How Many Miles to Babylon?
for Rory
Jigano Silversmith
the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers Soul Shepherd
Portal Guardian
Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int:
ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
Played by: Cirago Offline
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Posts: 3,914 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#1
He was too exposed, and there was too much happening around him to allow for sleep, but the fox’s fur kept him warm enough when combined with the heat coming off of the horse so that he didn’t mind laying motionless on the saddle to await Rory’s return.

And wait.

And wait…

He’d thought the meeting was over, that the blond would come out with the rest soon, but they all stayed bottled up in the Temple. Jigano didn’t know what had changed, but the later it got the more worried for his friend he became. It was truly dark, a time when it wasn’t entirely safe to walk the woods alone in a human’s shape. Rory was a Natural, he knew better, but he was so distraught over his friend’s death that he wasn’t thinking clearly.

The fox was, but in his current shape he could do little to effectively help his friend, except to offer some small portion of warmth and comfort.

He had just curled up a little tighter as the cold wind started making it through his fur when the sound of feet crunching swiftly through the snow brought his head up sharply. A familiar form was approaching, but he seemed even more upset than he’d sounded when the fox had left the Temple. As Rory pressed his head against the horse’s face the fox sat up and whined, feet shifting on the saddle in unhappiness. After a moment he gave in to his impatience and dropped to the snow, crunching a small hole through the crust, but popping up immediately to press himself against Rory’s leg, letting the man know he wasn’t alone in the night.

Rory
Leatherworker

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#2
And he hated himself, for being upset: for being a coward, for being so damn anxious around people, for not being able to rejoice in Wessex being alive, for.. for.. for damn everything, his eyelids pressed tight over his eyes yet failing to keep his tears contained. They burned the corners of his eyes, hot and shameful, freezing on his cheeks in the bitter wind.

Before Talys had the chance to tire of his clinging he heard a familiar whine, a low keening that had him opening his eyes and looking just in time to see the white creature drop out of Talys's saddle and into the snow. And.. disappearing into the snow. Rory's gut reaction was to kneel down and pick the fox up, but before he had the time to do more than just lean forward it popped back out of the snow, hopping over to press against his legs.

Rory made a muffled sound and and wiped the tears from his eyes with the back of a still ungloved hand, before squatting down in front of his friend.

How to explain all this..?

He reached out, wanting to cup the fox's face in his hands and peer into its eyes, but it felt like a transgression of some kind, like holding him in any way was not (yet?) allowed. So he merely tried to stroke those fluffy cheeks and ears, and scratch along his jaw.

"Gods, I'm pathetic," he finally got out after a little while, his voice thicker than usual, still hindered by the tears his body wanted to shed, but he swallowed them. "I'd.. I'd not expected Remi to have invited half the town, and—" He bit his lips, frowning, blinking away the tears again. "They were all going on about how we should kill the Spire's guardian, and then—then—" He shook his head, before sitting back on his heels in the snow, hands falling into his lap. "Wessex strides in all dramatically, and for a moment I thought I'd been such an idiot, that I'd just stood there and told everyone she died when.." He trailed off again. It was dangerous, talking to this fox; easy to forget he wasn't just talking to a polite animal, but someone who might very well understand absolutely everything.

"She did die, though," he finally said, voice quiet. "She doesn't know how she came back, but she's Ascended, so that might explain some of it..."
Jigano Silversmith
the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers Soul Shepherd
Portal Guardian
Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int:
ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
Played by: Cirago Offline
Change author:
Posts: 3,914 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#3
When Rory had first stroked his ears it had been a shock, but a pleasant one. An intimacy he hadn't been sure whether to allow until he realized how badly he'd needed something like it. Now, it was becoming a comfort for them both as their friendship strengthened. As a human, such contact felt... unearned. A reminder of those lost, and of his own guilt. As a fox it was simply... connection. A relief and release for both of them. So when Rory reached for him now he tilted his head into the touch, eyes nearly closing at the pleasure of fingers scritching along his jawline, and he pressed more tightly against his friend's leg.

