ways_infirmary | (no subject)

(no subject)

[ooc: From this entrance.]

Raven brings Mal into the infirmary just long enough to set him down on an examination table.

"Gentle, for a clay-bird," Mal jokes, hissing through his teeth. Apparently Mal's not too wounded for a knock on the head, and he receives one.

"Nevermind. See if Moiraine's about? Maybe she's -- " Groan. "Nicer."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Raven snorts.

Sometimes Mal is very silly.

Also stupid.

Moiraine, however, is not. Not today, at least.

She is also very easy to find.

This is why, several minutes later, the tiny dark-haired Aes Sedai glides through the infirmary door, serene expression firmly in place.

There is also a reasonably large Raven perched on her shoulder.

It is comfortable! Even if the vantage point is, perhaps, not so good.

She is determinedly ignoring the presence of the bird, it appears. Moiraine is fairly certain that to argue with him will merely encourage him, and there are other matters at hand that must needs be dealt with first-- such as the injured man before her.

"I understand that you have requested my presence?"

Her tone is calm, even if touched by a hint of dryness, and her dark-eyed gaze is assessing.

"If you're not too busy. I think I got the leg almost staunched."

He doesn't, not really -- just padded with enough gauze to make it look like it does.

"Appreciate some help with rib-bones."

Raven makes a derisive cawing noise.

Not quite in Moiraine's ear.

He has more consideration than that.

At least on occasion.

"Were I too busy, one might plausibly expect that I would not have come," she tells him, gliding across the floor to stand in front of him.

One eyebrow arches, very slightly. "As one might also expect that you could have sought help elsewhere, from among those of your crew."

Moiraine continues,

"Raven, if you would please seek another perch? You should not be touching me-- or Mal, for that matter," she hastens to add, "while I am Healing him."

Mal doesn't really feel like explaining why Simon's already got his hands full back on Serenity.

He can't even really decide if now is the best time to explain why Mal doesn't trust a lot of people around here enough to heal him in any shape manner or form.

Instead, he just leans back almost-flat on the exam table, waiting for...something, to happen.

He doesn't really know what.

Raven is a very obliging bird.

Which may be why he only nips at a strand of Moiraine's hair, tugging it gently, before leaving her shoulder to perch on a nearby bed.

Then, of course, he kicks his feet.

This is, it would seem, one of the benefits of being a small child.

But at least he is quiet, yes?

She does not sigh-- not outwardly, in any case.

"Remain as still as you can," she says, as a golden aura blossoms into being around her. "And I shall do what I may for you."

Her glance is thoughtful as she studies him. Moiraine does not like the quality of his breathing in the slightest, and he has mentioned an injury to his ribs.

"This may feel somewhat strange," she warns, therefore, as she reaches out and places both hands flat on his chest, over his heart. "But it should not hurt; of that, at least, I may assure you."

Silver fire flickers at her fingertips as delicate threads of light spiral outwards, wrapping around him and Delving as the Aes Sedai seeks to determine the extent of his injuries.

It does feel strange, in a way that Mal won't be able to explain to Inara later. Like -- like diving underwater and then your first fresh breath after returning to the surface.

But everything is dark and Light at the same time -- even, balance -- and Mal follows directions to the letter.

Moiraine's head is bowed in concentration, and her eyes are closed.

Silver threads are joined by bands of blue and white shot through with a thin brilliant green, all of which braid themselves around his ribcage and sink in. A similar patch of light coalesces over his right leg and the torn wound there, silver-white and shining. A flash of red-gold fire flickers first, burning away potential infection, and then the gleaming weave absorbs itself into Mal's body and fades from view, leaving no sign of injury behind.

More flickers of light race over him, flashes of blue and silver pouring over him like a wave and washing away bruises, cuts and scrapes, leaving him Healed in their wake

A moment more, and then the golden light around the Aes Sedai winks out. Moiraine opens her eyes and meets his, steadily.

Mal's slower to open his eyes than Moiraine, and he shuts them again immediately to stifle a rather tremendous yawn.

Squinting at the healer, "Am I supposed to be doin' that?"

"It is not unexpected," she tells him, as she lifts her hands from his chest. "Some of the energy for Healing comes from the one being Healed, after all."

"You will need to rest, and to eat well tonight." A pause. "And, of course, to avoid further situations such as the one that brought you here in the first place, if possible."

Raven's snort is louder, this time.

Then he's slipping off the bed and moving toward Mal.

He kicks hard for a little one.

Really hard.

"That, I think, will possibly help you remember. So."

Raven's stern expression would perhaps be more intimidating if he were not so small.

Oops?

"Oww, you ruttin'..." Mal almost moves to kick him back, but decides against it as he turns to Moiraine, sitting up again.

"Xiexie," he adds quietly. "Owe you one."

She arches an eyebrow at Raven, but forbears to say anything to him. Instead, Moiraine meets Mal's eyes and shakes her head very slightly.

"Do not trouble yourself over it, Mal. Talk of such debt is for later, if at all-- if you truly think it is necessary."

Raven pokes Mal's knee for his troubles.

"Death is, perhaps, not so entertaining as some things."

He only sounds a little sulky.

He looks it, too.

Mal almost asks Moiraine for clarification.

He also almost asks what in the good gorram are the other things Raven is amused by.

It's not worth it right now -- he needs to get back to Serenity.

...After a nap.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only