Threadscores and Painful Shoulders {Kora/Healer}

[Nick]

Great. Y'xem was trapped in an Infirmary cot because of that Sharding Thread that hit his shoulder. Right now though, he was propped up...the initial cleaning and dressing of the wound had been done a while ago.

Hopefully he would only have to be here a few days. Then he could go to his weyr, much more comfortable. Alduth was there now...thank Faranth he was asleep. Y'xem's only company at the moment was little Bronze Aldin.

Absently he thought about random things and stroked the little fire-lizard. Hopefully the next healer wouldn't be so...rough. His shoulder still pained him from the last cleaning and the score.

[Sparrow]

Tirasha was still annoyed by V'ire, and it probably showed in about everything she did. The nerve he had to kiss her! It wasn't usually her way to linger on things, but it was taking a while to get over that. Threadfall, scores, people and dragons hurt... it wasn't much help, just a distraction from that worry.

And the Weyrleader was scored now. She probably hadn't been her gentlest with anyone who had come in lately, hopefully he wasn't the type to complain about having his injuries fixed up. That hurt sometimes, little as people seemed to realize.

Willow, rested, as usual, on Tirasha's shoulder, chirped as he saw a female he still had some interest in enter the infirmary. That lovely Violet. Perhaps she had turned him down in her first Flight, but the Tan she chose hadn't seemed the slightest bit devoted and have given her duds. Willow still had a chance.

~~~

Lilac returned the greeting from the Bronze, then looked around Kora's neck at little Soot and began telling him about this male. The young Tan didn't look particularly interested, but he didn't interrupt the Violet fire-lizard's tale of her Flight, now told specifically about this one follower.

Kora glanced at the Healer and then Y'xem, ignoring the fire-lizards that perched noisily on each shoulder. "Hopefully this wasn't a bad time?" If a Healer was tending to him right now... maybe she should just visit later.

Mine, you are Weyrwoman, Nayarath reminded Kora drily. Hers could make whatever time a good time, she just needed to get over this need to be submissive.

I know dear heart. But there was no need to interrupt someone who was helping the Weyrleader. Despite that, Kora's question had been more focused towards Y'xem. It struck her as his choice whether he wanted her to visit or wanted to have his shoulder treated... or both at the same time, depending on how the Healer reacted.

[Nick]

Looking up at Kora's voice, Y'xem smiled. " No, no. Come in Kora! It'll be nice to see you, no matter what's going on." He extended his hand to her, the one that wasn't attached to his bum shoulder and laughed a little.

" I can't believe I was so careless as to get scored. How is Nayarath? She wasn't hurt bad was she?"

Aldin perked up at Kora's entrance too. He had always had an attachment to the woman, even though he was Impressed to Y'xem. He fluttered over and took a place on her shoulder to nuzzle her cheek.

[Sparrow]

Kora glanced uneasily at the Healer, who didn't like particularly happy with her appearance, and took Y'xem's hand as she sat down on the cot beside him. Hopefully she would be more out of the way sitting than standing where the Healer might need to go...

"It happens," she assured Y'xem softly. It wasn't usually a matter of being careless, just being in the wrong place at the wrong time. One couldn't see everywhere at once. "Nayarath is fine, it was just a very minor score to the edge of a wingsail. It's practically closed up already, without any treatment but a dab of numbweed." And she had only gotten that because she had been complaining so much about the slight sting.

Soot squawked with surprise as another young fire-lizard landed on Kora's shoulder, intruding on his space. But this was a Bronze, he couldn't chase it off. Lilac could though, and glowered at Aldin. Hers' shoulder was taken. Kora laughed softly, there would probably never be an end to Lilac's chattering now that she and Y'xem both had flitts that the Violet could boss around.

~~~~~

Tirasha let her gaze wander irritably over both Weyrleaders. "How is your shoulder then, Y'xem?" In her opinion, Kora had been right in thinking that visiting now wasn't the best idea. But she couldn't shoo the Weyrwoman away.

