Boiled Over
Log Info
- Title: Boiled Over
- Emitter: Slixvah
- Place: Hayatiento Aerie
- Summary: Slixvah snaps at her Aerie, and Reithak consoles her.
- Hayatiento Aerie, Early Evening
A couple of weeks after the Sliabhgeiko migration.
Most of the migrants have settled in, slowly starting to pick up their old trades. Those that were injured had been healed, save for the worst affected: those with broken wings and limbs. But over the past few days, there's been a growing problem. One that has landed more and more people back into the medical ward that was almost shrunk down to a single abode. When the need came back, that cyan tent was propped back up.
Excecpt now, a crowd has gathered in a semicircle. Cloth masks and veils are wrapped around beaks and nostrils, some figures coughing, others being held up by stretchers. And one figure at the front of the tent, a rust red egalrin stands with her arms spread wide. "Listen, I really wanna' help all ya'll but I /can't/ fix disease that often, it's reall' tirin'! Please get some bed rest an-"
"Bu' Fuunomani! Ya been fixin' everyone as of late!" a man coughs. "It's jus' a lil'-"
"No no, it ain't a lil' nothin'. Ya'll need ta go home and lay down and-"
"Fuunomani, my lil' fledglin' ain' doin' so hot, I'm not sure how long she can-"
"I CAN'T FIX EVERYTHING!" Slix yells at the crowd, clutching the side of her head. They recoil, she hasn't shouted at them before. Before they suddenly start a barrage of voices and concerned worries, hacking coughs.
Slixvah Unmesi trembles, then snaps, "THIS IS WHY I LEFT YOU UNGRATEFUL LOUTS! GO HOME!" And she draws the tent shut.
The crowd awkwardly stands there before slowly, slowly, dispersing.
While Slixvah's work had gone down and back up in time, Reithak had found her work at a steady pace, though it was relieved by more recovering egalrin having returned to their work and easing the need for new supplies. It was only be chance that the egalrin had been passing by the tent when Slixvah's outburst occured. The large egalrin blinked, and sighs, taking off for the time being, and not risking fanning anything with the already anxious crowd.
It was only several minutes before a familiar head poked it's way into the tent, along with a faint scent of herbal tea. "Heya Slix, you okay with me popping in for a bit?" She asks, uncertain if the witch wanted any more visitors for the time being, seeking something from her or not.
The crowd disperses in full, only after a handful of people remain, nervously speaking with one one another before they head on home.
The sight inside the tent is dim. Only the light from the dying sun outside the tunnel diffuses through the silk walls. And, faint, glowing cyan runes tacked along Slixvah's arms and back waft on a windless current. "... I-I can't keep gettin' that mojo, Fiadh, I-I can't.." she whispers quietly to a tiny bird in her hands, who's rubbing their face against Slix's beak.
She looks up, mildly surprise, tears of frustration marring her face, but relief pulls her shoulders down. "Heya Reirei... come on in."
In steps Reithak, ducking through the tent flap and straightening out inside, squinting just a bit in the dim light. The large egalrin paused, and gave Slixvah a happy look before wandering over, carrying a teaset in one hand.
Do you want to talk, or do you just need someone to lean on for a bit, Slix?" She asks, the happy look turning a bit more sympathetic. "Seems like you've been taking on an awful lot."
The little bird in her hands flutters up to perch on a string that spans the top of the tent and quietly watches.
Slixvah reaches out, clearing out a spot for the tea and pulling a pillow over for Reithak. "Bit of both," Slix mumbles, sniffling once and wiping at her face. "I have been, tha's wha' I kinda wanted to do. But they... they don't /understand/. I can't like- prepare the same mojo again and again..." she sighs.
Reithak watches the small bird head up to the roof, and they nod once, before setting down the tea. There's a pause before the large egalrin pulls Slixvah into a hug for a moment, taking a seat on the offered pillow. "Well, I'm hear for ya Slix, I've got a big shoulder to lean on, and I like to think I'm a good listener." They hum softly. "Want to tell me what you mean about preparing mojo repeatedly, Slix? I don't know the most about how witches prepare their magic, so might help me understand how you're feeling."
Slixvah readily returns the embrace, holding onto it tightly. The small, ethereal runes shift and waft as she remains there before pulling away so Reithak can sit. "Yeah, I can tell ya 'bout that.." she agrees, looking to the tea and taking one for herself.
She leans against Reithak. "... so. Magic fo' me is very different. The... means and methods are very..." she wafts a hand.
"Lesser minds would crumble to madness," a tinny voice chirps from above, Fiadh providing insight.
"Yeah, what Fifi said. So th' magics really hard ta keep in my head. But every spell I know tha' I can cram in..."
She inhales. "... every spell prepared is basically being crammed in. Spell for healing? Pain erupts and smooths away. Cast fire? Get lit on fire. Spell to sap life? Get mine sapped briefly. Remove diseases? Briefly get all the symptoms of diseases. I can handle a little of everything. But I've been doing the disease one over and over and over and over... its taxing."