When the man began to speak at last Jigano blinked up at him, but didn't try to interrupt. It sounded like Rory needed to let things out, and as a fox he was very good at listening. He kept his eyes open just enough to take in his companion's expression, but otherwise stayed relaxed and content under the continuing ministrations of gentle fingers. Pathetic? No, no, that wasn't right at all, but Jigano knew what it felt like, to be so angry at himself. At least the other man wasn't completely alone? Rory was still reaching out to him...

He whined softly when Rory sat back, taking his hands away. Blue eyes blinked up at the man, and he tilted his head in confusion at the name 'Wessex,' recognizing it from earlier but trying to reconcile the smell of death in the snow with a walking, talking human. Hesitant and uncertain what to do next, he sat and watched his friend with open concern until the final words spilled out, and a certain grim sense was made. He still didn't understand the Ascended, what they were capable of, what their limits were, who their 'Voice' was... but it hardly seemed fair that they could cheat death so easily while leaving their friends to mourn them.

And Rory had mourned, wounded and lost and still moving forward to tell the villagers what had happened. Jigano spared a growl in the back of his thoughts for Remi and this 'Ronin' person, for forcing the quiet hunter into the spotlight against his will and when he was already hurting so badly. But the blond didn't need righteous anger right now... he needed a friend.

Jigano shifted his weight, rising up to balance his small forepaws on Rory's knee as he stretched up as tall as he could. It wasn't enough - frustratingly short, for once he found himself regretting being so small. For a moment he held his breath, wondering if he dared jump up onto the man's knee, so he could reach--

No. No, what if he startled Rory? If it was too much, too soon? With a quiet whine of regret he relaxed down again, dropping his head to nuzzle at the strong, skilled fingers in Rory's lap instead, warm tongue licking out in an instinctive attempt to comfort and reassure.
Leatherworker

Age: 36 | Height: 175cm / 5'9 | Race: Abandoned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
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#4
His hands were cold as they lay in his lap, with neither glove nor fur to keep the frigid air from brushing up against his skin. They were turning pale, a little numb, but he didn't quite notice as he instead gazed into the blue eyes set in the white-furred face. What if he hadn't found the scrap of cloth as he rode past earlier today? What if he had never known about it? Her dramatic entrance would've been nothing but unusual, out of place for the Wessex he knew—an eccentric night, nothing more.

He wouldn't have had his heart bruised, wouldn't have stood at the front of a crowd, afraid of their gazes—wouldn't have felt that stupid, awkward mixture at seeing Wessex again, the overwhelming sense of relief and anger mixing with grief into whatever it was that glittered on his eyelashes now.

He felt at a loss: what do you say, after what he'd already said? He could talk about how he hadn't even known Wessex was Ascended—though that was hardly something he could fault her for for not telling him, they weren't friends in such a way—or how anxious the talk of fighting the demon made him. It wasn't that he wasn't curious, not like he didn't want answers, it was just...

Then the fox placed its dainty white paws on his knee and stood up, a gesture that was both very human and animal at the same time, and for the briefest of moments the breath hitched in his throat—somehow expecting this to be the moment when it'd elongate into the other shape it likely held, but—no. It was just the fox, peering up into his face with an unreadable yet earnest expression, and Rory met the gaze steadily, although he couldn't keep the hurt out of his eyes.

He probably couldn't do that even if you threatened him. He'd get himself together after a night of good sleep, but for now.. he just felt too damn broken to get his face under control.

Whatever the fox might've planned on doing, it didn't do it, because it dropped back in the snow. Rory closed his eyes and tried to commit the weight of those paws on his knee to memory.

Then the cold nose touched his freezing hands, warm tongue slipping out to lick against his skin: Rory blinked, partially because he had not expected such an animal behavior as licking, and partially because he had not noticed how quickly the cold had crept into his hands.

