Great! We can talk about that in the treehouse~♪
[Inside the Vale, he means. They're almost there. But in the meantime: more gossip! He smirks as Kleken describes his relationship with Baizhu, commenting:]
That's not very romantic.
[Or is it? Sometimes romance is in the eye of the beholder.
Hiyori's brow arches ever-so-slightly when he hears that last bit, and it's obvious he's curious. But he won't ask Kleken; he wants to hear it from the plant man himself.]
Will do! Now I'm curious, since that sounded a tad ominous. I can't picture Baizhu-san doing anything too bad, though. You didn't get your hand stuck in a Venus flytrap, did you?
[ He has also never been to the Vale so still true. He's not much for that sort of scenery, after all, and his relationship with Eel was close to nonexistent, so why bother? ]
And I'm afraid the romance has died between us in spite of my best efforts. He's quite the difficult soul to court.
[ There has never been a romance between them, unless the strange, one-sided rivalry, one-sided active distrust they had going on counted as some kind of romance. Kleken thought it could, but it's likely that Baizhu would disagree with that opinion. Vehemently. ]
No, he's quite... stubborn. I've only ever been patient with him.
[ ... Is that a lie. ]
sorry, I thought I replied to this (also sorry for the deleted comment)
I guess someone with your peculiarities would rather hang out in public bath caves than treehouses. Or the pool, or an aquarium. Not that we have one of those around here. I wonder why that's the one thing we don't have? I feel like it's just asking for trouble if we say there should be an aquarium, though. We do not need more tentacle monsters.
[And then he flashes a reassuring smile.]
No offense, of course!
[As for Baizhu:]
Is that what went on?
[A failed courtship? He has his doubts, but is willing to play along.]
That's not a big shock. Again, no offense intended. But you know the old story about the boy who cried wolf, right? When you act insincere, people stop believing you even when you do speak from the heart. So if you want him to understand your feelings, you'll just have to keep showing him how serious you are.
[And then his eyes light up as something else occurs to him. That's it: he's found a way to tie things together!]
Which is why it's a good thing you're making an effort with Eel! That should help win her over, and it might please Baizhu-san. I could tell he cared for her a lot, even though she's the difficult type.
[Which means he might just care for Kleken, too, even though Kleken is also difficult.
Hiyori exits the stairwell into the hall. The Vale is now within view: a place he knows well. He motions for Kleken to follow along with him, practically skipping.]
Now let's go! ♪
no worries, my inbox likes to play hide and seek with my tags
[ Kleken's never considered himself a tentacle monster, so why would he take offense? And Splat was... well he wasn't sure what Splat was, but he was sure the little creature could take his own offense if he wanted to. Which meant it was quite lucky for Hiyori that the bundle of energy wasn't here at the moment. ]
[ He nods along to the wildly incorrect conclusions the younger man pulls together about the false romance existing between himself and Baizhu, far too amused by it to put a stop to it. Why would he, when there were so many entertaining angles he could work this? And though he lacks any sort of paternal instinct toward either of his spawn, he does see the merits in creating a positive association with a creature capable of utilizing tentacles just as he does. ]
[ Hiyori also seems like a useful associate to have; exuberant individuals are often in the know of their social circles and information is always useful. The cost to his dignity has been rather minor in comparison, so he follows along at a clipped pace and not a skip. ]
It seems like though I may be able to tell lie after lie, I can't hide my true intentions from you. Though I ask that you don't tell Baizhu, I'm quite shy.
I can't tell if you're saying that because you don't like him, or to hide the fact you do! There's a term for that, I think. "Refuge in audacity!" Or was it "reverse psychology"?
[He thinks about it for a second... and then just shrugs.]
Well, either way is fine, I guess. I'm not entitled to any of your secrets. I just like gossiping about love and stuff like that, since it's a fun way to kill time here!
[And having said that, he heads into the Vale.
Inside the entrance, he tells Kleken:]
Let's wait here, alright? I want to show you something.
[And then, standing in place, he starts to sing under his breath.]
♪~♪~♪
[Not too loudly. Just a little lullaby, soft enough that it can't be heard very far into the Vale. And yet, as he sings, something happens: something comes flying towards them. A round, blue-winged bird. As she flies down from the trees, Hiyori extends an arm for her to perch on.]
See? That's a good girl...♪
[The bird lands on the back of his hand. She's got beady eyes, blue wings, and a plump green belly. It's his magpie daughter!]
[ He helpfully suggests, which is of course no help at all. ]
And I would hardly be one to fault you for finding your entertainment in the gossip of others. It can be quite fruitful as well.
[ Gathering information had been one of his specialties back in Umbraton, given his variety of talents, but he hadn't been particularly motivated to utilize them here. At least, he hadn't gotten bored enough to yet. ]
[ His good mood has him following further instruction, his brows raising the slightest as Hiyori begins to sing, and raising even further at the response to it. That's certainly a way to call over a creature. ]
[ He remains a respectful distance away even, setting the oversized bag of bird seed down for the moment as he draws in his wandering tentacles. ]
[Of course the bespectacled smiling liar associated with slithery things would be good at info-gathering. That's how it always goes!]
We're in agreement there, so feel free to keep my name on your lips. In return, I'll keep talking about whomever I please~♪
[Which may sometimes be Kleken. Later he'll tell Loki about him and suggest they drink wine together! But for now, he has another someone to introduce Kleken to. That "someone" chirps happily from her perch on Hiyori's hand, submitting to his petting: not typical behavior for magpies, but typical for her.]
Right? I don't think most birds come when they're called, or have such sensitive hearing. But that's Hina-chan! She's such a good girl! ♪
[He pets her fondly for a few more moments, then stops and say:]
Now, why not say hi to each other? I know this man's a stranger, but he won't hurt you. And he brought birdseed! A hefty bag of the stuff!
[He then looks meaningfully at Kleken. The bird on his hand turns slowly in Kleken's direction as well. Is she wary? Curious to meet an acquaintance of her loving father? It's hard to tell, because so far she's just staring with her little bird eyes!]
[ Wow don't stereotype the shady man, it's very rude. Even if it is true. ]
[ He gives a light smile and nod in recognition of their mutual understanding that they would undoubtedly gossip about one another to some other third parties and lets himself focus on their latest addition with a critical if completely unknowing eye. Kleken's experience with birds was rather limited, admittedly. The creatures were generally ignored by him with everything else going on in his life in Umbraton, so 'normal' bird behavior is something he wouldn't be able to tell if asked. What he does know, however, is general social etiquette. Something he decides to put to use when engaging with an unknown being. ]
It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Hina-chan.
