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| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | Florande meets up with Taeavon in Dalaran to give him a Mysterious Greatfather Winter gift. ~1700 words. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Taeavon cautiously makes his way into the beer garden with Thoridas following in tow. When Tae spots Florande he nods in greeting. He doesn't say anything yet. This could be a different night elf and he doesn't want to be rude.
Florande sits in elf form at a table in the little beer garden in the back of the Hero's Welcome. She has with her what looks like… a woven basket of flowers of some sort? It's unclear. Florande looks up and spots Taeavon, and her ears twitch upward. Her voice trembles just a touch as she says, "Taeavon Noonshade? Right? That's you?"
[Taeavon]: Yep, that's me! *Now that he's been addressed, most of Tae's shyness has magically vanished* And you're Florande Wildbloom then?
Florande's eyes trail over to the dragonhawk and she smiles, relaxing a little bit.
Thoridas rests himself on Tae's shoulder and glares at Flo.
[Florande]: Yes, Florande Wildbloom. *She reaches up to smooth down her hair. It's… a little better combed than usual, but still ragged at the ends.* Thank you for meeting me. I know it must have sounded weird. I'm sorry, I don't mean to be weird, it's just I…I..” Florande looks back at Taeavon and says in a rush. "I'myourmysteriousgreatfatherwinter."
Taeavon holds his hands out to ease her, but he looks almost as nervous himself, "Hey, easy. It's ok. This isn't weird. It's what we signed up for after all, yeah?"
[Florande]: Yeah, yeah. *Florande peers at him more closely.* Wait. You were with Velrin. I met you before. You weren't Cobalt then, I don't think?
[Taeavon]: Oh yeah that's right! I almost forgot! It's good to see you again.
[Florande]: And I'm glad you joined the Company! *Florande takes another deep breath, and smiles at him* And now we all do Winter Veil together. It's nice, right?
[Taeavon]: Me too. *Tae chuckles* I wanted to join not too long after they founded, but my mother didn't really approve. I'm glad I got to do it later though. *Tae inches closer bit by bit* I'm hoping the holiday will be a good chance to meet more people.
[Florande]: Oh, I bet so! Maybe there'll be parties. Or at least people around headquarters. There's holiday snacks there, I read in the newsletter… and I'm sorry about your mom. I talked my mom into joining Cobalt, so that worked out. And… oh. *Florande lifts the woven flower thing and holds it out towards Taeavon. At closer inspection, she seems to have used flowers in lieu of wrapping paper, and there is something more solid inside.*
[Taeavon]: Oh yeah, umm, thanks. *he sounds sincere, but he's a bit at a loss for what to do with the thing. He takes it awkwardly.* Should I open it? *Thoridas nips at Tae's hands* Hey! Cut that out.
[Florande]: You can just um… *Florande does kind of a clawing gesture, and then seems to realize Tae is probably not going to turn into a cat.* …tear it?
[Taeavon]: Right… Well here goes nothing. *Tae starts tearing off the flowers aided by a very enthusiastic dragonhawk.*
Inside is a small block of wood, higher than it is wide, balancing nicely in the palm of one’s hand. It is intricately carved, with a pair of thin, wooden dragon wings curling around the central pillar of the carving. This pillar gives an impression of spines, teeth, hooves, wings and tusks poking out at various points, though no full creature at first glance. A closer glance would show that this is a slightly more orderly carving than Florande typical constructs, as each creature is carved clearly enough to be recognizable. The creatures are simply twisted around one another, or passing through one in places, so that it is not always clear where one ends and the other begins. There’s clearly a shoveltusk, a jormungar, a yeti, a caribou, a seal, and even a little baby penguin in the corner. There may be more creatures, but it would take more examination to identify them.
Florande watches his face for his reaction. As he unwraps it, she says nervously, "I thought, since your home is in Dalaran, and Dalaran is in Northrend, and you like… I heard you like animals. Observing animals? So I made it… the animals in Northrend."
[Taeavon]: Oh wow this is so detailed… *he is enthralled by the carving. He turns it around in his hands to see all the different animals* Man, it just keeps going… Wait, what species of snake is this? I can't tell. *he points to one of the animal carvings.*
[Florande]: Mmm… I don't know the name. It was one I saw in Zul'drak? I look at animals too, but I don't always know the names of them.
