Mercurius, much to his own surprise, chuckled at Azure's response, immediately brash and moving to a form of self-defense — just seconds before, the child had watching with the most enraptured expression he had seen in a while. Perhaps ever. She quickly backpedaled, though, onto his curious musings. His mirth faded, though, as he contemplated further, murmuring softly, "defending myself may have given him further reason to distrust carnivores, though. He believed in pure servitude or death. Mutiny would've only strengthened that belief."
Vazi had not been the most evenly tempered of Gembound, had he?
"It's helpful to know when you must defend and when it would be wise to simply back down — unfortunately, that isn't something that can be... easily taught." Pale paws shifted as if to frame the flower deliberately made similar to the hippogryff. "I'm glad you think so," Mercy hummed then lifted his gaze from it, "perhaps, you could take it to Pride." It was as good a sign as any, yes?
His calm enthusiasm drifted back into view as the subject did to plants and the creation of life itself through magic — those were things he knew, things he understood very well. Well-acquainted with nature and attuned to it through the Kingdom's magic, Mercurius's thoughts rearranged themselves into a unified direction, ebbing and flowing gently over the jagged riverbed. They no longer raced. "A garden is very therapeutic, I think you'll find — and it doesn't require much magic, or any, if you so please. Simply, love and care. Patience, too," he hummed with genuine eagerness. Had he been at a greenhouse and possessed hands, he would be leading Azure to a proud display of plants. Unfortunately, all he could do was sit here and explain.
Ah, well.
"Nature is a bit unruly, especially plants—" he stopped, tossing his head to the wild vines tumbling over nearly every branch, and the mosses carpeting every stone, "and to bend them with magic requires you to listen to them. To sense the way they wish to move and suggest alternative paths for them." Moonlit eyes fell upon Azure, having perhaps lost her in his ramblings already. "More, ah... simply put, this sort of magic is like many others. You simply have to bend it to your will — though you must also encourage growth. You'll find yourself exhausted at first, as you're spurring life to grow beyond what it would naturally." Mercy shifted backwards, if only to unframe the flower and allow the hybrid the space to come and pick it.
"If you so desire, you could simply plant seeds and grow them naturally, without use of magic — all it takes is a bit of water and luck as far as good soil goes," he smiled softly. "What sort of garden are you two planning to grow? Simply decorative or with a function — to grow fruit, perhaps?"
@Azure
He should've been a bit, clearer on the significance of a flower, however quickly he had made it up. Mercurius flexed his right paw slightly, overgrown claws scraping through the sod around it, at an angle as to unearth it gently. With an appropriate amount of dirt stuck beneath between quick and keratin, the old lion studied the impromptu transplanting operation he had initiated. If only Gembound had invented pottery in this day and age, yet.
Ah, Azure --- and Siren --- were living in Orion, weren't they? Beautiful as it was, it was rather barren and lifeless. Perhaps, at some time, it teemed with life, maybe grown by the workers that had once been. Now, though, Mercurius could sympathize with the sparse growth. A growing cub had to resort to magical means to sustain himself in such an environment. He bowed his head in a slight nod, smiling, "grass is easy to grow, a good start for practicing your gardening skills --- and plant magic, if you so please. You can find seeds in the spikes on top, and simply scatter them in the earth with some water; I'm sure Orion has its sources."
As for the hybrid's last question, Mercy's gaze turned down to the uprooted plant: "this will work for now, I believe --- I meant for it to be a note for Pride; to show that you have, indeed, come to see me. It can, perhaps, be the first thing you plant in your garden." He winked gently, and shifted the flower closer to Azure.
Softly, earnestly, he tacked on, "you're always welcome here, for anything you may need, Azure. Gardening advice, magic practice, someone to talk to--- I will always be here."
@Azure
Note to self: ease up on the storytelling in simple conversation, perhaps.
Mercurius regarded the hybrid warmly, quietly stilling all his movements (to the best of his natural ability, of course) as she made her approach and took the flower up into a claw. No need to give her another reason to fear him --- other than the chaos of her reawakening. As for the craziness of it all, he couldn't help but chuckle, "isn't that life?"
Moonlit eyes blinked slowly at the fumbling gratitude, and he bowed his head gently, "you're welcome." The hybrid turned to leave with a promise of caring for the flower, and he called after her with all the air of an old friend, "take care of yourself." A warm smile twisted his lips where Azure's may have, and he averted his gaze to the Monarch's sweeping gills.
If he believed in the mythos of the All-Mother, he may have prayed for the hybrid's safe passage back to Orion, her continued freedom from the nest of harpies the Bloodberries had been.
;exit Mercurius
ok roll. thanks.