2024.03.01: AliWhat?

AliWhat?
Cait goes out to Windstorm Isle to talk to Sark but never gets to it.
IC Date	March 1, 2024
Players	Cait, Sark, Stella, Zephyra
Location	Winstorm Isle - Meadows
Spheres	Bygones, Changeling

Windstorm Isle - Meadows(#3142RAJ)

The majority of the island is made up of expansive meadows, and while it isn't entirely flat the hills are gentle and rolling, at least once the top of the island is reached. Here, horses graze and frolic, though there is some degree of separation between them to keep the stallions away from the mares, and to keep foals and their mothers away from everyone. For the most part, the horses are Friesians; large, mostly black horses - though there's one or two chestnuts - with flowing manes and tails and feathering around their hooves, though there is also a few examples of other breeds, likely those whose owners have chosen to board their horses here. A large, one story house sits close to the edge of the hill that drops down to the docks and beach, offering a view of the cove, with a porch wrapping around it. Flowers grow in profusion around it, some twining up the posts of the porch, all tropical in nature. More flowering vines seem to have been encouraged to grow up over the fences, making them far prettier than they might otherwise have been. Further back, near the treeline, is an expansive stable complex, larger than the house, with some fenced in exercise and training rings around it. All in all, this crescent shaped island is a lovely place to be, the breezes gentle despite the name of the place.

There seems to be a pod of pink dolphins leaping about out in the cove below, but looking further out to see there is the occasional sign of something far scarier, but also intriguing lights shining from the depths.

So Sark has spent a good portion of the last day or two helping Zephyra get a little more used to life in civilization, just so she doesnt do something out in the city that turns on a klaxon warning over her head and gers her Hunted. Cait probably sent a text wanting to chat, which means Sark invited her to come out to the island since he doesnt suspect anyone's going to be revealing anything that hadnt already been given out. Z has had enough time to sneak off and find a space to crash in the forest, despite Sark offering her a guest room indoors, so at the moment, Sark himself is lounging on the back porch waiting for Cait to show up, with a large tea service already set up for when Stella gets finished with her own work as well.

Cait walks up from the ferry terminal, frowning a little and talking to herself. "Oh, stop it. I let you swim it, didn't I? So stop being such a sourpuss about having to get dried off again. I swear, you're like a teenage cat-girl sometimes..."

<FAE> Beside her, of course, is Biggs, looking pretty much completely non-committal and not at all answering in any way. Basically, it's like she's talking to a cat, and totally head-cannoning the cat's replies. Only, you know... not a cat.

There may be some missing bedding off that guest room that she spent maybe tops an hour in before jumping out the window like a wild savage and running into the forest as the Moon Child that she is. She does finally emerge from said forest outlining wearing a sheet wrapped around her frame, at least there's clothes this time as it's still a mystery where her actual outfit went to. "SAAAARRKKKK," comes the high-pitched tone of Zephyra calling out his name as she rounds up to the back porch with a handful of mushroom that she proudly drops down on said man's lap. "I found happy mushrooms."

There's a not-quite crash from inside the house that sounds like it could have taken place in the kitchen, given the clattering clamor and out from the house explodes (not quite because she screeched to a slower pace just before exiting the front door. She's dressed for on-island business. Prepared for a potential business zoom but not anything so fancy that she'd be wearing into town for the same reason. Her dark hair is up today.

Those just out of the oven scones will sit in a tumbled pile half on and half off the cookie sheet atop the stove for now. The door bangs open and Stella puts on her most amiable (that's the easy part) and serene (slightly more difficult under the circumstances) smile. But she's fairly simmering with delight, for those who are particularly perceptive. And there? Right there. She's rewarded with a tall, naked -- except for a sheet from one of the guest rooms -- Zephyra. "Good morning. I've been waiting for hours..... oh you're ..." Stella catches up with herself. "-- so very welcome to be here. Sarkesian is persuasive, is he n--"

Squirrel!

