First (Not) Date (Waisana)

[Nkosi Sunrunner]

11th of Autumn, 513AV He tried to copy the hands beside him, the chisel held lightly over the pre-made design, and his hammer poised. She made it look easy with her steady taps and movements but he knew it wasn’t so. “If you don’t do something soon, you’re gonna be shoveling horse shyke for the rest of the day.” Nkosi shoved his attention back to his own work, and tapped the hammer against the chisel. Too hard. Much too hard, he thought staring at the swell of red coming from his finger. He felt a laugh bubble out of him until he seen the piece of skin, and the grin fell away to a grimace. “Petch!” He finally dropped the hammer and jerked his hand back, the skin tearing off completely and quickening the flow. With another curse, this time thrown at his sisters’ laughter, he tugged off his shirt, dripping blood over his hair, face and chest. “Petch, petch.” He hissed out as he quickly wrapped his hand in the shirt and turned to face his still chuckling sister. “Petch. You think it’ll be fine on its own?” “Do I look like a damned healer? Go see an Opal.” She waved him off impatiently, already cleaning the spattering he’d left on the table. With a nod he slipped out of the tent and began a quick walk, almost jog, towards the Opal Healing Tents. -- It wasn’t until he reached the tents that he remembered the spattering’s on his face and chest. The small gasps that announced his arrival and he shook his head with a rueful grin. “It’s not that bad. Just a finger.” “You lost a finger?!” Laughing a bit he shook his head and held out the bulky, shirt covered hand with only a few streaks of red. “Chisel accident. I think I just took outta chunk of my finger, fingers still attached though.” “Explain yourself better next time,” he was scolded, “Come with me I’ll get you patched up.” “Actually,” He had seen her when he came in, a few times previous as well, and there she was now. Her blonde hair tied up in a way that spoke of bells of work, she was tall, pretty, and around his age. But he wasn’t usually the one in need of help so he never wasted her time but now…“I’d like her help.” He pointed directly at the young woman.

[Waisana]

There had been a lull in activity for a while now and there was nothing for the young healer to do. They couldn't find any more tasks for her to do so they'd tried to make her leave but Waisana had stubbornly stood her ground. If there was a chance that something might come in that she could help with then she wasn't going to move. After a while the teen decided to amuse herself for a few chimes by redoing her hair. Her agile fingers had undone the intricate braids in a chime, her hair falling in loose waves past her shoulders. Then the girl set about twisting the hair back into its weaves, trying a different arrangement. She was just tucking the last strand into place when a teenager came in with blood splattered on his face and chest.  The girl's gasp echoed that of her comrades but after a few moments of misunderstanding, the boy managed to explain that it was just a cut finger. Making a low noise of disgust that he would have caused panic for no reason, she moved to wash her hands which felt oily after handling her hair. His words caught her attention and she glanced up, finding to her surprise that he was talking about her.  A little dazed, she moved to a clean workspace and beckoned him over, her mind racing. Why had he asked for her help? There were plenty more healers around who could have dealt with it but he'd chosen her. Peeking up at him as she sorted out a clean bowl of water for cleaning, she scrutinised him more closely than before. He was probably around her age though unlike her, he lacked wind marks. She didn't know him, couldn't even remember seeing him before so she had no idea why he'd asked for her help.

[Nkosi Sunrunner]

The young woman said nothing and it left Nkosi feeling awkward when he sat. And as he gaze assessed him clinically it also made him aware that his lack of Windmarks was obvious. With a sheepish grin he slipped back on the dirty shirt, and Shyke, it was harder than he thought to actually talk to her. "I didn't mean to scare anyone. It just bled more than I realized, I'm Nkosi Sunrunner, and you are Waisana, aren't you?" His hands made to signal as well but his injured right finger throbbed and reminded him it was injured and small smudge of red welled up again. He looked a bit surprised but held out his hand for he young woman to see with a hissed behind clenched teeth. It seemed the smaller the cut the worse they hurt. "I had seen you before, you looked good--at what you do, good at what you do!" He quickly corrected himself, color lining his neck and he looked away, and spoke quieter, "Sorry, you're very pretty and I feel a fool. Nkosi offered the words unapologetically, his good hand signing nervous and hurt in equal measures. Then he stayed silent in case he made a bigger idiot of himself, and was glad his sister had not accompanied him or else she'd never let him hear the end of it. He shifted from where he'd taken a seat at her workstation and watched her prepare with little interest but a healthy dose of respect in his gaze. After a tick he looked away but quickly returned his gaze, seeing others ill made him uncomfortable and reminded him too much of the previous season. "How long would this one take to heal?" He asked finally, feeling the need to say something that wasn't badly given compliment.

