Channelknight Fadran

"Tell me the last time I've looked happy, Nicolae. Please, think long and hard."

Ivian growled quietly to himself in his throne as the party fell into full swing aorund him. A band had struck up an appropriately slow and somewhat subdued tune to which the young noblemen and ladies danced. There had already been three toasts to his... what, forty-somethingeth birthday? Louis would remember, but she was too busy hanging around the liquor table and most likely harrassing the server men standing there. Balls are stupid. Ivian thought to himself, watching a young couple blush at each other as they danced. They were so... caught up in it. And the night's festivities had only barely begun. He severely hoped that neither of them were engaged--it would be a pity if they were executed for infidelity. In his own humble opinion, love was overrated. Either you were in love or not; no use wasting time courting dozens of people. Though, of course, that meant he believed in fate; and fate was far too religious for his liking. Bah. Whatever. No use thinking about that now. He had other things to worry about; the ball wasn't the only negative right now. "Wendy!" Katie chastised, using every ounce of her tiny nine-year-old figure to push the young woman back down. "The doctor said that you have to stay in bed!" Grabbing her arms, Wendy swung Katie over her shoulders, making the younger girl giggle in spite of herself. "I'll be fine, Kate. I can do my job even if I have a little bump on my head." "But Sarah says that bruised heads can knock you out at any moment." Katie protested. "Oh, don't listen to what Sarah tells you. You know how much she likes playing tricks." Wendy swung Katie over her head then dropped her back down onto her feet. "I'll be fine, sweetie. You go play with Arabella, alright? And I'd keep off the third floor if I were you." "'Zat what Reyna said? Stay off the third floor?" "Yup." Wendy adjusted her apron and started tying back her hair; something she hadn't done in over a month, so she was a little rusty. "There's a group of drunks up there and she just barely escaped. Thank the stars they gave her the night off." She planted a kiss on Katie's forehead. "Now go have fun and be in bed by ten o'clock, you understand?" "Aw, Wendy!" Katie pouted. "Fine." She booped Katie's nose. "Ten thirty." "Yay!" Katie zipped off to find Arabella. As soon as the younger waitress was gone, Wendy finished tying back her hair and immediately let out a loud yelp of pain that she'd been holding in for roughly two minutes. Despite what she'd told Katie, her head was definitely not in a right place. But waiting around in the dormitories while the rest of the waitresses served up the king's own birthday celebration just didn't sit right with her. Besides, she thought to herself, humming as she watched herself do her hair in the mirror, Nicolae'll probably be there.

"I don't suppose you could tell me her actual name?"

"You'll be alright."

"Nobody else is around," Wendy said. "It's okay."

Ellis took a chance to dart back and catch his breath, wincing as a spike of pain throbbed through his arm.

Wendy held his arms to his side, holding Nico in a firm embrace. Her head was pressed into his shoulder; mostly because she wasn't tall enough to put it anywhere else.

"She? ...You know Q?"

"Please, Nico... you're worth more than that."

Wendy grabbed Nico in a big hug and pulled him close.

"Wha--who--?"

The doctor tied off the hospital-grade bandage and stepped away, letting out an exasperated sigh. "Yes. It is." Wendy crossed her arms.

"Get over here."

"You'd better hope you don't die, Kimby, because I'm gonna kill you."

Wendy went pale. "You..."

"I'd knock her upside the head with a big wooden stick!"

"Did Allivia do that to you?" Wendy pushed herself into an upright position despite the pain.

"NICO!" Wendy yelped. "What happened?"

"Not really, no." Before Wendy could say anything else, the doctor grabbed Nico again and pulled him over to her desk. "Alright, lover boy. Let me fix that hand of yours."

Wendy waved weakly. "Hi."

"Stars, Kimby, are you bleeding?" The doctor grabbed his hand. "Alright. Now you have to come to the medbay. Come on."

"What exactly do you have to do that's more important than easing the mind of a pained patient?"

I know absolutely nothing about Y, so... yeah. Please help.

"Kimby!" The doctor yelped, then quickly composed herself. "My patient is requesting your presence."