[8.18.2707] Confessions

[chree]

(Tag: Kendrall/C'olt)

Tess slipped quietly into her personal office – a small room just off the infirmary – and straightened a jar of ink half a centimeter before settling back into her chair. C’olt… she went over his file again in her head. She had her own ideas, of course, about what that look of his at Tesni’s patient had meant – but she was more than happy to give him the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps he planned on enlightening her.

He’d asked to speak with her, in any case, and she was glad to oblige him, remembering how close she’d been to some of the Masters she’d worked under. She’d hoped, what with her own recent shift in rank and her transfer to the weyr, that she could develop that kind of relationship with some of her own Journeymen, encourage and maybe even inspire some of them the way her Masters had done. Well. High hopes. But first, C’olt. She looked expectantly towards the door.

[Kendrall]

C'olt straightened his tunic then entered Tess' office. Part of him was relieved that he was no longer the senior-most Healer, in spite of his status as a Junior Journeyman. He'd taken charge at the Hatching, tending to the Candidates' wounds. The other part rankled him, as he was now having to be a little more responsible for his actions. Namely, getting Kia and Lyrensa drunk enough so he could have his way with both of them at the same time. Fortunately, they wound up in Kia's weyr, so it wasn't too terrible. Except he was missing his favorite doublet. He had no idea who found it.

He sat down across from Tess, then sighed, rubbing his face. "I honestly don't know how else to say this, Weyrhealer," C'olt started. "But I don't think Kia has the flu. Lyrensa was exhibiting the very same symptoms just over a sevenday ago. I...I think it might have to do with what happened between the three of us after the Hatching Feast." He grinned sheepishly. "Let's just say Lyrensa, Kia, and myself found ourselves in Kia's bed completely naked after waking up the next morning. I honestly don't remember much after leaving the Feast with them, and it wasn't until Lyrensa started complaining of nausea did I start to wonder."

[chree]

Tess folded her hands and set them quietly on her desk. She managed not to sigh. And he was grinning about it? Hm. Well at least he’d opted to tell her.

“Thank you for your admission, C’olt. However,” her voice, though still soft, was now decidedly firm. “I’m sure you realize the gravity of the situation you may have created for these two women. Pregnancy is not an ideal state for any rider, but for a weyrling…” She wouldn’t lecture him on that, though. No need. He knew. She lifted a hand to her temple and held back another sigh. Lyrensa, too? Another of her Healers… this behavior was utterly unbecoming. No – she frowned – more than that. Verging on unacceptable.

“You know, of course, that I am obligated to share this information with your Leaders, and I’m sure they will handle it as they see fit. As for my part, C’olt…” she met his gaze, steady as ever, “while I leave you to live your life as you see fit, I strongly discourage this type of conduct. In this case, I feel my disapproval is entirely merited: you have needlessly endangered six lives, including your own and that of your dragon, in direct defiance of your oaths. Please consider this.”

Her firmness faded now, though, and she looked at him with more compassion than anything else. He wasn’t the only one at fault here, she was sure. “If you would, please have your dragon contact Brigith and Merequith and ask that there riders come to my examening room after dusk. Thank you again for your honesty and if there’s nothing else you’d like to discuss, you’re free to go.” She’d sort out the pregnancy issue as soon as possible and inform the appropriate leaders directly afterwards.

[Kendrall]

C'olt held his tongue when Tess rebuked him for his actions after the Hatching Feast. He didn't need to be reminded that he already put Lyrensa and her Brigith at risk. The Grey Weyrling was just that - a junior Weyrling - and therefore her bonded could potentially be impacted in a negative fashion. But for Tess to presume Aromath and Merequith would likewise develop psychological problems? Unlikely. He cleared his throat, and kept his voice as neutral as possible, but couldn't keep a bit of annoyance out of it. "I would like to remind you, Weyrhealer, that Kia and I both are senior Weyrlings and are expecting to graduate soon. Aromath and Merequith are old enough to understand what has happened. We also have at least one dragonhealer on hand to make sure Brigith doesn't suffer."

