and utensils, boiling water as she looks over what little she has to work with. She purses her lips, almost frowning. Honey would be ideal, but it doesn't seem like the kind of thing he would have on hand.

JUSTIN: * Once Kalaani has been gone for enough minutes for Mackenzie to feel a brief moment of respite and rest, he gets to his feet and makes for the door. Finding himself strong enough to walk a little more normally now that he's properly settled from the initial shock and frustration, he makes slow but steady progress across the house and into the kitchen. "You better not be putting anything into my tea that doesn't belong there," he says in a distinctly grumpy tone, waddling with achey legs in the direction of the adjoining dining room.

JENNA: * Kalaani startles at the sound of his voice, ignoring his statement entirely to turn in surprise and protest. "Mr. Malachi! You should stay in bed. I was going to bring the tea back ..." For a moment, she waffles between making the tea and trying to help him to a chair, and after a moment she returns to the tea. Upon finishing it, she takes the tray out to the dining room, brow furrowed with worry. She sets the tea down, serving him his portion, but doesn't seat herself, instead reaching over to press her hand briefly against his forehead.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie lurches away from her hand, reaching up to snatch her offending appendage with a quickness that he shouldn't be able to muster in his current state. Whether or not it hurt, he doesn't let on. "It is bad enough that you invited yourself into my house, I have no intention of inviting you into my bedchambers." He lets her go -- almost throwing her hand away from him -- and glares down at the cup of tea in front of him. "And never touch me without my express permission. Which you can be sure you will never get."

JENNA: * Kalaani goes pink, jerking her hand defensively toward her chest with a frown. "You have a fever," she says, finally seating herself and taking her own cup. "Drink your tea.. then you should go lie down." She quietly takes a sip of her tea and looks at him again, still frowning slightly. "I'll bring some soup as well."

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie rolls his eyes toward the ceiling, quietly cursing in a language Kalaani won't understand. "I was lying down before you came knocking at my door." He turns her a very harsh look, feeling incredibly indignant. "Do you think me an imbecile? That I am unaware of the state of my own health?" His words are sharp and biting, but his forehead is dotted with beads of sweat, clearly exherting himself with such clear and commanding use of his voice. "If you want me to lie down, I would be /happy/ to return to doing so when you have /left/." He grabs his cup in a shaky hand and brings it to his lips, being careful not to repeat the same mistake he made last time tea and Kalaani were in the same room.

JENNA: "Be that as it may," Kalaani says quietly, "You're hardly in a state to cook for yourself right now." She takes a slow sip of her tea and looks at him again. "Food will help you regrain your strength, and I know of some herbs that will help as well." As usual, she seems completely unaffected by his angry jibes, sipping her tea serenely and watching him to make sure he actually drinks.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie sets his cup down, plainly disgusted -- not by the tea, but the conversation. "I have plenty of herbs and medicines in my house, I fail to see the usefulness of your... assistance." He taps a restless hand against the tabletop, staring grimly at the far wall. "I am perfectly capable of making my own soup, /if/ I decide I want some. I haven't been stricken lame."

JENNA: * Kalaani seems utterly unmoved by his protestations. "You barely made it into the dining room on your own," she says, tone unusually short. "You shouldn't be so quick to reject help when it's offered." She finishes her tea and sets the cup down, turning to him once more. "If you have the herbs on hand, that will make it easier to get your medicine together, in any case."

JUSTIN: "Oh, for gods' sakes." Mackenzie snags his cup again and takes a less than prudent sip, ignoring the pain of the hot liquid in favor of the distraction it brings from the idiocy surrounding him. When he sets it down again, he is practically shaking all over with a combination of frustration and weakness. "Would you like me to give you a spare key? Freshen up the guest room? Or would you prefer to have my room? Because you certainly seem intent on taking over my household."

JENNA: "That won't be necessary," Kalaani replies quietly, apparently content to let Mack finish his tea before attempting to inflict anything medicinal on him. She does pour herself a little more tea, frowning thoughtfully. "I'll bring some soup by this evening," she says after a moment, and sips her tea as if she considers the matter closed.

