Another day of putting its nose to the grindstone: patrolling up and down Tunnel P and sitting guard just beyond the crumbled door with one or two of the smaller Sentinels; training Bloodstone; checking in on the chrysalises that lay here; some hunting trips here and there and fetching water. If the Doctor or Master requested it, it fetched it. No questions asked, as usual.

That hadn't changed when the status quo shifted, and neither had the Leviathan's methods of testing. They were rigorous as ever, and the human was suffering for it (and just about everything else in the caves.) He'd been ordered to dispose of the creature once he was done - it'd heard that much from her visit - and time seemed to be running out for her.

It was only somewhat unaware of the nature and finality of Beatris's walk today. Vargas never did anything to indicate that something was well and truly different - just the usual search for a way to put her back on the surface. There was no proof to back up its theory but the obvious: the blueprint's lack of return. Perhaps it was for the better that Alpha wasn't fully convinced by itself.

Otherwise, it might not have taken the initiative of rifling through Eridanus and situating some watermelon- and muskmelon-like fruit in its mouth for the long haul. It'd been ordered to keep a close eye on the Gembound subject, and an easy way to keep anything - anyone? - content was with food. Alpha didn't remember if either of these had irritated Two in any way, but it was the apparent thought that counted.

It wasn't unusual, at least, that the Overseer plodded back into the little alcove with food in tow. Grunting around the fruit, it dismissed the Sentinels it'd stationed nearby. Alpha set the watermelon down first with a rustling of quills. The muskmelon tumbled out with a hollow thunk! A quick "food" call later, and the orthoclase was prepared to just plop down and leave Two to it; except, of course, for the caveat it constantly forgot. Its mane rattled against itself as it laid down on its stomach and propped itself up by the elbows. Claws worked easily at the rind of the watermelon, prying and prying until - ha!

Clutching the chunk of soft, juicy fruit in a massive hand, Alpha waited until - if even - the small hybrid came over before attempting to deposit it into her hands. Rather... erm... blunt, as far as the handling. It very helpfully explained, at the very least: "it's watermelon." Anything that breathes and has a mouth loves watermelon.

Like it and leave me be, it hoped.

Two came away from the wall sniffing, and Alpha couldn't help but stare dumbly. The other one didn't do any of that animalistic sniffing around or... much of anything these days. It made sense that she would do it, compensating for her sight and lack thereof - but... huff. The orthoclase just thought it was odd, the way she felt around and ambled closer; it'd never seen anything like her, so... dependent on scent.

Alpha relied primarily on its own sight, and scent second. Having any of its eyes obscured was like missing a limb. That worm in its eye had been enough to set it off on its own downward spiral worrying about its worth.

Now, (supposedly) secure in its worth, it was giving watermelon to the dog-hybrid. Alpha tried to maneuver the chunk closer to her flailing hands, and only one caught the actual fruit. As subject Two took the berry out of its offered hand, the orthoclase went stock-still. It couldn't help the knee-jerk reaction to shift its head down as if to bite. Teeth gnashed together to tuck away that reflex. That reflex, spawned from having not had any real contact since...

Toxic eyes stared at the tiny hand clutching the blunt edge of its claw, and the comparatively minuscule weight leaning on it. Two sniffed at the watermelon, went for the taste and proclaimed her thoughts on it: good. Alpha was briefly distracted by that, but glanced back at its own claws again. Still holding on. It could not attack this creature like others in the Caves. There was nothing dangerous about it. Nothing but its connection to Her - and Vargas.

She came closer, looking for more, and the orthoclase tugged its hand away (or at least down, if Two held on) to hold the muskmelon-esque fruit in place, now. The rind on it was tougher, but no match for its knife-teeth - "thanks!" What -

Alpha stopped, swallowed, and looked away from Two entirely - like that'd make her presence clinging to its claw disappear. She was feather-light, but not weightless. Better to not acknowledge that with anything more than a grunt. It carved a chunk of muskmelon off, and pressed it into the dog-hybrid's empty hand: "muskmelon."

Hardly any preamble.

Thank you, Alpha, for continuing to carry conversation.

Whine. Toxic eyes stared down at the unseeing child, watched as she sniffed around and found nothing, and sat in place until she could aim somewhat in the direction of the fruit it was breaking. Making up for the... blindness, perhaps? Her feet patted against the ground, and the sound stopped once Alpha offered her the next chunk of melon. Both hands held it, then one reached out for the monster's claw again. It didn't flinch as much this time. Just a momentary stiffening, and then looking away from the feather-light grip.

It doesn't hurt, it told itself, even though there was a growing knot in its gut and bile rising in its throat.

Two's itty-bitty voice called up, and Alpha looked back down. Sunflower-bright eyes stared blindly. The melon piece was held high in the air, sweet-smelling and certainly appealing. It couldn't help but see Vivilene in this entire interaction. Nothing bad had spawned from that.

The kaiju shifted, if only to put its arm down on the ground and somewhat gently guide the dog-hybrid to a sitting position in front of and close to it. More comfortable, that's all. It eyed the offering, but shook its head. Right. Blind. "Keep that," it grunted, shoving the watermelon into the crook of its arm. Peeling off a very Alpha-sized chunk of it and taking an equally Alpha-sized bite out, it rumbled, "I have my own piece." The orthoclase glanced at Two, and observed, "it's almost as big as you."

Which was to say, not very.

Comparatively? Enormous.