Four Legs Good [Open to Multiple]

[wildmage_daine]

Daine trots through the park as a shaggy wolfhound, with Sarge and Molly at her side. It was probably cowardly of her to take a shape and flee the base, but not being able to talk to anyone was driving her mad. At least she can sort of talk to the People, though all she gets from them are feelings and impressions instead of words. Still, animals can get far more across without words than any two-legger can, and being in this shape, with her two canine friends beside her, feels enough like Pack to bring her some comfort.

She's unaware of the gathering at the fountain, but even if she knew about it, it would take some coaxing to get her there. Folk aren't often kind to strays, and she's not about to take human shape. At least when she's in an animal shape, not being able to talk to two-leggers feels normal.

Comments

[wildmage_daine]

Daine lowers her paw, glad to have gotten her point across (so far as she can tell). She watches with amused approval as Gabriel pets Sarge and Molly. Sarge is giving off a distinctly smug vibe, and she remembers his earlier insistence that everyone likes dogs when they're in need of cheering up. The look he throws her says, See? about as clearly as if he'd said it aloud.

It takes her longer to figure out what Gabriel's asking than it ought to; just about everyone else who knows her has met the dogs, too. When she remembers that Gabriel hasn't, she nods. Pity she can't introduce them, though it's not as if Gabriel could repeat their names even if she had any way of telling him what they were.

[has_a_horn]

Sarge might very well be right. He's still nursing his wounds, but a couple of enthusiastic dogs definitely helps him forget about his worries for the moment. Gabe nods back to her and redirects his attention to the dogs. He's not sure exactly what else to try to communicate to Daine. The dogs are easier to understand at the moment.

He materializes a few dog biscuits into his hand and offers one to each dog, watching gladly as the treats are gobbled up. With an amused and questioning eyebrow raise, he offers one to Daine. He's really not sure how this whole transformation thing works for her, how much she's a dog and how much she's still the girl he knows.

[wildmage_daine]

She's a bit surprised by the offer, and for a moment she's not sure if he's poking fun at her or just trying to be polite. It belatedly occurs to her that he doesn't really know much about her magic, so perhaps he just thinks she's more dog inside than she really is. So she shakes her head, but her tail wags to show she isn't offended by the offer. It wouldn't do her body any harm to eat it; it's more a matter of keeping as much dignity as this shape can afford her.

Sarge and Molly are still thoroughly enjoying themselves, but Daine wonders if she ought to call them off and give Gabriel some peace. Then again, Gabriel doesn't seem to mind their company. She backs away from the bench, giving herself enough room for a good stretch and a yawn. Then she sprawls on the grass, looks up at Gabriel, and thumps the ground with her tail. They can keep him company for a bit; it's not as if she has any other pressing business.

[has_a_horn]

When she shakes her head, Gabriel flips the biscuit over to Sarge instead, smiling when he catches it in his jaws. That gives him an answer then, about just how much Daine is in there. The final biscuit goes to a happy Molly, who gobbles it up, crunching crumbs all over Gabriel.

Since it doesn't seem like Daine is going to run off anytime soon, he lifts up Molly and returns to lying on the bench. Molly lies across his chest and leans forward to lick his nose. He chuckles and pushes her back a bit, sending out a sense of calm. She settles down a little bit and he turns his head to look towards Daine. "I should get another little dog. I had one, before." He knows that it's still gibberish, so it's more saying something to fill the silence, but it doesn't make it untrue.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine pricks her ears forward, though she can't understand a word of what he's saying. It's a shame, as she'd be quite enthusiastic about the idea and eager to help. The city is full of strays, and there's only so much Daine can do for them. She can heal the ones who are injured or sick, and she feeds them a little when she can, but she can't shelter them all, much as she'd like to.

Sarge heaves a sigh and casts a jealous glance at Molly's place of honor. He's far too big to be a lap dog, but he's used to it. He lies down beside the bench, making sure his ears are still within easy reach of Gabriel's hand.

[has_a_horn]

If the general mood of the general populace in anything to go by, now probably isn't the time to magic the size of the bench bigger and invite Sarge up. He lets his hand drop down and gives him a comforting pat instead. Maybe another time.

"Daine," he says more to get her attention than anything else. He's wondering if she knows anything about the whole Babel situation they've got going on here. He points to the side of his head, shakes his head briefly, then pushes his hand forward from his mouth, miming speech. What I think is not what I say. He backs up the question with a note of confusion, a non-verbal question intonation, as far as he's concerned.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine was resting her head between her forepaws, but when Gabriel speaks, she lifts it again and watches his little pantomime. It's not difficult to figure out what he's getting at, and she lets out a low groan of commiseration.

