2 Mar 2021, 01:28
Poison Ivy is a Pain
"Oh, I've played it with him," Kit chuckled, answering Kelsey's question about the game and his brother. "I just hardly ever won 'cause he'd always kick my butt. He and I used to focus more on making our own characters and pitting them against each other than the story of the actual fighting game. 'Fraid I didn't pay enough attention to the characters that were already made thanks to that." He made a little helpless shrug accompanied by an apologetic smile.
"My brother probably knows who Zasalamel is, though. What story I watched played out was from watching him play that part on his own. Maybe I'll suggest he come by to talk games with you some time. I'm sure he misses talking games with someone." Kit winked and lowered his volume conspiratorily. "Just don't let on that you know we're related if you end up meeting him. He's not all that fond of being associated with me here at school."
Upon being given a choice of the pill packets, Kit contemplated them for a moment before nodded toward the non-drowsy set. He couldn't help snickering under his breath when the nurse slid it over, as amused as if he were a kid watching a stage magician pull a slight-of-hand magic trick. The comment about there being more where that came from only caused his shoulders to shake harder with suppressed, silent laughter. "Thank you," he managed to get out eventually. The caretaker would have never imagined he'd have enjoyed himself so much from a visit to the Hospital Wing, of all places.
Maybe, he thought absently, he should find more excuses to drop by there more often. Or, perhaps, just drop by just because. Who said he needed an excuse? Well, unless they were busy, of course. But in that case, he could simply offer to help and be allowed to stick around that way. Kit's mind teemed with ideas regarding a next visit as he watched Kels set aside some folders to make room for a bowl of clay.
The response regarding why Kels applied for the job of Hogwarts Head Nurse earned a slow, thoughtful nod from Kit as he listened, intrigued. The corners of his mouth twitched upward at both ends when the man admitted to not having been in charge prior to getting the position. Though it didn't change when he realized Kelsey was regarding him more seriously at the subject of his teeth, Kit's eyes gazed back, calm and cool.
At least until Kels' own laughter caught him up in it again, causing him to laugh right along. Once he had sobered back up a bit more, he chuckled softly; fondly. "Yeah, I wondered about it being easy to fix," he confessed. "Magic can do a lot these days. But that was why I was surprised since I figured most people would have if they could. I, personally, find it charming." The curve of his mouth remained frozen in place, but the smile left his eyes at the mention of his heterchromia and his gaze shifted elsewhere.
"My parents would have liked me to fix my heterochromia," he said simply without malice. "They wanted me to be more normal. It was bad enough I was magic." Kit shrugged. "But hey, some people just can't accept what they're not used to. They're muggles, after all. The more normal and predictable things are, the safer and more comfortable they feel about them."
Once he noticed the water boiling, he followed the line of Kelsey's elbow to the desk drawer and opened it. "Which one? Got a favorite? I'm not picky."
@Kelsy Brumby
When you think you're alone - that no one cares and you don't matter, please remember: You matter to me.
2 Mar 2021, 17:52
Poison Ivy is a Pain
"Ohhhh, that's so cool!" Kels didn't even know there was an option to make your own character, he only just jumped in and played whatever character looked cool. Even into his adulthood, he never got a system for himself. Just too busy, or too surrounded by magic. Life seemed so short, how was he 30 already? "Not fond...? That's kinda sketchy?"
The sound of Kit's laughter at each of his small jokes brought his spirits through the roof. Lots of people liked Kels, but not everyone humored him. He would start looking at his patient more carefully, how he reacted to things, where he might normally not give it a second thought. He was so easy to talk to, did he really have to go back to work? Then, when Kit called his smile charming, Kels looked up again knowingly, a small one-sided smirk that contained his bashfulness at the bold flattery.
"Shucks." He said, looking away again.
As he talked about his family though, he'd get quiet, his brows knit while listening. There would be a few silent coughs or rustling of blankets and creaking of beds in the wing, but otherwise the clink of his pestle and the sound of bubbling water were the only things accompanying the conversation. It wasn't unlikely that they were waking up anyone who had been trying to sleep in, though there weren't any outright complaints yet.
"What?" Kels' voice sounded devastated, his stirring stopping for a moment. "That's awful! You spent yer whole childhood bein' told that crap? That's so sad!"
Even though Kit wrote it off as people not liking what wasn't predictable, Kels' cross face looked off into the distance, like recalling something, or imagining something. He let out a small huff, a frown having replaced his smile. In short order, he drifted back, and started mixing again.
"Soz... if yer brother is here, he's not a muggle neither? What's up with that? Yer American, right? Why did'ja both move to the UK?" He of course now wanted Kit's life story, but bigger curiosities came first. He lifted up the pestle to check the consistency of the new balm with the lotion added, and it looked appropriately stringy and sticky. Putting it down, Kels squeaked his chair closer by walking it forward with his feet. "Oh jes' close yer eyes an' pick one then."
