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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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 Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2023 7:44 pm
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Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2023 2:51 pm
Vaani hadn't known what to expect for her first time at sea. When Laksha invited her aboard for a special trip to Oba she'd declined (more than a few times, actually), and it was only after Rawiri was gone that she found the courage to go. After all, her best friend had seemingly packed up and went off to see the world so why couldn't she? It wasn't as if she would be alone; she'd have her sister! And it was a safe, well chartered trade route. So, what could happen?
The night before Vaani had awoken to a flurry of activity. She'd gone up onto the deck, grasping at the edges of her shawl, in time to see fire aboard the waves. With nothing but a darkened seascape around them the wreckage burned brighter than star. There were other ships in the area already starting the process of pulling bodies from the water and accessing injuries, so it was all hands in once they were close enough; Vaani included. She was far from a healer, even further from a sailor, but she could help when given direction.
And the screams...Gods above, they were awful. If she'd thought they were loud on the wind pulling these poor souls aboard was worse. It was as if the moment their skin was touched parts of it would sloth off. Exposure to not only sea water, but the air itself harmed them. Some faces she didn't even recognize as faces and more than once she'd had to turn her head to prevent a full on panic.
So, in order to stay helpful, but not pass out completely she'd given herself up to errand running for what few healers were on their ship. She would frequently pass by others, some with worse wounds than others, to bring clean bandages, water, salves; any and everything she could get her hands on. Even the clothes she'd packed had been torn for bandages. Throughout the night souls were lifted from the water until just one ship remained to look through the wreckage while the others decided to continue into port for aid.
Vaani hadn't even realized the sun was starting to rise.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2023 3:18 pm
(1/10) Isaia was thankful, in some ways, that he'd been injured. He didn't know when it happened; during the fall, or after he hit the water, but something was wrong with his left leg, and he hadn't really had a chance to look into it too much, what with half drowning and all. His arms hated him, he knew that - the sea water was torture on the raw, burned skin, and after a while he propped them up on top of the floating remains of his parachute, hoping once the water evaporated it would be better. It wasn't. His leg, though, throbbed and sent long shocks up through his knee and into his spine, pain that made him want to curl up and die.
He was thankful though, because he'd drift off sometimes. The howling, haunting screams pierced through his brain, harrowing and driving him mad until he half heartedly begged them to stop, to just leave him alone-- but then he blinked ... and floated away for a little while, and then woke up to a quieter world. It was colder, too, and his leg hurt, but also felt tingly, and though his dad's voice in his ear sternly said this was bad, Isaia shrugged it off.
It was haunting, staring up at the stars, while moans and quiet splashes echoed from the distance. Like he was in a sea of the dead, and for a long while he wondered if he'd already died, and he was just a spirit now, arms raised and grasping, searching for some poor sailor to drag overboard to join him in his new, eternal misery.
He'd never imagined he'd be so pathetic and self pitying, in death, but when he signed up as an engineer he'd grinned and laughed and waved off any stern warnings of the risks of the job. He thought, as he stared up at the stars again, that he'd rather this than an eternity burning in the furnace of the ship.
Isaia wondered if, someday, the current would sweep his bones far enough to find his mother's, and then maybe at least he'd see her again.
Something stirred him, though, from where he'd floated off. He let out a gasp, wincing at the fog of cold breath that left him. The ocean wasn't as cold as it was in the north, back by Belrea, and that was probably the one thing that would save him - but he was still cold, freezing even. There was a ship though - an amber light that made it glow, standing out from the cool dawn-blues and pinks of the sky around them. He didn't know if he made a noise, or flailed a limb - but someone saw him, somehow.
Arms disentangled him from the cords of the parachute, and heaved him up into the life boat, dropping him as carefully as they could - his leg bent oddly and-- well, he floated again. The next thing he knew, he was on the ship.
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Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2023 5:00 pm
Vaani's sleep tossed braids had been traded out for a bun that was barely hanging on. The first time one of them had accidentally hit a patient as she bent down she'd panicked and done her best to tie her hair up with what she could find. She, much like the other sailors, were doing their best to follow instructions left behind by the healers and making a fumble of it. Several times she'd been told she was 'too rough' with one only to be 'too gentle' with another and when she'd come across a young woman with a piece of metal imbedded in her side- Oh, her nerves were fried.
They couldn't even begin to remove it onboard or she would bleed out so that poor girl lay in agony-
"Vaani, can you cover this section? We're getting closer to Oban waters so the Captain wants as many of us as he can get to help." The bags under Laksha's eyes were nearly as dark as her hair and Vaani wondered if she looked the same. When she nodded her sister reached out to give her a hug before moving on with her work.
