Meeting the Dadbird

4 January 2016

19:20 GyroTech was walking home from school and see a griffon taht his friend filly Inky had identified as her dad. He walks up to him and tugs on his tail, smiling up at the creature with curiousity. He had a strange Argyle patterned fluff on his chest.

19:24 Argyle is busy picking up a number of things in the market, planning on meeting his girls at home for dinner that night, when a sudden tug on his tail pulls his attention back. Turning curiously (had he been bumped into?) it takes the tiercel a moment to look down, spotting the little unicorn colt behind him. Giving a soft but uncertain smile he cants his head to the side and asks, "Hello little one. Is there something I can do for you?"

19:30 GyroTech steps backwards as the large gryphon turns to look down at him. His face wavers in a bit of instintual fear as he'd never really seen a gryphon up close and personal before, as his parents wouldnt allow it. He sits there for a second, and then gulps before finally working up the courage to say, "Inky told me that you were their dad, but my mom said that ponies cant have birds as dads, that if that had happened they'ed have been..." He thinks for a second to recall the phrase, "...featherbrained tail cloppers....and not ponies." He says innocently, probably not aware that he was using a slur for hippogryphs

19:36 < Inky> ( :O )

19:36 < GyroTech> ( :B )

19:41 Argyle can sense the little unicorn's unease, one that is thoroughly understandable given his age, and crouches down to bring himself roughly on level with GyroTech. He tries to look as friendly and unthreatening as possible, though he knew that ability was limited given his sharp features, and listens patiently to the colt. The tiercel scowls slightly at the slur but it passes in a moment, knowing it's the result of biggoted parenting rather than true malice, going back to smiling right after. Once GyroTech is finished he thinks for a minute on how best to explain then says evenly, "Well, your mother is partially right, though you shouldn't use those words. She's being very very rude and that's not good. I am Inky's father, but not in the... usual, way. She and her sister had pony parents but, for one reason or another, they couldn't be there to raise them. So I took them in, and we're a family now. Does that make sense?"

19:47 < ZeroItamae> (Woo, that all makes more sense now :p)

19:50 < Argyle> (I cant tell if sarcasm or you're serious Zero xD)

19:50 GyroTech 's eyes wander down the face of the gryphon to his charp beak and hten past his feathered chest to his sharp talons below, casuing him to shiver once more, but he resolutly takes a step forward anyways. He misses the scowl as he continues talking and then smiles at Argyle as he responds. He knew it. Argyle wasnt Inky's real father, but now he had to work out how all this information worked together. He blinks breiftly as hes chastised for using the words, tilgint his head in confusion. After a second the unicorn finally responds with a light of recognition in his eyes, "Oh! So you're thier butler! My butler Helping Hoof keeps putting all my toys out of reach. He donest think that I use my horn yet, but I get them down anyways." He says proudly.

19:51 < Inky> ( lil too much batmare comics :B )

19:55 < GyroTech> (huh Inky? )

19:56 < Inky> ( I just wonder how he made the connection of butler vs adoption, but it is plausible )

19:56 < Argyle> (To be fair bird pointedly avoided the word)

19:58 < August> ( a butler is a kind of care taker. so given what i think is gyro's upbringing, it makes sense. )

19:58 < GyroTech> ( ^)

19:59 < EveningBreeze> (Technically I think he'd be a valet, if that's the spelling I'm looking for)

19:59 < GyroTech> (I dont know what the male version of a nanny is)

19:59 < August> ( groomsman perhaps? )

19:59 < August> ( regardless, )

20:01 < EveningBreeze> (A valet is a personal manservant (or ponyservant :p))

20:11 Argyle has the expression of the ever patient adult when dealing with a child who just doesn't quite understand, and takes a breath trying to figure out a way to reword things. The tiercel actively settles down on to his belly crossing his talons in front of him, the stall owner behind seeming extremely patient given his position, and stares down his beak at the unicorn. His smile has faltered a bit but he shakes his head and makes another attempt to explain more clearly, "That's... not right. A butler is hired help; they are payed to care for you. Inky and Candy /cant/ pay for that, and have nopony to do it for them. I really am their father, little one; I adopted them when they were very little."

20:12 < Argyle> (Sorry for the wait Gyro!)

20:13 < GyroTech> (Its alright :P)

20:16 < ZeroItamae> (Was being serious earlier also, couldn't figure out how the whole thing worked)

20:16 GyroTech follows Argyle's example and takes a seat on the ground, swishing his tail back and forth over bricked street. He tilts his head to the side as Argyle continues his explanation

20:16 < GyroTech> (Bah!)

20:16 < Argyle> (Ohh, okay. Yeah. For... reasons, he adopted the two.)

20:17 < GyroTech> (Inky's parents are dead!)

20:17 < Argyle> (But she is not yet the night!)

