Cubefall?
It's some time later, after his talk with Tyler, that the strange magic window that's found everyone else finds Zak.
< Today, Milliways marks the Cybertronian holiday of Cubefall, the anniversary of the day upon which the Allspark first landed on the rocky world that would become Cybertron. Would you like to sample some possible reconfigurations ( Read more... )
< Today, Milliways marks the Cybertronian holiday of Cubefall, the anniversary of the day upon which the Allspark first landed on the rocky world that would become Cybertron. Would you like to sample some possible reconfigurations ( Read more... )
It's made him a bit homesick, in truth. But it was still fun to construct, and somehow cathartic. Not that Talaerion will ever admit to Greagoir that he's missed him, of course.
The mage is making his way to the furnace to dispose of some bits of elfroot that are too tough to use in poultices, along with a broken flask or two, when he spots the griffin sprawled on the carpet. It makes him do a double-take, because while he's heard all of the legends and his more romantic and fanciful side thrills to them, he's never actually seen a griffin. They're extinct in Thedas, after all.
The door is opened and the "offering" thrown in, and once he has securely closed it again, Talaerion turns his attention back to the griffin. He can't tell whether it's awake or asleep, but what he can tell is that it is awesome.
There may or may not be a somewhat embarrassing squeak of glee that the mage cannot suppress.
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So far, the drow-turned-griffin had been dozing off, juuuust a little bit. The sound of footsteps nearby, the tinkle of broken flasks snapped him out of his light doze, and he stretches just a bit. The squeak of glee is a fairly good indication of location, and the feathered head swivels to take in the sight of a mage who seems to be eyeing his form with all the wide-eyed glee of a girl-child at a party who's just received a lot of expensive sweets.
The feathered brows rise, and then the griffin grins right at the mage.
Caught you!
Zak gets to his feet, shakes himself to loosen up his back. In the process, his feathers (newly cleaned and oiled) fluff out. His tail waves slightly as he pads his way over to the mage in question, still grinning. Today has been a good day.
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It's also a bit embarrassing to have been caught staring, and he's not sure why. But he can't help it. All of the stories and legends that he's heard from Alistair and Leliana, and all of the history of the order that Duncan had told him on the way to Ostagar, and now he finally gets to see what the famed Warden mounts of old might have looked like.
It's no wonder the darkspawn never stood a chance against them, between their skills in combat, the taint, and enormous cat-birds. This one looks as if could probably pick him up with its front feet, if it wanted to. He'd never heard many of the stories as an Apprentice in the Circle, hadn't really known anything about the Wardens until he had met Duncan, been recruited, and worn down the long miles to Ostagar with a complete history of the Wardens. He knows that he's in for a hard life of difficult and thankless service, unrewarded, but there is still something romantic about the entire idea. It may not be the life that he would have chosen if left to his own devices, but he's bound to it now, and is not unhappy or dissatisfied.
"Um... hello," he says after a moment, offering a sheepish smile. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stare." Talaerion knows better than to make any assumptions about intelligence or sentience here.
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First option, he could to the Look again. He likes doing the Look. It gets him pettings.
Second option, he could just introduce himself straight out. The mage is obviously suffering from what Zak secretly considers 'cuteness overload' already. Perhaps the look will not be necessary?
Even if he is not, specifically cute. He's still... very furry. And fluffy.
It seems to work in some odd, undefinable way.
Hm... Decisions, decisions... The black griffin goes for option 2.
"Greetings, Talaerion." The griffin grins, tail waving slightly. It's probably rather shocking to have the drow's voice emerging from that beak.
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Talaerion actually starts backward. He recognizes that voice, but the last time he heard it, it had been coming out of six feet of elf, NOT a beak. It's related to Cubefall, it has to be, and it's emphasizing one of his main problems with the holiday: he can't recognize anyone.
He stares for a moment, blue eyes wide with shock, before hesitantly asking, "Zaknafein? Is this for Cubefall, or did something... happen?"
The other elf had, after all, seemed unable to shake his fear that the mage was going to turn him into something small and squishy, never mind that Talaerion can't actually do that.
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The griffin grins. Clearly he likes being petted, if the grin and the tail-waving are any indication...
"And the flying is awesome."
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This seems a lot more interesting to him then the fact that Zak can still talk. He also reaches out and begins to carefully pet the griffin's head; the caution is because he wants to make sure that Zak isn't going to instinctively try to bite his hand off because of mage cooties, or something of that nature.
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"Pettings feel nice." he manages to mumble between 'rrr..''s
"...and yes, I can fly. I can lift someone on my back too, as I found out a few hours ago."
"..rrrr. Flying is most enjoyable."
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"You can?" He pauses. "Um... You don't think that I could, maybe, you know..."
He's hesitant to ask, first because it might seem like an imposition, and second, because he knows that Zak was decidedly uncomfortable about the fact that Talaerion is a mage, the last time they shared each other's company.
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The ear-tufts twitch and perk up, the tail waves amiably. "As long as you're not going to try to harm me with your magic, that sounds fine to me. At least you're not wearing armored robes, and you're lighter than the other guy who wanted a ride... When do you want to ride?"
There is something very empowering about this form.. It has more natural, seemingly inherent confidence than he expects. Its instincts seem to tell him that he is a great and mighty predator, the top of the food chain... except for dragons, that is.
As a result, the drow is much less paranoid in this shape. Besides, he has plenty of means of self-defense. He can always fly away, if Talaerion so much as waves his staff threateningly. If the mage tries to hurt him mid-air, he could always do a barrel roll, or drop him in the lake.
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He pauses in his petting for a moment, and then continues after he gathers his thoughts back together. "As for when... Well, whenever is convenient for you, I suppose?"
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"..rrr... Right now is fine. As is any time between today and tomorrow. The strange magic window found me late so I'm only in this shape for 2 days." The griffin stands up and stretches to get rid of any kinks in his back or his tail. Then he shakes himself, and in the process, the black feathers all fluff out until he looks.. rounder.
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"Well, if you were just out, I don't want to tire you. That would hardly be fair. But if you're feeling up to it..."
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And Zak looks very.. very.. fluffy. He is very fluffy.
And he knows it too. He's not sure whether it's a blessing or a curse. A blessing because he gets more pettings this way, and a curse, because.. well. Giant predators capable of lifting an adult male are not supposed to be fluffy.
Eh, whatever. The griffin-self does not seem to think fluffy is bad, so Zak will go with the flow, so as to speak.
"We can go out now, if you'd like." The griffin agrees, and pads over to the Back Door that leads out into the area with the Lake. "You'll have to open it, I don't have hands anymore."
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"Oh! Of course, that would make sense." He reaches out and opens the door, waiting so that Zak can leave first. After all, hands will be necessary to close the door, too.
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After a few moments, Zak stops the sudden cat-with-ball-of-string rush, and then moves to stretch himself out in what he's discovered to be the easiest way for an elf with a skirt to get on his back.
"Feel free to get on my back. Mind where you place your legs though, you need to get a good grip on me and you don't want them to impede the wings, as I'm going to be doing a lot of flapping."
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