What the ... !! Stella hears a stranger's voice coming up the way from the docks (the house is a bit up from the docks). She stares. First of all, there's Cait. And that's ... worth dropping a pan of fresh-from-the-oven scones. But then there's The Talk. That way a person talks to an animal companion. So that has Stella flickering a look around and back to Cait, then back to Zephyra, and all over again, rubbing her hands together and finally looking wildly to Sark who has ... mushrooms in his lap. There's a Look to him that demands something, though what that something is isn't spoken.

Perhaps a minute passes when she says. "I'm Stella. And this day is just rocketing somewhere. I can't wait to see where that is." Since Zephyra is closer, she goes over to the tall woman (about four inches shorter than she is) and she smiles and ... well, she gazes with fascination (aka she stares). "I don't know how well they'll fit, but I have some clothes you can wear if you'd like. And there are scones. Still warm. Mary makes the dough the day before and I just have to ..."

By this time, Cait should be getting close to if not up on the wrap around front deck that goes around at -least- three sides of the house. Pose order is weird, but she mostly politely (except for the avid interest and a bit of a sparkle to her) spends time greeting Cait as well. "Sark mentioned that you were coming. But you're much more ... you than I expected you to be." Whatever that means. (Next pose will be shorter. New people. Some of her extra favorite kinds, too. AT THE SAME TIME!)

Cait slows as she sees sudden motion exploding out of forest, and when it resolves into Zephyra, she actually smiles some, and resumes her approach to the porch, reaching up to remove her sunglasses and tuck them into her pocket. It's not until they're already safely away and she's setting one foot on the step up to the porch that the door bursts open, and Cait is left staring with wide, red-irised eyes at Stella. Those eyes slide over to Sark, and then she turns to look over her shoulder and shrug with a kind of 'Ooops' look on her face.

Finally, she turns back to the assembled personalities on the porch, "Hello, Sark.... Zephyra," and extends her right hand to Stella, "Hello there. I'm Cait. They're not contacts. And I really, really hope that was safe to say."

Zephyra is all smiles, those lips peeled back with that all too sparkly white teeth of hers as she watches Sark while swaying slightly in her stance. The question brings a giggle to emerge from her, like a song casted into the air. "Oh silly! Of course I didn't eat any *your* mushrooms. Those are for you!" That doesn't quite answer the pointed question though. "Yes, they're happy mushrooms! I was led there to them and was told that they were happy mushrooms." A beat. "I thought I would pay you for the sugar I took last night."

The crashing gets her attention as she jumps a bit within her stance, eyebrows furrowing in a worried expression that counters the smile that seems it can't quite leave her mouth just yet. She looks absolutely confused at the mention of Sarkesian that brings her to look in a questioning manner towards those present. "Sarkesian?" Apparently within her squirrel mind she forgot what Sark was short for. She's all too used to people staring at her the past few days (Alien Appearance Flaw) that it doesn't seem to bother her within the least. "Oh," she begins with a sheepish look. "I don't like clothes. I made this! It's like a clothes, right?" She looks down at the stolen sheet. "Paco agreed that clothes are restrictive. I have a dress, I think Paco took it. I'm not sure! Paco said BE FREE so I went free."

Then Zephyra is winding over onto the familiar face of Cait. "Hello!", she chimes out with a raise of her hand waving it through the air frantically.

When figures begin to converge on the porch, Sark sits up a little more and glances at everyone, deciding to address Cait first...kinda, "Lady Cait. This is my assistant Stella Green who runs all of my properties and is innately responsible for the fiction that is Sarkesian Goldstein to exist. She is 'safe' to speak to and I have complete responsibility for her behavior. She's been to the Baroness' holdings several times for parties so you are not violating anything by being conversational around her. She just cannot SEE chimera without assistance. Yet. We're working on that."

