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 Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2025 11:49 pm
Quote: Characters: Izzie and Ambrose. Plot: Izzie sneaks out to visit the stables at night and happens upon an unfamiliar creature....and his owl.
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Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2025 4:43 pm
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2025 8:57 pm
 
 After another not so pleasant day, Izzie found herself in need of a bit of peace. A reprieve from the life she had chosen for herself. Not that she would ever say that being friends with her princess was less than amazing. She loved the other woman like a sister. Which made it all the more prudent for her to do whatever was needed of her. And if she was punished for doing it wrong? Well, that was a part of it all. She should have anticipated what her words would cause. Hadn’t she been taught early on not to step outside her lane? To speak only when spoken to? Yes, she had. So, the consequences were no one's fault of her own. Or so she told herself as she wrapped herself up into a clock in the same soft grey color as her dress.
With her fiery hair tucked up into the hood, she slipped her feet into her fur lined boots. The warmth soothed her fluttering nerves as she stepped out of her dorm. Iz made sure to lock her dorm up before hurrying out into the night. Immediately, her face lifted to the stars and a brilliant smile spread over her lips. Gods, it was beautiful out here after the sun had vanished. It left her feeling lighter, her arms spreading out from her body as she spun in a slow circle. For a moment, she embraced the freedom of it all. No one watched her to see if she stepped out of line. No one told her she wasn’t acting like a true lady. She was able to just….be. And it was a dangerous feeling she only allowed for a few moments before reining it all in.
As the moment passed, she tucked her hands into the pockets of her cloak and headed for the trees. The stables were her destination tonight. It was her favorite place to visit, loving the mighty beasts almost as much as she loved her bestie. She wished she could visit more, but the stablehand that guarded the place was…too much. He had that dark look to him that both frightened and excited her. It was an odd combination that she hadn’t had enough experience feeling to know how to handle. So, she avoided it. In the evening, however, she was free to come and go as she pleased. And that was how she preferred it.
It didn’t take her long to find the path to the stables. What she hadn’t anticipated, however, was to catch the soft sound of something else. Was someone in the trees with her? Had she been found out? Panic threatened to overwhelm her as she searched the shadows of the trees, her breath freezing in her lungs to keep her from being found out by whomever it was that lurked within the leaves.
Location: Her dorm - Woods Company: No one? Thoughts: ‘Oh gods, please don’t let this be a bear!’ OOC: Izzie's outfit
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Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2025 9:11 pm
   LOCATION: Heading for the stables xxx COMPANY: Running into Izzie xxx CLOTHING: Name Clothing
"Speaking darkgoldenrod""Thinking darkgoldenrod"
It was not unusual to hear small sounds in the night when he was out with Milne, and his own passage was hardly silent, but a soft rustle gave Ambrose pause. He stopped, looking around him with wide eyes. He was not armed. He had not thought to encounter anyone this late. Should he just turn back? No… he did not hear anything now. He must have imagined it. Surely he imagined it.
Ambrose crept forward, ignoring the way his heart pounded and the blood rushed in his ears. His senses were on high alert for the sound he was desperately trying to convince himself that he had not actually heard. The night remained quiet around him, but the duke was still so tightly wound that he nearly jumped out of his skin when he encountered a woman in a gray cloak along the path.
”It is rather late to be skulking about alone.” Ambrose managed after a moment to compose himself. ”But I suppose that would be the pot remarking on how black the kettle is.”
Milne was growing restless on his arm and seemed a bit agitated upon sight of another person. The owl flapped his wings in irritation, his taloned feet shifting on the glove. In another moment, he was liable to fly off. ”Easy, now.” Ambrose murmured softly to the bird before lifting his free hand to gently stroke his feathery breast. The owl calmed a little, but there was still some agitation. Perhaps it was his fault? He was not exactly calm this close to a stranger at night. Ambrose took in a deep breath and held it before slowly releasing. He drew his gloved hand closer to his chest to offer Milne a bit more security as he continued stroking his breast.
