Chaos-Two was surprised at the question and frowned, though in confusion rather than offense, "None taken. A child? N-no, I am not. I'm fully grown."

They tucked their hind legs in and looked away, self-conscious all of a sudden. They were acting way too much like they did around Khavur, and they were supposed to be representing the Chaos-Forge. Oliver might be sad to know that they'd never had the chance to be a child, so in their comfort, such childish gestures or actions tended to come out.

"You can take all of these," they said, pushing the plants forward, "Most, if not all, can be identified by their names. They're pretty self-explanatory save for the Tamusen, but among the rest you can probably pick it out by process of elimination."

They perked up again and leaned forward, staring in awe as the bush began to grow. They'd never seen this kind of magic save for the Doctor's plant stitching, and it was so... amazing! They immediately wanted to learn it despite such a thing not being integral to their role as a medic.

"This is your magic?", they asked, picking a leaf off gently and inspecting it. After a moment they put it in their mouth, chewing it and finding that it was most definitely a leaf.

"... I think you're perfect for what Master Vargas has in mind," they said, "However, I think I would like to see if there are others who wish to help, also. Perhaps an assistant for yourself?"

Chaos-Two trailed off, tapping their claws together nervously, something else on their mind.

"... Do you have a family?"

@Oliver

Oliver was eyeing his plant, so he didn't quite notice Chaos-Two's sudden shift in demeanor, or the aversion of their eyes. He did explain, a little, though. "Oh, it's--hard to tell sometimes, you know? Everyone's such different... sizes." It was a soft observation, distantly thoughtful, his gaze and most of his attention still on the plants. He leaned forward, checking over the others.

Chaos-Two's question had him glance up. "Yeah," he answered, and then blinked and hastened to clarify. "Well--it's magic I know. I mean, it was my magic. That grew the plant," he explained, "but it's not... like, my magic. Not the magic I was born with, I mean. Mom and Dad did lights and shadows," he went on. A hand gently passed over the varied plants and seeds, and little sprouts began to shoot up as he spoke. "I can make seeds start to grow--water and light does the rest, but I need to make light and water, sometimes. In some places--with magic. Or if there's bad water," he added, glancing and gesturing around at the purified pools, "I need to purify it for the plants. But if I focus a lot I can make one plant grow a lot. Like-... into flowers, or even fully grown. I can grow trees," he explained, with a nod up to the crown canopy of his grove.

Chaos-Two's other remarks--about bringing in other gardeners--was met with a sort of shy acceptance; Oliver nodded, seeming neither reluctant nor enthusiastic. "Okay," was all he said, agreeable enough. He'd never had assistants before, but he didn't mind working with others--though he was a little nervous about the idea. It'd be fairly (but not completely) new to him.

Chaos-Two's final question was answered at length; Oliver didn't hold enough suspicion in that moment to be wary that it might be a grab to find some sort of leverage against him. He just answered, honest and open.

"I have family," he went on, rocking back on his haunches, leaving the sprouts to simply... be. "Mom was a crow. Eve. She lives in Cetus. Dad was a black dog, named Black, but he died in Hydra, protecting others. He was a Guardian. He wanted me to be one, too, but I am a Guardian by helping things grow and healing them, not by fighting. His, um--his stick? His..." Oliver hesitated, struggling to find the right word. "...Spear? It was magic. His stone was made into the Sentinel, I guess, and he has Dad's spear, now, too. I don't know if... that counts as family. But I have a sister, named White-" (the creativity of Oliver's father could reasonably now be called into question) "-and Dad saved some other kids, or well--tried to, but a dragon killed them, so he brought their stones back to life, too. So I have... siblings," he finished, with a gentle shrug. "I never really got to know them, though, and Mom and White sleep a lot," he finished--that or they just vanished for many cycles on end.

He was never really sure.

Blue eyes peered at Chaos-Two, and he hesitated, for a moment. He'd met enough of Vargas's "family" to know they weren't a family at all. He almost didn't ask, for fear that the answer might be painful, but in the end a compassionate, open nature won out: "...What about you? Do you have any family?" he asked.

@V-Chaos-Two

"One of my siblings was never small," they said, "Even right when they hatched. I was very small but my sibling's always been big. So have some of the others I've met."

Chaos-Two blinked, feeling a bit more friendly after learning they were both of the same magic, "Oh... my um... element, I think it's called, my element is light, too. But I have other magic too."

They were amazed at the canopies, and stood up, stretching to their full height to reach up and touch one of the strong branches. It was amazing how Oliver had done all of this. As they marveled over the garden, they listened, their ears drooping as their mouth curled downward.

"I'm so sorry," they said, sitting down, "I'm sorry your family isn't around, and I'm sorry your father died. I don't know if the Sentinel truly wishes for family... if I'm honest, Vargas creates many of us with specific personalities, and I don't think there is much in terms of true empathy, especially with the chaotic magic he holds. But... maybe there is something there. One can only hope, right?"

Chaos-Two sat down again and looked at Oliver, biting their lip for a moment.

"... Khavur," they said softly, "My sibling. We connected when I was very young because when I hatched, I was... flawed. Disfigured due to Master Vargas' lack of experience creating things. So Khavur took it upon themselves to protect me, to carry me when I couldn't walk, or to help me find food when my blind eyes couldn't. Though even after Master Vargas 'fixed' me, they stayed. So yes, I consider them my family."

