AN: Guess who forgot to post here and has only been posting on AO3 ^x^;;
After Avery had taken his leave, Jonathan took a few minutes to make sure his appearance was presentable. Once he was sure he was as put together as he would get, the ekon cautiously made his way down the stairs, ears rotating as he caught conversation from the parlor. It sounded to him like the low murmur of Clarence and his mother talking. Nerves threatened to overtake him as he stood on the stairs. Jonathan had faced hordes of other immortals, fought and won against the ethereal source of all vampires, and the true origin of the Skal Plague. And yet, here he was, afraid of what those dear to him might say. He lightly slapped his cheeks with his hooves. "You're being ridiculous, just, stop fretting!" The equine muttered low to himself. He took a deep, unneeded breath to try and steady himself as he lightly tapped his hoof on the doorway. "Good evening, Mother, Clarence."
While the man startled in his chair, the Reid matriarch merely smiled as she turned to her transformed son. "Ah, Jonathan, it's wonderful to see you up, dear boy." Emelyne beckoned him over to her, expression soft as he stepped into the room. "Come here, son, we were just talking about you." She patted a spot on the couch next to her. Once the ekon-turned-pony had given her a brief kiss on the cheeck and sat down next to her, the Reid matriarch picked up her tea-cup, happy to see her son more often, regardless of his current form. She understood Clarence had his issues after learning Jonathan was a vampire, but hoped the boys could work past it. Emelyne took a sip from her tea, before placing the cup and saucer back on the table, she patted her son on his hoof, "Jonny, did Avery tell you that I'd like you to join me for dinner tonight?" At her son's nod, she turned to Crossley. "And you, Clarence, would you like to join us?" She looked him over, tutting. "You still look too thin." Emelyne leaned over to Jonathan and whispered in his ear, "Is he still too thin, Jonny? I know you've been helping him recover after all that horridness last year."
Before he had a chance to respond, Crossley interjected. "Is that wise, Mrs. Reid, considering Jonny's diet?" His tone was nervous, he was trying, but his fears were a hard thing to shake. Clarence looked at the ekon, watching as his ears folded against his head, his expression a mix of embarrassment and despondent. Seeing that caused him to feel a pang of guilt, and he averted his eyes.
"It will be fine, Avery made sure to purchase a few bottles of blood from one of the butchers for Jonathan earlier today." Emelyne's expression was one of cool neutrality as she addressed the both of them. "That his… condition has changed his dietary needs has not changed who he is." She gave her son a soft smile as she lightly squeezed his hoof. "And you, young man, are in need of some better meals." She gave Crossley a pointed look. "I know Jonny has been doing what he can to help you, but I think some of Avery's cooking would do you some good."
Jonathan draped a hoof across his muzzle, "Mother, I appreciate your concern, but, I'm afraid I'm not exactly comfortable taking my- my meals around others given my diet." He let his hoof drop from his face as he folded them in his lap. He addressed both of them with the next statement. "As for Clarence, as one of his physicians, I must say he still needs to be careful with what he eats and how much." He gave his friend an appraising look. "Quite a bit of damage was done to his body, including his digestive system." Jonathan leaned back, lightly tapping his fore-hooves together, "As such, lighter, more frequent meals are what he's supposed to be eating." He stood from the couch, and gestured to Crossley, "May I approach?" At the man's tentative nod, he slowly walked over, gently taking Clarence's wrist between his hooves, checking his pulse, while noting how the man's suit still hung rather loosely on his frame. "Which it seems you've not been doing, Clarence." A look of a doctor's professional disappointment on his muzzle as he went back to the couch.
Sputtering, Crossley looked at the Reids, then, he couldn't help the laughter that escaped him as he sagged in his seat. "You really haven't changed much, have you Jonny?" An arm went up to cover his face as tears began to flow from his eyes. A soft murmur was heard as a slow shuffle marked the Reid matriarch leaving the two to talk in peace. The laughter broke into a sob, "I'm so- sorry Jonny." Clarence's arm fell away, showing his tear-streaked face. "I made a mess of th- this." He let his face fall into his hands, voice cracking. "You've do- done noth- nothing but help whe- where ever you can!" Crossley's voice was muffled, but the tone was heart-wrenching. "And- and I-" a hiccup left him, "I blamed yo- you for somethi- thing never had a say in!"
