sixthiterationlogs | Poison Is a Woman's Weapon

WHO: Lucrezia
WHERE: The Inn
WHEN: 7/15
OPEN TO: All
WARNINGS: None

Despite her misgivings, she had ventured into the woods, keeping close to the path. There were a number of plants she recognized, many that knew there were uses for but couldn't quite remember. There had been a book in the Vatican that mentioned herbs and plants, as well as their medicinal uses, but she hadn't had the chance to study it or begin her own experiments, as she wished. But now...now there was time, even without the book.

Spreading out the leaves, roots and berries over one of the tables, she sniffed and inspected the plants studiously. There had been a few pieces of paper in the schoolhouse. Using a bit of charred wood, she sketched the plants to the best of her abilities. It was messy work, but she would at least have a record of what she collected.

A few were easy to guess, aloe, lavender, rosemary, but so many others were a mystery to her. But they were beautiful and delicate, entrancing her in her work. Someone took the seat across from her, stirring her from her thoughts as her blue eyes shot up in surprise. "Oh! Forgive me, I didn't see you."

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Beverly peers at the plants in front of them, resting her arms on the table. "That was the idea I had when I planted the garden I'm growing now," she admits warmly. It's good to see that even non-medical people see the benefit in keeping up supplies and knowledge. "Why don't you tell me what you already know and I'll see if I can explain the rest of them?"

She always finds it better to start with what her student knows and then work up from that rather than jump right in and risk going over something they already know. Besides, then she can get an idea of what the woman is looking for.

"I know that aloe can soothe the skin and lavender aids in sleep. Willow bark can treat head aches and other pains. Rosemary...I can't remember what purpose rosemary has, I only know what rosemary looks like." She blushes, knowing how ignorant she appears. "I learned a little from the books in the Vatican, but I didn't study them carefully." Not enough to help her now.

"Would you allow help with your garden?" It's asked shyly, grateful to meet someone that understood plants and their properties. It was something she had a mind to explore and learn about, but hadn't found the time before. Now she had nothing but time stretching before her. "What else do I have?"

Beverly doesn't think she sounds ignorant at all. In fact a lot of people she knows wouldn't even be able to identify the plants, let alone list off any properties and uses they have. Lucrezia's already gotten a head start on a lot of people.

"I would love that," she answers honestly. "Between you and Wanda, I'll have the best help I could ask for. And once things have bloomed and are ready to be cut and used, I can teach you more than what's been growing wild."

The more knowledge passed around, the better. And she won't turn down an able and willing student.

"Rosemary has a variety of uses, but it's most commonly used for digestion and circulation, to settle your stomach or to help your blood circulate through your body. It's also good to use in aromatherapy. Sometimes the smell is calming to people and helps memory and concentration."

As for the rest, there are a few interesting ones, pointing them out as she goes. "Goldenrod, thistle, tiger-lily. You've got a wide variety here."

"I would like to create a book that lists the plants found in the forest, as well as their uses." So long as she could find something better than the charred wood that she had been using as a drawing tool. "It would be useful for those that aren't familiar with them."

It was a relief to hear her encouragement and offer to help. There was little that she could offer this village that others seemed to. Hard labor, farming, cooking, cleaning, all of it was beyond her experience. This, however, it was simple but provided so much support and help for the sick and injured. She wouldn't feel so slothful or useless.

She sniffed the rosemary, closing her eyes to give her sense of smell more potency. Yes, there was a fragrant perfume about it. "I imagine there is more in the forest further in that I won't recognize, but I don't want to wander too far from the village."

She regarded Beverly thoughtfully, "You seem to know a great deal about medicine. Were you a midwife?"

"It's a good idea. Have you talked to Peeta? He was doing something similar not long ago. He might like help." Not that she knows he won't be around much longer, but maybe it's something Lucrezia could take over for him. Either way, it's a good idea and Beverly approves of trying to keep it going.

"We could go in together sometime," Beverly offers easily. "I try to do a round of gathering nearly every morning. It's something of a habit by now." If anything happens, she's capable of getting them out of it, with any luck. Besides, they could use it as a teaching tool. How to recognize and identify wild plants.

Her lips twist just slightly with amusement. "Something similar. I'm a doctor. I help diagnose and treat people for all kinds of illnesses usually, but I've delivered more than a few babies. My grandmother was a healer. She learned all about medicinal plants and herbs and she passed it all on to me."

"I haven't." He has a strange enough name that she would recognize him if she had. It was a little frustrating that someone else had come up with the idea, but it seemed to have been an unfinished project. Despite her poor ability, it was at least something for her, even if no one else wanted it.

"Is it safe?" There seemed to be a number of strange things in the village, enough that she knew to be wary about where she wandered and how far she traveled from her bungalow. However, if she were with someone else, wouldn't she be safer? "Will you teach me to plant as well? I should like to have a garden of my own."

The concept was shocking, but oddly encouraging. Lucrezia had a dislike for the physicians in Rome, finding them to be incompetent men, far more interested in prestige than knowing how to treat diseases. That a woman bypassed them was thrilling, as it meant she could as well. "I have been trying to learn how to heal as well."

"As long as you go with someone who knows botany and can tell you which plants to stay away from," she points out. "I don't want to have to deal with cases of poison ivy, but if you go with me, I'll teach you how to tell the difference."

She heads into the woods every morning to harvest what she can find anyway. Teaching someone else how to tell the difference between the good plants and the bad ones will definitely be a good use of her time.

"Of course I will," she says warmly. "Gardening is a skill we all can use here. As is medicine. Anything I know that you want to learn, I'd be happy to teach you. We can start with the plants we find in the wild and move up to medicinal uses as we go. How does that sound?"

"I should like that very much, only so long as we do not venture far." Even though she had Beverley's reassurance, she couldn't bring herself to consider going further than the edges of the forest.

Eventually she would need to find the courage to explore, but there was a difference between these woods and the woods of the Sforza estate. "I had heard strange things about the forest."

She nodded eagerly. "I should like that very much. I knew a few salves and plants that can be mixed together. Perhaps we will receive seeds as well?" If the observers were kind. "Lemon grass, lavender, honey suckles."

"Only as far as you're comfortable," Beverly assures her. If she'd had a phaser to hold with her, she would also be more likely to want to dig deeper into the forest than she has so far, so she can understand Lucrezia's hesitance. Especially in a place like this, where things can change in an instant.

"You might. I found a whole box of them once. It's entirely possible that there might be more someday."

"I have heard stories of the forest and I know that there are creatures in it. I prefer to remain in relative safety in the village. I am afraid I don't have any experience with blades or conflict."

She smiled, "May I come tomorrow to see your garden?"

"I'll admit I don't have much experience with blades, either, beyond kitchen use. But conflict... unfortunately yes." They use stunning technology in Starfleet. There's much less risk of accidental death and far less damage done to anyone they're trying to subdue.

"I'd like that," she agrees with a smile. "Maybe sometime in the early evening or late afternoon?" She can guarantee she'll be around the house then.

Poison Is a Woman's Weapon

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