Dutiful adaption

[littlekreen]

After a life in the Dreaming of toil and bouts of fitful sleep while there only reachers could manage and live Flynn was a very early riser. Just handful of hours sleeping she was back up on her own. Morning needs must and a place to relieve herself wasn't hard to find at least. Moment staring consideration decided the shower was only for cleaning. The basin with knobs she couldn't read made water come out was rather high off the floor. Though the other porcelain one was full of potable water it clearly wasn't a simple sink after a scrap of tank lid. The lever soon discovered a part of the apparatus Flynn eyed the flush toilet doing its work and puzzled out how things are meant to go. Two sets of eyes stared at her watching her every move peeping urgently at her having held it in all night. Dirty whelps were rare and the way keepers told it they often died to blacken. Used to the eyes of whelps for such things she opted not to clean herself with water after and end up having them follow her lead. She'd have to stay to dry them off again and she needed to go. Before it was too busy with humans let alone leave at the same time Molly did and draw attention. She mentally tried to move her tail and gave herself a headache for the pleasure but got the deed done well enough.

She pressed the lever and cleaned with the paper nearby the only thing immediately recognized. Using the sink to wash her hands. The whelps eyed her the whole time though Thebus clambered up onto the porcelain throne first. Though their tiny presence on the seat involved more acrobatics given their clutch mother's careful direction went in the same basin their mother did. Lever pressed after he was done they just eyed her though too young to understand that task. Quinn simply mimicked in flushing the toilet before he started. Flynn chuckled and coughed a bit then got them both settled and cleaned them with the paper holding the resilient fluffs by one leg.

Finally done she shooed them back to bed preparing to leave. Tongues came with the nature of the husk however that didn't mean she could read anything here. She found a writing utensil near some paper and left Molly a message in Latin, ((I'll be back later. I'm sending a message. Think at me and hear my reply. The pact forbids me to call.))

Flynn took a small pad of lined paper with her, filled her bottle with water, and packed a few of the writing utensils. While not able to cast she could copy one of her journal's pages quite well. The main matter was getting the Red Lady's Message to her intended recipient. The saurid in a Molly suit quietly slipped out in the wee hours of the morning with a body she could just ask directions to others would prove much more useful. Bill's half-husk unsettled others at best but still to the stairs by way of an emergency map avoided the eyes of passers by as much as she could.

[demikara]

Molly had stirred lightly at Flynn leaving the bed with the fluffs and stirred again when the two whelps got back in bed. Sleepily, she pulled the two close so that she was protecting them a bit more with her body and let herself slowly wake up. Her alarm went off and she grumbled, but sat up all the way. "Flynn?" She stumbled out of bed and found the message. She did not really get it. "Revert...later?" She tried to figure it out, then groaned and just googled a translation. The first two sentences made sense now. The last two did not so Molly just translated her reply online and carefully wrote out the message. 'Gone to work with the kids. There's a daycare room I can stick them in there. Be back around dinner if you don't come find me first.'

That done, she got ready for the day and dug into her fridge, then put out some beef for the whelps and some broccoli as well for Quinn, and placed both on the table so they could eat. "I really have to figure out what you guys eat." Uncertainly, she got them some water too, not sure if they'd drink it. Then she made herself a scrambled egg, downed a cup of milk and two slices of wheat bread and made her way through the banana, watching the whelps carefully. She'd have to skip the training facility this morning, to make certain the whelps were ready to go.

How the hell did you take care of kids anyway? She had no idea at all. She needed some books for sure.

[littlekreen]

Both whelps clung tight to Molly as they slipped back into bed. Each as close to the brood mother as physics allowed their lukewarm bodies squirming within the heat of bedcovers. Even with the glamour as Mesotherms greedily absorbed the heat she put out. Though Quinn's fingers particularly colder hidden under the dark of the bedsheets. Removed at the screaming of her alarm Quinn's worried cry matched the pitch as Thebus' head appeared from under the covers wide-eyed with a throaty warbling hiss pushed through pointy teeth. Even as Molly turned the alarm off Quinn did not appear until his brother came for him then both tailed behind Molly. Still agitated Thebus loosed a small harsh noise at corners and small sunbeams. Both looked at the small areas of light from windows as it menacing monsters gleamed at them from the corners of their vision.