He pauses there to guesture at Zephyra and offers, probably for the benefit of Cait AND Stella, "Let me introduce Zephyra. I met her the day before at the Witches' Brew and she was a little....out of her element, so I brought her back here and we've been discussing proper integration into human society so she does not end up accidentally outing herself in front of a hunter. I am certain at this point the young lady is another mythical creature like myself, but I have not pressed her to reveal herself just yet."

Then finally he murmurs, "And this is Lady Cait. I will refrain from divulging the rest of her details as in her and hers case, I did promise not to reveal such things without their permission, so I leave it to her to introduce herself as much as she might like."

A whole menagerie of things go on all together. Stella introduces herself. She welcomes Zeph. She offers clothes. She doesn't seem offended that a return to her greeting isn't directly forthcoming, but there is a general response, tangentially speaking. "More for if you want them, if you get cold, or if you want to leave the island and not draw undo attention. A --significant-- amount of undo attention. You just say the word. Or I can have a tailor come out and get you a few things you don't mind so much. I know someone excellent who can work with alacrity when needed. You are ... I hope I get to see ... very lovely. I'm glad you agreed to come here for a time. Sark is absolutely someone you can trust and lean on as you adjust." Why should Zeph take Stella's word for it? Well, she seems to be brimming with delighted energy, but she also seems sincere. There's really no reason that Zeph has to actually trust the woman who came skidding out the front door. To Sarkesian, "Are we doing mushrooms this morning?" A bit of a smile that mostly lives in Stella's green eyes is shared with Sark for a weighted moment.

Then Cait (and after this, they'll be merged, pose-wise)! Stella opens her mouthg to speak only for Cait to remove her shades. This leaves Stella's mouth dropping open, but to her credit it's kept to parted lips, not a gaping expression. "You're. That's. Oh. Distinctively stunning." Stella lifts a hand ... then seems to realize it. What was she going to touch? Poke Cait in the eye? She turns that motion into offering her hand. "I'm Stella and I think that you're Cait. I thought you'd have a companion with you." Don't sound so disappointed, Stella. It's insulting. "Would you like something to drink? There are just from the oven blueberry scones. Or I could whip something else up." There is plenty of comfortable seating on the rather large, extended and encompassing deck that stretches around the house. "And you, Cait?" Stella can't quite tear her gaze away from Cait, at least while the woman is looking at her. But the day is fraught with Stella-squirrels. Just give it a few minutes.

Cait smiles easily when Zephyra greet her, "It good to see you looking more relaxed. And certainly," she gestures to the sheet, "You should wear whatever you like, when you can. Or not wear it, if you don't want. Clothing serves a purpose: protection, identification, social bonds... When it doesn't, there's no reason to wear more *or* less than you want to. Then she shakes Stella's hand, chuckling just a little bit at the stream-of-thought. "I am. And I do. Have a companion with me." She glances over her shoulder again, shrugging some, then looks back to Sark. "But I'm no 'Lady'... and I assume there are protections against drones, traffic helicopters, and sattelites, or such?"

The use of her name in introduction brings a thoughtful expression to pass across the features of her face. "Maybe I don't like that name anymore.." It's said softly like an outward thought. Her eyes grow distant as she stares out towards the surroundings then a few blinks brings her back to the reality around her. She seems to be drifting in and out of the conversation present, or perhaps she's not quite able to pick up on the particular nuances of etiquette amongst more human exchanges. She snaps back to attention towards Stella as she giggles at her. "Cold! That's silly. I have fur. I never get cold." Though she's very much fur-less right now but it does at least narrow down the options of *what* she can be. "What's a tailor?" She chews for a moment on her bottom lip as she stares down at her sheet. " I though this was quite lovely!" All her half-daze comes to snap back to reality at the mention of blueberries. "Oh blueberries are delightful! Chocolate is better. Is there chocolate?" Zephyra looks to Cait with a brimming smile. "He doesn't yell at me. It's quiet here. No one yells at me here."