[ This was definitely normal bird-related interactions, right? ]
[Hiyori's experience with birds was non-existent before coming here. But he's had about a year with this bird, and it shows in the gentle way he handles her, her obvious comfort with him. He'd been so sad, on the morning she disappeared from his suite on Tanabirda. He'd cried to Jun about it, thinking he'd never see her again. But when he found her again at the Vale, his heart had soared. Compared to his human friends at the resort, who've turned to statues in many cases and who he knows could disappear at any minute, his bird children are pillars of support.
He hasn't said any of that, but hopefully it's obvious how precious she is. Either way he doubts Kleken will try anything. He may be shady, but he's given no indication that he'd ever want to harm a small, defenseless creature. And sure enough, Kleken does behave, introducing himself properly with a smile on his face. Is there something "off" about that smile? Does he give off shady vibes inherently? Even if he does, it wouldn't matter. Hina inherited traits from both her parents, and both Hiyori and Jun are used to dealing with bespectacled smiling schemers. He's nothing she can't handle! She chirps back, high and clear, and Hiyori beams.]
She said hi back! I'm absolutely positive that's what that meant! ♪
[He strokes her head some more, a reward for being so good. Hina, meanwhile, continues to watch Kleken, rather than turn her attention back toward Hiyori.]
I wonder if she recognizes you as Eel's dad? Whatever the case, she seems comfortable! Which means we can safely proceed onward~♪
[And then he starts in the direction of the treehouse. Still holding the bird in his hand, and still expecting Kleken to transport the birdseed.]
There should be at least one other bird waiting in the treehouse. Perhaps two birds, and maybe even three! Depends whether Eel shows up. I'm sure you'll recognize the one I had with Rinne-senpai right away, since that one's so distinctive.
[ That's far more than Kleken has, though bird-friendly experience isn't something he's particularly interested in being jealous over. For now, at least. ]
[ He does, however, note the sincerity and kindness Hiyori handles the bird with, a warmth he's seen a few times and never fails to have him shifting his eyes elsewhere to avoid looking at directly. It's just a touch too blinding for someone like him. ]
She's quite intelligent, it seems, so she surely must see the similarities in family.
[ Oh are they going deeper in. He holds back an urge to sigh dramatically over the continued expectation of effort from him, picking up the birdseed once more with his tentacles and following after. At least this effort came with the incentive of knowledge about people he was terribly interested in. ]
They'll come when they learn there's food there, I imagine.
True, the similarities are obvious! "Like father, like daughter," so they say~♪
[The fact that Kleken doesn't recoil at Hiyori talking about him and Eel like they're a happy family is almost surprising. Perhaps it's a good sign? In any case, on towards the treehouse. He chirps back:]
True, you certainly brought lots of that! They should be glad to meet such a generous benefactor. ♪
[The journey to the treehouse doesn't take long. Once they reach the base of the tree, he stops and says:]
Here we are. Their home, sweet home...♪
[Hina chirps something that probably means "See you in a minute," then leaves her perch to fly on up. Hiyori then turns to Kleken and explains:]
Whenever I visit with Baizhu-san, he uses his magic to create a wooden platform that carries us through the air. But since he's not here, we'll just have to climb! I bet that'll be a cinch for you, since you have all those extra arms.
[With that, he starts to climb up the steps himself, still leaving Kleken carry the birdseed. It's a little precarious, especially as he gets higher up, but he's used to doing this. And this time if he falls, he knows he won't get hurt, since Kleken could just catch him with his spare octo-arms!
.....
On second thought, not something he wants to happen.
Thankfully he doesn't fall, assuming Kleken isn't up to any funny business behind him. Once they reach the top, Kleken will find a relatively spacious treehouse awaiting them. A pair of bird feeders hang from the ceiling, a big colorful blanket sits on the floor, and there may even be leftover flowers blooming from the last time Baizhu visited. But are there any birds present, besides Hina-chan, who's sitting on a windowsill?
Inside, Hiyori doesn't see any. But by this point, he also knows their hiding places. He goes ahead and lifts the blanket off the ground, just to check and see if the Rinne bird is somewhere underneath, but all he sees are scattered casino coins. And after Hiyori told him so many times not to keep stealing those...
He bends down to pluck one off the ground, then looks at Kleken.]
I have an idea for summoning "that" bird. Want to see?
[ The notion of actually being a father or having a family to call his own is so far removed from his mind that he doesn't even register when implications are made. No, he's far too used to joking about such things, and when Hiyori says them, he processes them in the exact same way. ]
So they say.
[ As they journey further into the Vale Kleken takes careful note of the surroundings. While he may not be very interested in returning on his own to visit the birds, he's certain that in some way in the future it may be useful to know the path. He also faintly hopes that the birds won't be expecting him to show up with food again should he ever return... ]
Climb-?
[ He barely manages to mutter out the words in response to Hiyori's quick explanation before the other man is throwing himself into the trees and. Well. Climbing. An activity he felt himself ill-dressed for and thereby terribly un-inclined to do. Nevermind that he likely wouldn't have climbed even if he were properly dressed for it. ]
Perhaps a set of stairs should be installed...
[ His grumbling falls on deaf ears though, Hiyori well up ahead, and it's with a sigh that Kleken resigns himself to following after him. Though the man may have zero issues with sticking himself to walls or ceilings for his own amusement, there was something about climbing a tree that felt all too... strange, to him. His tentacles, which he does in fact rely heavily upon to do all the work of transporting himself and the bird seed up, move rather awkwardly in the tree. ]
[ Branch swinging is apparently not a common octopus tentacle activity. ]
[ But they get both dead weights up in the end and it's while Kleken is standing and absently dusting off his clothes that each tentacle gives a small, annoyed slap to the useless man in protest. An action he aggressively ignores in favor of smiling at Hiyori. ]
Right? You're so right about that. There ought to be stairs or elevators! But they're awfully committed to this place being a forest, so they want us to climb! That's no way to treat guests at a luxury resort, though, is it?
[He says while climbing. At least he seems to agree. A propensity to complain and a dislike of making effort might be two points they can relate to each other on. That and being weird about Rinne.
But the two lazypants do manage to scale the tree somehow (seeing his birds is always an effective motivator for Hiyori), so on with the "summoning." Hiyori smiles (not noticing Kleken getting slapped by his own tentacles) and chimes:]
Great, then here goes! In the meantime, feel free to make yourself comfortable.
[He does appreciate the effort of Kleken climbing all the way up the tree with the bag of birdseed, even if he hasn't thanked him yet. But for now, it's time to summon the Rinne bird!
Hiyori kneels down, first gathering up the blanket and then pushing coins onto it. Once he's got them all bundled (or most of them anyway; there may still be some stray ones here and there), he stands up, making his way back to the entrance. Taking care to project his voice, he announces loudly:]
Well, I'm off to the casino! The staff doesn't like when people steal, so it's time to return all these shiny gold coins! I swear that bird never listens, but it can't be helped. We just have to keep returning his coins! Hold down the fort while I'm gone, alright? Toodles!