"I also would like to remind you Kia, Lyrensa, and myself have already discussed the gravity of the situation. We all know what's at risk here, and it's five lives; Kia, her unborn; Lyrensa, her unborn, and potentially Brigith; not six. If I'm right and both of them are indeed carrying my child, either you or myself do have the authority to declare both ladies unfit to fly on medical grounds until the birth of their children. As for taking this up with the Leadership, typically it'll be up to the Weyrling Master to decide what sort of punishment should be handed out to the three of us, even though Lyrensa and myself do report to you as well."

He couldn't help but shake his head ruefully. "It's probably a good thing you weren't at the Hatching Feast, or at least don't remember much of it if you were. There was a fight between Q'del, Quindara, G'rett, and Toniel; then it broke out into a food fight. Kia and I both didn't want to see Lyrensa get hurt, so we left the Dining Cavern, but I'll admit all three of us did have a bit too much to drink." He held a hand up. "I'll send for Lyrensa; Kia's already here with Tesni."

Aromath, have Lyrensa report to the WeyrHealer's office, would you?

The Green bugled her worry, comprehending the mental state of her bonded. Still, Aromath sent the request to Brigith.

((Tag Cheyenne/Lyrensa, Fellis/Kia))

[chree]

Tess arched an eyebrow, but let C’olt’s correction pass in silence. She was not in the habit of bolstering arguments with technicalities. Let C’olt try and justify himself if he must – she was done discussing it and her own conscious remained clear.

She did frown a bit, though, at the description of the Hatching Feast – no, she hadn’t been in attendance. Hearing about it, she was rather glad to have missed it… youth. Ah well – what’s done is done. G’fal was the WeyrlingMaster, if she recalled correctly – a pleasant man. She hoped he wouldn’t be too hard on them… particularly if the girls really were pregnant. Oh but she hoped not…

Finally allowing herself to sigh, she waved an absent hand to indicate her approval of C’olt’s intention to call. She’d said after dusk, hadn’t she? This would go much more smoothly with Tesk in attendance… and yes, she’d selfishly admit, her wher tended to lighten her mood. But was it such a crime to shy from negative mindset? No matter, probably best she speak with the girls now anyway.

[Jazzeh]

Aromath says you are to report to the Weyrhealer's office,[/color] the gray said with a bit of confusion in her voice. The green had sounded most serious, but she couldn't imagine why Lyrensa would be in trouble.

Trouble? the healer thought, reading her Brigith's thoughts. She was doing rounds in the infirmary checking on patients and her gray's words caused her to pause mid-step, eyes going unfocused for that brief moment. Instantly she ran over all her recent work in her head. Maybe she's been sloppy with a suture and it had become infected or she had somehow offended a patient. But she couldn't remember anything specific. She tried to keep the worry from her face as she finished up with her current patient and then made the trip up to the Weyrhealer's office.

Lyrensa pasted a polite, respectful smile on her face as she knocked on the doorway and carefully entered. When she saw C'olt there, too, she wasn't sure whether to feel reassured or more worried. So she gave him a quick nod and hurriedly turned her attention to Tess. "Weyrhealer," she greeted with a small bob of courtesy.

[chree]

“Lyrensa,” Tess returned with a nod and an uncomfortable twist in the pit of her stomach. These things happened, she supposed, even under the most diligent of Masters. Her eyes trailed briefly over Lyrensa’s form, trying to catch some hint one way or another. But no, it would be too early yet. And too early in the day for Tesk to be out and about – she’d just have to rely on good old fashioned medicine.

No need to mince words. Lyrensa was clever enough, she’d figure it out from the standard list of questions – might as well go over the list on her own and give Tess a simple answer. Almost like a lesson then wasn’t it, Tess thought dryly. Gathering her thoughts, she spoke calmly, though the first signs of a headache started prickling in her temples. “Have you considered the possibility that you’re with child?”

[Jazzeh]

Worry was eating at her existence as Lyrensa watched the Weyrhealer's face subtly change and her eyes seemed to search her. The senior apprentice knew that something had gone terribly wrong, something that she had been responsible for. Had she somehow transmitted Cloudlung to another patient? She was always so careful to scrub her hands after each visit and she changed her face mask frequently. But maybe in the hurry to feed Brigith or attend a lesson she had forgotten. How could she forget something so crucial?

