What is Healthy. (M'ren)

[effluo]

Eisu sighed, washing her hands in the washing basin well before reaching for the cloth next to it. Drying her hands, she looked in the reflective glass and tilted her head this way and that to study the structure of her cheeks. Yes, she was loosing weight and at her size she knew it was not healthy. Lifting a hand, she ran her fingers over her cheeks before dropping it with her decision made. She needed meat despite her preference for greens.

Turning to scan the room once more, she made sure each of the few patents were fast asleep before nodding to a young boy who had taken up helping her in the Infirmary. He really had been a great help and she promised both him and herself that she would find him a ride to the Healer Hall for apprenticeship. He showed a talent for it.

Leaving the room, she made her way to the Hall in search for food, hoping there would be something available from the evening meal. She had eaten then, but if she was one of her patents she would have been told by herself to eat extra for the next few sevendays to regain the weight she was loosing. With the sickness passed for the most part, it was time to start worrying about herself again.

Entering the Hall, she helped herself into the kitchen, asking for a bowl of meat stew that there had been available earlier. Sure enough there was some still warm and she left the kitchen with the bowl in one hand and a mug of juice in the other. Finding a seat, she began to eat watching others in the room enjoying the company of each other. It made her wonder what her sister was up to.

[thedreamerlady]

M'ren stumbled into the little room kept neat for those in the Weyr who were awake at odd hours. Well, the WLM didn't exactly stumble. For those who didn't know him well, he looked completely normal.

Someone who knew what they were looking for would know exactly what was wrong with M'ren. The slight whiff of alcohol, the eyes with pupils that were a little wider than usual, the slow, leisurely way of moving.

M'ren sauntered by the hearth, into the kitchen, and returned later with a large roll, probably stuffed with meat, or perhaps fruit. He hadn't asked.

The WLM sat down in a chair, and glanced at the girl across from him. She looked familiar. Eisu wasn't it? The Healer girl who'd helped him Goldrider Neory.

"Evenin' Journeywoman Eisu." He said casually, taking a bite of his roll. Meat. Tasty.

[effluo]

Eisu was surprised to find a familiar brownrider land in the chair across from her. Remembering his name easily, she looked at him with a healer’s calculating gaze before speaking.

“Good Evening Weyrling Master M’ren. Are you celebrating this evening?” Eisu herself had never cared for the taste of alcohol, but it did not mean she did not know the signs of someone who had been drinking. Between her sisters own habits and her training at the Healer Hall, Eisu knew well enough the man had enjoyed a drink this night. As well as she was for spotting the signs of such an endeavor, she never meant she was good at discerning why various people drank.

Taking another sthingyful of her stew, Eisu wondered how much more she could eat. She had never had a large appetite, but with someone to talk to, she might be able to fit a bit more in without realizing it. At least she hoped it would work that way, she needed it to.

“And how is your brown doing? Forgive me, I can’t seem to remember his name.” Eisu blushed as she realized her lack of memory for his dragons name, hoping that the man would not take it as an insult – it had been a disaster when she couldn’t remember one of the ranking bronze riders dragon’s… She shivered at the memory.

[thedreamerlady]

"Celebrating?" M'ren peered at the Healer in confusion. "I haven't a reason to celebrate. Though, A11 will be Graduating soon. That will be a time for celebration." Of course, before then, it would be death from Between, death from Firestoning practice, death from this and that. The final months before graduation were the worst and the best.

Often the worst though.

"Thoth." M'ren said pleasantly. He didn't have a bronze, and for that reason alone, he figured most would have no idea who his dragon was. Now that he was WLM it might change a little, but he doubted it would be a permanent position. "Brown Thoth. He's doing quite well, as it to be expected." M'ren took very good care of his dragon, drunkard or not.

"And how are your studies doing Journeywoman?"

[effluo]

Eisu’s brows furrowed slightly as he mentioned the lack of celebration, her sometimes naive mind leaving her lost for any other reason for someone to drink. She was, thankfully, distracted from that thought as he offered the name of his brown.

“Thoth.” She repeated with a smile. “M’ren and Brown Thoth. I will do better to remember it for next time. I am glad to hear he is doing well.” And she was. Despite how large and intimidating she found the beasts to be, Eisu knew well enough that the health of the dragon could affect the health of the rider even if she didn’t fully understand why or how; Simply that it could. If his Thoth was healthy then so would be M’ren for the most part.

