Raiden had to think on that for a minute. He didn't smile when he was around Neptune? That wasn't right, was it? He was pretty sure he did... oh wait.

"It's not her," he said quietly, shaking his head. "At least she makes me try to smile, sometimes. There's been a lot of times this term that... I haven't been in the best of moods and stuff."

Like the beginning. And the middle. And quite possibly right up through the end. Big brown eyes settled on Lina's face, the smile quite diminished.

"My mum keeps writing me," he said, voice gone all small. "She wants me to go live in Korea with her and... she's really insisting on it and stuff."

He paused, his nose wrinkling up.

"And I got in a fight with Cela and now she's gone..." That was the worst of it. The absolute worst. Because the last thing he'd said to her... "I told her to not talk to me anymore. I didn't want her to disappear, she wasn't supposed to do that."

Who had told her that was okay? Who had said she could just go off and get herself stolen away? That hadn't been what he'd MEANT.

" Yes, we have Violet to thank for us being friends" Rex laughed at his statement to Phyre. " You atay strong" Rex told Phyre. " I am here to stay with you the whole way" Rex said to Phyre.

"I dunno... you were smiling just now. I mean, before I said upsetting things." She sighed a little, holding him close, talking quietly to him to keep from drawing attention. "What happened with Cela... You don't know when your last chance ever is to say goodbye. And I'm not saying that you missed it. I'm sure she'll be found. But we don't live every day with every person thinking that we aren't going to see them tomorrow. Of course, I'm sure knowing that doesn't make the situation with your mother any easier."

She pulled back a little, tucking a finger under his chin to have him look up and meet her eyes. "Listen to me, Raiden. I want you to live as if you were die tomorrow, feel as if you were to be reborn now, and face as if you were to live forever.* This means don't dwell on the past, but fix it in the now, whenever that comes. Fight to live life without regrets, take each day as a new day, and don't be afraid of mistakes."

She closed her eyes and kissed his forehead. "It's hard to learn how to do, especially for a Slytherin, I think." She leaned down a little, pressing her forehead to his. "Like... I'm used to throwing caution to the wind with my potions, living on the edge of forever, but I am learning about containing my experiments, safety..." She pulled away a little and smirked at him. "Labeling."

"I think you need to do the opposite. Slytherins are good at doing things to the extreme, and we have trouble reaching for middle ground. And whatever time you stay here... we could do it together. I'll show you how to build the now... and you can remind me that I need to be more cautious. What do you think?"

* "Redemption," Gackt

Blink.

Blink.

Blink.

Lina kissed his forehead.

... Blink.

Raiden's little face flushed bright red. She... had she forgotten that he was older than she? For a moment, he was very, very still, and then he made a small noise in his throat and nodded.

"I didn't used to dwell on anything. I didn't have the time to," he mumbled, small fingers touching the spot on his forehead. That spot. Merlin, girls and their lips. He was still a sixteen year old man (yes, man. All grown up and stuff.), and kisses in any form were terribly, horribly awkward for him. "And I only ever regret stuff that hurts other people."

Well... for a while he'd regretted being Cela's friend, but that had been because... he'd been selfish for once and decided that no, he wasn't going to just take it. And that was ending so well, wasn't it.

"I'm older than you," he pointed out belatedly, half frowning as he rubbed his temple. "Why do I keep getting potions that mess up my head?"

He had been really talkative at five years old. This was not a good thing right now, he decided.

"I definitely will help you with your lack of cautiousness though... and you can help me stop being... like that." Yes. That worked.

She giggled lightly. "Years don't matter much. You'll learn that. Experiences and maturity matter." She bit her tongue a little as she blushed. "Not to say that I think I'm more mature than you, so please don't think I mean that. However..."

She stopped to try and think of what she was trying to say, becoming a little more serious. "Have you ever been around some adults, and wished they would actually act like adults? Some people, no matter how old they are, you can't help looking at them like kids. And others, even if they're young, you find you can look up to or be a partner with. And if you really care about someone, you want to care for them and protect them. Five, sixteen, or seven-hundred... I take care of the people that... are close to me."

"I know that," Raiden replied quickly, his hands sneaking back under the cloak to pull it tighter around his little body. "I'm just saying... don't forget that I'm not really... little like this."

He probably shouldn't be sitting like this, really. Considering that he wasn't little. Even if his head said, a few times, that he was, he was definitely not a child. He really needed to stop acting like one.

"Professor Truebridge and I had a talk about something like that, before he left... I'm too over-protective to some people. And I worry about them a lot."

