Monsters In the Dark (Finn)

[Gennadiya Lyosha]

20th trial of Cylus

It was hands down Gennadiya’s least favorite time of the year. The world was dark and cold and caused many people to be depressed, sometimes including her. Gennadiya glanced towards the sky seeing the dark moon blocking the world’s suns. She didn’t pause in her steps as she looked up but continued her graceful but purposeful walk towards her last appointment of the trial. Her cloak hide her shape well, but something about the movements of the fabric still hinted at the delicate form hidden against the cold. The young human woman only wallowed in her troubles for a moment before lowering her head. If anyone had been close enough to look in her eyes while she started at the sky they would have seen one of the brief openings into her troubled past. Now her friendly concern for others shown through. Gennadiya was well aware of the pain and sorrow that lurked in her soul, it was part of why she worked so hard to help others. Seeing others happy made her happy and helped heal her soul.

Her booted feet were carrying her towards a house at the outer edge of the Earth Quarter. There was a lot of work to be done in the Dust Quarter and Gennadiya often found herself there helping at the new clinic, but the humble people in the Earth Quarters also had medical needs. Gennadiya slowed her pace, as she approached the door she was heading towards. It was a humble place but Gennadiya always enjoyed visiting the place as it felt homely.

She gave the door a sharp knock and stood patiently waiting for only a moment before the door was thrown open. A ten year old girl stood on the other side of the door and grinned at Gennadiya who smiled back. The former’s smile holding a smug mischievousness to it and that later’s filled with pleasure at the warm greeting.

“Just in time.” The girl said and moved for Gennadiya to come in. Steping in side she found her patient standing awkwardly in the middle of the room. Pova Dalnik was a young man of sixteen who worked with his father as a carpenter and somehow had at work had been cut severely. Luckily the cut had been right over a rib and so the bone had prevented it from become worse. Gennadiya had been summoned and had stitched up the wound.

Gennadiya had come a few times to check on the her patient primarily to make sure he avoid an infection, but also to check to make sure he hadn’t popped the stitches. The healer took in the rest of the room and noticed that only Pova’s father was in the room. Daisy, his sister who had opened the door was gone.

“Good Sunrise. How have you been Pova?” Gennadiya asked in her gentle put firm voice. It was a trick she had learned in her music lessons. You can sing softly but still put as much intensity as when you sang loudly, and she spoke along the same lines.

“Good Mam.” He said blushing.

“I am glad to hear it.” She said as she came closer. “Let’s see the stitches.” She said and the boy blushed even more as the shirt came off. Gennadiya stepped up closed and touched the skin around the stitches. “How is Gailann?” she asked as she worked. Pova told him about his girlfriend and as her cold fingers finished probing the cut. The skins coloring was normal which spoke of a clean health. With care her dexterous fingers worked at the knot. She paused and let Pova finish before speaking again.

“I am going to take these stitches out now.” She said pulling out a small blade and showing it to him. “I am going to cut the knot and then with a slit pull the stitches will come out.” She waited for Pova to indicate he understood. He gave a nod of his head and then she did as she said and in a moment the stitches where removed.

Gennadiya couldn’t help smiling at how quickly the boy pulled his shirt back on while she returned the knife to her medical case. She was still smiling when she heard a gentle cough from the back of the room. Gennadiya looked up and smiled as Helen came out of the back room. The two greeted with a hug.

“Good Sunrise Helen, I was wondering where you were. The young woman said the matriarch of the house.

“Good Trial Gennaidya.” The older woman said back. She seemed happy to see the young doctor but something else seemed to be exasperating her. “I know your busy but I could use you advice.”

“Don’t worry Helen. What can I help you?”

“Harv raided the backer’s junk bine.” She started and before she had finished Gennadiya had broken out in a full grin.

“How is his stomach?” Gennadiya asked.

"He started throwing up just a short time ago." She said worry and a bit of humor on her face.

