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Malenia, blade of Miquella. ([info]goddessofrot) wrote in [info]spinningcompass,
@ 2023-01-26 07:54:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:dan torrance, lisa cuddy, malenia

Who: Dr Cuddy, Malenia and OPEN to Dan Torrance.
Where: The Medbay.
What: Dr Cuddy tries to help Malenia with her curse.
When: After this.
Rating: TBD.
Open: To Dan Torrance.
Status: Ongoing.

Malenia had followed the voice from the strange device she carried with her. The thing that talked to her, sent her messages as if by some strange magic, and allowed her to learn more about her new surroundings. Now it guided her towards something called Medbay, whatever that was. Apparently there would be someone there to help her. Malenia had her doubts. What could anyone do that her dear brother could not? What could fight the will of an Outer Gods curse? Maybe the station had answers... Maybe a realm outside of the Lands Between, something Outer itself would hold the answers.

The station was strange to Malenia. She had never seen it yet she was learning how to navigate its hallways and long tall corridors. She had began to map out its features. Its smells and sensations. She took particular note of the scent, or rather in this new place, lack of smell. The medbay, if that was indeed where she was, had a strange sterility to it. An absence of normal smells but a sharp potency in its place.

She walked into the medbay and looked around. To see her at a first glance might have seemed imposing. Her long red hair tumbled down her back, a little messy and unkept. She had chosen not to wear her helmet this time, showing her face. While her face did once hold a divine beauty to it, it now only held the marks of her affliction. Scarlet rot had turned her skin tough and scaly, covering her forehead and running over her eyes, down her face, robbing her of her sight. She stood tall at just over eight feet in height, with an athletic and muscular build. Only she had but one of her original limbs. One entire leg had been replaced with a prosthetic, as well as the lower half of her other leg. Her entire right arm was missing and replaced with a prosthetic that was slightly longer than her remaining arm. Each prosthetic made lovingly from unalloyed gold. The sword was no longer attached to her sword arm. She had chosen to leave that at home. In her rot scaled hand, she held the unalloyed gold needle protectively.

"Dr Cuddy?" she called out. Did she have the right place? Had the strange object guided her correctly or had she been tricked? Had she been wise to have left her blade behind?


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[info]goddessofrot
2023-01-27 09:20 am UTC (link)
"No, thank you" she relied, simply. Her hand held the needle a little tighter. Malenia did not wish to take her hand. While her pride wasn't quite what it once was, she still had a shred of it left. Instead, she listened and paid close attention, following after the doctor. She was able to pinpoint a foe on the battlefield while blind. She would be able to find Lisa easily enough in a much smaller space.

She was still unaccustomed to hearing people talk the way Dr Cuddy did, as well as Dean. Their accents were strange to her. Foreign. While her own accent resembled a well spoken English woman, she herself was far from English. She was an Empyrean. A Goddess to be in her own right. So many things about the station were so strange to her, and she had a lot more to discover yet.

"Have you encountered any ailments like the Scarlet Rot before?" she asked.

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[info]proud_miserable
2023-01-27 07:48 pm UTC (link)
"Alright."   Cuddy replied.  Her own accent was American.   "It's about a six foot walk straight ahead, then we'll go through a door on the left."    She led the way.  She had no perfume or other scented products, but her heels still clacked against the floor as she walked.    Stepping into the office, she waited for Malenia to join her.  "There's a chair on the left and one on the right, you can sit in either.  They're the same."   She liked to sit on an equal level with a patient when taking a history.  If needed, she could always ask her to move to the exam table.

"That's a difficult question to answer without knowing more details."   Cuddy replied as she took out a file and sat down.  "I'm familiar with bacterial infections that can necrosis, the death of body tissue.  They were commonly called flesh-eating diseases back home, though they can destroy more than flesh, such as bones and organs. There are also conditions that can block the major blood vessels, cutting off blood supply and causing tissue death that way."    She opened the file, ready to take notes.  "I'd like to ask you questions about you, your medical history and your illness."

