Passing the Bucket

Writers: Eimi, Rochelle
Date Posted: 20th July 2006

Characters: D'rue, Pacham
Description: Daiirue sees the weyrhealer about his touchy stomach.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr
Date: month 13, day 1 of Turn 3

"It says here you told Apprentice Pecoolin you've been feeling nauseated, is that right?" Pacham asked as he sat down on the stool next to the examining table.

"Yes, sir." Daiirue said faintly, swallowing. This was _not_ how he'd always dreamed of being searched. At least he had made it to the weyr without embarrassing himself -yet. The fact that he had been directed to the infirmary without asking was not encouraging.

"All right, all right," the Weyrhealer nodded. "Are you visiting the Weyr, Journeyman Daiirue?"

"Not... exactly." He admitted reluctantly, trying to sound more together than he was. Shards, but his stomach was even worse since going /between/. The slight headache wasn't helping either. "I was Searched, about a candlemark ago."

"Oh, well, congratulations!" Pacham smiled. "Now did you feel nauseous before you were Searched?"

"Yes sir. Since I woke up." He paused, then decided the man looked kind enough to forgive a little extra information. "I didn't dare go to the hold healer. My brother was just announced the heir, and the healer has a daughter he's been pushing at me for turns."

Pacham threw his head back and laughed. "Ah, but you've escaped her now, you have. More than one young person has found safe haven in the Weyr."

Daiirue was a bit nonplussed by the man's laughter, but after a moment he relaxed enough to smile a bit. He liked this man, but he was far more informal than anyone at the hold. If the entire weyr was like this, it was going to take some getting used to. "I guess I have. Um... may I ask your name, sir?"

"I'm the Weyrhealer, Pacham," he said, extending his hand to the young man. "Welcome to the Weyr, Candidate Daiirue."

"Thank you, sir. It's... nice to be here." He said hesitantly, looking around the room and swallowing convulsively. **Shards, no. I am _not_
vomiting on the weyrhealer!**

"Whoa there, son," Pacham said as he reached under the table for a bucket. He knew the tell-tale signs of nausea by heart now. "Here you go. Take deep breaths."

Daiirue waved off the bucket, feeling a blush creeping up his neck as he took the suggestion. After a few moments, the feeling was less intense, and he smiled weakly at the weyrhealer, wondering if it was possible to melt into a hole in the floor. "Sorry. It's... been worse since I went /between/."

"So when did this start?" the Weyrhealer asked as he set the bucket down within easy reach.

"I'm not sure... This morning, I guess. I woke up this morning feeling like the feast was trying to come back up, but it was easier to ignore when I started moving around."

"There was a feast?" Pacham asked curiously. "What kind of feast?"

Daiirue looked at him blankly. A feast was a feast, wasn't it? "Just a feast, to celebrate Gaiiteure's confirmation as heir."

"Do you think something you ate could have caused your nausea?" the Weyrhealer asked. "Do you have any allergies? Or do you remember eating anything raw or under-cooked at the feast?"

Daiirue started to shake his head, but he stopped when his headache worsened. There was a cheep as his bronze swooped down to his shoulder. "Not that I know of. But the herdbeast did taste a little odd. I didn't have much."

"Hmmm... Where was this Hold again?" Pacham asked as he stood and walked over to the door to motion an apprentice over.

"Crooked Rapids Hold, about three days from the Weaver Hall." He answered carefully, swallowing again and wondering what this had to do with his stomach. Vree nuzzled his cheek encouragingly.

The Weyrhealer scrawled a note quickly and sent the apprentice off. "So you feel nauseous? Any other symptoms?"

He stroked Vree for a moment before he answered, his eyes half closed.
"Just... a headache."

"A headache and nausea?" Pacham smoothed down his moustache as he thought. "It could be something you ate at the feast. My apprentice is checking to see if there were any other reports of patients with your symptoms at Crooked Rapids Hold. Until then, let me see if I can't find something that will settle your stomach."

"Thank you, sir." Daiirue said, relieved. He'd suspected it might be something at the feast, although he'd been hoping it was a cold that would go away easily instead. Less embarrassing. Vree chattered anxiously at him as his stomach lurched again.

The Weryhealer stood and handed him the bucket. "Just in case," he said with a wink before walking out the door to find the promised medication.

Vree immediately stuck his head into the bucket, cheeping inquisitively. Daiirue groaned softly, then hastily tried to pull his flit out. Shards... he was going to need the bucket after all.

Last updated on the July 23rd 2006

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Passing the Bucket