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[13thcommander]

"Hello, this is Erwin Smith. I'm unavailable at the moment; please leave a message and I will contact you as soon as I'm able."


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Sure, let's go with that.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Erwin can hardly be blamed for having taste, or common sense, in Cassandra's mind. After all, a dull blade was a useless blade. One of those wasn't going to save you if someone kicked in the front door. Plus, they were selling sharpening blocks a week back and, hey, a deal is a deal.]

Some little flying toy shaped like a bird. They have them down at the big indoor market.

[Rolling her shoulders. Who was she to care when she had a real, living bird friend?]

Falco was looking at it.

[13thcommander]

[The more sharp knives they have around the place, the better, as far as Erwin is concerned. While the whole husband-wife thing still feels rather odd, at least he and Cassandra are on the same page about most things, including their complete disinterest in sharing a marital bed.]

Oh? Did he mention it to you?

[They also, apparently, share a concern for their sudden son, and Erwin sets his coffee mug down.]

The boy has never seemed very interested in toys.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[You can never have enough knives!! So says Cassandra.]

He did, yeah.

[They most definitely were not a typical couple... or really, a couple at all. Just the idea of having a husband still felt strange to Cass... Not particularly helped by the fact that Erwin shared the same age-range as her father. But they had a clear understanding, and the same interests in mind.

Interests that seemed to include their new son.]

Seemed pretty interested in that one. He went to look at it himself and everything. Not sure why you'd want something fake like that when I've got my own little flying buddy.

[Owl, who only occasionally chose to stay indoors with the family. There was a joke here, somewhere, about Falco getting his mother's love of birds.]

[13thcommander]

[Roommates would be a more accurate term for them, really. But they get along well enough, and are able to play the part of spouses for the town's various get-togethers, so it works out.]

Ah yes, Owl.

[Whose introduction to the family had startled Erwin terribly, the first time he flew into the house like he owned the place. It's fortunate for all of them that Cassandra had been home, and able to explain the sudden presence of a bird in the kitchen.]

Does Owl spend any time with Falco? He only seems interested in being around you.

[Or maybe that's just Erwin's bias, as he still views Owl with suspicion.]

[OOC: I'm just having fun imagining Erwin fending off an owl with a coffee cup while wearing his slippers and bathrobe; if you think their first meeting would have gone differently, please let me know and I'll change this.]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Sorry, Erwin!!! She would have tried to get back home sooner if she'd know that Owl would just pop in unannounced to an empty house, save for the one person she hadn't told about Owl yet.]

Yup.

[The lightest of smirks graces Cassandra's lips. It doesn't matter who you are, watching a man fend off a bird of prey in his slippers and with a coup of coffee in his hand was just... It was really funny.]

He spends a little time with him. Don't worry, Owl's harmless! And he wouldn't let anything happen to the little guy.

[13thcommander]

[Because Erwin is a gentleman, he's going to ignore that smirk. That, and because it had been pretty funny, now that he can look back on it without the sudden panic of having a bird of prey in the kitchen.]

That's good, I suppose. After recent events, the child can use all the watchful eyes on him that he can get.

[Falco's tough, but there has to be a limit!]

Anyway, this wham-o-bird. Do you think he'd like it if we got him one?

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Good thing for him that Owl was only a cold, dead-eyed bird of prey towards things he didn't like. Erwin and Falco, and Levi by association, were all safe from him and his owner's wrath.]

He won't attack anyone unless I say so... Or if he thinks it's a good idea.

[He's his own bird! But Cass digresses.]

I... think it wouldn't hurt, right? I'm not much for toys. [Or a childhood in general.] But I guess if it makes him happy...?

[13thcommander]

Some of the aristocrats back home had trained falcons they used for hunting. They never seemed very happy with their lot in life. It's good that Owl has more autonomy.

[Erwin Smith: animal rights activist.]

I'd imagine not? The boy could use a little more happiness in his life these days.

What's the cost of this wham-o-bird? I can pick one up on my way home from work.

[feudalladyshandmaid]

It costs more than what he's got, that's for sure.

[She wasn't close enough to actually count how much Falco had saved up, but judging from his reaction, it wasn't meant to be.]

But you're right. He deserves a little happiness every now and then... we all do.

[She digs into her pockets, scrounging for - aha, a small number of bills. Not enough, probably. But a decent chunk of it. She sets them out on the table.]

Here. This'll help.

[13thcommander]

Thank you.

[Erwin doesn't need to take Cassandra's money, but he knows her pride will be hurt if he refuses it. He makes a mental note to pick up groceries on the way home as well, so she doesn't have to.]

Is there anything else you need, while I'm in town?

[feudalladyshandmaid]

I'm pretty sure I've got everything I need here.

[She's not one to complain either.]

Ah... But, if you can get some bird seed? For Owl, I mean.