crescentview | 🌸 be not defeated by the rain 🌸

Why would I make something like that up?

[It's such a useless power, why would he ever just pretend to have it...

He also doesn't take the bait, and he's not sure if he should be disappointed or not. One the one hand, it's probably good for Otegine's sake to not take all the bait, on the other hand Owen wanted to make fun of him some more.]

Well, if you need to clean it out, maybe I'll just leave them here. If you want me to ask where they'd feel safest, I can do that... though it's probably their coop or with company, if you really want the hens to eavesdrop.

[ Maybe he can stick the chickens in Otegine's room and make it smell like a coop. That would be funny, honestly.

He shoos the chickens off so he can stand, and they don't seem to protest as they scatter. He brushes his legs off on habit, making sure there's no feathers stuck to him, and hums. Actually, maybe a chicken audience wouldn't be so bad. Maybe it would keep Otegine from punching him in case Owen finally succeeds in bringing out his temper. There's no way he doesn't have one, after all.

Right?

Right.

He looks down at the chickens, gently nudging them with a foot as if waiting for a prompt from it. Otegine can decide how he feels about company.]

[He stays silent for a moment, visibly trying to choose how he wants to say this.]

I mean... you weren't exactly you at the time, so... [He shrugs, a hand rubbing at his neck. He knows Owen would rather not acknowledge that elephant.

He leans down to gently stroke one of the chickens with a couple fingers, brow furrowing.]

Eavesdrop...? [Why would that matter? Where does the chicken gossip go? What a weird line of thought, he hates this actually.]

Uh, well. If you want to ask, then sure... [His smile thins apologetically.] We can't go back to the coop right now, though. Once the rain's over. Syr and I will clear everything up and they can get back to being comfortable out there.

It'll be quietest for them if they stay in here.

[Syrlya watches from the doorway of the kitchen. Once Otegine has the front door closed, he nods and straightens up.] I'll start some tea for everyone. The towels are in the bathroom, just watch the chickens underfoot.

What kind of tea?

[Also, he doesn't need towels? He can just use magic to dry himself off, except Owen forgot the heavens nerfed him and all he succeeds at doing is ruffle his hair with a sad gust of wind.

He hates the Goddess so much.]

This is the worst.

[At least the layout should be similar to his own farmhouse so he can go and lick his wounds in peace. With the chickens.]

[He sure doesn't want to acknowledge that Otegine knows all that, and he makes a face like he bit into a lemon. The "little" Owen. He had almost forgotten about that whole problem, but at Otegine seems to be the only one who knows... As far as Owen's aware of, anyways.]

They're very chatty birds. Who knows who else they could be talking to?

[Probably nobody, but you never know what people are capable of.

Still, he nudges the chicken again to get its attention, asking if it would rather want quiet or to stay with him, and nods after a moment of clucking. Then, instead of relaying the chicken's answer to Otegine, he glances back to the fireplace and slides out of the room. The chickens do stay behind, though, cuddling back together as they stare at Otegine expectantly. Judgingly.]

How long do storms like this last? If it's a while, you'll want to let them stretch their legs.

[Don't mind him lecturing proper chicken care...

He considers sprawling out on the couch to take up as much room as possible, before deciding against it and curling up against one of the arms. Otegine can share space him at his own risk, if he's only got the one comforter with him.]

Pretty sure being stuck out there is worse, Owen. Don't be like that.

[The door properly barred, Otegine wipes the soaked bangs from his face, a pat to Owen's shoulder before he slips over to the bathroom, quietly saying hello to the birds as he carefully tries to reach for what towels they have.]

You can borrow something of mine until we can get your clothes dry... So long as rain isn't leaking into the fireplace, I think we can set something up in there?

[Fascinating... it does look like he's actually talking to them, now that he's watching closely. He blinks as Owen just moseys on past, left kneeling the doorway with the two birds and the blanket.

He looks off towards Owen, eyes softening a bit, before he gently reaches out to pat both the birds.]

Easy, girls. We won't keep you here forever.

[After briefly checking that everything's still in order, he'll close the door carefully, a slow pace towards the couch. The blanket is unfolded over the back of the couch near where Owen sits, and invitation to take it if he so wants.]

Half a day, sometimes more. It depends if luck's on our side. I'm sure Syr will want to make sure they're not cooped up in that little room the entire time if we can help it, so we'll figure out something.

[...]

You really have a kind spot for them, don't you? The animals, I mean.

[He does want to take the blanket, thank you, wrapping it around himself until all that's visible is his head. Means Otegine has a great look at another "just bit into a lemon" face, Owen grimacing at the comment on him having a kind spot for animals. Rude? He doesn't have a kind spot for anything. He's heartless and mean and the chickens are just stupid, obviously.]

I absolutely do not. It's not my fault they flock to me and think it's interesting to have someone around them that can understand them. It's an entirely one-sided feeling. I don't care about any animals and I'm not nice to them.

[There's no actual heat to all of that, though. He's just that tsundere he's tsun towards animals, too.]

[He can't help but chuckle at the expression, letting Owen turn into a blanket burrito while Otegine goes to poke a bit at the fire, making sure it's still going to be fueled for a while.]