A faint clicking marked Jonathan slowly approaching his sobbing friend on the couch. He let himself fall to all fours to be closer to the eye-level of the sobbing man. "Clarence," he said softly. Once Crossley looked up, sniffling, the ekon lightly placed a hoof on his knee. "While the way you reacted to finding out about my… well, my condition hurt, it was not a surprise given what you've been through." Ears drooping, he looked up to his friend. "I don't blame you, Clarence. While I had hoped you might be able to look past, well, the fangs and all that, I knew no matter what you would, at the very least, need time to process it." A sigh left the equine, as he withdrew his hoof and backed up to give his friend some space. "What I'm trying to say, Clarence, is I accept your apology, and I forgive you." One wing outstretched to lazily wave at Crossley. "To be honest, I'm a bit surprised your reaction wasn't worse."
Clarence sniffed, cleaning his face as best he could with a handkerchief. "I think it might have been a mix of shock and disbelief." A watery chuckle left him as he looked at his friend. "It doesn't help you're currently-" He gestured at the ekon, indicating his equine form. "It's still a bit hard to wrap my head around the fact that this is real, let alone that you're-" He let his hands drop to his lap, another watery laugh escaping him. Crossley couldn't help but snort, his laughter gaining a bit of strength, "I'm sorry Jonny, it's just-" He covered his mouth to try and smother his amusement. "Just, you're a tiny talking horse!"
A flat stare was leveled at his friend, though that was betrayed by the amused twitch of his lips. "Really, I hadn't noticed," Jonathan said dryly, looking off to the side as he rustled his wings. He couldn't keep a straight face for long, his muzzle curling into a soft smile. He turned back to look at Crossley, expression fond, if slightly nervous. "So, can you overlook my being an Ekon, Clarence, and can we remain friends?" He held a hoof out to the man on the couch.
"Only if you can overlook me making an arse of myself, Jonny." He sniffed and dabbed at his face, smiling at the ekon. "Yes, we're still friends." He reached out and clasped the pony's hoof. He jolted at the sensation of phantom fingers wrapping around his hand. "The whole-" he waved again at the pony form of his friend. "Is still strange though."
That got a bark of laughter from Jonathan.
The pair spent a bit of time answering the questions Clarence had about Jonathan's experiences being an ekon, and what the other vampires he'd met were like. Clarence was both saddened and relieved on some level to know vampires that remained mostly human in mindset and behavior were rare, but not unheard of, when Cork knocked on the door frame.
"Dinner is ready, gentlemen," the butler announced, looking at the two in the parlor. "Master Clarence, you need not worry, Madame Reid is not one herself for larger, heavy meals these days." Avery directed his attention to the equine. "Master Jonathan, I know you are not entirely comfortable taking your meals around others, but would you be willing to try for your mother's sake?" He gave the ekon a soft look, "Madame would like you to join her at the table regardless."
A sigh left him, "Very well, I suppose I can try." He stood up, hooves barely clicking against the hardwood as he moved. "Let me go wash up, and I'll be right there." Jonathan left to go clean up, hoofsteps near silent as he went.
Crossley absently rubbed at the back of his neck as his friend left. "Alright, that'll take some getting used to." At Avery's inquiring look, he added "How quietly he moves, even on hooves." He blew out a breath, still trying to get a better handle on his emotions after everything today. "Now that I know what to look, or I suppose, listen for, the lack of noise Jonny moves with is a bit eerie." He left the room himself, moving for one of the washrooms. "Not that I think he's doing it on purpose, just…" He trailed off. "Just a lot to get used to I guess."
