It's a quiet cab ride to the clinic, and Daine tries not to mind it overmuch. She likes quiet, most of the time -- not least of all because 'sitting quietly and looking out the window' doesn't preclude carrying on a conversation with one of her friends. In fact, she spends part of the ride letting the cat she has in mind know that they're on their way, and telling him about Martin so he'll have some idea of what to expect -- and of what might be expected of him.
Granted, she's already decided to take some liberties with Martin's requests. Just because he wants a cat who can easily keep to itself -- which, in fairness, most cats can, at least for the duration of a typical workday -- doesn't mean that's what he needs. He's quieter than usual, and there's a sadness clinging about him that shouldn't be ignored. And if he won't reach out to his two-legger friends, the least she can do is introduce him to a cat who won't be shy about butting its way through those vague, chilly defenses.
She texts Noya a little before their arrival, so when they do walk in, they're expected. The creatures in the waiting room perk up at once, tails wagging and ears pricking towards her, and Daine sends them all a silent greeting before considering how best to go about this. It doesn't seem fair to take up an exam room when there's business to be done in them, so she eventually leads Martin aside, to an area a little beyond where most of the seating is, a nook full of shelves stocked with special diet pet food.
There's a door that leads directly to the back here, and she says, "I'll just be a minute," before letting herself through. It's a short walk to the row of cubbies where they keep smaller animals for monitoring, and there's already a grey and white face peering out at her expectantly. Daine smiles as she opens the front of the cubby and welcomes the cat into her arms. He's a bit thin, still, and his fur is a little patchy -- both things she could fix, but she's learning to use her magic judiciously, not wanting to spend energy on something that only looks a bit bad when it might be better spent healing a broken bone or somesuch -- but he's in good spirits. He's purring audibly by the time she steps back out to where Martin's waiting, and he stretches a questing paw towards him at once, punctuating the gesture with a quiet, 'mrrah!'
"This is The Bishop," Daine says, handing him over without ceremony, where he proceeds to shove his head beneath Martin's chin. "And he's very pleased to meet you."
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Granted, she's already decided to take some liberties with Martin's requests. Just because he wants a cat who can easily keep to itself -- which, in fairness, most cats can, at least for the duration of a typical workday -- doesn't mean that's what he needs. He's quieter than usual, and there's a sadness clinging about him that shouldn't be ignored. And if he won't reach out to his two-legger friends, the least she can do is introduce him to a cat who won't be shy about butting its way through those vague, chilly defenses.
She texts Noya a little before their arrival, so when they do walk in, they're expected. The creatures in the waiting room perk up at once, tails wagging and ears pricking towards her, and Daine sends them all a silent greeting before considering how best to go about this. It doesn't seem fair to take up an exam room when there's business to be done in them, so she eventually leads Martin aside, to an area a little beyond where most of the seating is, a nook full of shelves stocked with special diet pet food.
There's a door that leads directly to the back here, and she says, "I'll just be a minute," before letting herself through. It's a short walk to the row of cubbies where they keep smaller animals for monitoring, and there's already a grey and white face peering out at her expectantly. Daine smiles as she opens the front of the cubby and welcomes the cat into her arms. He's a bit thin, still, and his fur is a little patchy -- both things she could fix, but she's learning to use her magic judiciously, not wanting to spend energy on something that only looks a bit bad when it might be better spent healing a broken bone or somesuch -- but he's in good spirits. He's purring audibly by the time she steps back out to where Martin's waiting, and he stretches a questing paw towards him at once, punctuating the gesture with a quiet, 'mrrah!'
"This is The Bishop," Daine says, handing him over without ceremony, where he proceeds to shove his head beneath Martin's chin. "And he's very pleased to meet you."