There isn't much she can offer in response to the puzzled feeling she gets from him, though - unless he hasn't caught on that it's due to the rift. She transfers her gaze to the patch of sky above Bethesda Terrace and lifts her lip in a silent snarl, then looks to Gabriel to see if he's caught her meaning.

[has_a_horn]

He nods to Daine, letting her know he gets her meaning. He huffs out a breath and drops his head back to the bench. He'd assumed that it was the Rift, but the confirmation isn't exactly comforting. He lets a little bit of his frustration fade through to Daine, but his face is closed off, his eyes shut.

[wildmage_daine]

Daine heaves a sigh of her own. She understands his frustration perfectly. It's why she's out here, after all: much easier to wander the park as a dog and avoid most two-leggers than mope around the base, struggling to convey questions no one can answer, anyway.

Still, that doesn't mean she shouldn't try to cheer him up. She gives Molly a mental nudge, and a moment later, the little dog stretches forward to lick Gabriel's nose.

[has_a_horn]

Gabriel feels something from Daine, but he's not sure what it is until Molly is licking his face. He chuckles and pets the enthusiastic dog until she decides that she now needs to get up and rearrange herself completely. With little dog feet probing at his stomach, Gabriel huffs out a breath and throws a put-upon expression in Daine's direction.

"I hope you know that this is all your fault." he says, without malice. When Molly finally settles again, he pats her on the head and yawns. It hadn't been long ago now that he'd healed Yuri, and he'd definitely had enough of a reason for finding a place to lie down after that. The healing had taken more out of him than he'd expected it to, and even now he's still tired enough to easily fall asleep.

[wildmage_daine]

Whoops. There's something to talk about with Molly once they can talk again: not stepping all over folk, even if they've sort of invited you to. When Gabriel gives her a put-upon look, she thumps the ground sheepishly with her tail.

He yawns, and Daine suspects they really ought to leave him alone, now, if he's tired. So why is she so reluctant to leave? She feels like she owes him - that's part of it, though it could just as easily mean she owes him some privacy, so it's no excuse.

What if Romac finds him while he's sleeping? It might not be likely, but the idea is alarming enough that she can't shake it. If he's going to go dozing off where anyone could see him, then someone ought to keep an eye on him, right? To make sure he's okay?

Anyway, it's not as if he can't just shoo them away if they're so bothersome. He could have set Molly down, but he didn't. Maybe he'd like some company.

Daine glances around for passers-by, waiting for a moment when no one's watching her. As soon as the chance presents itself, she shifts, taking cat shape. That's a bit better - she wasn't cold in her dog shape by any means, but now she has thicker fur. She steps daintily over to Sarge, who sniffs her over with a slightly puzzled air. He's probably wondering why anyone would give up a perfectly good dog shape to be a cat.

He gets his answer when Daine leaps up onto the bench, quelling the enthusiastic greeting Molly would give her with a stern look. There's enough space for her to sit without having to resort to climbing on top of Gabriel, elsewise she wouldn't be up here at all. A cat's innate dignity will only get her so far, and she's not out to embarrass herself; she's just being friendly. Curling her tail around her forepaws, she blinks down at Gabriel, waiting to see how he'll respond.

[has_a_horn]

Gabriel blinks at the sudden appearance of a cat shaped Diane by his side, but it doesn't phase him for very long. He scoots to the side a little bit, allowing her as much room as he can give on the small bench. If she wants to cuddle, he's definitely not going to stop her.

[wildmage_daine]

He's not trying to shoo her away - and more importantly, he's not trying to pet her. All right, then. She settles onto the bench beside him, tail twitching in a way that might suggest that he'll get a good swat if he tries anything. After a few moments pass, during which Gabriel behaves himself, Daine starts to purr.

[has_a_horn]

Gabriel chuckles when she starts purring. He's not entirely sure what's going on here, but being surrounded by warm and furry animals isn't a bad way to spend a morning. After a few moments, his eyes drop closed and he falls asleep,

[wildmage_daine]

Consider it a short-lived peace offering until the next time he annoys her. Or a trio of adorable bodyguards. Or something. Daine's mostly just trying to show her appreciation for his help in a way that won't get her mercilessly teased, later.

Depending on how long he's out, she might still be there when he wakes. Otherwise, he'll find that some of the park's crow population are occupying themselves in the vicinity of his bench, ready to make life difficult for anyone who tries to mess with him while he's sleeping.