He gave a nod to the younger man, "It is an adjustment, but I am glad the young Master decided to finally tell us." Avery then excused himself to the kitchen.
"Yeah, it is," Clarence trailed off as he went upstairs to clean up. Well, he supposed this explains why Jonny believed him about vampires. A small bit of laughter left him as he walked. A vampire had been helping him gather information for his campaign against them. The irony was ridiculous.
After cleaning up, both Jonathan and Clarence made their way to the dining room, seeing Emelyne already being seated. "Ah, I see you boys have managed to join me rather quickly, good." She gestured at the two of them. "Now, don't just stand there boys, I'm afraid I no longer have the same energy I once had in my youth, and I'd like to enjoy a meal with my son and his friend." Once the pair had sat down at the table, she signaled to Avery to bring the meals in. As Cork left, she turned to them, "Now, have the two of you settled whatever issues you may have had for now?"
"Yes, Mrs. Reid," Clarence said, hands folded in front of him resting just on the edge of the table. "And thank you for asking me to stay for dinner." He flushed as both the Reids started fussing over him.
Jonathan spoke up first. "Really now Clarence, you're my friend. We're happy to have you." He gave the man an appraising look again. "And it seems someone needs to make sure you're eating properly." He was half tempted to lean over and try to figure out how underweight his friend still was, but manners and fear of his mother and Avery's displeasure kept him in his seat.
A flush crept up Crossley's cheecks. "Yes, well, I've had other things on my mind as of late." The man didn't look up, while he knew the Reid's wouldn't judge him, it was still embarrassing. The noise of exasperation from Jonny didn't help.
"That does not excuse one from taking care of one's self, young man," Emelyne stated. She turned her attention to Jonathan. "And don't think you're exempt from that, son." The Reid matriarch looked him over carefully. "I do not know what is considered healthy for a vampire of your kind, dear boy, but even I can see you are exhausted." She pursed her lips, "And given your aversion to the topic, and the fact you only recently discovered you could buy animal blood from butchers, I'd guess you haven't been eating properly yourself." Emelyne leveled a look at Jonathan, who's only response was an embarrassed expression and his ears pressed to his head.
The three of them, Jonathan included, were so wrapped up in their conversation, no one noticed Cork re-enter the room. "I suppose it is a good thing I have dinner right here then." Avery spoke up, serving tray in hand.
It spoke to how distracted and at ease Jonathan had been that the family butler had managed to startle him. What was not expected by any was the puff of shadows followed by the click of hooves and leathery wings flapping as the ekon re-materialized upside down on the ceiling.
The three of them still on the ground looked up at Jonathan with various levels of amusement and confusion. After a few moments, Crossley couldn't help the smirk as he asked, "So, could you stick to ceilings before, or is this new, Jonny?"
Jonathan's puzzled look quickly morphed into a faux glare at his friend as an unamused huff left him, before he let himself dissolve into darkness, pooling back to the ground and reforming standing upright. "I'm glad you find my being startled humorous, Clarence." He turned to address Emelyne and Avery, "I am sorry about that." His expression was sheepish, "I suppose it's been so long that I've been truly comfortable enough to let my guard down, that well…" The ekon trailed off, rubbing one foreleg self-consciously, "It seems I startle more easily than I used to."
"It's quite alright, sir, from what you told us the other night, you've not truly had a chance to readjust to a non-combat setting after your return." The man carefully set the tray on the table, uncovering it to reveal a light soup with soft bread and a small portion of braised quail each to accompany it for Clarence and Emelyne. The last items on the tray were a sealed and chilled bottle of blood, and a wineglass sitting next to it. While he set the meals before the group, he noticed Jonathan eyeing the glass and bottle with some trepidation. As he sat the items before the equine form of the young master, Avery felt he had to ask. "Master Jonathan, is something the matter?"
