|
Post by lizareese on Mar 1, 2008 22:58:39 GMT -5
Pouring rain and it hardly seemed to matter to a majority of those who wandered the streets of London. It did not even bother another large number who seemed to disappear into nothingness within the crowds of muggles. Those holding umbrellas, wearing rain jackets, and using newspapers to keep the downpour from touching their precious hair. For those lucky enough to be blessed, they were able to disappear and turn up elsewhere in a rather nice and dry condition.
The morning had started off normal, Elizabeth had almost been late for work yet again, but she had managed to sneak in just under the bell, and she had even managed dry hair while she was at it. To continue the repetition of being normal, she had two calls that morning. Every morning for the last few weeks Elizabeth had taken two calls in the morning, four in the evening. It was odd, the very reason she took note of it.
However, this morning, after the second call, just a little thing with a kneazle, nothing she had trouble with, there was another call for her to take on. That should have been the forewarning that things would not be correct that morning, but she did not bother with such silly things, and gladly took the opportunity to get away from the desk for a bit longer. Plus, it meant she could put the paperwork off yet again.
This call was about something she was used to dealing with, Ashwinders. They were more common than many other creatures as if one left their fire running too long they appeared. However, this particular case was about the eggs in question that had been laid. The call had only been about five minutes before Elizabeth arrived on the scene, in which she was greeted with a none too pleasant sight. The house in which the owner had called in had a small...problem, which was what led the German woman to find herself in the care of St. Mungos.
Arm wrapped in a towel lent by the owner of the home who had the troubles, Elizabeth entered the Hospital, found the floor she needed and raced to it.
Anything to get the burning to stop would have been greatly appreciated.
Holding her arm close, she frantically looked around, trying to think of something that could properly be spoken in English, not her native tongue, she was at a loss. When she panicked, she could only think in German.
(Kellen)
|
|
Kellen McCrea
Wizard
Healer-In-Training
Hey. Don't lose your spirit.
Posts: 152
|
Post by Kellen McCrea on Mar 2, 2008 0:31:31 GMT -5
Kellen had just started a rotation in Creature-Induced Injuries that morning, and he'd already become the errand boy for the trained Healers there. There was an interesting dichotomy at St. Mungo's--the healers who enjoyed training new healers, and the ones who didn't. Unfortunately for Kellen, everyone on call on the First Floor that day was of the latter variety.
So he found himself trekking down stairs to the ground floor once again to pick up a few swell-reducing potions. He was startled as he came around the corner to see a panicked, frantic looking woman holding something against her arm and looking around for help. He wasn't sure where the welcome witch had got off to, as she clearly wasn't at her post.
"Ma'am?" he started, shuffling around his armful of potions as he approached her. "What's happened? Can I help you with something?"
|
|
|
Post by lizareese on Mar 2, 2008 1:08:07 GMT -5
The towel that had been damp not long before as the wizard whose home had been in danger from the Ashwinders had given it to her, and she gladly accepted, hoping the small burn she had received would've been nothing at all only soon found the burn to gain excessively in pain. Of all the things she had read, not once did she remember anything about such pain coming from a burn, magical or otherwise.
As the woman turned around, looking for anyone to take the burning sensation from her arm, bright blue eyes landed on a younger man who was balancing what looked like a good number of liquids, and was talking to her? The dark haired woman understood what he was saying, but the pain, the panic, they did not register her words to English.
"Ich bin verbrannt worden. Ein Ashwinder war ein wenig außer Kontrolle," Elizabeth tried explaining about her situation, though her voice refused to remain calm and neutral. "Mein Arm verbrennt."
(I have been burned. An Ashwinder was a little out of control. My arm is burning.)
|
|
Kellen McCrea
Wizard
Healer-In-Training
Hey. Don't lose your spirit.
Posts: 152
|
Post by Kellen McCrea on Mar 2, 2008 23:17:35 GMT -5
Though he could recognize the language, Kellen spoke very little German and he highly doubted Guten tag or the small variety of German swears he knew would help the situation. Fortunately, he had just spent nearly a year abroad and had picked up several good translation spells along the way. Unfortunately, said spells worked best translating Czech and English, and he wasn't sure how effective or accurate they'd be with German.
