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.]

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[Upon hearing the thump, Layton spins around and spies the errant little body on the floor.]

My word! Are you all right?

[Okay, Maiza can't really answer that question, but regardless Layton crouches down and moves to scoop him up. This may be a grown man on the inside, but there's something about having a fallen animal on your floor that makes you rush to tend to it.]

[This is an embarrassing situation, but Maiza is also not one to get humiliated easily. He shakes himself to clear his head from the fall and spreads out his wings to demonstrate that he's functioning just fine. Perfectly all right, Professor, thank you.]

[Well, good. Layton lets go of the breath he'd been holding and sits back on his heels.]

I don't think I'd be able to face Luke and Czeslaw if I had to tell them I got you killed just when you returned. If you can be killed.

[He's a bit curious to know if that immortality is still intact, actually.]

[That's a good question. Maiza looks down at his body and considers the many times he fell while flying. He doesn't hurt anymore... maybe he's still got his immortality?

He's not too sure if he wants to try, and when he turns back to Layton he eyes him with wariness.

Your curiosity can kill as many cats as it can he's we're not trying it out, Professor.]

[He may not be an expert on reading owl expressions, but the meaning comes across loud and clear.]

Ha ha! No need to look at me like that, my good fellow. You know I'd never do anything of the sort.

... But we may find out in one way or another if you make a surprise perch out of my hat again. Let's keep it to somewhere more stable, shall we?

[Like his arm, for instance. He offers it to Maiza for perching.]

[He can't disagree with that. A little embarrassed still, he pauses for just a moment before making his way onto the professor's arm and settling there. He's careful not to get his talons stuck in the fabric of the sleeve.

However, he does grip tightly. He does not wish to get thrown off by Layton standing up.]

[ow

Those are sharper than he expected. But it's tolerable so he stands, careful not to make any sudden movements.]

Hm... I suppose this means we'll need to make the proper accommodations, but I'm afraid I'm not very familiar with owl care. Should we stock up on meat, or will you be hunting? ... We can make it one hoot for the former and two for the latter.

[He stares at Layton and says nothing for a while. On one hand, he doesn't want to trouble Layton and the others too much, but on the other, he doesn't really want to go hunting. It sounds gross, instinct be damned.

He climbs his way up Layton's arm and hoots once.]

[ow ow ow]

Still not much disposed to mouseflesh? I don't blame you. [He rubs his chin with his free hand. It was about time to go grocery shopping anyway.] I may as well get to it. Will you be coming along?

[He hoots an affirmative, but because he doubts Layton is fluent in owl talk, he raises his head up and down in a nod and settles himself where he is perched.]

Then let's get a move on.

[He grabs a bag for the groceries and heads out the door.]

I imagine you'll want to know what you've missed while you were gone. Today is the 31st of January, so you've been gone for nearly the entire month.

[That would explain why it's slightly warmer than he remembers. He hoots and rustles his wings by Layton's head in reply. Please tell him anything more you have to tell.]

[Oh... That kind of tickles. After shutting the door, he moves down the hallway and thinks back to the beginning of the month.]

Let's see. I've been teaching at the school for a couple of weeks now, and Luke has been attending as well. He suggested that Czeslaw might enjoy it too, if only he could be convinced to go. What do you think?

[He thinks Czeslaw will grouch at you for suggesting it but it might not be a terrible idea. If he could go with Luke, it'd be even better because Luke seems to be a child Czes tolerates more than others.

Hoot hoot hoot.]

[... He'll just get clarification on that later. He pauses for a moment before descending the stairs.]

I also think Luke would benefit from having a study partner close at hand. One who isn't his teacher, anyway. Which reminds me -- it was his birthday on the 12th. I'll have to find out when yours and Czeslaw's are as well.

[Birthdays? Maybe they could celebrate Czeslaw's, but he's not so sure about his own. He doesn't remember celebrating it since years before he became immortal, anyway. He's just too old for this now, Layton.]

[Nonsense. No one is too old for presents!]

Otherwise, the month has been mostly unremarkable. Though there was a strange incident several days ago... Many among the village have reported missing memories from the 26th and 27th. I can only imagine it was the result of an experiment.

[Missing memories? That's intriguing, and also worrying. He hoots and stares at the side of Layton's head as if asking him if he had the same experience, too?]

[He meets Maiza's stare from the corner of his eye.]

Yes, it affected me too. I remember little from those two days. What's more, a page has been stolen from my private journal. I imagine it contained an entry or two the Malnosso would prefer stay forgotten.

[jesus there is no privacy here if the Malnosso are going through journals. Maizabird shows his concern regarding the new information with a particularly low hoot and moving his feet on Layton's shoulder.]

[Despite the seriousness of the subject matter... he can't help but notice that that was a pretty cute maneuver right there.]

It's a good thing I took care not to leave any potentially embarrassing details lying around inside. Anyway, the good news is that everything seems to be as we left it... if our memories are to be trusted. Something to think about.

[He gives a hoot of agreement. When he can speak again, he'll ask Layton more thoroughly. He's glad to hear that everything is intact (for the most part) and he's relieved that Layton believes his story about being turned into an owl. With puff of his feathers, he settles on the shoulder.]

[He pushes the doors leading out of the building and steps out, contemplating for a moment whether to cut through the woods or take the long way around to the store. He decides to take the shortcut.]

Did you know I was here in Luceti once before? [Twice, actually, but he doesn't know that.] Over a year ago, maybe two.

[He did not, so Maiza's answer is a side-to-side shake of his body and a tilt of his head. He had figured that, should people leave, there was a chance they were brought back sometimes. He didn't think it would have happened to someone he knew, though! Layton did seem to get used to life here easily, now that he thinks about it. He hoots.]

[He glances at the motion on his shoulder and nods once.]

But I don't remember a shred of it. I might never have known at all if I hadn't spoken to a woman who knew me during my prior stay. At the time I wondered if she was teasing me, but I see now that she was likely telling the truth.

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