A sigh left him as he gingerly took the bottle of blood in his hoof. "If it's no offense to anyone I'll just drink from the bottle." He gave the wineglass of all things a glare, lips twitching as he fought back a snarl. "The thought of drinking this out of a glass like that reminds me a bit too much of the Ascalon club's behavior." His look turned apologetic. "I do apologize if this offends anyone, but I can't-" He shook his head roughly, ears flapping. "They are some of the worst."
While Avery collected the wineglass, Emelyne reached over a bit to pat Jonathan's hoof. "It's alright, my dear boy, I don't mind." As she drew her hand back, she turned to Crossley to see his response.
He shook his head, motioning for his friend to feed. "You harp on me about not taking care of myself, Jonny, follow your own advice for once." While it had been, and would still be unnerving to see his friend drinking blood, he knew at least it wasn't from a human. Clarence supposed the sight would be something he'd need to get used to.
While Cork removed the wineglass, and Emelyne and Clarence began eating their meal, Jonathan hesitantly uncorked the bottle of animal blood. He took a small sip, in the hopes it would keep him from emitting the purring that he sometimes did unconsciously. Apparently, after a few more sips, it seemed he was not successful.
Trying to stifle a chuckle, Clarence couldn't help it, and turned to his friend. "Since when do you purr, Jonny, or is that an Ekon thing?" He blinked in surprise as not only did his friend manage a faint blush, but that it managed to show through his pale fur. "Vampires can blush? I thought they couldn't." Crossly asked, almost as an afterthought.
Jonathan very carefully put the cork back in the bottle before hiding his face in his hooves, a groan of embarrassment leaving him. His ears flattened and his wings rustled in a tell of his mood. After a few moments for him to gather himself and to get his mother to stop cooing at him, he tried to explain. "Ekons at least, demonstrate a number of feline-like behaviors." He unconsciously reached for the bottle of blood, uncorking it to sip at it while he spoke. "This does include purring, and where I not currently an equine, I could demonstrate the fact they also have retractable claws." Sipping at the blood allowed the rumble to build again. The fact that he could not seem to keep from purring caused the ekon to blush once more. "As for the blushing, should a vampire have fed recently, or in abundance, they can blush for a short while." He muttered low to himself, "Though how I'm blushing is visible through fur is beyond me." From the light laughter, it seems his friend and mother both heard him anyway, causing the flush to darken slightly.
The meal proved a light-heated reprieve needed by all in the house. Despite the good-natured ribbing Clarence gave Jonathan. Or Emelyne deciding to embarrass both of them by recounting some of the more interesting tales of their youth, Avery smiling at the life in the house as he checked in on them intermittently.
After the meal was over, the group spent some time conversing and catching up on things that had been missed. It warmed them, to be able to talk without the bulk of the secrets Jonathan had been keeping. As the time drew later, and both Emelyne and Avery retired for the night, Jonathan made an offer to Crossley. "Clarence," he started softly, "Do you wish to return home tonight, or would you rather stay in one of the guest rooms?" Seeing his friend's puzzled look, he elaborated. "I worry that another member of the Ascalon club might try and accost you." He tapped his hooves together in thought. "If you wish to return home, I would be more than happy to escort you."
The sharp reminder of what he had gone through the previous night seemed to sap the warmth from the room. Shivering at the memories, Clarence looked over at Jonathan. "Are you sure it's alright if I spend the night here, Jonny?" Crossley couldn't help but wrap his arms around himself, the fact that he very well could have died that night weighing heavy on the pair. He turned his attention to the small equine seated across from him. His friend, cursed in more ways than one, but still doing everything he could to help others.
"Please, I insist." He said, shoulders and wings sagging in relief. "I'd honestly feel better with you staying here for a bit, Clarence." The ekon rubbed at his temples with his hooves. "A few days, possibly a week." A sigh left him as he looked at his friend. "Past that, we can talk with Priwen if you'd like about setting up some other safety measures." He crossed his forelegs, leaning back into his seat, "At least until the Guard or I can deal with Ascalon, if nothing else."
