just tryna get by @orcling-inventor - Tumblr Blog

Jane, having finally heard of the sibling she's not yet met, decides to find her -- out near the goats. It's a little dark when she finds her, so she looks a bit... imposing. Scary. Especially with the demonic horns and glowing red bits of skin.

Evelyn isn't afraid of Jane because of how she looks, but she is terrified of people in general. Having finished her new arm, she's a little less timid when having to meet s a stranger, but that doesn't mean she'll go out of her way to make it happen.

Ava's comparatively short height, combined with her hiding amongst the goats, makes her hard to find, but Jane finds her regardless. She doesn't make the first move, waiting and hoping that Jane will move on without her having to interact with her.

So, uhh... same mom?

"Something like that." Ava just stares at Jane, as if prolonged eye-contact would somehow lead to her getting out of this conversation quicker.

so . whatcha doin out here this time of night? weren't you given a room?

"Yeah. I just…" Ava trails off, trying to fabricate some reason on the spot, but finds nothing. "I just haven't moved in yet?" She says as if it's a question that she doesn't have the answer for, before breaking eye contact to gaze deeply into the floor between her own feet.

Oh no, she's sitting down next to her.

"I can help you move in if you want, but I get a sense that's not the answer you want."

Evelyn just accepts that she's not getting out of this for a while, and sits next to Jane.

"It's fine, I've been doing everything by myself for long enough, I can do this too."

No one's an island, ...Ava.

"Well, I've always been the exception to everything, I suppose, and there's no reason that shouldn't continue to be true." She just stares up into space, pointedly not looking at Jane.

Is there any reason it should?

[She gazes up at the sky too, one covered in stars.]

She doesn't answer for some time, but eventually provides a response.

"I don't know, it just feels right for this shit to keep going."

sleepin with the goats out in the cold?

"Beats the desert. At least out here I'm not as likely to get frostbite."

Well, inside, you just flat out won't get frostbite.

Ava just shrugs.

"I've been outside long enough, I can handle it."

you don't have to, though.

"I'm used to it, it's fine"

[Jane sighs.]

If you insist.

[With that, she stands up.]

Evelyn feels a heavy twinge of guilt, but does her best to push it down. She did come out here to avoid people, after all. She doesn't respond to Jane, instead just looking down at the floor with the tell-tale shame of a teenager who has done something she already regrets.

So, uhh... same mom?

"Something like that." Ava just stares at Jane, as if prolonged eye-contact would somehow lead to her getting out of this conversation quicker.

so . whatcha doin out here this time of night? weren't you given a room?

Oh no, she's sitting down next to her.

"I can help you move in if you want, but I get a sense that's not the answer you want."

Evelyn just accepts that she's not getting out of this for a while, and sits next to Jane.

"It's fine, I've been doing everything by myself for long enough, I can do this too."

No one's an island, ...Ava.

"Well, I've always been the exception to everything, I suppose, and there's no reason that shouldn't continue to be true." She just stares up into space, pointedly not looking at Jane.

Is there any reason it should?

[She gazes up at the sky too, one covered in stars.]

She doesn't answer for some time, but eventually provides a response.

"I don't know, it just feels right for this shit to keep going."

sleepin with the goats out in the cold?

"Beats the desert. At least out here I'm not as likely to get frostbite."

Well, inside, you just flat out won't get frostbite.

Ava just shrugs.

"I've been outside long enough, I can handle it."

you don't have to, though.

"I'm used to it, it's fine"

So, uhh... same mom?

"Something like that." Ava just stares at Jane, as if prolonged eye-contact would somehow lead to her getting out of this conversation quicker.

so . whatcha doin out here this time of night? weren't you given a room?

Oh no, she's sitting down next to her.

"I can help you move in if you want, but I get a sense that's not the answer you want."

Evelyn just accepts that she's not getting out of this for a while, and sits next to Jane.

"It's fine, I've been doing everything by myself for long enough, I can do this too."

No one's an island, ...Ava.

"Well, I've always been the exception to everything, I suppose, and there's no reason that shouldn't continue to be true." She just stares up into space, pointedly not looking at Jane.

Is there any reason it should?

[She gazes up at the sky too, one covered in stars.]

She doesn't answer for some time, but eventually provides a response.

"I don't know, it just feels right for this shit to keep going."

sleepin with the goats out in the cold?

"Beats the desert. At least out here I'm not as likely to get frostbite."

Well, inside, you just flat out won't get frostbite.

Ava just shrugs.

"I've been outside long enough, I can handle it."

So, uhh... same mom?

"Something like that." Ava just stares at Jane, as if prolonged eye-contact would somehow lead to her getting out of this conversation quicker.

so . whatcha doin out here this time of night? weren't you given a room?

