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]

[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 parts of the blood will start dying first.

Any questions?

[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.]