Moderation
20 December 2008
Players:Madison, Gwennythe
Eastern Outpost: Infirmary - Recovery
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Just as large as the room below, the recovery room is for those patients who won't be recovering quickly. Cots are laid out in rows for patients and occasionally those family or friends that refuse to leave their loved ones. From the floor below, there's always a scent of herbs, but it's not so strong as to be nauseating. It's rather refreshing, even.
The wooden slat staircase appears out of the floor and continues up, up and out through the ceiling. Instead of the rounded carved-from-the-tree ceiling, there are boards instead. Also, between this floor and the one below, there is a contraption of ropes and pulleys disappearing through another hole in the floor. Below, there's a platform attached with enough room for a cot and a healer to stand.
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Exits: [Down] the Stairs, [Up] the Stairs
With:
[ZZZ] Treesong
[ZZZ] Sharpclaw
[ZZZ] Fenshire
[IC] Madison
[ZZZ] Treesong's mother, (Aurora)
Madison is sat! Sewing, as usual. She's been sewing a lot... a lot! Near countless bits of rag adorn the bed, with many different types of stitching. Many strips of fabric are sewn together, resembling something a prisoner would use to escape their jail. She's deep in concentration.
The bat sews when everybeast else is asleep. And tucks her work away before they wake. She did agree to work on clothes for Sivaine and, trip or not, she'll have them finished before the season cycle starts over. She's not sewing now though. She has been sleeping, perched upon the ceiling. There's a sleepy mumble of nonsense as the bat begins to surface to wakefulness, ears twitching.
Madison looks up as she hears that. Truth be told, she finds it comforting, having that batty chandelier when she would be otherwise alone. Determining that mumbling to be the last speech of a waking dream, she replies drily, "Nope, you're not a queen. Or a mole, luckily."
Gwennythe looks up...um, down... Down makes more sense... "Um?" She blinks. Her ears twitch even more. Then, as she stretches her wings, a yawn forces its way out. "Um, moles?" She asks, still up there, sleepy. A little confused.
Madison heh's, a little. "Nothing, forget it." She sets aside her newest practise fabric, and peers at the brand new, green sheets of cloth that lay nearby. Hmm.
Gwennythe peers down. Her ears having their attention upon the practise fabric. "You've been sewing a lot..." She comments, again stating the obvious. She hasn't noticed Madison looking at the cloth yet; descending from her perch to peer at the already sewn fabric. "You're getting really very good at it..."
Madison nods, "I'm getting somewhat decent," she assures, motioning to the green cloth. "I want this done before the Midwinter Mass."
Gwennythe nods. "Oh. Um, that's a good idea. A good aim, M'dam." She looks from squirrel to cloth with another nod. "Um... When is the... Mass?" The bat has heard talk of this thing, and she assumes, with the abbey nearby, it must be like a mass she knows of; big, ceremonial gathering to appease the winter... god, spirits... Martin? Whatever beasts here believe in... So, she looks suitably curious.
Madison purses her lips. "The one we had... back home, that would have been in... five days. Lots of music and dancing and food and such." she says, sounding like she's reciting a list.
Gwennythe nods a little. "Um... So is the one here going to be then as well..? I've heard beasts talking about it, but um, I haven't really asked them when it is..."
Madison looks up. "You have?" she peers around, "I haven't heard anything... but then, I've not left here in a long while." a pause, "I hope it's true."
Gwennythe waggles her ears a little. "I, um, hear a lot, M'dam... Not always a good thing, I think, but um..." She shrugs. She can't help being a bat, after all.
Madison nods, "I know the feeling," she replies, but she feels odd. Really odd. The ghost of hope is rising from its grave to swashbuckle against despair and bitterness. "I really hope something is planned." she dares to say. And, uh-oh... there better be, or disappointment will reign supreme.
The little bat blinks, tilting her head. She seems pleasantly surprised. "I think something is, M'dam. But I just don't know when. It would be terribly odd for there not to be anything to mark the season with, I think."
Madison nods, "Please ask for me, when you get a chance." Please? o.o She picks up a new rag, and stitches further. "I'm getting better," she says, though it turns out she's not talking about the sewing; "I haven't once 'misused' this needle. I'm surprised they gave it to me at all, mind."
Gwennythe brightens further. "Oh. Um, oc, I will." Her expression falters a little as the squirrel talks of 'misusing' the needle, but she nods, pleased to hear what she says. "They decided to trust you. They must have been able to see that you wouldn't."
Madison heh's in turn. "I was never truly that kind of self-destructive though. Not truly. I /did/ almost break my paw though, on one occasion when my leg got very bad."
Gwennythe hmms. Ears fold a little. She nods, but shallowly. Still, she keeps the air of good humor with a bright smile returning shortly. "Oc, but, um, now that sort of thought is in the past, oc? You're so much healthier and seem happier now..."