It was clear she was hurt, and he was able to pick up the word "Ashwinder" from her speech, so he knew he ought to hurry. He motioned to her to wait just a moment, put down the potions haphazardly, and pulled out his wand. He performed a quick and basic translation spell--each should be able to understand the other, though it would only last for a couple of moments and would only work within about a five-foot radius of the spot the spell was performed. "Say it again, please."
|
|
|
Post by lizareese on Mar 3, 2008 15:03:43 GMT -5
The person, who Elizabeth assumed to be of staff at St. Mungo's did not speak to her, but still it had not registered that she was speaking her own tongue. All she wanted was for the pain to be vanquished, to disappear and let her be. True, Ashwinders arose from magical fires, this the woman knew, but to be burned by one was worse than anything hot she had accidentally touched in her lifetime. It was worse than the already healing burn she had received when cooking a couple of weeks before.
At last it seemed he understood, or something as he was reacting...though was not speaking. It was a relief when he drew out his wand, and Elizabeth was completely ready to offer her arm over for anything at this point. The only thing she had managed to fight back well enough were the tears that dared to form in her eyes. This was something she would encounter in her employment, she would not cry over such a pety thing as a burn.
A moment later and the young man was speaking to her, and he was polite.
"My arm, it is burning," she answered him in a panicked tone, still not knowing the difference in her speech, nor did she recognize the spell he had placed. "An Ashwinder, I brushed up against one that was laying eggs about a house and my arm is still burning..." She had worked on past it, freezing as many eggs as possible, but the problem with the house was there were a great number of the creatures crawling around, not just one, like the person who took the call had been given the impression of.
|
|
Kellen McCrea
Wizard
Healer-In-Training
Hey. Don't lose your spirit.
Posts: 152
|
Post by Kellen McCrea on Mar 3, 2008 21:02:41 GMT -5
Kellen nodded along as the woman's story progressed, quickly deciding what to do in the situation. When she was done, he looked her in the eye and explained the procedure in his best bedside manner. "I'm going to perform a cooling spell here. It won't be permanent, but it should lessen the burning sensation long enough for us to get you upstairs to the Creature-Induced Injuries ward. I'll have them send up the check-in paperwork you'll need." Without much further ado, he performed the medical cooling spell; its effects should begin immediately.
"There, does that feel better? Now, I need to know--do you speak English? This translating spell will only work right here, and I need to know if I'll have to re-cast it when we get upstairs or if you can communicate with the Healers there without it."
|
|
|
Post by lizareese on Mar 5, 2008 0:09:59 GMT -5
Anything worked for Elizabeth, she probably would have even accepted a bit of ice if it would cool down her arm. It was neither pleasant, nor something she enjoyed experiencing. In fact, it was horrid and next time she would be taking all precautions when faced with Ashwinders. While the woman knew they were not harmless, she had not thought they would leave such pain behind on any trail they made.
Paperwork would be fine, while she loathed such petty things, Elizabeth understood it was required, which only made sense. Though it was something she could easily deal with as long as the pain ceased or subsided for a bit.
The spell was preformed naught a minute later, and the feeling left, at least momentarily. "Yes, thank you."
A calm response, one she was used to having come from her. It was her normal, more like her.
"I speak near perfect English," was the answer. Confused, unsure why he was asking. Had she not been speaking to him the last few minutes? And then nodding, she was not well acquainted with St. Mungo's having never been before. The only one she could remember was one in Germany with her mother many years before.
|
|
Kellen McCrea
Wizard
Healer-In-Training
Hey. Don't lose your spirit.
Posts: 152
|
Post by Kellen McCrea on Mar 5, 2008 22:35:49 GMT -5
The woman was speaking English now--the small buzzing the charm caused as it translated was gone. "I'm glad, because I'm not sure how many Healers here are fluent in German," Kellen explained as he picked up his armful of potions and carefully stacked them. "Come on; let's get you upstairs before that cooling spell wears off. Follow me."
