----------------------------------------------
BARRACKS - LATE MORNING
----------------------------------------------
Louma lands in front of the barracks doors, a little sloppy in her movements as she tiredly makes her way inside the building. Her travel armor, lacking much of her tail plates, is unpolished and uncomfortably sandy. She looks like she'd barely slept the previous couple nights, mostly because she had. Despite that, the Captain opted to go straight back to her office after the extended patrol to scribble out her initial reports right away, knowing it should be quiet and that her Mayn reason for going home first would probably be at the generator or dealing with related matters. With an exhausted wave to the seemingly distracted guard at reception, Louma makes her way to her office and slithers through the doorway.
Nesseth has been lurking under Louma's desk, managing to have slipped in while a guard was delivering the day's reports earlier that morning. He'd been lucky to overhear the other day that Louma's extended patrol was about due to end, so he'd decided a prank was in order while he had his new, albeit temporary form. He perks up when he hears the door open, then scoots a little further into the shadows when he hears the telltale slither of a snake tail moving about.
Louma pushes the door closed, latching the deadbolt behind her as she turns to face her desk. She glares at the stack of paperwork on top of the desk, growling a note of displeasure. The sound of buckles come shortly after as she begins shedding her armor, moving into the room enough to toss it piece by piece onto the guest chair until she's down to a criss-cross of straps and hoops. She lets out a satisfied sigh as she makes her way around to her side of the desk, stretching with a muted groan before beginning to coil into the waning patch of sunlight.
Nesseth waits for Louma to get settled, knowing she'll be more fun to surprise once she's gotten at least a little immersed in her job of reading the morning reports. He spends a few seconds just eying Louma's snake half, wondering how best to surprise her...
Louma sighs, shifting the stack of papers over to herself and getting everything somewhat set up to proceed through her normal routine, though the first thing her freshly dipped quill touches is a blank page as she begins her own summary of patrol. The end of her tail twitches in half-time rhythm to the scratching of her writing.
Nesseth finds himself a bit distracted as Louma's tail starts to sway a bit in front of him, and an idea pops into his head. Instead of one big surprise... he'll just make it a slow lead-in instead! After watching her tail for a few seconds to get the rhythm down, he moves to a better position and starts to lightly bat at the tip of her tail as it moves about.
Louma continues her writing, twitching her wings after a minute or so. She pauses in writing, her tail shifting under her as she readjusts for comfort. "Gods damned sand... Swear it has dug into my scales..." She returns to her writing after adjusting.
Nesseth can't help but grin as he hears Louma's comment after about a minute of messing with her tail. He holds off on continuing for a few seconds after she adjusts, then moves to another spot along her coils and drags a claw along her scales, being careful to not get his nails hooked anywhere.
Louma lets out a huff as she tweaks her tail opposite of Nesseth's scratching, hand slipping on the page with a "Damnit!" She reaches down, scratching near the spot he'd bothered while staring at her marked report.
Nesseth scurries back a little as Louma's hand goes down to scratch at the 'itch'. He waits again, ever patient like he would be during a hunt, for Louma to relax and go back to her work. The next chance he gets... he's probably going to go for the kill.
Louma huffs, dabbing a rag on the wet ink and managing to undo most of the damage. She settles in place again, rubbing her eyes tiredly. "Should have gone to the baths first... Probably would have fallen asleep."
Nesseth gives a bit of thanks for the fact that he can't really do a lot of his usual mannerisms, or else Louma's comment would have made him chuckle loud enough to blow his cover. Instead, he waits another few seconds, then starts slowly climbing onto Louma's lower coils... then faster and faster as he makes his way up, zigzagging slightly as he goes until he peeks out from under the desk.
Louma feels the strange itch climbing her tail, letting out an annoyed grunt as she moves to scratch EEK! She flails back from the desk, tail whipping side to side and spilling her papers everywhere when she spots the lizard clambering up her. "WHO THE HELL PUT THIS THING IN MY OFFICE?! GET! OFF!"
Nesseth goes tumbling off of Louma's tail as she flails back away from her desk, and he lands on the floor with a bit of a thud. He manages to flip himself back onto his legs again and gives the lesser coatl a bit of a sour look, which... might seem at least a little familiar. "Thing? Really, Louma?"
Louma moves away from the talking lizard, turning her head away a bit. "Oh great. Heat stroke induced nightmares. Talking lizards and paperwork, of course. Why do you know my name, creature?"
