(2024-03-05) A Lively Infirmary

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Author:	Saaron
Summary:	Celaven and Iphindra share a shift together in the Argent Vanguard infirmary, while Velrin comes to help, but things don't go as planned. Iphindra feels "solid" around the Kaldorei, pushing her to an unknown feeling before she falls to an even deeper ill, to the other two's worry.
Rating:	T for Teen

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Exhaustion, undeserved anger, intense weakness

Celaven finishes speaking in a low voice to a patient who seems to struggle with poison. He passes another heal over him and moves to the next bed.
Celaven steps over by Iphindra. "Is everything well over here?"
Iphindra is tending to a wounded soldier. Arctic flowers bloom all around her as she puts a hand on their scars. She startles, looking up at Celaven, briefly. She turns back to the soldier, frowning a bit. "Um. Yes. I'm f- fine. I can handle this."
Velrin peaks her head inside to see what's going on, "Hello. Do you need any help? I know my fair share about medicine."
[Celaven]: I didn't say you could not. I had just finished with my last patient and thought I should see where my help was most needed."
Celaven glances up at Velrin and smiles. "Vel, hello. Yes, we could always use assistance. The poison is a bit difficult to handle, but… there's plenty here who need only bandages and a little care."
Iphindra's shoulders tense, rising slightly upward. She still doesn't look at him. She answers in Common. "I'm sure there are others who need help. Not m-me."
Velrin hops inside, "Ok then. I'll see what I can do!"
Celaven looks back at Iphindra, and then glances between Vel and Iphindra. He switches to Common and says, "I believe you. I'll tend to others."
Iphindra she turns to look at Velrin. "Gr- greetings." Still not looking at him, she says to Celaven. "M- maybe you can help Velrin with the bandages."
[Velrin]: Hello Iphindra. *she says with a smile and goes to sit at someone's side to assess their injuries.*
Celaven frowns. "I am a priest of Elune. I will help in my way."
Celaven moves to another bed and summons the Light to heal a slash wound down a young man leg. The Light-calling is a little peremptory, and the man gasps.
Velrin puts on some clean gloves and a smock and gets out a suture kit to tend to a soldier's wounds.
Iphindra glances at Celaven, then back at the patient. She does a double take on Celaven as he calls for Elune's help. "A… man one?" She finishes helping this patient, and gets up.
Iphindra looks a little unsteady as she does so.
Celaven starts to reach out to steady her, and then stops. He glances back to Velrin as if for reassurance, and then says, "Yes, a man one. It is allowed, these days."
Iphindra pauses, frowning a little in confusion. "Why?"
[Celaven]: Why is it allowed? Perhaps because there is no reason to bar an entire calling based on one's gender?
Velrin glances over her shoulder, "Ven is a very good priest. It may be a bit odd, but there's no need to question him." she says understandingly.
Iphindra still looks confused. "Hm…" She turns to another patient and begins trying to help them, but the plants on her body seem more alert than ever. The vines on her arms look like vipers, warning their surroundings that they're ready to strike.
Celaven smiles at Velrin's support, and then says, "Aren't you a druid? It's similar, isn't it?"
Velrin numbs the area of the wound and begins stitching it back together.
[Iphindra]: I- I'm not. *Even with her stutter, the words seem uncharacteristically cold, for Iphindra.* Not one like the Kaldorei think. I- I didn't learn from the Circle.
Velrin 's ears perk up curiously but she keeps herself focussed on her work.
The vines around Iphindra would hiss, if they could.
Celaven turns from the patients to look at Iphindra curiously. "But… the vines… it looks like nature magic. I suppose… did you learn on your own, before it was allowed?"
[Iphindra]: I do- don't know when it was allowed. I learned with… family. Some time ago.
[Celaven]: Mm, I think there are others in a similar position. Should you want to learn from the Circle as well, I could point you towards those who are friendly.
Celaven turns to gently heal a young woman with bruising down her side, speaking to her quietly.
Velrin finishes stitching, cleans up her work, and applies a bandage. Then she gets up to wash her hands before moving onto the next patient.