”If you will please excuse us.” Ambrose said quickly and a bit stiffly to the stranger as he continued ahead with hastened steps. He was delaying Milne’s flight; he could not let his nerves get the better of him.
OOC: Omg, my header still said he was in the treeline near Arioso with Ivy, lol
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Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2025 8:05 pm
Of all the things she had expected to find in the woods with her, a cloaked figure with an owl perched on his arm was not it. Fear had her heart jumping into her throat and her hands tightening their hold on her cloak. She was still close enough that, should she scream, someone was sure to hear her. Right? He didn’t look much like a runner, so she could possibly out match him in speed if she took off. Unless he was from Mercury, in which case she was probably screwed. The possibilities were not looking good, but she did her best to ignore it as she listened to him speak.
”Excuse me, but I wasn’t skulking. The path is rather obvious.” The words came out softer than she had meant them to be, though she tried not to focus on that. His feathered companion was stirring rather aggressively and had her fear turning into outright panic. Was the creature going to attack? It was watching her with those big eyes…They were actually kind of pretty. She’d never seen an owl up close before, having never been allowed to venture outside at night back home. Though, why this man had one, she couldn’t seem to figure out. The desire to satisfy her curiosity raced through her, bringing her attention from his owl back to the stranger.
Stepping back, Izzie gave the pair a bit more space and did her best to clear her throat. Before she could do more than think the words, the man was excusing himself and heading off. In the same direction she was going. Sighing at her luck, she shook her head and waited a few moments before continuing onwards towards her destination. All she had wanted was to visit the horses. Maybe feed them some of the apples she’d stashed away the night before. Now she was going to be seen as some weirdo that followed people in the dark. Gods, this day sucked.
”Please don’t assume I am following you. I have…business to take care of at the stables.” Leaving it at that, she tucked the cloak around herself a bit more and kept her eyes on the ground. If he didn’t want to talk to her, she was more than willing to accommodate him. Strangers were strange for a reason, right?
Location: Her dorm - Woods Company: Strange bird man and his feathery companion Thoughts: ‘I think I would have preferred the bear, to be honest…’ OOC:
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2025 7:47 pm
LOCATION: Path to the stables COMPANY: Izzie CLOTHING: Name Clothing
"Speaking darkgoldenrod""Thinking darkgoldenrod"
Yes, the path was rather obvious, as the woman pointed out haughtily. And yet she had stood upon it unmoving long enough for him to catch up with her. What would she call that besides skulking? But it did not seem worth it to bother pointing that out. It would only result in extended conversation when he had business to be about.
Ambrose had continued along his way, but after a few moments he heard footsteps behind him. The duke’s shoulders stiffened and he frowned. Had the woman not insisted that she was not skulking in the dark? Then why was she following him? Why could she not have walked ahead rather than waiting for him to pass? Unless, of course…
It was entirely possible that she did not want him skulking about behind her either. She was a woman walking alone at night and he was a man who was unknown to her. He had no intention of laying a hand on her, of course, but he would hardly expect her to take his word for it even if he had insisted on the truth. He supposed he had to at least consider that possibility.
So she was not following him after all; they were merely following the same path to the same destination. Ambrose stopped and half turned back toward her. ”In that case, might I trouble you to walk with me rather than behind? I am for the stables as well. It is time for my Milne’s nightly flight.” Ambrose waited for the woman to catch up, hoping that she would not object to his request. At least if they were side by side, they could easily keep an eye on one another. It was not ideal, but at least she would no longer be behind him.
OOC: Testing testing 123
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2025 8:51 pm
Who in the hell was this man? And why did he think it okay to think so lowly of her? She wasn’t just some servant out for a stroll. She was a duchess of Uilium. The best friend of the crowned princess! She had powers he probably couldn’t even dream of! And here he was, looking down his nose for her being out at night. What a…No, she wasn’t going to stoop to his level. She was going to walk in silence and let him think whatever he liked. Izzie knew her truth, and that was all that mattered.
