Silence of the Lamb

[wwistful]

WHO: Murdoc Donoghue and Kurloz Makara
TONE: Dark (Arts)
RATING: R?
WHEN: Backdated to during the week (October 23~)
WHERE: Murdoc's office
WHAT: Kurloz needs a little extra help with unspoken spells for DADA.


It's about four o'clock in the afternoon when Murdoc finally gets a brief moment alone to recline in his desk chair and relax. It's been a long day of classes for the Dark Arts Professor, but he isn't quite done yet. He's been giving one student in particular extra classes for some time now and today is no exception. In fact, today would be a particularly important lesson for the young man. He ponders, glancing toward a well sealed cupboard that he'd recently had moved into his office. A fine test of unspoken spells for the young man, he thinks. Boggarts, afterall, react more strongly to emotions than words.

Kurloz, the student in question, was a strange boy indeed. Though, he seemed reasonably amiable in the time Murdoc had spent around him, he's unsure how much of that stems from the fact that he's mute. In an effort to try get some important discussions across, he had been teaching himself a few signs in order to make the lessons run smoothly. It would be particularly important in a situation like this, but he's sure Kurloz is more than ready for it.

He'd warned him before the lesson what he would be taking on, of course, but he wonders if he knows what he's in for.

Comments

[wwistful]

Murdoc opens his mouth to explain both his concerns and impracticalities behind Kurloz' methods. He had made himself more a slave than he'd realised. By succumbing to the taunting and ignoring the simple, clean cut method he'd compromised himself.

He tightens his lips as Kurloz looks shocked, unsure of how to handle the situation. He supposes he deserves a moment of peace to sort himself out, so he keeps the small distance between them.

He's about to reach out and pat the boy on the back as he retches, maybe fetch him some water, when he starts to chew. That's when he works on better instinct, he flicks his want at the boy and chants "Immobulus." before stepping closer to the now frozen student. "Control yourself, Makara."

[innocent_insanity]

Kurloz's eyes snap open when he's suddenly frozen, a hoarse cry of frustration working up his throat and slipping through his teeth. His body slowly falls to his side, leaving him seemingly lying down on the floor and bitter tears leaking from his eyes, trickling across his nose and cheek to the floor.

He focuses on breathing from Murdoc's command, closing his eyes and letting the hysteria pass - it's not as if he's going anywhere any time soon - and gradually feels his body relax despite being frozen in position. He swallows, feeling the revulsion again at the slight tingling at his throat, and tries to ignore it, letting his face settle into a blank expression, staring into the distance on the floor, slowly going down the rabbit hole of his mind.

[wwistful]

Murdoc crouches after Kurloz, carefully shifting him into a less awkward position and propping him against Murdoc's desk behind him so he isn't just lying there. It seemed strange to have him just strewn about on the middle of the floor, almost heartless. He hopes he isn't coming across as too harsh, but he's quite terrible at comforting. He doesn't want to dote on the boy either, this is a terribly tricky situation.

With a wave of his wand he summons a glass and taps against it to fill it with water. He crouches in front of Kurloz, patting at his face to get his attention and trying to make eye contact.

"If I unbind you, will you try that again?" He asks, holding the water away from the boy in preperation for unfreezing him.

[innocent_insanity]

Kurloz's eyes blink at the patting but it takes a while for them to focus on Murdoc's face, and even then there's something... missing. He stares into Murdoc's eyes for a moment, not quite comprehending what's been asked of him for some time. Then a quiet whisper can be heard in the professor's ears even though Kurloz's lips don't move, and it's quite clearly the boy's voice.

"No. I'll behave."

His eyes immediately grow unfocused, slowly blinking and swivelling lazily to stare blankly around the classroom. Even in his frozen state it's obvious he's exhausted and withdrawn into his mind - so much so that he's practically a puppet propped up against the desk.

[wwistful]

Murdoc stares back at Kurloz, trying to keep his expression as solid and calm as he can manage. He makes eye contact and refuses to break it until Kurloz does.

