Wildhearted

Affiliated with TOA

[party-pri3st]

man of dog

continued from here @hatariwildheart

[party-pri3st]

Hold on. Hold on.

Something shines like a beacon through Pandreo's tears. This...this wolf can understand him, and speak to him.

It's like the answer to a prayer he didn't realize he was reciting. His logical brain jumps through hoops to justify what he's hearing, but...no. It has to be some kind of miracle, some kind of sign.

He has always believed humans to be extensions of gods, and therefore, for gods to take on human forms and attributes. This explains every dragon he's ever met, and he thinks it might gesture toward the few beastkin he's met here, too. Not to jump to conclusions, especially at an emotional low point, but...

Perhaps this wolf is a god!

Pandreo's breath shudders as he lifts his head from the wolf's tear-soaked fur. "Please forgive me if I've overstepped, or offended in any way," he chokes out. Quickly, his hands come together; he bows his head. "If I may be so bold, to an Exalted One such as yourself...it feels like I was fated to meet you, at exactly this moment. Have you been...searching for me?"

[hatariwildheart]

This was hardly the reaction Volug had expected. This human was far more exuberant than he had anticipated. Had Volug spoken incorrectly? Had he misunderstood something about the situation? Was his failure to fully grasp the common tongue coming back to bite him? He wouldn’t think this would be the sort of response he’d get from just a single word. This man was acting like Volug was some kind of divine being. He’d just stated that he was simply a wolf, had he not? Had the man not been listening?

"What?” Volug rasped, cocking his head to the side inquisitively. He probably ought not let his exasperation fully show. Doing so might make his little joke a bit too transparent. Better to pretend he had genuine, innocent confusion. Act like this was nothing at all, like he listened to people all day long but didn’t expect them to respond back to him.

“I do not think you could bother me,” Volug stated, staring directly at the man. “I deal with people all day who do not stop to listen to me. Why would I be upset you did?”

There it was. That was his out. Make it sound like genuine confusion and he could get away with this little charade quite easily. He wanted to try and get some kind of explanation out of the priest, but it would have to wait a moment. Volug was just an ordinary animal— at least, that was what he wanted Pandreo to believe. He needed to act the part just as he did for everyone else, just speaking aloud this time instead of remaining silent. It shouldn’t be that hard. He could be mostly honest about things. After all, it was indeed quite rare that anyone held much of a conversation with him, despite how many people Volug encountered in a day. Most of them just thought he was a dog, so why would they expect a response from him?

[frauleindermorgen]

NEXUS

Distress axe+1

[frauleindermorgen]

“We should have,” she agrees easily enough in common tongue; eyes hard as she scans the battlefield — the knights still are not doing well and her urge is to surge forward again with healing but Volug’s next questions makes her pause.

“I had wanted to keep from killing them,” she admits, “but I see now with these numbers there’s little point to that. If they do not fall the knights will, and myself as well. Thank you for your aid, Volug, for the sake of Daein I cannot any more put myself in such danger.”

As if to prove her resolve Micaiah takes the moment Volug has given her, still standing near protectively, to cast Bolganone so that a wall of fire magic erupts between several knights and their attackers; satisfied, she nods when Volug tells her to follow.

Back behind defensive lines? It made sense for she had enough left in her for another few anima spells and if they could finally find a proper formation… “alright, thank you. But I still intend to fight! The Seiros knights have little-to-no organization this expedition and I can hardly leave them alone when they are our first line of defense.”

She runs behind Volug and thinks back to their earlier days together; even now, she finds him a comfort. “And you? Will you stay?”

[hatariwildheart]

She wanted to keep from killing them. What a naive notion in a battle as chaotic as this one. There was no value in that effort. These were just bandits-- they had thrown their lives away with their sins. There was nothing of substance to gain from taking any alive, nor people to mourn them if they were gone. They weren't casualties of a bloodthirsty tyrant like a soldier might be, nor were they being forced to fight against their will. Even if they had only gotten into banditry to sustain themselves, Volug held nothing but disdain for them. The church made a point of helping out people in need, did it not? They could have found other ways to make their living. No, they had decided to attack a place harboring nobles because they saw it as an easy opportunity for coin. Volug would not pity them if they lost their own lives in the process.

"{You waste your time,}" Volug scoffed, keeping his eyes forward instead of turning back to look at Micaiah as he spoke. Being this close to towering flames made his skin crawl. It was always an uneasy feeling, being around fire magic. Even if it wasn't directed his way, it was a discomfort he wouldn't get over quickly. The stench of smoke and of burning hair assaulted his nose. He would be happy to end this battle quickly.