JUSTIN: "And you can eat it on the front steps." Mackenzie mutters, sipping at the tea again and doing his best to ignore the fact that it was made by the girl beside him. After a moment, tea only half finished, he sets the cup down and shifts his chair back from the table in preparation to get up. "If I have to let you medicate me to get you out of my house, then do make it quick," he says in a grouchy tone, agitated by her proximity.

JENNA: "Where do you keep your medicines?" Kalaani asks, getting to her feet before he can. "Please don't move around too much. I can get it for you." She pauses next to him expectantly, folding her hands and waiting for his reply.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie turns her an incredulous look, not bothering to repeat that if she hadn't shown up, he never would have gotten out of bed in the first place. "In the water closet. Any of them." He doesn't bother to give her directions, either, and starts to get to his feet -- mostly just to spite her, but he would like to get back to his room.

JENNA: * Kalaani doesn't ask for directions, either, walking off at a brisk pace, as she's fairly certain she can find them on her own. And she does, in due time, frowning slightly at the selection and deciding to return with better when she brings the soup. She makes her way back to the dining room with medicine in hand, sighing faintly.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie shakes his head and gives a faint snort, watching her disappear from the room before he heads starts toward the other exit, back through the kitchen. When he's completely certain she's a few rooms away and unable to spot him, he makes haste -- or at least, as much as he can in his condition -- back toward his chambers on the opposite side of the house. Though he doesn't doubt she'll find him there when she sees he's missing from the dining room, he'll be damned if she tries to walk him arm in arm like some sort of cripple.

JENNA: * Kalaani sighs again upon seeing the empty dining room, then turns and marches back toward Mack's bedroom. She holds the medicine delicately, pausing to knock at the door. "Mr. Malachi? I've brought the medicine," she calls politely, then steps back a pace, tempted though she is to just walk into the room.

JUSTIN: "Just bring it in, already." Mackenzie's voice comes through the door, tired and resigned. He can't understand why she would knock and wait at the bedroom door, yet consider the door to his house beneath her concern. He supposes he should be thankful she's considerate at least part of the time, but it's far more his style to simply find fault in everything she does -- it isn't terribly difficult, at least. "The sooner you're satisfied, the sooner I can have my privacy back."

JENNA: * Kalaani pushes the door open gently, slipping inside with her usual delicacy. She walks quickly to the bed and offers him the medicine, as well as what's left of his tea to wash it down with. "This will have to do for now," she says simply. "I'll come back later this evening," she adds, just so it's perfectly clear she hasn't given up.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie takes the cup and medicine, and slides her a weary glance. "So you keep telling me," he says drily, and quickly ingests the herbal concoction, chasing it with the remaining tea. He sets the now-empty cup down on the nearby nightstand and half-sighs, half-growls, rather despising the idea of someone besides himself standing in his bedroom -- nevermind the reality of it. "If you're through?" Not so much a question as a suggestion. "You certainly know the way to the door by now."

JENNA: * Kalaani bobs in a slight curtsey. "Sleep well," she says, then turns and leaves, closing the door behind her. Before she abandons the house itself, however, she returns to the dining room and cleans up the remaining tea, washing the dishes and setting them out to dry. Then she walks out the door, closing it behind her as well, and heads back toward Juno.

JUSTIN: * With Kalaani's departure finally coming to bear, Mackenzie feels a great deal of his stress relieved, though lingering frustrations at the morning's events keep him from being completely content. Even the sickness seems like a minor inconvenience next to her, and whatever good will and intentions she might harbor, it doesn't matter -- she's bloody annoying. He retires to his bed, the side-effects of the herbs already making him feel heavy beyond his pre-existing weariness, and closes his eyes to sleep.

JENNA: * Later that evening, as promised, Kalaani does return, but when her hails are not answered, she decides against waking Mackenzie, and instead stores the herbs, soup and honey for the morrow. She briefly considers going back to his room to check on him, then decides against it, as, if he really is sleeping, she doesn't wish to disturb him. Somewhat weary from the double trip, she makes her way out the door again, closing it behind her and quietly attempting to figure out how to work the extra journey into tomorrow's schedule.