Nesseth sighs and rolls his eyes, then flares his frills out. "Because I've known you for years at this point, Louma. Pretty sure you don't have heat stroke, or you'd probably not even be able to concentrate enough to do paperwork."
Louma squints at the lizard, letting out a long sigh. "You... The flowers? Why? You know what they do! Wait... You were gone to escort Erika before I left... SHE knows what they do!" She closes her eyes, rubbing her bill. "I do not have the energy for this nonsense..."
Nesseth does a good enough approximation of a shrug. "We got a little preoccupied and careless while dealing with other things. The main thing is that we both got back okay... ish, and with all of our stuff intact, along with what we'd gone out there to collect originally."
Louma sighs, shaking her head a bit. "Sorry... I didn't mean to snap. Though... You deserved it for hiding under my desk."
Nesseth smiles as best as he's able. "What? You'd expect different from me?"
Louma lets out a dry chuckle. She glances toward the door, shaking her head. "Suppose not. You look absolutely goofy like that, and will definitely not be much use on the wall. I assume Plume is already working on the cure?" She slithers toward Nesseth, leaning over the lizard and picking him up by his sides.
Nesseth is about to answer when he's picked up. He wiggles about a bit, then just lets Louma move him about as she will. "Yeah, they're a bit busy, but they're working on the cure for both of us when they can. Should be back to normal in like... a week."
Louma sighs again, setting him down on top of her desk as she coils back up. "There are easier ways to ask for more vacation time, Nesseth. Weren't you two up in the mountains? Did you crawl all the way back like that?"
Nesseth shakes his head. "Nope. We managed to get some of the way back from Mean Peak before we'd fully changed, but Erika was the one who walked most of it. I just rode on her back, since she's got a really long stride right now." He chuckles, "And don't worry, I'm not hoping to get more vacation time. I think it's almost time for me to resume my duties anyway, once I get my old self back."
Louma taps his forehead, shaking her head. "So she got a dose of them again, as well? That poor girl can't catch a break. As for you, if you're sure you'll be back to normal by next Tuesday, you'll be written in to the schedule for Wednesday as usual. Was the rest of your trip so eventful?"
Nesseth wobbles back a little from the tap on his head. "She's handling it a lot better this time around, probably because the cure is already being worked on... and probably because she wasn't alone like the first time." He laughs just a bit, "We, uh... got ambushed by a wild animal partway through the trip, and had to spend a night without supplies or, er... clothing."
Louma pauses halfway into starting to fix her paperwork, giving him a look. "...Why?"
Nesseth tilts his head at the question. "Why what? Why'd we get ambushed? Not like we planned to get attacked by a wild animal..."
Louma shrugs, shaking her head. "Never mind, not what I wanted to know but I think I can connect the dots."
Nesseth gives Louma a flat look. "Hey, not like you and May wouldn't get distracted with each other out in the wilderness together, with how you two act together in public."
Louma blushes, the orange of her bill darkening. "None of your business where or how often we... We do not act that strongly in public." She gives him an equally flat look. "By the by, I find it quite insulting I was never invited to join the ranks of your girlfriends. Too late to ask now, of course. Your loss."
Nesseth grins smugly as Louma trips over her words in denial, only to blink and smirk instead. "What, and potentially ruin the perfectly wonderful working relationship we've already got? You'd have been willing to give up the snark and sass for love and lovemaking?" He sticks out his tongue for a moment, "I'm devastated, truly, to have missed out on such an opportunity while we were busy snarking at each other."
Louma chuckles, tilting her head as she thinks about it, or at least feigns doing so. "Mmm, probably not." She does hesitate a moment as the actual reason she'd never approached Nesseth or anyone else in the guard's ranks that way briefly crosses her mind. "Would be too hard to order you around, otherwise."
Nesseth chuckles, not as bothered outwardly by the apparent missed opportunity. "Probably would have broken even, then, since I'd likely listen more while giving you less lip about it." He grins cheekily, or at least as cheekily as he can manage in this form, as he continues, clearly joking, "Offer's still open, of course. Or... at least, it will be once I'm back to normal."
Louma gives him another poke on the head. "You know I would never date someone else in the guard. Besides, all joking aside, I love Maybelline, and am only hers. Perhaps for life, if everything goes to plan..."
Nesseth flails a little at the poke, only to chuckle again. "I know, I know, I'm just playing around. You two have something solid going." He eyes Louma for a moment, "For life, eh? Planning to propose to her, then?"
Louma can't help but smile a genuine blushing grin, nodding quickly before trying to compose herself. "Some day, if she'll have me~"
Nesseth laughs. "I've seen how she looks at you, Louma. I'm sure she'd be more than happy to have you."