There was a cast iron teapot that he snatched out of obscurity from the jungle of his desk. Dumping the wet leaves into a container filled with old tea leaves nearby, he then whipped out his wand that had also been laying in wait somewhere on his desk. Waving an 'S' through the air, his sloppy speech vanished as he declared "Scourgify," with perfected annunciation, then placed the mesh back into the pot and the pot near the burner. The drawer would be stocked with glass containers filled with full leaves, most of them marked with a label in a fashion nearly identical to the potions lining the tall cabinets behind them.
The sound of Kit's laughter at each of his small jokes brought his spirits through the roof. Lots of people liked Kels, but not everyone humored him. He would start looking at his patient more carefully, how he reacted to things, where he might normally not give it a second thought. He was so easy to talk to, did he really have to go back to work? Then, when Kit called his smile charming, Kels looked up again knowingly, a small one-sided smirk that contained his bashfulness at the bold flattery.
"Shucks." He said, looking away again.
As he talked about his family though, he'd get quiet, his brows knit while listening. There would be a few silent coughs or rustling of blankets and creaking of beds in the wing, but otherwise the clink of his pestle and the sound of bubbling water were the only things accompanying the conversation. It wasn't unlikely that they were waking up anyone who had been trying to sleep in, though there weren't any outright complaints yet.
"What?" Kels' voice sounded devastated, his stirring stopping for a moment. "That's awful! You spent yer whole childhood bein' told that crap? That's so sad!"
Even though Kit wrote it off as people not liking what wasn't predictable, Kels' cross face looked off into the distance, like recalling something, or imagining something. He let out a small huff, a frown having replaced his smile. In short order, he drifted back, and started mixing again.
"Soz... if yer brother is here, he's not a muggle neither? What's up with that? Yer American, right? Why did'ja both move to the UK?" He of course now wanted Kit's life story, but bigger curiosities came first. He lifted up the pestle to check the consistency of the new balm with the lotion added, and it looked appropriately stringy and sticky. Putting it down, Kels squeaked his chair closer by walking it forward with his feet. "Oh jes' close yer eyes an' pick one then."
There was a cast iron teapot that he snatched out of obscurity from the jungle of his desk. Dumping the wet leaves into a container filled with old tea leaves nearby, he then whipped out his wand that had also been laying in wait somewhere on his desk. Waving an 'S' through the air, his sloppy speech vanished as he declared "Scourgify," with perfected annunciation, then placed the mesh back into the pot and the pot near the burner. The drawer would be stocked with glass containers filled with full leaves, most of them marked with a label in a fashion nearly identical to the potions lining the tall cabinets behind them.
@Kit Paine
Reducio
Roll for tea
1. Chamomile 2. English Breakfast 3. Earl Grey 4. Chaga 5. Sencha
6. Assam 7. Peppermint 8. Jasmine 9. Chrysanthemum 10. Essiac
11. Hibiscus 12. Moringa 13. Nettle 14. Oolong 15. Pu-erh
16. Pau d’arco 17. Rooibos 18. Raspberry 19. Yerba Mate 20. Tulsi
3 Mar 2021, 03:03
Poison Ivy is a Pain
"Hahaha, well, I'm kind of a sketchy guy myself," the caretaker responded jokingly to Kels' comment regarding his sibling. "Wouldn't want to ruin or otherwise impact his reputation or school experience just because he's associated with me, you know?" Kit spread his arms.
"It's not that he's ashamed of me or anything even if he might joke that he is. I think he just worries that he won't be able to step out of my shadow and make friends or other relationships on his own if it's only due to his connection to me."
His expression softened and warmed at the thought of his brother. "He's the younger of us, after all. There's enough he hasn't gotten to experience without me experiencing it first. Since I went to Ilvermorny, I figure the least I can do is stay out of his way at Hogwarts.
"Here, there's no one to judge or compare him to his older brother based on presumptions or expectations caused by me. No one needs to accuse him of getting special treatment from me or anyone else this way, either, because he’s related to a staff member." He tilted his head toward Kels. "I'm guessing you don't have siblings...?"
Pleased that the nurse seemed to take the honest compliment well, Kit grinned back. He had never been one to refrain from speaking his mind and he was glad he could. Kels' reaction had been more than worth it. The other man's response to his comments about his parents, however, made him wonder if it had been wise to mention them. It was intriguing to see such a good-humored soul suddenly reveal another drastically different facet of emotion, but Kit was sorry he'd been the one to bring about the negative change.
"It wasn't as bad as it sounds," he hastened to add, surprised to see Kels had even stopped stirring for a moment. "They just wanted what was best for me. For their kids. And, as I'm sure you're wise enough to know, the world doesn't treat those who are different with the greatest kindness." He tried to smile again, touched by the nurse's concern, but still regretful he had evoked it in the first place.
"It was their way of preparing us for the real world. If they couldn't find fault with us, then the world wasn't likely to, either. That was their way of thinking, anyway. But regardless, not something I have to worry about anymore since I moved out."
He sneered at the questions Kels tossed at him about his brother. "Yeah, my family coming here to the United Kingdom was a bit of a surprise for us all, I think. They still don't know I live here or work at this school, but from what I gather, at least one got a job in the UK and so they decided to move from the US.
"Kind of ironic, but if you think about how there's only one magic school in the whole UK, I guess it sorta made sense my bro and I would meet up eventually. It's a small wizarding world, I guess."