Maybe it was oversharing, but they were so desperate to be open, to be themselves around someone who might just understand, who wouldn't call them weak for having emotions, or punish them for showing as such.

@Oliver

Chaos-Two's expressions of sympathy were met by a downward glance, and a shrug--not dismissive, but more shy, as if Oliver didn't quite know how to respond. One clawed hand plucked briefly at the grass (though he didn't break a single blade) as he considered, his answer coming soft.

"It's okay. It's been awhile, now. My Dad's gone--Sentinel won't ever... be him. Maybe he'll be... something. I don't know. Maybe," he repeated, with a glance up and another shrug of feathered shoulders.

"'Khavur's' a cool name," Oliver observed, which was probably not the sort of thing that would've been anyone else's takeaway. He squinted, a glimmer of thought in his eyes as he peered at Chaos-Two. "Wait, so--he has a name? Don't most of you--um, not?" he asked, confused. He'd only met a few of them, but Orthoclase-Alpha had been devastatingly clear--and clearly devastated. "Khavur sounds, nice, anyway," he went on, voice soft; "I think anyone who'd take care of a helpless kid must be good."

He glanced up a moment, holding out one crow's 'hand' and concentrating; a moment later mist gathered into clouds, and a light (and somewhat acrid) drizzle began to fall across Canis. "It doesn't rain a lot, here," Oliver explained--"I figured I"d water these, uh--seedlings, before we go. Sorry, if you don't like water," he added, with a glance at Chaos-Two--maybe he should've asked, first.

"When do you want to go?"

@V-Chaos-Two

Chaos-Two shook their head, "No. We have to do something to deserve a name. Khavur was lucky enough to be born as great as they were, a valkhound of true strength and ferocity. All the valkhounds get names... except for me and my other sibling, though he has a name now, I think, he was adamant on it since he hatched."

They shrugged gently and looked away, "I know it's not normal, but I'm not normal either. I was supposed to be a chaotic monster like the rest of the Forge, but here I am."

They said as such with a helpless shrug, not reacting as the rain started to fall. They smiled gently, though, at the mention of their sibling being good. They were good, so good, in fact, that they had to send Khavur a mental nuzzle right at that moment.

"I think soon," they said, "I wish to find another gardener, and then figure out something to give you in return. You never said anything about such a thing and Master Vargas would have taken advantage of it, but I think you deserve something in return for aiding us. But I shall return with another gardener and potential rewards for helping us, and then we can head to Draco then."

Chaos-Two stood up and grabbed their sling, hoisting it back around their shoulders. They took their spear in hand and gave Oliver a shy smile, their eyes averted.

"... Thank you for your kindness," they said, "I hope we can talk more later."

@Oliver

A chaotic monster-? Oliver nearly blurted something along the lines of, 'so is that why Orthoclase-Alpha's all messed up, but at the last second remembered it wasn't really something he should tell everyone about, and clamped his jaws back shut. Instead, he gently shrugged again, blinking earnestly at Chaos-Two. "I don't think there really... is such a thing as 'normal,'" he said simply.

"I don't need a reward, anyway--I would have asked if I wanted something, don't worry. The plants are like, gift enough," he added, gesturing to the new seedlings, "-but if you think of something I could use, and you don't need it-? I don't know," and cue yet another gentle shrug, here. Then confusion laced his features. "Oh, we aren't--not now, okay--uh, do I... just... wait here, then? I'm not always here," he hastened to explain. He looked around, thinking, briefly. "Uh, if you need me, just... leave a red rock here, okay? I'll see it and know I should come to Draco?"

Although he was considering, now, a visit to the Sentinel perhaps a little sooner.

@V-Chaos-Two

Chaos-Two huffed, "I suppose that's true... but I will think of something for you, and I shall return."

They shifted and adjusted their grip on their staff, shaking their head, "No, it would be aimless for me to wander all around, possibly far away from the path to Draco, dragging you with me. Continue on with your life in my absence, I don't want to disrupt anything for you."

It was abrupt, yet Chaos-Two found they couldn't stay another moment here in this perfect garden. They were a monster among a oasis of peace and tranquility. They didn't belong.

"I'll be sure to leave the rock," they said, and cleared their throat, "Farewell, Oliver, I hope to see you in Draco soon."

And with that, they turned, heading off into Canis once more, off to go find another gardener. They hid their trembling hands against their staff, suddenly guilty for treading upon such sacred grounds. Or at least, it felt like it.

@Oliver
Exit unless stopped

"Okay," Oliver agreed, easygoing, and then--"Goodbye." Oh, and--"Be safe." All soft-spoken, unintrusive; all given as Chaos-Two was already turning to go.

He noticed nothing amiss; there was nothing, really, to notice. He didn't second-guess the abrupt departure. He assumed the hybrid just had places to be.

But he did settle back with a feeling of disappointment; for some reason he'd assumed (perhaps because it always seemed to be the nature of the caves) that they'd be heading off to Draco right now. But as Chaos-Two's back faded, he found himself faced with the same "ah, shit" problem he'd hit before-... The reason he'd never, actually, visited the Sentinel in the end.

Where the hell was Draco..?

exit Oliver; @V-Chaos-Two (for visibility)