[Waisana]

The healer went through a checklist of supplies in her head, making sure that she had everything she needed, still puzzling over why he'd asked for her. She nodded absently as he introduced himself but her gaze darted up to his face, her eyes wide when he knew her name. He knew her name! Warning bells went off in her head but she had no idea why. There was something about this boy that made her uneasy but she didn't know what. She took his hand gratefully, glad to have something to work with, something that might prevent anymore awkwardness between them. She wetted a cloth and began to dab gingerly around the wound. Her hopes that the treatment might shut him up, or might at least start a conversation about his wound, fell flat. As Nkosi began to compliment her, understanding came. She understood why he'd asked for her, how he known her name. He was interested in her! Her cheeks warmed to a deep scarlet but she avoided looking at him, focusing on the task at hand instead. Prodding the clean wound carefully with her fingers, she picked up some wadding and pressed it tightly against the site. Picking up a piece of bandage, she answered his question. "It shouldn't take long to heal, a week or two at most providing you keep it dry and clean. I can give you bandages and such so that you can redress it every couple of days. Could you hold that wadding in place for a tick please?" she explained in a low, businesslike tone as she held the bandage ready to wrap around the wound. She did not look up.

[Nkosi Sunrunner]

Nkosi did as was instructed, and watched her avoid his gaze. Frustrated he then tilted his head down and around to try and catch Waisana’s eye. “It’s not gonna get infected is it?” He let out a small hiss when she began to bandage the small wound but tried to smile. It was something small, he couldn’t be a baby about it but petch did it hurt. Nkosi let out a sigh, and tried to think of more things to say to the young woman who seemed to almost be ignoring him if it wasn’t for his work. “I can still use it normally, too?” It was a valid question, even if he already knew the answer. He gave her a smile, being as friendly as possible, his hand twitching to sign and encourage her to converse with him. Work that she was nearly finished. Why hadn’t his finger been more injured? He cleared his throat and straightened in his spot. “You want to get a drink…no a dinner! A dinner with a drink after your done for the day with me? I’ve got time if you’ve got some.” It was his turn to look away and avoid eye contact, shaking his head in place of running his fingers through his hair. He wasn’t usually this bad at asking a girl out but Waisana might not just be a girl, she could be the girl.

[Waisana]

The healer sighed, rolling her eyes as she began to wrap the bandage tightly around the wadding and his finger. She couldn't understand why he persisted in talking but she wasn't going to converse anymore than necessary. Perhaps he'd shut up once her work was done, her fingers moved faster.

"It won't get infected if you do what I just told you. Change it when I told you and it should be fine," she explained as she tied the bandage tightly. The pain had made him wince which she couldn't blame him for; it would have hurt.

Another question and she found herself feeling frustrated with the boy. He just would not shut up. She opened her mouth to answer his question but was interrupted by another one, one that made her freeze and stare at him. Her mouth opened and shut as she tried to remember how to say words. Waisana didn't know how to reply. She didn't want to have a meal with him but had no idea what to say to not cause offence.

"Don't strain it, don't let it get wet and don't soil the bandages and you'll be fine. You can go now. If you'll excuse me I have work to do," she told him in a rush, rising from her seat to move towards a basin of water. She turned her back on him, dipping her hands into the water to clean them of blood.

[Nkosi Sunrunner]

"Are you gonna give me bandages or do I gotta get my own?" Nkosi tested out his finger, the bandages absorbed most of the pain. It left a dull pulse to match his heart, that now beat in mild panic. He stood quickly, almost approaching but he didn't want to be aggressive or rude. His face wasn't sad, but his hands voiced his disappointment. "You're not gonna to answer. You could at least tell me no." He grinned after that, cheering, his hands signing 'pretty' and 'like', "Don't mean I won't keep asking. I like you, Waisana." He shifted from foot to foot, waiting but knowing he should let her work. He heard a bit of the whispering around them from his declaration, a few giggles as well. Damn, he hadn't meant to embarrass her. If she was embarrassed, she didn't seem to like looking at him. Did she think he wasn't attractive or was she shy? Nkosi waited patiently anyways, feeling rejected already and beginning to realize he really knew nothing about her. But he wanted to. He moved to stand opposite of her, still grinning, though this time there was a teasing glint in his eye. He reached to take her hand and asked again. "Will you go to dinner with me?" He hoped she wasn't like his sister, it'd get him a swift kick in the head for that. But he wanted her to know he was serious. She seemed serious about her work if her avoidance of his questions were any indication. Nkosi straightened his shoulders a bit and waited, feeling a bit of hope bloom even though he was sure she wouldn't accept. He win her eventually.