[He lets the bundle hang open slightly, so that some of those "shiny gold coins" peek out, and moves like he's about to descend down the treehouse stairs. Any moment now, he figures, the red bird will reveal himself with an indignant squawk.
Which is what happens, but not in the way that he expects. The next thing he knows, a red blur is hurtling towards him like a heat-seeking missile. Rather than dive for the precious coins, however, the Rinne bird dives for Hiyori's head, squawking with protest as he makes a mess of his hair.]
Gyah—?!!
[He almost unbalances. Not quite, but almost. Looks like the summoning worked a bit too well. But that is definitely one very red, very fluffy-headed magpie nesting in Hiyori's hair and mussing it up with his talons. Vengeance!]
[ They're probably not, but Kleken will easily lie about that sort of thing if it meant he could get actual stairs installed. His motivations aren't quite as strong as Hiyori's are, simple curiosity will only take him so far into the den of effort, but thankfully for them both by the time Kleken actually considers just dropping out of the tree and not climbing any higher, they reach the top. ]
[ He takes a glance around once he's settled on his feet, drinking in the sight he'll probably never see again until alternate transportation methods are installed. It is quite the sight up here, but his attention is on Hiyori and his strange... antics. Dramatics, to be more accurate, and he can only raise a brow as he leans back on a propping tentacle and watches the little drama play out. ]
[ And oh the smile that slips onto his lips as it does. That was quite the dive. ]
Yep! Or better yet, we could float up on clouds! This place runs on magic, and clouds are also "natural"!
[His logic is flawless.
Some of the treehouses actually are connected by stairs or platforms at least according to the pictures on the Locations page, but not this one. Alas. On the plus side, it being less accessible than other places in the Vale might explain why Hiyori's never had the misfortune of finding guests fornicating on top of the blanket, nor has he ever had to clean up any suspicious fluids. He and his birds are safe here! ... minus last October when a monster got inside.
There's no monster now. Instead he's invited a friendly tentacleman, one he'd like to introduce to his birds, and one special bird in particular. Summoning that bird should be a piece of cake, and so he holds out the shiny gold coins and says the magic words to do just that. Ah, but there's one snag. Dear Hiro-kun was closer than he realized, and flew at him much faster than he ever would have predicted. He tries to shake the bird off, but no dice: it stays nested in his hair, squawking up a storm.
"Ya really thought ya had me with that same ol' trick, didn'tcha? Well, no dice! You've got way too many weak spots, Hiyori-chan~!"
If the bird could use human speech, it'd probably be saying something to that effect. Or maybe not; there's no way tell for sure. All its squawks sound like chirp chirp chirp. Still, it looks distinctly triumphant as it perches on top of Hiyori's head, his plumage all puffed up with pride.
Defeated, Hiyori gives up on trying to shake the bird off. He lifts his narrowed eyes to look at Kleken. Is it any wonder he's smiling with amusement? Hiyori gripes,]
You can say that again. He startled me so much I almost fell! And then I would've broken a leg or worse.
[He didn't, though, and he hasn't. And he was sort of asking for it. So, after a moment, he sighs and settles on the floor, scooching away from the entrance and sitting against the wall.]
Anyway, this is Hiro-kun. He's red, he has a funny laugh, and he loves to cause mischief and collect casino coins! Isn't that right?
[The bird says nothing in response to this, even though Hiyori would've loved for him to choose now to demonstrate his laugh. Ah well. That's how pets are; they have minds of their own!]
And this fellow here is called Kleken-kun! He brought you some food! Why not say hi? ♪
[The bird does not say "Hi" or anything else for that matter. He does, however, choose that moment to notice the newcomer. His beady bird eyes meet Kleken's, or at least they meet his shades, and his talons quit kneading Hiyori's hair as he goes still and stares. Time for Kleken to make his best impression!]
[ He's not entirely sure he agrees with the idea of cloud elevators, but if someone's able to work out the magic, he's all for the saved effort. ]
Perhaps a petition might be submitted.
[ His smile stays in place as the bird takes a place of pride atop Hiyori's head, studying the puffed up little creature with some curiosity. He can see it, the resemblance to Rinne, not just in personality but in its looks as well. He thinks, anyway. But the personality aspect is spot on, the chattiness, the cockiness, he can see those aspects alive and present in the puffed up little bird. ]
He does seem quite the character.
[ At the introduction, he makes it a point to lift up and off his hat in greeting, his head tilting to meet the beady eyes of the bird with the deep red of his own. First impressions are always important, he's well aware of the fact, and so he goes about putting forward the impression he's intent on any person. ]
[ Whether that's bird-friendly or not, he'll just have to find out for himself. ]
Good day, Hiro-kun. I'm here to bribe you.
[ The bag of food, nearly forgotten by both humans atop this tree house, is brought forward and set between the two of them with a hefty thunk. ]
[He has zero faith in the staff or the House's willingness to make things more tolerable for them.]
But I'm sure if a King or Queen wanted clouds in their suite, they'd get them. The sky's the limit in terms of what they can ask for.
[He knew one Queen who had an entire snowy village as her suite and another who had a beach villa.
Back to the bird, though. Hiyori can't see Hiro, since Hiro is currently nesting on top of his head (not something he's thrilled about, but whatever). He can see Kleken looking at Hiro, though, and he assumes Hiro must be looking back. What could be going through their minds during this fateful meeting? Is Kleken remembering all his dearly beloved (?) memories of Rinne? And is it possible that some part of Hiro, deep down, might recognize Kleken and feel some echo of Rinne's own feelings?
... look, it's not that far-fetched. He assumes memories don't transfer over, but feelings might. These birds aren't normal birds. They were hatched from magically-appearing eggs! And Eel had an interesting reaction when she met Hiro. Hiro even inherited Rinne's laugh! So despite Rinne being a statue, isn't it possible his feelings for Kleken live on somewhere in this bird?
Those are Hiyori's fanciful thoughts on the matter. In reality, it's hard to tell if any deep thoughts or emotions are circulating in Hiro's brain since he is, after all, a bird. He watches as Kleken tips his hat, showing no reaction at first.
Until Kleken says he's here to bribe him. Then he gives a funny little twitch. Can he understand? Does he speak human?? Hiyori is convinced Hiro can understand him sometimes, but pretends not to understand when it's convenient! But then Kleken presents the bag of birdseed, bigger than any Hiyori and Jun have ever lugged up the treehouse, and there's no mistaking the message there. Hiro sits and stares at it, totally shocked. He twitches again, then again, starting to vibrate with excitement. And then, he squawks. "Chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp!" (ChirpGPT translation: "That's all for ME?!!!")
