RCW: Laughter Is The Best Medicine

Posted on Fri Jan 3rd, 2025 @ 10:42pm by Sr Journeyman Thalia & Blue Rider V'lik

Mission: 3531 AL
Location: RCW
Timeline: M2 D19

Thalia grinned as she looked at the blue rider sitting in front of her. The rider was being smothered in numbweed whilst the blue dragon looked on worried.

“I am not sure who looks more depressed, you or your dragon.” She said looking up at the blue shaking her head. “It is just a little score. Enough to damage your jacket and shirt but did not go through much skin.” She assured looking around to see if there was anyone else who needed a healer but it seemed it was all light scores today that the women of the lower cavern could mostly handle.

V'lik winced slightly as the numbweed started to take offense. He felt stupid for having gotten himself scored. At least it didn't seem bad.

“It was all very wherry brained,” he sighed. “Never should have happened.” He tried to calm his blue down though who was very anxious.

“What did you do? Close your eyes? Go left instead of right? Up instead of down? Happens to all riders. Weyrleaders and Wing riders alike.” She teased trying to lighten the mood like she would with any rider, especially one who looked as down about it all as V’lik.

V'lik looked up at her in surprise at her words. “Try down and right,” he answered, smiling slightly. Terilith watched curiously, trying to figure out his riders mood.

“Ah… Well then that was your mistake, blue rider. You boys cannot do two things at once,” she carried on teasing with a grin as the blue dragon stopped crooning. She scrubbed at her fingers with the wet cloth looped around her belt and looked at the layer of numbweed to confirm her work.

V'lik pulled a face. “That would have been nice to know before we tried it,” he answered. The blue snorted, clearly confused by what they were talking about. But at least his rider didn't seem in pain.

“Well us women have been telling you for turns but only some of you listen.” Thalia stepped around in front of him to check his cheek over. “Hurt anywhere else?” She asked, seeing just smudges from Firestone on his cheek.

The blue rider rolled his eyes but smiled slightly. He had heard that quite a few times yet she was right they didn't listen. “No I think I'm okay otherwise,” V'lik answered.

“Good. Your blue did a good job blinking between to stop it getting worse. A couple of days and you’ll be back to drills and whatever it is you riders do when you aren’t soaring the skies.” The healer confirmed, smiling back at the blue rider. She was fully aware of what riders did after a turn at the Weyr.

“Terlith has always been good at watching my back.” V'lik raised a brow. “Whatever else we do? Hmm what do we do?” He asked curious as to her answer.

“I don’t know blue rider. What do you do?” She asked back, smirking back as she decided to sit on the floor next to him waiting for the next patient to come back from fall needing assistance. “I know what I do when I am not plastering you up in numbweed. I read books to walk the master tables, resist the urge to annoy Nikolai, actually annoy the new masterhealer we have… I do lots of things.”

V'lik chuckled a bit. “Nikolai can be fun to annoy,” he grinned. “Usually i am with my family or just enjoying nature. Haven't read a good book in a while but it might be worth it.” He raised a brow. “walking the tables? That is impressive.”

“I am impressive that is why.” The woman had the self confidence of at least 2 people sometimes but there was no denying that she was a good healer. Nothing phased her and she had taken Terliyn under her wing to try and boost the woman the closer she got to her due date as both Nikolai and Thalia did not want her slipping into postpartum depression like last pregnancy. It also made her a firm favourite with people as she spoke honestly and gave as good as she got.

The blue rider raised a brow. “Well I can't argue there,” he laughed, wincing slightly. Okay, laughing was bad but Thalia was making it easy to forget the pain. it was nice to talk to some others besides family.

“I am sorry,” Thalia said seeing him wincing as she declared her self-confidence. “Let me get you some Willow Bark tea.” She offered standing to quickly go to the fire and cauldron poured a tea for him returning offering it to his should arm and shoulder. “Drink it should help the pain and list your mood. It has a little bit of Goldenseal, Glowleaf and Sundrop Blossom.” Thalia always added Sundrop Blossom to her teas for Threadfall as it provided emotional relief to those suffering from loss or stress. Something that Dragon Riders tended to need after fall.

“It's okay. Laughing just hurt a bit.” he accepted the mug when she returned and sipped on it. “That is a lot of herbs. But they sound quite useful.” Now he could see why she was such a good healer, besides just her good bedside manner.

“They are and it doesn’t taste too bad not that dragon riders normally notice when I am forcing them to drink it.” She joked sitting back down as she noticed several weyrlings blinking between in the sky above carrying firestone sacks. “Laughter is the best way to heal. Boosts everything, especially on days like this.” She assured.

“Nah I've had worse,” he assured her. He shook his head a bit. “Those poor riders you're forcing,” he grinned. “We don't know what's good for us sometimes.” And he had to agree about laughter. It was good for everything.

Thalia grinned at least someone appreciated her efforts. “I could leave it to Nikolai to make and it would be worse he likes to put Ironfern in things for threadfall.” She made a horrible face at the mere thought of the metallic taste in her mouth. “I at least think of the taste. No one needs that metallic taste after fall.” She winced again just thinking of it.

“Ooh I've had that one before. It is nasty.” That V'lik had had to chug to get it done. This one was actually pretty good. “I thank you for that then. This is actually enjoyable.”

“Yet none of you realised.” Thalia winked at him and shook her head as the wings started to return signifying the end of fall and the start of a couple of candlemarks for her with getting close and personal with numbweed. “You are welcome, blue rider.” She added with a sweeter smile instead of her big boisterous attitude.

“We're all a bit wherryheaded,” he agreed. he knew he himself had never really thought about it til this time. V'lik nodded. “Maybe I'll see you again when i'm not slathered with numbweed and in pain,” he grinned.

Thalia turned from counting the wing numbers and not hearing any dragon keels for deceased riders and dragons; she assumed that there had been no losses yet. “I would like that V’lik.” She stated using his name for the first time in their conversation.

“Oh so you do know my name,” he teased, wanting to make her smile before they parted ways. “Then I'll definitely find you at a not so busy time.”

Thalia looked at him and laughed. “Of course I do blue rider but there are just so many of you.” She squeezed his hand. “Get some rest. Take some more tea with you and the pain level changes come to the infirmary. I am on duty till zero candlemark and then Terliyn takes over.”

“Will do. And thank you again.” Resting sounded like a good idea. And he would have to find her again later when things weren't so busy.