Someone is sick... I think (Tag Professor Xavier) on Herbology

Parker - Pecari

February 09, 2018 11:40 AM

Someone is sick... I think (Tag Professor Xavier) by Parker - Pecari

Parker had arrived an hour before class today because he wanted to talk to Professor X about Cleo. Parker wasn't sure what he'd say, but he knew Professor X and Cleo had been close, and he knew that Professor X was smart and might be able to answer some of Parker's questions.

He liked the professor, not just because Parker was better at Herbology than almost every other class, but because the professor seemed to actually care about his students. Or maybe because he cared about the students who did the Gardening Club, which was really just Cleo and now Parker. Either way, he knew he could talk to Professor X about Cleo and see if there was anything he could do to help make her feel better. He really hadn't liked seeing the tears in her eyes.

As Parker waited, he thought over in his head what he would say so he wouldn't just rush through everything like he had when he saw Cleo at lunch. He wanted to be clear. He wanted to make sure he didn't get Cleo in any more trouble. He didn't do this often, but it tended to work out well when he did. He swung his feet below him and noticed that his feet were touching the floor for the first time.

He would talk about how Cleo said she didn't want to see anyone, and that Parker was worried she was sick. He would ask if the professor knew what she was sick with, and if there was something Parker could do to help her.

As he decided on this route of asking, he heard a sound behind him. All of his planning slipped his mind in the moment as he turned around.

"What's wrong with Cleo?"

41 Parker - Pecari Someone is sick... I think (Tag Professor Xavier) 1402 Parker - Pecari 1 5

Professor Xavier

February 11, 2018 1:18 PM

Someone is, but not who you think by Professor Xavier

Nathan had mostly recovered from the shock of September First. The first day of classes had been one of his off days - Herbology only getting taught in the Tuesday-Thursday time slots - which had given him an extra day to get used to the idea of Cleo as a half-Veela. Oddly enough, the rumor in the staff room was that Jozua Sparks was causing more trouble than Cleo was right off the bat, with some hormonal accidental magic. Rumor also was that Cleo was keeping a very low profile and trying her best not to interact with anyone, which Nathan thought was sad and probably unhealthy. He did suppose she had the right to be a bit reclusive while she got used to the idea of what Mr. James had told her, he just hoped it was a temporary hiccup for her rather than a new norm of self-isolation.

Selina had suggested trying to keep things as normal as possible, but normal had been Cleo coming to him, not him going to her, so he wasn't entirely sure how welcome he would be to suggest any gardening expeditions. Maybe after a few days, if things hadn't settled out on their own into a more normal holding pattern, he'd send her a letter about things the garden club could do to help out, since he hadn't specifically been told she was planning to cancel that, and that was within his habits from last year.

It was now the second day of classes, and he'd already handled the Advanced class, and the Beginners would be right after lunch. As one of the things going right for him this term - in addition to Raine successfully passing up into his RATS class - he was spared the intermediates until the last period of the day, so if anything went catastrophically wrong with Cleo and Jozua's class, he'd at least have more than a whole day to set the greenhouse right again before he'd need to teach again.

He was surprised to see one of the Beginners arrive remarkably early, while he was still eating his sandwich at his desk and looking over his syllabi for his afternoon classes and finalizing some details on his first day of class lessons. "Parker," he said, his voice reflecting that surprise. "Come in. What can I do for you?"

And Parker, unfortunately, asked about the one thing he really couldn't help with. Some dismay showed on his face, because he was quite poor at hiding his feelings, but there was sympathy there, too. "I'm afraid that is something you will need to discuss with her. She will definitely be needing a friend this year, though she may make it difficult, at first, because she is having a rough time right now. I'm afraid that's all I can tell you, since her confidences are not mine to share."

1 Professor Xavier Someone is, but not who you think 28 Professor Xavier 0 5

Parker

February 11, 2018 2:10 PM

Ohhh... a mystery? by Parker

Parker stood there for a second, taking in what Professor X was saying. He didn't fully understand what the professor meant when he said her confidences were not her's to share, but it didn't sound like Cleo was sick. At least not in the way Parker had originally thought. Briefly Parker was relieved, Cleo wasn't sick, which was a good thing. But the sympathy in the professors voice, and the other words he used did not make it sound... good.

Parker looked at the professor for a second.

"I think we are her friends," Parker emphasizing the WE. Parker had begun talking and thinking together, and thought he knew what he wanted to say, but ran out of steam mid thought and thus the statement hung in the air with silence behind it. Parker wanted to help in some way, and if she wasn't sick, that meant that it would be harder.

Parker was beginning to realize whatever was happening was big, like the rest of someone's life has changed big. Like when the man showed up in his kitchen, but instead of good news, the man had delivered bad news. But Parker had no idea what the news was. That scared and excited him. He wanted to help, but also wanted to respect Cleo's wishes of being left alone. So getting Professor X to have some sort of activity for her to do might be a good thing...maybe.

Parker thought through what might make her happy. She always loved the garden and the labrynth. Maybe they could plan activities... no she didn't want to see anyone. That's what she said.

Parker looked at the professor, sorry that he had interrupted his lunch, but more sorry that he was standing here awkwardly in silence having said something that sounded like an accusation, which is not what Parker had intended.

"She said she doesn't want to see anyone right now when I saw her. But she seemed sad when she said it. Are there any gardening or labyrinth things that could be done by one person? Or one person and one of the little elf things? I'm worried she'll stay in her room, and if she's not sick, that's not... good right?"

41 Parker Ohhh... a mystery? 1402 Parker 0 5

Nathan Xavier

February 14, 2018 6:55 PM

By now, I think we are up to three plague victims by Nathan Xavier

Nathan raised an eyebrow at Parker's inclusion of himself in Cleo's friend circle. He wasn't quite sure how to respond to that. He didn't want to seem like he was drawing away from a student he had always been fond of, but at the same time, he'd just been asked a number of very awkward question about that same student only two days ago. Seeming too close was just as bad. But there was no good way to explain that to a boy who only meant the best for his friend.

Fortunately, Parker continued before the silence became too awkward and Nathan had to figure out something to say.

"No, that would not be very good at all," he agreed.

He nodded thoughtfully at Parker's suggestion. "Yes," he said slowly, drawing the word out as he considered the groundskeeping chores he had waiting on his to-do list. "I think there are a few things I could recommend that could be handled by Cleo and a couple elves. That's a good idea. I'll do that. Thank you." He figured a slightly larger job, which required elf assistance, would be ideal: it ought to keep Cleo’s mind on something a bit more challenging, and give a solid unassailable reason why there were elves about which would raise no suspicion at all.

1 Nathan Xavier By now, I think we are up to three plague victims 28 Nathan Xavier 0 5