The Florence Nightingale Effect

[EXPECT PAUSE HELL WITH ME] Dom-Last Monday at 7:02 PM

A red haired noble laid on the infirmary bed, his eyes still wide from shock a few minutes after he had woke up. The first moments were filled with confusion, dizziness and pain, before he eventually recovered and realized the situation he was in. He had a hand on his abdomen, feeling the bandage and dry blood behind his once-elegant clothing, now torn and filthy. I... I almost died. He thought, releasing a steady exhale as the memory was still etched in his mind, the whole incident flashing before his very eyes. So close to death than ever, so close. He could somehow remember the details. He was dashing across the bridge on his mount, a few of his comrades having already made it on the west side, axe in tow. "Fear not!" He yelled. "For all shall be fine!" He didn't want to let others underestimate him. He was ready to throw himself into danger, because that's what all noble soldiers did. But he hadn't expect the consequences. As he clashed blades, an object passed through his peripheral vision. A rather fast moving one. Fast enough to lodge in his chest. Moments felt like eternity as the cold arrow tip pierced his flesh, energy living his body. He couldn't muster any words, before falling from his mount. That's all he remembered. ... and the very next, more mundane question was. Who healed him?

LadyDeme-Last Monday at 7:42 PM

The person who healed him was sitting on a small camp stool besides the infirmary bed. It wasn't the only one in use, and it'd slowed travel from the bridge to a craw. But they'd managed this far, using the animals to help drag things along, and decided to stop. They'd considered it a success -- barring the casualties. And other things. Delphine had only stopped shaking an hour ago, even as she healed him. The girl sitting there had long blue hair, done up today in a coronet, and was writing something in a book spread open across her knees. She was a healer -- her staff propped against her side, and her bright eyes followed her pen as she wrote her account of the battle, while it was still fresh. Later still, she'd amend it -- but for the moment, getting the impressions she'd been carrying in her head so long mattered, before they were lost, and her memory became fickle and strange as memories did, over-written by what she'd want to happen. She'd wanted to have been faster, to be more aware, to have not -- to have not seen so much suffering. Delphine paused, rubbing an ink-touched hand against her pale face, leaving a smear -- and then she noticed Alfron's hand moving. "Hey they, buddy! " She leaned over him, an encouraging smile on her face. Oh thank the gods. Whoever's listening. Thank you. "All your thoughts still firing?"

[EXPECT PAUSE HELL WITH ME] Dom-Last Monday at 10:20 PM

"i... I..." He wheezed. "I do b-believe that I am... "well"." In a foolish act, he tried to raise himself up. Was it out of pride? Or rather, to see how well he was. He wasn't well at all, as he felt a sharp pain which c aused him to wince.

LadyDeme-Last Monday at 10:45 PM

"Hey, there, easy now." She gently eased him back down. She waved a finger, the sharp and metronome-like motion punctuating her statement. "A wound that fierce can take a considerable while to heal, even magically; for the time being, you need to take it easy, and allow me to provide treatment. I don't think you'll suffer serious lasting damage, but it may leave a scar." As if to conclude her point, she reached over for her staff, shifting her legs to keep the book balanced as she focused her gaze on his wounds. She emptied her mind, and thought... She thought of white knights on white horses -- from how he dressed and the horse he had, that seemed to be his aspiration. It was a little silly, but she tried not to -- even as she smiled -- think of it that way. White knights. White horses. Beautiful, aspirational valour. Placing that into his wounds, until the pain ebbed away for a moment, and the light of the staff blanketed the room. She opened her eyes and spoke with a confidence that was a beautiful performance. "Now, don't go interfering with it again just yet, OK?"

[EXPECT PAUSE HELL WITH ME] Dom-Last Monday at 11:39 PM

"Ah..." Was all he could say. "S... scars are simply a mark of one's experiences!" He attempted to justify himself, before the soothing feeling soon came in. Oh... "I--Well." He looked at her in the eye. "I can't diddle-daddle after that... awfully pathetic excuse of an attack-- Who knows what gossip the other soldiers are saying about my act?" This is nothing. Don't be weak.

