[He gets another of those surprise smooches on the cheek and she finally pulls away from him, backing up to give herself some room. She looks around, backs up a little bit more.]
... This should be enough.
[And then...
A cascading shower of golden light much like the sparks of magic she occasionally is seen to use. In place of the cheeky young woman is a large, colourful bird. The feathers shine, the claws and beak are fierce and sharp and the dark eyes keen. Behind her is an equally colourful plumage much like sparse peacock feathers.
And she does speak, though her beak doesn't move.]
{ he doesn't get why she's backing away so much, at least not right away. no, it'll take until the transformation is complete, his eyes watching the golden light, the sparks of magic that he can see. }
--oh.
{ he's pushing himself up off the couch now, eyes wide with fascination as her body takes the form of a colourful bird. there's a joke to be had about like mother like son here but now is not the time. instead he just looks at her, admires the sight of her form like this. }
I don't think I'm well read enough to give a proper compliment. { he sounds genuine, at least. he steps over, stopping when close enough that if he stretches his arm out he could touch her with his fingertips, but not any closer. }
Do you... Do you just chose the other form as it's more convenient?
[She watches his hand, cocking her head a bit to follow the movement with her bright eyes, and gives her wings a little ruffle. When he stops she makes a point of stepping forwards to allow his hand to make contact with the soft, warm feathers on her chest.]
I often found it to be more convenient to have thumbs. [Is the cheeky reply.]
It's difficult to manipulate delicate tools with feet like this. And... humans could relate to me more easily when I looked like them. I loved my people, very much.
I had a responsibility to them. To keep them safe and happy.
[It's very obvious that should she spread her wings she would immediately knock several things over, but she still flexes them slightly and ruffles the feathers.]
We all had our small communities. I was lucky to have Rex's strength at my side, or I may have ended the same way as poor Havria. [Sigh.]
She was gentle and kind, but it was not enough. Her own people killed her.
You say that like they wouldn't have been glad to have you there for them without that. From what I've seen, I imagine a lot of people willingly followed you.
{ but what she says... }
Was... Was Havria like you? An 'illuminated beast'?
She was another immortal whose followers looked to her as a god.
[Her voice has softened a little. Havria has been gone for some time but Guizhong remembers her fondly.]
Kind, but weak. When the Archon War began she gave more and more ground, until only the centre of her territory remained. There, her once-faithful turned on her within her own chambers. We found every one of them within Sal Terrae turned to salt.
And yet it can also be someone's greatest strength.
[The bird disappears, leaving Guizhong stood in its place as Aventurine is accustomed to seeing her. She has his hand held in both of hers.]
One can be kind and weak, but kindness itself is not weakness. [She squeezes his hand.] And I have seen too much death and lost too much to let someone who has become dear to me slip through my fingers easily. So I am afraid you must suffer my kindness, my dear Aventurine.
{ his eyes dip to where her hands hold his. the smile on his face is wry, unsure of how and why he suddenly has all these people who want to help. want to share their kindness. }
I can already tell you'd be impossible to negotiate with on this. But I'll try. I'll try and remember.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2025-12-25 09:27 pm (UTC)[He gets another of those surprise smooches on the cheek and she finally pulls away from him, backing up to give herself some room. She looks around, backs up a little bit more.]
... This should be enough.
[And then...
A cascading shower of golden light much like the sparks of magic she occasionally is seen to use. In place of the cheeky young woman is a large, colourful bird. The feathers shine, the claws and beak are fierce and sharp and the dark eyes keen. Behind her is an equally colourful plumage much like sparse peacock feathers.
And she does speak, though her beak doesn't move.]
What do you think?
no subject
Date: 2025-12-25 09:55 pm (UTC){ he doesn't get why she's backing away so much, at least not right away. no, it'll take until the transformation is complete, his eyes watching the golden light, the sparks of magic that he can see. }
--oh.
{ he's pushing himself up off the couch now, eyes wide with fascination as her body takes the form of a colourful bird. there's a joke to be had about like mother like son here but now is not the time. instead he just looks at her, admires the sight of her form like this. }
I don't think I'm well read enough to give a proper compliment. { he sounds genuine, at least. he steps over, stopping when close enough that if he stretches his arm out he could touch her with his fingertips, but not any closer. }
Do you... Do you just chose the other form as it's more convenient?
no subject
Date: 2025-12-25 10:07 pm (UTC)I often found it to be more convenient to have thumbs. [Is the cheeky reply.]
It's difficult to manipulate delicate tools with feet like this. And... humans could relate to me more easily when I looked like them. I loved my people, very much.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-25 10:32 pm (UTC)They would make things easier in life, I'm sure.
{ his hand slides cross the feathers, down over her side gently. }
They were very lucky to have you.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-25 10:36 pm (UTC)[It's very obvious that should she spread her wings she would immediately knock several things over, but she still flexes them slightly and ruffles the feathers.]
We all had our small communities. I was lucky to have Rex's strength at my side, or I may have ended the same way as poor Havria. [Sigh.]
She was gentle and kind, but it was not enough. Her own people killed her.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-25 10:40 pm (UTC){ but what she says... }
Was... Was Havria like you? An 'illuminated beast'?
no subject
Date: 2025-12-25 10:55 pm (UTC)[Her voice has softened a little. Havria has been gone for some time but Guizhong remembers her fondly.]
Kind, but weak. When the Archon War began she gave more and more ground, until only the centre of her territory remained. There, her once-faithful turned on her within her own chambers. We found every one of them within Sal Terrae turned to salt.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-26 01:28 am (UTC)People don't tend to be merciful in the midst of war.
{ and people, generally, tend to be flawed. incredibly so. }
Kindness... can often to lead to downfall.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-26 01:39 am (UTC)And yet it can also be someone's greatest strength.
[The bird disappears, leaving Guizhong stood in its place as Aventurine is accustomed to seeing her. She has his hand held in both of hers.]
One can be kind and weak, but kindness itself is not weakness. [She squeezes his hand.] And I have seen too much death and lost too much to let someone who has become dear to me slip through my fingers easily. So I am afraid you must suffer my kindness, my dear Aventurine.
no subject
Date: 2025-12-26 11:48 am (UTC)I can already tell you'd be impossible to negotiate with on this. But I'll try. I'll try and remember.