Everything Changes {Rae}

[kat]

Ari didn't really want to be on the way to the infirmary. She wasn't even quite sure why she didn't just up and turn around, and go back to the candidate's barracks. However, the candidate master had requested she go and see the Weyr's mindhealer, and who was she to refuse?

The whole situation made her uncomfortable. Just because she was shy and antisocial--not by choice!--didn't mean there was something wrong with her...did it? She herself wasn't sure. It was true she was unusually shy and withdrawn, yes. However, she didn't hear voices. She didn't talk to herself...that often. She talked to her canine all the time, but people did that right? They talked to their pets, didn't they? Even if said pet couldn't talk back...

She was probably just over analyzing it. She'd been a drudge in this Weyr her whole life and no one had ever sent her to the mindhealer. There was nothing wrong with her. She knew that. There couldn't be. She would know if there was, wouldn't she? Mentally she was starting to panic a little. She hadn't even considered her behavior to be abnormal. It was normal--for her. Now, on her way to see the mindhealer, she was beginning to have doubts. It was all Emoyan's fault! Why did he have to send her?

She took a deep breath, entering the Infirmary. She hadn't even been here very often since the day she'd been born. She rarely got sick, and any cuts and scrapes and bruises were too mild to need anything more than a touch of numbweed and a band aid. Most times not even the bandaging. She clutched the note from the candidate master tightly in her fist, the paper crumpling as her knuckles turned a little white. She didn't even know the mindhealer. Only that she was a female, and a mindhealer. End of story.

She cleared her throat, and said as loudly as she dared, "hello? I'm here to see Rae." There, she'd stated her purpose. Now she only had to wait.

[Lotty]

It was like magic. Just say her name and she was there. Either magic or desperation. The fact of the matter was that she didn't exactly have much to do most nights. The sickness was winding down and less and less of her time was occupied calming delusional patients. There had been no recent events that were bringing in traumatized patients, no wild randoms like the infamous Cap'n the First wandering in, and not even anyone who just wanted to talk. So frustrating, but at least when she wasn't doing run of the mill evaluations of freshly searched candidates (and even that was far and few between with no clutch on the sands) then at least she had time to write, write, theorize, and write. Mostly write. About nothing and everything, and sending the creme of the crop back up to Fort. In her defense, some of it was mildly entertaining.

But this! This was great! Of course she had no idea that the young lady was being forced to come...but no matter. If she truly needed help, and she was willing to accept it, then Rae would be all ears. Hence the enthusiasm. Nobody even had a chance to fetch Raebeli, the words carried over to her in her...office...and she practically bounced out to greet the girl who was asking for her. The mindhealer didn't have issues with social situations. No, not at all. She was rather personable, "Oh hello! I'm Raebeli, but I guess you've figured that out already!" She smiled and squinted as was typical of her, "What's your name? Would you like to come back to my office?"

She didn't give Ariya much time for a response, she already spun around on her heel and headed back to the little room. Raebeli felt a little guilty about having an "office" since she had been here so shortly for one, and because she had so little in the way of work on top of that. She started off taking people back to a small partitioned off area, but people were afraid their voices would carry out past the screens and then Cap'n became the final straw. Lets not frighten patients with the big avian...keeping him on his perch in that little room was for the best.

But it was at least a cozy enough space, with a chair and couch and a small desk for when the need occurred. There was even a shelf of all of those scrolls and books on mindhealing she had dragged with her from Fort, it was supplemented with a few odds and ends from Selenitas's own shelves. In the corner was a stand where the before mentioned bird had taken his place. A big, regal, brown avian, with killer talons and beak, and a beautiful head of gold plumage. He chittered a greeting to his caretaker as she popped her head in the room. He loved his Raebeli he did, and she had guests? Even better. She stepped right on in, looking back behind her to make sure the girl had followed, "I hope you don't mind Cap'n. I can always send him out a window if he bothers you.."

[kat]

Ari was expecting someone to have to go and fetch the mindhealer, and hoped she wasn't disturbing any of the infirmary staff from more important matters. Still, things don't always happen as we expect them to, and Ari was suddenly faced with a very cheery looking woman. It rather startled her, since she hadn't been expecting anyone so fast. It was like the other just popped out of nowhere, to appear before her.

