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Post by dragon on Oct 14, 2009 22:02:06 GMT -5
It was a sunny day, with a light breeze that blew through the canyon and occasionally made it into the infirmary proper. Refreshing, really. Especially considering the heat that had been pouring down of late. It really truly was refreshing. Cool enough to dry one's brown, yet not harsh enough to blow one's hair off one's head. A perfect day, really, to spring a surprise party.
Err... sortof.
Dorava sometimes thought she must be insane. But she really did have the best intentions at heart. So, after ensuring that there was no one else taking up Kalierre's time, and that Kali was actually in her office, Dorava breezed in as if she had all the permissions she needed to do just that.
"Happy turnday!" She announced, whisking aside a few peices of parchment into a neat heap with one hand, to make a clear spot to deposit a pie. A crustless stonefruit pie that was drenched in whipped up fluffy cream and drizzled with seedfruit syrup. Mostly for looks, there wasn't enough syrup on there to really sweeten it much. But the dark blue color certainly set off on the vaguely yellowish-white cream, all atop the rich yellow of the pie underneath.
Flashing Kalierre a brilliant smile, Dorava perched on the edge of the desk. "I have a present for you! If you could have anything in the world from me, what would it be?" She asked, cheerfully. "And no ... you can't have my dragon's wings." Dorava joked lightheartedly.
Shards, she was gonna get herself killed one of these days...
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Oct 15, 2009 0:04:49 GMT -5
Puttering around. It was unlike her, but Kalierre was a bit...off...of late. The thought of a child on the way scared her on so many levels, not the least of which being she wanted one. Because she'd never conceived at Benden, despite numerous bed partners, she'd assumed she couldn't. Clearly that assumption was faulty, and all the barriers erected to keep it from bothering her crumbled to reveal - surprising even to Kalierre - that she did want this. That only made things worse, though. If anything happened (and the probability was higher than she'd like to admit) not only would K'von be devastated, but Kalierre would be reeling, too. She didn't think she could handle him in that sort of emotional state.
It would definitely be better not to go there at all. Which was why she'd told him, so she couldn't play the coward one of these days.
Needless to say, her focus was wavering lately when it came to the infirmary. She'd been pushing around the same piles of papers for a candlemark, now, with only the occasional jotted note. She wasn't even sure if they were relevant. Scowling, the woman reached for her cane, twisting it in one hand and attempting to force her mind to cooperate. These things didn't take care of themselves, after all.
The last person she expected to just waltz into her office was Dorava. Every encounter they had seemed to end badly - no matter how much Kalierre intended otherwise at the outset. Sometimes she had to wonder if the greenrider was a glutton for punishment or something.
Her expression darkened dangerously as the other woman touched the papers she'd been working on, but before she could speak, a pie took their place. Kalierre was startled enough that all she did was stare at it as Dorava spoke. Her hand seemed to extend toward the pie of its own accord, one finger dipping into the cream. She popped it into her mouth, finally looking up at Dorava. "Hm?" Licking the cream off, she shook her head, almost disbelievingly.
"Anything? I wouldn't begin to know...What did you say this was for? Are you trying to bribe me...because if you're not, you should be." A genuine smile, there, and she dipped her finger back into the cream. "It's working." She went back to licking her finger.
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Post by glamourie on Oct 15, 2009 1:42:34 GMT -5
“I saw a pie go past!”
Because everyone at Selenitas had to know by then that carrying a pie into a room that R’wign was in, for even five seconds, was a mistake. It was questionable whether or not bringing a pie onto the same level of the Weyr as he was could be considered intelligent. No doubt someone had theorized to R’wign’s internal ability to locate pie, something that could have been considered a wonder of the world: if there was a pie being made, he was able to appear from the far corners of the Weyr to nab it. He loved pie. It was possibly the only thing that the healer ate at any level of consistency; other than pie, he would eat whenever he felt so inclined, which could be once a day or more likely would be once every few days if not for M’ta’s reminders (R’wign often forgot to eat). But pie… if pie came into his proximity, it often vanished down his throat at speeds fast enough to question whether or not he had a gag reflex of any kind, for surely any normal person would choke. He ate pie way too fast.
And he’d definitely seen a pie go spiriting away into Kalierre’s office. Being R’wign, he didn’t notice who was holding the pie or he might have thought twice about following. Kali and Dorava being in the same room never ended well. It was unlikely though. Even a Kalierre temper tantrum wasn’t liable to deter him from snarfing down a pie. It was pie. It was worth the potential health risk.
He arrived just in time to hear Kalierre say something about bribery. However, listening wasn’t one of R’wign’s strongpoints, as evidenced by his sudden spiriting into the office and over to the side of the desk nearest to the pie (if she was smart she’d pick it up and out of his reach fast). So much whipped cream, it looked delicious, but why was Dorava of all people bringing Kali pie? The behavior for a split second reinforced his belief that the two of them were secret lovers and the hatred was just an act meant to confuse everyone – but then he remembered.
