Logs:Not Like Last Time
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| RL Date: 31 October, 2009 |
| Who: Madilla, Milani |
| Involves: High Reaches Weyr |
| Type: Log |
| What: Things go very differently this time, when Milani comes to Madilla as a healer. |
| Where: Infirmary, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 4, Month 2, Turn 21 (Interval 10) |
| Mentions: K'del/Mentions, K'ndro/Mentions |
| Infirmary, High Reaches Weyr Two sets of double doors, one from the the inner caverns and a recently built set from the dragon infirmary, lead into the unnaturally hushed human infirmary. Despite fastidious cleaning, the scent of redwort and numbweed has long since soaked into every smooth-carved surface, along with other, subtler medicinal smells. Pristinely made cots are lined up against the walls; most of them are left open to view, but some in the back are surrounded by curtains for delicate procedures or critical patients. About halfway between the two entrances is the counter for the healers on duty; it guards the entrance to the storage rooms just beyond, their shelves and cabinets lined with meticulously labeled bottles, boxes, jars, and even vats of supplies. The Weyrhealer's office is also here, along with another side room for mixing up medicines and the like. Late afternoon, tail end of most people's shifts and the headwoman slips in quietly, casts about the room like she's looking for someone. There's a word or two with the healer at the 'front desk' and Millie gets sat in a chair to wait, one leg crossed over the other. She doesn't look sick. Just faintly jittery. It's more and more common for Madilla to be attending to patients directly - and on her own - these days, rather than triaging at the front desk; she emerges from one of the examination cubicles a few minutes after Milani's arrival, walking alongside a woman whose arm is in a sling. "Remember," she warns, as she farewells the woman near the door, "Don't try and use it. Rest. Otherwise it'll be longer before you're back in action." A faithful promise from the woman precedes her departure; alone, Madilla turns back, glances at the counter, and is then directed towards Milani by the healer at the desk. "Milani!" Beat. "Is... everything all right?" Is that relief on Milani's face. "Hey there MAdilla," she says with slightly forced cheer and gets to her feet. "I /hope/ so," she says after a moment and gets another funny little look on her face. "Mind if we talk about it ... over there?" a gesture towards the cubbies. That kind of response clouds Madilla's expression, her smile sliding away sharply as with determined professionalism that still visibly searches her friend's expression, she nods her head. "Yes, yes, of course. Come this way." Milani smiles as reassuringly as she can at Madilla and follows along, ducks behind the curtain when they arrive and then promptly flops down on the cot. "I'm late," she announces all in a blurt and looks up at Madilla with the funniest little expression, half-hopeful half uncertain. Madilla's still fussing with the curtain, drawing it around to give them a little more privacy, when Milani makes her announcement. Her head turns so that she can look at the Headwoman straight on; after that, she freezes. Breath catching, eyes wide, it takes her several moments to respond. "You don't... it's not..." Not like last time? The words may not make it out, but the panic in her expression may well suggest as much. Protectively, Milani's hands lift to hover over her tummy. "No," she says quietly and smiles a little, bites down on her lip. "I need to find out though. If it's for real or if I'm just ... off. Or what. Get an idea of how long if --" breath out. "No. Not like last time. I'm never doing that again unless there's ... a reason. Like, it'll kill me if I don't, reason." Relief floods Madilla's expression, and the hand that has been clinging on to the curtain as though it's the only thing keeping her standing disengages and drops towards her side. "I-- good." That's as much as she seems inclined to say on that subject; instead, she sinks into a chair, pressing her hands to her lap. "When were you due? Have you noticed any changes?" Pushing back up to sitting, Milani drops her shoes off her feet and folds her legs up beneath her. "I've been falling asleep in the afternoon. THey covered for me on /turnover/ of all things," the headwoman confesses. "And um, this is the second missed one. If it's missed. I just -- didn't think much of the other one. I mean, I got /something/ just not ... much." Breath out. "And I'm hungry all the time." Madilla picks up a clipboard left on the table, as well as a pen, making notes on the blank sheet there as Milani talks. "Two missed ones," she repeats, with surprise, eyes lifting back towards her friend. "Are you usually regular? What about physical symptoms... sore breasts?" Though calmer than she was before, and despite the encouraging smile on her face, there's still a tension to her shoulders. "Yes, pretty regular," Milani answers, elbows propped on knees, then shakes her head slowly. "Not that I've noticed? Though um, come to think of it ... it's been awfully easy to get off from --" she cuts off there and gestures vaguely at her chest. "That." The headwoman regards Madilla for a moment, maybe catching that tension. "If it's for real ... it's with one of two really