Oh no, she's sitting down next to her.

"I can help you move in if you want, but I get a sense that's not the answer you want."

Evelyn just accepts that she's not getting out of this for a while, and sits next to Jane.

"It's fine, I've been doing everything by myself for long enough, I can do this too."

No one's an island, ...Ava.

"Well, I've always been the exception to everything, I suppose, and there's no reason that shouldn't continue to be true." She just stares up into space, pointedly not looking at Jane.

Is there any reason it should?

[She gazes up at the sky too, one covered in stars.]

She doesn't answer for some time, but eventually provides a response.

"I don't know, it just feels right for this shit to keep going."

sleepin with the goats out in the cold?

"Beats the desert. At least out here I'm not as likely to get frostbite."

So, uhh... same mom?

"Something like that." Ava just stares at Jane, as if prolonged eye-contact would somehow lead to her getting out of this conversation quicker.

so . whatcha doin out here this time of night? weren't you given a room?

Oh no, she's sitting down next to her.

"I can help you move in if you want, but I get a sense that's not the answer you want."

Evelyn just accepts that she's not getting out of this for a while, and sits next to Jane.

"It's fine, I've been doing everything by myself for long enough, I can do this too."

No one's an island, ...Ava.

"Well, I've always been the exception to everything, I suppose, and there's no reason that shouldn't continue to be true." She just stares up into space, pointedly not looking at Jane.

Is there any reason it should?

[She gazes up at the sky too, one covered in stars.]

#determined spirits #oshaverse

She doesn't answer for some time, but eventually provides a response.

"I don't know, it just feels right for this shit to keep going."

So, uhh... same mom?

"Something like that." Ava just stares at Jane, as if prolonged eye-contact would somehow lead to her getting out of this conversation quicker.

so . whatcha doin out here this time of night? weren't you given a room?

Oh no, she's sitting down next to her.

"I can help you move in if you want, but I get a sense that's not the answer you want."

Evelyn just accepts that she's not getting out of this for a while, and sits next to Jane.

"It's fine, I've been doing everything by myself for long enough, I can do this too."

No one's an island, ...Ava.

"Well, I've always been the exception to everything, I suppose, and there's no reason that shouldn't continue to be true." She just stares up into space, pointedly not looking at Jane.

So, uhh... same mom?

"Something like that." Ava just stares at Jane, as if prolonged eye-contact would somehow lead to her getting out of this conversation quicker.

so . whatcha doin out here this time of night? weren't you given a room?

Oh no, she's sitting down next to her.

"I can help you move in if you want, but I get a sense that's not the answer you want."

Evelyn just accepts that she's not getting out of this for a while, and sits next to Jane.

"It's fine, I've been doing everything by myself for long enough, I can do this too."

So, uhh... same mom?

"Something like that." Ava just stares at Jane, as if prolonged eye-contact would somehow lead to her getting out of this conversation quicker.

so . whatcha doin out here this time of night? weren't you given a room?

So, uhh... same mom?

"Something like that." Ava just stares at Jane, as if prolonged eye-contact would somehow lead to her getting out of this conversation quicker.

#determined-spirits #ask #oshaverse

Someone is attempting to sneak into Mer's castle, as evidenced by all the traps they're triggering. The infiltrator appears to have evaded a few traps but gets caught by a crossbow bolt. They made it a moderately impressive distance into the premises, especially given everything designed to prevent that task, but are still close to the entrance when they go down.

@orcling-inventor

Whoever this infiltrator was, they'd probably thought they'd gotten much further. Merlyn's monitoring system indicated several instances of taking a wrong turn and backtracking, as the maze of hallways had been designed to make people do.

She was softly cursing as she took the shortcuts to where they'd gone down - it had been a long time since their security system had been actually put to use like this, as most uninvited guests tended to teleport past it these days, and they were not relishing the cleanup that awaited, even if it would mainly be handled by the robots. Several things would need manual resetting too.

But Merlyn does make it in fairly good time, arriving to find a... smaller figure than she had expected, clearly in pain on the ground.

There's what seems to be a teenager lying on the ground, slowly trying to crawl back to the entrance. Her right tibia and fibula have clearly been shattered by the bolt, trailing blood behind the broken leg. Thanks to her crawling, the empty flapping of her right hoodie sleeve also shows that she's likely missing that arm below the elbow, though there is no apparent mechanism for that loss. Upon seeing Merlyn, the teen begins trying to crawl faster, using her injured leg and only damaging it further. She's surprisingly quiet for someone in such a dire state.