Dorava had mentioned something about a turnday and surprise party. Truthfully, R’wign did not listen very well when Dorava spoke of anything not relating to healing and anyway people talking about turndays reminded him of the fact that his was fast approaching (not that anyone at Selenitas alive knew that – he didn’t talk about it much). It wasn’t that he had a problem with Dorava – he didn’t, actually – but he just didn’t listen to most people. Flighty was R’wign under the best of circumstances. Seeing the pie, Kalierre’s face and Dorava’s behavior though… reminded him, and a wave of amusement passed over him. He was pretty sure that Kalierre’s birthday and his weren’t within a sevenday of another (wasn’t hers earlier in the Turn?). He’d thought that Dorava’s talk of a surprise party was for something else. Not Kali. Which… amused him endlessly. Endlessly. It was a sweet effort on her part, even if it was horribly gone wrong, but…
He wouldn’t correct her. Namely because his hands were going right for the pie tin – yum, pie. Just the thing he needed to distract himself from the fact that Ellie had a dull glow to her hide and his mood was becoming more erratic because of her nearing time to Fly…
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Post by dragon on Oct 15, 2009 16:30:23 GMT -5
Dorava was impressed. Very impressed. Enough so that she was stunned silent for a moment where she just stared at Kalierre licking her finger and going for seconds. That ... was so weird. Just ... weird. And exhilarating at the same time. Maybe things weren't so bad after all. That little action right there, was so very profound. Dorava had honestly expected Kali to accuse her of trying to poison her or something with a pie spiked with Faranth knew what. But no, instead she'd simply ... dived right in. That was more trust than Dorava had ever seen come out of Kali, much less in her direction! Dorava beamed at her. "Like it?" She asked.
"I said Happy Turnday, silly." Dorava answered. "And if it's not your turnday, then happy unturnday." She nodded, firmly, before grinning. "Whatever would I try to bribe you for? You don't have anything I want."
She looked up as R'wign about tripped over himself trying to hurry in the door, and she grinned again. "I thought you said you didn't have time to come..." she teased. "Miss Kali's turnday and everything ..." she scolded playfully. "Nice of you to ... show!" She squeaked the last, snatched up Kali's cane, and gave R'wign a sharp rap over the knuckles. "Hands off, buddy! Not until the Lady says you can taste it!" She jerked the cane a second time, trying for a strike at his other set of knuckles, too.
Val streaked out of Dorava's shirt, down her arm, across the cane, up R'wign's arm, and the leapt onto his face. Grabbing a double handful of nostril, the little blue mander flared his frill right between the Healer's eyes. No! He announced.
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Oct 20, 2009 22:07:45 GMT -5
Kalierre nodded, sucking the last of the cream she'd scooped up from her finger. It should be quite clear she liked it, but the woman's patience wasn't nearly so short as normal today, and she didn't mind the question. Besides, she knew how surprised Dorava likely was. The dragonhealer didn't mean to be a pain, but some people just had a gift when it came to riling her.
Turnday? The dragonhealer blinked. But her turnday was months ago - back during the plague, no less. It had passed without her even noticing it, truthfully, and she was fine with that. The woman wasn't old per se, but she was definitely getting to the point where Turndays didn't tend to be altogether fun. "Unturnday it is, then," she responded lightly. "I think you have R'wign and I mixed up. Not that I'm complaining, mind you." A brow rose at Dorava's next statement, but she didn't contend it. Of course Dorava wanted something from her. You didn't deal with difficult people for no reason, after all. Kalierre wasn't in an argumentative mood presently, though.
Sight of R'wign - whether conjured by pie or mention of his name, most certainly there with most appropriate timing, as usual - made her scarred face twitch into an even more pleasant expression. People would be asking her what she'd done with their Weyrdragonhealer shortly at this rate. You could always count on a R'wign sighting when there was pie.
Loss of the cane - when she'd been holding it a moment before no less, rendered the woman temporarily speechless. Her cane, her cane. Eyes narrowed for a moment, the familiar irritation flickering across her features. No, there weren't many items she was particularly possessive of, but that happened to be one of them. The stunted, twisted thing that was beyond amateurish...yet it was perfect in her eyes. K'von had made that for her. Nor would she listen when he suggested she find a better one. She didn't want a better one.
But Dorava was striking at R'wign's hands, and she'd get enough flack from him getting between him and pie that Kalierre decided to just let him take care of it. "You make me sound ancient," she commented to the woman who, for all intents and purposes, was her own age. Slicing at the pie deftly with the utilitarian knife at her belt - not one she used in the infirmary - she levered out a piece before sliding the rest closer to R'wign.
A brief, inviting smile was directed at her partner in crime. He'd hardly need any more invitation than that.
"Did you want some too?" she asked Dorava quietly. The piece she'd cut out had been deliberately large enough to split easily in two. Kalierre wanted some, but she didn't have a huge sweettooth or anything.
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Post by glamourie on Oct 26, 2009 1:34:17 GMT -5
R’wign would have been content to just steal the pie and say nothing. Really. He would have… if he hadn’t just been positively smacked in the knuckles by a cane. That, however, incited a response from him that was entirely unpleasant. His initial reaction was to leap away holding his knuckles and rubbing them with a low whine of pain. Hints of red showed up on the backs of his hands and he whirled around muttering things under his breath that would have made Showoff blush and his mother certainly smack him silly. It took all of his effort not to grab Kalierre’s cane and proceed to shove it so far up Dorava’s backside that it would come out of her mouth. As it was, he actually bounced twice in his spot, shaking his hand, and shot her a look that was best described as hideous. That hurt. What kind of nitwit decided to smack a healer in the hands? He needed his hands. Only his hands worked. He was missing an eye! And how dare she hit him with a cane? A simple smack with her hand would’ve been acceptable. She didn’t need to smack him with the cane.