Madison almost buzzkills: "It's mostly just a brave face," she begins, though does eventually follow this up with, "But I am feeling more... at ease. Comforted, just a bit."her fingers work with newly honed skill as she sews.
"I am glad." The little bat doesn't seem overly daunted by the admission of it being a brave face. In fact, the admission almost seems to encourage her to take heart. "The feeling is growing though? Um, I hope?"
Madison swallows slowly. "I want it to." as usual when she opens up, she takes a look around, ensuring their privacy. "...I think... I think I'm ready." she begins.
Gwennythe perks up happily. "That's good. Very good." She shakes her head a little. "I do not think I could ever wish for the circumstances that brought you here, but, um, it's certainly had welcome consequences... Um, mostly, anyway." The last part added quickly, quietly, at a tiny flash of memory.
Yup, it's not the best thing to bring up. But it's okay. "I'm getting better at dealing with the pain myself. It still hurts a lot, especially at night, but I manage. I haven't touched mcuh in terms of herbs. ALmost none."
Gwennythe smiles. "That's very good, M'dam... Um. Extremely good. I'm sorry we didn't come to look for you before we did..." Well, she did go looking. And ended up nearly freezing to death. She's sure that's not one of the best things to mention either though. "Um... I know Senher Sharpclaw inspected your leg, but he was asked to talk to you about other things..." As long as they're already on the topic... "I just wonder if he did, um, I don't want to press the issue if you don't want to talk of it though. It... isn't any of my business unless you want it to be."
Madison hrm's. Her own reply is pretty short, but surprisingly open-ended. "He managed to get as far as saying I can come back to the abbey... as long as I agree to certain conditions. I never asked what the conditions were."
The bat nods, to show she understands. "So, um, I know you plan to stay here for a while... But, um, eventually... Do you think you will come back?"
Madison's reply is a little long in coming, mainly because she's thinking it over. What will she say? Tell the Abbey to take their 'conditions' and shove... ahem. Or be otherwise bitter? Finally, she forms the correct sentence in her mind. She rehearses it a little mentally, before, "...If I'm to return to the Abbey, I want to do so as a creature whom doesn't need conditions."
Gwennythe frowns just a little. Her ears fold a tiny bit, but mostly she's curious. "Um... I can... I can understand that reasoning, I think, M'dam... I hope that it will not be too long though, M'dam. Oh, um..." She realises that she's let slip, somewhat, that she does intend to go back to the abbey in the near future. "Um, I... I find myself thinking a lot about the future lately..."
Madison is still somewhat alienated to the reasoning as to why Gwenn followed in the first place, though by now not wholly unappreciative. She allows the bat to speak, only commenting, "Not as far into the future as I do, I hope." quickly, however, she follows up with, "But carry on."
Gwennythe blinks. "Oh, um, not to any specific time in the future, I suppose, but um, not especially far ahead really either... I, um, like it here. The atmosphere, and the beasts, are pleasant, but... I don't belong here at all... I'm not sure if I belong in the abbey either, but I can see little else I could do with my future..." She smiles. "Seeing you change, for the better, after coming here... It's made me think about such things. I'm not a dibbun anymore, can't turn seasons backwards to be so, but neither can I pursue life without direction..."
Madison looks up, partway. "You're starting to sound like me... and you know that's not a good thing." a pause, "You have anything in mind?"
"I don't think it's an overly bad thing either, M'dam..." She shakes her head a little, worrying her bottom lip for a moment. "I've been thinking I might join the Order..." She admits quietly.
Madison's only reaction, for quite a few moments, is to breathe a very long, loud but very sincere sigh of relief!
Gwennythe watches apprehensively as the squirrel, um, deflates..? She worries her lip again, fidgety, waiting tentatively for something more of a response.
Madison finally gives one; "Thank goodness for that. I thought your were going to /wander the land/," she spreads her paws in 'epic' fashion, "and end up as some nomad. Joining the Order? Phew." It /seems/ approving.
The bat is rather surprised by the idea. "Um. I don't think I could be a wanderer... I cannot survive outside on my own..." It sounds as though she /knows/ that somehow. Experience, perhaps. She's encouraged by the seeming approval though. "I cannot think of another option... And, I think the Order might be good for me..."
Madison nods, seeming surprisingly sure. "You'll make a good orderbeast," she says, sounding surprisingly honest. "It will completely suit you."
Gwennythe smiles, clearly pleased. "Um, thank you... I... I hope so. I really can't... imagine doing anything else. It's the only thing I can see myself doing..." She fidgets. "If... you stay here, I will visit though. As often as I can. Um, M'dam Lark showed me the route and... I can always ask her if she will do so again."
Madison heh's. The foregoing is a genuine attempt to allay the bat's fears, "Hey, don't worry about me, I'll be alright. Heck, I should've been dead thirty times over by now, and I'm still standing. Well, half."