They started to calm reaching the table climbing on top of the chairs though Thebus by way of the backing. Though Thebus' chair leaned out of him soft worried chirps by its objection to path of travel. Quinn the smaller climbed around it and stood up with no issue. Thebus took to the beef without question biting pieces off it and handing some to Quinn who was inspecting a fresh spear of broccoli among the pile. He peeped to it gingerly grasping at hits head with a cantering head. Then did so worriedly when it did not talk back. Thebus looked to the water with a slight open huff and bright eyes launching himself up onto the table. Plate of beef straddled the spear of broccoli went into the water some spilling over the edge onto the table. Thebus stood up on his toes halfway through his plate of beef already promptly joins his brother.

An occasional glance from the side Thebus kept watch over his brother while licking at the water inside the glass. Quinn did the same but as water left white roots leapt from the cut portions at each lap of his tongue. As the water level dropped Quinn stopped to dunk a piece of meat in it. Bubbles fizzed at its surface dropping to a growing network of roots. Quinn, smiling, held his hands to the glass contentedly. As it vanished the growing broccoli spear started to expand. The roots wreathed the piece of meat that slowly ceased to be At least until the second bit of beef where it turned bright red in the clear water and began a rhythmic throb.

[demikara]

Molly changed into a sharp suit and paused as she looked the two toddlers over as they ate. "...okay. That's weird. Quinn stopped bringing dead things to life when I'm trying to feed you them." The kiddo couldn't understand her and she knew it. More amused than most, Molly found some of her old clothes and carefully transfigured them into two tiny outfits so the whelps would have clean clothes and then carefully managed a coat for each of them as well. "That'll do for today, but I'll have to go clothes shopping after work." She hesitated a moment and then sighed. "You'll need hats and gloves too...Glamour or no glamour, you two are some kind of reptile, so it's going to be especially cold."

She tapped Quinn's anklet and concentrated. The illusionary clothes disappeared and she got him dressed in the clothes she had transfigured, not really letting him get away with it too much. She repeated the struggle with Thebus and admired the toddlers. "Dressed, fed....Heard your mom take you to the bathroom when she got up... The daycare center will have some toys, and I just need to alert them that your two need meat and that Quinn needs some vegetable, but mostly meat." Special dietary requirements were rather the norm at the daycare center.

"I don't have car seats, but then again, we're taking the bus. And you'll both probably try and sit on my lap the entire time, so it'll be fine. I hope." Molly made certain she had everything she need for work and then put a breakfast bar, a banana, and a protein shake in her backpack, pulled it on, and looked the kids over. "Are you...done eating?" And bringing things to life in water which she Really had to ask Flynn about.

[littlekreen]

Thebus looked over at Molly making noise and peeped in call response. Small stomach already full he pushed the food over toward his brother then pushed the plate a bit instead. He got down and came over thinking she was calling them to go. Heels and body stretching up with every insistent peep he called for his brother too. Quinn however was busily dumping the remainder of food in the glass. A few bits of the broccoli heads flowered behind him a new meaty-veined leaf creeps upward from the root-bound plant with a clear water level yet unperturbed that clung to glass edges. As Quinn left the activity inside of it quelled along with Thebus' cries, finding itself in the relative dark, slower thumping continued on deep inside the rootmeat in time with the one inside Quinn.

Easily manipulate they didn't so much actively resist when she tried to put things on them as continually inspected things with free hands. Though a fine distinction to caregivers that may be. Each tried to bite the clothing on them though Quinn gave a squeaky wark lolling his tongue finding the taste objectionable. Thebus shifted then pawed at his side to pull a tarot card free from his pocket then dropped it away. A flip-slip along the wind sent it under a small table as if trying to get out of sight.

They didn't understand the noise when she started talking to them but both enjoyed the interaction with Thebus making a melodic shuddering noise at the smacking sounds. Quinn smiled as well moving closer to put a hand on Molly's pant and hold on. A wide smile straight up some wispy pale threads seen at the back of his throat.