"{Ruffians like this sort operate off of brutality,}" Volug pointed out. "{Trying to spare them would only result in being killed at this point. They'd gut you in front of the knights to make them afraid of what could happen to them. Numbers and intimidation are the only way they could hope to defeat a trained force like this. If you want to spare lives here, prove to them that it is a losing battle. They'll give up quickly if they think it won't go their way. And no, I'm not leaving. Not if you're insistent on being this reckless.}"

It was a sarcastic way of assuring that Micaiah had his support, but Volug knew it would get the message across just fine. So long as she remained in danger, Volug would not leave her side. Once the bandits had disbanded, he would depart. Better not to have the knights questioning his presence, after all.

[pirrhyc]

not your master

[pirrhyc]

      The touch of Volug's lupine fur up against Pelleas's hand surprises him, but he catches on quickly enough, taking it as the permission it was to indulge for a cover. His ability to make such remarks that he does goes a long way to keeping the shaman grounded, if only by guidance, for being flustered and nervous here in comparison would seem far more embarrassing.

If it works, it works.

“ Your way of going through life is so enviable, ”  Pelleas sighs for it, speaking quietly as he continues to pet Volug.  “ You're absolutely right though about Sothe. Thinking through things like that so quickly and clearly, sorting through life on what's important and fitting in the ability to relax... As you can guess, I'm a bit of a nervous wreck myself most times...

“ I see why your Queen trusted you so much. ”  A wise head, a personality that wasn't high maintenance, and a certain skill with combat. Though Pelleas was going through his impressions quickly here now, he felt so certain of it. Was there anything Volug couldn't do?  “ I can only wish to become somebody like you... ”

[hatariwildheart]

Become somebody like him? No, Pelleas couldn't do that. Volug wasn't sure Pelleas would ever be able to make snide jokes towards someone or take the time to relax and let the world pass by (even if Volug was technically still doing his job when he did that). Pelleas just didn't really seem the type to be able to maintain a healthy work-life balance no matter how much he may wish to. No, he should reach for something more attainable. Just being less like himself, really, would be a more achievable goal.

"{I don't think you want to be me,}" Volug stated, allowing his tail to wag freely. To a casual observer, it wouldn't look all too different from someone just petting their dog casually. Perhaps another laguz would find this degrading, but Volug couldn't really bring himself to care. He wasn't being demeaned by the act, after all. He was just doing what was necessary to keep Pelleas calm and maintain his own cover, and that was all it was.

"{You wouldn't last a day in Queen Nailah's service. She'd tear you to pieces. You're too nervous to work for someone like her. She wouldn't hold her tongue as willingly as I do. I think she'd find the notion of being asked to do so insulting on its own.}"

[party-pri3st]

man of dog

continued from here @hatariwildheart

[party-pri3st]

The wolf seems content with the scritches he's getting, and this, at least, Pandreo can take comfort in. He thinks fondly of the animals that had roamed the Somniel, how he would plant himself near the barnyard and pull out his lute and play for them, sometimes sing. His usual boisterousness is still subdued, but his briefly-shackled voice feels lifted again. Blessedly, still, no one is around. Classes, must be, or a new shift at the dining hall. The wolf doesn't seem to be in any hurry, either. Pandreo wraps his scarf around his neck again, not minding its dampness for the moment. He sinks to his knees, pressing himself bodily into the wolf's fur, arms wrapping all the way around the beast's body. He must look like a child, and frankly, he feels like one. And he sings. He reaches deep for the words of a hymn written in the language of the ancient Divine Ones, that he hasn't heard since he sat in his mother's congregation. His voice is muffled by the dog's thick coat, brittled by tears barely held at bay. Normally his voice is a tool for joyous uproar. Right now, it's the only tether keeping him grounded. He can't remember the last time he cried, and he's not really sure what tips him over - but it just feels right. His hold on the wolf is firm but gentle. To Pandreo, he feels oddly like home.

[hatariwildheart]

Volug didn't recognize the words that the priest sang to him. His ears pricked upward intently, eager to try and glean whatever information he could. Trying to decipher the lyrics in another language devoid of context was a task he wasn't going to be up to, not without further information, but that didn't mean there was nothing to learn from it. The knowledge that some people here knew a language that Volug hadn't encountered previously was intriguing on its own, but trying to learn that language could come later. What type of song was it? Was this a prayer of sorts? Many religious individuals often sang their prayers or passed on the teachings of their gods in the form of song. Was this such a case, or was it simply singing for the enjoyment of singing?

