Acanthus

(needs petals, bee, and koi)

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In your travels, never have you seen such a wide expanse of jars filled with all sorts of bugs. With all their eyes, legs, and wings, you find yourself staring at the wall of colours and moving parts. There’s so many, you can’t even see them all form this close of a distance. Turning around, you see a desk with a sleeping dragon sprawled over notes and open books. It’s a tundra, as the fur was a dead give away. It’s almost the same colour as some of the bugs shelved on the wall. Quietly going up to this dragon, you place a hand on their shoulder and shake gently.

The tundra’s head snaps up with a wobble and it speaks with a slurred voice.

“-An thas why da beedles...Oh.” Blurry blue eyes try to adjust to you. “Oh. ‘Ello.”

It’s quiet, and you’re not quite sure what to say. This is awkward, you think. When you open your mouth to speak, it looks like something clicks in the tundra’s head and sudden clarity fills those eyes.

“Oh golly! I’m so sorry, were you talking to me before? I’m so sorry, I-”

You interrupt this...odd fellow with a No, no, you’re fine, I just got here. She gets a sheepish grin and scratches the fur on her neck.

“Sorry, I just thought I fell asleep like I usually do and, and…” She trails off. “...Do I know you? You don’t smell familiar.”

You say that you’re just visiting, and exploring the place. You ask if these are her bugs, and her eyes light up.

“Oh yes! I’m an entomologist! I do research on all sorts of these little fellas! I’m Acanthus by the way, would you like to hear some more about them?”

Uhm, sure. Why not. Acanthus points to the papers below her, babbling on about some sort of beetle native to the shores of The Sea of a Thousand Currents, on the plague side, how they’ve adapted to live in the harsh environment, and how they do this and that and- Honestly, you’re not very interested in this, but pay attention to be polite.

Suddenly, her words stop completely and her head slams down on the table, her hand in the middle of a wave following suit. You’re worried, rushing forwards to check on her, but pause when you hear a small snore. Did...did she just fall asleep? The gentle breathing confirms it.

You know what? It’s time to go, you decide. You march right back out the door you came in from, leaving this odd researcher to her devices.