[AU] an evening like any other

[sai_delgado]

Sunset's long come and gone, the horses are settled for the night, but it's too early by far to sleep. Susan Delgado's in the bar, curled up on the couch near the fireplace, a basket of golden straw nearby and a second one with dark leather strips beside it.

Bit by bit, she braids the golden straw, shaping it into a long plait that coils back into the basket on the floor. It's a contrast of sorts to her own sun-gold hair, which as usual she'd unbraided and brushed into a long smooth fall for the evening when she changed from her work-clothes into a simple chambray dress in a light denim blue.

Susan's humming softly under her breath as she works.

Comments

[sai_delgado]

"Count on it," Eddie says, easily, as Susannah nods. "I tend bar a lot, so you can always catch me there, and Susan can show you the way to our apartment if we're ever not in the main room and you want to talk."

Especially about the things Nick's curious about, although he doesn't point that out, not now.

"Any time, sugar," Susannah tells him. "You just come by any time. Susan...?"

Susan nods firmly. "I'll show ye to the doctor's," she confirms. "And see ye settled in."

[hears_no_evil]

Nick gives Susan a thumbs up, then offers Eddie and Susannah a smile and a wave before he gets up. Once again, his sore leg locks up on him, and he spends a moment stretching it before he gives Susan the go-ahead nod.

[sai_delgado]

She waves a farewell of her own to Susannah and Eddie, and starts to lead Nick across the floor toward the infirmary.

They've made it halfway, mayhap, when she catches a glimpse of blue at the corner of her eye. Susan holds out a hand to stop Nick and turns to look - then draws a deep breath and changes direction to approach the always-composed woman who still makes her unaccountably nervous, although she's trying to get past it.

As they reach Moiraine's table, Susan drops a curtsey. "Goodeven, Lady Moiraine, and may yer days be long upon the earth. I've a favor to ask of ye, if ye'd not mind it."

The Aes Sedai looks up at her with interest in the dark eyes, an interest that only intensifies as she observes Susan's companion. "Of course you may ask," she says. "I do not mind." Moiraine gestures to seats at her table in clear invitation.

[hears_no_evil]

With Susan facing away from him, he can't read her lips to see what she's saying, and Nick gives a puzzled glance to the curtsey she drops before looking with interest at the woman who inspired it. She's petite and dark-haired, dressed in blue, and the keen look in her eyes is almost enough to make Nick, someone who has been stared at his entire life, uncomfortable.

He's not sure what Susan asked, but assumes it has to do with the woman's invitation. Nick waits for Susan to take a seat, then sits as well. He writes out the now familiar introduction and offers it to the woman.

My name is Nick Andros. I'm deaf-mute (sorry) but I can read lips.

[blue_ajah]

One eyebrow arches slightly as she reads this. "I see," she murmurs, and looks back up at them both. "I am pleased to meet you, Nick. I am Moiraine Sedai, but you must call me simply Moiraine."

She slants a sideways glance at Susan Delgado, at that, and keeps her sigh internal as the young woman flushes slightly. It is as may be, and Light knows she has more reason than most to be uncomfortable around those who channel power, even without her association with Dream.

"Lady Moiraine," Susan says, with determination, "Nick is - he's been injured, and needs help. And ye've always helped so, with Roland, and 'Bert, and--"

Moiraine nods to her, then tilts her head and studies him. "Are you a gunslinger, then?"

[hears_no_evil]

His brows draw together and he shakes his head. Gunslinger? The first time he'd even tried to pull the .45 he'd borrowed from Sheriff Baker he'd almost killed himself.

(He'd left the gun tucked into his pack. Even with his leg healing, he's leery of wearing it around while riding and walking.)

[blue_ajah]

"I see," the Aes Sedai says again.

"Nay, he's not, but he's met Eddie and Susannah," Susan puts in. "And they've - they've knowledge of his world, so if--"

"Peace, Susan," Moiraine says, gently. "I will help regardless, as you ask; I was merely curious." She looks at Nick. "Susan has brought you to me because I have something of a talent for Healing. May I offer you assistance?"

[hears_no_evil]

Nick shrugs and jots down another note for her.

You may if you can. What exactly does your healing entail?

[blue_ajah]

It is an insightful question, more so than he may have intended. Moiraine considers him with interest, while Susan remains quiet, observing. "I am Aes Sedai," she tells him. "As such, I channel the One Power, drawn from the True Source, which is the very force of creation itself. Others have referred to this as magic. What I propose is to weave that power in a way that draws on your own strength to discern and Heal things such as injuries and illnesses that may affect you."

She pauses there, still considering him, and then says, with perfect calm that is still somehow not unkind, "There are, however, things that I cannot Heal. Do not raise your hopes too high, in that regard. I am sorry."

[hears_no_evil]

He frowns at her for a moment before understanding breaks across his face. Nick writes quickly.

My condition is a birth defect. There's nothing to heal in that regard even if you could.

He thinks, wistfully, of his dreams, then shakes his head. I don't know anything about a one power or true source, but I've seen a lot of magic in a pretty short amount of time today, so, okay. As for injuries...

Nick pauses at illnesses, but he's not sick, right? That's part of the point.

...I can write them out, unless you need to do some kind of examination.

