2020-11-17 - A Bit Of Tea And Healing

Well, here it is a Tuesday lunch time after Devlin's rather eventful National Guard Weekend. He got home this morning after being released from care in Tacoma. Hera of course has a key and Devlin is settling in. Abet painfully. Bandages are wrapped about his upper chest and shoulders. Currently, he is in his favorite chair with yeah.. a glass of bourbon and yeah.. he has not taken the pain killers they gave him.

Hera does get out from staying in her art gallery ever now and then, one of the reasons why would be to check on family. This time is not unlike any other, though she managed to sneak away some of Jessica's humus and other tasty foods that her beloved made. Yup, a care package it is so with the key in one hand, and the food basket in the other she makes her way in. Then noting the bandages she frowns and closes the door behind her. "Up for some rose tea instead cousin? Alcohol doesn't cure all wounds you know." Yes, she's concerned, but not too shocked. Many exciting things have happened to him. Then she offers, "I'm not a certified doctor but I can help. I hate seeing you hurt like this." It's hard for her to not do anything of course, but she lets him talk first before just 'jumping into a conversation without thinking.'

His head turns your way, the motion a bit stiff on his part, "Hi Hera." He lifts the glass to sip at the drink. "May be a bit later. I hate those damn opiates." He then laughs a bit, easy to see it hurts mildly, "Wasn't a leopard like the news says." Devlin smirks, "Dream. So how are you doing? Queso taking over without you there?"

Hera smirks a little and shakes her head as if she's going to give him much of a choice. "Oh, it'll be done and as far as the opiates yeah, avoid that stuff. I've seen enough serious drug abuse in my life. Weed is one thing, some of those pills, that's enough. Ruined lots of lives." She then pauses to open up the basket as if to remind herself not to think of those thoughts. "Oh yeah, we're all fine. Jessica is a goddess of cooking too so I had to bring you some of the stuff she made. I like to clean and she likes to cook. As far as the pets, Queso is still running everything for sure. I left Hans under his care, heaven forbid."

Devlin says, "Poor Hans. I'd give him refuge but.. doubt he'd like my insane hours and apartment life." Devlin grins a bit, "And I have a filter on the faucet. I find bottled water to be a waste of plastic where I live." He takes a breath, "I got messed up by a Cat Woman.. Jaguar humaniod. Yeah.. the medic facing off against the captain of the guard." He sighs, "Thank the heavens for my tactical vest. She did a number on the trauma plate."

Hera sighs as she hears more information about how he earned his wounds, but it doesn't stop her from serving him up a delicious meal. By now she knows where the forks and spoons and other things are and surely being a batchelor, at least for the most part, he has to have a TV tray available. She puts the food close by but not too close as to 'crimp his style.' "I suggest you try to stay a one woman man. Either that or the hot doctor you're seeing will gut you for good." Assuming Zara would be the jealous type. "So, anything else I should know? Do I need to hunt down this feminine feline and teach her a lesson about not messing with family?"

Many people would never assume this glint of a killers eye would grace Devlin's eye for a moment as he states simply, "My Bayonet found her heart." He takes a breath, "I had a little help, some distractions due to the actions of others. Still it was me in the end." He may be a healer but one that can kill it would seem. "I do not think she would be jealous of that. More than I missed her when stopping by the hospital. One of her colleagues took over my care. No infection it seems. Both Jaguar and Leopard claws are known for carrying an infection.

Hera takes a seat somewhere near him, but not close enough to invade his personal space too terribly much. "Well, that's a good sign, but I still want to take a look at you. Healers are often the last ones to take care of themselves, I know how that goes. Besides, you worked hard to get to where you're at and we need to keep you going. I take it you were the only one who was, majorally hurt in all of this? I might have heard a few things but, not seeing it for myself. Hell in this town so much happens that no one would ever believe it secondhand."

A nod on Devlin's part, "Oh, Everett may be annoyed with me. We were involved with freeing a being of sorts. Living city?" He shrugs a bit as he sips the last of the bourbon and takes a few bites. "To get to a control or operations center we had to use the binders on the wookie ploy from Star Wars. I played my part as a guard and Everett was a prisoner. I told him to keep his eyes down. He was not happy about that." He sighs and eats more, "Still more to come. Things are coming to a head.. we demolished that center. Hell, I even emptied my M9 into a computer orb like thing."