September 13, 2016

LadyDeme-Last Tuesday at 8:40 AM

"Scars are always impressive to the ladies." She nodded obligingly at him. Whatever made him feel better. She was not, though, actually that impressed by scars. But she could see his point, and he seemed to be trying to cope, and whatever works. But that response... Wasn't encouraging. She sighed. "If anyone's saying any gossip that means you'd want to be injuring yourself worse..." She tapped her finger on her lips, trying to figure out how to get a cooperative attitude out of her patient. She smirked. "Well, I could show them the other use of a healing staff, but I think instead, you have to endeavor to do better next time."(edited)

LadyDeme-Last Tuesday at 9:49 AM

=Pause until Dom gets on; you can leave a reply when I'm gone =(edited)

[EXPECT PAUSE HELL WITH ME] Dom-Last Tuesday at 12:08 PM

He gazed at her momentarily, slightly eased by her response, if not surprised that his irrational outburst actually elicted some comfort. "I-I mean," Alfron looked down, almost feeling guilty. He rubbed his neck, and to his surprise, felt a scab. Irk. He said, feeling his neck. Why does it... hurt? He wondered. It only took him a few seconds to realize it was an injury to his neck, one that grazed from the front to back with dried blood. His eyes widened in horror. Usually, people relieve their shock, before eventually coping with it. Alfron however immediatly took attention to his failure. The delayed reaction come, and he realized how horrifying that if the arrow had been a few inches left, it would have shot through his throat right there and then. The image of his dead corpse, bleeding from it's neck disturbed him, as he leaned down and shivered. I'm an... idiot... His hands were fumbling, moving around as he took a few deep breaths. He couldn't stop fidgeting, and almost seemed he needed to hold onto something for therapy.

LadyDeme-Last Tuesday at 12:19 PM

Seeing him fumbling made her heart ache -- as it hit home to him the real extent of the damage, of the risks. She'd been thinking about it, herself, since the moment she'd joined up: the possibility she'd end up like her father, dead amongst her enemies. Like anyone who'd been brave enough to fight for Amarana, for Floribar. She reached over and grabbed a hand mid-motion, the book on her lap sliding shut, ink-pen and all, and falling to the floor. It was what she thought best -- to give him now an encouraging smile. "You're alive -- right now. Whatever possibilities of what could have happened... They exist no more than dreams. You are at our sides, Sir, and we, yours." She spoke in a low and gentle voice, her words almost song-like. Hypnotic. She let some of the brashness fall out of it, filling it as she did a healing staff with something peaceful for him, before he went into some sort of shock'. They'd spotted his horse standing over him on the field, and lashed him back to the saddle, leading man and horse through the battle. His wounds had been stabilized quickly, and now, tended more throroughly.(edited)

LadyDeme-Last Tuesday at 4:45 PM

== RP Pause ==

[EXPECT PAUSE HELL WITH ME] Dom-Last Tuesday at 10:48 PM

Once more, he felt the serene hands of comfort on him. Only this time, it wasn't merely physical, but emotional and mental. "I... I guess you're right." He rubbed the last of the sweat off his forehead. "But I can not... wrap my head aroudn how others can bear this..."

September 14, 2016

LadyDeme-Last Wednesday at 7:52 AM

"Can bear what exactly? Getting hurt?" She tilted head, not entirely certain as to what he meant. Her voice slipped again into its normal tones, but she kept her hand where it was. Just in case.

[EXPECT PAUSE HELL WITH ME] Dom-Last Wednesday at 7:28 PM

"Well, more than that..." He sighed. "I must look like a fool for not expecting this..."

LadyDeme-Last Wednesday at 7:43 PM

She shrugged. Yes, kind of, she thought, but elected to stow away for a moment. She could tease him later, after all, when she wasn't doing her darndest to keep him from doing something stupid. Imagine that. Delphine de Amarana, doing her darndest. "You're not the first person not to realize how dangerous war can be -- won't be the last. You, at least, get to expect it now." She motioned to his neck, as if to indicate not the fact that it was wounded -- but the fact that it was healing.

[EXPECT PAUSE HELL WITH ME] Dom-Last Wednesday at 8:01 PM

He was briefly upset as her hands parted from his, but took attention to his wound. "... ah, you're.. correct." He nodded. "Which is why this... this lesson is so important, and how I can't fail next time." "It's not a normal occurence to barely escape death, which is why..." He trailed off, staring outside the room.