"Take this ginger. Make some tea for him while he is being sick. Then once he can hold food down feed him broth and some uncooked ginger. Regardless keep giving him liquids even if they keep coming up." Gennadiya said handing over some ginger she carried for this purpose.

"Thank you." Helen said and then dashed into the other room. Gennadiya smiled after thw woman and then turned her smile on the Pova and his father. "Send word to me if you need anything else."

"Thank you Doctor." Pova senior said as he stood up and saw her out the door. Gennadiya paused as the door closed long enough to pull her hood back up against the chill. Then she looked around and seeing the road she wanted she headed down out. Her pace quickly turned into graceful walk she always used. It was late enought that it would have actually been evening when the suns actually made an appearance. The darkness did scare or worry the young woman, it just depressed her when it kept going on.

Gennadiya thoughts drifted back towards the family she had just visited. Helen was only a few years older than Gennadiya and already had three wonderful children. The young woman knew that she had wanted have a family someday, and while she still had time she knew she could keep telling her that as time went by.

Suddenly someone stepped in front of her and she ran smack into someone. Gennadiya felt herself bounce off the sudden obstacle. She stayed on her feet, but stepped back and looked up at the person who was standing in front of her. Gennadiya smiled at the person but her eyes suddenly became weary. A quick glance confirmed that she was in the middle of the street and so the odds of accidently bumping into someone as they came around the corner wasn’t that great.

“I am sorry Sir.” She said and moved to get around the man. Her voice was calm but louder and she could hear a faint echo down the street. As she tried to move around this new obstacle she caught the unmistakable stench of beer. The man moved back in her way and by the lights of the street caught a flash of a grin.

“What’s the hurry darling?” the man said and stepped closer.

“Its cold and I would like to be home.” Gennadiya said. She had been helping others for a while now and recognized the lame lines. Gennadiya wasn’t about to be cowed into a corner. She didn’t step back which gave the man a very brief pause but then continued to stand right in front of her. Her hands were hidden under her cloak so she carefully pull out the war fan she wore on her belt and carefully moved it so that the blade of the spokes would be ready.

“If your cold I know some place warm that is really close.” The man said, unfortunately the shadow hide much of his features, but Gennadiya could see he was tall, and appear bulky but given the cold everyone appeared bulky.

“Please move Sir. I don’t want to go anywhere with you.” She said her voice raised in volume. Making noise was always important in a case like this. Even if she didn’t get a rescuer she wasn’t defenseless. So she stood their defiantly before the man her blue eyes flashing, her body poised to react if the man reached for her.

[Finn]

