Welcome to Gaia! ::

It was the chatter that seemed to be building among the other troops that drew Saraf's attention from the task he was working on, turning in the direction of the whispering voices. What in the world were they doing? It took him a moment to recall that today was the day that their new healer was to arrive... which meant that it was hazing day. Man or woman the camp wouldn't really hold their punches, so to speak, when it came to whoever it was that had arrived. If they were strong enough they would do fine here, if not then they would head home after their assigned amount of time was up. Saraf would guess that it would end up the latter if only because that was often went. They had a couple in their ranks that had some healing knowledge but they didn't have anyone that was a dedicated healer, something the Outcast Unit could really use.

Were it not for the fact that it was a source of entertainment for them to haze the newbies, be them healers or otherwise, Saraf might tell them to take it easy. Ah well, he'd just have to make sure that everyone got their check ups and got any wounds they had tended too before the new healer ran off for home was all.

He was about to turn back to what he was doing when someone suddenly jumped onto his back, nearly causing him to fall over backwards as he wasn't quite ready for it. After a couple stumbling steps he turned, finding himself starring at the resident beast master who was hanging off his back and asked, "What do you need, Vaina?" The smile on her face wasn't one that he liked, it was the same expression a perzi had on its face after it ate someone's pet bird...

The woman released her hold on Saraf, landing nimbly before resting her hands on her hips, smirk only growing, "Hey Saaaaraf. You never told us your girlfriend was the new healer. That's soooo cute that you had her assigned here!"

Words that for a moment confused him before it clicked. His 'girlfriend' being the one that they teased him about from time to time because they all knew the story of him getting into a brawl at the tavern over a woman. Well, not over a woman exactly but it was a brawl that involved a woman. No, surely that wasn't right, right? Why would a lady like that come all the way out here to be a healer for a group such as theirs? Surely Vaina was just teasing him? Given he didn't know for certain he was going to have to check. Turning on his heel he headed in that direction in a rush, doing his best to ignore the wolf whistles that followed him.

She wasn't really all that hard to miss. How could one miss someone that seemed to glow compared to everyone else given her coloring? It was something that had Saraf starring for a long moment before he lifted a hand, rubbing it against his temples. What in the world was that crazy girl up to now? He couldn't help but to wonder as he lowered his hand... only to find that she'd vanished back into the healer's tent. Sighing a bit he started forward again in that direction, ignoring the occasional nudge he got from one of his fellow soldiers or a joke about him 'going for some healing'. How he was tempted to take a swing... but given that would only make him look more guilty he kept walking.

Once he reached the healer's tent he took in a deep breath, let it out slowly, and then stepped inside. It took his eyes a moment to adjust to change in lighting but once they did he glanced around until he found the one that he was looking for. There she was, the 'Lady of Oba' herself, Arima, and he couldn't but to sigh a bit as he asked, "Is this another of your attempts at finding an adventure from your books, Arima?"

This was a hundred times for dangerous then the tavern she'd tried to explore last time. Not because of the people this time but for many other reasons. The weather, the beasts, the long treks she'd be dragged along on if she was really a healer. If she was a lady then why was she not back in Sulburi? Why was she in the middle of no where with the outcast unit of all units? He had a million questions to ask but he'd wait until he got his answer to the first one.

Saraf gave a humming sound at the answer that he got. She was here because her mentor was trying to accommodate her, she wanted to take on more 'advanced practice' when it came to her healing arts... and the mentor had all but tossed her to the janarim by sending her hear. He was more then certain that the mentor she spoke of must know how rough and tumble the unit was... so many it was some of learning experience? To see if she could handle healing even those like the outcast unit? An interesting thought for sure. He supposed it was up to Arima if she were to sink or swing... if he offered her too much aid it might add weight to the rumors.

Shaking his head he said, "Is that so? Here I thought you might be chasing after me, still looking for that marriage proposal that our mothers want so badly." A good thing if that weren't the case if only because he would never hear the end of it from his friends. Blinking a couple times he said, "Naw, not visiting. This is the unit I serve with now. I officially left the one I was a part of in Sulburi a couple weeks back." A difficult decision but one that he felt good about.

At the mention of losing formalities in the desert he tilted his head to one side, starring hard at Arima for a long, draw out moment... then he started to laugh, unable to help it. Only after he was able to temper his laughter did he say, "You seem to have sharper claws then last time we met, Perzi. I'm actually kind of... impressed. As such I guess I can tell you straight out, there are zero formalities out here save for referring to the one in charge as 'Captain' if any other higher ups are about. Save for that we are a pretty lax group of rejects." And she'd joined up with them... which was interesting if a bit worrisome. Given the change in her attitude though maybe she'd actually end up fitting in more then he'd first thought when he heard she was here. In fact maybe it was possible she'd ever survive out here for the duration of her stay?

Giving a shake of his head Saraf said, "Naw, just wondered if maybe you got yourself transferred here for that reason without really looking into the group that you were getting yourself mixed up with. Knowing that it isn't the reason though does make me even ore curious though." Why this group when she was such a nice 'lady' type? Sure, she wanted experience but couldn't she get that with anyone in the world?

As said that he should be careful because she was a perzi that could become a janarim if necessary he could only chuckle again, "That's a trick that might come in handy out here. One has to be tough to stay out here for extended periods of time." He gave pause, crossing his arms over his chest, and gave her a questioning look as he asked, "How long are you planning on staying then, Arima?"

