ROLEPLAY HQ - horrors-and-hippogriffs

TRIGGER WARNINGS: Foul language, Gore, Violence, Alcohol, possible sexual themes, PTSD, mentions of animal mistreatment, etc

here comes psycho

used /Message Info

An error occurred while executing this command.

It had been a rough boat ride for the soldier as his eye was bothering him, with the rocking of the boat not helping the aches and pains he had from fighting in several battles.. But now it was over. He had gone from fighting for France against the soldiers of Aragon to riding this boat over to Ireland in an attempt to get away from it all.. He was tired of the blood, the camps, the screams of pains from his dying comrades.. That wasn't the life for him and Tempest any more, Carle thought to himself as he looked down at the wolf tattoo poking out from his sleeve as he disembarked from the boat. The final nail in the coffin was when he had lost the use of his right eye from a sword slash. He left that very night. Now.. He just needed to find somewhere to stay, somewhere to work.. The soldier had no leads. He knew nobody here, nothing of the landscape.. It wasn't like he'd seen a lot of maps while he was fighting. He was just a footsoldier, going where the commanders wanted him to go, and had very little coin to his name.. Silently, with still-bloodied bandages, the man weaved his way through the streets to a simple pub, stepping inside and ordering some whiskey for himself, seated at a table and staring into his glass.. Where would he even go? Maybe a farm? He knew how to work with animals, ever since he got Tempest he had more of an affinity for them after all.. His strong physique would be good for tilling the fields as well.. He just didn't know what he'd do yet.. @here comes psycho

A smooth, pale hand pulled from a neatly pressed trousers, coming up to impatiently cross over the other arm it was linked to. The knuckles turned white as it angrily gripped the tense muscles covered in a nice, deep green tunic. “What do you mean, ‘I have another job’?” Was heard through a clenched jaw as the owner of the arm spoke. His red hair nearly looked like a bonfire with its pairing with the furious expression on the man’s face. “We have got 3 new hippogriffs on the grounds, half our workers off to either war or to look for ‘better alternatives’, and you decide to pick up another job?” The man’s voice rose as the anger began to boil over, blood rushing to his face and turning his skin ever redder. “We gave you a payment in advance! What in heaven’s name made you decide to find another job?” The woman sitting at the bar in front of him was silent as they reached to take a tankard from the barkeep, their order of mead to warm their heart after a long journey. But this did not stir the man. He wanted answers. And so, he snatched the drink away from the figure, some of the brown drink sloshing onto the wooden bar. “How in the bloody hell am I to find stable hands when dossers like you run off last minute?” He leaned foreword, growling into the girl’s ear framed with dirtied blonde hair. He was only met with a few, quiet mutters. That must not have been what he wanted to hear, as he took in a breath to begin shouting, causing even more of a scene in the pub, but he caught himself, sighed, and leaned back. “I hope your new job compensates you well.” He grumbled, fixing his coat before stomping away towards the door. @Cecil

The scene brought images of the battlefield to his mind, commanders shouting at their soldiers to push through, to hold the line, to strike down their foes.. Soldiers yelling at their allies to get back up, that they couldn't die here, they've got family back home waiting for them.. With a shuddering breath, Carle threw back the whiskey to calm his nerves and focus his breathing. He was away from that now. It had taken so much from him already, he wouldn't let it rule his life forever. So, before the fiery man left entirely, Carle rose to his feet and walked after him. "Excuse me, sir." He raised his voice slightly to get the man's attention, a hint of cheeriness in his voice. "You're looking for stable hands, right? Well, I'm interested. I've got a kinship with beasts, especially out-of-the-ordinary ones." Carle had never heard of a hippogriff, so whatever it was had to be a strange beast unique to this region. They certainly didn't have them back where he was from. "I don't even need much pay. Just a place to rest my head and a few hot meals every day." Anything was better than the tents and the gruel that the camps offered, or that damned swaying of the boat on the water. The amount of times he had lost his lunch because of that swaying.. He shook the thought from his mind before looking back at the man, waiting for his response. @here comes psycho

The man halted in his tracks, a mere few steps away from the door before he was called by someone from behind him. If this was another business venture some starry-eyed amateur dreamed of starting with his family’s investment, he was most certain he would lose his self control much more than he had already. Lucky enough for the speaker, he peaked the man’s interest, and he pivoted quickly to face the other man. His once stern and angry expression fell into one of shock as his Hazel-brown eyes landed on the soldier. Each and every centimeter he scanned just made him even more intimidating. The bloodied bandages, the scars on the visible parts of his skin, the built frame of his body. He looked more of a beast of legend than a man. Lacking anything else to say, the man muttered to himself, “You certainly look like you have kindred with beasts.” A bed, a few meals, and little pay? That’s all? There must be some catch. There is no possible way this weapon of a man could possibly ask for so little when he looks like he could beat more out of him. However… “Do you know the proper way to care for and maintain the health of hippogriffs?” He asked, still a little wary. @Cecil