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[info]goddessofrot
2023-01-28 06:53 pm UTC (link)
Like Dr Cuddy's heels, Malenia's feet clicked as she walked across the ground. Both feet were made of metal, segmented so that they almost bent like normal fleshy feet. Attention had gone into the details of each prosthetic. The feet even had toes. Not that she could move or wiggle those but they were there none the less.

She sat down, unsure if she would even fit in the seat. Thankfully she did although it was a bit uncomfortable and would perhaps have been more so had both her legs been fully flesh and bone. As it was with the prosthetics, she had to adjust the way she sat to be more comfortable. She never lost her grace though, nor her presence.

"You may ask your questions" she replied simply.

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[info]proud_miserable
2023-01-31 08:43 pm UTC (link)
"I'll have to start with the basics."   Cuddy informed her.  It was standard for any new illness.  Between the island and the station and all the doors, she had encountered her share of newness. "In order to understand your symptoms, I need to understand what is healthy for your species and for you in particular."   It was a task that had actually become less daunting with time.   With all the different patients she'd had, she learned that certain elements tended to be the same. "What was your health like before your very first symptom?"

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[info]goddessofrot
2023-02-01 04:53 pm UTC (link)
"I have carried this affliction within me since birth" she replied. It took a great deal for her to open up to someone, let alone a complete stranger. She was showing a great deal of trust. With her brother so far away, what choice did she have? She couldn't bear the thought of blooming and harming those who had come to her aid when she had arrived on the station.

"It took my arm first" she said, glancing down to her prosthetic right arm more in a gesture than anything. "Gradually it took my leg, and then later took half of my other leg" she noted.

"Should I bloom three times, my transformation will be complete and I will become the Goddess of Rot. Thus far I have bloomed twice. And so my time to bloom once more nears. Should my body fall to near death, I will bloom" she explained. "While it allows me to heal, to live, it allows the rot to spread within me and with that, it can also spread tot he rest of this place. The rot will spread and grow. Growth from decay. Life from death"

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[info]proud_miserable
2023-02-06 09:50 pm UTC (link)
Cuddy knew that if it came from birth, then there was likely a genetic component, though the progression of this illness still sounded like an infection.  If it even was an illness.   She'd have to bring up the possibility of having others with non-medical healing techniques brought onto the case.   The sound of her pen on the paper might be loud enough to be heard, as she made a note. 

"Do you know if anyone else in your family has this condition, anyone related to you who bloomed three times and how close they came to death before it happened?"   Ideally, she'd keep her patient as far from death as possible, but without a cure there were no guarantees that treatments to slow her condition would work in time. 

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[info]goddessofrot
2023-02-07 12:47 am UTC (link)
"There is no other in my family bears the same curse as I" she replied honestly. "My dear twin brother were both born cursed but ours were different. While I was born with the rot within me, he was born cursed to never grow older. So while I grew and my body decayed, he remained small and child like, but his wisdom grew with each passing day" she said, a small smile lifting the corners of her mouth.

"He was determined to heal me of my affliction. And so he created my prosthetics and the unalloyed golden needle that would hold back the rot" she explained. She uncurled her scaly fingers from around the needle and held it out for Dr Cuddy, allowing her to inspect it.

The needle was in fact not whole, unfortunately. It had been broken. She knew it would have been simple to insert the needle into her shoulder and hope that it would stave off her advanced rot but she couldn't use it while it was broken. The small, delicate golden needle was covered in small thorny like barbs that hooked into the flesh, allowing Miquella's mystical magics to work, allowing the strange gold to ward off even the influence of a powerful Outer God.

