#earthrunes

The possum's room is strewn with bright colors - scarves, wall hangings, paper fans - and plants brought in for the winter.

"I'll alert the guards I'll take his shift. I can tell folks "hi, get out of the rain moron " with the best of em"

A polite knock on the door, shave and a haircut, as he peers within to see if the occupant is in.

"Alloooooooo?"

"Looks like she's not in, just set him down, we'll leave a note. She can burn her sheets" Rollo advises

"Bonjour?" A fluffy grey head appears, tattered ears perked.

"mmfine.." The feverish troll's lips look a bit bluer?

He gives the Pooka a bow - well, an abbreviated motion thereof, as he is currently half-hoisting a troll aloft. "Is the Doctor in? I have my 5 cents..."

Thane Rollo says "Vicnce found him face down in the muck, got a message. Proably the flu. He can't die, I'll have to work his shifts"

A grateful glance over to Rollo.

"I did nothing of the sort."

"Ack! Foolish Charlie Brown, out in the rain?"

"pooost" He coughs

"What, it's nearly a flood, and no boats at all..."

Oh shit. Emma is pretty sure this is the flu

Her ears flatten. "Oh...."

"Can you help, madame Physicker? Alas, I do not keep fair Delores's cookies in a tin against such emergencies..."

"Heather does not always cure a fever. Soup may."

"You want me to get soup?" Rollo says "And where do you want the troll? Your bed, me to set up a cot, or in a chair?"

"The bed, certainly! Awash with blankets, mummified even..." She tuts, and goes to get an armful of pillows.

Rollo nods to Vince and they heave Oswald to the bed. He will fall with all the grace of an acme anvil

"It seems I have acquired a furnace. Surely, Vincenzio, you have never heard of a hot toddy? It is a very obscure libation..."

"Reminds me I need to hit Jack up for some booze off my shift."

Oswald is settled into the Possom's nest, and without much ado or care for propriety, the thane is also duly relieved of his boots, slacks, shirt, and any armour he may have been wearing. He is allowed to retain his underclothing (if not all of his dignity) but the muddy/wet garments are stripped off with HARDLY even a ribald comment.

"Honestly, Thane, you should not try to compete with a mouse for playing dead..." Her ears and tone betray a note of worry. "Timcat, how long was he outside?"

A feverish protest "msorryi'lleatthepinach"

A moments thought, and he remarks, "I would say, from the start of this shift, until I found him... nay, likely not but a tick of the large hand, I'd hope. Not quite soaked through."

She pokes his side. "Like a sponge!"

"mmm" Oswald grunts

Rollo says "his shift started five hours ago"

"And I happened upon him naught but a handspan of minutes prior." Indicating with a tap of his fingertip on his wristwatch.

"FIVE DAYS! Oh, you putz!" She glares at the troll.

A soft reminder to Rollo, "Enguard, my guard. Lest she turn upon you as well. And a fine hot toddy shall await you upon finish of your unexpected shift." To the pooka, he asks, "I shall tell the Steward, no? We shan't wish a panic upon the peasantry if passing word of plague were to be poorly propagated..."

"It is the plague, I'm sure. We shall be besieged by lepers. Unless they got their distemper shots."

"Sure sure whatever, I got work to do." Rollo says "I leave it you churigans and apthowhatzits to patch Oz up. Unless there's any thing else?"

Oswald mutters feverishly as he's growled out "No I LOVe the sweater, grandma"

"My tracking collar duly notes that I have been fully vaccinated. And I know that thou art mightily strong against the treat of rabies. Tut, tut, good Rollo. Only, to let us know if you start to feel at all plaguish."

"Ah.. I meant to take it..." Rollo says "You know, ...later"

"...The pups and cubs?"

"We have a whole litter, and too big to stuff in a pouch..."

"Perhaps, his lord of hounds and hawks might know."

Rubbing his chin uncertainly.

"Ah shit, yeah, the kids." Rollo says

"They are a glass menagerie, non?"

"Okay, I think I grok you twisty tongues, I'll be the one to pass this one to Delores then?" Rollo says

"To Delores, and Delores alone, mind you." He holds up a finger, sternly.

"Masks, masks for all! Merry Carnival."

"I'm out ranked by a bartender" Rollo grunts "Fine."

A sad affectation. "Such a glorious gift to the world, to be covered up..." pursing his lips coquettishly.

She boops his nose with a fingertip. "Then paint lips upon it!"