Then, after Marcus swipes his identification card over the sensor-circle to activate the controls, they will head up a few floors.

"Ah, hello there, Marcus - and hello to you too, child," comes the voice of the woman who meets them at the landing, with a smile and a wave; if Desta has ever met her grandparents, this woman looks about as timeworn.  "I'll be with you in just a moment.  Marcus - the healer mentioned special circumstances?  Knowing Esme, there's bound to be a report on its way just as soon as she's finished writing it, but what can you tell me about what she needs?"  ...The clipboard she can't help but notice this new child holding on to looks as though it might have something to do with it.

"...She can read, and only sometimes hear, but she cannot write - or, she cannot hold a pen, that's all we tried yet - nor has she yet spoken beyond yes-or-no, or her name.  Esme wanted to send her somewhere quiet; I think that's related to why."

"...I see.  That should be something we can work with."

Ah, and there's the intake paperwork.

Now for introductions.  Properly this time.

...The paper is appreciated, Marcus; she has a pencil.

'Hello, Desta.  My name is Giselda Mirren.  Most of the kids I care for call me Miss Mirren or Miss G, because Giselda is hard to say.  I'm one of the people who will take care of you, while you're here.'

"Otay."

'When we go inside, I'm going to tell the other kids your name, and a little bit about you.'

'Is there anything that you want me to say?  Or anything you want me to not say?'

She shrugs.

'Alright.'

'Do you want me to tell the other kids to not bother you until after lunch?  There's some kids who will just run up and start asking questions, if I don't.'

That's not really going to help with a new group of kids figuring out that she can't talk, but she's not exactly looking forward to that, she'll take the opportunity to put it off. "Yeh."

She nods.

'You can come in now, or wait here until I tell the other kids.'

And once she's handed that to Desta, she'll walk to the door and place her hand on the handle, waiting.

...she'll wait.

Then Giselda will enter the room alone; Desta sees a flash of colorfully-painted walls, and hears children playing, as the door swings shut.

She rings a bell, a single 'donnnggg' that speaks over the noise.  "If I could have everyone's attention, please!"

And she waits, the children turning to her.

"I have an announcement to make.

"Today, we will be welcoming another child here; her name is Desta.  Be kind to her.

"She has trouble speaking and hearing, trouble healing can't fix, so you will need to use your reading and writing skills to talk to her.  And I know some of you are excited, and you want to ask her questions, but she doesn't want to answer them right now, okay?  Please don't bother her."

"Did everyone understand that?  If you need me to repeat something, or if you have any other questions, please raise your hand."

"Does she have a favorite book?"

"...Wait until I call on you, Alicia.  I didn't ask her that, and you will be patient and polite and wait until after lunch to ask her yourself."

Aww...

There's a couple more questions in the crowd.

"Clara?"

"Umm...  You said she doesn't want to answer questions, but does she want to play?"

"...I'll let her know you asked, dear."

"Thankyou Miss G!"

"...Opal?"

"Whose room is she going to stay in?"

"We're going to give her some time to make friends before we decide on that, Opal."

Though given how Opal is with some of the other kids, she has a feeling that at least one room will be volunteering itself.

"...Anyone else?"

Looks like nobody.