.blue is the same old misery

[Xaver]

As Ginny's thoughts took a more maternal route, Xaver noticed.
-They make me worry about him,- he thought to her, knowing she would understand.

When she touched his arm, he fought the urge to shiver again, at her warmth. He paused though.
-Where should we go?-

[Ginny Weasly]

-Don't ask me, love.-

Ginny gently ruffled Turk's hair, smiling slightly.

[Xaver]

He was opening up the options.
Upon her response, Xaver nodded, and closed his eyes. Suddenly, the old, dusty room about them blurred, much as the scenes did in Xaver's dreams, and then the five of them were standing in a long dining hall that greatly reflected Hogwart's great hall, though the room was more slender, and lacked festive banners, or any welcoming things of the sort, besides the many candles, and light fixtures about the walls, and high ceiling.

There was a gasp, behind them, and Xaver turned his head, just in time to see a woman, wide-eyed, drop the tray of mugs full of steaming liquid. The cups and tray clanged dully onto the floor, glass shattering, and the hot liquid spilling over the stone tile floor.
"Lord Xaver!"
Xaver blinked at her, feeling heavy and uneasy with his use of magic, still not recovered much from the attempted assassination on his life, not many hours ago..
"You frightened me!"

"We're in your realm?" Laylenn said, as all three children stared at him.
Xaver nodded, and the two clinging to his legs hugged him a little closer.

"It's alright," he said gently, his tones giving him away, worn, and tired - though undeniably soft. Reassuring. "You are welcome here. Don't be frightened - no one will dislike you."
He looked up, nodding to the woman, clad in a dark green dress over her wide self. She had a warm face, brown eyes flickering over the kids, and then Ginny, thoughtfully. Piecing things together.
"Don't worry about the mess - would you fetch a meal big enough for ten? We're ravished."
She blinked at him, then nodded, turning on her heals and hurrying off the way she had come, waving her hands to get the attention of a few others as she disappeared around the huge stone corner.

-Todd?-
The little boy only stirred slightly, too tired to open his eyes. -Mm?-
Xaver nodded, satisfied that the boy knew his own mindlinks, even in his young age.
-Can you reach Ginny? Mentally? Can you reach her, without physical touch?-
-Mayyyybe.-
The boy's voice was high, and light. Carrying a youthfulness that at the moment, escaped his physical form. He looked young, but aged.
-Try. I need to know how to make you better.-

Todd pinched his eyes closed tighter, and focused.
-Gi..-
He tried again.
-Ginny?-

[Ginny Weasly]

Ginny had been watching the woman watch her, rather interesting in her reaction, when Todd spoke to her telepathically.

-Yes, Todd? How do you feel, sweetie?- She turned her eyes onto the small boy in Xaver's arms, watching him, absorbing the way he looked. She was already thinking of what could be wrong with him.

Malnurished? Most definietly.
But what else?

[Xaver]

-Xaver told me to say 'ello,- he sent, quietly. -So hiyuh.-

Xaver almost smiled, easily catching the boy's unyeilding thoughts
The two gripping his legs suddenly abandoned him with an urgency that almost toppled him over - streaking to one of the long tables and clambering up. The woman had returned, her own wings hidden, and was almost lazily distributing the last of the many, many plates she had carried in. By magic, of course. The two kids beamed at her, though neither reached, despite their eagerness. Both sets of eyes were upon Ginny and Xaver, longingly.

"Go on, eat. You don't think it was brought out for you to drool over, do you?"

They shared a grin, and began piling their plates, as Xaver looked down at the boy in his arms, ignoring the pain in his arm - so effectively, that he nearly forgot about it. It was getting better, anyway. ..Slowly.
"Todd," me murmured, looking over at Ginny when the small boy opened his silver eyes, after a long moment.

[Ginny Weasly]

"Bring him over here, he needs to eat something. But slowly, or he'll get an upset stomach." Ginny said, walking slowly towards the table. She looked at the other two carefully, "That goes for you guys as well, eat slowly."

Ginny looked at the woman who had brought in the food, "Thank you." She said, smiling slightly now.

[Xaver]

Xaver nodded to Ginny, and, in his normal soundlessness, padded over to the table, draping one leg over the bench and bringing his other beneath him, sitting. Laylenn and Turk grinned at Ginny, and nodded to her, slowing down in their wolfing down the food, and teasing each other, between bites.

The woman opposite them looked up at Ginny, as she set one of the last plates hovering above her head, down. She nodded, both to Ginny, and Xaver, as he sent her his own thanks.
"Of course, dear." She returned Ginny's smile. "It's awful nice of you to be helping these children."
She nodded again, fiddling with a few trays.

Xaver looked down at Todd, meeting the boy's silver eyes.
Noting, for the first time, that their colors were clear as crystal.

-I already have an upset tummy,- the boy sent, reaching both Xaver, and Ginny.

[Ginny Weasly]

"Couldn't let them starve, could we?" Ginny smiled slightly, then looked at Todd, slowly taking in his weak thoughts.

