Author: Alairia, Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2019 2:25 PM, Post Subject: Self-Care [P]

While walking down the short hall her hand lightly trailed along the edge of the table against the wall. Paintings covered the home of the small family, and whenever Alairia looked at them it made her smile. Despite the hardships that the Balatro family had been through they had managed to make something worth the work. She could remember the first time they had come to Mamlak to open the shop. It had taken time and effort of their mother to get the money together. The home had been empty and in disrepair. Now it was full of light, love and laughter. Ria glanced over her shoulder as she moved to the kitchen to see Aarek taking in the sights of her home. Her chin turned back to hide the small grin on her face.

”Thank you,” she responded rather bubbly. Now that the main part of her job was over for the day, she could relax. Dae was to return at any moment from his mission and could take over the sales portion of the shop. ”You are actually in luck to see it clean. Usually we are a drop and move kind of family. Come into a room, drop whatever we have, and then move on.” Ria laughed lightly when they transferred to the kitchen where Syn was working on her latest concoction.

It smelled hearty and full of flavor. The young healer pressed her lips together to keep herself from laughing at the delight and excitement that was written all over Aarek’s face. She handed over the bread and found herself a perch on the dinner table to stay out of the way. As she picked at her own slice, Ria watched with great amusement as the bard tried to contain himself. The healer wrinkled her nose with a smile at Kassia.

The sphinx tilted her head to side slightly, and looked at the young man with a knowing smile. - “Our Alairia does not bring people back often to the home. You must be special. You will sit down and enjoy a hot meal to rest. Your little companion will need something as well.” – She gave a knowing nod to the pair before turning to gather some more plates. Tail swished side to side as she worked. Ears twitched as he put the potential of questions out. Ria swung her legs back and forth while sitting on the dining room table to see how Syn would respond.

- “You may ask your questions; I don’t mind. I like to see curious minds, and it is certain that you have a very curious one,” – she finally laughed. - “Relax child. You and your little one are welcome in this home. Take a seat where Ria has not placed her ass.” – With the sharp look and tone that moved the healer to hop down to find her own seat quickly. She may have aged, but there were still quite a few things she still could not get away with.

”Harsh.” Alairia rolled her eyes before motioning to the seat across from her for Aarek to take. ”You can ask whatever you want. She doesn’t mind people asking. Actually, Syn enjoys it since it means she has new people to talk to.” Legs were crossed and tucked under her in the chair just as Syn brought over the plate of meat that had been freshly taken off the fire. Another plate was put down of cooked vegetable variety to select from. ”Thank you Syn!” She motioned with her head for Aarek to take what he wanted on his plate. Ria took a few cubed pieces of meat to pop them immediately in her mouth. - “So, what is it you wish to know?”- Syn was now sitting on her haunches with wings flat against her back.

Author: Aarek_Lin, Posted: Tue Jan 8, 2019 8:11 PM, Post Subject: Self-Care [P]

Eyes alight with new warmth, Aarek followed Alairia to the back. He did think it a bit strange to be so casually invited into her family's home, but he felt curiously drawn there. Clearly, a lot of love was felt within the Balatro family. Just the atmosphere welcomed newcomers in with an air of joy. Portraits of the place's inhabitants were scattered practically everywhere, evoking a small smile at young pictures of his hostess. A small pang hit his heart. Sometimes he yearned for his childhood to have been different, yet this feeling was something new. He missed the orphanage. More than that, he missed having somewhat of a family.

His gaze traveled across the room, landing on Alairia, and he grinned again. "Your home is lovely," he commented softly as he adjusted the frame of his glasses.

Once they entered the kitchen, his attention immediately caught on the sphinx at the center of the room. Aarek couldn't even begin to hide his excitement. He accepted the bread from Alairia, but his eyes never left the chef. Kassia bristled in anticipation. Luckily, she at least knew well enough to not pester strangers with enthusiastic twits, no matter how much she might have wanted to.

"Pleasure to meet you, Syn," he greeted with a shake of her paw. "Yes, Ria's definitely very talented. Thank you both for your kindness. It feels like forever since I've had a fresh meal." If it weren't for the buzz of questions swarming his mind, Aarek would've gone into a longer speech of gratitude. His bird companion relaxed a little when he didn't. "Sorry, you must forgive me, but I've never met a sphinx before! There are so many things I'd like to ask you."

The intrigue in his voice was obvious. Subtlety had never been one of his strong suits, anyways. But as always, Kass was right there to snap him back to reality. Sharply, the songbird pecked his cheek, and he visibly winced. He got the message, though. Aarek stepped back to give the cook some space, reaching a hand to the back of his neck. "Only if that's okay, of course, ma'am."

