Sweet, soft voices (open)

[HG]

Oddly enough, Vaylee spent a good deal of her time in the infirmary as an assistant. She was not learning to heal nor did half of what people told her actually register but there was something to her that was best served with the ill people of the Weyr. She had a sweetness to her, a kind gentle way about her. Most thought this had to do with her also being lovely but she knew even beautiful people could be cruel. It was the day after the flight and while she had woken up in bed with a handsome Bronzerider, she had not lingered. Once she was awake which was well before the sun rose, she had dressed and gone to bathe.

She never stayed long for flights. It was just the right thing to do in her mind. The men had needs and so did she that was that. They were not openly courting her favor so she did not owe them a thing and they did not owe her a thing, unless they wanted to find her and give her a present. She did adore presents. Sometimes it was harder to leave the bed than others though she would never admit that. Today she was not thinking much about the previous night there was so much going on in the infirmary. Some brat had almost drowned in the lake. He was breathing again but he had been weakened by it all. They were afraid his heart stopped long enough that he may have suffered some brain function loss.

If one asked her she would say he was already low functioning for going to the lake when he did not know how to swim or even float. Whether he was now dim or not made no difference. She still needed to oversee his recovery. A small hand was placed inside her own as she looked down on the small child. "Monitor his breathing. If he becomes conscious inform me immediately."

Vaylee nodded her understanding as the healer walked away. They had other things to do. With her other hand, she gently touched the boy's forehead, whisking his bangs to the side. He was peaceful in his sleep though she wondered how he would recover. Taking out one of the Harper's song books, she read it as if it were a story. The sweet, soft voice carried throughout the infirmary.

[kaemi]

Verdict of the day: rocks are tools of evil. Scratch that, they were evil. Utter, absolute deprave soulless beings. Well... maybe that was a little bit overboard. But needless to say, Aisynn wasn't pleased with rocks at this very moment in time. When she was smaller, she had loved rocks, and collected them gleefully everywhere she could find them. They were fascinating to her. All different colors, even the dull gray ones, which were often deemed 'boring' by her fellow weyrbrats, captured her attention without fail. No longer! Now, they were tools used to torture weyrfolk young and old. More specifically, her.

Walking into the Infirmary with a bit of a sour mood, Aisynn stopped at the threshold only when she heard a voice. It was a good voice to listen to, especially calming and soothing. She leaned on the wall just inside the Infirmary, unwilling to disturb the voice from continuing, and instead stood there and listened. Since she didn't need immediate medical attention, she could easily afford to not disturb the voice (obviously a girl's) and let her continue doing whatever it was she was doing.

Just a few minutes previously, she had been walking through the Weyrbowl in hopes to make her way to the Weyrhall. Obviously, it hadn't worked out for her. A person in a hurry- they hadn't stopped, nor had Aisynn been paying attention to their knots, age, or appearance in general- accidentally knocked into her, and made her fall onto the ground. Nothing she could blame them for, as she had done it a number of times, herself. Peril of walking through the Weyr and not avoiding people who looked like they could do some damage. Anyways, Aisynn had fallen onto the ground, and a small, sharp rock had jammed into her hand.

The bleeding was basically done, and it was only the ugly puncture would and the pain that were left. But she was strangely comforted by the sounds of the other girl's voice. Aisynn edged slowly towards where the voice was coming from, eager to see the origin.

[HG]

When she finished speaking the boy still breathed though his breathing was not as strong as it should be. No doubt it would take a few days for him to return to normal in that sense. They were more concerned for his brain and heart. If his heart was now weakened well he would not be able to do many hard tasks or anything that involved putting strain on it. Vaylee frowned slightly, her blonde hair falling into her face as she did so. Pushing the hair back, she looked up.

The young woman seemed a little worse for the wear and all the Healers were busy. Standing, Vaylee smiled warmly, “Is there something I can help you with dear?” Her voice was as warm and caring as a mother's to her little child. Someone you wanted to go crying to when you scraped your knee. “Don't dawddle in the doorway. Best if you come in so we can have a good look at you. May I have your name? ” The young woman was not much younger than Vaylee herself from the look of things.

