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[wavesofjade]

I Would Like Anyone - Student Or Staff - To Pay The Hospital Wing A Visit Should They Still Be Suffering Any Ill Effects After The Events Of Last Week.
I Understand That This Has Been A Highly Distressing Time For Some Of You.
I Cannot Heal That Kind Of Pain As Much As I Would Like To But It Is Often Said That A Friendly Ear For Your Troubles May Work Wonders.
Please Do Not Hesitate To See Me If You Should Have Need Of Someone To Speak To Confidentially.


[Filtered to Murdoc Donoghue]
Well, Now.
That Was Exciting Wasnt It?
I Trust You Have Returned To Your Usual Self Now.

Comments

[thegluethatbinds]

[Bats. He's not too surprised, but at least they don't seem to be aggressive. There's a small quirk at the corner of his mouth as he contemplates how one of them looks suspiciously like a co-worker back from his WAND days.]

[wavesofjade]

[When she returns with a cup held between both hands, she can't help but let out a soft chuckle at his interest. She crosses to him, and leans down to peer inside the box at her little pets]

This one is Zephyr, this is Shade, and this one here is Scirocco.

[thegluethatbinds]

Zephyr, Shade and Scirocco. Interesting names. Have you had them for long?

[wavesofjade]

[She smiles]

A few years now, they're still babies, really.

[Not really, but since her last bat lived to be over thirty, she can't help but think of her new ones as babies]

Would you like to hold one? They're quite tame.

[thegluethatbinds]

If you don't mind. I can't say I've ever held a tame bat before though.

[wavesofjade]

[Dolores sets her cup aside, and opens the box, reaching in. She doesn't have to even grab hold of one of the little creatures as they all shuffle towards her, and she brings out the one who makes it first, holding it gently]

Zephyr, this is Philip. Don't worry, he won't bite.

[It's hard to say if that last statement was meant for Coulson or the bat, but she offers it over to him]

[thegluethatbinds]

[He chuckles slightly, before he carefully cups his hands together to hold the fluffy thing. He had never expected a bat's fur to be so soft. The leathery wings hold around Zephyr's body as the bat peers up at him.]

Are they usually this docile?

[wavesofjade]

[She looks pleased, and smiles up at him, giving a small shake of her head]

They were hand-reared, so they have no fear of humans. It means they can never be released into the wild, but I make sure to give them the best quality of life that I can.

[thegluethatbinds]

Hmm.

[A thumb brushes against Zephyr's warm body, and the bat squeaks up at him, maybe to showcase his displeasure? In response, he obliges and loosens his hands slightly, allowing the bat a little more leg room to stretch out.]

Do you normally keep bats as pets?

[wavesofjade]

[She chuckles softly at Zephyr's displeased squeaking, and runs one fingertip gently between his ears]

Since I was a child. My parents wanted me to get an owl.. but I wanted a bat. I remember I was quite petulant about it.

[thegluethatbinds]

[The bat settles down slightly, but continues to glare up at him. If he recalled correctly, animals were supposed to be uncomfortable in the presence of werewolves. He's probably not doing Zephyr any favours then, so he hands the bat back over to Dolores.]

We had a dog in my house since I was a kid, so my parents weren't very interested in buying me another pet. I tried to convince them that I could send them mail, but my mother refused; she was afraid of owl droppings on the roof.

[He half-wondered whether if his dog was still alive today, he'd still greet him with enthusiasm.]

[wavesofjade]

[Animals don't much like vampires, either, to Dolores' experience, but the little bats are used to her and Zephyr seems happy enough to be in her hands as she strokes the soft skin of one of his wings. While she carefully puts him back into the cage, she laughs]

Your mother sounds like mine..

[thegluethatbinds]

I used to think all mothers were the same, back when I was a kid. Even away from home, she'd still find some way to nag at me. Thank God she never found out about Howlers. Not that I was ever in trouble in school, but she would have used them to remind me to eat my greens instead.

[Yet another fond chuckle at old memories.]

[wavesofjade]

Aha, that is very lucky.

[She smiles, then looks away from him with a sigh. Her expression flickers, falls, and she brushes her hair from her forehead as a distraction]

[thegluethatbinds]

[That was a 180 in the mood. The smile fades from his face, slight worry colouring his expression.]

Is something wrong, Dolores? I hope I'm not taking too much of your time.

[wavesofjade]

Mm..? Ah, no..

[She shakes her head and folds her arms, fingers lightly clasping over her elbows]

Not at all. I always have time for you. I was just.. reminded of something.

[thegluethatbinds]

Is it something troubling? Can I help you with anything?

[wavesofjade]

[She shakes her head]

No. This past week has simply been very.. taxing.

[An understatement. Certainly one of her worst. What he said had only served to remind her of the things she had never been able to do with her own child. It's still raw, as much as she's trying to hide it]

[thegluethatbinds]

It definitely hasn't been an easy week.

[He can't imagine what she had felt when her son had appeared at her office, but it would be far from pleasant.]

You look like you need some rest. I'll come by the Healing Ward tomorrow instead, if that's fine with you?

[wavesofjade]

[She only nods. It hasn't been easy, though in a different way to what she might have anticipated.]

I would like that very much. I'll see you then.