Though it took a bit to get Clarence situated, and find the spare linens, they did manage to get the man set up in the guest room for the night, Reid leaving quietly to let his friend get some well needed rest. He penned a note to Avery, asking him to let his mother and Crossley know he'd headed out that evening, and if he was not back before morning, he'd likely be spending the day in his office at the Pembroke. As much as he dreaded it, he needed to notify Swansea about his current condition, and see what needed to be done about his shifts in the meantime. And to check if anyone had been kind enough to water Lisa while he was dealing with his mishap.
It was a tricky thing, getting to the Pembroke from the West End without his current form being seen. Since London had been recovering, there was less scaffolding and abandoned buildings to cut through to avoid prying eyes. This left him trying to move across the rooftops as quietly as his hooves would allow at times. Which, even with the grace he had as an ekon was not as silent as he would have liked. Perhaps he should look into learning how to fly with these tiny wings, or at least glide, since they seemed capable of lift. That still boggles him how it's even possible.
Reid stood on the cobbles, wreathed in shadows just outside the Pembroke Hospital. He gazed up at his office, letting his vision dip into his blood-sight, checking if anyone was in or near his room. Satisfied no one was in the surgery room nearby or in his room itself, Jonathan shadow-stepped up to the scraps of junk wood that made up his little balcony. The ekon-turned-equine quickly slipped into his office, letting the darkness that had hidden him fall away.
A sigh of relief left him at making it to the hospital largely unnoticed. He hung his coat up on the coat rack, checking on Lisa, his office plant, first and foremost. "Oh Lisa, has no one come to check on you?" He let a hoof trail down the fern's leaves, some of which had started to shrivel and brown. The ekon quickly set about gathering what he would need to help the little fern bounce back. He picked up the glass jug of mineral water he'd taken to keeping in the office for Lisa, and sprinkled the bit of bone-meal he kept for her onto her soil, then tipped a small amount of the water into her pot. Jonathan gave the fern a light pat to the liveliest curl of her leaves. ...Maybe he should take Lisa home after talking to Edgar.
Washing his hooves after tending to one of the simpler bright spots in his unlife, Reid mulled over how he wanted to try and handle Swansea's inevitable curiosity and enthusiasm. He shook his head as he shut the tap off, drying his hooves. While he had managed to curb Edgar on some fronts, this was one where he would likely need to use the full weight of his will as the other's vampiric sire. Jonathan hated having to resort to that aspect of his abilities, but it was one of the few ways he could get the other man to stop and listen some days.
He slowly made his way to his door, using his abilities to check the upper floor again. Jonathan was grateful to note the floor was empty for now, save the Director's office. Cautiously, he exited his room, hoofsteps echoing far louder than he would like as he walked swiftly over to the heavy wooden door, knocking on it. Receiving a muffled and distracted "Come in!" he twisted the nob, and slipped inside. As he closed the door softly behind him, Reid saw Swansea bent over a mountainous amount of paperwork. Taking an unneeded breath, the ekon-turned-equine steeled himself for what was sure to be a taxing conversation. "Hello Edgar, I'm afraid we need to discuss something."
The scratching of pen on paper took a moment to stop as the ekon behind the desk processed who had just spoken to him. "Jonathan, where have you been-" Swansea started, looking up in excitement at his friend and sire having returned to the hospital after being gone for nearly a week, only to have the words die in his throat as he tried to understand what he was seeing. "I don't- I can't-" He stammered, gaping at the tiny horse standing on his back legs, dressed in West End finery, watching him with far too large, and far too intelligent eyes.
His chair's wheels squealed with the force and speed it was sent back as Edgar stood. He moved slowly around the desk, watching the unusual equine, noting the ears, which swiveled to track him, were abnormally large as well. He sucked in an unneeded breath as he finally noticed the fangs hooked over it's lower lip, and scar that crossed a crooked muzzle, and rested under the left side of the beast's pale blue-grey eyes. The most damning thing though, was the familiar mental hum he felt as he drew closer. His words slipped out, in a hushed but excited whisper, "Jonathan?"