Yes, the indignant fury was part of it – but the whirling rage was probably more alarming. R’wign wasn’t prone to shows of temper – he just wasn’t. However, Dorava had just found one of his few hairline triggers (though many were cropping up of late). He leaned his palms against the side of the desk, knuckles still throbbing, for a brief moment... before actually smacking Val off his shoulder. There were few salamandyrs that he could stand. Valiant was not one of them.
“Oh really. That’s wonderful. You’re several months late. My turnday, on the other hand, is in three days. That being said, I’m not sure what made you think that smacking a healer in the hands with a cane was a good idea but it wasn’t and if you wanted me to come you could have told me you were bringing pie – I break dates for pie. I also don’t respond well to having it in front of my face and then yanked away from me, considering pie is one of the few things I’ll eat every single time. You’re very lucky that my hands aren’t actually injured from that, and if your salamandyr climbs on me again, I’ll set my firelizards loose on you, and you’ll never sleep again. Do we have an understanding, greenrider? Good.”
At least Kalierre had sense. She, therefore, would not be on the receiving end of his fury. He sniffed, indignant, and tugged the offered pie to the end of the desk before swindling it away into his still-sore hands. His irritation still prominent on his face, R’wign did a remarkable imitation of an angry feline, actively scurrying across the room until he reached the corner where he slid down and started munching on the pie – just like how wild felines would snatch a bite of their meal and run with it so that others couldn’t take it away. Not that he really feared anyone would take the pie from him (especially not after the verbal lashing that he just gave Dorava) but still. He just was compulsive and he also didn’t want to be physically near to Dorava. While R’wign was anything but a violent entity (he was in fact quite peaceful and generally a doormat when it came to physical contact) he was not above slapping someone for hurting his hands. He didn’t take physical attacks, even joking ones, very well. Not since he’d lost his left eye. Pet peeve.
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Post by dragon on Oct 26, 2009 11:41:30 GMT -5
R'wign's initial reaction to being rapped with a cane was utterly hilariously, and most definitely unexpected. He acted so much like a child just then, turning and hopping in a circle like that. And he positively looked like he was going to bust into tears, too. Dorava watched him for a moment, then looked at the cane, before setting it back down again and leaning it against the desk where she'd gotten it from. She hadn't hit him that hard with it. Sheesh. She never got a chance to say anything, though, before he was back and positively throwing a temper tantrum at her for it. Dorava just let him blow off the steam ... he probably was just upset that not only had he been delayed in getting at his favoritest food in the whole of Pern, but also that someone had had the gall to slow him down. She knew sharding well that she hadn't hurt his hands. If she'd wanted to hurt them, he'd not be using them for months.
"I wasn't aware I had to outline every detail of surprise party to get people to come to an esteemed leader's turnday." Dorava commented, mildly, with a small smile. Despite all the upset that was going around, it was okay. All was okay. Besides ... R'wign got what he wanted anyway just as soon as Kalierre slid it to him. "Happy Turnday to you, too, by the way. You didn't tell me, and if I'd known, I'd have brought an extra six pies." She smiled at him winningly, before ignoring him and turning back to Kali again. R'wign wanted to go sulk in the corner about his turnday being forgotten, and suck up Kali's pie ... he could do that. It wasn't helping his maturity image very much, though.
She also had no fear of her mandyr doing any such thing ... he was too shy to bother. As it was, he was flopping around on the floor down there in the corner, trying to get upright again. Not all of his limbs worked the best, and after getting batted around like that Val was a touch on the stunned side. He did finally manage to get everything straightened out, and he scurried across the floor to hurry up Dorava's pant leg and hide in her pocket with a tiny 'meep' noise.
Dorava smiled, and shook her head. "Naw, that's fine. You eat it. I had plenty of the filling while I was making it." She told Kali, when Kali asked if she wanted some. "I'm surprised I'm not bubbling cream out my ears, honestly." She joked. "But! I do still have a present for you." Dorava reminded, reaching into her other pocket, where Val wasn't hiding. "You never answered my question, though. What would you like best?"
Dorava was in a mood, and wasn't about to let R'wign's marvelous show of hissyfit childishness ruin it. She felt good, and she was happy that Kali liked her pie. So she felt relaxed enough to poke a bit of fun, and let it all go. It was, after all, Kali's turnday party (with R'wign tacked on the side in a last minute effort). "I'll have to bring another pie or ten, later, I guess." She grinned as she shot a look over to where R'wign was attempting to hide with the whole pan of pie, before returning her attention back to Kali once more. One person at a time... on present at a time. Though she couldn't think what to give R'wign just yet. She'd have to think on that one. Unless she defaulted back to the basics: more pie. "It's amazing he still functions, after that much sweet." She told Kali, jokingly.
