abraxaslogs | inside my quiet heart

[ Kahlil is leaving from a meeting with Claude when he hears the screech and feels the air shift as something large bears down on him from the sky. He vanishes completely, missing the tinkling of laughter that follows as he watches the winged creature fly away from behind the safety of the Gray Space, or as it asserts itself in Horizon, anyway. Even here, no sound travels when he's within this space.

Once his heart rate settles back down, curiosity wins out. He cuts a shortened path toward the tower, entering to find another familiar face at the top of the stairs. It's her domain, so she might feel his presence before he reveals himself, but if she doesn't she might be shocked to suddenly see him suddenly standing in the 'stables' with her. He's dressed in a black cloak and grey cassock, moons embellishing the collar. On one shoulder is the sign of The Hanged Man. ]

Hello again.

[ Hilda is tipped off by the arrival of another person in their domain not by the approaching footsteps but by the low growls of Waffenzahn and Buri.

Despite knowing that they’re growls of warning, she isn’t as concerned and turns. A genuinely pleased smile lights up her face that’s already flushed from the wind when she realises who it is. Unlike their meeting in Luna, in the Horizon, Hilda has donned an outfit from home with a cloak thrown over her shoulders that is clasped together with the gold sigil of the Lovers. ]

Kyle! It’s so good to see you again.

[ Waffenzahn seems less enthused, trying to extend his neck around Hilda somewhat possessively to bare his teeth at the stranger. The growl is cut short as Hilda bops him gently right on the nose. ]

Sorry about that. Waffle gets a little prickly around strangers and the same goes for Buri. [ She nods towards the older, grizzled wyvern in the stall across from them whose eyes are mere slits as his sizes Kyle up. ]

Are you here looking for someone?

[ He gives the wyverns a curious, if dubious kind of look. Keeps his distance for now. Nothing can kill them here, but he's not exactly looking to see how it feels to lose an arm, or his head to those jaws.

His gaze flicks back to her and he smiles again. ]

I was just having tea with Claude. [ Something he would normally not share with someone else, except that Claude and his friends from school have connected domains, and he holds them in high regard.

Kahlil tips his head toward Waffle, his mouth forming a line. ]

Are these dragons?

[ There'd been a young woman in Thorne who'd mentioned dragons in her home world. They're myths in Nayeshi, and equally non-existent in Basawar. ]

[ Hearing the reminder that Claude is making friends here warms her heart and the smile on Kyle's face triggers one of her own. Although if her being proud of him branching out to make friends ever reached Claude's ears it's more likely to come out as teasing because of how walled off he is. ]

Wyverns. But it's easy to make the mistake initially.

[ She motions towards Waffenzahn's two feet. ] You can tell the different because wyvern's have two feet and dragons usually have four. Well that, and their size is pretty sizeable.

[ Noting the dubious look from earlier she picks up one of the buckets by her feet. ]

Did you want to get a little closer? They're usually much friendlier after being fed - kind of like me. [ The last bit is said with a cheeky smile. ]

[ Wyverns isn't a word he's familiar with, but he takes note of the distinctions as she describes them.

His gaze flicks from her, to the bucket, to Waffle again. ]

What exactly do they eat? [ He ventures a step closer, trying to peer inside the bucket she's holding. Blond dogs possessed by Issusha'im aside, his animal handling skills are minimal at best. The ushiri'im were taught to ride tahldi, but they were never expected to actually need a mount. Not with their innate skills. ]

[ Are you judging her name choices, Kyle? Say it out loud with your chest if you are. ]

Raw meat mostly; they're pretty good about going out and finding themselves food every once in a while but we still have to feed them so they don't accidentally eat some of the local farm animals. One of my least favourite things at home was feeding it to them.

[ Her nose wrinkles in distaste as she holds out the bucket to Kyle so he can see several cuts of various game inside it. Hopefully she doesn't have to go on to explain why it was one of her least favourite things to do. ]

You don't have to use your hands if you don't want to. We normally skewer them and then feed it to them that way.