The man's mumbled comment didn't bother him. Ever since he first met Tempest, his features had started to change. That was just a simple side-effect of the bond that they shared, something that most people just couldn't comprehend. Especially once they started fighting as one. He grew stronger, faster, and had sharper senses as a result of the pairing. He could see the distrust in the man's eyes. How his size and the mark of war put him off. That was normal for soldiers who came back incomplete. Soldiers like him. After this man asked if he knew how to care for hippogriffs, Carle shook his head. "..I've never encountered a hippogriff in my life. We didn't have them back where I'm from. But, like I said, I share a kinship with unusual beasts. I've got a good sense for what they need." Slowly, from underneath his collar, a.. tattoo seemed to glide across his skin in the likeness of a wolf, and Carle put a couple of fingers against it in the same manner as someone putting their hand on a dog to calm it. "I've been around strange beasts for the past four years or so, so I've gotten to know them quite well." ..He didn't need to reveal much more to this man right away, lest he scare him off. @here comes psycho

The man saw some movement on the other’s skin out of the corner of his eye, and he looked down in shock, only to find the ink still. A tattoo? He must not have noticed it when he first met this…man? The red head was not sure he was fully man at this point, especially with the way he stroked his own skin. Shaking off his wonders, he chalked it up to a result of the obvious war he left behind. Instead, he sized him up once more, before his demeanor changed. An obvious mask, but a charismatic one at that. His gaze filled with suspicion turned into a wide smile, his eyes brightening to better show the color of his eyes. “Pleasure to be meeting you, sir. The name’s Fionn Farrel, I run Bitterroot Grove just outside of town!” He said, his tone changing considerably, but his eyes still showed his suspicion and disappointment from earlier’s outburst. As he spoke, he bowed his head politely before holding out his pale hand out to him in greeting. His closed-mouth smile seemed genuine, but the ends of his lips never met his eyes, which were trained firmly on his new stablehand. @Cecil

There was a feeling that Carle had when he looked at this man, Fionn Farrel. This man had the same feeling as a protective viper, whose slithering song was pleasing to those he wanted it to be while being ready to strike down anything undesirable that got too close. It was a feeling that he recognized in many of the men he had encountered throughout his travels as a soldier, but whether or not that truly represented Fionn's motives.. remained to be seen. It could very well be his wounds misleading him. The tattoo glided back down Carle's arm, the head poking out through the sleeve to rest against the back of the man's arm, as if it were watching Fionn intently, like a loyal hound watching a potential threat for its master. It was.. a confusing sight, to say the least, for those who did not understand what the tattoo represented, or what dwelled beneath the shifting, sentient ink. "..Carle Tobat." The man responded in kind, nodding his head to Fionn and giving his hand a firm shake, the rough skin of Carle's hand from years of wielding the wooden handles of weapons a sharp contrast to Fionn's. "I take it you'd at least consider allowing me to help out, then?" @here comes psycho

The redhead watched this man intently, training his eyes on his face. Carle Tobat. There was definitely more to him than meets the eye…no pun intended. Fionn had met many a man or woman, each with their own stories, secrets, …and demons. And it was not unlike him to try to uncover the mysteries of a person from behind their own protective shield. This ‘Carle’ would be no exception to his curiosities. As their hands shook, he noticed movement on the man’s skin once more. His eyes flashed toward the disturbance, a natural reaction for any person, but when he saw the cause that swayed his attention, he focused on the tattoo, watching the ink as it seemed to stare right back at him. Fionn had read about moving tattoos, heard some legends here and there in his travels, but with all the magic he had seen, he had never seen it with his own eyes. It was a wonder to behold, an he knew of people who would kill for the name of the artist, some figuratively and others literally. Tobat’s question shook Fionn from his trance, his wide eyes tearing away from his skin to look at the owner of the tattoo. “Why yes, yes, I will speak with the head keeper on your behalf! Though I would say to, ah…brush up a tad bit when you meet them.” He replied, his charismatic mask pulling up once more. “Say, tomorrow mornin’?” @Cecil

He could feel the man's gaze examine him intently. It was a common feeling, if Carle was being honest, as many tried to get a grasp of what was going on behind the bloodied bandages and scarred skin of a soldier. What he carried with him, however, would stay his own. Carle had no intention of letting his experiences get in the way of a better life, and it would definitely get in the way if a civilian were to learn of it. Then, he saw Fionn's eyes twitch down, away from his own. It wasn't hard to guess what exactly he was looking at, due to the slight tickle along his skin as his tattoo moved up his body to stare at the redheaded man. With the tattoo making itself known, Carle watched Fionn's expression for several seconds before running two fingers over the tattoo, almost like an owner petting their dog. Now wasn't the time to reveal yourself, he thought. Slowly, the tattoo disappeared back into his collar as Carle's question was answered, and the soldier nodded. "Tomorrow morning's fine." Though he wasn't sure how much he could really brush up. He didn't have any spare clothes. Could take a bath, at the very least.. With another nod, he turned away. "See you tomorrow, then. I'll be here." After getting a room and paying for a bath, he cleaned himself and retreated to his room for the night, the silence of the room making it difficult for him to sleep, even with his companion resting beside him. @here comes psycho

