She was younger than he had thought at first, he realized when she pulled the hood back and allowed the light to strike her face more clearly. Her hair was a wildfire, thick and auburn and complimenting the leafy green of her eyes. He didn't dare to make a move, not to comment or compliment, lest he ruin whatever impulse had led her to show herself to him more clearly. All he did was blink - and then wince as one of Isuma's talons slipped and caught in his hair. She peeped an immediate apology, hopping down to cuddle into his lap and he soothed her with a smile and a stroke over her wings as he waited for their Fae host to decide what she would do with them.
The offer was more than he had expected after her last volley, and he bowed his head graciously, grateful for it even as he tried to caution his heart against too much optimism. "I would be glad to," he murmured, looking up to catch her slow journey to a nearby log, each motion made with what looked like careful deliberation. He waited until she was seated before shifting Isuma carefully up to his shoulder. He unfolded his own long legs and rose - slowly, slowly, careful to keep his hands in sight and moving so that she could see what he intended before he did it. He didn't try to come too close, coming only as far as the other end of the log before he sat - not on the wood itself, but on the ground in front of it, leaning back against it so that her head remained a few inches above his own.
The gryphon was far less cautious, hopping from his shoulder to the log and trotting across it, balanced by her long, fluffy tail as she came back towards Hazel to investigate her again with her usual cheerful curiosity. Jigano grinned and made no move to stop her, instead propping an arm upon his bent knee and tilting his head at his reluctant hostess. "You do not have to give me your name if you don't want to," he said, cautiously courteous. "But may I have something to call you by? I don't mean to offend, and I hope you'll correct me if I do so from ignorance. My understanding of your people is limited largely to Delah and Arduinna... Neither of whom have much patience for idle chatter," he added wryly.
The offer was more than he had expected after her last volley, and he bowed his head graciously, grateful for it even as he tried to caution his heart against too much optimism. "I would be glad to," he murmured, looking up to catch her slow journey to a nearby log, each motion made with what looked like careful deliberation. He waited until she was seated before shifting Isuma carefully up to his shoulder. He unfolded his own long legs and rose - slowly, slowly, careful to keep his hands in sight and moving so that she could see what he intended before he did it. He didn't try to come too close, coming only as far as the other end of the log before he sat - not on the wood itself, but on the ground in front of it, leaning back against it so that her head remained a few inches above his own.
The gryphon was far less cautious, hopping from his shoulder to the log and trotting across it, balanced by her long, fluffy tail as she came back towards Hazel to investigate her again with her usual cheerful curiosity. Jigano grinned and made no move to stop her, instead propping an arm upon his bent knee and tilting his head at his reluctant hostess. "You do not have to give me your name if you don't want to," he said, cautiously courteous. "But may I have something to call you by? I don't mean to offend, and I hope you'll correct me if I do so from ignorance. My understanding of your people is limited largely to Delah and Arduinna... Neither of whom have much patience for idle chatter," he added wryly.
