The tease Emmrich levelled at him struck true. Hugh could only let his mouth hang open as his face turned such a deep shade of red he looked as if he might pass out from the rush of so much blood to his head. Eventually, he only mumbled something before retreating to the dressed where he left everything from the night before.

"Only every few days," Hugh explained after collecting himself as he moved to Emmrich's side to remove the bandages. Emmrich's inquisitiveness rather than dread over the arrangement was refreshing. He might not have known much about spirits, but right away, Hugh could tell why a wisp of curiosity attached itself to someone like Emmrich.

"Regular food sustains me well enough, but blood is what keeps me hale and hearty," He continued after washing the puncture marks, which had already started to close before redressing them. "Speaking of, you may want to eat a little more red meat. I can't tell much about a person from their blood, but yours...do you get headaches often, dizzy spells? Your heart beats a little too fast. Usually, I find that means a person isn't eating enough.

"You're lithe, sure, but in a good way. The kind of skinny that bends nice like supple willow branches, so I know you're eating well."

Hugh's hands stilled over the freshly bandaged shoulder, and he cleared his throat.

"Sorry, was that rude?"