The semester was over, something that was both a relief as well as a disappointment for Elias. It meant he couldn’t excuse his way out of gathering energy or doing whatever else the Negaverse had required of him. Things were still pretty rough; whatever temporary truce had come up after whatever had happened with the big thing in the sky seemed to be over, and there were all sorts of crazies out.

It wasn’t something he enjoyed, this draining thing or the fighting thing. He’d rather work at a desk or, if possible, do research on birds or other creatures, like what Marissa was now in part. It wasn’t something he was allowed to look into just yet, though, something about it being dangerous, but it honestly sounded better to be down in her office than out here where he might get hit by some weird magic or by a very angry person with a whip again.

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After her first encounter coming to Earth, Aiolos now knew to be a bit more cautious. If she encounters an Earthling that felt wrong to her, she was supposed to run or find something to defend herself with. She didn't want to have that feeling of having the energy sapped from her ever again, it felt like her life was leaving her body and that wasn't a good feeling. She timidly walked around, wishing Emain Ablach was with her so she could feel at least a little better.

Que the feeling of….Wrong that suddenly passed over her and she was instantly trill chirping with fear. There wasn't anywhere for her to hide, so she was stuck in the middle of what is called a parking lot? Looking back and forth with panic.

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Pulled from his patrol by the sound of a bird, Okenite looked around in confusion. It was far too late for most birds to be out, at least songbirds, and that was what he thought he heard now. It had him noticing there was also that feeling of someone else. It wasn’t as strong as the others he’d come across, but he still needed to be careful.

Moving slowly towards the sound, he saw a small woman who, after he blinked in disbelief a few times, he could have sworn she had tail feathers. It had him thoroughly confused and approaching much as he would an injured bird, keeping slow and trying not to look like a threat.

“Oh, are… You lost?” Maybe this one wouldn’t hurt him, and more than anything, he was curious why she was birdlike.

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The sound of the human’s voice startled Aiolos at first. The feeling of wrong that she could feel was coming from this person…So did that mean they were like that one senshi that commanded her to do something?! The thought of having to endure that again caused her eyes to widen. The male didn't seem like he would make her do something she didn't want to but that didn't mean he was safe. She could understand what he said but… Should she answer?

The small female backed up just a bit as he slowly approached, “N-No L-Lost….” She looked around frantically, trying to find a place she could run to and power down. Curling in on herself just a bit, Aiolos tried to sound tough, “Y-You…H-Hurt. N-n-n-oo hurt. I…I c-call h-help.” Honestly she could have kicked herself for how ‘tough’ she sounded, but at least it was an attempt? That way the male couldn't make her do things…

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Frowning slightly, this one really didn’t seem like a threat, and he wasn’t sure if he liked that they were scared of him. With the mention of calling for help, he did stand up a bit more and looked around just in case. The last thing he needed was to be ganged up on.

“No, I’m not going to hurt you.” Speaking calmly he thought about the things he had in subspace and decided to pull out the bag of bird seed he had for when he fed the pigeons while on patrol. They were always friendly with him, both in and out of uniform, and he hoped that this bird-like girl might calm down at the sight of the seeds.

Pouring some into his hand, he held it up slowly for her to see.

“Would you like a snack? I don’t mean any harm, miss.” If anything he was still very curious and if she wasn’t going to attack him, he was going to try and find out more about her.

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He mentioned not hurting her but she wasn't sure if she could or should believe it. However, her eyes lit up the moment he pulled out…SEEDS? Clearly if he meant to harm her, then he wouldn't offer her something so precious right?! As if a switch was flipped, Aiolos let out a whimsical song, going from backing away to walking forward. She was still a bit cautious and shy in her demeanor but all in all, a snack would be most agreeable. “Has…S-Sunflower yes?” she got close enough to view the seeds in his hand, letting out an excited chirp when she found said seed in the pile of others gathered.

Wasting no time, Aiolos cautiously took the seeds from the strange male with the sickening aura of chaos, watching him carefully while she ate what was offered. Seeds!!! She had SEEEDS!!! Tasty, yummy SEEDS! The senshi started humming a song she remembered from her planet, dancing slightly.

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The sharp change startled him, but he stayed still as the woman took seeds from his hand. Luckily, there were the ones she had asked for in there, given that he wanted to have a wide variety, if there were other birds around when he scattered them.

Listening to their little song, he smiled and let her dance. If he wasn’t half sure they would hurry off at him pulling out his camera for a photo or his notebook to take notes, he’d have either of them out already.

The question still remained, though, what kind of bird person was she? The tail was unique and he could tell they sort of sounded like a song bird, but being theory were a person that wasn’t something he could really categorize the same way as usual.

Taking the smallest sliding steps forward, he wanted to reach out for some of those feathers to see what they felt like. It might be rude but he was curious and if he could distract her a bit more that would be fine right?

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Aiolos was still in her own world even as the person came closer, having finished her snack and now she was in a much better mood. Which was promptly killed when she felt a hand on her tail feathers, letting out a startled cheep and turning around. “W-What do?” she started shaking, fumbling with her hands while she tried to decide if she needed to run or not. Touching tailfeathers was a common gesture of affection on her planet and she could understand how an Earthling wouldn't know that. Instead of running, she waited to hear what the male had to say. He was sick with chaos, but he hasn't attacked her yet so maybe he was a good one? That would be a strange thing to think given the circumstances, but it would be nice.

