abraxaslogs | [ CATCH-ALL ] don't tell me that we've grown

[ She hears Hilda coming up the stairs and opens the door pretty much the moment she knocks (maybe she's a little excited to have a guest over, don't judge). Not needing to be dressed for work or armed, Ciri wears a light summer dress and may look suspiciously like she's even cleaned up her makeup, kohl neatly lining her eyes with little points at the edges like Julie taught her.

When Hilda hustles inside, Ciri shuts the door behind her with a faint grunt of something between surprise and resignation. ]

Seriously? Another one?

[ She gives a somewhat disgruntled noise of confirmation. ]

I guess it's better than it showing up while I was in the bath.

[ Because that hadn't been a fun experience whatsoever for her. All she wanted was a calm, relaxing bath while both Sylvian and Claude had been out of the loft but apparently the rifts didn't care what she wanted.

Her lamenting is cut short as she whirls around to face her friend. In fact, her whole expression changes into a bright smile as she gives Ciri a full once over. ]

But who cares about a slimy old octopus anyway? That dress looks amazing on you. Did you dress up for the lizards and I? I almost feel underdressed.

[ In comparison, Hilda had donned a fitted shirt and pants topped off with a sun hat in an attempt to keep as much sun off of her as possible. ]

In the bath? [ Ciri pulls a face. One more thing to watch out for, apparently. Teleporting octopi popping into her bath. ] Maybe one'll have the decency to appear in the skillet someday.

[ The compliment has her instantly defensive, even as Hilda laments her own state of dress, which Ciri would argue always looks good. She's almost as well-dressed as Julie on a regular basis, or Yennefer, neither of whom Ciri could ever hope to compete with when it comes to fashion and looking pretty. So maybe she had been trying to get on Hilda's level a little (especially since she's still feeling the need to prove she does bathe and wash her hair regularly when she has access to a bath!).

Naturally, the first thing she does is deny it. ]

I didn't dress up. It's just more comfortable around the house, and it's extra hot this time of year.

Now are you going to show me these lizards or aren't you?

[ She sniffs dramatically. ]

It landed in someone's skillet. I threw it out the window.

[ In a panic. But that part is specifically left out; Ciri didn't need to know that. After all, it wouldn't present a very cool and collected impression of her if she went on to describe how she had shrieked after the octopus had literally appeared out of nowhere, would it?

They both seem to be playing the, "How am I presenting myself to this other person" game however except in rather different ways. Hilda doesn't even bother trying to bite back the smile on her face. ]

Okay, okay. You know if it was just for the lizards, I'm not going to be offended. [ She offers her a wink. ] I'd dress up for them too. Is there a good place to put the tank down? We can even let them run around if we build a little enclosure for them.

[ Ciri huffs a breath through her nose, shaking her head. Shame, wasting good seafood like that...

But the lizards are the real star of this show. ]

You can put it on the table for now, but don't let them out. I'll be right back! [ With that, she bounces off to go root around in some closet in the other room.

After a moment, Ciri returns holding some pieces of wood and wire mesh in her arms. Leftovers from Geralt's various little projects around the house, as evidenced by Mog's and Coram's beds and perches. Speaking of, both the toy gryphon and the white leosylph have crept out while Ciri was away, with the latter fluttering up to sniff at Hilda's hair. ]

Here, we can use this to set up a temporary enclosure.

Oh, Mog! Don't!

[ That is directed at the toy gryphon currently clicking his beak against the tank. ]

Edited 2023-08-12 06:15 (UTC)

[ Listen, she didn't exactly carry her axe or her dagger into the bathroom with her, okay, Ciri? And besides nobody in Cadens seems to have a problem with a little sand in their food.

Doing as instructed, Hilda makes a bit of room for the tank, setting it down gingerly and slipping out of the straps. She peers through the glass, checking on the remaining lizards to see that all is well, and several sets of eyes poke out from various hiding places to peer up at her. She's so engrossed in them that she doesn't notice the quiet flutter of wings crawling its way towards her to get a good sniff at her. Upon Ciri's return, she gives the woman an amused giggle. ]

I was just thinking blankets and pillows. Are we going to make an actual enclosure?

[ At Ciri's exclamation, Hilda whirls around, sending the leosylph twirling upwards with a mew of annoyance. All the lizards that had emerged are quick to scuttle back into their respective hiding places. The sight of Mog has her stopping in her tracks, torn about whether or not she should reach out to tug it away or be more in awe of it. ]

Goddess - what is that?

[ Ciri lets out a loud huff through her nose, the supplies drooping a little as her grip slacks. ]

You said enclosure... [ she mumbles, crouching to set them down quickly so she can stride over to grab Mog around the middle. He lets out an indignant squawk, puffing up his feathers and flailing his little talons and paws. ]

No, Mog, those are Hilda's pets, not food. Don't be so rude. I'm going to lock you up in Jaskier's room!