Also from the look of things, she had seen better days. Her appearance said she had been injured and was not ill. Depending on the injury she might be able to help her without assistance from the Healers. She knew many things that could help small injuries. Especially little scrapes that Weyrbrats got. Why waste the healer's time when she could easily have them in and out and the Healers could then concentrate on people who were in worse condition. Looking back at the young boy to check on his breathing she nodded, things were well still with him.

“He had bit of an accident himself this morning. Children really should not be in the Lake unsupervised. They don't know how to swim well sometimes and they drown.” Vaylee's eyes were downcast. She hated to think of wasting lives in a place where they needed them so much.

[kaemi]

She wasn't entirely sure how long she had stood there, allowing the voice to lull her. It couldn't have been all that long- surely Aisynn hadn't stood there like a dimglow for more than a few minutes. It didn't really matter though, as eventually the voice did cease. The candidate began to register the bustling Infirmary, the healers darting around to help other patients, when the voice started again... this time, directed at herself. Smiling, she entered the Infirmary fully, still keeping her hurt hand close to her side.

“You have a beautiful voice,” she said, as an introductory remark. Aisynn had no qualms about saying it right off, as she felt it was certainly something to be said. Brushing her own hair out of her eyes with her uninjured hand, she continued, “Rocks are terribly entities of evil.” This was accompanied by a grin, and she offered her hand, which was marred a little by the blood. “I fell in the 'Bowl, and thought I should drop by to get it cleaned up and avoid any nasty infections.” It was common knowledge that if you were ill, you may not be allowed to Stand, and this close to a clutching... she wasn't taking chances.

The pain was a throbbing ache- nothing she hadn't felt before, certainly, and so she had no problems with shoving it out of her mind to focus on the slightly-older woman before her. “Aisynn,” she said, by way of introduction. They seemed a little busy, and maybe she shouldn't be bothering the lot of Healers, but she truly didn't want to take ill. If this young woman could get her fixed up, then they would be fine all around. Obviously she wasn't a nincompoop when it came to healing, if the way she had dealt with the boy had been any indication. Sure, Aisynn hadn't seen any technical healing being done, but sometimes a soothing voice and rest could be just as good a healing mechanism as a bandage.

Aisynn nodded. “There's too many close calls, from what I've gathered,” she agreed. “I was thinking on mass swimming lessons for all the weyrbrats, with a few of the weyrfolk off-duty. It could help a lot of the kids, but the Weyr as a whole has been so busy lately...” she gave a small shrug.

[HG]

Vaylee watched as the other young woman stepped inside. Her blue eyes shying away at the compliment the girl gave her. “Thank you, it is very kind of you to say so.” She was not used to being complimented on something other than her appearance. To say that the comment made her day would not be an understatement. Already she knew that this young woman was going to become on of her dear friends. “Hmmm. I'll go ahead and assume someone was in a hurry and not paying much attention to where they were going or whom they knocked over.” The blonde had an aversion to pain and as such would much prefer to not be knocked out of other people's ways. Not that it could always be helped. Certainly Aisynn had no choice.

“I see. I see.” Nodding, Vaylee to the girls hand as she held it out and prodded around the wound a little. “Should be fine but we need to clean it well before any of the Healers can look at it. Worst case scenario I'd say it may have to be stitched. Cleaning it though is the most important thing to avoid infections.” Vaylee, still holding the girl's hand, began to lead her to an examination table. “If you will just have a seat there Aisynn, I'll be right back.” Aisynn was a lovely name but the young woman was on a mission and not ready to get all chit chatty while the other girl was bleeding and sore. She brought some numbweed with her and redwort, hot water and a clean cloth. A needle and thread was also on hand.

“Most people don't think that these kinds of injuries are worth bringing to us. I however think it is much better to be safe than to be sorry. Plus the numbweed should take some of the pain away for a bit.” Vaylee said as she placed the cloth in the hot water. She took the girls hand gently. She knew this would sting btu she also knew telling people it would seemed to make things worse. “Are you a Candidate for the clutch? I hear that many people will be standing...” She added as a way to explaing why she had asked the question at all. As she did speak she was looking at the girls hand and began to dab gently with the cloth.

