[ 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.
[ And though there's a solemn tone to his voice, as if voicing the opinion in earnest, he does not have the slightest idea of what might go on inside of a bird's mind, nor does he ever attempt to. Mostly he just wants to avoid being seen as a food target by them, especially after a particularly traumatic experience when the resort had those seagull lifeguards around. Generous bribery with seed has seemed to work wonders in that regard so far, and he rather hopes it continues to should he find his way back here again. ]
[ He smiles innocently at the glare he's tossed, choosing to remain silent as Hiyori continues on so he can pretend entirely that he has no idea how the other man might know how startling a sudden tentacle touch might be. In fact, he moves onto the next part of the conversation just as Hiyori does, with a seemingly eager and interested smile. ]
I guess that could be it. I don't have the faintest idea whether Vil-kun is the type to shy away from love, so it's hard to say for sure.
[Rinne, on the other hand, is definitely the type to get awkward about mushy stuff. Hiyori's seen it firsthand. And it seems he passed that quality onto his offspring, hence why Hiro got extremely flustered when Baizhu planted a kiss on his feathery head...
But back to the issue at hand. Kleken is willing to be taught how to interact with the birds safely, and Hiyori couldn't be happier about it! He smiles and chimes:]
Great, then let's get to it!
[There is an issue here, though. Hiyori looks down at the birds, all three of them busy gorging themselves.]
But first, we'll either need to hide their food away or else distract them. And the first one seems a bit cruel, so I'll aim for the second!
[How does he get his bird's attention? There are a few ways he can think of. They each have their own interests, such as Hiro's shiny coin fixation. But one thing they have in common: they like his singing!]
♪~♪~♪
[Without any preamble, he bursts into song. He chooses Brand New Stars! A few moments of singing at top volume, and the birds start to react, peeking their little still-munching heads out of the bag. Seeing this, Hiyori smiles at Kleken in triumph.]
Works like a charm! ♪ Anyway, first you'll want to extend a hand. That'll show them you're friendly, and it'll give them a perch to land on.
[ Rinne's not the only one there, which is rather ironic given Kleken's penchant for romantic actions. Because as much as he craved and indulged in romantic actions himself, the idea of actually involving himself in a romantic relationship was enough to make him want to throw himself into the deepest ocean. And not in the romantic sort of way. ]
[ Kleken's gaze lands on the hungry little birds once more in study, as if he could tell from basic visuals whether one of them might be shy when it comes to affections or not. Of course, it's rather impossible to tell for someone like him, unversed in the way of these unique species of bird, but he likes to think that perhaps it might become obvious. Like a neon sign over their heads or something of the like. ]
I could take care of-
[ He had been about to make a vague little suggestion and try illusioning away the food, for all the good it may do when they're already tucked into it, but then Hiyori promptly bursts into song. Loud and startling enough that his tentacles all twitch for a moment, a subtle physical reaction of his surprise in addition to his glance over. ]
[ Well. The man's a good singer, that much one could say. Impromptu as it was, and someone without a very keen ear for this type of music, he can appreciate a nice voice and the other does have that. Enough so that Kleken offers a smile in return once he recomposes himself. ]
What a lovely charm that was too. It's rather easy to see why they were so distracted.
[ With the compliment paid, he looks back toward the row of heads peering back at them, holding out his hand with a palm up as directed. He looks more like someone offering another a bad deal than warm and friendly... ]
After delivering a mountain of food to the birds, Kleken has surely made a wonderful impression. Despite this, the birds merely blink at his outstretched hand. Something about the way he offers it seems to vex them, and Hiro lets out a squawk to that effect. "You okay, bro?" Hiyori merely shrugs, though, not seeming to regard this as an insurmountable failure.]
That's what I meant, but I guess you are still new to them. So, allow me to act as your middleman!
[He steps up to the open bag of birdseed and extends a hand of his own. Eyeing Hina warmly, he coaxes her with a sweet voice.]
Here, my lovely little birdie~♪
[Hina takes a moment to finish chewing, then hops out of the bag and into his waiting hand. Hiyori pets the top of her feathery head with two fingers.]