When Cait mentions satellites, Sark points straight up and murmurs, "I cannot do anything about Google and Elon Musk's fucking landsats, but as best as I can tell, those only pass over once a day and have already done their dirty work for now. So the risk of exposure for today is low...just the same, I do not lounge around in my scales out here. Only in the Dreaming. I can still show off a little out here, but I keep it to short demonstrations. Just in case. You know? This island is too far out for civilian aircraft and drones and not on the published flight paths for Prospect's airport, so you should not see commercial aircraft overhead. That was a guiding principle for when Laoise established the ranch. She wanted to make sure there was never going to be any industrial noise to disturb the animals."

He reaches out to give Stella's back a light scritching, just a momentary contact while she's still close enough for it, before he nods along at Zephyra, "Clothing is mostly optional, but please do not go into the city naked. The humans have a few laws about that that they might try to arrest you over, so Im sure Stella and Cait might be able to give you some pointers at the bare minimum you need to have on if you want to go exploring the city again. We should also look at teaching you how to use a cellular phone, maybe. I had to learn the hard way last year, myself."

With that said, he tilts his head to focus on Cait again and asks, "Come sit and enjoy some tea? Your message made it sound like you wanted to discuss something and I didnt want to get TOO sidetracked and not even ask."

"Wait. Who is Paco?" Stella inquires belatedly of Zephyra. Sark introduces her more descriptively. Stella drrrrrags her green-eyed gaze from Cait to look at Sark. "Technically it was Kieran who came up with Sarkesian. It was the week I arrived. I'll never forget that strange and fascinating group sitting together in the coffee shop that day. But it looks like today the coffee shop is --here--. Oh, Zephyra ... is that what you would like me to call you, or do you prefer something else?" A little dad humor slips in. Stella says to Sark, "Apparently you're a real 'fun guy'." Back to his introduction. "I have a seal of approval from Sarkesian. What's better than that?" Stella tips her head. She's pretty sure she's heard the word 'chimera' before, but she can't quite place it. "Oh..." she trails off. "I can't see your ... I want to say Wigglesworth, but I don't think that's right." She sounds deeply disappointed. "I how that the ... Miranda will consider that gift she mentioned." Back to Cait. She's not a Lady. Stella makes an assumption about that statement that may be incorrect. And with mixed company, she decides to err on the side of caution. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Cait. Is that your full name?" Curiosity hasn't killed the Stella yet, but it has consequences from time to time. Sark uses the term assistant, so that is the role she will play. "What can I bring people?"

Sark's introduction of Zephyra. (Sorry I didn't see this pose previously -- it came in right before my last.) Stella seconds what Sark has said with a succinct nod. "Sark is an excellent choice of mentor. I may be biased, but it's the truth." To Zephyra -- "So you're relatively 'new'? Where were you Before that makes you new to society now? And if you don't wish to share, I will respect that. Stella's green eyes widen. "Oh. NO no no. We won't press you. But it won't stop me from being incredibly curious. Almost as itchy to see and learn as I am about Cait's companion.

Stella doesn't know much about Cait except for what she is beyond a mere mortal. And even that is very generic. She is trying very hard not to ask. She tangles her fingers together and twists them in an effort to remain still and calm and patient. SO MANY QUESTIONS are not being asked right now, in comparison to those that are.

"With respect, Zephyra, if you prefer another name, if I can pronounce it I will use it unless we become more than acquaintances. If someone becomes my friend, I often apply any number of nicknames, right Easy?" A smile is turned to Sark.

And satellites? "I thought that Steele or was it Caressa before she left? I thought that one or both of them had shielded us from outside viewing..." She frowns a little. If that's not the case, she may excuse herself to make a phone call... eventually.