The profound, distant look that had been on Kels' face was still seared into Kit's mind. He closed his eyes and pondered on it as he did as Kels suggested and picked a tea-leaf-filled glass container from the drawer at random. When he opened them again, he examined the label of the container he'd selected.
"How do you feel about Oolong tea?" he asked, his hand hovering the leaves over the boiling liquid. Maybe he should have put them in already, but the sooner the tea was finished, the sooner he would have to go. Especially because the head nurse looked done with whatever concoction he had been mixing.
He blinked at the iron teapot that the dirty blonde seemed to conjure up from nowhere - another sleight-of-hand magic trick - and watch him clean it of whatever remnants it had leftover from the previous beverage it had contained. The use of the Scouring Charm caused him to smile for reasons he wasn't entirely sure of himself. Maybe it was just nice to watch his fellow wizard at work.
"Wow...do you collect all these leaves yourself?" he asked, amazed at the sheer amount of them occupying the drawer; and that was nothing to say of the variety. "Oh, and speaking of leaves..."
He nodded toward the clay mixing bowl. "What's that for? Is that stuff for the poison ivy rash, or are the pills?" Kit held up the small packet of pills he'd been passed; the ones he had planned to drink down with the tea when it was ready.
@Kelsy Brumby
When you think you're alone - that no one cares and you don't matter, please remember: You matter to me.
4 Mar 2021, 16:32
Poison Ivy is a Pain
Kels was surprised that Kit referred to himself as sketchy, whether it was a joke or not. He took people at their word for the most part, so if he thought he was sketchy, Kels was inclined to believe it. It might have been an earnest warning, Kels wasn't completely naive about people.
His explanation about why he'd stay away from his brother also made very little sense. If he had a younger brother in school, he would want to see him all the time. Who cared what other people thought? Wasn't it more important to take care of each other? Perhaps his brother was one of those kids who felt they needed to be independant right away. Kels couldn't sympathize, he had always been independant, and it wasn't what it was cracked up to be.
"Naw... err, at least I don't think so. I don't know anythin' about my parents, 'cept that they didn't want anythin' to do with me." The revelation wouldn't come with any glimmer of regret, the information would seem to hold little sway with him. "Now that I think about it, I probably do! That's wild."
As Kit quickly tried to salvage Kels' opinion of his parents, he would just purse his lips incredulously. He couldn't help but see it his own way, it almost felt like he was raised by bullies. He didn't doubt they meant well, most everyone did, but it wouldn't change the pain they had inflicted. What was worse than being told to hide your true self?
"Prepare you for the real world... what a load of crumbs." Kels murmered, mostly to himself, since Kit seemed insistant on glossing over it.
At least his story about how the two ended up at Hogwarts together was more lighthearted and amusing, though he hated to think that his brother was being indoctrinated with the same anti-magic rhetoric. Honestly, the whole thing felt rather depressing, he was hoping for something more like an emancipation or kindly distant relatives that took him in. Real life rarely had such harmonious progression though. Much of it involved powering through the pain.
"It's nice you get to see 'im still. You must suck at video games to be beaten by a little kid tho." Kels snorted at his own joke, letting the rain cloud of the implications of the conversation pass him by. Kit was an adult, he had probably already faced a lot of his demons without someone else having to tell him he had them. "If I had a kid brother I'd never let him hear the end of it. He'd have to suffer through every second of bein' loved by me."
As Kit lifted one of the container from the drawer, the marker on it denoted it as 'oolong', though that was an oversimplification. It was a great choice, though Kels was sure to have thought any of the ones he grabbed was a great choice.
"Yeah! That one's actually called Da Hong Pao, oolong is jes' the type. It's a buff leaf, you can re-steep it up to nine times without it losing its flavor. Real thrifty!" Kels would point to the mesh he replaced in the teapot, where one could then pour the boiling liquid over the leaves without them mingling in the water. The leaves would be big, green, and ropey and smell like orchids. "All them teas are great. You must know how tea crazy we English folk are, I jes' also hava mum what loves plants. She were a healer, you should see her collection! But I jes' buy 'em."
As Kit brought attention back to the concoction behind him, Kels looked around dumbfounded. Right! He might have briefly forgotten that Kit was currently in a lot of pain... not exactly professional, but he very rarely was. All's well that ends well, though.
"Oh! Doy!" He squeaked his chair back and swept it up, though its smell was a lot less alluring than the tea he was hoping to drink soon. "That rash is an allergic reaction. The antihistamine will help with inflammation. This balm will make it so you can't even feel it. Let it heal isself for a few days and viola!"
He handed the bowl over, which had a good amount of yellow-white cream inside. "Use as much as ya want 'til then. I'll bottle it up fer ya. Jes' leave it on 'til it dries." Given that Kit would be busy relieving the stressful irritation, Kels moved to pour the water into the teapot himself, granted that Kit already released the leaves to their fate.
His explanation about why he'd stay away from his brother also made very little sense. If he had a younger brother in school, he would want to see him all the time. Who cared what other people thought? Wasn't it more important to take care of each other? Perhaps his brother was one of those kids who felt they needed to be independant right away. Kels couldn't sympathize, he had always been independant, and it wasn't what it was cracked up to be.