-Have you drank any water inthe past day or so?-

[Xaver]

The woman looked up, and after a thoughtful pause, she smiled, seemingly satisfied with that answer.
"No... Lucky for them, we wouldn't let them starve."
She nodded her head, to Ginny, and then turned, shuffling off toward the hallway, waving her hand at a few that loitered in the hall entrance, shooing them away.

Todd stared at Ginny, his round, sharp silver eyes unblinking in his curiousness. Slowly, his gaze flickered from her, to Xaver, his head tipping to the side slightly as he battled a yawn.
-L'eau? No..-

"Tu as soif?"
"Savez-vous ma langue?"
The boy's voice came out scratchy, but surprised. Xaver smiled, slightly. He knew some French, yes. He knew many languages.. A mixture of said languages was what made up his realm - many of the Fallen having homes in both realms, just as he. However - Xaver's home wasn't in the realm. It was with Ginny, and Cody.
"Oui, je sais. ...Je sais un peu."
Xaver winked at the little boy, shifting, so that Todd's golden wings weren't being crushed as he lay, at ease, in the circle of his arms. And, so that he let off the strain of the boys weight, light even as it was, on his own arm, allowing the dull, throbbing pain, to ease.
"Tu veux du l'eau? Some water?"
"I don't feel good 'nuff...'Ess weird.."

Todd pressed his palm to his forehead, scratching his fingers absently over his red hair, offering a lopsided smile toward both Ginny, and Xaver, shrugging his own small shoulders.

[Ginny Weasly]

"Then hush, don't speak. Try to drink something, ok?" Ginny picked up a glass and carried it to Todd and Xaver.

She glanced back at Laylenn and Turk with a bright smile, "You two, drink some water too."

[Xaver]

Xaver slumped backward against the table, closing his eyes for a moment, allowing Todd to remain curled against his chest. Oblivious, almost, to the two kids at his side, one step below a foot fight.
" 'Cause it's good?" Laylenn said, beaming over her silver goblet, both hands clasped around the neck of it.

-That much?!-
Todd squeaked, even mentally, his eyes wide at the (small, even) cup in Ginny's hands.

[Ginny Weasly]

"Why yes, water is so good." Ginny said with  smiled and a wink.

She looked to Todd, "See? It's good. And you get to drink this nice and slow, ok?"

Ginny looked at Xaver, frowning slightly, -And you. Don't overexert yourself.-

[Xaver]

"Mmm. It is good.." Laylenn smiled at Ginny, though her expression soon turned into one of utter horror - and disgust. "OOOHHHH, Turk! You STINK!"
She chucked her empty goblet at him, though the silver cup clanking dully off his head, and onto the floor, did nothing to diffuse his proud, beaming grin - or his smell. Laylenn groaned, and jumped off the seat, running around Ginny, and plopping down onto the bench on the other side of Xaver.
Her eyes widened, fixing on his shoulder, then.
"You're hurt!"

Xaver cracked one eye open, peeking at her through a partially-opened lid, an almost lazy smile chancing over his lips.
"Was hurt. I'm getting better."
His eyes closed again.
"Promise," he murmured, lowly. Then, to Ginny, -I'm trying, Love. See?-
Xaver almost grinned again, remaining still.

Todd reached out and took the cup between his small hands, blinking down into it.
He sipped at it, closing his eyes and enjoying the taste, though he shivered slightly, even with the new heat of both Xaver's nearness, and the hall, his belly rumbling.

[Ginny Weasly]

Ginny rolled her eyes as Laylenn ran around to get away from Turk, even giggled slightly.
She looked at Xaver though, watching him with a soft look in her eyes, -I know, baby. I know.-

"Laylenn, Turk, how old are you guys?"

[Xaver]

-Mmmm... I love you.-
If you could smile in your thoughts, Xaver was smiling at Ginny, though physically his lips only tipped upward very slightly. Affectionately.
Todd sat up, his back against Xaver's chest, his legs folded beneath him over Xaver's thigh, his little hands clasped firmly over the cup, his silver orbs flickering over Ginny, and his siblings, almost with interest. There was a detached sort of exhaustion, there, but there was no doubt he was fighting it.

"We dunno," Laylenn said, her voice oddly pitched, her fingers pinched over her nose. Turk laughed, and she scowled over at him. "Shut up, you feathered doof."
Turk rolled his eyes, and shrugged his shoulders, though his hands quickly went back to his pants, pulling them up again for the nth time, to keep them from falling past his bottom.
"We never knew. And mother never kept track. We're ageless!" he said.
"Immortal!" Laylenn chimed in.
"Until we die!"

Todd hiccupped and Xaver's eyes opened, his head tipping to the side as he watched the boy, tilting his head so he could glance his face, around Todd's gold wings.
"You alright, buddy?"
The little boy began to nod, though the feverish shakes of his head slowed quickly, until his was bobbing his head almost drunkenly. He reminded Xaver so much of Cody, when he was drifting heavily off to sleep, that Xaver stared at him. Though his interest became utmost concern when the cup slid from the boys fingers, between his legs, dropping onto the floor and soaking Xaver's shoes - though Xaver could care less at the moment, for instantly, his arms went around Todd, as he slumped over, his eyes drooping, and then finally closing.