[blue_ajah]

She shakes her head, and holds out both hands to him, palms up. "Grant me your permission to assist --"

Not that it is actually necessary, but most people here do not realize that, and it is useful for her to have that remain the case.

"-- and take my hands. I will do the rest."

[hears_no_evil]

Nick considers her for a moment, then sets down his pen and puts his hands in hers, curious.

[blue_ajah]

Golden light shimmers into being around her. Silver-white threads of light flash outward from where she holds his hands, racing over his body, seeking and Delving. As they do, as she realizes the extent of his injuries, the bright golden corona expands outward until she glows like a miniature sun.

Silver is followed by a mesh of mixed blue and green with sparks of fiery red that wraps itself around his leg and sinks in. The same sparks, blended with a more yellowish white and flickers of green, dance across his body, touching on bruises and abrasions and causing them to vanish.

Around the edge of his eyepatch, and also cupping his jaw like a hand made of cloud, silver and gold light together condenses into something far more brightly gleaming, far more intense.

[hears_no_evil]

Nick startles as the light slips over his hands and surrounds him, but doesn't let go, too astonished by the sensation. It's like being buffeted by a strong wind – or a wave of water, he supposes, though that sensation is alien to him — and fortified by a cool healing breeze that reminds him of the zephyrs flitting over the prairie in slow slide of an Oklahoma summer's evening.

The itching in his leg and across his skin must be muscles and skin repairing themselves; he blinks and finds that the deep ache in his abused eye has gone. And his mouth – things are shifting and changing. He would never have guessed she might be able to heal his shattered teeth, but the sensation in his mouth is certainly making it seem as though she is.

[blue_ajah]

She pours the weave into him, rebuilding and reshaping what was broken, repairing what was destroyed, Healing everything that she can. Only when she is certain that there is nothing left remaining does she release saidar and allow the glow to fade.

"I have done what I might," Moiraine says, simply, as she lets go of his hands.

"Thankee-sai, Lady," whispers Susan, soft but sincere. She nods to her, and to Nick. "You are welcome. Both of you."

[hears_no_evil]

Nick tongues, incredulous, at his newly re-made teeth, almost as shocked by the sudden lack of pain as he had been by the sudden introduction of it at Ray Booth's hands. Carefully, he lifts off the eyepatch and blinks until his vision clears. Turning, he can see Susan and finds he can once again estimate how far away she is.

He runs his hand over the side of his leg, where the bullet had grooved into the meat of his thigh, and feels nothing but solid, if rather scrawny, muscle.

Shaking his head, he steadies his trembling hands and writes to Moiraine.

I don't know how to thank you. I don't have money but if there's some other way I can pay you back, I will.

[blue_ajah]

Moiraine shakes her head at him. "We do not need to speak of debt. I am pleased that I was able to help."

[hears_no_evil]

Nick looks doubtful, but nods.

Can you please tell Susan I thank her, too? She can't read my writing.

[blue_ajah]

Moiraine nods back, apparently unsurprised by this, and turns to the younger woman. "He wishes to thank you, as well," she tells her, and Susan startles.

"He--" She shifts, leaning a little to make sure Nick can see her lips. "Ye needn't thank me. I did naught."

"You recognized that I might be able to assist," the Aes Sedai points out. "And saw to it that he was introduced, rather than to leave matters up to him."

Susan's mouth tightens a little, but she sighs and doesn't argue. "If that's how ye'd have it, then you're welcome, say true. But ye still needn't thank me."

[hears_no_evil]

Nick gives her a wry look. He gestures to his healed eye and healed teeth, then back over the bar behind them to encompass everything she's showed him, before putting his hand over his heart and lifting his eyebrows at her.

[sai_delgado]

She shakes her head at him, then reaches to take his other hand and squeezes it for a moment before letting go. "It were the least I could do," she tells him, firmly. "And I were glad to."

"With that settled... you will need to eat more than usual this evening," Moiraine advises. "And rest, as well. Healing draws in part on the strength of the person being Healed."

[hears_no_evil]

As if responding to her comment, Nick feels the buzz of his stomach contracting and rumbling, despite the cookies and lemonade of earlier. He pats his belly ruefully, mimes sleeping with his hands pillowed at the side of his head, then nods.

He wonders if she could have healed the Bakers... but decides against even thinking about it. Even if she could have, she might have caught the superflu herself.

[sai_delgado]

"Then we'll need to order a large dinner for ye," Susan says, practically. "And--"

She doesn't get further than that before the Aes Sedai offers, "You are both welcome to join me for a meal, if you like."

She's not going to refuse; how could she? Susan looks at Nick to see what he'd prefer, and hopes that none of her internal nervousness shows.

[hears_no_evil]

Nick glances between them, then nods at Moiraine. Why not? He'll just ask her to read his notes, like Susannah and Eddie had. And no matter what she says about 'no debt,' he sure feels like he owes her.

[sai_delgado]

"Thankee-sai, Lady," Susan says, sternly telling herself not to be silly. "It's kind of ye to offer."

"Not at all," the Aes Sedai says. "I myself shall enjoy the company, I expect." She raises her hand to flag down a waitrat, and Holly scampers up and squeaks inquisitively at them all. Moiraine nods to Susan, inviting her to begin.

And oh, she realizes, she hadn't explained this at all. To Nick, she says, swiftly, "She's a rat, aye, but a server as well. It's only the way of things here. What would'ee have?"