[Waisana]

She wanted to hit him. Never in her life had she ever had the desire to hit someone but he was seriously pushing her to consider it. Perhaps it was time to stop being so polite then maybe he'd get the message. Drying her hands, she turned on him, her cheeks flushed in annoyance and embarrassment. He was still bombarding her with questions but he'd moved to stand in front of her. Waisana considered for a moment whether being rude was necessary but he decided for her when he reached out to take her hand.
She slapped it away with unnecessary force.

"You want an answer, do you? The answer is no! No, no, no! Is that clear enough for you?" she snarled, moving to a workstation to grab bandages and thrusting them into his hands. Angry tears sprung up in her eyes and that made her angrier. "You might as well just give up now because I won't indulge such...such..." Her hands signed her frustration and anger as she searched for the right word. "Oh it doesn't matter the answer is still no! If I didn't feel compelled to heal you then we wouldn't even be having this conversation."

The young healer stood glaring at him for a few ticks before her anger shrank and her demeanour became more sad. "Just go please, Nkosi before you embarrass either of us anymore. You aren't doing yourself any favours by staying." Her hands clearly showed her eagerness to get rid of him. She couldn't just stand there talking to him anymore so she moved away, walking to the section where the herbs were kept and began to check their supply. If that wasn't a clear enough dismissal then she didn't know what was.

[Nkosi Sunrunner]

"I hadn't realized asking for a straight answer was so hard for you. And such what?" Nkosi snapped back, his own temper reacting swiftly to hers. His hands formed angry, hurt, and like furiously. "The idea of me sickens you? Is that it? My apologies, fair maiden, I didn't know you were so high on your horse!"

He snatched the bandages angrily while guiltily noting the tears in her eyes but not quiet finished his piece. Following her as his voice quieted to a furious whisper, he continued. Her sudden deflation on served to frustrate him more.

"I'm not embarrassed to like you, Waisana. There isn't anything wrong with that! But I'll leave, since you asked so kindly."

He gave a little mocking bow, and almost stormed out of the tents before he turned sharply and went back in. He moved to stand in front of Waisana again, trying to catch her eye. "I'm sorry. I get angry quickly." He said flatly, though his hands moved in furious apology. He didn't want to argue. Then he moved more towards the center and spoke louder, "I'm sorry for the disturbance."

With one last glance at Waisana, this one more confused and lost than angry, Nkosi exited before he was escorted out. He had no idea what just happened. He hadn't meant to anger her. And petch it all now his head hurt more than his finger. But once more he paused. Then poked his head into the tent with a pathetic grin, "I'll come again."

Without looking back he strode away completely this time and straightened as he did so. Maybe next time he would bring an apology gift to show he truly was sorry and try to ask her another way. Nkosi smiled warily to himself, at least she knew how to handle herself.

[Waisana]

He exploded. Well that might have been a slight exaggeration but it seemed like a very sudden outburst. Waisana certainly hadn't been expecting it. His anger was parallel to her own but while her temper was hard to rise, his certainly wasn't. He'd twisted her words, added to them until they were almost unrecognisable. The girl found herself shaking her head and signing that she had said no such thing but he seemed senseless with fury.

The healer could say nothing, her hands shook, herbs falling from her grip as she struggled to hold them any longer. She'd been sharp with him but she didn't like receiving the same treatment in return. Her cheeks were flushed with colour, her eyes rimming with tears as he threw his anger at her. The young woman had hurt him with her rejection that was clear.

He apologised to the room for the outburst and then left, leaving Waisana dying with embarrassment but also upset because she'd been shouted out. True, he'd apologised to her but that didn't reverse how she felt.

When he popped his head in through the flap to speak again, she was ready to scream. He promised to return and then vanished again. The tent was quiet for a few moments as if expecting another appearance from him but when it was clear he wasn't coming back, giggling broke out in the corner of the tent.

Glancing in that direction, the teen spotted two younger girls who helped out to try to attract the attention of some of the younger healers. The two of then were giggling at her, turned away so that she couldn't see what they were signing as they talked in low voices. The healer put her head down and focused on her work, only the occasional tear falling on the work top.