Colds. Sneezes. Frost bites. Any shape and form of an ailment came through the door of the Infirmary these trials. Finn sure did not stop which left him somewhat slumped over at the end of it all.
Tomorrow is another trial, he thought to himself as he walked out the door. Balen was already gone, called out on an emergency. A new shift of nurses would have to hold the fort whilst the doctors took a rest.
Wrappipng himself tight in the thick coat, raising the collar against the cold, the low temperature motivated the man to walk fast through the streets. Much like other Rharnians, he was eager to get some place warm. Even his apartment, still work in progress and far from cosy, felt more alluring than the world out here. Dark. Empty and utterly miserable.
Luckily, it wasn't far to go. Few bits and whilst fighting off a shiver, Finn turned a corner to a street where the Harpy Inn was and his apartment right next to it. Even at this time of the trial, the noise of patrons enjoying the evening filed through the walls. The promise of fire warmed Finn already and it further lull him into comfort if a voice did not carry across the distance.
"Please move Sir. I don’t want to go anywhere with you." The priest then heard from a couple he saw down the road. Where he would have thought they were talking, it was clear now that it wasn't the case. Immediately, Finn picked on the atmosphere.
Towering man with hunched shoulders, too close to someone who just denied him their company. Even so, the man seemed to have shifted his weight. With face obscured, the priest had to go by the body language and he did not like what he was seeing.
"Excuse me!" The priest called over the open space. It rang. It carried and commanded attention. Changing his direction, Finn swiftly closed the distance. His interception was sudden and loud enough to stop the man midair when he was trying to reach and grab the woman's arm.
"Don't think that's a good idea." Pointing at it, his words were stone heavy and laced with well-meant but unquestionable advise. Finn was not a fighter, nor was he the confrontational type, but the drunk didn't know that. After all, it was obvious now that this man shifted earlier because of the mead. Finn could smell that now.
"Sorry, Lena, I'm late. Got held up at work. You waited here long?" Deciding to play a little game and hoping the unknown woman next to him would pick on it, Finn wanted to play it safe. Drunks were unpredictable after all. Lacking sense and reason, this man could either be deterred or further spurred to action. So Finn looked at the lady, noting she stood strong, unwavered by the oppression of the drunk. Offering a smile, he'd give a friend, Finn hoped she'd clock it. After all, what a better way to dissuade a man from taking what's not his...when it already belongs to someone else? And Finn sure squared his shoulders, held his head high.
The sudden pressure then against Finn's shoulder made him take one small step back as the drunk decided confrontation just made sense.
"Well, mate you get lost. You came late. Now bugger off. I'm sure a lady like this will appreciate me more." The scent of alcohol filled the air as he spoke. Finn's back tensed, so did his shoulders. His jaw set firm and he moved no further. Grey eyes sharp like daggers pierced into the man, the air shifted and so did Finn's decision about the next steps.

[Gennadiya Lyosha]

Gennadiya could sense the man’s intention to grab her and was already moving her wrist forward as a rescuer arrived. She heard the masculine voice from down the street, and she quickly pulled her war fan back inside the cloak even as the man’s arm paused in mid grab. Gennadiya was willing to defend herself but preferred not to cut or stab people. She crossed her fingers that this situation could be defused without a fight.

Like the rest of them her rescuer was bundled against the cold, so other than seeing he was as tall as her assailant she couldn’t tell much beyond that about his physically. He was quick though and she caught on quickly to his little game. Speaking clearly she said “Well you are here now, Koyla.” Why on earth had she just picked her father’s name. “That is what is important.” She smiled back at him. She was willing to call anyone a friend who would rescue a woman from this fate.

Gennadiya tried to move pass the man to join her savior but the man firmly planted himself between the two of them. The drunkard then turned most of his form to face the other man. Gennadiya internally cursed. The man’s behavior said he wasn’t about to leave give up. Luckily her hand was still on her war fan. Even as the stupid drunkard verbally claimed her, Gennadiya fought back and pressed the war fan against the man’s now exposed kidney. The razor sharp blades at the edges of the spokes just pricked his skin just as the two squared off.

“Understand me SIR. This lady would rather leave right now with her friend.” She said her voices calm and almost pleasant. It was in that almost that the serpent’s warning lay. “If not, your kidney and I will get closely aquatinted.” She stood with a firm grip ready if the man reacted.

“You think I am worried about your little knife?” He said his drunken voice angry. Gennadiya just hoped that he had the insight to realize it would be best if he just went away. Especially since he now had ‘Koyla’ on one side and Gennadiya and her blade on the other side.

[Finn]