The sound of his voice pulled her from her inner rant, her eyes narrowing a bit on his back as he spoke. She was tempted to tell him no. That she felt better walking where she could see him completely. If anyone was the bigger threat between them, it was him. He was…well, he wasn’t much taller than she was. In her boots, she stood nearly eye level with him. And he didn’t seem to be very big. Or, rather, muscular. Perhaps she was the more likely one between them to win in a fight. Now that was an amusing thought.
”Very well.” Was all she said in response. Long legs picked up the pace, pulling her hood from her face as she joined him at his side. Her fiery curls tore free of her cloak to fly around her face, an annoyance she quickly tried to remedy by pulling her hood back into place. She didn’t need him to know any more about her than she’d already shared. And her hair was a dead giveaway as to her identity. Not many rocked the same red curls she did, so she made it a point to keep it hidden during her nightly escapades. Just in case the trees had eyes as well as ears.
”Not that you have to answer, but might I inquire as to why you allow your owl to hunt around the stables? Wouldn’t the woods themselves be a more…bountiful place for him to hunt?” She had a feeling her questions would be ignored, but his feathery companion did interest her more than he did. Iz had never been this close to a creature like Milne. Most she’d witnessed had been in books, having always heard rather than seen the ones back home. If he didn’t answer, she’d drop it. She just knew she’d go mad if she didn’t at least try and ask.
Location: Woods Company: Strange bird man and his feathery companion Thoughts: ‘He worries about his bird’s meal, but does he even eat his own?’ OOC:
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Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2025 10:02 pm
LOCATION: headed to the stables xxx COMPANY: Izzie xxx
"Speaking darkgoldenrod"
The woman in gray seemed quite cross with him now. Ambrose could not really fathom why, though. Sure this was not because he had mentioned her skulking about in the dark? She was. For that matter, so was he or had she missed that he had said as much? No matter. There was no sense in trying to comprehend the mercurial emotions of women. He was simply not equipped with the capacity to do so. He needed only concern himself with the possibility that she might express that anger physically when he had no means to defend himself.
She hesitated to walk at his side. Ambrose could not blame her for that; he did not enjoy being in close proximity with others, either. But it was a necessary compromise if they were both to have any peace of mind. It was surely better than the both of them refusing to move forward and leave the other at their back. Fortunately the woman had either come to the same conclusion or had reasons of her own to agree at last. Whatever the case, Ambrose felt his shoulders relax faintly once the woman was at his side.
Fiery red hair broke free of the stranger’s hood and while the motion of it was enough to catch Ambrose’s eye he thought nothing of it. There were few enough women in his classes with red hair and among those at least two had darker skin than his unwilling companion, but he did not care to narrow down the options. What would be the purpose? He was certain that neither of them wished to make a habit of meeting like this, so there was no need to get acquainted.
The woman surprised him with a question, and one about Milne no less. Ambrose’s somber expression softened immediately as he looked at his owl and affectionately stroked the bird’s breast feathers. “The woods are bountiful hunting grounds, yes. You are not wrong. But I choose to release him near the stables because rodents are drawn to such places where there may be piled hay or the like they might use for bedding. This way Milne benefits from a concentration of prey and the stables enjoy a reduction of pests that might otherwise plague the horses. Also, Milne has spent quite a bit of time with humans, with me; his instincts may not be what they were. I am… worried what may happen to him if he flies too far from human settlements. He is technically still wild… I will not trap him with me. But it would be careless of me not to exercise some caution.”
Ambrose cleared his throat self consciously. ”Hmn. Forgive me; you did not ask about my… personal concerns. He is just very dear to me, my Milne.”
OOC: Testing testing 123
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Posted: Tue May 06, 2025 11:19 pm
The shift in his features told her more about his companion than any answer he could give her. He cared about the beast. And not in the normal, ‘this is my pet’ kind of way. No, he truly adored the creature. The affection showed in the way he stroked the bird's feathers, pulling a soft smile over her lips. Okay, maybe he wasn’t that bad. He was still a stranger, though, so Izzie kept up her guard a bit and listened as he spoke.