Ears splayed in embarrassment, he nodded as he watched Swansea draw closer. When the other ekon reached out to try and touch his ears, Reid shot a hoof out to grab his wrist. "Do refrain from trying to touch my ears please, Edgar. Or any of my new anatomy, for that matter." He let his hoof drop when the Director made to pull loose. A long suffering sigh left him as he followed the other further into the office. "Now, I should hope my current appearance should make plain what it is I need to discuss with you tonight?" He sat in the seat facing Swansea's deskwings ruffling as he did. He did not miss the inquisitive gleam in the other ekon's eyes at their motion. Lips pulled back in a warning snarl, showing Reid had more than just his fangs for sharp teeth in his muzzle. A low warning growl left him, "Edgar…" he trailed off.
The man held his hands up after he'd moved to his seat, and wheeled it back to his desk. "Understood, Jonathan." He moved the paperwork he'd been filling in before his sire's arrival, folding his hands on top of his desk as his eyes roved over the other's changed state. "Quite curious..." A hum left him as he leaned back. "By the Stole, Jonathan, how did you wind up a tiny horse?" He shuffled around in the draws of his desk for a notebook, scooping up his pen to take notes. As the tip of the pen hovered over the paper, his head tilted in curiosity, "And how is it you can still talk?"
With a huff, Reid crossed his forelegs over his chest, wings shuffling as he noticed the notebook Swansea had pulled out. "I was not as careful as I could have been around some objects of a possibly magical nature." He admitted, ears and wings giving away his embarrassment easier than his face. One hind hoof was tapping lightly against the carpeted floor, mildly glad for Edgar's ability to adapt to strangeness so quickly. A soft noise of amusement left him as he noticed the other ekon jotting down notes. "As for how I can talk, I'm unsure."
"Fascinating." Swansea breathed out. The fact his friend seemed to be able to not only converse, but go about as if nothing had changed was remarkable. "You are obviously no normal equine," he said, mind turning. The hand not wrapped around the pen flexed with the want to examine Reid's new form and what he could do. But he had given his word not to prod at him, so, he'd have to settle for questions for the moment. "Do you know what object did this?" He tapped the butt of his pen against the notebook, thinking. "And how much have you explored the capabilities of your new form?"
Nodding, Jonathan let himself relax some. "I do, it was a small cameo, featuring a unicorn framed with feathers." He ran his hoof through his beard, humming as he decided to weigh how much he was willing to share with Edgar. The man had done a great deal for him, but… It might be wise to exercise some caution. "As you noticed, I can remain standing on my hindlegs, and walk on them without discomfort." A sigh left him as he knew he might regret this next bit. What the heads of Priwen had said in jest to snap him out of his spiral could prove all too true. "I also have a completely human range of motion with my forehooves, and so far, I've been able to manipulate objects with them as if I still had my hands."
That statement caught Swansea's attention. He straightened up, eyes gleaming. "Really?" Had it not been improper to do so, Edgar would likely be vibrating in his seat from the excitement all this new information and discovery was causing him. He turned the notebook to a fresh page before shoving it and the pen over to Reid. "Would you be so kind as to demonstrate, Jonathan?" He sat there, hands clasped as he leaned forward on the desk, the look on his face far too eager.
Reid let out a silent sigh through his nose as he picked up the pen in his hoof, writing out the description of the cameo and what he could remember of the inscription on its back. He figured this would accomplish two things. One, demonstrate he could in fact, still function normally, and two, it would give Swansea a description he could pass along to the Brotherhood of Saint Paul's Stole. Perhaps they might have some idea or information about it. He recapped the pen, as a further show of dexterity, before placing it on the notebook and sliding both back over to the director. "Does that suffice, Edgar?" He asked, head tilted and ears twitching.
He picked the notebook up carefully, eyes wide. Swansea let himself analyze the precise, tight script of Reid's hand-writing, or rather, he supposed it would be hoof-writing, showing no shaking, drifting, or ink smears. A grin split his face as his mind whirled. He shook his head briefly, turning his attention to the equine before him. "Now, what precisely did you wish to discuss, Jonathan?" His grin turned sly and mischievous.