Author: Alairia, Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2018 1:07 PM, Post Subject: Self-Care [P]

A smirk crossed her face as Aarek finally did not fight her on the concept of payment. She was a stubborn just as her entire family was found to be. Even if they were not blood related, the qualities were still there. She continued to smile while her patient followed direction. Slight fingers reached out to take the coin from atop the table to place it in the pouch at her waist. ”We thank you for your patronage,” she responded with a slight mocking tone. Alairia was not one to have many friends, and she was seeing that he was a possibility. Hopefully he would visit even without an injury in the future.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see that Aarek was in a mild panic for the emotional state she was in. It was sweet for him to worry but it had not been his fault. Ria rarely voiced her feelings even to her family as she had done well to hide them from everyone. What concerned her the most was that the half-elf had a problem with his nerves. She was doing nothing to help make sure that he stayed on an even level in those regards.

The healer patiently waited hoping that he would take the offer of food. She was curious if he had eaten anything of proper nutrition, though it was half doubted considering the standings out on the streets. A small giggle escaped her as the growl of his stomach became audible. ”That would be a resounding support to the prospect of food,” she continued to half laugh. Again he blushed. Alairia turned around to lean back against the table to face the outer wall. Hazel eyes glanced over the stocked shelves that were kept in order to the point of obsession. ”Syn will be happy to give you some of her cuisine. She hasn’t had much opportunity to cook for the full family recently with all the travel.”

Alairia pushed away from the counter to walk over to the door in the back. ”Come, my new friend.” Hand turned the knob to reveal the home that belonged to the Balatro’s. ”Welcome to my family’s home. Syn will be in the kitchens. Come.” She moved through the hall to where it opened up to the living space. It was moderately decorated with items, but what could be most noted were the portraits upon the walls and table tops. Teu, Alairia’s mother, did not want to lose a moment as the children had grown quickly. She would spend what money was available to document those moments in time.

She directed Aarek to follow her into the kitchen where stood a sphinx. The creature was working on a dish while standing on her back lion legs. Meat was sizzling upon the fire to put a wonderful auroma in the air. ”Syn, I was hoping you had some food for our guest here. He is looking forward to meeting you as well.” Ria smiled as she moved to the countertop to grab a piece of bread. An extra slice was gathered and handed over to her new friend. Syn turned around while setting aside her task. -Welcome to our home,-“ the sphinx state pleasantly. The female half lion dropped to her four legs and walked over to offer a paw in a shake. ”-I trust you have been taken care of well? I already notice the bandages that are Ria’s work. May health find you quickly.”-

Author: Aarek_Lin, Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2018 7:20 PM, Post Subject: Self-Care [P]

Aarek huffed a bit at her insistence that he not pay fully, but he didn't challenge her. For a young woman, she apparently had quite the stubbornness when it came to her decisions. And who was he to argue with a lady?  "Yes, ma'am," was his only response. He bit down a smirk as he diligently removed a silver coin from the pouch, sliding it over to her. His mood was lighter than it had been since arriving in Mamlak.

At least, until Alairia appeared to sink at his compliment. Oh no. Her words were quieter, and clearly portrayed a subject that she wished to avoid. Oh no. He hadn't meant to upset her. Panicking slightly, he opened his mouth, but no words came out. Aarek was ready to issue an apology for dredging up her past. Questioning her about any of that immediately went out the window. But just as soon as the cloud over her had appeared, her smile lit up her face once more. He sighed audibly in relief, but remained cautious about his word choice. The last thing he wanted was to make his healer feel sad.

He raised an eyebrow at her mention of the worker in the kitchen. So, she wasn't here completely alone. That was good, anyways, in case something were to happen, gods forbid. Food actually did sound rather nice. Aarek had been on the road for so long, he honestly couldn't remember the last time he'd had a balanced meal. As if on cue, the half-elf's stomach let out a loud and rather embarrassing grumble. Redness exploded on his face, the blush obvious even with his sunkissed skin. 

"Ah, yes…" he chuckled a bit nervously, but the warmth soon faded from his cheeks. It was hard to stay uncomfortable in the other's soothing presence, which he was grateful for. "Well, maybe it has been a while since I've eaten a proper meal." The smile morphed into something more genuine, and he fidgeted with the rim of his glasses.