"Naw... err, at least I don't think so. I don't know anythin' about my parents, 'cept that they didn't want anythin' to do with me." The revelation wouldn't come with any glimmer of regret, the information would seem to hold little sway with him. "Now that I think about it, I probably do! That's wild."
As Kit quickly tried to salvage Kels' opinion of his parents, he would just purse his lips incredulously. He couldn't help but see it his own way, it almost felt like he was raised by bullies. He didn't doubt they meant well, most everyone did, but it wouldn't change the pain they had inflicted. What was worse than being told to hide your true self?
"Prepare you for the real world... what a load of crumbs." Kels murmered, mostly to himself, since Kit seemed insistant on glossing over it.
At least his story about how the two ended up at Hogwarts together was more lighthearted and amusing, though he hated to think that his brother was being indoctrinated with the same anti-magic rhetoric. Honestly, the whole thing felt rather depressing, he was hoping for something more like an emancipation or kindly distant relatives that took him in. Real life rarely had such harmonious progression though. Much of it involved powering through the pain.
"It's nice you get to see 'im still. You must suck at video games to be beaten by a little kid tho." Kels snorted at his own joke, letting the rain cloud of the implications of the conversation pass him by. Kit was an adult, he had probably already faced a lot of his demons without someone else having to tell him he had them. "If I had a kid brother I'd never let him hear the end of it. He'd have to suffer through every second of bein' loved by me."
As Kit lifted one of the container from the drawer, the marker on it denoted it as 'oolong', though that was an oversimplification. It was a great choice, though Kels was sure to have thought any of the ones he grabbed was a great choice.
"Yeah! That one's actually called Da Hong Pao, oolong is jes' the type. It's a buff leaf, you can re-steep it up to nine times without it losing its flavor. Real thrifty!" Kels would point to the mesh he replaced in the teapot, where one could then pour the boiling liquid over the leaves without them mingling in the water. The leaves would be big, green, and ropey and smell like orchids. "All them teas are great. You must know how tea crazy we English folk are, I jes' also hava mum what loves plants. She were a healer, you should see her collection! But I jes' buy 'em."
As Kit brought attention back to the concoction behind him, Kels looked around dumbfounded. Right! He might have briefly forgotten that Kit was currently in a lot of pain... not exactly professional, but he very rarely was. All's well that ends well, though.
"Oh! Doy!" He squeaked his chair back and swept it up, though its smell was a lot less alluring than the tea he was hoping to drink soon. "That rash is an allergic reaction. The antihistamine will help with inflammation. This balm will make it so you can't even feel it. Let it heal isself for a few days and viola!"
He handed the bowl over, which had a good amount of yellow-white cream inside. "Use as much as ya want 'til then. I'll bottle it up fer ya. Jes' leave it on 'til it dries." Given that Kit would be busy relieving the stressful irritation, Kels moved to pour the water into the teapot himself, granted that Kit already released the leaves to their fate.
@Kit Paine
9 Mar 2021, 19:42
Poison Ivy is a Pain
Floored at the only information Kels confessed to knowing about his parents, Kit stared at the nurse a few moments, his mouth open slightly. His thoughts raced around chaotically as he tried to interpret what this might have meant to the other man. He didn't seem to mind it, but how insensitive had Kit been talking about his own family? And in a manner that likely painted them in a bad light more so than a good one, no less?
But no, Kels had seemed resentful toward them despite what Kit had tried to defend, so he must have had some strong opinions of his own regarding what family thought and what they raised their children to think. If it wasn't due to feelings about his own family, then, though, where had those passionate feelings originated from?
So many things to ask, so many personal and invasive questions, and so little time to get to know his new friend. Fortunately, Kels didn't seem like the type to take offense to such frank and intimate questions so soon after they'd first properly met, but that was one thing Kit really found himself liking about the fellow. Even so, it seemed a bit much to ask all of that right here and now.
Later, he assured his insistent urges. There will be time to ask later. He probably won't be going anywhere for a while. Not to mention other students were beginning to wake in infirmary beds. It wouldn't have done to have a private conversation like theirs be overheard by students. Even if Kels didn't mind, even well-intentioned or innocent kids could start rumors and rumors had a way of getting out of hand. Kit didn't want to be the cause of that for the head nurse.
So, instead, he simply smiled at Kels' murmuring to himself and replied softly, "Since all I have is the viewpoint of my parents and what they think, I'll have to ask you your opinion and perspective on the subject another time. Perhaps somewhere quieter and when you're not just about to start a day of fixing students." He reached out a hand to squeeze the nurse's arm in a brief and affectionate manner. "Curious about what you know of those parents of yours, too. Sounds something like mine might have cared too much and yours might have cared too little."
When the dirty blonde man mentioned it was nice Kit still got to see his brother, he grinned and nodded enthusiastically. "Hahaha, yeah, I'm real glad I get to see him at all, which is why staying out of his way is a small enough price for me to pay. And yeah...I pretty much suck at video games. More of a drawing sort. But it's still fun to play when it's with people who enjoy the experience regardless of winning or losing." He waggled his brows at Kels. "You the competitive sort?"