"Anything else you should know? Hmm... well, I'd say keep an open mind and don't judge anything? Everyone here has their reasons for being here, some may or may not want to share those reasons. Still, so long as you're friendly, open minded, and can... well... take a bit of hazing you might make it." Here was to hoping that they weren't too hard on her... especially if Vaina went around telling everyone else about her... the last thing he wanted was for everyone to know that Arima was the one he got in a bar fight over. Of course given that he didn't want anyone to know that meant that everyone know by dinner time.

"Certain events?" Saraf murmured, tilting his head as he studied Arima for a long moment. What would cause someone to want to learn the healing arts quickly? His mind flew threw various scenarios that might call for such a thing before he found himself asking of her, "You're not ill, are you?" The best reason for someone wanting to learn how to use the arts of healing would probably be because they had gotten ill. Did she want to learn how to use such arts so that she could save herself? Possible, but if that were the case then surely her mother, who had to be rather well off, would be the one hiring healers to save her child, right? Saraf knew for a fact that were he to get ill that his mother would do whatever she had to do to try to help him. He knew it for a fact because it was something she'd done when he was younger.

Lifting a hand up he found himself for a moment touching the scar over his eye as the thought came to mind. It was one that he banished quickly though. His mother had hired all the best healers she could find in her attempts to help him and she had... only he'd been left with a harsh reminder of the incident. Here was to hoping that Arima wasn't going to end up as bad off if she were in fact ill.

As she started to explain how long she meant to be here, which seemed to depend on her mentor, he gave a bit of a nod. So she meant to try to stay here no matter what, huh? She didn't want to run away just because things looked touch and scary or so she said After a moment he said, "I can respect that. Provided of course that you're here more then... hmm... three days." Giving a bit of a grin he said, "That is about the time the last guy lasted before he took off." His smile only spread as she seemed to falter at the word 'hazing'. Giving a little nod of his head he said, "Out in the middle of dried up no where one has to find fun where they can. That tends to involve hazing the newbies and messing with old timers, it's a way to pass the time when we have down time."

"Oh, yeah, they won't harm you. You're more important out here then most everyone else with those healing powers of yours. Doesn't mean that they won't tease you though." It was probably good that she at least knew that they weren't going to really do much that would cause her any lasting problems. That was something the last guy failed to pick up on. That she knew so earlier on would give her staying power at least.

"That's good." Saraf said, glad to hear that she wasn't trying to gain the powers of a healer just so that she could cure some illness that she'd picked up. He didn't much care for the thought of her being sick after all. So she was here for 'something else' and he couldn't help but to wonder what that something else was. He wouldn't pry though, everyone had their secrets after all. He saw no reason to hassle Arima about hers just as he asked her not to pry too much when it came to the others in the area.

As Arima told him that she wanted him to have a bit more faith in him, that she would last somewhere between three weeks and three months. Giving a nod of his head he said, "Alright, it's a bet then, three weeks Arima, and if you make it that long... hmmm. I don't know, how about you pick your prize." He couldn't really say what it was that a girl might way... at least a girl like her. If it were Vaina he'd know what she wanted, she would demand a bottle of a rather expensive liquor that could only be obtained from those who made it in certain places in Jauhar. She wasn't one he liked to bet against often but surely it wouldn't hurt that much to make the bet with Arima? Especially since surely she wouldn't want to be here for three weeks.

Smirking a bit as she seemed to tease him about the unit's choice of fun he said, "You take what you can get for entertainment out here... and we have sorts of simple games. Dice mostly in which we bet whatever we have. Coin, drink, luxury items from back home, and whatever one is willing to gamble." On a more rowdy night things could get really interesting.

"You're going to begin check ups already? I'm impressed. There are a few that could use a once over I'm sure, like that fool prentice that got kicked by one of Vaina's beasts, perhaps? There are a few others I am sure that I could send your way as well. As for myself, I think that I am in fairly good condition at this point." Save for his eye, but she didn't really need to know of that. He'd gotten good at dealing with it and hiding it after living with it for so long.

Giving a nod of his head Saraf said, "It tends to make things more interesting. Not to mention that people tend to be even more motivated when a bet is going on from what I've seen. You don't have to accept though." He wouldn't force her to make a bet on how long she would stay since she hadn't even spent a full night here yet. It might be more merciful of him to allow her a day or two to get into the flow of things out here with the outcast unit before betting on how much longer she'd stay. As she seemed to change the bet up a bit, saying that she had three weeks to decide on her prize he said, "So long as it's no dangerous or overly embarrassing it should be alright to give you time to decide."

"You've never..." His words trailed off and he merely nodded, realizing that as a 'Lady' she wouldn't have really had a reason to play dice games, would she? Giving a smile he said, "The rules are deceptively simple, but never easy. I'd say that if anyone invites you to a 'friendly game' to still be a little on guard, at least until you have all the rules down."

It would seem as though she wanted to dive right into the exams, huh? Not only that but she was telling him that she'd be checking up on him as well. he seemed to think about it for a moment, giving a thoughtful sound in his throat. After a bit of debate he finally said, "I suppose it wouldn't kill me to go first... or at least I hope that it won't. It would make the most sense for it to be me or the Captain after all and since I'm right here..." Once she was done poking and prodding at him then he could head out and send in her next patient he supposed. It was what made the most sense as bailing out now and leaving others to go first when he was right here would look rather suspicious, as though he was trying to find more reasons to come back later... which would only fuel the rumor mill.