Tianthe fluttered in and landed on Kora's lap, peering at this press of three fire-lizards on the woman's shoulders and wondering if she could fit too. Willow returned his attentions to His and the one she was about to tend to; now wasn't a time for him to try and impress the Violet queen.

[Nick]

Y'xem gave her a small smile. " I'm glad it wasn't you though Kora dear. I don't know how I would have reacted if you'd have been scored." He squeezed her hand and then looked over at Tirasha.

" Yes, gracious Healer, my score is better than it was filled with ash. Thank you...Tirasha." He almost laughed as Alduth had to supply the name for him. It was always good to know the names of the Healers that patched you up.

Aldin really didn't like the Tan's attitude, though the Violet he gurgled at as he hopped off Kora's shoulder to land in her lap with the Green of that Healer. He looked up at Kora and chirped...sending her emotions of loneliness that His was expressing before she had come. He sent her a small picture of His looking rather sad and in pain...then one when he had heard Kora's voice.

[Sparrow]

Tirasha sniffed as Y'xem replied, that wasn't an answer at all. And he wasn't getting on her good side by having his dragon- or so she guessed from the pause before saying Tirasha- give him her name. Sometimes she would almost prefer just being called Healer.

"I haven't done anything to your shoulder yet," she pointed out drily. "I need to know what it needs." Probably just a cleaning up, but if it was still hurting a lot maybe numbweed. Considering her current mood... Y'xem would probably want numbweed anyways.

Tianthe chirped as the Bronze joined her in the tall woman's lap, but he didn't seem to be paying attention to her. He was probably too young to realize what a lovely Green she was. Willow snorted softly; a smart Bronze would never 'realize' that. Or at least in his opinion.

~~~

Kora looked down at the fire-lizards gathering on her, unsure of how to reply to Y'xem. Having the Healer here was sort of... uncomfortable, especially since she didn't seem to be in the best mood or too happy about Kora's presence. Not much Thread fell to the queen's wing anyways, it wasn't likely she would get too badly scored.

"I hope you would keep your head if that happened," she finally said. It was, anyways. Nayarath rumbled softly from where she rested in her weyr. The Gold rather liked that comment and, probably, imagining the reaction of her mate and his rider.

Lilac chirped happily as the Bronze moved, they could all be happy now. Except for that the Bronze was communicating with Hers, rather than with her. Kora wasn't very exciting to talk too, even now, the Violet could tell that Hers was a bit embarassed by whatever the Bronze was sending her. Soot gurgled, happy to have Kora's shoulder to himself again.

[Nick]

Y'xem blushed a little at Tirasha's comments. " Sorry Tirasha, really right now...it just hurts a little. Maybe a little numbweed would do, but I'm not the Healer either." He smiled at her. She seemed to be in a bad mood...but he wasn't in the position to ask her about it.

Looking at Kora now, he gently squeezed her hand again. " I would try. And then after the Fall, I'd collapse with grief. Now, tell me Kora, how are you?" He smiled up at her and sighed. " I'm still sorry I'm stuck in the Infirmary for a few days."

[Sparrow]

Tirasha raised her eyebrows and glanced at Willow. "You can get a little numbweed then," she told the Bronze softly before wetting a rag and coming forwards to inspect Y'xem's wound. Willow obediently went off, and Tianthe looked up at Tirasha expectently.

"Well, it doesn't look like it's getting worse," Tirasha murmured. That was good. "Sorry if this stings a little." She wasn't really, and started rubbing at the edges of Y'xem's score with her rag. With both Weyrleader's in the room, she tried to be gentle; getting a bad opinion from them was not what Tirasha wanted.

~~~

Kora swallowed a laugh. "I would hope not." If she was scored badly enough for Y'xem to have reason to collapse with grief, the last thing they needed was having both Weyrleaders distracted by an injury. Hopefully he wouldn't really.

"I'm fine," she smiled as she replied. "And that's fine too; better you stay here and get better quickly, right?" And Aldin could keep him constant company now. Lilac gurgled and reached out to nuzzle Y'xem's cheek, assuring him that she was alright with his being stuck here too. Just as long as Hers didn't expect Lilac to come in and check on him, the little queen was fine.

