• Open • Tea for Two [Raelia] (Graded)

[Zihaqihs]

This was without a doubt the dumbest thing she had done in her life. Being seen again was safer than letting someone into her home. Well, it wasn't her real home but her temporary hiding place, and it had been stupid. In her panic it had made sense but now she had no idea what to do. All she did was make mistakes, unsure of what the right course of action was but this was likely the least helpful thing she could have done. But it was done. And he was sick. Yet now there was a strange man in her house. The beginnings of a headache hit her swiftly, colors dancing before her eyes before she focused on his clothes. They were fine, almost fancy but she didn't pay much attention to them aside from being something to stare at while he spoke. When he finished her eyes rose to his face in surprise. This was not what the Yludih thought would be the cause. The only other safety she could think to give herself now that'd she near ruined her secrecy was not avoid giving him a name, focusing on treatment instead.

"Oh." Zih let if fall from her lips softly, her features scrunching a bit in some for of both attempted form of pity and a frown. Her eyes were sympathetic, thinking of her own sadness for the opposite reason. When she closed her eyes her father no longer lingered in their world. She wondered if nightmares would have been better or worse. She pressed her lips together tightly, fingers drumming anxiously before she finally shook her head slowly with a sigh. "I-I can't...but....m-maybe I can..."

She turned the pages then tapped one that held simple notes for Valerian, her own herb of choice though for different reasons. A higher dosage would likely hurt but it was not a drug, and not addictive in her experience but humans reacted so strangely to some things and her people simply didn't. But it was likely the strongest thing she could offer him that might help, and she had plenty of it to offer him. Of all things she kept in stock it was that she kept the most of, often using it to help her fall asleep or get through the day with too many flights of fancy. Still she chewed her lips before trying again.

"It's c-c-called Valerian. It-it will help yo-you sleep. You m-make it like t-t-tea before bed but..." she paused to pulled some from her supplies and set the dried root on the table, chancing a look into his eyes to try and communicate how serious she was but even then holding the odd colored gaze for more than a moment was impossible, her eyes falling to the root again. "not with you br-spi-mind. I-I'm not th-that type of doctor. You ha-ha-must talk to one for your m-mind."

Then she frowned harder, he had to know that. Her gaze went to his sickly looking complexion then skimmed a few pages again. Her notes had been for making meals to encourage health, maybe she could recommend something that would help overall, if not the exact cause. It wasn't fair to make him a guinea pig but she doubted he be worse off than he was now. Judging by how Victor spoke, he would only get worse. But most her notes were for ailments, not for general health. She'd have to figure out more but for now she tapped two others, though she didn't have them, speaking more to the book than him.

"O-oranges! And-and kale. For, um, y-your health you can e-e-eat them." She hesitated a moment before continuing. "If-if you don't want a-a healer for talking...you can t-talk to, um, someone e-else?"

[Victor Amielle]

The healer was contradicting herself – first, she had said that she couldn’t, and then that she could – but Victor didn’t dwell on that matter for longer than a couple of trills. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, glad to finally be out of the cold and be somewhere where he would be able to relax, to some extent at least. As he watched her go through her notes, he realized that he had no idea what exactly to expect – he had always been exceptionally healthy. The last time he had had a medical problem he had been a little boy and still lived in Lysoria.

“Will Valerian stop the nightmares as well – or at least render me unable to remember them?” he wanted to know and looked at the dried root on the table with curiosity before he met her gaze again, frowning slightly. He had not expected to hear that, and he didn’t appreciate her comment at all. He was an Amielle, and if things had gone differently, he might be ruling Lysoria instead of his brother now. People like him were not weak, and they did not suffer from mental problems!

“My mind’s fine”, he assured her even though he knew deep down that it wasn’t exactly normal to still suffer after such a long time and blame himself even though there was no way that he could have prevented what had happened. “I just can’t sleep properly. If it makes you feel better, I will talk to such a doctor though”, he claimed, realizing that she might never leave him be otherwise. She was more strong-willed than she had appeared to be at first. “Is there anybody that you can recommend to me?”

“Oranges and kale?” he asked and nodded, even though he had no idea where he was supposed to get oranges in Melrath in winter. Did they have greenhouses or import fruit?

