Logs:I Tried To Ride One
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| RL Date: 22 August, 2008 |
| Who: Delifa, Madilla, Oysric |
| Type: [[Concept:{{{type}}}|{{{type}}}]] |
| What: Oysric uses the infirmary as a short-cut, but Madilla forgives him and they both share more than they might usually. |
| Where: Infirmary, High Reaches Weyr |
| When: Day 15, Month 7, Turn 17 (Interval 10) |
| 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. The evening meal will be served in the not-too-distant future, but the infirmary is still bustling about, with several of the Journeymen on duty, as well as a single Apprentice. Madilla, standing next to a shorter, older Journeywoman, is manning the counter, though for the moment, there's no one else waiting to be attended to; to pass the time, apparently, the Journeywoman is quizzing her on herblore. "Lavender?" "Not for use by pregnant women. Good for relaxation." Oysric walks into the infirmary from the dragon infirmary, looking over his shoulder while walking past the double doors that serve as its entrance, or exit, in this particular case. The stablehand doesn't look particularly... wounded. In fact, no blood is gushing from any extremity whatsoever. The twentysomething man almost looks... happy, even. His steps continue onward, moving toward the entrance to the inner caverns. However, as he hears Madilla's voice, asking off-handedly to both healers: "Lavender? Really?" "And to relieve anxiety and stress, yes," confirms Madilla, her head lifting to consider Oysric as she speaks, though it turns towards her mentor a moment later with brows raised, "That's right, isn't it?" "Correct again," agrees Delifa, drawing another nod from Madilla, who looks back at Oysric, giving him an appraising glance. No blood. No pained expression. No... "Is walking through the infirmary considered a short-cut?" "It is for me," Oysric replies to the healers as far as the short cut goes. His features tighten some. "I'll have to remember that about the lavender," Oys answers the healers. "Do you think Ista makes good lavender tea? Can you even put lavender in tea?" Apparently inexperienced in the way of teas and what kinds there are, the stablehand merely looks indifferent. Or tries to anyways. He does look particularly... perky. Although Madilla doesn't /frown/ exactly, there is something mildly disapproving about her expression as she notes, "You do realise that there are sick people in here? People that need rest." That's probably why her voice is kept reasonably low. Pressing her hands to the counter, she adds, "I don't know; maybe they do. You can use it in tea, though, definitely. A good calming blend: chamomile and lavender is lovely, but it also works nicely with mint for something more rejuvenating." Oysric's features grow a little less perky at Madilla's question. "If I didn't know this was an infirmary, I think we'd both be in a lot of trouble," Oys answers her. "Lavender and chamomile /together/?" he asks, verifying with the apprentice healer. "Or separate?" The stablehand moves to a spot where he can lean against something without disturbing anyone. "I might try that though, the next time I'm outside," he offers. Although, it almost seems like he's speaking to himself rather than to Madilla, as if thinking out loud. Madilla, calmly, tells the stablehand, "Just a reminder. I just don't think it's a good short-cut to use. And yes, together. Teas are often blended - better that way, actually, because then you get the benefits of both, and a richer flavour. Try what?" Whether he's thinking out loud, the apprentice seems curious, leaning forward - lounging, almost - atop the counter to continue to look at him. "Well thank you for that reminder," Oysric offers. "I was, actually talking to a friend of my father's in there." He points toward the dragon infirmary. "Not that you were asking or anything." The stablehand's voice is practically snarky in its delivery to the younger girl. "Blended chamomile and lavender," Oys repeats, considering this combination quietly. He hears her question and answers back: "The blended teas. I always like to bring something with me to drink when I'm stargazing." A few beats pass and Oys studies the healer curiously. Madilla ohs, looking abashed, and studies the counter-top for a few moments to avoid showing too much of this to Oysric. "Well, how could I know that, anyway?" The Journeywoman gets called away, hesitates, as if deciding whether to drag Madilla along with her, then leaves without her, heading towards a patient further back in the infirmary. Now alone, Madilla looks up again, curious: "Stargazing?" Oysric's lips twitch upward, very nearly letting a snicker out at the apprentice. Very nearly, anyways. "I suppose you wouldn't, would you?" he asks her, looking back toward those doors leading toward the dragon infirmary. The stablehand's attention returns as the journeywoman is called away, watching her departure before sliding his gaze back to the apprentice. "Stargazing," Oys repeats. After a beat, his baritone voice rasps out, "That doesn't require an explanation too, does it?" "Clearly not," agrees Madilla, not exactly sounding /annoyed/ as such - but exasperated, certainly. "I