AUDIENCE FOR: Emet-Selch

[guestservices]

Comments

[ktiseos]

What.

[guestservices]

Bedtime story means you're in bed and resting.

[ktiseos]

[oh he gives them SUCH a look

then sighs a put-upon sigh, and lies down.]

[guestservices]

[ they seem very pleased with themselves, and also completely immune to this look.

they are also going to pull the blankets up over him and tuck him in, and then come and settle down cross legged on the bed. ]

See? Was that so hard?

[ktiseos]

This was hardly necessary.

[HE CAN MOVE HIS OWN BLANKETS.]

[guestservices]

You don't mind it.

[ this is a bold proclamation but they are just going with it. ]

Now... someone I took under my wing. Hmm. How about... 's a girl that I knew. One not that much younger than me, but it felt like it, sometimes. Sort of a baby bird.

[ there's an easy sense of amusement as they speak, warm. ]

[ktiseos]

I will thank you not to make assumptions.

[rolling his eyes...

but he's settled in, regardless.]

...carry on, then.

[guestservices]

[ they don't say anything to the first bit, because they're right! and they know they're right.

they just settle with a little hum. ]

She was a little awkward, and maybe not very good at making friends. But, the big bird she befriended saw a lot of himself in her, so, he thought maybe they could start working together. And they did. [ there's a sense of that wry amusement as they're talking through this little 'story'. ]

She reminded him of what it was like to have a family.

[ktiseos]

Is that so.

[a soft, thoughtful little murmur.]

Had he forgotten?

[guestservices]

[ PUTS MY HANDS ALL OVER THE PRONOUNS SHHHH ]

The bird? Mmm. [ ... ] Not really, but... the big bird was pretty far from home. So it was nice, to remember, and... to help her remember, too.

[ktiseos]

Something of a kindred spirit, by the sounds of it.

[he's not quite looking at them, as he listens, his voice still quiet.]

What was she like, then?

[guestservices]

Feisty.

[ they laugh, at that, affectionate. ] Smart. Easy to tease, too - got flustered so easily. Like a little sister.

[ktiseos]

Little wonder you'd be fond, then, given your apparent proclivity toward it.

[you little shit, aquila.]

[guestservices]

Yeah.

[ they just sound nostalgic. they do not even remotely disagree with this assessment. ]

[ktiseos]

You could at least attempt to deny it.

[guestservices]

I'm not a very good liar.

[ this time the laugh is enough to get them to shake their head. ]

[ktiseos]

Fair enough.

[he sounds lightly amused, himself.

then he pauses, for a few moments.]

Aquila-

[...

whatever he thought to say, he just sighs, going quiet and shaking his head.]

[guestservices]

[ oh?

they tilt their head, sounding a little concerned. ]

What is it?

[ktiseos]

It is nothing.

[he waves it off, idly.]

[guestservices]

Usually, when someone says that, it's not nothing.

[ktiseos]

Then it is nothing you need to concern yourself with.

[guestservices]

You just said my name!

[ just!!! saying!!!!!! ]

Fine. Fine. [ they grumble. ] Stubborn.

[ktiseos]

I'm afraid you will have to get used to it.

...if you had more to tell, do not let me interrupt you overlong.

[guestservices]

I already am.

[ grumbling.

but, ah. ] Right. For my story. Where was I? The... mmm. The bird couldn't really stay around her that long, though. Kind of a short trip. And at the end of it, they had to part ways, but, the big bird still keeps her close to their heart, and... maybe someday, they'll go to see her again, too.

[ktiseos]

From the sounds of it-

This bird must have left that trip of theirs with several such people, I would imagine.