"Well, I would like to try and speak with her." Ash responded. "Well... I mean... you know." he then said with a heavy sigh.

"Whether you stick around or not is up to you." he told her.

"I don't know how busy you are, or what you need to get done." he said with a small shrug.

"But... well... yeah. It'd be nice to have a little 'chat' with Desiree." he reiterated.

"Get to know who I saved." he finished with a light chuckle.

"See ya." Ash responded to Emma as she left.

He then looked at Desiree, wondering how they could communicate. He didn't really know ASL too well, as he'd literally just started reading up on it, and it seemed Desiree didn't know it all too well, either.

He thought for another moment, before snapping his fingers, and taking his phone out.

Hey Vyn, can you do me a favour and use your portals to get me my tablet? he sent to Vyn, before looking at Desiree again.

'How are you feeling?' he signed to the child.

Ash raised an eyebrow when he saw that happen.

'......that was fast...' he thought.

He then grabbed the device and did some finagling on it, before handing it towards her, gesturing to it. It seemed to have been opened to a chat-like program.

He set it down in front of her, before using his phone, typing something out. When he sent the message, it appeared on the screen of the tablet.

'No need to panic, that was just a speedy delivery service. But you can use this to 'talk' to me if you want to.' the message read.

Very much so. Ash responded.

So how are you feeling? he then asked here.

You were in bad shape when I got to you, but Emma here is a real miracle worker. he sent further.

You feeling any better?

Ash was silent as he read her response.

That... answered his question, but at the same time, didn't answer it at all. It could be taken a number of ways... some of them were really not good.

Did she actually think she was fine back when she was being attacked, so she would naturally be fine now? Was 'fine' another way of saying she wasn't doing all right? Was she lying on one of the halves? On both? Was it honestly the truth? He had no idea what to really make of that.

So he decided to let it slide for now, and opted not to push it... yet.

By the way, you'll be staying here for now. he sent her.

The people here are pretty awesome, and the food's good as well. Plus, a really comfy bed can be set up for you, where nobody will disturb you. he then added.

He was thinking his office for her bed, as she couldn't stay in the med wing forever. And odds are she'd want her privacy, so he could close his office down for the time being to give her that.

You don't have to. Ash sent her.

We're making it so that you never have to deal with those people again. he then typed further.

You were really hurt when I found you, and Emma found a lot of bad injuries on you. he continued to send, biting his lip a little, and sighing lightly.

It really didn't seem safe there for you. he finished.

Ash was silent as he read that.

I know what you mean. he sent.

I was told the very same thing when I was young. he informed her further.

But it ended up... not being true. he went on, before pausing for a moment.

...would you ever give someone a chance to 'handle' you? he then asked her.

"......." Ash didn't know what to make of this.

It seemed that this girl had really be damaged by her life with that woman. And it was clear that whoever took her in would have a hard time understanding her.

Worst case scenario, she'd be bounced from home to home, never having a proper permanent place to call 'home', which would result in her psyche being even MORE damaged.

I see. he sent her.

He then pondered something for another moment, before looking in the direction of Emma's office.

"Hey, Emma?" he called out softly. If she heard him, great, if not, he'd wait. He didn't want to yell in the medical wing, and didn't want to leave Desiree alone at the moment.

"..........." Ash was silent, and just sighed.

All right. he sent her, before looking at Desiree.

I'll be right back. he sent to the child. Just need to go and see Emma for a moment. he added.

When he received a reply, essentially saying 'okay', he got up and made his way to where Emma was.

"Hey." he said when he approached.

"I have a question for you." he told her.

Ash just smiled when she spoke.

"Desiree's going to be a ward of the guild, right?" he asked. Emma nodded in response. "But that's just until someone adopted her, and it's not permanent, yeah?" he asked further.

Again, Emma nodded.

"Just out of curiosity, what sort of living arrangements need to be met for someone to adopt?" he then asked her.

"Like... I mean, clearly, someone that lives in squalor or is homeless can't, but... like... what's the minimum needed in terms of, say, an apartment?" he asked her.

"Space-wise, that is." he then clarified. "I assume someone that lives in, say, a bachelor apartment would need to upgrade if they were wanting to adopt?" he asked her.