[demikara]

A quick touch has illusionary boots on their feet as well, and Molly made certain her backpack was on and then picked up both of the whelps, juggling them carefully as she managed to leave and shut the door behind them. "Right. Stay close okay? Talking is supposed to be good for little kids or something, so even if you clearly don't understand me, I'll keep talking." She really didn't understand them. If anyone asked, they were either shy or mute. Not big talkers? She'd figure it out.

Ready for work, dressed for the weather, and with a toddler tucked onto both side, she made her way to the bus stop, keeping up a steady chatter about what all they saw on the way. The bus stop wasn't far at least, and it wouldn't be a long wait. the ride itself wasn't that long either and she kept the two close as the bus arrived and she gathered the duo up and took them on board. It was a short ride to work at least, so there was that.

Of course, she had to somehow deal with getting the kids to the daycare center without too much attention from her team or coworkers, but she could do that. Probably.

[littlekreen]

Every so often when Molly would stop the brothers lift one leg to make wild juddering shake of it since the addition of boots. They weren't used to the confined feeling though each in whole barely weighed more than large paperweights themselves. Something more difficult for a glamour to cover for their real bodies the light weights of flying creatures. Each were attentive to the her speaking given the little barnacles had no qualms about being carried even if they had to insist. The bus ride was a little more eventful as Thebus reached for other people's pockets if he was close enough. Quinn sat quietly and looked up at Molly and whined when males got too close.

[demikara]

"Stop trying to pickpocket people Thebus." Molly murmured and picked both up when they got to her stop, taking the two lightweight fluffs to the station with her. She got the door open and started heading back to the daycare center. It was open 24/7, even if night time was mostly sleeping kids. Arms full, she hoped the two would behave. Despite how mobile they were, they weren't actually the toddlers they looked like and she knew it. The officer opened the door to center and the caretaker came over.

"Hello. These two are new. There's some paperwork you have to fill out before you can leave them here, Mrs...." The worker trailed off and Molly flushed at this. Of course there was paperwork, and she probably didn't know half of the information. Well, it looked like she'd be making it up.

"Bronson. And it's just miss. They're, um, being fostered by me for now." That made a lot more sense. "This is Thebus and this is Quinn. They don't really talk. They're also not human so..." She accepted the paperwork the caretaker gave her and went through it answering everything she could, and making up what she couldn't. "Strictly meat for both for meals. It's a species thing?" And hopefully the two would be well behaved. She hoped. Carefully, she filled out her contact information. With luck, they'd behave.

[littlekreen]

Immersed in the concept of other people's pockets Thebus squeaked when lifted away from the neighboring passenger. Quinn however just warbles lifted again to move whining when she passed him close to adult males. Thebus stared at the others as they went through the building. Each eyed the strange folks and some of power walking to and fro though Quinn's eyes more darting than his inquisitive brother. Once put down to do the paperwork however an interest in their environment took over their faces. Worried Quinn the smaller leapt to the edge of the desk pressing upward to see who was there. He grinned at the receptionist feet wiggling and scrabbling at the edge their climbing instincts unprepared for the addition of footwear expecting a particular pair of cleats.

Thebus ran up behind him, got kicked in the head and squawked, soldiered on to press Quinn upward wherever he was going.

[demikara]

"We'll take good care of them." the care giver promised and smiled at Quinn. "Well you're a little climber aren't you? Let's introduce the two of you to the other kids, okay?" The woman came around the desk as Molly put the paperwork down and held out her hand to Thebus. "Hi Thebus. I'm Miss Anne, and I think you'll have fun here." Molly sighed at Quinn and picked him up, kissed his head, and put him on the ground next to his brother. Hopefully this would go well. She had no idea.

"Alright, behave you two. I won't be far, but you have to stay here." That was going to be interesting. Molly gave the two a gentle push to take Miss Anne's hand and then stepped back, looked to them, then stepped through the door. Please let them stay. Please let them stay. She just needed them to stay there for work, and she would totally check on them but she needed them to stay here and play and enjoy themselves.

She had no clue if they actually would.