understand what you /mean/ by stargazing, I guess, I'm just surprised; it's not a common hobby, is it? I thought only the, um, Star Smiths, did it?" Oysric's mouth almost appears as if it cannot decide to smirk or grin. Oys finds a happy medium and smiles back at Madilla. "It's not like I know much about the stars," Oys replies. "... but I do like going outside every night and finding a good spot to watch them." There's another pause from the stablehand, as if considering his next words carefully. But instead, he doesn't say anything more to the apprentice. Madilla, too, seems torn between reactions, the pointed purse of her lips vying with the obvious interest in her eyes. "I don't suppose you need to; they're still pretty enough to look at," she decides. "And I guess, here, you could get up quite high, to get a better look at them?" Oysric nods again, telling Madilla: "The Star Stones? I suppose I could always ask a friend to fly me up there with their dragon." He pauses and then admits, "I've done that a few times actually." His features smooth out, as if pre-emptively smoothing what could be a grimace or a wrinkle of the nose. "They're always pretty to look at," he tells her. He takes a few steps forward from his spot he'd been leaning against, offering his hand to Madilla, introducing himself: "Oysric." Then a beat. "Do you like to do anything outside of the whole crafter stuff?" "I suppose so," agrees Madilla. "I just tend to figure that the whole weyr is pretty high - at least compared to what I'm used to." She pulls out of her lean, releasing her arms to allow her to put hers forward to shake; her grip is not very firm, but she smiles nicely enough. "Madilla. I--" She hesitates, as if considering exactly how to answer this question. "I like writing letters. And I like walking outside." Oysric nods once more to Madilla, replying back, "Reaches itself? Yeah. I think it must be one of the highest Weyrs." There's another beat's passing until he speaks again, "But sometimes, it doesn't matter whether you're as high as the Reaches or as low as Fort or Ista or something. All that /really/ matters is the experience. Just sitting out there, head tilted back, watching the stars." There's even a smile that goes along with that particular sentiment from the man. "Pleasure to meet you, Madilla," Oys finally tells her after releasing her hand. "Writing letters and walking outside..." he trails off and smiles again. Someone certainly is in an uncharacteristic good mood today. "That seems to be a pretty good combination," Oys replies. "Hopefully you're not doing both at the same time though?" The last is said lightly, teasing her gently. "Wouldn't surprise me, given the name," remarks Madilla, dryly, though she nods as he continues, agreeing, "I can get that, I think. I was watching the moon rise over the lake the other night; that was nice, too." A pause, then: "You, too, Oysric. And-- sometimes I /sit/ outside, and write the letters? Fewer distractions, that way. Though I haven't perfected the walking and writing yet, no. I think most Healers master that later in their professional life." Oysric grins, actually grins back at the healer. "Wouldn't surprise me either," he replies. There's a pause before Oysric nods in response to what the apprentice tells him, replying back evenly, "I've tried stargazing and walking at the same time." After a beat, he concludes dryly: "Don't try it." Madilla's rewarded with a dry chuckle from the stablehand. "That's why they're called Masters, then, right?" he asks, amused. And then a beat later after that, he asks: "What is it about writing that you enjoy, Madilla?" Madilla bursts into giggles at Oysric's dry comment, managing to recover enough composure to nod sagely. "I'll take your word for that one," she tells him, amusement still clearly audible within her tone. "Hah. Masters, who master it. I get it. I hadn't intended it that way. But right - yes. Exactly. I think I like writing because... well, I started writing letters because it was good practice. At home, we didn't really have much access to Harpers, so I missed out on a lot. But it's a nice way to look back over things that are happening, writing letters. And now, I have people to write /to/, so that helps." Oysric rewards Madilla with another chuckle as he hears the apprentice giggle. "I learned enough to get by, as far as my writing goes," Oys explains. "There was this girl once that I met at Bitra. I wrote a few letters to her." There's another pause as he listens to Madilla's next comments. "Where're you from then, Madilla?" he asks, curious now. Openly, the stablehand offers to the healer: "I'm from here, born and raised, myself." Madilla grins back, returning to her more relaxed pose of leaning forward on the counter. "Mine's still not /great/," she admits, "But I get by, now. I'm from a little, tiny place near Peyton, between Fort and Boll? Really tiny, just my extended family. Here is-- pretty big, in comparison. Even in comparison to Healer Hall, too." Oysric nods again back to Madilla, telling her: "I don't think I know of it, but I know the general area." He smiles once to the apprentice, asking her: "So what did it feel like, coming here for the first