His answer was smart and well thought through. Each word sounded as if he had considered it all before speaking it, making sure to give away only what he wanted. Intriguing. Maybe the bird and his master had more in common than Iz assumed they had. It stirred her annoying curiosity and had more questions stirring in her mind. She had to put in an actual effort to keep from asking any of them or commenting on his words before he finished. Strangers never really took to nosy girls that asked too much of them, after all.
”Hm, I suppose that all makes sense. And it is rather sweet of you to worry about your feathery friend.” She left it at that, not wanting to make him uncomfortable with her words. His last few words pulled a true smile to her lips, knowing exactly how he felt in the moment. She had a habit sometimes of rambling when it came to things that interested or were important to her. The realization helped her relax a bit, her body visibly showing the response as her hands loosened their hold on her cloak and fell easily to her sides.
”No forgiveness is needed, truly. Like I said, it’s sweet.” Izzie wished to say more, to ask about the beast that he was currently stroking, but she left it alone. Instead, she eyed the beast from behind her cloak and marveled over him from a distance. He was really something else. A hunter, and yet, so regal and handsome. And she’d bet her entire harlequin collection that he was smarter than he looked.
Location: Woods Company: Strange bird man and his feathery companion Thoughts: ‘I wonder if his feathers are as soft as they look…’ OOC:
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2025 6:50 pm
LOCATION: headed to the stables xxx COMPANY: Izzie xxx
"Speaking darkgoldenrod"
It was a bit of a relief that the woman at his side did not seem annoyed or even disinterested by the time he was done speaking. His passion for his raptor friends far exceeded his interest in anything else and it showed in the way he spoke of Milne, or any of his birds. Honestly, he thought the only interest that even came close was his love of pocket watches, but well… he definitely knew that most people outside of Chronos would be terribly bored by that. It was a shame; timekeeping mechanisms were truly fascinating.
”I have been fascinated by owls since I was a child.” Ambrose continued carefully, not entirely certain just how far the woman’s interest would take her. But it was so rare to have anyone show an interest at all that he felt compelled to speak just a bit more. ”I opened an owl sanctuary in my homeland to care for the sick, injured, and displaced. Of course my people are trained for the care of all raptors, but I will confess that owls are my true love.”
They had reached the stables, but Ambrose did not yet release Milne. His companion was not obvious in her continued interest, but he could tell that her eyes had lingered on the owl for quite some time. She did not seem startled as she had before; he knew the body language of fear and she was not exhibiting any of it. He could only assume that she was curious, as curious as he once was as a child when he had first seen a majestic owl perched upon a branch in the moonlight. And he would further assume that the same desire was likely lit in her that was in him that night. It was years later before he could actually touch such a magnificent creature, but there was no need for his late night companion to wait for that long, was there?
”You may touch him, if you like. Owls will primarily flee if a human approaches them, but Milne is far more accustomed to our presence.” Ambrose stroked the bird’s cheek as though to demonstrate, though in truth he just enjoyed doing so. And Milne enjoyed it in turn, nuzzling affectionately against his hand. ”He will not harm you. Not as long as you are with me.”
OOC: Testing testing 123
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2025 11:13 pm
As the man at her side began to open up, her tension about his presence began to ease. If he was going to hurt her, he'd have done it already. Right? And he most certainly wouldn't have shared things with her if he was cruel or evil. Of course, that was a very narrow minded way of viewing the world, but it was all Izzie had. If it bit her in the backside, well, she'd learn her lesson from it and find a new time to visit her equine friends in the stables.
At his mention of a sanctuary, her belief that he wasn't all that bad was solidified. Someone that cared for others, especially others of a different species, had to have a kind soul. Though, she definitely wouldn't have pegged the stranger for being the type to house and heal the injured and sick. He had seemed so...cold, at first. Iz could only assume it was her sudden appearance that had garnered such a reaction, but she kept that to herself and looked from the bird in his hold back to him.
