"Oh, I think she can come up with that all on her own," Jigano winked to Deimos before he slipped away into the crowd, giving Isuma a little mental nudge to stop trying to eat her crown. Phoebe had worked had on them, and it looked adorable on the little gryphlet. He could only hope his own looked as nice! But of course the midwife would have given him a lovely one, he trusted, reaching up to adjust it to a slightly jaunty angle.
Gods most fortunate, when was the last time he had felt so free? The Barrier was down and there was a world for the exploring, so many new things to learn, people to meet, songs to write... There were problems aplenty still to field, and wounds far from healed, but today seemed like a good day for that healing to begin. Maybe it was Frey's influence on the festival, or Rae's blessing able to reach them now that the barrier was gone. Or maybe it was just that his friends were here, smiling, laughing, dancing - even Ludo was in on the fun! He hoped Safrin would be able to join in as well once night fell, but for now he sought the sun, slipping through the crowd with an easy grace and light feet, Isuma clinging to his shoulder and occasionally fluttering her wings excitedly as she spied a familiar human to greet.
He spun past more dancers, ducked between stalls set up with games of thrown rings and balls and darts, and paused as more scents of tasty food wafted under his nose. Oh, he was definitely coming back to check that one out...
But first...
Finally, at the end of a line of food and drink stalls, he caught sight of a familiar blond head. Only, not so familiar; bedecked in braids and feathers, sun and shadow, proud and sleek and handsome as a wild creature on the hunt,Rory looked more stunning than Jigano had ever seen him, and the bard stopped dead in his tracks at the pulse that hiccuped - and then raced giddily through him.
The jostling of the crowd started his feet moving again as he approached his friend, drinking in his dapper appearance with an eager hunger as he sought to memorize every detail. His steps slowed as his heart sped up, and his fingers tightened on the strap of his harp as he stepped out of the crowd to smile down at the man who had tamed the white fox to his touch. "Happy Fiat Lux, Rory," he said quietly - or as quietly as he could with all the gaiety around them. "Will you do me the honor of walking with me through the festival?" Tentatively he offered his arm, but Isuma was far less dignified as she let loose an enthusiastic Reep! and leapt to Rory's shoulder to rub her soft face eagerly against his - and then tried to preen the feathers tucked into his braids in delighted approval of his fashion sense.
Gods most fortunate, when was the last time he had felt so free? The Barrier was down and there was a world for the exploring, so many new things to learn, people to meet, songs to write... There were problems aplenty still to field, and wounds far from healed, but today seemed like a good day for that healing to begin. Maybe it was Frey's influence on the festival, or Rae's blessing able to reach them now that the barrier was gone. Or maybe it was just that his friends were here, smiling, laughing, dancing - even Ludo was in on the fun! He hoped Safrin would be able to join in as well once night fell, but for now he sought the sun, slipping through the crowd with an easy grace and light feet, Isuma clinging to his shoulder and occasionally fluttering her wings excitedly as she spied a familiar human to greet.
He spun past more dancers, ducked between stalls set up with games of thrown rings and balls and darts, and paused as more scents of tasty food wafted under his nose. Oh, he was definitely coming back to check that one out...
But first...
Finally, at the end of a line of food and drink stalls, he caught sight of a familiar blond head. Only, not so familiar; bedecked in braids and feathers, sun and shadow, proud and sleek and handsome as a wild creature on the hunt,
The jostling of the crowd started his feet moving again as he approached his friend, drinking in his dapper appearance with an eager hunger as he sought to memorize every detail. His steps slowed as his heart sped up, and his fingers tightened on the strap of his harp as he stepped out of the crowd to smile down at the man who had tamed the white fox to his touch. "Happy Fiat Lux, Rory," he said quietly - or as quietly as he could with all the gaiety around them. "Will you do me the honor of walking with me through the festival?" Tentatively he offered his arm, but Isuma was far less dignified as she let loose an enthusiastic Reep! and leapt to Rory's shoulder to rub her soft face eagerly against his - and then tried to preen the feathers tucked into his braids in delighted approval of his fashion sense.