As the sun slowly drifted further above the horizon and spread a warm blanket of light across the land, Fionn stepped out of the sanctuary’s main building, his eyes threatening to close with each passing second. Even with as early as it was, he still managed to make himself look presentable with a deep blue dress shirt and matching trousers, deep colored hair combed back neatly. If anyone would have come across him, they would have taken him as someone who was going to a dressy festival event. Although he was a morning person, as one should be in his opinion, Fionn had a bit of trouble holding in his tired yawns and forcing his eyes marked with exhaustion to stay open. In truth, he had very little sleep the night before. He always did every night before he left the sanctuary for business. However, with the change in hiring the night before, his concerns kept his mind running all night and caused him to toss and turn in his bed for hours. “Easy, Farrell, Easy.” He muttered to himself, running his fingers over his eyes and then pinching the bridge of his large, hooked nose. “Just show him the grounds, leave him with trainers and leave. They’ll figure it out! Can’t be that hard for a brute like him to figure out. By the time you get back, he’ll be one of the best stable hands on the grounds!” @Cecil

Tobat wasn't much of a morning person, but he knew how to follow orders. Farrel wanted him awake at dawn, ready to go, so he was awake and ready as the sun split the night sky and spread light like a wildfire, consuming the darkness of night as if it were mere kindling. Like before, his tattoo was resting on the back of his hand and seemed to be turning its 'head' to watch every possible angle it could see from where it was. "Easy, boy.." Carle mumbled under his breath. "We don't gotta watch over our shoulders any more. We're not on the battlefield." While Carle was damaged by his time in the wars to the south, he knew that his companion was far more paranoid than him. After all, if Carle were to die, the creature within the tattoo would die as well. They were linked in that way. It was different if the creature died, though. If it died, he'd feel the effects for three to six months as his mind worked through the shock, and it'd be possible that he'd be hurting mentally for quite a while, but he'd survive. A cruel irony. Leaning back in his chair, Carle took another sip of his drink and eyed the door, waiting for Farrel to arrive. @here comes psycho

Concerns continued to swarm like hornets in Fionn’s head, clouding his memories as he knocked on the deep colored wood of the sanctuary’s enchanted carriage, springing its magic to life as he muttered the name of the inn into the grain. As he sat down on the comfortable green seats inside, the carriage spurred foreword and down the rocky roads into town. The ride was by no means a long one, but with how fast Fionn’s mind was running as he watched the land outside the window come in and out of view it felt like hours. No matter how many bumps he counted nor how many times he clasped and y clasped a button, he still couldn’t help the instinctive bouncing in his leg. Why was he so worried? This ‘Tobat’ wasn’t even his problem. It was the head keeper’s, and surely they’ll be able to keep him from any…unpleasantries. The carriage pulled to a stop in front of the inn, and Fionn took a deep breath as he stepped out. In, two three four; out, two three four. Just put on the mask, he thought as he spoke with the innkeeper to find Carle. The man shouldn’t be too hard to find, and Fionn always felt safe behind the charming persona he presented. @Cecil

Considering the fact that he was sitting in the common room, Carle was not a hard man to find. He stood out like a sore thumb.. And just about looked it, too. When Farrel approached, Carle nodded to him and stood, leaving the remains of his breakfast behind. "..Good morning, sir." Despite his large size, he was very soft-spoken when he interacted with Fionn. "Let us be off. No need to waste time when I'm sure you have more important things to be doing than sitting in a tavern." He motioned to the redheaded man to lead the way, not knowing exactly where he wanted to take him. Even if he was wearing the same clothes as before, there was obviously less dirt on the man's hands or face, so at the very least he had bathed. Though, it could be hard to believe on the smell alone.. But Carle didn't have any other clothes to change into, so he didn't exactly have any other options. @here comes psycho

it wasn’t too long before Fionn found the battle-worn fellow and greeted him with a firm handshake and a charming smile. However, he would have preferred a bit more cleanliness in Tabot. After all, he knew first hand how big the role clothes played in introductions. Oh well, at least he smelled better than the day before. “Ah, yes! The carriage is just outside, and lucky you, the scenery is absolutely gorgeous in the morning! At some points I wish I were like you!” He rambled, his usual businessman persona back and running once again. It was as if he hadn’t been giving into the swirling anxieties in his head just moments ago. ‘Years of practice’ he always said, though it always seemed too natural to be a skill built up over time. It was then that he realized what he had finished on, and he pursed his lips, eyebrows furrowing together as he mulled over how his words could have been taken. “Not in the dirt, grime and…obvious trauma—No, I mean in the sense of seeing the views for the first time again.” Just as he finished he opened the door of the tavern and revealed the beautifully deep-colored carriage. @Cecil

He nodded as Fionn talked about the scenery, but raised his exposed eyebrow at the man's ramblings about not wanting to have all the 'dirt' and 'obvious trauma'. "I wouldn't wish what I went through on my worst enemy, let alone a new acquaintance." With a shake of his head, Carle stepped outside to look at the carriage. It was much fancier than anything he'd ever riden in before, which was mostly just a rough wooden cart pulling other wounded soldiers off of the front lines after a long, brutal battle. Stepping forward, he ran his hand along the side of the carriage for several seconds, clearly lost in his own world. After a few seconds, he shook himself out of it. "Oh, sorry about that.. I just kinda get lost in my head every so often. It won't happen on the job, I promise." Looking from Fionn to the carriage, he nodded slowly. "Okay. We should probably get going." @here comes psycho