That's a good girl. Now let's go give thanks to Kleken-kun, who brought you such a generous gift! And we both know how important it is to say thanks, right? ♪
[Whether or not the tubby blue and green bird understands is somewhat unclear. But Hiyori starts to travel over, still carrying her in his palm. As her owner stands face-to-face with Kleken, Hina's gaze shifts to Kleken's outstretched palm. She's considering it, and him! ... probably!]
Now you should try enticing her in a sweet voice. You do lots of business, so you must be good at that, right?
[ He most certainly has done business, with individuals holding bird-like features even, but business with an actual bird was an altogether new thing. He can't read the facial nor body expressions of a bird, not very accurately anyway, and so he's left unsure in his approach. A rare place for him to be normally, but the resort was apparently intent on making it a much more common occurrence with each passing day. ]
[ He'd certainly never expected himself to be trying to win the favor of birds via bribery someday. ]
[ Hiyori had given him advice though, and so he puts on his default business smile. Which is about as untrustworthy as the rest of him is. At least his voice is a pleasant and soothing one by default as well. The words, on the other hand, usually weren't. ]
It's a pleasure to meet you, lovely Miss Hina. I do hope we'll get along.
[ There's a trace of a question in that last word, prompting out of habit though he has no idea how the bird might actually respond to such. ]
[It's hard to tell what's going on in Hina's little bird brain as she regards the octoman. Is she sizing him up? Assessing whether or not he's trustworthy?
Probably not. She is, after all, a sweet little pet bird, and in Hiyori's experience, pets tend to be easy to win over as long as you feed them, approach them gently, and act friendly. So far at least, Kleken is three for three.
A moment passes without any commentary from the birds or from Hiyori. He pets Hina soothingly some more and waits. Until finally, she gives a short chirp. Is it a good chirp? A bad chirp?? Her owner weighs in!]
She said, "It's nice to meet you too!" ♪
[Said with a triumphant smile.]
Or I think that's what she said. I don't know for absolute certain, but I can tell she's relaxed and in a good mood. So it was either that, or "Thank you for the food!"
[From her perch on his palm, Hina's still looking at Kleken. Given how comfortable she seems, Hiyori decides:]
If you want, you can try petting her. She prefers being touched on the head instead of her wings or back though, so just be mindful of that.
[ Given that the conman can barely tell the little chirps of the bird apart, Hiyori's interpretations are a welcome avenue of communication that Kleken nods along to as he receives. If Hiyori's translations seemed to have a certain favorable interpretation to them, well that was all for the better. ]
Both are welcome responses, if they mean she's pleased by the presence of my gift.
[ A generosity that had been prompted purely by the thought of Hiyori's reaction to his overzealous offering. ]
[ A generosity he didn't think would be rewarded with the offer to pet such a small and delicate creature, an action that somehow seems far more daunting than any other so far. Maybe he can most subtly and without insult navigate around this... ]
Oh, wouldn't that be far too bold of me to do on our first meeting?
[He smiles at the question. It's obvious Kleken is hesitant, but it has nothing to do with Hina herself, right? The world of pet care is new to him!]
You can be surprisingly shy at times, huh?
[A gentle tease. He strokes Hina's soft plumage with feather-light touches, purposefully demonstrating the proper technique in case Kleken decides he wants to try after all, but he won't force the issue.]
I'd say bringing an entire bag of food for them to eat is already "bold." But I won't expect more than what you're comfortable with. Giving love from a distance is fine, too~♪
By the way [he jerks a thumb at Hiro], did you know Baizhu-san planted a kiss on his head once? He got sooo adorably embarrassed!
[This triggers a round of squawking from Hiro ("Oi, oi, why're you tellin' him about that?!"), to which Hiyori laughs.]
[ The lie that's also true is offered quickly and said so dismissively that it's clear he's aiming for it to be understood as a lie. It helps in managing people's expectations of him more easily, anyway. If people think he's extroverted, it's easier for him to lean into the role, without anyone any the wiser that he only does well in one-to-one situations. ]
[ Overly complicated internal logic aside, he watches the way Hiyori handles Hina, inwardly taking notes on the gentleness of the action and the placement of his finger. Perhaps in private, he might try this for himself, but showing failure in front of others isn't something he's particularly keen on doing. Ever. ]
Love from a distance sounds quite comfortable.