With most of the blood out of the way she was able to see where the cut actually was. Despite being somewhat jagged, she knew that it was not so deep. The girl would still need a bit of redwort to prevent infection. Whether or not she needed stitches would be up to the Healers. One of the bowls near the table seemed the perfect size for her hand to soak in. Redwort was poured deftly into the bowl by the woman with such a practiced hand it seemed she had done it many times. Which in fact, she had. Vaylee smiled warmly at the other girl, she was being a trooper. “ Alright now the redwort looks, awful but believe you me, its worth not getting infected. I'm going to put your hand in the bowl and let it soak for a few minutes. Then one of the Healers will come by and let you know whether it needs to be stitched or not.”

[kaemi]

The ways of the Weyr were obviously well-known- Aisynn laughed a little aloud as Vaylee nailed the occurrence dead-on. “Exactly that,” she confirmed, smiling widely. As previously mentioned, the practice wasn't uncommon. Still, it was amusing that the healer-girl didn't find it necessary to ask. “I just can't blame them, though. I'll admit to having been in too much of a hurry a time or two, myself.” She shrugged, being careful not to jostle her hand as Vaylee examined it. Wouldn't want the battle wound (it was a bit of a battle out there... so hush at the exaggeration) to be jabbed by a healer who was merely looking at it.

“Alright,” the candidate responded. “Whatever you say. I know nothing about healing.” She had always thought it interesting, but had never really found the time to learn anything about it. Maybe she could learn to heal! But, no, right now her goal was achieving weyrlinghood. Difficult, with the eggs just barely on the Sands and all, but she would keep working at it. Sitting as instructed, Aisynn lay her injured hand on her knee, face up. She sat quietly, observing her surroundings, in the few moments where Vaylee left her to fetch supplies. Upon her re-arrival, she didn't even notice the things that she had. A needle, usually, would have alarmed her. As it was, she didn't even blink, her brain focusing on the person helping her instead of the supplies being used. A helpful trick, that.

Thankfully, she wasn't confronted by the needle at all... at least not right away. Biting her lip for a second as Vaylee began cleaning her hand, Aisynn worked on distracting herself from the slight sting. It wasn't bad, although compounded with the aching of the wound, it was painful. She couldn't boast a very high pain tolerance- or, really, much of a pain tolerance at all. But that's alright. She was working on it! And she would not say anything. “I didn't want anything to happen to it, that could be more lasting than a scab.” Normally, she didn't bring these injuries to the Infirmary, either. Wash them out, and tough it out. But with the Hatching so close, she didn't want to risk any chance of infection.

“Actually, I am. That's why I'm here. Candidates who are ill may not have the chance to Stand. I wouldn't be surprised if the Infirmary doesn't get more young people than usual. Not many of us will risk not being able to Impress, I don't think.” Especially when Hatchings only came around every few Turns. The older kids, who may be in danger of becoming too old by the next Hatching, would be particularly wary. “You'll be on the Sands too, right?” Vaylee seemed to be the right age. A little older than her, and maybe by the time the next Hatching came around, she'd be the one out of luck due to age. She nodded as the healer-girl told her about the redwort- that she'd experienced before, and she knew what to expect from it. The stitches idea was not appealing... in the least... so hopefully that would be null and voided by the healers.

[HG]

“Well I've been told I should though I'll admit until a few days ago I had not given much thought to being a Candidate.” Not because she thought she had something better going either. Mostly she had thought dragons needed people who were brave and strong and well...smart. She did not consider herself to be any of these things. Sure dragonriders were often viewed as the most attractive people in the Weyr too but she figured that was due to the fact they had to work out all the time.

Vaylee walked away for a few minutes, eventually finding a Healer with some time on their hands. The older man walked up to Aisynn, examined her hand quickly and then told Vaylee what should be done. “Good news! He thinks it would be best we not stitch it. However if you feel that its tearing more when your doing chores and the like, come back and we'll stitch it. So next thing he says is to bind it.” Vaylee smiled reassuringly. These injuries were never hard to deal with really.