Fionn was just about to step into the carriage and whisper their destination into the grain before he noticed that Carle had disappeared from behind him. He blinked awkwardly at the scene, watching as the weathered hand of his new acquaintance slowly felt every peak and crevice of the wood. Most of the time when he rode with people, they wouldn’t cast a second glance at what they were riding. Yet this man gazed upon the carriage as if it had been a long lost loved one. It fazed him a little bit, yet he regained composure. “Let’s hope it doesn’t.” He muttered as he stepped into the carriage and sat on one of the seats inside. Once the building of a man had settled inside as well, he closed the carriage door and proceeded to tell the vehicle where to go. The fields, meadows, and rolling hills filled the windows as the wheels carried them along the rocky path. The sun cast a warm, golden glow, contrasting against the green grasses and dark Stoney walls of neighboring owned lands. It was calming, almost like reading a book on the porch of an old cottage at dawn with no plans for the day. If you could manage to squeeze the truth out of him, Fionn might admit that he sometimes finds himself dozing to the peace of the ride when his mind wasn’t preoccupied with work or other anxieties. However, it was clear this was not one of those times, as he stared out the window attentively, as if he were studying every blade of dew-covered grass to counting each swirl in the clouds above. @Cecil

Few people cared about what they rode where, unless it was about status like with nobility, or if they needed a strong mount, like for commanders on the battlefield. Him, though? Carriages were more than just transportation. They were the mark of hardworking beasts like horses, and as he'd said to Fionn before, he had a kinship with beasts, and he knew that they were smarter than people gave them credit for. When Fionn spoke again, it shook the ex-soldier out of his absent-minded interaction with the carriage, and with a quick shake of his head and another apology, he climbed into the carriage after his new acquaintance. The quiet, peaceful hills that made up the scenery around here were unfamiliar to Carle, who was far more used to the rough, terrible conditions of the battlefield, especially after rain passed over and made the fields full of mud and blood, sweat and tears. It wasn't long before Carle seemed lost again, running his fingers over that unnaturally moving ink on the back of his hand once again. No, he wasn't there any more, he needn't worry about fighting in those wars anymore. "..Anything I should know before I go into this place?" It was a simple question on the surface, but an important one. Too many times, he'd been told that things would be simple. And then people died. @here comes psycho

Fourty-seven, fourty-eight, fourty-nine, fifty, fifty-one... With each passing fence post, Fionn added one more to his imaginary roster. A silly thing upon first impression, but a necessity distraction at that moment. In fact, it was such an effective tactic that the man almost didn’t hear Carle. Yet the real question now was: what should he say? What was there to say? He was only tossing the beaten Minotaur of a man into the lions’ den with nothing but the clothes on his back and the hope he was as good with creatures as he claimed. The thought made him inwardly cringe, but it was hidden behind a well-placed clearing of his throat. “Keep your manners in mind and your tongue in check. The head-keeper will help train you to handle hippogriffs correctly. Just…promise to keep a level head around them.” He replied, one of his hands reaching up to nervously itch his chin. “I’ll see to it that you will have a place to sleep by this evening, though I will tell you that I am to travel on business at noon.” @Cecil

He waited patiently for Fionn to respond to his question, unbothered by the fact that he seemed not to comprehend Carle's question for several seconds. If anyone was going to get annoyed at people not responding, it wasn't going to be Carle. He knew that people could get lost in their own worlds, him especially. Nodding along with everything Fionn was saying. "You need not worry about me, sir. You'll see no problem with my manners or my tongue, sir." Following orders had been drilled into him for years by his commanders. Staying silent and doing what he was told was something he had plenty of experience with. "I'll do my best to do what's asked of me, sir." Where else could he go, should he fail at this? Nobody would want a half-blind soldier for more than simple manual labor. He wasn't smart, nor was he particularly skilled. Animals and fighting were all he'd known for several years at this point. He just wanted somewhere safe to stay, where he had a hot meal and a warm bed. That's all he needed to be happy. @here comes psycho

The man hummed with a nod, finding the repetitive “sir” to be a little strange. No doubt Carle was a soldier. Either that, or he just had a terrible fight and was trying to impress him with his manners. Then again, he too had fallen into the habit of repeating terms and titles when he was around those of high status. Thankfully he had yet to meet anyone beyond other company heads. The carriage rolled to a stop, and the door opened for the two. Fionn tried to suppress a nervous gulp, but he pushed foreword to exit and begin showing the newest employee around the grounds. “Welcome, Carle Tabot, to Bitterroot Grove!” He said, turning and lifting his arms in presentation of the main building. It was a homey-looking building, looking more like an enlarged cottage than a place where a majority of business and finance are tended to. The greenest of ivy had creeped up the outer walls, contrasting against the stone and adding to its overall charm. Just outside, there was a couple simple rocking chairs. One was elegantly carven, the wood swirling and folding in the most beautiful of ways. Yet the other one was quite different. The seat was more weathered and the the designs were only to be described as mediocre. Jagged carvings and harsh chips were littered across the object. @Cecil

The man's reptitive use of 'sir' was a result of years as a soldier, always referring to his superiors as 'sir'. It was a habit that he didn't think he'd be able to break, because of how much it'd been beaten into him in his early days of training. In his mind, Fionn and however the caretaker was were his superiors. Therefore, they would be called 'sir', or 'ma'am' if they were a woman. The ex-soldier climbed out of the carriage, careful to avoid hitting his head on the way out. With the welcome from Fionn, Carle nodded along, looking over the main building. It was much different than buildings he was used to being in, which were mostly cramped barracks or little more than a rough hide tent. "..Where will I be sleeping?" The question was important to him, and he fully expected where he slept to be somewhere rough and of poor quality, perhaps a loft in the barn or a small shack on the edge of the grounds. "And where is the caretaker?" @here comes psycho