Biting back a noise of frustration, he stared at Swansea. "I would think that would be obvious, Edgar." He motioned to his current equine form, ears splayed back in agitation. "I wished to talk to you about whom we could get to cover my shifts while I'm stuck like this." A sinking feeling of dread and resignation filled Reid as he noticed the man's grin didn't change in the slightest. "Edgar…" He said slowly.
"Now Jonathan," Swansea started, "why-ever would you need someone to cover your shifts when you've just shown you're perfectly capable of continuing your duties as a doctor?" His grin never slipping as he stood up, bustling about the office. "Besides, you know how pressed we are for competent medical staff during the night shift." He rose from his chair, grin widening at the other ekon's gobsmacked look. "Now I believe we shall need to get you another lab coat for the moment, your usual one will be a bit too long." He quickly left the room, heading for the store room and leaving his head surgeon sitting dumbfounded in his seat. A muffled "Edgar, NO!" could be heard from behind the closed door. He had just finished searching through the spare coats as he heard a quiet noise he could now place as hooves chasing after him. Swansea turned around, grin fully mischievous as he held the lab-coat up to Reid. "Ah, Jonathan, just in time."
"Edgar, you can not be serious!" Reid demanded, watching the hospital's director. He did not like the grin on Swansea's face as the other ekon crept closer.
A number of the night staff of the Pembroke jumped when they heard a commotion going on upstairs, some of the nurses muttering nervously. They all remembered the last time they heard something like this, Director Swansea had been dragged out of the hospital by thugs.
What was not expected, was the slightly disheveled appearance of the man as he came down, a small animal, possibly some sort of tiny horse or pony held against his chest. Stranger still was the fact the beast was clad in fine clothing, and seemed to be sporting both a beard, and a doctor's coat. Heads were turned in confusion as they began to hear what he was saying to it. "Really now Jonathan, the night shift has far more things to worry about than the strangeness of your current appearance." The man looked up, catching sight of staff gathered near the bottom of the stairs, his expression brightened. "Ah excellent." He turned to one of the nurses, "Could you please give Dr. Reid his schedule of his rounds for the night? I'm afraid I have still more paperwork to finish." He dropped the pony unceremoniously to the ground with a clop of all four hooves before darting back upstairs, calling back over his shoulder. "Now, no skipping out on your duties tonight, Jonathan. You've already shown to be perfectly capable of doing them."
Many jumped when they heard Dr. Reid's voice ring out in indignation from close by, and below. Eyes turned downward to look at the small equine seething, and somehow, shouting in perfect English back up the steps. Some of the staff backed away in shock. "EDGAR!" It- He bellowed. "You do not get to dump me in the middle of the hospital like this, and then run and hide up in your office!" He snorted, then shook his head, his ears flicked about as the whispers started up in earnest. His ears flattened to his head as he slowly turned around to look up at the semi-circle of staff he found himself in. "Um…" He trailed off, unsure of what to do. Cautiously, he rose up on his hind-legs, expression embarrassed. "Good evening, everyone," he said sheepishly.
One of the nurses, Pippa Hawkins, sighed as she collected the files meant for Jonathan that night. She brought them over to the equine, and held them out to him. "Good evening, Dr. Reid, I see you've found yourself in another bit of strangeness." She suppressed a smirk at the hesitant nod the doctor gave her.
It was at that point one of the newer nurses fainted.
"Ah," he said, expression resigned, "I suppose that's my, well, mine and Edgar's fault then." He walked over to the fainted nurse, and checked on her. After assessing she'd not done any immediate harm to herself, he turned to address Hawkins. "Do we have any free beds we can place her on in the meantime?"
Pippa guided the equine after he picked up the nurse, "This way, Dr. Reid." She shook her head, muttering low under her breath. "Just another night at the Pembroke."