Thankfully most of Vaani's section were 'calmly' resting. As she passed she made sure to soak a rag in clean water before squeezing it above the lips of each patient, hoping against all hope that they didn't develop dehydration on top of their wounds. Much like the others, she came to sit by a lithe young man whose leg was- "Poor dear," She murmured. His arms would need cleaning too, but first thing was first -
Vaani dipped the cloth back into the water, gently put her hand under his head and lifted just a little, then squeezed some of the water onto his lips.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2023 5:18 pm
(2/10) When Isaia came back to himself, it was to cold water dribbling into his mouth. It felt like heaven, compared to the rest of him which was still cold from his half-soaked pants, and itchy with salt in the places that had dried. Isaia's throat worked, but it wasn't nearly as much of the cool, blessed water as he wanted, so where he might have blissfully sank back into unconsciousness, he instead cracked open his eyes.
His whole body felt heavy. He wanted to reach out and find where the water was, hold it to his face to drink, but his fingers wouldn't so much as twitch when he tried to move them.
For a second time, water was carefully squeezed into his mouth, and once he'd swallowed it down he finally cracked his eyes open.
He'd seen Yaeli before, but right now his brain couldn't make the connection. The girl above him was pretty, her hair a bit messy with wayward strands that fell into her eyes, around her drooped ears. But what he couldn't tear his eyes away from was the subtle glow to those bright-green eyes, the dark sclera that he'd seen dozens of times before, and yet never with that glow. The Yaeli he met were travelers, had long since lost it - and the Yaeli on shore, who he objectively knew had that glow, weren't interested typically in entertaining the crew when they stayed on leave.
At least, not close enough where he could see how the glow shined over her cheeks, very slightly illuminated her hair. Her eyes had shadows, like she hadn't slept, and that was what convinced him she was real.
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Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2023 5:29 pm
Unfortunately for Vaani she didn't know enough about the body to pick up on signs. Every time she'd though someone was coming around she was wrong, and as it turned out the one time she thought a patient was giving a subconscious reaction she was also mistaken. After dribbling a bit more water into his mouth, Vaani dropped the rag back into the bowl and was about to start work on his arms when she saw movement.
"Oh." Her voice was a light murmur and her eyes widened. "You're awake." She hadn't known what to expect from his eyes. Since coming to live in Pajore after a lifetime of small town living Vaani was getting somewhat used to hybrids, but the Belreans...they were just so bright. Even water logged, bloodied and burned their features were striking. Some had hair that looked as soft as spring grass while others, like this man here, looked akin to a solar flare.
And his eyes...Two colors, each a lovely hue but hazed in pain. She studied him for a moment, her hand still supporting his head, just to see if he was going to stay awake and when he didn't immediately drift off she pulled over a wad of folded clothing to act as a pillow instead.
"Would you like more water? You don't have to speak if you don't feel up to it; two blinks for yes, one for no will work just fine."
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2023 5:55 pm
(3/10) It was probably good she wasn't so startled she dropped him or something. But y'know, head trauma would be the least of his worries, if that happened. Instead, she looked at him, pretty eyes going wide. Her voice was soft, and compared to the last voices he'd been forced to listen to, it was much, much nicer. He wanted to hear her talk more. For a moment his eyes closed, his body attempting to lull him back under, but then he forced them open again, not quite willing to drift away - and just like that the overwhelming tug of fog eased a bit. With it, though, it released whatever barrier was keeping the pain at bay, because it rolled in like a storm - setting his arms back on fire, and his leg-
Slowly, the girl propped his head up under a wad of dry clothing. It was a bit uncomfortable, but it was better to look around than staring dismally up at the wooden slats of the ship above.
Isaia opened his mouth to ask her her name, or to ask where he was, or what had happened, but instead he made a strange, aborted grumble. More water, definitely. He blinked, just as she'd suggested, and just as promised she returned to him with more water. It was awkward, being awake and drinking from a rag, but he didn't trust his wobbly arms to hold the basin. As it was, his hand only barely managed to lift up to rest against her wrist as she offered him more.
His throat still felt awful, and when he spoke his voice was wrecked, but- "Survivors?" He croaked, wincing at his own voice. He dragged the heel of his palm against his mouth, where some water had dribbled out along his chin, then dropped his hand back down onto his stomach. "Lightn' woman. Tiny- short hair?"
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Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2023 11:13 am
I wonder if his eyes are because of his blood or if it's a curse? She really should have asked Rawiri more questions before her trip, but
so many of them seemed incredibly intrusive. Also, there was the fact her friend had been half Elarian instead of...whatever his lineage was. Regardless of whatever deity or spirit he'd upset, he was clearly struggling so Vaani worked through a little prayer in her head and went about her work.