She picked up on it. Underneath the layers of clothes that protected him from the biting cold, he would have relaxed if the situation did not take a drastic turn. His eyebrows rose in the shadows of the street. Rarely were there women who could turn from kind to deadly. Or well, Finn used to avoid them either on purpose or just by luck. This one took him by surprise and sped up his pulse.
The priest could not see what was happening, that this young woman had him on the blades point. At least not until the man ridiculed her for it. And as the drunkard slurred his words, Finn's forearm spasmed inside his sleeve. A strong urge zapped through his muscles.
Do it. A freezing breeze brushed his cheeks carrying the words only he could here. He still believed those to be his imagination and nothing more. They still unsettled him. The more he heard them, the more he theorized where they came from because the following actions were always originating from the same spot and resulted in similar ways. Deep down, he understood and the hair on his arms stood in attention. On a basic level he knew what was going to happen, but he couldn't resist the urge.
Forehead lined with intent, jaws hard pressed together, his hand reached for the only uncovered piece of skin. The man's face shrouded in darkness. And even as he was taking the steps that in Rharne were against the law, even as he understood the intent behind his movement, that very same voice would reason - who's going to believe a drunk that has a terrible hangover the next day? And he gave in to the motion which he thought was against his nature.
Finn's hand grabbed the man's lower face. Skin warm, grip tight. The unforgiving notion in that one step forward to gain leverage if needed.
"No, but you might lose your head and your kidney." The prickles of Graft rushed through every fibre in his body and on the contact with the drunk's face, they bit in fiercely like millions of tiny, spiky jaws, pecking viciously at the tissue.
The man huffed in surprise, swaying once mildly in a feeble attempt to free himself. Finn's grip held tighter, longer. Graft was feasting. He felt its eagerness surging through him, the excitement of discovering the tissue around the lower jaw almost as if he was tasting the sweetest of grapes in the dead of Cylus. It felt pride in defending and asserting itself over the flesh of a predator too, puffing Finn's chest inside his coat. Then the man's huffing turned to a subdued moan.
Finn wasn't entirely aware of what was happening beneath his hand despite feeling all the inputs. Suddenly, he drew in a sharp breath, hard gulp making it down his throat. His heart was hammering at the prospect of whatever he inflicted on this man, whose eyes were now wide and watered. Fear grabbed the priest too and in a beat he withdrew his hand. To onlookers, the whole thing did not take longer than three or four trills.
Finn didn't know the state of the man's face but his own hand wasn't bloody. Could it be that there was nothing on the man's face? Yet, the drunk grasped it, pain spreading through that point of contact like wildfire in a forest. Nothing was broken, just this searing pain burned his muscles, scratched at his bone. His moaning grew, muffled only by his own hands now.
Finn was quiet, shifting his weight away from the stumbling man. He didn't know what to say, nor what to think. All of this disturbed him. The conflict of satisfaction felt within him clashed with the horrified realization of what he's done. He just hurt a person for all he knew and althought it felt right, it also felt horribly wrong and his greys stormed trying to grasp it all.

[Gennadiya Lyosha]

The lyosian woman held her hand firm even as the man taunted her. She pulled the blade back slightly and flipped it in her hands. When she and her sister had been taught the feminine weapon their instructor had said that some times it was best use the weapons weight. So she prepared to ram the steel but of the fan into the kidney, causing pain and hopefully incapasitating the man.

Before she could do anything though her savior grabbed the man's jaw and threatened him as well. Then something strange happen in the matter of trills it took her to flip the fan. Her attack made a serious fo progressively more painful noices. She paused reconizing those noises as moans of pain. Her saphire blues eyes turned critical looking first at the attacker and then at the man who had saved her. He stepped back almost to quickly and his face had a look. A disturbed look.

Quickly glancing at the two men both now in some type of pain she stepped around her former assulter and stepped up to her rescuer. She gentle put a hand on his arm her eyes looking worried. Sometimes strong men felt guilty is the used excess strength. Her blue eyes showed her concern but they also had that decerning look trying to diagnosis the symptoms. When she spoke her voice was a combination of compassion and strength.

"Thank you. I really appreciate your coming to save me." She said showing her gratitude with word and smile. The other man finally could get a good look at her, and see her fair skin with pink lips and expressive eyes, and the hints of her blond hair. "Are you okay. Let me get you a drink. After that both of us could use something." Gennadiya noticed that now after the event her hand was shaking a little. With no fear she took his arm and lead him into the nearby tavern. Normally Gennadiya wouldn't go into a place like that but it was close and full of light and people. She gently but firmly led them to a table discovering that she needed his support at this time.

