dodo_master | Creation 14

[Phone! For the first time, Mayfield, have an irritated-sounding Cynric.]

Mayfield, I know that you send people home all the time, but if I am to remain here, can the interesting ones at least stay with me? It's not often famous composers of opera roll into your life, and that you might be given the chance to be the lead of the opera he is composing.

[A pause.] But that's the way things go. Even outside of Mayfield. Being permanently droned is the closest we have to death, after all.

If anyone had been getting voice lessons from Mr. Salieri, I would be glad to offer in his place. I have centuries of practice and knowledge so I know you will find me to be a satisfactory instructor. My name is Cynric; feel free to contact me.

[With that, he hangs up. Not!family or visitors will find him sitting on the porch and pouting while stuffing his face with red licorice. Hephaestus, his dodo, is beside himself as he can tell there's something wrong with his master, but since they still can't communicate, he doesn't know what. He's flitting about trying to cheer Cynric up.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Heph comes trotting over! He loves new people. And maybe you know what's wrong with Cynric?!]

Oh, Aaron, hello. That's Hephaestus. He's a dodo.

"A real Dodo? That's cool! How did...

Nevermind. I'll worry about that later. You okay?"

[[Aaron, laser like focus! He'll pat the dodo on the head, worried Heph might bite him and hoping for the best. Walking over to Cyric next to sit down beside him.]]

Of course he is! Don't worry, he's quite friendly.

Yes, I'm fine.

...Would you like some licorice?

"Sure."

[[He'll take some and chew trying to think this.]]

"So was Mr. Salieri a friend of yours?"

Mm, I'd like to think so. Talented fellow, you know. Not too many fans of opera in town either.

"Sorry to hear.

How long had he been here?"

Awhile. Not as long as me. I'm not exactly sure. [His sense of time is pretty bad.]

"Has this happened to you often? People vanishing?"

You mean being droned? Yes, it does happen often. I've only been droned once, and it was because I didn't know I was supposed to be attending school. But it didn't last long.

"Well, I'm glad it didn't last long.

How do you deal with it?"

[He thoughtfully chews on a licorice piece.]

I haven't thought about it. I suppose I just have to move on, eh? Mayfield won't really listen to me, I know, but I was just... cross, I suppose.

"This town doesn't really listen to any of us.

So... that's a dodo? Is it from back home?"

Mm, yes! I created him with magic, you know. They're extinct. A shame.

"Yeah... I've never seen one. How did you know what they look like?"

Book illustrations of course. There's enough documents out there that I think I made a fairly accurate represention with Heph.

[Mostly. He doesn't act much like a dodo though. He acts more like a hyperactive dog than a bird.]

"That's pretty amazing.

Is there anything you can't make?"

[He gives you a smug smile.] Of course not! I'm a master. If it's organic, I can create it!

"Cynric, master of many talents."

Jack of all trades, as they say.

"I'm just okay at a bunch of things. Was it a lot of work or does it just come easy to you?"

Oh, much much practice, my friend! I've been spellcasting and singing all my life, and as you know I am quite old.

"That's true. I'd love to have that much time to perfect something."

I consider myself lucky to be alive so long! Not many are afforded such a chance, even amongst spellcasters.

So you are even amazing among them?

I'd like to think so! I've not met many as old as I, or anyone who could do what I do. Doesn't mean they're not out there somewhere, though. A lot of old spellcasters tend to lock themselves away. I never saw a point to that.