"I'm not particular, miss. Anything is fine, really," he answered honestly. Kassia made a noise somewhat akin to "tsk" on his shoulder, but he just rolled his eyes. The songbird was always trying to get him to be more pushy. Yet, Aarek was perfectly content with his way of living life. Besides, if the meal was free, then what right did he have to make demands? None. "Please, whatever your cook wants to make is fine. And I'd love to meet her, so I can thank her, if that's alright?" He tacked on the last part as a question, unsure of how things were done here. In most taverns, he would go to the back and personally thank whoever had cooked his meal, since they often didn't get recognition. But he was unsure of whether or not that was okay here in Mamlak.

Author: Alairia, Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2018 1:08 PM, Post Subject: Self-Care [P]

His reaction to her kindness made her laugh silently. Alairia was not good when it came to charging patients who were in great need. She did pride herself on the ability of reading others. He was one that was in need of help and support. Ria was privileged to have been adopted by Teu and the Balatro family. Things could have gone quite differently for the orphan if her biological parents had not been friends with Teu and the family. When and if she could, the young healer would help who she could. She wondered if he would allow her to show him such a kindness, but there was doubt in her heart that he would allow her to do so. Either way, she would find some additional way to help the injured half-elf. It was the least she could do considering he was providing her the best company yet.

Hazel gaze glanced over the woman’s shoulder to see the bird situate herself on her companion’s shoulder. A genuine smile came to her lips before she brought the options for the man to select from. Waiting patiently as the options were considered, Alairia rested her hands upon the table top. Eyes lit up as he made a definitive statement on what he wanted. It was good to see his confidence was growing steadily. She was glad to see it. ”Fine choice for your occupation, Aarek,” she responded. Delicate hands gathered up the unneeded options to put them back in their proper place. If he was traveling, then the balm was certainly the better selection.

When she turned back to look upon him there was a pouch of coin prepared to make payment. Arms crossed over her chest with head titled to the side. She sighed heavily at his insistence to make payment. ”One silver. There, you can now pay me. You still are to have a meal which will help you gain some strength back.” Her tone was an authoritative one where it left no room for argument. She was learning that tone well from her mother.

Alairia gathered up the lemon balm to wrap it up for his use later. She glanced up at him and shrugged at first. ”My mother is a phenomenal teacher. I have been by her side since I was a young child watching and taking part in the healings. I have also been blessed with talents from….well a powerful source.” Her gaze dropped to the floor as she thought about how her and her family had come to Revaliir. Lips pressed tightly together as she attempted to retain her composure. The transition had happened when she was young, but she could still remember the threat and sight of the Void. ”Anyway, thank you kindly for your complements. It is good to know that my patient is pleased with his care.” Her smile returned quickly upon looking at him. The pain eased away, as she turned to join him on the other side of the table.

”So! You are to be given a meal and I would love to know what you would like. We have a talent in the kitchen. She may have an attitude, but her food is not to be denied. When was the last time that you ate? I do not mean to sound rude, but I have a feeling it has been a little bit or at least one that is a hearty meal.”

Author: Aarek_Lin, Posted: Sat Dec 8, 2018 8:00 AM, Post Subject: Self-Care [P]

When she said not to worry about the compensation, his eyebrows shot up so fast he thought his glasses would fall from his face. The generosity was appreciated, but his conscience just wouldn't sit right if he didn't leave her something. So, as soon as her back was turned, he took out a small piece of parchment, his quill, and a pretty flower he'd found sprouting on the side of the street earlier. On the note, he scrawled out a simple "Thank you, Ria", his handwriting elegant even despite his injury. Then, before following her out into the shop, he left both the flower and the note on her work table.

As soon as he moved to join Alairia, Kassia fixated herself once more upon his shoulder. Aarek tilted his head, nodding along with the options she suggested. He'd need something he could apply quickly and easily, especially in times of distress. Chamomile would be a nice relaxer, but he typically didn't have the time or focus to make tea. One time, he forgot he was heating up a pot and ended up tripping over it. That had not been a fun day. Adjusting his glasses, he lifted the lemon balm, which was probably the best of the three choices. "I think this one will be the best," he stated with an air of decision. Grinning playfully, he added, "But please, let me pay for this one, mi– Ria." Saying her name was going to take some getting used to.

Gently, he removed his pouch of silver from his backpack and placed it on the counter, waiting on her to name the price. As he did, his copper eyes floated around the room. It was a nice little shop, and the customers milling about told him that it must've had quite the reputation. Invariably, though, his gaze would always return to Alairia. He smiled warmly at her kindness.

"You must be very capable for your family to trust you here alone," he mused, breaking any silence. His brows knitted together in curiosity. "Not that I had any doubts. But in case no one else tells you, you're doing a marvelous job." On the last bit, his voice lilted happily.

