Qrow Branwen is a bad luck charm (scareqrow) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2017-10-02 19:23:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, ezio auditore da firenze, qrow branwen |
Who: Qrow and Ezio
What: Ezio helps Qrow learn to fly like a proper bird
When: Today
Where: UC:Irvine
Rating/Warnings Pretty low
Status: Complete!
Even though he hadn’t yet had a Dream in which he actually turned into a bird, Qrow was aware that his Dream counterpart had the ability. Much like he was aware of other things that went on in Remnant. The history (or histories if one were to be accurate) the of the Grimm, legends of the land, the secret missions. All of which were memories of memories that Qrow had because the man in his Dreams had them. He had never expected to actually turn into a bird. And then it just kind of happened
It had been one thing to change into a bird during Orange County’s latest mass invasion. Given the situation and high levels of adrenaline, it had actually made sense. And it made a certain amount of sense that it would have been a knee-jerk reaction and given that he’d almost been shot by one of those nameless Charon goons, it had probably saved his life (the subsequent dragging towards the Gravity Temple and taking a swim in the Le Brea tar pits notwithstanding).
What did not make sense was turning into a bird again, this time while he was grading the first round of tests his Freshman level World History class had turned in earlier in the week. And not just any bird. No. We’re not talking a delicate little sparrow or chickadee here. Superstition and bad luck aside, Qrow’s parents had no way of knowing just how appropriate his name really was.
Ok. He could turn into a large crow. Brilliant. Just how did he turn back? Before, it had been the trauma of being dunked in the tar pit and then being hauled out had apparently been enough to trigger a reversion back to human form. Qrow didn’t exactly want to repeat that. Someone from his Dreams had to know. Oz seemed like the most likely of candidates. Now if only Qrow could figure out how to get out of his office.
Well, back to the grind. After the whirlwind of recent events (felt like a strong tornado, to be honest) - everything from traveling to Italy to erase some Borgia scum from the family line and then dealing with a week or so of odd effects due to odd temples cropping up - teaching again was almost mundane. However, it was something Ezio gladly sank into. His classes this semester were a bright spot, since they gave him a chance to really exercise the Art History part of his brain - not the killing part, or the part fixated on revenge that had been served on a cold platter, or anything else. Just what he was schooled in, what he loved.
It was a breath of fresh air for a very weary sort of man.
That day, after his Pop Art class, he went to see if Qrow wanted to have lunch. Their offices were near each other, since the History department happened to be close by - he didn’t have a chance to pack a bag lunch this morning, so, one of the nearby cafes should be nice. Only when he got to Qrow’s office, he wasn’t expecting to find...the man’s namesake. Of the avian variety.
There, on the table beneath the window (as if he was contemplating an escape, or how those little bird claws could flip the latch) perched a sleek, black crow. Oh, he was gorgeous, really. Ezio had an appreciation and respect for birds, eagles especially - one glance at the design of his armor, his weapons, would show you that. The very nature of the Assassins resembled a bird of prey anyway, when you thought about it.
“Qrow?” he asked, stepping forward. Tentatively, he reached out and stroked the bird’s head - this must be the friend he knew, because otherwise the bird might have flipped its shit by now. They didn’t usually let humans get close. “...is it you?” How was he even going to answer, well, that was a quandary.
Ezio! Qrow had never been more happy to see anyone. Talons were good for ripping and shredding. Not so good for opening window latches. Thumbs were an incredibly underrated part of the human anatomy.
Am I glad to see you! So, as you can see, I can change into a bird. Funny thing is, I’m not sure how to change back. There’s a guy who shares the Dreams with me. He might know. Think you can open this window for me so I can get out?
That was what Qrow wanted to say. Instead what came out was: ”Caw!”
Well, that should have been expected. Crows are smart, but they can’t talk. Beady, but keen red eyes looked up at Ezio as the man ventured closer. Sleek head cocked to the side inquisitively as Qrow thought about the best way to convey his current situation to his colleague here.
Then Ezio’s hand was on his head, stroking smooth feathers and, oh…that felt kind of nice. Maybe a little bit to the back? Yeeah, right there…that’s the spot…
Nonono. He was supposed to be trying to get out of his office. Not sit there and be petted like some kind of parakeet. He shook his head and flared his wings, flapping instantly to get Ezio’s attention (and inadvertently knocking a few things on the table to the floor). Yes, it’s me!
Many strange things had occurred as of late, but this could definitely be considered the strangest. Ezio chuckled, scritching and scratching the bird on his head and toward his back. If he had a q-tip he would have massaged longer, since who didn’t love a nice little cotton swab attention? Gooooood birrrrrrrdie.
But alright, it was obvious this was Qrow and he was disgruntled. Picking up what had fallen to the floor, setting those things back on the table, he just assumed that Qrow wanted out since he’d been by the window. “You wish to fly, is it?” he inquired. “By the way, I really want to know how you became this.” Whenever he changed back. If he changed back. Merda, let’s hope so.
