[SE] Doot Doot

Knowing that he had to sing a song to Safrin, Adam felt he knew the best way to do it. His bird form had been gifted by her, after all, and he had the skill of a semi-beautiful bird song (he was still working on perfecting it). Maybe it wouldn't be in proper words, but he was bad at creating lyrics anyway. It seemed like the best way to get across the meaning without having to think of complicated metaphors about stars and night. Standing on a branch that was high up enough he could see the sky, Adam looked up and began to sing into the evening clouds, a trilling melody with a few pauses as he tried to come up with the next part - how did birds do this so easily? To anyone arriving in the forest, it would be painfully obvious that the bird singing in the tree was Attuned, from the sheer effort being placed into the song, the way he excitedly swayed from foot to foot when he got a part right. Hopefully, this ditty would keep Safrin occupied just as well as anything else. A D A M Do you wanna dance? Do you wanna fight? Do you wanna get drunk and stay the night?

A silver shape cut the evening clouds, reflecting the ruddy reds and muted golds of sunset from his scales. He glided lazily along a thermal, heading home the fastest way, though not perhaps the easiest, and he was in no hurry. It was because of that laziness that he paused when he heard the song below him, standing out from the sleepy chirping of the other birds who were trying to settle in for rest. It was robust and brazen and... well.

From a bard's perspective there was more enthusiasm than talent, which was a strange thing to say about birdsong, and the curious lorekeeper couldn't resist the urge to discover which of his Attuned brethren was making that noise. He turned on a wingtip and dropped leisurely, Isuma reep!ing excitedly from her perch between his shoulderblades as he came to a gentle landing in the clearing next to the tree the song was coming from. He rose up on his haunches, placing a careful foreclaw on the tree to steady himself as he stretched curiously upwards, snorting a cool draft up the trunk. Isuma bounded up his neck and head, launching herself from his nose to flutter up next to Adam and peep a greeting as Jigano spoke.

Hello. What are you singing for, friend? he asked, clearly not recognizing Adam in the small bird's body.

Adam was really getting into his song, imagining all sorts of backing percussion and choruses, when all of a sudden he felt a wind current blow past the branch, nearly knocking his off; clinging on with his feet he opened his eyes to see a dragon leaning up the tree. Sheer panic almost made him fly away until he recognised it as Jigano from the silvery scales he'd seen before - the appearance of Isuma confirmed it. (Coffee was off playing somewhere nearby in the woods). Trying to force himself to calm down, he shook his head and looked down to the ground, an oddly human motion from the little bird. Jeez, Jigano, you scared the shit outta me. A little laugh coming through the bond, he hopped up and righted himself on the branch, tweeting back to Isuma a couple of notes. I'm trying to sing to Safrin. Y'know, like you're meant to for the whole Sun thing. He would have thought it was obvious, but maybe somehow Jigano, leader of the Loreseekers, just wasn't aware of the tradition. I dunno if it's working, but I don't think it's actually a real thing anyway. She won't be listening to every fucker singing to her all the time, right? A D A M Do you wanna dance? Do you wanna fight? Do you wanna get drunk and stay the night?

The dragon winced as Adam wobbled and almost fell, sending a pulse of apology through the bond and settling back down at the bast of the tree, looking up with a cocked head. One of his curled horns brushed the trunk, but he could still see the handsome little bird - and he snorted a laugh as Adam's voice came back at him, delighted at this unexpectedly pleasant turn of events in the aftermath of so much pain and loss.

You Attuned! he exclaimed happily, Isuma swooping a dizzying aerial dance above them both as she echoed her companion's pleasure. When did this happen?

The 'duh' tone to Adam's mental voice earned a sharp-toothed grin as the dragon stretched up again, as close as he could come without climbing the tree itself. Oh, that was singing? he teased. And don't be so quick to dismiss it. She might surprise you... He trailed off, wings drooping and humor fading for a moment as he considered Safrin's utter disdain for him. He doubted he would ever find a way back into her good graces, but it wouldn't hurt to try - he hoped - so he nodded and steadied himself again.

Mind if I join you? We can try a duet, or at least something close to it! He wasn't sure if he could sing in his dragonform, but there was no time like the present to find out!

Laughing a little through the bond, Adam twirled, wings fluttering out as if he was dancing. Yep! Check me out. Looking up to watch Isuma fly, his tail feathers bobbed up and down, automatically keeping him balanced on the branch; it had not taken long for him to get used to his new bodies. Looking back to Jigano, he replied: About a week ago? I went over to Safrin's shrine and gave her a shot and I guess she really likes to drink. Jiganos grin (and the way he was leaning up, so large) brought something innately animal and nervous up in Adam, the knowledge that big teeth like that normally ate little birds like him, but he did his best to resist the temptation to hop away, not wanting to look scared. At least he had something to pretend to be annoyed about to distract from it. Uh yes, it was singing, and it was beautiful. Proudly he raised his head and whistled a note through his beak, the sound not unlike a horn being stepped on. You...can sing like that? Go on then, show me. Let's see if it's any better. Challenge laid down he hopped about on the branch, watching Jigano to see just how he'd manoeuvre his dragon jaw into producing a singing voice. A D A M Do you wanna dance? Do you wanna fight? Do you wanna get drunk and stay the night?