Grimacing, the man reached out to dig his fingers into the warm fur. "I'm a mess, huh?" he said quietly, voice still a little scratchy.
Jigano Silversmith
the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers Soul Shepherd
Portal Guardian
Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int:
ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
Played by: Cirago Offline
Change author:
Posts: 3,914 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#5
He heard - felt - Rory's breath catch, but didn't know if it was in anticipation or anxiety... or simply surprise. Vulnerable and afraid in a way he wasn't used to, the fox pulled back, but the memory of the hurt in his friend's eyes remained, and he couldn't simply separate himself from the heart-wounded hunter.

He wasn't brave enough to force himself into Rory's arms, but he could at least warm his hands, in the instinctive way of a fox more than a man. It didn't seem strange to him; he was still learning what it was to truly be human here. He had been born fae, as much fox as man, with no true dichotomy between the two states. Oh, he had learned what was considered civilized and what wasn't. Learned what his parents taught him about hiding his heritage, taking one form or the other, never both. Learned that it was safer to seem human, to hide what he was, until it became so ingrained that he couldn't tell another soul, not without baring his heart to them, and he'd found no one who he could trust so far, with such vulnerability. Such intimacy. Such power over him.

He had lost himself in the freedom of being 'reborn' on Caido, giddy with the strangeness and newness of it when he'd come close enough to play with Rory. He didn't regret that day - couldn't, when it had forged such a strange, fragile, wonderful bond with someone who treated him with such... gentleness.

He had not known gentleness from another hand in... a long, long time.

And he found that seeing Rory in pain hurt, deep in his heart, with a fierce ache. He wanted the other man to know that he mattered, that someone cared, even if that someone was too afraid of losing that precious bond to be anything other than a fox when they met. A fox, at least, had warm fur, and Jigano let out a happy little grumble, pressing upwards into Rory's hands as cold fingers once more sank into the soft heat of his winter coat.

The words were true, but then, Rory had a right to be a mess after the day he'd had. The fox turned beneath his hands, sinuous and flexible as he looked up and tilted his head, meeting blue eyes with concern before he turned his head to nuzzle a wrist as if to say "I don't mind. It's alright" in his quiet, foxy way.
Leatherworker

Age: 36 | Height: 175cm / 5'9 | Race: Abandoned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
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#6
The thing with winter coats was that you had to dig your fingers in to their skin to get to their heat: the insulating layers were cold, cold, cold, trapping the precious warmth close to the surface. Had he dropped a snowdrift on the fox it wouldn't have melted, so he twisted his fingers through fur that did not want to be twisted and lifted, hunting for the heat it protected and finding it deep within. Barely more than his fingertips lay against the fox's skin. He could feel the vibrations of its pulse.

The animal body twisted under his touch, silken hairs slipping between his fingers as muscles bunched and shifted. Their eyes met, again, blue and blue—if he saw those eyes in the face of a human, would he know them? Part of him thought that there was no way he wouldn't—that he'd know them anywhere—but how could he be sure?

He couldn't. So he sat there with his mysterious, anonymous friend, smiling gently and sadly as the cold nose brushed against his wrist. One of his hands slid along the fox's ruff and then cheek, then to the empty space in front of it's face. His smile grew a tad more lopsided and mischievous as he tried to boop the fox on the snoot.

Weird animal friends. The best cure when feeling a bit down and blue.
Jigano Silversmith
the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers Soul Shepherd
Portal Guardian
Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int:
ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
Played by: Cirago Offline
Change author:
Posts: 3,914 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#7
Had Jigano been human he might have hummed at the feel of Rory's fingers coming to rest against his skin, but as a fox he was a quieter creature. He showed his pleasure in the touch by tilting his head to the side, eyes closed and ears relaxed as he leaned into the gentle attention. Only his friend's voice drew his attention back into focus, bringing his gaze up for a long moment of connection before he offered consolation in the nuzzling of a damp nose against bare skin.