Zephyra never gets cold. "Well, do you ever get hot?" Stella smiles more warmly, "I am often silly. Ask anyone who knows me." Stella answers, "A tailor will make clothing for you that fits you and suits you for when you are in public, so that you don't end up dealing with the wrong or dangerous elements. On the island, I would agree with Cait about clothing." Is there Chocolate? "There are still some brownies from a day or two ago. Would you like one of them? They're quite chocolate-y." Stella's smile fades. Zephyra is accustomed to being yelled at? Another pointed glance is shared with Sark. Stella is clearly close enough to Sark for him to reach out and touch her; this seems to settle her significantly. She settles on the arm of his chair. Sark addresses Cait. "I would be happy to make some tea. We have several kinds. What would you like?"

Stella finishes all that by saying to Cait, "I would --very-- much like to meet your companion when it is convenient."

Cait nods slowly to Zephyra, "Yes, there are no drunken cluri-kin here... and I'd apologize for her, but she's not one of mine to take responsibility for... or insist on decorum *from*." She sighs, "But I am very glad you've found someplace quieter. I was a bit concerned that Alec might be trying to take advantage of you." Then, another nod is given to Sark as she steps back off the porch a few feet, "Well, then I suppose I will indulge your... companion's? curiosity. At the worst, he can go frolic about in the water or something if he gets bored... I'll just have to make sure to brush down his tack..." She gives a spot of nothing a hard look, "*again*.." before reaching... up? to take hold of nothing and closes her eyes for a moment. "Not... something I do often enough... to really have gotten it *easy* yet..."

And then the world implodes.

Wait, no... it just... feels that way for the barest instant? Like reality itself is crashing into itself and yet... parting? Or not parting? Or.... something?

Whatever it is, Cait herself immediately feels more... present, more fully *real* than she had, which is kind of ironic, because she *looks* a lot more Fantasy than before. Her hair is darker, so black that it's iridescent, like the wings of a raven, and she's now garbed in a blackened chain hauberk and leather gauntlets, with a viking-style round shield on her back and a war axe hanging through her belt. But really, that's all kind of a minor thing.

Where before she'd reached up to 'nothing', now, right there at the end of her right hand, is a piece of leather. The cheek-strap of a bridle, in fact. With a saddle nearby!

Oh, and connecting one from the other is a straight-legged crocodile as tall as a horse. No biggie.

"This is..." She sighs, as if admitting to the name pains her, "Mr. Bigglesworth. Or just Biggs."

Oh, so, maybe a biggie. Or a Biggsy? Something?

Zephyra's head slowly begins to loll up as Sark begins to list more restrictions as her eyes bleary move to the sky. "Soooooo many rules," she whines out with a drop of her shoulders. Then it hits her with a blink as she looks over towards Stark. "Optional! YAY!" She missed the 'mostly' memo. Rather too excited she rips off that sheet, dropping it to the ground. There's no sexual nature to it all, she's perhaps just way too fresh of a mythical creature to really feel comfortable within clothes. "One of the little horses. He said his name is Paco.", she's talking about the shetlands. The lips purse inwards, twisting his way and that. "Zephyra isn't my name but it's fine. No one can say my name." She reaches up, grabbing a chunk of the silver-white hair to pull in front of her body as she weaves her fingers through her hair. "Yes!", she answers regarding being new and the question about wher she was brings a purse of her lips as she looks at Sark. "What do they call it?", she questions him as she glances around as if she's looking at something unseen. "The place with the maze," she says in a softer voice as her eyes lift back to Sark. "Home." She begins to look a touch worried as she looks between Stella and Sark a few times before landing on the latter, "They won't hunt me?" Comes the stage-whisper. "I don't mind the name now. Zephyra is fine. It's not my name but it's a name to call me."

