Work Text:
Ororon had found the best and honestly, maybe even most perfect birthday present for Ifa. He'd been delivering provisions to the Collective of Plenty and had met Varesa by her family's fruit stand. She'd shown him, amusement twinkling in her eyes, and apple that had grown in a weird shape that looked almost like the head of a tatankasaur.
He had paid, no joke, just above a thousand mora for the thing, and when he returned to the Masters of the Night Wind, he'd gone to show it off.
Granny is-- less than impressed.
"Geez, Ororon," Citlali says, her voice a mix of disappointment and admonishment, "it's his thirtieth birthday, you can't just give him an apple."
"But it's shaped like a tatankasaur." Ororon displays it again, pointing out where the part around the stem flared like it's neck plates, and the stiff leaves that curled like horns. "He likes saurians, I like fruit, it's the perfect gift to commemorate our friendship."
"Friendship..." Citlali repeats the word like it's offensive. He can tell she's irritated, but he's not entirely sure why. She rubs her forehead. "Friends, Ororon?"
Ororon nods.
"My best friend." He's chuffed about it. And the apple.
"Pyro Archon save us from my idiot grandson."
--
Ororon is fairly confident in his present still--but well, the nature of fruit. Ifa's birthday won't be happening for another week at least, and well--
"Ororon, um," Paimon sounds like she almost doesn't want to say it, but persists, "Paimon was wondering why you have a rotting apple on your table." Lumine looks similarly curious and he looks at them and then at the apple.
It is looking a little rough. And one of the "horns" had come off.
"It's a present," Ororon says cheerfully, "it looks like a tatankasaur. Well... it did."
Paimon and Lumine exchange a look. Ororon thinks it looks a lot like the looks Citlali exchanges with Biram when Ororon says something particularly weird. Is he being weird again?
"What kind of person would you get a rotting apple for?" Paimon's incredulity gives Ororon pause. It hadn't been rotting, it was just the length of time. He thinks about explaining it but then, he has a brilliant thought.
"Other granny, do you know if Natlanese vision holders can also take the form of a Saurian?"
Lumine shakes her head.
"I've never had a reason to ask anyone to try but... we could see?" Lumine says.
"What about the--"
"Just leave it alone, Paimon."
Lumine leads Ororon outside and they find a place nearby where the spirit of a departed iktomisaur still dwells. Ororon listens as Lumine explains the process of indwelling, how to find the spirits of different saurians, and with a bit of practice and a lot of awkward silences with nothing happening-- Ororon eventually gets it.
When they've finished--Ororon loads Lumine down with radishes and cabbages and grainfruit as well as sour sauce ceviche he'd prepared special.
"Thanks other granny," Ororon says. "This is going to help me with Ifa's birthday present."
Lumine looks like she's going to say something, then decides better of it, and Paimon stays silent for once too. He sees them off on their way since they'd mentioned visiting Chasca at the Flower-Feather Clan.
"Maybe we'll meet up again if you're still there when I come to visit Ifa."
--
The biggest problem with Ororon's plan is that he's not one-hundred percent sure which Saurian to use. He's too cowed to ask Granny her opinion. So the following morning he decides to take another provisions delivery towards the Scions of the Canopy.
Kinich is nowhere to be found but Ororon was pretty familiar with Chief Wayna so he goes to talk to him instead. He's at a cafe nestled near the top rung of the city. He's by his lonesome, but that's fine. Ororon sits across from him and orders one the drinks on the menu.
He and Wayna talk about the supplies he'd brought, briefly, and then about the war--Wayna asks about Granny and how the Masters of the Night-Wind are faring post-war. Ororon doesn't mind the conversation but--
"I actually have a question for you," Ororon says, "I'm trying to figure something out for a... woven scroll." He hopes he doesn't sound like he's lying even though he is.
"If you had to choose one of the saurians, which would you say had the most appealing look?"
Wayna scratches his chin at the question and then shrugs.
"You know how the scrolls talk about all the great dragons that use to roam Natlan but now we just have creatures like Kongamoto and Holawaqa Ngoubou," Wayne asks and Ororon nods. "I love my own yumkasaurus, but I think they're all weird looking."
"Hmm," Ororon says, "you might be right. I think I'm biased to Elder Tlapo and the other Iktomisaur." Wayne nods.
"The babies are cute but the adult ones creep me out. Uh-- no offense."
"None taken!"
Not having gotten the answer he wanted, Ororon continues. At the Children of Echoes tribe, Xilonen is similarly unhelpful ("What kind of question is that?") and Pacal had ranted about strength being appealing, which is why the tepetlisaur was the clear winning answer.
"You know," Pacal says, "some rumors even say that some of the Saurian poachers go after tepetlisaurs because their horns have special properties the help get people in the mood."
"What, just like, seeing the horns?" Ororon asks. Pacal shakes his head.
"No, like as a component--in a salve or a drink."
"I see." It doesn't help him now but he makes a mental note to see if he can find anything out about these special properties.