[Zihaqihs]

Zih frowned, she often did but this time there was a spike of heat behind it, her gaze going to his face while her mind repeated the words he spoke. He lied to her. At least, to one of them. He had only just spoke about his mind being frayed from dreams and memories and now proclaimed it fine? It was easy enough to recognize as she often did it herself but she wouldn't fight him...still she was a healer. Of a sort. Or at least, the Yludih was trying to be. With all the heat she could muster she held his odd eyes.

"N-no." The word was soft but unyielding. "I-you-it doesn't mater w-what I feel. Y-y-you go if you w-want to g-get better. If you l-lie to me-them-doctors o-or don't take h-h-help, you w-will not be fi-fi-healthy. You-you think of, um, y-your friend? It-it haunts y-you? Th-that is not f-fine."

With a soft sigh the words abruptly stopped, this was not her place but she found the heat had died down, the flare of offense dying because he didn't seem the type to do it on purpose. He'd been reasonable so far, and if she made him angry he might not take any medicine. And if he wanted to believe he was fine then that was his decision, the same way hers were her own. Yet the tingle of satisfaction sent a small shiver through her, she hated when people denied her help, whether intentionally or not. Finally the Yludih shook her head.

"I-I don't know th-the hall healers h-here but they c-can h-help more." With an uncomfortable twist of her lips she looked away. "I'm st-still learning."

But as her gaze fell away she noted another note in her journal and dug back in her bag. Quietly she set the flower shrub on the table, speaking to it rather than Victor as her feet drummed uncomfortably, regretting each word as she said it. Zih was nearly entirely sure she would offend him with her words.

"St. J-john W-wart for...um...d-d-d-depression." She powered through. "It m-might h-help soothe your...f-fine mind."

There was a faint breathless squeak after she said it. She had thought she was over that but her tongue moved faster than her ever struggling brain, a hand rising up to clap over her mouth in shock, and she couldn't-wouldn't-lift her gaze now. Afraid of what she might see on his face.

[Victor Amielle]

The healer was not as soft and gentle as she had appeared to be at first. For a moment, as their eyes met, Victor almost gave in. He had reached a point where he had begun to realize that he needed help – his sleepless nights were affecting his wellbeing negatively, and then there was the fact that his magic had taken seasons longer to come back than everybody else’s. That was why he had come with her. He just couldn’t bring himself to saying out loud that there was something wrong with his mind though. He was already enough of a disappointment as it was. His brother would look down on him if he knew.

“No, it isn’t fine”, he agreed with her and momentarily pulled his gaze away. “What would you do if they threw the body of someone you cared about in front of your feet though?” he asked. Her words were not entirely falling on deaf ears; instead, they were registered. He looked up at her again, the expression on his face nearly unreadable. A part of him wished that he could tell her, about the fact that the Aberrant and he had been about to become more than just friends, about the things that his brother had screamed at him, about all the broken promises, but of course that was impossible.

She wouldn’t be able to accept it, just like the rest of them.

“I can’t have mental problems”, he finally told her. “If anybody back home found out … you don’t know who my family are …” His voice momentarily trailed off before he sighed and he asked her, “Tell me where the hall is. I’m afraid I don’t know much about this city yet.”

He looked at the flower she had put on the table, furrowing his brow fractionally. “How much of this do I need to take for it to have an effect?” he asked. Her sarcasm didn’t go unnoticed, and his gaze darkened for a trill or two, but he didn’t say anything. She was right, of course, even though he would never say it out loud, out of fear of what would happen then.

[Zihaqihs]

Zih flinched from the words. Images of her own father, and the body she'd fled from, how she had done nothing. If words had been difficult before, they were more so now. There was many reason the Yludih enjoyed medicine, the bedside aspect was not one of them nor was psychology, she could not even fix her other swirling chaos and the dark pit that ate up parts of her, how could she do that for someone else? Still, she was treating someone. It was not about her personal thoughts, it was about what was best for the man she'd stupidly brought to her house as if she knew what she was doing.

"I t-told you it d-doesn't matter h-h-what I-I do." She took a breath and hid her hands in her lap so he hopefully would not see them shaking. It took effort to reach his eyes but she forced herself to do so, her own eyes still glossy with her own memories. "B-but it matters wh-what you do."

