06/20/2000

Infirmary, White Tower, Tar Valon

Square in shape, this room is most often abuzz with activity. It contains
the normal implements of a teaching infirmary, in fact, it is extremely
well stocked with all manner of things: cots, jars, bottles, syringes,
bandages, cloths, cabinets, shelves, books and tables along with plenty of
hot water. The air has that sterile smell associated with the constant use
of redwort, tinged with the unpleasant prickle of witchhazel. While most of
the Healing is done via the One Power at the Tower, there are many minor
medical situations that are dealt with the old fashioned way.

There are several areas curtained off, for patients' privacy as well as for
instructional usages. This is a teaching infirmary for the Yellow Ajah,
after all. Beds in cheerful colors are lined up in neat rows, providing a
comfortable place to sleep after a Healer's tender ministrations. Windows
are kept wide open to all for light and fresh air.


Sunan is in what was Redd's bed before he moved to Neelkans, and falls
silent as he sees Redd fall asleep. He waches the pair caregfully,
silently.

Neelkan is snoozing, and for a change he's actually sleeping rather
peacefully. But as it is with sleeping in general for him, the peaceful
moments never last long, and he's jerked back into awakeness. Arg. He
doesn't even remember falling back asleep... And... why is there something
pressed against him? He lifts his head enough to see Redd snuggled there
and blinks a few times, his mind distant and cluttered with... well...
being sick and he looks a little confused that the 'evil women' let the boy
sleep there before lowering his head back down and staring at the ceiling.

Redd remains asleep for now. Neelkan's sturring didn't seem to wake him.

Sunan wsmiles, and whispers over to Neelka, "Hello." He then inquires
hoarsey, "How... are.. you?"

Neelkan coughs once at the voice, able to keep himself from going into
fits, then glances towards the source of it. "Oh.. me? ... Just bloody
fi..." eh. He can't finish for some reason. "I got a kid layin' on m' 'n
I'm sick as ya, though at least better lookin'..." ... That was sort of
rude. No... That was Neelkan.

As if the mention of a kid layin' on him was a summons, Redd awakens
quietly. He glances up to see Neelkan is awake, then a coughing fit starts,
one that he can't stop, so he turns his head away just in time to miss
hitting Neel with the blood that comes out of his mouth. It lands on the
blankets around where Redd's chest is underneath it, and he keeps coughing.

Sunan was in the middle of dissenting when Redd awakened and began coughing
blood. "I.. disagree... It... is largely... a... matter of.. opinion...
and... I... think.. I... am.. far more... symmetrical- REDD!" This sudden
shout makes him start barking, but at least he's not coughing blood.

"Oh, go piss on an ant hill." Neelkan grumbles under his breath, his bandit
lifestyle rearing it's ugly head. Then all of a sudden the kid is coughing
up a fit and... blood? "Redd?" the young man with white-streaked red hair
reaches over to put a hand on the boy's shoulder in an attempt to steady
him. "Redd?"

LIGHT, does it hurt! The blood stops coming and the coughing slowly stops,
then the boy slumps like a doll against Neelkan's arm, which is the only
thing keeping him sitting up. Redd is so weak, he can't get himself to move
at all, except to open and close his eyes, which is a great fight.

Sunan eyes widen in alarm as he fights tostop coughing, waving his hands
like giant windmills to get the attention of those blind Yellows. He seems
a bit angry one hasn't approached yet.

Pulling the long dry cloth off his head, Neelkan pushes himself up with his
free hand and holds the cloth out to the boy. "Redd...? Are ya 'kay?" He
doesn't personally care about the women not coming over to help. He'll help
his little brother very fine, thank you.

Redd turns his eyes to Neelkan very slowly. Even that appears to be a
fight. "I... am..." Something he said earlier catches his words before he
continues, "hurting..."

Sunan continues waving his arms as he looks to Redd and asks, "Do... you...
need... something?"

"I know... I know... Just..." Neelkan takes the cloth and wipes up the
blood on the sheets and on the boy's face, not showing any grimace at the
sight of it. He's a bandit. He's seen blood lots. He's broken a few jaws
and caused it to come out of people's mouths before. "Just... stay calm.
Ya'll be just fine soon. I promise I won't let nothin' happen t' ya.
'sides... Ya gotta give m' m' necklace back, right?" He gives a weak smirk
after that.

