For the Indoraptor

[sharpcompassion]

((Occurs after This Thread.))

It's not beyond the realm of possibility that Loki might send an intimidating Nexus resident to visit someone on Asvera without warning them first. As methods of entertaining himself go, it would be an easy and benign prank, sending the Indoraptor to knock on Fǫnn's cottage door. She'd probably even handle it fine after the initial startlement. Asgardians have seen a lot of types of living, sentient creatures humans have not.

But because he wants her to actually work on something for him, Loki has not only given her fair warning, but has left her a few gifts to give the dinosaur, as well as making sure she has both Midgardian and Asgardian equipment to work with. The young healer is still technically Eir's apprentice, but she's done a lot of learning on her feet in the last several months. When things are quiet in the town, she attends her master's side, studies, or works on non-medical projects around town. When there is enough work for two, she does her part, and thanks in part to Loki's patronage and in part to Eir's, she has her own little house, with space for records and equipment and a sterile examination room.

It's still chilly in Asvera, and the nights are still long, but there are tiny white and blue flowers dotting the new grass, and the birds are coming back. Fǫnn is seated on the porch this morning, with a large cup of strong coffee, listening to a quartet of nestlings cheep beneath the awning of her roof. Her hands are not idle, either. She's about halfway through knitting a receiving blanket for the next infant expected in the village. She means to have a stock of them by summertime. It's a small comfort for new mothers, and a sign of hope for the future of their people.

It's time for new life.

Comments

[hybriddino]

When the Indoraptor comes to visit, it's been the first time he's gone outside the Wilds or the occasional foray to the Nexus's inhabited area. He tends to avoid people. As a large predator with razor-sharp teeth, he worries about how he'll come across in front of Nexus residents unfamiliar with him. He's a very large dinosaur, at least compared to a human being. But he's on good terms with the Asgardians, so here he is,

He's on important work. As Loki told him, there's a human being who needs his help. Ian Malcolm, the man who was bitten by a Tyrannosaurus rex. One of many different dinosaurs who went into the Frankenstein's monster that was the Indominus rex, and later her smaller, sleeker, dark-scaled son. He thinks Loki was wise to turn to him rather than his more unpredictable mother.

He's gotten over his issues with humans, but he doesn't think she has, even if she agreed not to eat the specific ones he named as friends. She might not agree to help without a lot more convincing, even if she has a greater percentage of rex DNA.

The Indoraptor sits on his hindquarters and knocks on the door three times.

Tap, tap, tap.

[sharpcompassion]

Fonn has just stepped inside for a moment to make tea when the dinosaur arrives. The kettle is on the stove when she hears the knock, and she makes her way over to the door with no expectation in particular of who might be on the other side.

It would be erroneous to say she's not startled when she opens it. Loki gave her a description of the Indoraptor, but a large predatory animal has a lot of presence that cannot simply be described through mere words. She makes a small squeak and cups one hand over her mouth for a moment, eyes wide.

To her credit, though, she doesn't panic, and after a moment to take in the whiteboard he carries, she realizes who her guest is and what he's here for. "O-oh! Oh, I'm sorry. You must be the Prince? I didn't mean to be rude. Um. I'm Fonn, would you like to come in?"

[hybriddino]

The Indoraptor opens his mouth slightly when Fonn introduces herself. He's seen more surprised reactions from other people when they first encountered him. A ten-foot-tall dinosaur with sharp teeth and hooked claws tends to make an impression on people. It wouldn't be the first time he frightened somebody by accident, and won't be the last, either.

He produces his whiteboard. He knows Loki and Thor speak his natural language, but he figures Fonn doesn't know it. Hello Fonn. I am the Prince. Loki told you why I was coming to visit? He comes into the building, careful not to knock anything over, and plops himself on the floor, tail draped. It's a pleasant house, and he hasn't actually been in human caves much ever since he broke out of Lockwood Manor. He wouldn't like feeling enclosed.

He wipes the message and writes another one. His grammar and vocabulary have grown as he's spent time in the Nexus.I was told that there's someone who needs my help. My blood. The dinosaur's great head rises and turns to Fonn. I want to help him. While he doesn't know Malcolm well, Loki's his friend, and he considers this a favor to a friend.

[sharpcompassion]

Fonn certainly can't speak his language--yet, anyway--but she, like Loki and Thor, has the advantage of the Allspeak. She might learn to understand him in a relatively short time, with enough exposure. For now, though, the whiteboard is the best option.

"Yes. I think I halfway thought he was teasing me when he described you, but I see now he wasn't." She's very soft-spoken, polite. Tension seems to be easing out of her fast, although she doesn't smile. Fonn very rarely smiles.

"I was making tea. Do you, er, drink tea? Or anything else I might have? I have milk and juice." She doubts an obligate carnivore wants orange juice, but it's only polite to offer.

Nodding soberly, she walks past him, stepping carefully over his tail, to stand close to his head, facing him. "Yes, Prince Loki asked me to take some small samples to put through the soul forge, and for other tests. Blood and saliva especially. I'd like to test your claws as well, but that won't require taking pieces of them, only a few brushings to see what bacteria you carry on them."