"Stop." Merlyn walks in front of the kid and crouches down. Hoping the hazmat suit didn't make them too intimidating. A little was good, but... "We are going to be having a talk about why you thought it was a good idea to sneak in here - I have made no secret about how thoroughly trapped I have the place, and frankly it's not that hard to convince me or the kids to invite someone in. But I need you to not bleed out for that, so first let's get that leg looked at. Okay?"

"I'll be fine," she says, with only a light hint of pain and gritted teeth, "I've survived worse." Her tone is flat and fatalistic, reflecting an outlook born out of lifelong hardship and mistreatment. "If you're going to kill me, just make it quick; pain doesn't bother me anymore anyway."

"Were you planning on hurting anyone that lives in this residence?" They ask, already reaching into their bag for a first aid kit. "If the answer is no, then I have no intention of killing you. You can't be much older than my kids are, so it would feel really icky."

She begins laying out bandages and splints and pliers and such. "And I've survived worse too, but that doesn't mean you should have to endure it without help. It sucks pretty bad. Do you have any allergies?"

She seems to accept that they aren't leaving her alone and goes along with the help.

"I know I'm allergic to citrus and most Aculeata stings, but I've never been tested so I don't know anything else. Oh, and rattlesnake venom as well…" Her voice trails off dejectedly as she rolls over and points her leg towards Merlyn.

"Excellent, we'll start with some morphine then, for the pain. I do also carry antihistamines, just in case, but it's best not to need them." They frown at the kid for a moment, studying her intensely as they take out a syringe and a medicine bottle. "I have a guess at your height and weight, but since you're able to talk, it would be great if you could just tell me those. For dosage purposes. Name also, please, I've just been referring to you as 'the kid' in my head."

"I've never measured my own height and weight, so I don't know the numbers. I never really settled on a name either, but I've been thinking of going with either Ava or Evelyn." Her tone is detached and without emotion, so it's hard to tell what she's thinking or feeling.

"Those are both very pretty names," they say. "I'll try and alternate until you do decide on one, if you do. I've got a daughter that had similar problems picking her name, we still mostly call her Runaway because that's what she was when we found her..."

They inject the painkillers into Ava, and begin staunching the bleeding with gauze. "It'll likely take about a minute to be in full effect and I don't want to do any major operations until it has. In the meantime, do I have your permission to move you to the medical ward? It's a little more sanitary than the hallway floor," she says wryly.

"I'm Merlyn, by the way. Welcome to Castle Camelot."

"Not sure I exactly deserve a medical ward and I definitely can't afford it, but sure." Still flat-toned and straight-faced, it's impossible to tell whether or not that was meant to be sarcasm. Evelyn just keeps looking at the pool of her own blood on the floor, though her expression suggests that she's more just staring blankly in that direction.

"Oh we don't charge for medical care around here, Evelyn," they say, picking her up, "So don't worry about that, if nothing else. My assistant Igor will be there too, which is good. Many people are put off by his appearance, but he's a far better surgeon than I am. Do you know your blood type?"

She's surprisingly light for someone of her height, suggesting at least some level of malnutrition. "No, I don't…" She just keeps her gaze down at the floor, not fighting or struggling at all.

"No problem, we can just use O-negative then," they nod. "I hope you won't need a transfusion, but it is best to be prepared in case you do." She begins speedwalking towards the medical wing, which would require going down at least one flight of stairs. Part of her wanted to use the secret passages to be faster, but...

"What were you doing here anyway? Did you not know how dangerous it is here without a guide? And how did you get past the gates? Or the goats, for that matter?"

"I just figured this place probably has the materials I need, and decided it was worth the risk." They cut themselves off before they start a new sentence. Her gaze never rises to a point where she would even see much of the castle's walls.

"You could have just asked, you know," Merlyn chastises. "Again, it's really not that hard to get an invitation. And I am a big supporter of people making things, particularly the sorts of things you could make with the materials I keep in stock."

They sigh. "But, that lecture can wait, I suppose. We're nearly there. Is your leg feeling any number, Ava? I've got a few other drugs we can add in if not."

"It's numb enough to operate on." That seems to be all she has to say on the matter, and it's unlikely that she'll budge.

"That is not as reassuring as you might think," they respond.

But, they do lay Evelyn out on the operation table, and begin to work. Igor helps too, and though the condition of the bones looks... really bad, to say the least, they soon enough have the crossbow bolt out and the wound splinted and stitched up. They had done their best to reassemble the pieces of bone, though it would most certainly require more operation later.

Ava just lays there, only slightly white-knuckling the edges of the table. Almost immediately after Merlyn finishes, she sits up and goes to stand, not wanting to stay on the operating table any longer.

Merlyn grabs the kid to prevent her from getting down. "Absolutely not, you will not be walking on that leg for at least two months. Let me get you some crutches, or something, I will not have you undoing all our hard work."

