∞ 104: Five years gone [voice/action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Forwarded to afternoon of Sunday, November 4]

[voice]

As we have entered the sixth cycle year for Luceti, there are new calendars available for the upcoming year. Copies may be picked up at the library or the Welcome Center. Thank you.

[Right before the journal stops recording, there's the sound of loud banging against a far off window, followed by said window shattering.]


[action]

[Albert stares at his broken window. Or, more precisely, he stares beyond the broken window at the huge eyes peering at him from outside. Then there's the flutter of equally-huge wings and a resounding thump on the roof.

He hurries out of his room and into the spare room, quickly setting up the ladder and climbing up onto the roof.

And out there, standing there as patiently as can be, is a somewhat familiar giant owl, hunched over as to not look as imposing as it would at its full 12 feet of height. It is dressed with a big turquoise ribbon around its neck, which holds an envelope in place.]

...No.

[Three minutes later, after getting the owl to allow him to remove the envelope, Albert sits on his roof reading the enclosed letter.

A shame that you are still trapped in this world, my boy; we are still working away on solving this issue! Here is a gift in commemoration to when you first started contributing to the Organization. I had a feeling you would like it!

- With sympathy, Sir Catherine]

Bil.

[Above him, the giant owl clacks its beak almost understandingly at his exasperation.]

Comments

[voice]

[corrinesbell]

Albert? ...You're still there, right?

[Breaking windows are almost never good signs.]

[voice]

[chikaidestroyer]

[It might take a good ring or two from the journal to get Albert's attention; he's just a little distracted. When he opens up the journal, he sighs when he sees it's Sheena.]

I'm still here, yes. I take it the journal recording something breaking?

[voice]

[corrinesbell]

Yeah, sounded like glass. What's going on?

[voice]

[chikaidestroyer]

Something broke my window. [There's obvious displeasure in his tone as he responds. There's a deep, indignant hoot from somewhere above him.] Nothing dangerous, fortunately.

voice;

[breezing]

Do they have pretty pictures?

voice;

[chikaidestroyer]

[A small child. He tries to ignore the preening giant owl next to him as he responds.] Unfortunately not -- just the days and months. I'm sure that could be project for those with a more artistic touch.

voice;

[breezing]

Did you make the calendars? Oh oh oh!!!! Maybe next year you can have the art club help out!!!!!

voice;

[chikaidestroyer]

I did indeed. [He leans back a little to sit a bit more comfortably on the roof. There had been talk about an art club in the village, hadn't there?] If the club wishes to create calendar art, I'm sure that can still happen. There will be a need for more calendars each New Feather cycle.

[ voice ]

[herotypical]

Did you remember to add my birthd--

What was that?

[ voice ]

[chikaidestroyer]

Hello Buffy. [A little exasperation slips back into his voice.] That ... was an unexpected guest.

[ voice ]

[herotypical]

Guest? 'Cause it kinda sounded a little more like a house invader.

[ voice ]

[chikaidestroyer]

I suppose it would have been a house invader if it managed to get inside.

[voice]

[falenandawn]

Are you alright?

[That sounded like breaking glass.....]

[voice]

[chikaidestroyer]

[It takes him awhile to respond, as he doesn't answer until he's up on the roof.] Yes, I am fine. My apologies -- I was not aware the journal had recorded that sound. It must have been somewhat alarming to end the entry with that.

[voice]

[falenandawn]

It was indeed a bit alarming to hear, but I am glad you are alright. [Often such interruptions seemed to herald problems for the individuals speaking, it seemed....]

What happened?

[voice]

[chikaidestroyer]

My window was broken. [He sounds understandably displeased by that, and a little distracted just thinking about covering the window while waiting for it to repair itself.] The perpetrator climbed onto my roof, so I went up to investigate.

[action]

[mydearapple]

[Not unlike those who hear the unusual noises over the journals, these sounds are a little alarming to Caesar. In Luceti, these sounds are typically associated with kidnappings, which is worrying, but not something to freak out about. (This stuff happens all the time, after all.) Either way, it leads to Caesar investigating. He makes his way through the house and toward Albert's room, where the sounds came from, and stops at the door to the empty room. At least, with the ladder there, there's the possibility that Albert's still around, but this is still weird...

Instead of climbing up the ladder just yet, he tries calling out first.]

Something the matter?

[action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert shuts his journal when he hears Caesar calling from below, carefully standing up on the roof to stretch his legs. The owl blinks down at him, and Albert gives it the long length of ribbon to play with while he answers his brother.]

My window was broken by a new owl.

[action]

[mydearapple]

[He tilts his head. What kind of explanation was that?]

An owl the size of a boulder?

[It was way too loud to just be an owl.]

[action]

[endgames]

[Or at least this is action on the assumption that people cruising the forest area by House 42 in search of a giant wolf god would notice a... giant owl...]

[action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Oh yes, that is definitely a viable way to notice a giant owl. Said giant owl may also notice Shikamaru, or at the least his movement in the area. It turns its head almost 180 degrees to look in his direction.]

[action]

[endgames]

[Shikamaru will jump high, in the branches of a nearby trees. Withing earshot, but still good cover.]

Spooky. Thought that was over and done with?

[action]

[wise_maiden]

[Still a little tired out from the draft, Raine had been napping right through the entire commotion. It is only a little while later when she emerges, the sun already having made a significant decline.

... Seeing that particular door open is always enough to give her pause. But of course, if it's open, there are only a couple of reasons for it. And the familiar ladder set up.

She's never hesitated before when it came to climbing up; she doesn't sense any reason to do so now.]

[action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert stands carefully on the roof with the owl, for once not talking with people over the journal; the owl has his full attention at the moment. He sighs at the owl as it preens, dusting at his hair as tufts of feathers slip out.]

You won't be able to stay here, you realize. [He frowns up at the owl as he speaks to it.] Perhaps the forest, if there are some particularly large trees, but you will most likely need to live in the mountains.

[action]

[wise_maiden]

[... Not alone? But it didn't sound like he was talking to Caesar, or even one of the smaller owls.

... And then her head reaches the top of the ladder, and she simply stares for a moment.]

... You must be joking.