The tea is a dark black tea, with a hint of something familiar, but also several more exotic spices and herbs. The inquisitor reaches for one a cup, wrapping a wing around the witch with the same movement. "You're strong, real strong Slix, but everyone has their limits." Reithak muses quietly with a glance up to the small bird, and back to Slixvah. She doesn't interrupt further, but continues listening, only growing more concerned. "Muse's grace Slix, didn't realize how much you were taking on yourself." Reithak sighs, hugging the witch a bit closer. "Why didn't you say something sooner? I would have helped how I can, helped you handle these things. But I can't help with what I don't know about, you know."
Slxvah takes a sip of the tea, sighing in relief that she has something warm as she leans into the wing. "Thanks, hon, I like ta think so," she weakly chuckles.
But she shakes her head. "Can ya cure diseases?" Slix asks quietly. "It's a hard mojo ta do. And every is getting really sick here. And I have to keep one saved for me at the end of the day."
She hangs her head. "I'm jus' gonna ask fo' some aid from th' temples ta help wit' this befo' th' sickness gets real bad."
The inquisitor opens their beak for a moment, and closes it. "No, I can't cure any diseases, I'm not savvy enough with the divine to get the weave to go unraveling something like that." Reithak sighs. "But, that doesn't mean I can't be around to help. If you're getting exhausted by all this, then sometimes you need someone to take care of you before you can take care of other folks. There's gotta be something I can do to ease things on you, I'd just need to think about it."
"But, you're right, might just be time to look for outside help. Don't want more people getting sick, and well, I know how bad these things can get." The inquisitor trails off, hugging Slix even closer.
"You're helpin' ri' now," Slixvah easily retorts, waving an arm dismissively, the runes flopping over before detaching and slowly drifting away.
The witch lets her self fall limp into the hug. "Just keept helping 'em like ya doin', they's like ya crafts. I'll... shut this thing down fo' now. Already made a fuckin' fool of myself," Slixvah gripes, downing a large gulp of tea and wishing it had liquor in it.
"I'm only helping right now because I saw you needed help, Slix." Reithak sighs, resting her head on Slixvah gently. "Next time, I want you to ask when things are getting overwhelming, before things boil over like that. Please at least consider it, okay?"
The large egalrin carefully takes a sip of her tea. "Well, I don't plan on stopping. But I know I can only do so much about diseases. But you don't have to shut things down Slix. Just, maybe see a few less people in a day? Take care of the worst cases first and give yourself some time to recover."
Slixvah reaches up to run a hand across Reithak's cheek. "I will, I will," she concedes with a tired sigh. But she shakes her head. "No. I have ta shut it down fo' now," she says. "I wanna help, and some of the witch mojo I know lets me heal injuries practically as long as I can stay awake. Bu' th' disease, I can't keep doin' it fo' know, it's fussin' wit' my head."
She scowls a bit. "And ta let my people know they can't overwhelm me li' that. Gonna leave fo' a bit, petition fo' some help."
"You do what you think is best, Slix, you've got a good head on your shoulders, and not just since it's so pretty." Reithak chuckles quietly. "But, you're right. I know that outburst isn't like you, that's why I was worried. You have some time to rest and figure out what your next course is."
"You think they're being too pushy, Slix? I could talk to them if you need me to. I don't want you feeling like you're being taken advantage of, and if that's the case, maybe I can calm them down next time. Like I said, I know how these things can be, so, maybe I can do something." The inquisitor offers, fixing Slixvah with one eye.
Slix's face floofs up at the compliment, her pulling back slightly and lifting her beak to gently tap it under Reithak's. "Mwah," Slix chuckles before plling away and sitting upright. "Thank ya, Reirei. I feel a lil' betta now since ya checked up on me."
She shakes her her. "Naw. Ya ain't gotta. I made it prett' clear they's taken advantage of me and bein' too pushy, betta ta close up and let 'em lean they mistake. Buuuut if ya wanna put a good earworm inta people while ya givin' out clothes, that'd be fine."
The witch takes a big breath, and stretches her wings and arms. "Right. Time ta start packin' thi' up. Thanks fo' th' tea, hon. Reall' appreciate it. Wanna 'elp wit' thi'?"
The large egalrin coughs once after the beaks tap together, and the happy expression from before returned in full. "Well, I didn't do too much, so I'm happy just being around can make you feel a little better." The inquisitor hums. "I won't bug them too much if that's the case but, well, I've already been doing that a bit." She adds with a weak chuckle. "I hope this isn't my fault if that's the case, I've been making sure everyone knows they can come to you if they've got any injuries."
Reithak sets the tea back aside, craning her neck up as the witch stretched out. The large egalrin rubbed her cheek for a moment, before nodding and getting to her feet. "Of course, you like it? Got it in am'shere, met a makari spice trader who was mixing spices together, egalrin and makari in this case. Course I'll help, least I can do right?" They hum again, already getting ready to work.
-End Scene-