Chronicles of the Calamitous Cani

OOC: ((Hurrah for me!))

2009-05-30T15:25:48Z

((Just got married last night, yay! It was a nice basic ceremony in front of about 30-40 family members and friends or so, pretty close. Nice and gender equitable setup too; we wore matching suits, had mirrored groups, both entered the same and left the same. Less than $1000, and a big part of that was in extra expense finding me a sturdier ring that I wouldn't break easily.))

Now how did THAT get there?!?

2009-05-30T08:26:28Z

I seem to have acquired a new spell on my magerium. Where it came from is a mystery to me; I certainly don't recall grafting it.
I will call it Deliver The Distant Nightmare (CrMe25). A touch of looking at theory indicates that it really aught to be Complexity 20, rather than 25. It is a modified form of the basic Plant The Nightmare (CrMe15) which forces the subject to have a certain dream as created by the caster; unlike the version I am familiar with, this variant is meant to be used through an arcane connection.
The malicious potentials of this spell should be obvious, particularly as used with other, even more insideous magics.
I believe I am going to ~~try to forget that I ever saw this spell now~~ whimper and try to find a good excuse and cover story.

OOC: Bah!

2009-04-08T07:03:00Z

((Alright, I just finished a long and rather arduous process of adding a teenage daughter back into the household while in the process of moving. I haven't had much time to think in awhile, and I haven't been online. Terribly sorry for the vanishment. I'll be rereading here shortly, as some of my storylines are a bit at loose ends in my head, and I am reluctant to apply the sort of Mentador needed to put them together in a hurry!))

On Mysterious shadowy figures

2009-02-18T20:45:10Z

Sinuuf: "And you would be?"
Mysterious Stranger: "That isn't a question that someone in your situation traditionally gets."
Sinuuf: "Well then; who are you with? Which question did you hear that I had? I've had several, after all."
The Mysterious Stranger paused at that, in consideration.
Sinuuf: "After all, if I just -guess-, I may well be wasting your time after all? And i'm sure that anyone who casually burgles their way into houses to chat tend to have a rather high value on their time. I could be mistaken."
Mysterious: "You've been gone, I hear. and now, you wonder exactly where or why?"
Sinuuf: "Well, yes. I don't actually recall leaving at all."
Mysterious: "I couldn't tell you where you went. But you did leave. Not long after casting a Mentador pattern spell on a guardsman with a complexity of twenty."
Sinuuf: "Oh yes. That. It was a HEALOC spell. Used to heal a Guard member, at their request. Successfully, too."
Mysterious: "I am well aware. But it was a -pattern- spell, rather than, say, a woven one."
Sinuuf: "It was. Is the posession of a healing spell an issue for one training as a Healers' guild member?"
Mysterious: "Of course not. ...Of course, the source of a boxed Mentador spell of complexity twenty is slightly more of a concern."
Sinuuf: "To whom? Are you looking to -purchase- Mentador spells? I have no intention of selling them. In truth, I don't think I even -could-. The kind of people who would provide spells of that sort are very good at making sure that their customers will not compete with them."
Mysterious: "I don't want to hear about you selling any spells of that sort. That would make for some serious trouble.."
Sinuuf: "Ah. You represent the Guard, I suppose, then.. Those spells didn't come from anywhere near here, most likely. I acquired it long before I came to Vheshrame."
Mysterious: "I see. Do you have any other surprises involving Mentador that you might want to not advertize about? Because I don't know that it would go well for you if that piece of information were to end up in the wrong hands."
Sinuuf: "I see. Blackmail it is then. I have a bit of skill at dealing with mages of the Mentador variety. Defenses, healing, and the sort."
Mysterious: "And nothing else?" Eyes narrowed slightly at me.
Sinuuf: "Nothing I would talk about to a mysterious shadowy cloaked figure with a Destroc Airador spell on them. Now, for my question: What more precise details about my absence from the city do you have?"
As it turns out, very few. Sigh.

Later, after my apartment was once again vacant, I did a bit of a review of the facts I knew, and learned at least one disturbing fact that I had not already known...

calamitous_cani @ 2009-01-02T17:18:00

2009-01-03T02:57:10Z

It took a bit of doing to try to find a way to ask what I had been doing, since one would think that I would know. I wasn't able to find a way to exchange more than pleasantries with Eggum, or Altimerax. I did discover that my rent had been paid for a good length of time in advance, apparently by myself, with a large coin. Thistlegreen, though, greeted me as I passed.
Thistlegreen: "Hello, Sinuuf, I haven't seen you more than once since you came back. I wanted to make sure everything was well.. you.. were being a bit cagey. Is something wrong?" She put her weights down and walked me to a quiet and secluded corner of the yard, looking me over like an all-knowing parent.
Sinuuf: "Good.. Thank you.. I hope nothing is wrong, but I can't really say. Did I mention why I was away? It was all a blur."
Thistlegreen: "Oh, yes, you had to leave for a couple of weeks to deal with some sort of emergency."
Sinuuf: "What kind of emergency?"
Thistlegreen: "I'm not sure; you didn't say. I.. could have sworn I asked, but I don't rember if you answered. Odd.. You just wanted to make sure all your mail was saved for you, and I did that."
Sinuuf: "You did?"
Thistlegreen: "Of course I did. It really wasn't any trouble."
Sinuuf: "And you gave it to me when I came back?"
Thistlegreen: "Oh yes. Don't you remember?"
Sinuuf: "....No, not really... could you keep that quiet for the moment?"
Thistlegreen: "That sounds a bit ominous."
Sinuuf: "I hope only a LITTLE bit ominous. Did anyone come to see me?"
Thistlegreen: "There was a guard or two who tried to find you.. I would have thought that that was dealt with already."
Sinuuf: "I don't remember dealing with it."
I caught up with Bristol later that evening.
Sinuuf: "Bristol, has the Guard been trying to get in touch with me for some reason? One of my neighbors said that a Guard was trying to find me, earlier, and I don't know if it was regarding something that was slipping my mind."
Bristol: "Oh, hello. I'll have to find out. I know I haven't heard anything."
Later,
Bristol: "I checked, and I don't see anything of the sort."
Sinuuf: "Thank you."
And later, when I walked into my bedroom while safely inside my apartment, holding a bean-nut roll and a textbook which I had been studying in the kitchen for some time,
Mysterious Person Who I Do Not Remember Meeting And Did Not Expect To Find Sitting On My Bed: "I hear you had some questions?"