"Understandably so. They are rather intriguing creatures, to say the least." While she hadn't been as interested in the beasts as a child, she couldn't stop herself from being curious about them now that she had a front row seat at viewing one. It had her wanting to learn as much as she could from him, should he give her the chance. "And it was kind of you to help them. Not many nowadays would think to worry about anyone but themselves. Even fewer still would dare to be concerned for birds in general." Izzie smiled a little more at the words, hoping he took her compliment for what it was. She was still new at the whole socializing thing, after all.
As the stables came into view, her mood shifted to one of delight. She could hear the creatures within the building, stirring at the presence of newcomers. It had her wanting to dash the rest of the way towards them, but she held off. Manners that had been beaten into her dictated she stayed at her current pace, waiting to excuse herself once the conversation she was in had come to an end. Iz was tempted to do exactly that in order to free herself, only to have the desire fade at his last few words. Surprise and excitement warred within her gaze, her body stepping closer to his before she even realized she has moved.
"Are you certain? I would like that very much, but I don't want to upset him even more than I already have." She had seen what her presence had done to the bird. The last thing she wanted was to make it worse. Her eyes followed the man's hand as he stroked the bird, her fingers tingling with the desire to copy the action herself. "Do I simply do as you are? Or is there more to it than one would use when, say, petting a cat or dog? I'm sorry, I'm really excited and nervous and don't want to scare him..." Gods, she was rambling! Lowering her eyes, she looked to her feet for a moment as her hands curled into fists at her sides. No she was not going to mess this up!
"Could you show me? I would really appreciate it, Sir...?" It was then that she realized she hadn't asked him for his name. Or even given him hers! Gods, her mother would be beside herself if she knew what she'd done. Sighing, Izzie lifted a hand to pull back her hood and reveal herself to him completely. "Seems I must ask your forgiveness a second time, since I have yet to ask you for your name. I'm Isabelle, though most just call me Izzie. Would it be too forward to ask you for your name?"
Location: Woods Company: Strange bird man and his feathery companion Thoughts: ‘Way to screw it all up, Iz!’ OOC:
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Posted: Fri May 30, 2025 4:14 pm
LOCATION: headed to the stables xxx COMPANY: Izzie xxx
"Speaking darkgoldenrod"
Ambrose nodded and while he did not quite smile, there was a lightening of his features when his companion spoke of owls being rather intriguing. He could not have agreed more, though perhaps that went without saying when he held such a creature on his arm at that very moment. It did surprise him when she continued to speak; while everything the woman said was seemingly true, Ambrose had trouble reconciling the description with the man he knew himself to be. He was not kind and he did not care for others. Just owls; he cared for owls.
But saying as much would probably not go well. The two of them were finally conversing with as much comfort as he managed around anyone and he did prefer it that way, no matter how he might seem. So he said only, ”You are too generous.”
The woman’s face lit up with delight at the offer to touch Milne and this time Ambrose did let a small smile tug at his lips. He could not even remember the last time he had expressed such unfettered glee. Even as a child, such an outpouring of joy might have invited a cuff to his ear. He did not know if he could be that outwardly excited any longer, but he sometimes experienced it vicariously through visitors to his sanctuary, and now this stranger, who were as fascinated by Milne as he had always been.
”Ah… It was not you who upset him. That was my doing; I allowed myself to become startled.” Ambrose admitted a little sheepishly. He was Milne’s handler; it was imperative that he remained calm as a signal to Milne that he was in no danger. ”Please do not be nervous; it is much like petting a cat or dog. While owls do not naturally seek human touch, they do enjoy it once they become accustomed.”
Oh. They had yet to introduce themselves. Normally Ambrose would have insisted on it, if only for his own comfort. It was foolish, he knew, but he was slightly more comfortable around people he had a name for. Perhaps that would bite him in the rear in the future, but he would take whatever measure he could to give himself comfort in this new place crowded with new, potentially dangerous people.