The question about getting hot brings a wrinkle of her nose as she thinks. "No? I can't remember being hot." The conversation about clothing brings her lips to curve into a small frown. "I don't like clothes though. They are itchy and constricting. It's silly to make them important." Her head lolls towards the direction of teh house wide-eyed as she stares at it as if it would manifest her dream right now. "I would love chocolate!", she chimes out as she looks back to Stella. She shakes her head at Cait. "I've been yelled at a lot," She says quieter though there's a look of confusion. "Why would he take advantage of me silly?" Oblivious to any dangers that may come about with the man. There's a slow blink made as her eyes lift towards another spot, watching at as if something unseen is present there. There's no phasing her it seems with out of the ordinary things happening, its ordinary things that phase her. Biggsy? Just gets a look.

Sark smiles a little more as Cait lets things loose as it were, wiggling his fingers at the big lizard with amusement on his voice, "You can indeed roam wherever you want, just look out for the sudden cliffs. I dont want you breaking a leg cause you stumbled off of one while running around! Thats why we have to keep the horses fenced in, so they dont hurt themselves. And Miss cait, if you would like, I would be happy to help you brush him out." With that warning given, he tilts his head a little at Zephyra for a moment, furrowing his brow a little when she mentions a maze. After a moment, he nods slowly, "That's my home yes. Please don't try to wander into that maze. I get...very touchy at anyone that gets close to my nest and I will abruptly stop being nice to anyone that ignores that request." He pauses there for a moment, considering, then asks Zaphyra, "Since Miss Cait is being open, perhaps you and I can take a moment to show everyone what we are, if you are compfortable with that? It is perhaps, only fair, and I think is going to mesmerize Stella for a bit in the process, hmm?"

Zeph can speak to the animals?! Stella's eyes widen. So much to say about that. So much connection to make with Zeph! But she's not prepared for what's coming. Not at all.

Once before. Once on a very, very significant occasion, Stella has been present when the Wyrd was invoked. That time was like the world turned inside out. Literally gravity shifted and she acted (and felt) as though she was on some sort of acid trip for a notable amount of time before becoming as accustomed to someone first seeing the Dreaming world overlaying the banal world could become accustomed -- which is to say: not much.

Since then, Stella has had significantly more experiences, but this time is only the second time it's happened --like this.-- And this time there was no kiss. (Long story. Okay. Medium story. Important story.) "Kiki?" she asks in a hushed voice that is barely more than a breath.

So it's quite impressive when Stella merely ... FALLS OFF the arm of Sark's chair, as if he'd dumped her off, when the world turns inside out in an acid trip via Hitchcockian zoom. Under her breath with her eyes closed, she whispers almost inaudibly, "... fuck ..." She wasn't prepared at all. She thought maybe some time in the future when she was enchanted, but this ... it's a big deal. It's so much bigger than big that there isn't a profound enough word. Two worlds overlay, they compete and they contrast and they conflict.

Stella ends up with both palms pressed to the deck where she fell to one hip, her knees bent to the side, all that grace up-ended. Slowly, she opens her eyes and blinks a few times. "Wonderland, please don't kill me." She seems to be addressing the world at large rather than any individual present. It feels very odd not to see Kieran as an anchor with things the way they currently are and then are completely differently on top of, beside, and blended with each other. It's like severe dizziness mixed with hyper sensitivity mixed with intense joy and awe. With a healthy dose of fear topping it all off. She tries to focus but things overlay and it's disconcerting. She finds herself continuing to search around as best she can for a certain cluirchaun, who is not present as far as she can see, and feeling like she somehow betrayed something, some rule. That confusion is written all over her face and body language.

Eventually she manages to focus on Biggs. Aside from Sark, who is quite clearly an anchor in this version of mingled realities, the creature beside Cait narrows Stella's focus enough that she can pinpoint her attention and really see him. Then her eyes widen as she takes in his appearance. After that Stella's green eyes brighten and a smile grows to delight on her face, though she looks somewhere between drunk and high and still lacking full equilibrium.

"Ohhhhh," she sighs slowly, a full exhalation that is in no rush. "Mr. Bigglesworth. Or do you prefer Biggs?" Stella speaks to the chimerical creature as if a conversation were going to take place. "You're --extraordinary-! Just look at you." As if the creature himself wasn't aware of what he was.