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Jumping with the cheep, he still hand a few fingers curled around a feather as they turned around before they slipped free. He straighted up and held his hands in full view, one still with seeds and the other showing that he meant no harm.

“I… quite like birds. Your feathers are very bright.” Awkward for once as he wasn’t sure how to explain things, it seemed that English wasn’t their first language so he was at a loss how to proceed. Was it offensive to touch them? She hadn’t punched him or cast magic yet at least.

“Are you from here? Like Laven?” But how was that possible, he thought being half youma was something for the negaverse alone. Moving his hand slowly and carefully, he brushed some of his hair aside to show the feather earring hanging from his ear.

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Purple and gold eyes were instantly drawn to the seeds while he talked, following the motion of his hands. Birds? She blinked and tilted her head, “I…Not bird.” She pointed to herself, “Am A-Aiolian? Aiolos?” she couldn't figure out how to articulate the sentence but maybe he would get the gist of what she was saying. “What is…L-Laaaven?” She started to come closer, eyes moving to the feather earring. “Y-You? Like me?” he didn't have the head wings or even a tail, but maybe he lost them somehow? The thought of losing her wings or tail caused the appendages to shake while the head feathers moved as if they were trying to cling to her head.

Looking back at her tail, she looked to him then back as if she were contemplating something. “C-Can touch? U-Ummmmn…” She blushed a little, “S-Sensitive? You get?” her head tilted very much like a bird while she questioned.

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Tilting his head slightly to look over the little wings near her ears, he wasn’t sure what she was saying, was it her name? It didn’t sound like a place he knew if that’s what she was getting at.

“Aiolos? Is that a place, or your name?” Thinking on it a bit more when she tried to repeat his general’s name he went to say something but froze as she got closer.

Like her? A color started to spring to his cheeks as he sputtered, not sure if she meant it as if they were the same or if he liked her and her feathers. It got even more awkward as she explained that the feathers were sensitive.

“Oh… uh… Okenite, I’m Okenite. My friend is Laven, she’s different than I am though.” But he wasn’t sure how to explain it in a way they might understand. Keeping his hands to himself for the moment he wasn’t sure about the other question still.

“I’m from here, from Earth.” As if there was anywhere else someone could be from, but that theory was potentially being proven wrong right now.

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“Both.” she pointed up at the stars, “Aiolos.” then she pointed to herself, “Aiolos too.” Oh so he was from Earth then? So not like her she supposed. It did cause her a bit of sadness, but she supposed that was the nature of things, being the last of her kind and all. “W-Why feather then?” Where did he get it from? Could she have one? It would be nice to add it to her bedroom at home. “O-ooookeeeennnnite?” A strange name but then again hers was strange too. So the Laven was a friend but different? Also female apparently. “How different?” Aiolos looked down then brought her gaze back to the seeds he had in his hand. “Can….More?”

Maybe she could take some home? Then she could show them to Emain whenever he comes back around the building she stays in? She stopped trying to approach the tall man, frowning at the fact that everyone she meets is ALWAYS bigger than her. Was it just an Earth thing? Or are there humans that are her size?

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alienSo a bird alien, from a planet of bird aliens, but wasn’t everything up there dead? He couldn’t really believe it, but it didn’t seem like they were lying. So Aiolos was a place and a people, or maybe she was named after the place. It had his head swimming trying to wrap his mind around those ideas as well as the implications.

At their question, he thumbed his earring. “From my mother, she studied birds too.” It was something he enjoyed and wanted to pursue more, but mathematics felt like a more stable path forward with a career that would let him stay in one place. All the travelling his parents had done was nice, but he was content to have a smaller circle he stayed within.

Laughing slightly at the way she said his name, he then smiled and nodded. “Yes, Okenite. Laven is… well, it’s hard to say, but I’ll explain maybe another time?” Offering to potentially meet this bird woman again, he was very curious about her and more than a little bit pleased that she hadn’t attacked him.

Pulling the bad of seeds out, he dumped what was left in his hand back into it and offered it to her. “Of course, if you want more, I can bring some next time, different types too. I have a lot to make sure all the different birds here in this city get to have what they like.” And with them mentioning sunflower seeds, he wondered if that was what they preferred.

“I hope you wouldn’t mind us meeting again, Aiolos?” He wasn’t sure if that would be okay or not. He knew there was a database to report things, but this senshi seemed to be far too innocent to be a threat, and he didn’t like the idea of being the reason she might get hurt.

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Aiolos happily took the seeds from Okenite, frowning. He didn't hurt her…But he was of chaos, would she be safe? The senshi frowned as if she was thinking, then nodded slowly. “We….Meet again, yes.” She ate a seed and sighed contently, backing away. It was time for her to go as well. “....Thank you, Oookeeenite~” it was still rough saying his name, but she would learn eventually. Aiolos then turned and ran off, keeping the seeds close. She would find a nice spot to put these in so she could have a snack later.