"Moderately humble," he corrected with a charming grin, including Bobi in his bow of greeting and humming hello to the growing kitten. Isuma wriggled out of the hood and on to the pads he'd sewn into the shoulders of his overtunic for her, tail twitching with cheerful curiosity as she Reep!ed a bright hello to Edy's cooing, stretching forward as far as she could - until Jigano raised a hand to catch her from overbalancing. She happily flowed into his hand - almost overflowed it, now, though she still had her kittenish plumpness. Fledgling feathers were beginning to grow amid the downy ones that covered her fluttering wings, and Jigano grinned down at her before setting her on the ground so she could go investigate Bobi with a happy chirrup of greeting.
"This, my friend, is Isuma, and she's a gryphon," he explained, watching his little one fondly. Something between an owl and a snow leopard, her pale coloring that had been so protective in winter now stood out starkly amidst the vibrant greens of new growth. Edy's answer drew the customary raised brow, tempered with a grin as he echoed her "Obviously," with a teasing wink. But before he could follow up on that she drove straight to the point, lest he get too comfortable thinking that all was water under the bridge.
He winced, but nodded, although the motion was jerky. It still wasn't easy to admit, even to his closest friends, and he sighed as he tucked his hands into his wide sleeves, seeking a little comfort. "So it would seem," he agreed, wincing again at how easily the not-quite answer came. "Before... that night... I hadn't shown or told anyone. It was..." he hesitated, frowning, and looked over to the blue waters of the oasis so that they reflected in his eyes. "Even knowing that it's seen is normal here doesn't change that I spent a lifetime on my world being taught to hide that aspect of myself. To never let anyone know what I really was. Only a single living person still knows my secret, there. It is... not something that is anyone's business but my own, I feel," he finished softly. But Edy had no time for melancholy or sob stories, so he shook his head, raising his eyes to give her a lopsided smile. "Though now I suppose there are three here who know, regardless of my intentions. I'd appreciate it if you would kindly keep the information to yourself, if you would. Now, are you sure someone didn't just try to pawn a broken compass off on you? I rather like the story behind it, though!"
"This, my friend, is Isuma, and she's a gryphon," he explained, watching his little one fondly. Something between an owl and a snow leopard, her pale coloring that had been so protective in winter now stood out starkly amidst the vibrant greens of new growth. Edy's answer drew the customary raised brow, tempered with a grin as he echoed her "Obviously," with a teasing wink. But before he could follow up on that she drove straight to the point, lest he get too comfortable thinking that all was water under the bridge.
He winced, but nodded, although the motion was jerky. It still wasn't easy to admit, even to his closest friends, and he sighed as he tucked his hands into his wide sleeves, seeking a little comfort. "So it would seem," he agreed, wincing again at how easily the not-quite answer came. "Before... that night... I hadn't shown or told anyone. It was..." he hesitated, frowning, and looked over to the blue waters of the oasis so that they reflected in his eyes. "Even knowing that it's seen is normal here doesn't change that I spent a lifetime on my world being taught to hide that aspect of myself. To never let anyone know what I really was. Only a single living person still knows my secret, there. It is... not something that is anyone's business but my own, I feel," he finished softly. But Edy had no time for melancholy or sob stories, so he shook his head, raising his eyes to give her a lopsided smile. "Though now I suppose there are three here who know, regardless of my intentions. I'd appreciate it if you would kindly keep the information to yourself, if you would. Now, are you sure someone didn't just try to pawn a broken compass off on you? I rather like the story behind it, though!"