Then he kicks off Hiyori's head (briefly sinking in his talons while he does so), diving right for that bag. "Chirp chirp!!" he says, which probably means "Woo-hoo! Jackpot!"]
Ow!
[Hiyori rubs the spot where Hiro just kicked off, glaring after him.]
That hurt! And don't forget, you have to share with your siblings!
[Alas, Hiro totally ignores him, cheeping with continued excitement and nosing at the bag of birdseed with his beak. Hina, also drawn by foot, flies over to investigate the bag as well. Hiyori sighs as he watches them.]
Good grief. You'd think I starve him, but I most certainly do not. [But he can't stay mad for long. There's a definite fondness in his eyes as he watches them.] You did get him out of my hair though, so thanks for that. [Said to Kleken.] I guess our next step is making sure he doesn't poke holes in the bag with his beak. Good luck!
[ Kleken's smile widens a touch at the suggestion that a king or queen might be able to get clouds in their suite, mentally adding it to his own plentiful list of things to try should he ever manage to get himself to that rank. He's still a fair bit off from it at the moment, but it's not an impossible distance now. And though he can't say he's really fond of the idea of riding a cloud himself, he simply has to find out if it's achievable. His curiosity demands it. ]
[ And he can just make Hiyori ride it instead- ]
[ His laughter at the bird's launch into the bag of birdseed sounds as close to genuine as the man can get, especially in comparison to everything else that usually comes out of his mouth. ]
Perhaps he's simply a greedy individual.
[ If his own gaze is a little fond as well, it must just be something in the air. ]
[ His tentacles are moving to open up the top of the bag, allowing for little Hiro to dive in as he pleases before withdrawing as Hina approaches as well. He's not about to try something like petting the eager little bird, not on their first meeting, but he can enjoy the audacity of the little guy, so reminiscent of the man he takes after. ]
There, now he may be as greedy as he likes.
[ Even for birds, Kleken remains a terrible influence and supporter of indulgence. ]
[(He takes after both his dads, actually, despite Hiyori's tendency to blame him all on Rinne.)]
And that's exactly why we should—
[Discourage his greed? Teach him some discipline? It's unclear how Hiyori was going to finish, because Kleken chooses that moment to reach for the bag with his tentacles. Not to sweep the bird away from it, but to open the hefty bag and let him into it. A whole huge bag of birdseed! Just open!
As soon as it opens, Hiro's little beady eyes bulge comically wide, like he's never seen such a buffet. And then, squawking with excitement, he proceeds to dives in facefirst. "Thanks, dude! Yer the best!"
Even Hina, well-behaved as she usually is, can't resist the allure of the open bag. She joins Hiro inside it, nudging in next to him. Hiyori, for his part, stares dumbfounded.]
No way...
[He tears his eyes away from the birds and towards, giving him an accusatory stare.]
Kleken-kun, Kleken-kun. I thought that stuff was for the bird feeders, but could it be you're the type who spoils your pets rotten?!
[ The smile Kleken gives back to Hiyori is all innocence, as if he's completely unaware of the chaos he's allowed to unfold by opening up the bag to two greedy little birds. Maybe he is, given his explanation for it. ]
I've never had a pet before.
[ Technically, it's true. His 'children' as he so affectionately calls his tentacles, are in the end a part of his body and him. Not pets. Splat is... well. He was a gift from the resort for his birthday, and there's some sort of mutual understanding between them regarding their shared space. He can control Splat if he so chose as well, so the little creature was more like... a particularly influenceable roommate. Eel was probably more adjacent to an actual child than anything else, and Baizhu took care of her far more than Kleken did anyway. ]
[ Everything he knew about raising a 'pet' was related to taking care of the twin children in the Istvan Gang and from that he'd learned to just keep giving them food to solve all of their problems. ]
[It's no surprise. They both know Splat is no "dog." And those tentacles don't count as pets, even if Kleken does want to claim they have minds of their own. Still.]
I'm just worried they'll eat too much and make themselves sick. Though I guess that wouldn't be your fault...
[He watches Hiro burrow happily into the birdseed with a disbelieving frown. Still... seeing him and Hina so happy does melt away some of his disapproval. And it's not even just them: to his surprise, a third bird flies into the treehouse, making a beeline for the birdseed as well.]
Ah, you even summoned that one. Impressive!
[This elusive third bird is one Kleken hasn't met before: one with sleek green and purple plumage. It has a refined, dignified look about it and tends to be more aloof. Now, however, it's joining its two siblings in the bag and pecking away.]
Looks like everyone loves your gift. Doesn't that make your heart feel warmed?
[ That much he's familiar with as well; if given the opportunity, a certain set of twins he knows would eat themselves sick. And since they're the closest thing he has to a pet, they will henceforth be used as his comparison point. ]
Certainly, they'll learn some with age.
[ Surely that's how it all works. Not at all a guess by someone incredibly lacking in knowledge about child development, not to mention general exposure to actual children. ]
[ Thankfully, birds are a bit different from children, even these ones, which is one of the reasons why Kleken doesn't slip away as their number increases. His head cocks though with some interest at the new arrival. Heart warmed? Not quite, but he is finding himself interested in the newest to join the group. Did the little birds have a social hierarchy, or were they all some sort of friends? Or was this the equivalent of a free-for-all? ]
Oh, very much so. Though I must ask who our new guest is.
One of them has an addiction to casino coins, so I'd say that one does not! But I'm glad to hear you have such faith in them.
[He's a bit biased towards Hina (his perfect daughter with Jun who can do no wrong) rather than Hiro (his problem child who was accidentally born to him and Rinne). But both are helplessly drawn to the birdseed, and so too is another bird: the sleek green and purple one who just joined the others in the bag and began stuffing its elegant beak.]
That's another one of my birds. He's more mysterious and aloof-seeming than the others, so you might not see him as much. But he's kind, well-behaved, and lovely to look at, just like yours truly~♪ And just like his other dad, too, I suppose.
[Him and Vil Schoeinheit, two of the prettiest men in the resort. Is it any wonder such a beautiful offspring would be born to them?]
Once he's done feeding, you can try petting him. He's soft and sleek to the touch! Just don't ruffle his feathers too much, since he absolutely hates that.
Of course. I believe the children are our future and the like.
[ As the number of birds grows, Kleken is very suddenly though distantly thankful that Eel is apparently the only creation to have been created with a relation to himself. Splat aside, of course. One is more than enough for a person like himself, who lacks any sort of paternal instinct. He could hardly imagine a life with three. ]
[ It's exactly because they're not his that he shows the high amount of interest he does, in learning more about them and the 'parents' they're born from. ]
I see. So he's a shy beauty then.
