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

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.]

[Pleased that Maiza seems to think his idea could work, Firo smiles and he hands over another chunk of chicken.]

Whenever you get tired we can go back to your place and try it out. You aren't gettin' sleepy now, are ya? I thought owls were supposed to sleep at night.

[Well, he's getting pretty full so after this piece of chicken, he hoots and jump-flies up onto Firo's knee, then shoulder again, hooting. He feels pretty energetic right now and he hopes his moving around is enough to send that message.]

[Firo watches Maiza hop around, making sure to stay still so he can land on each perch.]

All done?

It doesn't look like you're ready to sleep, so what do you wanna do now?

[Maybe flying practice? His only concern is that Maiza could break a wing since he's not used to the action.]

[He does not want to practice flying. Could he possibly follow you around everywhere, maybe? He would like to do that if you aren't interested in taking him home, Firo. He hoots and settles down, looking quite content.]

No ideas?

[That's what he assumes the lack of activity means, or at least something like it.

He leans against the wall, wrapping up the leftover food.]

Well... It's a nice enough day out. Do you just wanna hang around outside, take a walk? I mean, I'll walk, you can ride.

[That sounds like a great plan. Maiza won't be the one to say no to a friendly invitation from his good friend, so he hoots cheerfully and flaps a wing gently at Firo, brushing against his face.]

[Firo laughs and holds out his arm so Maiza can adjust his perch however will be most comfortable. Now that he has it all wrapped up, he tucks the meat under his other arm and straightens up.]

We can go out by that river in the woods, there's a bridge down from here a little ways. That all right with you?

[Firo finds the nature everywhere somewhat intimidating, but it's nice to look at. So long as they're close to civilization.]

[That's perfectly all right with Maiza, who hoots again and hops a little on Firo's shoulder. Despite having lived in New York for years now, Maiza's hometown was a small city that meshed well with the hills and the sea. This is not the sea, but it's somewhat nostalgic to him. And the river sounds nice anyway.]

[Firo starts walking down the street at a leisurely pace. That should make it easier for Maiza to balance and they're in no hurry anyway.]

It's weird how quiet it gets out there, but it's kinda nice. I've got a friend who lives around there--"over the river and through the woods," just like the poem.

[Hoot?

It sounds like "who?" enough right?]

[It's getting easier for Firo to understand Maiza, or at least to guess what he's saying.]

Grune. I don't know if you've met her yet--tall, greenish hair? Her house has some huge garden all around it.

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