Surprise! Elephant!

[npcz]

{Conrad Hotel Basement party thread!}The headwaitress at the Conrad hotel has seen an awful lot in her time working there. Angels, demons, shapeshifters, elementals who weren't aware they were elementals, and, on one particularly notorious occasion, an elemental who seemed to only be able to work with balsamic vinaigrette

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[magelet_daine]

Something had happened upstairs. Daine knew this, because she suddenly felt a very distinct People presence. But upstairs was the nice hotel, the area where all the "normal" people were, and unless there was obviously something wrong (there didn't seem to be), she thought it was probably best if she stayed downstairs.

And then the waiters came. And said there was an elephant in their restaurant, which meant People, it had to, so she was in the elevator in a flash, bare feet and all.

Daine doesn't want free food. Well, she will, eventually, but the elephant will be much more interesting. Whatever an elephant is.

When she reaches the restaurant, she just gapes for a moment, and completely ignores the headwaitress and any other staff who might be trying to shoo people along. "Oh, but you're beautiful," she says, walking up to her.

Unless someone comes up to get her and drag her back to the party, she'll probably be up here for a while.

[howmuchisfate]

Shilo is somewhat bemused over the sudden appearance of food in the basement lobby. Even more so by the explanation for the food. "Did they say elephant?" she asks the squirrel that's been following her around more or less since she met him in the park with Daine. She doesn't really expect an answer, not that she can hear, but it's better than talking to herself.

After poking at the food for a bit, she notices that Daine's not there, and... well, it's not too hard to guess where she might be. So Shilo heads upstairs to find this restaurant where the elephant appeared, Leapsfar on her shoulder.

It takes her a little exploration, but eventually she hits on the right room, and... "Whoa." They were not kidding. She barely notices Daine at first, her eyes fixed on the not at all metaphorical elephant in the room.

Leapsfar, making good on his name, tumbles off Shilo's shoulder and runs across the floor toward Daine and the elephant, before Shilo can catch him. Shilo squeaks a little. "Be careful! It might... step on you..."

[magelet_daine]

The elephant shifts a little, her gaze moving from Daine to Shilo, and obviously intelligent even without Daine's influence.

You may tell the small one that I do not make it a habit of stepping on creatures smaller than myself, she says politely. You should perhaps teach your herd to be more intelligent.

Daine blushes a bit, and looks over to see Shilo, which prompts a grin. "Oh! It's you!" Leapsfar clambers up her pants leg and settles happily on her shoulder. "And how are you finding two-legger living?" she asks him.

It's very nice, he replies. She gives me lots of food. And it's warm. I like it here.

Daine giggles a bit, and glances back to Shilo. "She wanted you to know that she won't step on anyone."

[howmuchisfate]

"It's a she?" Shilo asks, moving cautiously closer to the elephant with obvious fascination and no little bit of awe. It's a white elephant. It's nothing if not impressive.

She stops just a step or two behind Daine, and smiles a little. "What's- what's her name?"

[magelet_daine]

"Gauri," Daine responds. "She says it's the name of a two-legger goddess."

Indeed it is, Gauri comments. A wife of Shiva, a very esteemed name.

Daine's just grinning at Shilo at the moment - it's always nice to see other two-leggers appreciate People like she does. "You can come closer, she's very gentle."

[howmuchisfate]

Shilo moves a little closer, coming out from behind Daine and edging toward the elephant, one hand extended cautiously. "Hi," she says, feeling a little silly for talking to her, but she looks... smart, and anyway, she's got Daine there to translate. "My name's Shilo."

[magelet_daine]

Gauri very delicately reaches out with her trunk to feel Shilo's hand, before wrapping it lightly around her wrist.

Two-leggers should not be so pale, the animal tells her, assuming Daine will translate. You smell like illness in the temples, but you are not ill. Eat good fruit and grain. Be in the sun. Calves who cannot look after themselves need looking after.

Daine relays this, word for word, with astonishing sincerity and seriousness. Though, it must be admitted, her eyes are twinkling. "She's got a point," she adds at the end.

[howmuchisfate]

Shilo listens, looking at Daine for a moment, and then smiling up at the elephant. She reaches up with her free hand to run her fingers over her trunk delicately, surprised by how gentle her touch is.

"I'll do my best," she says to Gauri with a very slight smile. "I'm getting better." Still very dizzy a lot of the time when she tries to stand up, and every now and then breathing is really kind of painful, but it's a lot better than it was at first.