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

[stridersgonnastride]

"uh hi," Dave says.

He's come directly from the bar, and is carrying his younger self.

"is there a doctor in the house because i don't think take two and call me tomorrow is really gonna cut it"

[not_only_wisdom]

Nynaeve looks up, and while she doesn't actually knock her chair down in getting up and bustling toward the obviously unconscious boy and his -- carrier --

She does move very fast across the room, not even worrying about gliding.

"Here, put him down -- no, not there -- over here, and tell me what happened."

Some days she misses having a braid to tug.

[stridersgonnastride]

"well it's sort of complicated because he's actually past me

"you know magic right you look more like a magic-y person than a surgeon or anything and that's good because he basically gave himself an atomic time wedgie concussion"

The smaller Dave is wearing his god tier outfit. His nose is bleeding, his usual pallor is heavily weighted towards 'pasty' rather than 'pale', and that might be a little blood coming out of one ear as well.

"also i'm skinny as fuck holy shit he needs to eat like three sandwiches he's probably deficient in goddamn everything"

[not_only_wisdom]

"Of course it's his brain!" Nynaeve snaps crankily, even as light springs up around her, making her glow brighter than a star.

Such are the side effects of embracing saidar, here at the end of the universe.

"Boys never manage anything simple. Sit. And try not to talk unless it's important."

[stridersgonnastride]

"hey i resemble that remark everything that comes out of my mouth is a perfect pearl of wisdom i'm basically spitting out a fortune in mollusk pimples like they were ill rhymes straight from snoop"

He also doesn't sit, but hovers cautiously outside of her reach, eyeing his unconscious other self.

[not_only_wisdom]

"Mmmph."

Nynaeve makes a quick, frustrated noise, even as multicolored threads spring up around her fingertips, sieving their way through the smaller boy's body, leaving no damage behind.

This is what it is to Delve for the extent of injuries.

It's almost as if the bigger Dave weren't here right now. Or, you know. He's the least of her concerns.

"Bad, but manageable. Who had the training of him, to let him do this to himself?"

Asha'man were likely to hurt themselves this way, but men are ridiculous creatures and what can one really expect --

Mmmph.

[stridersgonnastride]

"the magic part mostly no one it's instinct mostly i'm a knight of time it's what i do

"the bar's time warp thing threw him for a loop this is the first time he's been here"

Dave brushes at the spot of blood on his shirt and sighs.

[not_only_wisdom]

Nynaeve's attention slips up from the younger Dave for a moment, eyebrows hitting her hairline.

"He tried to stop the loop? Blood and bloody ashes, it's a wonder he's not dead."

Seriously, she would love a braid to tug just now.

"Shh."

More threads spring up around her hands, a spinning funnel spreading to cover his top half, with the densest knot of threads around his head, and then sinks in.

Little Dave will feel a rush of cold through his body, spreading energetic pinpricks in its wake.

"Get me a cloth from that drawer there, and run some water into a basin."

Someone's going to have to get the blood off this child's face. For one.

[stridersgonnastride]

"yeah he's gonna have one of the worst headaches of his life on and off for the next few days i remember"

One of the worst headaches of his life up to that point, anyway.

Dave does as directed, wetting the cloth and wringing out the excess before bringing everything over to her.

"what are you doing anyway"

[not_only_wisdom]

Nynaeve takes the cloth and gently wipes it along Little Dave's face.

"Healing him. It's done. And you're right, he will have a headache, but I have teas for that. And sleep will help, too. So keep your bloody voice bloody down."

[stridersgonnastride]

"he won't wake up for a while," Dave says. "besides i find my own voice soothing"

He sticks his hands in his pockets. "i gotta go clean up my time stuff and talk to some people you gonna be okay here or do you have any more questions"

[not_only_wisdom]

"Will someone be coming for him?"

Her brow is furrowed in a very fierce scowl.

"And if they do, should he be allowed to go with whoever it is?"

[stridersgonnastride]

"nah he can get like released on his own cognizance or whatever once you think he isn't gonna do a gainer if he stands up"

Dave shrugs. "few friends of mine are gonna visit some of them are grey and have horns so don't freak out"

[not_only_wisdom]

Nynaeve lifts her chin just slightly.

"So long as they aren't Forsaken. I'll make no promises there."

Otherwise Nynaeve will set them on fire so fast.

(No word that is not true is -- an adjustment, still. But it does grow easier.)

[stridersgonnastride]

"i have no idea what the fuck that is so i think we're cool

"thanks for the help i'm gonna go check in then leave myself a note then ollie out"

He nods to her.

[not_only_wisdom]

"The Light go with you."

If this is a thing that happens to young children, what lies ahead for the older ones?

Healing means the damage has already been done, after all.

[stridersgonnastride]

Some time later, the younger Dave wakes up. He doesn't know where he is, or what happened. He tries to sit bolt upright, but barely pushes himself up before a blinding headache knocks him right back down.

"oh fuck," he groans. "oh god stop the world i want to get off"

He lies very still and tries not to be sick. At least he's still wearing his shades.

[not_only_wisdom]

"Just don't try doing it yourself again, time powers or no."

The voice is snappish, but the hand that touches his shoulder is gentle.

"Here, drink this. It will help with the pain. Don't bother opening your eyes, I'll help you get the cup up to your mouth."

[bloodyvirgo]

Later still, as promised to Dave's older self, Kanaya breezes in to the infirmary.

She's taller than he's probably used to, and most notably, not glowing. She also comes bearing a large glass of apple juice from the Bar.

[stridersgonnastride]

Of course, Dave immediately opens his eyes. He also flinches, but whether that's from the unexpected touch or the jagged spike of pain from the mere presence of light is up for debate.

"okay," he groans. "where the fuck is this and who the fuck are you"

[stridersgonnastride]

After some painkillers and more sleep, Dave feels almost human again. Definitely not god tier, maybe not even up to Knight status, but like he might survive.

He squints at her from behind his shades. Tall, pointy, green. "maryam huh i guess maybe future me isn't completely blistering bugfuck nuts after all"

Then he catches sight of the glass. "if that's what i think it is you are my new favorite person in every universe"

[bloodyvirgo]

"I Am Pretty Fantastic, she agrees lightly, helping him sit up if he needs it, and pressing the glass into his hands.

"I Have Food, Too, If You Think You Can Manage It."

[not_only_wisdom]

"The infirmary in Milliways is the where," Nynaeve snaps, shoving a heavy clay mug into his hand. Or trying, anyway.

"As for me, I'll ask you to mind your language before I give you any other answers. I would hope the older version of you that left you here would say the same."

It's true, she does hope for that. But --

[stridersgonnastride]

"not unless you wanna redecorate this place in some uncomplimentary colors like puke green and barf orange"

Normally, Dave would be all over that AJ like a man dying of thirst in the desert, but he holds the glass with a tight grip and sips it cautiously.

"holy shit i don't even care if this is a weird hallucination anymore"

[stridersgonnastride]

That's a vain hope, Nynaeve. Maybe don't hold your breath on that one.

"i think i remember that," he mutters. "did i really pass out fucking weak"

He wraps his fingers around the mug, leaning back against the pillows. It gets a cautious sniff. His expression of disapproval is microscopic, but visible to someone watching closely.