[ As if the tiny gryphon will understand, or care. He'll probably just go to sleep in there. Already, he's calming down, distracted by the loose strands of Ciri's hair over her shoulder. His beak clicks near her ear, but she doesn't seem the least bit worried. ]

This-- [ She hoists the creature up again, holding him under the front legs to offer him to Hilda, if she wants to try taking him. Or she can just look. ] --is Jaskier's most prized pain in the ass. He's a miniature gryphon.

Think kind of like a flying cat, with a beak. Not that he can fly far.

I know but, in the middle of your sitting room? Won't people mind?

[ It's adorable, really that Ciri is just ready to pursue a DIY project without a second thought. Hilda's giggle grows into a laugh that continues to fill the space joining with Mog's squawk and the lizard's frantic skittering.

She wanders over towards Ciri, curiosity and awe winning out now that Mog has been secured in the other woman's arms. When she's offered the tiny creature, Hilda automatically reaches out to cradle the gryphon in her arms like some sort of squirmy little cat. Now that the initial shock is warn off, she can't help but croon in delight, running a gentle finger over its beak. ]

He's adorable. Are these native to Abraxas? I've never seen one around before and the only time I've seen them are in fantasy books from home.

[ Listen... she got excited. Over the lizards. ~~Like father like daughter~~. She doesn't want to risk letting them escape! ]

Geralt and Jaskier are out for at least a week more. And... you're the only one here to mind, otherwise.

[ Now Mog is trying to show off and ingratiate himself to their guest, as if he hadn't just been harassing her lizards. He lets out a squeaky chirrup of a noise and rolls around in Hilda's arms until he's being cradled on his back like a baby. And he lifts his head up and back, front paws raised, begging for chin scritches like a little ho. ]

Yes, but they're not common. Nor are they cheap. Jaskier is just an egoist.

Supposedly, they were bred from regular-sized gryphons to be domesticated. I can't imagine how. And gryphons aren't native to this area, either. They prefer forested mountain habitats, much like they do back on the Continent.

Edited 2023-08-19 07:49 (UTC)

[ Ciri's enthusiastic and cautious approach is probably better than Hilda's let's take the minimal precautions and see what happens approach. And with that logic, technically they balance one another out, right?

Mog's little ho tendencies work out in his favour because if there's one thing cute pets (and people) can count on her for, it's encouraging and sometimes rewarding the ho tendencies. The goofy smile she's got on her face as she proceeds to give Mog the biggest belly rub and scratches persists through Ciri's slandering of the little creature. ]

I guess when there's a will there's a way, isn't there? And money. It makes me wonder if you could make a tiny wyvern and keep it that size.

[ Which is relevant to her and Claude's current predicament. A thought slips out as she thinks aloud to herself. ]

I don't know what we're going to do once it gets larger.

[ Hilda's ho encouragement is valid and appreciated. At least by Mog.

With the gryphon occupied, and Coram watching from a safe distance in a calmer fashion, Ciri begins to sort through the random bits and pieces of supplies. Hilda's slip does not go unnoticed.

She lifts her head, and a brow. ]

...when what gets larger?

[ The goofy smile slips from Hilda's features as she realizes what she's let slip out.

Oh. Shit.

Wide pink eyes slide towards Ciri. It isn't a secret, she thinks. And Claude and Ciri were friends so it's not like he'd get upset when they have joint custody over the wyvern. And besides, when, not if, the wyvern grows, they'll definitely have a hard time keeping it quiet.

A sheepish smile replaces the goofy one. ]

...Claude and I may or may not have found a baby wyvern that we've been keeping at the loft.

[ Ciri drops the piece of wood she's holding. ]

In the loft? Hilda!

[ And Claude, too. That's a surprise. He seems so... responsible. But also, Ciri knows he loves wyverns, so maybe it's not that surprising.

Her brow crinkles. ]

It won't have room to grow properly in there. And it needs sunlight!

[ ...among other problems. But those spring to mind first. ]

Edited 2023-08-19 21:57 (UTC)

[ The dropped wood prompts a rather indignant squawk from Mog that might have more to do with Hilda stopping her pursuit of giving him all the scratches and the lizards go scattering back into their hiding places.

Hilda at least has the grace to look embarrassed and she winces. ]

We know! But we couldn't just leave it hopping around the rooftops of Cadens. It couldn't fly - how was it going to feed itself?

[ It must have popped through the rifts before it had the chance to properly learn from its mother. ]

It's a good thing we moved into the loft when we did. The balcony is pretty big for it now so it's a temporary solution. And there's plenty of sunlight out there.

...yeah. I suppose that makes sense.

Wait. You said you found it on the rooftops of the city?

[ Until now, Ciri was assuming a run-of-the-mill common wyvern, which she knows are native in Abraxas as well. She hasn't encountered any in the desert, though. Much less this close. ]

Was it one of those portals?

It must have been. I didn't see a portal when I was leaving the workshop that day, but I know that the ones in Abraxas never come this close to the city.

[ And the portals have been popping up everywhere with little rhyme or reason. At least none that Hilda can see. ]

And if this is a baby that somehow got away from its mother and the nest, we would have seen her looking for it, right?

[ CATCH-ALL ] don't tell me that we've grown

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