Straight to the point, wasn’t he. As often as Fionn had handled people who acted similar, he couldn’t help but be caught off guard. It was one thing to head straight to business with a merchant of possible sponsor, but coming from an ex-soldier felt different. Nonetheless, Fionn cleared his throat and began to speak again. “Ah, well, although the grounds are not commonly used for housing many employees, I took it upon myself to set your arrangements to be in the attic of this building. That is until a better alternative can be provi—“ Just then, a loud screeching was heard from the semi-distant barn, causing Fionn’s attention to whip toward the source. A few stable hands were hanging onto the fences of one of the gated areas, seemingly watching something intently. Some looked to be passing something between themselves, others seemed to be shouting in attempts to help. The sight just made Fionn sigh and pinch the bridge of his nose, seemingly both in irritation and out of nervousness. Better to get the introductions and scolding out of the way now before he left. It would have been torture to leave and dread returning to face the problem, that is if he’d ever had the guts to return. “Speak of the devil.” He muttered under his breath before he tossed a strained smile onto his face. “Shall we meet your superior?” @Cecil

He saw the slight reaction when he asked his question. "..Sorry." He went quiet after that, letting Fionn speak. Maybe he should've just let Fionn take him to wherever he wanted. The attic would be better than the muddy ground, at least. "I can stay in the attic. I don't mind." In the end, Carle didn't need much at all. Food and shelter, that's all. The quality of both didn't matter to him. After all, as a soldier, shelter was hard to come by and food was little more than soup or hard bread. The loud screeching made Carle freeze, his hand twitching toward where his weapon had been in the past. Screeching meant creatures. Creatures meant danger. That was the rule of the battlefield. Slowly, he forced himself to relax. "..It sounds angry. Very angry." His body remained tense, but his voice didn't show it. He wasn't on the battlefield anymore.. His body needed to understand that. At once, he nodded a very stiff nod. @here comes psycho

A skinny but able-bodied form fell to the ground with a thud and a groan, the shadow of a magical creature hovering above him casting an eerie tone over his defeat. “Damned beast! I’ve done all you asked!” He yelled as he rolled out of the way before he was ripped to shreds by a set of strong, sharp claws. The sound of mighty wings flapping filled his ears as he scrambled up to retreat a safe distance from the creature, his opponent squawking in retaliation, as if teasing him to try again. The stable hand heard his name called through cheers of encouragement as he panted, his form covered in dirt and mud. It was much too early for this, but someone had to start taming the temper on the stubborn beast. The creature screeched once again, seeming to read his thoughts. And by the looks of it, it took major offense to it. It reared into its back hooves, wings splayed out to appear bigger before it charged toward the stable hand, in which, at that point, all confidence had left. He sprinted toward the edge of the pen, eyes widened to the point where it looked almost unnatural. The sound of rope drew his attention behind him, and he found the beast held back just enough to let him escape unharmed…mostly. Fionn led the newest employee to the pen, knowing fully well that the head keeper would come soon enough. Crowds usually meant less work was done or some form of complete idiocy was being done, at least according to them. “Say hello to your main work fiend.” He said, gesturing to the tethered creature in the center of the pen. @Cecil

He heard the shouts and the tone the stablehand used when speaking to the beast, and what a beautiful beast it was. Black like the night, yet speckled with gold like the stars. The stablehand thought himself superior to the beast, and hadn't proven himself stronger. The beast was a fighter, Carle could tell. Standing at the edge of the pen, he watched the stablehand run for his life, only for the hippogriff to be restrained by a rope. There was a sense of anger in the hippogriff's eyes, since its prey had been taken from it so simply by the rope. The stablehand who ran simply.. didn't know how to act around such a proud, majestic warrior like this one. Immediately, as the stablehand was catching his breath, Carle climbed over the fence surrounding the pen and approached the hippogriff with no fear in his eyes. Hunters could see fear, and would latch onto that. However, there was still respect in Carle's body language, as he truly did respect this beast. He could tell from the look in its eyes, by its talons, by its fiery personality that it was something worthy of respect. It was a fighter, just like him. Someone who could truly understand him. Quietly, he spoke to it. A deeply respectful tone, not entirely unlike the tone he used when speaking to Fionn, came from the mountain of a man as he approached with his hands up. Despite his size, he wanted the beast to know that he was no threat to it. "You've got a fire in you.. I can see it. They're not listening to you.. They don't understand what you want. I can see it, though. You and I.. We're not that different." Did he expect people to call him insane for approaching the obviously angered beast without any proper protective gear? Of course. But he had told Fionn that he had a kinship with beasts, largely due to his bond with his companion. Slowly, he reached out to it, allowing it the chance to decide whether or not it wanted to cooperate with him today or not. @here comes psycho