great guys, Madilla. It'll be like what we've talked about. A good thing," Milani tries to reassure. "I'm -- I can do this, this time." It takes Madilla a moment to work out what Milani means, and then she turns brilliantly pink, though she retains eye contact, and manages to hold on to her smile. There's a beat more after the rest of what the Headwoman has to say before she nods, drawing her smile a little wider, a little more encouraging. "I-- I'm glad. Good. Truly." But she still has to swallow again before she adds, "We'll have to do a physical examination... to be sure. Do you want me to leave while you undress?" Drawing her braid down along her shoulder, Milani looks abashed. "Sorry. I've never quite mastered the art of /not/ being blunt about sex," the headwoman claims and ducks her head a little, then peeks back up at Madilla. "Me too," she says softly. For glad. Then her head is shaking again. "Only if you're not comfortable. I've never been shy." "Don't be sorry," says Madilla, quite suddenly, looking distinctly thoughtful. "It answered my question, didn't it?" If her expression is a little rueful for it, she wipes that away with a shake of her head, gaze lingering on her friend all the while. "No-- I don't mind. If you'll lie back on the end of the cot when you're done, with your knees drawn up and out?" "It did," Milani says with a little wry chuckle and then she's just pulling clothes off and setting them aside neatly enough. Not shy. Understatement. "I haven't thrown up though, if that -- matters?" brows up as she looks over at Madilla, then plumps the pillow up under her head and arranges knees as requested. On someone as slender as Milani, though it's far too early for a bump, there is a slight ... thickening to notice through the waist. Madilla, though, is careful to keep her gaze lowered while Milani undresses, ostensibly busying herself with a tray of instruments. Yeah. Right. "Not necessarily," she answers of the question, as she finally turns back around. "Some women don't." Her gaze after that is strictly professional, conducting a visual examination as she comes around to the end of the bed. "Have you... mentioned your suspicions to either of the... potential fathers?" And then, before waiting for a response, "This will be a bit cold, I'm sorry. It won't take long." "No, not yet," Milani says with a shake of her head. "I wanted to be sure first and um, talk to you, well a healer, about timing. Because I'm pretty sure which one, depending on ... you know. The timing." Awkward! Awkward? Yes. Madilla can't help herself but raise her eyebrows slightly at that, not /exactly/ questioning with them, and yet... "Ah," is all she says, though, simply, as she gets to work with a speculum that is as cold as has been advertised, though she's also as quick as she promised. The instrument gets dropped into a tray as she draws herself back up, leaning across to wash her hands with the water provided. "Well. You... do have news for one of them, there's no doubt about that." There's a little hiss of indrawn breath for cold and Milani's fingertips tap tap tap on the cot's surface. When it's over she pushes up on her elbows, knees knocking together. "Really?" And there's a /smile/ on the headwoman's face and her cheeks pink up a little. "Shells ..." she breathes out and flops back down a little, arms folding across her middle. It's a very very different reaction from over a turn ago. "What do you think on the timing? I mean, can you tell -ish?" Despite the reassurances from earlier, it's not until that smile settles in to Milani's expression that Madilla can, truly, look outright, unreservedly happy for her friends. She pauses in her handwashing, just watching for a moment, her own smile blossoming. "It's hard to be exact," she says, frankly, "But you're probably somewhere between eight and twelve sevens along. Probably closer to eight than twelve, but that's a guess on my part. Oh, Milani... congratulations." "Eight and twelve ..." Milani counts back on her fingers promptly and starts laughing. "Oh dear. He's going to /pass out/ in shock I think, but then he'll be happy," the headwoman says and pushes up to a sitting position, grabs her shirt at least to put back on, before she holds out arms to Madilla. "Thanks, Madilla. I'm glad it was you. After everything." Madilla dries her hands on a towel, watching that reaction and then laughing. "I hope he is," she says, with genuine warmth, hesitating only a moment before she reaches out to return the Headwoman's gesture. "I am, too," she says, more quietly. "I'm glad it's right, this time. I'm not a midwife, but... if you need anything." That hug is a warm one for all its gentleness. "Me too. /So/ glad," Milani says fervently and steps back, casting about for the rest of her clothes. "I'll be by for regular visits. How often should I stop by at first?" Madilla squeezes, just slightly, before she withdraws from the hug, keeping her distance to let Milani get dressed, as she makes more notes on her chart. "Every month. But if anything concerns you, or there are any problems... you need to come in right away. No Between, of course, for another couple of sevens, and then again for the last couple of months. No alcohol... make sure you look after yourself, lots of sleep." Beat. "Get those guys to spoil you." Rueful smile. "Okay, once a month, got it," Milani says and