Redd nods quietly, almost forgetting about that. "Can... I... have...
water... please...?"

Noting Sunan's attemps for attention, a Yewllow rushes over and tries to
help Redd. She sends a novice for a glass of water and anything elsetaht
might be used while she attends to him. Sunan is still tense, however,
wtaching.

Tossing the bloody cloth on the floor, Neelkan just does his best to hold
on to the boy's shoulders and support him. "'ere comes a girl with water
now. Just... sit tight. E'erythin'll be fine." He is absolutely sure it
will. Has no doubts. That's why it's not a lie. He's like that when friends
are concerned and they need comforting. Later he will have doubts.

Redd would nod if he could move his head, but he just looks at Neelkan with
a small smile in his eyes that would reach his lips if he could move them
completely. "Thank... you..."

Sunan whispers to Redd, "You'll be... okay... We're both... here... for..
you..." He comforts.

Neelkan continues to just hold his friend steady, but doesn't whisper
anymore words of encouragement as the Novice brings over the water and all.

Redd drinks up the water thankfully, though the Novice has to help him the
entire way. He then takes in a small breath and says. "I... think... you...
both... look... terrible..." Well, he's making a joke, he can't be that bad
off, can he?

Sunan considers his point, and then nods with an exagerrated motion. "I
concede... your... point. We... are... both... sick... but I... still...
am... more... symmetrical... I am... unfamiliar... with... that... word...
What does.. "piss" mean?" Sunan inquires.

Poking Redd in the shoulder, Neelkan snorts softly, "I'm handsome. 'at's
why m' name means Blooded Peacock!" Well... that and his eyes and his
fan... But then he glances at Sunan and coughs a laugh, which turns into
more then one cough before he's able to give an answer. "It's the..." No.
He's not going to explain it like to a child. Geez. Where was the kid
raised? "It's somethin' 'at comes outta yer body, kid." He lowers his voice
to whisper to Redd, "He definately needs to learn a few 'ings."

Redd would laugh, but he decides to hold it back, which isn't that hard to
do right now. "Yes..."

Sunan blinks, confused. "Many things come out of one's body. Air, out of
your nose or mouth, or somtimes your rear, but it smells funny there.
Urine, feces, blood, saliva, and if yiour sick, vomit or pus..." He thinks
as he causally lists these excretions.

Neelkan just brings a hand to his flushed face and shakes his head. He
isn't going to say anything. He's just going to remain quiet for now.

A strange conversation to awaken to. Juzriel lies in her bed a moment,
still beneath the covers, wondering perhaps if she's still dreaming, there
is a surreal quality to the words being spoken.

Sunan eyes go back to Neelkan. "So... what... is... piss?" He insistently
inquires.

Redd closes his eyes. Sunan really shouldn't be insisting, but he can't
stop him.

Aaaaarrrrrrgggggg. Someone needs to be smacked around a few times. Can
Neelkan just stand in line to do it? Please? Well, he can't even get out of
bed, much less stand... "Kid..." he finally starts. "It's urine, a'right!
It's a crude word f'r it. Soon as I'm all better m' 'n ya 're gonna have a
round down in the Practice yard..." And he's going to enjoy it far, far too
much.

Sunan nods, a look of understanding on his face. "Aaaaahhhhh..." Is all he
says.

Redd opens his eyes again. "A... round...?" It seems now is Redd's turn to
ask a question.

Neelkan pats the boy on the back, "Means I'm gonna teach 'im a think 'r two
'bout fightin' is all." Yeah, like how to bleed and take it like a man.
Heheheh. Ahem. Sorry, banditness showing itself again. But at least he
doesn't say that aloud, but then anyone really looking at him can see it
writen all over his face.

Men's talk by the sound of it.. and not very interesting at that. But when
is it ever? Juzriel turns over beneath the covers, facing towards the
majority of the room now, eyes open, but making no particular effort to
actually 'see'.

Sunan seems to have no farther questions, so he just quietly watches his
two friends in the next bed. He stares, without blinking.