The redhead was too preoccupied with searching for the head stable hand that he hadn’t noticed the giant had disappeared from his side. By the time he had noticed the lack of beaten muscle beside him, Carle had already made his way dangerously close to the challenging beast in the pen. All decorum fell from his face in that moment. “Tabot, get back!” He bellowed desperately as he leaned over the wooden fencing. At first, the hippogriff seemed confused, if anything hesitant on the new figure in front of it. It’s head tilted, cold black feathers shimmering in the light of the morning sun, yet it flapped its wings and trotted a little further away from Tabot. A squawk resembling a growl sounded from the creature’s throat, but it seemed be calm as long as it kept a safe distance away. That was until it heard the cries from the businessman, and it’s warm golden eyes widened in a fearful defense as it reared, an alarmed screech pierced through the ears of the surrounding witnesses. Claws sharper than any dagger swiped at Carle, slashing through the air in his direction, but nothing ever reached him. Instead, a force from his side pushed him out of the way, leaving only a light cut on his sleeve and barely broken skin. Thankfully no blood. “Socair tú féin, míle leithscéal, a chara!” A light voice shouted above the chaos toward the hippogriff. @Cecil

He heard the shouts of surprise from Fionn, but it didn't matter to him. The stablehands didn't understand how to face this beast properly, since they lacked respect for it and thought it was just a mere stupid beast. Carle did not push forward when the hippogriff backed away from him. "It's alright, friend." He spoke calmly against the shouts of others, trying his best to not seem like a threat despite his massive size. He could see how the shouts made it defensive, and it attacked purely to try and protect itself. Before any injury could happen, however, something shoved him to the side, and Carle stumbled backwards. He felt a bristling under his skin, and his hand quickly covered a part of his arm, mumbling something to presumably himself. Everyone around must think him a psycho, walking up to a clearly defensive hippogriff, nearly getting his head chopped off, and then grabbing somewhere completely different and mumbling to himself. After collecting himself, Carle turned to look in the direction of the voice, the bristling fading slowly. @here comes psycho

The new figure kept their hands up, speaking firmly yet still soft enough to not seem forceful. They were thin, yet from the looks of their arms they were strong. Red wavy hair, more faded than Fionn’s, was tied up messily yet tightly. Thankfully for all parties, she knew what she was doing, and the hippogriff began to relax a little more. It huffed briefly before flapping away to a he opposing side of the pen. The new worker then turned once she knew it was safe for them to do so, yet her eyes didn’t show any form of kindness that they had shown the creature. Nonetheless, they knelt down and began to scan his body for any injuries. Well…any that came from the hippogriff. “Are you alright? Any cuts?” She asked without looking into his eyes. @Cecil

This was someone who cared for the animals more than they cared about people. That was understandable. People had a tendency to be more violent than any beast, and for far worse reasons. When she asked if he was alright, he simply nodded. "..I'm fine. No cuts." Even if this woman had no interest in being kind, Carle would remain respectful to her, bowing his head to her as she inspected him for any wounds. "..You're the caretaker, I guess?" To be honest, he fully expected this woman to think him an idiot. Most people did. And if you needed to be smart to handle hippogriffs, then she'd likely have him removed. If that happened, he'd just move on to a different job. If not, then he'd work to prove he could handle this job. @here comes psycho

The woman never responded, simply inspected every part of Carle that could have been exposed to any talon injury. When she was satisfied that only his shirt was a victim of the creature, she finally looked up into his eye. “What in the bleeding hell do you think you’re doing, waltzing up to a pissed off hippogriff like that?! Even the most dim witted here know you don’t do that!” She shouted, raising her hand and aggressively flicking her finger between his brows. To think he could have gotten hurt if she wasn’t around, the thought of having yet another person despising the creatures she loved sending shivers down her spine. She lifted herself up and dusted off her clothes from both the tackling and the once-over, though it didn’t do much. The browns and tans of the fabrics were already covered in splotches of dirt, probably even permanent stains from previous work days. Old, worn out work boots were caked with dried mud, concealing their true age. “No answers until you explain yourself, sir!” @Cecil

Once again, he felt the bristling underneath his skin, and his hand went tight over a spot over his arm. With all the shouting, the swipe at him by the hippogriff, and now this woman flicking him between the brows, there was several things that his companion wasn't happy with. Turning away from the woman for several seconds, he mumbled quietly again. "Everything'll be alright, boy, you need to calm down.. Nothing's going to happen to either one of us.." Since Daire was right next to him, she could see how he seemed to be.. petting his arm and speaking to something as if he were talking to a dear friend. Once the bristling faded once again, he turned back to the woman. "I meant to cause no trouble, ma'am. I just saw one of the other stablehands nearly get shredded by the creature because of all the noise and a lack of respect for it. He treated it like an animal, like someone would treat a horse or a dog they barely cared about. Had people not shouted, I doubt I would have been attacked." It was clear that he did not place blame on the hippogriff for his attack. In fact, he understood that the loud noises and harsh tones were what were setting it off. "I'm sorry for any trouble I've caused, ma'am." @here comes psycho

the woman stared at him for a moment, a flash of confusion when noticing his odd reaction. But it was of no concern to her. She had met many a person with odd coping habits. Though she had to admit, muttering softly to an arm as if it were a crying child was a new one. To his explanation, though, she scoffed. “A lot of good that did. Not even a nod of your head in greeting. Any trained caretaker knows you bow and ask for acceptance before approaching a hippogriff, especially an aggressive one!” The hippogriff from across the pen squawked in their direction, and the woman gave him a look that looked like a mix of pity and apologies. Afterwards, she turned back to Carle. “Head to the office in the main building, I’ll handle you later.” As she finished speaking, her eyes trailed over towards Fionn, no doubt catching on that this was the new hire he spoke of. @Cecil

