IC Inbox: cerealia

[shacklebreaker]

"You've reached Simon Blackquill. Leave a message if you are so inclined -- but be brief."

[ AUDIO | VIDEO | TEXT ]

Comments

[psycholawgy]

[ Coincidentally, the prizes are all plushies and figures of birds.

Coincidence, or not? Probably not at this point, right? ]

Only if you get to use the pole. I'll be taking pictures.

[shacklebreaker]

[Blackquill whistles for Taka, and the hawk swoops down to perch on his shoulder.]

Taka will see to it that you take no demeaning pictures. Won't you, my bosom buzzard?

[Taka gives a screech of what is probably assent. So much for no more hawk attacks...?]

[psycholawgy]

Wha- That is so unfair!

[ Walking over to talk to Taka, with her hands on her hips. ]

You need to let loose, Taka!

[shacklebreaker]

[Taka just cocks his head at Athena and blinks.]

...An admirable effort, but he does not respond to being lectured. Now, are you going to let me play the game?

[psycholawgy]

[ ... Widget is her friend. He'll take a picture anyway!!

She still looks pretty disappointed, though. ]

You picked it, so I won't stop you.

[shacklebreaker]

[Rude, Widget!! ... Not that Blackquill would actually really care if he did. He swipes his card to pay for the game, then grabs the pole for his first try. He pulls a duck out of the water, then turns it over to examine it.]

...Hmph. As to be expected, birds grant me far greater fortune than our previous game.

[It's a winning duck. Which means one down, two to go.]

[psycholawgy]

Wow!

[ BEHOLD, she is truly amazed! This is totally getting her absolutely excited, now. ]

You— I can't believe it! Hurry up, hurry up! Go get another one.

[shacklebreaker]

[This time, he forgoes the hook entirely, nodding to his hawk.] Go on, Taka. It's your turn to have a bit of sport.

[Sure enough, Taka swoops down and picks up another duck, dropping it into Blackquill's hands. Rules, what rules?]

...And another winner. Well done, Taka. [The hawk settles on his shoulder again, preening the water off his feathers and looking pleased with himself. Then Blackquill looks back to Athena, imploring her to undertake a task of the utmost importance:]

Care to find the final duck?

[psycholawgy]

[ WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED

YOU DON'T DO THAT IN A DUCK GAME... why... ]

I- I'm fine with just watching, thanks!

[ She'd probably run away and throw the duck at Simon if she didn't get a winning one, anyway. ]

1/2

[shacklebreaker]

[ARE YOU SAYING HAWKS CAN'T PARTICIPATE

THAT'S DISCRIMINATION]

Do you lack the nerve to do so? Very well.

[Final duck time! He readies the pole again, and takes a moment to deliberate. Then, carefully, he hooks another duck and reaches to examine the underside...]

[shacklebreaker]

W-what...?! I actually won?!

[Sure enough, the third and final duck has the winning colour on the underside, too. He'd actually been bluffing about that whole birds being lucky thing?? HOW DID THIS HAPPEN]

[psycholawgy]

[ You just made a hawk hunt down a duck! RACIST BIRD. ]

You- You did it! Oh my gosh!

[ BIG MOMENT HERE. Pulls out her CereVice to take a quick selfie of surprised Simon and a smiling Athena with the duck. Taka please don't attack her... ]

[shacklebreaker]

[Blackquill is too caught off guard by the selfie ambush to even remember to sic Taka on her.]

A-Athena, was that really necessary? [At least warn him!]

[psycholawgy]

[ And once the picture's saved, she skips back to where she was standing earlier, which wasn't really that far. ]

It totally was! Now go, go. Go get your prize, and I'll take another picture.

[shacklebreaker]

[So bossy, gosh. But after a few moments of contemplating the many choices on offer, he comes away with an owl plushie.]

...I think this one will do nicely. [Quick, get a photo while he's actually smiling!]

[psycholawgy]

[ THE PHOTO HAS DEFINITELY BEEN TAKEN. ]

You look like you're having a hoot over there.

[ Eh? Eh? Ehhh???? She looks rather proud of her pun. Please laugh. ]

[shacklebreaker]

...

[TUMBLEWEED...........]

That was truly dire.

[psycholawgy]

I thought it was good!

[ She needs a better audience. ]

[shacklebreaker]

It was a valiant effort, I suppose. [The answer is always to be your own audience and laugh, even if no one else finds it funny.]

Seeing as though I suggested a name for your prize, why don't you choose one for mine?

[psycholawgy]

[ That is the worst advice. You are the least bit helpful. ]

What about Chouette?

[ French for owl!! ]

[shacklebreaker]

What does it mean? I'm afraid I lack a French roommate to consult.

[psycholawgy]

Then I guess you'll just have to ask the whole network.

[shacklebreaker]

Must I trouble everyone over one paltry word?

[This is Athena, so of course the answer is already "yes"...]

How is it spelled?

[psycholawgy]

Alright.

C-h-o-u-e-t-t-e.

[shacklebreaker]

[He tucks his new owl under one arm, and dutifully pulls out his Cerevice, typing it in for later reference.]