[Taeavon]: I know, right? *he's still absorbed looking at the carving* There's just so many things out there. So much we still don't know…
[Florande]: I remember what they look like, what they feel like. All of these are natural animals, they are not evil or good. Some of them are destructive, but that is just how nature is sometimes. Do you like the animals in Northrend? *Florande looks at him hopefully.*
Taeavon chuckles, "Yeah I know all about that." He says sideyeing Thoridas who hisses at him.
[Taeavon]: Yeah, there are some really interesting species up here. I've been trying to research more in my spare time.
[Taeavon]: Oh! I never said thank you for the gift! Thank you so much. This is amazing.
Florande gives a little soothing rumble at Thoridas that doesn't sound quite right coming from a night elf throat. She smiles at Taeavon. "You're welcome! I was hoping you would like it. That it would be like… finding animals in a carving? And maybe there are some I have seen and included that you hadn't found yet. Or even if not, maybe it will make for a good memory."
[Taeavon]: Yeah. *Tae smiles brightly at her* I bet it'll remind me of all the time I've spent doing research here.
Florande sighs happily. "Are you still, now? Or is there another place you like to study?"
[Taeavon]: Well… when I get the chance. Things have been pretty hectic with the cataclysm. I really want to study the wildlife in Kalimdor, though. There's hardly any documentation on any of it in the Eastern Kingdoms.
[Florande]: Oh! I am very good at Kalimdor. Especially the north, but I bet there are neat creatures in the south as well. If you ever want someone to wander with.
[Taeavon]: Yeah! I'll let you know. *Tae chuckles awkwardly and scratches the back of his head*
Florande smiles nervously. "You do not have to ask me, if you don't want to. I don't mean to… um… to make it uncomfortable."
[Taeavon]: O-oh, no. That's not what I meant. I just… Well I guess I'm just not used to having people ask to tag along I guess. If that makes sense…
[Florande]: You prefer being alone in nature?
[Taeavon]: I… I'm not sure. *He takes a moment to seriously consider it. Then he glances down at the bench wondering if he should sit or not.*
Florande is still sitting.
Taeavon finally decides to sit, opting to keep a healthy distance between himself and Flo.
[Florande]: I wander around alone a lot, but I used to follow my fa… *Florande flinches a little, and restarts the sentence* I like to spend time with my friends in the druids, and my teachers. For me, it's nice to be with other people.
[Taeavon]: I get that I think. I dunno. I guess I always was fine just having fun on my own. I don't have any brothers or sisters or anything so maybe it makes sense.
[Florande]: I found out I had a brother and a sister when I was already grown, so I grew up an only child, too. But if you want to make friends, then that means you don't want to be alone now?
[Taeavon]: Well I guess I'm not quite an only child. I do have an older sister, but we didn't grow up together at all. Haven't seen her in a few years now… *Tae says a bit sullenly*
[Florande]: Oh? Like me with my new sister Larawen, but I have only ever seen her in recent years. Do you miss your sister? Maybe you should write her?
[Taeavon]: I… I sorta do. I'd go up with my dad to see one of her shows in Silvermoon every year. She didn't like my dad very much, but he tried to do his best.
[Taeavon]: I'd write her, but… I'm not sure she'd really appreciate it.
[Florande]: Maybe she wouldn't, but maybe she would? It might be she misses you too, but she doesn't write for the same reason.
[Florande]: My family had a lot of problems of people not talking to each other for a lot of years, so I feel like I am maybe a voice of reason in this.
[Taeavon]: Maybe…
[Florande]: Anyway, it is better to know things than to not know, I think. I don't really like secrets, even if the truth is painful.
[Taeavon]: Maybe you're right. I'll have to think about it.
[Florande]: Family can be… really complicated. *Florande says, a little apologetically* And not always good. But sometimes family can be more than the people you're related to by blood.
[Taeavon]: I guess that's true too. I hope I can find someone like that one day… *Tae says a bit wistfully*
[Florande]: Oh, it's great, *Florande says, smiling brightly.* My shan'do cares for me like my father should have.
Taeavon smiles at her, "I'm glad. I at least got two great parents growing up. Even if there wasn't really anyone else."
[Florande]: That's already a good start. *Florande nods, then stretches her shoulders.* Well, if you ever want a druid to wander with, let me know. I won't startle wildlife any more than your dragonhawk. But now… I should probably get back to Kalimdor myself.
[Taeavon]: Alright. I'll let you know. And thanks again for the gift! This is really cool.
Florande beams at him, clasping her hands together and bowing a little. "Happy Winter Veil."
[Taeavon]: Happy Winter Veil!