Wordlessly, he unfreezes him and holds the water out for him. He keeps the steady expression and his moves are calculated and slow. He doesn't want Kurloz to snap again, after all.

[innocent_insanity]

Kurloz makes no move to reach for the water, still staring listlessly around the room. He blinks tiredly and eventually closes his eyes completely, hands twitching a bit before he begins to doze. His eyelids twitch as his eyes flicker under them restlessly, but that's the most movement he's making despite being freed from the spell.

[wwistful]

Murdoc frowns, placing the water close enough that he knows it's there to drink but far enough away so that he doesn't happen to knock it over again. He keeps a close, suspicious watch of him. He's close to letting him sleep, but he imagines it can't be at all comfortable, so he speaks up.

"Perhaps I should accompany you to the nurse's office."

[innocent_insanity]

At the mention of the nurse, Kurloz's eyes snap to focus on Murdoc's face with keen ferocity and he quickly signs out:

Don't Owl my mother about this.

[wwistful]

Murdoc tilts his head to the side, giving Kurloz a confused look before following it with a flat one.

"Do you not think your mother is entitled to know such a thing? It's terribly concerning, Makara."

[innocent_insanity]

Kurloz sits up, obviously struggling, and sluggishly shakes his head, only his eyes and hands alert.

My mother worries enough about me as it is. She doesn't need to know I had a small relapse. She stopped eating the last time it happened.

He sighs quietly and rubs at his eyes, smudging the eye liner before slowly signing:

Please.

[wwistful]

Murdoc sighs, drawing back a bit to rub at his face. Hell if he knows what to do. He hardly knows how to teach, he doesn't understand any of the emotional consequences of it. Or maybe he does more than he wants to believe. He just really doesn't know what to do. A nurse will know. A nurse is a good option.

"You're old enough to make your own choices." He says, finally before standing up. "Come along. We'll be going to the nurses office now."

[innocent_insanity]

Taking a bracing breath, Kurloz struggles to his feet, leaning heavily against the desk. He pockets his wand and signs:

Ready when you are.

[wwistful]

Murdoc watches him struggle for a moment before he takes a wordless step forward and reaches for Kurloz' arm. He hooks his arm under it and pulls the boy next to him, making himself a human crutch.

"It will do neither of us any good if you collapse in the hallway." He grumbles, pushing open the door and leading them both out. He resists the urge to sigh, but that was a damn tiring lesson.

[innocent_insanity]

Kurloz sighs for him, leaning against the professor and wobbling for the Hospital Wing and signing tiredly:

Sorry about this.

[wwistful]

Murdoc walks at a reasonable pace, trying not to be too fast so that the lad can keep up, but he doesn't want to linger and attract the attention of his peers. That's the last thing either of them need right now.

"S'alright. Just know that we'll be talkin' about it in the future." He says in a stern voice, leading the boy into the infirmary and sitting him down on a bed.

"You sit tight, I'll fetch a nurse." He gives Kurloz a nod before turning on his heels to find one of the workers for the boy.

[innocent_insanity]

If you insist.

Kurloz watches the stern professor walk away and sighs, what little energy he has left slowly draining and making him slump to lie on his side. He stares blankly before him, focused more on the feel of his tongue running over the backs of his teeth.

[wwistful]

When Murdoc returns with the nurse, he's explaining the situation in the vaguest manner possible in hushed tones. Boggarts, you know. They have funny impacts on people. It's not long before the nurse waves him off and he takes a few steps back whilst nodding at Kurloz.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Makara."

He nods again before turning on his heel, taking his leave from the infirmary.

[innocent_insanity]

Kurloz's eyes flick up to blink at the nurse and the professor who soon retreats. As the nurse begins to check his vitals and whatnot, Kurloz closes his eyes and sighs, a gentle flicker of gratitude brushing at Murdoc's mind as he leaves.