time, and seeing how big it was in comparison? Even to the Healer Hall? Must've been a lot more dragons too, than you're used to as well?" "Most people don't," reports the Apprentice, cheerily. "But I can't blame them. Peyton's not a major Hold, or anything." She stretches, frowning in thoughtfulness before she actually manages to respond to Oysric's question. "Overwhelming. Unnerving. The first time a saw a Weyr - it was Igen - I was absolutely terrified. Coming to High Reaches was more scary because I knew I was coming to stay, and had to actually get used to it. I'm still getting used to the dragons," she admits, nose wrinkling. "I've had a few rides, of course, going places. But there are just so many, here." Oysric nods as he listens to the apprentice. "Sounds like you still love it though," Oys replies. "Peyton, I mean. Home." He smiles faintly at that before going on to reply, "It's always hard. To move like that. Igen's different from High Reaches, too. More snow than sun here." There's a brief grin for the apprentice. A couple beats pass as he listens to her latter remarks. "There are a lot of dragons here, that's true," he finally replies to Madilla. "Hopefully the dragons don't scare you much, when you walk around outside?" The question's a curious one, the stablehand studying the apprentice. "Of course I do," says - no, /breathes/ - Madilla, with something of a sigh. "Home. My family. I haven't seen them in a turn and a half, now. You're guessing, that it's hard," she adds, sounding more composed, now. "I'm not sure I recommend it, unless there's a really good reason." Head shaking, finally, she adds, "Don't scare me. I don't mind them. There are just lots, and that's a bit intimidating, sometimes. When they land close, in particular." Oysric smiles warmly even to the apprentice as he hears her response to his former question. "I've never really had to deal with that kind of thing before. Although, most of siblings are scattered elsewhere." There's a brief pause, as if deciding whether or not to talk about the siblings. Finally, he offers: "A'son, is a rider over at Ista. My sister, Carys, is at Telgar." There's a brief wince at the sister part. "I had hopes that she'd come to High Reaches with the goldrider, Tiriana, but... no such luck. At least, not yet anyways." He grins briefly, offering, "You kind of remind me of a less hyper Carys, actually." And then to the topic of dragons, Oysric offers: "They won't squash you. They have a pretty good sense of where they're landing." Madilla's head tilts to the side in obvious curiosity, as if the side view of Oysric will answer her questions better. "Are all your siblings riders, and you the only not? At least they can come and go as they please, visit when they like. It's a shame, though: I know a number of the riders from Telgar weren't so thrilled about coming. Did Carys just not want to?" She looks faintly pleased, if uncertain, with reminding him of his sister, adding, finally, with a grin, "I know. But it's easier to know that than remember that when it feels like they're about to land on top of you." "Joe's not," Oysric answers her, actually grimacing at the thought of that particular brother. "But the rest, yes, they are. A'son's on bronze and Carys is on blue." There's another pause as he considers these facts. "No. Well, I'm not sure if she had a choice in the matter or not." There's another pause and the stablehand actually sighs. "Not exactly great territory to be in, talking about my family. It's kind of a sore point for me. Again with the openness. "I guess I've never really worried about it, being from here. Having a father who was a rider helped too." Madilla's head bobs to confirm as she listens, though she remains silent throughout the entirety of Oysric's words. "Sorry," she says, finally, "I didn't mean to pry. Just curious. Everyone's families are really different, so it makes them kind of interesting to understand. The different dynamics. I was going to ask if your mother was a rider, too, but would that be prying? I don't even know where a couple of my brothers are. Everyone else is still at home, as far as I know." Oysric's lips twitch into a brief, but firm smile. "It's alright. Not many people know. It's not like me to be all that open with what bothers me." He pauses once and goes on to reply, "You're right though. Every one's family is different." He pauses and then dryly adds, "Whether you like it or not." There's a dry chuckle that follows that comment. He stays away from the mother issue for the time being. In fact, he steers clear completely, moving to another topic. "Have you decided on a specialty yet, or are you too far away from that part of being a crafter yet?" Madilla, stretching her arms out over the counter-top, and rolling her shoulders as she does so, bobs her head into another nod. "Then I'll just leave it at feeling flattered that you shared this much, particularly after knowing me for so little time!" She smiles at him as she says this, making no further comments on family, nor on his dodge of her question - after all, she did only say she was 'going' to ask - and finally answers, instead, "Uh. Pharmacy. I'm going to be a Pharmacist." There's less