Seated on the shores of Lake Lovalus, Rharne serves as the home of the Lighting Knights, the Thunder Priestesses, and the Merchant's guild. This beautiful trade city is filled with a happy and contented people who rarely need an excuse to party.
Nodding in agreement, Leander thought of his own path through life thus far, and considered the options of trying something new, something different. He had toyed with the idea many times, but his heart always brought him back to chemistry. He had tried other sciences - and even the arts - in Viden. The fortress city of learning was nothing if not scrupulous about ensuring every freeborn child of Viden was afforded a fair chance at exploring different avenues. He imagined that Gennadiya had had to work to receive the same kind of education that Leander had received just by virtue of being Videnese.
“Ah, okay,” the chemist intoned with a smile, though he still found the system a little flawed truth be told. But he was not here to alienate people or rub them up the wrong way, so he restrained his tongue before it made an ill-conceived comment to Gennadiya. “I suppose you’re right. I will have to remember to me gentle to the green cloaks if I ever turn up as a patient!”
Anything else Leander might have said was cut off by a passing green cloak who was guiding a woman with a small child in her arms. Gennadiya was hailed over and Leo, knowing this was not his place, kept his distance, loitering in the background as he watched and listened with mild interest to the muted conversation taking place just a few steps away. As it turned out, the child was not injured (which had been Leander’s first instinct), but instead it was the woman’s husband.
Surprisingly enough, Leander was not dismissed from Gennadiya’s presence, her work taking priority over giving him a tour of the facility. Instead, he was invited to join them to tend to the woman’s husband. Leo hesitated for the smallest moment before taking a few large strides and falling into step besides Gennadiya again.
He listened to the physician’s harrowing tale of losing her mother and sister, of her suffering and illicit drug use. Leo could empathise… to an extent. His relationship with alcohol and drugs was an intensely private one, and he would not voice such empathising experiences now, but he nodded and hummed noncommittally. “It seems that you have suffered trials in your life. It makes you even more of an inspiration for you to have fought back and climbed so high, to have done so well when the easy option was always knocking at your door, inviting you back down.”
Continuing to follow the woman carrying the toddler, Leander fell silent, contemplating Gennadiya’s revelation about her past. He had not expected that in the slightest. He meant what he said: if she could do it, then maybe he could too. Though he had no sister to get him back on track.
“What will you do to soothe this man’s injuries? Aloe vera?” It was a bit of a chance for Leander to show off - the chemist had spent a fair amount of time learning about the properties of natural remedies in order to better understand chemical concoctions. He wanted to impress Gennadiya with his knowledge, even if his specific medical knowledge wasn’t all that worthy of note. It didn’t hurt to let people know that you’re not just a pretty face sometimes. “Or honey, perhaps?”
“I have been and still am
a seeker, but I have ceased to
question stars and books;
I have begun to listen to
the teaching my blood
whispers to me.”
― Hermann Hesse
Slice of Life
6th Trial of Ashan 722
Genna could tell that Leander was a bit skeptical about their process, but chose not to continued the subjects. Genna didn’t continue it either. She had learned that people found different things acceptable and other not acceptable. Nothing was ever perfect, and while they would continue to improve the best solution to this problem was just to educated members of the order on healing and how best to help.
The platinum haired young woman was also highly trained in psychology, part of it because of the order, but much of it because of her devotion to Ymiden. She listened to the young man’s response to her life story. He seemed to instantly understand why she shared it with people. Genna didn’t like to brag but she also disliked false modesty just as much. She was who she was, did what she did, had done what she had done. If that could help someone find inspiration or encouragement that was the important thing. “I believe that anyone can bring themselves up. Which is why I share my story. Its not easy, but I believe that with support one can overcome a challenge, it won’t be fast and easy, but it is possible.” She said as they followed the young woman.
Leander asked then about how she would treat the burn. He suggested honey or Aloe Vera. She nodded approval with either suggestion. “Aloe Vera, most likely will be what I uses, but part of it will be determined by the severity of the burn.” She indicated towards the man’s wife. “Given that she isn’t panicked and actually feels comfortable teasing her husband about it suggest that at least on the surface it doesn’t seem to bad.” Genna paused. “Or she is just used to it. Either way that gives me some information, but I am holding back judgement until I see the wound.”
A moment later they walked in and Genna paused by the Green cloak. “I will help with this one.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Came the reply.
Genna came in and looked over the burn. It wasn’t a simple burn, and Genna could tell that it hurt by the subtle wincing on the man’s face. She sat down. “This one looks more intense Broby.” She said as she motioned for him to give her a better view of burn. Genna spoke to the couple as they spoke, asking about how, other then the burn, they were doing, how their toddler was doing and what growing mile stones she had reached.
