Loamhedge Orphanage

A tall building with a high spire and bell -- grounds alive and growing -- and a shabby and varied populace. Further detail and minimap to come.

Marlemier followed Raven out into the corridor, closing the door behind her so that they wouldn't be overheard by the gaggle of kids in the common room. "Now, Raven," the big badger said, putting her hands on her knees. "What's on yer mind, lass?"

Somehow, when marle finally followed her into the hallway, she became extremely nervous. It wasn't something she was used to talking about, and seeing how she was ridiculed for it in her hometown, she could feel a lump in her throat when she tried to speak. However, her determination to master her powers was stronger than any fear she had. She took a deep breath before answering.

"W-well....I was wondering...d-do you know how to use magic?? Y-you see, I'm trying to master my magic, but i don't know how to use them properly. I-I've been trying to teach myself, but I don't think I'm making any progress by myself....m-maybe you can teach me? O-or we could go to the library and look for books...if your up to it that is. If you don't wanna I understand..."

Marlemier's snout gave a curious little twitch when Raven came out with her request. Briefly her brow furrowed and she dragged her claws through the thick fluff on her cheek. "Sorry lass, I canna help ye personal," the badger admitted. "Alas, I'm just an old spinster, and I've not a single magical hair on me hide. And ye may have noticed," she added slyly, "that I've quite a good many hairs."

In truth, while Marle wasn't entirely uncomfortable with magic overall, she didn't know much about it. She did know that it could be very dangerous and very unpredictable. But with more and more magical kids pouring into the orphanage, what was she to do? "Ye need a proper teacher, lass. What kinna magic do ye have?" Please let it not be dark and eldritch forced beyond her control, she pleaded silently. "We kin see what we kin do."

Ravens shoulders slumped with disappointment as marle said she couldn't teach her. Marle had always been her favorite, even if she had a hard time expressing it. She watches and listens as she runs a hand through her cheek, and raven plays with a few strands of her long black hair.

"U-um, it's elemental..."

She said realizing that marle probably felt uncomfortable. Her body tensed up as she fidgeted some more, hoping that marle wouldn't get mad.

"I-I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable...."

Elemental. Well, better that than summoning the dead or foul blood magicks. Marle scratched her chin now, trying to work through a solution for not only Raven, but also the other magical children in the orphanage. She didn't have much to go on.

As Raven expressed her worry, the badger crouched beside her, her fluffy tail flicking to bundle the girl up like a thick fur stole. "Och, lass, ye needn't worry aboot me. I've been elbow-deep in a man's insides ... takes quite a lot tae tie me bloomers in a knot!"

She straightened up--her encroaching age made it difficult to remain in that position for long--but her tail remained in place. "What kinna elements can ye control?" Hopefully not fire, she thought, worriedly.

Raven jumped slightly at marles tail suddenly wrapping around her, but after the immediate tense reaction, raven relaxed and ultimately felt comforted by it. She breathed out a bit as she looked down, trying to recall what she could do.

"Um, earth, water, air, snow and ice, and fire."

She said recalling what she had discovered she had been able to do. After a moment, her eyes widened ad she looked at marle surprised and somewhat disgusted.

"Ewwwww!!! You've been elbow deep in a mans insides?!"

She says completely shocked. After a moment she holds a hand up to her face and closes her eyes, trying to stifle a laugh. Her attempt was unsuccessful however, as the image in her mind was completly different than perhaps the reality of the incident. She started chuckling, and it turned into laughter that died down after a moment.

"Why??"

Marlemier was all too happy to explore a topic that she was more at home with, gruesome as it was. She knew next to nothing about magic, and it showed in her graceless approach of the matter, and her equally inelegant deflection. Thankfully, Raven seemed to want to hear about gruesome tales from the surgical bed--though the badger woman decided to tone them down somewhat, not wanting to give the girl a fright.

"Well, lass, sometimes ye need tae really get in there--" she made a thrusting motion with her claws to emphasize her point-- "tae fix someone up, ye ken? More'n once I've had tae pull out gallstones, n'such other things of that nature. Och, but t'isn't the sort of thing ye wish tae hear aboot, I'm sure!"

Her thick tail remained in place, warm and soft, until Raven wanted it removed.

Raven raised an eyebrow, as she wasn't quite familiar with the medical terminology that marle was using. Even still, a solution to her problem wasn't exactly met. Raven just sighed before hugging marle, indeed she was her favorite. Nobody had ever been this nice to her before. She also didn't mind her tail being there. It had an unfamiliar, comforting effect. Raven looked up at marle.

"Well, next time you go to town, do you think you could go to the library and see if they have any books on magic?"

Marle wrapped her fuzzy arms around Raven as the girl came in for a hug. Badger hugs were the best hugs--this was well-known and empirically proven! Absentmindedly she scritched the back of the girl's head, gentle and affectionate. "Aye, lass--I promise I'll have a look. I'm sure there's aught tae be found." If only we could afford to hire a tutor. Now her tail did slip away from Raven's shoulders, flicking a couple times behind her.

Raven jumps a bit, startled by the sudden scratching on the back of her head. But it felt relaxing. She lingered in the hug for a moment before regretably letting go and smiling at her.

"Thank you!"

She says before waving at her and running off to the courtyard.

Marle smiled and waved the girl off. But once Raven was gone, the badger let out a long, soft sigh, hanging her head. The state of the orphanage was so fragile now, and all of these children's lives hung in the balance. After a moment she, too, turned to leave.

A lone figure came from the town, riding atop a grey steed. A reedy looking fellow, hood drawn over his head. A satchel hung by his side carrying the books he needed. It wasn't tax time no, but he just came to take a look at the state of things... perhaps to assess how much the place might be worth?

Pulling the mare to a stop outside the orphanage's gates, he tied the reins to the lowest branch as he took a look about a place.

Leather bound book was removed from his bag, and with a charcoal stick, he scribbled a few notes in his book as he admired the piece of art that was the orphanage building.

Soft tsking and tutting sounds were heard as more things were scribbled.