004

[wavesofjade]

There Has Been An Alarming Rise In The Number Of Patients I Am Seeing Who Have Gained Injuries Thanks To Venturing Too Close To The Forest.
May I Please Remind You, My Dears, That It Is Given The Title Of 'Forbidden' For A Reason.
I Would Hate To See Anyone Severely Hurt.

With That Said I Would Like To Ask A Favour Of Any Herbology Students Willing To Give Me A Little Of Their Spare Time.
I Am In The Process Of Cultivating Several Cuttings From A Flitterbloom And Would Appreciate Any Assistance As It Is Not Something That I Have Attempted Before.
Any Professors Are Also Very Welcome But I Think That You All Have Quite Enough Work!

As Ever The Hospital Wing Is Open To All Of You.
You Do Not Need To Be On Deaths Door In Order To Come And Speak With Me.

Comments

[wavesofjade]

[Dolores keeps quiet, save for the occasional hum as they head up to her quarters, and she holds the door open for him once they arrive. She doesn't really spend much time here, but it's cosy and well kept regardless. On a table there's a potted Flitterbloom, with several pots and some secateurs.

She knows - mostly - what she's doing, but an extra pair of hands when dealing with a plant that can move is always a good thing.

At the far side of the room there's a large, covered cage, from which some sleepy chittering and rustling can be heard as they walk in.]

[innocent_insanity]

[Glances around curiously when they enter and notices the plant on the table. He reaches slowly for it with one hand to introduce himself, letting the thin tendrils run along his fingers for a moment, glancing at the covered cage curiously and signing with his free hand:]

What's in there?

[wavesofjade]

Hm?

[The signing escapes her a little but she follows his gaze to the cage and grasps his meaning. She crosses to it and pulls the cover back, revealing three dozing bats lined up along the back. They chirp as the light hits them, ruffling their wings and peeking out between them.]

Come and see. They're not shy.

[innocent_insanity]

[He carefully untangles the vines from his hand and comes over, staring with surprise at the bats, a small smile growing on his face.]

What are their names?

[Signs slowly so she might catch it easier.]

[wavesofjade]

[That's easier. She can understand more than she can manage to sign herself. Looking into the cage, she points them out.]

The big one with long ears is Scirocco, the little one is Shade, and the albino is called Zephyr.

[She smiles at him.]

Would you like to hold one?

[innocent_insanity]

[He 'sounds' out the new names with his hands as she says them, committing them to memory, smile growing into a grin. He rather likes animals - quite a few of the faeries he'd romped about with often rode in on various animals after all.]

Yes please.

[wavesofjade]

[Dolores wrinkles her nose in amusement, copying the motions he makes with his hands so she can remember them too, then she moves to open the large cage and reaches inside, laughing softly as her little pets crowd towards her. She ends up with all three of them clinging to her arm, squeaking as they curl their claws into the fabric of her dress, and she plucks Shade up and holds him in one hand, offering him to the boy.

He's quite small, probably the runt of the litter, but he deals the best with strangers and she wouldn't like Kurloz to be hurt by a nervous bat.]

[innocent_insanity]

[Kurloz's eyes are wide with awe and nerves as he carefully takes the tiny bat, letting it rest in his substantially larger yet still slender hand. His grin is much more childishly innocent now and he gently strokes the fluffy critter's back with a finger.]

[wavesofjade]

[The little creature seems content with that, stretching out his delicate wings and chittering while the other two begin to creep their way up Dolores' arm to cling around her shoulders. Bats. What are you doing.]

Come, sit down so you don't need to be concerned about dropping him.

[innocent_insanity]

[His grin grows at the chittering and stretching, looking up when Dolores speaks and nodding, moving to sit in a chair while carefully holding Shade steady.]

[wavesofjade]

[When she's sure he's settled, she chuckles gently and sits nearby, plucking Zephyr and Scirocco off her shoulders and holding them both in her hands. They squeak noisily at each other before making attempts to climb her arms again.]

Do you have any pets, my dear?

[innocent_insanity]

[He watches the other bats moving up Dolores' arms with a grin and nods, carefully setting Shade on his shoulder so he can sign with both hands.]

I have a kitten. She's still really little so she doesn't leave the dorms.

[wavesofjade]

A kitten? How sweet.. What's her name?

[Oh dear lord these bats. She plucks them from her arms again, and they make annoyed sounds at her, though they remain in her lap this time.]

[innocent_insanity]

[He spelt out her name alphabetically with his hands before signing how to 'say' it.]

Cait.

[Grins at the bats because dang they are adorable.]

Are they usually so clingy?

[wavesofjade]

[Dolores laughs and picks the little albino bat up, scooting over to gently place it on Kurloz's shoulder. He stays there, chittering quietly.]

Not usually. I think they're trying to show off.

[innocent_insanity]

[Blinks down at Zephyr, a childishly delighted grin on his face, reaching up to gently stroke the white bat's back.]

How long have you had them?

[wavesofjade]

Around ten years, now. Shade is the youngest, but he will never grow any larger than he is.

[She lets Scirocco dangle from one of her fingers, and he stretches his wings out.]

I have been keeping bats since my first year of school.

[innocent_insanity]

[Glances down at Shade incredulously, signing big and large to denote his disbelief:]

But he's tiny!

[wavesofjade]

He was the runt of his litter. I raised him by hand from a pup.

[She smiles softly down at the little creature.]

I find that he is a favourite of the students.

[innocent_insanity]

[Pets the two bats hanging off him, smiling still.]

They're all cute.

[wavesofjade]

[Scirocco goes adventuring up her arm again and she lets him go this time, shifting so she can reach to run one finger gently over Shade's back.]

You are a very gentle young man, aren't you, Kurloz?

[innocent_insanity]

[Glances up and blinks, confused.]

Not... really?

[wavesofjade]

My dear, you are holding Shade as if he's made of glass, you have been very patient with them both and I know that your good deeds don't only extend to assisting clueless staff members with horticultural experimentation.

[Yep, she knows how patient you've been with Mituna Captor, too.]

[innocent_insanity]

Can't help it though. He's tiny and I don't want to hurt him or something.

[Shrugs and strokes the two bats hanging off him gently.]

It doesn't hurt to take care of people around you either.

[wavesofjade]

No, it does not, and you have been a very good friend to Mituna Captor.

[The bats chitter, and Shade spreads his wings.]

You're all he can talk about when I see him.