She just sighs and shakes her head. "Sure, whatever. I'll get out of your hair after that." Her gaze falls upon the door and stays there.

"You do still need to explain what materials you needed, and what they were for, Evelyn," she says, getting up to go and grab a pair of crutches in roughly the right size.

"I was hoping to steal some metal and a few mechanisms, to fix this—" she gestures to the limply hanging hoodie sleeve failing to be held up by the lack of a right forearm "whole situation." She looks around the lab, trying to find the medicine cabinet. "I was also going to see if you had the medication I've been looking for."

"Depends on what medication that is," Merlyn sighs, and walks back over to Ava with the crutches in tow. "I would be happy to provide you with the raw materials for that arm, of course. Even help you with assembly if you'd like, it wouldn’t be the first prosthetic I've made."

They set the crutches next to Evelyn.

"I just still find it baffling you would know enough about this place to know I would have those, and yet not enough to know that sneaking in and stealing them was unnecessary. Is my habit of helping troubled kids really not widely known by now?"

Merlyn frowns, finally removing the hazmat helmet.

"Speaking of, you do have a place to return to right? A safe one?"

"I know some places. They meet certain definitions of safe." She continues trying to locate the medicine cabinet.

"Again, not a reassuring answer," she sighs. "Well, I suppose it's time to give this little speech again then; You are welcome to stay here, I have plenty of spare rooms and I could set one up for you. If you are not comfortable doing that - which, fair if not - I can also help you get a dorm down at the OSHA complex, I've navigated the paperwork there a few times. Or I could try and see if any of my friends would be willing to take you in for a bit, most of them are nice like that. The only thing that is not going to happen, is you are not going to be left homeless." Merlyn stares intensely into Ava's eyes.

"Now, what medications were you trying to get? I really only know my stuff around painkillers and anesthesia, since me and Igor have ended up doing so much emergency surgery and/or first aid. But, the OSHA clinic should be able to hook you up with anything you need, if you are willing to trust the vampires. They only ask for blood donations, not money, and only from people who weren't already bleeding profusely recently."

"…" She just stares at the floor for a while before answering. "I was hoping you might have estrogen and antiparasitics, but it doesn't seem like you do."

"I mean..." they sigh. "Yeah, the only E here is what's prescribed to my trans daughters... But we can help you get your own. It'll be better for you in the long run, anyway. Dosages with these things are finnicky, and you Really want an expert to help. I'm only a dabbler."

Merlyn frowns. "Why an antiparasitic?"

"Don't worry about it, it's not that important." She begins eyeing the door quite strongly, not wanting to elaborate in case she gets fussed over any more. "It was more of a tertiary goal if anything."

"Well, I suppose if I'm going to say I'm not a proper doctor, I don't have the right to insist on getting that information." They nod, tapping their fingers on their thigh.

"But, again, there is the clinic. I could take you there, if you would like."

"Doctors can't be trusted to do anything but collect their paycheck. It's malpractice and bigotry all the way down." Her gaze remains solidly locked on the door, though the flat tone of her voice and the lack of emotion in her facial expression make her intentions difficult to discern.

"Sure, a lot of them," they agree, "But I am willing to vouch for these ones... If you’re not comfortable though, I could research how to synthesize those things. And usual dosage amounts for someone your size, you just have to understand the risk you are taking as I studied physics, not medicine."

"It's usually easier to just steal shit and work out the doses yourself. Cuts out the health system and its bullshit." She looks at the crutches and then at her missing arm, before sighing and grabbing some loose fabric to tie the crutch to her bicep.

"Oh, I should have thought of that..." they frown at the makeshift attachment. "Hmm. Also, who hurt you? Evelyn, you're positively dripping in angst, and not just the normal teenage kind."

"Getting presumably abandoned by your parents before you even had a chance to form memories of them, then kicked out of the orphanage the moment you ‘don't look human enough’ and rejected by every other one for the same reason, only to be taken in by what would turn out to be a child trafficker and slaver looking to make an army of child soldiers who then sends said soldiers after you when you run away tends to do that to you. As does surviving entirely by your own means in a world that treats you like you should, if you must be so rude as to inconvenience it with your existence, at least do the nice thing and die quietly."

"Damn, and I thought my childhood was bad," they say, reaching up to scratch the back of their head. "Lucky for you, humans are in the minority around these parts, so if you stick around at least that bit should get easier. I mean, you Saw Igor, and he's not even the freakiest."

She doesn't react to the head scratches. "Humans being in the minority doesn't mean anything if everyone else hasn't addressed their own internalised bigotry." She stares off into space in silence for a while after that.