Louma giggles, nodding again. "I'm banking on it. It's been a lonely two nights, sorry." She sighs, looking at the still messy papers. "I could always come to the office tomorrow and deal with this boring garbage..."
Nesseth looks around at the absolute mess that Louma made in her wild flailing to get away from him earlier. "I could help if you want, but, uh..." He lifts a claw and flexes his fingers a bit, "I... can't really hold any writing implements. Not to mention I'd probably just get ink tracks all over everything."
Louma hums. "You do make a pretty decent paper weight right now."
Nesseth blinks, then shrugs. "I mean... if you want me to just hold papers down, that's fine by me. You know I'm good at sleeping."
Louma sighs, leaning back on her coils and gently scritching the top of Nesseth's head as she thinks. "You are, and also good at most everything else you're assigned. We've come a long way here, Nesseth. I could never say it has been the worst decade of my life."
Nesseth 's eyes drift shut at the scratches, and he slowly lowers his head onto the table's surface. "Mmh... it's been quite a journey, eh? From all those arguments we'd had when we first met, all the way up to now. Funny how things go." He smiles a little and peeks an eye open at Louma, "It's been a very interesting decade for both of us."
Louma chuckles,. nodding slowly. "Interesting is certainly a word for it. Think I will take the afternoon, visit May and have a short talk with her. ...Do you need a lift to the clinic, or are you going to scamper?"
Nesseth hums thoughtfully, then smiles. "If you'd be willing to take the detour, I wouldn't mind hitching a ride to the clinic once we're done here. Thanks, Louma."
Louma straightens up a bit, shrugging. "It's not like you weigh all that much, and the flight is only a little different."
Nesseth nods. "Fair enough. I guess even though I'm still kind of long, I'm only... maybe two pounds? Definitely easier to carry than when you haul me up into the air during our sparring matches."
Louma grins, nodding. "I'll have a much better grip on you, so don't flail around too much. There will be nothing to worry about."
Nesseth smiles. "For all the wiggling I do while sparring, I don't think I've ever actually worried you'd drop me. Anyway... let's try and work through what we can here until it's time to head out. That way, less headaches for you tomorrow."
----------------------------------------------
RESPITE MARKETPLACE - MIDDAY
----------------------------------------------
Rhask is actually doing something different from knitting at the moment in the marketplace. Currently, she's discussing a potential sale with a customer looking to buy one of Jennica's charms, and her experience in selling things is certainly sharpening up since she'd first started some time back, with her talking animatedly with the customer about the charm they're looking at.
Strix was technically still a patient, but since she was clearly healthy, and more to the point bored out of her skull (Assuming she still has one), she opts to head out to the market. Boredom was a new feeling for her, previously Strix would have had "Imaging all the horrible ways he could die" as a fallback to keep him occupied, but that seemed to be..not a thing anymore, so..here we are. She arrives up to Rhask's stall, and waits for her turn. She had a very simple gown on, and that was all.
Rhask wraps up the transaction quickly enough, with the new owner of the charm paying and going on their way. She gives them a cheerful wave as they depart, then directs her attention with a smile towards the person that just arrived at the stall. "Ah, hello there, miss! Can I help you?"
Strix blinks a little. Still not used to being addressed like that "Oh, well. Weird question, but I was told you do clothes, and I was looking for some clothes, because I don't really..have any"
Rhask nods happily and gestures towards the side of the stall with a bunch of clothing on display. "Yup! I knit all of these clothes by hand! Is there a particular style that you're looking for?"
Strix: "Oh, I want something fairly plain. I want to do a proper day with May, where I decide what sort of style I want to go with, and I think if I pick something now, I'll ruin the fun of that" Her eyes go over the clothing, and she tries not to pick out anything in particular. Gotta save that for later! "But..uh, I need the girl clothes. The stuff that Jennica wouldn't talk about because she's too embarrassed"
Rhask blinks a bit and tilts her head curiously. "Girl clothes? Uh... what kind of clothes? There are a lot of things we wear that boys don't... well, usually, anyway." She pauses and nods before Strix can respond, though, and stoops down behind the counter to dig a bit, "But plain is simple enough! Let me see what I've got..."
Strix: "Well, I..think there might be some things, because..uh. Well, I'm kinda new to this whole 'girl' thing? So there's loads of stuff that I think I'm not being told! Like.." She wiggles her breasts with her hands "These things! Nobody will tell me what they're for! People keep just stammering, and looking away. It's really annoying!"
