thebastion | Day 196 // Open

Entry tags:

Day 196 // Open

Who: Paarthurnax and folks
Open: Open
When: 196, in the evening
Where: By the river
What: Amongst the things from a land of mountains and frost: a pair of gloves meant for more than thieves. A creation of metal and steam and other things from a race that didn't need the Calamity to do themselves in. Glowing plants that chime.
Format: any
Warnings: Grampadragon is harmless (usually). No guarantees for the rest of the losers in the Bastion.

In the absence of the group that head to Sky Haven Temple, the Bastion has brought something to fruition for Paarthurnax. In the evening as the dragon returns, he circles about before landing by the riverside to inspect his new prizes.

The most notable is an enormous construct which shines in the light of the dimming sun. It almost seems to breathe in and out, but that's just the puff of steam which exit from it- a sign it's active if nothing else although it doesn't seem to move. Draped across one of its arms are a set of gloves, a dark contrast against the brilliant metal.

The last of his acquisitions would be the plants which now are growing along the river's edge and amongst the shore of the lake. It's harder to tell in the daytime, but as it grows darker, one can see the pale green glow they give off. It's one constant, however, is the faint chiming noise that becomes readily apparent to any who are near to it.

Paarthurnax seems pleased with it all, inspecting the Centurion carefully and brushing his nose against the plants.

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<It's just a thought. We kind of have a policy of not morphing anything that's sapient without permission.>

As I said- I am only concerned that you would not know how to deal with our inner urges. My kind have domination and destruction in our blood. I am unsure of how well you would control such urges.

<It's an understandable worry. There's a reason we practice morphs before we use them on missions. We have the hardest time with bugs, though. Their instincts are part of a hive mind a lot of the time. There's nothing really like it.>

[Thankfully.]

I see. [He gives it some thought.] If we were to go on the Skyway away from the Bastion... I would not be opposed to attempting this.

Perhaps in the mornings when I go out to hunt. That would be enough time, would it not?

I will be certain to. I imagine it will be... an interesting experience.

[He has a feeling things may or may not catch on fire, depending on things.]

[Fire just makes things better.]

<Nii vust kos moor.>

Il mii hind nii los zuk moor fein aldak.

[Tobias just laughs a little more. And then he notices something.]

<You uh... you have a shard in your teeth. Do you want me to get that for you?>

Hm? Ah, yes. I am afraid that when I hunt, the shards have nowhere else to go, and I cannot reach. Are you sure it would be of no burden?

[You and your bird instincts after all.]

[He can control his instincts. ... Mostly. He hops closer and gently grabs the shard, yanking it out and depositing it on the ground.]

<I'm okay. ... It reminds me of these birds I read about in a book. Supposedly they pick the teeth of crocodiles in exchange for not being eaten. I don't know if that's actually true or not, though.>

[Just a low interested sort of noise. He can't really talk like this, sorry.]

[He keeps picking, careful not to tug too hard.]

<When I was human... well. Just human. I used to watch birds all the time. I had a notebook full of sketches of birds. It disappeared one day, after I left it home while I was at school.>

[He knows who took it, but... it's still nice to think about his old art.]

<And I had a cat. He was pretty much my best friend before I met the others. He used to sit on my feet when I was doing my homework.>

[... Aaand there. He hops back, depositing the last shard in the pile.]

<I don't see any others in there.>

[With Tobias done, Paarthurnax pulls his head back a bit and gives a slight shake before focusing on his bird friend.]

You have my thanks.

Perhaps you may draw here again as well. I am sure many would like to see your work. Do you wish for a cat once again?

This is true. I simply thought to ask.

<... Thanks, though. Dude - that was his name, I wasn't really creative at the time - he was the first animal I morphed into. I was the first one of our group to morph, too.>

[He's not really sure why he's telling Paarthurnax all this, but it doesn't feel awkward. Not as much as it should, at least.]

<I guess... I don't know. I felt more comfortable in animal form than I did as a human, right away. I found out later that my father was the one who gave us this power. His ship crashed and we found him - he wasn't human, he was from another planet. I didn't know he was my father. Later I was told that he'd wanted to raise me - he trapped himself on Earth to be with my mother. But this... being called the Ellimist told him that he had to go back to his people, and twisted time so someone else, a human, was my father. But still... we saw him killed in front of us. We found his brother later. But...>

[Tobias hunkers down in the grass a bit.]

<I don't know. It doesn't really mean anything anymore anyway...>

[He'd cry, but he can't. Hawks don't cry. Their faces don't express emotions well. But his heart hurts. They're all gone. They're really gone, and he can't see them again. As strong as they are, they couldn't... escape this. He lets out a pained cry and flaps his wings, trying to turn his sadness into agitation.]

<It's not fair! I know the world's not fair, but this is wrong!>

[Maybe it's that air of patience that Paarthurnax gives off that makes it so easy to him, the feeling that as much time can be taken as needed and he won't complain. Maybe there's a distinct feeling that whatever is told, he won't judge. Either way, he listens and maybe that's the most important thing, not interrupting once as Tobias spills everything.]

[Once the young man finishes, feathers flapping and voice crying out, Paarthurnax lets a small warm puff of air out from his nostrils to go over Tobias.]

Everything that has ever happened always means something. It does not continue to be that way- few things are so immortal. Yet the fact that it happened to you means something.

[Another gentle puff.]

I know pain like yours. Krosis.

[He hops forward again and leans against the dragon. It felt good to get that out, but he's still upset.]

<... Sorry. I know everyone's lost people. We just have to keep moving forward, right?>

That does not make your loss any less.

[Paarthurnax gives the barest of nudges. Most of the Bastion is smaller compared to him. Tobias is one of the smallest. He has to take great care.]

To move forward is one of the only options available to us. Yet to mourn is a good thing. One's heart cannot heal without it.

If you ever wish to speak to me again about such things, I will always listen. Zu'u kaat daar.

Edited 2014-06-11 01:07 (UTC)

[He takes a moment, trying to calm himself.]

<Thank you. I appreciate it.>

I cannot do much for those hear, but I can listen. I do not require much thanks.

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wayofvoice - 2014-06-11 06:18 (UTC) - Expand

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