come out of the shade

Whoa, you let your feet run wild

Time has come as we all go down

The armor taken in her hands, and so he snagged at what she proffered, the mug warm in his palm as he watched over the rim for her reactions. He didn’t expect the emotion, reverence, or awe behind it, and didn’t know what to do with either of those measures, so he swallowed down some the tea and nodded, acknowledging her thanks. The beast sat a little more forward, resting his arms along his thighs while she tried it on – fitting correctly, aptly. She’d be able to maneuver in it without much trouble at all; as if it wasn’t there, light and perfectly according to her stature.

But that wasn’t all.

He waited for a few moments, letting the silence snag and pool, pondering if she’d attempt anything else, ask about its other properties. She wasn’t aware of his honed abilities though, and he hadn’t been until LongNight either – and with a thousand other events, catastrophes, and tribulations sieged upon them in the meantime, the notions simply hadn’t come up. He’d been reserved about it anyway, as per the norm, hadn’t given much thought to its meanings or emblems up until this point – the magic limited, reminders of parameters and restrictions. So the depths of his smile curled again, far more mischief and devilish accord in its notions than necessary, a lifted brow conjured there as he offered a suggestion. “Try shifting.”

Yeah but for the fall—oh, my—

Do you dare to look them right in the eyes?

DEIMOS

KIADA

the harpy

He says nothing at her heartfelt thank you, at the lump that forms in her throat of the intricacies and the form and fit that keep her ability to fight and continue to fight without becoming tired, becoming too busy, too much. And as she turns to look at him, she can see the light smile on his face, the acceptance of her thank you written in the panes of his face. But when he tells her to shift? She almost looks at him like a dog tilting their head, uncertain. Imagining that if she were to shift to her vulture form it’d fall around her like a lump of heated metal.

But she tries anyway, because he’s asked her to, because he stated he wanted to try something.

One short nod is given to him, a flash of a Cheshire grin, before shifting to her vulture form… And when she does, nothing happens like she expects. The armor shifts and sways, spreading to fit the breastbone of her smaller form, aligning itself to fit around her wings. And she spreads her wings, flaps them, draws them in tight as she peers down at the bronze armor that wraps around her chest still, and an overwhelming feeling of wonder and bewilderment slips toward Deimos – scarlet eyes lifting to meet his blues.

Oh. Oh this is amazing! She cheers, beak parting in a guttural caw that leaves her as she spreads her wings again. But she’s not done yet either, and she shifts into her caracal form, wings shifting to paws, beak turning to a maw of sharp teeth, and still the armor follows. It’s bodice warping and enlarging, to fit around her chest and wrap around up to her spine, where the designs are on full display and yet her heart is still protected. A pulse of gratitude is sent toward Deimos at that, a purr leaving her throat as she peers down at herself.

all bright things must burn

BASE INSPIRED BY ODD <3

Whoa, you let your feet run wild

Time has come as we all go down

The Sword watched, analytical to a fault, waiting for something to snap or sizzle, the spells or enchantments conjured wrong, incorrectly, or sinking metal clinging, clanging to the floor. But instead, the armor performed just as he’d calculated, orchestrated, and measured, shifting as she shifted, curling and contorting over whatever form she embodied. A sigh of relief flickered through his lungs, inaudible and fluid, while he continued to sit and bear witness. It’d hadn’t been a fluke thing, but an additional conflagration to his magic – another machination to store in the back of his mind for future causes and creations. At her reaction though, he lifted his eyes away from feathers or fur or metal, casting them on the bewilderment and wonder, snorting softly. “Glad you like it.” The smile still remaining, curled along the corners of his mouth, mostly just relieved it had been successful and she enjoyed it. Perhaps it would assist in whatever dangerous endeavors she yearned to attempt, in whatever treacherous lapses would occur over this world again and again, in the basking, treacherous unknown. On an arch of his brow, a jocular ministration, the deep rumble of his vocals contorted again, before he took another sip of tea. “Do not leave this one behind.”

Yeah but for the fall—oh, my—

Do you dare to look them right in the eyes?

DEIMOS

KIADA

the harpy

She can’t help but to swallow down the lump in her throat for surprise, amazement, wonder as she peers down at herself and his voice reverberates toward her. Feline eyes lift up to meet him, a feline grin, a purr leaving her throat. But at the mention of not losing this one, she hums a small amount of laughter through the bond to him with a pulse of affection.

Some fur lining within and I might not ever take it off. She teases back to him as though it were a possibility. But no, regardless of how comfortable this was, it would be kept in a place where she could grab it for impending doom rather than a fashion sense. And she ends up shifting back into herself, sitting in the chair as the metal clinks against the back of the wood as she lifts her cup to her lips again.

“Can I do anything for you? For this?” She asks, head tilting slightly.

all bright things must burn

BASE INSPIRED BY ODD <3

Whoa, you let your feet run wild

Time has come as we all go down

He rolled his eyes at the notion of fur lining; fashion trends or whatever other styling she required left entirely out of his scope and reach. What he didn’t expect thereafter was an offer of her support; because he’d accomplished this task, this pursuit, with no intention of receiving anything in return. It’d how he’d been since he arrived in Caido – so much more the Sword than the Reaper, who would’ve clenched his jaw and preferred information, sagacity, wisdom of another kingdom, another mercenary, or some systematic trade for the mountains. Here he simply accomplished the tasks and moved on, presuming or anticipating naught thereafter. The General stewed along in silence, pondering, thinking, mulling all of it over, might have been every faction of the brooding figure from their pasts, save for the tea cup in his hands and facing Kiada; no enemy, no adversary, no sovereign. So when his gaze lifted again, that same singular brow arch remained, and a smirk embedded, nestled behind fragments of things that used to be. “No. I do not require anything.” If she thought of something on her own – those were her endeavors, but he wouldn’t ask for payment.

Yeah but for the fall—oh, my—

Do you dare to look them right in the eyes?

DEIMOS

KIADA

the harpy

She snorts as he rolls his eyes to her initial claim, but when she asks him if there’s anything she can do for this to repay him, there’s silence. And for a moment she almost wonders if there’s something along his mind, creeping and edging forward, but the answer is simple. He doesn’t need anything. Anything but her safety if this gift is anything to think about. And so she remains in it, Auni waddling closer to slip under her feet to rest as she regards him with a smile. “Alright, suit yourself.” She teases, but there’s nothing but love and adoration that leaves her with the statement.

She’s content to sit there and drink tea, chatting while he works on whatever secret he has, passing the time until it’s time to head home.

— FIN

all bright things must burn

BASE INSPIRED BY ODD <3