[Iphindra]: A- absolutely not. *She comes close to screaming that one, tensing her arms. The plants that cover her begin reaching for the ground, taking progressively more space around.* I don't w- want that! My family's training is more than enough!
Iphindra her hands turn into fists, and after glaring at Celaven for a moment, she lets out a noise of frustration and leaves the room for a moment.
Celaven raises his eyebrows and sighs, murmuring reassurance to the woman before he turns to Velrin.
[Celaven]: She doesn't seem to like learning, does she?
[Celaven]: That was… your healer? I thought she was the one I saw with your group.
Velrin frowns, "I'm not sure what to say… She was on my previous squad as well. She always seemed so kind and friendly."
Celaven frowns in thought. "When I waved to you before, she made a show of turning away. Have I ever met her? I don't remember meeting her."
Velrin ponders for a moment, "I'm not sure… I have noticed she seems to get nervous around other kaldorei… I guess I can relate to that…"
[Celaven]: I'm starting to form a picture. You know my half-sister Florande? She had a friend who might have been in a similar situation.
[Velrin]: Oh? What do you mean?
[Celaven]: Rissa was her name. She was raised away from other kaldorei, by two mothers. They wanted her to be a druid, and in those days, it wasn't allowed.
[Celaven]: She, though, was curious about the Circle, and about other kaldorei…
[Velrin]: I see… So you think that maybe she's just nervous about meeting new people?
[Celaven]: Maybe? But she seemed… angry. *Celaven narrows his eyes, glancing after where Iphindra has gone, and then looks back to Velrin searchingly.* Do you have any insight, perhaps?
Velrin purses her lips, "Maybe? I know that my parents are really important to me. If… well if someone said they wanted to train me in a new type of archery I'd turn them down probably, because I want to stay as close to the way my mother taught me as I can."
Iphindra silently comes back into the room. She goes back to the patient she was trying to help before storming out. There's this this tense aura around her, but she manages to guide the plants to that patient's wounds.
[Celaven]: I hope you would express yourself as calmly as you just did, wouldn't you?
[Velrin]: Well… *Velrin looks down and scrubs her hands with a guilty look on her face*
Celaven smiles fondly and glances back to Iphindra to see what she's doing.
Iphindra does turn her head at their words. She turns her head back very quickly pretending she wasn't listening. She moves onto the next patient.
[Velrin]: H-how has your work been otherwise, though?
[Celaven]: It's been going… well. *Celaven says a little reluctantly.* The Nerubian poison is truly vicious. We have the process of distilling the antidote down now, but still…
[Celaven]: Be careful, will you?
Iphindra suddenly turns to the two of them. "I- I'm sorry." Speaking those words seem to cost her, somewhat.
[Velrin]: I will, darling. *she brushes Ven with her shoulder as she makes her way to the next patient.*
Celaven smiles after her, and then looks at Iphindra, startled by the words. "I'm sorry?"
[Iphindra]: I'm sorry. *She repeats, lower this time.* I- I don't know what happened.
Celaven looks a little confused. "Why you got angry?"
Iphindra nods.
Velrin listens to their conversation while she works, smiling at Ven's calm, gentle demeanor.
[Celaven]: I didn't mean to make you angry. I only thought to offer positive things.
[Iphindra]: The Kaldorei… um… especially man ones, and even more the druid ones… they make me… *She looks up, clenching her jaw. She touches her shoulders, evaluating how her own body is reacting.* Everything… closes off. I become…
[Iphindra]: solid.
[Celaven]: Solid?
[Celaven]: I'm not sure what that means.
Iphindra nods. "L- like…" She sighs, exasperated. "My shoulders are solid and they don't move. My fingers curl together and become s- solid. My fee- feet, they push on the ground. Solid too. And my ears they…" She touches her ears. "They point to the sky…"
[Iphindra]: And they feel hotter. But it's not a fever!
[Celaven]: That sounds like… anxiety? Anger? Perhaps a combination of the two.
[Celaven]: But Velrin doesn't make you feel this way? *Celaven's ear twitches, and he shoots a glance over towards Vel.*
Velrin keeps focused on her patient but perks an ear up to listen.