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Oct 29, 2009 0:28:14 GMT -5
Kalierre herself didn't react much to the argument taking place on the other side of her desk. Personally, she was just as weird about her hands as R'wign, and for good reason. Dexterity in the hands was important for a healer. Was he overreacting? Sure. That cane was more than heavy enough to do some real damage. The fact that it hadn't meant Dorava was being careful. (Not that Kalierre was any more comfortable with the greenrider stealing her cane than with someone whacking at R'wign's hands.)
The extent of her reaction, in fact, manifested in the almost neurotic way she clutched the cane to her the moment Dorava relinquished it before setting it between her knees. There. No more stealing of the cane, which was really the only way she could get around beyond a minute or two. She watched R'wign's hissing retreat with mild amusement...that amusement lessening when Dorava spoke again. The greenrider was rather oblivious, wasn't she? "Esteemed leader?" She snorted mildly. "This place has become as much R'wign's as mine, and you make me sound like one of those Benden elitists." A short pause. "A healer's livelihood is his hands...I'm pretty sure that's more upsetting than denying him pie for a few seconds."
Pretty sure, but not definitively so. R'wign was rather obsessive about his pie.
Determined not to be dragged into any argument between the two (for one, she'd almost inevitably end up siding with R'wign, just because she didn't have the best record when it came to getting along with Dorava) Kalierre shrugged. "More for me," she commented, her tone even slightly - teasing. Okay, she really was just grateful for this distraction from her brooding, it would seem. The dragonhealer began nibbling at the pie, testing out the taste. She nodded appreciatively to Dorava. It really was made rather well.
Her finger was still partially in her mouth when the greenrider asked her question. Kalierre stared at her for a moment. "What do I want most from you?" She finished licking off her finger thoughtfully. Normally she prefered Dorava to be far away where she couldn't annoy the dragonhealer, but even had she the utter tactlessness to say that here after the gift of pie, Kalierre didn't mind her presence currently. Even welcomed it. "Oh, I don't know. Probably something pragmatic that would get K'von shaking his head at me. I don't really lack for anything." Other than what she couldn't ever have.
She glanced at R'wign, hiding a smile. Sometimes she wondered how he functioned, as well. Pie-loving healer who forgot to eat half the time (she had noticed the short one appearing every day to remind him) and went on random spurts of next to no sleep while attacking the infirmary with an OCD that put her own quirks to shame.
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Post by glamourie on Oct 30, 2009 5:21:54 GMT -5
“If you want me to drop my shift and my free time to do something, you have to give me incentive… not reason to run away. Putting you and Kalierre in the same room usually results in me hitting the hills, and for good reason: this is the longest I’ve seen you two together where no one got screamed at or worse,” R’wign countered with a definite edge to his voice that said his anger better than any words; just because he’d recoiled with the pie didn’t mean he was about to let it go, oh no. He wasn’t letting Dorava off the hook that easily. He defended her (most of the time) and she went and just whapped him, what, for trying to snatch pie? Kalierre could very easily stop him if she had wanted, thanks. She knew his habits well after turns of working with him. His hands were still smarting. Tch. “Besides, I knew it wasn’t her turnday. Having been here for several turns, I do notice things like that. I thought you were raving. I still think you’re touched in the head, if you can’t even properly research people’s turn days and I don’t want anything – I don’t tell people because I don’t like gifts or parties or celebrations, but I do like pie, and the only thing I want is to not be smacked in the hands again – ever. I don’t think that’s too much to ask, and shard it my – what?”
He’d been about to complain when Kali’s words stopped him midrant. Despite himself, he turned to look at her with eyes that were as wide as saucers, emphasizing his confusion. Had she just… implied that the infirmary was as much his as hers? He’d felt that way for months (as was expected from spending so much time there following the Siege – he’d become nothing short of a control freak) but for Kali to say it was… strange, to say the least. She micromanaged the infirmary a lot. Sometimes to the point that R’wign wanted to throttle her, in fact; he didn’t usually say anything about it though. His silent protest came in the form of massively organizing her office when she became too ornery, which usually led to Kalierre spending a lot of time fixing it – thus getting her out of his hair for awhile. He was very passive aggressive most of the time.
“Since when do you share? I thought the infirmary was a testosterone-free monarchy? Also, ‘he’ may only have one eye, but both of his ears work just fine. And I function perfectly because I only eat pie about once per month on average and don’t consume sweets otherwise; you’d be surprised how healthy most of what I eat is. My resident nag likes vegetables.”
‘Resident nag’ being M’ta, though R’wign did not explain that. Kali probably had noticed his habits – but it was unlikely that Dorava paid attention enough to realize that R’wign, if left to his own devices, ate one meal per day (albeit breakfast, so it was usually a good, filling meal). Most people didn’t pay much attention to his life, a fact that he was grateful for considering that R’wign was such a private person when it came to his feelings – comical, really, considering he did not come across as secretive most of the time. He was, though. R’wign hid almost all of his feelings… though of late he was getting better about shooting his mouth off due to being on edge most of the time. As Kalierre could attest to from his previous statement – there was a time when he wouldn’t have even joked, just edged away. Of course, there was also a time when he would have been offended; he wasn’t.