Her eyes only dropped again to try and smooth out her frown. She didn't want him to think she was frowning at him, her lips thinning even more than they had been before. It was one thing to be upset because the man refused help but even his family thought they could ignore a healers words? Of any kind?It took several tries for Zih to properly form the words without just clicking her teeth in agitation, still refusing to look away from her own wall as she tried to piece together her thoughts.

"I...you..." The Yludih sighed then shook her head. "Y-your health is m-m-more important. W-would they rather you d-die than get h-h-aide?"

An exaggeration but she wasn't sure how else to put it into words. He hadn't turned away the Wart at least, a sigh of relief leaving her, even as a pinch of guilt hit her insides and chewed her lip. It wasn't his fault she was frustrated and if she said something to anger him he might lash out. Though he didn't seem the type so far, and what if he told people of the angry healer in the house? What if he was so angry he wouldn't take the medicine.

"...I-I'm sorry. That was...in-in-in-wrong." Then winced a little, truth be told she knew what he should take but how much? There were things she'd need to considered about treating patients without assistance and only her books."Small f-first, steep it for l-longer if you n-n-need it."

Finally she stood awkwardly, "It's e-easier to sh-show you."

Not that she meant to take him there but only that when she stood in the door, as she had begun to do, she could show him the direction. She doubted anyone could miss the Citadel. It took out half a good chunk of the Western city. But as she opened it she wondered if this was how people usually made people leave? Should she just take him? But the thought of leaving her house again was something she'd rather never do for at least the next several bells. Waiting for him to join her she pointed towards the West of the city.

"Th-that way, West to the A-alfar hold."

[Victor Amielle]

“It does, to me“, Victor disagreed as the healer told him that it didn’t matter what she did, but he didn’t say more, not that it would help him if someone told him what they would have done in his situation, whether they would have broken down, tried to kill those that had done it, even though it had been justified, to some extent at least or whether they would simply have moved on. If he had done that, he would have lost what little self-control still remained, and he couldn’t allow that to happen, not at the moment.

“I won’t die”, he assured her in a somewhat bitter tone of voice and laughed. “Trust me, healer, I don’t plan on killing myself, I just need to find a way out of this mess that my life has become.” He noticed that she was avoiding his gaze now, but that was just fine with him. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to have to look into her eyes right now, no matter how helpful she was and no matter how good and pure her intentions were.

“My brother wasn’t all that understanding before, when I asked him for help”, he informed her, but he didn’t elaborate. As she told him more about how he should take the wart, he nodded, the look on his face softening again as the exhaustion that had begun to trouble him before began to return. “No, you aren’t wrong”, he told her. “I just can’t, at least not right now.”

When she stood, so did he. He put his coat back on, pulled the hood over his head and followed her to the door, narrowing his eyes slightly as he looked in the direction where she had pointed before he murmured, softly, as if her words had some sort of effect on him after all, “Thank you. You’ve been very kind, healer.” He was unaware of the fact that she was more or less trying to get rid of him.

[Zihaqihs]

"I-I don't mean s-s-suicide." Zih said shaking her head softly, eyes roving the signs of fatigue on his face, unsure of how far to overstep still. HE had yet to be upset with her, and it was important to be truthful as a healer, she sucked in. "You'll w-waste away...it-it happens. Hum-people forget to-to eat and sleep a-and things they h-h-should do."

When he mentioned how unhelpful his family was she looked away. Her own family had been far from perfect, and she could not say they did it maliciously. There was talk, healers did speak quietly, of those who would rather die by their pride than admit they needed help or died by their ego thinking they needed no help. Even if they did not die literally, many suffered. It made no sense to the Yludih, why would you choose to live tormenting yourself? But she couldn't ask him, instead she continued to hover around him like an agitated insect, unsure if she could just shove him out the door or if she could do more. Not sure if she wanted to do more. Shifting from foot to foot she looked at him once more...she had started it, she'd finish it. If only so his death-if it happened-would not be on her. Or would it? If she couldn't help him what good was trying to be a healer? She doubted he would thank her but he did, and she felt it settled in the dark of the pit of her stomach. Would he praise her still if he knew? Would any? Would they even let her help them? With a shake of her head to try and visibly dislodge the thoughts and turned and grabbed her own coat.