He can't risk going to the Flower-Feather clan and Ifa overhearing him and he's too embarrassed to go to the Collective of Plenty, since the gift he'd bought for Ifa from there had been a non-starter. So the only next logical place was the People of the Springs Tribe.
Mualani is running the register at the Leisurely Puffer today which makes this easier, since it's easy to find her. There doesn't seem to be many customers, but he's glad there's a few. He doesn't know them--not anyone whom he fought alongside during the war against the Abyss.
"Hey Ororon," Mualani greets, "wanna chase some waves? I bet with your combat skills you could control the sharky surfboard." Ororon smiles at her and shakes his head.
"Maybe next time, I didn't bring my swimsuit," Ororon says, "I was just bringing some supplies but since I saw you I wanted to ask a question."
"Of course!"
"Anyone can answer, but what saurian would you say is the most 'beautiful'?"
The question seems to give Mualani pause, her eyes move frantically over his face like she's trying to find something. Ororon remains, patient.
"Beautiful?" One of the customers asks and he taps his chin. "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
So maybe he should ask Ifa.
--
Asking Ifa doesn't really yield a result. ("Seriously, what kind of question is that? Did you get into Granny Itzli's wine?") Ororon assumes he'll just need to use his own judgement and spends a few days going to study each of the different saurians as covertly as he can.
Kachina comes upon him crouched in the bushes watching a mature tepetlisaur play with one of the babies.
"Umm... hi Ororon," Kachina says, "is everything okay?"
"Yeah, hey, just watching these guys. It's kind of funny don't you think? Of all the saurians I see out and about, these ones are the only ones who have play time with their young... at least openly. I wonder if this is because of their strength, they can let their guard down because of a lack of natural predators. What do you think?"
Kachina frowns and shakes her head.
"Pacal noticed you over here and wanted to make sure you were okay." She doesn't answer his question, he notices. But that's alright.
He moves on--flopping in a tree to watch the qucasaurs and falling asleep under the warm sun for a while. Qucusaur seems a good choice--most closely related to Ifa via his tribe but they're a bit unwieldly.
The tatanksaur is too large. The yumkusaur, he can't imagine what he'd do with the tail. So he narrows it down to tepetlisaur, iktomisaur, and koholasaur.
His personal bias wins the day.
--
Once Ororon is in the form of the iktomisaur, it doesn't take much to maintain it. And, by virtue of being the saurian his tribe is most associated to, he doesn't come across an issue with using the powers unique to the creature.
It is a bit of a trek to the Flower Feather clan's base of operations, but he is able to hitch a ride with a friendly qucusaur named Urqu.
And then once he's there it's easy to feign being sick. He makes his way up to Ifa's clinic and then sprawls in front of it, wings akimbo.
It takes Ifa more than an hour to find him, but when he does, he springs right into action. Ifa handles him gently. It's--
Ifa picks him up delicately and places him on the examination table. Pets him between the ears and speaks in a low, soothing voice to explain what he's doing as he checks his wings, his head, and everything else.
Ifa looks perplexed as he looks Ororon over. Which makes sense since there's nothing wrong with him at all. Ifa is rummaging through a drawer to find some instrument when Ororon decides to make his move.
Part of his observation was watching how thes saurians acted when they were looking for romance. Ororon floats down from the table and shuffles over to Ifa.
Then he flaps his wings in quick succession and stretches up to preen. He emulates the yearning cry of the iktomisaur in rut. He flaps his wings again--this time with more authority.
Ifa turns to him.
"Ah," Ifa says, "so does this mean you're feeling better?" Ifa shakes his head and picks Ororon up again to put him back on the table.
Ororon knocks Ifa's hat off and tries to preen his hair.
"Stop that, man. Do I look like a lady Iktomisaurus to you?" Ifa says it with a laugh in his voice as he sets Ororon back on the table. "You came a long way for disappointment, bro. There's no iktomisaur here."
Ifa turns back away to continue looking for something and Ororon tries again a bit more firmly. This time, wrapping his little arms around Ifa's thigh.
"Hey!" Ifa says and Ororon digs his beak (romantically!) into Ifa's side. Flaps his wings again, this time creating a little wind current. Ororon makes the rutting cry again.
"You're in an odd humor," Ifa admonishes, still chuckling but maybe it's in disbelief. Ifa puts Ororon back on the table.
Ororon makes another rutting sound and launches himself off the table into Ifa's back. He grabs onto him and starts preening his hair again. Ororon is sure he has him.
Instead-- Ifa rebuffs him again, this time with an injection from something in his medical bag. Ororon feels the threads of a tranquilizer and dispels the indwelling before the medicine can take hold.
"Ororon?"
"You drugged me!" Ororon says.
"Barely, dude. What are you doing here?"
"Why won't you mate with me?" Ororon ignores his question.
"Why won't I what? Are you insane?" Ifa asks. "What do you mean mate with you?"
