WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO LOVE — Jacob had invited Cry to come speak with him. He wasn't sure if the avian would take him up on the offer but he still waited in the medic's cavern, as he promised. It was a more relaxing environment than the one he used for official business and he didn't want to invite her into his personal area so this seemed like the best meeting place. Besides, he needed to go over inventory again anyway so it wouldn't be a big deal if she didn't show up. He'd already pulled out a lot of the herbs and was writing everything down in a log. Usually he would have Izuku do it but given his apprentice's recent injuries, he made sure that the feline was just resting for now. Jacob felt bad enough about not getting there in time to help more, he didn't want to be the cause for him getting hurt even more. So, he'd been watching over Izuku between juggling duties to his son and duties to his clan as their Chief.

This only emphasized to him even more that he needed to find someone to take at least one of his positions from him. The progress with Izuku had been consistent and encouraging but obviously that was all now at a stand still. In any case, Jacob was even more exhausted than usual. He did a good job of hiding that fact during the day but right now, in a small, quiet, private moment, he looked just as tired as he felt. He was doing his best to do everything but he knew he couldn't keep up with it all forever. He told himself it'd just be another month at the most. Thankfully, he was awake enough to hear a shuffle at the door and he looked up, a tired smile come to his maw when he saw Cry standing near the entrance. "'M glad ya' came Cry. Well, I don' wanna' say much righ' now. I'll jus' let ya' talk 'bout whatever ya' need but I can ask ya' specific questions if ya'd prefer that," he stated as he sat up, turning away from his herbs for a moment to give his full attention to the raven. He was hoping that he'd make some real progress today in both Cry's emotional recovery and in their personal bond. He couldn't do that if he was only partially paying attention to whatever she'd say.

[member=159]cry[/member] —A GREAT HONOR TO HOLD YOU UP

  Cry landed on the ground with a gentle echo from the ground. She was delighted to be flying again. Being ground bound was the worse. She had nowhere to go and nowhere to hide. She missed her crystals. Lotus always did say she had too much of a crutch on the ancient weapons, but they were damn good at their job.

  Cry reached in front of her, smoothing out her ruffled feathers. She yawned, tilting her head. She barely heard Jacob's statement. She raised a brow, lazily yawning. Talk? She echoed, Didn't you call me here, furface? He still hasn't done anything worthy of her opening up. His speech at that stranger's (Atbash, she reminded herself) ceremony or whatever didn't phase her at all. If anything, it was a sob story. She never once asked for why he wore bandages or why he was oh so hurt. He just went on a tangent for no damn reason. A waste of words and breath, if you asked her.

"SPEECH"

WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO LOVE — Jacob sighed as he heard her words, shaking his head. "Cry, this isn' a game. Do ya' understand? Your mental health, the way tha' you're copin', is important to me 'cause what you're doin' now is destructive n' unhealthy. I'm worried about ya'. If ya' don' see this place as home or me as a friend, tha's okay. I can live with that. But tha' don' change the fact 'm worried 'bout this path you're takin'. 'M jus' tryin' ta' help ya'. Tha's it. There ain't no other motive or goal," he spoke, his voice aching with each word. Jacob had always been one to make his emotions obvious and that showed now. While it was clear he was frustrated, his tone was one primarily formed of concern. "'M not gonna' argue with ya' about this. If ya' wanna' talk, feel free ta' stay. If ya' wanna' go, then jus' go. I gotta' finish inventory, check Izuku, g out ta' look for herbs again, get dinner for Harrison, put 'im ta' bed, n then try ta' sleep myself. 'M worried 'bout ya' but I can't force ya' ta' let me take care ah' you. This is your choice but I wanted ya' ta' know where I stand on it n' I wanted ya' ta' know that my doors are always open. Ya' don' have ta' be alone 'ere," he soon added. Even as he spoke, his eyes briefly drifted to the various herbs that were out before snapping back to the raven. He didn't appear angry with her, he didn't even raise his voice the entire time he spoke, but it was clear he was upset in the small frown on his maw and the way concern that shone in his gaze and broke through in his voice.  —A GREAT HONOR TO HOLD YOU UP