To give his professor friend a hand (literally), he flipped the latch on the window and pulled it open enough so that Qrow would have room to fly out if he wanted.
Yes! Thank you! Once I’m back to normal, I’ll tell you everything. If I figure out the how, that is. Another couple of soft caws and Qrow was perched on the window sill and oh….oh we’re up kind of high here, aren’t we? Guess I never paid much attention to just how high up three stories really is…
Qrow was aware that the Dream version of him could turn into a bird, but that apparently was where the knowledge ended. Perched there on the windowsill and looking down onto the courtyard, Qrow came to the startling realization that he didn’t exactly know how to fly.
The bird glanced back into the office with a very bird-like twitch of his head to where Ezio was standing and watching. Well, this is kind of embarrassing. Everything had happened so fast with the mercenaries and he’d been airborne before he really even truly realize what was happening. Now that Qrow had the time to actually process the situation he found he really didn’t have the first clue what he was doing.
How hard could it be? Crows and ravens were smart, but pigeons and doves? They weren’t exactly praised for their brains and they could fly. If they could do it, Qrow could too. He just had to get psyched up for it. That’s all.
He bobbed up and down a couple of times, spread his wings slightly, another bob and a couple of flaps and he was up in the air! The moment the windowsill had fallen away from his feet and the courtyard loomed below as though it was a thousand feet away, Qrow noped right back into the office. Bird feet skidded across the table and large wings again knocked all manner of items onto the floor. After a moment of flailing wing and skidding feet and Qrow found himself on the floor halfway between the table and his desk. Those keen red eyes looked back up at the professor still standing there. You will tell no one of this! “Caw!”
To his credit, Ezio didn’t laugh. Much. There was a spark of amusement in his eyes as he observed the proceedings, and all that slipped out was a quiet chuckle that was drowned in the sounds of Qrow knocking half his office to the floor again.
“It perhaps takes some practice first, no?” Ezio suggested. He couldn’t exactly fly (despite the invention of da Vinci’s flying contraption which worked once they literally set part of the city on fire), but he hadn’t been great at freerunning at first - he had been taught by his father and brother, then improved over time. Even his first Leap of Faith (wherein the Assassin was meant to trust their instincts and soar like an eagle), from a bell tower, had been terrifying.
To really have wings though, now that was incredible. To be able to turn into a bird! Think of all the spying you could do. “Pretend you are swimming. I think it is the same motion. Come, we’ll go outside,” he offered his arm for Qrow to hop onto.
Qrow cocked his head again. Swimming? What kind of swimming had Ezio done that made him flap his arms up and down? Still, it was as good an idea as any. After another moment of consideration, Qrow hopped up onto Ezio’s extended arm. It took him a moment to get a good purchase without digging sharp talons into Ezio’s flesh. Using his wings for balance he made his way up Ezio’s arm to his elbow where he was able to get a good enough hold.
All things considered, Qrow was actually grateful that of all the people who could have come wandering into his office, it was Ezio who had made this discovery. At least he had come to the correct conclusion that this random large bird in the office was in fact his colleague and said colleague was in need of help instead of freaking out that a large black crow had somehow found it’s way into the office. Qrow had terrible visions of one of the secretaries -- the type of woman who went into hysterics every time she saw some kind of wildlife inside, whether it be a mouse or a spider -- stopping by to deliver a message of some kind and immediately taking a broom to the unwanted pest. Oh, yes, Qrow was very thankful that hadn’t happened.
Heading outside (while wearing a large bird), Ezio did in fact pass the secretary on the first floor where the entrance to the History department was - she looked rather flabbergasted, but he just gave her a wink and disappeared through the door. What, so he was holding an actual crow that seemed to come from nowhere, what was the big deal?
His destination was the courtyard. Sometimes you’d find students reading out here, or having lunch, but it seemed relatively quiet now. Ezio sat on one of the iron benches, with Qrow still regally perched on his arm.
“Thank you for not taking a shit on me,” he quipped. Bird poop was terribly awkward and difficult to get out of clothing. “Now, shall we try again? Or you’ll try again.” Ezio would be here for moral support and encouragement.
Qrow cocked his head at Ezio as if to say that it would have been poor form to take a shit on the man helping him out here. It would have been incredibly undignified for the both of them. But, yes, they -- or rather Qrow would try this flying thing again. The bird gave a bob of his head before carefully moving down Ezio’s arm from his elbow.
The ground was a lot closer here. That was good. If he fell there was a much lesser risk of breaking his neck. And thankfully the courtyard was mostly deserted. Even though no one out there but Ezio would have known who the bird was and would have likely just assumed the art history professor was performing an act of kindness by helping a poor bird learn to fly, Qrow was thankful that no one else would see him flail around.
Qrow flared his wings and bobbed again. Ok, let’s do this. “Caw!”
He was actually sort of cute in bird form, but Ezio doubted that Qrow would appreciate such a description. The Assassin grinned a bit though, watching the actual crow about to take flight. Or try to. “You can do it,” he insisted - he believed in you, Qrow. Aww. “You have feathers and hollow bones, you are made for this.”
