----------------------------------------------
TARBIN'S CAMP - WEST GATE - MORNING
----------------------------------------------
Tarbin wanders in a small circle around the hut, occasionally stopping to admire this or that, watching the Flow as it touches each plant, or looking at a cloud drift through the sky beyond the trees. Every once in a while, he casts a glance toward the town, as well, somewhat nervous. Teis' visit the day before left him excited and hopeful, which he'd expressed to Melia... And deeper down, concerned about if Nesseth would actually verify her existence. Maybe Teis was only seeing what she also wanted to see? He hadn't spoken to Melia about those thoughts, but they've been making him pace for an hour. He wasn't due at the manor in town for a couple hours, but couldn't focus on doing anything else at the moment.
Melia floats back to the surface with her presence, tacking onto Tarbin's being as she does. [You're very stressed. I am sure Nesseth will believe us when he sees me... I hope at least I can do it for long enough. If not, we try again, right?]
Doc Plume walks out of the west gate after verifying the location of Tarbin's hut with one of the guards on duty there. They're dressed in their usual housecall attire, which is just their clinic attire with a smart waistcoat and their wide-brimmed hat to block the sun. They're also carrying a larger-than-normal doctor's case with them, having needed to back the gear for vision tests. Not being one for trekking quietly about in the outdoors, it's likely that their approach is heard before they're seen approaching through the plants around the camp.
Tarbin sighs, taking his eyes off the West gate again as he resumes the idle wandering. His tails drag in the grass, turning color and providing a trickle of magic to bump up Melia's reserves. "Hopefully. That he will try is the best thing. He might not have much to give for getting you back to yourself, but... I need him, for support. Very few friends in Respite so far." He pauses his walk as he hears a rustling ahead, looking toward the hut and spotting a fancy hat bobbing over the bushes. His head tilts a little as he approaches the figure. "Hello? Who's there?"
Melia perks up, swirling slightly above Tarbin as she is able, although this does not really allow her to 'see' any better than Tarbin does. [Visitors? Or predators? No, not sensing any such nearby I think...]
Doc Plume smiles as she recognizes Tarbin's voice. "Hello Tarbin! It's Doctor Plume. I wanted to come see you. I hope that's all right?" They step through the bushes into the clearing around the hut and brush a few stray leaves and other debris off of themselves, setting their heavy doctor's case down in front of them.
Tarbin blinks, smiling as he recognizes their voice. He approaches, giving a polite bow and greeting. "Good morning doctor! This is a nice surprise. How have you been?"
Melia: [Wait this is... I'm like almost certain I know the name... it was... was...] She pauses, swirling agitatedly around Tarbin's forearm for a moment: [Oh right. The doc that's not the old doc? Something like that.]
Doc Plume doffs their hat in a matching bow and leaving it off, seeing as its shady enough and this whole area feels like the lizard's home to them. They do watch Tarbin's eyes as the two meet, checking for signs of improved vision that were lacking before. "I've been well enough. It seems the wave of illness in the residents of the outlying farms has mostly passed, even if I never figured out the cause of the epidemic. But I'm here to check up on you. I've heard from Teis that you're fully healed? Is that correct?"
Tarbin nods slightly at Melia's question. "Yes, doctor Plume. I..." He takes in plume's appearance, hesitating slightly. "Didn't expect you to be a gryphon. And very handsome, at that." He pauses, clearing his throat. "Ah, yes. Melia's accidentally broken the curse, and more purposefully made me a better healer." He chuckles quietly.
Melia: [I'm not sure I did that really purposefully... happy accident, sort of? Although I do like the result, you're great with plants.]
Doc Plume chuckles to themself and blushes just a touch. "Oh, well thank you. What did you expect me to be, then?" Then bend down after a moment's pause and open the case, pulling out some instruments to check vision. "Is it all right if I check your eyes? While I'm happy to leave you be if you'd prefer, the scientist in me does want some objective measurements..."
