Because she's been way to closeted in her life .. Ironhide will be good for her! XDbondedgryphonJuly 20 2011, 16:45:22 UTC
[Zhaneel had done very limited exploring since her arrival at the Keep, but she was trying to get out a bit more. She had come to accept that she was well and truly stuck here and that there wasn't anything she could do about it just now. Still, her explorations and encounters were hesitant at best .. so of course a talking metal man was just what she needed!
She had not yet explored this section of the Keep and had thought it a quiet enough time to do so with so few of the residents out and about. What she had not expected, upon nearing the Armory, was the solid and resounding crack of breaking wood on stone.
She freezes, ear tufts flicking back against her skull as she waits several beats. However, when nothing else crashes inside the Armory she moves slowly forward, talons and claws clicking softly against the stone floor as she moves to peek into the room.]
Is everything all .. [She trails off into near silence, beak falling open slightly as her golden eyes widen to take in Ironhide's unfamiliar shape.] .. right?
[He's just sort of standing there, the anger drained out of him, his temper gone. His back is to the door, his gaze focused on the broken bits of wood.]
No.
[It's a flat, monotone sort of response. He could lie, and say he was all right, that it wasn't important.]
[Zhaneel isn't certain what she was expected from this large metal man in reply, as she was already shocked enough at his existence. Magic, it seems, was alive and well in this place to make such a thing as this possible.
However, there is honesty in the flat voice that responds with an almost calm negative. She moves into the room, watching the being warily, but he seems to have abated his anger in the single bit of destruction.
She halts a short distance away, wings fluttering slightly along her back and ear tufts flattening before flicking forward again. Wary however she may be and slow to take his words to heart, Amberdrake taught her that she should not be afraid to reach out to others. She's not quite sitting down, though, as she speaks again.]
May I .. assist you in some way?
[The little gryphon did not know if there was even anything she could do, but simply offering was already a big step for her.]
[His big head swings around, staring at the creature for a long moment. His good optic narrows, but he's seen far stranger things on the Elegante. There's no reason to get worked up over this.]
[Or much else, for that matter.]
[One big shoulder hitches up in a half-shrug, before he looks away again.]
[As the creature turns his gaze and focuses his attention directly on Zhaneel, the gryphon has a large degree of wavering confidence.
Then he shrugs and his tone is more than enough reason to simply leave him be; and yet she doesn't.
Intimidated? You betcha. Lack of self-confidence? Oh, sure. Dumb? Not in the slightest. The gryphon watches the metallic creature for several more seconds before shifting forward, head tilting slightly as she studies him. She puts on her 'I'm really brave face' and moves to sit much closer to him, effectively killing herself if he decides to lash out.]
I .. I am a good listener.
[Look at that face Ironhide .. beak or no, doesn't she look super earnest? You take care of the younglings, right? Well, Zhaneel is only six!! :D]
[Ironhide's whole posture indicates something more along the lines of defeat, rather than aggression. He doesn't even react to her approaching. If he needs to defend himself, he's confident he can take down a feathered organic.]
[Her ears flick back at his words, tail curling to wrap over her feet as she tilts her head slightly.]
Perhaps .. perhaps not, but you should start somewhere, yes?
[A moment of silence, ear tufts pinning against her skull as her facial feathers flatten in kind. She looks around the armory before her gaze flits back to him, knowing he means the Keep at large.]
This place .. it has taken much; much more from some than others.
[She says this plainly as if she is certain .. but then the young gryphon hadn't precisely had much of anyone that she was terribly close to. Until just a week or so prior to her appearing in the Keep, she'd never even considered anyone a friend.]
[He just grunts at that, in dismissal. He's never been a 'bot for talking. He was made for action, he lived for action. It suited him a lot better than standing around talking.]
[His shoulders draw up, thinking. Besides. Most of this... isn't fit for anyone but Ratchet to hear. Or the children involved. Ironhide is notoriously private like that.]
It took everything.
[The words are harsher than he intends them to be, but there's nothing to be done about it, now that they're out.]
[S'alright, Ironhide, Zhaneel has never been a big talker either; she's really far happier keeping to herself, but she can't just walk off now. Happier alone or not, she met Amberdrake and Skandranon such a short time ago and they had begun to show her that friendship was possible .. even with a misborn like herself. It had implanted a need to see if she was indeed worthy of such and in so doing .. here she was now.
She watches his actions and listens to him, wings rustling slightly along her back. She tries not to take his tone personally, but it's a bit hard when she's accustomed herself to doing just that over the years.]