Aarek reached up to tuck a few strands of hair back into his ponytail, fingers brushing against Kass as he did so. The bird chirped indignantly, but he paid her no mind. She had a tendency to get irritable if he didn't talk to her every minute or so. It was a little amusing, to be honest. But he was in the middle of a conversation, and to break away would be rude.

Author: Alairia, Posted: Fri Dec 7, 2018 12:26 PM, Post Subject: Self-Care [P]

A sympathetic wince flashed across her face as she set his bone. Alairia could read the pain on his face, though he did a wonderful job of holding down his pain. She looked at him with a gentle smile as she worked on wrapping the bandage around his arm. Hopefully, the bone would settle quickly with her ministrations and not cause him further issue. The healer was concerned for his ability to stay out of trouble in the city. Though it was a wealthy city, there was a slight culture shift with the war that had descended upon the streets. There were people more ample to put their needs over those of others. Money was a little tighter in the lower ends to make for sour personalities.

Gaze was kept upon her work; she could feel him watching her that sent a heat to her cheeks. Words did not falter even though her usually solid nerves were put on edge. Ria was surprised at her nerves starting up, but pushed the thought aside. She continued to explain the shop and her family the best she possibly could considering how complicated their situation truly was. The half elf did not even bring up the topic of her grandfather who was Strength’s Authority. It was better to keep it simple unless they decided to deepen their conversation. Inwardly she hoped that they would talk longer since his company was more than welcomed to her.

A pleased grin came upon her lips as she watched him test out his arm. There seemed to be no pain associated with the movement. She could not hold back the small sigh of relief. Little doubt was had for her work, but this time she was more anxious to make sure that her patient was healed. Alairia pressed her lips tightly together to keep from bursting out in laughter at his over enthusiastic approval of her skills. Smile was given with a small shake of her head while turning away. She didn’t want to laugh, but it was hard not to when someone was behaving so sweetly. She needed to remain somewhat professional. ”Well, I am glad to hear it! And now miss…please just Ria is fine. That’s what my stepfather calls me.”

Hands were put to work to clean up her mess. She reorganized her things as she heard the groan in his voice about the silver. Taking in a breath, Ria turned back to look at Aarek and tilted her head. ”You know what? Don’t worry about the compensation. You still get the meal, but don’t worry about paying me for today. Just please don’t tell my mother,” she said with a smile and wink. The young woman carried her tray back to the work table to begin putting things away. ”You can play your flute without concern. You may find some strain since the muscles were agitated with the break and then resetting….but it should not be too bad. Take enough rest as your body tells you.” She finished putting things away while talking to him over her shoulder. Ria needed to compose her face before turning back around to look at him.

Once she finished the healer went to pull back the curtain to allow view of the entire shop and her customers. A few had appeared, but she knew them to be regulars to restock their home stores. When he asked the question it was not entirely a surprise, but she lifted her brows in thought. ”Yes, actually there are a few things that could help you. Some of the options are not well conducive for those that travel.” She beckoned him with a finger to follow her over to a shelf in the back. ”Chamomile tea is a great option if you enjoy tea and can make it easily. There is also lavender, which I do have a fresh batch I made up just the other day. And lastly there is lemon balm that can help in a pinch.” She pulled the different options and placed them on the table top nearby to show each to him. ”Lavender is wonderful when used as aromatherapy, and can help when taken orally. Lemon balm can be applied and generally helps swiftly. Myself, I love the aroma combined and they help me sleep at night after a rough day.”

She smiled pleasantly at him and pushed the options towards him. ”Which do you think would be best for you? Or would a combination be more helpful do you think? It depends on when your nerves tend to flare up on you.”

Author: Aarek_Lin, Posted: Wed Dec 5, 2018 2:39 PM, Post Subject: Self-Care [P]

She'd been right when she said there would be a sharp pain before the relief, and it took his entire willpower to not yelp at the snap. But, as promised, the half-elf began to feel much better. A sigh of gratitude left his lungs, loud enough for Kassia to cock her head and look at him for a moment. He smiled at the songbird as if to reassure her of his health, then went back to observing the girl. Seeing her wrap the bandage was almost therapeutic, and he struggled to focus on her words.

Aarek's gaze never left Alairia as she worked, partly because he was nervous, admittedly, but also because the girl was so intriguing. That she was left to look after the shop on her own spoke volumes about her capability. And what did she mean by her mother's "mate"? There were only a few species he knew of that went by those terms, and she resembled none of them. Unless, of course, she was some sort of shifter. He knew wolf species sometimes had that ability. But then, she appeared to be an elf of some nature. Before he could question her further, she had moved on. Still, he tried not to look disappointed and instead hopped to his feet. Stretching his arm out in front of him, he nodded in approval. Though, he wasn't exactly qualified to say whether it was a good job or not. He decided it was excellent.