[Nick]

He smiled at the Healer. " You are lucky to have such great helpers." That was the last thing he said before Tirasha set to dabbing and cleaning the edges of his wound.

He gave a sharp intake of breath and looked at Kora. Shards! It was painful, even if she was trying to be tender. Thread was a menace. He hoped that numbweed would be here soon!

Grinning through the pain, Y'xem nodded. " I guess so, though I would prefer to be in my own weyr. Though there no one would be taking care of me." He wanted to say that maybe staying in Kora's weyr would be better, but that...was just something that he couldn't manage or say in front of someone that he didn't know too well.

[Sparrow]

Willow returned just in time to hear Y'xem's compliment and rumbled happily. Tianthe gurgled and left Kora's lap to sniff at the numbweed her brother had brought, but she knew better than to try eating it again. Tirasha nodded slightly and drew back from Y'xem again, finishing her current work. The flitts could express appreciation of Y'xem's comment much better than she.

"I'll just rub some numbweed in and cover it up again, alright?" The score didn't need anything more than that right now. Tirasha figured Y'xem and Kora probably wanted her gone as soon as possible too; better that she kept her treatment simple.

~~~

"Does it hurt?" Kora watched the Healer and Y'xem uncertainly. Good thing she hadn't been scored, Kora didn't want to go through the same thing. Even Nayarath's tiny score seemed to hurt a lot at first.

Kora nodded. "I think I would too..." Her weyr was an environment she was used to, not the bustle of the infirmary. Someone's personal space always struck her as a better place to heal. "I'm sure the Healers are doing a good job though." She smiled at Tirasha.

[Nick]

He gave a nod. " Sounds good to me Healer Tirasha. It'll be good to have a little numbness there." He knew he really didn't have much say in the matter and gave a smile, and turned to Kora again.

" Yes dear Kora, it does. I hope you never have to know how bad it hurts." He reached his hand up to move some hair out of her face and smiled.

Y'xem only gave a sigh. " The healers are doing a great job. It still doesn't stop the longing to be in one's own quarters though." Aldin chirped and finally hopped back onto the cot with His. He was a little tired...but he wouldn't go to sleep until Kora left. He liked Kora as much as His did, even if it wasn't in the same way.

[Sparrow]

Tirasha dipped her hands in oil to avoid numbing herself as she worked and then set to rubbing the numbweed over Y'xem's wound. Tianthe and Willow watched the Weyrleader, curious at how little attention he was paying to Hers. Usually the one she was working on either tried to imagine she wasn't there at all or was too attentive. This in-between was odd.

Tirasha stepped back as soon as she was done, finding herself irritated at the slight shows of affection between Kora and Y'xem for some reason. "That's it then... I guess I'll leave you." Both had probably been waiting for that this whole time. After rinsing her hands, Tirasha called her fire-lizards to her shoulders and headed away.

~~~

Kora hoped not either and nodded, accidentally causing the hairs Y'xem had just brushed away to fall over her face again. She blushed slightly and tucked them behind her ear. Soot gurgled and sniffed at the strands.

"I suppose it wouldn't." Kora may have shrugged, but having a flitter on each shoulder made her change her mind. "How's Aldin doing?" Soot didn't seem to like the Bronze, although the Weyrwoman had no idea why. Sibling rivalry, maybe, although that didn't make a lot of sense either.

[Nick]

A relieved sigh escaped the Weyrleader as the numbweed was put on. It was cold, numbing, and so soothing! " Oh, thank you very much Healer Tirasha. I will never forget your name again." He smiled and waved as the girl walked out after she was done.

Turning back to Kora, he smiled. " Now we are alone for a little while dear Kora." He grasped her hand again and gave a laugh as she asked after his fire-lizard. " He is fine. A bit...ah..bored from sitting with me all the time here. A good image of Alduth don't you think?" He patted the Bronze with his other hand.