His features softened again when his conversation partner spoke of if he had a kid brother of his own. "Hahaha...well growing up, I think my bro got enough of that from me. Not that I don't take every chance to remind him when we're in private, but he does the same to the point where it's obnoxious, so we're even." He sneered, recalling how much Rakiak enjoyed snuggling up when they watched movies and played games together. "I guess we're both pretty physically intimate people. What about you? Got top love languages?"
Ahh, he was asking so many questions again. He needed to stop that if they were ever going to part ways this morning. Not that he wanted to; Kit would have much rather found out more about this sympathetic, jovial, charismatic young man. But they both had to get to work sometime, didn't they?
He listened with interest at the full name of the tea he had randomly selected - Da Hong Pao - and repeated it under his breath to commit it to memory. He wanted to look into what that meant later. "Nine times, huh? It's like the cat of tea leaves," he chuckled.
With Kels' direction, he put the Da Hong Pao over the mesh. The aroma was incredible. He wafted some of it toward him after he'd closed the drawer, relishing in its fragrance. But then Kels said something that earned him a flummoxed look from Kit.
"A mum who loves plants..." he repeated, setting down the container that had held the tea leaves. "And a healer. This would be the same mum who didn't want anything to do with you?"
But the caretaker's attention was momentarily shifted back to Kels' comments on his poison ivy rash. "...So is everyone allergic to poison ivy, then?" he wondered aloud, peering at the balm as he mentally cataloged the scent. "Thank you so much, Kels. I appreciate it."
Kit accepted the bowl and began to quickly scoop up some of the yellow-white balm with his fingers to put on his rash. Their conversation had been stimulating enough to distract him a good deal from the pain and irritation, but it was so much nicer to have something to subdue the unpleasant sensations completely.
@Kelsy Brumby
When you think you're alone - that no one cares and you don't matter, please remember: You matter to me.
11 Mar 2021, 23:49
Poison Ivy is a Pain
"Yeah, right." The reminder of the time of day had him scratching under his chin and looking out into the distance. As much as he acted like he was bored all the time, it really wasn't ever slow enough that he could just neglect his duties and nothing would go wrong. It wasn't just that, but he had staff that were expecting him to respect the position he was in. Turning back and smiling again after Kit's touch brought him back from the brief diversion, he shrugged as Kit continued. "I dunno! I don't really care about them neither."
Kels felt rather comfortable talking with Kit, even though the subject of family was a bit of a strange one for him. It always seemed like people cared more about it than he did. Maybe it was because he only had one person in his family, it felt more like a relationship with her than a... concept. He loved his mum, but he didn't know if he could say he was a family man. He loved all kinds of people, he had trouble distinguishing what the word even really meant. For some, it meant everything.
Kit certainly seemed to love his brother the way he acted when he talked about him. Bit by bit, he was starting to form an idea of what kind of person Kit was. It felt like he must have been doing the same, as he certainly liked asking questions. Not a thing he said went by without Kit wanting to know more about it. Of course, it was always nice when someone showed interest, but at times it almost felt like he was being interviewed. He could write it off for now, but it was something to look out for.
"I can be competitive." Kels' frantic energy had smoothed out, having hit his stride after the initial excitement. Now, it almost felt like they were old friends catching up, somehow. He would have liked to know more about what kind of drawing Kit did, but he was talking so much it was impossible to respond to everything. He wouldn't forget though. "If it's funny."
As he talked more about how close he and his brother were, he asked a question that he had absolutely no answer to. He'd cock his head, his eyebrows shooting up quizzically.
"Love languages? Like Italian?" From context, he could make some guesses, but there was no point when he could just ask.
Kels snickered loudly at Kit's declaring Da Hong Pao the cat of teas. How had he never thought of that? It was the perfect joke! "Now I'm imaginin' a buff cat." As they went on with their jovial banter, Kit suddenly seemed a lot more serious after he talked about his mum. It figured, Kels realized he had completely steamrolled over any context whatsoever.
"Ohh... uh, sorry, sometimes I jes' blabber on an' forget stuff." Though he said sorry, his nonplussed expression did not seem very sorry. He'd be a nervous wreck if he felt bad every time he said something that confused someone. "My mum adopted me when I was, like, five. I never talked to my parents again. Don't even know their names."
To his medical question, he was quick to answer. It was a fun fact! "Almost! Like... like 90% of people... but don't quote me on'at."
While Kit was busy applying it, Kels set out two clean(er) cups, which looked more like containers for fluid that weren't designed to be drank from. It would need at least five minutes to steep before it was ready. This was all a part of the ritual of tea drinking. It was why it was such a drag to have tea without company, which is why so many of his half-filled cups went icy cold abandoned on his desk.
"You're welcome! Be sure to get hurt a lot so I can show you the rest of my awesome medicine." Finger guns.
Kels felt rather comfortable talking with Kit, even though the subject of family was a bit of a strange one for him. It always seemed like people cared more about it than he did. Maybe it was because he only had one person in his family, it felt more like a relationship with her than a... concept. He loved his mum, but he didn't know if he could say he was a family man. He loved all kinds of people, he had trouble distinguishing what the word even really meant. For some, it meant everything.
