[Huh. Here Ivar had thought the priest liked everyone. Guess Dodger must have been his charming self around him as well. Some part of his mind takes note, but most of it is too preoccupied with feeling miserable and sad to notice much else.
He listens to Athlestan, still crying. The priest has known his father...well, Ivar is not entirely sure how long, but it's far longer than Ivar has had a relationship with him, so he knows Athlestan knows what he's talking about. He sighs before finally replying.]
I know. I know he loves me. He's an easy person to love too. And hate.
[Just because he felt one didn't mean he couldn't feel the other for his father at the exact same time.]
I understand that. [ Athelstan smiles and while he's never managed to hate Ragnar, he's understood it. He's watched other's have this same struggle. Lagertha, namely comes to mind.
He hesitates and then reaches to touch Ivar's arm, a gentle squeeze and he's just as quickly letting go. ]
You remind me of him sometimes but I think in many ways you might be stronger than him. He can learn from you.
[He takes off his vest. The rest of his clothes are close enough to his body that they can be easily morphed. He concentrates the feeling of turning into another form. The changes always come randomly and are never precisely the same. The fur comes first, sprouting all over, and then the ears sprout from the top of his head while his human ones seem to melt into the sides of his skull. There's snapping sounds as muscles and tendons shift around inside, some growing longer, and other shorter. The tail appears, a naked appendage before it finally gets covered by fur as well. The face seems to be the last thing to change, muzzle pushing it farther and farther out, while the eyes change shape a little bit.
Then there is a fluffy husky dog sitting in a wheelchair there. He hops down from it and lays down on the floor. Somehow, even as a dog, he still manages to look mopey and sad. Not even the dog's natural optimism is enough to take away all of his sadness and anger, though it does help keep the worst at bay.]
< I'm just going to lie here for the next hour and fifty minutes. >
[ Athelstan is quiet, standing up again and he's not really sure what to expect from this. It's his nature to be curious and he can't help but keep looking over at Ivar as he transforms. The site is surreal and Athelstan can hardly believe what he's seeing. He wonders if it hurts but if it does it must not be too much or not so much that the pain isn't worth it.
He smiles when Ivar in the dog form lays on the floor. It's a bit of a sad smile. He sits down on the floor beside him. His hand rubbing his head and then setting to petting. ]
You are welcome to anytime, you know that? [ Petting Ivar is calming to Athelstan as well. There's turmoil in his own mind concerning the new information, things he can't really share with Ivar or anyone. He doesn't particularly have anyone here that he could talk to about such things. If King Ecbert were...he thinks that he would understand, perhaps. Other than that, there had always been only Ragnar for so long to confide in. ]
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no subject
He listens to Athlestan, still crying. The priest has known his father...well, Ivar is not entirely sure how long, but it's far longer than Ivar has had a relationship with him, so he knows Athlestan knows what he's talking about. He sighs before finally replying.]
I know. I know he loves me. He's an easy person to love too. And hate.
[Just because he felt one didn't mean he couldn't feel the other for his father at the exact same time.]
no subject
He hesitates and then reaches to touch Ivar's arm, a gentle squeeze and he's just as quickly letting go. ]
You remind me of him sometimes but I think in many ways you might be stronger than him. He can learn from you.
no subject
He told me something similar once. I've never forgotten it.
[It was what had given Ivar the drive to know he could achieve whatever he wanted to, that have to be "just a cripple" like everyone else thought.]
Do you mind if I turn into a dog?
[That question would have seemed very strange out of context.]
I need an escape right now and dogs are always so happy.
no subject
Only if you'll let me pet you.
[ Which would be just as strange out of context. ]
no subject
[He takes off his vest. The rest of his clothes are close enough to his body that they can be easily morphed. He concentrates the feeling of turning into another form. The changes always come randomly and are never precisely the same. The fur comes first, sprouting all over, and then the ears sprout from the top of his head while his human ones seem to melt into the sides of his skull. There's snapping sounds as muscles and tendons shift around inside, some growing longer, and other shorter. The tail appears, a naked appendage before it finally gets covered by fur as well. The face seems to be the last thing to change, muzzle pushing it farther and farther out, while the eyes change shape a little bit.
Then there is a fluffy husky dog sitting in a wheelchair there. He hops down from it and lays down on the floor. Somehow, even as a dog, he still manages to look mopey and sad. Not even the dog's natural optimism is enough to take away all of his sadness and anger, though it does help keep the worst at bay.]
< I'm just going to lie here for the next hour and fifty minutes. >
no subject
He smiles when Ivar in the dog form lays on the floor. It's a bit of a sad smile. He sits down on the floor beside him. His hand rubbing his head and then setting to petting. ]
You are welcome to anytime, you know that? [ Petting Ivar is calming to Athelstan as well. There's turmoil in his own mind concerning the new information, things he can't really share with Ivar or anyone. He doesn't particularly have anyone here that he could talk to about such things. If King Ecbert were...he thinks that he would understand, perhaps. Other than that, there had always been only Ragnar for so long to confide in. ]