With a toothy grin, he turned back to Alairia and gave her a thumbs up. "I feel so much better! Thank you, miss," he said appreciatively, adjusting his glasses. But he faltered slightly when she said he'd get a meal, and he suddenly had a thought come to his mind.

"Oh, ma'am, I'm so sorry, I never even asked how much silver…" Aarek just groaned, rubbing a hand across his face. He'd have enough to pay her, certainly, but then that meant he'd need to earn a bit more for a room at an inn. Camping was always an option, even though it wasn't very comfortable, and he'd have to sleep in the forest. Oh, well. Clearing his throat. he tilted his head and studied his bandaged arm. "Do you think I could play my flute, or would that be too much strain?" The task of holding up his instrument wasn't difficult, so surely that would be okay.

A few moments passed, and his thoughts wandered over to the shop, where he'd noticed people browsing different herbs and such. An idea had formed in his mind, although he was almost embarrassed to ask the girl. She'd done so much for him, already, but he knew that it would be better to ask than to not. "And, um, if it isn't too much trouble, does your shop have anything to help calm nerves? Or even a simple emotion suppressor might help." Surprisingly, his voice was completely steady, like his body knew that this request was an important one.

Author: Alairia, Posted: Mon Dec 3, 2018 1:36 PM, Post Subject: Self-Care [P]

Alairia chuckled at the enthusiasm over the seed from the bird companion. ”It looks like Kassia was indeed hungry.” She looked upon the bird with another laugh before getting back to her supplies. The young healer was nervous about setting the man’s arm. He was a little shy…more than a little shy, and she did not want to make it even worse. He seemed to be handling the information well enough for the time being. Most men were able to put on a brave face for her until it came to the actual re-set part or stitches being put in. She felt bad for the pain that had to be inflicted in order to bring future relief.

Thankfully their conversation could be on something pleasant for a few moments as she prepared to handle his injury. ”That is quite a distance! I have not had the fortunate happenstance to travel yet. I wish to at some point.” Her hands stopped stacking the rolled gauze when he spoke of his thoughts being ridiculous. ”I don’t think that it was a ridiculous path of thought. They are beautiful and such wards have special abilities. I use them in healing when magic is necessary. People do not always realize how important symbols and words are. You don’t know if they have helped keep you from greater harm than you have run into. They could be working.” She smiled at him before moving closer to him.

She gently lifted his hand to hold his arm level, yet low enough to not put weight on the injured bone. ”That is good to hear and that you know is even better. I have some patients that cannot have magic used upon them. It takes longer, but at least I don’t cause further damage. My soon to be stepfather is one of those.” Lightly her fingers traced his skin from wrist up to find the injury. A lump in the muscle had begun to form with a bruise that was already beginning to form. ”There will be an ample hematoma if we don’t use magic. Nothing anything too worrisome, but it can be painful and last a while. There is no need for anything to linger for unnecessarily.”

Alairia held his arm where it was broken with one hand on top and the other beneath. Out of the corner of her eye she could notice him taking in her form as if attempting to figure her out. The young healer could not help but smile as he began to ask his questions and shyness making it even more amusing. Redness had begun to color his face and neck that she found even more adorable. ”I don’t mind your questions…you aren’t the first. You are the first to ask in such a cute way though, so I can indulge.” She laughed softly while making sure her hands were properly set. ”First, I need you to take a breath and exhale on my signal. There will be a sharp pain that will radiate with heat, but then it should feel a little better.” Now green eyes locked with his and then nodded to have him take the breath. Hands shifted just enough to put proper pressure. An audible snap came into the room to indicate that the bone was in place. The healer put a hand on his shoulder quickly to help steady him if it was a little more than he was ready for.

”It’s all in place now. I will be doing a minor healing spell to help speed up the process, but natural healing is the best for it to truly stay healed.” Alairia sat on her stool again and used a spell that cooled his heated skin. Once that was completed she began to put a salve on his arm to help with pain to be followed by the wrap. ”What you heard was true about this shop. My mother opened it with myself and my brother. We are not from this land, but my mother is an extremely talented healer. I have learned from her. I have the talent and interest like her. I’m not as good, but I hope to one day.” She turned for a moment to get another roll of bandage material. The wrap was just tight enough to keep pressure on the bone to keep it from moving. Her healing would keep it from being an issue and still be usable while it did the last part of the healing process naturally. ”My mother is Teu Balatro, and my brother is Dae. They are currently on a home visit for an older patient. Mother’s mate is handling business for his family out of town. So it is just me for now in the shop.”