”There is nothing to forgive. I would be equally reluctant to share my name with a strange man who surprised me in the night. My name is Ambrose. A pleasure to meet you, Izzie.” Nicknames bred familiarity, did they not? It was worth a shot, at any rate.
Ambrose hesitantly reached out and took Izzie’s hand in his, guiding it to stroke the feathers of Milne’s chest, then head. Milne leaned eagerly into the attention while Ambrose kept his attention firmly on the bird in part to avoid looking directly at Izzie. ”Now I must apologize for being forward. I assure you I have no ill intent.”
OOC: Testing testing 123
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2025 8:47 pm
Had Izzie been paying attention to the man rather than the bird, she would have probably caught the shift in his features. Since she wasn’t, she would miss out on something that would surely have been a stepping stone to her making a new friend in the man at her side. Blissful in her ignorance, she bowed her head in acknowledgement of his words and left it at that. She didn’t know him well enough to argue, so she simply left it alone. This time.
The man’s admission about who was the real culprit for bothering the stunning creature he held had relief washing over her. Okay, she wasn’t quite as big of a clutz as she had assumed herself to be in the moment. It made sense that the bird would follow its owner’s lead, since it had no idea how to differentiate between a threat and just your average curious individual. Iz wondered if maybe the man had a power that let him communicate with the owl. Was that how he ensured both he and the beast were on the same wavelength? It would make sense, but which kingdom was animal telepathy a part of? Phronese? Maybe Siscia? Whichever it was, she found it fascinating and didn’t bother hiding her joy at being able to touch the beast.
â€I am sorry that I startled you. I truly didn’t believe that anyone else would be out at this hour. Aside from myself, of course.†She could feel her features heating up a bit more at her admission, knowing it was rather unladylike to be skulking about in the woods. Especially in the company of an unknown man without a chaperone. Izzie did her best not to think about it, knowing it would send her racing back to her room if she allowed it to. Instead, she listened to his instructions and nodded her head in response. Just like petting a cat or dog. She could do that. Her brother’s had dogs, and she’d played with them on more than one occasion. Easy peasy, right?
â€That doesn’t sound too difficult. My family breeds hounds, so I’ve played with my share of puppies in my lifetime.†She smiled softly at the memory, momentarily missing her home before forcing herself back into reality. Now wasn’t the time to be homesick. She was going to get to pet an owl! Her fingers tingled at her sides as she waited, moving only to grasp the sides of her dress at his introduction. Manners dictated she curtsy, so Iz went through the movements and bowed her head.
â€The pleasure is all mine, Sir Ambrose.†With that out of the way, she righted herself and inched a little closer to be within reach of his companion. She could feel her body almost vibrating with excitement over the moment. How many people had such a chance in their life? Betting it was less than the number of fingers on both hands, Izzie looked from the man to the bird then back again in anticipation of his instruction.
What she hadn’t expected was for him to reach out. The movement surprised her so much that she found herself unable to pull back before he made contact. By the time her brain kicked in, her fingers were touching feathers and the creature in his hold was turning into her touch. It took all of two seconds for her to forget that he was even in contact with her hand, her feet moving her closer so she could watch in absolute fascination as Milne enjoyed her attention. A brilliant smile raced over her lips and had her beaming up at him, joy almost radiating off of her as she looked up at him in fascination.
â€He feels so soft. I thought his feathers would feel different, maybe more textured. But it feels like the down fluff in my comforter under my fingers…†Her every word echoed the awe that was dancing in her deep blue eyes. She was touching an owl. A real, actual, not fake or stuffed owl! The moment felt so surreal that she nearly missed his apology, her gaze widening a bit as confusion replaced the bliss she was experiencing thanks to him.
â€Oh, please do not apologize. This is so much more than I could have even imagined. And I have you to thank for it. So, thanks.†A soft blush crept back over her features as she spoke, knowing she sounded a little silly but not caring. She was getting to pet an owl! It was fascinating and fantastic and more than words could describe. And it was all thanks to the awkward and interesting man before her. Izzie wondered what else he knew about the beast, her eyes moving from his face to look over Milne to allow him to relax a little.