Looking back at Dorava, R’wign indicated his hands again before saying simply, “I don’t like being hit by people who don’t intend to sleep with me later to make up for it. You’re not on my to-do list. She’s right though – it’s because it was the hands that I’m irritated. And for as long as they’re sore, you’re going to be a very unhappy apprentice… because now you get to do what all I do.” He sounded a little too cheerful about that. “Starting with maintaining the herb cabinet.” Which he was obsessive over. And kind of crazy about at times. It was his cabinet. “Just as soon as your little soiree here is done, that is. So drag it out as long as you like… doesn’t make a difference to me; my night is free.” R’wign very rarely pulled rank but… denying him pie and hitting him in one fell swoop apparently was enough to convince him to do just that. Poor Dorava.
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Post by dragon on Oct 31, 2009 0:09:26 GMT -5
Dorava shook her head. "Stop it. You're ruining the glamour. It's your Turnday, after all, remember." She told Kali. "Has nothing to do with Benden elitism." She assured her. "And everything to do with turnday pies. See?" Dorava grinned a bit, and poked Val's questing, curious, sniffing nose back into her pocket. At which point she cast a glance at R'wign. Really. If she'd cared terrible much about getting the date right, she'd have done a whole lot more nosing around to find out what day Kali's turnday really was. Dorava didn't really care ... late was better than never. And really! What were the odds of getting it right when one just randomly decided to throw a party? Oh .... about a year to a day. That, and he had interestingly neglected to tell her about this perceived problem when she'd told him about it originally, so ... it couldn't be too bad. "Everyone gets to be distinguished every great now and again, no? Even if only to say that yes, that was your pie. Originally!" Dorava laughed.
Apparently, Dorava knew Kalierre's mind pretty well ... which was a scary thing in an of itself, considering what she had in her pocket to give Kali. "Stop sniveling R'wign. I didn't hit you that hard." She commented, as she pulled out a folded up piece of parchment and laid it down on Kalierre's desk. "Sing happy turnday for Kali." She prompted, with a cheerful grin, still undimmed by all his grouchiness. He could be a party pooper all he wanted ... it only meant that he wasn't getting invited to her next surprise fling. Pies or no pies. Not that that would necessarily stop him from showing up anyway, but oh well. She really truly didn't care. "Here you go, Kali. Happy Turnday! Even if I did somehow manage to squeak in about, oh, ten months early." She winked at the healer with a grin. "I can safely say I beat R'wign to it, huh?" She remarked, a teasing jab at the grouch.
She looked at R'wign again, and laughed. "Don't worry, dear. You're not on my to do list, either! But sorry to disappoint you. You'll have to organize your own cabinet, though I do wish you'd offered me a chance inside it before now. Your timing stinks." She remarked, simply, with a crooked smile. For what resided inside that folded parchment was her resignation from the infirmary. She'd gotten what she'd come for, and rather gathered that she was unwanted in the place anyway. So ... to make everyone happy, she had written it up. Also, it made the perfect turnday gift! After all, what could Kalierre possibly want from Dorava more? Than to have her far, far away?
"Maybe I like being touched in the head?" She queried, before getting off of the edge of Kali's desk and casting a sloppy, cheerful salute to the healer woman. "If you need me, you know where I'll be." She added. Just in case they had an emergency and needed an extra set of hands... Dorava was more than willing to help. But in general, she did perceive that it was wiser to just cut loose and leave everyone alone. She then poked Valiant back into her pocket again, before heading for the door. "Enjoy the pie, R'wign!" She called, cheerfully, never having lost her amused expression despite his ranting and raving.
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Nov 1, 2009 15:48:52 GMT -5
"Distinguished..." she muttered, shifting uncomfortably. As hard as it might be for others to believe, Kalierre's possession of the infirmary - such as it was - had very little to do with her wanting any type of recognition. She found formality dreadfully wearisome. Truly, the dragonhealer had taken it under wing because there was no one else to do so, and she was naturally possessive of it because if she wasn't, who would be? So far there was only one other person who fit that, and she had a fondness for him...even if it wasn't always obvious. She didn't want to be distinguished or recognized, even under the pretense of a turnday that wasn't actually her turnday.
Kalierre's face had taken on an expression of utter neutrality, but given how pale it currently was - something not altogether obvious before the feline mauling, but the scratches on her face now stood out starkly whenever she paled - it should be clear she was not at all pleased. Sniveling? Sing happy turnday for Kali? How long was she going to persist with that error, and, further, could she be any more ridiculously patronizing if she tried? She would never dare to strike Kalierre as she had him, much less talk to the dragonhealer that way, and the woman hadn't been joking when she said it was as much his infirmary as hers. In fact, Dorava had far more reason to be respectful to him than she did Kaliere. The healer had supported her for turns, and Kalierre had done little but growl at her.
(Of course, considering how Dorava repaid him, Kalierre thought she'd taken the better approach with the annoying greenrider. Doubtless the woman didn't even realize how offensive her behavior even was.)
