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

...

[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...]

[The bird sits quietly and still on Firo's shoulder as the capo starts showing him the different meats slowly. He really appreciates Firo's patience and helpfulness. He was thinking fish at first but... when Firo reaches the chicken is when he hoots, thinking that if owls usually lived in forests, they probably ate more other birds than fish.]

[He nods and plucks some chicken off the shelf.]

This?

[He reaches for a second package.]

Just in case. Since... well, we don't know how long you'll be like this.

[He just hopes Maiza doesn't get tired of eating so much of the same thing.]

[He hoots, raising his head and then lowering it in one of those nods again. At least these foods are free, so no matter how much Firo takes it's not going to be a financial burden on his friend. He wouldn't want to cause him too much trouble, birdy or not. And he figures if he gets tired of the chicken he can suck it up and start looking for other things...]

[Proud of this small step they've made, Firo gives the meat one last glance over to make sure it doesn't look spoiled and turns to go.

Once they're out of the store, he sets one package down on the ground and takes out his knife. Slicing through the wrapping and cutting off a small chunk of meat, he holds it up for Maiza to take.]

Here. Is it good?

[They're just going to have to find out. The owl pauses for a few seconds, staring at the meat as if unsure, then hops toward the chicken to take it out of Firo's hand.

It takes him a while to figure out how to eat it, but he manages!]

[Firo watches closely, anxious that Maiza will choke--can birds chew anything with those beaks?]

What do you think? Do you want more?

[It seems like Maiza doesn't need to chew at all anyway. With a body that's made to swallow whole mice, he's easily able to swallow the piece of chicken and hops toward the rest of it and Firo.

Yes please.]

[He beams and cuts off another chunk to hand to Maiza.]

You like it? I'm glad!

[Being fed raw meat by your subordinate while in a bird's body certainly is a new experience! Maiza takes the second piece of chicken and eats it just like the other one, hooting pleasantly.]

Just tell me when you've had enough. We've got plenty.

[Owls are pretty big for birds, so Firo doesn't know how much Maiza'll need. He cuts off another chunk to have ready for Maiza.]

Whatever's left over we can drop off at your apartment.

[He suddenly looks thoughtful.]

Speakin' a' which... How're you gonna sleep? Do you need a nest?

[He reaches for that next piece almost immediately, discovering the owl's body was hungrier than he thought. He honestly thinks he could eat those chickens without having them cut, but he's not going to say no to Firo helping. He does appreciate it, and he's pretty sure the guy wouldn't like being told not to help even from an owl.

A nest... though. He's hoping he won't be stuck in this body so long that he'd need a nest. He thinks he would be fine as long as there's a place to settle. He hoots and rustles his wings in an owly shrug.]

[As long as Maiza will reach for them, Firo will keep handing him chunks of meat. He likes being helpful, and hopefully Maiza eating shows that he's healthy despite the transformation.]

I bet if we just bunched up a bunch of blankets together it could make somethin' like a nest. Gettin' all those sticks and stuff to stay together for a real one might be tough.

[He listens to Firo talk as he takes the pieces of meat handed to him. Blankets do sound much easier! He wonders if there were any extra ones back home, but then again, he was pretty tall as a human so the blanket he uses for his own bed should be more than enough for the smaller owl body.

He hoots his agreement, snatching chicken from Firo's hand.]

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