â€What kind of owl is he, if you don’t mind my asking? And how did he come to be your companion?†She wanted to know whatever he was willing to tell her. If he shot her down, she’d just move on to a new question. Her curiosity wouldn’t allow her to do anything else, so might as well get it out of the way first. Right?
Location: Woods Company: Ambrose and Milne Thoughts: ‘I’M PETTING AN OWL!! My brother’s aren’t going to believe this!!!’ OOC:
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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2025 2:26 pm
LOCATION: headed to the stables xxx COMPANY: Izzie xxx
"Speaking darkgoldenrod"
â€Please, you owe me no apology. Or perhaps I owe you one; as you said, you were not expecting anyone else to be out and about at this hour. Neither was I.†Under the cover of night Ambrose did not really notice Izzie’s blush. He gave no thought to what a lady ought to not be doing as he only barely held a grasp on the ideals of nobility. He was raised as the son of a vintner and was only holding on by the skin of his teeth as a Chronesian duke, released from prison just long enough to commission a fine wardrobe and hope to Chronesian Jesus, may he continue to hilariously not exist, that he could fake a royal affectation well enough. He did not have the king’s oily charm or Princess Adelaide’s grace, but he at least tried to speak like he was not found in a gutter and scrubbed off before being chucked into the academy.
Ambrose nodded encouragingly when Izzie mentioned that she had played with many puppies. It was better if she thought of it that way; it would keep her calm and he felt certain that the woman was no more likely to harm Milne than she would a puppy. It was better to be mindful rather than nervous.
What a wistful look it was that had settled on the woman’s features for a moment. Was she missing her childhood? Perhaps her home? Ambrose felt a twinge of envy at that thought; there was nothing in his past that he missed. Well, one thing, but… what he missed most were those brief moments he was least entitled to. He missed bringing sweets to share with his young princess when she would seek out her father and most certainly not pout for his attention. But that was certainly not a memory of home, or family, or family hounds to be played with. His parents did keep a cat to chase down the rats, though and he had been admittedly fond. He would be scolded for spending too much time with the creature, but it was still a good memory. Perhaps he did not have to feel quite so jealous, but there was no erasing the feeling completely.
When he was called by Sir Ambrose the duke realized his own greeting was too lax by far. A miscalculation that he would correct for the future; it would be far too awkward to apologize for it now. The moment was awkward enough with him reaching to take her hand as he had. He might not know much about proper manners, but even he knew that it was not appropriate to just reach out and grab a woman no matter how innocent his intent. Nor would he have appreciated being grabbed in the same way, when he got right down to it! But he truly believed it was the fastest and easiest way to demonstrate how he would pet Milne.
When it was clear that Izzie was absorbed with petting Milne and no longer needed encouragement Ambrose was quick to release her hand. He mostly kept his eye on his bird, but was caught off guard when Lady Izzie smiled up at him brightly enough to illuminate the night sky like a star. He wasn’t expecting that. He wasn’t even sure how to react, though after a moment his lips instinctively curled into a much more subdued smile. He was content. Sharing his fascination with someone else was a wonderful feeling.
â€I never considered that.†Ambrose murmured, not certain if he was more surprised or amused by the comparison to a comforter. But he did not show either emotion nor did he want to speak above a murmur lest he break the spell between woman and owl. Even having noticed her interest Ambrose would never have imagined Lady Izzie would be so enraptured and it pleased him to no end.
â€You are welcome. The pleasure is mine, truly.†It was more true than she likely realized. Other people shared interests all the time in the most mundane of things that never captured Ambrose’s attention. He never made friends and never felt anything was missing. But in this moment he could understand why such a connection might be worth pursuing. Just… maybe not by terrifying one another in the middle of the night in the dark woods.
