That was a more encouraging response... she thinks. Still sharp and quick before but not as much after her message is read. The slow approach doesn't go unnoticed--in fact, he has her undivided attention for the full duration of it, though likely not with the effect he was hoping for.
Peppercorn moves like that, is her first thought. Obviously! Birds can only move in certain ways, but it's mesmerizing to watch a 4-foot bird move in the same ways as a 1-foot bird, like suddenly viewing one in high definition. His head bobs a little with each step--but not as much as Peppercorn. That would get annoying, she assumes. Maybe a little dizzying? It's clever that he corrects for that by standing more upright. And his feet--rather than focus on the claw guards (are they like fancy bird shoes?), she's fascinated by how his feet fold back and splay out again, step after step. Those must be more sturdy than human feet. His balance is probably impeccable. She's a little jealous, not only of that but also his tail...
Is it rude to stare if she's already been staring for this long? She might as well keep going with that same expression of awe and curiosity--right up until his wing stretches out and he demands her chalk. She blinks, looking down at the wing just a little too long (is there a hand under all of those feathers? can he hold things?) before shaking her head a little to snap herself to attention.
"Uh-- Sure!" She pulls her backpack over, eager to help this Very Interesting stranger. She always carries spares, so it's no great loss to her to pull a singular piece out of the box. She hesitates at placing it on his wing, uncertain if he'll be able to grab it or if it'll just roll off... But he's thrust it out at her like a hand, so she'll treat it like one and place the chalk in it.
"I saw you looking at the alchemy books earlier. What are you working on over there? Anything interesting?"
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Peppercorn moves like that, is her first thought. Obviously! Birds can only move in certain ways, but it's mesmerizing to watch a 4-foot bird move in the same ways as a 1-foot bird, like suddenly viewing one in high definition. His head bobs a little with each step--but not as much as Peppercorn. That would get annoying, she assumes. Maybe a little dizzying? It's clever that he corrects for that by standing more upright. And his feet--rather than focus on the claw guards (are they like fancy bird shoes?), she's fascinated by how his feet fold back and splay out again, step after step. Those must be more sturdy than human feet. His balance is probably impeccable. She's a little jealous, not only of that but also his tail...
Is it rude to stare if she's already been staring for this long? She might as well keep going with that same expression of awe and curiosity--right up until his wing stretches out and he demands her chalk. She blinks, looking down at the wing just a little too long (is there a hand under all of those feathers? can he hold things?) before shaking her head a little to snap herself to attention.
"Uh-- Sure!" She pulls her backpack over, eager to help this Very Interesting stranger. She always carries spares, so it's no great loss to her to pull a singular piece out of the box. She hesitates at placing it on his wing, uncertain if he'll be able to grab it or if it'll just roll off... But he's thrust it out at her like a hand, so she'll treat it like one and place the chalk in it.
"I saw you looking at the alchemy books earlier. What are you working on over there? Anything interesting?"