Oh. Oh my.

2008-12-16T15:10:15Z

I was trying to get everyhing ready for class when my entire world took a mighty blow.

I woke up, and threw my books together. I've just started with introductory classes at the hospital, and Cabir has loosened his demands on my time accordingly. I exhanged idle witticism with Thistlegreen, then went to the clinic to tidy up some loose ends there. Nothing out of the ordinary. Of course, that was when the door opened. Chrys took two steps in, saw me, and froze.

Chrys: "Sinuuf? I didn't know you would be here!"
Sinuuf: "Where else would I be?"
Chrys: "I don't know. You haven't been here in -weeks-! No-one seemed to care much, but they never said where you were, either."
Sinuuf: "This is news to me, I don't remember going anywhere.."
Chrys: "Maybe you should check, then!"

I did some quick checking. I seem to be missing a fearfully large amount of time from my memory, and I could not seem to work out how to heal it, even though I expect it should be relatively straightforward.
This is very much a Bad Thing.

OOC: Meme-age from the Lizard

2008-10-11T05:45:58Z

Passed on from sythyry
If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now,(even if we don't speak often or ever) please post a comment with a COMPLETELY MADE UP AND FICTIONAL memory of you and me.

It can be anything you want - good or bad - BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE.

When you're finished, post this little paragraph in your LJ and see what your friends come up with. Or, not.

[[OOC updates: Dating someone new and frantically job-hunting.]]

calamitous_cani @ 2008-09-15T09:35:00

2008-09-15T18:47:08Z

Here is the piece of the story that was missing.
Bristol, Viola, and Sand idly took note that a local merchant had closed their shop at a very unusual time of day, and were looking about for him. Viola had heard a familiar voice in an alleyway, and looked around the corner. Viola did not specifically call for help, as they were together, even though Bristol and Sand were talking to someone else at the time about something which is essentially inconsequential.
Viola was spotted by said merchant, who released a bound spell. During the triggering of this spell, Viola made a noise of protest and drew her sword.
Viola then decided to continue watching to see what said merchant would do. This is presumably not the course of action she would have chosen normally.
The merchant continued digging through a pile of rubbish, retrieving from it a boxed spell. The merchant then ran away, and released a second bound spell upon turning the corner behind the building. Viola then realized that she was standing in an alleyway, holding her weapon, seconds before Bristol and Sand arrived to ask why she was standing at the edge of an alleyway with her sword out and hanging by her side.
Bristol surmised that the effects seemed like a mental attack, and noted that they were less than a city block from Cabir's office.

Bristol was rather alarmed that a complexity 20 spell containing Mentador had gone off in her presence, however, this was dampened by the fact that it was also a Healoc spell, which is to be expected in the office of a healer.

Bristol: "That was a big spell! What are you doing with that?"
Sinuuf: "I thought you were trying to get on the trail of an evil Mentador mage? I don't really like thinking about there being someone in town changing the minds of Guard members!"
Bristol: "But.."
Sinuuf: "We'll talk about this later. I've been in here taking care of patients and studying all day. Here! I'll even help! Do you want spells of protection against Mentador?"
Bristol: "It would... help?" She seemed a bit confused by being put on the defensive.
Three castings of Aura of Alertness to Mentador (KeSuMe 15) got passed around.
Sinuuf: "Go! Go! You have an Evil Mentador Mage to deal with!"
They left, looking more than a bit confused and disturbed.

Cabir: "That was interesting."
Sinuuf: "I hate evil Mentador mages."
Cabir: "You -are- a Mentador mage."
Sinuuf: "I try not to be evil."

Cabir walked to his desk and shuffled through some files for a minute or so.
Cabir: "They'll be back to talk to you."
Sinuuf: "If they want more protective spells, you're the one who was saying that you needed some extra income. And that was a healing spell. It isn't like I was changing their memories or some such thing."
Cabir: "True."
Cabir: "...."
Cabir: "Do you have a spell to change memories?"
My answer was to put stitches into a piece of leather.

calamitous_cani @ 2008-09-13T13:00:00

2008-09-13T22:17:31Z

"Well!", said Cabir, "Why are you coming to me in particular? I am not known for having any talent with Mentador, after all." He picked up one of the cleaning items he had on hand, the air-cleaning fan, and waved it at the bench in the room, and incidentally at myself. Probably for the best, as I had frozen up in terror.

Bristol: "You're the closest.. Viole saw something, but we don't know what anymore. Something made her forget."
Cabir: "Something?"
Bristol: "We were looking for someone who we'd been told to look out for. Viole saw something and called out to them, but when we got to her she was confused."
Cabir: "Confused?"
Viole: "I don't remember calling out.. We were walking and looking, and I was standing in an alley.. I don't remember what I was doing, or why I went into the alley, though."
Cabir: "Hmm.. Destroc Mentador effect of some kind?" This question wasn't directly aimed at me, so I didn't actually need to answer it.
Sinuuf: "If I remember my magic theory right, a complexity ten spell would do it." I actually know the pattern spell that likely did it. This doesn't help me at all in being able to prove my innocence, but I actually have Lost Minute (DeMe 10) grafted.
Bristol: "Probably something like Lost Minute. I don't know if a few minutes helps break it easier. I'd like to know what she saw before the trail goes dry."
To my credit, I actually have the perfect spell for such occasions. Unfortunately, the spell in question is Restore the Stolen Memory, Healoc Mentador 20. People tend to become uneasy knowing that anyone around can cast Mentador at that level of potency.