Tension was building on the woman's face and she subconsciously flexed and extended the fingers at her sides, keeping the blood from completely pooling in the extremities. And then Tess was speaking and all the breath left Lyrensa in a whoosh. Her mouth hung open and her eyes bulged from their sockets in shock. Her jaw worked, trying to produce the dumb query that was the only response the gray weyrling's brain could formulate at the moment. What's going on, Lyrensa? What's the matter?[/color] Brigith asked worriedly, picking up on her rider's distress. The blond woman was pulled out of her shock and collected herself, sending soothing thoughts to her dragon without answering her.

Lyrensa considered the other woman's question. Was she pregnant? She couldn't really answer truthfully. She had written off the nausea as a stomach flu that had been making its rounds in the infirmary. She had dabbed peppermint oil on her wrists and neck, inhaling the scent to relieve her upset stomach and as a concentration aid, brewing lavender tea whenever she had finished with her shift in the infirmary. But thinking back to that morning when she had woken up beside C'olt and Kia, it was very possible. Uncertainly, Lyrensa was finally able to speak, her voice wavering slightly, "I-I don't know, Weyrhealer. I thought...I thought it was just a flu." She glanced nervously at C'olt, unsure of how much Tess knew. She didn't want to tell her, didn't want to get in trouble. "I guess I could be. Before the Hatching though!" she said quickly, hoping the lie stuck. She knew that the truth would be devastating considering both her consumption of wine and sexual acts were stricken forbidden.

[Kendrall]

C'olt shook his head when Lyrensa tried to lie to the WeyrHealer, that it all happened before the Hatching. He simply looked at the Senior Apprentice, his eyes telling her that Tess wasn't buying it, she already knew the truth. Before either woman could speak, C'olt rose from his chair and stuck his head outside. "Tesni," he called. "Would you have Kia come here, please?"

He sat back down in his chair. Whatever punishment would be meted out, he was sure he would be taking the brunt of it. After all, it was his idea of sneaking out that bottle of wine from the Hatching Feast. C'olt wasn't sure how much trouble Kia would be in for suggesting they go to her weyr instead of his; but no matter how one looked at it, the three Weyrlings would be in for a rough ride. In hindsight, however, C'olt wouldn't have traded that night with Kia and Lyrensa for anything. He was smitten with them both. Even if both ladies were indeed carrying his child, he would take it upon himself to keep a close eye on his children while they were being raised in the crèche. He'd spend time with them whenever he could. Hopefully, that would smooth things over with Kia and Lyrensa.

Would he do it all over again? Share a bed with them? Absolutely. Flightlust or not. C'olt never truly thought of himself as polyamorous, but there was no denying the fact he loved both women dearly and would do anything to keep them - and his children by them - safe. Even if it meant he had to resort to ulterior motives to do so. After all, he knew how to use almost every tool of medicine known just to inflict harm on a person. It would go against his Healer's Oath, but even a man like C'olt understood to knowingly cause harm was a solemn decision and one not to be taken lightly.

[chree]

Tess watched Lyrensa react, hopeful on the apprentice’s behalf. There was nothing there, though, for hope to really latch on to. Tess waited quietly for Lyrensa to work through it, her hands back on her desk and folded neatly. The flu. Hm. Perhaps the infirmary needed a bit of a refresher lesson on proper diagnosing. Oh she supposed she could see how the symptoms of the flu might appear to overlap with those of pregnancy – but for one of her apprentices to actually be experiencing them and fail to distinguish the two; this was troublesome. Oh but couldn’t it be the flu? A nagging sort of instinct told her probably not.

Well. At least Lyrensa was being honest – the sympathetic thought hardly had time to settle before it was being dislodged by Lyrensa’s follow up statement. Before the hatching? Tess arched an eyebrow. She didn’t need to glance to C’olt – she trusted his word. Lyrensa had reason to contradict him of course, but then, that wasn’t really an adequate excuse. Tess sighed, dreadfully disappointed.

