Lafayette KindlesFlame
A Tam-illee healer, mentor to Jahir Seni Galare. Variously spelled as Lafeyette and Lefeyette.
Physical Appearance
Gray eyes. A distinguished, self-contained air, a thoughtful face, shrewd eyes that did not quite conceal their kindness. [1] A middle-aged Tam-illee, confident and easy in his own skin. [2] Also has a commanding rather than retiring personality.
Smells like pine duff. Probably because "loves hiking."
Biography
Former Dean of the Seersana University medical college, and former head of its student clinic. Also a professor. Healer-surgeon: first license was acute visceral, second was reconstructive. Did time in crisis care. [3]
Attended a professional conference on Tam-ley at the end of Dreamhearth, which allowed him to stop over to visit Starbase Veta.
At the opening of Dreamstorm, we see that he has gone on sabbatical after being at the university for 'three decades'. At this time he's been single again for 'a good two decades', which would put his divorce (I think) before the events of Mindtouch. Interviewed for the Head of Staff at the civilian hospital at Veta, but didn't accept. Went on conference circuit instead, did some lectures.
Enjoys outdoor sports: hiking, horseback riding (though he last rode horses in his twenties, they're rarer in the Alliance), did some archery.
Quotes
- "The most effective medicine is often the least invasive." [4]
- "Medicine is ninety percent indigestion, lifestyle adjustments, and head colds and ten percent heroic measures. Don't lose sight of that."[4]
- "Keep going. If there's no map, there will always be people who assume you're lost. Prove them wrong." [5]
- "It's a long game, arii. And in the long game, courage gets us home." [6]
Trivia
- learned to use eyesight, hearing, smell as diagnostic tools, along with the technological ones
- prefers black coffee, sweetens it with honey; also drinks it iced; rarely dilutes it
- appears to prefer savories to sweets (likes cheese but has eaten caramels) and hearty meals
- but likes sweets as well (saw you drinking cider there, buddy)
- Also drinks alcohol
- Mentioned Iley but I don't think he's devout, does use 'hell' (singular); also curses
- likes big open floor plans and clean uncluttered spaces in his living areas, and big windows on preferably pristine wilderness
- likes 1940s-style singing: torch singers and crooners (male and female both)
Body Language
KindlesFlame appears to have the reserved-but-casual body language of an early film star heartthrob. Lots of crossed arms, leaning on doors, leaning back. He also has the long-legged guy habit of sitting with his legs folded (ankle on opposite knee). On top of that, some learned professorial hand gesturing: mid-air finger counting ('point one... point two'), finger wagging, and hand up to stop students from interrupting him. Lifting hand palm up to underscore points.
Jahir observes in Mindtouch that the Tam-illee's control over his ears, expression and shoulders is flawless. [7] And again in Dreamhearth: "Few expressions crossed the Tam-illee's face that he did not allow."[8] He rarely shows unease (as with flicked back ears).
Most of his subconscious/uncontrolled body language is related to thinking: He taps tables or desks while thinking, does the 'mmm' thing. Laughter tends to come out as barks, but he does a lot of less animated laughing: chuckles, guffaws. Grins easily, often wry.