ruevealing | folkmore inbox.

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.]

[Their son is so cute burying into their feathers like that...]

Now that you say it, I have never heard you sing as a human.

[A very comfy and warm Mom nest. Perfect place for resting tiny tired bird feet.]

Um, yeah, you don't want to.

[No formal singing lessons in the apocalypse, and he did not inherit those fantastic Ben Schwartz pipes.]

[Rue is already thinking what outfit would fit well with a colorful bird son nesting on top of their head as an accessory.]

Well, that sounds like a challenge, my love.

[He flails, wings fluffing up a bit, heedless of his future accessorizing fate.]

I mean it! I don't know how to sing.

[hehe!! look at that fluff! no one tell rue they look like that when they poof up]

Then I shall teach you! Simple as that. Wouldn't that be so fun to learn? Something new!

...Only if you promise you won't laugh when I sound awful.

[He absolutely knows they won't be mean about it, but Mom, please, he's so preemptively embarrassed :( ]

Say the word and I shall make a faerie vow, just to prove to you that I will not laugh.

[Rue will amp up the stakes for this very low stakes conversation if it will make him feel better!!]

Besides, everyone starts at the same level. With practice, you will be an expert!

Ahhh... [He fluffs up again, a full body shiver, before his feathers settle once more.] Fine, fine! No faerie vow, I trust you. I'll give it a try.

[That big fluff! Look, it is so impossibly careful this time, but Rue can not stop themself from pecking a quick kiss against him. Carefully! Slowly!]

Excellent! Then it is a promise. I shall have you singing like a songbird in no time.

[The contract is sealed-

And this time he manages not to flinch, though as Rue draws back his eyes are very wide.]

That's a high ask. Are you sure I can't just stay like this and sing?

[He can definitely sing like a songbird this way.]

[shh put your faith in mom]

Hmmm, tempting, but if you stay in this form, how am I to cuddle you!

That's fair. [He stands up straight, as tall as his little bird form can get. (It's like 3 inches at best.)] Should I change back, then?

[He asks like the answer would ever be no, Rue does not want cuddles.]

[The power lies in their paws!]

I would love for you to change back only if you would like to. If not, you may perch on my head all day long while I go about chores. As long as I get to spend time with you, I could not be happier.

[His head jerks in that quick bird way between his current position, Rue's head, and around the room. Maybe it's the animal instincts, but the idea of a high perch is really appealing, sort of like how he'd enjoyed hanging out on Hunter's antler.

....]

You really wouldn't mind?

[Their darling little boy - bird.]

I mean it with all of my heart, my love. Come, perch on me for awhile. We can surprise Knickolas when he returns home.

[He gives a happy peep and flutters upwards, landing between their tufts and wiggling a bit into their feathers, almost like a nest. Ohhh yes actually this feels very cozy. He likes it right here.]

Okay, I'm ready!

[Let us do some chores, Mom! And by us he means you do them and he'll supervise, because he doesn't have hands.]

[Anything that makes Casey this happy is well worth the effort.]

Hold on, little one!

[time to come up with fun chores so it all feels a little less dull!]

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