(no subject)

[just_cant_lose]

 
If Jim were a nicer man, he might be more appreciative of the things people have done here to keep him entertained. Take the latest thing; it was completely weird squeezing the Charter skin on, even weirder to find he could fly at the end of it and the most weird that he'd find himself desperate enough to resort to this at all.

Long story short, there's a magpie flying around the bar tonight. It seems mostly friendly as long as you don't object to it dive-bombing your head, stealing your food, or trying to drag shiny objects out of your pocket. It sings well, though! And...constantly. Loudly. Sometimes right into the ear of whomever it's taken a liking to.

He likes flying, though. There's definitely an hour well-spent getting a good view of the grounds, testing how high he can go (not high enough, damnit), and enjoying himself for once.

A decidedly earthbound Jim can be found in the kitchen later. There was a certain conversation with X, a fair amount of silent exasperation, a lot of stubborn refusal, and finally a compromise reached wherein he finds himself in here, washing dishes for the evening. Eh. It gives him something to do with his hands while his mind designs a moonbase. He can deal, and it helps distract from the nagging feeling that he's forgotten something. Jim never forgets things. It's weird, and he doesn't like it.


[OOC: Open all weekend! Feel free to be harassed by a magpie anywhere around the place, or find him in the kitchen.]

Comments

[makesthings]

Sameth's looking for a place to sit down when he senses more Charter magic than normal. He quickly glances around trying to place where it comes from, searching for Charter Marks and his gaze keeps going to the magpie.

Slowly he makes his way over, "Hello, I think you're new here."

[just_cant_lose]

Magpies, it seems, can't laugh. Or if they do, it comes out as a long stream of warbled notes, which Jim accentuates by hopping from foot to foot on the chair he's resting on.

Hi, Sameth! He is liking Charter magic so far! So much so that he flaps onto Sameth's shoulder and tells him so, right into his ear.

[makesthings]

He winces at the noise as he goes through who here could craft and use a Charter skin,

"You're a happy bird. You seem to know me, are you a friend of Yrael's?"

[just_cant_lose]

Being pecked on the ear apparently means 'yes'?

Or maybe no, and he's pissed off at the question? Hard to tell really, but he hops up onto the top of his head anyway and starts shouting about something.

[makesthings]

A bird on his head is new, he knows how to deal with annoyed cats or cat shaped creature, "Okay, bad question. Your Charter Skin is very well made. I was only wondering who made it."

[just_cant_lose]

Jim considers a way to convey an answer to this. But it's more fun to make it look like he's trying to communicate, while really just having fun.

He flies off then, and returns thirty seconds later with a pen in his beak. Can a magpie write with a pen in its beak? It cannot, but he looks like he's about to try...oh no, wait, he's dropped it on Sameth's face. Oops!

[makesthings]

Sam waits and then curses, "Charter, careful there."

[just_cant_lose]

Soooorrrrrrry. The magpie dips its head as if contrite, and sadly mumbles a soft note. It is all very, very sad.

Oh, but wait! Does Sameth know Morse Code? Maybe he could tap it out with his beak.

He flies onto his knee, and starts pecking a rhythm out. Quite firmly, but hey, Sameth's an engineer and he can take it.

[makesthings]

That's a powerful beak and Sameth's not thinking about code at first, "What are you doing?"

[have_no_mercy]

It's a little known fact that Tess doesn't like birds.

This doesn't really affect her decision to have a cup of coffee inside, nor really anything else she does, but it's a fact.

And just look at all that shiny stuff around her neck and in her ears.

[just_cant_lose]

JUST LOOK AT IT. Jim certainly is, and he is also gearing up for a Super Stealthy raid on said items from up in the rafters.

(He does not have the magpie compulsion to steal stuff. He has his own mind, inside this body. The compulsion to steal stuff is entirely his own.)

HI, TESS. Have a magpie on your shoulder, and say goodbye to that necklace.

[have_no_mercy]

WHAT?

No, really.

"What is going on here?"

She reaches for the bird - and her necklace - somewhat violently, spilling her coffee all over the table.

