For Dave Strider and Dave Strider

[not_only_wisdom]

Nynaeve is taking this time in the infirmary to portion out and label more of her simples, tisanes, and poultices for general use.

Her hair -- shorn now to her shoulders -- is pinned up, and she wears a yellow-fringed shawl on her shoulders.

" -- for headache," she mutters to herself, writing down dosage instructions in neat, even letters. "One cup at need, no longer than a week."

Comments

[freedom_is_grey]

"Oh. Um."

Her cheeks have gone a little pink.

"Yes. That's Liranan. He's a mabari. I -- most of the people I've met from your world don't really like dogs. So."

[stridersgonnastride]

"dogs are fine as long as they aren't hellbeasts from murder island

"or teleporting assholes with a hard on for blood

"or both"

[freedom_is_grey]

"Mostly he protects me and the people I care about?"

Liranan tries yipping again, tail wagging back and forth eagerly.

He cannot teleport! Neither can Ysa! It is okay!

What is murder island?

[stridersgonnastride]

"yeah sounds about right but when does the murder come in"

[freedom_is_grey]

"Um. Not until someone attacks me, or him, or you?"

Is that --

"Do you often get murderous dogs? I -- it would explain a lot, honestly."

[stridersgonnastride]

"yeah man jade grew up with one and then prototyped him into her sprite which gave the jack dude dog god powers"

A pause.

"how much of that actually made any sense to you out of curiosity"

[freedom_is_grey]

"Um. Most of it, actually? Except I've never met Jade, so."

Well.

"Liranan and I swapped bodies once. Which -- isn't at all the same thing as god powers, but -- "

[stridersgonnastride]

"that's fucked up," says the thirteen year old time traveler who destroyed his own universe with a video game.

"so we know each other in the future but also now"

[freedom_is_grey]

It takes all kinds.

"I'm getting used to people that don't know me, I suppose. There's several people here from different versions of my world. So."

Her mouth twists into a wry curve.

[stridersgonnastride]

"buncha alternate timelines that a common thing here"

[freedom_is_grey]

"Not really? Just your world and mine, so far as I've seen."

(Ysa has not met any X-men. For one.)

She frowns a little.

"Though I never did think to research it in the library. Hmm."

[stridersgonnastride]

"library

"what kind of bar is this that is has a hospital and a fucking library"

And how big is it?

[freedom_is_grey]

"One that's sitting on a magically modified asteroid at the end of all time and space? Sometimes people want to stay here for a while, so -- maybe it's more like an inn than a bar?"

Um.

"There's an outdoors, too. I -- could show you the mountains sometime, if you like. Again. For the first time? Um."

[stridersgonnastride]

"you're telling me we went hiking in the mountains on an asteroid at the end of the universe"

[freedom_is_grey]

"Well. Less hiking and more you flew me up there and we stood looking around for a bit?"

Um.

"I mean, we could go hiking, but you don't seem all that fond of the outdoors, on the whole, so."

[stridersgonnastride]

"yeah i'll pass thanks"

He watches her for another moment or two. He's still wearing his default deadpan expression, but he seems less hostile and more curious now.

"i'm gonna get some more sleep"

[freedom_is_grey]

"All right."

She takes a deep breath.

"Do you feel safe enough in here? I mean, obviously you do, if you're going to sleep, but -- I worry. Um. Anyway."

Anyway.

"I'll come back later, then? If you don't mind."

[stridersgonnastride]

"there was some magic doctor lady who said she put a ward up so apparently i'm protected from all the monsters in the closet no freddy kreuger coming for me hell yes"

Dave just looks at her again for a while.

"you can come back if you want it's whatever"

[freedom_is_grey]

"All right," Ysalwen says, smiling quick and bright. "I will."

She leaves the poultices and potions on the counter, with a note tucked inside the bag about their use.

"Feel better, Dave. I'm -- I'm glad you're not dead."

And then the white-haired elf and her enormous dog are gone.