An Eggcellent Find pt II

-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Just sitting there, watching the egg and keeping it warm. --
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] He's also reading it a book of Alchemical Processes and Recipes. --
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] shit lets be a fucking egg. It's been kept nice and cozy and warm and safe for roughly a week, maybe more. Getting all nice and incubated. --
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] has started wiggling around occasionally the last few days, the wiggles becoming more and more frequent and prolonged. --
CAE: Now egg, the combination of silver and gold can only be done to a ratio of 13/11.
CAE: Anything else and the weight will be telling and people will be able to tell that it isn't pure gold.
CAE: Also, the metal will no longer look like gold.
CAE: It will look paler than it should. Not like white gold, but in that it's mixed.
CAE: Let me tell you, egg, many people don't appreciate that.
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] is a very educated egg --
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] You'll be the most educated! --
CAE: Okay... Well, now that I've taught you something about metals, how about we move onto other creatures.
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Takes out a book on Mythical Beasts. --
CAE: Let's start with dragons.
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] wiggles. Oh boy critters --
CAE: I know, you like that, egg.
CURRENT equestrianEpicurean [CEE] RIGHT NOW responded to memo.
CEE: You're actually attempting to teach an egg?
CAE: Let's see... We covered Dryads and Forest spirits yesterd- Oh, hello, Dirk.
CAE: And yes, I am.
CAE: It might as well have some knowledge of the world before it hatches.
CAE: I exxplained some poison ingredients and where to find them a couple days ago.
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Pets the egg fondly. --
CEE: I thought it was agreed upon that as this egg may or may not contain a potentially dangerous creature, we should avoid getting terribly attached.
CAE: ...Right...
CEE: As we will have to kill it upon its emergance.
CAE: ...Dirk, what if it isn't actually dangerous?
CAE: I mean, it will only be an infant.
CAE: And perhaps I can tame it.
CEE: And when it reaches maturity?
CAE: By now it knows the sound of my voice.
CAE: It... It could very well be a proper companion...
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Yup, has definitely gotten attached. --
CEE: Hrm...
CEE: If it does turn out to be a cocatrice, you'll have to keep it blindfolded.
CAE: You're thinking basilisk.
CAE: Cocatrice are poisonous.
CAE: ...Unless you have a different kind of cocatrice on your world.
CEE: Either way.
CAE: Hm...
CAE: Maybe the gaze is something they control...
CAE: Besides, I've never really had a pet before...
CEE: If I recall correctly, negative effects also arise from the cockatrice breathing on or otherwise touching a person.
CAE: I can handle it, Dirk.
CAE: I'll spend a few days with it, test what it can do...
CEE: ....Wear some thick gloves while handling him.
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Holds up his hands, wearing leather gloves. --
CEE: Good.
CAE: I'm going to have to touch it unguarded eventually.
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] wiggles again! --
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Pets the egg. --
CEE: Try to avoid dying.
CAE: It's been moving more as of late.
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] wiggles too hard and rolls onto its side. Then it stops wiggling. --
CAE: !
CEE: Then it should be hatching soon.
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Picks it up, checking it. --
CAE: Egg, are you alright?
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Looks legitimately worried. --
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] there's soungs inside the egg! Sounds like something shifting about. --
CAE: I... I think it's hatching...
CEE: ....
CEE: Set it down.
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Sets it back in the constructed nest. --
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] wiggles again, a small tapping sound coming from one side of the egg. --
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Watching it with fascination. --
CEE: Don't touch it until the hatching is complete.
CEE: Do not provide assistance.
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Nods. --
CAE: I wonder what it'll look like.
CAE: No one on my world actually knows what they look like in infancy.
CAE: Well, not when hatching at any rate.
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker's [CTS'S] tapping grows louder and more insistant, accompanied with little scraping sounds, and the wiggling that much more intense. --
CAE: Don't fall over and hurt yourself, egg...
CEE: I would supposed it will look rather depressing, scaley, and fluffy after the initial egg goop dries.