Volug didn't know the first thing about this man, but he had enough reason to suspect this person to be religious. He dressed the part, after all. Those robes weren't the attire of a typical mage, but rather those Volug associated more with healers and preachers-- religious folk. The unique combination of scents that had clung to the scarf and to its owner supported the notion as well. He smelled nice, that much was easy to say-- pleasing aromas like the flowers, fruits, and woods that beorc frequently made their perfumes were immediately identifiable. Laguz were less prone to using them because those scents were so overpowering to creatures with a more finely-tuned sense of smell. A pleasing aroma for a beorc was often powerful to a nearly painful degree for a laguz. Still, it could indicate a desire to present an appealing impression to other beorc, something that Volug would associate with the sort of individual who spent more time around others, whether due to a desire to socialize or as a consequence of their profession.

Notes of incense were detectable beneath the cloying, perfume-like scents as well, though. That was definitely more in line with the religious sort. The fact that the scent trail had crossed through the church supported this notion. The man's smell had been all over that place-- many people's were, but with the scarf held up to his nose, it had been easy to identify that the particular scent he was following was all over the place in the chapel. The owner of that scarf had been all over the place in Garreg Mach's church, day after day. That definitely indicated he was, at the very least, interested in religion.

If indeed this man were religious, then the song very well could be a prayer. If it were a prayer, then perhaps it gave an opening for Volug to toy with the man. He could pretend that whoever this priest was praying to had heard the song, and that their deity had responded in kind by opening communication between the two. It was a silly notion, but one that he could see a priest falling for easy.

"You sound sorrowed," Volug rasped, his coarse voice slow and steady as he chose his words with care-- he had to speak common for this little prank to work, after all, which meant he needed to put forth more effort to act as though he wasn't speaking a language unfamiliar to him. He could buy himself slightly more time to think of his words by playing up natural pauses, extending them just a little beyond the normal rhythm of his speech. "Do you... normally sing your woes to wolves you meet?"

[hatariwildheart]

Activity Check (January) Passed!

Classes Accessed:

N/A

Classes Mastered:

N/A

Stats:

Total Points: 6 -> 7 (+1)

Gauntlet: C+ -> C+ (+1) from Activity Check

New Weapons:

N/A

New Skills:

N/A

Threads:

Thread Tracker

Completed Threads:

N/A

[party-pri3st]

man of dog

continued from here @hatariwildheart

[party-pri3st]

Pandreo's normally-unshakeable faith feels brittle today. He's been overhearing prayers to Fodlan's Goddess, and he wants so badly to understand, but…no matter how many scriptures he reads, no matter how much he prays, he can't hear Her voice. He only sees the Divine One, wonders if his prayers will even reach them from here. 

He's aware, distantly, that a priest might normally denounce gods that aren't his own. The monastery's priests would certainly frown upon Pandreo's own faith. But for Pandreo, other gods only spark curiosity. He wants his heart to be big enough for all of them, for any who might hear him. He's on his way out of the cathedral, the near-constant buzzing of hymns slowly growing faint. He doesn't think he looks mopey, but perhaps he does. There's not even a destination in mind; the grounds are big enough that he can just walk straight for a while. His vision grows distant, thoughts consumed. 

And then…there's a faint panting and scampering, like a…dog? There are stray dogs all over the monastery, but this one is huge, like the wolves from Solm. He notices the familiar shape of his own scarf in the creature's jaws; its eyes are expectant.

"Aww." Pandreo softens, reaching out cautiously to scritch the back of the wolf's neck. "I didn't even notice this was gone. You're a very good boy for bringing it back." He gently pulls the scarf from its mouth - it's a bit…wet…but that'll teach him to pay more attention to his surroundings.

And he lingers in the moment, running his fingers through the wolf's fur. He thinks about how simple it might be to be a wolf - especially one tamed by the monastery, finding lost items and getting pets. Sounds wonderful right about now.

"I wonder," Pandreo mutters aloud, hoping no one else is within earshot. "You don't hear her either, do you? We probably have that in common."

[hatariwildheart]

The scarf does not leave Volug's jaws so easily. It catches on his fangs, held just long enough for it to seem accidental, but Volug was doing it entirely on purpose. It was just a bit of fun, making the beorc struggle a little more with the helping jaws of a beast. Harmless, too, since the garment didn't tear or anything of the sort. Just a slight inconvenience to bother the beorc, something he may well might not even think twice about.

As the priest's fingers dug into the fur on the back of Volug's neck, the mighty beast leaned into his touch, grimacing slightly. It was a contented look; that spot was one that was hard for him to reach, and one that grew itchy quite easily with the cloth collar he wore. Having a beorc's nimble digits to assuage the sensation was a boon Volug was more than happy to take advantage of. Pandreo would even be treated to the sound of a soft, pleased grumble from the wolf as he reached a particularly itchy spot.