She chuckled softly. "Then we're a perfect pair, because we can worry about and protect each other."

She tilted her head, still smiling slightly. "It's hard, sometimes, letting someone take care of you. I know... I've been horribly independant for a long time. But even the strongest person breaks down. And we all need someone to turn to. I can tell... you're the kind who prefers to keep things to himself and doesn't want to worry others, and so you let everything get to you and you don't really lean on anyone else. But being at the top is lonely, no matter who you're with, if you don't share the responsibility."

Lina shifted and winced a little. That's right, she had been planning on sneaking out and tending to her bruises and such. "I'm not going to tell you that you need to rely on others too, though I do think so. But I will tell you that if you need someone to turn to, I will be here. And I will help the best I can without bias or judgement."

Heh. Raiden stared back at Lina, slightly bemused. He was possibly the farthest thing from independent. The moments in his life that he'd had complete control over were few and far between.

"I grew up in the hospital. I didn't get to be independent." He shrugged. "And I was always making people worry. The healers and my mum and dad were always watching and worried. I don't want people to worry anymore."

He was old enough to take care of himself now. The small boy frowned at Lina's wince-y face and squirmed slightly, to get back to where he'd been sitting; he didn't want to cause her any more bruises or anything.

"Did she hit you that hard?" He tossed a glance at the sleeping blonde girl, slightly amazed. "She was really... really upset, wasn't she."

Poor Neptune. She really had lost her cool in the gardens... this hadn't been what he'd expected when he'd asked her down there. Hopefully she wasn't going to hate him for it...

She tried to give him a reassuring smile. "I took what I deserved. I'd taken a mild painkiller already, but I think it's wearing off a bit. What really hurt was when she bit me. I've probably only got a little bruising. Nothing serious." And of course, if anything was, she could heal it herself. She stifled a yawn and leaned back, keeping an arm around him. "I just hope that I managed to keep you from getting hurt too badly... You really... didn't deserve... that..." Another stifled yawn. Wait, why was she tired? No no! No yawning!

"Miss Healer Ashford could probably give you something for it." Nod nod. The woman had healed Dylan and he'd had a hole in his chest. She was a good Healer.

...Neptune had bitten Lina?

"She bit you?" And why had she been worried about him getting hurt? "She only hit me once. It was my own fault that I fell down... I'm not used to being so little, it was weird trying to hold her back. Normally it wouldn't be a problem, but I kinda lost my balance, she's bigger than usual when you compare..."

Raiden's hands measured off a space of about six inches, at the very least, demonstrating how much taller he thought he might be usually. He only had her by half that, at most, right now. And his limbs were all lanky and longer for his normal body, so that was all off too.

"It kinda hurt when she landed on me though." Raiden undid a button or two on his shirt, and peered down the front of the undershirt he had on beneath. "I don't have muscles or anything." Frown. "I was a string bean at five, wasn't I."

Teeny tiny and rail thin, apparently. Hmm.

"I have pain and healing potions," she said with a shrug. "I'll take care of it later. And I'm certain that if you did keep holding her back, she would have hit you or kicked you more trying to get to me, whether she meant to hurt you or not. But she never thinks about if she's hurting others... she's very impulsive. So I knew that if I just kept you from holding her back, and letting her beat on me, then you were less likely to get hurt and she would tire out eventually."

She bit her lip, then shifted a little so she could get to her sleeve. She pulled it up to reveal that her robes were a little big on her, and made her look a little bigger than she actually was. "Hey, I'm fifteen and still pretty small. I mean, I'm short, but I'm also pretty skinny. I keep my clothing a little big so people can't see it." Once she had her sleeve all the way up, it was clear where Neptune had bit her. There were deep red and purple teeth marks, with bruising starting to form around it.

"Nu-uh." Raiden shook his head, rather emphatically. His longish hair bounced around a bit, and he suddenly remembered how much he had liked having it longer. Heh. "You'll get the Healer to see you or you'll take care of it now."

Because it wouldn't do to have Lina walking around all hurty and stuff. She'd gotten in-between him and Neptune and... owwww that bite mark looked horrid. He almost wanted to touch it, just to see what it would feel like. Teeth imprints. Owie.

"I don't remember having ever been this skinny though." It was almost worrisome. Surely he was underweight for this age or something. "I mean I'm skinny now but it's completely different."

Even poking his arm hard enough right now would probably leave a bruise. Then again, that shouldn't have been surprising to him, considering.

