(Untitled)

[octavia_minor]

In her time back home, Octavia had seen a fair number of deaths, but illness was a subject with which she wasn't well acquainted, and so the news of Isabel in the clinic hit her harder than she might have expected. They hadn't known each other an especially long time, true, but she still cared about the other girl; knowing that there was little she

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[poison_pearl]

I have some Latin; enough to identify what is that Octavia is doing, if not the specifics.

I may not share her faith-or any other, for that matter-but I see no reason to interrupt, and so I dust off a spot on the ground and sit and wait for her to be done.

[octavia_minor]

Maud's presence, when Octavia noticed it, came almost unexpectedly as a comfort, and she did finish before turning to the other woman. "A friend of mine," she explained moments later, thinking it best, "she's in the clinic. I thought it best to pray for her." It seemed almost foolish, in retrospect, but there was nothing more for her to do for Isabel.

[poison_pearl]

"Is her illness so very bad?" I ask; I had not thought on it previously, but I've not often heard of people falling sick, in this place.

[octavia_minor]

Swallowing, Octavia nodded slowly. "Yes, actually," she replied. It was still surprising, in a way, with how rarely she'd seen people become ill, especially here. "I - I couldn't tell you what it is, but from what I know, it's very serious."

[poison_pearl]

"If it requires divine intervention, I should imagine so," I say, looking upwards. The gesture has two purposes; it provides a visual component to the comment, for one; but it also hides any skepticism that may find itself in my eyes regarding the idea of deities healing the sick. "What do the physicians say, of her chances?"

[octavia_minor]

"It..." Octavia cleared her throat, biting gently at her lower lip. "It's looking unlikely, as far as I've been told." She hadn't pressed the matter too much, but the symptoms she knew didn't sound hopeful, either.

[poison_pearl]

"That is terrible," I say, standing and taking a step forward to rest a hand upon and squeeze her shoulder, acting on a sort of rote recitation of behaviours I have observed to be used in circumstances such as these. "But the doctors here have accomplished seeming miracles in the past, so perhaps there is still some hope."

I wonder if the woman is contagious?

[octavia_minor]

"Perhaps," Octavia agreed, forcing something of a smile at the touch. "The technology here is far beyond my time, after all. Maybe they'll think of something." She paused, the expression softening somewhat. "Thank you," she added. "It really does mean a lot, your support."