Aside from that, the most he received in response was a tilt of Volug's head as he spoke. Who exactly she was, Volug wasn't quite certain. If Pandreo was assuming Volug had hearing as poor as his own, he would be sorely mistaken. Volug's ears were ever alert, listening intently to everything around him. He must not have meant any normal person, then. It would be something more metaphorical. Guidance, perhaps? Something spiritual?

[hatariwildheart]

I Know What You Are

[senerist]

"Your people will follow whoever your queen tells them to," soren retorts quickly. Volug speaks sense, but it's all bullshit. soren will par it down. It could be the case that even he doesn't recognize it, but maybe it's the way soren struggles to recognize the shape of every fifth word that helps him see it. Maybe it's the way he can feel the intention to manipulate hiding just under Volug's skin.

The wellspring hardly matters - only the end result.

"If the people of hatari recognize my name, it is brought to them on stories. To them, i may as well be twelve feet tall or have as many eyes. Likewise, any story you feed them will suffice in terms of convincing. To that end, the body you present them with doesn't matter. Go ahead and use my name when you present them miss ena, it matters not to me."

he turns the page in his tome purposely - he'll not entertain this offer under any circumstance. "And no, i'm well aware of how your people view the parentless, or however you prefer to call them there. If you'd like to use me as a symbol of unity amongst peoples, there's no doubt dozens of those already in hatari to choose from. Why not give one of them a chance, instead? They'd be much more invested."

[hatariwildheart]

"{If they would follow whoever they were told to follow, we would have left our homeland behind already,}" Volug pointed out. "{Maybe the title of 'Queen' has misled you. Things are more democratic in Hatari than they are in the mainlands of Tellius. Each person who calls Hatari home has their say. While Nailah makes the final call on many matters, this is not one she can decide independently. Besides, you can't just ask a group of people to leave behind everything they've known and expect each and every one to fall in line without question. Things are not that simple.}"

Volug stood, pacing over to Soren, claws quietly tapping against the floor with each step he took. They had already begun to grow long in his time here. They were not being whittled down as quickly as they ordinarily would when he had the time to run freely across great distances. It was a frustrating matter, one he had difficulties resolving on his own; he lacked the necessary dexterity in this form. Unlike in Hatari, nobody here would be willing to help him with the matter, either.

"{Regardless, if you ask of symbols of unity, we do indeed have many in Hatari,}" Volug stated, happy to remind Soren yet again that the mage would be welcomed in Volug's home with open arms. "{Union of beorc and laguz is quite common there, after all. That doesn't exactly make them more capable of bending the ears of the rest of our citizens. It makes their status mundane. Nobody really thinks twice about anyone else's heritage in Hatari until it is directly relevant.}"

[hatariwildheart]

A Beast In Your Home

[thelightofcreation]

Sephiran hums in acknowledgement, turning away from the beast laguz. The discussion remained civil, and so he returned to his daily tasks as if he were not under surveillance- a quiet acceptance of his current state of affairs. The clink of jars remains his only response as he waits for a request, knowing that if not seeking revenge, there are not many from Tellius that would seek him out for his mere company.

And there it was.

Abandoning their home in search of a new one, finding the age old wounds in the land that he had torn have scabbed over, ugly and rough. Not to mention the new tears, delicate, held together with young leaders and a tentative peace. It is no surprise that they may choose to leave.

But it was a naive hope to think that Tellius was the worst among them. …Though that was a lesson the wolf laguz must learn on their own.

“You’ve come to the wrong place, then.” Sephiran smiles, slowly placing away his wares. “If you are not able to find your footing in Tellius given its new leadership, then I doubt you will find one here.”

He pauses, considering whether it would be worthwhile to elaborate. In the end, however, many things are better learned from the mouths of those more trusted, so he ends the thought there. “But if you are searching for information, it may be worthwhile to check the monastery rather than on this town.”

He nods in its direction, faintly visible from the window. “Brands could be considered more akin to Crests- something that is dealt with by nobility and their kin. Hardly something a mere shopkeeper or their clients would concern themselves with.”

[hatariwildheart]

Sephiran, for all of his many, many flaws, did remain a convenient source of knowledge. Attracting his ire would be of little benefit to Volug, at least at present. He would have plenty of time to piss the noble off when he'd gotten what he wanted out of Sephiran. Besides, he didn't really seem like he'd be particularly easy to goad into being a source of amusement for the wolf. He'd spent plenty of time hiding behind a mask. It shouldn't be too difficult for him to shrug off any snide comments Volug felt the need to make.