JUSTIN: * It isn't long after she's departed that Mackenzie emerges from his bedroom, hair damp from a shower, and starts across the house in his bathrobe. Wandering into the kitchen, looking suitably groggy and famished, he goes in search of something to fill his stomach, mentally listing off all the research and projects that are being delayed due to his illness. Digging around absently, he suddenly lets out a sharp curse as he spies the clearly alien vessel in amongst his other food. Grabbing the container and turning to set it on the counter, he removes the lid and is not surprised to see soup inside. Somehow, he managed to sleep through her visit, but even that didn't stop her from poking around the house, apparently. When he stops to wonder if she entered his bed chambers while he was sleeping, he shudders violently.

JENNA: * Morning isn't terribly far along before Kalaani makes her return, looking somewhat weary for having finished her work in half the time it generally takes her. She straightens as she reaches the house, however, pausing for a moment before she gives the doorbell a firm ring. She guesses he'll be awake out of sheer stubbornness, if nothing else.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie is, in fact, awake, despite having been up most of the evening after a full day of sleep. He's somewhere between exhausted and wide awake, a sort of blank state that makes it hard to focus too hard on anything. At first the ring of the doorbell goes unnoticed while he stares at papers strewn about his desk, completely unreadable in his current frame of mind. The call sinks in eventually, though, and he grudgingly gets to his feet to go answer it, already knowing who to expect but too braindead to be properly pissed off.

JENNA: * Kalaani waits patiently until he comes to the door, smiling in relief when he answers it. "Are you feeling any better today, Mr. Malachi?" she asks him. "I brought the soup last night, but you were asleep, so I didn't want to wake you. It will probably do you some good now, though." She pauses, wondering if he's going to let her in or if she'll have to press matters again.

JUSTIN: "I found the soup," Mackenzie answers her, sounding unusually plain despite himself. He steps away from the door, taking her presence as a pretty clear sign that she's going to keep visiting until she's convinced his health is restored. And luckily for her, until his health is restored he won't have the willpower to fight her. "I would have flushed it down the toilet, but I'm not in the habit of wasting things. Even if it was an unwanted addition to my food stocks."

JENNA: * Kalaani doesn't react to this jibe with anything more than a shrug, curtseying politely before she steps inside. "I'll go heat some up," she says quietly. "And get the medicine ready." She glances at him and pauses before heading to the kitchen. "You should be resting," she says, as if well aware that he probably hasn't been back in bed since he got up.

JUSTIN: "Does it look like I'm exherting myself?" Mackenzie follows after her slowly, more from lack of interest this time than from sickness. "You wear me out far more than my daily routine." If he didn't know better -- and he hopes she does, too -- that would almost sound like friendly jesting. He grimaces at the thought, wishing he could muster his usual dour tone to squelch any confusion.

JENNA: "Yes, actually, you do," Kalaani replies promptly, making her way to the soup and moving it over to the stove, where she sets about heating it up. She also gets some water for tea, which goes better with the medicine, in her opinion. "I'm surprised someone as educated as yourself doesn't know better. You should be in bed."

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie tucks his arms over his chest, still feeling the chill of the morning air that snuck in through the front door. Wearing nothing but a robe does little to help the matter. "What I am, is intelligent enough to know the limits of my own body, and whether or not I've passed those limits." He grunts quietly in indignance, then starts for the dining room to await the inevitable catering, asked for or not.

JENNA: * The tea is finished before the soup, so Kalaani ferries it out to him, along with the medicine. "Just dissolve it in the tea," she says, then returns to the kitchen to tend the soup. She doubts she'll be able to come back later in the day this time, so she wants to make absolutely certain things are put right.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie shakes his head wearily, not bothering to vocalize the fact that he knows how to take medicine, with or without something to dissolve it in. Taking it quickly to avoid nagging, he sits back in the high-backed chair at the head of the table and stares depressedly into space, wondering if his life is ever going to return to normal. Surely she won't keep her route forever. He's gone through dozens upon dozens of young acolytes just like her -- though, admittedly she's already continued to visit long after most gave up. Still, he can hope that the Church will switch her duties and finally grant him some peace, assuming this isn't all their purposeful doing in the first place.