Tarbin watches Plume get their instruments, nodding at the question as he finds a spot to sit down. He blushes slightly at Melia's comment, smiling. "Well... I don't know. I recall hearing your beak and getting a sense of your wings. " He holds still for Plume's examination, not expecting them to find much evidence of the curse-inflicted damage.
Melia: [I think you look just fine, Tarbin. Or our vision is fine. Something like that.]
Doc Plume proceed to begin the examination of Tarbin's eyes, starting with reflecting sunlight into them to test sensitivity to light and then proceeding with a small battery of tests that will be familiar to the lizard, although they were ended much earlier before when his eyesight was nothing more than indistinct blurs. After a couple of minutes of examination and asking Tarbin to identify the direction arrows on a card are pointing, Plume gives a little nod to themself and starts putting the equipment away. "Well then, your vision is nearly perfect. Without a reading test and while being out of the clinic, it's hard to give a precise measurement, but I'm astonished by your recovery." They give a satisfied clack of their beak before straightening up again. "Any other issues? Or are you able to handle all of your own needs?"
Tarbin blushes at Melia's words again, but keeps still for the exam. "Nature's healing is great, yes. I only give a little push. Melia's the one that found the... Knot, I think she said? A limit, I couldn't do much for my own body before that. And for my needs... Hm... Well, out here there's plenty of food, but I am a poor cook." He chuckles lightly, shrugging. "I hope to find work, need money for somewhere to live and more to eat."
Melia: [If it helps, I'm not really much of a cook either.] She swirls about Tarbin's hands: [...how does one 'cook' anyway?]
Tarbin looks down at his hands at the magic swirling there, turning them over. He glances back up to Plume, unsure if they can see it.
Doc Plume cocks their head as Tarbin looks at their hands, unable to see the magic that they know is there. "Ah, well if your health is in good shape, you can move on to the other things, yes." They squat down, half sitting on their case. "I think I can help with the work. I'm run off my feet at the clinic some days, so I could use some help with the more mundane tasks. And your healing skills would of course be useful too. Would you want to help me out a few days a week?"
Melia: [That sounds interesting. Maybe even fun?]
Tarbin blinks as he looks back up to Plume, a wide smile appearing after a brief moment of processing. "R-really? I would be... Yes! If it means I can use my gift for others, of course yes! I wouldn't be in the way?"
Doc Plume shakes their head. "I doubt it. It would take a few days of training to get you up to speed, I think, but with your vision fixed, I'm sure you can be a real boon." They laugh a bit. "Besides, you have a gift. It shouldn't be wasted." They take a look around the camp. "So, this Melia... tell me more about her."
Melia: [Mm, please tell us more about her, Tarbin.] She lets out a soft giggle, clearly enjoying the situation.
Tarbin chuckles, trying to calm down from the excitement of income prospects. "Ah... Well, she's just like she was in the garden. Even in her situation, she's curious, and positive. And her way with Nature is amazing."
Melia: [You're not half bad with Nature either, you know.]
Doc Plume nods. "I didn't meet her there, so I'll take your word for it." They look at the plants around the hut. "It seems you're quite a team together..."
Tarbin looks about the small glade as well. While the forest outside the wall wasn't unhealthy by any standard, the area around where Tarbin had settled certainly seemed more lush in general what with their constant practice. He nods, smiling, though the smile fades a bit at the mention of a team. He glances at the ground, then to Plume. "Is... Nesseth angry with me? For all this? He didn't believe me when I gave him the news about Melia... I said some hurtful things in response..."
Melia: [What did you say?] She swirls once more near and around Tarbin's hands, having certainly been slowly growing in presence over last few days.
Doc Plume shakes their head. "I don't know. I think he's just... hurt in general. You all took the perceived loss of the elemental very hard... and he's a skeptical sort in the first place. A hunter, never trusting what he can't see with his own senses."
Tarbin nods, resting in a forward lean, elbows on his knees. "I questioned our friendship when he walked away... He heard me. Teis has an idea to help us let him know, though." He chuckles lightly, looking to Plume again with a gentle smile. "Thank you, doctor." The two discuss a handful of lighter topics before heading on their separate ways, both with their own brand of busywork ahead of them for the day.