Handsome little devil in this form, aren't you? the dragon teased as Isuma settled back to perch beside the blackbird, fascinated to find a friend in such a small feathered form. At finding out that Adam had only changed a week ago Jigano felt something in his chest ease a little, glad that he hadn't missed too much in his friend's life during the tragedy and depression that had followed Fiat Lux. Noted. Perhaps I'll try that next time. Maybe I can avoid another smiting. He tried to keep his voice light, but there was that trickle of unease and fear beneath it in the Attuned bond, a wariness of the starry goddess that he couldn't entirely hide in his thoughts.

Adam's singing made an adequate distraction though, and one that had the bard laughing at his shady friend's confident retort - laughter that redoubled at the squawking whistle, until the dragon slid a little way down the tree as his humor shook his scaled body, a whistling emerging as his body's version of a chuckle. Ah, so it is, he agreed, glad he didn't currently have tear ducts to need wiping. Adam's challenge was met with a trailing off of his giggle fit and he stretched up again, tilting his horned head to peer through the branches. I... haven't tried before. Let's find out, shall we?

Lips were somewhat lacking on scaly things, so Jigano knew better than to try and shape words. He took a breath and opened his jaw, thinking back to the sounds he had instinctively made when flying over the Sea of Glass, and a low croon emerged in a pure tone, resonating up through his large chestt. He tried vibrating the muscles in his long throat, and the pitch shifted upwards smoothly as he tried a simple scale of rich, deep notes that echoed through the trees around them.

Ooh Jigano, are you trying to seduce me? The little bird trilled, wiggling his tail feathers as if dancing sexily as a human (though in this form, it simply looked adorable). Adam had indeed admired his own handsome red chest feathers and black beak, enjoying that his animal colour scheme had matched that of his human fashion sense. He sensed Jigano's anxiety surrounding Safrin; he was hardly unique in that aspect. It seemed most people that had Attuned had had a much more harrowing experience than Adam (something he was both glad to have missed out on, and a little annoyed that he'd been given the soft treatment). Instead of saying anything he sent Jigano the equivalent of a kind smile through the bond and left it there - there wasn't much he could do about the Goddesses favouritism. That his singing was followed by quite such intense laughter was rather insulting but Adam tried to console himself by waiting for Jigano to sing, sure it would be at least as bad, if not worse. At first he found the deep, low noise, far louder than his own in a way that shook the bones, was a little terrifying. As Jigano drew the sound higher and higher Adam found himself laughing, amused by the sight of the dragon trying to croon, the expression on the scaly face so odd it was hard not to laugh. You're kinda like a big breeze in a cave. A D A M Do you wanna dance? Do you wanna fight? Do you wanna get drunk and stay the night?

Sirrah, you are practically a married man and I would never! The dragon exclaimed dramatically, attempting to place the back of a taloned hand to his temple in mock-disbelief. It didn't quite work as well as it would in human form, but luckily the Attuned bond carried the gist o the joke through his mental tone.

If anything could kill his good mood, it was talk of goddesses. Luckily Adam was tactful enough to send support without forcing the issue, and Jigano accepted his kindness gratefully, glad for the challenge a moment later that moved them past dwelling on anything too sad.

If Adam was a squeaky tweeter, Jigano was a breezy basso profundo, it seemed. His crooning cut off with a snort of mock-indignation, and he tossed his head as if flipping non-existent hair. Yes, but at least I'm a big breeze in a cave that's on key! he defended himself, trying not to laugh at the thought of their coming duet - arguably the strangest duet to Safrin the goddess would likely ever receive. So what song should we sing?

Married? Oh, Jesus, no. In love, yeah. Adam shook his little feathered head with some passion to express his distaste for the idea; he'd tried the whole matrimony thing once and it had not endeared him to try it again. Still, there was a quiet laugh at Jigano's mock offence. I know it must pain you to not be able to give into your temptations. Everyone wants a piece. At the implication that he might not be on key, (which he was not entirely sure of the meaning of but realised it was probably an insult) he puffed himself up and let out a long note of high pitched tweeting meant to be impressive. Bigger ain't always better, you know. He knew that from experience. Adam looked up to the skies, wondering what it was Safrin would request if she could. I don't think we're gonna know the same songs. Uhh...how about we make one up? Like...uh.... He began to whistle out a tune, meandering and a little flat, and thought lyrics as he went: Oh Safrin, lady of the night! Your...dress...is really tight! In a good way though! I love your star thing, it's really cooooool~ I'll come by your shrine soo-oh shit that doesn't rhyme... What he was lacking in skill he made up for in enthusiasm, dancing as best he could in his little bird body up and down the branch to complete the bizarre show. A D A M Do you wanna dance? Do you wanna fight? Do you wanna get drunk and stay the night?