"Sure, but that presumes they had some in the first place. Many of these folks are older than human society, and more grew up entirely apart from it, so it makes zero sense for them to have learned to treat things which don't look human enough with suspicion. I mean, Vern has a literal godsdamned orange for a head and that's just normal where he's from. My kid Mac is probably the one who looks most like you, only greyer, and no one has given them any shit for it."

She shrugs.

"Even those of us who are or were human, at least those of us who haven't been chased out for assholery, tend to have something wacky about us. Donovan does a lot of genetic modification on himself, has gotten a lot of animal characteristics that way. Mike is an immortal time-displaced dream of himself and best friends with a goblin, who is devious and revels in it and that's what's fun about him. I'm a mad scientist, so I tend to love the monstrous and grotesque... Kish was never technically human but they grew up in mesopotamian society, and they're the absolute sweetest person I have ever met to the point of putting literal strangers above their own well-being. The list goes on."

She quietly makes an internal note of all the names Merlyn mentioned.

"I'll believe it when I see it. My trust in people isn't exactly at an all-time high right now."

Making sure that the crutch is secured to her right bicep, Evelyn finally stands to stretch her legs.

"Fair enough," They nod. "If you ever would like for me to help navigate getting you those meds or a better place to stay, you know where to find me. Just... just knock next time, alright?" She chuckles. "In the meanwhile, let me lead you to the lab and you can grab whatever materials you want for that arm."

"Sure, lead the way."

She balances awkwardly on her crutches but remains confidently upright.

"I shouldn't need too much."

"It's no worry even if you need a lot," they say, waving a hand dismissively as they begin walking, "I have plenty of resources, and ways to replenish them."

Ava doesn't reply, just hobbling after her on her crutches. She seems very much intent on staying silent for the rest of the walk unless directly prompted with a question.

While there are still questions Merlyn has about Evelyn - where she had come from, for instance - they refrain from asking for now. She suspected that the answers would begin to verge too much on things that hurt, for the kid to be telling a stranger.

Maybe one day, if Ava stuck around long enough. Merlyn certainly wasn't going anywhere.

She did not take the secret passageways - they tended to be narrow and sometimes had steep slopes or ladders, so the maze was more accessible to Ava at the moment. But that did make the journey longer than Merlyn was used too.

"Okay, we're here. Mind the time machine, it's not on but it's best not to trip on it anyway." They gesture vaguely. "The parts and materials not in use are on those shelves along the west wall. I can help fetch them, if you already know what you need."

Evelyn stops to stare directly at the time machine, studying it for some time before moving on. Once she gets to the shelves, it becomes clear how she got as far into the castle as she did. Her mobility and acrobatic ability are extremely impressive, even with a hand and a leg in a splint. It isn't long until she has everything she needs in a makeshift bag.

Merlyn nods approvingly, Ava has made some very good choices with the materials.

"You're free to work in here if you'd like, but if you'd rather scamper off to whatever hidey-hole you came from, that's fine too. Let me and Igor fix you some food to take also, though."

Ava looks to Merlyn, already ready to scamper off, but remains in place to let Mer give her food knowing there's no way she'll be allowed to leave before then.

"Igor's in the kitchen, so I'll ask him to grab you something you can take with you, alright?" She says, already texting something to Igor.

It was not long before he shuffled in and handed Evelyn a basket of bread, cheese, and apples. "Igor thought Miss Ava would prefer things which could be grabbed very quickly," he says, "Igor would have preferred to use oranges, so Miss Evelyn does not get scurvy, but The Master told Igor about Miss Ava's allergies."

Ava sighs, still not enjoying being fussed over, especially not this much. She takes the food anyway, though.

"Don't worry about scurvy, I know enough about diet science and the like to get vitamin supplements." She flashes a strip of prescription tablets for emphasis. "I may not have a formal education, but I've taught myself enough shit to at least be up to speed with basic science."

"Igor does not doubt it," he nods, "It is only that young people are known to forget about such things."

"Yeah," Merlyn chuckles, "It's actually fairly common on college campuses. And, no shade on not having a formal education. I never really finished mine, either. Life got in the way."

Ava scoffs quietly.

"Young people aren't known for having to survive entirely by their own means, so the typical stereotypes don't really apply. Most people who forget about vitamins just go see a doctor when the symptoms are bad enough for them to give enough of a shit about them, and then they get told to go take supplements. If someone like me forgets about vitamins or just doesn't know about them, they fucking die, and that's that. Most of the ones who get this far know a thing or two about surviving, because that's basically a fucking prerequisite for still being here." Despite her tone still remaining entirely flat, the words she says convey enough emotion to tell how frustrated and angry she must feel at the general state of the world.