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[info]proud_miserable
2023-02-07 10:31 pm UTC (link)
"The fact that you both have a curse could be important."  Cuddy said.  It might be easier if her twin was there.  The station rarely made things easy.  She was already thinking of how to phrase her next question to avoid offence, which could be difficult with so many worlds with different magics and herself being from a world without any magic.  "When you say curse, do you mean having the misfortune to be born with your conditions?   Or do you mean curse in a supernatural sense?"

Cuddy took the needle carefully, to avoid damaging it further and looked it over thoroughly. It looked uncomfortable, making her wonder how her brother decided on the barbs. "How did he know unalloyed gold would work?"   If that was truly all it took, they had gold on the station. "What happens if the gold is alloyed with other metals?  Is it less effective?"

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[info]goddessofrot
2023-02-09 12:16 am UTC (link)
Malenia thought about her question for a moment. It was a difficult one to answer. They were from very different worlds, it seemed, and a lot of things would be alien to one another. She was unsure what supernatural meant, but knew it was more than mere misfortune.

"The source of my curse comes from a God of Rot. An Outer God. That is why I call it a curse. It is no mere sickness" she added. "There are others in my family born before my brother and I who were born with another sort of... sickness. They were born as Omens, afflicted and cursed with horns that grew all over their bodies. Perhaps each of us was a sign that the dear Erdtree's age of plenty was never to last" she said, her tone showing sadness and pity.

"As for the unalloyed gold, it must be pure or it will not work. My brother spent many years perfecting his techniques. He was truly remarkable"

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[info]proud_miserable
2023-02-13 10:27 pm UTC (link)
"Ah."  Cuddy said gently.  "I should tell you about my background.  I'm a medical doctor.  My specialty is with more conventional sicknesses."  Sickness was the word Malenia had used, perhaps there was some small common ground there.  "I will help you as best I can.  There may be people on the station better able to help with a curse such as yours.  I'd like your permission to reach out to them for assistance."

Cuddy saw potential there.  In her brother's years of work,  there must be even more of foundation to build from, beyond the needle.  "In your work, did your brother ever use the term chrysotherapy or talk about gold salts?  Or use a syringe; that's a different type of needle?  Did he ever operate on you?"

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[info]goddessofrot
2023-02-14 03:06 am UTC (link)
Malenia never got to see what her rot had done to the land of Caelid. She never witnessed the sheer devastation it had caused. All she knew was that should she bloom again, the station would be in a great deal of trouble. Hearing the doubt in the doctors voice made her regret coming to her. She wasn't entirely sure why she called herself a medical doctor, or what conventional sickness was or how it related or didn't relate to Malenia. The station was a confusing place and so were the laws that governed it.

"If that is your wish, then you have my permission" Malenia replied. It did not feel good to have been right. To know that the doctor would not be able to help her. If the Golden Order could not help heal her, and if her brother could find no solid answer, what hope was there of anyone else finding a cure? No, she would have to continue to battle the rot on her own. At least until a miracle came. Perhaps even her dear twin brother.

"He did not" she said, standing. "He assisted in the removal of my limbs" she added. "The needle..." she said, holding her hand out.

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[info]proud_miserable
2023-02-15 12:30 am UTC (link)
Cuddy raised an eyebrow, surprised by Malenia's apparent decision to leave.  "I need to finish with my questions and run some tests to help you."   She said, reaching out and handing over the needle so she wouldn't think she was being forced to stay.   She had to rise up out of her chair slightly due to the height difference.   "I'd like you to stay."    She encouraged as she settled back down in her chair.   

"If my asking for a consult is an issue, I don't have to do it.   That's why I asked for your permission." Cuddy explained.   It was too bad she didn't have House to go to now.  He was rude, but he could almost always manage to talk patients into accepting tests and treatment.  "Where I'm from, it's a standard practice for doctors to assist one another.  I even had an entire department dedicated to diagnostics alone.   We have a saying that two heads are better than one."   She paused.  "If one of my questions upset you, no offence was intended.  I just need to know what treatments your brother may have already tried, before I decide to try them."