[ That's more or less what Hiyori said, isn't it? ]
[ He cocks his head a bit and studies the gathered collection of birds eating away at the birdseed. If he only knew more about the other parents, he'd have a bunch better idea of just how much these little birds reflected of them. Alas, he only had Eel and Hiro as comparison points. ]
Perhaps. I would hate to startle any of them though with my touch.
[ AKA he has no idea how one even goes about petting birds. ]
You could say that! Unless he has other important commitments that keep him from showing himself, but I don't know what could be more important than receiving love and care from me.
[He's only half-joking. But despite the statement, there's no bitterness as he watches over the three birds. Only love.
As for receiving love and care from Kleken, though...]
True, being suddenly touched by a tentacle is startling! Go ahead, ask how I know!
[Said with a brief reproachful glare. Then he continues:]
But you do have regular hands. And if you approach slowly, you should be able to avoid startling them too badly. I can guide you through it if you want.
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[Inside the Vale, he means. They're almost there. But in the meantime: more gossip! He smirks as Kleken describes his relationship with Baizhu, commenting:]
That's not very romantic.
[Or is it? Sometimes romance is in the eye of the beholder.
Hiyori's brow arches ever-so-slightly when he hears that last bit, and it's obvious he's curious. But he won't ask Kleken; he wants to hear it from the plant man himself.]
Will do! Now I'm curious, since that sounded a tad ominous. I can't picture Baizhu-san doing anything too bad, though. You didn't get your hand stuck in a Venus flytrap, did you?
[Actually, he does ask one question.]
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[ He has also never been to the Vale so still true. He's not much for that sort of scenery, after all, and his relationship with Eel was close to nonexistent, so why bother? ]
And I'm afraid the romance has died between us in spite of my best efforts. He's quite the difficult soul to court.
[ There has never been a romance between them, unless the strange, one-sided rivalry, one-sided active distrust they had going on counted as some kind of romance. Kleken thought it could, but it's likely that Baizhu would disagree with that opinion. Vehemently. ]
No, he's quite... stubborn. I've only ever been patient with him.
[ ... Is that a lie. ]
sorry, I thought I replied to this (also sorry for the deleted comment)
[He tilts his head.]
I guess someone with your peculiarities would rather hang out in public bath caves than treehouses. Or the pool, or an aquarium. Not that we have one of those around here. I wonder why that's the one thing we don't have? I feel like it's just asking for trouble if we say there should be an aquarium, though. We do not need more tentacle monsters.
[And then he flashes a reassuring smile.]
No offense, of course!
[As for Baizhu:]
Is that what went on?
[A failed courtship? He has his doubts, but is willing to play along.]
That's not a big shock. Again, no offense intended. But you know the old story about the boy who cried wolf, right? When you act insincere, people stop believing you even when you do speak from the heart. So if you want him to understand your feelings, you'll just have to keep showing him how serious you are.
[And then his eyes light up as something else occurs to him. That's it: he's found a way to tie things together!]
Which is why it's a good thing you're making an effort with Eel! That should help win her over, and it might please Baizhu-san. I could tell he cared for her a lot, even though she's the difficult type.
[Which means he might just care for Kleken, too, even though Kleken is also difficult.
Hiyori exits the stairwell into the hall. The Vale is now within view: a place he knows well. He motions for Kleken to follow along with him, practically skipping.]
Now let's go! ♪
no worries, my inbox likes to play hide and seek with my tags
[ Kleken's never considered himself a tentacle monster, so why would he take offense? And Splat was... well he wasn't sure what Splat was, but he was sure the little creature could take his own offense if he wanted to. Which meant it was quite lucky for Hiyori that the bundle of energy wasn't here at the moment. ]
[ He nods along to the wildly incorrect conclusions the younger man pulls together about the false romance existing between himself and Baizhu, far too amused by it to put a stop to it. Why would he, when there were so many entertaining angles he could work this? And though he lacks any sort of paternal instinct toward either of his spawn, he does see the merits in creating a positive association with a creature capable of utilizing tentacles just as he does. ]
[ Hiyori also seems like a useful associate to have; exuberant individuals are often in the know of their social circles and information is always useful. The cost to his dignity has been rather minor in comparison, so he follows along at a clipped pace and not a skip. ]
It seems like though I may be able to tell lie after lie, I can't hide my true intentions from you. Though I ask that you don't tell Baizhu, I'm quite shy.
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I can't tell if you're saying that because you don't like him, or to hide the fact you do! There's a term for that, I think. "Refuge in audacity!" Or was it "reverse psychology"?
[He thinks about it for a second... and then just shrugs.]
Well, either way is fine, I guess. I'm not entitled to any of your secrets. I just like gossiping about love and stuff like that, since it's a fun way to kill time here!
[And having said that, he heads into the Vale.
Inside the entrance, he tells Kleken:]
Let's wait here, alright? I want to show you something.
[And then, standing in place, he starts to sing under his breath.]
♪~♪~♪
[Not too loudly. Just a little lullaby, soft enough that it can't be heard very far into the Vale. And yet, as he sings, something happens: something comes flying towards them. A round, blue-winged bird. As she flies down from the trees, Hiyori extends an arm for her to perch on.]
See? That's a good girl...♪
[The bird lands on the back of his hand. She's got beady eyes, blue wings, and a plump green belly. It's his magpie daughter!]
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[ He helpfully suggests, which is of course no help at all. ]
And I would hardly be one to fault you for finding your entertainment in the gossip of others. It can be quite fruitful as well.
[ Gathering information had been one of his specialties back in Umbraton, given his variety of talents, but he hadn't been particularly motivated to utilize them here. At least, he hadn't gotten bored enough to yet. ]
[ His good mood has him following further instruction, his brows raising the slightest as Hiyori begins to sing, and raising even further at the response to it. That's certainly a way to call over a creature. ]
[ He remains a respectful distance away even, setting the oversized bag of bird seed down for the moment as he draws in his wandering tentacles. ]
How interesting.
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We're in agreement there, so feel free to keep my name on your lips. In return, I'll keep talking about whomever I please~♪
[Which may sometimes be Kleken. Later he'll tell Loki about him and suggest they drink wine together! But for now, he has another someone to introduce Kleken to. That "someone" chirps happily from her perch on Hiyori's hand, submitting to his petting: not typical behavior for magpies, but typical for her.]
Right? I don't think most birds come when they're called, or have such sensitive hearing. But that's Hina-chan! She's such a good girl! ♪
[He pets her fondly for a few more moments, then stops and say:]
Now, why not say hi to each other? I know this man's a stranger, but he won't hurt you. And he brought birdseed! A hefty bag of the stuff!
[He then looks meaningfully at Kleken. The bird on his hand turns slowly in Kleken's direction as well. Is she wary? Curious to meet an acquaintance of her loving father? It's hard to tell, because so far she's just staring with her little bird eyes!]
