crescentview | 🌸 be not defeated by the rain 🌸

[He likes the chickens, though… They’re cute and pettable and he would rather talk with them then Otegine and Syrlya. (Not that there’s anything wrong with Syrlya… It’s just how it is, and being stuck in Otegine’s ridiculous clothing doesn’t help his desire to socialize. He looks like an idiot.)

It does make him easy to find, at least, sitting on the floor of the bathroom with the chickens huddled around him. And on him. Owen’s holding what seems like a one-sided conversation with them, pausing every so often, but he’s keeping his voice low so it’s unlikely Otegine can pick up much of what he’s saying. He goes silent as soon as he notices Otegine, though, scowling even if he keeps petting the chicken in his lap.]

What do you want?

[He was having girl talk? Why’s he being interrupted?]

[He blinks, looking at the duo of chickens piled on top of Owen.]

...I'm, uh... not interrupting anything, am I?

We were talking about you.

[Which is technically true, but he's not going to tell Otegine that he was just comparing him to other people the wizard knows to paint a full picture for the chickens. He can just assume Owen was talking shit and not telling chickens about his love(?) life prior to the island.]

That's all. It's not anything important.

[Said suspiciously... What's your intent, Otegine...]

Ah. You can talk to animals, then. Here I thought you made that up...

[He, at least for once in his life, catches that this might be a statement to tease at him. So he lets it go in one ear and out the other with little more than a flattened look and an awkward chuckle, holding the door open and gesturing to the side at the fireplace.]

Hey, uh... I got a fire going. Figured it would be a more comfortable place to dry off everything, including ourselves. [He holds up the arm with the comforter, glancing at Owen practically drowning in his spare outfit, and letting his eyes trail away respectfully instead of staring too long.]

You can bring the chickens, if you want. Just... keep them safe or Syr's gonna kill both of us. I need to clean this room out, anyway.

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.

[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.]

[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.

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.

[He stays quiet again, flinching a bit at the admonishment.]

Because it's what I'm made to do. And, like I said... I promised. Just because it's all I'm good at doesn't mean I'm going to stop everything else.

[He considers Owen's rant about the animals as he rises from the fireplace only to drop down to a seat next to the wizard, enough room left for Owen to keep his privacy.]

...Like how the birds cluck differently when they're feeling comfortable, right?? Things like that??

I've never been able to really tell right away. People aren't much different for me. Maybe that's part of the problem.

...

[Speaking of.]

...Hey. Can I ask you something?

...You have a strange way of talking. I wonder if it means something, saying things like you were made to be good at one thing...

[Which isn't really what Otegine said at all, but it seems like a logical conclusion. There are very few things, in Owen's experience, that they're "made" to do. There are things people choose to do, or are chosen to do, but "made"... It's not a word most people would use casually, and Otegine is about as arrogant as Heathcliff.

Which is to say, hardly at all.]

Of course you can't tell right away. You have to give yourself the chance to understand them - giving up just because you don't get it immediately just means you'll never get it.

[But, fine, fine. He can entertain at least one question from Otegine. Maybe.]

Sure, but if it's a stupid question I'm not going to answer.

Ah, who knows. Sometimes things just happen that way.

[It feels strange to have Owen's words resonate a little deeper than expected. You have to give yourself the chance... is that right?

...

He leans over against his own knees, lacing his fingers together as he casts a glance towards Owen, pensive.]

Why did you kiss me?

Do things really "just happen"?

[You can't keep secrets from him forever! He's too stubborn to quit while he's ahead!]

Well, why not?

[Which is surely a satisfying answer to Otegine. Owen shrugs, keeping his gaze on the fire.]

Do I have to have a reason to do the things that I do?

[Is there more to it then "just because he could"? Probably, but he doesn't see why he would need a concrete reason in the first place. Otegine can keep on thinking it was done just to mock him if he wants, even if that's not the truth of it. It's not Owen's problem right now.]

Sometimes. Time just kind of works like that. It's not really a fair thing.

[THAT'S NOT AN ANSWER WOW! He exhales sharply.]

You realize you made a fool of me in front of the whole town like that, right? [There's some bite to it, obviously hurt, but it's brief.]

If you hate me that much, you can just... say something, you know? I don't... enjoy dancing around all of this any more than you do.

[Well, he supposes time isn't fair, but that still feels like a copout.]

...

[Of course he realizes it! He was there! Still, that's not... what he intended to do. It wasn't his grand plan to have Otegine feel so humiliated, and he shifts uncomfortably for a moment.

It's also not like he likes Otegine, either. He doesn't think he hates him, but he couldn't qualify the feeling if he tried. It's not like the feeling Cain inspires, or the feelings that the likes of Bradley or Mithra inspire, and it's not the loathing he feels for Oz or the twins, so it's something he can't quite articulate. Not that he would want to to begin with, but it's frustrating that it's something unfamiliar when he's already been feeling so many unfamiliar things even before he showed up here. He's too old for this, isn't he?

This is stupid. He hates this, even if he doesn't think he hates Otegine. Not that he thinks it really matters how he feels, anyways.]

I don't hate you. I never have, even if I think you're frustrating and obtuse.

[Hm. Is it really too late for him to go back into the hurricane?]

It's just something I wanted to do, and it's not like there would be any other chance to do it - so why not? Nobody's going to remember it for long with how everyone was drinking, anyways, and I'm sure someone you like more will kiss you if you ask.

[Wait. What?

It's a confusing, especially after all the grief Owen had been giving him this entire time. Why act like this if he didn't hate him?]

Obtuse, huh...? [wtf is that supposed to mean]

Nobody wants to kiss somebody like me, Owen. Nobody was ever going to. That's... part of why I'm surprised.

...

I don't get it. Why didn't you just ask?

Edited 2023-02-04 04:45 (UTC)

[Hasn’t Otegine met a tsundere before? Though there’s very little dere with Owen, admittedly…]

I know I just said you were obtuse, but really?

[There’s no way he can be serious… How low can his self-esteem be?

Owen does at least finally turn his attention back towards Otegine, expression flat.]

I’m not in the habit of asking things just to be rejected. You don’t have any interest me, and it’s obvious, so I took the chance that was there.

[So there. Makes total sense!!!!]

Wh-- Wait, what do you mean, "really"?

[Should he be offended at this? At any of this??? He isn't sure.]

And who told you something like that?? Weren't you the one that just said you have to give yourself the chance to understand something? [To Otegine, at least, Owen is one of the most interesting people present in the town, even if it's not always in a positive light. Was... he going about all this wrong, if Owen thought otherwise?]

Why do you think I keep trying to talk to you? Because I'm bored or something?

[This is a stupid conversation.]

You don’t have a romantic interest in me.

[There’s absolutely no way. It’s basically impossible, and Otegine would rather spend his time with people who aren’t as callous as Owen. That’s just common sense.

He’d rather be with someone better.]

It’s obvious, and I don’t think you want to have sex with me, either. That would actually make sense, but you don’t look at me like a man that’s interested.

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