This renders the issue into one of healers' ethics.
The Healers' Guild heals people. While this is a statement that seems very obvious, it is one that has some consequenses attached to it.
This would be an act of healing, albeit a potentially rather hazardous one to one's social standing.
The question of how much personal danger a healer is obligated to place themself in in order to perform an act of healing is one that is debated, and yes, I read the chapters on ethics just last week.
Dutorneau favors an absolutist approach to healing, and feels that it is the duty of the healer to heal even enemies and the politically unpopular. Azraziel follows a pragmatic approach, and feels that a successful and safe healer will produce more healing than a dead martyred doctor. Dutorneau is Rassimel, and can be expected to be more than slightly obsessed with principle, while Azraziel, being a Zi Ri healer and scholar of some three hundred years of experience, can be expected to see survival as being of great importance and would not be expected to subscribe to a philosophy of martyrdom.
In the discussion of these, Cabir noted that Chrentothany feels the Healers' Guild to have a duty of care toward healers acting to heal patients, and Chrentothany is local to this area and likely to have some sway in the matter. Ergo, I am likely going to have some protection if I am acting in the capacity of a healer under the guidance of a Guild-affiliated healer mentor.

Sinuuf: "True, I don't much like the idea of a Mentador mage running around harassing the Guard. This is Guard business, I assume? I think we can fix this."
I, gulp, cast the spell.

Bristol: "Yeep!"

calamitous_cani @ 2008-08-05T14:09:00

2008-08-05T22:24:50Z

((Sorry, been obscenely busy. This one is really short, too. None of my longer ideas were working pacing-wise.))

The day started off well, even if the needle wasn't cooperating with me.
Cabir: "No, no, you need more practice. Try again." He had me sewing up chamois scraps with holes cut in them.
Sinuuf: "Any ideas about my neighbor?"
Cabir: "I honestly wouldn't know. I haven't seen her, and I don't know who is, so i'm not going to be much use there."
Sinuuf: "Mm. Well, it's frustrating."
Cabir: "I wouldn't worry about it. You'll be in class soon! You need to get your schedule worked out for that, have you started?"
Sinuuf: "A bit.. It's pretty simple. Lots of theory groundwork to start, and I didn't see a lot of choices to make there."
Cabir: "At least today is calm. Not much excitement today."

The door opened, to reveal Guard Bristol standing behind it, accompanied by another person I didn't know.

Cabir: "Ah, Bristol! How can I help you today?"
Bristol: "Hi, Cabir! We're looking for an evil Mentador mage!"

calamitous_cani @ 2008-07-13T03:09:00

2008-07-13T11:57:29Z

I would like to say that I responded brilliantly.
...But I would be lying. Rather, I fled. And proceeded to avoid Altimerax studiously for several days. I did have a few conversations on the subject, at least.

I asked Eggum about it, as he practiced on his drums after I got home from work.
Eggum Ottwax: "Not sure... why she would... have reacted... like that. She must have been... upset.. before you saw her."
Sinuuf: "I'm a bit afraid to ask."
Eggum Ottwax: "Heard a rumor... that you're shagging.. up a Rassimel bint?"
Sinuuf: "I know. It's not true, the relationship is purely professional."
Eggum Ottwax: "Hnnn.. Yeah, I heard it... from Arvakr. He's... usually wrong."
Sinuuf: "Thank you so much for your vote of confidence."

Thistlegreen made an appearance in the courtyard at an unusually early hour of the morning, well before dawn. I'd awoken for a snack, and upon seeing cer, burned through a bit of cley healing cis assorted injuries with the Heal Once I had just recently been able to graft.
Sinuuf: "What happenned to you?"
Thistlegreen: "I'd rather not say." Ce glared at me in a manner that emphasized a closure to that topic for now.
Sinuuf: "...Okay."
Sinuuf: "What's twisting Altimerax's tail? She threw me off a balcony."
Thistlegreen: "I don't know. She's like that sometimes. Happy enough in the morning, but then something sets her off.. i'm not sure what. and she's upset the rest of the day. Sometimes she's stomping around angry for days."
Sinuuf: "Any idea why?"
Thistlegreen: "Family, maybe? Just trying to remember things she was cussing about... I'm sorry i'm not more helpful, Sinuuf. I just don't know. I stay out of her way when she gets like that."

Arvakr was on the balcony as I walked to work one morning. He had a bit of a scent of narcotics lingering around him that made my nose twitch.
Sinuuf: "Arvakr, can you please not spread rumors about me? I got thrown off of a balcony because of that last one, and it isn't even -true-."
Arvakr: "What?"
Sinuuf: "That Rassy girl I was talking to is a patient of mine. I'm not doing anything more romantic than checkups and discussion of injuries with her."
Arvakr: "...Really? I didn't think I said much."
Sinuuf: "Someone told Altimerax, and Altimerax threw me over the railing. I haven't the faintest idea why. I'm a bit annoyed by that! Please try harder to not spread ridiculous rumors!"
Arvakr: "Right, right."
Sinuuf: "Oh, and you smell like you've been rolling in burned mushrooms. It makes my nose itch; you're not going to make a good impression on anyone with half a nose like that."
Arvakr: "...You can smell that still?"
Sinuuf: "You REEK. I doubt you even need to be Cani to smell you across a room."
Arvakr cursed and went, presumably, to bathe again.

Chrys: "You're looking rather a bit preoccupied with something."
Sinuuf: "Just some trouble at home."
Chrys: "With one of your wives or husbands?"
Sinuuf: "No, i'm not married. One of my neighbors is upset at me, and I don't know why. No, I know why, but I don't know why they were upset enough to shove me over a railing."
Chrys: "Why were they upset?"
Sinuuf: "Someone started a rumor that we were a couple." I grimaced in distaste. "But the girl who shoved me seems like one of the more gentle people I know. And they were crying a lot. It just surprised me."
Chrys: "Did you talk to her?"
Sinuuf: "Not yet. I've been a bit frightened to."
Chrys: "You really aught to."
She's right, but that doesn't make it any less awkward.

In time, I will have a clue. Today? Nah.

2008-06-23T16:39:38Z

The loam and the grass under my paws as I walked to my apartment was cold and dry. I was tired, and troubled.

Thistlegreen: “Alty is having a bad day.”

I nodded. “Okay.” and thought no more of it.

I turned to my door and started fumbling with the keys, head ringing softly and swaying the ground gently here and there, less than it might otherwise.

A voice piped up beside me: gentle, sickly Altimerax.

Altimerax: “I heard you were out spending time with a Rassimel girl.”