The healer pushed back on her stool to look back at her work. With a satisfied nod, the woman stood up with arms crossed over her chest. ”How does that feel? You can move it and use it as needed. I just caution against too much rough use. The bone is only half healed right now…the bone is reconnected. No more falling down, ok? Oh and you get a meal as well to help you get some strength.”

Author: Aarek_Lin, Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2018 5:17 PM, Post Subject: Self-Care [P]

Relief washed over his features when Alairia didn't question his story. He knew he was an awful liar, but that wasn't his fault. And she seemed kind, at least if her gentle features were anything to go by. His admiration only increased when she offered seed to Kassia. The bird chirped and wasted no time in flitting over to the bowl. A small laugh left his lips, and he thought to himself that, yes, she was indeed his companion– not a pet. "Go easy there, Kass. Don't wanna eat too fast." His soft chides were deliberately ignored.

Turning his attention back to the healer, he lightly traced the runes decorating his injured forearm. A sincere smile lit up his face. "Oh! I got these a few years back, in Itjivut," he explained, thinking back on the memory fondly. It had been when he'd first struck off on his own. Back then, he hadn't realized just how big of a problem his anxiety would be out in the world. He was a generally more optimistic person, and he missed being able to think like that. To think that, no matter what, everything would be okay. "There was an elf there who specialized in these sorts of tattoos, and I thought– and this is ridiculous, I know– but I thought that the words would ward of sickness, or… evil, or whatever, I don't know." Aarek moved his free hand to scratch at his collarbone, a bad habit he had yet to break.

When she stated her skill in setting bones, his eyes widened in excitement and curiosity. She looked… well, simply put, she looked young. At least, too young to have all of this knowledge of healing. He was impressed. Copper eyes floated over her a bit more carefully, now, as he answered her questions.

"My body handles magical healing well, so there shouldn't be any problems there. Don't worry about being, er, forceful? If you have to be." He winced a bit at his own bumbling speech, though he continued to observe her through the cracked lens of his glasses. There were plenty of his own questions he wanted to ask.

"Um, miss, if you don't mind me asking, how is it you're so skilled at healing?" After a moment, he tried again to rephrase the question. "I– uhm, well, what I mean to say is, er, wh-who taught you? I think I've heard this is a family-run store, yes? Do you like doing this sort of thing? Were you taught from a young age, or did you just recently–"

Aarek cut his rambling off abruptly, his newly embarrassed gaze floating down to his broken forearm. He was sure his face was red as a ruby now, but he pressed on, unwilling to give up. "Uhm, well, maybe you could just tell me who taught you, if that's okay."

Author: Alairia, Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2018 12:25 PM, Post Subject: Self-Care [P]

As she approached the patient she bit her bottom lip slightly as her practiced eye examined him before the meet. Alairia attempted to hide a smile as she saw the nervousness. He was a shy one, and it was an endearing quality. The healer was careful to keep her movements and deliberate. She wanted him to see what she was about to do before it was actually done. He stammered a response which elicited a small laugh from her as she pulled up a chair to sit in front of him. Hands carefully glided over his skin to exam the smallest of reflexes that would indicate the depth of his injury. Emerald gaze took in the sight of his runes that covered his sun-kissed skin. ”These are beautiful! Delicate work,” she commented while continuing to move his arm slowly. ”I don’t get to see this kind of work very often in the city. Only when I am traveling to other sites with my mother and step-father. When did you get them?” Her gaze lifted from his tattoos up to his eyes. Alairia made sure to smile softly in an effort to not startle him any further than he was. She hoped that his nerves would settle soon. The healer felt sorry that she was making him nervous in anyway.

The tonic began to take effect upon her patient to allow for more work to be done. Alairia sat back on her stool and titled her head to the side when he finally gave an answer in regards to the injury. ”Uh huh.” It was a clear lie, but she was not going to push the issue. Alairia had seen these kinds of breaks in the soldiers when they were sparring. Each of them were from sheer force upon the bone that it could not take. ”Well, sir, you are in luck. I am quite skilled in these kinds of breaks and can get you on the path to a speedy mend.” Instinctually, her hand rested gently on his to give a form of reassurance. He was cute in his embarrassment, and was beyond grateful that it was her shift instead of her brother’s. Dae would have made the young gentleman panic and would most likely have become worse.