Aye .. [She tries to be resolute in not caring .. but Drake and Skan had reached out to her in friendship. Where were they now? Would she ever see them again .. When she speaks again her words are softer.]
Aye, it has .. [She looks up at the humanoid once again, her golden gaze unblinking as she studies him.] But is there aught to be done for it?
[He looks away again, drawing himself up, like he's trying to shake off the mood he's in. Unfortunately, it's not easy. He locks his emotions down, and when they come out, they do it with a vengeance.]
[Zhaneel's ears flick forward and she watches the creature straighten so he's standing even taller than before. It was strange seeing a creature so large and powerful looking .. upset; as he fairly clearly was by tone and actions.
His words are heavy and she nods, exhaling softly as her ears flicks back once more.]
Mayhaps there is little to do but have hope? Are there those that you know here or have you been brought alone?
[Her voice is tentative as she wants to avoid angering or upsetting him further.]
She had not yet explored this section of the Keep and had thought it a quiet enough time to do so with so few of the residents out and about. What she had not expected, upon nearing the Armory, was the solid and resounding crack of breaking wood on stone.
She freezes, ear tufts flicking back against her skull as she waits several beats. However, when nothing else crashes inside the Armory she moves slowly forward, talons and claws clicking softly against the stone floor as she moves to peek into the room.]
Is everything all .. [She trails off into near silence, beak falling open slightly as her golden eyes widen to take in Ironhide's unfamiliar shape.] .. right?
Reply
No.
[It's a flat, monotone sort of response. He could lie, and say he was all right, that it wasn't important.]
[But where was the point in that?]
Reply
However, there is honesty in the flat voice that responds with an almost calm negative. She moves into the room, watching the being warily, but he seems to have abated his anger in the single bit of destruction.
She halts a short distance away, wings fluttering slightly along her back and ear tufts flattening before flicking forward again. Wary however she may be and slow to take his words to heart, Amberdrake taught her that she should not be afraid to reach out to others. She's not quite sitting down, though, as she speaks again.]
May I .. assist you in some way?
[The little gryphon did not know if there was even anything she could do, but simply offering was already a big step for her.]
Reply
[Or much else, for that matter.]
[One big shoulder hitches up in a half-shrug, before he looks away again.]
I do not see how.
Reply
Then he shrugs and his tone is more than enough reason to simply leave him be; and yet she doesn't.
Intimidated? You betcha. Lack of self-confidence? Oh, sure. Dumb? Not in the slightest. The gryphon watches the metallic creature for several more seconds before shifting forward, head tilting slightly as she studies him. She puts on her 'I'm really brave face' and moves to sit much closer to him, effectively killing herself if he decides to lash out.]
I .. I am a good listener.
[Look at that face Ironhide .. beak or no, doesn't she look super earnest? You take care of the younglings, right? Well, Zhaneel is only six!! :D]
Reply
... Talking will do no good.
This place has taken too much to talk it out.
Reply
Perhaps .. perhaps not, but you should start somewhere, yes?
[A moment of silence, ear tufts pinning against her skull as her facial feathers flatten in kind. She looks around the armory before her gaze flits back to him, knowing he means the Keep at large.]
This place .. it has taken much; much more from some than others.
[She says this plainly as if she is certain .. but then the young gryphon hadn't precisely had much of anyone that she was terribly close to. Until just a week or so prior to her appearing in the Keep, she'd never even considered anyone a friend.]
Reply
[His shoulders draw up, thinking. Besides. Most of this... isn't fit for anyone but Ratchet to hear. Or the children involved. Ironhide is notoriously private like that.]
It took everything.
[The words are harsher than he intends them to be, but there's nothing to be done about it, now that they're out.]
Reply
She watches his actions and listens to him, wings rustling slightly along her back. She tries not to take his tone personally, but it's a bit hard when she's accustomed herself to doing just that over the years.]
Aye .. [She tries to be resolute in not caring .. but Drake and Skan had reached out to her in friendship. Where were they now? Would she ever see them again .. When she speaks again her words are softer.]
Aye, it has .. [She looks up at the humanoid once again, her golden gaze unblinking as she studies him.] But is there aught to be done for it?
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I have little idea what could be done.
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His words are heavy and she nods, exhaling softly as her ears flicks back once more.]
Mayhaps there is little to do but have hope? Are there those that you know here or have you been brought alone?
[Her voice is tentative as she wants to avoid angering or upsetting him further.]
Reply
[There's no reason to hide it. He doesn't have to say who it is. Xanth is here. Kevas -- he remembers the troll more and more as he thinks on it.]
[He doesn't sound angry. Just very... very tired.]
They did not see fit to save the rest.
[Or the one he needs the most.]
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