What will you do if Peter ever asks? Jigano wondered curiously, though it was hard to imagine the quiet and self-effacing young Launceleyn cultist asking for anything for himself. He snorted at Adam's teasing confidence, though, turning his head to give the bold little bird a wink. Well... maybe just a nibble, he teased back, with a grin that revealed sharp teeth, some nearly as large as the bird's whole body.

Luckily Jigano was able to control the wince at the high-pitched song that Adam belted out, and he also refrained from letting out a full-throated, proper roar. There was teasing, and then there was just plain not playing fair, so he settled for blowing a poof of chilly air up at the bird, mirth chortling through the bond. Neither is smaller, he pointed out wickedly.

Oh, I can pick up the refrain of whatever you choose-- But Adam was already off and Jigano tried not to wince at the irreverent (and unrhyming) lyrics. And the lack of meter. And the flat tones. Well. It was obviously his turn next, though, so he cleared his throat and let his crooning voice rumble out again, hitting the notes as he came up with some additional lyrics in the Attuned bond.

Star-eyed goddess in the sky,
Higher than a bird can fly,
Brighter than the moon above,
Your children send you all their love,
And ask that you stay sound asleep,
And let us have the sun to keep!

There would be a clear pang of fear down the bond as Adam realised it was indeed a possibility that Peter might one day ask him about marriage. He'd sort of assumed his partner had to have a similar view as him, as he assumed most people did - but then again, there were happy married people, weren't there? Somehow. Uhhhh. I guess we'd have to talk about it then...but Pet ain't exactly a traditional guy. He only responded to Jigano's teasing with the equivalent of sticking his tongue out, opening his little beak and wiggling it. Adam wasn't very used to being teased back, at least not by someone with whom he couldn't excuse it away as 'flirtatious banter'. Jigano's lyrics were arguably much, much better (not that standards were high), but if Adam thought so there was no indication - once the dragon was done with his turn he picked it back up, adding in more of his specific brand of musical madness: Yeah, we want the sun please And I know you'll give it to me with ease Cos um...it'll fight off the vampire people and you don't like them! A D A M Do you wanna dance? Do you wanna fight? Do you wanna get drunk and stay the night?

The fear was unexpected, and Jigano blinked uncertainly until he realized that it was fear of commitment that had Adam's tailfeathers in a twist. He sent a pulse of (slightly amused) understanding to his friend, a rumble of approval in his chest. Talking about it sounds like the right idea. Make sure you both want the same thing from the future, since you love him enough to stay with him, even without a ring or ceremony. Frey hadn't been all that impressed with the last wedding anyways, it had sounded like.

The very cunning and mature response to his teasing earned a chuckle from the dragon - more a rumbling whistle - but soon enough they were off on their musical journey together, creating a duet that was...

well...

unique.

The look the dragon gave the blackbird involved narrowed eyes and a sense of suspicion that Adam was doing this on purpose now. Surely no one could be this bad unless it was intentional?

If you should let the sun remain
And give us summer's bright refrain
We will use the longer days
To fill your lovely ears with praise.

His crooning thrummed into a trill that cut off in surprise as he realized the noise was coming from him, a sound far deeper and more vibrant than he'd once heard from the much-smaller Sugar.

Yeah...maybe when he gets back from Halo. Adam lied, having no such intentions; his plan was to never bring it up and hope Pet wouldn't either. He loved his boyfriend dearly, but his fear of marriage and past experiences with it had well cemented it in his mind as the thing that ruined love, at least for him. Jigano seemed to be regarding him with suspicion between the verses of their song, which Adam couldn't understand - perhaps it was a veiled jealousy? He knew not everyone could seem as cool as him coming up with stuff on the fly. Jigano's lyrics were fine, he guessed, but a bit old fashioned for his tastes. He didn't get around to adding in another one of his fantastic additions when Jigano stopped dead and Adam looked down to him, a questioning tilt to the birds head. Y'alright? A D A M Do you wanna dance? Do you wanna fight? Do you wanna get drunk and stay the night?

He's in Halo? The quiet Peter absconding to that harsh and dangerous land seemed... well. Like a terrible idea, really, but given his loyalty to Zariah, who had made herself a new lair there, perhaps it wasn't all that surprising. When... is he coming back? he couldn't help but ask, a bit more cautiously, letting his concern seep into the bond.

The song was a challenge in more ways than one, but without Adam to challenge him he might have shied away from doing anything to draw Safrin's attention this year. It brought back bittersweet memories of sitting around the campfire with Deimos and Amalia the year before, when his desire to impress and exalt the goddess had been sincere. Now much of that eagerness to please had been tainted by fear and a healthy wariness, but singing was something he got to do so rarely anymore, and even this unfamiliar form and Adam's silly off-beat twittering was enough to make it more fun than fearful.

Not that the unexpected couldn't still occur - and did, soon after. Ahh... I... think so? he returned tentatively, trying to make the trilling sound again. It gave him an oddly warm feeling in his chest, relaxing him as he repeated it, the liquid notes vibrating in the air. I... didn't know I could do that, he admitted, bemused and pleased. I think it's a dragon's version of a purr, or something like it?