abraxaslogs | April catch-all

[What in the world was a Flamewing Spoonce?

That was the first thing out of Hendrik's mouth when Jeffrey Cress explained the situation to him, fretful and obviously worried about the spoonce fledglings that had been descending upon Thorne. Many had already been gathered to be sent back along their traditional migration, but some still remained... Considering he's already been helping out in harried circumstances, what with that eclipse several weeks ago, he volunteers to help.

One may find Hendrik out and about around the city, trying to catch sight of the distinctly fire-red little creatures, or attempting to sneak up on one perched on a low wall or barrel. They're guileless birds, too lost and confused to put up too much of a struggle, but it's still an awkward task. They still fly when considerably startled, after all.

Speaking of awkward, one might also catch sight of him carrying a fledgling back to the castle for collection from Jeffrey, holding the puffin-sized bird like one might a bomb. It wiggles and occasionally chirps, but nothing that would warrant the wariness. Maybe he's just afraid of breaking it?]

Edited 2022-04-12 02:44 (UTC)

[Hendrik was by no means a decorator or anything that could be remotely considered creative. Sitting in the middle of his domain, with stalks of golden wheat growing up to his shoulders as he sits, it feels abundantly clear to him.

It's a sanitized memory of the land of his birth, complete with windmills in the distance rotating in the breeze. When was the land ever this covered with fields, without the attached farmhouses and pastures for farm animals? When was the land not filled with roaming monsters, without the king and his knights and Zwaardsrust's ancient castle to protect the region?

He reaches up to pat the weather-foretelling cow by his side. Clear skies without a hint of rain on the horizon.

Maybe someday reality will seep into his domain, with prowling giant sabrecats on the roads and the wretched poisonous swamp that grew out of the corrupted land around the castle ruins. If he focuses hard enough, he can see the shadows in the distance, and just as quickly as he wipes them away.

Idyllic golden fields. A beautiful skyline of a handful of windmills and rising mountains beyond them, untouchable.]

[Jasper continues researching in the library from morning till noon. Minutes pass into hours, people come and go. He finds it difficult to fathom who is who; scholars and students claim books, only to replace them or leave them lying upon nearby tables.

He breathes and focuses on his work, finding it keeps him from dwelling on recent conversations with his old friend. Pining for his past - their friendship - and his future. But his rising thirst sees him leave his work and his table. He strides through the corridors, a stack of papers beneath his arm. Eyes narrow in focus and frustration as he spots a familiar figure coming his way.

Then he sees it.]

What in heaven's above is that?

[It's rather difficult to not notice it, with eyes that gleam under the lighting of the reading spaces and fire-red plumage, given Hendrik basically holds it as high as his own head. Hendrik makes a face when he hears Jasper's incredulous tone, very slowly lowering the creature so he can look at the other man.]

It is a bird.

[Said bird wiggles its tiny paws and chirps before going quiet and watching library-goers move around.]

Monster. Bird monster. Baby bird monster. Probably.

[He has to add that last word with some reluctance, as he isn't quite sure of the distinction one would make with the animals and monsters of this world.]

Some kind of creature, then.

[The word is offered in kindness. Hendrik looks as red-faced as his charge; he probably needs a little bit of charity.

Best not highlight his awkwardness, then?]

Settle down, man. You are fretting more than the bird.

[Hendrik looks a little miffed at being called out, if only for a second; he quickly remembers the bird in his hands and lowers his hands more, muttering as he does so.]

I do not want to hurt it.

[For its part, the large fluffball looks more blankly confused than anything at the moment.]

I am supposed to deliver it to one of the mages, but I do not see him in here.

[Jasper turns his gaze towards the bird splitting their attention. His brows furrow when it rustles and clumsily turns around in its confusion. He hardly knows what to think, lips curling before he wrinkles his nose and looks at the clumsiest of them all.]

You know they are not all inhabiting the same part of the castle, surely?

[Hendrik's discomfort clashes with his bewilderment at Jasper's question, culminating in a huff from the taller man as he breaks his gaze away and scans the tables.]

I may have missed him outside. He cannot reasonably keep all of the birds indoors.

[The very thought has him sighing and glancing over his shoulder, back the way he had wandered in.]

[Discomfort and unease? Jasper brightens with a smile, relishing the fraught nerves of a man usually stoic and stern. He laughs to himself and shakes his head.]

Nor their keepers. But who keeps who between you two, I wonder?

[Okay. Maybe he wants to enjoy this a little.]

[It takes a moment for Hendrik to process what Jasper is saying, his thoughts distracted away by his hopes to finish this task as soon as possible. When he does realize what is being said, he aims a frown at the smiling man.]

There is no keeping going on here. The entire point is to not keep.

[That just sounds incoherent. He sighs and tries that last part again.]

The intent is to get these birds back where they are supposed to be.

[It takes another moment for Jasper to process what Hendrik is saying - how serious he is acting - and how he strives to impress a man who probably means little to anyone. His lips twist in the corners. His expression creases before it cracks. Fingers struggle to hold their position still and his small bemusement doesn't last long. He is soon laughing at his old friend.