She still spoke softly, earnestly, soothingly, but she couldn’t keep that edge of disappointment from lingering in her words. “Lyrensa, if I cannot trust you to tell the truth, how can I trust you with a patient?” It was not a question intended to be answered. “Please do not lie to me. Sit down,” she gestured to a chair next to C’olt’s then returned the hand to its previous position. The apprentice appeared agitated (as she should be); Tess didn’t want her balance affected.

But she wouldn’t walk Lyrensa through this as she would the other weyrling. Her tone lapsed into her teacher’s voice, “You are a capable young Healer and I am confident in your ability to reassess your symptoms and give me a better answer that ‘I don’t know, I guess I could be.’ Try again.” Hm. Perhaps a lesson in midwifery alone wouldn’t be amiss in the infirmary… she’d have to consider it.

[Jazzeh]

All hope was gone as C'olt shook his head at her and a new panic arose within her breast. Now she had lied to the Weyrhealer and from the look her fellow Healer was giving her, she knew the truth of the matter. She knew there would be consequences not only for her original actions but for lying to Tess. And indeed, the Weyrhealer's words were a measure of her disappointment and Lyrensa slumped visibly, looking miserable. When she was told to sit, she did so silently, neatly folding her hands in her lap and staring down at them.

Despite all her efforts to remain calm, tears pricked at the corners of Lyrensa's eyes. It was one thing to discover her pregnancy on her own, quite another to have it outed by her superior and her fellow healer, who was conveniently the father. The woman sighed heavily as Tess chided her to reconsider her transparent diagnosis. She hadn't given much thought to her own symptoms, ignoring her own body in favor of her patients, as was common for many healers to do.

But now that Lyrensa was taking a true look at things, it was obviously. Her courses were late, she'd been having bouts of nausea for over a week now, and some mild dizziness, all of which were symptoms she'd have recognized, and had recognized, in a patient in the infirmary. Even though Lyrensa had one child already, the news was hard hitting and unwelcome, probably because of the danger it represented to her young dragon. She finally looked back up to Tess, her face contorted with worry. "What do I do?" she asked in a despairing tone.

[Kendrall]

Before Tess could speak up, C'olt leaned over to gently brush the tears out of Lyrensa's eyes. He couldn't stand to see her cry like this. He gently whispered in her ear, "Simple. We work through this. All three of us. You, me, and Kia. At least let me take responsibility for my actions, Lyrensa, and do what I can to see to it nothing happens to you, our child, Kia's child, nor Brigith. We do have a dragonhealer who just happens to be bonded with a Silver, you know." C'olt didn't have to mention Quindara nor Artemth by name. He was trusting that the Queen Weyrling pair would step in to help keep things under control. He then leaned back and turned again to look at Tess, waiting for her to supply her own answer. It was a safe bet the WeyrHealer would order Lyrensa and Kia both grounded until after the birth of their children - his children - but he wanted to be certain. Then, of course, there was the matter of Brigith, but if he was right, Quindara would have Artemth keep the Grey calm throughout the ordeal.

[chree]

Tess’s head was really starting to pound now. Bother. Well, at least Lyrensa seemed to have appropriately reassessed her situation. It made Tess itch all over to see someone so distressed, especially one of her apprentices – but what could she do? Protocol demanded there be punishment for the transgression… Tess hardly had it in her to be a disciplinarian, though. And was the lapse so great, after all? She hadn’t exactly lied, had she?

Did, Tesk confirmed casually, and Tess twitched a little at the voice. When had her wher woken up!? Head hurts, Tesk explained, squirming in her cozy little dark space. Tess sighed. Tesk wouldn’t let her get away with talking herself out of these things… in her defense, Tesk began reciting her handler’s Master’s oath – Tess all but scowled. Yes thank you, I recall. Go sleep. Wake now! Tesk chirped back, but yawned a little. Tess turned her attention back to the situation at hand.

Lyrensa asked a question – Tess opened her mouth to reply – C’olt spoke first. Tess closed her mouth and arched her eyebrow up again. She hoped this wouldn’t be a problem between them… perhaps he had enjoyed seniority before her arrival; she couldn’t help but feel he did not always readily display the appropriate deference. Hm. She’d have to find out who his Master had been and speak with them about it – perhaps respect had to be earned with C’olt. She would honor that. To a degree.

