FTEC, Wednesday, Evening Shift [Oct 24]

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan busied himself checking that the exam rooms were stocked as he went around the clinic, trying not to think. He'd been pretty much closed up in his room the last couple of days, just refamiliarising himself with his things, with the space; having been gone for a year, it was simultaneously comforting and disconcerting to see how things had changed so little. Of course, it hadn't been a year, here, just a weekend, but...

But here he was, at the clinic, ready to help anyone who needed it. Or to talk, if anyone wanted to stop by.

Comments

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

Early in the evening, Isabel stopped at the Perk and picked up two Mexican Hot Chocolates (http://southernfood.about.com/od/beveragerecipes/r/bl30220b.htm) then wandered over to the clinic.

Visiting a friend? Checking up on how someone was doing? Same difference.

[not_in_the_book]

"Isabel!" Ronan said, smiling, as she came in. Smiling to cover up feelings of being distinctly out of sync with the world around him? Of course not, why do you ask? "I hope one of those is for me. They smell fantastic."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"No. I'm going to sit here and drink both of them," Isabel told him smugly. An attitude that lasted about ten seconds, then she held one out to him. "Of course it's for you. And I have tabasco if you want extra spice."

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan perked up. "Yeah?" he said, as he took the drink. "I'd love some, definitely." He took the lid off the drink and held it out. "Not, like, burn-your-mouth-off hot, but definitely spicy."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

She pulled the bottle out and added a few drops. "Try that for now. Then you can add more if you want. I don't want to be responsible for destroying your tastebuds." Her own cup? Got a pretty have dose.

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan raised his eyebrow. "You think I'll be satisfied with that?" he said. "C'mon, a little more at least."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"It's your tongue," Isabel laughed as she added some more. "We're definitely going to have to make chili one night. Of course we might be the only people that wind up eating it if we make it too spicy."

[not_in_the_book]

"Chili? Please," Ronan said, taking the cup away and speaking briefly to it to talk the components into mixing. "I'm making a phaal. You have not had curry until you've had a phaal."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I actually haven't had much in the way of curry," she admitted. "Roswell's ethic food choices were kind of limited."

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan stared for a moment. "Seriously?" he said. "Okay, no, I am definitely making a phaal, then. Know anyone else who'd be interested in burning off their tongue? We could make a thing of it."

[izzyalienqueen.livejournal.com]

"I think you should cook and not tell anyone what it is. I'll just sit to the side with a camera," Isabel laughed. "The pictures should be priceless."

[the_merriest]

Okay, she didn't like pestering healers over things that weren't life-or-death, because they had important stuff to do and all of that, but ... she was just about done with this stupid sling keeping her from doing anything and everything she felt like doing. So Wednesday night, Rikku popped down to the clinic.

"Hiya," she said uncertainly. "Is, uh, is it okay if I ... could someone ... ?" She gestured vaguely to the sling.

[not_in_the_book]

"Rikku, hi!" Ronan said. "No, c'mon in. What happened? Looks like you got that looked at already... are you looking for a full healing?"

[the_merriest]

"I don't wanna be a pest," she shrugged. "It was, uh. Me and Mel, we were on patrol on Friday? And her psycho undead brother beat the crap out of us. Uh. More me than her. Guess I suck more than I thought I did. So I'm not dead, and this should be setting or whatever, so it's okay if you don't wanna, it's just ... frustrating?"

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan laughed, just a little. "It's not a problem at all," he replied. "After all, it's what I'm here for! Come on back to the exam room and I can take a look at that for you."

Exam One

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan opened the door. "Just step in here," he said. "I can get that healed up for you quite quickly."

Re: Exam One

[the_merriest]

Rikku smiled. "Thanks," she said, stepping in. "I, uh, just ... didn't wanna use up your mojo in case someone comes in later who's really hurt. But Petey's all squirmy and hard to carry one-handed."

Re: Exam One

[not_in_the_book]

"Nothing to worry about there," Ronan said. "I've got more than enough to handle whatever they can throw at me." He grinned. "Hop up onto the bed, there, I just need to grab something."

Re: Exam One

[the_merriest]

"Okay, then," she said, jumping up onto the bed. "So, uh, are you a White Mage, or a waterbender-thing like Katara is? Or one of the healers here that don't use magic for it?"

Re: Exam One

[not_in_the_book]

"None of the above," Ronan said, coming back over with sterile bandages in hand. "I'm a wizard -- there aren't any more of my particular type here, actually. Basically, I... talk things into doing what I want, up to and including the universe. On a local level, at least." He pulled a knife out of his back pocket, flicked it open; it had obviously seen some use, but looked clean. "I, uh. I need to cut myself for the spell to work -- healing requires blood. It won't really hurt me, or anything, and the spell will heal the cut and clean up the blood, too, but I don't want to freak you out or anything?"

Re: Exam One

[the_merriest]

Rikku sat up a little straighter, eyes concerned. "You're ... this is blood magic? It's okay. I, uh, I don't need my arm fixed. It'll heal sooner or later. I don't want you to have to ..." She flailed a little.

Re: Exam One

[not_in_the_book]

"What? Oh, uh, no," Ronan said. "It's not... not like I think you mean that? The way my wizardry works, part of healing is sharing the pain of the injury with the person you're healing. The blood helps create that connection, that's all. It doesn't last, either, I mean; we won't stay connected afterwards or anything."

For a person whose wizardry relies on words, you'd think he'd be better with them.

Re: Exam One

[the_merriest]

"Oh." Rikku blinked, still hesitant. "You're sure it's not, uh. Dark ... or anything? 'Cause. My arm's fine. And. I did that once, the whole ... candles and sand and blood and, uh, I'm not doing that again. Wow. Bad idea."

Re: Exam One

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan nodded, smiling softly. "Definitely not dark," he said. "It's... I guess it's hard to explain the difference? But... it's definitely not dark."

Re: Exam One

[the_merriest]

"Okay. Then I'll trust you," she said, reaching with her other hand to start taking the sling off. "Do your blood-thing, then. And, uh. Sorry?"