"Mmh," Volug rumbled, chin placed upon his paws as he gave himself a moment to select his words. As nice as it would be to speak freely with Sephiran, Volug wasn't foolish enough to be fully forthcoming to someone who had long since proven themself untrustworthy. Sephiran likely didn't have the power to act on any information Volug revealed to him at the moment. He was no senator here, after all, just a humble apothecary. Still, best not to reveal too much if he could avoid it. If nothing else, Nailah would be more than happy to admonish Volug for discussing these matters too liberally.

"{You misunderstand,}" Volug explained. "{It is not a matter of whether or not Hatari would be accepted into Tellius. Skrimir and Caineghis both were quite generous in their offers. It is a matter of populations. Gallia has too many people already living in it. Unoccupied areas are too dense with forest to make a proper home for us all, especially with needs as varied as the many types of people within Hatari possess. A homogeneous nation of only beast laguz needs only cater to the living requirements of beast laguz. That is a luxury we are not afforded.}"

Besides, people generally weren't all too happy about groups of foreigners encroaching suddenly on their homes, refugees or otherwise. Just because their king was willing to offer Hatari a home didn't mean the rest of the Gallians would immediately follow suit. They had been given many long years to breed distrust of those beyond their borders, and ample motivation for it as well. It would be hard for a mixed nation, especially one with such a high population of Branded, to find a home in Tellius.

"{This place, Fódlan, is terrible in many ways,}" Volug scoffed, raising his lip to reveal sharp fangs to punctuate the disdain in his tone. "{But most of them have little bearing on whether or not Hatari would be able to survive here. As you suggest, however, their crests are often associated with nobility. They may not be predisposed to viewing branded as some kind of curse the way Dheginsea and, if I recall correctly, certain other followers of Ashera insisted they were.}"

[hatariwildheart]

🌱 Muse A (volug) found an item Muse B (pandreo) lost and has been searching for.

(I'm thinking about pandreo's scarf but the choice is yours)

Meet Cute (accepting!)

What was this? A discarded scarf on the ground? The wolf's wet nose snuffled into it, tail wagging in the air behind him. He didn't recognize this scent. The garment was still slightly warm, and the scent of its owner fresh. Perhaps it had been dropped by mistake. A dog would do what dogs did best. It was a convenient excuse for Volug to make his way around the monastery grounds, after all, gathering information as he went. After all, it belonged to someone Volug didn't immediately recognize, so that was another morsel of information for him to gather.

What harm was there in a dog being helpful? Plenty of them were trained to retrieve objects. It wouldn't arouse suspicion at all, though he could easily envision people telling others about the dog they saw carrying a scarf. Beorc did love dogs ever so much, after all. Volug wasn't too keen on having rumors about him floating around, but would anyone even be able to piece together just from that story that he was a laguz? Probably not.

It didn't take long for Volug to catch up to his quarry. His lupine legs could carry him much faster than the average person walked. With the cloth gingerly held in the beast's powerful jaws, he approached the man whose scent the scarf matched. Massive as he was, he did his best to appear cute and innocent, wagging excitedly as he trotted up to the man. Hopefully his fluffy frame made him look more gentle than imposing.

[untitledmemes]

Meet Cute Starters / Memes

Nature Edition You decide who is muse A and who is muse B. In case of Multimuse, don't forget to specify which one/s! Reblog, do not repost or add.

🌸 Muse A gets seated next to Muse B at a mutual friend's party.

🌹 Muse A sneaks out onto the porch to away from people at a house party - only to find Muse B already there, having done the same thing.

🏵 Both Muse A and Muse B reach to grab last package of their favorite snack off a high shelf at the same time.

🌻 Muse A is used to run their missions alone. This time, they got paired up with rookie, Muse B.

🌴 Muse A needs to deliver something to Muse B's neighbor, but they are not home and not answering their phone. They knock on Muse B's door.

☘ Muse A rushes to their office, carrying a large pile of papers, and accidentally bumps into Muse B.

🌲 Muse A received important intel that their target is supposed to be here tonight. Muse B shows up, having received the exact same intel from the exact same source.

🌷 Muse A and Muse B got set up on a blind date by a mutual friend.

🌱 Muse A found an item Muse B lost and has been searching for.

🍂 Muse A and Muse B are in a rush, but there is only one taxi left. They share the ride.

🌺 Muse A and Muse B meet at a concert, wearing the same band T-shirt from the last show of the same band.

🌵 It's a costume party! Muse A and Muse B show up in the same costume.

🌾 Muse A have been making Muse B's coffee for a while now at the local coffee shop. Muse A musters enough courage to tell Muse B their name.