He lead her down the hallway to the staircase, trying to make small talk as they went. "So what were you doing with ashwinders, then? Did you find some in your house or something?" He vaguely remembered a time one of the more foolhardy of his housemates had purposely left the embers of the Ravenclaw common room fire burning so he'd be able to get an Ashwinder egg for some potion he was doing; it had been a very bad idea.
|
|
|
Post by lizareese on Mar 7, 2008 2:14:13 GMT -5
German? Elizabeth looked at the man with wonder of what he was talking about. Yes, she spoke German, but why would the staff need to be fluent in her native tongue to see her? It really did not make sense, until it dawned, barely, on what she might have done. No, she was not ashamed of speaking German, though she did try to cut down on it, many at the Ministry were not pleased with a German taking up a spot when there was a German Ministry she could easily take part in. It did not matter she was a U.K. citizen, she was German by blood and tongue, that was all that mattered to a large a number.
Following the boy, with no idea of where he was leading her, but taking his word for it. He was dressed in what she assumed to be the standard uniform for their employees as it looked much the same as one of the hospitals in Germany, and was a contrast to her plain, black, standard wizarding robe for work. One that would not show all the collected soot over the course of a day.
"My home? No," Elizabeth answered. She knew enough to take care of magical fires before such things happened. "I believe if I was the cause of Ashwinders in my apartment, the landlady would not be pleased. The Wendelring Apartments just are not made to fight against something of the sort." It was a sad thought, with as much magic as they could produce, she had never heard of a building being set to fight against fires, or to contain fires in an area, even if propelled by little creatures. "I was on call from the Ministry where I work, we had a call there was an Ashwinder in a home, but when I got there, there were five running around laying eggs everywhere. I was trying to stop them. Apparently the wizard who called in was hoping for an egg for some potion or other and did not realize how many he actually had and was unable to control them all."
A few simple spells really, charms. However, some people panicked, she did as well. The Runespoor had been one interesting creature a few months prior.
|
|
Kellen McCrea
Wizard
Healer-In-Training
Hey. Don't lose your spirit.
Posts: 152
|
Post by Kellen McCrea on Mar 14, 2008 18:06:20 GMT -5
Kellen listened to her story, but was most struck by a throwaway comment at the beginning of it. She lived at Wendelring? He'd just moved into the place not three days before, and hadn't really gotten a chance to get to know his neighbours yet. Well, thank goodness the ashwinder hadn't been there, then.
Still, now was hardly the time to point out that they were coincidental neighbours. Now was the time to get her to the more experienced healers who knew just what to do in situations like this. Luckily enough, there they were. "I've got a bad Ashwinder burn here, Ma'am," he explained to the head healer on the floor. "Ministry employee, out working with dangerous creatures. Her name is..." he stopped, embarrassed. He'd failed to ask her name.
|
|
|
Post by lizareese on Mar 18, 2008 20:55:19 GMT -5
Had the Ashwinder been in her own apartment, she knew the landlady would not have appreciated it at all. Not to mention all of those who resided there, and especially the newlywed couple she had heard lived somewhere in the building. While Liza was rather well off, even in her own opinion, she knew she could not afford to rebuild an apartment building.
Following the gentleman up the stairs and to what she hoped was the appropriate floor, she listened as he did a shy-away job of explaining, at least it was to the point as it should have been. That was the best way to get things done, be to the point and short as possible on description. Only the basic information was needed to be provided and from there things would smooth out as one received proper attendance.
"Reese, Elizabeth," she spoke up quickly, trying her best to catch on right from where the man dropped off. "And he already explained the rest right and true. An Ashwinder burn, and it still feel as though my arm is burning though it is obvious there is not one attached." A repeat of information, there was nothing wrong with being repetitive. Now to see what they chose to do.
|
|
Kellen McCrea
Wizard
Healer-In-Training
Hey. Don't lose your spirit.
Posts: 152
|
Post by Kellen McCrea on Mar 24, 2008 18:09:34 GMT -5
[Ack sorry! I thought I replied to this before I left for Easter. Oops!]
As the senior Healers examined Ms. Reese, Kellen quickly sent a note down through the enchanted tubes to the reception desk, asking for the paperwork the patient would eventually need to fill out. He was soon summoned back, however, after the senior Healers had looked her over.