JENNA: * When Kalaani returns to the soup, she finds it pretty much ready, and she quickly ladles some into a bowl, pausing to take a taste of it for herself before setting the pot aside. Soup covered, she makes her way back to the dining room, setting the bowl near Mack and pausing a moment before seating herself again. She doesn't seem particularly interested in talking, looking a little weary and beaten down herself.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie doesn't mind her lack of words -- on the contrary, it's the most welcome thing she's given him since she started interfering. Taking the edge of the bowl, he slides it quietly over to himself, picking up the spoon to stir at it and watch the steam escape from the depths. He's content to let it be for now, not much wanting to partake -- if only because of who made it, and why. He continues to sip at the tea without enthusiasm, however, lest she complain and break the sweet, sweet silence. Now if only she'd leave, before her presence begins to feel awkward and turn the silence bitter.

JENNA: * Kalaani's intentions, however, seem to require her to remain in place, waiting with the utmost patience for him to partake of the soup. She doesn't say anything to this effect, though, only watching him gravely as he goes about drinking the tea and eventually pouring a cup for herself.

JUSTIN: * It certainly doesn't take long for Mack to take the hint, and he gives an exasperated sigh as he turns his attention to the soup. His cup of tea is nearly depleted, his sips having been measured and modest, but it seems clear now that she's going to remain at his side until he's gorged himself on her wares. Dipping the spoon, he takes a small, timid sip and finds it to be... normal, and for a split second he's almost annoyed that he can't complain about it. Kalaani brings out the bratty child in him, it would seem.

JENNA: * Content with this for now, Kalaani returns most of her attention to slowly finishing her tea, a contented smile playing about her lips. Whether this is from his actually eating the soup or from enjoyment of the beverage it's difficult to say. She doesn't comment, however, instead gathering up the tea things and going back to the kitchen, presumably to wash them.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie watches her leave from the corner of his eyes, half-frowning at the sight of Church robes in his house. He shakes his head disappointedly and returns his focus to the soup, continuing his slow, methodical intake of the meal. With his tea gone and the bowl half-emptied, he sits back in his chair and rubs at tired eyes, fiercely repressing a yawn in fear that Kalaani might notice it.

JENNA: * Kalaani takes her time washing the tea service, laying it out to dry and returning the soup to storage. She walks back out to the dining room after a few moments, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. "Are you finished?" she asks, then pauses, making her way back to the table. "You really should go back to bed and rest," she adds, not bothering to seat herself this time.

JUSTIN: "I have work that needs to be done, I can't spend all day in bed." Mackenzie drops his spoon into the bowl and nudges it away, not hungry for what's left -- at least not convinced that he is -- and glares up at the girl, finally having a reason to lance out at her again. "I've taken the medicine you've /insisted/ I take, as though I would die without it. Would you let me do as I please, now?"

JENNA: * Kalaani frowns slightly, shaking her head. "You'll only fall farther behind in your work if you stay sick," she points out, taking the soup bowl from him and starting back into the kitchen. "I can't stop you from doing what you please, but at least try to take care of yourself." She returns to the sink yet again, a little unhappy at the waste of the soup, but not wanting to argue with him about it.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie grumbles beneath his breath at the girl's words, feeling much as though he's under the watchful eye of a strict nanny. It's not a feeling he enjoys in the least. "If it will /pacify/ you, then I'll take a brief nap. But you'd best be gone when I wake, or I'll remove you myself." Getting to his feet and gathering his robe about him, he sniffs loudly and starts for the archway with weary footsteps, hoping she doesn't intend to argue the matter further.

JENNA: * As usual, Kalaani doesn't argue, only calling, "Sleep well!" over her shoulder before returning to washing the dishes. She begins humming to herself as she does so, and then singing, and it isn't long before the task is complete. She puts away what she can and leaves the rest out to dry, then steps quickly out to the hall. She pauses, momentarily tempted to check on her unwilling ward, but she decides against it, instead taking her leave once again and closing the door quietly behind her.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie ignores Kalaani's well-wishing and picks up his pace, hurrying back to his room as fast as his achey muscles will allow. Contrary to what he told her in parting, he has no intentions of sleeping, simply climbing into bed to await her departure before he goes back to his work. Lying beneath the blankets, he closes his eyes and waits for what he believes to be her inevitable last check on him before she leaves. When it doesn't come after several minutes, however, his exhausted body betrays him, and without warning he finds himself drifting off into a sound doze.

