[open] well we could be friends, we could shake hands

[lumelume]

WHO: Mado and you
WHAT: he's back
WHEN: early Kingsway
WHERE: the Gallows
NOTES: man dog dog man bird

I. I keep 'em close (for Ellie)

Maker only knows how long he's been flying, or if he spent the whole time as a pigeon, but when Mado returns to the Gallows it's in this form, late at night, and he makes a beeline for a familiar window of the tower.
Fluttering onto the sill, he nudges the glass open with his beak, and, seeing that (I'm taking a liberty here) she's still awake, pecks lightly on the windowframe to alert her of his presence.

II. I keep 'em real close (OTA)

After a two-month absence, it feels strange to simply come strolling back into work and wave hello to everyone who may or may not have missed or even noticed he was gone, so Mado opts to ease back into his presence in the Gallows by spending most of his time in canine form. Those who greet him are bound to see a quick transformation and receive a hug (or a handshake, or simply a hello, whatever they prefer), but to all other parties there simply is a little brown and white dog where there wasn't before, trotting about the courtyard, sleeping by fireplaces and under carts, and occasionally sitting perfectly still to watch the passersby with an uncanny awareness in his canine face.

III. So no one can take them from me (OTA)

There's still one realm where his human senses outperform his canine ones, and that's up in the Scouting office, where Mado sits placid and cross-legged as he leans over what, at first glance, might appear to be paperwork: and on a closer look, one might identify it as the Trade alphabet, dutifully written over and over, with each iteration finding new clarity.

There is a separate parchment with very simple words copied from a book, and also his name in both its forms, Amador and Mado, written in careful columns to practice the shape of the words.

He seems quite serene as he works, but is never one to turn away an interruption.

Comments

[notathreat]

It's not the first time something's tapped at her window, and initially Ellie wonders if it might be Nox, the raven she feeds sometimes. But the tap is too light, and it doesn't come with any of the little quork noises he makes.

So she goes directly to the window, cracking it open before she can properly see what's outside.

It takes her a second to process the pigeon, before she's hit with the sudden memory of the sinking ship, the little bird she'd tucked into her cloak to bear him away, wing nearly off. Thankfully Mado had kept his arm and his life, but it had been a near thing.

"Hey," she says breathlessly, holding her had out flat for him so she can bring him inside.

"Where the hell have you been?"

[lumelume]

Rather than step onto her hand, Mado flutters off the windowsill and takes the opportunity to become human, his arms outstretched and a wide grin on his clearly sun-kissed face.

"Rialto," he replies easily enough, "I stayed behind to take care of some things! See some people. But it's good to be back."

[notathreat]

Ellie remembers the group he went to see off the boat- nods, finally.

"I thought you'd decided to stay." It had been a while. Long enough that she'd wondered, enough that she'd tried to put him out of her mind, just in case.

Until now, she hadn't realized just how much she'd worried about him, and not let herself think about it. She gives in, responding to the silent offer of a hug, lightly punches her fist against the back of his good shoulder.

"You've gotta learn to write, buddy."

[lumelume]

"Sorry, amica," Mado says gently, bringing her in for a hug, "I'm working on it!"

Being accountable to anyone, for anything, isn't a feeling he's used to-- but now that it's been called out, it isn't a mistake he'll make again.

"How have you been?" He pulls away to look her over, smiling.

[notathreat]

Ellie gives him a lopsided smile. She used to fucking hate when Joel would fuss over her safety when she had everything well in hand, but- well. Some things bind you tight. After seeing him so close to death, Ellie doesn't think she'll ever be unaffected.

"Okay?" she says, and makes it a question. "Not bad, just a lot of stuff going on. Nobody can sleep, still, and the weird politics are still happening."

[lumelume]

Perching against the windowsill, Mado nods, his brow furrowing in genuine concern. "Oh, the sleep, the dreams," he remarks, "still so bad? I'll be sure to spend lots of time as a bird, I'm not sure there's room in its head."

