Jutta Sorry for the ping, it has been ages so I just wanted to shoot one your way just in case!^^
"Your real eyes?" the paladin echoes, a skeptical look on her face.
Illanya had just assumed that, like most people she knew, he wouldn't have fake eyes, and thus wouldn't have to need to show his real ones off. It could've been a prank or something, but honestly, she can't tell if he's serious or not. Her eyebrows just raise higher when he suddenly jumps to talking about a pet, concerned at the mention that the poor thing hadn't been fed in a decade. The paladin would later consider herself lucky that Darcy didn't see the look of horror when he mentioned that.
Her anxiety quickly becomes confusion, than slight irritation. She'd gotten all worried over a rock?! A pet rock no less. Still, she breathes easier knowing that there was no mortal danger incurred to the rock at least.
"A-ah, I see. I suppose a pet rock is better than no pet at all, right." Illanya smiles, though it's more of a confused expression than anything, her mind still wondering what the heck Darcy meant by feeding Fido.
She frowns as he sighs, mentioning things about his father. And based on what little she could tell it probably wasn't pleasant.
"Well, why don't you tell me more about the adventures you've had with Fido instead? Or maybe some of the other adventures you've been on, huh?" The paladin hums, pushing her hands into her pockets and tilting her head. Anything to try and steer the conversation to brighter topics... right?
"You know, this cheeky little guy has sent me to the infirmary a couple of times..." Illanya says out of the blue, rubbing the elk's muzzle fondly despite what she just said about him. Bathovian simply snorts, pawing the ground. Illanya gives him one more pat before turning to the person she was with.
"Sorry, that sounds really bad and out of the ordinary. You'd be surprised how often mounted warriors get hurt by their mounts, usually just by accident or like falling off them... it's never more than what we get in battle, but it still isn't pleasant when it does happen." She clarifies, reaching to bury a hand in the elk's fur as she speaks.
"Though Bathovian's always had a bit more sass than some of the other mounts, so that could be part of it too. He's also got some heft to him so it's not really surprising when I think about it" Illanya chuckles nervously, and elk bobs his head for a moment, like he can understand what is being said. (Spoiler alert: he can!) The paladin pauses, rubbing his snout absentmindedly as she mentally decides which instance to share with her guest.
"Oh I remember. You see, Bathovian likes to give headbutts, especially to say hello." As if to demonstrate, Illanya turns, muttering something to Bathovian before the elk turns and headbutts her. It was probably meant to be gentler, if the grimace on Illanya’s face is any indication. "Okay so, not quite that rough. He just plays a little rough with me because he knows he can get away with it." She sighs before continuing.
"Anyways, when he was younger he wasn't gentle at all, and would always headbutt me. It didn't really matter back then because he was too young to do anything really bad... but once I had forgot to visit for a week and when I went to visit...?" Illanya punches her hand as if to demonstrate impact. "He hit me full force. Knocked me out for a good 6 hours and I was throwing up and dizzy for the rest of the week after."
Despite how severe it sounds, Illanya doesn't sound too upset about it, in fact her voice seems mirthful at least. She pats the elk's side heartily before glancing back to her visitor. "He's been better about it ever since, especially around people who aren't me... he at least knows better now... right buddy?" Bathovian huffs, shaking his antlered head, before lowering it to their visitor and slowly pushing forward. Illanya laughs, though there is a note of worry in the sound.
"See, he's trying to say hello!" she says, though hopes that she doesn't end up having to treat a concussion after this.