Stella's gaze wanders extensively over what she can see of Biggs from on the deck beside Sark's chair, propped up with both palms flat on the planks there.

All those offers to get people things from a few minutes ago are currently forgotten. Behaving like an assistant? Forgotten. It could seem utterly rude in a situataion where she'd loathe being construed that way.

After a long, long while, Stella's gaze travels from bridle to strap to Cait's hand. "Is ... red ... um ... touching allowed?"

Stella is currently several orders of magnitude beyond mesmerized, transfixed, stunned, and inordinately, gloriously joyful.

Cait holds up a hand, "No need for such revelations on my part," She says as she begins to remove the harness from the large reptile, "I already have a suspicion, and I'm content to leave it so until Zephyra chooses on her own. And if not for the upcoming trip, I'd suggest introducing her to the Glade." She nods to Stella, smiling, "Come over here... stay calm, casual... just let him get used to you for a moment." She glances to Sark, then looks back to Stella, "And... he doesn't really have a preference. He's not what Sark is. About as smart as a household pet... but he's loyal, and strong, and a steady companion as we patrol the wilds to keep people safe." Another glance over to Sark and Zephyra, and she shrugs, smiling just a bit.

The lips twist towards the side then another as she gives a quizzical look at Sark. "Not in.. but above?", she questions with another glance towards what at least Sark would know is she's staring at that maze again or perhaps she's just looking at the house randomly. One can guess! "Okay.", she agrees to Sark's mention of show casing themselves but she doesn't make a move to do so quite yet - seeming to be waiting for him to go first. She gives a curious look at Cait. "What's your suspicion?", she questions with a mirror tone to the look. Zephyra begins to shift a bit within her stance as she watches Stella's reaction to Bigglesworth.

Stella is still on the porch having fallen off the arm of Sark's chair, just far less acid-trippy and not talking to The Dreaming itself. She still takes some time to incorporate what she sees. By the time the harness is removed and Cait has calmly described Biggs' characteristics, Stella turns to look up and back past her shoulder at Sark, sharing some sort of look. Something about that look has her turn back, push up to her feet very slowly -- more to keep from startling the obviously not startled chimerical creature who is Cait's companion. "Biggs? Do you like scones? No. I'll bet you like crunchy little creatures. Or are you an herbivore? Or maybe you eat something that I don't even know exists. But I'd get you a scone if you wanted one. There's a head of romaine lettuce in the fridge. And there's alfalfa in the stables. Just --" She quiets her voice as she takes two very slow steps in the creature's direction. " -- don't eat the horses. I would be quite upset. But Sarkesian is the one you'd have to face consequences from, then." She gets close enough for arms reach and just offers her palm, glancing first to Cait for permission. "Carrots and apples are all over, too." She wants to badly to ask Cait what -she- is, but there are too many unknowns for her to presume to inquire. Zeph's voice seeps back into Stella's perception. "I haven't ..." Pause. "... forgotten your brownie, Zephyra. And you haven't told me if there is another name you prefer." But she's still standing there with her palm up, not daring to push for anything that Biggs isn't interested in. For all she knows, he could bite of her hand. That fact doesn't dissuade her AT ALL.

Sark leans forward in an effort to help Stella keep or regain her feet, with a small frown on his face until he's sure she's okay. When Cait invites her to come up and meet Biggs a little closer, he smiles a bit and sits back, apparently quite okay with this as long as she seems settled by it. To Cait, he slowly nods, "I havent spent much time with him so far but he appears to be worthy of all the good things you have said about him." When Zephyra agrees but gives him an expectant look, Sark chuckles and scoops the mushrooms out of his lap to set them down on the table next to his chair, lumbering to his feet finally, "You can have a smaller version of me. If I let all my scales out, I might break my porch. Im a little bigger than the Friesians out there..." With that said, he shakes himself out lightly and allows his form to devolve into more of a gold mist that reforms into something much closer to cat sized, covered in burnished golden scales as he settles back down on the porch chair and shakes his wings out, not unlike a doog straightening his fur. With that done, he sits up and chirps at Zephyra, "Much better?"