Hera chuckles a bit at the idea of Everett groaning like a wookie, "I can see that, I really really can see all of that. Boy, I'm upset I missed it. Though if you don't mind me saying, Everett needs to be put in his place now and then. I guess he's not as bad as I thought he was but, well, he's got a foolish ego. I don't understand how he gets all these women either but, not for me to figure out. My windows have been happy he's been doing his own thing lately."

"Just a warning, he likes taking things out on your windows." Devlin says, "Jessica can cook up a storm. Please thank her for me. This beats my simple cooking." He smiles, "These dreams sometimes.. just pull you in. I was in full tactical gear with my weapons, ammo, and medical bag. I was going to the example for a class another NCO and myself were to conduct. That is till I returned.. and the story of the leopard." He smirks some, "And it seems one did escape. I think I would have preferred that fight in truth."

Hera nods a bit as she listens to him. "Yeah, when I was awakened after that dream reality well, as the song says it used to be a friend of mine. Now it's hard to tell what's real and what's not. Besides, how do you fight something that, doesn't play by normal rules? Or any rules actually."

Devlin nods with a chuckle, "Training to focus has helped me a lot. The dreams do feel real, but there is always something different between this one and where the dream is. I pay attention to the differences. As to how to fight.. these talents do help. Though, my martial arts kept me alive this last time."

Hera shrugs her shoulders for a moment and slightly frowns, "I guess that's one thing I don't have. I think I can be one heck of a fighter, but true skills with it, that's another thing. I find myself as more of a healer than someone who would actually harm anyone, or anything. I've seen a lot of harm in my life and part of me will always have tendencies to be submissive. It doesn't mean I won't give someone hell though, I just never saw myself as a warrior type."

Devlin says, "Sometimes to defeat cancer, one must cut it out. So to heal, death of bad tissue is needed. So worth learning to defend one's self." He hmmms a bit, "At least out here you can learn something. Sad thing is that I am better with a bow than firearms."

Devlin then smiles after his comment, "When you walk with warriors, even a healer need to learn to fight. There will be those that refuse to respect that you are healing on the field of battle. So you will need to know enough to protect yourself and the one you are trying to save."

Hera thinks for a moment when he mentions the bow. That's one type of weapon that would never be used on the streets. Snipers had their places but bowmen were something else. "I don't think I've actually ever fired one. Though there is a bit of a romatic appeal to it. The whole Robin Hood sneaking up on you, taking your breath away, and doing what is right no matter what the 'man' says you should. Though around here, there's sympathy for the poor. In the larger cities there's really not. Other things will suck you dry besides mad spirits."

Devlin says, "No, for me the bow is more that hunting is a challenge with it. You have to get close and aim true. It's easy to wound with but it takes skill to slay with it." He smiles a bit, "Part of being a paratrooper is sometimes going through hell to do the right thing. Oh.." He stands up and walks over to a closet. "Something you might find interesting."

Hera shifts a moment to look over in Devlin's direction with a bit more focus. "Oh I'm sure it does take skill and it's not something someone can learn overnight. Yes, a bow would interest me but knowing I couldn't do a thing with it well, I'm intrigued." She takes a step closer but not that close.

"Doesn't have to be the bow," Devlin says as he gets to the closet. "And your right, bows do not work walking down a street. But Martial Arts do in a pinch, except when there is a gun involved. So it is a matter of what you are comfortable with." He opens the closet and within there is a brand new guitar case that he takes out. "When Zara and I went camping, she gave me this. I have not owned a guitar since the one Shannon gave me was destroyed in the convoy ambush."

Hera whistles for a long moment as the guitar catches her eye. "Wow, talk about a blast from the past, seriously." Then a lot of things come to her mind. She knows how dedicated Devlin is to family and understanding that the loss will always affect him she asks, "How are you, well, there's no way to beat around the bush with what I'm saying but, are you ok with all of this?"

Devlin takes a breath, "Yeah.. it caught me off guard but I realized that I did need to move forward. I missed a chance to be there. May be it just takes time to get through things we regret. Others.. you just have to live with." He then takes out the very nice guitar, "It plays nice." He sits down and strums a chord. "Though a little stiff, it does hurt some to play much."

Hera immediately smiles when a chord is struck and she nods, "It's what they often call survivor's guilt, I'm sure you're aware of it and all. I, deal with it all the time. All of those young girls I left behind when I had the chance to make it away from our masters. Trust me, if I knew my ex was going to be as much of a jerk that he really was, I would have used him to get more of those women out. It does get better with time and, no matter what others may say of me, yes, we need to move on. It doesn't make it easy. It's a reminder that we had the strength to survive something horrendeous."