LadyDeme-Last Wednesday at 8:14 PM

"Oh, come on, now -- you can't just leave me hanging," She said, her tone a little teasing. She leaned forward again, hand supporting her chin. While she prodded at his speech, she wiggled a foot under her dropped book as if to scoop it up. "Or, I can finish. 'Which is why you need to fully recover before you go risking that freshly-saved life again.' Am I right?" She tilted her head, thinking exaggeratedly before nodding and grinning. "Ah, yes. I believe that is the case."

[EXPECT PAUSE HELL WITH ME] Dom-Last Wednesday at 8:46 PM

He shut up at that moment, a mixed feeling of astonishment and embarassment. A-ah... "W-well, of course!" His old vigor came back. "Why--I will surely take the advice of our dear leader, after all, what sort of noble knight like me would ignore it? Only a fool would reject it." He said, propping his collar. Was he blushing?(edited)

LadyDeme-Last Wednesday at 8:53 PM

The mention of the leader made her sit up a bit, and blink. What, he thought this was coming down from Finneas, rather than her own pretty little head? Well. Whatever worked. She smiled and nodded. "Exactly, exactly."
Her smile was a little self-depricating as she waved a hand, gesturing idly with the rhythm of her words. "Besides, I'm pretty useless on the battlefield -- I'll need a brave and daring knight like you to defend me." Ugh. She hated playing this card. But Delphine would do what she had to, even if her inner face was rolling its eyes at her smiling "real" expression.

[EXPECT PAUSE HELL WITH ME] Dom-Last Wednesday at 9:01 PM

He blinked. W-wait, she called me brave and daring? Something's not right. Hah! Maybe I'm actually correct this time -- I've finally shown people how I really am! ... "Healers are just as important as fighters on the battlefield." He said. And you don't necessarily need a brave and daring knight to defend you. He bit his tongue.

LadyDeme-Last Wednesday at 9:23 PM

That seemed to fire him up a little. Good -- she didn't want to do do that if she didn't have to. She scooped up the book with her foot, balancing it until her arms reached with only a small forward bend. "Well, I'll gladly accept such high praise... You know, while I was patching you up, you somehow neglected to gurgle your name." She knew he meant well -- and it was probably true, for a batle-tested healer like that one guardswoman, or the fortune-teller, or someone who'd ever stepped foot on a battlefield, ever wanted not to crawl away and die as the bodies piled. She supposed that she was still here was luck and -- perhaps -- foolhardy courage.(edited)

[EXPECT PAUSE HELL WITH ME] Dom-Last Wednesday at 10:05 PM

"Oh, um." He scratched his head. "Alfron Julkeus Donum III the Great!" "... or just Alfron." Don't creep her out.

LadyDeme-Last Wednesday at 10:09 PM

"'The Great,' huh?" She asked, an eyebrow raised. She set the book on the side table and turned back to him. She didn't recognize the family name: she knew the word, but not where it'd been adopted as a name. "I like to keep things informal; you can call me Delphine."

[EXPECT PAUSE HELL WITH ME] Dom-Last Wednesday at 10:59 PM

"Delphine." He repeated. It had a nice charm. Well, for once, he didn't want to boast himself and prove how great he was. And he wasn't in the mood for loud, fancy speaking. Infact, he didn't even feel like how he usually did, yet he didn't want to show weakness. This was quite a weird situation that he had inexperience in. The medieval equivelant of a socially awkward teen.

September 15, 2016

LadyDeme-Last Thursday at 4:55 PM

"That's right," she said, nodding the way you would when a small child correctly answered a question. "So, in bed for a while longer, and I'll apply some more magic to you later... You probably won't be able to lie around as long as you should -- we'll be getting on the road when you're fit to ride at a gentle pace." They had neither the luxury of slowing down... Nor the sort of size that they could afford to not wait for their wounded -- especially not two of them. It looked like they'd both be able to fight again, after all.(edited)

[EXPECT PAUSE HELL WITH ME] Dom-Last Thursday at 5:33 PM

"Fit to ride my mount." He laid down, feeling the soft pillow. Would he be able to fight as normal?

LadyDeme-Last Thursday at 5:48 PM

"Exactly," she said, trying to keep her tone chipper. There'd been a shift in mood there. "That's a tough horse -- even though you fell, she stuck by you until we could get to you. She protected you," Delphine said with a smile. "Anyway, you'll be back up on her and in fighting trim in hopefully not too much time. Provided you don't open up your wounds before we finish up healing them."