Or rather, at the ridiculous image of this gigantic man struggling to quell this smallest of birds.]

Oh, my dear Hendrik. You look utterly ridiculous.

[Baffled. Hendrik is very much baffled by the sight of Jasper laughing at his expense, and it shows in how his eyes widen and his jaw loosens and his nose flares with some strong frustration. It's amazing he hasn't completely lost himself and squeezed down on the bird in his hands.]

Jasper--

[Whether it's the continued laughing or the rising agitation or just a discomfort from being held for so long, the flamewing spoonce wiggles and shakes its little wings under Hendrik's tensing hands. Alarmed as he realizes what he's doing, Hendrik overcompensates by loosening his grip.

And the fledgling falls. Plop. Right on the stretch of rug between them.]

[Jasper begins leaning forward across his knees. Eyes close as his subconscious remembers days spent laughing when they were boys. He begins wheezing and laughs through his discomfort, inhaling deeply until the spoonce flops onto the floor.

The shock of the moment wipes the smile off his face.]

Look what you did.

[He could collect it. Or he could not. This is entirely Hendrik's fault.]

[There's a noise low in Hendrik's throat like a slow-motion scream for all of two seconds. Then he clamps down on his tongue and crouches down next to the bird, feeling bad for its ruffled feathers undoubtedly done up from his handling it for so long.]

I would not have dropped it if you were not laughing so.

[It's a completely worthless grumbling, as Hendrik is actually blaming his own lack of control. He tries to inspect the bird without touching it, turning his head this way and that to watch the fledgling start to fix its own feathers.

He sighs in relief. No accidental damage, it seemed.]

[The sight of Hendrik on his knees invokes feelings both agitating and confusing. He wipes his fringe away from his face and flexes fingers against his hips. He considers joining his old friend, cautious about looking like a fool before he begins crouching on his knees. One hand balances on his thigh, the other against the floor. Then he begins removing his cape; fingers gentle with the brooch that fastens it around his neck.]

Would you rather I cry for the poor thing?

[He folds the fabric and waits on the fledgling to fix its feathers before swaddling it in a gentle wrap. He lifts the cape over its eyes, keeping it calm in the dark, and holds it in place for the other man.]

Edited 2022-04-12 09:22 (UTC)

[Considering all that has happened so far, Hendrik has to fight a flustered confusion rising up in him when Jasper crouches on the other side of the fledgling and covers it up. He frowns warily at the bundle now in Jasper's arms.]

Why did you cover it?

[Jasper speaks in a cold but neutral tone. The sort reserved for educating his men to ensure they followed his instructions. He hands the bird over promptly.]

To keep it calm and quiet and to prevent you fumbling about like a blind man in the dark.

[Hendrik almost fumbles anyway as the bird is passed to him, ultimately deciding to put his arms underneath the bundle so he doesn't accidentally squeeze down on the fledgling.

He's quiet as he composes himself, eyes lowered in thought.

And then:]

You should laugh more.

[The surprise on Jasper's face has only been witnessed a few times. He has done a good job of laughing at nothing this last decade - crowing only at misfortune and what he had believed was the satisfaction of years of frustration. The persecution of an old friend who is now reminding him how it felt to laugh. He wrinkles his brow after a moment. This exchange is making him anxious under the collar.

He scrunches his expression, confusion reigning once more. Until his lips crack in the corners and attempt to smile. It feels like enough.]

Perhaps. But not at you.

[It is progress.]

Edited 2022-04-12 17:48 (UTC)

[With the long sigh of one who has been stressed a rather long time, Hendrik manages a faint smile of his own, aimed downward and as thoughtful as it is self-conscious.]

Ah, I do not know about that. If it is earned, perhaps.

[He shakes his head.]

...In any case, I should thank you. This should work until I get fledgling to the right hands.

[Jasper watches Hendrik unwind and smile, a warm feeling filling a hole within his chest. In moments, he frowns in confusion, unsure what it means. He masks his unease with a confident smile and feels his hand extending itself - hesitating before holding out his palm.]

Come Hendrik, no need to thank me.

[What are friends for? The words stick in his throat. Perhaps not right now but later?]

[He looks at the offered hand, more than aware of just how strange this entire encounter has been. With another sigh, more at himself than anything else, he takes Jasper's hand with something of an ironic smile.]

So you say, while offering your hand.

[It's probably the most comfortable moment he's had with the man since appearing in this world. Years and years of distance, replaced with something clumsy and hesitant.

Well. It was something to work on, at the very least.]

[Fingers squeeze gently and release slowly. Jasper frowns and furrows his brow, confused by his need for physical companionship much as this friendly development. His expression settles after a moment, back to a neutral mood.]

Yes.

[How embarrassing this is. He looks around, feeling an urgent need to leave before he humiliates himself.]

Best be off, then.

Ah. Right.

[With another glance at the bundle still in his arms, Hendrik coughs in way of excusing himself away from the situation. It's not a particularly graceful escape.]

I will see you later.

[After he delivers this fledgling in (hopefully) one piece.]

April catch-all

Picking Up Chicks | Thorne castle town [open]

Fields of Gold | Horizon [open]

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