[one] video

[bird_brain]

[For a moment, Aubri stares at the locket. His ear tufts are up, his head cocked slightly to the side. When he speaks, his accent is obvious, with rolling consonants and hissed sibilants.]

My name is Aubri. Yes, I am a gryphon. [Because seriously everyone's asking.]

No, I do not breathe fire. Yes, I can fly. I prefer to fly. Yes, I know what humans are. No, I am not the one of my kind, though I may be in this world. Yes, I can speak. [Obviously.] And, finally, yes, the talons -- [he holds them up and, yep, pretty wicked looking] -- do make certain things difficult.

[Pause] Did I miss anything?

Comments

[bird_brain]

No, you do not.

[gardienne]

But... How can it be? Do you belong to the fairies? How is it that you can do more than tweet? Is it as people think I speak their English, when all I know is French?

[bird_brain]

I am speaking, not... tweeting.

[gardienne]

Yes - just so, Monsieur. Are you a Monsieur? I just do not know how a bird might talk because, you know, it is that they do not, usually.
Is it magic?

[bird_brain]

Magic formed me, yes, but magic does not control me.

[gardienne]

No?

[She doesn't really understand what he means, and probably looks a bit nonplussed, but she carries on regardless.]

Can you do magic, Mon - do I call you 'Monsieur'? It is not usual to call a bird so... but then, most birds do not talk to me like they are men either.

[bird_brain]

Call me what you wish. [He doesn't know that word.] I can do some magic. It is not much.

[gardienne]

[She claps her hands delightedly, in much the same way as a young child might.]</small] Oh, Monsieur! If it pleases you, will you show me? Please! I love to see magic!

[bird_brain]

[Aubri tilts his head to the side, considering, and then finally lifts one paw, long wicked claws held up and open. After a moment, a small light glows within them -- and then it's gone.]

As I said, not much. [Most of his spells are less flashy -- and he's not lying. He's not the most adept magical being around.]

[gardienne]

[Eponine still seems amazed and deligghted. She's easily pleased.] Monsieur, you hold the sun! Now that is so pretty! Is it warm? I bet its warm. I wish I could do that. Some nights, I have been so cold that I was sure I was going to die when I lay in a ditch and the snow built up so around me. Your magic should have been nice then. But you do not have a bird's foot! You are truly a strange bird , Sir.

[bird_brain]

[This one talks. Aubri isn't quite used to that. He'll just answer some relevant part of that ramble.]

I am no bird. I am part bird.

[gardienne]

Only part? Like when the rich sew a pig's head to a bird's wings and a sheep 's bottom ? I've seen that when I've looked through the window. Sometimes, they throw lots of it away and I have to get 'Zelma to help me lug it home. That is a good day! We have food maybe two days then!

Is that like you? Are you sewn like that?

[bird_brain]

[That sounds positively disgusting.]

While I do not have seams as such, I suppose that the analogy is good enough. I was created, yes.

[gardienne]

And then magic made you talk? Now that is interesting. But still you can fly? Even though you are big?

[bird_brain]

My wings are not just for show.

[gardienne]

There is not much you say, is there?

[She laughs.]

[bird_brain]

[His beak opens in a grin.] I suppose I am not much of a talker.

[gardienne]

You know, nobody here is. My Pa always said I need to learn to hold my tongue. He said he were gonna cut my throat to shut me up, he were so sick of chatter. But I think he was joking... I think.

[She doesn't sound too certain about that.]

[bird_brain]

I certainly hope that he was.

[gardienne]

He ain't never done it, Sir. Not that anyway. He wouldn't slit my throat really.

[bird_brain]

I am glad to hear that. It's too fine a throat for that.

[gardienne]

You think it's fine?

[She sounds absolutely delighted with the compliment and beams . That's the first true compliment she's had about her looks in almost a decade.]

Do you mean it?

[bird_brain]

I do not say things that I do not mean.

[gardienne]

Then, Monsieur, I shall remember it always, for it is the nicest thing anybody has said to me since I were a little girl. Thank you for that.