enthusiasm as she says this, though she manages to keep smiling. Oysric gives Madilla a grin, telling her: "You could turn out to be a mindhealer after meeting me, you never know." There's a brief look toward the infirmary at large, then sliding back to look at the healer. "Why does it sound like that's a choice you didn't make yourself?" he asks her, curious. "I mean, if I were to tell you about tending the stables, I'd be rather pleasant about it. That's what I do. I'm stablehand. I like runners." More surprising openness from the stablehand. "So why not decide on a specialty that you like?" Oys asks. "Or, that you've chosen for yourself?" "I hope not," says Madilla, sounding disgruntled at the very idea, her nose wrinkling. "I don't hold much stock in that." Embarrassed, her cheeks flushing, she takes longer to respond to the rest of the Stablehand's words. Finally, with a deep breath, she shrugs, explaining, "I'm good with herbs. With making medicines. So I'm more useful as a Pharmacist than as anything else. I don't really mind it." Much. Oysric gives Madilla another look, more level this time. "So you're good with herbs," Oys tells her. "Does that automatically mean you have to work with them as a pharmacist?" He shakes his head before going on to admit, "I'm good with the runners, but if you put me anywhere near goats or llamas, I go schizo. Seriously. They. -freak-. me. out. Especially those bloody llamas." There's another pause and he offers: "But that doesn't mean I'll try from time to time working with them. To better myself." He pauses and then goes on to ask the apprentice: "Think of this way... What if you were good with everything. Which specialty would you choose, Madilla?" Madilla's expression sets into a tight frown as Oysric speaks, as though she's trying to formulate her arguments against what he's saying - or maybe just because the conversation makes her uncomfortable. She certainly looks it. "The point is, I'm /not/ god with everything. And I do do more than just Pharmacy - I mean, I'd never actually be on duty in the infirmary properly, if I didn't. But you should stick mainly to what you're good at." Beat. "Why do goats and llamas freak you out so much?" "But what really inspires you, Madilla?" Oys asks her. "Because if a stranger like myself can see it clear as day on your face that you're not happy with being a pharmacist, don't you think your Healer friends will too?" There's a pause before shrugging, rolling his shoulders some, as if relieving tension. "They freak me out," Oys answers not so informatively. "I don't know why." And then after a few beats, he tells her quietly: "I think it's their eyes." Madilla leans in further, lowering her voice after looking around to make sure Delifa, and the other healers, are still fully occupied. "I don't think they'd notice that kind of thing if it stared them in the face," she says. "But, anyway, I'm not /unhappy/ being a Pharmacist. It's not a problem." Except for where it comes up with everyone she meets, ever. No, no problem at all. "Fair enough," she adds, though looking more amused than anything. Then, very slowly, "I'd do Pediatrics, if I could. Kids. I like working with children." "But you're a kid yourself," Oys tells her, grinning. "But I suppose that makes sense." There's a brief pause before he grows serious. "Why can't you pursue a specialty in pediatrics then, Madilla?" he asks, careful, slow. The stablehand's focus is on the apprentice now, rather than the infirmary itself. "I mean, if you'd do it, what's stopping you?" Another brief pause and Oysric confesses to the apprentice: "I had a bad experience with a goat once." "I'm nearly fifteen!" Madilla pulls herself taller, straighter, frowning slightly. "If I were at home, I'd be getting married in a turn. And, okay, I'm still /pretty/ young, but I'm not just a kid, either." She shakes her head, explaining, "Journeywoman Delifa - she's my mentor - she picked me out as being really good with herbs, which is true. And it's her speciality, so she's been training me. And," she looks glum, "I'm not really very good with other kinds of healing. The learning, yes, but not really the doing. I freeze up. So there's no point to it." Her head tilts to the side again: "Oh? Did it bite you or something?" "I'm nearly 21," Oysric tells her dryly, "I think I'd call you a kid, but you're not -that- much younger than me." There's a pause as he listens to the rest of what the apprentice healer tells him. "So it's the practical stuff that makes you freeze up?" Oys asks her. "Why do you think that is?" He looks past toward the exit Delifa departed toward and then back to Madilla. "And can't you talk to Delifa like you're talking to me?" the stablehand asks additionally. "Tell her what you enjoy about healing and maybe figure something out? Some sort of compromise?" There's a pause and then Oys finally says: "Sorry, I'm way off by talking to you like this, I really don't know anything about the crafts." And then to her last question, he nods slowly and answers: "I tried to ride one, once." Madilla, talking in a way that suggests she's not being entirely serious, remarks, "Which makes you, by my estimation, really quite old. So there." She shrugs, avoiding