She waited until C’olt had finished his spiel. He was whispering, so she only caught a few snippets of what he said. Touching, she supposed, if one could be forgiving. He did seem to harbor some sort of sincere affection for Lyrensa, though she wasn’t sure if it went beyond the Healer’s natural inclination to care for others. She strummed her fingers a moment, but smoothed her expression. C’olt resumed his seat and looked to Tess again. Oh was it her turn to speak now? Bite him? Tesk offered, and Tess almost couldn’t stop the twitch of a smile.

“For now, follow the advice you yourself would give to a patient who presented likewise. No strenuous activity, watch for any sign of serious abdominal pain, arrange your diet appropriately, sleep often. Report to another Healer regularly for check ups – C’olt will be fine, if you so chose, though of course I am more than willing to see you myself if you’d like.” She paused a moment. No forgetting- Tesk began, but Tess cut her off with an impatient mental huff. “As for your undesirable conduct as an apprentice – I will think on it and speak with you about it later. You do understand, of course, that I must speak with G’fal. I would also like to speak to Quindara for her opinion on the continued health of your dragon.”

She softened, eyebrows knitting together a bit in concern, and her tone became gentler. “Mistakes happen, Lyrensa. I understand your distress and I would not argue that it isn’t merited – however, undue stress is not conducive to healthy infants. We will work through this as best we can. Please know that you can come to me with any concern, any trouble – I want only the best for you. You are free to go, or remain if there isn anything else you would like to discuss.”

[Jazzeh]

Lyrensa was surprised to suddenly feel C'olt's touch on her face, brushing away the moisture she had not been aware had spilled from her eyes. She was inclined to pull away, but it had been so long since she'd been so close to a man, or at least that she could remember. Obviously it had been more recently or she wouldn't be in this current predicament. She listened to his whispered words, agonized by her tough situation. She nearly groaned at the mention of Quindara. She couldn't say that she hated the girl, but she was definitely not on Lyrensa's list of people she preferred to be around. The fact that she was the Weyrsecond's sister didn't help her perception of the silver weyrling, especially not after the very memorable fight that had broken out at the Hatching Feast.

Brigith was agitated by her rider's distress and it took several deep breaths for the healer to get herself under control enough to soothe the young gray. As soon as she was dismissed, she would have to go see to the gray and reassure her that neither C'olt nor Tess had hurt her. The dragon was so fiercely protective even though she hardly understood what her rider was feeling.

The Weyrhealer was not looking all too pleased, having a faintly irritated look on her face, or perhaps it was a pained look. Either way, Lyrensa was going to be happy to be out of Tess's hair. The arched eyebrow was a warning and a jerk of her head that was not so subtle thanks to the locks of hair that had fallen out of her runner's tail urged C'olt to be silent. He was no longer the senior healer at Nova Weyr. Tess was a Master, superior by her rank in the craft alone, and the Weyrhealer on top of that. It wouldn't be wise to earn her ire. She could make both of their lives miserable here and anywhere else they might go all with a simple conversation with the Masterhealer of Pern.

Lyrensa nodded as Tess gave her her instructions. She shied away a bit at the idea of receiving check-ups from C'olt. Despite their intimacy that had caused this pregnancy, she didn't look forward to sharing her genitals in such a medical fashion. She understood it was necessary, as a Healer herself, but she would rather prefer that Tess give her her check-ups. She nodded, too, as Tess affirmed that she would have to speak with G'fal about this, a ragged sigh escaping her chest. "I understand," she said solemnly.

She was only slightly reassured by the following softness in the Weyrhealer's tone, swallowing guiltily. Idly she thought that she might never drink wine again. It was a terrible thing that only caused trouble. Lyrensa was slightly relieved when Tess gave the word that she was dismissed. "No, nothing more, Weyrhealer," she said and breathed deeply as she made her way towards the door. She had to go see Brigith. I'm coming, Brigith. Please don't worry, she soothed, even if worry was the only thing on her mind.