A Love of Water [Nako]

[Kari Muffin]

The penguin noticed the woman's trouble and did his best to slow down. It was difficult to swim slowly, but he managed to a degree. It was enough that she wouldn't lose him while riding on the waves.

And he would like to prolong setting foot on land. Waddling the way he did just looked silly half the time. It was a good reason to get a bipedal form, he supposed, but he loved swimming so much he could hardly focus on the idea. Maybe one day in the far future.

"Oh! You grow your own food?" He asked brightly. Home had never been good for growing much of anything. Most of the time they had to import all of the good vegetation from Avington. "I imagine you have quite a different selection of plants here than in Torquehelm."

Food. When was the last time he had a proper meal?

[Nako]

"Oh, well... Aye. I suppose we do. Comes with the tropical climate, I t'ink Zuberi warily agreed. It would do not good to accidentally make a comment that insulted himself and his home region. That would do no good at all. Regional pride could get some people into quite the mood if they felt insulted.

Finally they reached the shore, and Zuberi pulled up the boat past the tideline so as not to find her boat lost to sea later that day Picking up her basket of seafood she'd caught on her trip, she looked over her shoulder at the surfacing penguin. Aquatic birds had a very particular shape about them, but it looked to Zuberi that the avian probably needed a bit of fattening up.

"You, m'friend, look like you need a homecooked meal. Come on wif me, an' we'll get ya right fixed up."

[Kari Muffin]

Horatio knew full well that no one really liked his realm. Many people had considered him "pitiful" at some point in time. Really, he could careless about what people thought of him normally. This however was a little different. It was a pretty woman. And generally Horatio had a hard time talking to pretty women.

At least he was doing better than he normally did. It was probably just because she had found him in the water rather than out of it. Out of it off the bat he would have been in a miserable state sputtering and stumbling on his words.

"You're so kind!" he said brightly, "Thank you very much, you don't have to do something like that." But of course he would accept the offer. He finally waddled up onto shore, moving a little way to shake off a bit of the excess water.

[Nako]

Hopefully it wouldn't be construed as her being rude, but Zuberi couldn't help but cast a curious glance toward the avian as they walked. Penguins had such a.. distinct gait. There was no real comparison to the fascinating birds that were so well designed for water yet so awkward on land. His mother would have been a truly cruel individual not to enchant that binding of his.

Walking along, she was keen to point out some of the landmarks such as the market and the small clearing that was the village square. With a population of no more than seventy-five individuals though, it was a short walk through the town before they got to a house slightly away from the bustle of the village and on the edge of the dense forest.

"Here we are." Opening the door, she peered inside where Xolani and Davy were playing with blocks. "We have a visitor." Zuberi smiled down at the young children. The eldest Hisstor child couldn't have been any older than five, with the young Midori still in toddler age.

She stepped aside to let her guest in. "This is Horatio. He'll be having dinner with us. And Horatio, this is Xolani, and Davy." She gestured to each child as they were addressed. The young Midori boy smiled and waved, but his sister gave a more reserved, shy look before returning to her blocks.

"Uluani is upstairs. She didn't want to play with us." Davy said mutinously, looking up at his mother with a scowl.

Zuberi sighed. "If your sister doesn't want to play, then she doesn't want to play. You can't force her.... Horatio, please.. make yourself at home." Some of that mothering tone leaked through to her speaking toward the Torque as she gestured to a padded mat on the floor. "Is seafood okay? I mean.. I would assume it is, but one cann'e always assume such t'ings based on breed. My mother? A squirrel that hates nuts. Won't eat them at all."

"I like pistachios!" Davy declared loudly, making Xolani frown.

[Kari Muffin]

It was quite the walk for the penguin, and even if he was able to keep the pace up with the squirrel it seemed longer than it should have been. He was just so amazingly awkward when it came to the land. If he could spend time in the water for the rest of his life, he would take it in a heart beat.

When they arrived at the household, Horatio was a bit surprised. He hadn't honestly expected the woman to have children. She didn't seem... well he supposed she was old enough to have children. He shifted on his feet feet for a moment before bowing his head at his introduction. "It's nice to meet you kids!" he said brightly. They were kind of cute. He waved his wing at the little shy girl and the young boy in greeting. They were occupied but he might as well be polite.

He was happy to see the grass mat rather than a chair. Chairs were something that he would never master no matter how he tried. He waddled over to the spot and flopped down, making himself comfortable. "Oh seafood is fantastic! I don't get a chance to eat it all that often," he said with the largest smile his beak could muster. "And I understand perfectly. My mom actually has a strong dislike for most kinds of fish. Thank you for asking."