Rhask comes back up with a fairly plain-looking dress, though it still has some subtle decorations along the hemline. Otherwise, it looks pretty uniform in color, and quite cozy. She pauses when she sees Strix messing with her chest, then nods. "Oh, of course! A bra!" Her exclamation is likely drowned out by the general chatter of the marketplace, sparing any glances that might have been drawn, "They're to help support those. Mammals have them, and I think it's supposed to help, like... I guess feed their children when they're still very, very young?"
Strix: "Huh, so..they make food?" She ponders "That must be handy for them. Don't see why people would get so weird about it" She nods "And, I suppose the Bra is to make sure they stay in place? I've noticed they sort of bounce about a bit when I'm trying to go anywhere fast. Sort of a nuisance" She hmms "Mammals get weird about them. I keep noticing some of the guys looking when they think I don't see them. I'm..uh..new to the whole 'Mammal' thing too. Accident at work. You know how it is"
Rhask nods as Strix comes to some pretty reasonable conclusions. "Yup! As you've probably found out, they can get a little... bouncy if they're not supported. Bras help to keep them held in place." She gives Strix another curious look, "But... you're... new to being a... actually... if you don't mind me asking, miss... what are you? I can see you're a cat of some sort, but... I don't think I've seen anyone like you before."
Strix: "Oh. Right. Yes. Name's Strix and I think cat is right? There was an accident, and I sort of ended up hit with a magic generator thing, and magic stuff happened, but the end result was" She runs a finger over her rather artificial looking skin "This. I'm pretty sure I'm still alive, and all the living stuff works normally, but..just..with uh..metal, and techy parts? So, that's why I still need all the support stuff, I suppose"
Rhask stares at Strix for a few seconds as a detail clicks into place in her head. "Wait... Strix? Jennica spoke about you before, but she never mentioned you, uh... changed. I'm guessing that accident was recent, then?" She clears her throat, "Ah... anyway, it's definitely a cute look."
Rhask glances at the dress draped over her arm, then jumps a little when she realizes what she was supposed to be showing Strix. "Oh, right! Here, how does this look, by the way?"
Strix: "Yeah..Jennica and me are friends. It happened a few days ago. Still sort of in hospital and..oh!" She looks at the dress "I suppose it fits? I don't really know fashion, so I can't tell, and I want to wait before I learn about it" She nods "But, I'll take it for now anyway, just so I've something to put on that isn't just a random gown. It doesn't quite feel proper, and it's kinda itchy too. So. Could I get the other stuff to? Oh, and then there's stuff maybe I hadn't really thought about, underthings" There's a pause "I think that means Socks and Shoes, which I do know about it, but I didn't bother with before, but..I feel like I should now?" She's barefoot now "It just feels more proper now I can actually feel the ground more"
Rhask hums thoughtfully. "Bras, hm... I might have something that fits you, but I need to check." She nods at Strix as she passes her the dress, "Feel free to try it on if you like, but... just put it on over your current dress, please. If it fits, perfect. If not, I think I've other sizes back here." She shakes her head at the question of shoes and socks, "I can help with socks, but shoes... that would have to be from another merchant, I'm afraid."
Strix: "Oh, right. People will get weird if I take my clothes off, won't they?" She puts the dress on, and considers it "It fits anyway? So that's good" Rhask's estimation is that it's ..fine. It's certainly not doing anything for her, but it isn't ugly either "I'll take the socks, then work out where I can buy shoes afterwards"
Rhask nods and bends down behind the counter again, her tail being probably the only thing visible as the tip wiggles about in the air. "Good! The material stretches a little, so if it fits, then it should be comfortable. Ahh, here we are." She stands back up again and sets out a bra and a pair of socks, "The bra is easy enough to put on, and it goes on under the dress. You're welcome to have these for free if you like, and I'm more than happy to sell you extra if you need spares."
Strix: "Oh, that's great!" She claps her hands together, and indeed that's a happy wiggly tail out the back of the dress "Right, I have some money to pay for it" She rummages in the pocket of her gown, and pulls out a few coins "The Shiny making business makes good coin" She rolls that word around her mouth "Huh, though shiny doesn't vibe right..curious. Like..language differences. Weird" She seems to have gotten distracted with this idea.
Rhask smiles a bit and nods. "Well, in that case, how many spares do you want?" She sets the bra and socks down in a neat little pile in front of Strix, then goes to pick out a couple more sets of each piece of clothing, "Shiny doesn't sound right to you anymore?"