â€I do not mind at all. Milne is an eagle-owl. They are most commonly found in mountainous or forested regions, but they survive in many habitats. Milne I found injured near my home; I believe he may have been the victim of a human hunter. Eagle-owls have no natural predators, but are often considered an economic threat to game keepers and landowners.â€
“Not that I was so knowledgeable at the time; before I found Milne my sanctuary was really only meant to be a habitat. But I could not just let him die, so I studied and expanded our care capabilities. Now we rehabilitate sick and injured owls with the intent of returning them to the wild. I have attempted to reintegrate Milne, but he always returns to me.†That was not natural, it was not supposed to happen, but Ambrose was still glad. He would miss his dearest companion when Milne finally did choose to leave him.
â€If I had to guess at the cause… it may be that he is still quite young. Mature eagle owls do not establish a territory right away and before they are established they do not breed. If I am right, he will settle somewhere in a year or two. But if not, he is welcome to remain with me.â€
OOC: Testing testing 123
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Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2025 5:18 pm
The back and forth between them had her lips twitching a bit in amusement. Okay, so they were both awkward weirdos. It was a bit of a relief, since she’d yet to really meet a guy that didn’t make her feel terribly anxious around. Well, other than Pascha. It was hard to feel anything but amused when in the presence of the adorable blonde. Ambrose, well, he just seemed to have that ‘leave me be’ vibe. Something she was used to with her eldest brother. Realizing this helped her relax, her hand waving away his words absently.
”Let’s call it a draw then, hm? Both are sorry for our actions in the beginning. Now we can move on and become friends.” Izzie felt heat flush her features again the moment the words left her lips. Damn it, why had she said that? He didn’t want to be friends with her! She was making assumptions. And her mother had taught her it was an awful thing to assume that you knew the thoughts of others. She dropped her eyes to Milne as she continued to stroke his feathers, hoping his owner didn’t think she was some crazy woman now.
The simple responses he gave her words had her lips twitching again, the smile returning to her features as she moved to scratch gently at Milne’s neck. Was he not used to talking with people? It made sense, considering how he’d been with her presence at first. He spoke with very little emotion, and his expression rarely changed. Unless he was looking at the owl, that is. He had to be more comfortable in the presence of birds than people. Iz made a mental note to look more into owls, research more about them so that, should they meet again, she would have more questions to ask. It seemed to be the way to engage him, which would hopefully lead to them being the friends she had asked him to be previously.
As he began to speak, Izzie moved in closer to run her fingers lightly over Milne’s wings. She made sure not to be too rough, not wanting to spook the creature. The feathers here were different, a little more coarse than the ones on his chest. Was that because he used them to fly? Were they needing that way to help in wind resistance? Or was it to help with water disbursement should he get caught in a downpour? The questions raced through her head, furrowing her brows as she studied the creature and listened closely to every word that left Ambrose's lips.
”You are rather knowledgeable when it comes to him. Are there others like him in your sanctuary? Or is he the only one of his kind?” As she spoke, she finally looked back up to her companion. There wasn’t much difference in their heights, but it was enough to have her tipping her head back a bit to look at his face. Again, there wasn’t much of a change in his expression. It had her wanting to see if she could garner a proper response from him. Would it be too far to invade his space more? Possibly, “accidentally”, touch his hand? Just the thought of it had her features flushing scarlet, nerves dancing in her eyes as she chewed on the inside of her cheek. No, she couldn’t do that. She didn’t want to freak him out, after all. Instead, she nodded at his words and pondered over the possibilities of his feathered friend.
”Ah, I see. Do you think he’ll try and make his territory near you? I don’t believe he’d want to be far from someone he cares about. Then again, I can’t even begin to understand how an owl’s mind works.” A soft chuckle escaped her lips at her words, knowing they were the truth. For all she knew, the beast would leave to return to what its normal habitat was like. Not to say that she assumed to know where the man before her resided either. Perhaps he lived in the mountains, which would make sense since he’d said he’d found the creature near his home. Her mind whipped back and forth with itself as she finally dropped her hand, done with her pets and pleased as punch that she had been given such an opportunity.
Location: Woods Company: Ambrose and Milne Thoughts: ‘They are both so fascinating!!’ OOC:
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