🥀 It's raining, and Muse A forgot their umbrella at home. Muse B offers to share theirs.

🍃 Muse A sits next to Muse B on the same bench at the park.

[hatariwildheart]

Activity Check (December)

Classes Accessed:

N/A

Classes Mastered:

N/A

Stats:

Total Points: 5 -> 6 (+1)

Gauntlet: C -> C+ (+1) from Activity Check

New Weapons:

N/A

New Skills:

N/A

Threads:

Thread Tracker

Completed Threads:

Maybe Things Got A Little Too Zappy (1,820 words)

Press F To Pet The Dog (1,236 words)

Two Mimir (686 words)

[hatariwildheart]

I Know What You Are

[senerist]

“No,” soren’s reply is immediate, and he repeats again after Volug rephrases his pitch.

To his credit, it isn’t the laguz that would keep him away. soren can appreciate that queen nailah’s respect is hard-earned and not easily kept, and he can feel that sliver of pride threatening to puff up his chest and go to his head if he focuses too much on that.

Aside from his reasons for coming to garreg mach in the first place, though, he has one important one to turn volug’s offer down.

“Ike is the only employer i’m interested in working for,” he says, omitting both that Ike ‘was’ and to call him only as ‘employer’ feels like a disservice to his memory. “If the queen is so desperate for advisors, i can recommend lady ena in the golden deer house. i’ve no interest in working for her, though i appreciate her thinking so highly of me.”

he pauses briefly. he works here, now, but the work is fundamentally different. he hardly considers it work, after everything he’d accomplished under Ike’s command. he hardly considers it work, considering the boon of the libraries he receives in return. It’s an exchange, yes, but soren the professor is hardly worth the same as soren the strategist.

“Besides, the last i heard of it -” and, he thinks to himself, that had to have been decades ago “- she intended to move your peoples across the desert and rejoin tellius properly. Surely if she has plans so great, she has no trouble at all thinking of them.”

[hatariwildheart]

Volug shook his head, pacing around Soren a few times. His claws tapped against the floor with each step, the only sound to break the silence that fell between them. Volug was ever one to choose his words carefully. Soren seemed a bit more even-tempered at this moment than when Volug had seen him previously, but that was likely just a circumstance of the moment. Press him too much, and he would likely just leave entirely. Better to make sure only to say things that would keep him there at least long enough to make him actually consider the offer.

What was the best path to achieve that, though? Perhaps it would be massaging his ego-- but did Soren even have one of those? Volug hadn't spoken to him enough to get a feel for whether that was the case or not. He was certainly renowned among those he had worked with, and Volug had the feeling Soren was well aware of that. After all, it wasn't just anyone who had the ability to get Skrimir of all people to actually listen to reason... or to strategy. Maybe just leveling with him would be the way to go. Soren wasn't one to mince words when he didn't have to. Directly explaining the circumstances would probably be more effective than flattery. Besides, he might just see straight through the latter anyway.

"{Indeed}," Volug answered after his moment of deliberation. "{It's hardly an easy task. Many among Hatari are quite stubborn... especially the elders. Not all of them will listen to reason. Your presence would be convincing to them in a way just Nailah's isn't. You may not even need contribute anything, in all honesty. They would see the two of your joining your minds as a reassurance. Crossing the desert is a daunting task, after all. They won't be willing to budge if they have even the slightest concern over the trek. You, however, took an army through the volcanic caverns that border Goldoa. That trip would have been every bit as arduous, if not more. They would follow you quite willingly in light of that.}"

[hatariwildheart]

Oversized Lapdog

[hatariwildheart]

@loyaldeserter (continued from here!)

Ah, how convenient it was to be mistaken for a common hound. With the oversized wolves from Elyos running around, it was all too easy for Volug to get away with his stray dog routine. He could push the limits much further than he would be comfortable doing back home and still leave people none the wiser. It was just too easy, really. Sure, he was a little stockier than the lithe beasts Elyosians rode (and his fur was considerably less plush), but nobody seemed to think twice about that. To them, dogs were dogs were dogs, and there was nothing more to it.

If he was going to exploit this for his own gain, then who was going to call him out on it? All the people who knew better would likely keep their mouths shut, especially if they saw what was going on at present. Most of them would be happy to help him maintain his cover, and the ones that weren't... well, he could negotiate with them as needed. So if Volug decided to plop himself down in someone's lap for attention, who was going to stop him? Nobody.

He'd picked a perfect target, it seemed. The man's calloused hands knew exactly how to work their magic. Those nimble fingers worked their way into his fur, scratching at all of the spots Volug's less dexterous digits struggled to reach. It was perfect, really. He could let this charade go on quite a bit longer and be satisfied... but maybe he could have some fun with it, too.