[EXPECT PAUSE HELL WITH ME] Dom-Last Thursday at 5:59 PM

He slightly winced. The thought of his wounds opening was a... disturbing topic. "... really?" He asked. "I thought I was lucky enough that no one finished me off."

LadyDeme-Last Thursday at 8:47 PM

"Well, the protection of a horse isn't an extreme thing -- you mainly got lucky... But she was by your side anyway, and that's how we were able to recover you in the chaos," Delphine explained. That was a good horse.

[EXPECT PAUSE HELL WITH ME] Dom-Last Thursday at 11:17 PM

He smiled. "Of course..." "..." "And... what happened after/"

September 16, 2016

LadyDeme-Yesterday at 8:10 AM

"Well, concerning the battle... Ah, there's so much to tell. Actually, I've been writing some of it down. The short version is, we stabilized you, rescued the village, broke through the bridge, rescued a defector, and crossed the border," Delphine explained, breezing through it so as to better not remember the scent of blood, the way some of the bodies had ended up falling over the walls -- the sound as they hit the water. She focused on gesturing to her book, brushing the cover with one hand.(edited)

[EXPECT PAUSE HELL WITH ME] Dom-Yesterday at 7:31 PM

"You write it in your book?" He said, looking at her book.

LadyDeme-Yesterday at 9:07 PM

"Yes. I'd like these battles to be remembered how I remember them. So I'm doing something about it!" She patted it. It gave her a way to focus: if she could capture it all, and become the one to tell her story... Then maybe, even if she lost, she'd have accomplished something. She smiled wryly, shaking her head gently at her own foolishness. "Think of it as a very violent, probably not that great travelogue," she explained.

[EXPECT PAUSE HELL WITH ME] Dom-Yesterday at 9:40 PM

"It... seems like a good idea." He slowly nodded. Alfron thought about the memories he had, and felt that the ore he tried to remember the details, the more hazy they were. Diaries, journals, logs, they all seem useless to him, but maybe knowing memories was easier on paper....

LadyDeme-Yesterday at 9:51 PM

"Maybe it is; it's something to do, anyway." She shrugged, waving it off. She'd just thought it seemed valuable, in a world where the past slipped always, always further away, collapsing underfoot -- a feeling she'd considered in the past, when she had nothing meaningful to say, and so much time. Maybe she still had little to say, anyway.

[EXPECT PAUSE HELL WITH ME] Dom-Yesterday at 10:17 PM

Wonder if I should have one... His mother did wanted him to not be ignorant and uncultured in writing, a message he learned from turturous evenings of essay writing.

LadyDeme-Yesterday at 10:42 PM

"Anyway, I'm glad you're up, but you need to rest, too," She said with a certain nod, seeing the subject dry out as far as the spoken word was concerned.

[EXPECT PAUSE HELL WITH ME] Dom-Yesterday at 11:08 PM

He blinked. "Ah, sorry." He laid down. "... ahem, erm." He fiddled with his hands, before instinctively putting them down. Stop that. "I am in deep gratitude, Delphine"

September 17, 2016

LadyDeme-Today at 9:05 AM

"Think nothing of it; whatever you think you must repay me, it's a trifling -- after all, you managed to pull through. That's satisfaction enough." No one from their little band had died -- they waited on the King's word (this, she didn't know at the time, would be a disappointment) -- there was still a little hope for this movement. And... Well. She hadn't completely blown it. That's what it meant if he managed to live. So -- a net gain, for her efforts. "Besides, I'm not the manner of woman who will accept a life-debt."

[EXPECT PAUSE HELL WITH ME] Dom-Today at 2:47 PM

"A-ah, I see." Well, there goes the gallantry. Something... something about her declining his indebtedness made him more in gratitude.

LadyDeme-Today at 3:38 PM

"So I'm going to let you get some rest and see you later," she said, waving a hand, taking her book, and beginning to leave. "I'll come check on you again later, Alfron."

[EXPECT PAUSE HELL WITH ME] Dom-Today at 3:58 PM

"Farewell, lad--" "... Delphine." He said, sighing one last itme.

LadyDeme-Today at 5:51 PM

== End RP ==