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]

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.

[innocent_insanity]

[Flushes at that, eyes widening.]

Really?

[wavesofjade]

[She smiles and nods slightly.]

I don't know why you're so surprised, dear. He thinks the world of you.

[innocent_insanity]

[Shakes head and stares down at his hands, almost able to see the blood staining them from his nightmares.]

He shouldn't.

[wavesofjade]

[Dolores tilts her head slightly, carefully watching his hands as he signs.]

No? Why not? You've been very good to him.

[innocent_insanity]

I'm not good for him. He needs someone normal to help him out, not a broken person like me.

[wavesofjade]

[That stops her. It's not often she's at a loss for words, but when he says that, she has no idea what she can say to him.]

Kurloz..

[She takes his hands, gently so he can pull them free to sign if he wishes to, and meets his eyes intently.]

You are not broken, sweetheart. Neither of you are. No one has tried harder with him than you, and he trusts you. That's very important for him at this stage in his recovery.

[Dolores touches his cheek, just briefly.]

And I know that he has been good for you, too.

[innocent_insanity]

[His fingers twitch and he nearly jerks his hands away from hers, because she shouldn't be dirtied by the blood, her hands are white and perfect and clean-

He shakes his head because he doesn't want to be hallucinating and needing a potion; his mam had looked heart-broken each time he took them. The illusion of blood fades and his fingers curl a bit in her grip, but he makes no move to communicate his response to the nice things she's said.]

[wavesofjade]

[Her expression softens as she looks at him. This poor boy, she wants so much to help him and it almost hurts her to know there's only so much that she can do.

She shifts, perching beside him on the arm of the chair and embracing him warmly. A kiss is dropped on the top of his head, fingers gently stroking over his hair and if there was anything, anything that she could DO for him then she would do it in an instant.

But all she has to offer is comfort, and she will give that to him gladly.]

[innocent_insanity]

[He stiffens when she moves to hug him and lets out a choked noise before leaning into it, hand clutching at the skirt of her robes. He doesn't cry but he needs a moment to collect himself.]

[wavesofjade]

Ssh..

[She's careful of the little bats clinging to him as she hugs him, and indeed the small creatures appear upset by his distress, gently chittering to fill the silence.]

It's alright, Kurloz.. No matter what happens, you have people who love and care for you. Do not forget that.

[innocent_insanity]

[He's tempted to shake his head and argue with how wrong she is, and how he shouldn't have these people, but he knows well enough to leave it alone and takes a breath, calming himself and taking a calming breath. His face grows expressionless and he slowly pulls away, signing slowly:]

Thank you, I'm fine now.

[wavesofjade]

[She doesn't believe him, not for a moment, but she's not going to press it at the risk of upsetting him so instead she kisses his forehead and gives him a small squeeze, before moving away and crouching beside him.]

Shall we prune this plant before it realises what we might be here for?

[innocent_insanity]

[He scrubs at his face just to distract himself completely from dark thoughts and smiles down at her, nodding.]

I'm not too good at this but I can try?

[wavesofjade]

[She offers him the secateurs.]

Take these, and I will deal with the plant. I need you to cut where I tell you to, alright?

[innocent_insanity]

[Nods and moves closer to the plant, waiting for further instruction.]

[wavesofjade]

[It's a battle to get hold of the plant and draw it out in a way that allows Kurloz to get a clear cut. Almost as if the thing knows what they intend to do. It curls around her fingers tightly, but she just shakes her head and smiles.]

Cut there.