@orcling-inventor

But Merlyn does make it in fairly good time, arriving to find a... smaller figure than she had expected, clearly in pain on the ground.

She seems to accept that they aren't leaving her alone and goes along with the help.

"I'm Merlyn, by the way. Welcome to Castle Camelot."

She's surprisingly light for someone of her height, suggesting at least some level of malnutrition. "No, I don't…" She just keeps her gaze down at the floor, not fighting or struggling at all.

"What were you doing here anyway? Did you not know how dangerous it is here without a guide? And how did you get past the gates? Or the goats, for that matter?"

They sigh. "But, that lecture can wait, I suppose. We're nearly there. Is your leg feeling any number, Ava? I've got a few other drugs we can add in if not."

"It's numb enough to operate on." That seems to be all she has to say on the matter, and it's unlikely that she'll budge.

"That is not as reassuring as you might think," they respond.

She just sighs and shakes her head. "Sure, whatever. I'll get out of your hair after that." Her gaze falls upon the door and stays there.

"You do still need to explain what materials you needed, and what they were for, Evelyn," she says, getting up to go and grab a pair of crutches in roughly the right size.

They set the crutches next to Evelyn.

Merlyn frowns, finally removing the hazmat helmet.

"Speaking of, you do have a place to return to right? A safe one?"

"I know some places. They meet certain definitions of safe." She continues trying to locate the medicine cabinet.

"…" She just stares at the floor for a while before answering. "I was hoping you might have estrogen and antiparasitics, but it doesn't seem like you do."

Merlyn frowns. "Why an antiparasitic?"

"Well, I suppose if I'm going to say I'm not a proper doctor, I don't have the right to insist on getting that information." They nod, tapping their fingers on their thigh.

"But, again, there is the clinic. I could take you there, if you would like."

"Oh, I should have thought of that..." they frown at the makeshift attachment. "Hmm. Also, who hurt you? Evelyn, you're positively dripping in angst, and not just the normal teenage kind."

She shrugs.

She quietly makes an internal note of all the names Merlyn mentioned.

"I'll believe it when I see it. My trust in people isn't exactly at an all-time high right now."

Making sure that the crutch is secured to her right bicep, Evelyn finally stands to stretch her legs.

"Sure, lead the way."

She balances awkwardly on her crutches but remains confidently upright.

"I shouldn't need too much."

"It's no worry even if you need a lot," they say, waving a hand dismissively as they begin walking, "I have plenty of resources, and ways to replenish them."

Ava doesn't reply, just hobbling after her on her crutches. She seems very much intent on staying silent for the rest of the walk unless directly prompted with a question.

Maybe one day, if Ava stuck around long enough. Merlyn certainly wasn't going anywhere.

Merlyn nods approvingly, Ava has made some very good choices with the materials.

"You're free to work in here if you'd like, but if you'd rather scamper off to whatever hidey-hole you came from, that's fine too. Let me and Igor fix you some food to take also, though."

Ava looks to Merlyn, already ready to scamper off, but remains in place to let Mer give her food knowing there's no way she'll be allowed to leave before then.

"Igor's in the kitchen, so I'll ask him to grab you something you can take with you, alright?" She says, already texting something to Igor.

Ava sighs, still not enjoying being fussed over, especially not this much. She takes the food anyway, though.

@orcling-inventor

But Merlyn does make it in fairly good time, arriving to find a... smaller figure than she had expected, clearly in pain on the ground.

She seems to accept that they aren't leaving her alone and goes along with the help.

"I'm Merlyn, by the way. Welcome to Castle Camelot."

She's surprisingly light for someone of her height, suggesting at least some level of malnutrition. "No, I don't…" She just keeps her gaze down at the floor, not fighting or struggling at all.

"What were you doing here anyway? Did you not know how dangerous it is here without a guide? And how did you get past the gates? Or the goats, for that matter?"

They sigh. "But, that lecture can wait, I suppose. We're nearly there. Is your leg feeling any number, Ava? I've got a few other drugs we can add in if not."

"It's numb enough to operate on." That seems to be all she has to say on the matter, and it's unlikely that she'll budge.

"That is not as reassuring as you might think," they respond.

She just sighs and shakes her head. "Sure, whatever. I'll get out of your hair after that." Her gaze falls upon the door and stays there.

"You do still need to explain what materials you needed, and what they were for, Evelyn," she says, getting up to go and grab a pair of crutches in roughly the right size.

They set the crutches next to Evelyn.

Merlyn frowns, finally removing the hazmat helmet.

"Speaking of, you do have a place to return to right? A safe one?"

"I know some places. They meet certain definitions of safe." She continues trying to locate the medicine cabinet.

