Seven notes of warning in the summer sky

[championbittersweet]

Who: Jonathan and Allairavar
When: First official morning
Where: The practice fields
What: Post training talks
Warnings: Well it's about vampires so there's definitely going to be talk about blood and whatnot.

Jonathan had been preparing to turn in for the day when they'd all been summoned to the practice fields for what was explained to them as a daily requirement if they resided in the housing provided by the queen. Fortunately with the season it was still dark enough during training that, while Jonathan felt on edge, he made it through unharmed. But he was exhausted by the end of it, and the sun creeping over the horizon drove him quickly inside.

All the more reason he needed to speak with their leader in this activity, the rather impressive man by the name of Allairavar. Waiting until the man was inside, Jonathan approached him, carefully making certain to avoid any windows now that the light threatened to break through.

"Sir, I wish to speak with you."

Comments

[championbittersweet]

Jonathan shook his head. "The most dangerous monsters are those that do not look it," he said. "There is a part of me that could become such a creature if I do not keep it in check and I am not certain that tempting it by trying to learn control is the best idea, Prince."

For all that he might speak of Warlord Princes being dangerous, Jonathan had a hard time picturing it as anything close to what might happen if he lost control himself. Possibly because he had yet to truly understand what a Warlord Prince was and the sort of power they had, while his own experiences were far more intimate and vivid in his memory.

But by the sound of it, Allairavar also didn't intend to allow him much room to avoid the matter. Jonathan's jaw tightened and he looked as though he wanted to continue arguing for a moment, but instead he let out a sound closer to a growl of annoyance.

"Very well, if you insist I will do as you command, Prince. But I do not think it a wise course of action."

[agentlenpc]

"Perhaps not, but we'll find out." Allairavar held up with forearm set in a leather bracer that covered half the space between wrist and elbow were two gleaming Jewels - one Red and one Gray. "You were the Red and speaking from personal experience, it is far better to find your limits in a controlled setting than one of chaos."

Allairavar's wings stretched a little and his head canted to the side in thought. Or perhaps he waited to see if Jonathan might decide to argue after all. When no other protest came, Allairavar flashed a brief, pleased smile. "Does daylight tire you?"

[championbittersweet]

Jonathan's gaze travels to the motion of Allairavar's wings and curiosity immediately colours his expression.

"It does," he admits, still studying the other man's wings. "I usually sleep around dawn and wake at sunset. But I can remain awake so long as I am inside and away from the sun."

And with the window shielded, he can focus entirely on satisfying his curiosity now. "You have wings, are you a different species? Is it common here for some to have wings and others not to?"

[agentlenpc]

"Then once nightfall comes today, we'll make sure that your room is properly secured." They couldn't seal off of the residence as a whole. However, a set of rooms should suffice and several of the hallways had no windows in them to worry about. Nor would it stir too much interest if they kept the area small.

"There are two races in Terrielle that have wings. I am Eryien." His wings flexed again in what looked like pride, but there's an unmistakable sadness in Allairavar's gold eyes. "Eryiens are one of the long-lived races. Unfortunately, there are few of us left now. Our nature is more combative than most so, when the wars broke out after the cataclysm, Eryiens fought on the front lines too many times." His lips quirk downward, but as Allairavar rubbed the back of his neck, his expression smoothed out once again.

"I take it wings are not common where you're from?" He asked with genuine curiosity. Having all of these strangers running around wasn't an easy thing to accept, but it was fascinating.

[championbittersweet]

"I appreciate the gesture but I don't need any special protections," Jonathan protests, wondering as well how it would look if his room was different from others. Despite everything, he's still worrying about how others might take learning what he is. Not standing out had been important in London, and despite Allairavar's words, it has to be the same here too.

Although looking at how those wings flexed, Jonathan has to admit that there was clearly much different here from London.

"No, nothing that isn't human, I'm afraid," he says, moving to look more at the other man's wings and how they flex and fold. "Or that was widely known of. My kind keep to themselves and I've never seen any with wings. May I look at the articulation?"

[agentlenpc]

"I won't press them, but you should consider them." Allairavar gave a lose shrug. "Keep in mind that the Lady will want you to be comfortable here for as long as you chose to say." Something about the way Allairavar offered those words made it seem as if upsetting the Lady would be a terrible (un)life choice for anyone.

At the request, Allairavar's brows rose with a hint of suspicion in those golden eyes. However, he eventually nodded and extended both wings as much as he could in the space. Both of them arch up and away from his back, ruffling the leather vest that Allairavar wore in lieu of a shirt.

They were not unlike bat wings in general shape and look. Dark and leathery. There the similarities ended, most notably that Allairavar's wings were not akin to forelimbs and couldn't be used for ground maneuvering the way that a bat's would. The skeleton over which membranous flesh stretch was thicker as well and harder. There were scars on his wings. Some large. Some small. But great in number.

[championbittersweet]

Jonathan is grateful again that the window has been covered as in the darkness he can move closer to inspect the span of Allairavar's wings and reaches out with gentle yet confident fingers to trace the flex of bones and muscle down to where it disappears beneath clothing.

"Fascinating," he murmurs. "I'd appreciate a chance for a closer look at a later time, if you're willing. I'd like to see how your musculature is different from a typical human specimen, particular at your back. If there's an x-ray facility I'd like to take a look at your skeletal structure. It'd be worth knowing in case of any injury in the future."

[agentlenpc]

Beneath Jonathan's careful study, Allairavar remained still and steady. When Jonathan reached a particularly sensitive spot, Allairavar's wings fluttered slightly in response.

"X-ray? You mean the landen technology that allows for photographs of a persons insides." The disdain in his Allairavar's voice was crystal clear. "If you've an interest in Eryien physiology, there are books the the library that might whet your curiosity." He paused, canting his head to the side. "Not as many as there used to be."

"Did you need anything else, Jonathan Reid?" Allairavar sipped his coffee.

[championbittersweet]

Reluctantly, Jonathan ceased his inspection. Medical texts may be a good place to start, at least to allow him a basis to ask more focused questions, and he nodded as he stepped back again.

"No, but I thank you for your understanding in this... delicate matter," he said, making note about that remark about the texts to ask after later, once he'd gotten a better look at this library.

"Thank you for your time, Prince."

[thestewards]

For Jonathan's honesty and candor he gain +1 Reputation with Allairavar and some nice blackout curtains for his room along with instructions on how to use Craft to anchor the curtains to the wall so a stray breeze doesn't cause the good Doctor to have a bad day.