When she noticed the way his body tried to pull him into sleep Vaani couldn't help smiling a bit. He fights sleep like a toddler. The poor thing really was exhausted, but his mind...She couldn't imagine the things running behind those eyes to keep him awake in all of this. "Oh!" That gurgle sounded rough and for a moment she worried she'd choked him by dribbling water too quickly. When she realized it was the opposite Vaani moved to help him with more.
"I-I-I don't have a number..." As if compelled, she looked around the area at the remaining survivors she could see before going back to him. "Some are on our ship, and the rest were picked up by two others. You landed in a trade route so we...saw the fire before..." Well, before the waves consumed the airship completely.
"Lightning woman, short hair...I haven't seen anyone matching that description, but I could ask? She might have been picked up by another ship. What's her name?"
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2023 1:32 pm
(4/10) Well. To Isaia, three ships of survivors was better than the alternative. Isaia turned his head (where it slumped a bit into his shoulder, too exhausted to hold it up) and saw a number of others around him, many he didn't recognize - so passengers most likely. That... should be good, but instead it just made him feel sick. As staff, when they woke would they hold him accountable for the horrible disaster? In some ways he was thankful he hadn't been wearing any sort of uniform (half naked as he'd been), because it meant he couldn't be immediately identified as crew.
How insanely lucky to have fallen in a trade route, and not... well. He didn't want to consider the other option, it already felt fuzzy and surreal here, next to this glowing-eyed woman. "Maritza." He said, slowly, determined to not stutter on her name. As it was Isaia felt sick, that he'd separated from her in the first place. They should have stayed together, should have--
Now that adrenaline wasn't pumping through him, he didn't feel proud that he'd stuck to procedure, like he thought he would be. What use was it, if it meant his mom was--
He closed his eyes, and wished he'd sink back under the fog of unconsciousness, but exhausted or not, pain kept him awake, kept his mind spinning. "Your name?" He asked, instead, dropping his eyes to look at his partly bandaged arms. The flesh he could see was... not promising.
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Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2023 8:35 am
Reaching for her side, Vaani pulled out a little bit of cloth she'd tucked away. It was mainly used for cleaning lens when she had downtown, but since she didn't like the idea of dabbing skin and drinking from the same cloth the Yaeli was using it as a back up. When he started showing increased signs of distress Vaani dipped the newer, smaller cloth into the water and started blotting his forehead and neck.
"Maritza." She repeated the name in a calmer, quiet tone. "I'll do my best to find her so for now try not to stress. Your body is under enough pressure." Was this woman a lover? His subordinate or a fellow passenger? As curious as she was Vaani knew she couldn't very well ask that of him. He was doing well just to hold a conversation, loose as it might be, and too many questions might upset him.
Especially if Vaani couldn't find her.
For a moment she thought he'd lost his battle with sleep all together until he started talking again. She kept up the ministrations of cleaning his skin, hoping against hoping to give him some relief until a healer came by with pain relieving elixirs. They had to be close to running out, if they hadn't already, so the best she could offer was comfort while he slept.
"Vaani...and yours?" She followed his line of sight and tried not to let her unease show. His arms...Spirits, she was blessed not to have seen them before the bandages. "Are they bothering you? I can find the healer."
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2023 1:28 pm
(5/10) Oh. Right. Isaia let out a slow breath, only to blink his eyes open, surprised at the first blots of cool water against his skin. He wasn't sure if he was feverish, but the sensation felt like a blessing compared to the rest of him, and he found it difficult to tear his eyes away from the young woman helping him. He wasn't exactly in his right mind, maybe, but to him she was an angel, bringing cool water and relief. So ... so no, he startled a bit when she suggested leaving. Yes it might mean pain relief, but after a night fearing death would claim him, he felt ridiculously against being alone - even if there was another patient only a few feet away, sleeping.
"Isaia. I'm fine. I'm - hanging in there." He said, quickly, flashing her what probably came off as a slightly manic, toothy grin. His arms hurt like crazy, but as long as he didn't move them the sensation abated mostly. His leg - he had no idea what had happened to it, but it was a mass of throbbing and dull, persistent aching, rather than stabbing pain or pressure. What bothered him most was, as she'd suggested, his stress only adding to a mounting, sharp headache between his eyes, and the discomfort and itching of dried seawater on his skin.
"Hi Vaani. Uh-- probably not the--" He cleared his throat and eyed some more of the drinking water. "The most calm voyage of your life."
Disrespectful humor felt like a coping mechanism in a lot of ways, but the alternative was pathetically weeping into the makeshift palette they'd put him on, and there was no way he was doing that - even if it felt just a few words away.
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Posted: Wed Jul 05, 2023 3:00 pm
Now that she wasn't actively rushing from one patient to the next Vaani could feel the aches of her own body. She was far from an active person so the recent flurry of activity left the yaeli more than a little worn. Sitting on the hard, salty deck was far from the padded chairs she was used to, but until that moment Vaani hadn't felt the difference. She'd been needed and while she was still needed woes that had been pushed back were coming to light.