"…" She just stares at the floor for a while before answering. "I was hoping you might have estrogen and antiparasitics, but it doesn't seem like you do."

Merlyn frowns. "Why an antiparasitic?"

"Well, I suppose if I'm going to say I'm not a proper doctor, I don't have the right to insist on getting that information." They nod, tapping their fingers on their thigh.

"But, again, there is the clinic. I could take you there, if you would like."

"Oh, I should have thought of that..." they frown at the makeshift attachment. "Hmm. Also, who hurt you? Evelyn, you're positively dripping in angst, and not just the normal teenage kind."

She shrugs.

She quietly makes an internal note of all the names Merlyn mentioned.

"I'll believe it when I see it. My trust in people isn't exactly at an all-time high right now."

Making sure that the crutch is secured to her right bicep, Evelyn finally stands to stretch her legs.

"Sure, lead the way."

She balances awkwardly on her crutches but remains confidently upright.

"I shouldn't need too much."

"It's no worry even if you need a lot," they say, waving a hand dismissively as they begin walking, "I have plenty of resources, and ways to replenish them."

Ava doesn't reply, just hobbling after her on her crutches. She seems very much intent on staying silent for the rest of the walk unless directly prompted with a question.

Maybe one day, if Ava stuck around long enough. Merlyn certainly wasn't going anywhere.

Merlyn nods approvingly, Ava has made some very good choices with the materials.

"You're free to work in here if you'd like, but if you'd rather scamper off to whatever hidey-hole you came from, that's fine too. Let me and Igor fix you some food to take also, though."

Ava looks to Merlyn, already ready to scamper off, but remains in place to let Mer give her food knowing there's no way she'll be allowed to leave before then.

@orcling-inventor

But Merlyn does make it in fairly good time, arriving to find a... smaller figure than she had expected, clearly in pain on the ground.

She seems to accept that they aren't leaving her alone and goes along with the help.

"I'm Merlyn, by the way. Welcome to Castle Camelot."

She's surprisingly light for someone of her height, suggesting at least some level of malnutrition. "No, I don't…" She just keeps her gaze down at the floor, not fighting or struggling at all.

"What were you doing here anyway? Did you not know how dangerous it is here without a guide? And how did you get past the gates? Or the goats, for that matter?"

They sigh. "But, that lecture can wait, I suppose. We're nearly there. Is your leg feeling any number, Ava? I've got a few other drugs we can add in if not."

"It's numb enough to operate on." That seems to be all she has to say on the matter, and it's unlikely that she'll budge.

"That is not as reassuring as you might think," they respond.

She just sighs and shakes her head. "Sure, whatever. I'll get out of your hair after that." Her gaze falls upon the door and stays there.

"You do still need to explain what materials you needed, and what they were for, Evelyn," she says, getting up to go and grab a pair of crutches in roughly the right size.

They set the crutches next to Evelyn.

Merlyn frowns, finally removing the hazmat helmet.

"Speaking of, you do have a place to return to right? A safe one?"

"I know some places. They meet certain definitions of safe." She continues trying to locate the medicine cabinet.

"…" She just stares at the floor for a while before answering. "I was hoping you might have estrogen and antiparasitics, but it doesn't seem like you do."

Merlyn frowns. "Why an antiparasitic?"

"Well, I suppose if I'm going to say I'm not a proper doctor, I don't have the right to insist on getting that information." They nod, tapping their fingers on their thigh.

"But, again, there is the clinic. I could take you there, if you would like."

"Oh, I should have thought of that..." they frown at the makeshift attachment. "Hmm. Also, who hurt you? Evelyn, you're positively dripping in angst, and not just the normal teenage kind."

She shrugs.

She quietly makes an internal note of all the names Merlyn mentioned.

"I'll believe it when I see it. My trust in people isn't exactly at an all-time high right now."

Making sure that the crutch is secured to her right bicep, Evelyn finally stands to stretch her legs.

"Sure, lead the way."

She balances awkwardly on her crutches but remains confidently upright.

"I shouldn't need too much."

"It's no worry even if you need a lot," they say, waving a hand dismissively as they begin walking, "I have plenty of resources, and ways to replenish them."

Ava doesn't reply, just hobbling after her on her crutches. She seems very much intent on staying silent for the rest of the walk unless directly prompted with a question.

Maybe one day, if Ava stuck around long enough. Merlyn certainly wasn't going anywhere.

@orcling-inventor

But Merlyn does make it in fairly good time, arriving to find a... smaller figure than she had expected, clearly in pain on the ground.

She seems to accept that they aren't leaving her alone and goes along with the help.

"I'm Merlyn, by the way. Welcome to Castle Camelot."

