"Rune. Rasmus Rune," he answered after the mister designation. "But just Rasmus, please. If you will. I stand on very few formalities."
At least, not anymore he didn't. There was a time when ceremony and courtesy and formality had greater meaning to him. But that was a lifetime ago. Perhaps even someone else's life, as it often felt when one lived as long as dragons did. Back when he had a reputable position in society. When he had a career that mattered. When he had friends and family and a greater connection to those around him. When he was well-groomed, nicely dressed, and concerned about how his outer appearance reflected back to him in the eyes of strangers. Back when his hair was short.
But that was so long ago he could hardly recall any of it anymore. And it didn't matter. Rasmus was this version of himself now. Maybe in a century he'd be someone else. Time would tell. Or it wouldn't. He could croak between now and then, after all.
"Oh? Are you? Merely?"
He could hardly tell from the three-inch pumps and the sunflower radiance of her fabric and the immediate disdain of having to begin her day with a patient. But then, why shouldn't he judge her on her appearance alone? That's how everyone judged him.
Or maybe it was his genuine concern for his own health that had people chastise him.
"There are no proper doctors in this town anyway. Everyone I've seen is a hack. So it doesn't matter to me who I see. You'll do just as well as any other hack. Even if you do so merely."
Rasmus crawled up from the ground and wiped off the dirt from the back of his jeans. Then he took a step closer to her while she worked the keys into the lock and opened the door.
"Well, technically we're all dying, aren't we? Unless, of course, you live forever, that is. And even then you're probably still dying. Just on a different level from everyone else. But me? Lower abdominal pain. Could be appendicitis. I'm fairly certain I have one of those. But I don't know on account of never having appendicitis and thus never having an appendix removed. But it could also be a tumor," he rambled as he followed her into the building.