Ah yes, Chrys. I reviewed in my head – again – the events of the evening, the stabbing, the ensuing argument, the masterful wielding of words by Cabir, the resulting overdue bit of misery. Not a terriby pleasant evening by any means.

Sinuuf: “A bit. I had to go meet her family today.”

Altimerax: “..Why?”

Sinuuf: “Oh, they weren't happy about her habits, and they wanted to make sure I was going to be the right person for her.” I winced and tried another key that I was sure I'd tried before. In the end, beaten by Cabir's logical litanies and relentless thrusts of guilt, Chrys was left looking for a place to live and study from, and with a stipend; my services were retained, and my scholarship, miraculously enough, escaped unscathed and even bolstered. I suspect that Cabir expended quite a bit of his arsenal of blackmail material in the battle, however. It was rather an epic duel-war of kindly words and smiles over tea, and my attentions were not as much on it as they might have been.

Altimerax: “...And what did they think?”

Sinuuf: “Honestly? They were very upset. But they don't really have her best interests in mind, and their interfering in her romantic life is a big part of why she is seeing me.”

Altimerax: “Oh.. Why, is she looking to settle down or something?”

Hmm, Chrys had made a few veiled comments about her abandoned boyfriend that seemed a bit long term – heavily veiled by her issues, though.. I should go back into my notes to see if I should ask more about that.

Sinuuf: “I think that might be part of it, sure..”

A hand gripped me and moved suddenly, and the world spun. There was sky, and fury.

The loam and grass under my back as my head bounced off the ground and my limbs fell in a jumble around me was dry, and cold. Above me, the sky was filled with pained, tearful, furious Orren.

Altimerax: “You... How could you!”

I'm quite sure I may have possibly missed something terribly important and subtle, here...

(OOC: Travelling.)

2008-06-17T00:15:35Z

(In Portland, OR for the week. Let me know if there's anything you might want me to do there.)

calamitous_cani @ 2008-06-16T16:42:00

2008-06-17T00:13:56Z

Sinuuf: "Chrys?"
Sinuuf: "How are you feeling?"
Chrys: "I'm fine, really."
Sinuuf: "I wouldn't be."
Chrys: "..."
Sinuuf: "How did you get together with the guy you mentioned?"
Chrys: "Mother met him and thought he'd be perfect."
Sinuuf: "Were you seeing anyone?"
Chrys: "Just Casthan, but that really wasn't going to go anywhere."
Sinuuf: "Oh?"
Chrys: "You heard them."
Sinuuf: "What was he like?"
Chrys: "Just another student."
Sinuuf: "Of?"
Chrys: "Magiador. I met him in a graduate class."
Sinuuf: "Your level class?"
Chrys: "Yes.."
Sinuuf: "But your father didn't care for him?"
Chrys: "Well, of course. No future in him."
Sinuuf: "When's the last time you got angry?"
Chrys stopped and thought about this. After a little while, I got a cup of spiced juice from a pitcher nearby, stirring it with a fork, and lapped at it, then sat down again.
Chrys: "Oh! When your friend accused us of being an item."
Sinuuf: "And before that?"
Chrys: "...."
I slowly finished off the cup of juice, then put it down. "I think I know why you cut yourself."
Chrys: "Why?"
Sinuuf: "Because that way, you have an excuse to feel hurt, because you don't let yourself feel hurt about things you should be hurt by."
Chrys: "That doesn't make any sense.."
Sinuuf: "When your father asked if you were trying to embarrass him, how did you feel?"
Chrys: "How did I feel?"
The fork made a loud wood on wood click! sound as I sandwiched it between the hand Chrys had been venturing out and the table. Chrys blinked at it.
Sinuuf: "I don't think that's working for you very well. Do you want me to help you deal with it?"

calamitous_cani @ 2008-06-12T16:17:00

2008-06-13T01:00:57Z

Cabir rose to his feet before I could stop him, and stepped to Chrys. This precipitated a crashing wave of drama I had hoped to avoid.
Arhelene: "Oh, not again!"
Elthamhor: "Are you trying to embarrass us?"
Cabir: "Let go of the knife, and I'll have that healed.."
Sinuuf: "Excuse me.."
Chrys looked around at everyone and warded them off with her hand. "Will you just leave me alone?"
Arhelene: "Oh, are you alright?"
Elthamhor: "I swear, you are such an embarrassment."
Chrys looked down, and levered the knife deeper into her leg. "I'm sorry."
Arhelene: "I just can't understand what is wrong with you!"
Cabir: "If you'll please move your hand.."
Sinuuf: "I said EXCUSE ME.."
Chrys: "Why can't you just.. nevermind.."
Cabir: "That looks like it hurts, I can help.."
Sinuuf: "EXCUSE! ME!"
Everyone shut up and looked at me.
Sinuuf: "If you are all finished harassing my patient? I think I should spend some time helping."
Arhelene: "I am -not- harassing.."
Sinuuf: "Then please appreciate that I am trying to do what is best for your daughter, and let me do what I have been asked to do."
Elthamhor: "Patient?"
Cabir: "I passed her case on to him. I assure you, he has been under my supervision."
Sinuuf: "Chrys, is there somewhere quiet we can go? I think you'd appreciate getting away from this craziness."
Chrys meekly pointed at a door, then rose, limping toward it and leaving a trail of blood behind her.
Sinuuf: "Thank you. I'll be back later."

