[In a sea of immortals who dog her heels and lecture Youko for this, that, and the other, Warren holds the rarefied position of being just a friend. Sure, he has valuable input she can learn from, but he's as likely to dispense wisdom as he is to thoroughly desecrate her kitchen. It makes him like more of a peer than maybe she should feel comfortable naming a centuries old vampire.
It isn't hard to imagine what he means without his spelling it out. What endangers animals more readily than humanity, their would-be stewards, and the drum of progress? Something she misses the least about her new circumstances. Luckily, the mention of his little brood and watching him kiss the tiny, completely unbothered bat on the head chases the sour feeling those thoughts drudge up away before it gains any real traction.]
I can understand why, if they're as sweet as she is. Though when you say 'brood'... how many is that? Dozens?
[The offer to hold Esmeralda makes her look down at the bat and those big, glossy brown eyes and hesitate for a few long seconds. As much as she enjoys animals, it isn't anything like trying to tempt a neighborhood cat down off a wall with chin scritches. She is clearly a delicate animal, precious to her handler, and one that seems perfectly content where she is situated. Youko does shift a tiny bit closer, but she keeps her hands stiffly where they've been, glancing up at Warren for assurance.]
[Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Or in Youko's specific trials, the gold hairpins.]
Not especially. Esmeralda has been trained not to mind humans. She was unusually sensitive as a pup and required hand-feeding.
[How can you say no to this face? Warren lifts his girl up so as to bring her closer to Youko rather than himself. Look at those sensual wings! The marvellous curve of her left ear!]
Her insectivorous cousins number in the thousands. Some time ago I acquired the ownership of a significantly cavernous residence in Transylvania...
If she really doesn't mind, then... yes. I'd like to hold her.
[Really, who could say no to that face? Not Youko, not when she's been reassured she won't be bothering the adorable little creature. She will just be mimicking how Warren has his hands cradling her, and present her open palms for bat distribution purposes.]
Thousands of cousins, huh...
[The skeptical look she shoots him at the mention of Transylvania probably says all that needs to be said on how much she believes him about the cave, but thousands of bats seems... perfectly reasonable given how Warren is.]
[Warren's opinion of Youko was already fairly high but with her acceptance of his darling soot-angel that opinion has soared. Far too many women are squeamish at the mere thought of a rabies-carrying pest. That warm smile lives on, Warren's enjoyment of sharing this passtime of his for many years giving a sheen of delight in his eyes.]
Sirens of the night!
[The bat colony may be his in a legal way but oh, how he takes vicarious pleasure from watching their freedom, soaring high in the moonlight! Not long before he tugs at Youko's arm to bring her along on a whirlwind tour... For now, baby steps. A very neat and experienced hand-off awaits.]
There - Oopa~
[Plop. Esme is a bit squirmy at first, but Youko's hands are warmer than Warren's. An improvement!]
[That absent squeamishness could either be attributed to her natural fortitude or just the fact that Japan has been rabies-free for decades, so it doesn't occur to her to worry. Though, considering there is only a slight aversion to the multi-limbed variety of creepy crawlies present in Youko, maybe it is her own stoutheartedness at play.
Aside from curling her fingers inwards to act as guardrails, she is content to watch Esmeralda wiggle and shift in the bowl of her palms, getting used to the new, temperature-controlled perch. The way she feels squirming in her cupped hands isn't too dissimilar to holding a pet hamster, even if her anatomy, the gauzy wings and scrunched nose, mark her as something more. When it seems she has mostly settled, Youko does an experimental brush of her thumb at the crown of the bat's head, right between the ears. Just a slow, gentle circuit to see if that's an acceptable way to pet her.]
Hello there, Esmeralda. Do you think your doting parent will answer me if I ask what he made you carry a heavy bucket here for?
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no subject
It isn't hard to imagine what he means without his spelling it out. What endangers animals more readily than humanity, their would-be stewards, and the drum of progress? Something she misses the least about her new circumstances. Luckily, the mention of his little brood and watching him kiss the tiny, completely unbothered bat on the head chases the sour feeling those thoughts drudge up away before it gains any real traction.]
I can understand why, if they're as sweet as she is. Though when you say 'brood'... how many is that? Dozens?
[The offer to hold Esmeralda makes her look down at the bat and those big, glossy brown eyes and hesitate for a few long seconds. As much as she enjoys animals, it isn't anything like trying to tempt a neighborhood cat down off a wall with chin scritches. She is clearly a delicate animal, precious to her handler, and one that seems perfectly content where she is situated. Youko does shift a tiny bit closer, but she keeps her hands stiffly where they've been, glancing up at Warren for assurance.]
... she won't mind me bothering her?
no subject
Not especially. Esmeralda has been trained not to mind humans. She was unusually sensitive as a pup and required hand-feeding.
[How can you say no to this face? Warren lifts his girl up so as to bring her closer to Youko rather than himself. Look at those sensual wings! The marvellous curve of her left ear!]
Her insectivorous cousins number in the thousands. Some time ago I acquired the ownership of a significantly cavernous residence in Transylvania...
[Hard to tell if he's joking tbh.]
no subject
[Really, who could say no to that face? Not Youko, not when she's been reassured she won't be bothering the adorable little creature. She will just be mimicking how Warren has his hands cradling her, and present her open palms for bat distribution purposes.]
Thousands of cousins, huh...
[The skeptical look she shoots him at the mention of Transylvania probably says all that needs to be said on how much she believes him about the cave, but thousands of bats seems... perfectly reasonable given how Warren is.]
no subject
Sirens of the night!
[The bat colony may be his in a legal way but oh, how he takes vicarious pleasure from watching their freedom, soaring high in the moonlight! Not long before he tugs at Youko's arm to bring her along on a whirlwind tour... For now, baby steps. A very neat and experienced hand-off awaits.]
There - Oopa~
[Plop. Esme is a bit squirmy at first, but Youko's hands are warmer than Warren's. An improvement!]
no subject
Aside from curling her fingers inwards to act as guardrails, she is content to watch Esmeralda wiggle and shift in the bowl of her palms, getting used to the new, temperature-controlled perch. The way she feels squirming in her cupped hands isn't too dissimilar to holding a pet hamster, even if her anatomy, the gauzy wings and scrunched nose, mark her as something more. When it seems she has mostly settled, Youko does an experimental brush of her thumb at the crown of the bat's head, right between the ears. Just a slow, gentle circuit to see if that's an acceptable way to pet her.]
Hello there, Esmeralda. Do you think your doting parent will answer me if I ask what he made you carry a heavy bucket here for?