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[ He gives a light smile and nod in recognition of their mutual understanding that they would undoubtedly gossip about one another to some other third parties and lets himself focus on their latest addition with a critical if completely unknowing eye. Kleken's experience with birds was rather limited, admittedly. The creatures were generally ignored by him with everything else going on in his life in Umbraton, so 'normal' bird behavior is something he wouldn't be able to tell if asked. What he does know, however, is general social etiquette. Something he decides to put to use when engaging with an unknown being. ]
It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Hina-chan.
[ This was definitely normal bird-related interactions, right? ]
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He hasn't said any of that, but hopefully it's obvious how precious she is. Either way he doubts Kleken will try anything. He may be shady, but he's given no indication that he'd ever want to harm a small, defenseless creature. And sure enough, Kleken does behave, introducing himself properly with a smile on his face. Is there something "off" about that smile? Does he give off shady vibes inherently? Even if he does, it wouldn't matter. Hina inherited traits from both her parents, and both Hiyori and Jun are used to dealing with bespectacled smiling schemers. He's nothing she can't handle! She chirps back, high and clear, and Hiyori beams.]
She said hi back! I'm absolutely positive that's what that meant! ♪
[He strokes her head some more, a reward for being so good. Hina, meanwhile, continues to watch Kleken, rather than turn her attention back toward Hiyori.]
I wonder if she recognizes you as Eel's dad? Whatever the case, she seems comfortable! Which means we can safely proceed onward~♪
[And then he starts in the direction of the treehouse. Still holding the bird in his hand, and still expecting Kleken to transport the birdseed.]
There should be at least one other bird waiting in the treehouse. Perhaps two birds, and maybe even three! Depends whether Eel shows up. I'm sure you'll recognize the one I had with Rinne-senpai right away, since that one's so distinctive.
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[ He does, however, note the sincerity and kindness Hiyori handles the bird with, a warmth he's seen a few times and never fails to have him shifting his eyes elsewhere to avoid looking at directly. It's just a touch too blinding for someone like him. ]
She's quite intelligent, it seems, so she surely must see the similarities in family.
[ Oh are they going deeper in. He holds back an urge to sigh dramatically over the continued expectation of effort from him, picking up the birdseed once more with his tentacles and following after. At least this effort came with the incentive of knowledge about people he was terribly interested in. ]
They'll come when they learn there's food there, I imagine.
[ Most creatures would. ]
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[The fact that Kleken doesn't recoil at Hiyori talking about him and Eel like they're a happy family is almost surprising. Perhaps it's a good sign? In any case, on towards the treehouse. He chirps back:]
True, you certainly brought lots of that! They should be glad to meet such a generous benefactor. ♪
[The journey to the treehouse doesn't take long. Once they reach the base of the tree, he stops and says:]
Here we are. Their home, sweet home...♪
[Hina chirps something that probably means "See you in a minute," then leaves her perch to fly on up. Hiyori then turns to Kleken and explains:]
Whenever I visit with Baizhu-san, he uses his magic to create a wooden platform that carries us through the air. But since he's not here, we'll just have to climb! I bet that'll be a cinch for you, since you have all those extra arms.
[With that, he starts to climb up the steps himself, still leaving Kleken carry the birdseed. It's a little precarious, especially as he gets higher up, but he's used to doing this. And this time if he falls, he knows he won't get hurt, since Kleken could just catch him with his spare octo-arms!
.....
On second thought, not something he wants to happen.
Thankfully he doesn't fall, assuming Kleken isn't up to any funny business behind him. Once they reach the top, Kleken will find a relatively spacious treehouse awaiting them. A pair of bird feeders hang from the ceiling, a big colorful blanket sits on the floor, and there may even be leftover flowers blooming from the last time Baizhu visited. But are there any birds present, besides Hina-chan, who's sitting on a windowsill?
Inside, Hiyori doesn't see any. But by this point, he also knows their hiding places. He goes ahead and lifts the blanket off the ground, just to check and see if the Rinne bird is somewhere underneath, but all he sees are scattered casino coins. And after Hiyori told him so many times not to keep stealing those...
He bends down to pluck one off the ground, then looks at Kleken.]
I have an idea for summoning "that" bird. Want to see?
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So they say.
[ As they journey further into the Vale Kleken takes careful note of the surroundings. While he may not be very interested in returning on his own to visit the birds, he's certain that in some way in the future it may be useful to know the path. He also faintly hopes that the birds won't be expecting him to show up with food again should he ever return... ]
Climb-?
[ He barely manages to mutter out the words in response to Hiyori's quick explanation before the other man is throwing himself into the trees and. Well. Climbing. An activity he felt himself ill-dressed for and thereby terribly un-inclined to do. Nevermind that he likely wouldn't have climbed even if he were properly dressed for it. ]
Perhaps a set of stairs should be installed...
[ His grumbling falls on deaf ears though, Hiyori well up ahead, and it's with a sigh that Kleken resigns himself to following after him. Though the man may have zero issues with sticking himself to walls or ceilings for his own amusement, there was something about climbing a tree that felt all too... strange, to him. His tentacles, which he does in fact rely heavily upon to do all the work of transporting himself and the bird seed up, move rather awkwardly in the tree. ]
[ Branch swinging is apparently not a common octopus tentacle activity. ]
[ But they get both dead weights up in the end and it's while Kleken is standing and absently dusting off his clothes that each tentacle gives a small, annoyed slap to the useless man in protest. An action he aggressively ignores in favor of smiling at Hiyori. ]
I'm quite interested in summonings.
[ As he ignores his own 'summons' of a sort. ]
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[He says while climbing. At least he seems to agree. A propensity to complain and a dislike of making effort might be two points they can relate to each other on. That and being weird about Rinne.
But the two lazypants do manage to scale the tree somehow (seeing his birds is always an effective motivator for Hiyori), so on with the "summoning." Hiyori smiles (not noticing Kleken getting slapped by his own tentacles) and chimes:]
Great, then here goes! In the meantime, feel free to make yourself comfortable.
[He does appreciate the effort of Kleken climbing all the way up the tree with the bag of birdseed, even if he hasn't thanked him yet. But for now, it's time to summon the Rinne bird!
Hiyori kneels down, first gathering up the blanket and then pushing coins onto it. Once he's got them all bundled (or most of them anyway; there may still be some stray ones here and there), he stands up, making his way back to the entrance. Taking care to project his voice, he announces loudly:]
Well, I'm off to the casino! The staff doesn't like when people steal, so it's time to return all these shiny gold coins! I swear that bird never listens, but it can't be helped. We just have to keep returning his coins! Hold down the fort while I'm gone, alright? Toodles!
[He lets the bundle hang open slightly, so that some of those "shiny gold coins" peek out, and moves like he's about to descend down the treehouse stairs. Any moment now, he figures, the red bird will reveal himself with an indignant squawk.
