Andariel ambles in from the dark inner cavern.
Ilesyn sits, half curled up, in the chair behind her desk, sniffling into a handkerchief. Not /exactly/ the kind of pose that suits this particular healer's reputation of choice.
Andariel is dragged into the infirmary by Geran, the skinny candidates other hand holding firmly onto Calinda. With a quick click of his fingers Geran announces to the room in general "This pair need to have their physicals done dear." and leaving a flash of purple behind him and two candidates (one skinny and one on the fat side) standing nervously at the door and staring at the sniffling healer, he leaves before anyone points out that he needs one too.
Ilesyn looks up. The expression on her face rather quickly turns to a grimace, as, in a voice that's obviously suffering from the same problem as her nose, she comments, "Charming. Just when Moloka /isn't/ on duty." From the chair she rises, blowing her nose once more, and indicating a pair of cots over in one corner, whilst she goes to wash her hands. "Sit there."
As one the girls move over to the cots and sit precariously perched on the edges, as if getting any for of comfortable would be dangerous. Finally the skinny one, Andariel, speaks. "W..we.. we can go if you'd like." and grabbing the chance Calinda, the chubby one, quickly nods and adds. "Come back when you're better?"
Ilesyn sniffs, loudly, but with disdain this time, rather than to do with whatever it is she's suffering from. "It isn't a matter of being /better/", she mutters, mostly under her breath, approaching with hands washed and dried. "It's just the bloody, fardling numbweed." Evidently, having said this much, she feels better. More clearly, she states, "I'm now going to feel around your heads and necks."
Andariel blinks, opening her mouth to begin asking about the numbweed but being distracted and asking instead. "H..heads and necks?" She looks quickly from healer to fellow candidate, but sits rigidly on the edge of the the cot. "Why?" Nervously she attempts a smile and doesnt quite pull it off until Calinda answers with her usual attempts at humour covered fear. "To see if its attached properly probably. Bet Geran'll fail that one."
"To look for..." Pause. "Things." Ilesyn is such an experienced body-healer, can you tell? Her hands move about, feeling around the base of the neck, for both girls, and then up around towards the head, as she mutters things beneath her breath, and attempts, rather desperately, not to sneeze.
Andariel sits stock still, trying not to even breath, but managing to flinch slightly as hands make contact. "Did you fid anything?" she finally ventures to ask, her voice no more than a whisper. While Calinda just shakes her head at her friend.
Ilesyn shrugs her shoulders easily, sneezing, and then washing her hands again. It may be a fairly frequent occurance, that hand-washing. "Probably not," she decides, grimacing somewhat ruefully. Without warning, she clicks her fingers beside Andariel's right ear, and then the left, repeating the process for the other girl. "Did you hear all that?"
Calinda jumps at the first click, shaking her head slightly as the second happens, cocking her head to one side she /stares/ at the healer. "'Course I heard it, you did it right next to my ears. Shells. That cant be standard practice surely." Andariel on the other side of her stifles a chuckle and nods her affirmation of hearing with a quiet "Heard both fine."
"You," says Ilesyn, grimacing. "Are far too picky." Calinda is given a wary glance, as the healer attempts the same exercise over, this time further away from the ears. "Happy?"
Calinda smiles sweetly ready to dish out some sugary words, but is cut off by Andariel before she can speak. "Heard fine. I think we both did, didn't we Cal." An elbow makes its way into Calindas ribs and elicits a nod of agreement.
Ilesyn grunts something beneath her breath, evidently not much pleased with this particular physical. Or any, for that matter. "Now," says she, without much friendliness, an effect spoilt by another stuffed-up sniff through her nose, "Open your eyes, wide. Try to have them following my finger, without moving your head." The finger moves - back and forth, back and forth.
Andariel follows the finger with her extremely open eyes, left and right, left and right, although her left eye begins to run a little with the effort of keeping it so wide open, that in the end her head does move with her eyes. Once she realises she blinks and this time doesnt open her eyes as far but manages to keep her head still. Calindas eyes follow almost lazilly as the finger moves before them.
Ilesyn catches that weakness of Andariel's, and mutters something, but otherwise nods her head, apparently approving - on the whole. "Lazy eye," she concludes, mostly to herself, "Or something like that." She wouldn't really have a clue. "Okay, mouths open, if you please. And hurry - I don't want to take all day."
Andariel quickly opens her mouth, looking around rather embarrasedly while Calinda does the same and takes the opportunity to let her tongue hang out. Closing her eyes at the sight of her friend Andi just keeps on looking at the healer and attempting to smile and keep her mouth open at the same time.
Ilesyn, with carefully washed hands, tugs easily upon one of Calinda's teeth, as she inspects that girl's mouth, her fingers somewhat less than gentle, her whole hand used. Having washed her hand, again, she moves on to do Andariel's inspection, although this is far more gentle, and less obtrusive. Finished - guess what! - she washes her hands again.
Calinda glares as Ilesyn goes to wash her hands again, a hand of her own reaching up to check her teeth are still intact. Andariels, not really understanding the teeth thing raises her voice so it finally lifts enough to carry over to Ilesyn. "Are we done?" she asks tentatively.
Ilesyn laughs. With much amusement. "Not quite." She smiles - almost nicely - and explains, "You'd better get your clothes off, and lie down, the both of you. I'll have to make sure that you're not pregnant, and not otherwise--problematic, in that area." The best part of the whole physical...not.
Andariel blinks, a look of absolute terror flashing across her face. "Un... undressed? We have to get Undressed?" not thinking she quickly goes on to blurt out. "Im not pregnant! I cant be! I've never even... you know. And I dont have problems!" Calinda simply pulls at the fastenings on her tunic with a light chuckle and a few more blackmail items to hold over her friend.
"It's policy," says Ilesyn, calmly. No need to mention the turkey-baster method, this time. "It won't take long, I promise." If that was intended to be soothing, well, it doesn't really work.
Andariel shakes her head, fear still written over her face. "Theres no need. Really there isnt. You cant. Please." The last word comes out drawn out, as a plea. "Cant you just tell them you did it, but dont?"
Ilesyn shakes her head, calmly. "Sorry. That's just the way it is." The healer has cold, recently washed fingers, and waits patiently. "Just calm down, get undressed, and shut your eyes. It won't take a moment."
Andariel closes her eyes tight and nods slowly realising she wont get away with this one. Fingers fumble with fastenings before the skinniest candidate lies back and presses her eyes even further shut and waits.
Ilesyn is merciful - somewhat - and gets Andariel's examination done first. Yes, her fingers are cold, and yes, they're probing, but it's probably not all that bad, when it comes down to it. At least, the healer grins. "Done. You can get dressed, Candidate, and then go." On to Calinda, who gets much the same treatment, and, finally, a similar word.
Andariel hurries herself back into her clothes and not looking at anyone in the face scurries for the ext with a mumbled "thankyou." to Ilesyn on the way past. Calinda takes a bit longer dressing and asks the sensible question of "So we both passed right?" Before getting ready to head chorewards.
Ilesyn nods, in between washing her hands - again. "Yes, yes, you passed."
Calinda grins and heads for the door, pausing momentarily to look back over her shoulder and call. "You need to warm your hands up next time." before disappearing her chuckle fading off through the caverns.
Posted by Louise at January 29, 2003 11:01 AM