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Things had been going pretty well for little Jove since he started his second year, classes were good, he was having fun with his friends, and he had even made it onto the school's bruteball team in spite of everyone's doubts and reservations.

But since he began practising with the team the little pup had become increasingly more self conscious as he realized he wouldn't be able to play in whatever clothing he arrived in. There were uniforms and things, and the expectation that one would change into said uniforms in the locker rooms. With the other boils around. For one as small as Jove was, he had plenty of reasons to be self conscious about himself, but there was one especially big problem. His bruises.

The dark marks spread across his left side, stretching all the way from his ribs to his hips, and he couldn't bear the thought of appearing in front of his teammates looking like he had been hit by a car on the way over. He didn't want them to stare, or ask if he was okay, they might even keep him from playing if they thought he was hurt... But Jove didn't know how to fix it, and make the bruises finally heal like everyone else's.

That was how he found himself in front of the plague doctor's door that afternoon. Malodore was a sort of veterinarian, right? He was kind with animals, and was less intimidating than the school nurse, and maybe, just maybe, he would be able to help the pup out with his little problem. So he took a deep, useless breath, and knocked on the door.

Jove's own tail wagged in return as Luce reformed in the hallway, and abruptly put his hands on his knees in a human form of the playful bow. It was almost a habit for the pup to greet a playful canine like that, one such motion would send all his own foxfires into a happy zooming fit. He was just extending one hand for Luce to sniff-greet when Malodore opened the door.

The ghost stood up straight and adopted a slightly more serious expression, it was clear he came there for a reason other than to play with the plague doctor's puppy. But greetings first! Malodore seemed pleased to see him, and Jove offered a nod and an equally pleased tail wag. The doctor was so polite, it reminded the puppy of his own caretaker at times, they seemed to share a sense of courtesy even if the language was different.

Jove paused, finding it a little difficult to speak up, but after a second he looked up and asked "Vet?"

Jove nodded, relieved that Malodore not only understood, but appeared quite willing to help. Maybe he wouldn't have to go to Cricket after all, or make the lengthy trip home to see the veterinarian his caretaker had brought him to shortly after his adoption. Not that he would normally submit to an examination, let alone walk in willingly, but desperate times called for desperate measures. And the plague doctor was his best bet.

He gave a shy glance up and down the hallway, and hovered nervously at the threshold without offering further explanation. Whether he was uncomfortable voicing his concerns in the hallway, or just uncomfortable voicing them at all was a mystery.

Jove followed Luce in, giving the little one a playful tail wag in return. He did love little canines... Whether they were foxfires or not, most shared the same desire to do nothing but fun things forever. Indulging the little pets in a good romp or tug of war was like taking a break from the stressful world around him and pretending just for a moment that he could do nothing but fun things forever too.

The ghost gave a cursory glance around the room, maybe to make sure they were alone, and then glanced up with a "Don't tell anyone, okay?" sort of expression. Then he lifted his shirt, just enough to show part of the dark bruise that marked his side.

Jove wore a doubtful look as he glanced up at the plague doctor. It wasn't a new injury, no, but to the best of his knowledge it wasn't an injury at all. He didn't remember being hurt, and the bruises didn't bother him physically. At least, not if he didn't hurt himself in a normal fashion. Then they would spread out and ache even if he hadn't hurt his left side at all! It was confusing, and the pup wanted nothing more than for it to go away and take it's confusion with it. Living things were predictable, you hit them too hard, they bruised, and then they healed. They didn't just stay un-healed forever.

He glanced down at his feet, and resisted the urge to wiggle his toes.

The pup nodded, still looking down at the puppy on his feet. That was the biggest reason, whenever people saw them they began to worry and look at him oddly. He couldn't go swimming like the other boils, and the locker room situation was a conundrum and a half, and even his ability to change from his natural form was limited by where he was and who might be present. And then if he did get injured! He remembered the stares after the last field trip, when the bruise had inched it's way all the way up his neck to the left side of his face. A distraction would have done him good if he had only dared to leave his room with a face like that...

The wisp glanced up with a lost, slightly anxious expression. "Always," was his uncertain reply. It was hard to see under his fur so he had never noticed it in his natural form, but his first visit to the vet had revealed the dark marks, and acquiring a human form had made them stand out painfully every time he changed.

Jove felt his non-existent heart sink. It couldn't be incurable, could it? It was only a bruise! Not like a missing limb, or rotting tissue, surely there had to be a way to heal it...

The pup whined and fixed the plague doctor with what had to be the most pathetic sad-puppy stare possible from another student, complete with wide eyes and ears turned backwards. Unfortunately that was his default pleading expression. He was silently asking if there was really nothing Malodore could do for him, and if he was really doomed to looking beat up and damaged for the rest of his unlife. Wasn't there anything that could be done?

Jove hung his head. If Malodore didn't think a bruise salve would work, he had to trust the creature. And reconsider his options. The forefront among them at that very moment was to curl up under his bed with his mushrooms and never come out, but he didn't do too badly wearing a shirt under things... He might be able to keep it up... Or he could go visit Cricket. What a scary thought...

He glanced up with a somewhat less desperate look, this time it was mostly resignation. But then he nodded anyway, his eyebrows lifting in a hopeful question. At least he could learn how to make that medicine if Malodore wouldn't mind teaching him, it would always be good to know if his living friends hurt themselves. Even after he took FEARhealing classes, who knew when a more physical remedy might be necessary.