Alairia stood up from her stool and gave a small bow to Aarek and his companion. ”Well, welcome to you both! I have some seed available if Kassia is hungry. You will get a meal once we finish with your wound. That bone is going to be set unfortunately. The break was not a clean break, and needs to be properly aligned I am afraid.” She moved over to the other side of the shop and pulled out a small bag that was full of the seed. Pouring a helping into a clean bowl, Alairia set it on a nearby table top for the bird if it was hungry. ”We have some companions that frequent our place and keep stock just in case. Having companions during the time of healing helps the process go much smoother.” She smiled at the bird and hoped that the food would be to her liking.

The young healer moved to her healing station and began to collect her supplies. A silver tray began to fill with what was necessary. Another tonic for pain relief was placed upon it that was stronger than the first. Setting bones was a painful process, but she was happy to know it was not a reset. Once her supplies were gathered, Alairia returned to Aarek and set the tray on the long table he was on. Hand reached out to pull back a curtain that would give the pair some privacy as her work was continued. ”Now, I need you to answer some questions. The first is, how do you handle magical healing? Are you resistant? Or does it take well? I need to know the best course after I set the bone.”

Author: Aarek_Lin, Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2018 5:35 PM, Post Subject: Self-Care [P]

Even before she approached him, Aarek had spotted the girl enter the room. There was an air about her that set her apart from the other customers, so it came as little surprise that she worked in the shop. "No, no, it's completely fine! I should've looked or… something," he replied, rubbing the back of his neck with his uninjured hand. No need for her to apologize– she was going to fix him, after all. He noted her pointed ears, wondering curiously if she could read the various runes tattooed on his arms. They didn't say anything fairly deep or inspiring, just prayers of protection and calming words (though now, that seemed a little ironic), but it could still make for some conversation. After all, he was terrible at making conversation. 

As he followed her back to the table, he gently urged Kassia to move to his left shoulder to ensure that the woman could work properly. He struggled to hide a wince when she touched his arm. In the time it had taken to get there, the adrenaline and initial numbness had worn off, leaving him with a throbbing pain coursing through his right forearm. So, when she handed him the glass of tonic, he was immensely grateful. He easily gulped it down, sighing with relief as the drink washed down his throat. But the relief didn't last long when he registered the question she'd asked.

"I, uhm…" he began, voice quieter than before. The biting panic in his chest was already at its limit, and he was sure that mentioning the incident was just going to cause him to have a meltdown. That was the absolute last thing he needed. How would it look if a grown man broke down sobbing and hyperventilating in the middle of a shop just because of a lousy question? No. Aarek shook his head and laughed it off, fingers digging into the table beneath him. The half-elf managed a calm smile. "I'm clumsy, that's all. Fell down some steps going to the market." It wasn't a complete lie, since it was his clumsiness that got him into this mess. Now that he thought about it, he probably had some bruises on his back, but those would heal on their own.

Aarek tilted his head, adjusting his glasses slightly. "I'm very glad to meet you, miss," he greeted politely, his smile becoming more sincere. "My name's Aarek Lin." Feathers ruffled next to him, and he felt a minor pinch at his cheek. "Ow! Ok, ok." Rolling his eyes, he pointed at the bird on his shoulder. "And this is Kassia." The bird crooned happily in what could've been seen as pride. He chuckled a bit at her silliness. When his eyes found Alairia's once more, his tension had begun to ease. "She says to thank you, I think. I'm not really sure, quite frankly. But even so," he paused, closing his eyes with a wide smile, "Thank you, miss."

Author: Alairia, Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 3:11 PM, Post Subject: Self-Care [P]

Clean up from the invaders had taken longer than anyone had properly anticipated. Buildings and business could be rebuilt, but it was the people that needed the additional time. That meant that the healers were put on longer hours than they usually did during times of peace. Alairia lifted her head from the washing bowl to look at her face in the mirror. Blonde hair had grown from curls to straight long locks that went down to the middle of her back. Her eyes were constantly changing between green or blue on a daily basis. A white towel was grabbed to dry her face off. It had been a long few weeks, but finally had slowed down to life getting back to normal. The shop was back into its normal pattern with proper stock.

Alairia took another deep breath and released it before pushing away from the table. Nimble fingers reached back to gather her long hair to put it within a loose bun at the base of her neck. She checked her features once more in the mirror that led her to touch the end of her pointed ears. As she grew older they were more of a dominated feature than she had originally thought they would have been. Alairia tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear as she turned away in order to move to the shop. Her family’s home was attached to the shop in the back to allow them quick access to their facility in moments of emergency.