[Iphindra]: I do- don't know what it is, but I don't like it! *She turns to Velrin, considering that question.* A… a littl- less. My shoulders are still s- solid, though.
[Celaven]: Can I ask you to do something? To try to… melt the solid.
Iphindra puts her hands back on her opposite shoulders. "I don't kn- know how to. I don't know why I get like that!" She looks genuinely confused.
[Celaven]: Try to lower your shoulders, imagine something that makes you feel happy. And breathe in slowly… count to four… and release it slowly. And see… if the solid starts to melt, at least a little.
Velrin smiles and hums, following along with Ven's instructions even though they aren't meant for her.
Iphindra frowns angrily at him. She looks at the infirmary. Maybe… she can try that for the patients' sake. She closes her eyes, going away from this place for a moment. She tries taking deep breaths, but they sound more like sighs. At least at first.
Iphindra she seems to begin counting in her head, as her breathing slows down. She keeps her hands on her shoulders. She takes another deep breath and looks at Celaven, almost with puppy eyes. "Maybe a little."
Celaven waits, seeming in no rush to get to the endless hurt and sick.
[Celaven]: A little. *Celaven smiles.* Then I'm glad it helped. I don't like feeling solid either.
Iphindra doesn't smile back. "But…" Her shoulders and the plants around her visibly tense again. "Saying you can ha- have me learn with the Circle, th- that's not a positive thing!"
[Celaven]: I only suggested it, as something you might want to explore. Learning new things does not always mean you have to accept them.
Velrin speaks up quietly, "No one said that you had to. He was just offering in case maybe you wanted to." she looks over her shoulder and smiles, "You've been an excellent healer on the squad, so your family's teaching has served you very well."
Iphindra takes a step back. Although she's the one closest to the exit door, she looks from one to the other like a cornered animal. "I- if I'm excellent, I don't see why I would want to! I don't n- need to learn to shapeshift, or other things the Circle does!"
[Celaven]: You don't need to. *Celaven agrees, taking a step back like he's afraid he's going to frighten the skittish animal. Maybe she's a deer.*
[Celaven]: As Velrin said, in case you want to.
[Iphindra]: No rea- reason to want that!
Iphindra staggers back, her legs going from solid to wobbly, all of a sudden.
[Velrin]: It's ok Iphindra. We aren't forcing you. I'm sure you have your reasons.
Celaven nods, not moving towards her. "No one's forcing you to do anything."
Iphindra looks at them, her face quickly switching from anger, fear and exhaustion. She staggers further back, and falls back, the plants in her hair growing and reaching the ground before she does to soften her fall.
Celaven was starting to turn away towards the next patient when Iphindra falls. He turns back around in alarm, moving to her side.
Velrin finishes with her patient and goes over to Iphindra, kneeling at her side next to Celaven, "Are you alright?"
The plants' colors begin to fade, however, and some begin shriveling up.
Iphindra leans forward, placing her hands on the ground. "I- I… It's since… I connected to the nearby sick land, to s- see what it was like…"
[Iphindra]: When I— I stand near for too long it ta- takes my energy… *Her breath is shaky.* It was better after we went t- to the Emerald Dream, but…
Velrin frowns and reaches out a hand to rub her back, but stops herself before she can commit all the way, waiting for her approval.
Celaven looks over Iphindra carefully, but doesn't move to touch her. "You connected with the… sick land… here?"
Iphindra doesn't react to Velrin's attempt to touch her.
[Iphindra]: I was- It was during our mission. Th- the others wanted to know… how it w- was before. *She curls up into a ball as the plants around her keep losing their colors.*
Velrin continues and rubs Iphindra's back, hoping that it will help, "And we are all very grateful to you for telling us."
[Celaven]: This might be something you… *Celaven hesitates.* Have you contacted your family?
The plants still alive says: slither protectively all around her, weakly covering Velrin's hand.
Iphindra shakes her head. It's almost imperceptible. "T- they don't have letterboxes. I have- haven't gone back to Kalimdor."
[Celaven]: Do you need to take a break, go back?
[Iphindra]: I'm n- needed here…
[Celaven]: The only other people I would know to suggest for help are… not people you're interested in talking with.