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[info]goddessofrot
2023-02-15 08:25 am UTC (link)
Malenia took the needle back, hesitating at first. She did not want to stay where she felt she would not be helped. She had been tested on before by her brother, but she had trusted him deeply. She was more doubtful about the people on the station, but perhaps she just needed to be more patient. To try and show trust. What would her brother say to her? What words of wisdom would be offer? To trust, to be patient. To have faith?

Malenia sat back down again, holding the needle in her palm protectively.

"You have my permission" she repeated. "You said that your specialty is with more conventional sicknesses, a concept which is strange to me. I understand that what I carry within me is foreign to this place, just as it was once strange to my home. However, should I lose control of it, should it spread throughout this land, then the inhabitants of this place will grow sick. The rot will spread like a plague. An infection causing all in its path to rot and decay. Mind, body, spirit and flesh, all will be consumed, sprouting forth new life in their place" she explained.

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[info]proud_miserable
2023-02-23 09:33 pm UTC (link)
Cuddy nodded, an old habit, even if it couldn't be seen.   "I may not have phrased it as well as I should.  Conventional illneses to me, are the ones that can be seen, measured and studied.  We have technology that allows us to see microscopic bacteria and viruses that cause such illness, as well as allowing us to see inside the body and any problems with its functioning.  Knowing the cause of sickness is often the most important step in finding a treatment. A curse, as far as I know, cannot be seen in the same way."  It was a difficult line to walk.  If Malenia's world had imagining and other medical equipment, Cuddy might sound condescending.  If not, she might be adding to confusion.  "What kind of technology did your brother use in his research?" 

Cuddy thought over what Malenia was saying.  "Would it spread over all life?   Including plants and animals?"  If such a connection existed, she might know who to contact for help. 

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[info]goddessofrot
2023-03-06 09:05 pm UTC (link)
"While I was not present for most of his work, he took pieces of my rot ridden skin to work with. I am aware he used incantations as well as research into plants and minerals. Fallen stars" she explained. "His work spanned over a great many years and I was not always present for those times, but he was always there for me" she added, a sadness and yet a pride in her voice. She would always be proud of her dear brother. He was strong and wise.

"It will indeed spread and encompass all life" she replied, her tone serious. "The mind and flesh will become sickly. The lands will wither and weep. New life will form from the ever dreaming" she paused. "Might I ask... What of death here? Is there such a thing?" she asked.

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[info]proud_miserable
2023-03-16 09:38 pm UTC (link)
"I would like to take skin samples too."    Cuddy did not understand how incantations or fallen stars figured into it, but the skin seemed like the best place to start.  "I would also like to take images of the organs and tissues inside your body.   We have machines that can do that.  They don't hurt.  They do require you to lay down in a tube and stay still."    It sounded like her brother hadn't used MRIs or other imaging equipment known to her.  "Your brother sounds very dedicated."   She added.

Cuddy nodded.   "Plants and animals die here.  People as well, though it is more common for them to simply disappear as mysteriously as they arrive."   She paused.  "There are people here known as Jedi.  They have a special connection to all living things.  You remember I mentioned asking people for help, I'd like to ask their advice, specifically a woman called Kytana." 

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[info]goddessofrot
2023-03-19 10:25 pm UTC (link)
Malenia did not come from a world full of technological marvels. Her world was one without true death. A world in the age of the Golden Order, its foundations crumbling. There was magic and miracles, incantations and sorceries, Gods and Demi Gods, but no computers or strange mechanical devices. The station was going to take some time to adapt to, and perhaps even more so if she ever got her sight back.

"You may have your samples" she replied. "And you may perform your tests" she added. She smiled a touch at the mention of her brothers dedication. He truly had been so. He abandoned so much for his sister. They both made sacrifices for one another. They always had each other. Now they were worlds apart.

"Kytanna..." she repeated, as a means to lodge it into her memory. "Are there any others of note that perhaps I should speak with?" she asked.

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