Do not mock the humble survey

[poll_the_stars]

Avet... has found herself annoyed. She has only one form. This isn't the problem, but this is what led to her noticing the problem. There is no way to preview what a dragon will look like. There are species books of birds and bugs and animals - but some of them are sub-par on noting where the dragon's colors go, and miscellaneous gods that she doesn't worship help you if you want to see what your color will look like on the form.

She is going to solve this problem. By taking some surveys. As in, grab photo paper, gather up a list of lines to go visit, and then knock on some doors and ask some questions and create a book series that organizes all possible forms, all known forms, what known lines look like in the forms - that sort of thing.

She starts with blue groups, because blue groups have the most available forms - she's gotten all of the big lines (well, all of the big lines that gave her the time of day) and is on the smaller ones. The ones with only one or two people. Or, in some cases, none.

This particular one's easier than some others; she doesn't need to fly to another country. It's Esmaar. She flies to the address of one 'Avar,' no line name. Apparently he had one and had some kind of explosive spat about it and gave it up. Not that it's her business. He's just another person for her survey.

She knocks on his door.

Comments

[alicornucopia]

"This one and a cardinal."

[poll_the_stars]

Write write - she has to switch papers for this part - write.

"And do you mind if I take photos of both?"

[alicornucopia]

"Go for it." Finnah poses.

[poll_the_stars]

Avet smiles a little in spite of herself, and takes a photo of Finnah's human form. "And the cardinal, please?"

[alicornucopia]

Finnah shifts. The red is a splash along her wings and a dab of it at the crest, more intense than a real female cardinal.

[poll_the_stars]

Avet moves to catch the splash of red correctly, then takes the photo.

"And that's it, thank you." She smiles at Finnah. "And if you don't mind, could you get any other -" ... There is a word. Missing. In Draconic. Avet frowns. ".... Dragons or shrens? In the house, could you please ask them if they'd like to take the survey?"

Why isn't there a word for that?

[alicornucopia]

"Yeah, sure. HEY AVAR HEY MIAL WANT TO TAKE A SURVEY?"

[thisvorlunatic]

A tiny silver-and-brown merlin zips down the stairs and, lacking a convenient perch, turns human.

"A survey about what?" he inquires.

[on_my_word]

(Avar follows somewhat more sedately and without turning into a bird.)

[alicornucopia]

"What forms you have," Finnah says. She preens a feather and then shifts back. "She took pictures."

[poll_the_stars]

"If you would prefer that I not take a picture of you, I will need to carefully describe where all assorted colors are on your form and it might take a bit longer," she clarifies. She doesn't add, 'And also it'll kind of annoy me.' "I am trying to provide a place to look for previews for -" Damn it there is the not-a-word space again. "dragon and shren forms. Since there's a lack of that."

(Ugh no seriously why is Draconic missing a word?)

[thisvorlunatic]

"You can take pictures of me if you like," shrugs Mial. "I'm not sure how much good it'll do you. Shren parunia with a potion-derived growth disorder, it'd take some interesting circumstances to come up with somebody whose forms turn out just like mine. Also, the word you're looking for is 'dragonish', although I'm a little surprised that you're looking for it."

It's not a Draconic word, though, it's a Leraal neologism - e'sisaak.

[poll_the_stars]

"I'll note that and take pictures anyway. Couldn't hurt." She smiles at Mial. "Thank you, was it that obvious I was at a loss for a word?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"I speak Draconic too, you know. I've noticed its flaws already."

[poll_the_stars]

"This is the first time I've had Draconic not give me a word. I'm kind of indignant, actually, what the hell, Draconic?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"Draconic has a problem with shrens," he says. "Anyway, your survey?"

[poll_the_stars]

"Right, yes." She steps off the poor abused and crowded doorstep for the more open space of their front yard. "Over here please, and your full name?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"Mialavaraaninnah," he says, following her out.

[on_my_word]

Avar comes too, since he also plans to take the survey.

[poll_the_stars]

She smiles at Avar for his help. Write, write write. "Thank you." She checks his eyes - yep, silver - "And your forms?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"Human, merlin, river otter, snow leopard, mountain goat," he says. "I can get more specific about the exact species if you want."

[poll_the_stars]

Write write write. "Yes please!"

[thisvorlunatic]

Mial happily specifies the exact varieties of merlin, river otter, snow leopard, and mountain goat.

"I did a lot of research when I was picking out my next three forms after merlin and human," he explains. "I was highly dissatisfied with being limited to only ten forms out of all the species in the world, so I wanted to pick the best ones."

[poll_the_stars]

"I sympathize greatly with the feeling," she agrees wryly as she writes. "I have exactly one form. This is not for lack of research or because I don't care. Actually this entire thing came about because I was dissatisfied with the information available. It needs to be better. So here we are." She finishes writing. "And, may I take a photo?"

[thisvorlunatic]

"Of course."