Strix: "Yeah. Before, it would put me in mind of all my inventions, and the stuff I'd make, and the value they'd have, but now..just, not so much? It's just a word" She clucks her tongue "I think" She taps her head "When got a bunch of tech shoved in there, that getting it all mixed up tweaked the language a bit, because a machine doesn't think, but it does take magic in, which is a language, then understands it" She gets thoughtful "May has been worried that I changed up here, being all..me-ish? I feel she's wrong, but I think that..it's like....looking through coloured glass, then taking all the colour out"
Strix: "It's different, and maybe you've sort of..lost something, but overall, everything is clearer"
Rhask hums thoughtfully as she stands back up again and listens to Strix's explanation while also setting out a few more pieces for her to choose from, "So... less scrambling and more... I guess a different look at the same thing? Uh... what is that word again... perspective?" She nods, "Could be that the whole change from, er... what you were before to a female cat changed your perspective. It's a pretty big shift... like, I'm sure I'd be thinking and acting a little different if I went from being a lizard to being... I don't know, a wolf or something."
Strix: "Yeah. Also, the whole "Part Tech" thing. Honestly. Amazing I'm sane at all!" Probably helps Strix was always a bit nuts "Anyway, all this looks great. I'll take it for now, and probably be back soon enough for the 'fashion' part of things" She stretches gently "You've been a great help. I appreciate it. Hopefully things either settle down, or I work out a cure, or something. I know May thinks I should get a cure, but ..I dunno. People are just so much nicer now"
Rhask hums a bit and smiles as she folds up the dresses and other garments, then slips them into a burlap bag for Strix to carry. "I'll be here whenever you're ready for fashion, Strix!" She smiles warmly, "I do hope things settle down for you one way or another. It's a shame I didn't meet you sooner, though, since Jennica spoke highly of you."
Strix: "Well. I'm glad that she's said nice things, and we can start now. Once things have settled down..one way or another like you said, we could chat again, instead of just business" She takes her bag in both paws, and does a little head bobble of gratitude "Thanks again!"
Rhask smiles cheerfully and gives Strix a little wave. "You're welcome, Strix! Have a good day!"
Strix would head off, to look for shoes! Ooh. New shoes~
----------------------------------------------
RESPITE FALLS - STREETS NEAR THE CLINIC - LATE AFTERNOON
----------------------------------------------
Xochicoatl has flown about most of the day. Most of the past several days, actually, getting used to her wings and the air currents, and the feelings of freedom that come with it. She is, however, still somewhat bad at landing. As such, she comes down for a rather hard landing, her tail hitting the ground and resulting in a rather beautiful but messy ball of feathers and scales. With a muffled 'mrph', she begins to untangle herself, dusting off the dirt from her wings.
Erika is grazing on a patch of grass next to where Xochicoatl lands, and thus takes a sizable jump-scramble backwards when the coatl lands: "Yikes!" She blinks a couple of times, her less-than-perfect vision taking a moment to focus: "Eh? Hi?"
Xochicoatl flaps her wings, continuing to preen the feathers slightly, then tilts her head as she hears the voice. "Hmm? Hello? You are... a talking deer, or gazelle of some kind? Or perhaps I have hit my head upon that landing harder than I thought?"
Erika tilts her head for a second before the dots connect. Finally, in a cheery voice she speaks: "Oh! No no no. Your head is fine - well, probably - I assure you I'm very real an okapi. Although not usually. Call it a temporary state of being by way of sex-related accident?"
Xochicoatl shakes off the last of the dust, then slithers towards the okapi. "Ah! I see! I had no idea sex could be so dangerous...?"
Erika shakes her long neck and mane in an approximation of a shrug: "Well, more like the where we had it than the how of it, but yeah, suppose it can be dangerous without proper protection."
Xochicoatl nods, considering this. "I am fairly certain Captain Louma has been having it quite regularly with her mate, but she seems to have no desire to discuss it, so I have not inquired. I must assume they are properly protected, as Captain Louma has a good amount of armor, and her mate Maybelline seems rather obsessed with safety, based on her talks about the local power generator."
Erika tilts her head again, but then nods: "Sounds about right. May was pretty frazzled so I hope Louma finds her, too." She finally pauses and looks Xochicoatl over: "Say... you do look somewhat familiar. Have I confused you before?"
Xochicoatl chuckles, a raspy-sounding snake laugh, "I believe I would remember someone like you! But I am being quite rude, my apologies." She gives a rather regal bow, her rainbow feathered wings accentuating the motion. "I am Xochicoatl."