Kit certainly seemed to love his brother the way he acted when he talked about him. Bit by bit, he was starting to form an idea of what kind of person Kit was. It felt like he must have been doing the same, as he certainly liked asking questions. Not a thing he said went by without Kit wanting to know more about it. Of course, it was always nice when someone showed interest, but at times it almost felt like he was being interviewed. He could write it off for now, but it was something to look out for.
"I can be competitive." Kels' frantic energy had smoothed out, having hit his stride after the initial excitement. Now, it almost felt like they were old friends catching up, somehow. He would have liked to know more about what kind of drawing Kit did, but he was talking so much it was impossible to respond to everything. He wouldn't forget though. "If it's funny."
As he talked more about how close he and his brother were, he asked a question that he had absolutely no answer to. He'd cock his head, his eyebrows shooting up quizzically.
"Love languages? Like Italian?" From context, he could make some guesses, but there was no point when he could just ask.
Kels snickered loudly at Kit's declaring Da Hong Pao the cat of teas. How had he never thought of that? It was the perfect joke! "Now I'm imaginin' a buff cat." As they went on with their jovial banter, Kit suddenly seemed a lot more serious after he talked about his mum. It figured, Kels realized he had completely steamrolled over any context whatsoever.
"Ohh... uh, sorry, sometimes I jes' blabber on an' forget stuff." Though he said sorry, his nonplussed expression did not seem very sorry. He'd be a nervous wreck if he felt bad every time he said something that confused someone. "My mum adopted me when I was, like, five. I never talked to my parents again. Don't even know their names."
To his medical question, he was quick to answer. It was a fun fact! "Almost! Like... like 90% of people... but don't quote me on'at."
While Kit was busy applying it, Kels set out two clean(er) cups, which looked more like containers for fluid that weren't designed to be drank from. It would need at least five minutes to steep before it was ready. This was all a part of the ritual of tea drinking. It was why it was such a drag to have tea without company, which is why so many of his half-filled cups went icy cold abandoned on his desk.
"You're welcome! Be sure to get hurt a lot so I can show you the rest of my awesome medicine." Finger guns.
@Kit Paine
14 Mar 2021, 23:20
Poison Ivy is a Pain
Nodding in acknowledgment at Kels' shrug and indifference toward his parents, Kit smiled at the notion of the other man being competitive when it was funny. He could see that. The question about Italian being a love language caused the caretaker to break into a fresh batch of chuckles.
"Not exactly," he chortled. "In psychology, there's supposedly about five main ways people tend to express their love: quality time, physical touch, words of affirmation, acts of service, and gifts," Kit explained, counting them off on his fingers as he went. "Most people have one or two that matter to them more than the others. My favorite method of expressing and getting affection is physical touch, but not everyone is comfortable with that, so I like to try to get an idea of what other peoples' are."
He snickered at the mental image of a buff cat made of tea leaves, shaking his head. Well, he'd have little trouble remembering Da Hong Pao now, he was sure. But then he homed in on Kels' explanation about his mum being his adopted mother. "No worries," Kit quickly assured him with just as cheerful a smile as before. "But wow...that explains a lot."
At least Kels had still had a loving parent to care about and provide for him growing up from a relatively young age, even if it might have been as an only adopted child of a single parent. Not that he was certain about either of those things, but it seemed the logical conclusion given context clues. It also explained where Kels' strong opinions on what might have been considered bad parenting came from.
Kit's dark brows shot up at the given statistics for poison ivy. The concept that maybe 10% of people were immune to the allergic reactions the plant was otherwise so well-known for intrigued him. "Fascinating," he murmured, wondering just what sort of person it might have taken to develop such an immunity.
Once he was finished applying the cream, he sighed with relief. Already the stuff was doing its work. Kit didn't know if he could have felt more grateful than he did just then and his tense shoulders visibly relaxed. However, he found that he, in fact, could feel more grateful when he realized the tea wasn't quite ready yet. Furthermore, Kels had set out two cups, so he still seemed to intend for Kit to stay a little longer. Well, that was certainly fine by Kit.
The comment about getting hurt a lot earned a snort of shock and amusement as Kit drew himself up a little taller. "Is that something a nurse should be saying? And I'll have you know, my house in Ilvermorny was Wampus! We're known as the house of the 'body', so I'm hurt you would suggest I might intentionally harm it."
He leaned in closer again, a mere breath's width away, as he smiled. "If you have medicine for the heart, though...now that I could use plenty of."
@Kelsy Brumby
When you think you're alone - that no one cares and you don't matter, please remember: You matter to me.
16 Mar 2021, 19:10
Poison Ivy is a Pain
Kels listened with interest to Kit's explanation, ticking them off in his head as they were said. He had definitely never heard of it before, was it some new theory that someone wrote a book about? People always seemed to love to categorize things like that, it must have been some technique for people to figure out what kind of love was most enriching to them. If asked that question, Kels would just say 'a lot of it all the time'! When he went on to explain why he asked though, it made more sense. Physical touch was definitely not openly welcomed by all, and certainly a few other ones he mentioned could also be seen as extremely unwelcome to some.
