tushanshu | [Video] / [Action]

IT'S SPRING?!

WHY IS IT SPRING?!

WHY IS IT ALWAYS SPRING?!

[Apparently some new guy is pissed about the weather.] Do you have any idea what it does to man's senses to feel that much life around? [A bunch of birds chirping around him and singing, begin to land on his head and shoulders, so he takes down the yelling.] I mean you probably don't, yoi. But it's very -- [He seems distracted more and more by the birds whistling to him, like he's actually listening, and then quietly pets their heads.] It's very annoying, yoi. [He seems less and less annoyed...]

And not just any spring, oh no. The start of spring. [Literally just nuzzles a bird happily. So annoyed. Clearly....] The worst kind.

I need about a ten ton bag of seed and all the colored paper I can get. Anyone up for some flower origami crowns?

Aye, I know! Yes you are the cutest! [Gushing to one of the birds and starting to devolve a little into whistling himself, before he has the presence of mind to force a grumpy look at the camera and shut it off.]

[At which point he can be found wandering around wearing about fifteen birds and talking to them. And occasionally looking for an empty barrel to kick.]

[Stupid spring, yoi.]

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[She's staring at this, absolutely utterly and completely speechless. And then-]

...You can talk to birds?!

[Deadpan:]

You mean you can't?

I did. I spoke to them. But I could not understand them. And they did not come to me as one of their own as they do you. How do you do that?

[He normally doesn't like to do this over video, or sometimes at all, but it's a new world, and she seems to genuinely like birds, which reminds him of his son.]

[There's another head tilt, trying to sift through the chatter of the birds, before he whistles a quiet warning, and switches over into his own phoenix form.]

Gee, I don't know, yoi. It must be so secret, it's even secret from me. [Birdie winks.]

[No, but seriously, he does want it kept mostly secret until he gets a better feel for the place.]

[Do you know who's day you just made? This little girl's day. She looks absolutely overjoyed by this revelation.]

You are one of them. It is no wonder they love you.

[She's starting to pick up """subtle"""" cues like that though and gives a firm nod.]

I will not tell anyone though.

[Swishes tail back and forth like a happy puppy.]

Just for that you get a flower crown, eh? What are your favorite colors?

The world is full of many beautiful colours - I do not know yet which I like best for I have not seen them all.

Thank you. You are very kind.

My name is Yorda.

Marco.

I'm a duck.

[No, he's not, but he's hoping to make her laugh.] Have you been here long?

[She's not about to argue. The crows here look like little raptors. Maybe ducks look like that in his world.]

Marco. I am glad to know you.

[She pauses, counting for a moment.]

I have been here for the cycle of three moons. You are new?

It's nice to meet you too, kiddo.

Aye, I'm new, but I've traveled worlds before. Ducks can do that. [No, they can't.]

What're the laws here like?

How do you walk between worlds? Can something like me do it?

[She hesitates.]

Laws...

[She remembers the discussion she had with Pepper outside the boutique.]

...Like science and magic?

I have no idea. I mostly do it by chance and sparkles. [You know... as you do.]

I was thinking more like government and society. Duck or not, if I do certain things, certain people with authority or power might get a bit testy

[But he figures they're either not arbitrarily oppressive enough for her to notice; or that they're secretive given the dark god and such.]

Chance and sparkles...? Ah, do you mean that you use your light to open the ways that are closed?

The families, they know best what is and is not meant to be done. I know not to take things without giving money first. And it has to be the right amount or they also get angry. And some things you cannot give any kind of money for.

Exactly.

[Flicks his tail up and down.]

[He can't tell if the girl is that simple, or figures that since he's a bird, he is.]

[It's a problem.] Are the families at war or united behind defending this place from the common threats?

[She's simple, perhaps. But far from stupid.]

Their wars are subtle as whispers, won with clever words, not swords and banners and oceans of blood to feed the gods.

There remains echoes of a shadow that reigned, and should it grow once more in power, they would unite, I believe.

[She considers a moment that putting a name to this past threat would help.]

It was called Malicant. Many suffered under it.

[No worries, the majority of Marco's family is on the simpler but still very smart side. Including both the once and future pirate kings.]

[Marco flicks his tail in thought, and nods.]

Politics, yoi.

I suppose war among peoples never changes, no matter what the world.