contaeoro | a bit of audio/action.

a bit of audio/action.

[audio]
[There is not a lot to the audio from Maiza today. Nobody is talking, but there is definitely something there, and that something is definitely attacking the journal. It hits it, sharply, then shoves it across -- judging from the sound of leaves and dirt dislodged by the moving journal -- the forest floor. It's followed by the rustle of wings close by the book, and some more scratching as the journal moves again.

The wings make noise again, although this time it sounds like it's flying. Clumsily so, one might note. The entry ends with the sound of wind blowing past and a loud thud as the journal hits the forest floor. Whatever bird was carrying Maiza's journal, it couldn't keep its grip.]

[action later on #1; the fountain]
[A couple hours after the entry, there is a brown owl sitting on the fountain in the village. He looks exhausted as he slumps on the journal he's got with him and hoots miserably at whoever passes by. Sometimes he spreads out his wings and rustles it to try to get attention, especially at people who Maiza Avaro may recognize. He's hungry. He's tired. Please help.]

[action #2; community house 7, floor 5 room 23]
[It's later in the afternoon, closer to evening, when an owl smacks into the window. It might have looked like it was trying to headbutt its way through the glass, but it's hard to tell. It disappears for a minute and returns to the window again, flying a little less steadily and now with a journal clasped in its talons. It stays at the window hoping someone will open it.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It's rare to see a journal lying around without a person nearby, but that doesn't catch Firo's eye so much as the bird with it. He approaches slowly, staying a few feet away as he bends down to peer at it.]

Huh. What're you doin' outta the woods?

[He doesn't really expect any sort of answer as he debates whether or not he should try getting closer and poking the thing.]

[If Firo pokes him, Maiza jumps, hoots, and pecks at the hand! Not too sharply though as he has no intentions of hurting his friend.

How glad he is to see Firo! He was hoping for anyone he knew, whether it be a girl he met just once or his flatmates, but seeing his good friend and Family member would have made him smile if he had the cheek muscles to pull up.

But poking isn't that appreciated, Firo. The owl in him is a little offended.]

[Always a maker of good decisions, Firo does poke the owl. Despite Maiza reacting in a reasonable fashion to so rude a gesture, Firo is startled by the pecking and yanks his hand back.]

Geez! Um... sorry?

[Can owls understand human speak? Probably not.]

[Firo gets a hoot and an owl approaching slowly. Maiza can understand him perfectly, though he doesn't know if it's the same for other birds.

He spreads his wings and jumps to get on Firo's hand this time. No more poking.]

[Firo smiles as the owl approaches.]

Hey, you're kinda friendly, aren'tcha-? Whoa-!

[Seeing the owl advance, Firo's startled into taking a step back.]

Geez! Gimme some warnin' next time!

[Firo moving back means Maiza missing! He's not used to this body enough to change course so suddenly, so the bird shoots straight for the ground and crumples a little at Firo's feet. He shakes himself out and straightens up again, though, puffing up sheepishly.

He waits.]

[Firo has to feel bad for the fallen owl, especially since it was his fault for moving. He kneels down and holds out his hand for bird.]

...Sorry. This is what you wanted, right?

[Yes, it is. He takes it slowly this time, though, and makes his way over to Firo's hand. He's very careful not to accidentally scratch him with his talons.]

Wow...

[Never before has Firo been so close to an owl before, and he's amazed that the talons don't seem to hurt at all. Once Maiza's on his hand. he slowly tries to stand up.]

[He's settled quite securely on Firo's arm as he stands up, although if the capo wobbles, the owl will wobble and fall off too.]

[Firo straightens, making sure to keep his arm level so the owl doesn't fall off.]

So, where to, Mr. Owl?

[He hoots, then hoots again, rustling his wings and turning his gaze onto the journal he was found with.]

[Firo follows the owl's gaze.]

That's yours? I thought only people who were brought here had those...

[Nevertheless, he takes slow steps over to the journal to pick it up.]

[The owl rustles his fingers and gives a low hoot at that. He had hoped Firo would take that thought a step further and realize he wasn't just an ordinary owl. ): ]

[Please, Maiza, you know the speed at which his mind works.]

Are you sure somebody else didn't leave this here? Or, wait...

[See that? The wheels in his head are spinning!]

...They take animals from other worlds too?

[He'd thought the wolf god was a fluke, but maybe not.]

[It works faster sometimes! He had hoped. But Firo missed the mark again and he hoots a little louder. Just open the book, Firo, please.]

[The owl does seem quite agitated, so Firo opens the journal. It might tell him where the owl lives--nests?--anyway.

The name on the first page of the journal comes as quite a shock.]

...What?

[Ah there we go. We are taking a step forward! Now as long as Firo doesn't think he stole the journal...

hoot?]

You... You know Maiza?

[Maiza wouldn't be beaten by a puny owl, unless the Malnosso really weakened him. But this owl doesn't seem vicious anyway, so Firo assumes that it must have instead found the journal somewhere. He holds his arm so that he's looking the owl right in the eyes.]

Is he back? Did you find him? Where is he?

[That would be the more logical conclusion wouldn't it be? He had gotten his hopes up, but this is better than he could have gotten. He stares straight back at his friend and hoots lowly, rustling his wings and hopping up on his arm.]

What?

[He sighs exasperatedly; if Maiza's in trouble he doesn't have time to try and figure out how to speak owl.]

I don't know what you mean! Can't you just take me to him if he's back?

[Unfortunately, he can't bring Firo back to the human Maiza. Unless his human body is lying around somewhere, but he doesn't really want to think about that. Although the thought that his body was changed into an owl's is not so pleasant either...]

[Firo's reaction would not be pretty if Maiza's human body were lying around out there.

He takes the lack of response as a no and the distress in his voice increases accordingly.]

C'mon, does that mean you can't? Well then how'd you get this?

[It could be that it belongs to the owl, but then the owl would be Maiza and that would be silly... Firo shakes his head as he tries to dismiss that idea. Half to himself, he mumbles:]

If you were him that'd make it a lot easier...

[Sometimes Firo is an incredibly brilliant man! The owl hoots once, hops off Firo's arm onto his hat, realizes that might be a bad idea when Firo isn't completely convinced about who he is yet, and hops off again, onto the opposite shoulder.

Please understand.]

Hey!

[Firo flings his arm out to try and protect his hat; fortunately he doesn't react quickly enough to knock Maiza off.]

What was that for?

[Well, the owl didn't say no, so there's probably only one other thing such a reaction could mean. Firo peers at the owl, hesitant to speak.]

...Was I right?

[Damn. He knew the Malnosso did some weird stuff...]

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