"I gotcha." He nodded for a while absentmindedly, running through the list a few times, but not feeling any of them really calling out to him through their simple descriptions. "I like hugs, fer sure, but I think quality time sounds best."
With there really only being a mental timer for how long the tea needed to steep, Kels got whisked back into the conversation after Kit had successfully applied the cream. It showed on his expression, but it came as no surprise that the pain was gone. It would be far more shocking if his medicine didn't work! He had spent enough time failing at things while growing up that he became a adept at knowing when something was off. It would be a weird color, smell wrong, be the wrong consistency or volume. Butterflyweed Balm was his specialty, it's usefulness had him crafting up batches of it almost every other day for about 15 years at that point. Most of the time, he had needed it for himself.
His talk of a 'wampus' house however made him cackle. He had heard of Ilvermorny, but it had never grabbed his interest enough to look into much about it. He had also never heard about a wampus-- what a word! WAMPUS. It nearly brought tears to his eyes. "Sorry, your wampusness!" He was laughing too much to actually consult his concerns, though he figured it was in just as much jest as his original statement was.
His laughter slowed to a drip as Kit got closer... and closer. He reactively leaned back to keep a measure of distance-- this was certainly what he was talking about before, with being sketchy and not everyone being comfortable with his affection. Kels had to admit, even he was thrown off by it, where normally he would just go with the flow regardless of what was going on. It was... trust. Invasion of personal space was a matter of safety, without trust it caused fear. Kels was hardly a paranoid person, perhaps even too trusting, but it triggered the animal instinct to back off, with an added feeling of uncertainty about his position in this dynamic. Strange how affection could feel so threatening.
"Wow, uh..." He wouldn't make any attempt to downplay his reaction, he wasn't used to people coming onto him so strongly. That, and he just didn't know Kit that well, he wasn't sure if it was a joke, or if he was propositioning him. Either way, his face was starting to redden. "Well, I'm not'a therapist, as much as everyone seems to want me to be."
Breaking eye contact, Kels could feel embarrassment wriggling in his stomach. It was a rare feeling for him, but he was also only rarely thrown off his groove. He was sure he could handle whatever life threw at him, but that was another matter entirely. He wasn't sure if he should say something, especially since they were co-workers. It wasn't something he usually talked about, let alone with someone he only just met, in an ostensibly professional setting.
"The tea is prolly ready."
"I gotcha." He nodded for a while absentmindedly, running through the list a few times, but not feeling any of them really calling out to him through their simple descriptions. "I like hugs, fer sure, but I think quality time sounds best."
With there really only being a mental timer for how long the tea needed to steep, Kels got whisked back into the conversation after Kit had successfully applied the cream. It showed on his expression, but it came as no surprise that the pain was gone. It would be far more shocking if his medicine didn't work! He had spent enough time failing at things while growing up that he became a adept at knowing when something was off. It would be a weird color, smell wrong, be the wrong consistency or volume. Butterflyweed Balm was his specialty, it's usefulness had him crafting up batches of it almost every other day for about 15 years at that point. Most of the time, he had needed it for himself.
His talk of a 'wampus' house however made him cackle. He had heard of Ilvermorny, but it had never grabbed his interest enough to look into much about it. He had also never heard about a wampus-- what a word! WAMPUS. It nearly brought tears to his eyes. "Sorry, your wampusness!" He was laughing too much to actually consult his concerns, though he figured it was in just as much jest as his original statement was.
His laughter slowed to a drip as Kit got closer... and closer. He reactively leaned back to keep a measure of distance-- this was certainly what he was talking about before, with being sketchy and not everyone being comfortable with his affection. Kels had to admit, even he was thrown off by it, where normally he would just go with the flow regardless of what was going on. It was... trust. Invasion of personal space was a matter of safety, without trust it caused fear. Kels was hardly a paranoid person, perhaps even too trusting, but it triggered the animal instinct to back off, with an added feeling of uncertainty about his position in this dynamic. Strange how affection could feel so threatening.
"Wow, uh..." He wouldn't make any attempt to downplay his reaction, he wasn't used to people coming onto him so strongly. That, and he just didn't know Kit that well, he wasn't sure if it was a joke, or if he was propositioning him. Either way, his face was starting to redden. "Well, I'm not'a therapist, as much as everyone seems to want me to be."
Breaking eye contact, Kels could feel embarrassment wriggling in his stomach. It was a rare feeling for him, but he was also only rarely thrown off his groove. He was sure he could handle whatever life threw at him, but that was another matter entirely. He wasn't sure if he should say something, especially since they were co-workers. It wasn't something he usually talked about, let alone with someone he only just met, in an ostensibly professional setting.
"The tea is prolly ready."
@Kit Paine
17 Mar 2021, 01:43
Poison Ivy is a Pain
Kels' preferences when it came to love languages were mentally cataloged. It was always interesting to find out what people preferred. Especially since Kit didn't think favored love languages could be all that predictable with how drastically they varied from person to person.