He shifted to follow the stroke of Rory's hand, pressing into the caress until the man drew his hand away. The fox blinked, hesitating as he waited to see what his friend wanted - to pull away? To leave? But the tap on his nose caught him unawares and completely off guard. Wrinkling his muzzle in surprise he pulled back a little ways, eyes nearly crossed to see where the blond had touched him. Realizing that it had only been a boop and nothing else his ears perked,, dawning hope and amusement beginning to sparkle in his eyes. Rory was smiling again, and some of the weight of the world seemed to lift from Jigano's heart at the sight.

With a little hop he pounced forward, attempting to take the cuff of Rory's coat in careful, gentle teeth and give it a tug in return, a playful growl thrumming quietly through the slender canine as he attempted to coax Rory to bend down a little lower.
Leatherworker

Age: 36 | Height: 175cm / 5'9 | Race: Abandoned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
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#8
He still so vividly remembered the first time he'd come across the fox, a lone and playful hunter with a pack of wobbling, growling gourds in its wake—the human intelligence in the gaze, the human intelligence in the game, the lack of fear of Rory, and yet, that hesitation. The play had been childish, the uncertainty feral: Rory had treated it like a wary, cautious dog, silently asking for trust and rewarding when it was given. He'd been afraid of scaring the little white canine off that time, and each time he tested another boundary he felt the same fluttering fear in his heart: what if it was too much, too soon?

His extended finger pressed against the cold black nose, rather gently despite the tapping motion of it, and even though he grinned he held his breath as the fox pulled back a little, muzzle wrinkling.

Well. Who wouldn't wrinkle their nose after a boop? Rory was pretty sure he would, too, and if he hadn't been so worried about taking too many freedoms with the fox he would've laughed as the clear blue eyes desperately tried to see what he had done to its poor nose.

But as it came to the conclusion that Rory hadn't done something evil.. the uncertainty seemed to flee again, ears perking up, eyes glittering; Rory felt his smile stretch a little, a quiet laugh escaping into the air as the fox retaliated. Teeth closed on his cuff. "Hey!" Rory protested instinctively, not indignant but rather—surprised? Still smiling bemusedly he let the fox tug him down, curious as to what it wanted.
Jigano Silversmith
the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers Soul Shepherd
Portal Guardian
Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int:
ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
Played by: Cirago Offline
Change author:
Posts: 3,914 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#9
His friend was smiling again, and for that Jigano would have suffered a dozen nose boops. His dignity was a small price to pay to see some of the weight lifted from the blond hunter's shoulders, and he wanted to keep, at least for a little while longer, the spot of bright warmth in his chest at being the one to cause that smile. Something about it seemed to chase the shadows around his heart away, at least for a little while, and let him be playful and almost... almost innocent again.

So when Rory bent down, following the gentle tugging at his sleeve, Jigano took the opportunity that presented itself to free his friend's coat and rise up on his hind legs. One forepaw balanced on the arm he'd 'captured' and the other raised and outstretched to return the boop with a gentle tap to the hunter's nose.

If he succeeded he would drop back to his haunches to look up at his friend with a decidedly pleased expression on his little foxy face. Even if he didn't, he would sit back and look at Rory with bright blue eyes, warm as summertime. After a moment he turned to glance at Talys, then back to the blond man, tilting his head to the side in a silent question.
Leatherworker

Age: 36 | Height: 175cm / 5'9 | Race: Abandoned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
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#10
Small, sharp teeth released his cuff, but he waited where he was: one of the paws that had left its memory on his knee came to rest against his forearm, effectively anchoring him while offering support to the white creature.

Rory, breathless, would not argue. Would not brush it off. He couldn't do anything but remain still, Wessex forgotten, the riot-like atmosphere forgotten, the world reduced to the winter blackness and the paw resting on his arm and that white, furry body rising into the night.

And the other foreleg extending...

