[Video]

[radiantchicken]

[The video feed opens, and there's Torin with a large blue and yellow parrot perched on his shoulder. The parrot's busily preening the side of Torin's head, and Torin doesn't seem to mind.]

I believe it might be a bit redundant at this point to warn you all to be careful in these dangerous days. It's a pity, what with the holiday season. It's my understanding that this time of year is very important, idealized times...at least, that's what all the movies I'm seeing on TV lately are saying. At any rate, I do like the sentiment--and the bright lights that accompany it.

In the interest of doing something productive with my free time, and, perhaps, that sentimental aspect of the season, I've started taking in abandoned parrots who need good homes. I'd like to ask that anyone who learns of such a parrot to inform me, and I will do my best to ensure that they're taken care of.

The three I have already will be coming along with me to roost at Espresso Yourself while I'm working. They should liven up the place a bit. Especially Pedro.

[As if on cue, somewhere off-camera, a parrot starts shrieking "REDRUM! REDRUM!" Torin sighs and reaches off-camera, and when his hand's back in the shot, there's a grey parrot perched on it.]

Pedro's old owner was a fan of horror movies, apparently. I've been trying to expose him to other things, but it seems The Shining is still his favorite.

[At the sound of the movie title, Pedro starts squawking at Torin, and he doesn't show any sign of quieting down, until Torin starts squawking right back at him. Torin chuckles once the bird settles down.]

They're well-mannered enough if you know how to handle them. It's a shame they were abandoned, but they're in good hands now.

Comments

[Audio]

[dead_black_eyes]

[L sounds horribly hoarse, but notably tries not to. It's been a couple days since he's been seen at Espresso Yourself or the school, and he's been meaning to contact Torin just to check on things.]

You went ahead with it, then. I'm really glad.

[Audio]

[radiantchicken]

I think it will be very rewarding.

[And he carefully places the smaller grey parrot on his shoulder, where it seems to enjoy trying to figure out what's got Torin's attention. This parrot isn't numbered, can't see the network, and thinks the big bird is just being weird. The blue one just keeps right on preening Torin.]

They seem to like me, and I think they're adjusting well.

[And, of course, there's the matter of L's absence to address.]

How are you feeling?

[Audio]

[dead_black_eyes]

[L wants to change to video to continue to see the birds, but that would mean showing his own face, which is currently a glaring indicator of ill health. Better to keep it to sound only until he looks a little better.]

Is that so? I can't imagine them not liking you, but the ore quickly they adjust, the better.

[His absence was a pretty sudden thing; maybe it's better to address it honestly, if minimally.]

Tired. Pneumonia isn't usually serious for healthy young people; I'm on antibiotics now, and I'm getting better.

[Audio]

[radiantchicken]

They're really quite pleased to encounter someone else who can respond in kind, I think.

[There has been rather a lot of squawking these days...]

That's good, but you must be difficult not to push yourself too hard. Take the time to recover.

[He knows you, L. He knows how you get.]

[Audio]

[dead_black_eyes]

Well... to be fair, most of us are very happy when we find someone like that.

[L has personally felt just like those parrots in Torin's presence; people listen to him, but sometimes he doesn't feel like he's being heard. That has never been the case where Torin is concerned.]

Tony is practically sitting on me to keep me from moving around too much. He got me to the doctor, too. He really stepped up.

[audio]

[charcoalfeather]

[Rakka's voice was quiet, tired. She'd had a bit of trouble sleeping since the big fight.]

Ah, that's good of you. Taking in the birds, I mean.

[audio]

[radiantchicken]

They needed help. I'd hope that someone would do the same for me, were I in their situation.

And I do have rather a good understanding of parrots.

[audio]

[charcoalfeather]

Yeah... me too.

[Not that she was a bird, though she was close to one.]

I hope you do. I heard that bird need a lot of care.

[audio]

[radiantchicken]

They do! But I used to be a parrot myself. I've got a good idea of everything these might want or need.

[audio]

[charcoalfeather]

Oh?

[Wow...]

Well, yeah, you would know best then.

[espigeonage]

Well, I see you've done it.

Are they from a shelter or something? That would've been an interesting conversation...

[radiantchicken]

[Torin chuckles.]

One of them was from an ad in the newspaper, but the other two were from a shelter.

Trust me, it was an interesting conversation. I think one of the shelter employees may have fainted.

[espigeonage]

Heh. Are they going to check in on these guys? Is this a permanent home?

[radiantchicken]

It's meant to be a permanent home.

[Torin sounds amused.]

They may check in, but I got the impression they'd just as soon not attract my attention again.

[espigeonage]

Oh, dear. Are you going to end up with more? I hope they're not fighting.

[He smiles.] Goodbye to quiet, huh?

Video;

[knights_king]

[There was a pause in Arthur as he did nothing more than stare.]

You got big.

Video;

[radiantchicken]

[Torin just gives a good-natured laugh at that.]

I did! It was very surprising when it happened.

Video;

[knights_king]

You definitely grew into your voice, yeah. [At that point he'd have felt a little less guilty about practicing with him. In fact--]

How's Espresso doin'? I haven't needed the money for awhile, but I might need to step it up eventually.

[One can't live on gambling money forever.]

Video;

[radiantchicken]

It's fitting now, I suppose. Can't say I expected to change quite so much, but it's been nice to be human-sized.

It's doing well enough, all things considered. We're keeping things quiet for now, what with all the tension at the moment, as well as the fire we had several weeks ago.

Video;

[knights_king]

[He was imagining how much bird seed the guy would have to eat--]

Yeah, I saw. Emi keeps track of these things better than I do.

And, I don't really hit up bars or coffee shops much.

[handwritten]

[wastingtime]

[torin what]

Are there really that many?

[handwritten]

[radiantchicken]

More than one might think. Parrots are the sort of animals that humans like to get for a pet, and then abandon once they realize the realities of the situation. Like the biting and the noise.

Fortunately for these fellows, I'm used to both.

[handwritten] feel free to drop

[wastingtime]

I never took a pet for companionship, and while I don't consider myself that foolish...I'm glad I was never at risk for becoming like them.

Aside from that, are they easy to care for?

[handwritten] I'm cool with backtagging forever, just saying :D

[radiantchicken]

They're easy enough for me to care for, certainly. I understand them better than most humans would, and the behaviors that a human might find confusing make sense to me.

:D

[wastingtime]

I imagine part of that is from experience, no?

Though now I'm curious if you do, in fact, understand them.