Bird Brained

Oh, yes. That's right. I've been across seas and deserts, forests and plains. I'm quite important, you know. Quite knowledgable. Revolutionary, even. Plenty of ideas. No time to write. I'll write for pay. I'll write for food. So hungry...

[saulas]

@bookofalmsivi:

Theoretically, I see no reason why that would be impossible, provided that the mammoth was somehow kept sedated or else very well trained.  In practice, you’d need a great many shearers and shears and I’d imagine that it’d be very hard to shave every bit of the mammoth owing to their large size.

Hmm.  Sheep are easier.  And they don’t have tusks.

I like you.  Shall we be friends?  You have good hair.  Mine’s usually matted.  It’s hard to keep the blood out.  Oh!  Pardon.  That wasn’t polite.  Musn’t talk about dinner when it’s not time.

[saulas]

If all this snow were sand then we’d be in the middle of a desert and I’d be warm instead of cold.

[bookofalmsivi]

If all the snow were sand, I daresay that the mammoths would be very confused!

[saulas]

And hot. 

Do you think you can shave a mammoth?

[saulas]

If all this snow were sand then we’d be in the middle of a desert and I’d be warm instead of cold.

[themadgodspeaks]

“Good birdie!” Sheogorath seems delighted by Saulas’ enjoyment, even moving to try and run his fingers along the back of his head, as though indeed petting a bird. “Glad ye like it, lad. While ye eat, how about a guessing game? See if ye can figure out where that came from.” He chuckles, eyes slowly lidding. “I’ll give ye a hint - it crawls on all fours, and howls all night.”

[saulas]

He pulls back to chew, his tongue flashing out over his lips as he thinks.  What crawls on all fours and howls at night?  That was a silly question.  “Jackals howl,”  He offers.  “And wolves howl.  And dogs howl, too.  But none of them crawl.  Wolves and jackals and dogs walk.  Or run.  Or trot.”  He licks along the Madgod’s palm, wanting to get every last bit of marrow.  “Bugs crawl.  And so do babies.”

[themadgodspeaks]

The Madgod outright cackles, closing his hand into a fist. “No dignity in the least, have ye, lad? Cute birdie. Oh, but hungry. And sometimes I forget ye don’t eat the living flesh.” He squeezes his hand again, and when he opens it this time it is filled - a wet, raw pile of bone marrow slowly seeping through his fingers.

“It’s not birdseed, but ye might like it anyway.”

[saulas]

He backs off, skittish, hands lightly twisting in the fabric of his robe.  He doesn’t take offense to being called birdie;  He’s been called worse.  And the Madgod is right.  HIs hunger is gnawing, painful.  It’s been difficult to keep himself properly fed without Shey hunting for him.  He doesn’t resent it, but the hunger is difficult to bear.

His eyes light up at the sight and smell of the fresh marrow.  He takes a step closer, hesitant, before he presses in close, grabbing at Sheogorath’s hand to steady it before he bent his head to feed right from his hand, licking the stuff up with obvious glee.  “It’s my favorite,”  He crows through a mouthful.  “Absolutely!”

[coldwindscutclean]

You need better friends.

[saulas]

You’re a perfect friend.  I’ve never had a better one.

[coldwindscutclean]

…Yeah. [She sets her tea down and grabs his hand, gently.]

[saulas]

I like you, Shey.  You’re a good person.  If I had to pick someone to be my friend, I’d pick you every time.

[coldwindscutclean]

Those are always the bits that cling, really.

[saulas]

[He sidles a little bit closer to her, and reaches out to lightly touch his fingertips against her hand.]  May I hold your hand?

[coldwindscutclean]

You’ll be okay, Saulas. You’re a good vulture and a good mer.

[saulas]

I’m a terrible vulture and a worse mer.  I did terrible things.  Those things I’d like to forget, but are the things I remember.

Isn’t that a bit unfair?

[coldwindscutclean]

If I ever totally forget, just put me down before I hurt someone, alright?

[saulas]

You mean, kill you?  Alright.  I can do that.

It won’t happen, but I understand.  You’ll want to be dead if it does.  I’d want to be dead, too.  I think I’m close to needing to be dead.  Sometimes it’s very hard to remember.

[coldwindscutclean]

Yes. [She plays with her tea in her mug a little.] I’ve forgotten who I am a few times.

[saulas]

I’ll always tell you who you are if you ever forget.  You’re Shey.

[coldwindscutclean]

Yeah. I think so.

[saulas]

I had a house by the sea.  I remember I very much liked living there.  I was supposed to be married, but I don’t think I did.  I can’t remember.  I would like to remember, but I can’t.  [He looks at her, anxious.]  Have you ever forgotten something very important?

[coldwindscutclean]

That’s good to know.

[saulas]

I was very intelligent.  I am very intelligent.  I think.  [He considers.]  I don’t feel intelligent all the time, but there are moments-- Like now.  The fog’s a bit lighter.  Does that make sense?

[coldwindscutclean]

Is this stuff you’re not supposed to talk about?

[saulas]

[He touches his fingertips to his lips, and looks about nervously.]  I don’t think they’re listening.

[coldwindscutclean]

[A sigh.] Then don’t offer to talk about it.

[saulas]

Did you know that the Bosmer elves have a fascinating connection to their more beastly sides?

[coldwindscutclean]

What kind of research?

[saulas]

Should I tell her?  [He clutches at his head wrappings for a moment, and then straightens and clears his throat.]  That’s classified.

[coldwindscutclean]

Depends what you did.

[saulas]

I researched.  I was in charge of all the special research.   I’m quite important.