[Finn]

Turbulent greys stared at the stumbling man. His heart beat heavy in his chest like strikes of hammer on metal. His stomach was tight. What did he do? He wanted to see and didn't at the same time. All the while a budding conviction that the man deserved what he got kept growing within the priest's mind. It wasn't until he barely felt the hand placed on his arm that he was torn from those disturbing thoughts.
There the flickering light caught a few features of her face. Cerulean eyes of deepest ocean looked up at him darkened by the fleeting shadows and something else within. He felt studied, exposed. So he turned his face away, not wanting her to figure out what was still bubbling inside him, joyful and proud at the act.
"I only did what any man should," Finn replied, shifting his weight. He was not humble, nor shy. Just matter-of-factly, scarce with words because there were too many inside his head. When she suggested a drink and chose to lead him, he resisted at first, captured by the slightest of quivers of her own hand but also uncertain that he wanted to proceed. Tensing, his eyes scanned the tavern next to his apartment. He knew there was no danger inside. There never was. But what if...? So he held her hand a little stronger, to reassure her and perhaps himself too, that what happened a moment ago would not happen again.
"You know, a drink sounds about right." The priest then agreed albeit hesitantly. A man of small affinity for drink felt like a mead could quieten the storm after all.
The noises of conversations, smells of bodies in the air and warmth of the fire crackling somewhere in the bowels of the tavern, it all hit Finn like waking Ashan morning and his shoulders dropped slightly. Weaving their way through the establishment, Finn noticed where his companion was headed and helped clear the way as they went. In proper light, she seemed smaller, more fragile than earlier outside.
"Here. Have a seat," he nudged his head, pulling the chair with one hand for her, the other present should she need it. Finn then made eye contact with the maid gesturing for her attention. With a nod, he knew she'd be with them in a few bits.
"So." It was more a deep breath out, the release of tension as he shed his coat and took his seat. He wore a thick woollen sweater of the most common of colours. Without a high collar, the tattoos on the left side of his neck and top of his left hand peeked from underneath the clothes. He was of the mature age by the wrinkles around his eyes and weather features of a man of experience. Yet there and then, his greys were soft the harshness of fight subsiding.
"Are you alright?"

[Gennadiya Lyosha]

The two moved through the crowded room and supported each other in a way that only two people who went through something unpleasant together can supply. The practical part of Gennadiya’s mind had taken over during the crises, it wasn’t hard for it to do since Adiya’s mind tended towards the calm and practical, but the emotional side was desperately trying to take center stage. Her rescuer’s firm grip, and crisp but gentlemanly manners helped her practical side to keep in control. She paused as he offered her a chair and pulled off her clock against the warmth of the room, and after placing the cloak on the back of the chair she took the offered seat and smiled up at him.

She looked over at her rescuer glad for the chance to see him for the first time. He was the rugged handsome type and older then her. Her blue eyes which were kindly meet his concerned grey eyes and she saw more in them physical was possible to see. She felt uneasy for a moment as she felt her own barriers crash. She was still in pain from what happened to her sister all those arc’s ago, but she had put it where it belong and only allowed it out once in a while. This evening’s adventure had cracked it. So it was that her gaze was full of kindness, hope and sadness.

She pulled her focus towards the man’s question. She answered slowly but truthfully. “I am physically okay, but I am not sure mentally.” She said and noticed her hands were shaking. “Actually I would say I am dealing with some shock, and possible a panic attack.” She closed her eyes and slowly breathed in slowly, clinging to the disgusting stench of sweating bodies, and cheap alcohol.

Here hands we resting on the table still shaking, but the surge of panic settle back into the pit of her stomach and she opened her eyes again. By then the waitress had stopped at their table. “I will have your smallest mead.” With a frazzled smile she looked back at her rescuer. “I am Gennadiya, or Adiya to those who I call friends.” She said and offered her hand for a shake. “I hope this didn’t ruin any plans you had for the evening.”