[ A comfortable presence nearby... now that would be the ideal. ]
[ His gaze glances toward Hiro, letting his brow raise in amusement as Hiyori shares that little piece of gossip with him. ]
Oh? Is he fond of the doctor then? I hadn't known birds could be embarrassed, so it must have been quite surprising.
[You know what they say. Refuge in audacity. Thankfully Hiyori doesn't call Kleken on his double bluff. He will, however, compare him to a puppy!]
There's nothing wrong with that, per se. It is possible to become less shy, though. Like Mary! She's the adorable puppy Jun-kun and I brought home. She was deeply wary of other people at first, but with time, she's warmed up to others~♪
[But back to the bird world. Not to get too depressing, but if Kleken could mimic the way Hiyori stroked Hina after Hiyori leaves, well... he'd appreciate it greatly. She probably would, too.
He gives a satisfied hum when Kleken uses the word "love." Even if it's at a distance, he's glad to see Kleken showing love for his adorable bird children. And speaking of showing love to birds, he's all too happy to share the gossip about Baizhu and Hiro (regardless of how Hiro feels).]
It caught him by surprise, alright! I wondered if it might have something to do with Rinne-senpai's thoughts on kisses. Rinne-senpai had this idea about saving himself for marriage, after all.
[Hiro continues to squawk, sounding highly disgruntled, but Hiyori ignores him and keeps going!]
I wouldn't have thought birds had much concept of marriage. But if my birds ever did want to get married, I'd gladly fork over the money for a wedding! And the wedding singers would be— hey! Stooop!
[His arms raise futilely in self-defense as Hiro flies over and attempts to makes a nest of his head again, pulling on his hair with his talons. That's what he gets for embarrassing him!]
Perhaps I shall have the same emotional journey as her some day.
[ He heavily doubts as much, but it's quite amusing to pretend for just a moment that he might embark on the same emotional journey as a puppy. Or rather, to try and convince someone else that he might. Though he's rather sure Hiyori's too sharp to believe such a fantastical lie. ]
[ Rinne's thoughts on marriage delivered to him through Hiyori certainly answers some questions he'd thought to himself about the man and the ways they'd entangled with one another at the resort. At the same time, it left him with so many more. And unfortunately, those questions would likely remain unanswered in a way he'd rather not linger on. ]
My, what a grand wedding that sounds like it would be. I do hope I'll be lucky enough to garner an invitation.
[ As expected, Kleken doesn't do a thing to intercept the attack on the idol. Rather, it's while Hiyori falls under attack by Hiro that he shifts his gaze to Hina, cocking a brow and giving a small motion for her to come over to him and away from the madness of squabbling bird and man. Hopefully, while the others aren't paying attention, he can practice the gentle petting that he'd been shown earlier, just for a moment. ]
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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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[ And though there's a solemn tone to his voice, as if voicing the opinion in earnest, he does not have the slightest idea of what might go on inside of a bird's mind, nor does he ever attempt to. Mostly he just wants to avoid being seen as a food target by them, especially after a particularly traumatic experience when the resort had those seagull lifeguards around. Generous bribery with seed has seemed to work wonders in that regard so far, and he rather hopes it continues to should he find his way back here again. ]
[ He smiles innocently at the glare he's tossed, choosing to remain silent as Hiyori continues on so he can pretend entirely that he has no idea how the other man might know how startling a sudden tentacle touch might be. In fact, he moves onto the next part of the conversation just as Hiyori does, with a seemingly eager and interested smile. ]
Your guidance would be most appreciated.
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[Rinne, on the other hand, is definitely the type to get awkward about mushy stuff. Hiyori's seen it firsthand. And it seems he passed that quality onto his offspring, hence why Hiro got extremely flustered when Baizhu planted a kiss on his feathery head...
But back to the issue at hand. Kleken is willing to be taught how to interact with the birds safely, and Hiyori couldn't be happier about it! He smiles and chimes:]
Great, then let's get to it!
[There is an issue here, though. Hiyori looks down at the birds, all three of them busy gorging themselves.]
But first, we'll either need to hide their food away or else distract them. And the first one seems a bit cruel, so I'll aim for the second!
[How does he get his bird's attention? There are a few ways he can think of. They each have their own interests, such as Hiro's shiny coin fixation. But one thing they have in common: they like his singing!]