"I think you're fine. Besides, you'll grow out of it here once the nurse sees you, or the potion wears off. Whichever comes first." She started pulling a few vials from her robes. There were a good majority labeled, but still some that weren't. Typical. She would really have rathered to wait, but she had a feeling Raiden would be stubborn about it and she didn't want to have to go to the healer. She searched a pocket with a bit of annoyance. "I know I had some bruise cream around here somewhere..."

Dismissing Oliver's suggestion of getting the Healer with a small hand gesture Nancy frowned angrily at how difficult it was to hop up the stairs on only one foot. "No levitating. I'm fine!" Well, not fine but y'know. No way was somebody going to levitate her up the stairs. She still had Oliver's facial expression quite vividly on her mind when Healer Ashford had levitated HIM up to the Hospital Wing. No thank you.

The journey started to become more and more difficult the closer they got to the third floor...and the more steps they climbed. Panting Nancy closed her eyes for a second as she hopped up one more step. Those random black spots before her eyes were not exactly a good sign. But they were so close. No way was she stopping now...or telling Oliver anything about that.

Still, that teasing did distract her slightly from the increasing exhaustion which became more and more unbearable. "Aww...I would have loved to have slippers sewn by you. I would have worn them, I swear. However horrible they would have looked." Nancy smirked at him mockingly as she dragged herself up another couple of steps. They were getting closer to the Hospital Wing.

Finally after what seemed like hours Nancy breathed a sigh of relief. The Hospital Wing door. Finally. "You sure you are able to come along inside? I don't want another set up slippers ruined." Even though, she was teasing him, the look she gave him suggested that she really really wanted him to come along inside. Pushing the door open with one hand - the other still clinging to Oliver - she stopped and looked at him expectantly.

"Seems like some people are a couple." said Violet in a sing song voice.

"Huh?" Lina's ears perked at Violet's proclimation, and she looked sleepily around trying to figure out who she was talking about. Rex and Sapphyre maybe? Well, they looked friendly but not that friendly. And wasn't he with someone else? Well... there were quite a few other students in the room. Maybe Violet saw something that she hadn't.

"You and the stupid- I mean Raiden." she said.

"What?" She blushed brightly and looked down at Raiden. "Oh no, we're not--" She looked back up at Violet. "I mean, no... He and Neptune..."

"Oh wait thats Neptune Bott?" asked Violet gestering over to Neptune. "Shes like an idol to me. Although I never got to meet her, I've heard stories."

"Thanks," Phyre murmured, "I will." And then, she lifted her hand. To do what, she wasn't sure, but her mind drifted to Kay, and her hand dropped to her lap once more. Ugh... She was too woozy to have conflicting emotions right now... Sheepishly, she leaned against Rex and let her eyes slipped closed. "Sorry if I get any blood on you," she murmured tiredly. "It's either this or wait to see what happens when blood loss settles in longer."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draco21

"Oh wait thats Neptune Bott?" asked Violet gestering over to Neptune. "Shes like an idol to me. Although I never got to meet her, I've heard stories."

Gee, thanks... "Yeah, that's Neptune. I dunno what's so great about her. I mean, what stories are you hearing? All I've heard is that she stole someone's drink and wanted to turn Raiden into a kitten-baby. No offense, Rai..."

She shifted through her pocket some more and finally pulled out a little jar. She measured out doses of two other potions, took them, capped what was left over, and put all the vials away. Then she opened the jar and started spreading some of the cream over where Neptune bit her.

OOC: This is a massive "all-call" for Cinn-O-Bun, Ameh, Mad Eye Touz, and BluePhyre.



Gabriella stared at her check-in book, trying to contemplate the best way to get this 'possibly manic or psychotic' patient to the back. He needed a Calming Draught, yes, but wasn't this the young boy who had unusual reactions to that potion? If she remembered correctly, he most definitely was. He'd been in here to see her on about the...ohhh, first or so day of school.

She tossed the clipboard back onto the podium and made her way into the waiting room. The place looked like a zoo, although, one without animals, of course. It was just as busy as a zoo, though! Spotting the Ravenclaw prefect not too far away, Gabriella approached with her wand held high. Being unconscious, he'd need to be levitated to the back, of course. "Mobilicorpus!" she called out, watching as Miles's body floated into the air. She carried him back to room one, gently placed him on a hospital bed, then returned to the waiting room.

"Raiden Kururugi and Neptune Bott, I'll see you in room two, please," she said. According to the check-in book, Raiden thought himself to be five, while Neptune thought herself to be three. Both age groups were capable of walking, so unless one or the other had fallen asleep, they could get to the back on their own. Granted, she may have to lure them back there with a lollipop or something.