"I..." She should leave him to his own devices but her tongue moved on it's own. "I'll show y-you the way."

Leading, she headed out in front of him, waiting for him so she could shut her door then moving stiffly toward the hall. She made no other effort to talk, just walking with the hall in mind, unsure if this was what she was supposed to do but she didn't know how else to make him leave, and the healer in her didn't trust him to go. To actually learn where it was and get help, and if he had taken help from a stranger he was probably just as desperate as she felt.

[Victor Amielle]

“I don’t plan on wasting away”, Victor argued. He realized that the process had already begun though. He had come to Melrath in order to forget Jonathan’s death and what had happened between his brother and him – and in order to solve his magical problem. He’d never really moved into his new house though, and his kitchen cupboard was still largely empty. Sometimes, like that trial, he actually craved food (he had planned on visiting Greta’s bakery), but sometimes he just drank some wine instead of eating.

He didn’t say more about his family, about how his brother Stefan had screamed at him because he had brought the Aberrant into their home, how he had been mad at him because he had abandoned his so-called duties and dared to explore the world beyond Lysoria instead. His sibling claimed to love him and only have his best interests at heart, but sometimes he wasn’t so sure. And besides, he didn’t appreciate being patronized when he was a grown man that didn’t only have one, but two degrees from an established university.

Victor had just wanted to wait until the healer went back inside before he made his way to the hall – or not. That’s why he had lingered near the door. So, when she told him that she’d show him the way, he looked at her for a moment before he nodded curtly. She had asked all kinds of unpleasant questions, questions that he definitely didn’t want to think about, but she also seemed to be a genuinely good, albeit somewhat annoying person.

For that reason, he said, “Thank you!” before he wrapped his coat more tightly around his body – when he had been inside her house, he’d almost forgotten how unpleasant the weather was. “If you’ll just show me the right entrance, I’ll probably be able to find the healer that I need”, he added, mostly because he wanted to avoid her dragging him to a psychiatrist or something like that. Even after everything that she had said to him, a part of him still wondered if running back home and hiding wouldn’t be the better option.

[Zihaqihs]

It was the longest and shortest trip of her life. Several times she glanced over to make sure he was following, hadn't ran off, and slightly disappointed each time. Still, the healer was glad he'd taken her advice, paltry as it was, and she recalled a saying about horses and water. Yet...he'd been willing to ask a complete stranger for some sort of help. Zih found that these thoughts persisted until the building seem to simply spring up in front of her. The eyes of the city and it's people distant when one was so wrapped up in themselves then for a moment, she faltered.

The Citadel.

She had swore not to come back, fear of all the people who could recognize her but now she not only had that but people who could find her house. The exhaustion she felt creeping now was nothing like the previous physical response, this was all in her head. A tired sigh escaping before she gestured inside. Even now she refused to actually go in.

"I-inside." She paused, trying to form words that made sense. "Th-the healers and...o-other places a-are inside."

The man had thanked her, but she had done nothing of real value. His face still tired, his complexion off to what she knew of the human standards. Pursing her lips she offered quiet parting words as she passed him the herbs she had recommended and bundled earlier, her hands lingering on the pressure of shoving them into his chest, before she back away. One final time she met his gaze, trying to impart the seriousness of what she said before she practically fled back the way they came.

"No one m-means to waste away...I-we j-just do."

[Werewere]

Review Is In!

Victor

Knowledge:
Deception x4
Medicine x4
Endurance x5
Discipline x1

Loot: Seasons worth of St. Johns Wart & Valerian
Injuries: N/A
Renown: 5 For doing business

Points: 15 May Not be used for Magic

Zih

Knowledge:
Medicine x6
Detection x5
Discipline x4

Loot: N/A
Injuries: N/A
Renown: 5 For doing business

Points: 15 May Not be used for Magic

A nice cup of tea, is like a nice thread. The two of you both have different view on mundane events, and it was quite nice. Zih is quite the character when it comes to meeting people, maybe the tea made her more brave. Victor seemed to be just a nervous trying to hide his true nature. I am also happy that John's Wort was used for an antidepressant. Was Zih right not to pry, or did Victor need more of a push for help. Only time will really tell. I enjoyed the thread good job you two

Any injures are based on a 1d100 roll using applicable skills