Which is what happens, but not in the way that he expects. The next thing he knows, a red blur is hurtling towards him like a heat-seeking missile. Rather than dive for the precious coins, however, the Rinne bird dives for Hiyori's head, squawking with protest as he makes a mess of his hair.]
Gyah—?!!
[He almost unbalances. Not quite, but almost. Looks like the summoning worked a bit too well. But that is definitely one very red, very fluffy-headed magpie nesting in Hiyori's hair and mussing it up with his talons. Vengeance!]
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[ They're probably not, but Kleken will easily lie about that sort of thing if it meant he could get actual stairs installed. His motivations aren't quite as strong as Hiyori's are, simple curiosity will only take him so far into the den of effort, but thankfully for them both by the time Kleken actually considers just dropping out of the tree and not climbing any higher, they reach the top. ]
[ He takes a glance around once he's settled on his feet, drinking in the sight he'll probably never see again until alternate transportation methods are installed. It is quite the sight up here, but his attention is on Hiyori and his strange... antics. Dramatics, to be more accurate, and he can only raise a brow as he leans back on a propping tentacle and watches the little drama play out. ]
[ And oh the smile that slips onto his lips as it does. That was quite the dive. ]
It seems to have worked.
[ Too well, maybe. ]
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[His logic is flawless.
Some of the treehouses actually are connected by stairs or platforms at least according to the pictures on the Locations page, but not this one. Alas. On the plus side, it being less accessible than other places in the Vale might explain why Hiyori's never had the misfortune of finding guests fornicating on top of the blanket, nor has he ever had to clean up any suspicious fluids. He and his birds are safe here! ... minus last October when a monster got inside.
There's no monster now. Instead he's invited a friendly tentacleman, one he'd like to introduce to his birds, and one special bird in particular. Summoning that bird should be a piece of cake, and so he holds out the shiny gold coins and says the magic words to do just that. Ah, but there's one snag. Dear Hiro-kun was closer than he realized, and flew at him much faster than he ever would have predicted. He tries to shake the bird off, but no dice: it stays nested in his hair, squawking up a storm.
"Ya really thought ya had me with that same ol' trick, didn'tcha? Well, no dice! You've got way too many weak spots, Hiyori-chan~!"
If the bird could use human speech, it'd probably be saying something to that effect. Or maybe not; there's no way tell for sure. All its squawks sound like chirp chirp chirp. Still, it looks distinctly triumphant as it perches on top of Hiyori's head, his plumage all puffed up with pride.
Defeated, Hiyori gives up on trying to shake the bird off. He lifts his narrowed eyes to look at Kleken. Is it any wonder he's smiling with amusement? Hiyori gripes,]
You can say that again. He startled me so much I almost fell! And then I would've broken a leg or worse.
[He didn't, though, and he hasn't. And he was sort of asking for it. So, after a moment, he sighs and settles on the floor, scooching away from the entrance and sitting against the wall.]
Anyway, this is Hiro-kun. He's red, he has a funny laugh, and he loves to cause mischief and collect casino coins! Isn't that right?
[The bird says nothing in response to this, even though Hiyori would've loved for him to choose now to demonstrate his laugh. Ah well. That's how pets are; they have minds of their own!]
And this fellow here is called Kleken-kun! He brought you some food! Why not say hi? ♪
[The bird does not say "Hi" or anything else for that matter. He does, however, choose that moment to notice the newcomer. His beady bird eyes meet Kleken's, or at least they meet his shades, and his talons quit kneading Hiyori's hair as he goes still and stares. Time for Kleken to make his best impression!]
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Perhaps a petition might be submitted.
[ His smile stays in place as the bird takes a place of pride atop Hiyori's head, studying the puffed up little creature with some curiosity. He can see it, the resemblance to Rinne, not just in personality but in its looks as well. He thinks, anyway. But the personality aspect is spot on, the chattiness, the cockiness, he can see those aspects alive and present in the puffed up little bird. ]
He does seem quite the character.
[ At the introduction, he makes it a point to lift up and off his hat in greeting, his head tilting to meet the beady eyes of the bird with the deep red of his own. First impressions are always important, he's well aware of the fact, and so he goes about putting forward the impression he's intent on any person. ]
[ Whether that's bird-friendly or not, he'll just have to find out for himself. ]
Good day, Hiro-kun. I'm here to bribe you.
[ The bag of food, nearly forgotten by both humans atop this tree house, is brought forward and set between the two of them with a hefty thunk. ]
Would this be enough for your favor?
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[He has zero faith in the staff or the House's willingness to make things more tolerable for them.]
But I'm sure if a King or Queen wanted clouds in their suite, they'd get them. The sky's the limit in terms of what they can ask for.
[He knew one Queen who had an entire snowy village as her suite and another who had a beach villa.
Back to the bird, though. Hiyori can't see Hiro, since Hiro is currently nesting on top of his head (not something he's thrilled about, but whatever). He can see Kleken looking at Hiro, though, and he assumes Hiro must be looking back. What could be going through their minds during this fateful meeting? Is Kleken remembering all his dearly beloved (?) memories of Rinne? And is it possible that some part of Hiro, deep down, might recognize Kleken and feel some echo of Rinne's own feelings?
... look, it's not that far-fetched. He assumes memories don't transfer over, but feelings might. These birds aren't normal birds. They were hatched from magically-appearing eggs! And Eel had an interesting reaction when she met Hiro. Hiro even inherited Rinne's laugh! So despite Rinne being a statue, isn't it possible his feelings for Kleken live on somewhere in this bird?
Those are Hiyori's fanciful thoughts on the matter. In reality, it's hard to tell if any deep thoughts or emotions are circulating in Hiro's brain since he is, after all, a bird. He watches as Kleken tips his hat, showing no reaction at first.
Until Kleken says he's here to bribe him. Then he gives a funny little twitch. Can he understand? Does he speak human?? Hiyori is convinced Hiro can understand him sometimes, but pretends not to understand when it's convenient! But then Kleken presents the bag of birdseed, bigger than any Hiyori and Jun have ever lugged up the treehouse, and there's no mistaking the message there. Hiro sits and stares at it, totally shocked. He twitches again, then again, starting to vibrate with excitement. And then, he squawks. "Chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp!" (ChirpGPT translation: "That's all for ME?!!!")
Then he kicks off Hiyori's head (briefly sinking in his talons while he does so), diving right for that bag. "Chirp chirp!!" he says, which probably means "Woo-hoo! Jackpot!"]
Ow!
[Hiyori rubs the spot where Hiro just kicked off, glaring after him.]
That hurt! And don't forget, you have to share with your siblings!