"McCrea, as the patient seems to be in no immediate discomfort or danger, though she likely will be again soon, we've elected to extend you an opportunity. You've heard the circumstances leading to the injury and know as much as we do. What do you believe should be our next course of action?"
Kellen's eyes grew wide. He'd not had his opinion asked of him yet during his time at St. Mungo's, and it was quite an honour that they were doing so now. That said, he immediately grew nervous. He knew that if he gave the wrong diagnosis, the Healers would immediately correct him and Ms. Reese would be in no actual danger, but it would make him look bad and that wasn't something he'd wanted either.
"If you don't mind," he turned to Elizabeth and began to examine her arm. "Well, there are a number of salves we can administer now," he started, and listed off a few fairly common potions for burn, followed by a few they might prescribe to her after she'd left the hospital.
"That's all well and good, Mr McCrea, but which of these would be best for the situation?" one elder Healer asked.
The'd caught his trick--if he gave multiple answers, one was sure to be right. He made a decision and waited, examining the other Healers' reactions. Finally, one of them nodded approvingly and sent off for the salve.
|
|
|
Post by lizareese on Mar 25, 2008 23:54:34 GMT -5
(No worries)
No immediate was right, but if the burning pain came back and soon enough, she might through a fit. It was bad enough the first time around, but at least she had done her job and did what she had been summoned to do before giving into her own issues at hand. The Ashwinders were not burning down a house, the eggs were frozen, and she was at St. Mungo's for the first time she could remember.
Though, she was cusious about the first employee she had run into being summoned back to the little congregation. Was he a healer? Or was he just a paper pusher? Elizabeth had not the faintest clue, but it did not bother her either way. He had stopped the burning to begin with, at the moment, she likely trusted him more than the others that stood there. Though, she could tell McCrea held a deal of respect for the healers as was, that was likely a good thing on his part.
Not minding at all, Elizabeth allowed him to examine her arm. What kind of a patient would she be if she refused to allow him to follow with an examination to what he had already done for her? Not a good one at all. With his suggestions, she thought they were not really coming to a conclusion herself, and i was seen by the Healer that he thought the same.
Elizabeth had no idea of salves or anything healing related other than how to clean simple abrasions. She had never really liked healing all that much, for one she did not think her stomach would be able to handle it. "And this salve, what specifically is it for?" she asked, curious as always.
|
|
Kellen McCrea
Wizard
Healer-In-Training
Hey. Don't lose your spirit.
Posts: 152
|
Post by Kellen McCrea on Mar 26, 2008 19:45:36 GMT -5
Another nod from the senior Healers and Kellen began to explain the treatment. "Well, this is one which specifically treats magical burns. It should quell any pain that starts back once the cooling charm wears off, which will probably be within the next ten minutes. It also aids the natural healing process--speeding it up, if you will. As you can see, your arm is already less red than it was before we applied it. It should be all cleared up in less than an hour, at the rate you're going." He took a deep breath and kept explaining. "It might begin to feel quite cold, and possibly a bit prickly, but unless these sensations are really too strong, they're nothing to worry about. If they do feel too strong, let one of us know and we'll lessen the dosage."
All explained, Kellen gave a satisfied smile. The treatment seemed to be going well, much to his relief.
|
|
|
Post by lizareese on Mar 27, 2008 19:50:14 GMT -5
Perhaps she should gain her own bit of the salve to have on hand? If it was specifically for magical buns, it was likely she would be smart to have her own supply. She knew there were a number of magical healing potions that sped up the time of healing, it was a part of the whole magical aspect. How were they better than muggles if their healing was the same? They already went through a number of the same processes, why should they share anything more?
Taking a glance at her arm as the man requested, she could see her arm did indeed look closer to its normal coloring. And then she began to wonder just how cold was too cold? Was it uncomfortable cold, or was it like winter chilling air cold? Perhaps it was uncomfortable, that would make more sense.
"Very well," she nodded in return to the man. "And you said I needed to fill out information?" Or if she was lucky it was a mistake and she did not really need to do more paperwork. How she loathed it.
|
|