You sure are a lot nicer to them than you are to people.

I never what to do with them. Chickens are easier than things like horses, but... I'd never be able to just sit down and be comfortable with them like that.

Maybe you're just blind.

[Gossiping with the chickens wasn't being nice? Rude. Also what's wrong with horses...? He'll ask about that later.]

Why not? It's not like they can do anything to you. They're just animals. Easy to understand, same as anything else with a brain or a heart.

Eh? No, I'm not... I just think if a person tried to do that, you wouldn't just sit and let them do that, right? You could just walk away and leave them alone, but you didn't.

[Well, that could also just mean he and Syr were really bad company, too... but his point still stands at least somewhat.

At Owen's question, the yari grimaces from his spot on the floor. Ugh. Horses.]

Ah... hard to explain.

Let's just say we've never really been creatures on the same tempo. They don't get what I am, and I don't really get what they are, either. It's never been a strong suit of mine.

And gone where? I don't think you'd let me go back outside.

[He's trapped!! Chickens were the only option.]

...What's not to get? They're just... animals. It's not that hard to understand. A horse is a horse.

[He has no idea what Otegine is, sure, but it shouldn't make that much of a difference. It does give him ammunition to be a dick and twist Otegine's words, though.]

I thought you said everyone should be treated with the same amount of dignity and respect, regardless of who or what they are, so why don't you treat beasts the same way? A horse or a chicken or a dog still deserves as much respect as anything else alive, unless you're going to discredit their feelings because you can't understand them. That's so heartless.

Nope, heh. I made a promise, you know.

[He hesitates on answering the rest of the questions, though, looking increasingly uncomfortable.]

That's not what I meant, Owen, come on...

I just... they make me kind of nervous sometimes, okay? I know people just fine, but... I don't know how to understand an animal. And I'm not someone that's good at doing much other than, you know, harmful stuff anyway.

Just regular black tea. [Maybe Ote buys some fancy stuff too but that's not what Syrlya grabbed out of the cabinet!

He'll let Otegine handle helping Owen get something dry, as he fills the kettle and turns on the stove.]

Well, that might be because you lead on with being locked in a room and not that your original form is that of a weapon. [Though he thinks even as a weapon, Otegine could do with a bit more self-esteem.] On the other hand, you do have a heart now and those experiences are much more complicated.

Maybe. But that's not something I can mention.

[It's not that he doesn't want to, or that it's hard. He can't.]

There's a lot of people here where it's... safer, if they don't get it. I don't like making up anything -- if I can help it, I wouldn't even give my name to anybody.

That's not really an option here. But I have to drawn the line somewhere. It kind of goes beyond me.

Safer? [He raises a brow.] I'm afraid you've lost me there. What is it about who--what you are that you need to hide?

It's... complicated.

[And at how thin his voice suddenly sounds, this is getting into territory he's not even sure he SHOULD talk about, even with someone like Syr who he trusts won't just spread it around.]

Some people here might recognize me. A couple already have, though... not me, thankfully, not how I am now. They're just shrugging it off as chance. But knowing what I am...

It... might not seem like a lot, but it can cause a lot of problems if I'm not careful. A lot of really, really bad problems.

I... see. [He doesn't see at all, actually.] Then I suppose someone you can trust with all of that is, also, something you would want in your prospective relationship?

[The first rule of the time government is: don't talk about the time government.]

...Maybe.

If that were the case, then it's not happening here. [It's remarkably blunt for him, but he sounds serious.] Maybe that's why I don't really think about things like this. I told the goddess upfront that this is kind of an impossible situation for me, anyway, but... well, you know. She thinks differently.

Edited 2023-01-29 08:41 (UTC)

[Syrlya hums at that.] ... I can't say it hasn't also been on my mind, that I'll need to find some other way to convince her to let me return to Tyria sooner rather than later. It's already been six weeks. Too long and people will start to worry.

[He… doesn’t know what constitutes as “regular” for Syr, but as long as it doesn’t make him glow or something it’s… probably fine? The food here is weird.]

…What about snacks?

[Feed him, Syrlya.]

[Time to drop a towel directly on Owen's head.]

Seriously? Clothes first. You can think with your stomach later. [You come with him, sir, chop chop, bedroom time.]

Syr, I should have some of those tea sweets left somewhere above the stove!!

I know. You better not forget after tonight.

[Otegine looks uncomfortable, Owen looks unimpressed… They make quite the pair.]

If all you can do is harmful things, how can you protect me? Or anyone? There’s threats that can’t be handled just by killing it.

[…

Sighs.]

Animals have their own ways to communicate that anyone can understand. Just watch them. They’re as expressive as a human can be, so if you pay attention… you can figure out how they feel, can't you? Like reading the expression on someone’s face. If you can tell what a smile means, you can tell what it means when a horse puts its ears back.

Got it! [While the kettle is heating up, he'll stretch up on his toes to get that cabinet open and pull out the box of tea sweets. He can dump them on a plate for everyone.]

🌸 be not defeated by the rain 🌸

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