[Alas, Hiro totally ignores him, cheeping with continued excitement and nosing at the bag of birdseed with his beak. Hina, also drawn by foot, flies over to investigate the bag as well. Hiyori sighs as he watches them.]
Good grief. You'd think I starve him, but I most certainly do not. [But he can't stay mad for long. There's a definite fondness in his eyes as he watches them.] You did get him out of my hair though, so thanks for that. [Said to Kleken.] I guess our next step is making sure he doesn't poke holes in the bag with his beak. Good luck!
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[ Kleken's smile widens a touch at the suggestion that a king or queen might be able to get clouds in their suite, mentally adding it to his own plentiful list of things to try should he ever manage to get himself to that rank. He's still a fair bit off from it at the moment, but it's not an impossible distance now. And though he can't say he's really fond of the idea of riding a cloud himself, he simply has to find out if it's achievable. His curiosity demands it. ]
[ And he can just make Hiyori ride it instead- ]
[ His laughter at the bird's launch into the bag of birdseed sounds as close to genuine as the man can get, especially in comparison to everything else that usually comes out of his mouth. ]
Perhaps he's simply a greedy individual.
[ If his own gaze is a little fond as well, it must just be something in the air. ]
[ His tentacles are moving to open up the top of the bag, allowing for little Hiro to dive in as he pleases before withdrawing as Hina approaches as well. He's not about to try something like petting the eager little bird, not on their first meeting, but he can enjoy the audacity of the little guy, so reminiscent of the man he takes after. ]
There, now he may be as greedy as he likes.
[ Even for birds, Kleken remains a terrible influence and supporter of indulgence. ]
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He sure is! He takes after his dad that way!
[(He takes after both his dads, actually, despite Hiyori's tendency to blame him all on Rinne.)]
And that's exactly why we should—
[Discourage his greed? Teach him some discipline? It's unclear how Hiyori was going to finish, because Kleken chooses that moment to reach for the bag with his tentacles. Not to sweep the bird away from it, but to open the hefty bag and let him into it. A whole huge bag of birdseed! Just open!
As soon as it opens, Hiro's little beady eyes bulge comically wide, like he's never seen such a buffet. And then, squawking with excitement, he proceeds to dives in facefirst. "Thanks, dude! Yer the best!"
Even Hina, well-behaved as she usually is, can't resist the allure of the open bag. She joins Hiro inside it, nudging in next to him. Hiyori, for his part, stares dumbfounded.]
No way...
[He tears his eyes away from the birds and towards, giving him an accusatory stare.]
Kleken-kun, Kleken-kun. I thought that stuff was for the bird feeders, but could it be you're the type who spoils your pets rotten?!
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I've never had a pet before.
[ Technically, it's true. His 'children' as he so affectionately calls his tentacles, are in the end a part of his body and him. Not pets. Splat is... well. He was a gift from the resort for his birthday, and there's some sort of mutual understanding between them regarding their shared space. He can control Splat if he so chose as well, so the little creature was more like... a particularly influenceable roommate. Eel was probably more adjacent to an actual child than anything else, and Baizhu took care of her far more than Kleken did anyway. ]
[ Everything he knew about raising a 'pet' was related to taking care of the twin children in the Istvan Gang and from that he'd learned to just keep giving them food to solve all of their problems. ]
Is there a problem?
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I'm just worried they'll eat too much and make themselves sick. Though I guess that wouldn't be your fault...
[He watches Hiro burrow happily into the birdseed with a disbelieving frown. Still... seeing him and Hina so happy does melt away some of his disapproval. And it's not even just them: to his surprise, a third bird flies into the treehouse, making a beeline for the birdseed as well.]
Ah, you even summoned that one. Impressive!
[This elusive third bird is one Kleken hasn't met before: one with sleek green and purple plumage. It has a refined, dignified look about it and tends to be more aloof. Now, however, it's joining its two siblings in the bag and pecking away.]
Looks like everyone loves your gift. Doesn't that make your heart feel warmed?
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[ That much he's familiar with as well; if given the opportunity, a certain set of twins he knows would eat themselves sick. And since they're the closest thing he has to a pet, they will henceforth be used as his comparison point. ]
Certainly, they'll learn some with age.
[ Surely that's how it all works. Not at all a guess by someone incredibly lacking in knowledge about child development, not to mention general exposure to actual children. ]
[ Thankfully, birds are a bit different from children, even these ones, which is one of the reasons why Kleken doesn't slip away as their number increases. His head cocks though with some interest at the new arrival. Heart warmed? Not quite, but he is finding himself interested in the newest to join the group. Did the little birds have a social hierarchy, or were they all some sort of friends? Or was this the equivalent of a free-for-all? ]
Oh, very much so. Though I must ask who our new guest is.
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[He's a bit biased towards Hina (his perfect daughter with Jun who can do no wrong) rather than Hiro (his problem child who was accidentally born to him and Rinne). But both are helplessly drawn to the birdseed, and so too is another bird: the sleek green and purple one who just joined the others in the bag and began stuffing its elegant beak.]
That's another one of my birds. He's more mysterious and aloof-seeming than the others, so you might not see him as much. But he's kind, well-behaved, and lovely to look at, just like yours truly~♪ And just like his other dad, too, I suppose.
[Him and Vil Schoeinheit, two of the prettiest men in the resort. Is it any wonder such a beautiful offspring would be born to them?]
Once he's done feeding, you can try petting him. He's soft and sleek to the touch! Just don't ruffle his feathers too much, since he absolutely hates that.
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[ As the number of birds grows, Kleken is very suddenly though distantly thankful that Eel is apparently the only creation to have been created with a relation to himself. Splat aside, of course. One is more than enough for a person like himself, who lacks any sort of paternal instinct. He could hardly imagine a life with three. ]
[ It's exactly because they're not his that he shows the high amount of interest he does, in learning more about them and the 'parents' they're born from. ]
I see. So he's a shy beauty then.
[ That's more or less what Hiyori said, isn't it? ]
[ He cocks his head a bit and studies the gathered collection of birds eating away at the birdseed. If he only knew more about the other parents, he'd have a bunch better idea of just how much these little birds reflected of them. Alas, he only had Eel and Hiro as comparison points. ]
Perhaps. I would hate to startle any of them though with my touch.
[ AKA he has no idea how one even goes about petting birds. ]
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You could say that! Unless he has other important commitments that keep him from showing himself, but I don't know what could be more important than receiving love and care from me.
[He's only half-joking. But despite the statement, there's no bitterness as he watches over the three birds. Only love.
As for receiving love and care from Kleken, though...]
True, being suddenly touched by a tentacle is startling! Go ahead, ask how I know!
[Said with a brief reproachful glare. Then he continues:]
But you do have regular hands. And if you approach slowly, you should be able to avoid startling them too badly. I can guide you through it if you want.
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