"I am," Volug answered the man's question simply, lavender eyes glancing upwards as he did. He didn't say anything more, content to just surprise his target with something simple. Saying less meant he could always try and trick the poor fool into thinking it had just been his imagination, after all.

[hatariwildheart]

It Works On Frogs

[hatariwildheart]

@losojos-decupido (continued from here!)

It wasn't Fogado's fault he had become Volug's target. It was just bad luck on his part. He was the first person Volug had seen as he neared the little event. He'd been waiting, lurking in the shadows until he found someone just far out enough on the fringes that Volug could reveal himself without drawing too much attention. Fogado's only crime was trying to steal a moment for himself.

Volug had been planning this out for nearly an hour now, actually. He'd taken plenty of time to think of exactly what to say. Common tongue was difficult for him, but if he didn't convey this message perfectly, it might betray that things weren't as they seemed-- or rather, not quite what Volug intended to claim them to be. He couldn't hold back excitement at the thought of this silly little plan, but the wagging tail only made him look less threatening anyway. It helped, probably.

He was upon Fogado in an instant. A quick bound forward was all it took to reach the stray noble, though Volug didn't do anything more than draw near. Instead, he sat down once he got close, gazing upwards with pleading lavender eyes. He needed to look as cute and as sympathetic as possible for this to work.

"Please," Volug growled out in his deep, raspy voice, "I need your help. I've been turned into a beast by a curse. Only a kiss can turn me back."

He'd heard beorc stories about similar things, after all, so maybe he could get this one to fall for it.

[hatariwildheart]

Maybe Things Got A Little Too Zappy

[dcggersedge]

He's fast. She should have known that, in retrospect. She just saw the guy transform from being a freaking wolf. Of course he'd be fast. Doesn't make the hairs on her neck raise any less, nor does it stop her from placing a hand on the hilt of one of her hidden blades.

Though he dashed in front of her to stop her, he backs off just as quickly. Yunaka stares, watching silently as he paces and chases after words he can't quite seem to place in order. She'd almost feel sorry for him, if the words he ends up saying weren't so wild.

"Wh-" Okay. Okay. Clearly there's something going on here she doesn't know about and you know what! She's okay with that! She's a bit tired of knowing what's going on in the shadows, if she's perfectly honest. "Okay. Laguz. Beorc. Got it!"

She has no idea what those words mean but clearly they're important. She'll ask someone later. Someone who isn't making every trained instinct in her scream on edge.

Yunaka stays quiet, watching him. He makes no move to approach her again, but she can't tell if he's done yet or not either. After a moment, she speaks up again. "So, uh...we good here, or do you have any other wise wisdoms you'd like to share?"

[hatariwildheart]

Any other wisdom? No, not for now. Volug eyed Yunaka once again, eventually turning to lie down with his chin on his paws. Exhaustion was quickly creeping into his body. He needed to escape somewhere more secluded so he could take a proper rest without anyone seeing him in his humanoid form. One mistake was too many. He didn't want to harass the poor girl further-- well, he did, actually, but he didn't have the energy for it. Besides, she hadn't been too entertaining, despite everything. She'd taken things much more in stride than he expected, though her quick wit was delightful to spar with.

"No," Volug stated simply. "I tire."

And that was that. The wolf trotted away to go take his nap, content that he had instilled Yunaka with a proper understanding of what he was. She was less likely to yap about his presence if he made it clear it wasn't unusual, after all. Even if she did, if she spread the rumor of laguz being presence, it would likely end up a bit misconstrued-- he wasn't hiding, he was explaining exactly what he was to her. It would keep his identity safe, he was fairly certain. He would be mistaken for just another laguz, and the fact that he was pretending to be a dog in the town would probably go overlooked.

Now, time to take that nap.

[hatariwildheart]

Press F to Pet the Dog

@fletching-scar (continued from here!)

[fletching-scar]

Yeah. Yeah, holy shit, there was issue. Issue like--fuck, what a nice dog, and then--and then....

Oh, he'll never sleep again. He'll close his eyes and feel the hound's weight shifting in his lap, watch the body coalesce like smoke into new shapes, leaving just the sweet, beseeching beguiling eyes.

And the beast-man won't relent, even as Shinon props his body in the corner like a warped old board, even as his chest heaves with receding panic. Even as every eye in the room flickers mirthfully toward him--even then, the siren offers up a kiss.

The worst part is that Shinon thinks about it. He's been so thoroughly jarred from his pride, he thinks yeah, gimme a consolation prize for that. His eyes flutter. His heart mutinies.

