[ And with that, she nods with a smile, stepping back a few paces as her form begins to shift and change and darken, arachnid limbs emerging until there is no more tiefling in front of Henry - only a giant wolf spider, about the size of... well, a wolf. Flowers dot her body just as they do her hair when she's her usual self. It's very cool.
She can't talk while in this form (and maybe... that's better...) but even in the form of a spider, her face remains expressive as ever, and there's something expectant and hopeful about the way all eight of her little golden spider eyes look at him. ]
[The shift in Henry’s demeanor is almost immediate. He does not lose his carefully crafted veil of politeness, of course, but there is a keen fascination now cemented in his gaze, looking down upon Ori-now-turned-spider.]
That’s amazing.
[He steps closer, crouches down. He does not seem at all bothered by her overlarge arachnid features, meeting her many eyes. He’s almost, almost childlike.]
To be able to change into something so— different, just like that.
[ There are no words for her to offer in return, of course, only the ambient chittering of various spider limbs and fangs, but beneath it all, the tiefling is rather pleasantly surprised to witness this side of Henry.
She doesn't know that his politeness is of a constructed, crafted nature; but to see the barest hint of something else there in his eyes would have her tiefling self smiling just the smallest bit. As it is, though, she simply stays put and lets him observe and inspect. ]
[It is a side that is strangely more sincere, though perhaps difficult to tell for someone who could not see the facade to begin with. Either way, he just has to ask— how can he not?]
Can I touch one of your legs?
[Is that weird? Maybe it’s weird. But Henry has never feared handling spiders, and though she’s not a spider really, she’s just SO BIG, and he’s curious.]
I promise I won’t get you tangled up in more string.
[ Maybe it's a little weird, but certainly not a question Ori has never heard before. After all, she can turn into a great many things, and some of them beg the "can I touch" question more than others - but usually dinosaur form, not so much giant spider form.
She doesn't sense any ill intent on Henry's part - only curiosity. Though he's certainly asked her questions before, and she's happily obliged him, this feels a little different in a way she can't quite put a fuzzy spider leg to...
Speaking of which, she lifts one closer to him so that he can shake her spider hand! ]
[Henry grins; it reaches his eyes. Well, here’s a man-to-spider handshake, nice and polite and utterly fascinating. (She’s fuzzy and chitinous! Neat!) To his credit, the touch doesn’t linger — she’s still a tiefling beneath it all, and he retracts his hand soon after.]
Thanks. That’s practically made my day.
[Sincere? Back to faux politeness? They’re too intermingled now.]
[ It's likely a blessing that she's still a spider, lest Henry hear the soft laugh she would be giving to his reaction as a whole, if she were a tiefling. It's endearing, and I'm so sorry that she thinks this.
With his thanks, though, she feels it only proper to turn back into herself. It doesn't take long until Henry is faced once more with a purple-and-pink, beflowered tiefling with a smile on her face in place of a large, fuzzy spider. ]
[With that, he stands to his feet again, a quirking brow on his features.]
More? How can anything possibly top that?
[Uh-oh, what's this? The string, on his end, connecting himself and Ori together? It is straining to turn a very light, admittedly very sickly yellow -- but the change is present, if she's keen enough to catch it.]
[ same song, different tune. Her body changes shape until she's shifted into the form of a velociraptor, and much like when she had turned into a spider that I totally didn't forget to write about, the strings remain tethered to appendages... This time, strung to tiny dinosaur claws. ]
[It's okay I just assumed the strings were still attached This transformation is still as strange to see as the first one, and though this form doesn't encapsulate his obsession with the eight-legged, it's still surreally interesting. It's a dinosaur, after all. A predator, with sharp teeth and claws and probably quick on its feet. Henry can appreciate that, too.]
Just as amazing as the first time. [Well, nearly.] Those teeth look sharp.
[ It certainly is something of a jarring shift, to find someone as soft and kind as Ori turn into creatures for whom those same words might not carry true.
She cannot speak in this form, either, but she can hold out a tiny little dinosaur arm for him to touch, just as he had when she was a spider. ]
[He wants to ask just how many people she might have shredded to pieces with those teeth and claws, but that seems... like a question that should be phrased differently.
When she's able to talk again.
Henry reaches out, slipping his palm under those sharp claws. His mouth twists with strange appreciation.]
[ The answer to that question would certainly be... a nonzero number.
She's trying to be very careful so as not to accidentally pierce or even scratch his skin, and despite her appearance there's still something strangely friendly about her demeanor. It really is such a shame that she can't speak in this form, but she'll stay until he says his curiosity has been sated! ]
[Yes, it's strangely unmistakable that this is still Ori beneath the scaley exterior, a sort of friendly demeanor that Henry's come to define her by. He won't keep her in this form for long; he glances a little longer at those claws, at that scaled skin, before retracting his hand.]
At least everyone would be able to tell it's you, no matter what. I don't think flowers are a usual feature of dinosaurs.
[ It was, wasn't it? But it's nothing she's not used to - she tends to give and give and give, even if she never expects anything in return. ]
Sure, plenty of times. I have to admit, I haven't used that form in quite some time, though, now that I don't go adventuring as much... It almost felt nostalgic!
Something tells me you were more impressed by the spider than the dinosaur, though.
[He chuckles lightly. Maybe she'll win a bit more information if she turns the conversation towards spiders, though.]