Cait shrugs her mail-covered shoulders in response to Zephyra's question. "You moved like a skittish mare in the bar. Pale, slender, almost... *almost* glowing... and, well..." She smiles, and taps her forehead, "So..." Another shrug. "And Stella..." She smirks a bit, "He generally does prefer crunchy things and meaty things... but as Sark refuses to believe... he really prefers chicken McNuggets."

Still standing there with her palm out, offering but not just going in for a first touch, letting Biggs decide when and if and hoping, hoping ... Stella laughs a little collection of notes. "I'll remember that for next time, Biggs. I got you." She skims her gaze to Cait. "How did you two become .... whatever it's called? Did you have to domesticate him? Did he choose you or did you choose him? He looks like something from one of the -assic periods. Is he super old? Is he always with you? Why are you dressed like you're going to battle?" She tips her head. "Do you know someone named Alicia?" And so Stella's questions begin. But there's one thing besides Biggs himself that can stop them. It happens. Enough to wheel Stella halfway around and staaaaare at cat-sized golden dragon. "Ohhh..." Her voice does that up the vocal scale thing that most 'awww' sounds do when she sees TinySark. Her back is neither to Cait and Biggs nor is it to Zeph and Sark, she's got one shoulder in either direction, her attention split. Does this mean ... nooooo. Stella's going to combust instanteously if Zephyra changes, too. But under her breath she notes to either Cait or Biggs, "Mcnuggets. Still not forgetting."

Zephyra blinks a few times towards Cait's direction at the answer but doesn't say a word. Then she's looking at Sark as she shifts her mouth a bit more. There's a look of debate as she watches him shift then she's giggling. "Such tiny wings," She mutters as she prances off the porch quite literally, heading down the stairs then into the yard proper. She turns a couple times as if attempting to check her surroundings until there's enough clearance.

As she begins to turn again, the illusion that has held her within a human form begins to ripple away as it manifests an ivory mare standing present but she's leaner than a typical horse, longer legs and a slightly shorter face. The tail that sprouts from her hind quarters is more of a lion's tail, a solid piece until the very end has a tuff to it. Along her ankles there's a bit of feathers, draping across gray hooves. White mane drapes down along her broad neck, faint ripples manifesting within its shine. Protruding from her forehead is a twisted horn, coming to curve upwards in a colour that seems to blend between grays and blacks as if it doesn't remain one colour. Sprouting from the sides of her shoulder blades comes a pair of massive feathered wings.

Sark sits up properly when Zephyra prances off of the porch, and those little foreclaws clap together happily when she takes up that hooved form, "I thought so! See, no wonder all the ponies love you. Oh man, I havent been able to see a non-chimerical alicorn in so long. You're so pretty....yes, you should definitely remain here as long as you feel safe, and can take the ferry back to the city whenever you want to explore. I'll check with Miranda about making sure its okay to take you to her holdings, and I can educate you a bit on Faerie stuff so you can handle crossing a Rath with me without someone having to enchant you. Fair enough?"

Cait smiles, "Actually, he was given to me as a hatchling by my mentor... but I thought they were giving me a kitten, which is why the name." She sighs, "Seventeen was an age where 'cute' was... well, let's just not. So that would make him... eight or so. And he's with me... most of the time? When I go places? He's my steed... like a warhorse, but scalier. And yes..." She nods, "I know Alicia..." But the transformations *do* have an effect, even on her. Sark's, she's plainly readied herself for, but Zephyra very much catches her a little offguard, no matter her suspicions, and she just... sighs, for a moment. "Oh my... we're *so* not letting Sealgaira recruit you."