“A moment please.” She said to the couple and turn to look at the green cloak who was ready to take notes and Leander who was watching. “Second degree burn. We have fibers in the burn from his shirt. I will need the tweezers, and Aloe Vera, no bandages I will use the one I have. As for an infection.” Genna paused and closed her eyes. Leander might find it odd, but the members of the Order recognized the sign that she was using a special ability granted her by the Lake. Healer’s Sight. She opened her eyes a moment later. “Nothing for that.” Genna turned back. “As long as you keep the bandage on.” She said to Brob with a smile. The green cloak nodded handed over the twizzers, and then disappeared for a moment before returning with the Aloe Vera.
She looked at Leander to indicate she was speaking to him as well. “The burn will need to be watched closely, It has destroyed the a number of layer of skins, but hasn’t gotten to the muscle.” She continued to explain about would be needed as carefully removed some of the remnants of the shirt from the wound. Then she applied the aloe cream to the burn and wrapped it in a bandage she supplied. She looked up at the wife. “I will need this back.” She said with a serious smile. Once they were done, and Genna wished them a farwell and final instructions. She stood and smiled at Leander. “Thank you for your help. We have a bit more to see if you have time. If not I understand. What’s left is the boring stuff.”
To hear that anyone could ‘bring themselves up’ was a nice concept. It gave Leander some hope for his own future. Here was an accomplished young woman taking her time to talk to Leander about what it was to be successful. He was not - or hadn’t been - ambitiously inclined, preferring to drink himself into oblivion for much of his twenties, forgetting and doing everything he could to keep his past from catching up with him. That was going to change.
It was nice, also , to prove to the woman he was trying to cultivate a working relationship with that he knew a little about medicine. Though he was a chemist, he considered himself probably just as medically knowledgeable at this time. He was no expert, but he knew his way around common medical treatments. That didn’t mean he was going to be performing surgery tomorrow, of course. “Okay, if it’s severe… then I’m assuming you mean a burn that has passed through the skin, maybe even as deep as the muscle or even bone below? Aloe vera and honey won’t help with that. What would you do?”
Ah, he hadn’t thought about how the patient was reacting, hadn’t thought about the behaviour. That was equally as important, he supposed. A distressed patient versus a calm one told a medic much about their ailment, that was true. Such a simple concept, but one that hadn’t even crossed Leander’s mind. He stored that information away to use in the future: behaviour of a patient mattered.
Leander kept his distance as he watched Gennadiya examine the patient, listened to her talk to the couple, asking various questions that seemed irrelevant and innocuous. But the answers all seemed to be of value to the experienced healer. All this was interesting. Leo didn’t want to be a healer, but a chemist’s job could be to provide concoctions to people who came into his workshop from off the street looking for remedies to common ailments. It was useful to learn about how to question an individual, how to dissect the information they provided, how best to provide treatment.
Tweezers out, Leo leant forward in fascination as he watched the healer work away at the burn injury. He was so focused that he started when Gennadiya turned to speak to him directly. He nodded in all the appropriate moments, listening carefully, because Gennadiya was taking her time to educate him. While she was with a patient, no less. A small part of his mind thought this was a good omen: she obviously thought his continued education was worth something. Maybe she saw something in him.
When they moved away from the patient, Gennadiya offered to show him more. He really had to get back - he hadn’t meant to linger this long as it was. Glancing upwards, as if he could see the sun in the sky to judge the time (which he couldn’t), Leander hummed. “I would love to learn more of the Order, but I really must return. I have many other duties, perhaps I might return, though?” He was asking, without asking, that he might provide more support to the Order. He liked Gennadiya on a personal level as well as a professional one, and would enjoy more of her company. But he was right - he couldn’t waste a good day of work on touring the facilities the Order had on offer. If he was to do as Gennadiya inspired him to do and make something of himself, he had to get back to the grind. “Thank you, Gennadiya. It has been a pleasure.”
Skill Review: All Skills used appropriately to PC's level
Notes: Slice of life, it kinda is what it says on the tin isn't it? Although maybe with more than one meaning.
Leander seems... really really self-conscious about his age. Almost inappropriately so. Dude's only in his early thirties. That said, it's not unheard of for men that age to have hang-ups about how far they've come in life (or not). I think he's doing well for himself, one of the more talented chemists in the city and doing good things like bringing supplies to the Order. I do wonder though, if such a sweet guy can last in the Shadow Quarter...
Gennadiya is composed and capable as the leader of Rharne's Order branch. Not phased by anything this one, although sometimes I wonder how often she deals with truly difficult and resistant patients? It might be an interesting scenario to consider. Still, it's a bit hard to consider anyone giving her trouble, when she has such a nice manner about her. But then, there are truly difficult people in the world, that very well could.
Good job you two.
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