But Shinon doesn't take consolation prizes. Not unless they're whiskey, and certainly not from--

Not from this guy. Fuck, it isn't enough for him that he's humiliated Shinon, set him yelping like a kicked pup in a room full of people who are s'posed to respect him--he's gotta make it complete.

Shinon scrubs the dumbstruck expression off his face. Shoves the beast-man aside, bursts from the corner like a shot. Keeps going in a dire straight line, out onto the nearest gaudy balcony.

Not enough to scare the daylights out of Shinon. Had to make him look like a-- like a pathetic-- like he'd ever once look at a beast.

[hatariwildheart]

And there he goes. Impressive how quickly he can move when motivated. Not quite as fast as Volug, of course-- a beorc could never match the speed of a laguz. Still, impressive to see someone bolting through a crowd of people so efficiently. Humorous, too. He'd definitely learned very important intelligence that he needed to relay to Nailah when next they met.

Back into lupine form he went, making himself cozy near the corner Shinon had just fled. He had a hunch the archer wouldn't return, but just on the off chance he did, Volug would be there, waiting. Shinon couldn't stay out on the balcony all night, but it wasn't like he was going to come back to Volug of his own volition. Not after what had just happened. Not until he had time to recover.

He would be an interesting toy indeed. Volug would have to keep an eye on this one. Maybe he could even manipulate him in some fun ways. How enjoyable it would be to see him welcome Volug's presence after this display. The thought alone set Volug's tail wagging. Oh, yes, he had plans for Shinon... but they would have to wait. Better not to overwhelm the archer tonight.

[hatariwildheart]

I Know What You Are

[senerist]

soren bristles instantly. he saw this question arising, but he still chides himself inwardly for still being so weak. Instantly, a lump in his throat threatens his poker face, and he takes a deep breath in and then out in an attempt to center himself. It's impossible to run from the truth. he would like to. he would like it to not hurt as much, and as easily, as it still does.

Somehow, he manages to prevent the storm in his heart from affecting his expression. he focuses on volug instead. His is a dull curiosity, containing some assumption that soren can sense no ire from. Rather, is there a small feeling of companionship? From the beast? It's almost laughable, but it helps. soren won't let him see how much he hurts.

"Yes," he agrees. his voice is still very dry, but it's level, untouched by the emotions threatening to burst from within him. "That is correct. i did not have a choice in it."

he raises his gaze from his book to offer volug a meaningful look. he won't say his secrets out loud - maybe once he would, but this monastery is far too populated for him to trust that it would stay between only the two of them for long. Besides, he knows that volug likely already knows. Laguz had always seemed to be able to tell.

"Time changes most things," he says vaguely, "and, regrettably, leaves others untouched."

he is an old man, he thinks distantly, and he still looks like a child.

[hatariwildheart]

Ah. Some rift must have formed between Soren and the mercenaries, some irreconcilable difference that he couldn't resolve. It made sense. For all Ike's loyalty and devotion to those he cared for, he was also always true to his ideals. If Soren had grown hateful in the intervening years, then it made sense that Ike may have been forced to oust him... or that, perhaps far more unlikely, Soren had ousted himself.

Then again, Volug couldn't imagine Ike being at the center of the issue. It didn't quite track for Ike to drive anyone away willingly, not unless they had done something particularly heinous. If Soren fell into that category, then surely Volug would have heard of it by now. Perhaps Soren had become unable to bear other members of the mercenary group. Perhaps Ike had been the only one trying to keep him in the little entourage.

Whatever had come between them, it made little difference. Soren was here now, and Volug had an invitation he ought extend in light of that. He didn't really need to pry into what had caused Soren's departure. He needed only accept that Soren had indeed departed and act accordingly.

"{Why not come to Hatari, then?}" Volug offered. He knew there was an issue to dance around here, one Soren would be uncomfortable discussing despite them both being aware of it. There was no hiding the prickling sensation along his spine he felt in Soren's presence. There was no hiding the scent that surrounded the mage. Other laguz may be slower to recognize it, but Volug knew it well, given the mixed society from which he hailed. Offering a place in Hatari based on heritage alone, though, would likely only drive Soren away. Volug had more convincing avenues to pursue.

"{Your intellect would be welcome there,}" Volug added, sitting back on his haunches to try and meet Soren's gaze a bit more evenly. "{Nailah respects you. There are very few who can claim that. You would certainly be welcomed into her service with open arms. She always has need of advisors like you. You provide an additional viewpoint that differs from any of the ones currently among her advisors as well. That, too, would be more than welcome, given the difficulties Hatari faces currently.}"