When she introduced herself as the exact person Ari was looking for, the girl felt those familiar butterflies in her stomach again. This was the mindhealer? She was so...so...chipper. Bright. Cheery. Everything she was not. Did she really have to talk about her problems with someone who seemed to very, very happy just to see her? Well, maybe not her, but she was sort of perceiving it that way. She said back quietly, "Ariya, I--" but she never got a chance to say more. She was cut off by the woman inviting her on into her 'office'. Again, the butterflies. Why couldn't anything just go as she pictured it would.

Ari followed obediently. This was not what she'd expected. Not in the least. She'd pictured a thoughtful, quiet and observant woman when she'd pictured this 'Rae' she'd been sent to. Someone who was calm and collected, and not in the least intimidating. While it was only fair to admit she was intimidated quite easily, and that most people made her nervous; she didn't have to speak to these people to try and figure out why she was socially in-adept and well--the way she was.

They entered a little area around a corner, and the first thing Ari noted was a large bird. It almost seemed to be regarding her--or so she thought--and she regarded it back. Animals were so much more easier to deal with than people! They didn't judge, give orders, poke fun, or any of that sort of thing. You were equal in their eyes whether a drudge or a dragonrider. That's what she liked about them so much. She wondered if she'd get a wher who was like that. Or did whers judge you? Well, if it picked her, she didn't think it would go and not like her. Or so she figured, anyhow.

She was already picturing herself with a nice, friendly little green. Maybe a blue? They were nice, too. The idea that she might get anything else was totally off the charts for her. Small, unobtrusive, friendly. That was what she kept picturing her wher to be. Of course it would be, because no gold, bronze or brown would even look her way, she was certain. She was even hoping they wouldn't--what if she couldn't handle one? So, she was quite content with her green and maybe a blue. It would happen, and soon. Or maybe she might not bond at all. She wasn't sure how she felt about that.

She shook her head back and forth a little too hard, and replied, "no, uh, he's fine..." She was actually admiring the bird. She doubted he'd attack her or anything. If he was prone to do that he likely wouldn't be sitting there while she was here. He'd probably be sent off, and he was probably used to people. He was sure big, though. She cleared her throat, not knowing what to say or where to start. Finally, after what seemed to her forever (which was in reality mere seconds) she said quietly, "Emoyan sent me," and then with a nervous frown, "to see you."

[Lotty]

"Why don't you go ahead and take a seat?" the mindhealer motioned to the stiff little couch that was pressed up against the far wall...and next to Cap'n's perch. The bird ruffled his feathers and flapped his wings sending a flash of red Ariya's way. Apparently he wanted to show off a bit for the girl, and Rae took special note, "He seems to like you..." she said off handedly, as she dug around in the desk for a writing utensil. All she could come up with was a rather unimpressive quill and the ink well to match it. Hmmm, the last time she had one of these, things just didn't turn out well, and silently she wondered if Dmitri was feeling any better.

She took careful little steps towards her seat and sat down, all the while still shuffling her papers and paying very little attention to what the girl was doing. She was quiet and easy to miss...well not for Raebeli to miss of course, but still the fact remained that she was a very unassuming persona.

Rae found it a bit funny that Emoyan of all people sent her someone. It was someone dragonless like he that she found particularly interesting, but she was just going to have to hold out for him to make his appearance on his own. Perhaps if she did well enough with Ariya's problems it would encourage more people to come by of their own accord? Wishful thinking.

Of course it was a little heartbreaking to hear that Ariya was forced to come, but that served as a good enough starting point for Rae's questionaire. After a moment of contemplation she asked, "Sent? I take it you don't want to be here then?" There was once of her trademark grins and a slight chuckle. She wouldn't be offended either way, but it sure was a lot harder to help someone who didn't want it, but in a more optimistic thought, she considered that the candidate just didn't understand what her problem was. Lets investigate, "Why do you think that Emoyan would send you here anyway?"