He grins, clearly attempting to make light of the situation. "Which weird politics?"

[notathreat]

Ellie has to laugh; it's a good way to put it, and a good solution, actually. Makes her wish that she could turn into a bird.

"Must be nice, thinking nothing but bird thoughts."

But she shrugs again, shakes her head helplessly.

"The loyalist mages in Cumberland were gonna send out a proposal to the Divine. To start up the mage Circles again. We got tipped off here at Riftwatch, so we put a stop to that. They shouldn't be deciding anything without everyone getting a say."

[lumelume]

"Circles," Mado gasps, with the same air as one might see in a small child who's just been reminded of the ghosts in his closet. "I'm glad you put a stop to it. I imagine Kostos was involved?"
His expression shifts abruptly to a knowing smile, perhaps a bit proud. "...if Circles come back it'll be all bird thoughts from then on, I should think."

[notathreat]

"He was. He's the one who brought us word. And I rode with him to get Grand Enchanter Fiona on board."

It's not a brag, just the truth, but Mado's smile makes her break into one her own, though it's more measured.

"Loads of her people showed up, and most of Riftwatch, too."

II

[foolsmakeitcolder]

The first time Jude catches the scent, it stops him in his tracks. It's different; not quite a shifter, but not so very unlike, either.

It's been a few months since he's arrived, enough for him to not place the fresh scent alongside the faint ones that were there when he came.

But he tracks it, carefully. Finds the places the person switches from dog, to man, and back again. There are whiffs of bird, too, and just once Jude thinks he feels a flicker at the edge of his sentinel, a little tug of gravity, of tide moving.

The fact that it is so still otherwise makes it dizzying.

It takes him very little time to find the source: a brown and white dog settled in late afternoon shade under a cart.

He approaches in wolf form: black and brindle with yellow eyes, otherworldly huge, with the same uncanny eyes. Head down, ears pricked forward, tail held cricked to one side. Inquisitive.

[lumelume]

Dozing, it takes Mado a moment to catch the scent of his visitor. It's not unheard of to encounter a wolf in civilized places, but it certainly is still rare, and he lifts his head quickly when struck by the truth of it. It's then that he's able to see just how large the creature is, and note of course that it's looking right at him, which would strike fear into the heart of any reasonable human, let alone any other animal.

So he keeps low, ears folded and tail wagging submissively in greeting, as he's learned to do with other dogs (and people, to be fair): it's the best he can do to head off trouble at the pass, presenting himself as harmless and agreeable as he crawls out from under the cart.

[foolsmakeitcolder]

It's the right thing to do. Jude is far from the dominant sort of wolf, but heirarchy and strength is something important to his kind, and the stranger is enough to pick at those old bonds in his wolf.

It soothes his wolf, lets his human and sentinel come to the forefront as he sniffs at the stranger's muzzle, his ears, and finishes with a perfunctory lick across his snout.

The energy around him relaxes, soothing them both, like a warm wash of sunlight. The earth doesn't speak to him the same way here, not with words or fully formed thoughts, but the approval is clear.

Ally. Friend. Safe. Safe.

Jude mouths him again, playful and gentle as he would be with a pup, and wags his tail once, before leaping back and into a play-bow.

[lumelume]

Fully rolling onto his side and then his back, paws curled against himself, Mado lets the wolf take stock of him without argument. It isn't until that strange shift in feeling, from the tension of a canine meeting to such a pleasant warmth creeping in, that it occurs to him something is different about this one.

He rolls to his feet, ears perking and flattening in an uncertain rhythm as his tail flops back and forth, trying to get a read on the stranger. He good-naturedly mimics the bow, but dares to look the wolf in the eyes, looking for something more than an animal.

[foolsmakeitcolder]

To Jude, the difference between Shifter and wild animal is something to be sensed easily, and it's always in the eyes.

He steadily meets the stranger's gaze, wolf-yellow but with all of the intelligence and warmth of a person, and pleased to see him.