At the mention of her own studies, Eisu sighed putting down her sthingy and picking up her mug to drink from it. “They go as well as can be expected. With the number affected by the Sickness going down I have finally found time to begin my work with my herbs.” Putting the mug down, she rested her chin in her hand leaning on the table.

“I enjoy growing the herbs and after everything I seen with the Sickness I would like to find a better compress for the severe fevers that accompanied it.” She was surprised to find herself speaking of her own interests with a dragonrider rather than a healer from the Healing Hall, but after helping him with Neory she found him an acceptable replacement from the scholars at the Hall.

“Have you ever worked in the Weyr’s herb garden? I’ve worked in the one in the Bowl, but being so far north I’m hoping that I’ll be able to find enough windows and a way to keep the plants warm enough to continue my studies once the frost returns.”

[thedreamerlady]

M'ren shook his head regretfully. His work, first as a candidate, second as a Weyrling, and third as AWLM had never given him much time outside of work. Even with Hamida he'd been working at creating time for the both of them.

"I've never worked with the gardens here. But being from Telgar, I can tell you that most herbs needed can be kept in bowls. Get a sturdy candidate to help you, and you can move them into the sun during the day, and back inside at night." He shrugged. "Otherwise you'd have to spend months trying to get clear windows, as well as a room that has windows that doesn't have people living in it, who won't move out." The WLM smiled impishly.

"As a dragonrider, I have to tell you, the ledges into the sky are definitely a perk." People living in the Lower Caverns had a long waiting list of who got rooms close to the lake, and even fewer of those rooms had a window. Only four or five, if he remembered correctly.

"Though, I'm sure the Healer Hall has it's way of dealing with frost. Fort isn't a tropical location."

[effluo]

“I can see where a ledge would be very nice.” She said, noticing the impish smile and wondering if there was more thoughts behind the words. At the mention of the Healer Hall she nodded. “The Healer Hall was actually built with a whole room devoted to the herb garden. Its wonderful too, with more windows than you can imagine and thick enough to keep the heat in.”

She let a sigh out at the memory of it and watched M’ren a moment. “It’s a pity there aren’t the funds or resources to make a smaller version here at the Weyr.” Quite a moment again she finally let out a visible wince as she sat up again and finished off her juice. “Or to find my way into a room with a window. I would not mind keeping plants in my own room. Unfortunately, I do not warrant the rank for it. Perhaps if I was a Master, but that is a long time off if ever.”

Watching the rider again, she shook her head. “You are lucky they keep the Hall dimly lit at night or you would have a headache with your pupils dilated like that.”

[thedreamerlady]

M'ren blinked, and wisely chose not to ask why she was so fixated on the fact that he'd had something to drink. Okay, it was more than something. But his tolerance had gone up quite a bit, and it wasn't like he was a sloppy drunk. And what was the worst that could happen? Demotion, but that would come soon enough anyway.

"An entire room of glass?" M'ren whistled. That would be mightily expensive. "If you needed a good ledge for your plants let me know. Now that I spend all my time in the office, my ledge is rarely in use." And as a perk of occupying(for now) the WLM rooms meant they were easily accessible from the lake."

Taking another bite of his roll, M'ren chewed, and then asked a question that had begun to bother him.

"Are you going to be working with dragons?"

[effluo]

Eisu raised her eyebrows at the offer of his ledge and she leaned forward resting her chin in her hand again as she considered it. It certainly wasn’t a bad idea and the ledge was an easy one to get to and not a far walk from the Infirmary. His next question shook her out of her thoughts.

Sitting up straight, she put her hands in her lap and looked rightfully surprised at the question. “I… I hadn’t considered the idea to be truthful.” she answered, though her voice was thoughtful. “Master Deavon, with his unique gift, has not seemed to have any problems handling things. I admit, he stays as busy as I, but he has not shown any need of help.”

Eisu tried to picture herself working on such one of the mighty dragons… and paled. “I admit, I still find the dragons to be intimidating.” She spoke, more to herself than to the rider in front of her. Realization that she had spoke the comment out loud took a moment to sink in, but when it did she felt the color return to her face warming it as she looked down. How silly it must sound to be intimidated by dragons when many of the riders were born and raised around them!