She took clean white cloth that had come from washed linens that were old or no longer useful and a jar of the sticky glue like substance they harvested from nearby trees and returned to her patient. Taking Aisynn's hand again, Vaylee placed a small piece of the cloth directly over the wound. Then with the slightly larger, much longer cloth she began to wrap the hand so that the wound would not be infected. “Does that feel too tight? Try to move your hand a little while I'm holding things together.” She was of course concerned with circulation of blood and such so if it was too tight Aisynn would have trouble moving her hand.

[kaemi]

For Aisynn, who had loved the idea of dragons since the moment she comprehended what they were, the blasé way which Vaylee mentioned she 'hadn't given much thought' to candidacy until a few days ago was... flooring. The brunette had never been good with imagining others' mindsets, unwilling to grasp the concept of putting yourself in someone else's shoes. She liked her own footwear, thank you very much! So she didn't readily respond to the girl's words, instead nodding at her and mulling them over when she disappeared for a few minutes.

She still hadn't reached a conclusion on what Vaylee's words meant by the time she returned, and the words were pushed to the back of her mind. “Really? Good, good!” Aisynn said happily. She. Didn't. Like. Needles. So... this was a good thing. To be completely honest, when she had brought her hand to the infirmary, she hadn't even considered the idea of stitches. If she had, she probably wouldn't have come. But it was alright, because a healer had decided that she was alright without the involvement of sharp pointy needles.

“Maybe a little tight...” she murmured, twisting her hand so as to satisfy Vaylee's request. It was just a bit too tight, making the hand movement a little forced. “Nothing too bad.” Aisynn made a quick shrug, smiling up at the healer-girl. “So you are going to Stand?” she inquired, coming back to the original subject. “I hope so. You seem to be quick on your feet and caring enough to be a loving rider. I did just meet you, though, so maybe I misjudged you.” The brunette smiled widely at the healer-girl.

[HG]

She watched the other girl move her hand experimentally. Yes it was tight. “Let me see if I can make it looser without having it fall off completely.” Vaylee said taking Aisynn's hand again. First she unwrapped the binding and then tried to rewrap it without making it tight again. This was not her forte. Generally the Healers did this part but seeing as they were busy today she had to do it.

“Oh yes. I'm planning on Standing now. My brother's dragon, Desryth is quite insistent on the matter and she's a darling green wouldn't want her upset with me.” Especially as she needed her brother and his dragon to take her Between every now and then. Despite being told that she should stand, she had her doubts.

Other people may believe that they were destined to be riders but that was not her. Vaylee had made her own plans for her life. If she impressed wonderful, if not well then she had a well set up life to come back to. The only thing that could happen to ruin it would be to get mauled by the Gold. She had heard that Golds were clumsy when they Hatched and easily killed Candidates.

Vaylee finished binding Aisynn's hand then, placing the sticky stuff between the top layer and the layer below it. “I suggest leaving that on today and letting it air out overnight. I think that you're all set now.” She said with a smile. “Enjoy the rest of your day. I'm sure I'll see you around before the Hatching.”

[kaemi]

The unwrapping process began, so Aisynn held her hand as still as she could. It actually took up much of her focus, not being one of those girls that could simply sit quietly and converse without moving much. She was energetic, and still a kid, herself- unwilling to stay still. So she compensated for the stillness in her hand by jiggling her leg a little. It helped her focus on what Vaylee was saying. "Good, I'm glad you're Standing. It'll be nice to have another Candidate I know around." Seeing how she knew many of her fellow weyrbrats, that wouldn't be hard. But maybe Vaylee could become a close girl friend! It would be nice... someone to talk to, like she had talked to Traya.

Well, they'd see.

She did miss Traya- or, rather, she missed talking to people like she had talked to the girl. Orisyn just wasn't the same, and not just because he was younger and a boy. Well... mainly because of that. But part of it was also because he was her brother, and he wasn't very interested in the things she was. She really did need to find a new girl best friend. And maybe Vaylee wouldn't be it, but she would need to spend more time with the girls. Or with any girls, really.

"Alright, I'll be sure to do that," Aisynn assured her, standing up and grinning. "Thanks, Vaylee. Have fun here... I guess. I'll see you later!" And it was sure to be true. Candidacy chores would probably start eventually, as imposed by the Candidate Master for prospective dragon baby-wanters. If that was even a word...