[color=9e005d][h3]Doc Siward[/h3][/color]
Returning to his hat-marked wooden chair, Siward wasn't long in waiting before he received what he had come for, which was not, of course, a meal. For a moment it was hard to notice the prod and tug of the little insect; He rather acknowledge the ruffling of trailing feathers by the Caterpie's shocked tremors. [color=9e005d]"Why, rest easy,"[/color] he cooed to her as the simple and critical message was left, but though he picked out another small tip, the green middlewoman skittered off before she could accept.

[color=9e005d][i]Allergies. Maybe this Mizu mentioned a warning about my Fairy nature. I don't blame him.[/i][/color] Siward regretted having lost the chance to calm down the tiny Caterpie; She seemed remarkably stressed, and he wondered whether the Gabite's methods were crude. [color=9e005d][i]Soon, soon. He was quick enough off the mark; He should be able to wait at least until I've politely finished here.[/i][/color] The cowed Eevee under the Ditto-Umbreon's shadow waved at him, and he tapped his hat absentmindedly. Elsewhere in his gaze, Kel reappeared for the second time in a day to place his own order, and Siward averted his gaze to an approaching red ribbon.

The small bowl arrived to him borne by the similarly small Pancham at a confident waiter's walk. [i][color=9e005d]Definitely an employee of Takeo,[/color][/i] came the thought, then, when she'd left her comment and departed, [color=9e005d][i]And definitely family, too.[/i][/color] Her comment had the same air of brusque bustle, though the words were sour and the Doc did not thank her for them, only shut his beak and eyed her for a moment. [color=9e005d][i]Teenagers![/i][/color]

Had that been all he'd received from the brief visit, Siward would be pleased with his stay and leave, but an unwelcome variable presented itself as he drank gently from the bowl, an unstylistically plebeian action that made all the more sense considering how few spoons fit comfortably in his beak. Siward set down his meal and listened amiably, though he was well aware that he didn't want to leave Mizu waiting longer than necessary.

[color=9e005d]"All is well, Kel,"[/color] he responded simply, but not dismissively. [color=9e005d]"Your grasp of tactics is clearer than mine. I'm just unduly frustrated by boldness of the injustice, I suppose. I still have every respect for the Exploration Society's persistence even when times seem grim."[/color] That was true. The Guild and its like had been around for a long time, and no matter what catastrophe it and its members suffered, it pleased Siward to see that it always bounced back into life. Even after the Stargate. [i]Especially[/i] after the Stargate. Siward took another deep sip.

[color=9e005d][i]I can't shake him off by suggesting that he goes somewhere else, nor that I have a meeting, without raising curiousity.[/i][/color] In other words, he couldn't excuse himself immediately, even if it had been polite to do so. [color=9e005d]"And you can call me Doc, if it suits you. I'm well used to it. I've been in the profession for most of my life now, and much of that as a traveller, so people grow used to thinking of me by my trade. Speaking of which, it's been long seasons since I've seen my patients here. I hope they aren't anxious."[/color] 

If Kel's nature was as altruistic as Siward suspected and hoped, there was a sizable chance that he would express some good wishes or polite comment that he shouldn't be keeping the doctor longer than necessary, and Siward, his small meal nearly drained, could leave on that. Good-natured and polite Explorers tended to be predictable. [color=9e005d][i]Although, I've never seen this particular Explorer before...[/i][/color]

[@Shiny Keldeo]