CAE: Do you think it'll like me?
CAE: I think it'll need a name when it comes out.
CEE: Dude, it's basically a baby bird.
CEE: Of course it will.
CAE: Come on, egg... You're close to hatching.
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] taps and scrapes and wiggles just a bit more, until suddenly there's a crackling sound! A small crack has appeared on one side of the egg! --
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] A wide smiles stretches over his face. --
CAE: You can do it, just a bit more, little one...
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Artemis would become enamoured with a potentially dangerous creature. --
-- CURRENT equestrianEpicurean [CEE] of course --
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] rests briefly, before wiggling more insistantly, tapping and scraping at the crack, widening it until a whole chip of the shell flies off. The inside of the egg is dark, but from it starts a quiet peeping. --
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Slowly peeks into the egg. --
CAE: Hello, egg... Come on out if you'd like...
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] all that can be seen is a couple of wet, orange-red, scaley lizard toes just poking out of the small hole in the egg. --
CAE: The colours are right for a cockatrice...
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] rests again for just a minute, before the wiggling resumes, the toes popping back up occasionally. The crack and the hole grow wider, another chunk of shell flying off. An entire lizardfoot sticks out of the hole, which is still too small to let the chick out. All that can be seen inside the egg from the hole is dark, scales and wet fluff. --
CAE: He's a very strong baby.
CAE: Perhaps my encouragement was helpful.
CAE: I told him the best way to defeat an enemy was taking advantage of their weak point and exploit it as much as possible.
CEE: Yes, that's totally sensible.
CAE: It's good to teach him proper combat skills young.
CAE: And this egg decidedly counts as an enemy combatant.
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] is taking a wee break, peeping tiredly from inside the egg. --
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Smiles. --
CAE: It sounds healthy.
CAE: This is good.
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] squirms occasionally, looking like its about to go back to hatching, then nopes and goes back to resting. Peep peep peep. --
CEE: ...Perhaps I should go get some full gloves.
CAE: ...Should I help it out of the egg?
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Takes off his glove and very carefully puts it near the small opening. --
CEE: I already told you that's a bad idea.
CAE: I'm not going to break any off it.
CAE: I'm just letting it know my scent along with my voice.
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] peeps a little louder, then starts wriggling and squirming and kicking inside the egg, pushing the opening wider and wider. It might be just about to pop... --
CAE: Almost out, little one.
CEE: Don't get too close, Art.
CEE: And put your glove back on.
CAE: No, we'll be able to see the extent of its abilities in an infantile state.
CAE: These will make interesting research notes.
CEE: No.
-- CURRENT equestrianEpicurean [CEE] pap --
CAE: I won't die permanently, I'm the best person to test this.
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Takes off both gloves, putting them in his pouch. --
CEE: /Artie/.
CAE: /Dirk/.
CEE: I'd rather you avoid doing the death thing again for a bit.
CAE: It's been three weeks.
CAE: Come on, we already know the worst that could happen and it's not that bad.
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] finally bursts open! It was sort of sudden, the shell finally giving way and splitting open right into two, leaving the little creature that was inside laying in the open between the pieces. He's damp and feathery and scaley and not entirely just a critter. --
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] has, instead of just being a half lizard, half bird, the head and build of a human infant with slightly tanned skin. His tiny arms are birdlike, and torso covered in slimy red-orange down that matches the color of the short wet hair on his head. His scaley legs are digitigrade and entirely lizardlike, along with his long, whiplike tail. His eyes are shut as he just lays among his egg shells for the moment, resting and panting from the ordeal of hatching. --
CAE: ...Oh...
CAE: Wow...
CAE: I've never seen anything like this.
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Takes out a soft cotton cloth and picks up the tiny baby. --
CAE: Hello there...
CEE: Shit, Artie, put him down.
CAE: He's going to be cold otherwise.
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Handling him without gloves, gently wiping him clean. --
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] quietly peeps and chirps, wiggling and kicking a little at being cleaned, tiny face scrunched up. --
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Smiling at the baby. --
CAE: I think he looks like a Timothy...