The dragonhealer glanced down at the resignation and snorted softly. Probably best, considering Kalierre was seriously considering throwing her out of the infirmary right now and barring her from returning ever. On some level she knew that irritating her was common and that wasn't expulsion-worthy. Disrespecting R'wign was, in Kalierre's eyes. When Dorava had been around long enough and done as much for this infirmary as he had, then maybe she would have the right to mouth off to him. Maybe.
"We won't be needing your services," she responded coldly. Lust's hiss issued from her collar, where his head poked out from as he frilled at her. But even he didn't say much. Kalierre wanted the woman gone and getting into an argument wasn't likely to achieve that. Her eyes flashed toward R'wign. "Do you usually put up with shit like that? If she hadn't offered her resignation... And yes, this is your infirmary as much as mine. No one else has worked as hard here. You've earned it, and I trust you with it where I wouldn't anyone else. If you can't handle people who disrespect you, send them to me and I'll do it. That's ridiculous. Where does she get the gall?" Kalierre scowled in the direction that the greenrider had taken.
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Post by glamourie on Nov 1, 2009 17:41:47 GMT -5
Sniveling? She thought he was sniveling? R’wign twitched slightly, very visibly irritated (which was a feat in and of itself – R’wign was not normally prone to showing his emotions). Maybe he was over-reacting; he might have been. It was only that thought that kept him from biting Dorava’s head off verbally. He settled for shoving another bite of pie into his mouth (he didn’t talk with his mouth full, so if he kept his face stuffed, he wouldn’t speak). Maybe he was just taking it personally and he shouldn’t have been; it wasn’t like Dorava meant it badly or anything… He didn’t think she was being intentionally offensive, anyway. Usually, Dorava didn’t manage to bother him. R’wign was pretty sure his mood was compounded by his general testiness and being denied his favorite food (never a good idea); he decided to let it go. It was tempting to point out that how hard she hit wasn’t the point, it was the location (he’d be fine, R’wign was remarkably resilient and she hadn’t hit that hard, though the cane made an excellent weapon). The suggestion for him to sing had him angling an eyebrow up as though to silently ask Really, really? Dorava obviously had never heard him sing if she wanted to inflict that on anyone. His singing was atrocious and he knew that.
“I don’t generally remind ladies of their birthdays; it’s a good way to get myself hurt,” R’wign replied casually. He didn’t usually do anything for anyone’s turnday. “If you want to risk offending people by reminding them that they’re a Turn older, that’s your prerogative, but it certainly isn’t mine.”
He didn’t actually care what Dorava thought of him. If she thought he was sulking that was her problem – though it was frustrating that she seemed content to mock him despite the fact that he’d gone out of his way to defend her numerous times. It told him something very simple though: Dorava didn’t deserve him defending her any longer. If she wanted to be a fool, she could wade through the infirmary conflicts without him backing her up. He had better things to do than bicker with a friend in the defense of someone who clearly had no concept of gratitude. Even if he was sure that Dorava meant it playfully, it still was irritating; he didn’t laugh in the face of her anger usually, and he didn’t appreciate her doing the same to him. He sniffed indignantly and swiped away some of the cream onto his finger, then casually licked it off. Irritation, she was. But the cream was delicious.
Why exactly would he have ever let a dragonhealing apprentice near his supplies though? That cabinet was exclusively for human-healing and useless for dragon healing (he was technically an apprentice dragonhealer himself, after all; he knew very well how useful things were and were not for the craft). It was tempting to point that out to Dorava, but he refrained, namely because she was flouncing out as though terribly amused at his expense. Brat.
Lust’s hiss and Kalierre’s comment made him tilt his head and he licked away the cream from his finger before turning to look at the dragonhealer right as she… launched into what was apparently a tirade. His face looked as though he’d just been slapped – appropriately surprised. Her outburst was… unusual. Not that anger at Dorava was anything strange for Kalierre, but the motives had R’wign staring with his head tilted just slightly to one side, his finger still stuffed into his mouth to get at the cream. He looked very much like a contented child, sucking on his finger that way, if one ignored that his eye was very, very wide. Yes, he was definitely stunned into silence, half-frozen as his firelizards all scattered around the office to sit on various shelves (Ellie resting on R’wign’s shoulder). The healer’s expression was probably priceless.
“Most people don’t sass me quite that badly, and certainly none have hit me in the hands before,” R’wign admitted with a slight shrug. “I don’t yell the way you do, I certainly don’t growl, and I don’t usually feel the need to argue. I don’t see a point. It consumes energy that I could spend doing something constructive.” He shrugged and poked his fingers together before setting what was left of the pie (crumbs – R’wign was like a vulture with dessert) on the side of the desk before standing up. “I don’t like fighting, and I really don’t like pointless conflict. It’s a waste of everybody’s time. For what it’s worth, I think Dorava was joking, or attempting to be funny… unsuccessfully, since she doesn’t know that when I’m actually acting angry, I probably am and that it isn’t a good idea to pester, but just the same.” He shrugged slightly. “I’m flattered that you trust me… and amazed that she’s displaying such an awesome cowardice so late in the game. Wonder what prompted her to decide to run away now?”