Devlin strums again as he tunes the guitar to itself. "No, what I feel over Shannon and her son is a different guilt that carries a bit of rage, Hera." There is a pause on his part, perhaps deliberate."Many flavors to what we call guilt. So, you want to be a good healer and able to protect yourself, yes?" He winces a little, "Yeah.. still need a little more time." He lays the instrument in its case. "I mentioned a 12 string to Zara and she got this grin." He sighs, "I warned her I am not that skilled yet."

Hera nods to such a question and says, "Of course." she replies, "I definitely want to help others, especially knowing that there are good people in the world. Few and far between elsewhere, but good people. I should help them. I could help you with your pain you know." She appears to have growing confidence in her skills. "There's time to learn. You don't paint a portrait in one night you know."

A nods on his part, "It takes time to get better. A clear head in chaos takes experience in dealing with chaos. Training is the beginning. Teaches a routine you can draw on during the unexpected. Sparing and like drills show you that you can use that training." Devlin then requests, "That tea sounds good.. and may be some Turmeric might be a good idea. Or something else. I don't want to pull the stitches after all. And if you would be so inclided, I could use a helping hand with the bandages. And if you want to give helping me heal with your talents a shot.. you may. I don't let the boogie man scare me into inaction."

Hera stands up and says, "Tea it is, then I'll see how far my new skills will take you. Tose tea, it's got such a unique flavor to it, very unique. It's not sweet but it's spicey, without the spice you know." She goes off to get some and comes back with a glass. "Jessica got me hooked on it, big time. I assume you've had it before?"

Devlin says, "I am willing to try the tea. There is some jerky in the cabinet. And food might be a good idea." He takes a breath, "I hate how this feels when I move. I still need to practice and I can't. So, I do what I can. And still it can be painful at unexpected times. How are things going with the gallery? And how about yourself and Jessica?""

Hera offers over a decent sized cup of tea and says, "She's so beautiful, I love telling her that all the time. I wish we had more dates but things happens. Still, I think we're both very happy. The gallery is doing great. In fact Grant is supposed to have a showing. You should come by."

Devlin takes the tea and sips, "Glad to hear it. You know.. the case may need to be personalized." He smiles, "Something me.." He sips again, "Interesting flavor, I think I might grow to enjoy it in time. Have you been serving this at the gallery?"

Hera feels her cellphone alert her to a text message and she takes a moment to type in a return message. "I have actually, for special occassions actually. Speaking of which, have you seen Grant's work?"

"I can not say that I have," Devlin takes another sip. "If I have.. I was not aware of it. Oh, assuming I am healed up enough and can practice, I will be at the Open Mic night. This time.." He nods to the open case, "I will play. So Care to give things a try with your ability? It's going to take practice."

Hera stretches her fingers for a moment and looks over at her cousin to study him. "I need the mental workout, yes. Practicing is the only way I am going to get better at this. First, location location location, good place to start. Are you ok sitting down or standing up?"

Devlin says, "Sitting is fine. This sort of thing does not require a person be in a specific position. Now if you are doing first aid.. then yes be mindful of the person's position. Sometimes cheating is the greatest then we get away with.." Devlin grins a bit, "Give it your best shot.. I'll live." He winks, "Been proven hard to kill so far."

Hera smirks at the obvious statement. Yes, Devlin is hard to kill but no need to tempt misfortune. "Ok, at the risk of not sounding too cliche, just...relax." It's then that she examines him carefully, but not too invasive. "Spirit energies flow all around us and inside us and can be manipulated. This may feel a bit strange but, it will feel better." She focuses and as she does what may well be Hera's aura appears to become brighter. Then, in a bit of a mystical fashion, the energies around her begin to extend out to him. They are calming and they seem to reverberate a strange sense of serenity.

Devlin relaxes as you use your talents on him, He blinks a bit as he looks up at your face. It is an expression of being amazed and impressed about something. He sips his tea and comments, "I may be good with mudane.. but you exceed me in this, Hera."

Hera takes a deep breath and as she does, she just continues to let the healing energies flow. After a few more moments, skin stops throbbing and any potential sign of infections or things that may cause such malady are of no concern. As the skin heals, there is no as much pain, and the body underneath responds the same manner. The aura of energy begin to make its way back to Hera and with a soft sigh she says, "I sense less pain in you. Such a blessing, isn't it, incredible? I might need to take a rest myself. This should, help..."

Devlin says, "I can crash on the couch if you need to sleep. My bed is pretty comfortable and clean. Yes,there is less pain and I can sense things are healing faster. Thank you Hera. In another day I may be able to practice again."