Collect 'Em All

SUMMARY Murder drops in on Rak while he's grooming his griffon, and they discuss the High Hunt celebration at the Aerie the day before, as well as how cool wings are, whether Rak is being rude to Walkers, and Murder's growing collection of wooden mechanical toys.

Erakirak is hanging out just outside the Aerie's borders, brushing Silverwing's fur.

Murder squeaks as she floats down out of the sky, landing near the two. "Helloooo!", she says, running up to the pair, grinning."

Erakirak grins, then looks up. "OK, now I'm curious," he says as he pulls her into a hug, "where are you falling _from_?"

Silverwing butts her with his head, a gesture that would be cute if she didn't outmass Murder by a considerable margin.

Murder whistles innocently. "I had a lift into the air. And I just dropped down far enough, then cast a spell that lets me float down." She squeaks in the hug, and giggles at the headbut by the Griffon.

The feathered crest above Rak's eye rises. "A lift, eh?" he echoes with a smirk. "Was it fun?"

Murder nods and grins. "She was heading out and I asked politely. I thought I might see you from way up high. I had to get down below the clouds first, though."

Erakirak nods... he always forgets that Walkers have that problem, but they've talked about it before. "Right. And we were conveniently outside. And you're getting pretty good at steering in the air!"

Which, OK, is maybe a little condescending, but he means well.

Murder beams at the compliment and nods. "I may be flying on my own power someday soon, it's good to get some practice in." She clings to him then and sighs. "It is nice to have some big ol' wings, though, isn't it?"

"It really is!!!" Rak replies excitedly. "I keep expecting to get used to it, but I never really do... it's awesome!"

Murder giggles then. "Is that why they tease you? Because you're so enthusiastic about it, always?"

Erakirak laughs. "Kind of, yeah, I guess. I mean, they're just kidding around... they're like that with all the newly fledged Egalrin. I suppose we all kind of deserve it," he admits, chuckling.

Murder hugs him again and nods. "Well I think you're awesome and I don't mind you talking on about it. I enjoy flying too. Wish I had my own wings."

Erakirak grins. "I think you're awesome too, with or without wings. But... I mean, there do exist polymorph spells, and suchlike," he adds uncertainly, "if you wanted to?"

Murder sighs and nods. "Yeah, but things like that wear off after a while. Though, there's a chance that the magic in my blood will give me wings. I've heard of sorcerers and bloodragers having that happen... just living their lives and suddenly BAMF, wings. Dragon wings, angel wings, even bat wings and demon wings. It's pretty neat!" Her ears perk up and she bounces. "I think I will have spells allowing me to fly, also."

Erakirak nods. "That'd be cool! Plus also Silvie will get her wings soon and I'm sure she'd give you rides if you bribed her with meat-treats. Right?" he prompts the griffon, who urges him to keep brushing.

Murder giggles. "You know she is jealous of you being able to fly, right? When she does get her wings, I think you are in for a rough time as she makes up for your teasing." She settles down a bit and tugs on his arm. "Brush my hair too.", she imperiously demands. In a cute and scratchy voice.

"Yes ma'am!" Rak replies promptly, grinning fondly. "And, yes, I know. And, yes, she makes me pay for it. Which is only fair. I do tease her about it a lot. But she forgives me." He cleans the cat fur out of his brush and starts carefully running it through her hair, then stops for a moment and asks seriously "Do I ever make you feel bad for being a Walker?"

Murder makes a few please Gobbo sounds when her hair is brushed, and she glances up at him curiously. She makes a sad face and looks away, "Yes, I feel terrible for being born without wings and only my stubby legs to get around." She shakes a few moments later, and then giggles brightly, gently elbowing 'Rak in the ribs. "No, you goof. It doesn't bother me at all. There's plenty of things people tease and pester each other about, even couples." The Gobbo grins up at him. "You'll know when you really make me feel bad. Imma going to make you feel bad, with angry words, or tears."

