ORIGIN

"Really? You have... no name?" it was surprising to Pippy as she would've believed they would have one by now. A dilemma here for Pippy; she's making a new friend and wants to know what to call them, instead of what they are.

"Oh, that sounds nice! Do you... know kind of name you want for yourself that'd be the best? Something... Cute or cool? Or meaningful and clever?" she'd like to perhaps help them with this, she could give them ideas maybe. Pippy was proud when she managed to choose her name and possibly it is only her being an insecure and timid sort, but she would have no idea on how to explain to another Gembound how she does not have a name without coming across as so awkward when she does.

Nickname? Sounds, new, does it mean giving suggestions? Hmmm, what to do, what to choose.

Pippy closed her eyes deep in thought to choose, but it didn't take long when her eyes shot open with a beaming smile; her light bulb moment. She has a perfect one!

"Hey! How's 'Heart' for a... n-nickname?" stuttering a little as she struggled to pronounce this new word this Gembound told her, she hopes 'nicknames' mean suggestions or something because 'Heart' is a great one! Why?

Why because they are an absolute sweetheart! Pippy agreed with these thoughts as she gave 'Heart' here another affectionate nuzzle with her cheek as to emphasise they are a sweetheart even though she did not say it out loud to 'Heart'.


@Heart-Song

"Nope! Not yet anyways!" They were surprised at Pippy's reaction- wouldn't everyone want to think really carefully before choosing a name?

"Meaningful, definitely. That's why I'm waiting so long! Imagine if I chose something boring like "Feather" and then I'd have to be known as Feather for the rest of my life!" They shuddered at the thought of that. It was like Envy naming themselves "Tooth" or "Paw".

They smiled back. Heart sounded like the perfect nickname for Pippy to use! "That's an amazing nickname!" the cockatiel said, returning Pippy's nuzzle.

@Pippy

(I am shipping these two so hard tbh)

"Oh! Huh, well..." she hopes they manage to get one soon, will be nice for her to have something to call them. To Pippy, it was surprising how they haven't got a name yet since she didn't consider she maybe was quick in having her name. Zeno indeed was helpful in giving her ideas for her name when they met.

"Ohhhhh, hmmm yeah... A meaningful name needs to well-thought-out maybe even researched... It needs to be a very personal thing to make it special, though that's what names are in a sense..." Pippy's name is a meaningful one, after all, her Gem has a fruit seed shape even in size and fruit seeds while small eventually grow into something substantial like a tree. Although except for maybe half an inch growth or something in comparison to when she emerged, she is still so tiny even now...

"Oh, gee... That would be weird if you chose Feather only," be awkward too if they chose 'Feather' there might be some awkward moments where another Gembound might be talking about actual feathers and not 'Feather' as in their name. Pippy herself internally shuddered as thoughts got clouded with an awkward scenario in her mind if she called herself something like 'Wings' instead. Oh no... Such an idea sounds so awful and awkward in her head it makes her want to cover her face with her wings and groan from such embarrassment if such a thing did end up happening even though it is something which won't happen as her name is not 'Wings' she is called 'Pippy'.

Pippy's smile got wider with hope when Heart smiled back at her; this is a good sign!

"H-Heh r-really y-you t-think? Cuz I actually... have no idea what a nickname is." Pippy again got ambushed by a compliment making her get flustered and stuttering, confused as well how she got it right since the tiny bat was partially sure she was gonna mess it up since she hasn't an idea what a 'nickname' is except wild guesses.

Still, she gave little joyous laughter when Heart nuzzled her too, and playfully she taps their head with her wing after giving them another nuzzle, she hopes it doesn't upset them though.

@Heart-Song

(Haha yeah they are pretty cute CX)

"I know, right! It's like if you called yourself Ears or Nose or Wings or something!" they said, unaware that they were parroting exactly what Pippy was saying.

"Oh, yeah, Heart's great! It just.. fits, somehow." The cockatiel noted his sheepishness. "Well, umm," they paused, thinking for a bit how best to explain it, "a nickname is like a little temporary name that you give someone! It's like if you had a friend with the name.. Fireclaw, you might call him Firey or just Fire!" The Gembound fluttered their wings, proud of their explanation.

@Pippy

"Heh... Nooooooo, that sounds so awful," so bad those names are, she wouldn't dream naming herself such names again how even thoughts in her mind fill her with embarrassment on what if she did call herself such names. Still, there might be some Gembounds who do have a name like those possibly, puzzling it will be, but she'll respect it even if such an idea doesn't sound like the best idea to Pippy.

"It does?" Pippy was surprised at this, she agrees how it fits them it's after all why she chose it, but she was expecting to have to give a few more suggestions on 'nicknames', not get a perfect one on her first try.

"Hm?" she was curious here as what they are going to say next; most likely to answer her question about nicknames.

"Oh is it? Huh... Never heard of it before," honestly a new thing to Pippy, the first time she has learned about this; she has never had any nicknames given to her.

"Soooooo a 'nickname' for me would be something like... Pip then maybe as an example?" she needs to be sure she has got it right but she believes she its gist and all.


