[Video]

[espigeonage]

All right. 'Surya', look away.

[Julien has mostly avoided video until now, but here he's walking - strutting - with his phone held at around waist level. At a glance it seems like he has a cloak of white feathers on. Really he's sleeveless and has got one wing folded raptor-style against his chest while the one with the phone is held out. His feathers are clean but bedraggled, and he's pulled out enough on his upper arms to show some skin. He's out in a not hugely trafficked area, in the day, and aside from several anxious-looking lookouts there's a scattering of passersby, tending to give him a wide berth and rarely coming up past his chest.]

Beds, cars, doorways, stairs, some tile floors, refrigerators, all kinds of chairs, bathtubs, doorknobs, shoe situations, sleeves, pant legs. Those last two are easier to help. We had a tailor in our number once, right? He went off, but there's others. I went and set an appointment, so me and some friends are going. This isn't quite as reckless as it looks.

[There's a view of the skies and leafless tree branches and pigeons on them before the phone is pointed back at Julien from farther away - he's holding it in his prehensile feathers now. He has a bruise on his forehead, and even though he's smiling, there is a suggestion of defiance and desperation that was rarely seen before.]

So this is me. Julien Sakazaki. I'm back. And, by the way? I know it's not rational, but I'm going to say I'm still human. Humor me, all right?

[This can also be action! Julien's keeping out of very busy areas.]

Comments

[Voice]

[shiromadoushi]

...Fucking hell no wonder you ran away....

The hell are you doing out in daylight you idiot.

[Voice]

[espigeonage]

C'mon, you know me better than to think I'd leave over something that wasn't big.

[Voice]

[shiromadoushi]

[[a small, defensive snort]] People run away for stupidier reasons... [[sulk sulk sulk]]

The hell did you come back for?

[Video]

[charcoalfeather]

[Rakka's on the screen. She's at home and her hat if off, leaving her halo floating in plain view. Her face is oddly pale, but it doesn't seem to be bothering her at the moment.]

You're okay.

[That's basically the only way to start this.]

[Video]

[espigeonage]

I'll be fine.

[He's pulled his wing back in and holds the phone in his remaining fingers again.]

How about you? I'm not happy about that pallor.

[Video]

[charcoalfeather]

It's just...

[She shakes her head lightly, causing it to kind of loll to the side.]

You were leaving... and stuff.

Oh, and this... this is just some flu stuff. It's been a bad month for me.

[Audio]

[professorwolf]

Of course you are still human. And no one should try to tell you otherwise.

[There's a firm fondness to his tone. If a werewolf can still be human, so can a giant bird-man, okay? Plus, he's seen Julien worse off than this video is showing him, so... he's going to be sympathetic, even more.]

Are you all right? No one causing you trouble thus far?

[espigeonage]

Right.

[Julien just took athelas. It helps him feel more energetic and positive about life in general.]

Fine. I called up some of my friends and had them meet me in a park. They're here as backup and scattered around, they'll give me a heads' up if there are police. Of course, if they're undercover anywhere I'm fucked, but I am anyway, so!

We still worried about that? I'm out of the loop.

[professorwolf]

There does not seem to be anyone attempting to arrest us at the moment, no. The police are under investigation by the FBI, so there is that. I'm breathing a little easier, though admittedly not a lot easier just yet. There are still too many things up in the air for me to feel at all settled.

[Voice]

[gobybessie]

You have wings.

[ Huh. ]

[espigeonage]

Yes! It's very dramatic. Also, annoying. If you want to see them better, you've got to buy me lunch or a drink or something.

[Julien hasn't really kept up on the network.]

I don't recognize your voice, by the way! New?

[gobybessie]

No, just changed. We've talked before.

video

[thebalrogslayer]

You're still Julien.

Are you all right? Can I help at all?

[espigeonage]

Galu, Gabe. I never want to be anyone else, even if he is more of a hero.

Are you?

[thebalrogslayer]

If there's anything I've learnt from this, it's that heroism isn't necessarily wise or dangerous. [With a touch of a self deprecating smile.] And it comes in many different forms. [Gentler.]

I'm well as can be. Work has become troublesome, but nothing I can't manage. More importantly, do you have somewhere to stay?

[unelven]

You're an eagle.

[ And so returns the elvish tendency to state the (seemingly) obvious. ]

[espigeonage]

[If this was real-time Julien would have given him such a scowl, but he's able to pause a moment and sound matter of fact and startled.]

No I'm not. Look, these aren't eagle feet. [The video is of one of them, rather far away at the end of his leg. His toes are long, his claws are sharp and curved but not eagley so.]

[unelven]

...No, I suppose they're not.

[ He sighs, rubbing the bridge of his nose. What has his life become? ]

What are you, then? Obviously you're not human.

[audio]

[healspec]

[THANK YOU FOR THE WARNING JULIEN, he appreciates. he is also switching to a means of access with zero risk of visual display, hence replying with audio for once instead of the usual text]

If you give me measurements, I can knit some clothes to fit you.

[he really wants to make the whole "suddenly terrified of seeing you" thing up to him...]

[Voice]

[espigeonage]

[trigger warning: bird monster. Julien takes a minute before responding.]

Uh. Thanks, I guess?

[he's just kind of picturing really ugly knit outfits. okay. okay, other than those and scarves what do people knit. socks and sweaters?]

I can get someone to send you one of my coats so you can see how that's gotta be... like it's not just sleeveless, it's kinda gotta be wrapped. I went and altered some of my things. And it'd be nice to have - I dunno if you could call them socks.

[healspec]

[WOW DON'T SOUND SO ENTHUSED ABOUT IT. you said you needed clothes and he offered to make you clothes, jeez. he knits very well and it is a little offensive that Julien does not seem to think so!!]

[he takes a moment before responding because that is definitely a feeling to keep to himself.]

That would help.

What sort of fasteners would you prefer? [because he didn't get a good look but he's thinking buttons might not be a good option at this point] And what kind of design are you thinking for the socks?

[Video]

[radiantchicken]

Welcome back!

[This is a very happy parrot, Julien.]

If anyone gives you difficulty over saying you're still human, please direct them to me. I will give them a talking-to.

[espigeonage]

...hey. Yeah. I've been back for a while, actually, just uh - haven't touched the Network.

[he was in a much worse state. Athelas is helping.]

Good to see you. You doing all right?

[Voice]

[proudbraveandtall]

[He had something he was going to say when he heard that voice again, but... there's other concerns that top that, at first. Julien may or may not recognize the voice; he hasn't been very vocal on the network at all.]

What happened to you?

[espigeonage]

[Rueful] I fell off a roof. That was enough for all this, apparently. [The video is of his clawed, almost handlike bird feet. He holds one off the ground, makes an almost-fist, and relaxes it again.] Well, I'd never fallen more than like six feet before.

[Julien is good with people, voices, etc.]

It was... huh, I don't think I got your name?