Erakirak looks at her skeptically at her first comment, knowing her well enough by now to suspect she's teasing him, but not being entirely sure... then nodding with relief when she drops the joke. "Oh, I know, just... I don't know. I mean, I know plenty of couples that broke up because of stupid stuff that nobody ever thought to mention or ask about, because they 'knew' it wasn't a problem, and, well, I figure it doesn't hurt to ask, right? Plus also if you restrict yourself to tears and angry words I'll count myself lucky... you might make me feel bad by ripping my wings off while I sleep," he observes, almost straightfaced.

The Gobbo snorts. "Only if you don't keep brushing.", she says, breaking into another smile. It fades a little and she shrugs. "If I get to the point of wanting to hurt you, I think I would have moved out before then. I mean, there's all kinds of stupid magical crap that messes with people's minds, but if I am sane, I won't want to hurt you. Like, you would have to want to hurt me, you know? Accidental stuff is just that, accidental. It's the intent that matters."

Erakirak nods and continues brushing. Silverwing yowls despondently and he shrugs. "Sorry Silvie... I've only got one brush!" But he cuddles the griffon with his wings at the same time. "Me too. I mean, unless my bow tells me to kill you, of course," he adds, referencing a conversation of a few weeks earlier that has become something of a macabre private joke between them.

Murder giggles and pats the Griffon. "You could alternate brushing her and then me." She goes quiet and eyes the bow curiously. "I'll smash it if it even hints at suggesting that. No, better still..." She holds up a hand, and flames lick at her fingertips momentarily. "I'll burn it."

"We're still talking about the bow, right?" Rak replies, smiling, and nods. "And I could, but then you'd get griffin fur in your hair. Besides, she got plenty of attention before you arrived... now it's your turn." He gives an overly melodramatic sigh, that is ruined by the grin he can't keep off his face. "Oh, the troubles I have, managing two women!"

Murder eyes him for a moment. "Are... you and her...", she makes a gesture, making a circle with a finger and thumb, and thrusting another finger back and forth through the O.

Erakirak 's eyes widen briefly, genuinely shocked. "No! Of course not! I mean, she's really smart for a griffon, but... she's a griffon! It's like being a really precocious toddler!"

Murder giggles again and pats his chest. "I'm sorry, that was a bit rude. But I am teasing. Crudely. I know you wouldn't do that." She leans against him. "I'm the more troublesome of your women, don't forget."

"I couldn't possibly forget," he replies fondly, leaning forward to kiss her on the forehead. "ANYWAY," he continues, hoping to change the subject, "that feast was really something, wasn't it?"

Murder huffs and nods, grinning. "I still feel full.", she says with a giggle. "So much meat. And drink. And I got all those neat little windup toys."

Rak grins back. "You really got into those, yeah," he muses. "For a while there I thought you were gonna start mugging the younger Walkers for their toys. Did you know they've started trading them? They have a whole complicated system... I don't really understand it, myself."

Murder whistles innocently and shakes her head. "Nooo, I haven't heard about that at all. What a strange custom." She keeps a straight face, mostly.

Erakirak raises his eye-crest feathers skeptically. "Really?"

Murder snorts and starts to giggle once more. "You're getting harder to tease. I am uhm, active in the trading of those toys."

Erakirak grins. "I have a good teacher. Or maybe you just aren't trying as hard as you used to? So, tell me about it!"

"Well, the flying ones are more popular, because they seem to feature Egalrin heroes, as well as fantastical flying monsters and beasts. The walking ones are less popular, but there are more rare ones in there. I uhmmm had a few doubles, so I think I have the whole set." The Gobbo happily chatters on and on about them. "Some of them I uh, even paid out some coin to get. But only with older folks."

"So do you carry them around?" Rak asks curiously. "Or do you keep them somewhere safe?"

Murder's eyes narrow conspiratorially, and she looks around. "I keep them hidden, safe and sound.", she says, vaguely.

Erakirak nods approvingly. "Wise. Otherwise they might find your stash, and _then_ where would you be>"

The Gobbo shrugs. "Just be careful when you go to lay down.", she quips.

"Oh, is _that_ what that was! I thought the mattress was a little lumpy, but it smoothed out after I punched it a few times..." he teases back.