[thedreamerlady]

Dragonscared. M'ren thought to himself, feeling pity towards the younger woman. How bereft his life would be if he'd felt the same fear around dragons. His Brown would have Betweened because he hadn't stood, and he would have never met Hamida.

"Having Healers trained in the art of Dragonhealing is a useful resource for any Weyr to have. Training Weyrlings in Healing would be a good idea as well, but where would we get the time from?" M'ren shook his head.

"And, M'dear, to be truthful, you've never really been introduced to dragons at the proper time. Sheluth was half mad because of Neory, and you've probably never been properly introduced to any other dragon. Tomorrow, you should come and meet Thoth. And help me wash him."

Smooth talker? Maybe. Getting free help? Very useful.

[effluo]

Eisu could find no argument to how useful Dragonhealing would obviously be to the Weyr and her own Healing instinct left her with a longing to be able to help in any way possible. It was the thought of the little queen Sheluth that came to mind and left her longing lacking its ambition.

As if he read her mind, M’ren mentioned the little queen and then mentioning his own dragon. Over the past Turn and a half she had been at the Weyr now she had grown use to the idea of sharing the mountain with the dragons, but it did not mean she willingly ventured near or even past them if another option was available. She was not sure how large the Weyrling Master’s brown was, but even so she hesitated.

“It is a nice jesture, M’ren, but surely you have more important things to be doing than introducing me to Thoth.” And terrifying me in the process. she finished without actually voicing the last part. To be truthful, she was surprised she had brought herself to come to the Weyr in the first place, but what other choices did she have at the time?

“And I’m sure Thoth would not want me messing up his hide.” She said afterwards. It was probably obvious, however, that she was attempting to find an excuse to turn down the polite offer.

[thedreamerlady]

"Eisu." M'ren cajoled. "You can't live at the Weyr and have no Dragonfriends!" His face melted into a look of depression. "And being afraid of Thoth hurts me. Also, having a ranking dragon is good because you can use them to calm other dragons. If you were to need to set a greenrider's leg after he broke it dancing, Thoth could keep his Green from raising a ruckus."

A smile. "Besides, Thoth is to lazy to try and scare you. He'd just want scratches. Over the headknobs. But you wouldn't know about Dragons loving that scratched since you've never been around one." M'ren shook his head.

"Honestly, you're in the Weyr. Helping Thoth bath will give you experience you're sure to need in the real world."

Giving up free help? Not going to happen.

[effluo]

Eisu opened her mouth to speak another excuse, but quickly closed it again as his face fell into a sad look. At the mention of his being hurt by her fear made her lower her eyes. Despite her fear, she couldn’t help but agree that M’ren was making a very good point. Even so, with Deavon around to help the dragons, she still wasn’t sure just how much use the experience would be. Obviously it was needed as she was living in the Weyr, but still…

“Well, I guess I could meet Thoth.” She said slowly, still looking down. After a moment she lifted her head quickly and added, “You wash him in the shallows right?”

[thedreamerlady]

She agreed! M'ren couldn't help the smug smile at appeared on his face. He'd known she'd see the light. Besides, Thoth was a superior dragon to most of the one's she'd seen. He might not make her Dragonmad, but she would at least have to agree that they weren't all that bad.

He hoped.

"Well, now that I have a date with a beautiful woman, I should probably go," Sober up "Get some sleep. What time shall I set up Thoth for bathing? And the bathing is done is shallow water. We can go swimming after if you like, though the water is cold." M'ren went swimming, but since he didn't have to yet, he wouldn't.

Once you'd been swimming several years in freezing water, it lost it's appeal.

[effluo]

At the smug smile paired with his words, Eisu felt her face warm to a bright red color. This wasn’t suppose to be a date, this was suppose to be to meet Thoth. Had she missed something? Why would he think that?

Just as her mind began to become confused, he mentioned swimming and she quickly shook her head, her blonde hair falling slightly out of the bun she had done up that morning. “Oh no, we won’t be going swimming. I asked because it has to be done in shallow water, I can’t swim.”

Looking down at her hands, she pondered what time would be best for her to slip out of the Infirmary. “Maybe an hour before the noon meal? How long will it take to wash Thoth?”