CEE: Mrghghghgghhg this is a bad idea.
CAE: But I'm fine.
CAE: See? Still alive.
CAE: ...
CEE: ....
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Puts a finger near Tim's mouth to check if he's hungry. --
CEE: Don't put that near his mouth.
CAE: I'll be fine, Dirk.
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] instinctively nibbles. He's only got a few teeth right now, and despite being tiny they are also very sharp. But aside from some pricks, nothing else happens to Artie's finger. --
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Smiles. --
CAE: No poison.
CAE: A rather nasty bite for something his size, but no poison.
CEE: His powers are going to appear and it's going to be painful as shit.
CAE: Perhaps.
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Has the look on his face of having already fallen in love with the tiny baby. --
CEE: ...And you're already attached.
CEE: That's /great/.
CAE: I don't think we'll have to worry about him.
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] peeps quietly, still hungrily nibbling a little on Artemis' fingertip with his eyes shut. His feathers are starting to dry, becoming fluffy. --
CAE: I'll be his Papa-hal.
CAE: ...Caretaker...
CEE: Papa-hal?
CAE: Er... It's the... Word for father in my language...
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Awkwardly coughs. --
CAE: He's going to need something to eat.
CAE: I think soft meat would work.
CEE: Hrm....
CEE: I have some fish on me.
CEE: If needed immediately.
CAE: Fish would work.
CAE: He's still nibbling my finger.
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Takes his finger away from Tims mouth. --
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] chirps, then makes a funny sound almost like an itty bitty growl, reaching his arms out with his face scrunched up --
CTS: krrrr
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Chuckles. --
CAE: No no, you wouldn't enjoy Shade-blood for very long.
CAE: Even if it is diluted.
-- CURRENT equestrianEpicurean [CEE] gets out a fish, ripping off a small bit to hand to the child --
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] is licking his lips a little. He probably got a bit of Artemis' blood in his mouth, yes. --
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Gives him the little piece of fish. --
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] have fun being paranoid about that, Dirk --
CAE: Don't worry, little one, I'm not going to abandon you.
CEE: Did he bite you enough to cause bleeding?
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] nibbles on the fish handed to him, eating it quietly and happily and slowly. He's still a bit tired. --
CAE: Just a bit.
CAE: That's how I know he isn't poisonous.
CAE: Otherwise I'd at least feel very sick.
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Just cradling him, keeping him warm in his hands. --
CEE: Mrrrrrrrghhhhhhhhhhhh.
CEE: Wash it outt.
CAE: Why?
CAE: If I wait, we might see if it's slow-acting.
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] has finished his little piece of fish, and now he's rubbing his eyes with his hands, peeping. --
CAE: He's going to need a proper wash.
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Gets a bowl and warm water and starts carefully cleaning him. --
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] chirps, trying to wriggle away from the water, face scrunched up again. He clings to Artemis' hand, apparently already growing attached to his scent. --
-- CURRENT equestrianEpicurean [CEE] lingers at the side, fingers twitching and brow knit --
CEE: He's already attached...
CEE: Fuck.
CAE: I've never had something become attached to me like this, it's a little flattering.
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] lifts his head, finally barely managing to open his eyes. He blinks and squints up at Artemis, starting to peep again. --
CAE: Hello there...
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Looks Tim in the eyes. Gonna test that gaze thing. --
CEE: Nooooo.
-- CURRENT equestrianEpicurean [CEE] pushes his head to the side --
CAE: Ack! Dirk, what in the hells are you doing?
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] very briefly met Artemis' eyes, and nothing happened! Timmy just chirps and peeps at Artie. --
CAE: He's safe, he's not possessed of that gaze!
CAE: Or at least not yet.
CEE: That /yet/ is what I'm concerned about.
CAE: Which is why I'm the best choice for his custodian.
CAE: I can't permanently die.
CEE: Hrrhghgl.