"SPEECH"

  What the hell was this guys problem? She was 27 years old, she was not going to sit here and be talked down to like a child! The raven huffed, glaring at him. Though... she couldn't feel a spark. She was tired. She had been yelling and screaming to the point where her voice grew hoarse. She was loosing her voice, much like she was loosing her identity. Everyone here assumed every one of her words was a rage filled, bitter, hateful sentence. They believed she was crying wolf. Her words were thick with meaning, if one were just to read between the lines.

  Welp. First things first. The raven hummed under her breath. I'm twenty seven years old. Stop talking to me like I'm your kid. I already have a father, and you'll never live up to him. Cry took a few small steps forward. She ruffled her feathers, shaking any nerves she had left over. Jacob wanted her to open up. To spill her heart and soul out to him. Unlucky for him, she already shattered her heart and spilled her soul. It exploded after all. It was beautiful, watching the shards fall around her. She tilted her head. She was but a husk of herself. He wanted her to vent, but there was simply not anything to vent about.

  Cope? Cope with what? She was just being herself. She was always a hothead. Her mother always encouraged her fiery attitude. Said it would do her well in a leadership position. He called her his little ball of icy fire. How ironic that the chilled poly was a hothead and the scorched one was calm.

  His doors were always open. (first of all, what door?) He turned, looking down at her like a disappointed parent. She only glared back up. She already expressed her feelings about that. She was actually exponentially older than the one year old dog. He had no excuse. I have nothing to say. Nothing you want to hear, anyways. She huffed. She opened her wings, flying up to the top of the cave, where she nestled herself in one of the various nooks and crannies around the room. She always was a little small for her species (both of them), so hiding was never hard.

SPEECH

WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO LOVE —//oof rushed, about to head to bed

Jacob watched her with very little reaction at all. "No, I ain't your dad n' I ain't tryin' ta' be but I am your doctor n' I'm tellin' ya' that what you're doin' is unhealthy. From a medical perspective, ya' ain't doin' yourself many favors righ' now. The isolation, the outbursts, the lack of control... it's all damagin' n' my guess is it has somethin' ta' do with things tha' happened long before ya' got 'ere. N', as far as 'm concerned, I ain't talkin' ta' ya' like a child. 'M talkin' ta' ya' like any one of the other people I treat. I'm tellin' ya' what's wrong n' what things ya' could do ta' fix it. 'S up ta' you if ya' actually wanna' bother with it. Whether ya' wanna' accept it or not, ya' ain't alone 'ere," he answered, turning back to his herbs as she flew off and spoke again. "Okay."  Was his simple response as he settled down and began sorting through the herbs again. He grimaced and moved his leg out from under his body before continuing. After a few moment he called, "Do ya' want anythin' ta' eat or drink if you're gonna' stay in 'ere?"  —A GREAT HONOR TO HOLD YOU UP

"SPEECH"

  Doctor smoctor. She was fine. How long until they realized she wasnt greiving? Sure. She had the goal to het home, but that wasnt the reason for her whip. Shes always been this way. Ever since she germinated she faced the world with a breath of fire. A lash of a tail. Mom always did call her a little dragon. Her brother was her treasure. It was cute until he made them dress up for Brewer's day. That was the worse.

  Cry yawned, ruffling her feathers. She didnt need anything. She was quenched and eating always did freak her out. She blinked. Why did she even come here again? She turned down to Jacob, a grin spreading acros her features. Lets play a game.

  She held up 3 feathers. You get thre questions. I have to answer them as the truth, but i get to make them as descriptive or as vague as i like. The objective is to word your question to get exactly what you want out of me. this would be fun. She predicated jacob would try to be smart and ask 'who are you' or 'what are you' for the first one. Hed learn after. ... actually. And i get to veto one if i feel it is too personal. I cant be giving out all my secrets. just encase. Who knows what hell ask.

"SPEECH"