" You made my day today Kora, I really wasn't in too much of a mood before you came in. You tend to be down when you are injured, but a loved one makes you feel better." He smiled with a slight flush to his cheeks.

[Sparrow]

Tell him I don't think so. Aldin is much too small. Nayarath said quickly just as Kora opened her mouth to reply to Y'xem's question.

"Nayarath says no," Kora laughed. Lilac chirped thoughtfully, deciding she got to consider too since Aldin was a flitt. Soot didn't appear too interested though and began to preen absently. He was feeling a little hungry.

A loved one... that took Kora by surprise and the blush from moments earlier quickly deepened. "And the Healers with the numbweed," she said teasingly. That was just to fight over the sudden awkward feeling that was coming again though. Kora leaned against his side and smiled slightly.

[Nick]

A laugh escaped him as well. " I don't mean in size if that's what she's talking about. But he looks a good bit like Alduth, in miniature form." He absently continued to pet the Bronze as he watched Kora suddenly turn a darker red.

" Hmm...Yes I suppose they do play a part." He snickered as Kora leaned lightly against him. Even in the Infirmary, he was glad she was here and with him. He stopped petting Aldin to brush some hair out of Kora's face again, then he kissed her cheek lightly. " You know, every time you move, that hair falls back into your face."

He smiled.

[Sparrow]

My mate is much more handsome than a silly flitter, Nayarath continued to argue.

"Nayarath still says no," Kora replied with a laugh. "I guess she just doesn't like Alduth being compared to a fire-lizard." Lilac snorted; fire-lizards were better than dragons in some aspects, especially appearance. All that beauty in a much more handy size, it seemed much better to her. Soot gurgled, but wasn't sure he was going to deny a Gold dragon the belief that her mate was better-looking than the flitt.

Kora smiled slightly. "I'll try and hold still then." Lilac knocked the hairs back out of place, gurgling. Y'xem apparently didn't like that, and maybe Hers wouldn't like him being annoyed and then she would be halfway to getting revenge on Nayarath by bothering her rider.

[Nick]

Y'xem laughed again. " Yeah, I suppose so. But, I still stand by it. That's why he's little Aldin." The Weyrleader smiled. As Kora suggested that she would stay still, Y'xem was about to say something until Lilac took it upon herself to knock the hairs back into Kora's face.

Laughing, Y'xem brushed them away again. His hand didn't drop away this time though, instead his eyes searched Kora's face for a second before he slowly leaned in to kiss her. He hoped she didn't care they were in the Infirmary.

Aldin started hopping up and down. Horray! His and Kora were kissing!

[Sparrow]

Kora smiled slightly as Y'xem reached out to brush the hairs away again, ready to comment that maybe it really didn't make any difference what she did because apparently her flitts liked the look. But his hand lingered on her this time though and she saw his face looming closer with an expression she was growing familiar with.

Such a kiss in such a public area, somewhat crowded now since Thread had just fallen, was embarassing but Kora guessed it would be worse for their image if she jerked back. Returning it tenderly, she let her lips linger against his a moment longer than she may have originally and then drew slowly away. "Aldin looks excited," she laughed softly and smiled at the little Bronze.

[Nick]

No matter how short it was, Y'xem enjoyed the touch of her lips. He gave an almost inaudible sigh from a smiling face. " He is fairly happy about that isn't he?" Y'xem laughed as the flitt continued to hop and began to chirp.

Such an excitable little guy. Y'xem tangled his fingers with Kora's and smiled again. " Sorry about that, in a public place. I was just caught up in the moment. You looked so beautiful...I just had to." He laid his head over on hers gently.

[Sparrow]

"It must be your influence." She reached out to stroke the little Bronze and Soot chirped unhappily, wishing Kora would pet him. Lilac gurgled, she didn't mind much and enjoying watching the young Tan whine.

Kora only blushed again at Y'xem's words. "It's alright." Lilac's head bobbed, she agreed. Other people thought it was a good thing when they kissed, or so the fire-lizards told her, and she knew Hers enjoyed it even if it embarassed her too.