"It's actually my first." Vaani gave a little half laugh before widened her gaze and reaching for the water bowl. "I'm so sorry - I shouldn't have made you wait." She awkwardly helped to raise his head once more, moving a little too quick with an embarrassed flush to her skin, but slowing when Isaia was 'comfortable'. "My sister is a deckhand and she offered to take me off Yael for the first time. I'm...I'm grateful we were there when we were, but I hope this isn't common." She didn't think her heart could handle it if it were. In an instant Vaani had sworn off air travel the moment her eyes beheld the tragedy. Safer and faster than traveling the seas? Yes, well, one only had to look at this poor man to see that was a lie.
"Where are you from Isaia?" Maybe if she could keep him talking about things she could get him distracted.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2023 2:31 pm
(6/10) Oh. Isaia grimaced at her statement, sympathetic... which felt so mundane and silly, after what he'd been through, but what better way to avoid thinking about it than to sink himself into a normal conversation? She must have mistaken his expression though because she hurriedly moved to get more water for him - not that he was complaining! It was... awkward, having such a pretty stranger help him sit up. A part of his brain still insisted he could do it himself, but considering he didn't even want to move his hands to cup the bowl himself - that was clearly not accurate.
The water was heavenly, and once she'd lowered him back down again, he closed his eyes in bliss after a murmured 'thanks'. "Ah. You poor lass." He lamented. He wanted to continue, to confirm her own thoughts - that if THIS was her first time off island, there was absolutely no way she'd ever want to leave again, but his voice cracked on the next word and he huffed out an annoyed sound instead, rolling his shoulders a bit where he lay.
"Belrea. Nope, not at all common. Taken hundreds of trips." He frowned then looked at her again. Yes, well. Convincing her to try again to take a trip off island felt more important than lamenting on the accident. "It's really nice. Tons of sunshine and mountains. When the sun shines through the clouds, it's - like magic. In Belrea, I mean, not the ship--"
Well, yes, also on the ship, but it felt ridiculous to try and espouse the beautiful sights from the airship, when she'd probably seen horrible things tonight because of it.
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Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2023 12:57 pm
She was the poor lass? What a kind soul he was to worry about her while his own world had shattered. She lifted the bowl away while he shifted about on his makeshift cot and once he'd settled she sat it back at her side once more. When she adjusted her own position Vaani was keenly aware of a catch starting just below her shoulder blades. If she sat a certain way it tugged uncomfortably, but she hoped that with some good rest it would fade.
"Sunshine and mountains...? It sounds like you were born in the clouds, Isaia. Just like real lightning." She reached down to brush some of his hair away from his sweat dabbled forehead. "What else can you tell me about Belrea? What's your favorite thing about it?"
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2023 12:56 pm
(7/10) A kind soul? Well, more that he'd grown up around enough people to be nice in the empty way a flirtatious man was, but in this instance he thought he might actually mean the things he was saying. She wasn't just some wench in a tavern with a pretty face to flirt up, was she?
Talking helped. Talking was... it hurt his throat, made his dry lips sting where they probably were unattractively cracked, keeping his eyes open made that headache worse, but he didn't want to stop talking. He didn't want to stop hearing her soft voice, quiet and gentle. He wanted to be real lightning like she said, not this mass of aching, useless flesh laid up on a ship's floors.
Perhaps sensing his returning panic, Vaani reached to push some hair from his face. It was a sweet touch, and he turned his swirling thoughts towards that simple question, shifting just a little so he could look at her, instead of staring up at the roof of whatever cabin they had the survivors in.
His favorite thing. Isaia never thought he'd been so fond of Belrea before, after all that was why he traveled wasn't it? "The streets." He said, perhaps a bit stupidly. He huffed out a rough laugh and shook his head. "There's people everywhere, shops and stores all around. The streets are dirt in some places, but a lot of the big ones are cobble-stoned. People play music at places for coin, or dance and sing - you can go to some corners and buy treats or warm drinks, and if you follow them long enough you can get to the edge of the city and see for miles and miles--"
You could see the mountains. The sea. Or, on the other side of the city, could see out into the valley where the crops were grown.
Of course, the streets were also filthy in a lot of places. Less fortunate people might beg or sell other, more illicit things at some corners, and in other parts the sky was blotted out by the tall housing buildings where far too many people were crammed into too small places...
He trailed off, but even after a beat the quiet felt oppressive, impossible to bear, and as much as he wanted to keep babbling his mouth and throat were beginning to hurt. "Before all this - before - uh. You left Yael to see - what did you want to see? To do?"
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