looking at Oysric as she explains further, "I'm worried about making mistakes. It's really much better if someone just tells me what to do - I can do it, then. Doesn't matter. Delifa's a Pharmacist. I'm a good Pharmacist. I'm more useful to her, to everyone here, as a Pharmacist. So that's the way it is." Her chin sets: she's pretty certain on this. "So I just have to get over myself. I shouldn't have airs like that, anyway." This last is muttered, audible, but only barely. Then, in a small voice, as she looks up again: "Ride one? Really? That's kind of dumb." Oysric actually laughs rather loud at hearing Madilla's former remark on his age. "Really quite old," he repeats, rather amused. "So there." He shakes his head, still amused. But soon, that look of amusement is replaced with one of concern, especially as she avoids looking at him. "Everyone's afraid of making mistakes. /Everyone/." Him? He's not saying. There's a brief pause and he shakes his head as she speaks of Delifa again, then finally notes: "Well, if you ever feel like having someone test you or whatever, I'm free to help you with your studies." After a pause, Oys clarifies further: "Like memorization type things, you know? I'll read from your hides, ask a question to see if you know the answer?" And then finally to the last, he nods, "I was /five/. Clearly I was rather dumb at that age. I tried to ride it, and it end up biting me." He points to his rear, sighing at the indignity. "There." Madilla grins back, apparently pleased at having gotten laughter out of her new acquaintance. "Sure, but my mistakes could kill someone," she points out, more serious now. "I-- hey, thanks. It's kind of weird, here, not having other apprentices to study with. We used to have a whole group going." For a moment, she looks quite lost, even homesick, but she breaks it off to snicker into her hand. "Did it scar?" "If I make a mistake with the buckling of a saddle, I could kill someone too," Oysric points right back at her. "And you're welcome. You seem like a good person, Madilla. And I don't think I've come across that many people who can make me laugh as hard as you did." He grins back at her, easily, even. But soon the grin's gone at the talk of scarring and her snicker. "/Yes/," he answers with another sigh. "Do you know how hard it is to explain to someone what that scar is /from/?" Madilla frowns, as she considers, finally nodding. "I suppose you could." Which leads to a few moments of silence from the apprentice, though she smiles again at the compliment: "Thank you! Anyway, people are always saying that laughter is the best medicine, so..." For a brief moment, she looks almost apologetic for her snicker, though that doesn't stop her from laughing - again - at his final comment, even though her cheeks flush faintly at the same time. "Well. I suppose it would be, too. People don't swallow the unspecified childhood accident line?" Oysric nods once to Madilla, telling her: "As morbid as it sounds, Madilla, it could still happen to anyone in any job. Even a Baker. What if a Baker puts too much of one ingredient in a roasted herd beast and it kills someone or makes them violently ill?" He shrugs briefly and goes on to actually grumble at her additional laughter at his own response to her question. "No, unfortunately, they /always/ want to know. Oysric, what's that scar from. Uh... Some accident I had as a kid... /What/ kind of accident? Uh.. nevermind... No, we want to know..." And at this he gestures with his hands, saying, "And so on." There's a grin there from the stablehand as he tells her: "At least it's not all that visible. Just when I'm soaking." Madilla, nose wrinkling, declares, "That's a terrible thought. Death at every turn!" She continues to try - really quite hard, actually - to avoid actual laughter, her lip quirking as she holds it back, eyes apologetic. "A mistake you'll never live down - that's kind of sad." Oysric gives Madilla a smile, cryptic. "A terrible thought, but it's a truth." He gives Madilla a level look at her last statement with regard to his 'mistake'. "I suppose not. When I was about your age, it was /terrible/," the stablehand explains. "I mean, 15 turns old and you get all self-conscious over your butt? Seriously. Bad news for me." "Yes, and I suppose one we should all stay aware of, in the end." Madilla sounds thoughtful as she says this, rapping fingers upon the counter-top. "I'm sure it was. But it's not so bad, now? You're not so concerned?" Delifa's voice, from the storeroom, suddenly rings out: "Madilla? Can I get a hand?" Nose-wrinkling, the apprentice adds, "I should go. But: nice meeting you, Oysric." Oysric nods once more to Madilla, giving the apprentice a smile. "Yes, always be aware that death stalks you around every corner," he replies in a mock serious tone. "No, I'm not so concerned about it any more," he explains. "I suppose I should be thankful of that." He gives Madilla a brief grin and even a salute. "T'was good to have met you as well, Madilla," he remarks. "Be seeing you." Madilla's head bobs several times fast, and she grins, as she waves after Oysric, and disappears into the storage cavern. |
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