[center][h2][color=#239C89]Doctor Solomon Whitewood[/color][/h2][/center]

[color=#239C89]Time:[/color] Morning
[color=#239C89]Location:[/color] The Avalon Avenger, Lower Decks, Infirmary
[color=#239C89]Interaction with:[/color] [@Stitches] Peregrin, [@Tae] Princess Brenna

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Solomon reviewed the book on anatomy with great interest. As it turned out, while in human form, merfolk retain a body comparable to normal humans or other land-based humanoids. The biggest difference? Their respiratory system. They have two separate sets of breathing apparatus-- the lungs, and the gills, switching between the use of either depending on their current form. Unlike most races, merfolk have two sets of epiglottises, one that covers their trachea and esophagus, and one that filters air or water into their lungs or gills respectively. In their human form, their gills seal completely shut, allowing them to breathe air normally. 

And their tails. Whether or not their transformation is magical or completely biological is still a popular debate among many academic circles-- mainly because nobody can truly analyze a mermaid's transformation process to get anywhere conclusive. Those bones, scales, and fins have to go [i]somewhere[/i], after all, and nobody is quite sure how it happens. Merfolk may have a scientific name of Siren Oceanus, but whether or not that name is a misnomer due to the presence of actual sirens may be... debatable.

[hider=The Anatomy of the Various Known Races of Ossiven: Siren Oceanus]
Plates 1 & 2
[img]https://66.media.tumblr.com/53b8684f1fcf16d39876c442848afe68/tumblr_ms015pQuOX1qa9m0zo1_640.jpg[/img]
Plate 3
[img]https://66.media.tumblr.com/8024be11f6aa04c67ca1c1b6785a5eda/tumblr_ms015pQuOX1qa9m0zo2_640.jpg[/img]
Plates 4 & 7
[img]https://66.media.tumblr.com/21c8450036397b83e407cf50cbee2b02/tumblr_ms015pQuOX1qa9m0zo4_1280.jpg[/img]
Plates 6, 9, & 10
[img]https://66.media.tumblr.com/7c77a6d9569867524586d665e1442126/tumblr_ms015pQuOX1qa9m0zo3_1280.jpg[/img]
Plate 12
[img]https://66.media.tumblr.com/e27bdbe49cfa83b658f6fdad67ed821d/tumblr_ms015pQuOX1qa9m0zo5_500.jpg[/img]
[/hider]

Until today, at least. 

The existence of this siren proves that there are entirely different species to merfolk. Perhaps this is even more like a subspecies of the common siren. Either way, while the anatomy of merfolk is interesting and very much insightful, Solomon wondered how much of it would be actually relevant regarding his new charge. In fact, for all he knew, it was very much possible that she was not even that closely related to a siren on merfolk and is instead their own species entirely. All of this was, of course, conjecture.

Solomon was prepared to continue his research when he felt a distinctly odd sensation. A familiar one, yet, nevertheless uncomfortable. He set down his encyclopedia, before turning towards his sole patient. As he expected, she was staring at him. The doctor watched with curiosity as the siren rubbed against her pillowcase for no reason he could discern.

[color=#239C89]"...You're awake."[/color] He started. [color=#239C89]"Are you uncomfortable? Does your skin itch?"[/color] The doctor questioned. Perhaps she was developing an allergic reaction to the bedsheets? 

As he rubbed his beard in thought, a light knock at the door caught his attention. Before he could gesture at the guard to open the door, the princess herself had done so-- and was carrying a stack of books and supplies in her hands while she was at it. Her personal guard followed behind her, now doubling the number of guardsmen within the clinic. At her introduction, the doctor was quick to recompose himself.

[color=#239C89]"Your highness."[/color] He rose from his seat and bowed slightly. [color=#239C89]"I am honored to make your acquaintance-- and to have your assistance."[/color]

Her reaction towards the siren was understandable, and yet something seemed to be off. The eyes of the princess seemed to flash with a mix of both recognition and horror. Solomon raised an eyebrow at that. For all intents and purposes, the princess and the siren appeared to be polar opposites, in terms of appearance. Whereas one was clearly beautiful, the other one was the strange facsimile of a woman. The more pressing issue at hand, however, were the objects in her grasp. The doctor moved to assist her, shooting her guardsman a disapproving gaze (it was bad form to let a woman carry her own things, let alone a princess, even if she was capable and expected to do so), but the deed was done.

The princess set down her things and asked him what needed doing. The doctor could tell that she very much wished to begin asking the creature what had happened, but there was a precedent to these things. He turned to her with a polite smile on his face.

[color=#239C89]"I will need you to start the kettle, Princess Brenna."[/color] He gestures to the laboratory equipment secured near the side of the hull, namely an oil burner, for heating glassware (or in this case, metal kettles). [color=#239C89]"I believe a cup of tea will help soothe everyone's nerves, and perhaps bring some color back to our patient's skin."[/color] The analogy in question was not quite accurate, considering the siren's actual skin color, but the meaning remained.

In the meantime, the doctor grabbed a nearby stool and sat in front of the now-awake siren; a book and quill in his hands. [color=#239C89]"Good morning."[/color] He said to the siren. [color=#239C89]"My name is Doctor Solomon Whitewood. May I know yours?"[/color] He asked her.