He wasn't a trained caretaker, though. Not yet, at least, and with the way she spoke, it didn't seem like he'd get much of a chance. Without another word, he nodded and walked off to the main building, keeping his head down and not looking at anyone as he passed. Disobeying your superiors in the military got you flogged and removed on a good day. Flogged and forced to fight on a bad one. He'd gone through that several times in his life, and since it didn't seem like they were hurting for stablehands, he didn't think that he'd be staying here. Carle moved into the office and stood off to the side quietly, ignoring the tingling sensation along his arm as the tattoo moved across his skin, his single eye staring at the ground in an awkward silence. @here comes psycho

“who on earth do you think you are, hiring an untrained lump of bruises and muscle!” They shouted toward the man, leading the way to the main building as Fionn scuttled behind her. The damn fool! If she wasn’t there, who knows how bad it could have gotten!

Fionn trotted up in front of her stopping her as she tried to enter the building. “Now, calm down. He has the foundations of being a good caretaker. Strong build, not too scared of a fight, plus he mentioned he has a way with beasts!” He said, but he was shoved aside with a disappointed grunt. “Besides, who better to train someone than you, dear Dáire?” That must have pinched a nerve as she whipped around, glaring holes right through his skull. “Don’t you ‘dear Dáire’ me! The hippogriff could have gotten hurt, he could have gotten hurt, the entire sanctuary could have been compromised and you think this is something to be blown off? You bragged on an on about the hire being a fantastically trained caretaker and everything, even admitting you didn’t have to flirt with her just to appeal to her interest in the job! Well I hate to tell you that He isn’t what you call a ‘trained hippogriff caretaker’!” Even as she berated him, he could still tell there was at least a little bit of an impression left from Tabot. If just a little bit. “Give him a chance, will you? He’s—“ Dáire opened to office door, cutting him off. @Cecil

He could hear the shouting as he stood in the office, Fionn tried to advocate for him. Deep down, though, Carle had a feeling it'd be useless. The woman was right, he was just an untrained lump of bruises and muscles. He had no education, no particular useful skills outside of his strength and his ability to follow directions. He knew that, compared to this supposed other hire, he was absolutely useless. He'd been told that several times throughout his life, even before he became a soldier. When he was a child, Carle was always clumsy, which led to him causing more harm than good when he tried to help. As he grew older, he strove to hone his body to improve upon that, but that came at the cost of his early education. And on top of that, he wasn't all that bright to begin with, leading him to not have many options once he became an adult. Then wars broke out in Europe, kingdoms fighting kingdoms for land on each other's boundaries, and Carle was dragged into it as an experiment, forming a connection with his companion and becoming a beast of a man on the battlefield. But, once again, that came at a cost. Everything always had a cost. When Daire slammed the door open, Carle was staring forward, his expression showing a small frown and a quiet sadness in his eye, barely noticeable. If things didn't work out here, he had no idea where he'd go yet. Somewhere had to have need of physical labor.. @here comes psycho

The woman stormed into the office, barely even looking at the man in the corner before snapping around and aggressively gesturing for Fionn to come inside. “It’s come to my unfortunate attention that you are the new hire, yes?” She asked him. Now that he was out of harm’s way, her tone was much more controlled, than before. Although still firm and cold, it was evident that there was more restraint in her frustration. “I hope you don’t fully believe in what my absolute fool of a brother told you about anything here.” Brother. A family business. Just from the look on Fionn’s face, he didn’t like the mention of it. In that moment neither did she. “Hippogriffs are not beasts, but they aren’t mild either. They have the potential to kill under the wrong capabilities. If I hadn’t knocked your rump out of the way, you could have been ripped to shreds.” She began to step closer to Carle, boots thumping softly on the floor as she crossed her arms over her chest. “What have you cared for in the past?” @Cecil

"..You don't seem to happy to have me." He remarked, the friendly tone of his voice that Fionn had seen replaced with.. something far different. It was clear from the tone of his voice that, should this go south, he had absolutely no idea where he'd go. He couldn't go back south, since fighting was all that awaited him there. "I.. make it a habit to see things for myself. Fancied words of better lands do little for me." That's what everyone had always been talking about, claiming land for their lords in an attempt to get a better life, possibly land of their own, so that they wouldn't have to serve any more. They were all fools, and he was one just the same. "..They're far smarter than most of what I've encountered.. I can tell by the look in their eyes." He replied quietly, his fingers fidgeting nervously, which could be seen as very strange. "Very strong, and they don't take kindly to loud noises. I'm still confident that I would have been fine, had others not shouted." This was the moment of truth. "..I have little experience taking care of animals in a setting such as this, but.. I have a sharp kinship with animals, more than most people, because of my companion." He kneeled down slowly, pulling up his sleeve to reveal the tattoo that covered it.. And was moving across his skin. "Come on out, boy."