♪~♪~♪
[Without any preamble, he bursts into song. He chooses Brand New Stars! A few moments of singing at top volume, and the birds start to react, peeking their little still-munching heads out of the bag. Seeing this, Hiyori smiles at Kleken in triumph.]
Works like a charm! ♪ Anyway, first you'll want to extend a hand. That'll show them you're friendly, and it'll give them a perch to land on.
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[ Kleken's gaze lands on the hungry little birds once more in study, as if he could tell from basic visuals whether one of them might be shy when it comes to affections or not. Of course, it's rather impossible to tell for someone like him, unversed in the way of these unique species of bird, but he likes to think that perhaps it might become obvious. Like a neon sign over their heads or something of the like. ]
I could take care of-
[ He had been about to make a vague little suggestion and try illusioning away the food, for all the good it may do when they're already tucked into it, but then Hiyori promptly bursts into song. Loud and startling enough that his tentacles all twitch for a moment, a subtle physical reaction of his surprise in addition to his glance over. ]
[ Well. The man's a good singer, that much one could say. Impromptu as it was, and someone without a very keen ear for this type of music, he can appreciate a nice voice and the other does have that. Enough so that Kleken offers a smile in return once he recomposes himself. ]
What a lovely charm that was too. It's rather easy to see why they were so distracted.
[ With the compliment paid, he looks back toward the row of heads peering back at them, holding out his hand with a palm up as directed. He looks more like someone offering another a bad deal than warm and friendly... ]
Like so?
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[He graciously accepts the compliment.
After delivering a mountain of food to the birds, Kleken has surely made a wonderful impression. Despite this, the birds merely blink at his outstretched hand. Something about the way he offers it seems to vex them, and Hiro lets out a squawk to that effect. "You okay, bro?" Hiyori merely shrugs, though, not seeming to regard this as an insurmountable failure.]
That's what I meant, but I guess you are still new to them. So, allow me to act as your middleman!
[He steps up to the open bag of birdseed and extends a hand of his own. Eyeing Hina warmly, he coaxes her with a sweet voice.]
Here, my lovely little birdie~♪
[Hina takes a moment to finish chewing, then hops out of the bag and into his waiting hand. Hiyori pets the top of her feathery head with two fingers.]
That's a good girl. Now let's go give thanks to Kleken-kun, who brought you such a generous gift! And we both know how important it is to say thanks, right? ♪
[Whether or not the tubby blue and green bird understands is somewhat unclear. But Hiyori starts to travel over, still carrying her in his palm. As her owner stands face-to-face with Kleken, Hina's gaze shifts to Kleken's outstretched palm. She's considering it, and him! ... probably!]
Now you should try enticing her in a sweet voice. You do lots of business, so you must be good at that, right?
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[ He most certainly has done business, with individuals holding bird-like features even, but business with an actual bird was an altogether new thing. He can't read the facial nor body expressions of a bird, not very accurately anyway, and so he's left unsure in his approach. A rare place for him to be normally, but the resort was apparently intent on making it a much more common occurrence with each passing day. ]
[ He'd certainly never expected himself to be trying to win the favor of birds via bribery someday. ]
[ Hiyori had given him advice though, and so he puts on his default business smile. Which is about as untrustworthy as the rest of him is. At least his voice is a pleasant and soothing one by default as well. The words, on the other hand, usually weren't. ]
It's a pleasure to meet you, lovely Miss Hina. I do hope we'll get along.
[ There's a trace of a question in that last word, prompting out of habit though he has no idea how the bird might actually respond to such. ]
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Probably not. She is, after all, a sweet little pet bird, and in Hiyori's experience, pets tend to be easy to win over as long as you feed them, approach them gently, and act friendly. So far at least, Kleken is three for three.
A moment passes without any commentary from the birds or from Hiyori. He pets Hina soothingly some more and waits. Until finally, she gives a short chirp. Is it a good chirp? A bad chirp?? Her owner weighs in!]
She said, "It's nice to meet you too!" ♪
[Said with a triumphant smile.]
Or I think that's what she said. I don't know for absolute certain, but I can tell she's relaxed and in a good mood. So it was either that, or "Thank you for the food!"
[From her perch on his palm, Hina's still looking at Kleken. Given how comfortable she seems, Hiyori decides:]
If you want, you can try petting her. She prefers being touched on the head instead of her wings or back though, so just be mindful of that.
