wings of feathers, tails and fin tips

[amo]

Who: Vash & YOU?
What: January (+ backdated December) catch-all, includes an open aurora: nascent prompt.
When: All throughout this (and the previous) month.
Where: The Church, Milton's surroundings.
Content Warnings: Will be added as necessary here if not mentioned in the thread itself.



prompts & starters ↯

( plotting | permissions & sing-specific info | gusts )

feel free to hit me up on the plotting post or plurk if you want a personalized starter!
i'm down for any wildcard prompts too & always happy to match format.

Comments

[bigbaddy]

[ Today is just an entire circus, apparently.

Because yes, Bigby sure did discover the tracks in the snow. He keeps close tabs on all the tracks around town at all times, so there's absolutely no way these odd ones wouldn't stand out to him. And considering how much of a man of action he is, he immediately decided to follow them, even though there's a chance - like so often in Milton - that this is something dangerous.

So the man prepares himself for something potentially dangerous. He's fully ready for a fight when he follows the tracks out of town, into the start of the woods, and...

.. at the end of said tracks is Vash. Or rather-- a Vash who's making a valiant effort to try and move to hide behind a tree the moment he heard Bigby approaching, only to trip and fall onto his face in the snow in the process.

Talk about an anticlimax when you came ready for a fight.

Maybe it's why there's something a little deadpan in Bigby's voice when he speaks up with: ]

What are you even doing?

[ To be fair, his first remark actually isn't about those huge wings Vash is dragging along with him. M-Maybe that's.. a win..? ]

[amo]

[ The sound of approaching footsteps from behind him has Vash's attention diverting from going about his business to scrambling for cover before he can be seen. At least that had been the plan. In his haste to get behind the nearest tree — not even bothering to look over his shoulder to see who's coming his way — he's not exactly mindful of where he's stepping and so he completely misses the root that's only barely sticking out above the snow. His foot catches on it and in his already rushed forward momentum, it's all that's needed to send him toppling over face-first into the snow in an ungraceful tumble of flailing limbs and rustling feathers.

Maybe the pathetic display is enough for whoever it is to take pity instead of being afraid and—

Oh, that's a familiar voice. The sound of which both sparks the joy of recognition and the immediate dread of someone who knows him seeing him in his changed state. His stomach is kept from dropping entirely by the fact that Bigby's deadpan first question isn't about his appearance, giving a tiny spark of hope as Vash lifts his head and peers over cautiously. ]

Uh, snow inspection...?

[ Quite possibly one of the worst excuses he's ever come up with, but he's rolling with it. Anything to distract from the feathery mess and delay the other inevitable question. ]

It's nice and fluffy. Will cushion your fall nicely. I give it a ten out of ten.

[bigbaddy]

[ Yup.

That sure is Vash, Bigby thinks. Looking pretty different today, but absolutely Vash in every single way - from the way he tripped and fell over into the snow to the way he answers with this, of all things, under the current circumstances. It's as if the other never truly changes, no matter what ridiculous things happen in this place.

It makes him wonder whether those wings truly are part of the other, or just something this place forced upon him. It wouldn't be the strangest effect of the Aurora Bigby has seen so far, after all. And he's pretty sure Vash would react in this exact way, regardless of which of those two options is the truth. ]

Is it the wings? [ Yes. Bigby is very much casually addressing those, thank you very much. It's not like this man has ever been indirect in his life, and he sure isn't about to start now.

Though his tone is indeed casual. Like he isn't bothered by the sight at all. ]

I mean, if they're making you fall, you just need to shift your weight a little. Don't lean too much to the front, or you'll collapse under the weight. [ Take it from someone who had to get used to walking on two legs for so long, Vash. He's got so much experience, even if it's not with wings specifically. ]

[amo]

[ If there's one thing Vash can be reliably counted on no matter what, it's to be a moron.

Vash flinches ever so slightly at the direct mention of his wings. Count on Bigby to waste no time and be utterly blunt about it... it's not a bad reaction though. In fact, the tone is downright casual and there's not even a hint of apprehension to be found. Bigby isn't batting an eye at his changed appearance, it seems. That's already a relief enough, but what fully quells the desire to go scuttling off into the woods to get out of sight is what his friend (because that's what Bigby is no matter what the other man might think) goes on to say. People not being too fazed by his inhuman looks isn't entirely new by now — just remaining novel compared to the reactions he's used to from back home — but getting advice? That certainly is.

Vash twists around and pushes himself up into a proper sit with the soft rustling of feathers as his wings shift obligingly and the gentle crunching of snow underneath him. A slight shake of his head gets the remnants of snow still clinging to his face and hair out of his direct vision before he's left peering up at Bigby curiously. Sure, he could admit it wasn't the wings in the way Bigby is thinking, but Vash is far more interested in the question now lingering in his mind. ]

You have experience?