[Celaven]: Can you detach from the land?
[Iphindra]: I don't want th- their help… I just… I can go back to Dalaran to r- rest. Away from that lan- land. *She attempts to get up, helping herself with one of the nearby beds. She barely stands on her legs.* I'll come back when I'm better ag- again.
Velrin frowns, seeing more of herself than she would like to in Iphindra right now, "Well is there anything we can do to help you feel better?"
[Iphindra]: I haven't been able t- to sever the tie between me and that land since. When I c- come back, it reaches for m- me. But… *She sighs.* A little is okay.
[Celaven]: That land is… I don't think it's something you want to let stay connected to you.
[Velrin]: I know it's hard to let go, believe me. But… *Velrin is a little lost for words herself*
Celaven reaches over to rest his hand on Velrin's shoulder.
Iphindra weakly begins takes a few steps towards the exit. "I- I can let go of the land. It- it's the land that latch at the lif- life I bring…"
[Iphindra]: I- I'm going to find a mage. For a portal to Dalaran. To the shi- shield.
Iphindra moves so slowly, she doesn't look like she's going to be out of that infirmary any time soon.
[Velrin]: Do you need help finding one? I-I can go and fetch a mage for you.
Celaven stands. "Iphindra, as a healer, you need to take care of yourself first. Do you understand?" Celaven nods at Velrin.
Iphindra falls back to her knees - softly this time, as she holds onto a nearby bed. "Please… Finding a ma- mage is a good idea…"
[Iphindra]: I- I take care of myself… I rest…
Velrin nods and dashes out of the room to go and find a mage.
Celaven takes a breath, but doesn't approach her. "I think… you may need a healer yourself. Maybe… a shaman could try to break your connection?"
[Celaven]: I could shield you, but it won't last long.
[Iphindra]: M- maybe…
[Iphindra]: G- go. There are the patients who need h- help. I wi- will be in Dalaran soon..
Celaven brings forth a shimmering shield of Light around Iphindra.
[Celaven]: Promise me you'll ask someone. A shaman.
Velrin returns with a mage in tow, "Here Iphindra. I found one."
Iphindra nods. It's a very small nod.
Celaven looks gratefully at Velrin, and steps back, letting the mage do their work.
Iphindra smiles weakly at the non-Kaldorei face. "Please, o- open a po- portal…"
The definitely non-Kaldorei mage says: Immediately. *They grab a runed stone and begin tracing sigils in the air, blue magic swirling around them.*
Velrin's ears droop and she looks at Iphindra with pity, "Please make sure to get plenty of rest, ok?"
Iphindra nods at Velrin.
[Iphindra]: I- I will be better for our next mission…
[Velrin]: I'm glad to hear it.
Celaven nods, watching her pass through the portal to the safety of Dalaran.
As the portal opens right in front of Iphindra, she reaches for it, and disappears on the other side.
Celaven looks back to Velrin. "You'll keep an eye on her? She's not well."
[Velrin]: I will. I didn't know that being in Northrend was taking such a toll on her…
The mage stays there, a little awkwardly, not aware of the whole situation. They clear their throat. "Well… are you going to tip for the portal, or will she?"
Celaven nods, his ears drooping. "Beyond that, I don't know how to help her, unless she decides she wants help."
[Velrin]: We… we can't force her to leave and rest, but… is it right to let her stay here? *memories of her time in Outland come to mind*
Celaven blinks. "Oh, oh. Yes, sorry." Celaven gives the mage a gold piece.
[Celaven]: I see the same parallels you do, love.
The mage nods politely and pockets the coin in their robe. They exit the scene. This thing isn't their problem anymore.
Velrin inches forward and stands closer to Ven.
[Celaven]: If you can find a way to reach her, then maybe we can shift this to a better path
[Velrin]: Maybe… I hope so…
Celaven reaches forward to clasp Velrin's hand briefly. "Now, though, I think there are others who still need our help."
Velrin takes a deep breath to steady herself, "Right."
Celaven turns back to the busy infirmary, ready to heal.
Velrin washes her hands again and gets ready for the next patient.