mingle post? mingle post. MINGLE POST!!

[carreau]

Who: you
Broadcast: if you want
Action: also if you want
When: right. goddamn. now.

[ It's a mingle post. IN SPACE.

Just comment and tag around. ]

Comments

[aberrant_type]

[She takes her hand out, transfers the last little bit of feed, and puts her hand back in... the goodies are gone in no time, and the birds sort of crowd around to stare at her more.

... When nothing happens they disperse a little. She holds up her hand so Nel can see: no blood.]

There, you see?

[catamite]

Doesn't it hurt when they bite you?

[because boy he's sure they must have pinched her at least a couple times]

[aberrant_type]

It pinches a bit for a few seconds... but it hurts more to get a shot, kiddo! [She smiles.] You wanna give it a shot?

[catamite]

[that just makes him seem more nervous! but he's lacking the backbone needed to either retreat, or take that last, important step forward. he eyes the birds, all nervous and excited indecision.]

I don't know...

[aberrant_type]

C'mon, give it a try. [She holds her own hand out to him. Looks fine!]

See? You can pull your hand out if you feel too scared.

[catamite]

Okay...

[and boy he doesn't seem sure about this. and the way he starts to put his hand into the enclosure is just as tentative. which could be bad news--his hand isn't completely flat out, and he looks like he's going to snatch it back as soon as one goes for him.

he's totally going to get his fingers bitten at this rate.]

[aberrant_type]

[Hm.]

One second, kiddo...

[She will just take him by the elbow and draw his arm back.]

Make your hand flat. Like mine, see? [And she holds her own hand up in a more appropriate posture.]

Copy me.

[catamite]

[oh, yes... direct, demonstrative instruction seems to be the trick. he stops everything else he was doing in order to really look at what she's doing and copy it.

okay, this part he can do.]

[aberrant_type]

Good! Just like that.

[She gives him a pat on the back, modified from its usual thumpy force so as not to knock him right over.]

Now you try.

[catamite]

[he nods, a little. not looking too much more confident than before, but at least not on the verge of collapsing at the slightest startlement and having his hand pecked off.

he at least focuses on keeping his hand super-flat as he hesitantly sticks his arm through the fence again...]

[aberrant_type]

[There's a second of peace... and then one bird takes notice of the preferred grain and darts its head to peck some off his palm. Then another and then in an instant there are three birds practically slurping food off his hand, pecking enthusiastically. Sometimes it pinches some and makes the skin feel tender but it's not shockingly painful or anything. Hange speaks up enthusiastically.]

Good job, kiddo!

[catamite]

Aaah... aaaaaaaah...

[it's taking every once of what little willpower he has to keep his arm in that fence. and as it is, he still flinches and curls his fingers, and is really risking some fingers being painfully nabbed. but he can't help it.

he's trying, conflicted between fascination and terror, with just this constant uttering of wordless stress-sounds.]

--Aaah!

[aberrant_type]

[She keeps an eye on his hand and after letting this go on a few seconds more she reaches and takes hold of his shirt collar, scruffing him back. You're safe, Nel.]

Brave job, kiddo! [With sincerity. She thumps him on the back again.]

See? You did it.

[catamite]

[he's got that excited, nervous laughter of a child who has just lived through something scary and can't decide how they feel about it. both terrifying and a wonderful rush.

also rubbing his hands together compulsively--to clean off the dust and the feeling of enormous beaks pecking away at his palms.]

Wow... they're really strong!

[aberrant_type]

I guess they'd have to be, since they're big!

[She claps him on the shoulder and then drops her hand.]

It was fun, right?

[catamite]

[the claps and thumps still make him flinch a little, but he's too distracted by being recently assaulted by giant birds to care very much]

Yeah! ...Still scary, though.

[aberrant_type]

Well, you did it. Good job.

[And she's about ready to leave him be now; that's probably enough action for his little heart.]

[catamite]

Thanks. I can't wait to tell Robin!

[and he's totally ready to flounce off with his brave deed now completed, proudly wearing his boa like a feathery trophy.]

[aberrant_type]

[Ah, he knows Robin. Well, streams are bound to cross, in their little traveling community, so she just makes a note of it. Now she knows.]

Have fun, kiddo! See you around.