[ Because from the way Bigby talks, it sounds like it. He never suspected Bigby to be anything other than human, so color him very intrigued. ]

[bigbaddy]

Do I look like I got huge wings?

[ No, clearly. And it isn't entirely what Vash meant, and Bigby knows it, but apparently the man just can't pass up even a single opportunity to make a wiseass comment in response to what the other is saying..

At least it doesn't sound unfriendly. Maybe a little gruff, but surely Vash is used to that coming from Bigby at this point. It's just a natural thing about the man's tone.

He approaches the spot where Vash is sitting, until he's close enough to ruffle some more snow out of the other's hair. ]

I just know this entire human bipedal experience is awful to adjust to. Unless it's the other way around for you, and you've been trying to get used to the extra weight. [ He doesn't know what exactly Vash is. Sure, the way the other looks is something he easily could have encountered back home, but in such a myriad of shapes that Bigby has no clue what to assume. Maybe some bird-human hybrid? Or a creature half-stuck in a human form, like a gryphon?

Also, yes, Bigby's words are still heavily implying he is indeed not just a human - though he seems to be a little indirect about it. Maybe he's waiting for a direct question. ]

[amo]

Did I look like someone who sprouts wings before?

[ As much as he's used to Bigby's gruff demeanor by now, there's still some pointed sass to Vash's own retort; two can play a game of wiseassery. Looks can be deceiving, obviously. Vash for one seems perfectly human whenever the Aurora isn't around to draw out his true nature for the world to see. It's not a stretch of the imagination to consider that might be the case for other Interlopers as well. And, apparently, Bigby too.

Vash's face scrunches up briefly when his hair gets ruffled free from snow — people (namely his brothers) sure have been doing that a lot lately, like he's a kid and not almost two centuries old — and his feathers puff out slightly in his displeasure. There's something distinctly petulant about how he looks up at Bigby once the ruffling is done, arms crossing over his chest. ]

Sure sounds like experience to me.

[ Vash could ask directly and part of him is very much tempted to do so, curious and nosy as he usually is. The thing is, his relationship with his own inhumanity is complicated and mired with self-loathing and if anyone might feel the way he does about what they are, then he would rather not put them on the spot. So instead he sighs and elaborates a little. ]

It's— I'm not used to them sticking around this long. They come out during the Aurora and normally I just stay inside, but...

[ He's tipping his head back to glare up at the heavens above. The Aurora is lasting far longer than it ever has before and it's a pain his ass particularly. ]

[bigbaddy]

[ The man raises a single eyebrow as he looks at Vash. Because of the last thing the other says, actually, because Bigby is entirely unfazed by the petulant behaviour from the other. Please, he's used to so much worse, this is doing absolutely nothing to him!! ]

Why would you stay inside?

[ Granted, it's not like Bigby can't.. think of reasons..

If anything, it's more a rhethorical question, especially when he starts adding to it. ]

Has anyone been giving you shit about not being fully human? [ Since he assumes that's got to be it. Regular humans don't exactly grow wings, after all. Not even underneath the light of the Aurora. ] If that's the case, you gotta let me know so I can beat them up.

[ Sorry, Vash.

It's truly like you got another brother, somewhere between the hair ruffling and now this... ]

[amo]

[ There are a myriad of reasons (excuses, his brother would say) as to why Vash would stay inside while under the Aurora's influence: because someone might mistake him for a monster and attack, because it's cumbersome to move around, because he doesn't want to be seen for the inhuman creature that he truly is when he's worked so hard to fit in among humanity. Some variation of those are on the tip of his tongue, but Bigby presses on before he can respond.

And Vash is left stunned, briefly staring wide-eyed up at the other man. Maybe he shouldn't be surprised when it's obvious Bigby has taken on the role of the town's protector, but there's something about that protectiveness being extended to him on such a personal level that's... well, Vash is touched and also slightly alarmed at the promise of violence being enacted on his behalf, kind though the intentions behind it would be. He's quick to throw his hands up in a placating gesture and shake his head. ]

It's okay! Some might have been a bit startled, but you can't blame anyone for that. Mostly people have been really good about it? Better than back home anyway.

[ No one has actively tried to shoot him or thrown rocks at him yet, that's a big win! (His standards might be kind of low.) ]

I just don't want to scare anyone.

[bigbaddy]

.. you think those are scary?

[ He gestures at the wings, raising a very, very sceptical eyebrow. Granted, Bigby is used to more than your average person, but he still seems to be entirely unconvinced that wings like that could be scary to anyone at all. ]

Maybe to people who are scared of birds. [ BIGBY!! Please!! Even if you're arguing in favour of Vash being normal, maybe just.. be a little nicer about your wording, bud.. ]

Between your personality and those wings looking like nothing more than just huge fucking wings, I don't think fear is the kinda reaction anyone is going to have to you, Vash.