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Post by dragon on Nov 1, 2009 21:27:08 GMT -5
Dorava managed to reach just outside the doorway by the time they started talking. At first she considered just walking on like she had been working on originally ... but the things said just got all over her. The nerve of some people ... ! She brought them pie (R'wign's favorite food no less!) and a gift of just exactly what the both of them wanted, and they still treated her like this? What did it take to make these people happy?! Dorava turned around and stepped back to lean a shoulder on the frame, looking at the both of them with a frown.
"I am beginning to think it's not me that's touched in the head." She said, flatly. "You two need to learn how to breathe. To learn to realize when something is said in jest. As in, not serious? As in poking fun? Yes? Can you do anything but gripe?" Dorava gestured at the desk. "I give you what you want, and you still haven't a nice thought." She pointed out, quietly.
She paused a moment, and then heaved a sigh. "R'wign, I apologize if I hurt your feelings ... or your hands, whatever the problem is. That's not what I meant." Dorava said, with all honesty, saddened somewhat that it wasn't safe to be human around these people. It was all hardnosed seriousness. They both acted like every statement could be the end of all Pern. Nothing such as a joke or playful anything in their worlds! "Glad you liked the pie."
She considered what she felt for a moment, before deciding it was best to go ahead and say it ... or she'd be kicking herself for it for Turns to come. "I'm not running away. I got everything positive that I am conceivably going to get from being here. You two plainly don't want me around. And, furthermore, it's bad for my health,and subsequently my dragon's, to stay. You seem to think I am a spineless, cowardly idiot. Touched in the head, you just said, even. Everything I try to do is frowned on. I am worth something, and subjecting myself to this environment is not in my best interests. I have simply decided to put my efforts where they will have half a chance of being better appreciated. My being here isn't doing anyone any good. So I figured it just might make some people happy if I simply walked away. I thought you might appreciate that. This isn't a game, to me."
Her help wouldn't be needed ... she could honestly say she had seen that coming. It didn't surprise her a bit. And she also wouldn't be surprised if they still wouldn't ask for her help even if they were hopelessly swamped. But some part of her couldn't help but wonder if they were right in some aspects. After all ... she had been around for two whole turns, now, and she still had no friends at all. That ... was indicative of something. And it couldn't all be blamed on her schedule being completely full up with work of one type or another.
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Requiem
Weyrleader S'rei WM M?ta Rider A'nd Harper/Handler Dmitri Weyrbrat Miguel
Posts: 2,861
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Post by Requiem on Nov 1, 2009 22:15:40 GMT -5
Kalierre wasn't amused. Nor did she think she was wrong. Sure, Dorava might have been joking, but was she so oblivious after working with R'wign for turns that she didn't realize it wasn't normal for him to be upset. Shards, the last time he'd been upset he'd been threatening to quit and that ended with Kalierre distracting him...and other things that involved desks and angry weyrmates as an aftermath. R'wign didn't get mad easily and it wasn't a good idea to push him when he was. Nor did she find the joking funny because it was still patronizing and Dorava was still nothing more than an annoying peon on a good day. (Yes, part of this mini rage was likely hormones, but that didn't make the origins less valid.)
"Oh, who cares. At least she's-" Still. Sharding. Here. For the love of Pern, it was a good thing Kalierre was a cripple and no longer capable of flying across a room in a raging fit of limbs and snarls, because she probably would be. As it was, she at least had the presence of mind to capture Lust before he could serve as a surrogate - more because she didn't want him hurt if he managed to startle Dorava than out of any desire to spare the greenrider from his anger - the salamandyr squirming and hissing, spitting mad enough, for once, not to hurl insults.
She glared at the other woman with a look that was most decidedly murderous. Only patients and healers belonged here, and Dorava was no longer either one of those, by her own choice, though Kalierre would be glad to rectify that if she stayed here any longer. "How sweet," she hissed nastily. "An apology after you insult us for apparently taking you too seriously? Makes a lot of sense." At least she wasn't screaming yet. "We should treat you like a clown now? But don't clowns always play games?"
Kalierre wasn't actually trying to make sense. In fact, she was just saying whatever came to mind first, mostly because actually thinking about it would probably make her even more furious. "You think that offering a resignation and bringing pie excuses your behavior? If you're going to leave, sharding leave! Why are you lurking outside doors, anyway? Salamandyrs can spy just as effectively. And here's a clue, girly. Working in the infirmary is not going to earn you sharding recognition. It's grueling hard, dirty work most of the time, and the only satisfaction most any of us get is that some of our patients survive at the end of the day. If you expect me to pat you on the back and praise you every second for being a decent human being - and aggravating the living daylights out of me - you're an idiot."
Here she grabbed up the inkwell on her desk, her intentions to wing it at the other woman more than clear. Kalierre was bad enough normally, but hormonal? Not a good idea to upset her.