[Finn]

For that split trill they held each other's gaze, Finn felt something familiar. Something swam within those blues of his companion, making his chest tighten. His body leaned forward ever so slightly. Even before she spoke, he could tell the damage was more in the mind rather than physical. All the signs were there. The avoiding of eye contact, keeping to a very limited space. Even the language she used told him tales. And minds were often harder to heal.
It was then that his greys dropped to her hands on the table. "Same for me. Meat platter and bread too." He asked the waitress almost absentmindedly when she came. He wasn't hungry much but perhaps they could eat together, forget about the incident over some food.
Finn took her offered hand for a shake. He squeezed it as was customary but then didn't let go for a moment, covering it with his other palm in the most universal gesture of safety and protection. His face softened, so did his lips. His greys lost the sharp edge to them and spoke without uttering a word - I understand, they said, but no harm will come to you here. Then his hands slipped away.
"I'm Finn. Nice to meet you Gennadiya, given the circumstance." Not assuming they were on friend terms yet, he chose the safer of the two options. Then he shook his head with a soft chuckle.
"Oh no, no. I was just on my way back from work. My only plan was to get some place warm." Pointing around, he gave her a toothy grin. "Seems like you got me to where I wanted to be." He tried to put a positive spin on the event, dispel her unease with a bit of humour and truth in fact.
"Have you just arrived in the city?" The question was assuming. Rharne at night with alcohol could be a dodgy place to be and it was more or less known to the people who lived here. Common crime like in any other place really. He could see why she would become a prey. Petite, innocent. He could understand why a drunk man would take a chance. She most certainly was aware of that and capable of defending, otherwise she would not have travelled the dark streets on her own right?

[Gennadiya Lyosha]

Gennadiya felt an inner war within herself. The practical part of her mind said she was okay and it was just a panic and all in the head. Then the panic part of her said she needed to freak out. Then she felt Finn take her hand. She looked up as he surronded her hand with both of his. Their eyes meet and she could see the comfort in his. He could see she was panicing and was offering comfort. She smiled at him and felt a bit of comfort from the gestures. The panicing side of her was still there and was attempting take control, but she took strength from him and his comfort. She smiled sincerely and breathed deeply as he introduced himself. She noticed that he called her by her full name, and she felt more repect for him. He was being friendly knowing but not taking advantage.

Genadiya jumped on the question about if she was new. She smiled and nodded her head. "I am actually from Ne'hear. I moved here recently." She paused and looked up at him and could sence and un spoken question. "I work with the Order of the Adunih, and was out finishing a house call. I try to get back earlier to avoid situations like this, but it doesn't always happen." She shook her head and looked up. "Unfortantly I don't like hurting people so my natural reponse is to talk them down." She pulled out her war fan and set it on the table "Luckily you came along or he was about to see how sharp I keep these little blade." At first glance it didn't look like much but on closer inspection you see that the spokes were made of steel and sharpened ends that could easily slice and dice.

"So what do you do for work." She asked wondering about the man who rescued her.

[Alistair]

Gennadiya

Knowledges
Surgery: Recognizing when a stitch has healed
Surgery: Recognizing when a stitch is or isn’t infected.
Surgery: Removing Stitches
Blade (War fan): Finding sensitive spots for stabbing.
Blade (War fan): Effectively concealing a small weapon.
Medicine: Use of Ginger to help with food poisoning
Medicine: Recognizing what can cause food poisoning
Psychology: Recognizing the signs of shock.

Loot: N/A
Injuries: N/A
Renown: +5

Points 15

Comments: Sad to see such a wonderful writer to go, but it was a good thread regardless. I enjoyed the depth of the medical detail and I'm already really liking Adiya as a character. Wonderful job and enjoy your rewards. And Finn, come back to us.

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