He was drawn from those thoughts by the nurse's laughter upon his addressing Kit by 'his wampusness'. The caretaker couldn't help grinning broadly back even as he retorted, "What? It's an actual magical creature that features in American folklore! They're like six-legged wildcats." He leaned back against a table, smirking at his amused peer. Well, if he could make someone laugh, who cared how or why? Not like Kit could or would have really taken offense anyway.
When that laughter trickled away, however, his own smile remained fixed; calm and cool, while his brain registered Kels' multiple reactions individually and as a whole. The dying of his mirth, his lean away, the falter in the flow of his words, and the tinge of color that spread across his complexion. Not to mention the shift of his gaze off Kit.
Taking it all in, the caretaker backed off himself, reeling in his own urges and emotions as he lengthened their proximity to a more standard distance once again. "...A shame," he sighed, though his easygoing smile never wavered. "Not that a therapist is the only one who can treat an ailing heart. But I won't trouble you with matters outside your scope of expertise."
He turned to snatch up the teapot with fluid grace when Kels announced that it was probably ready and poured it out into the cups the other man had set out for them. Gently setting the pot back down, he popped the pills he had been given earlier into his mouth. Then he lifted the cup of tea to his lips, blew on it gently, and took a small sip, staring into the depths of his beverage.
"It's good," he said after a few more swallows. "Thank you. I'll have to return the favor sometime."
@Kelsy Brumby
When you think you're alone - that no one cares and you don't matter, please remember: You matter to me.
18 Mar 2021, 14:42
Poison Ivy is a Pain
Nearly as soon as Kit swooped in, he backed off. The message was pretty clearly delivered, and understood, it seemed. There was no need for it to be awkward, his space was respected and no offense was taken. If anything, it was a good sign. He wasn't sure what he would have done if Kit insisted, he was a pretty defenseless person, all things considered. He lived to support, not to defend or attack. Of course, even he sometimes underestimated himself.
To Kit's response about treating an ailing heart, he only gave a weak half-smile. He'd like to meet the person who could treat his own ailing heart, but he had resigned to not talk about it. Too personal, too much information.
With that though, the tea had been poured. The aroma filled the area, as well as the thick steam. With as chilly as the castle was, the clouds of steam were even more pronounced than usual, something that attracted Kels' attention. He held the cup under his face so the vapor would curl around his features. So much warmth, and such a bold smell that it briefly reminded him of home. He'd close his eyes to really take in the moment, taking a deep breath and visibly relaxing. A fresh cup of hot tea never disappointed.
"Return the favor? I didn't realize I was doin' you a favor!" Kels' smile was back in full force, looking up from his cup with what could only be described as a mischievous look.
He had no idea how Kit managed to imbibe boiling hot liquid, but he did need the medicine, after all. It reminded Kels of his promise, to which he suddenly snapped his fingers with a look of alarm, like waking himself up.
"Right!" He scooched his chair back to the cabinet he was at before and quickly nabbed up another pill tray, opened a wall cabinet glass door and nabbed an empty vial and funnel, and scooched back over to the desk. "Gotta getcha some stuff to take with'ya."
With that, he would set to work on bottling the lotion while his tea got to his preferred drinking temperature. After some lightning quick set-up, he set the pills down on the desk and tapped on them with his hand. "These are drowsy antihistamine pills. Take 'em about a half an hour before you wanna go to bed. You'll sleep like a baby." Before returning to the bottle, he'd look right at Kit and grin. Solving people's problems was the best part of his job, having a unique problem and fixing it had really jogged his brain. He was feeling quite fulfilled, even proud.
To Kit's response about treating an ailing heart, he only gave a weak half-smile. He'd like to meet the person who could treat his own ailing heart, but he had resigned to not talk about it. Too personal, too much information.
With that though, the tea had been poured. The aroma filled the area, as well as the thick steam. With as chilly as the castle was, the clouds of steam were even more pronounced than usual, something that attracted Kels' attention. He held the cup under his face so the vapor would curl around his features. So much warmth, and such a bold smell that it briefly reminded him of home. He'd close his eyes to really take in the moment, taking a deep breath and visibly relaxing. A fresh cup of hot tea never disappointed.
"Return the favor? I didn't realize I was doin' you a favor!" Kels' smile was back in full force, looking up from his cup with what could only be described as a mischievous look.
He had no idea how Kit managed to imbibe boiling hot liquid, but he did need the medicine, after all. It reminded Kels of his promise, to which he suddenly snapped his fingers with a look of alarm, like waking himself up.
"Right!" He scooched his chair back to the cabinet he was at before and quickly nabbed up another pill tray, opened a wall cabinet glass door and nabbed an empty vial and funnel, and scooched back over to the desk. "Gotta getcha some stuff to take with'ya."
With that, he would set to work on bottling the lotion while his tea got to his preferred drinking temperature. After some lightning quick set-up, he set the pills down on the desk and tapped on them with his hand. "These are drowsy antihistamine pills. Take 'em about a half an hour before you wanna go to bed. You'll sleep like a baby." Before returning to the bottle, he'd look right at Kit and grin. Solving people's problems was the best part of his job, having a unique problem and fixing it had really jogged his brain. He was feeling quite fulfilled, even proud.
@Kit Paine