20:18 < ZeroItamae> (Oh, well now that joke earlier makes sense)

20:20 GyroTech follows Argyle's example and takes a seat on the ground, swishing his tail back and forth over bricked street. He tilts his head to the side as Argyle continues his explanation, biting his lip and having difficulty folowing the concept. He'd not heard of adoption before but he was starting to sort of get the idea in his mind. He brings a hoof to his face, contemplating what the gryphon has told him and then suddenly lights up. "Oh! Then if you adopt me then I can hang out with Inky and Candy all the time~!" he says excitedly, leaping to his feet and grinning widly at the gryphon. "PLease Please Please Please Please~'

20:21 < EveningBreeze> (That might actually turn out better for the little guy >.>)

20:21 < Argyle> (I was gonna say :P)

20:22 < GyroTech> ( :P anyways if Inky and Candy_Floss are intersted, gyro could come over for dinner~)

20:22 < Zuthal> (nuuuh, don't do it D:)

20:24 < Candy_Floss> ( I'm not interested at the moment, but sometime, phaps )

20:24 < EveningBreeze> (Why not?)

20:24 < August> ( busy i imagine )

20:25 < Zuthal> (because, EveningBreeze)

20:25 < EveningBreeze> (It would result in a much better GyroTech!)

20:25 < August> ( besides, i doubt the colts parents would let him. )

20:26 < GyroTech> (August they dont have to know :P)

20:26 < Zuthal> (I don't think that is legal, GyroTech )

20:26 < August> ( much conflict would ensue. )

20:26 < -> Pistachio is now known as Stoic

20:33 Argyle is slightly taken aback by the colt's enthusiasm at the idea, one that he doesn't seem to understand fully, and raises a talon to get him to slow down. "Whoa! Whoa! Slow down there!" he cautions looking a tad flustered at the idea; some details needed to be evened out. "That's not quite how it works," he ventures, knowing he has to get down to the nitty gritty of the matter, "Inky and Candy didn't have parents to care for them, so I adopted them and became their dad. In order for me to adopt you, your parents would have to give you up first, which would be bad! You've got a family that cares for you, and now they do too. That's what matters in the end." He shuffles around a bit, flicking his wings and resettling them at his sides, then grins rather conspiratorially, adding in a much brighter tone, "But! If you want to hang out with them, all you have to do is ask! The girls have friends over all the time!" Raising a single talon to his beak he gazes down at GyroTech curiously and lets out a hum, looking him over in an evaluating way, saying playfully, "Hm, but they haven't mentioned a blue unicorn colt as their friend before. Who might you be? Maybe they've mentioned your name..."

20:43 < GyroTech> (bah names!)

20:44 < Argyle> (He really doesn't know who the little guy is xD)

20:44 < GyroTech> (No not that. I mean that I need to come up w/ gyro's name now!)

20:45 < Argyle> (Uhh... would he not just be Gyro? I mean, everyone else is themselves just smol!)

20:46 GyroTech folds his ears down as his face turns to disapointment when Argyle rejects what was a very well thought out and great plan and then lets out a huff, crossing his hooves and pouting in that cute way only little fillies and colts can manage. He doesnt make eye contact with the bird, instead looking asside the entire tiem as Argyle explains why he's wrong. He'd just complain to Helping Hoof later, he'd get him what he wanted. This train fo thought is rather interupted with the shift in tone as he hears the offer. Gyro instantly lights up agin, looking the griffon down his feirce beak with a wide grin. "Really? Do you think I could come over tonight? I really want to play with them. They were talking about thies pirate ship in their backyard they built~" He's suddenly cut off as Argyle questions him again, and he smiles, getting to his feet and making a sweeping bowing gesture, as he'd been taught to do by his parents. "I'm Gyro from the Blessing Silverhoof~"

20:46 < GyroTech> (alright i'll use gyro, but it actually doenst make much sense :P)

20:46 < GyroTech> (also I've been wanting to use the term blessing for a while now~)

20:46 < August> ( why does it not make sense?

20:47 < GyroTech> (Because Gyro Tech is likely an assumed name. DOesnt make much sense coming from nobility. )

20:48 < GyroTech> (Blessing is great though. Its so pretentious~ A blessing of unicorns~)

20:48 < Argyle> (A curse in disguise, really.)

20:48 < EveningBreeze> (I thought his name was GyroTech Silverhoof, and he just separated his first name to make two)

20:48 < EveningBreeze> (I am literally sure that it was explained like that before)

20:48 < GyroTech> (It possibly was)

20:48 < Argyle> (I think it was, but I'll roll with whatever)

20:50 < Inky> ( doesn't mean it can't change! )

20:52 < Argyle> (Regardless, I'll carry on after dinner)

21:08 Argyle arches a brow at the grand gesture, finding the no doubt trained pomp to be a rather cute show from such a diminutive performer. The offered name, however, didn't ring any bells, but the tiercel wasn't overly put out by it; he seemed nice enough, if from abit of a stuffy upbringing. The tiercel bowed his head slightly in response, about as formal as he could get in the position, and replied, "Well, it's a pleasure Gyro of Silverhoof. I'm Argyle, if my girls hadn't mentioned it." He sat up smiling down warmly at the unicorn and rolled his shoulders adding, "Unforunately I cant say the name is familiar, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind the company, so long as you play nice." It might come as a bit of a surprise to his daughters, but the griffon figured they might be able to rub off in a good way on the little colt; though he had a feeling he'd be hearing from the Silverhoof parents eventually...