"...and Sapphyre Black, I'll levitate you to room three," she said, feeling as if it'd be better for the girl to not tempt walking right now. With a swish and flick of her wand, Sapphyre had floated gently into the air. With a quick motion to Raiden and Neptune, the healer proceeded to the back.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna Banana

"Raiden Kururugi and Neptune Bott, I'll see you in room two, please," she said. According to the check-in book, Raiden thought himself to be five, while Neptune thought herself to be three. Both age groups were capable of walking, so unless one or the other had fallen asleep, they could get to the back on their own. Granted, she may have to lure them back there with a lollipop or something.

"Well, that's you," Lina said quietly. "I'll wait out here for you, okay?" It would almost be disappointing to have him go back to his 16-year-old self, and wondered if they would have more talks like this one. It wasn't often that she actually had someone to talk to.

"Yes, I know," Raiden murmured, letting go of the front of his shirt. He'd bother with the buttons later. "It's just something I never noticed before..."

Now that he thought about it... he'd always been on the scrawny side. Until his father discussed growth potions with the doctors, he'd been rather short as well. Hmmm.

The prefect shot a look over at Violet, his little face flooding with colour.

"Just because friendship between a boy and a girl is a foreign concept to you doesn't make it so for everyone else." His little voice was filled with grumpiness. "Most of my best friends are girls, but I only have one girlfriend. Not that it's any of your business, Miss Riddle."

As in, nose out of everyone else's business. She'd have herself to worry about when Raiden and Phyre were out of here. Lupa wouldn't be so light on her.

Ah, thank Merlin, Miss Healer Ashford was calling for them. He knew where Room 2 was, as well. The small boy struggled for a moment to disentangle himself from Mr. Masterson's cloak before finally getting loose and setting his bare feet on the cold floor once more.

"It shouldn't take long," he said with a nod to Lina. "Right? And then we can take Phyre to see Miss Professor Lupa and get Violet all sorted."

Since Mr. Masterson had Neptune, Raiden carefully folded the cloak over once or twice and carried it for the older man. He'd been nice enough to let him use it as a blanket, after all. The child paused for a moment, as if making sure Mr. Masterson was coming along as well, before tottling sleepily back towards the room.

Ek.. ok.. so no levitating. That was fine by Oliver. He got the distinct impression that Nancy would be almost as uncomfortable as he had been with it. “Yeah.. you look fine.” He muttered quietly and sarcastically following up with a wink so she wouldn't take offence. “So.... onwards and upwards!” He pointed up the stairs and would have struck a superhero pose should he not have been bent under Nancy's weight.

Smirking amusedly at Nancy's words, he raised an eyebrow. “Is that a fact?” He asked as if this was some kind of challenge. “I'll make them... if you promise not to throw them in the lake because they're so hideous.” He cackled and it echoed up the staircase of the deserted, quiet school. "Any particular colour? Greeeen, perhaps?" heh. Snot green badly sewn slippers. Lovely.

The journey that had started off fairly well got increasingly slower the further up the stairs they got. They had to take a few of rests along the way. Oliver was relieved that they didn't have to tackle that moving staircase on the way there. Now that would have been a struggle. He was going to have to suggest to the nice nursey that they moved the Hospital Wing to the ground floor cos it made so much more sense than having it on the third.

And here they were at last. Oliver paused outside the entrance with a look of worry on his face. “Nhhh.. uh..” He muttered incoherently to the injured Slytherin girl. “I.. er..” He scratched nervously at his cheek. It was so tempting to just leave Nancy here and run off back to the common room but hell, he couldn't do that! He closed his eyes briefly trying to silence the scared little boy voice in his head, then took a breath before speaking. “I.. I'm sure.” He replied not sounding sure at all. He gave her a look as she teased him over the slippers – now he did feel like he was going to vomit. The smell of disinfectant alone coming from inside that.. that.. medical place made him feel ill without the vision of vomit too. Guh. “It was the waking up in my own blood that made me vomit, not the thought of the hospital wing.” He pointed out to her... though he wasn't entirely sure if this was true.

Pfft.. But Nancy didn't need to know that, did she?

“I'm fine. Come on.” He said. He had to be brave here. Bring the ol' 'Slythindor' he claimed he was to the surface. He slung his arm around the girl's waist once again and helped her inside the waiting area and onto one of the vacant chairs.