calamitous_cani @ 2008-06-12T15:27:00

2008-06-13T00:05:39Z

"Well then." Arhelene shrugged faintly. "I will admit that matters have been somewhat strained. I do expect that things will clear up, however."
Cabir: "Oh, of course."
Arhelene: "And things have been looking promising in other regards. My husband has been working on some projects that we hope may pay dividends in the future. As for the rest of the family - Chrys, weren't you spending some time with that gentleman Gallimir?"
Chrys: "..." She paused a moment, and I could smell a faint cringe. "Actually, no, we haven't seen each other in some time."
Arhelene: "Oh? Mmmh. We will have to talk about this later." She frowned, severe.
Cabir: "Gallimir?" He apparently recognized the name; I didn't. He looked over at Arhelene, measuringly.
Chrys bit her lip slightly. "I just didn't much care for him, really."
Arhelene: "There's no need to interrupt a good dinner with discussion of my daughter's romantic life. I'm sure she must be mortified by it all."
Chrys: "..no, it's perfectly alright." She did not -smell- as though it was perfectly alright. "It wasn't that long ago, and it's over now."
A Rassimel man entered, taking his seat beside Arhelene. "Sorry about the delay, dear, you know how graduate students can be. What is this I hear about you and Gallimir?"
Chrys: "I'm... not seeing him."
Prof. Elthamhor: "But he has such potential! More than that rake you were seeing before."
Chrys fell faintly back into her chair and blinked, opening her mouth briefly, then settling. "I suppose you're right.."
My eyes flicked over to Cabir, canting my ears faintly.
Elthamhor: "Maybe we can clear things up for you."
Arhelene frowned faintly, eager to change the subject. "I suppose I can do that. ..How was your day, dear?"
A slight shift of scent drew my attention to Chrys's skirts, which she has quietly hiked up.
Elthanhor: "Oh, nothing exciting. I had to deal with some long meetings. Some silliness in the rudimentary mathematics department." He proceeded to recount some story of inane politicking which he evidently felt quite proud about, but realized that no-one else in the room was likely to.
I took a small sniff of the air as a coppery tinge of blood hit it, followed shortly afterward by Cabir. I shook my head ever-so-faintly and spared a quick glance over to the sight of a table knife being calmly twisted in Chrys's thigh.

Rapier tongues, to first blood..

2008-06-01T01:15:28Z

The servant who met us at the door was terribly polite as she took our coats.
Cabir: "Hello, Willowleaf. I see your hand is looking better."
Willowleaf: "Ah. Yes, it is. Rather an expensive healing, though." She looked at one of her hands and flexed it a bit, touching a faint break in the coloration on her chitin along her arm.
Cabir: "And so you are working here?"
Willowleaf: "Yes.. It's not a bad job." I scented a hint of frustration, though.
Cabir: "Mmmhm." There was quite a bit of subtext in that, in the dubious tilt of his tail and the tip of his ear. "I do hope you are eating well."
Willowleaf: "Well.. Some.. If I eat too well, there will be nothing left to pay my debt. But thank you for asking. You are expected in the Grand Hall, this way."
Chitin clicked on faux-tile flooring as she led us into the hall, directing us to our seats at the table before slipping into the kitchens.

The square table was decorated with a fine tablecloth, and scaled to appear rather majestic. The size of the room itself was more in doubt; it seemed larger than it aught to have been, but a railing surrounded the outline of where I guessed that the walls aught to be, encompassing a far more modest space. I would eventually manage to find an excuse to walk to the railing and reach out to discover that the railing was in fact the true limit of the room, with the larger extents of the room being provided by a fixed Illusidor enchantment, but that is getting ahead of myself, and not terribly important.
Arhelene: "Well hello there. Such a pleasure to meet you. You would be Esquire Cabir's new student?" She smiled in a manner that was entirely polite, yet lacking in true warmth. "Do sit down and have a cup of tea."
Myself and Cabir settled into a chair opposite Arhelene, nodding politely.
Cabir: "Why, thank you so much, Arhelene. Such a pleasure to see you again." His ears turned ever-so-subtly back and away from Arhelene, in an indication of the irony of that statement. I seriously doubt she noticed.
Chrys floated in from the stairway in a long black dress, full of lace and pleats, with long sleeves and gloves. She sat herself daintily in a chair around the corner from me, settling herself in and smiling politely to myself and Cabir with a nod.
Chrys: "Hello, Sinuuf; Hello, Esquire Cabir. I hope everything has been going well for you?"
Arhelene's lips tightened ever so faintly at the ever-so-subtle implied insult. As I have discovered, while Cabir is, in fact, only an Esquire, he actually outranks Arhelene slightly in matters of nobility, if not Guild standing.
Cabir: "Oh, things have been going quite well. My clinic has been expanding it's services somewhat; I seem to have gained something of a positive reputation in the neighborhood." Translation: In Guild matters, in which I am the weaker in this conversation, I have been rising through the ranks. "Of course, there have been the usual shake-ups recently, what with the recent retirements and all."
This is a bit of Guild business which I only vaguely understand. One of the senior healers in Vheshrame - whose name escapes me - recently retired, along with some of his staff. This created a bit of a stir in the ranks, as new opportunities arose in his wake for new Guild advancement.
Cabir: "But I'm sure you've been able to profit from the situation." She hadn't. Cabir knows this. Arhelene knows that Cabir knows this. He smiled, lightly lifting his cup to his nose and lapping lightly from it.
I took a brief glance around the room. I do like to know where the exits are, just in case.

calamitous_cani @ 2008-05-27T09:03:00

2008-05-27T17:49:02Z

The home of High Lady Arhelene Linconsira the First..
Sinuuf: "Linconsira the First? Is there a second?"
Cabir: "Not to my knowledge."
The home of High Lady Arhelene Linconsira the First sat on a hill in a neighborhood of large and austere mansions. The paint was fresh, the front of the building tended with care, though I noted that a corner of the building had sunken somewhat into the soil and needed shoring up.
Sinuuf: "Why are we here, again?"
Cabir: "Arhelene is on the committee that is reviewing your scholarship. Also, your patient is her daughter. That seems enough to make you of interest to her."
Sinuuf: "I can see how that would be of importance."
Cabir: "Quite. Just remember one thing."
Sinuuf: "Don't make a fool of you in front of the politically powerful, excessively extravagantly wealthy, and from what little I have heard, unpleasant lady of the house?"
Cabir: "If possible.. But no, I was going to say that you should have your patient's interests in mind. It's a bit of a sticky point for me and a number of other healers, see. I'll have to teach you some history, later."
Sinuuf: "....I'll keep that in mind."

Not A Date II: Really, it isn't!