The shop had a few patrons milling about to look for some herbs that they had run out of. None of them appeared to be in great need of assistance, which led her to move towards the side of the shop that had the healing space. Practiced hands began to make new packages of bandages for use later on. She was proud that her mother’s shop had a high foot traffic. Teu and her family were known well amongst the soldiers. Alairia smiled as she thought about how some of the younger guards were kind to her and made sure that when she went to the lower portions of the city that she had an escort. She never told them that she was well-versed in combat, but it was good to know that they cared and wanted to keep her safe from harm. The kind gesture was well received by her brother as well as her mother and soon to be stepfather.

A gentle and slightly nervous voice chirped up as if asking for help. Alairia turned around in her white uniform to see a young man cradling his arm. It was not difficult to read the pain on his face, which moved the young woman quickly over to him. ”Sir, I apologize for the lack of attention. Come with me,” she encouraged him to move to the back of the shop and sit on the table. ”What happened here?” Careful fingers began to gently manipulate the arm and quickly she could tell that it had been broken. Alairia wanted to hear the story from his lips before coming to a conclusion. The first thing to be addressed was the pain he was in. She moved over to the tall cabinet and pulled out a tonic. Pouring a portion into a glass, she handed it over to the patient. ”My name is Alairia Balatro, one of the resident healers. What is your name? Oh, and drink this. It will help with the pain so I can work on this.” She smiled brightly at him in hopes that it would bring some sort of peace to his nerves.

Author: Aarek_Lin, Posted: Mon Nov 12, 2018 10:27 AM, Post Subject: Self-Care [P]

Mamlak, in Aarek's honest opinion, was one of the worst places to be a bard. Not that he held any personal vendetta against the city, but there was a clear lack of appreciation for travelers of any kind. The lower parts of the city were hospitable enough, though they had little to offer in the way of money. So, he had gone higher into the great city, finding spaces where he could play his flute. Although a few people dropped a coin or two into his hat, most shot him suspicious glares and continued on their way. It was almost enough to make him rip his hair out.

By the time the afternoon sun hung lazily in the sky, it had become evident that the corner he'd chosen to play at was getting him nowhere. Heaving a sigh, Aarek ran a frustrated hand through his hair, copper eyes empty in defeat. There were ten coins in the hat at his feet, nothing to justify the hours he'd spent there. A familiar sensation of dread began to eat away at his stomach, and he knew for certain that he was going to have a panic attack later if he didn't calm down soon. He bit down on his fingers and let out a shrill whistle, waiting for the flutter of wings that followed. Kassia was perched on his shoulder in an instant, and his nerves were instinctively relieved. The bright blue songbird was one of his only methods of coping; somewhat impractical, but at least it was something.

As he stuffed his belongings into his backpack, she crooned a melody into his ear, her beak hitting the rim of his glasses every now and then. Eventually, he ventured into the market to find some food, and possibly some birdseed for Kassia. Whenever she went off on her own in the city, he was never sure if she'd be able to find her own food. But she'd definitely let him know if she didn't, whether it be from an impatient squawk or an angry peck. She was busy preening herself at the moment, distracting Aarek as he rounded a corner. The act was cut short by a man much larger than him jabbing his shoulder when they collided. Kassia chirped indignantly, but she wasn't exactly a threat to the man.

Before he could go to apologize, Aarek felt his back slamming into the brick wall. Even that pain was numb compared to the sickening snap and vicious pain that suddenly coursed through his right arm. Slumping to the ground, the half-elf could only think that he had never been so grateful to be left-handed. A few minutes must have passed before he gathered his bearings and took note of the bird insistently nudging his cheek. "'M fine, Kass," he mumbled, checking to be sure the man had left. Once he was satisfied, he removed his pack and began digging through his many scrolls, finally finding the one on Mamlak. Like with every city, he'd made a list of notable shops– blacksmiths, healers, etc. His eyes found one that looked close, and he hefted himself to his feet, very careful not to bump into anyone again. His arm dangled limply at his side, and he thought he was lucky that the skin hadn't broken. A scar would ruin the shimmering white tattoos decorating his forearms.

He found the shop fairly easily, and he stubbornly ignored the anxiety welling in his chest as he pushed the door open. Vaguely taking note of his surroundings, he found himself at a loss of what to do. The stress had made him tired and all he really wanted to do was flop down and not speak to anybody. In his exhaustion, he hadn't even instructed Kassia to wait outside. He ran a palm across his face with an embarrassed laugh before working up the courage to talk. "Um… hello?"