0.8; video

[thesamename]

[She really does hate to do this, it's obvious by her stiff shoulders and her gaze directed carefully down and to the right, but here she is.]

I was wondering if any of you are particularly fluent in medicine. I had some questions I wanted to ask.

I doubt the snakes are much for Q & A.

[Not that she would let the snakes anywhere near her.]

Comments

[layingofhands]

Of course they aren't, that's not the snakes' function. They're here to keep you in good health, not play first-aid instructor. Nor am I, for that matter. We are much too busy for that.

[thesamename]

['We' and apparently knowledge about the snakes' function, very subtle. Jackie frowns.]

I'll just make it up as I go then.

[layingofhands]

Don't do that, you'll just cause us more work.

[She sighs]

Look, what do you want to know? If I can give you a five minute version I'll just do that and save us all a lot of trouble.

[thesamename]

Will you talk to me in person? Confidentiality, and all that.

[layingofhands]

I am much too busy to be making house calls, I'm afraid. But if you write a letter and give it to one of the snakes, they'll bring it directly to me. They work for me, after all.

[thesamename]

[Laffo. Hey, lady. All the color drains out of Jackie's face and she shifts uncomfortably. She hates snakes. Has hated them her entire life, they terrify her.]

...I hate snakes. But it's a nice thought.

[No. No it isn't a nice thought at all and her voice is dead.]

Transition into [Action] If that's alright with you

[layingofhands]

[An exasperated sigh. What fools these mortals be. But her role requires it of her, so...]

Very well. I'll be there in a moment.

[And then suddenly, she vanishes from the mirror and her voice is coming from directly behind Jackie.]

I hope you understand the importance of the work you are dragging me away from.

[Action] bring it tilda 8V

[thesamename]

[She startles a little, already put herself on edge thinking about snakes and their horrible little eyes and their horrible scales and their horrible fangs. She turns around with a frown, hugging herself.]

Don't let me disrupt your day.

[layingofhands]

It's already been disrupted, it would be a waste for the disruption to be entirely without point. So: What do you need to know?

[thesamename]

[She purses her lips, but if she's here to answer her questions, she'll ask them.]

I need to draw some of my blood, and to keep it bottled until it's needed.

[layingofhands]

[The Healer raises an eyebrow.]

Why do you need that? And how long are you planning on keeping it for?

[thesamename]

I don't think it's any of your business why I need it, and I don't know how long.

[Very helpful there, Jackie.]

Either way, I need something more elegant than a knife.

[layingofhands]

[The Healer winces. A knife? Loathe as she is to give an amateur information that could lead them to harm themselves, the alternative seems worse.]

Fine. First, you'll need to go to the Wild Places and create a large needle and storage bag. You'll also need some antiseptic. Clean the site first--

[She suddenly stops, and her head swivels away, looking through the wall at something far away.]

Oh, damn. I'll have to give you the quick version. Use the vein here. [She points at her Median Cubital Vein.] Clean the needle and skin with antiseptic or rubbing alcohol first, don't try to move around for fifteen to twenty minutes afterwards and eat lots of food to get your blood sugar back up. Try to find someone with proper training to do it for you, but if you really must do it yourself at least have someone keeping an eye on you to make sure you don't kill yourself. Keep the site bandaged for at least a few hours afterwards. Stick the bag in refrigeration for storage, the red blood cells should last for just over a month, although other

[thesamename]

[She is listening. She understands the ideas behind drawing blood, it's not that complicated, it was just something she had wanted to research first. Lack of useful books had forced her into face to face conversation. She does not doubt the Queen intends that. The relevant vein is a prime piece of information and she looks down at her arm, noting the line of color under her skin, livid under pale skin.]

What happens if I kill myself.

[An idle question, maybe just to be obnoxious, maybe because she's wondered the entire time she's been here and has the chance to ask.]

[layingofhands]

You won't enjoy it and I will get to say I Told You So.

[And with that cryptic answer, she vanishes, off to put out whatever metaphorical fire had just caught her attention.]