@Heart-Song

"Yep!" they said, nodding in agreement. The cockatiel yawned, stretching as they realized just how tired they were. "Y'know, we've been talking for a while. I think I might go get some sleep."

@Pippy

Hmmm makes Pippy wonder what other nicknames she could use, she chose Pip as an example as the tiny bat recalls how Vinnie referred to her as 'Pip' before they left, was a little puzzling but exciting too, makes to her sense now as she now possesses knowledge on nicknames now, courtesy of Heart here.

Oh? Are they tired? Tilting her head a little at them, soon yawning a little herself with drooping eyes with how contagious yawns are although Pippy has possibly been tired for a while, flying up here and using her Magick is catching up to her now.

"Mhm, same here Heart..." she drawled her words exhaustion creeping up on her like it was an unexpected robust wave hit her in an otherwise stretched out, thin sheet of water. One concern though for Pippy she seems so exhausted now she doesn't believe it'll be entirely safe to fly back down now, especially from a tall a Tower as this one.

Turning her head towards this peak's edge and carefully readjusting her sight to peer down to inspect if she can manage flying down, abruptly though she turned her head away and back to where Heart is, exhaustion no longer having such a firm grip on her; eyes wide open, small form trembling and shaking her head.

Oh, gee, way too high! Nevermind, she's not going to risk it even if she was under a sugar rush! A tiny bat afraid of heights, odd it is.


@Heart-Song

Sympathy bloomed in the cockatiel's heart as they watched their new friend shake in fear at the prospect of coming down from such a height. The irony of a bat being afraid of heights never even crossed their mind as they walked towards Pippy and enveloped him in a comforting hug. Carefully, they lifted him up, making sure the tiny bat was secure in their wings. "If you can climb over to my back, I can glide down and you won't have to open your eyes!"

@Pippy

Pippy did such a poor job at suppressing her anxiousness, eyes on Heart with such an uneasy expression alongside her trembling, she wishes it wasn’t as such though as she internally admonishes herself on how her fear on this height is apparent to Heart most likely and getting scared by heights at all in-fact. Guilt as well, undoubtedly all these many fears she has, Heart included initially may make her such a burden for them to deal with; even if they don’t appear to be bothered by her fear, quite a contrary seems like they understand maybe also concerned for her.

Another hug was not what she was expecting to get, making her trembling dissipate gradually from such a surprise, guilty or not she welcomed this hug from Heart once again melting from getting such a warm, pleasant and cosy embrace. Pippy gripped onto them still as she balled some feathers with her tiny wings, trying her best to wrap her flight-limbs around Heart to cuddle in return, giving her friend nuzzles with her cheek.

Heart does have a safe hold on her, but Pippy didn't expect getting picked up, she initially thought she was slipping from their hug so from impulse the tiny bat wrapped her wings around them a bit tighter this time till she finally processed how it was Heart who picked her a little off the ground.

Oh… Startled her a little there. She stares up at them, a little puzzled but she smiles at Heart nonetheless.

Oh! It sounds like it would be a good idea. It was so kind for Heart to do for her… some aspect wants to refuse due to her guilt on possibly being a burden, but they seem fine with it and Heart was offering to do this for her… She considered it for a brief moment, head down in thought until giving them a sheepish smile while nodding a few times to take upon Heart’s offer.

Soon she is climbing up Heart to mount on their back, giving her larger friend a few apologetic expressions while she does, worrying about possibly hurting them by accident while she climbs. Pippy lets herself flop down when she managed to mount herself onto their back, wrapping her wings around them to ensure she has a safe grip, head peeking out a little by their shoulder with her eyes closed.

“S-Sorry about this… T-Thanks a lot though you’re the best Heart…” her voice was a little quiet there, and a bit muffled as she buried her face into some feathers a little to ensure she won’t open her eyes by accident.

“M-My den is in a wall to your right I think… It’s very near to the bottom of the ground,” she wants to be a little bit helpful here so she intends to give them some directions as to where to go, unless they only plan to fly her down to solid ground which is fine too as long as she is no longer at this high altitude.


@Heart-Song

They twittered quietly at Pippy nuzzling them, feelings of excitement, happiness welling up inside them. This bat was so adorable.

The cockatiel noted her hesitation, clenching their beak and making sure no sounds of pain escaped, even as the bat accidentally pulled on some of their feathers while climbing up their back. They wouldn't want to dissuade Pippy from this, after all.

"No need to be sorry!" they said brightly, feeling Pippy bury her face into their feathers. "It's no problem!"

They walked over to the edge of the Tower, looking for the place that Pippy described. Spotting what was most likely the location of her den, they took off, spreading their wings and entering into a slow glide. Normally, they'd go into a dive to gain speed and lose altitude, but they didn't want to scare the tiny bat more than they already were. Instead, they went in wide circles, both practicing their turning ability and slowly lowering themselves down to the level of the den.

Eventually, the Gembound made their way to the wall Pippy pointed out, flapping their wings to stabilize themselves as they landed. "We're here!" they said, turning their head to check how Pippy was doing after their flight.

@Pippy