She's surprisingly light for someone of her height, suggesting at least some level of malnutrition. "No, I don't…" She just keeps her gaze down at the floor, not fighting or struggling at all.

"What were you doing here anyway? Did you not know how dangerous it is here without a guide? And how did you get past the gates? Or the goats, for that matter?"

They sigh. "But, that lecture can wait, I suppose. We're nearly there. Is your leg feeling any number, Ava? I've got a few other drugs we can add in if not."

"It's numb enough to operate on." That seems to be all she has to say on the matter, and it's unlikely that she'll budge.

"That is not as reassuring as you might think," they respond.

She just sighs and shakes her head. "Sure, whatever. I'll get out of your hair after that." Her gaze falls upon the door and stays there.

"You do still need to explain what materials you needed, and what they were for, Evelyn," she says, getting up to go and grab a pair of crutches in roughly the right size.

They set the crutches next to Evelyn.

Merlyn frowns, finally removing the hazmat helmet.

"Speaking of, you do have a place to return to right? A safe one?"

"I know some places. They meet certain definitions of safe." She continues trying to locate the medicine cabinet.

"…" She just stares at the floor for a while before answering. "I was hoping you might have estrogen and antiparasitics, but it doesn't seem like you do."

Merlyn frowns. "Why an antiparasitic?"

"Well, I suppose if I'm going to say I'm not a proper doctor, I don't have the right to insist on getting that information." They nod, tapping their fingers on their thigh.

"But, again, there is the clinic. I could take you there, if you would like."

"Oh, I should have thought of that..." they frown at the makeshift attachment. "Hmm. Also, who hurt you? Evelyn, you're positively dripping in angst, and not just the normal teenage kind."

She shrugs.

She quietly makes an internal note of all the names Merlyn mentioned.

"I'll believe it when I see it. My trust in people isn't exactly at an all-time high right now."

Making sure that the crutch is secured to her right bicep, Evelyn finally stands to stretch her legs.

"Sure, lead the way."

She balances awkwardly on her crutches but remains confidently upright.

"I shouldn't need too much."

"It's no worry even if you need a lot," they say, waving a hand dismissively as they begin walking, "I have plenty of resources, and ways to replenish them."

Ava doesn't reply, just hobbling after her on her crutches. She seems very much intent on staying silent for the rest of the walk unless directly prompted with a question.

@orcling-inventor

But Merlyn does make it in fairly good time, arriving to find a... smaller figure than she had expected, clearly in pain on the ground.

She seems to accept that they aren't leaving her alone and goes along with the help.

"I'm Merlyn, by the way. Welcome to Castle Camelot."

She's surprisingly light for someone of her height, suggesting at least some level of malnutrition. "No, I don't…" She just keeps her gaze down at the floor, not fighting or struggling at all.

"What were you doing here anyway? Did you not know how dangerous it is here without a guide? And how did you get past the gates? Or the goats, for that matter?"

They sigh. "But, that lecture can wait, I suppose. We're nearly there. Is your leg feeling any number, Ava? I've got a few other drugs we can add in if not."

"It's numb enough to operate on." That seems to be all she has to say on the matter, and it's unlikely that she'll budge.

"That is not as reassuring as you might think," they respond.

She just sighs and shakes her head. "Sure, whatever. I'll get out of your hair after that." Her gaze falls upon the door and stays there.

"You do still need to explain what materials you needed, and what they were for, Evelyn," she says, getting up to go and grab a pair of crutches in roughly the right size.

They set the crutches next to Evelyn.

Merlyn frowns, finally removing the hazmat helmet.

"Speaking of, you do have a place to return to right? A safe one?"

"I know some places. They meet certain definitions of safe." She continues trying to locate the medicine cabinet.

"…" She just stares at the floor for a while before answering. "I was hoping you might have estrogen and antiparasitics, but it doesn't seem like you do."

Merlyn frowns. "Why an antiparasitic?"

"Well, I suppose if I'm going to say I'm not a proper doctor, I don't have the right to insist on getting that information." They nod, tapping their fingers on their thigh.

"But, again, there is the clinic. I could take you there, if you would like."

"Oh, I should have thought of that..." they frown at the makeshift attachment. "Hmm. Also, who hurt you? Evelyn, you're positively dripping in angst, and not just the normal teenage kind."

She shrugs.

She quietly makes an internal note of all the names Merlyn mentioned.

"I'll believe it when I see it. My trust in people isn't exactly at an all-time high right now."

Making sure that the crutch is secured to her right bicep, Evelyn finally stands to stretch her legs.

"Sure, lead the way."

She balances awkwardly on her crutches but remains confidently upright.

"I shouldn't need too much."