[ And sure enough, a skewer is also in the bucket. Buri and Waffle's attention apparently has been captured by the bucket with some of their favourite things and their yellow eyes stay trained on it as it swings. ]

[ ~~He would never...~~

Kahlil takes the bucket from her, making his own face at the meatiness inside. Between this, the creature's irritable demeanor, and... well, whatever must come out of its backend, would be enough to put him off the wonder of flying, he thinks.

When the skewer appears he decides to use it, skewering a chunk of meat and cautiously walking over to Buri first. He extends it out to the wyvern. ]

They must be fearsome in battle.

[ It's certainly scared the shit out of him when it'd swooped over his head earlier. ]

[ ~~Do it.~~

While the raw meat is definitely unappetizing to Hilda and Kyle it isn't to Buri. The older wyvern with his grizzled exterior and beard-like scales along the bottom of his chin gave the impression of a headmaster scrutinizing Kyle and the offered treat. The likelihood of Buri reacting negatively is slim to none in the Horizon, but she's still vigilant in her watch for any tells otherwise. ]

Oh, definitely. Most people in Fodlan are used to seeing them flying off in the distance, but if you don't spend too much time with them they can be intimidating. But once you get to know them they aren't that scary. Right, Waffle?

[ Waffenzahn nuzzles affectionately into her side in response but still keeps his gaze trained on Kyle and his body curled protectively around Hilda. After what seems like an eternity Buri's toothy maw opens, tugging the offered piece off the skewer and Hilda can't help delightedly gasp over the creature's noise chewing. ]

Oh good! He might let you give him a little pet if you felt like it.

[ Well, he can't say that they don't have personality...

When Buri finally takes the skewered meat he feels some kind of relief, although he shoots the wyvern another slightly dubious look at the suggestion that he gets closer so soon.

He sticks another chunk of meat and offers it to Buri again, glancing at Hilda with an amused look. ]

Maybe after he's had his fill... [ Too full to want to take a chunk out of him. Not that they're really real - no more than the birds in Wanda's domain, or the other seemingly sentient beings created within Horizon. But that is another thing hard to remember, sometimes. ]

[ Buri chews and swallows in one breath before giving Hila a side eyed look as if to accuse her of never feeding him treats. He seems delighted - smug even - that Kyle has caught on so quickly to worm his way into his good graces and rewards him with a pleased growl as he quickly snaps up the other piece. She can't help but sigh affectionately. ]

The wyverns never seem to have their fill. They could eat treats forever.

[ She isn't really helping soothe Kyle's nerves with her nonchalant attitude, but it's bolstered by her confidence that nothing could happen. ]

Are you feeling better, by the way? [ She knows that he had left looking a little better after their first meeting, and he looks fine now, but the Horizon isn't real life. ]

Is there such a thing as a fat wyvern?

[ He half asks this to Buri, almost teasingly, as he gets a little more comfortable and takes a step forward. Not to touch him just yet, but getting closer...

He glances over at her briefly, not really wanting to take his eyes off the beast, and nods with a smile. ]

I am, thank you. [ He shakes his head, eyebrows raised. ] Honestly, I was more embarrassed than anything else.

[ To have been caught like that. ]

[ Kyle's question catches her off guard, prompting her to open her mouth before quickly shutting it again to mull it over. Soon enough she's laughing though because Buri seems to be giving Kyle a particular brand of side-eye that's only saved for silly questions. ]

You know what, I don't think so but that would be pretty funny to see. We keep them pretty active and they're usually free to come and go during the day back home if we aren't taking them out for flying duty or drills.

[ Buri still seems content with his raw meat, gnawing on the bone while using one of his claws to hold it down against the stone floor. ]

You want to talk about embarrassing? I threw up over the side of the boat and someone had to hold my hair back! [ She doesn't normally air her embarrassing moments but they're commiserating. A teasing grin flutters to her lips. ] And it could have been worse. One of us could have fallen overboard and had to get fished out. I am glad you're feeling better though; we'll have to keep you away from bad eggs from now on.

[ He grins to himself when Hilda starts to laugh. To someone else it must seem such a small thing to accomplish, making someone else laugh, but it warms his chest all the same. Buri seems less than amused (he didn't know lizards could be so expressive...) and also occupied now, so he glances over at Waffle and skewers a last peace of meat, stepping toward the wyvern to finally make his peace offering.