[just_cant_lose]

He flaps backwards with the thing in his beak. And he doesn't just fly off with it, that would be boring. Nope, he flies in circles juuuuust out of reach, dangling the thing where she could almost grab it if she wanted, right up until the moment he jerks it away.

:D

[have_no_mercy]

Tess is too angry to notice it's doing anything on purpose, just yet anyway. It's her assumption that birds are always annoying and that some of them steal shiny things.

Her diamond necklace is not up for grabs.

She stands, hoping to be in better range to catch it, or at least make it drop the item.

"Give that back, you stupid bird."

[just_cant_lose]

Stupid? Stupid?

RUDE.

Jim flies off with it because if you think you're ever getting it back now, Tess, think again. He hasn't gone as far as make a nest up there in the rafters, but he's got a nice collection of Sameth's junk and now something much prettier to add to the horde.

Then he comes back down, because earrings next. Really, it'll hurt a lot less if you just hand them over, Tess.

[have_no_mercy]

Stupid. The stupidest bird ever.

"Get back here!"

And then it does and for some reason, she doesn't like the look in its eye.

[just_cant_lose]

Ooooooh, she thinks she can stare him down? Jim ruffles his feathers and shifts on the perch he's taken, gripping the back of a chair. He hops from one foot to the other, then hunkers down as if to spring into flight...but doesn't. His head sways from side to side, and his wings jerk spasmodically as he threatens to leap.

Last chance to run, darling.

[mogget_cat]

Turns out Yrael whistles quite well. He's over there, lounging on the couch by the fireplace.

[just_cant_lose]

Ohhhhhhh, that's one of his favourite tunes.

Jim flies over and lands on the arm of the couch. He hasn't got perfect control of singing, but he does his damnedest to join in.

[mogget_cat]

Yrael grins at him, continuing on with the song in an accompanist's role. The addition of Jim's current voice can only make the song more authentic, really.

[just_cant_lose]

He's certainly been living up to the name of this particular song today! And he's grateful to Yrael for making it possible, because as distractions go, it's been very effective. That's all he ever really wants.

He flies around Yrael's head as he finishes, lands again and does an approximation of a bow. Because there must be applause, if only in his own head.

[mogget_cat]

Yrael chuckles, giving a seated bow to the soloist singer in return.

"You look like you are having a good time," he says, pleased. "I thought you might enjoy that shape."

It fits, in more ways than one.

[just_cant_lose]

He nods, because it has been fun. More fun than he thought it'd be. He likes flying, he likes how silent it is and how completely devoid of people. Though messing with people has been fun too.

He conveys this through a long stream of warbled notes, and has no idea if Yrael's magic lets him understand and doesn't really care. He's animated, which probably translates well enough as enthusiasm for the shape.

[mogget_cat]

He grins. The idea translates well, if not the exact wordage. Seeing Jim show unbridled enthusiasm for anything is as clear a sign as one could wish for.

"I'm glad," Yrael says, genuinely.

Humans have certain expectations for themselves and other human-shaped beings, and there is a definite freedom in shucking those expectations. Yrael will forever put a high premium on freedom from even implicit burdens or restrictions.

"A Charter Skin will not last forever, though. You will notice it beginning to fray at the edges, and I dare say you will be able to intuit how to hurry that along should you want to. When worn with care, a Charter Skin can last up to a few days before beginning to unravel, but rarely do they last longer than a few hours when one is having fun," he smiles. "But know that if you should want another, either of this shape or some other shape, you have but to ask."

[just_cant_lose]

He had started to notice it didn't feel quite the same, because he's definitely been enjoying himself. And even though it's been good, he'll be glad to be himself again - he's got the memory of this freedom and it'll be a calming influence when he needs it, at least for a while. He's never wanted to be anything but himself, but a change as drastic as this has never been an option before so maybe he'll stay more open to the possibility of doing it again.

He does tilt his head though, and make a noise that is clearly a question. Just as notes on a musical instrument can emulate the sound of one being asked, so does this; coming straight after Yrael's offer, it might be clear that he's curious what would prompt such generosity.