laughs, runs a hand through her hair. "You know, I'm lucky. I went off Between the other day. But it must not have been for long enough." Deep breath. "Of course ... sometimes it doesn't work," she murmurs softly then gives herself a little shake. "But I'll be sure not to make any more trips out of the Weyr until next month." A pair of nods follows about sleep. "The girls have been keeping an eye out for me. I'll have to tell them I guess. It explains the sudden sleepies in the afternoon at least!" For the last she just laughs. "Ohhh I'm sure they will. Watch them hover." She tugs at the end of her braid and breathes out. "It's K'ndro ... in case you were wondering," Millie says quietly. Madilla is silent, though obviously listening, to the most of what Milani says. Mention of K'ndro doesn't draw too much recognition from the healer, who never did, it seems, discover who it was she was dancing with at that turnover feast over a turn ago. "I don't know him," she notes, then, "but from what I've heard, he's a nice man." She glances back down at her notes, and then adds, "I'll have a list of things you should avoid, and things that seem to be good for pregnant woman, sent over to your office." "He's very nice. Kind," Milani says quietly still. "He'll take good care of us," she muses thoughtfully. "So will Kas for that matter." And she gives herself a little shake, finishes buttoning up the side of her skirt. "Thanks, MAdilla. I really appreciate that." "'Us'," says Madilla, in what is probably intended to be a musing fashion, though she can't help the faintest note of longing there. "You've adapted to that quickly!" She sets down her clipboard again, forcing all of that longing away as she says, "Anyway: of course. I'll make sure you get the very best of care. You're young and healthy... you should be fine." "I've ... had a lot of time to think about things," Milani confesses, feet pushing back into shoes and her hand reaches out towards Madilla. "It'll come together for you someday, Madilla. I just knkow it will." And there's a bright smile. "I'm not afraid." "I suppose that helps," laughs Madilla, waving away the rest of what Milani says, though she takes that hand for a moment, squeezes it, and then lets go. "One day. Good. You shouldn't be. Are you going to go and tell K'ndro immediately?" "It does," Milani says and looks down at her feet for a moment. Ultimately she doesn't speak aloud whatever was passing through her head. "It's safe to, isn't it?" is the answer to Madilla's last. Madilla's gaze lingers, yet again, on Milani as she looks down at her feet; her own smile fades a little, her lips drawing together. She doesn't pursue the topic, though, instead turning back to the other with a firm nod. "The first twelve weeks are when things are most likely to go wrong. You seem perfectly healthy; there's always a chance of things going wrong, but... no, you're safe to tell. I imagine you'd want to, even if something," she hesitates, "goes wrong even now." Milani takes a breath, lets it out, nods. "I do want to tell. Mik. Kas. My parents. My brothers and sisters," she says with another bright smile and tucks back a stray strand of hair. "I -- should get out of your hair. There's probably people who need real help waiting." "Then I wish you great pleasure with that," says Madilla, firmly. She tilts her gaze towards the curtained exit, the rest of the infirmary that carries on unseen behind them. "I'll walk you out; you're probably right. You will tell me if you need anything, though?" "Thanks," Milani says simply and turns to duck out from behind the curtain. "Of course," the headwoman says with another one of those smiles. "And -- if you'd like, you can h elp me come up with names for him or her." Madilla follows along, bringing her clipboard /with/ her, this time, rather than leaving it behind. "I'd love to," she says, fervently, of the idea of helping come up with names. "Anyway, you have good timing: I needed a new quilting project, and baby blankets are... fun." "Great, start thinking through 'Mikandros' and 'Milani'," Millie says with a shake of her head. "And that sounds lovely, Madilla. Thank you. You've got such nice stitching." The headwoman turns at the counter, reaches out to rest a hand against Madilla's arm again lightly. "I'll see you later, Madilla. I should -- go find myself a pair of bronzeriders." "Milandra," is Madilla's instant response to the first, said with a laugh. "But I'll do some thinking and see what else I can come up with. It's a nice tradition the weyrs have, doing names like that." She reaches out to set her hand atop Milani's, atop her arm, squeezing against it for a moment as she bobs her head. "Of course. Have a good afternoon, Milani. And-- congratulations. Again." "Oh that's pretty!" Milani says with bright approval. "I'll have to tell Mik that one." There's a return squeeze of Milani's fingers to the young healer's and her smile is warm. "You too, Madilla." With that, Milani turns to go. And there's a spring in her step this time, rather than despair weighting down her shoulders. Madilla looks pleased with the response to her suggestion, but aside from one last bob of her head, she says nothing more. Instead, she stays where she is, watching the Headwoman go with a thoughtful, though distinctly pleased, expression on her face. |
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