They were both impressive. But... [He almost gives a casual shrug of his shoulders. Or at least the impression of one.] Spiders have always been a favorite of mine ever since I was younger. I'd always find some beneath the floorboards of my old family home, and keep them in glass jars for a time.
No, I haven't. [If only because this thread takes place before I submitted a suggestion box request for him, which actually was a terrarium full of spiders. Please return to this query later.] The only ones I've seen already belong to someone else on Tsuchigumo.
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She can't talk while in this form (and maybe... that's better...) but even in the form of a spider, her face remains expressive as ever, and there's something expectant and hopeful about the way all eight of her little golden spider eyes look at him. ]
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That’s amazing.
[He steps closer, crouches down. He does not seem at all bothered by her overlarge arachnid features, meeting her many eyes. He’s almost, almost childlike.]
To be able to change into something so— different, just like that.
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She doesn't know that his politeness is of a constructed, crafted nature; but to see the barest hint of something else there in his eyes would have her tiefling self smiling just the smallest bit. As it is, though, she simply stays put and lets him observe and inspect. ]
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Can I touch one of your legs?
[Is that weird? Maybe it’s weird. But Henry has never feared handling spiders, and though she’s not a spider really, she’s just SO BIG, and he’s curious.]
I promise I won’t get you tangled up in more string.
😳
She doesn't sense any ill intent on Henry's part - only curiosity. Though he's certainly asked her questions before, and she's happily obliged him, this feels a little different in a way she can't quite put a fuzzy spider leg to...
Speaking of which, she lifts one closer to him so that he can shake her spider hand! ]
god i'm sorry he's such a weirdo
Thanks. That’s practically made my day.
[Sincere? Back to faux politeness? They’re too intermingled now.]
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With his thanks, though, she feels it only proper to turn back into herself. It doesn't take long until Henry is faced once more with a purple-and-pink, beflowered tiefling with a smile on her face in place of a large, fuzzy spider. ]
Well, I'm glad! You're welcome, Henry.
Any more animal requests for the day?
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More? How can anything possibly top that?
[Uh-oh, what's this? The string, on his end, connecting himself and Ori together? It is straining to turn a very light, admittedly very sickly yellow -- but the change is present, if she's keen enough to catch it.]
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perceives him so muchcatches that minute shift in hues...... but it's probably just the lighting out here.
in any case, she laughs and shrugs her shoulders. ]
Well, I can only turn twice a day, but... I can turn into a dinosaur?
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Yes. Probably just the lighting. Surely.]
A dinosaur?
[Well, that's not as neat as a spider, but...] Okay, I'm curious. I'd like to see that.
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One dinosaur, coming right up!
[ same song, different tune. Her body changes shape until she's shifted into the form of a velociraptor, and much like when she had turned into a spider
that I totally didn't forget to write about, the strings remain tethered to appendages... This time, strung to tiny dinosaur claws. ]no subject
It's okay I just assumed the strings were still attachedThis transformation is still as strange to see as the first one, and though this form doesn't encapsulate his obsession with the eight-legged, it's still surreally interesting. It's a dinosaur, after all. A predator, with sharp teeth and claws and probably quick on its feet. Henry can appreciate that, too.]Just as amazing as the first time. [Well, nearly.] Those teeth look sharp.
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She cannot speak in this form, either, but she can hold out a tiny little dinosaur arm for him to touch, just as he had when she was a spider. ]
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When she's able to talk again.
Henry reaches out, slipping his palm under those sharp claws. His mouth twists with strange appreciation.]
Sharp.
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She's trying to be very careful so as not to accidentally pierce or even scratch his skin, and despite her appearance there's still something strangely friendly about her demeanor. It really is such a shame that she can't speak in this form, but she'll stay until he says his curiosity has been sated! ]
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At least everyone would be able to tell it's you, no matter what. I don't think flowers are a usual feature of dinosaurs.
[To the best of his knowledge.]
You can change back, now.
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Hah, good observation! I didn't always do that, but just as you said... It was difficult for folks to tell it was me.
Anyway, now you know one more thing about me. I can turn into any animal that I've encountered before!
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[How quaint, an exchange of little personal details. Though it could be argued that Ori’s contribution was more notable than his.]
Why would you need to turn into a dinosaur, though? Have you ever had to fight something in that form?
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Sure, plenty of times. I have to admit, I haven't used that form in quite some time, though, now that I don't go adventuring as much... It almost felt nostalgic!
Something tells me you were more impressed by the spider than the dinosaur, though.
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They were both impressive. But... [He almost gives a casual shrug of his shoulders. Or at least the impression of one.] Spiders have always been a favorite of mine ever since I was younger. I'd always find some beneath the floorboards of my old family home, and keep them in glass jars for a time.
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Is that so...? Have you taken to keeping spiders here, too?
[ Though, come to think of it... has she even seen any spiders around here?? ]
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No, I haven't. [If only because this thread takes place before I submitted a suggestion box request for him, which actually was a terrarium full of spiders. Please return to this query later.] The only ones I've seen already belong to someone else on Tsuchigumo.
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Ah, speaking of... You're on a different team now, aren't you? How are you liking your new teammates?
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I don’t really know my teammates all that well, though. Most of them are completely new to this place.
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[ narrator voice: it is not. ]
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