The display of what Jigano would have once assumed was illusion was disconcerting, to say the least. He stared at Remi’s clawed hand, fascinated at the way the feline pads were rising to the surface of his skin. He had just started to reach across the table to touch the claws and prove to himself that they were real—when the other man flexed his fingers and withdrew his hand out of reach. Embarrassed by his breach of courtesy, the white-haired bard cleared his throat and withdrew his own hand back to his own book. ”Ah… perhaps you simply need more practice, then? To… accustom yourself to that body and its instincts? Though I suppose you’re already doing all you can to deal with that. I should leave the advice to experts.” He offered a rueful, lopsided smile of apology, still bemused and no little stunned at the bombshell Remi had dropped on him with his explanation of the Attuned. It did, in fact, make them sound like some kind of very limited druids, but that only made the once-kitsune feel even more out of place among them… and even less willing to reveal himself, especially to strangers he hardly knew.
His dearest friends hadn’t known what he was, in two years of travel and battle and saving each others' lives more times than they could count. Until the last time...
The luxere proved a happier distraction – and a useful one, for the very subject they were both researching. If they could be coaxed into the settled areas, perhaps they could provide some protection against the coming darkness, and even if not, well, they were a lovely and fascinating breed that Jigano would enjoy learning more about for the simple joy of it. He was surprised, however, at his companion’s eager push to accompany him, one silver brow rising as he cocked his head. He didn’t even have to say anything – Remi was already shrinking back in embarrassment, realizing his misstep. The bard couldn’t help but snort softly in amusement at the young man – young pup, he was starting to think of him – as he turned another page. ”Hmm. Well, I suppose as long as you don’t turn into a lion we might go together.” The display of control over the hand-shift was reassuring, at least. And the deer themselves were gentle enough that they shouldn’t startle the other man into anything too violent. ”The spring might prove a good place to lay out some hay, and perhaps if we can obtain skates it would be a way to while away the time while we wait. The one we found seemed attracted as much to our good cheer as my singing.” If they were protection against dark magics, and attracted to light, as the book in his hands assured, that would make sense. If they had any relation to the unicorns of children’s fables, Remi’s innocence alone should draw half a herd of the creatures! He kept his smile hidden at that thought, glancing up in curiosity at something else his companion had said. ”Peppermint bark? Perhaps you can show me what you mean while we’re out there, then. I thought mint came from a plant far too small to have bark.”
The conversation shifted back to more serious things, fascinating but unsettling, too. Animal shifters and gods and memories and ghosts. Gods they called ‘New’ without any idea what the word meant…
”Edy mentioned something about clothing thieves and bondage,” the lorekeeper said, dryly amused as he tried to focus on what was in front of him – not what lay behind. ”Was that you, then?”
His dearest friends hadn’t known what he was, in two years of travel and battle and saving each others' lives more times than they could count. Until the last time...
The luxere proved a happier distraction – and a useful one, for the very subject they were both researching. If they could be coaxed into the settled areas, perhaps they could provide some protection against the coming darkness, and even if not, well, they were a lovely and fascinating breed that Jigano would enjoy learning more about for the simple joy of it. He was surprised, however, at his companion’s eager push to accompany him, one silver brow rising as he cocked his head. He didn’t even have to say anything – Remi was already shrinking back in embarrassment, realizing his misstep. The bard couldn’t help but snort softly in amusement at the young man – young pup, he was starting to think of him – as he turned another page. ”Hmm. Well, I suppose as long as you don’t turn into a lion we might go together.” The display of control over the hand-shift was reassuring, at least. And the deer themselves were gentle enough that they shouldn’t startle the other man into anything too violent. ”The spring might prove a good place to lay out some hay, and perhaps if we can obtain skates it would be a way to while away the time while we wait. The one we found seemed attracted as much to our good cheer as my singing.” If they were protection against dark magics, and attracted to light, as the book in his hands assured, that would make sense. If they had any relation to the unicorns of children’s fables, Remi’s innocence alone should draw half a herd of the creatures! He kept his smile hidden at that thought, glancing up in curiosity at something else his companion had said. ”Peppermint bark? Perhaps you can show me what you mean while we’re out there, then. I thought mint came from a plant far too small to have bark.”
The conversation shifted back to more serious things, fascinating but unsettling, too. Animal shifters and gods and memories and ghosts. Gods they called ‘New’ without any idea what the word meant…
”Edy mentioned something about clothing thieves and bondage,” the lorekeeper said, dryly amused as he tried to focus on what was in front of him – not what lay behind. ”Was that you, then?”