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Post by glamourie on Nov 1, 2009 22:36:06 GMT -5
Why was Dorava still there? She’d quit – she’d walked away – and R’wign twitched. Yes, twitched. The actual fury that went over his face would have alarmed people who knew him. Angry, yes, that was how he felt and for once, R’wign made no effort to even slightly hide it. His eye narrowed on Dorava and Ellie moved from his shoulder, gliding up to the nearby shelves – out of the line of fire. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Kalierre was speaking – which kept him from having to. Probably for the better; he was really agitated. His mind had come to an abrupt stop and – perhaps unfortunately – his brain to mouth filter completely turned off. Little known fact: R’wign almost always censored his responses; he never said exactly what was going through his mind… because he tended to be a little too harsh. As Dorava was about to find out – if Kalierre didn’t kill her first, that was. R’wign leapt to his feet, moving across the office with enough grace that it might have stunned others. His movements were quick – perhaps fortunately so, because he managed to grab Kalierre’s wrists (both of them) before she could hurl anything at Dorava’s face. Not that he felt Dorava didn’t deserve it, but throwing things in anger was inappropriate. Kalierre wouldn’t regret it but he would if he didn’t stop her. His hands firmly closed around Kali’s wrists.
Turning back to the other greenrider, R’wign let out an exasperated sigh and shook his head before stating in a very deadpan voice, “Oh yes. Far be it from me to have a sense of humor about anything; I’m not the jester of the infirmary or anything, I don’t go out of my way to make up stories on the spur of the moment to amuse sick patients, I’d never wear a skirt or dress out in public, I don’t own belled anklets, I’ve never set the chairs up in here and danced for the younger patients – I’ve got no sense of humor whatsoever.”
Tilting his head down, R’wign met Kali’s gaze squarely before crinkling his nose. He didn’t comment on her words, instead looking back up at Dorava before saying very blandly, “Have I ever been unkind to you? Aside from today which you wrote off as me merely sulking, have I ever in the entire time you’ve been working in this infirmary been anything short of pleasant to you? Name one occasion. You won’t be able to – because I haven’t been.” His fingers tightened their grip on Kali’s wrists (almost therapeutic, it was, keeping her from actually hurting Dorava). “In fact, I’ve done nothing but defend you, if you want the cold hard truth. I’ve never asked you to leave this infirmary and I’ve gone out of my way to make sure that you have ample opportunity to learn from me if you so choose. That being said, I’m going to tell you some very cold hard facts, and you’re going to sit down, shut up and listen, or I’m going to throw you off the infirmary ledge… because after two turns of you two bickering like infants, my patience is gone and so is my ability to play nice. Now sit down.”
He didn’t wait to see if Dorava listened to him, mainly because if she didn’t she was going to get an earful; all of his firelizards were present, agitated by his anger, and it was very likely that Dorava would get screeched at half to death if she so much as tried to disobey. The fact that R’wign was keeping Kali from throwing things probably was indication though that he didn’t mean any real harm – blunt, perhaps, but no real harm.
“Fact one: You need to develop thicker skin. Guess what: You’re flawed. So am I, so is Kalierre – so is every healer in this infirmary. We’re all damaged in our own way. You’re the only one who takes it personally that no one compliments you – probably because you’re older; there’s a reason apprentices start young, they don’t expect the constant pat on the back that you seem to. You won’t get it. In fact, if you ever make it far enough to be more than an apprentice, you can look forward to being screamed at, physically and verbally abused, thrown up on, bled all over, drooled on and worse – patients don’t care about your feelings and as soon as you step through that door, your feelings get put on the back burner. The patients are the only people in this infirmary who’s feelings matter. Not mine, not yours, and not Kalierre’s. We’re not going to hold your hand, because the patients certainly won’t. When people are in pain, they’re not pleasant, they’re not kind: they’re grouchy. Need proof? It’s sitting right in front of me trying to hurl an ink well at you. Get used to it. If you can’t handle Kalierre being a grouch, you can’t handle patients, so you’re right to resign – you don’t belong here if you can’t take being yelled at.”
R’wign exhaled sharply, blowing a long black curl from his face before nodding toward the office door. “Out there are patients – some more severely injured than others, some have wings and some don’t. All of them count on us to save their lives. This isn’t a game to us, either, Dorava. We became healers to save lives – our methods might be different but our motivations are ultimately the same. If you want prestige and recognition, find a harper to teach you, I hear we have a couple good ones. If you want to save lives, get used to having your feelings tramped, learn to toughen up and accept that no one’s going to continually reward you with positive reinforcement. The patients who go home to their families – be they dragons to their riders or a rider to their weyrmate – that is the reinforcement, and if that isn’t enough for you, get the hell out of our infirmary. If it is, then you better be prepared to take a lot of crap.
“You asked to be a dragonhealing apprentice. Did you think it was going to be all candy and flowers? When you’ve seen your patients bleed and die – then you can complain. Until then, you treat everyone in this infirmary with respect because everyone here cares as much as you do, maybe even more. Not everything you do is frowned on, either, so stop with the pity party routine: it got old around the time I turned sixteen. I’ve never been unkind to you, and the fact that Kalierre hasn’t forcibly removed you from the infirmary means you’re doing something right. Do you understand me? And before you launch into defensive explanations – don’t. I don’t care about your excuses, your justifications, or your hurt feelings. If you want to be an apprentice healer, put your self-absorbed attitude away – it wouldn’t be tolerated at healer hall, and it won’t be tolerated here. I don’t care if you stay or you go, but if you do stay, this attitude of yours is changing; I’m not going to put up with another of these tantrums from you. Do you understand me?”
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