The boy's comment made him chuckle.

[Nako]

Zuberi's face lit up. "Absolutely -delightful-, den! It always be a good feeling to cook a dinner for others. It warms me heart for sure!" Oh, how she loved cooking! Especially for those who enjoyed some of her favorite dishes, which often employed seafood as a main ingredient. Throwing a smile over her shoulder, she immediately began to pull a variety of seafoods out of the ice box.

Even Xolani managed a soft smile at the Torquehelm's warm greeting. Smiling behind a raised paw, she used the other to give a gentle wave.

Like a mischievous little floor-shark, Davy scooted his way closer to the seated penguin. Wide eyed, he flung back onto his bottom to stare at the Card. "Wow! How ya be swimming' wit that ball and chain, mister!"

"Davy…" Zuberi tutted in reprimand.

"It be an honest question, ma! I be always askin' the honest questions all up front-like!"

"Nobody can deny that…" Zuberi admitted, casting an apologetic glance Horatio's way.

[Kari Muffin]

Meeting a pretty lady, having a good meal, and dealing with adorable children. Today couldn't possibly get better, could it?

He gave a little wave to the girl in return. Adorable. Though her region seemed out of place. Then again with a blue mane like that she could possibly be part Selkie. Then again... weren't Hisstors particular about family? He never really learned that much about the different regions.

The Torquehelm was terribly used to all the questions he got about his binding. It wasn't every day someone saw metal that could float. It got old sometimes, but children weren't something that he could get mad at. They were children and didn't know any better.

"It's fine! I get questions about it all the time," Horatio said with cheer practically oozing out of his voice with every word. "My binding isn't as heavy as it looks when in water. My mother had it enchanted so I could swim properly. It's pretty light on land as well if you want to try to lift it."

[Nako]

Davy was nothing short of delighted by this information. He flattened himself out completely on then ground to stare at the thing. "Well! Dat be right proper for her to do such a t'ing!"

His eyes all but boggled when he was told he could actually touch it. His hind legs scrabbled for purchase to quickly close the gap between himself and the Torque. He wasn't shy about it either, putting his little hands beneath the thing and hefting it high above his head! Of course, the young one had a club ability to help him out if the thing actually was a touch heavy.

"Aha! Not so bad at all! Ma, p'haps we should get me one a dese things for a right workout so I can be as strong a swimmer as Horatio!" He hadn't actually seen the Penguin swim, but one could assume, right?


Basic Magical Ability: He can go three days without needing to sleep.
Moderate Magical Ability: When activated, he can carry up to 90 lbs of extra weight for 24 hours straight, one day per week. He is left feeling tired and somewhat drained for the 24 hours following that period.


Zuberi sighed, throwing seasonings into what she was cooking and casting a glance over her shoulder. "Davy, he said you could try to pick it up, not bench press it."

[Kari Muffin]

Horatio blinked as he watched the boy lift the binding right over his head. Right. Clubs. They could do things like that. Silly of him to forget something so simple.

He wasn't quite sure if he should laugh, certainly staring like an idiot wasn't helping. "Impressive," he said as he gave a chuckle. "You seem pretty strong as is, I can't imagine you need the help of weight training. But if you want to be as skillful as me in the water, go for it."

Carefully he went to remove the ball from Davy's hands, he stopped though when he realized he didn't exactly have the best capable appendages for holding the thing. He mentally cursed his stubby appendages. "Could you do me a big favor and put it down gently? It'll make quite a racket and give me a bit of a jolt if you put it down roughly or drop it."

[Nako]

It was a good thing the penguin had specified; Davy looked as if he had wanted to slam the thing down as if nailing a victorious touchdown. He paused to stare up at the man almost as if he'd been reprimanded before setting the ball down very carefully. He took a hop backwards, fur standing on end before bolting underneath a table.

Zuberi laughed, bringing a plate of lobster tails and shrimp, all seasoned and scorched by the open fire just enough to bring it a grilled flavor. The side would be some indistinguishable mash of vaguely pink coloration, perhaps a local root similar to potatoes that would prove to pair well with seafood.

"Don' mind Davy; he jus' be at one o' dem ages. Watch ye feet though; he done got all frisky an' might have it out for ya toes." She set out drinks and plates for everyone, as well as the children.

"Xolani, take a plate to ya sister; she don' have to come down but she still gotta eat."

Xolani gave a sigh, but did not argue as she did what she was told.

"So Horatio, what all did ye have planned for ya vacation? Midori has much more to offer dan jus' da sea."