"Is that a trick question?" Ororon asks. Ifa's expression becomes pained and he pinches the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger.
"Ororon." Ifa's tone is flat. "Why would you even think that that's something I'd do? Something I'd want to do?"
"You love saurians." Ororon is trying to be patient but he doesn't really get how Ifa doesn't get it.
"You love radishes. Would you 'mate' with one of your radishes?" Ifa makes air quotes. Ororon frowns and considers it. He does love radishes. Them being inanimate would make it more difficult but he's heard of people using vegetables--especially carrots or parsnips--in certain ways.
"You cannot be serious, bro." Ifa sounds pained as his expression looks.
"Well, I mean, some people do! I read something like that in one of Granny's novels."
Ifa pinches the bridge of his nose again. Seems like he's doing some sort of breathing exercise.
"I don't want to mate with a saurian," Ifa says. Ororon frowns.
"Well I didn't get you anything else for your brithday."
"My--Ororon, why would you think that was something I wanted?"
"Granny said it'd be better than an apple."
"Citlali told you to do this?!"
"Well, told me to do it is strong, she just said I should do something more special for your birthday."
"And you made the leap to trying to seduce me with a saurian because...?"
"You love saurians, I thought you'd like it. I had an apple shaped like a tatankasaur but it didn't last."
Ifa sighs.
"Well, I appreciate the effort," Ifa says in a tone that implies maybe he doesn't. "Are you going to stay for the party? Chief Mutota is making it a whole thing."
Ororon nods. "Of course."
--
Ororon isn't always the biggest fan of parties, but this one isn't too bad. The outdoor picnic area is nice and he's found a quiet corner to hold up with Chasca. Chasca was raised by qucusaurs, Ororon had heard this as a rumor but he can see it being true.
She has that wild sort of look about her.
"Do you think qucusaurs are attractive?" Ororon asks her. Chasca gives him a look-- huh, maybe Ifa is right and he is insane.
"They're striking in a way," She says, diplomatically, after a long moment. "I guess in some senses that could be seen as attractive."
"Pacal said a similar thing referencing the strength of the tepetlisaur." Ororon nods sagely. "And I have my own bias to the iktomisaurus. Ifa said I was insane for asking him."
"Did you ask everyone?" Chasca is giving him that look again.
"A few people, I was trying to find out for Ifa's birthday present."
The look intensifies. But she doesn't press for details.
"I feel bad because he didn't like what I tried to give him so now I don't have a present. It's hard to know what to get someone. Did you get Ifa a present?"
"Mmmhmm," Chasca nods, "I was doing some peacekeeping for the Scions of the Canopy. One of the couriers and her yumkusaur helped me collect flamegranates and store them. A few weeks ago he mentioned doing an analysis on healing properties of some of the growths more infused with phlogiston, so I thought it was a good gesture."
Ororon nods along as she explains.
"I bought an apple that looked like a tatankasaur but it rotted. Oh well."
"You could say your presence is the present. I know Ifa is glad you're here."
Ororon perks up.
"Oh? Did he say something about me?"
"He mentioned you coming to visit and acting strange, said you didn't hang out as much as usual, and hoped you stayed longer next time."
Ororon feels his cheeks heat up.
One of the qucusaur riders brings food around and gifts are exchanged, cake eaten.
Lumine smiles at him as she approaches.
"Did you surprise Ifa with the indwelling?" Lumine asks and Ororon nods. She clasps her hands together. Then stops at Ororon's flagging appearance.
"It didn't really go how I expected," Ororon admits. "Since my gift didn't go over well, I'll have to find something to give him tomorrow."
"I told him that him being here was probably enough." Chasca interrupts.
--
The party is still ongoing many hours later, but the purpose of the party had disappeared. Ororon doesn't need to look far for him, nestled on a ridge above the city, Cacucu keeping watch.
"Hey, I noticed you left... is everything okay?" Ororon sits down next to Ifa. Ifa nods.
"I just needed to take five, man. Socializing with everyone was getting draining. I'll be back down in no time."
Ororon smiles, then frowns.
"Hey, Ifa," Ororon says, "I'm sorry about the present thing. I wanted to get you something interesting that you'd like... that we could like together. I didn't realize well, that you'd think it was weird."
Ifa looks at him.
"It's alright, bro," Ifa says and pats his shoulder, "if you want to date, you could just ask me?"
Ororon's cheeks burn red.
"I--"
"You're a much better option than a saurian, even if you do have bat ears."
"Hey," Ororon starts, but doesn't get a chance to finish because Ifa has leaned over and pressed his mouth to Ororon's. It's a gentle, almost chaste kind of kiss. Ororon's cheeks feel hot for another reason.
He scoots a little closer.
"Happy birhtday, Ifa." Ororon says and kisses the side of his mouth. Ifa wraps his arms around him.
"Now this is a good birthday present." Ifa says cheerfully. "Come on, let's get back to the party, and then you can stay the night."
Ororon grins and stands up with Ifa.
"That's a great plan."