A paw, cold from the snow and the ice, tapped against his nose. It was a turn of events he had not expected, and he blinked, then laughed as the fox dropped down, looking too pleased for its own good. "I suppose I deserved that," he said after a moment, rubbing his hands together to get some warmth back into them before pulling on his mittens again.

The fox's glance at Talys didn't go unnoticed, and the man heaved a small sigh. It was time to go home. "I should be going, yeah..." he said, a regret he couldn't be bothered to hide sneaking into his voice. With a sigh he unhitched Talys, and then bent down to offer the fox some cheek and ear scratches before swinging himself into the saddle. Wiping the last of the frozen tears from his lashes he looked down at the white creature, a crooked smile spreading on his face. "I'm sure Talys wouldn't mind if you want to catch a ride for a while," he offered, affectionately stroking the pony's black, warm shoulder.
Jigano Silversmith
the Sage
Provost of the Loreseekers Soul Shepherd
Portal Guardian
Age: 36 | Height: 6'2" | Race: Attuned x Abandoned | Nationality: Outlander | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
Level: 12 - Strg: 30 - Dext: 45 - Endr: 38 - Luck: 42 - Int:
ISUMA - Mythical - Griffin (Venomous)
Played by: Cirago Offline
Change author:
Posts: 3,914 | Total: 7,219
MP: 10170
#11
Jigano was smug at succeeding at his nose boop. Vengeance was sweet – and a little adorable, even he had to admit. But it was well worth the warmth of Rory’s laugh. The tears were gone from his eyes, and there were fewer shadows haunting him now. But the night was cold and dark, and the hunter needed warmth and food and rest, and he lived so very far away. As much as the fox wanted to continue their games, he was more concerned with his friend’s safety and comfort now that the man had found a reason to smile again.

White ears cocked forward at the regret he heard, and Jigano cocked his head to the side sympathetically. He agreed whole-heartedly, but the weather was too cold for the human to stay out unprotected. If he had a furry form that he could run in to stay warm… Ah, but that was wishful thinking, and didn’t help either of them. He rose to his feet and gave himself a good shake to settle his fur as Rory readied his horse for travel, but he lifted his chin happily for parting scratches, eyes closing in bliss even though the mittens deadened the feel of clever fingers finding the spots he hadn’t even realized where itchy until sweet relief spread from Rory’s touch.

He’d been planning on accompanying the hunter for a ways, making sure he got home safely, but he’d assumed it would be on his own four feet. At the unexpected offer he froze, ears perking forward and nose quivering as he looked from the horse back to the man. It would let him rest his paws and warm them up a bit. He’d have a long run home afterwards and it would be nice to be fresh for it…

He turned away, but only to get a little more distance before he started his run, muscles bunching beneath fur as he found his momentum and then leapt up behind Rory, using the saddle blanket to catch his claws on and steady himself. Dropping down almost immediately he draped himself across the pony’s croup. It was a little awkward, but Talys warmed his belly nicely, and he pressed tight against Rory’s back to share a little more warmth with his friend, too, while they traveled.
Leatherworker

Age: 36 | Height: 175cm / 5'9 | Race: Abandoned | Nationality: Natural | Citizenship: Hollowed Grounds
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#12
He wasn't sure if the fox would take him up on the offer—not sure Talys would stand it, either, but he was reasonably sure, given the fact that the fox had dropped out of her saddle when he came out—and for a moment it looked like this was tonight's goodbye. The white creature turned away and took a few steps, and Rory bit his lower lip. It was the way of things, wasn't it? It wasn't his pet.

But then the creature turned around, and came running towards them, springing from the snow and landing neatly behind him. Talys snorted and tossed her head, but did little else; Rory's hand was still on her shoulder, scratching her. "Yeah, so rude, right?" he murmured brightly, before turning to look over his shoulder and give the fox a cheeky smile and twisting his arm to give it a light scratch atop the head. Then, he set off for home with his catch, wondering how long the fox was going to stick with them before eventually going back to its own life.


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