Jude swishes his tail again, standing tall, before going into the bow again, jumping forward with a woof, then sideways. Puppyish, to urge the both of them into a game of chase.

It's something that could so easily turn threatening, given that it comes from a supernaturally large wolf, but the joy is painfully and breathlessly sincere.

Friend. Run. Friend. Run with me.

[lumelume]

It's completely unheard of for another canid to react with such friendliness, but Mado isn't about to look a gift wolf in the mouth. Easily overtaken by emotion even in his human state, he gladly leaps to his feet and takes off after the wolf, feeling a wash of delight and liberation at having made a friend with so little effort.
He's not the type to over-analyze, but it feels different somehow, like they've already known one another for years.

[foolsmakeitcolder]

This is what Jude is used to. The immediate relaxation and comfort, the instant understanding. Like knowing like.

They bound together, circling each other with games of chase, and though Jude playfully snaps at Mado a couple of times he doesn't come anywhere near bruising or nicking him; impeccable manners, earned while playing with pups.

They chase each other around the courtyard for what seems like ages, before he flops down in the cool shade of the grass, tongue-out panting. He exudes happiness, contentment, and perhaps somewhere, a bit of relief.

Intense curiosity, too. But that can wait.

[lumelume]

When the game ends, Mado takes the opportunity to flop right over Jude, his much smaller frame barely reaching across the wolf's middle. Then, tail still wagging, he extends his head to offer a few licks around the larger canine's muzzle, the grateful kisses of a welcomed subordinate.

II

[sprent]

It's the watching passersby that gets Gela: today she is one, and dogs make her profoundly uneasy. She thinks the wolf part of her left uncured probably calls to them. Either that, or they can scent something on her that makes her interesting, because she never wants to be approached... but typically is, anyway.

This dog, the little white-and-brown thing with the steady gaze, makes her stop dead on her way through the courtyard.

"... Hello," she says, uncertainly. This one is oddly still, for a dog. Listening to her nervous heart perhaps. "Can I get by you?" Otherwise, she'll happily walk around the length of the courtyard to keep from drawing too close.

[lumelume]

For whatever intensity its expression may hold, the dog breaks it immediately into a goofy, tongue-out grin as he stands to step aside, tail wagging low and loose. It's not typical behavior for an animal, to clearly understand Common enough to recognize a complete sentence, but he's committed to disarming any concern around his presence.

[sprent]

Gela is cautious, but still curious. She watches the dog respond, in much more than action, and thinks to ask, "Do you understand me?"

Odd.

... Wait, she's heard that- "Jude? Is it you?"

[lumelume]

Aha, an easy mistake to make. Rather than keep the mystery going, Mado rises onto his hind legs (an impressive stance, for a dog), hops once or twice, and then turns human, hands splayed in a gesture of apology-via-fanfare.

"Not Jude," he explains, "sorry, amica, hope I didn't frighten you."

[sprent]

Gela wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't seen it for herself: a dog, turning into a man. She blanches, stepping backward, and makes herself laugh to account for it. Her heart is racing.

"Only a bit," she admits, because it's probably obvious, "Wasn't expectin'– there are more of you? Here?"

Shapeshifters?

[lumelume]

It's an effect he's somewhat used to having on people, and if she hadn't clocked him before the change, he'd have done it out of sight; it's a courtesy thing. That not being the case, however, all that can be done is to forge ahead.

"Only one that I know of, and you named him already," he says kindly, rocking back on his heels.

[sprent]

Okay, so two. (That they know of, an uneasy thought.) Mado, here, is the picture of ease. The way he rocks back on his feet is almost childish, carefree. Gela looks at him, and before she can stop herself she asks, "Can you learn how to do that?"

Because if she could control this thing inside of her and keep it locked away for good–

That would change everything.

[lumelume]

"Yes," Mado answers easily, "if you're a mage! I've learned to be a bird, as well. And I'm trying to be a mouse, but it takes a while to get the new form right." Blessedly, he doesn't demonstrate.