[hybriddino]

Loki wasn't teasing. What you see is what you get. The enormous reptile's lip curls into a sharp-toothed smile. He's used to people reacting with awe when they see him, though he's not the biggest creature in the Nexus. He isn't even the largest or most dangerous predator anymore, he's been outclassed by his mother, among others.

Following suit, the large dinosaur writes on the whiteboard. Given the importance of the job, he's going to communicate in the language of humans rather than his own.

The Indoraptor shakes his head, though the offer is appreciated. Neither tea nor orange juice would agree with his body very well. Milk doesn't work with reptiles in general, either.

Let's get this over with. He stands up again. While he doesn't like needles, he understands why they're necessary. There's no other way to extract the needed blood safely for examination. I told Loki that you may have my saliva, some of my blood, and some claw scrapings. Is there anything else you need?

[sharpcompassion]

Oh, he smiles! That's interesting. She's not sure whether it's reassuring or terrifying, actually, but her gaze locks onto the configuration of his teeth for a moment and something in her head says but what if he got injured in the mouth or lost one of those? he could starve to death... And even for a very skilled predator, taking down powerful prey can result in injuries.

"You don't have any doctor to go to if you get hurt," she says, words going from brain to mouth with no filter in-between. "Can I be that for you? If I'm going to have samples anyway, I can study a little. Maybe you won't ever need me, but in case you do."

Belatedly, she shakes her head at the question. "I...sorry, I don't think I'll need any more than that, at least not right now. I'll want to compare your microbiome to the bacteria in Doctor Malcolm's wound. From the account I've heard, he was stepped on and bitten, so it would have come from claws or teeth, most likely. I suppose if that fails some, um, samples from the lower digestive tract might be helpful but I think saliva is the most likely source."

Not asking for a urine or stool sample today, Indo, luckily. Neither of you wants to go through that awkwardness.

[hybriddino]

There's no veterinarian in the Nexus, I think. There are doctors for humans and other humanoids, but not for dinosaurs. The Indoraptor knows that if he gets injured or attacked out in the Wilds, he'll be on his own, even though there are few creatures which can stand up to him. Even fewer with his pack's help.

But Fonn is right that there's always risk. Accidents happen - cuts, broken bones, infections. For wild dinosaurs, those would be lethal. He would like a place to go if he does ever need medical help that a doctor for people can't give.

That works for me. I'd like you to be my doctor, Fonn. Thank you ver much for offering to help. How should I give you the saliva you need? I can open my mouth and let you take it, or drool into a cup.

The Indoraptor's relieved by that. He's not opposed to giving a sample of those things, but he thinks they're gross much like humans do.

[sharpcompassion]

"I'm not sure a traditional veterinarian would be capable of attending you properly, either," she says thoughtfully. "Ours are very good with livestock, but you're far from livestock. Even one that works with exotic species would have a lot to learn. The rules that apply to reptiles would not apply to your kind, since you're not cold-blooded."

She's been reading up. "Physiologically you may be more like a bilgesnipe than most other animals we know of, except of course you're far more intelligent." And you smell better, too.

"I can take a few swabs," she gives him a small smile, grateful for the cooperation. "I think my lab is too small for you; wait here a moment and I'll get my equipment."

[hybriddino]

I am more like a bird than a reptile. I'm warm-blooded and active, like they are. That's the way it is for dinosaurs in general - we're like birds. If you get to meet Princess or Red, they have feathers all over their body. Princess is nice. Red is a wild dinosaur from back when dinosaurs lived on the Earth, so she's shy.

The Indoraptor knows the Jurassic Park dinosaurs don't have feathers like the real thing. Some quirk of the genetics, probably, though he doesn't know that. He has some small, feathery quills on the back of his head.

He sits on the floor, patiently waiting for Fonn to come back. He's kind of glad he doesn't need to go in a lab - they bring back bad memories for him of his creation. A lab is where he was born.

[sharpcompassion]

Fonn nods at his explanation. She's done some reading, but her observation about livestock veterinarians is sound either way. They would know how to treat poultry and maybe falcons, but even that doesn't translate perfectly to such a large creature.

She's only gone for a moment, returning with a little kit in a sterile bag, which she sets on a towel on one of her chairs. Collecting the saliva swabs is the most intimidating procedure, given she'll all but have to stick her hands in his mouth, but after a deep breath she moves ahead, giving him a gentle pat on the jaw after swiping his upper and lower teeth and gums.

Collecting skin and blood is a little more invasive, but she makes sure to stand where he can see what she's doing. The contact is little more than a pinprick, but they'll both feel more relaxed when it's done.

[hybriddino]

The Prince's anatomy isn't different from other Earth creatures, but he's a lot larger than any modern species of bird - or reptile, for that matter. And he doubts that Earth people or Asgardians dealt with dinosaurs before. Especially a dinosaur that was made in a laboratory like him.

He holds still when she's poking around his mouth. The Indoraptor has a large head, similar in shape to a smaller Tyrannosaurus rex, with slightly snaggled teeth, an indication of his unnatural origin.

After that he settles down, allowing Fonn to take the skin and blood she needs. He has unpleasant memories of being prodded with needles from when he was made, and when the scientists who created him carried out their tests. They didn't care as much for his comfort and security as Fonn seems to be.