[littlekreen]

Quinn stopped trying to clamber up and instead clung on to Molly's hands as she lifted him up. Eyes dilated in spite of ceiling lights hitting the glamoured fluff underneath as Thebus watched Quinn get lifted away. Though his mind was elsewhere as she offered to introduce them two tiny legs tensed propelling him upward. Though his mouth wobbled a scream quite too high pitched for human hearing. A howl meant to rake at different ears. However he stopped just short of trying to take a chunk from her hand as his brother chirruped loudly at him from Molly's arms then the floor. Pupils quiver then return to normal as Thebus looked up at the new woman still wide eyed, then to Molly, then around the room. Thebus opted for a throaty hiss at a darkened portion of the ceiling Quivering face darting from spot to spot. A turn from shadow to shadow looking for some skyborne boogeyman lurking that instinct whispered nightmares of.

As Thebus' hackles lowered an iron grip softened though his cycled breathing still rapid as he dropped to the floor. Quinn moved to his brother grasping Thebus's glamour and peeping at him. Thebus looked at Molly as she left periodically both of them now gazing at the ceiling.

[demikara]

It had been almost an hour since she had dropped the kids off and Molly had made good headway on a case she was working when she got a call to come immediately to the day care center. Worried, the fae rushed there and stepped inside. "I'm here about Quinn and Thebus?" She said and looked around, worried. There was a sobbing child with a bite mark and Molly winced as she realized what must of happened. That would be Thebus then.

Miss Anne approached Molly, one hand clamped tight on Thebus' wrist so he couldn't leave her side. "Miss Bronson, your charge bit one of the other children. I'm not certain what happened, but there was an altercation between two of the other children and Thebus decided that instead of getting an adult, he would bite the boy." Molly winced and waited for the other shoe to drop. "Biting and fighting in general are an automatic two day expulsion. I would like you to take Quinn as well, until he can learn not to...I assume transfigure, possibly animate a plant into imitating a fish."

[littlekreen]

Quinn looks back at his handiwork having not understood the purpose of putting the Rose of Jericho in a bowl of water. Now in a fish tank the handful of thumb-sized verdant balls vibrate their way behind a school of guppies. Each turned with the school showing momentary colored pips at the center of the mass where a fish head stuck out hidden by root ball. He fluted at Molly having enjoyed the short time there. Thebus busied himself giving another boy the stink eye with periodic small trilled grunts. He still wasn't happy with the other that hit but the fight having stopped just sat in an agressive posture until he forgot. That would happen a few moments after Molly began to speak.

Whelps were energetic creatures their brood mother expected to police each other. However Flynn hadn't quite imparted that information to Molly. Keepers with large creches sometimes rolled fourty deep in hungry lime fluff flotillas. As a group they kept each other in line though the keepers did have to break up the worst fights now and again.

[demikara]

"I'll have their mother come do something about the...fish." Molly said and picked both whelps up. "And have her tell them not to pick fights here." There had to be some way. She eyed the two. Well, hopefully they wouldn't cause too much trouble at her desk. Hopefully Flynn would come soon to pick them up. Molly didn't actually know how to take care of toddlers. "Thank you for watching them as long as you did." She and Miss Anne exchanged pleasantries and Molly got the details of when she could bring the terrible twosome back, then she carried them back to her desk.

"Alright. Stay close to me okay? And out of trouble, though that's too much to ask for, I'm sure."

[littlekreen]

The terrible twosome clung to her as she took them to her desk though looked around as she went through the halls. Thebus reached at random workers passing by with wide-eyed interest. Quinn mostly shrank into Molly though not out of fear more of a disinterest in many of the strange looking sorts the passed through the halls. He pawed at the bangles on Molly's arm then a harsh crackle recoiled Quinn against her flapping his arms with a half-irritated whistle. He stopped poking at it for the duration of the carry but eyed the shiny with interest anyway.

Once in her office Quinn looked at Molly and listened with a smile while Thebus pawed at him sniffing at his body and arms. Occasionally licking his brother an instinct of preening that Molly was in a place that smelled like her. Quinn just sat down as his brother wrapped his hands around Quinn's forehead adding a staggeringly large cowlick to the glamour. Quinn gave no notice but eyed Molly with a smile while sat on the floor.