He grins at her again. ]

Next time we all get sent on a trip, you can approve my eggs and I'll bring a hair tie for you.

Deal.

[ Hilda wouldn't think that making someone laugh and feeling good about it is a small thing. She tried to do as much for everyone back home, perhaps even more so now considering the times they were living in.

Waffle's head snaps at the movement, his eyes no longer trained jealously on Buri and his bone but firmly on Kyle. For a moment he seems torn between Kyle encroaching on Hilda's space and his own jealousy about not receiving any treats himself. Are the little ribbons around his horns making him less intimidating, Kyle?

Noticing the internal debate, Hilda lets out a little huff directed at her wyvern, sidestepping away just enough so that Kyle and Waffle are more face to face. ]

Don't be stubborn. Kyle is my friend and he's trying to be nice to you.

[ They kind of help a little??

Kahlil can't help meeting the wyvern's eyes for a second. He thinks he's heard you're not supposed to stare an animal in the eye, and then Hilda removes herself a little bit as a 'safety barrier'. He pulls in a breath, steeling himself as he takes another step forward and waits. ]

Truce?

[ Waffle almost seems betrayed that Hilda had stepped away, but his eyes flicker steely between Hilda, Kyle and the offered treat. When it feels like he's taking just a beat too long, Hilda narrows her eyes before rolling her eyes and giving her wyvern a little prod in the side. ]

Go on!

[ Her huffed disappointment is convincing enough for Waffle to begrudgingly huff back and his mouth snaps around the offered piece of meat. His teeth glint perhaps a little too long as he slowly pulls it off the skewer. A proud little smile melts the scrutinizing expression on Hilda's face. ]

I think that means truce. Waffle doesn't usually like men very much so this is a huge step, Kyle.

[ Okay, great. He's not going to push his luck. As soon as the meat is gone, he takes a quick step back, meeting Hilda's gaze - her smile elicits one of his own again. ]

Is there any particular reason, or does he just have good taste?

[ It's clear from his expression and tone that this is good-natured teasing. A little bit of flirting became second nature when he was with the Lisam servants, even if he didn't quite realize he was doing it. ]

[ Waffle seems easily content to leave his introduction to Kyle there for now that he's got his prize in hand. Soon the sound of two wyverns chomping (is there an awful parody of a Christmas carol in there somewhere?) fills the aerie.

Hilda for one is absolutely delighted when she catches the flirting. Intentional or not (she isn't even fully aware sometimes when she slips into it herself), flirting always put her in a good mood. A little harmless flirting never hurt anyone. Her lips curl cheekily. ]

He's very picky just like me. But once you win us over, you can't get rid of us. [ The smile grows into a fond one. ] But in all honesty, I'm not sure why he's like that. We more or less raised him from a baby and he's just always felt more comfortable about women.

[ It's all harmless, and it means keeping things light - which many of his conversations with the other Summoned are decidedly not, particularly around Thorne. He sets the poker and the bucket down, offering his own explanation in a kind of matter-of-fact tone: ]

Women are generally more gentle and nurturing than most men. [ To him, that seems like a fair reason for the beast to have that preference. He glances over at her again. ]

You raised him with your friends?

[ Heavier conversations - along with boring ones - were some of her least favourite kinds. She knew that there was some level of necessity for the former, but she'd already had too many over the course of their last "vacation" that she had decided she'd had enough of them for a while. ]

I suppose. [ But then Catherine, Shamir and Judith come to mind and she can't help but chuckle at the thought of them reacting to being called nurturing. ] Although I know plenty of women who wouldn't pick that word to associate themselves with.

[ She nods. ]

Well, kind of. He was already at the Academy when our year arrived and just hadn't really gotten along with anyone until I started working with him. [ She can't help but muse as she gives Waffle a pat. ] Maybe he thought he needed to take care of me because I didn't want anything to do with him at first. [ She looks towards Kyle again. ] Did you do much animal handling when you were home?

inside my quiet heart

the aerie

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i just re-read my tag and my god my grammar was awFUL I'M SORRY

no worries! I think brain auto-corrected everything so I didn't notice sjdsdf

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