Suddenly, as if it were paint being washed away by the rain, the ink fell from Carle's skin, quickly growing and transforming, until a large wolf stood beside the ex-soldier, staring at Fionn and Daire with piercing blue eyes, and he took a couple of steps in front of Carle, almost as if he were ready to protect the man at a moment's notice.

"..This is my companion, Tempest. He's bonded to me, and I him. We're brothers, in a sense.. And he is the reason I claim to have a kinship with animals, since his instincts have become my own." @here comes psycho

The man jumped back, eyes wide as he saw the creature form right in front of his eyes. Not only did he have a rare moving tattoo, it was a hidden creature in disguise! No wonder Tabot seemed more creature than man. “You’re bonded to that?” He asked in shocked, gulping when he felt the icy stare of the wolf. To think that is was an unassuming tattoo just moments ago. It felt unreal, even with the amount of magic he had seen.

On the other hand, the woman looked at the wolf in awe, slowly crouching to the floor in order to look him in the eye. She had read about creature bonding in some old caretaking manuals, even heard rumors of their place in the battlefield. But never before had she seen it with her own eyes. “Pleasure to meet you, Tempest.” She said softly, placing a hand over her heart and bowing her head in greeting. Dáire then stood back up, averting her attention back to the man of the hour. “Though creature bonding can only get you so far. Hippogriffs hold themselves to gentlemanly standards unlike other creatures. Brute strength isn’t the only thing you will rely on here.” It was obvious she was still wary, but also was it obvious that she truly cared for the sanctuary. She was determined to keep the safety of the hippogriffs in mind as well as keep the stable hands out of harm’s way. After a moment or two, she sighed softly. “If you were to stay here—and mind you I say if—You will follow instructions to a T, not one foot out of line. Your clearly seen muscle will be useful, but the most important trait in caring for hippogriffs is etiquette. Can you do that?” @Cecil

The man nodded to Fionn's question. "The lord I served wanted a handful of us to have bonded beasts to increase our ferocity." A frown came to his face, and his eye turned away from them. "Not many survived the bonding process fully intact." He could still remember those who couldn't fully bond to their companions, turned into savage beasts that nearly killed half the soldiers guarding the tent. Apparently the lord had never understood the risk behind bonding. When Daire began to speak again, Carle turned his attention back to her, watching her greet his companion with respect, much akin to himself. "..I have accepted that I will need to learn, ma'am. No matter what job I find myself in, they're all a far cry from the battlefield. It will take time to get used to it, but I will." His voice was quiet, his shoulders slumped in a way that said he didn't believe that she'd accept him, despite everything he's said to this point. He was an uneducated brute, with no class or knowledge of etiquette, as she said. Hell, his past injuries made him far less of a man than most, since he couldn't even see all that well. "..I will try, ma'am." @here comes psycho

One beat…Two beats…Three beats…hours, days, years seemed to pass by as the woman scrutinized every inch of his face. No crevice in his skin was left unseen. Behind those sharp eyes was conflict. One one hand, she needed the help on the grounds and it was especially useful that he already had a good build. However, on the other hand, there still ran the risk of injury or death. According to him, he was plenty accustomed to violence, and he showed it too with all the scars he bore. An irritated sigh blew through her lips as she looked away. There was really no easy answer, was there? “Alright.” She muttered. “I’ll give you a chance, but you better watch your step.” @Cecil

The soldier was used to scrunity. His commander made sure that all of them were in tip-top shape all the time, inspecting their equipment to watch for rust or unnecessary damage that could easily be repaired by the smiths. However, it was never this form that was under inspection so much.. His tired, damaged face along with his sheer brutish size.. He wasn't a fit for this job, was he? The people here wanted refined, strong people.. Not an uneducated soldier.. But when she said that she'd give him a chance, a relieved sigh escaped his lips. At least he wouldn't need to wander the realm looking for jobs. "Thank you, ma'am. I will do my best to make it so you don't regret this." He hoped. @here comes psycho

The red headed man on the side huffed a breath of relief, relishing in the fact that there wouldn’t be too much trouble once he left, which had him checking the sun. Clap! “Lovely! now that we have that settled, I have a ship to catch so I will see you two in a few weeks!” He said, speaking almost incoherently as he fixed his appearance and squirmed his way through the door, much to the distaste of his sibling.

The head keeper nearly erupted into flames right there as she tried her hardest to squeeze in a counter to Fionn’s words. And yet she was only met with the door shutting as he escaped the tense situation. A small growl was heard rumbling from Dáire’s throat, but she still proceeded to turn back to the man in front of her and calming the temptation to wrong her brother’s neck. “I suppose you would like to take a look at the grounds unless you’re weary from travel, yes?” She asked, hands moving to rest on her hips. @Cecil

The soldier watched Fionn worm his way out of the situation, slipping out the door and shutting it behind him, claiming he has 'a ship to catch' and would be gone for 'a few weeks'. Turning back to the woman, he put a hand on Tempest as his fur bristled as her growling. "..A look at the grounds would be good, yes." Kneeling down, he held his hand out to Tempest, who formed back into the tattoo that weaved its way around his body so the head was poking out of his collar. Carle wasn't someone who knew geography all that well. He could follow directions to go here or there, but specific places were harder for him, due to his lacking intelligence. His memory was honestly not the best, so he'd have to try extra hard to impress the keeper if he was going to stay. @here comes psycho