fierybluebird | [video] Back with the chocobos / All the jokes

[In a scene that might be familiar to some, Marco is back in the barn, with five baby chocobo. Not quite so baby now, he might be able to fit one of them in a bag on his back, but not all of them. He can't even fit them all under one wing, but that's all right, the others he's dealing with in different ways. It might not be immediately obvious, but the loss of Ace is hitting him hard. Normally he'd go into a rage to kill things, but he doesn't seem to feel it's worth it.]

Ace's name is up on the memorial wall. He might come back... I hope so.

[There's a much too long pause in which he looks a world away and scoops up a chocobo fitted with a Spade collar.]

Ah so how about some bird jokes, eh?

You've probably all heard this one: Why did the chicken cross the road?
To get to the other side.
Why didn't the turkey cross the road?
He didn't want to be a chicken.
Why did the ducks cross the road?
To prove they could do it better than the chicken.
Why did the chicken cross the road twice?
It was a double-crosser.
Why did the rooster cross the road?
To prove he wasn't a chicken.

A phoenix walks into a bar filled with a bunch of turkeys. He gives them a polite nod and then buys everyone a round of drinks. They crowd around their new friend and offer some peanuts. "Gobble gobble gobble?" they suggest. "No thanks," he politely declines, "I'm allergic." They offer him pretzels. "Gobble gobble gobble?" He takes a few of those and they continue on for hours. Eventually they run out, and just as he was about to leave, they look him up and down and ask, "Gobble gobble gobble?" He gives them a horrified look and explains, "No way! I'm not into that!"

Why did the marines arrest the turkey?
They brought it on suspicion of fowl play!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Maybe energizing jokes just aren't really energizing enough for me right now.

One of those days, eh.

Yeah. I don't know, everything is just so annoyingly tiring today. ... Or more so than usual, I guess.

Would a nap help?

Maybe a few naps. Or, you know, I feel like I could just sleep forever right now, with how tired I am.

Yikes... that's pretty extreme, eh?

Sounds like it.

[ a slight mew. ]

... Bern-chan keeps harassing me too, even when I'm trying to nap here.

Really? That's strange. Any idea why?

I think she's just trying to annoy me for amusement or whatever. Even if she's just a cat.

Maybe something smells off to them.

Well, if she thinks I smell like food or whatever, she's going to end up disappointed.

More like sensitive to changes. Emotions tend to smell strongly to a lot more animals. All the hormones and chemicals leaking.

... Huh, really.. [ there's a pause, but then she yawns so she quickly speaks on again. ] Didn't expect a lesson on animals here, but I guess you're probably right. Don't know what changed about me so much other than being ridiculously tired, tohugh.

It could be that. Maybe she's trying to help perk you up, eh.

I don't know if this creature is really that helpful.

You never know. Pets don't usually see themselves as belongings, eh. Just as friends.

With Bern-chan, I always more get the feeling she's trying to be my owner instead of my pet ... Or instead of my friend.

I have heard that of cats. That's probably because they don't have a pack or flock mentality like birds or dogs. Dogs can see humans as pack leaders or at least pack members, birds often see humans as replacement soulmates if they don't have one, or as family and community if they do. Either way, the only times adult cats stay with other cats in the wild is if they're the parent.

[ she's quiet for a moment, as if she didn't know that yet and is thinking it over. ]

... Huh, so they see us like that since they usually live alone.

Yes. And it's worse for tomcats since they don't stick around even for that much. Male birds, conversely, are usually the ones who try harder to attract mates so they're more likely to be over the top in --

[.... Waiiiit a minute. No, he's not telling you his birdie secrets. Even if it is a day for bird jokes.] In ah... their associations with other people.

[ besides her exhaustion, there might be a faint - but somewhat friendly - amused sound. ]

It's supposed to be funny since you're a bird too and all that, right?

[Yay... it's working! Accidentally...]

I would hope I don't display such tendencies when romancing someone. [All the deadpan ever, and a far far away distant look as though this next part is purely accidental and he never meant to say it out loud.] Though that would explain why Rosalita never returned my calls.

[Whistles sweetly to himself and then switches into a phoenix and struts about before switching back with a seemingly contented grin.] Hah. All the lady phoenixes would go for it. How could they resist? [Except that he knows no lady phoenixes, oh and he's dating a male country. OH WELL.]

[ oh no, Marco, you're actually amusing her a little.. even if she isn't downright laughing (Ange and laughing don't go well together) she seems amused. Not to mention she apparently actually seems comfortable enough around him to let herself be seen like this. ]

Ah, yeah, that's right. You're probably a true lady killer in the phoenix world.

[Puffs up his chest ... and crows like a rooster phoenix. ~~I hate him.~~]

Absolutely. I'd be the best egg-warmer ever. [Okay. The chocobo are officially staring at him now. Yes, even chocobo are now judging him. Good job Marco.] And nest provider. After all, I can get real blankets and things.

Although with the flames I guess that's redundant. [derp.]