008. (v2) [audio + commentlog/open]

[snowtop]

[This feels kind of familiar, but Xanth can't pinpoint why. Maybe he was just used to tons of people bustling about on the Elegante.]

O-Okay, uh, well, h-- hi. I-If you're new, y-you-- you probably-- r-read the thing i-in your journal. A-And if-- if you didn't, well, g-go... do... that?

...

O-Okay. Um. H--Hi. This is H-Holloway's Keep, and... y-you're kind of-- t-trapped. But-- i-it's not that b-bad here? There's-- f-food in the kitchen a-and beds if-- if you need rest a-and... i-it's not as-- bleak a-as it looks. T...Trust me. S-So, for now, s-- stay safe?

A-And please, don't... d-don't-- kill a-anybody.

[Xanth closes his journal and tucks it away for the moment. He's out by the stables, feeding the animals inside and keeping an eye open for anyone he recognizes.

For anyone who saw him when he still had long hair, well, that long hair is gone. He's got a hat on to keep his ears warm, but he is so close to bald now that it's not even funny.]

Comments

[nerdburd]

["Second question? That was the first question? Wasn't it?" Those are some confused sounding squawks followed by another plaintive drawn out sound and full body shake. The parrot equivalent of a shrug.

"Liiinda. I don't know. I can't find her."]

[snowtop]

[Oh no. Shrugs everywhere. Now Xanth is even more confused! But maybe that means the bird is confused also? Maybe they're both just bird-brains.]

O-Okay, uh, well, what-- w-what's the last th-thing you-- r-remember?

[And then he pauses a beat.]

U-Um, uh, n-nev-- nevermind.

Do-- d-do you-- know w-where you are?

[nerdburd]

[Blu just... tilts his head.

Was this human alright? Was something wrong?

To the last question is something that Blu can actually answer- which was a big fat 'NO' and gives several quick shakes of his head.]

[snowtop]

O-Okay, um.

[Oh, no. He's going to have to break the heart of a sapient bird. Today is not a very good day.]

Th-- this is-- Hol-- Holloway's K-Keep. Y-You're-- you're really, r-really far from h-home, and...

[A sigh.]

N--Nobody knows h-how to-- get b-back.

[nerdburd]

[Blu tilts his head several times in several different directions.

"Scotland? Sounds like something in Scotland. Maybe Europe."

Blu chatters and then looks around, stretching his neck and body to look over the head of the boy, looking behind them, in front, around.

"Really, there has to be something. A plane? A boat? A car?"

Can't you see the questions the blue-bird has? He's looking to you Xanth to answer his troubles. Humans could do just about anything... right?]

[snowtop]

S-Sorry, lit-- l-little guy. I-I don't think... we're g-going to-- f-find your owner h-here.

[He really is sorry. He knows how much it sucks leaving everything behind - not just once, but twice.

But what he can offer is a little more petting. Scritch scritch, Blu.]

[nerdburd]

["No. No. No! This can't be right! There has to be something around here!"

Blu opens his beak and out comes the perfect sound of a key being turned in a car and the engine starting. Then it's like Blu's engine doesn't quite catch and it starts to make a knocking sound as Xanth gives him scritches. Then this imaginary car dies.

"Linda has to be here! She wouldn't leave me-"]

[snowtop]

[Oh nooo. This little guy must really want to find his family. Despite knowing that the bird somehow understands language, Xanth hasn't really grasped how highly intelligent it is. To him, it seems like a devoted pet, and little else.]

C--Come on. L-Let's-- let's see i-if we can... f-find your o-owner. O-Okay?