2008-05-18T18:14:54Z

My sessions with Chrys take the form of pleasant conversation in places where we are not especially likely to be interrupted, which are themselves pleasant. Most commonly, while walking in parks, or along quiet streets, or other places of the sort. I am quickly learning quite a few of these in the city. These are, of course, common places of rendezvous for other reasons.
On this particular day, we were discussing various mildly intimate details of Chrys's past, not ones I particularly care to repeat here, mostly quite banal really. This was done in softened voices, as Chrys is not one to broadcast her past love life widely.
This particular park is rather thick with romantic hideaways and shadowy grottoes of space, grass, and benches. This was my undoing, as I had been less than attentive in my examination of each.
Arvakr: "I never would have thought of you as a libertine."
Sinuuf: "...Huh?"
Chrys: "What?"
Arvakr: "Why do you have to be so disgusting just because your great-great grandparents did something interesting? You're not above common decency just because of who your family is!"
Chrys: "...What are you.. talking about...?" She twisted her face up, confused, and glanced around a bit.
Sinuuf: "Hello Arvakr. What on wood are you on about now?" I will have to admit that this came out a bit more defensively than I would have liked. Arvakr had just the evening before tried to moralize at me mightily about some cause which I frankly did not understand the details of, save that it was borderline seditious.
Arvakr: "Can't you find some Rassimel to wrap yourself around? Instead of using some poor foreigner for your fun? And you! I thought you were above trying to weasel your way into political favors like that! Disgusting!"
This is about the point where it dawned on me what exactly Arvakr thought he was seeing. This upset me! I'm not that sort!
Sinuuf: "Arvakr, you don't even know what you're looking at. We are -not- doing anything the least bit perverse. Now just go away before you make a bigger fool of yourself than you already are."
It was about this point that I noticed Chrys absolutely seething with anger. This was an interesting point, as I didn't recall her allowing herself to have that sort of rage often.
Chrys: "You disgust me! How dare you walk up to us and start throwing your sick accusations! I don't know who you think you are, but I could have you flogged on the spot!"
Taking notes, taking notes, stand behind the scary Rassy girl..
Arvakr: "What, embarrassed because I interrupted your libertine tryst?"
Chrys: "No!"
Arvakr: "You should be!"
I sighed.
Sinuuf: "Arvakr, it's not like that."
Arvakr: "Then what is it like?"
I paused. I'm pretty sure that saying "I'm an evil Mentador mage offering consultation with Chrys here to work out how to deal with an embarrassing problem that she would prefer to keep secret" would probably not go over very well.
Sinuuf: "Just.. Go away, Arvakr."
Arvakr fumed a bit. Chrys took the opportunity to explode in a screaming fit of righteous rage in defense of her dignity. My teeth gnashed together.
I must guiltily admit, the thought of changing Arvakr's memories a bit flitted briefly through my mind at hearing the screaming match, but even if I were foolish enough to do something so intrusive and evil, it would likely be of rather poor quality; I wasn't completely certain what Arvakr's memories of seeing the two of us together were, exactly. Also, I prefer to avoid being slaughtered by the city guard. Instead, I stepped between the two, rather upset.
Sinuuf: "Arvakr, just leave now."
He did.

It took fully the rest of the hour to get Chrys to calm down from Arvakr's accusations. I took notes. Apparently, defending one's noble dignity -is- an area in which Chrys is allowed to be furious on. Consequently, not a single drop of blood was spilled all night.

Later, I stopped by the clinic.
Cabir: "I'm going to need to borrow you later this week, for a dinner with Chrys's family." He specified the day and the time.
Sinuuf: "Um? I'll need to cancel my plans for that evening."
Cabir: "What plans? You really aught to meet her family."
Sinuuf: "..Reasonable.." I sighed and looked appropriately pained, reviewing in my mind a long list of veiled comments about the inadequacies of said parents, many of which had been followed by apologies and bloodshed. "Nothing significant, I was going to help with a get together at my apartment. I suppose I should meet these people, though..."
Cabir: "I sense some hesitation. Trust me, I loathe spending time with them myself. But we must do what we must do, hmm?"
Sinuuf: (deadpan) "Wonderful."

OOC: ((A spot of writers block))

2008-05-17T10:24:05Z

((I'll just have to say this; i'm having a bit of writers block. It's not that I have no ideas, it's that none of them want to flesh out enough to write about.))

((So. Is there anything in particular you'd like to see delved into first? That way I can focus my temporarily ADHD muse a bit.))

calamitous_cani @ 2008-05-04T12:53:00

2008-05-04T22:49:36Z

For some time, things have been less than eventful.
I looked at Chrys's research and.. I haven't figured out what she was even looking at. I'll need to talk to some people before I can rule it out as a trigger, but I don't think it is the trigger. Cabir thinks I should make sure to rule it out carefully, so I don't get my ear or tail bitten off.
I can now render the clinic spotless in under an hour, so I have moved on to the maintaining of records. I am good at this! I clean, spend the day following Cabir about as he explains what he is doing, while cleaning the surgical tools, then organize and file the notes on the day's work, the balance of spells sold and bought, the materials bought and used, and write lists of things to order - cloth for bandages, arkwood for splints to align bones before healing them closed, herbs, and the like.

calamitous_cani @ 2008-05-03T07:15:00

2008-05-03T20:26:55Z

Rhythmic drumming filtered through my awareness in a complex melody with the pounding in my head, I wasn't sure if I was awake or asleep. I was too tired to open my eyes, and the hammering and ringing and throbbing became my whole world. I'm sure this didn't last all night. It wasn't happening when I finally got out of bed two hours before dawn. There wasn't much point in going back to bed, so I pulled myself out of bed early.
What did I do before going to the clinic for the day?
Spellbinding: Cabir hadn't let me do anything for any patients, and so I was quite full of cley, save for the fact that yesterday had been a bad cley day. Cabir gets six more bound Pretense of Health spells to sell, and I get to work off the cost of my textbooks a bit more.
Textbooks: Chapter on cleanliness, chapter on cleanliness.
Cleaning: I was a bit inspired by the dire warnings and cautions.
Visiting with kids: One of Colloway's children was out in the courtyard. He was dressed in rather fancy clothes which had seen a bit of wear, but were well tended. The child inside of the clothes, however, was on the thin and scruffy side. I tossed a ball back and forth a bit with him and talked.
Rooey: "Didn't want to sleep. It's noisy in the day, and it's crowded."
Rooey has a brother and a sister, all born at the same time. His dinner last night was rice and beans, with some fruit pieces mixed in - the dinner of the deeply impoverished. He was still rather hungry; I gave him a left over meat roll I had intended to eat the previous night.