JENNA: * Kalaani doesn't return that day, but she makes good on her promise to come back the next day, as well as the day after and the day after that. Clearly her intent is to see him well through the illness, and even after it passes, she stops by near daily -- apparently, for the most part, to make tea. The regular task and the visits, a task in themselves, appear to leave her thoroughly content.

JUSTIN: * The daily visits do little more than annoy Mackenzie, though that is hardly unexpected. In a way, he is beginning to become accustomed to her presence, though no less aggravated by it -- much like a person gets used to the annoying buzzing of insects during the spring. At the very least, she manages to control herself, not wandering around his house or touching anything aside from his tea set and dinnerware. And the tea isn't so bad. "Must you constantly make tea? Is that all you do at your own house, make tea day in and day out?"

JENNA: "I can cook most things," Kalaani answers readily, setting the service on the table and setting his cup in front of him. "I'll be happy to make anything you want, as long as I know how." She seats herself as well and smiles faintly. "I live in a room at the church. For the most part, I do the chores assigned to me and pray." She takes her own cup and sips briefly. "And read, when I can."

JUSTIN: "I would prefer if you stayed in your room at the church and didn't cook me anything at all." Mackenzie turns her a grumpy, sideways look, but takes up his cup of tea and gives it a cautious sip. "I'm not sick anymore. It is a wonder I'm even letting you in the house at all." He stops to think about that for a moment, wondering why he does indeed. It's fairly depressing to think his brief brush with illness has dulled his edge that much.

JENNA: * Kalaani has no answer for this, so she continues to sip her tea in silence for several minutes, gaze drifting quietly around the now-familiar room. "I like making you tea," she says after another moment, then returns to sipping. It seems like a good enough reason to her, at least.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie levels a blank stare across the table, an eyebrow arching after several seconds of silence, and followed by a few more. "...that is the stupidest thing I've heard in months." Shaking his head in disapproval, he takes another sip of his tea and pulls a notepad from the inner pocket of his coat to read over. "I don't know how long you intend to hover nearby looking for purpose to your existance, but I have a lot of work to do today."

JENNA: * Kalaani shakes her head, continuing to sip her tea. "I have work to do today," she says quietly. "I'll just wash the dishes before I go." In the time she's spent at his home, she has become so used to his constant jabs that she no longer appears to hear them at all.

JUSTIN: "I hope so, since you're the one who dirtied them." Though he almost wishes she wouldn't, as it probably gives her a sense of pride. And keeps her longer. He stares down into his tea and half-frowns, realizing he hasn't made it himself in at least a couple weeks. What an insult, for a self-sufficent man to be waited on.

JENNA: * Unfortunately for Mack, Kalaani is perfectly comfortable with the task of washing dishes, whether she takes pride in it or not. Once they've both had their tea, she takes up all the dishes and trots onward, washing them with her usual efficiency. Also present is her habit of singing contentedly as she works, though she does attempt to sing a little more quietly with Mack in the other room.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie's ears are not wanting for efficiency, and he picks up the faint notes clearly enough. He doesn't complain -- but then, he doesn't stick around to. Gritting his teeth, he snatches his notepad from the table and takes off across the house in the direction of his office, feeling unnaturally disturbed by the cheerfully sweet sound of singing.

JENNA: * Kalaani doesn't hear him go, momentarily distracted by the pure enjoyment of singing -- and the comfortably familiar task of washing dishes. When she returns to the dining room to find him gone, she assumes (rightly) tthat she is dismissed, and she once again takes her leave. She is, after all, already late in attending to her tasks at the church.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie gratefully loses himself in a stack of papers, still working on deciphering the many rubbings that Shane and Jocasta acquired for him. It's long, meticulous, and to most people, probably headache-inducing work, but it's good for taking his mind off of Kalaani among other things. Every day of work for him is an important and necessary task, whether he needs distractions or not, and he easily passes the hours of daylight without once setting foot outside the office.