CAE: ...Making strange elephant noises won't alter this.
CEE: I can attempt.
CAE: By making elephant noises?
CEE: Yes.
CEE: Brghghglffff.
CAE: Glrrrfghflrrrg.
CTS: prrffffp
CEE: ....
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Laughs and kisses the little bird's tummy. --
CEE: It makes noises oh lord.
CAE: Very good point, Tim.
CEE: God...
CAE: What?
CAE: Tim is a gentle little cockatrice boy.
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] cheeps, and immediately nuzzles against Artemis' face. He's already imprinted on Artie, accepting him as a parent. --
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Nuzzles Tim a moment before tearing off a small, dry corner of the cloth, putting a tiny diaper on him. --
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] squirms in the temporary diaper, kicking his feet and scratching at it with his talons. --
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Taps his forehead. --
CAE: No.
CAE: You keep that on, Tim.
CEE: ....I'll go make him a more comfortable one.
CAE: Okay. This will do for now.
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] wiggles around more, not liking having the cloth tied on him. He'll have to get used to it eventually, though. --
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Clears the shell out of the nest, then puts Tim in it for a moment, turning to Dirk. --
CAE: You need not assist me in this if you do not wish to.
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] flops over in the nest on his belly, wiggling in place. --
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Takes one of Dirk's hands in his. --
CAE: I would not feel right just leaving him to fend for himself though.
CAE: I know how hard that can be quite well.
CEE: Mrrghhh...........
CEE: Artie, he's a cockatrice.
CAE: And is harmless.
CEE: He's got a shit ton of self defense mechanisms that will begin to emerge as he matures.
CAE: And we'll teach him to be careful with them.
CAE: Or feed him small doses of anti-venin in hopes that it'll change poison.
CAE: We can start him on that now.
CAE: I just... I don't think he's that bad...
CAE: I mean, perhaps he's trainable and a little misunderstood.
CAE: We'll just teach him not to bit people.
CAE: And we can put tiny shades on him.
CEE: Hrmmgh... We'll see.
CAE: Sometimes the most misunderstood things are truly not so bad.
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] has squirmed over to the edge of the nest, peeping loudly at Artemis. --
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Goes back over to Tim. --
CAE: What is it, little one?
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] holds up his arms, chirping and reaching towards Artie. --
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Picks him up in his hands. --
CAE: What is it? Are you hungry?
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] chitters, nuzzling into Artemis' hands. He just wanted to be close. --
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Cuddles Tim to his neck. --
CAE: You're not so bad, are you, little one...
-- CURRENT threeinchSquawker [CTS] curls against Artemis' neck, huddling against the contact and warmth. Hanging onto the fabric of Artemis' clothes to keep him in place against his neck, Tim quickly falls asleep there. --
CEE: If I wake up to find you turned into stone, you ain't got nobody to blame but yourself.
CAE: You'll just find my sword howling for a good five minutes as it resurrects me.
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Kisses Dirk's cheek. --
CAE: I'll be fine...
CEE: You better be.
-- CURRENT equestrianEpicurean [CEE] kisses back --
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Cups his cheek, smiling at him softly. --
CAE: Besides, I'm far too stubborn to leave you...
CEE: Good.
CEE: You belong to me, aiight? Not to death, not to your sword, not to your job.
CEE: To me.
CEE: Don't forget.
CAE: Usually, I might protest, but... I think I am alright with this arrangement.
CAE: I do not say this often enough, but... I think you are absolutely gorgeous and I enjoy watching you sleep.
CAE: ...Wait...
CAE: ...The other part of that was creepy...
CEE: ....Pffff.
-- CURRENT artemisEntreri [CAE] Scowls. --
CAE: Damn...
CAE: I did mean it in a positive manner.
CAE: I'm going to watch some of your programs and learn how to flirt with you.
CEE: Nah, it's cool.
CEE: I like it.
CAE: The fact I say strange things?
CEE: Yeah.
CEE: It's endeering.
CAE: At least I have that.