ways_infirmary | (no subject)

*Alanna is a few seconds behind them. She slips in and leans against a wall, wanting to hear the aforementioned information herself. Eventually, someone will notice her, but for the moment she prefers to keep her presence quiet.*

"There's nothing you can do."

He's certain, his face stony while his eyes remain as heartbroken and shaken as he wishes he could be. But, disgraced or no, he is a son of the House of Raith and so he has regained his composure.

I notice things. Thomas is scared, though he'll never admit it; the doc's trying to help and Amanda needs quite a bit of help, though, Thomas is right, there isn't anything that can be done. I've seen how this goes.

I also notice the head of security walk in behind us. Even if she wears no fragrance, a woman like her is hard to miss. I give her a nod, acknowledging her presence, but I offer nothing beyond that. It's not my place to say. If and when I'm asked a direct question, I'll answer.

Guppy rubs his forehead, looking frazzled and frustrated.

"This is Milliways. Things are different here. Please, I'm begging you. Amanda is my friend and I have to know what has happened so I can try and treat her. I'm not the police or security, I don't care if it's drugs or magic or whatever, but I need to know. If I can't help her I might be able to find someone who can."

He hasn't seen Alanna.

*Alanna returns Harry's nod and takes a step toward him, eyes questioning. She stops short at Guppy's pleas and looks at Amanda.*

There's always something that can be done. *She shifts her gaze to Thomas.* As head of Security and a healer, I add my request for information to that of this man's. I see an obviously injured young woman and want to know who made her that way. And why.

He looks to Alanna and then to Guppy.

"I was...I was Hungry." The capital letter is audible. "I am a vampire of the White Court. Unlike what you might have read about, we feed purely on life force. There's no...neck biting and we aren't turned or brought across or whatever."

He looks to Harry for a moment before turning to Alanna again.

"Usually, I only take a very small amount so that I don't harm the person I'm with, and only once a person. But...Amanda is an immortal."

He looks down at her, pale and wane.

"Or she was. I could feed from her freely without harming her, which is why I asked her tonight as...I was Hungry."

Now to Guppy.

"Her life force has been drained from her. There's...there's nothing there now. Just...just enough to keep her going, keep her heart beating and her brain working. Barely."

Thomas pretty much covered it. And he knows a lot more than I do.

I don't have anything to add. Mostly, I'm here for Thomas. And Amanda.

"What do you mean there's nothing there? If life force can be extracted surely it can also be donated?"

He looks to Alanna. Even if he hasn't met her, her reputation preceeds her. "Dr Guppy Sandhu, Sir Alanna. Did you say you are a healer? I have no powers of my own and to be honest, I don't know what if anything I can do for her."

*This is all rather a lot to take in. Luckily, Alanna is well-versed in dealing with such things. Her eyes narrow at Thomas, but she has enough experience with vampires by now that she slowly starts to understand.

She doesn't like it, but she gets it.

Licking her lips, she takes Amanda's hand. First thing's first.*

I'm not sure, doctor. I am a healer, yes, but my Gift is tied to my own life force. To heal her totally would be to kill myself, I suspect. I'm rather fond of being alive. However, I'll transfer what energy I can spare. At least it should help her regenerate, though if this is at all similar to my situation, it won't be quick.

*She blinks at Thomas.*

How does someone immortal become mortal? And why didn't she tell you this if you asked?

"I didn't ask if she was immortal tonight. It wasn't exactly something I thought would change. And I was Hungry, just this side of sane."

He shakes his head.

"I told her it might be a little rough, even with her as an immortal, since I hadn't been able to feed the last time I'd been with someone since they'd turned out to be one of the dead patrons. She didn't say anything. If she'd said something, I wouldn't have--"

He looks down at Amanda and winces before looking at Alanna.

"I know what can happen if I lose control. I know. And I never would have gone with her tonight if I thought she couldn't take it."

And his eyes go to Harry, begging him to back him up.

He wants my help, but I don't know what to say.

"It isn't usually this bad. Thomas, I mean."

Hell, I'm not even good at getting myself out of trouble, how the hell am I supposed to help now?

"His control is very good. He could have killed her."

Whoops. That probably isn't helping things.