After dawn I went to the clinic. Once again, I spent the morning cleaning everything in sight, and everything -not- in sight. Cabir followed me about, quizzing and advising me at every step.
Cabir: "I want you to spend more time with Chrysouella later this week. Day after next. Try to find out more about her trouble at home."
Sinuuf: "To try to find a way to stop her cutting herself."
Cabir: "That too."
Sinuuf: "I sense some politics I should be careful of."
Cabir: "You let me worry about those. Chrysouella is your patient, and a healer should never have any ill will to their patient."
Sinuuf: "That doesn't exactly fill me with confidence or support.."
Cabir: "I assure you, I like Chrysouella. I've known her since she was tiny, and she's a wonderful girl. Her parents, though. Well. I think you might have gotten some ideas about them so far."
Sinuuf: "Ah.."
He walked around the examination room, carefully examining everything.
Cabir: "Passable.. Read the chapter on bandaging wounds in these three books you have, and also the entirety of Abirel's guide to cleaning."
Sinuuf: "The entire book?"
Cabir: "It has a lot of diagrams. And you have several hours, because i'm sending you off to read it, because wonder of wonders, nobody has cut themself open today, and there's nothing left here for you to clean. Off you go."
The chapters were rather long, and the book was rather thick, and I needed to take notes and answer some study questions, so that was the rest of my day. I'll need to go hunt down Thistlegreen at some point to practice tending wounds on shells, though, it's a different technique that I can't practice on myself. I'll just have to satisfy myself with the academic in regards to Zi Ri wounds.

calamitous_cani @ 2008-05-01T09:01:00

2008-05-01T18:04:34Z

I slipped back into the clinic at the end of the day, hoping to save the questions for tomorrow. I was disappointed.
Cabir: "So, what did you find?"
Sinuuf: "She cuts herself."
Cabir: "Mmmhm. That's all you found?"
Sinuuf: "Well.. no. I have some ideas. Nothing solid yet."
Cabir: "I'm sure it's the same as Corpador. As little magic as possible, as precisely as possible."
Sinuuf: "Yes.. I wouldn't want to do anything overzealous."
Cabir: "Your ideas."
Sinuuf: "The patient appears to have a great deal of anger, revolving around lack of control of her own life. She represses the anger, as if she isn't allowed to be angry, then she injures herself. Maybe as an excuse to be upset? Or as revenge? Or.. I'm not sure about that part yet. She's careful not to do any serious harm to herself."
Cabir: "What sort of lack of control?"
Sinuuf: "I'm not sure that I should go into much detail.." I wasn't sure if there was some specific rules on the subject, but I didn't feel comfortable going into too much detail with Cabir when I'd only barely gotten some glimmerings of trust.
Cabir leveled the Look at me. "Need I remind you that you are currently employed by me, and in a significant amount of debt to me for various tools and materials?"
I sighed.
Sinuuf: "Her parents keep tight control over all aspects of her life. They control her career choices and romantic interests."
Cabir contemplated this for a bit.
Cabir: "Continue meeting with her. Do not let her know we have had this discussion. Do what you can to help."

On my way back to my apartment, I encountered Altimerax, leaning on the railing.
Sinuuf: "Good evening, how are you feeling? Better than before?"
Altimerax: "Not really, no. I had a letter from my father." She closed her eyes, and brought a red-speckled handkerchief to her mouth to cough into. "I don't really like talking, or writing, or anything really, with father.. But father -does- care about me. That at least deserves letters. What did you do with your day?"
Sinuuf: "I spent half of it with an employer-specified new friend."
Altimerax: "Like an important benefactor?"
Sinuuf: "No.. I don't know what her relationship is with my boss. It's more likely her parents that would matter, though."
Altimerax: "Oh... That sounds confusing." She had another short coughing fit, and added a speckle or two to her napkin. I winced.
Sinuuf: "Have you had that cough looked at?"
Altimerax: "A few times.. but if there's anything I can do to fix it, I don't know about it. It would need a specialist, I think, and I don't know where I would find one of those. I don't know whether it will be the death of me, but it wouldn't surprise me." She smiled, fragile and sad. "Thank you for asking, though. What about your head?"
Sinuuf: "Healing, slowly. It still rings and throbs, though. I've been using this cane, but it isn't nearly as bad as when it happened. I hoped that my boss could have healed it, but he doesn't have the spell for a set injured head; he said that so far, everyone had gotten their head healed before it got to that point. I suppose that makes sense, though. I think I might lie down for a bit and let it rest, now. The walk home didn't really do it much good. I hope you feel better soon, as well."
Altimerax: "Thank you.. I don't think I will, though. I should lie down for awhile myself. Oh, if you plan to sleep this early, you might want to shutter the windows. I saw Eggum float by with a new cymbal for his drums, not long ago."
Sinuuf: "Drums. Right. I'll do that. I'll talk to you later."

calamitous_cani @ 2008-04-26T10:03:00

2008-04-26T18:07:54Z

As we walked along the boards to the park, I contemplated what I had heard and seen. I tried to reconstruct in my mind what Chrys must have been thinking and feeling from memory of face and ears and tone of voice. It still didn't make sense, but it did bring some minor clarity. I knew that the wound must have been a sore point in more than the obvious manner, and I suspected that others had asked directly about it. Thus, I should not.

Sinuuf: “So Chrys, have you been doing alright lately?”

Chrys: “Hmm?” She thought a moment. “I suppose I would be if I could be left alone. No-one ever leaves me alone, though.”

I let the silence drag a bit.

Sinuuf: “Who doesn't?”

Chrys: “Well, my family helps me a lot. Sometimes I wish they wouldn't. They just want what's best for me though.”

Sinuuf: “Oh?”

Chrys: “It's a little bit inconvenient, though. They want me to do this or do that. It annoys me when they don't ask! Sorry, no, I don't think things like that.” She paused and looked over at the bandage on her arm, frowning and wincing slightly.

