Sickly [open]

Smiling and nodding quietly in greeting to everyone he passed as he strode into the Infirmary for his shift, Arren took stock of the large room, wine-red eyes scanning the many curtained beds. He continued forward towards the head nurse, who was organizing some simple pain, fever, etc potions that were made by the beginner's potions class, and offered a soft 'hello' before gesturing curiously to the only bed that was taken. The head nurse shook her head, murmuring something to him before going back to what she was doing.

Arren sighed somewhat fondly, making his way to the lone bed and drawing the curtain slightly. 'What is it with young people and working themselves to death?' He thought absently, snorting softly under his breath when he realized Jace would mock him for such a remark; for a wizard of his kind, he was still fairly young, not yet considered an adult. Even as he remained thoughtful, he waved a hand, swirling his pointer finger in the air and adding a bit of will and a muttered word or three.

Turning away from the sleeping Wei, he started helping the head nurse, taking care of the small ailments students came in with; needing bandages for a cut, lozenges for a cough, etc. After a while, he noticed Wei was awake and returned to the bed, once more opening the curtains.

"Really, Mr. Wei, you cannot run yourself down to the point of collapse." His tone wasn't condescending or chastising, instead filled with concern, the worry mirrored in his eyes; the boy was too often ending up in the Infirmary. He dispelled the small, pink pixie spirit he'd made to watch over the unconscious boy, the little thing winking saucily before disappearing in a shower of glowing pink sparkles. He then reached over to the night table to wring out a washcloth set in cool water, folding the cloth and setting it on the boy's head. "Please, rest for now. It will do you no good to rush out there when you are clearly exhausted. I will have a bowl of broth prepared if you are hungry, but please, take it easy."

Biting back another sigh, Arren could help the troubled frown that tugged at his features. No matter how many times the boy tried to shrug it off, the wizard knew what desperation looked like. He'd seen Jace try to drink himself to death, sleeping with anyone he came across and partying like it was the only thing he was made for, just to forget his father's shadow looming over, to make himself unable to recall the faces of the older brothers he'd loved and seen killed. And unfortunately, he could tell Wei was forcing himself into exhaustion to avoid something. What that something was, he wasn't sure, but it must be terrible for the boy. Before organizing those thoughts to the back of his mind, he promised himself that he'd help Wei however he could.

He remained silent even as Wei offered a small smile, though reached out to gently but firmly push the boy back to lie on the bed. "I cannot, in all good conscience, allow you to leave just yet, Mr. Wei." He said resolutely. "The fact that you claim to be all too used to this is rather worrying. At the very least, stay here and rest today. I am sure your friends will understand."

He paused to gesture with his hand and mutter under his breath again, two small spirits similar to the pink pixie from before appearing. This time, one of the little spirits had twigs and leaves in wild hair and was tinted a bright, grass green, and the other was of a deep ocean blue. The two saluted Arren, then flew off to get the tray of broth he'd promised, along with a pitcher of ice water and a loaf of bread. Once that was done, his frown returned as his gaze fell to Wei. He didn't want to resort to more forceful methods, but the boy was stubborn-- much too stubborn for his own good.

At the boy's request, Arren's inner healer wanted to stay firm with his decisions. The rest of him, though, understood that he'd need to make concessions lest Wei grow frustrated-- even more frustrated than he seemed to be already?— with his 'controlling' concern. With the next appeal, he quietly considered the simian-like boy in front of him, appearing for all the world like he was contemplating how to answer.

In reality, he'd already made a decision. "I suppose I could allow you to gather your things. However, if you do not return directly back to the Infirmary..." He trailed off purposefully; open ended threats, however well-meaning, tended to work the best. The imagination was a wonderful, wonderful thing.

With that, he turned to the tray that had been set on the small table made for these situations. The stand and wheels of the table went under the infirmary bed while the table lay a little less than a foot over the bed. His sharp gaze focused on the food, and for a third time he began muttering under his breath, pushing his will into the words of power that would sound like a melodic foreign language to anyone not a wizard of his kind. After several moments, a slightly opaque white mist converged on the tray and formed a small dome. The mist would ensure that the broth stayed nicely warm and the pitcher remained refreshingly cold.

By the time he'd finished the little spell, Wei was already gone. Of course, he'd noticed that the boy stumbled a bit once he'd gotten out of bed. When the portal suddenly snapped closed, Arren sighed for what seemed to be the hundredth time but wasted no time in hurrying towards the binder the head nurse used to keep track of everyone coming and going. He checked the dorm number of Wei's room and, now with a direction to go, all but sprinted out of the Infirmary.

He covered ground quickly with fairly long legs and lean build, and it was only a little more than five minutes before he'd made it to the dorm room and closing in on where Wei had collapsed. Within moments he reached the right door, the lock clicking open with a muttered word and concentration of will-- it had taken him a while to learn how to do that, but this wasn't the time to reminisce.

He strode in, easily spotting the downed boy. With yet another slight frown, he crouched down, checking Wei's vitals. Once that was done, he bent down again to carefully scoop the boy into his arms, straightening up and walking out of the room. Almost as an afterthought, he took a moment to summon yet another little spirit, this one a neon yellow and seemed to shine like the sun, that was charged with taking the backpack the boy had been adamant about packing and re-locking the door behind them.

"Really, Mr. Wei, your stubborn nature knows no bounds." He murmured to himself as he strode back out of the dorm building to return to the Infirmary. He would make sure Wei would stay there, safely tucked away in the infirmary bed and unable to do himself anymore damage for now-- extracurricular activities, clubs, etc. be damned.

By the time Wei woke up once more, Arren was settled at the sign-in counter, going through a binder with details of some of the more serious illnesses of the students. He heard the boy's dismayed exclamation, and while he wanted to chuckle, he stood and strode over to the bed.

"If you hadn't been so stubborn, then maybe this wouldn't have had to happen." He murmured quietly, gesturing to the untouched tray of food. "Now, please relax this time. I will take care of anything you feel obligated to do, but I do not want to see you get up until I deem you healthy. Clear?"

{{Short post for the spree ;;;}}