milliways_bar | (no subject)

As stubborn, and yes contentious, as he can be at times, Orpheus is taking his punishment very easily. He had one request, which had been granted much easier than he would have expected.

So upon leaving the infirmary, he heads straight to the bar and lays his hand on the surface. "Can I get something to leave a note on, lovely?"

A napkin and an orange crayon pop up on the surface, and Orpheus laughs. "I guess that'll work."

He quickly scrawls out a note:

For safekeeping.

-O

And then, with visible difficulty he places note and guitar on the surface of the bar. "Will you make sure Apollo gets this?" He hasn't been without his instrument since he was without his body. It's not easy to give it up now, even into such capable hands.

A moment later, the guitar is no longer there, and neither is the musician. Instead, hopping on a bar stool, is a bird:

He really doesn't mind this too much, other than the loss of guitar. At least he can still sing.

Now all he needs is someone to open the back door for him.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Fortunately, he's noticed by a young man not too long after his transformation.

~~Knights must have a knack for finding birds in places where they don't belong.~~

"Did you get stuck inside?" the Knight asks as though talking to a bird is completely normal. "Well, come on. I'll let you out."

The bird moves to perch on the Knight's shoulder, chirruping in agreement.

He softly strokes the bird's head. This is more Siegfried's thing than his but he seems fine with the bird perching on him.

"Friendly one," he muses. "Do you live here, I wonder? Or another visitor?"

While he speaks, Lohengrin opens the back door, expecting the bird to take off.

Orpheus is in no rush to leave. He'd rather not end up lost in the forest when he turns back.

He sings his answer carefully, trying to make his gift work with this new instrument. There's almost a feeling to his song, a feeling of traveling, being far from home for a very long time.

He's amazed by how much he understands. It's almost like when the Prince dances. As he is able to convey much with only movements, the bird tells more than Lohengrin expects through notes.

"Can you manage among the creatures here, then? There was a three-headed dog outside here the first day I arrived."

The Knight had been inside when that happened but a dog as big as Cerberus can't get around without making his presence known.

At that comes a chirp that is almost certainly a laugh, and then a quick refrain of familiarity, like that particular dog is an old friend.

Which he sort of is.

"Truly?"

Stranger things have happened, he has to admit.

"You have quite a gift for expressing yourself, friend."

He answers with a trill that has the cadence of 'thank you.'

Lohengrin nods at the bird as he continues to walk, not expecting the bird to leave at this point but wondering if he'll fly about.

"I'm pretty far from home myself," he says. "Not just here but where I was before I came here. Milliways has cut my exploration of my temporary home short for the time being."

Orpheus does attempt a bit of flying, circling Lohengrin's head for a moment.

He sings a quick chorus of understanding. He's far from home in his world as well, has been for a very long time.

"It is new to me," he admits, turning his head a little this way and that to watch the bird. "But not a bad thing."

The kingdom itself is a nice place, his reason for being there aside.

"Will you continue to accompany me? My horse might enjoy your company on our ride."

In answer, Orpheus perches on his shoulder again.

He smiles at this before walking towards the stables. Once they're inside, he's greeted by the happy whinny of a chestnut mare.

"Hello Pfeifferkuchen," he says. "We have a guest with us on our ride."

Pfeiffer appears to be fine with this. Lohengrin prepares her for the ride and leads her out of the stable.

"We haven't known each other long but we found this place together."

Orpheus hops from Lohengrin's shoulder to the horse's neck. He's always been good with animals.

Lohengrin mounts the horse and begins their ride around the grounds.

It's peaceful. A trip around the lake and just outside the woods. The Knight says nothing to supplement the rhythmic beat of Pfeifferkuchen's hooves.

Orpheus does not keep silent, mostly because he's very bad at that, even when he's human. He chirrups and trills and sings quick songs, flying from the horse to the knight and occasionally circling above them.

Lohengrin's rides with Pfeifferkuchen have always been pleasant. But with Orpheus singing, things seem...livelier.

It's such a simple thing yet makes much difference.

[ooc: Fade there? And assume they had an all-around pleasant ride?]

[ooc: Sounds good. Thanks for the thread!]