Ramping up the sexual tension in a interesting way. She might seriously be thinking soon about taking up his offer to fix her woman hood so she can have sex again.

Man, what a perfect storm of awkward situation.

You have an elf who is now cognitive and can see, had fallen head over heels for the guy. The guy who is now taking care most of her daily business including washing (sometimes), while also rehabilitating her personally. So she is embarassed since he sees and had seen all of her but can't do anything about it 'cause she needs his help to recover and to move.

You have a dude who maintains absolute doctor-patient relationship with the elf and keeps it professional. Not to mention he feels second-hand shame because her violators were his common men. He might also be a little thick, who knows. Maybe he is just pushing aside the possibility that the elf might like him 'cause he only sees her as a patient. Some doctors maintain that attitude to the point that you can conflate it with pride.

Then you have us, the audience. Whose thoughts on the two right now would be something along the lines of Rene Descartes's "Give her the dick". In any other settings that's natural. But in this one, it is not. Because the elf got fucking violated during her capture. Telling the good doctor to do it makes him no different than the bad people. Because despite the elf's relationship with the doctor, she is ultimately powerless in both situations. The good doctor himself probably would have thought of the same, without the Rene Descartes bit. Not to mention you have to be some really out of touch/tactless fool or skipped the first 14 pages to actually thought of it.

It's not unusual for this kind of attraction to playout, afterall, there is the 'Florence Nightingale Effect', where patients or medical caregiver, fall in love with the other. In this case, the classic version, patient falls in love with doctor.

Kyrozen said:

Because despite the elf's relationship with the doctor, she is ultimately powerless in both situations.

Rather than despite her patient/doctor relationship with the doctor, it's because of it. This is why in reality it's unethical for anyone in a position of power over someone to start a relationship with them. If the relationship sours, the person who's position is lower stands to lose a lot more than just the relationship with their superior.

Garrus said:

Rather than despite her patient/doctor relationship with the doctor, it's because of it. This is why in reality it's unethical for anyone in a position of power over someone to start a relationship with them. If the relationship sours, the person who's position is lower stands to lose a lot more than just the relationship with their superior.

Well I phrased that weirdly. By relationship, I meant her liking the doctor and all tthatt.

And then they had lots of sex🙃

Why'd you guys have to go and bring up "reality" and "unhealthy relationships" and "the inherently complex nature of interpersonal interactions"? I just wanted to feel all warm and fuzzy about some good ol' fashioned hurt/comfort, but now y'all got me thinking about the ethics 'n' shit.

Geez.

That's why I said "in reality". In a story, you can have all the warm fuzzies you want; we know he's going to make her happy, after all (heck, it's in the title), and it's pretty well established that the medicine seller would not abuse his position. It's just not a good thing in real life.

Garrus said:

That's why I said "in reality". In a story, you can have all the warm fuzzies you want; we know he's going to make her happy, after all (heck, it's in the title), and it's pretty well established that the medicine seller would not abuse his position. It's just not a good thing in real life.

The title says "Dying elf" implying she is still gradually ending. Or atl implies we could end up with a bittersweet ending instead.

Elmithian said:

The title says "Dying elf" implying she is still gradually ending. Or atl implies we could end up with a bittersweet ending instead.

Unless I missed something, she was only dying at the start of the story.

JsTuCkEy said:

Unless I missed something, she was only dying at the start of the story.

I am always cautious of titles. Writers are sadists by trade, the potential dual meaning worries me.

Elmithian said:

I am always cautious of titles. Writers are sadists by trade, the potential dual meaning worries me.

There are pictures of her in an "after" state that pre-date the beginning of the story proper, if that helps (all limbs reattached/ substituted, eyes functional, etc). So far, she is slowly but surely progressing in that direction. The cover that was also added some way in also shows her in that state, although it is not a fully body shot.

The facial scar appears to come and go though.

JsTuCkEy said:

Unless I missed something, she was only dying at the start of the story.

In Japanese she is referred to as ボロボロ boroboro which, according to Wiktionary, means "tired, exhausted", "crumbling, in need of repair", and "ragged, beat up". She was "dying" due to the extent of her injuries, as well as her wounds being allowed to fester, leading to her amputations. She may need a lot more medical care, including reconstructive surgery, but -- and I've only read up to here as I write this comment -- she will be fine.