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

I'll... I guess I'll take that as a yes? But how'd they even-?

[He should be relieved to finally see Maiza again, he's just too confused to show it. But he doesn't want to make Maiza feel bad--if the owl really is him--so he tries to pat the owl on the head and force a smile.]

If it really is you, I'm glad you're okay--er, well. Still in one piece.

[He's seemingly pleased by Firo's patting, if the way he doesn't draw away from it is any indication. He hoots once, pushing back against the hand, and settles himself more comfortably on Firo's shoulder. At least now that his friend understands (he hopes), Firo might be more comfortable letting him ride around.

And he's sure he's in one piece. He tilts his head in a few directions, rustles his wings, and moves his feet. Yep, definitely functioning.]

[Firo smiles at Maiza as he adjusts his perch. His movements don't seem too distressed, so Firo takes that as a good sign; if anyone can stay unruffled in a situation like this, it would be Maiza. It's something of a relief as he struggles to hide his anger that the Malnosso would mess with his friend like this.]

Can you stay on like that?

[Not if Firo decides to run or put an extra bound in his steps. He hoots once more, carefully hooking his talons around the fabric of Firo's clothes. He takes care not to tear into it, but it makes him more secure now.

We got this.]

[He has his hand ready to steady Maiza if he falls, but it looks like he's in place. Firo really wouldn't care if Maiza's talons did tear it; he has priorities, and taking care of family is the first one.]

So, uh, where to?

[Does he need food? What do owls even eat?]

[With the others, especially the people he didn't know well, being brought back to his flat was priority for Maiza, who didn't want to cause people the trouble of taking care of an owl, or risk running into things that would hunt owls.

But with Firo, especially now that he seems to understand that the owl is Maiza...

Well he's definitely hungry. He hoots a couple times to try to communicate this but he's not sure if it worked :|Y]

[He can tell that it's an attempt to answer him, but not exactly what Maiza means. It's Firo's fault for asking an open-ended question when he knows fulls well the owl can't respond in a language Firo can understand.

He scratches his head, then speaks slowly, giving time between each word to let Maiza react. Maybe that'll help.]

Umm... Home? Food? Water? The clinic?

[The first pause after "home" tells Maiza what Firo is trying to do, and he appreciates it. He misses the chance to hoot after that word, but at the second suggestion, food, he shifts on Firo's shoulder and hoots once, clearly!

He hears the beginning of "water" and thinks that's not a bad idea either, but for the most part he's pretty hungry.]

[Pleased that Maiza understood his trick, Firo smiles.]

All right, food first. Got it.

[He turns to take a step, then pauses.]

Wait. Can you eat human stuff when you're like this?

[Please don't make him kill a squirrel for you.]

[Firo gets a blank owl look at that as the bird tilts his head at him in one direction, then tilts it in the opposite. He hasn't tried to eat anything yet, so he has no way to answer it. But he moves his beaks and decides that he definitely doesn't have teeth, so he gives a low hoot. He probably can't eat human food.]

I guess you couldn't chew it... But then what? Bread crumbs?

[He's not a pigeon.]

Other animals?

[He is definitely not a pigeon.

He hoots. Uncertainly, but he hoots. He's pretty sure owls were carnivores.]

I think there are smaller birds and squirrels and stuff out in the woods. Can... can you hunt like this?

...

[He answers by attempting to fly. Untangling his talons from Firo's shirt, he ends up slapping the capo in the face with his wing a little before he manages to get up in the air. But not far. He ends up plopping down on the ground.]

Ah-!

[Firo raises his arm to cover his face and steps back out of reflex, so he's in no position to catch Maiza before he hits the ground. He crouches beside him, looking at Maiza anxiously.]

You all right? I-I shouldn't've asked, sorry.

[He shakes himself to clear his head from the fall. He looks quite peachy, turning to stare at Firo with round owl eyes and hooting shortly at him.

Well, there's your answer, he seems to be saying.]

[He rocks back on his heels, thinking.]

I guess... Could I just find you some raw meat in the store? I don't know if I'm fast enough to catch anything runnin' around in the woods.

[That's actually a wonderful, plausible plan. Maiza hoots twice and pecks lightly at Firo's collar, wondering if he might be able to pick up how birds actually communicate through body language so he can have a pattern to all of this.]

[He can piece some of it together, and he gathers that this means some sort of agreement.]

You think that'll work?

[He holds out his arm so Maiza can hop on.]

Then let's go, we can get some in a few minutes!

[Sometimes he's so very, very grateful for how supportive Firo is. He climbs onto the arm and settles comfortably, hooting again. Let us go, Firo!]

[Firo nods to the hoot and starts walking, carefully so Maiza won't get dislodged. He can't help but laugh nervously as he thinks of what an odd picture this would make back home.]

Hope nobody'll get annoyed by havin' an owl in the grocery store.

[It would be horrible, Maiza bets. Randy and Pezo would have too much of a great time with it and Ronnie would probably talk to him, the owl. It would be nice and he doubts Sena would accidentally cook him for dinner, but really.

He sticks a little closer to Firo's shoulder and tucks his wings in neatly. He sits very still, as if promising not to flap his wings or create a ruckus.]

[Firo chuckles as Maiza shows off his perfect behavior.]

Thanks. Maybe they won't even notice.

[Probably not, so he decides to keep it quick as he enters the store. Fortunately, there are packs of meat near enough to the entrance; Firo stands so that Maiza can get a good look at the variety.]

Any particular one you want?

[Maiza, as a human, wasn't a very picky eater. Sitting on Firo's shoulder, the human part of his mind says he'll eat anything, but he also wonders what birds are even capable of eating. Mice? He doubts they stock mice meat here...

Fish maybe? He hoots.]

Huh?

[Firo's idea of what a bird could eat is just as vague, and he's not sure how to interpret Maiza's reply. He walks back to the starting end of the meat shelf, still holding up Maiza so he can get a good view.]

How about you stop me when you see somethin' good, okay?

[With that, he starts slowly walking down. There's beef, pork, chicken, fish...]

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