"She's been somewhere. A quest. She said she had to give it up as a test."

Guppy looks at Alanna. "Thank you. Do you know what generates life force? Is it the energy gained from metabolism or something more?"

He'd try and give her some of his, but he doesn't know how much he has, or how to give it.

That's just it. I was more questioning her reasons for not telling you than yours for not asking. *She gives both Thomas and Harry a wry smile, thinking of the way not one but two swords turned on her not too long ago.* I understand something of that kind of control, and I'm not unfamiliar with vampires. I'm not pleased. Far from it. But right now, my concern is Amanda.

*At Guppy's question, she shakes her head.*

In her case? I'm not sure. Hopefully I'll give her enough to keep her stable and get her own natural defenses going. I'll give you some herbs as well to brew in a tea. They should help. She needs energy, and lots of it.

I don't suppose there's any way to give her back some of what you took, Thomas?

He shakes his head.

If there was, Justine would not be in a wheelchair in the Raith home. If there was, he would have let himself die to save her.

Is this where I give the 'magic comes from life' speech? You have to have something to fuel it for it to work.

Yeah... didn't think so.

Wish Bob was here... he might know something.

"Can I give her some of mine? I don't know how much I have or how much I can spare or how to give it but every little helps right? Maybe we could find other donors."

For the benefit of those unfamiliar with Guppy, i.e. everyone but Amanda, he is at present a skinny, underweight and not particularly healthy little man, if this has any bearing on how much life force he has.

*Alanna's eye twitches when Thomas shakes his head no. Resigned, she starts to reach for her Gift when Guppy speaks. She gapes at him.*

Mithros, no. It's a noble gesture, but I do not know how I would transfer such a thing, and I don't think you could spare it. Perhaps you should discuss it with other magic users on the healing roster?

*Shaking herself, she focuses on Amanda and starts to murmur the first of many spells. The air around her begins to glow violet as she works.*

And he watches, giving Harry something of a look before watching Amanda.

There's no doubt who's on his mind as he watches this.

I put a hand on Thomas' shoulder. Healing magic isn't my realm. The best I can do right now is offer support and stay out of the way.

Guppy rubs his forehead, feeling totally useless.
He watches the monitors.

*Alanna works quietly, lips moving and eyes fluttering shut. Healing is both giving part of yourself away and turning inward to a remarkable degree as one locates the source of the Gift and pulls it up and out.

Several minutes pass, and the violet light grows stronger. Beads of sweat break out on Alanna's forehead. Biting her lip, she grips Amanda's hand tightly and struggles not to wipe at her watering eyes.

It's hard for most people to know when to stop; it's even harder for Alanna. Everything in her cries out to fix the other woman - there is more left, so she must give it away.

But Alanna has learned not to push herself to the Dark God's door. Well, not to do so quite as often anyway. Gasping, she breaks the link and drops Amanda's hand, stumbling backward and clutching her aching head.*

There. That should help.

He nods before looking down to Amanda, taking her hand in his and giving a light squeeze. He's sorry.

And me? I'm holding up the head of security who finds me amusing and just nearly did herself in to save someone she doesn't know... or hardly knows... or something. Hell, I don't know. I'm just keeping her from hitting the ground.

Guppy grabs a chair and quickly moves it behind Alanna. He then gets her a glass of water.

"Thank you. Are you okay? Can I get you anything?"

*Alanna gives Harry an amused smile before sinking gratefully into the chair and staring at Amanda.*

No thank you, Guppy. I'll be just fine. Keep her resting comfortably, and hopefully she'll come back around in a few days or so. Don't expect anything immediate.

*She looks at Thomas.*

Regret is punishment enough in this case, I think. Just do be careful in the future, all right? And if any of you need me or wish to keep me updated, which I would appreciate, leave a note with bar or on the office door.

Guppy nods.

"Thank you."

He stays with her for the rest of the night, sleeping for a while on the sofa in the office but returning frequently to check on her.

He nods and walks off.

He has a tree to go visit.

I watch Thomas go, but don't follow. He needs time alone. I make sure Alanna's all right, same with Amanda and the doctor - they seem to have things under control.

Time for me to go. I have something of an appointment to keep.