The motion to get that lift really was like swimming - birds had the muscles that let them do it. “Maybe try running to get a lift? Or jumping.” Ezio slid his finger beneath the talons Qrow had, to get a good grip. “I will be helpful and toss you - on three, alright? One, two - “
Or actually it was two and a half. He let go of the bird, so he’d have to flap his wings to stay aloft.
No, the last thing Qrow wanted to hear was that he was “cute.” But, yes, he was made for this. At least he was now.
Qrow stepped up on the offered fingers, curling his toes and talons around them to get a good enough grip. He was as careful as possible. Talons were sharp and Ezio most likely wouldn’t have appreciated getting scratched. Ok. Ezio was going to help. Good. A toss might work. At least it would get him up in the air. Yes! That should work. Another quick head tilt and a soft caw of approval. Alright, let’s do this. One…Two…
And suddenly Qrow found himself no longer situated on Ezio’s fingers. There was a moment, (however this one much more fleeting than the one he’d previously experienced upstairs) in which he was in freefall. There was another moment of panic and a frantic flailing of wings, but just before he hit the ground, Qrow felt a sensation under his body. A bit of an updraft created by the flailing. He was lifted up and for another briefest of moments he was flying!
Actually, it was more of a glide as he rode the air current to the ground several feet away from Ezio, but it was much closer than what he’d done before. And that taste of flight was all Qrow needed to forget about how Ezio had sent him into the air prematurely and get excited enough to try it again.
Crows aren’t designed for running, really. Something about how their legs are positioned on their bodies, but that didn’t stop Qrow from trying to run back to Ezio for a second go ‘round. It was more of a comical sight of hopping and flapping his way back. A foot or so away from the other professor, he even got enough lift to kind-of jump back up to his arm.
How was that not heartwarming? Qrow bobbing and waddling his way back after being airborne for a second. Ezio was grinning as he hoisted the bird up again - though he held his sides, cradling him gently with his wings down. This would make for a really good toss.
“Now we try that again,” he instructed and held actual bird Qrow aloft. “Three!” the cheeky professor announced, and simultaneously tossed him and let his hands fall away so he had some momentum to flap his wings and keep himself in the air.
It was still cute.
Qrow anticipated the toss this time and even tough Ezio – the sneaky so-and-so – didn’t give him much warning, Qrow was more prepared than he had been last time. There was a little bit of flailing, but only at first. Qrow felt that sensation again. That lift that he’d felt the last time. It was as though the air had reached out and gave him a soft push upwards. The right flap of his wings (rather than a manic tornado of flapping) and he could maintain his current lift. Another more powerful flap and he could go higher.
Which was what he did. Steering was still a little tricky. Qrow knew it had something to do with his tail feathers, which he used to aim towards the nearest tree. The landing was a little rough, but he managed to grab hold of one of the lower branches and get a good enough grip with one of his feet to keep from falling off.
Flying was amazing and even though he’d only gone a short distance, Qrow felt exhilarated by the experience. Carefully he turned around on the branch and looked down at Ezio and cawed triumphantly.
Ezio had risen, standing to watch Qrow take to the air and keep flying - he was doing it, as in, actually doing it and not spiraling back down in a ‘mayday’ nosedive. “See, now you are even in a tree,” he laughed, grinning up at the bird who was oh-so-proud of himself. “You’ve done wonderfully.”
He almost had to wipe a tear from his eye. Was this how the mama birds felt when their baby birds left the nest? It must be.
“I am not so sure how you turn back from that form, though. Someone must know.” Someone from his dreamworld. Maybe it just took some focus.
The bird in the tree cocked it’s head. Keen red eyes flashing a moment. That’s right. That’s how all this business had started. His original goal had been to go to Oz’s. Now he could fly there! Actually fly! He cawed down at Ezio. Yes, he knew someone who might have the answer. If not, well, Oz at least had thumbs and could use the oh-so-useful network to ask.
Another flap of his wings. Thank you, Ezio! When I’m back to myself we’ll get a drink. I’ll buy!
It was a shame that Ezio did not speak the bird language. He really wanted to know what Qrow was saying, what those caws translated to. But he would just assume it was something good. And oh, he could definitely use that drink later on.
“You’re welcome?” he guessed. “Go on and fly, have some fun. Take a shit on someone annoying.” He was not going to name names, but he could think of a couple people who deserved such an experience.
If this was going to become a regular thing – him changing into a bird – Qrow was going to have to find a way to communicate with those around him. Then again, if he could figure out how to control it, the problem may become a moot point. Still…
Qrow tilted his head towards Ezio. He may take him up on that suggestion. After he’d gotten to Oz and somehow managed to find a way to convince the older café owner that he was Qrow and not yet another bird trapped in his kitchen
Another head bob. I’ll message you when I can. Tell you all about how this happened and with a flap of his wings, he was airborne again, soaring (albiet slightly wobbly) and headed towards Emerald City Café.