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Both are welcome responses, if they mean she's pleased by the presence of my gift.
[ A generosity that had been prompted purely by the thought of Hiyori's reaction to his overzealous offering. ]
[ A generosity he didn't think would be rewarded with the offer to pet such a small and delicate creature, an action that somehow seems far more daunting than any other so far. Maybe he can most subtly and without insult navigate around this... ]
Oh, wouldn't that be far too bold of me to do on our first meeting?
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You can be surprisingly shy at times, huh?
[A gentle tease. He strokes Hina's soft plumage with feather-light touches, purposefully demonstrating the proper technique in case Kleken decides he wants to try after all, but he won't force the issue.]
I'd say bringing an entire bag of food for them to eat is already "bold." But I won't expect more than what you're comfortable with. Giving love from a distance is fine, too~♪
By the way [he jerks a thumb at Hiro], did you know Baizhu-san planted a kiss on his head once? He got sooo adorably embarrassed!
[This triggers a round of squawking from Hiro ("Oi, oi, why're you tellin' him about that?!"), to which Hiyori laughs.]
See? Like that!
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[ The lie that's also true is offered quickly and said so dismissively that it's clear he's aiming for it to be understood as a lie. It helps in managing people's expectations of him more easily, anyway. If people think he's extroverted, it's easier for him to lean into the role, without anyone any the wiser that he only does well in one-to-one situations. ]
[ Overly complicated internal logic aside, he watches the way Hiyori handles Hina, inwardly taking notes on the gentleness of the action and the placement of his finger. Perhaps in private, he might try this for himself, but showing failure in front of others isn't something he's particularly keen on doing. Ever. ]
Love from a distance sounds quite comfortable.
[ A comfortable presence nearby... now that would be the ideal. ]
[ His gaze glances toward Hiro, letting his brow raise in amusement as Hiyori shares that little piece of gossip with him. ]
Oh? Is he fond of the doctor then? I hadn't known birds could be embarrassed, so it must have been quite surprising.
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There's nothing wrong with that, per se. It is possible to become less shy, though. Like Mary! She's the adorable puppy Jun-kun and I brought home. She was deeply wary of other people at first, but with time, she's warmed up to others~♪
[But back to the bird world. Not to get too depressing, but if Kleken could mimic the way Hiyori stroked Hina after Hiyori leaves, well... he'd appreciate it greatly. She probably would, too.
He gives a satisfied hum when Kleken uses the word "love." Even if it's at a distance, he's glad to see Kleken showing love for his adorable bird children. And speaking of showing love to birds, he's all too happy to share the gossip about Baizhu and Hiro (regardless of how Hiro feels).]
It caught him by surprise, alright! I wondered if it might have something to do with Rinne-senpai's thoughts on kisses. Rinne-senpai had this idea about saving himself for marriage, after all.
[Hiro continues to squawk, sounding highly disgruntled, but Hiyori ignores him and keeps going!]
I wouldn't have thought birds had much concept of marriage. But if my birds ever did want to get married, I'd gladly fork over the money for a wedding! And the wedding singers would be— hey! Stooop!
[His arms raise futilely in self-defense as Hiro flies over and attempts to makes a nest of his head again, pulling on his hair with his talons. That's what he gets for embarrassing him!]
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[ He heavily doubts as much, but it's quite amusing to pretend for just a moment that he might embark on the same emotional journey as a puppy. Or rather, to try and convince someone else that he might. Though he's rather sure Hiyori's too sharp to believe such a fantastical lie. ]
[ Rinne's thoughts on marriage delivered to him through Hiyori certainly answers some questions he'd thought to himself about the man and the ways they'd entangled with one another at the resort. At the same time, it left him with so many more. And unfortunately, those questions would likely remain unanswered in a way he'd rather not linger on. ]
My, what a grand wedding that sounds like it would be. I do hope I'll be lucky enough to garner an invitation.
[ As expected, Kleken doesn't do a thing to intercept the attack on the idol. Rather, it's while Hiyori falls under attack by Hiro that he shifts his gaze to Hina, cocking a brow and giving a small motion for her to come over to him and away from the madness of squabbling bird and man. Hopefully, while the others aren't paying attention, he can practice the gentle petting that he'd been shown earlier, just for a moment. ]
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