Erika nods in lieu of being actually able to smile: "Nice to meet you! I'm Erika, and usually not on all fours. I take care of the garden down that way-" she nods vaguely in the direction of it: "-when not having other troubles. Thankfully plants don't need constant surveillance. Well, usually."
Xochicoatl grins, "Ah, how lovely! I am usually not on all fours either, but I imagine it would be quite strange to walk on legs. Especially upon four of them!" She laughs again, then hums, "So you are a botanist? I have perhaps seen your garden from the air! I can fly now. I have only just learned."
Erika blinks: "Ooh, I wish I could fly. I could get everywhere so fast. Must be great!" She pauses, considering as a thought bothers her: "Xochi, eh? Xochi Xochi Xochi. Heh. It's a funny name to say a lot. Xochixochixochixochi!" She blinks and pauses again: "Wait, Xochi? But she's older and you're, well, you're not. Also you have wings. Huh."
Xochicoatl flaps her wings as if to demonstrate, beaming proudly, "It is great! And I do not think my name is quite so funny, but it has always been mine, so I cannot say? It means 'Flower' in my native tongue. Xochicoatl because I am a coatl, and that is why I have wings, of course."
Erika glances aside: "Did someone start some kind of accidental person-changing thing while we were accidentally out there having a change on our persons? This is so weird." She looks back to the coatl: "Eh well, doesn't matter I guess! Nice to see you, possibly again, possibly for the first time, honestly I really do not know."
Xochicoatl tilts her head at Erika, "I... do not understand either? I am new to town, so perhaps this is a joke I do not get?"
Erika shakes her head again: "I do not really know. Possibly, possibly not? I guess you just look awfully familiar to my friend and I've had changed persons way too much on my mind lately. My apologies!"
Xochicoatl shrugs, "No worries... though some others have made similar strange comments and not made elaboration. It is... curious?"
Erika tilts her head the other way: "Well, you are like... a whole lot similar to a friend of mine, who I have not seen in a while come to think of it..." She shakes her head and closes her eyes: "Okay, bad Erika. Stop overthinking, that way only lies headache and you can't make herbal cures for that without hands."
Xochicoatl watches Erika very carefully, "That... is very similar to what the moth said, Kira... yes."
Erika looks at the coatl: "Kira gets headaches too? Must feel awful in that small body."
Xochicoatl shakes her head, "Oh! No! Wait, actually I do not know? I could ask her if I see her again? But I meant about the friend who has gone missing?"
Erika blinks again: "Oh! Right, yeah. It's like, you're like my friend, probably like she was like waaay before even I was born? Come to think of it I'm not sure if Xochi's ever mentioned her age, but like, she's old. And shares name with you." She pauses, humming: "...do you like gardening?"
Xochicoatl tilts her head, "I have never gardened... but being named after flowers, I have always thought it would be nice to have my own. Oh! Perhaps you could help me start one? Though I am not sure if Captain Louma has space for a garden? Perhaps I could ask her?"
Erika straightens up, blinking: "I can help you, soon as this feeling of deja vu passes by."
Xochicoatl claps her hands. "Ah! That would be wonderful! I have been searching for things to do here to pass the time, but I know little of flowers themselves, save for a few books I have read that described the flowers of my native home. Perhaps you could even help me find a few that would grow here?"
Erika pauses, then nods deeply: "I can do that!" She steps in place: "If nothing else, I can help you, er, find your way with the plants, help you get knowledge of them? It's not like I can do much else besides talk before I get the cure."
Xochicoatl bows slightly, "Perhaps I can help you? If your problem is hands, then I have two! I could help you with any tasks around your garden, while you teach me!"
Erika laughs a bit, a hoarse voice barely a laugh at all: "We can do that! Always happy to teach anyone interested more." She nods towards her garden: "Do you want to come now?"
Xochicoatl glances around, then shrugs. "If you are able! I have little else to do, since Captain Louma prefers me not to be too conspicious."
Erika shakes her head: "I have almost nothing at all to do, so we can spend a lot of time there." She turns down the street: "Follow me, and I'll show you some of what I know!"
Xochicoatl brings her hands up in front of her chest, flapping her wings a few times before folding them to her side as she slithers behind Erika, "Ah! I am excited to learn! Yes, please lead the way!"
Erika starts leading the way, tail swishing in excitement as she's happy to teach a new (old?) friend some tidbits of the topic she's at least nearly the bestest at.