Daycare, literally

[achelord]

A combination of parents being busy during the day and the horrors of war leaving a bunch of orphans meant there were always a bunch of kids running around The Vault that needed looking after. It was just a fact of life. But child wranglers get sick, sometimes. Or just need breaks. And, as a wandering monster hunter, Ziel did not honestly have a lot to do with most of his time while the Corsairs weren't actively plotting any operations.

So Ziel had volunteered to take a few shifts keeping the youngest corsairs from hurting themselves. He wasn't the most active of daycare providers, spending as much of his time as he could sitting down and cycling ether through his body in his standard meditation patterns, but he routinely got up to break up scuffles before they could get out of control or make sure everyone was included in whatever the current activity was. He wasn't particularly smiley about it, but he had a surprising amount of patience, and he talked to the children like they were grownups and took them seriously. This strategy seemed to go over pretty well for the most part.

To anyone who knew the dour man, this probably felt like an unusual place to find him, but outside of the times he was drunk (and he was stone cold sober right now), this was probably the least stressed anyone had seen him in months.

At this exact moment, he was sitting cross legged with his eyes closed while a two year old slowly climbed up his back, using his hair and horns as handholds. If this bothered him, he gave no indication of it.

Comments

[redprayer]

Rezo can't actually see what Hrodland has been up to, but he can hazard a guess, and he can't help but smile briefly at the giggling.

"Forgive me for interrupting your work," Rezo says. "I merely wished to consult you about your next meeting-"

Speaking of interruptions, another toddler chooses that moment to pipe up: "Who're you?"

"Ah-"

[achelord]

"It's fine," Ziel assured. Then they got what Ziel predicted to be the first of many interruptions.

He did his best to look less grouchy than he normally did while looking down at the child. Ziel had practice looking down on people, being on the taller side, and the intimidation factor was currently turned down to zero.

"That's Rezo. He's a doctor. I need to talk to him so please give me a minute." He said, clearly and simply. Then he looked back up to Rezo. "Did you need to reschedule or-"

"Why d'you need to talk to him?"

Internally, Ziel groaned. But you couldn't blame children for being children. He would have sounded irritated at an adult interrupting them twice, but he sounded blandly patient as he went on. "Because I was sick, but he's helping me get better."

[redprayer]

It's interesting to listen to Ziel interacting with the children. Rezo wouldn't describe Ziel as surly, necessarily, more gloomy and tired. Now, however, that edge is hard to discern, drowned out by placidity.

"Ziel, you've guessed correctly. I'd still like to meet with you some time this week, but the work with those injured at Flotsam is likely to keep me busy during the time we normally would meet," Rezo explains, partly for the benefit of any tiny eavesdroppers.

[achelord]

"That's important. I can wait a few days." he said. He didn't sound annoyed about the delay, but he did sound kind of like he was trying hard not to sound annoyed about the delay. It wasn't a long time. It's fine.

"Since we're not doing anything major right now, I suppose I shall spend my time here, with the rugrats." He looked down at the mess of playing children, two of which were arguing over who's turn it was with the toy horse. "Running a sect of martial artists and running a day care are surprisingly similar jobs."

[redprayer]

Rezo laughs a little at the comparison.

"Your stamina certainly must be improving if you've volunteered to take this job on," he remarks. It's another reason why Rezo is willing to reschedule Ziel's weekly appointment; they've made enough progress that they have a little wiggle room for it. "I admit, I was surprised when I'd heard this was where I'd find you."

[achelord]

"Kids are easy. When grownups are stupid I think 'you're acting like a toddler.' When a toddler is stupid I think 'you are a toddler.' and any annoyance fades away." he said, with a shrug.

A tiny girl started climbing his leg. He made no effort to stop her.

[redprayer]

"Mm. That's not a bad way to think of it, though some children might take offense at the logic." Rezo can think of a few children he's known that would have pouted at the idea of not being taken as seriously as an adult.

He catches the pitter patter of small feet coming closer, and then the rustling of fabric. Evidently Ziel is a popular piece of gym equipment.

[achelord]

"So do the adults. Being in charge of people is exhausting. I'd like to avoid it if I can."

Ziel started to say something else when the child hanging onto his waist lost her grip and fell. Lightning quick, Ziel bent over and caught her before she hit the ground, then set her back on her feet gently.

[redprayer]

-!

There's an alarming moment where he can hear the child yelp, but then it seems Ziel has her well in hand. Nevertheless, Rezo crouches and asks "Oh my, are you alright?"

The little girl looks from Ziel to Rezo, staring curiously for a moment. "Uh... uh-huh," she says.

The little girl then grabs Ziel's cloak in a fist and stands on her toes to ask "Ziel, why are his eyes closed?" One gets the impression that she is trying to be discreet, but hasn't mastered the art of modulating her tone.

[achelord]

No doubt, Ziel would have some diplomatic way to approach the iss-

"He's blind. He can't see."

Oh okay we'll just do it like that, then.

The little girl went on with the complete lack of self awareness that children had and asked "Why not?"

And Ziel realized he didn't know. He'd been so sunk in his own problems he hadn't given anyone else's a second thought. He hesitated...

[redprayer]

Honestly, that isn't that far off from how Rezo would answer it. Possibly a bit more diplomatic, even, depending on how self-deprecating Rezo was feeling.

The next question is, however, a little more complicated. When Ziel hesitates, Rezo crouches in front of the girl and does his best to explain it as simply as possible.

"I was born like this. That sort of thing just happens sometimes. Some people are born without the ability to hear, or parts of their body will be smaller than normal or missing entirely. Everybody comes out a little different, and sometimes our differences make it hard to do things that other people can."

The little girl sucks thoughtfully on her lower lip for a moment before coming up with another question: "So... You can't see where you are?"

Resigning himself to being the Guest Speaker at the daycare for the time being, Rezo calmly begins explaining how he uses his other senses to get around.