The bat seems much happier to have talked with someone about such things. Especially it seems, to have talked with Madison about it. The optimism that the squirrel seems to show about herself is caught and the bat's ears twitch happily in response. She nods agreement, to try and be encouraging the optimism, though not commenting over some of the content. "I can see I don't need to worry about you, M'dam, and I don't think you need me to, but all the same, I'd like to."
Madison can only nod, of course, because she's actually decided to censor herself. And then, after a pause, "I hope... I hope I can treat the Midwinter Mass as a new beginning. Or at least, an opportunity. I've even let my imagination run wild a little. My imagination! I thought /that/ was long dead."
Gwennythe appears curious as Madison mentions her imagination. "Oh? Um, in what way? Is it running wild, I mean... I am glad it's not dead. Very." The bat amends quickly with a sharp little nod.
Madison heh's once again, "I'm allowing myself to imagine what I may one day become. It... It's nice."
The bat is definitely curious now. She makes to sit. "Um, please. Elaborate, um, if you want to... I'd like to hear about it..." She smiles, large ears attentive.
Madison hmph's, but with a wonky yet infectious smilesmirk. "It's stupid." she dismisses rather weakly.
Gwennythe shakes her head adamently. "No. No, it's a good thing, M'dam. And I am curious. I really would like to hear about it."
Madison hangs her head... after another quick look around. In a very, very tiny voice... "...I imagined some creature sweeping me up to dance during the Mass celebrations." And there's proof: Madison /can/ blush. o.o
Tiny voice doesn't seem to make too much difference to the bat. Those large ears catch it and she looks delighted. "Oh, but maybe that will happen? I don't think that's stupid at all."
Madison almost cackles. "Me? Yeah right. Even if there /was/ a creature deaf, dumb, blind and stupid enough to try, I'd end up hitting them with a glass or something."
"Maybe you wouldn't... And, I think you need to think better of yourself. Look how far you've come... Um, I haven't seen a looking glass, so I do not know if you have seen your reflection, but I think you are looking better... Healthier as well as happier. Like I've said before." The little bat adds a smile to her nod. "So it might happen. Lots of things like that are supposed to happen around this time of season, I think?"
Madison can only nod, of course. "I hope so. I really, really hope so. I'm ready to become a person again." she says, both to the bat and herself, in a softer tone than usual.
Gwennythe seems predictably happy to hear it. Her smile just grows larger. She decides to aim a hug at the squirrel, apparently momentarily at a loss for any words.
Madison seems surprised at that action. She jumps at first, her body clearly tensing up. But after a little while, part - just part - of her begins to relax a little, and she remembers to breathe again. "...Been a long time since I had a hug." she says as she sits still in the bat's grasp.
Gwennythe blinks, pulling away only enough to look at the squirrel. "Um... I... suppose so. Oh. Well then it's a good job that can be fixed." The little bat nods again. "A hug is a good thing."
Madison nods some. "I'm glad you did it." A paw rests on one of the wings that hug her. While Madison can't be expected to relax the whole way, she's certainly taking the gesture very well. Welcoming, even.
"Good. Because I'll probably be doing it again..." She's very honest there. She does seem to hug beasts rather a lot in recent weeks. The bat seems content to stay there for a little longer.
Madison seems happy enough with that. But after a moment... "I need to ask... Why? Why didn't ou lose faith in me? All other creatures did. I know I did."
"I... I don't think I can explain it M'dam. I do not think I am able to lose faith. I just feel that... I knew you could and would be able to... um, to help yourself. But, not without others to believe you could. I think."
Madison gives a shrug while still n those wings. "Well don't celebrate just yet. I can't even see the end of the woods, let alone say I'm truly /out/ of the woods." a pause, "...But I am much more optimistic."
"Oh, um. I'm not celebrating, M'dam..." She certainly seems to be though. "But I am very pleased to hear about your optimism..." She then remembers that, maybe, the squirrel would like to be freed at some point, but still, she only loosens the hug a little more.
Madison doesn't seem to mind the extended hug. It's long overdue, and besides, it's not like she's got anywhere to be! Though, "I'm starting to wonder if this is a good thing, or if we should keep the hugs 'til I've succeeded."
Gwennythe blinks. Her ears flicker downwards a little. A small bit of embarrassment. "Oh... Um, sorry M'dam..." She slowly straightens back up, moving to retake her seat, ending the hug at last.
Madison allows something that might be a smile to grace her features for a split-second, before she nods and turns once again to her sewing. "Optimism aside, I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to the whole cheerful, smiling, happyhappy thing."
"Well, nobeast is supposed to be happy all the time... I do not think that could be healthy... I'm sure there's a need for things beyond happiness... Though, happiness must surely be the healthiest thing to have most of, if mixed with the others..." She muses, thoughtful now...
Madison nods, "Moderation, huh?" she asks, in painfully short fashion. x.x
Gwennythe blinks. That's the word! "Oc, M'dam... Moderation... Happiness must lose its potency... it's appeal... if it is over experienced, I am sure. So true health... must be a balance, I suppose."
