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[Casey moves aside again to look at the page properly.]

"Painted bunting"... the painted I get, but what's a bunting? Am I a headbutting bird?

[Playfully he bonks his head against their feathery paw a few times. Hmm, nope, that's probably a quick way to a headache if he was hitting anything harder than feathers.]

[There's just no world in which Rue doesn't laugh softly at that headbutt, before they are running their talon along his back again, smoothing out Casey's feathers.]

You know, I haven't a clue. It says here that their name in French means 'without equal'. Bunting, however, is a mystery to me.

['Without equal', good grief. Casey chirps out a laugh.]

That's just asking for me to get an ego... oh well, I guess some things just have names with no explanation.

[Or the science of etymology is lost on him.]

Well, I can hardly blame them! Look at you!

[Rue's helping!]

I'll have to search through the various bird documentaries I have saved on my relic. There must be some mention of buntings somewhere within at least one. Oh! And we should research to see if they are a native species of Folkmore. We could speak with them!

[He preens again. Yes, yes, look at him. He is fantastic.]

Oh, that would be cool if there were any. I've never seen a pangolin in the wild [and obviously not an owlbear] but birds are way more common.

Exactly! And now that we know what they are called, we can ask around with the natives if they know of any location we can find them. And even if we do not, it might be fun simply to bird watch and speak with them in general. Most birds I've met are quite funny.

How are they funny?

[He tilts his head curiously, bouncing his way along their wing now that they've found the species.]

[You are playing a dangerous game, Casey, because as he comes bouncing closer, Rue just wants to smooch this sweet bird silly. Instead, they settle for an affectionate head bump and nuzzle. Gently, of course.]

Casey, my love. Have I never told you before? I knew the inventor of birds.

[Oh noooo smooches, how terrible. He handles the bump and nuzzle better than the first time! It nets a cheery peep from him, instinctively.]

Inventor... of birds? That's a thing?

[It is not quite the full body cuddle they have with human Casey or the preening trills of his owlbear form, but even this small, Rue will treasure every darling nuzzle they get. Even if it's just a bump of a tiny, feathery head.]

It was certainly a self-given title, but he was indeed the originator of birds. All birds - at least those from the world I resided in - descended from him.

[Sometimes little snuggles are also peak. Casey could probably straight up disappear in the thickest parts of their feathers, with how little he is.]

If they descended from him wouldn't he be more of a grandpa? Like a great-great-great- uh, Gram-Gram. [A beat, then,] Gramp-Gramp.

[Gramp-gramp? Oh no, that's too darling.]

The great Gramp-Gramp of birds instead? Hm, I'll have to talk to him about it, but it is quite fitting, isn't it? To think, he would have millions upon millions of children and grandchildren.

That's even more kids than you have.

[His tone is so very cheeky.]

[OH MY GOD CASEY JONES]

I can not believe the sass on you! [Time for a little Mother Dramatics.] I have devoted my life to giving you children the very best life possible and this is the thanks I get! Sass!

[He's giggling, oh he's giggling.Just a series of little peep-peeps as he bounces from claw to claw.]

Kids are supposed to misbehave! How else do we learn that moms can yell?

[Even if Rue was ever capable of truly being mad at Casey, those darling giggling peep-peeps would be the immediate end of it! Look at their son!!!!!! He's so precious!]

Is it terrible that I enjoy it? I have told Hunter nothing would make me happier than to have you boys throw your stuff around on the floor and make a mess. I will even fake exasperation!

That's so weird to me. Is that why our apartment's getting messier? You're a bad influence!

[He's still teasing, though.]

He even wants me to yell at him for it! I should remind him that's your job.

[Oh no, it is enough to leave Rue in giggles, their big eyes just bright with delight]

I suppose that really is all my fault! But please, tell him that is only for the cottage! If he is messy at home, I will happily come over and raise my voice to a proper level before speaking to him.

Next time I find mouldy cocoa mugs I'll call you over and we can scold him together. I think he'd weirdly enjoy that.

[Growing increasingly aware of how strange his boyfriend is. At least it's a fun sort of weird! (Mostly. Usually.)]

It's a deal. Anytime you find a stray sock in the living room, I will fly over to help put that boy in place!

[a beat]

Lovingly, of course.

Of course.

[As if they're capable of being anything but with regards to their kids.]

Is there anything else I should know about the, uhhh... painted bunting? From the book.

[It is a curse!]

Let's see.

[Turning their attention away from their darling hopping son feels like a crime, but Rue returns to the book, big eyes roving over the information provided.]

"This species is locally common in the Southeast, around brushy areas and woodland edges. It is often secretive, staying low in dense cover. However, males sing their bright warbling songs from higher in the trees, partly hidden among foliage or sometimes out in the sun on an exposed perch."

[Secretive and hiding? How very ninja! He hops over to Rue's other paw, closer to the book text. Hmmm.]

Wonder if that's why I keep getting that instinct to sing. It's weird.

[His tone implies he doesn't mind said instinct, though.]

[A gentle turn of their paw just so, for Casey's ease at seeing the page.]

Perhaps there is a little bard in you! Becoming a bird, do you immediately know many bird songs and calls? I realize I don't know how it works.

[He tilts his head, viewing the text briefly, but Rue has covered the relevant details already so he's quick to hop back on their paw, making himself comfortable in their feathers.]

Not sure I know how it works yet, either. I did kinda know the one song instinctively. I had to focus to learn a different one. But it's much easier to do it like this than when I'm human.

[Not that he does much singing as a human anyway.]

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