Name: Kitchi
Age: 15
Gender: Female
Sexual Orientation: Pansexual
Craft/Rank: Healer apprentice
History: Like many before her Kitchi was born to dragonrider parents and raised in the crèche. The young girl was only seven turns old when Kellers forces were chased out of Benden. Over all she doesn't remember much of Keller's bunch, spending most of her time just doing what children do. Most of her time was spent getting underfoot and causing trouble with her boundless energy and unquenchable curiosity. When the Weyr was abandoned Kitchi was left behind. She had no parents to choose to take her away, so stay in the crèche of Benden she did. Her home felt very empty with most everyone gone. It made the Weyr spooky and strange. Many a childhood day was spent running through previously crowded halls, crowing to hear the echoes, unaware of the carnage that had occurred in those same halls.
Kitchi was eight when she found her passion. Her and some of her friends were playing outside at night, when a young wher interrupted their game. The wher snatched the ball from the group and struck at the girl trying to receive it. This girl happened to be Kitchi's friend Litaidar. As the other youngster was taken to the infirmary Kitchi trailed along after, curious and more than a little concerned the eight turn old wanted to know more about what was happening. As her friend healed the girl visited the infirmary frequently. Surprisingly Kitchi had managed to stay out of their so far and was very intrigued by the whole thing. Litaidar was healing and whenever her friend needed rest or a healer shooed her off the child would wander off and end up poking her nose into someone else's situation.
The whole situation fascinated her. Bodies were so complex and interesting! Despite this though the girl seemed to have no gentleness in her handling of the situation, appearing beside healers while they broke grave news, staring intently at infect wounds and just generally making patients uncomfortable. Eventually it reached a stage where healers became frustrated with Kitchi, but they couldn't afford to spend time making sure she stayed out all the time. Instead she was given medical texts and told she had to read them if she wanted to watch things. Surely a child would be bored or confused by them and they'd be rid of her once that happened. Except it didn't happen. Kitchi certainly didn't understand the more complicated things the books told her, but she was enthralled by biology none the less. She returned to the infirmary instead wanting more materials to read. It kept her quiet for long periods and she left the patients alone so the healers relented, placing the girl somewhere she wouldn't cause trouble to read.
It wasn't long before Kitchi was pushing to be made a healer apprentice. Nobody could argue her enthusiasm, but the girl's behaviour caused some issues. Under tutelage the youngster's mind managed to absorb even more factual knowledge of her craft. She completed chores well enough, though obviously without the same zeal that she embraced other aspects. Her downfall was her interaction with patients. Fortunately, being an apprentice, Kitchi wasn't responsible for giving diagnosis or talking patients through their situation, but it quickly became obvious that this healer had terrible bedside manner. Not rude, just insensitive. Kitchi was always smiling and happy to talk to patients, but didn't seem to understand that there was a certain way to handle things sensitively.
Sadly this did not seem to improve over the turns, in fact getting even worse as Kitchi's knowledge and practical experience grew and there was even more for her to potentially traumatise people with. The teen simply doesn't comprehend other people not being as fascinated as she is with her craft. Why wouldn't someone want to look at the infected arm they took off? For chores and direct patient handling Kitchi is conveniently placed with patients who do not have especially worrying conditions. Simple things that cannot go terribly wrong, just to stop her from scary patients with talk of infections and other grim possibilities. Fortunately her undampenable spirit seems to help some of these patients, Kitchi providing a constant upbeat input about the situation.
During her 15th turn a pair of unfamiliar dragons arrived in Benden. Instantly curious about this pair and their reason for being there Kitchi decided to investigate. This led to her and Litaider being searched. Kitchi had to decide between her love of healing and the potential to impress a dragon. It was tempting, to have someone who would understand her, Kitchi wasn't blind, she knew how some people saw her. Besides, could she really let the chance to see a functioning Weyr's infirmary pass her by? Still with doubts Kitchi agreed.
Description: Kitchi is a slimly built girl, she might grow into a more classically female shape later, but for now it appears that squeezing into small spaces will continue to be a talent. Her face is also thin, with a pointed chin and a slender nose. The girl's eyes often seem to be a little too open as she stares intently at things, the orbs themselves being a forest green with flecks of brown disruptive the otherwise uniform shade. Her hair is a wavy mop of brown and red tones reaching her chin. The russet locks can become frizzy if not taken care of, but this isn't generally something Kitchi concerns herself with. When working the girl will pin back any loose strands in a rather haphazard fashion, anything to keep it out of her face.
Personality: There is no denying that Kitchi is an energetic young woman. The teenager seems constantly on the go and is easily excited with things she is interested in and occasionally things she isn't. Her attention span seems to vary depending on her interest, she'll contently sit and read a medical journal for hours, but ask her to sweep a floor and Kitchi will probably have wandered off before it gets finished. Becoming bored easily without constant things to keep her attention Kitchi hates 'unimportant' tasks. Her perception of 'unimportant' stems from her view of her own usefulness and importance. Anyone can sweep a floor. Anyone can change a glow. Not anyone can diagnose an illness. Kitchi wants to be uniquely useful. Loving spontaneous things Kitchi can quickly feel restricted if she doesn't feel that she has control of her situation. In these situations she can easily become restless and frustrated, having trouble focusing and fidgeting constantly. She can follow routines, but they have to be something that she agrees with and understands. Restriction just for the sake of someone having control over her bothers the young woman immensely. Authority is fine, but using that authority to control is not. Nobody can accomplish anything great if they are continually be held in one place.
Kitchi's world is all about expanding knowledge. She wants to know why the world works and she is driven to finding out. Specifically why people work. There is fascination in seeing a person and knowing that so many forces and powers are at work to keep them breathing, thinking and moving. Healing is her true passion and the teenager responds to passion in others. No one is more beautiful than when they have passion. When that fire lights inside them and Kitchi gets to see it shining out. Sharing knowledge is a favourite pastime for Kitchi, spending hours where minds can context and share, she prefers learning by speaking with others, but text will also do.
Unconventional would be a good way of describing Kitchi. Often the woman doesn't understand other people's sensitivities, speaking her mind without thought others would have a problem with it. It isn't that Kitchi doesn't care about other people's opinions, she does and will apologise if she is made aware she has upset someone. Even though she doesn't know why what she said upsets them. Even among her craft some of her opinions have caused friction. Kitchi is strongly of the belief that people should stop shying away from surgery. Yes, there are risks, but they should work to overcome them rather than just saying 'We don't do that'.
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