I considered for a bit, fixing more to write when free in my mind. By this time, we had reached the park, and stood between trees.

Sinuuf: “You study Tempador?”

Chrys: “Well, I did. But that's on hold.”

Sinuuf: “Okay, you did. Why did you chose that?”

Chrys: “I'm good at it, and I like it, and I knew I was going to end up doing graduate work anyways.”

Sinuuf: “You did?”

Chrys: “My father did well there. He thought I should, so that was that. I was learning how to write academically when I was tiny.”

Sinuuf: “Is that what you wanted to do?”

Chrys: “Graduate study is an honor and a respectable way of life.”

Sinuuf: “Yes, but is it what you wanted to do?”

Chrys looked at me confusedly, and I watched her back. After a number of shadows of thought had passed over her face, she ventured, “I must have!”

We walked quietly around the park to consider a small fountain.

Sinuuf: “What is your family like?”

Chrys: “My mother is a well known Guild healer; my father is a professor at the University.”

Sinuuf: “Noble?”

Chrys: “Not as much as they would like to be. Somewhat. What about you?”

Sinuuf: “My family is no-one important, but I haven't seen them in years.”

Chrys: “That's too bad.” Not a terribly sorry statement as much as a pleasantry. “I wish.. Oh, nothing.” She fussed with the bandage ever so slightly.

Sinuuf: “Is that arm bothering you?”

Chrys: “No, it's fine.”

Sinuuf: “It looks like it hurts.”

Chrys: “I'm used to it.”

I nodded.

Sinuuf: “Are you seeing someone?”

Chrys eyed me warily. “Why?”

Sinuuf: “I'm just asking. I mean, you're not the right species for my taste.”

Chrys oh ed. “..Not right now. I mean, I did awhile back, but I guess I'm too embarrassing.”

Sinuuf: “Oh?”

Chrys: “Well, there was a baron's son that my mother introduced me to.. He didn't care for my habits though. And before that was a student.. I couldn't stay with him, though.”

Sinuuf: “Why not?”

Chrys: “No future in it.”

Chrys reached over and rubbed the bandage into her wound firmly while talking, and frowned faintly in a wince.

I frowned a bit in thought. “I think I understand.”

Not only Roses are Red

2008-04-24T17:23:34Z

Observing healer: Sinuuf

Patient notes:

Chrysouella av Macaralin

Primary symptom: Compulsive, self-induced injury

Patient is a female Rassimel, nobility, with a high level of education and social standing.

“Chrys?” I considered breaking into the stall in various ways, then stopped and pushed. It opened, not having been latched. Chrys had her back to the door, and trembled softly, having thrown or torn her clothes open to reveal her arm. She had stabbed the fork into her forearm, and was slowly working the implement in what I was sure was a rather torturous way. Blood slowly dripped from her arm onto the floor. Scars laced over her arm in other places, indicating that this was something less than isolated.

I took a deep breath, and calmed myself, not wanting to add fuel to the situation.

Patient departed a previous setting abruptly, showing signs of distress; proceeded to a washroom, and inflicted injuries on herself. The nature of the site indicated that the act was rushed, and not premeditated. Evidence of this includes: Clothing damage created by excessive haste, insufficient securing of the incident site, improvised implement chosen to create the wounds.

Sinuuf: “Chrys? Would you like to talk about this?”

Chrys shook her head vigorously.

Sinuuf: “Would you like me to heal your arm now?”

Chrys shook her head vigorously.

Sinuuf: “Alright, I won't heal your arm now. Maybe we should bandage that so that you don't leave the restaurant's floor in a hard to explain mess?”

Chrys nodded her head softly.

I actually had a bandage with me, but only the one; I gently took Chrys's arm, rinsed the blood away, and bandaged her, wrapping the bandage around her arm and tying the knot atop the injury itself to apply pressure to it. I considered the other scars I could see, and where they were located on her arm. I did take note of the fact that the parts of the arm most likely to incur a serious or mortal wound were unblemished.

The wound in question consisted of puncture and laceration wounds of the outer forearm, created by stabbing with a dinner fork. Scars from wounds of similar nature, though different implements, were observed. I did not observe any pattern to these wounds.

The obvious possibility was suicidal thoughts. These were ruled out by examination of the nature of the wounds; all wounds which were examined were in non-lethal areas.

Sinuuf: “Did that hurt?”

Chrys nodded her head miserably, looking down.

Sinuuf: “Did you want it to?”

Chrys nodded her head miserably, looking down farther.

Sinuuf: “Do you feel better now?”

Chrys nodded her head miserably, looking down even farther.

Sinuuf: “Is there anything you want to tell me?”

Chrys shook her head lightly, hunching her shoulders and staring at the floor embarrassedly.

The act appears to have had some form of therapeutic value for the patient; the patient's level of distress was visibly decreased by the act of self-injury. Furthermore, the patient indicated that the act was intentional, and that the results were desired. The patient did not at this time wish to explain her motives for performing this act.

Sinuuf: “Can I heal your arm later tonight? I'm sure I'll be in trouble if I bring you back bleeding.”

Chrys considered, and nodded her head. She opened her mouth, then closed it, then paused, then opened it again. “I can heal it myself...”

Sinuuf: “Would you like to do that, then?”

Chrys: “...I don't want to get you in trouble. Okay.”

The patient was not hostile, and seemed friendly, rational and helpful, if somewhat distraught. Several lines of inquiry are suggested by the previous discussion; possibilities include: repression of emotion (A), poor relations with family (B), magical trauma (C). Curious references immediately preceding incident: Inihithre – the birthplace of the primes - and the desired destruction of history (C?), history as a collection of tragic events (?), reference to possibility of creating a familial scandal? (B, immediately followed by A)

The incident site was cleaned, and examination was interrupted for a change of context.

We cleaned the blood off the floor, and straightened Chrys's clothes, and slipped out the door once we had paid for dinner. I helpfully stood in a way that Chrys would have no reason to look at the students nearby.

Sinuuf: “Would you care to go for a walk in the park?”

Chrys: “...I'd like that.” She smiled, though it was tiny and wounded. It was a more genuine smile, though, than I had seen from her thus far.