21:09 < Argyle> (Right, /now/ I'm going for food :P)

21:09 < Inky> ( later birb )

21:09 < GyroTech> (See ya argy~)

21:14 < August> ( so much potential here. )

21:15 < ZeroItamae> (Alternative time line?)

21:16 < August> ( i meant this scene in particular )

21:18 < August> ( since there are so many ways to introduce conflict here. )

21:29 < -> Abby is now known as Xolani

21:35 < Zuthal> (gyro's parents find out, don't want him associating with any filthy featherbrains, mudponies or squeakers)

21:37 < August> ( i can think of 6 other scenarios. )

21:38 GyroTech laughs at his bow and shakes his head, unable to contain his amusement at the gryphon's clumbsy uncouth motion. He nods at the name, "Nice to meet you Argyle...brushstroke?" he asks, stepping forward and smiling up at the gryphon, nearly up against him now. He gasps and looks hurt at the tiercel, putting on his pout once more as he crosses his hooves. "THey...they never said anything about me? But...but I thought we were close friends...I even brought them icecream last week..." he says with a sniffle. This would probably explain why the two had such a poor appetite last tuesday. He looks down at the ground and begins to sniffle a little harder.

21:38 < GyroTech> (Squeakers! I like that :P)

21:39 < ZeroItamae> (Heh, you're more experienced at these kinda scenes I guess August, I'd be lost XD)

21:39 < ZeroItamae> (Er... Squeakers?)

21:40 < August> ( slur for bats )

21:41 < ZeroItamae> (Ohh, never would have guessed)

22:06 < -> Pixel is now known as Dusk

22:17 GyroTech flops upon inky`

22:18 < Inky> hey, Argyle's coming back, innithe?

22:20 < GyroTech> oh ya, not in here! I floop on inky in uhh 2!

22:39 < Argyle> (I have returned!)

22:42 < GyroTech> (^^

22:51 Argyle blinks once at the appended surname, knowing it was Inky's but never having heard it used such; should he have applied his own to the pair? He was never sure, but before he got the chance to think on it much longer the unicorn had taken to sniffling, looking rather upset and sulky. Oh dear, perhaps he'd pushed the game a bit too far (though they really hadn't said anything!). Ducking his head he gingerly reached out to lift GyroTech's chin with a talon cooing, "Hey, I'm sure you're great friends. I just haven't heard anything; though I think they skipped over the ice cream part on purpose... have to talk to them about that later." Perking up some he gave a reassuring smile and rose partially back to his feet continuing, "Tell you what: you come over any time to see the girls, and we'll sort the whole thing out. Can even stay for dinner one night, if your parents would allow it. That sound alright?" The tiercel wasn't so sure on the last part, but it couldn't hurt to try; at this point he was just trying to keep the little unicorn from bawling.

23:08 GyroTech feels the charp talon unintentionally scraping across his chin as Argyle lifts it up to face him and ends up crying even harder, now getting to the point where he was making more than just a sniffling noise and certainly attracting the attention of nearby ponies. "But then why wouldnt they talk about me? They talk about you plenty to me, even bringing you up while we play..." he responds, his words forced through his soft sobs. His cheeks were darkening wtih his tears as a stream steadily runs down them. He seems to slow down a bt as Argyle offers to let him come over, takin slower deeper breaths, up until the mention of getting permission from his parents. They never let him eat over at other ponies houses, and so he bursts into even more tears at the offer he couldnt take up. "But...but they wont let me! Dont make me talk to them about it...just let me come home with you and see the two and have dinner. I want to see them tonight..." He cries, overwhelmed with emotion.

23:20 Argyle glanced around the market catching the eyes of a few concerned ponies as the scene continued to unfold, pulling his talon back and looking a little perplexed. This was not at all what he intended but he also wasn't going to simply take the colt home with him; that'd cause more harm than good. The tiercel cringed inwardly; the last thing he needed was to get in a spat with an uppity unicorn house over accusations of foalnapping their son. Trying to shush the colt as best he could the griffon huddled down speaking to him in a soft tone, "There's plenty they don't talk to me about, I'm sure it's just slipped their mind and don't mean anything by it." He gets the distinct feeling this isn't going to end well but presses forwards none the less, not wanting to draw anymore undue attention then they already had, "I cant just take you home with me, though. Your parents are probably expecting you, and if you're late they'll come looking and that'll just cause more trouble. If you dont want to, I could try talking to them, but some ponies are just very set in their ways. I'm sorry Gyro, that's all I can offer right now." He felt a little helpless, not wanting to further upset the unicorn, but certain he was doing the right thing.