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[obeir]

KD6-3.7
3313 Creampuff Way


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[obeir]

[ The teasing is met with an ernest response. ] I would consider myself lucky to be in such company.

[ Says the emotionally numb professional serial killer. Well, former, at least in some (very important) ways, and that's probably a good distinction to hold onto. Point being, there's a whole lot of moral grayness in this room and K's no exception. ]

You share a lot of things. [ He notes with a small smile. ] It seems nice. You've made wishes together, too? [ He's thinking back to the offer Royce made to him, before — helping him to wish for free will, essentially. He's still curious about these nuances with wishing, what difference it could make having someone helping him. ]

[bywolves]

[ Aw, K. Royce's expression shifts into something more flattered. K is charming, okay, and he's falling for it. Huff. ]

We've made a few. [ Royce says. He struggles here and there with words, but he manages. ] Most in relation to each other. We wished for buildings together too.

[devoutish]

Yes. We also live in a treehouse.

[That last word is said in English; it's not exactly a common word in London Yiddish, and if a word for it exists, Alfie doesn't know it. He nudges Royce, murmuring:]

You're doing well.

[obeir]

[ K's nefarious plan to make friends is working? Oh boy.

... A treehouse. It's not even surprising, and he isn't going to hide his amusement. ] Of course you do. The ideal home for one who whispers to trees.

What names have they given you both, anyway? [ Because now he needs to know. His own tree-given name has grown on him, as silly as it is. Just the fact he was given a name (of sorts) means more to him than he'll let on. ]

[bywolves]

[ Oh no, K gets to see the somewhat gooey look of pride on Royce's face at Alfie's compliment. He manages to get it under control pretty fast, but Alfie complimenting him on the use of his language is a big thing. ]

I wanted to speak to trees to ask the tree we put the house on if it was good. [ Royce says, with a little shrug. ] To prove a point.

[ And as for the rest, he grins at Alfie because he thinks Alfie's tree name is hilarious. ] Mine is - Hidden Leaf.

[devoutish]

[Alfie breaks into a grin at that, and it's more than a little gooey itself. Sorry K, these two are pretty gross.]

We're not telling him mine; it's not nearly so charming as "Hidden Leaf".

[He says it lightly, though, like he won't really mind if Royce tattles anyway.]

[obeir]

[ Far from being bothered by the sentimentality, K observes the exchange with a curious look. Of Royce's tree-given name: ] Suits you. But I'm disappointed they didn't also give you a goofy name.

[ Because what the hell, "Hidden Leaf" is actually very nice. Evocative. He might just be the slightest bit envious. Alfie must've been given a sillier name like his, though, he assumes. ] That bad? Tell me. [ He needs to know. ]

[bywolves]

[ Oh, Royce is absolutely going to tell him. It's hilarious. ]

Bushface. [ Royce announces, almost gleefully. ] They call him Bushface.

[devoutish]

I can't imagine where that came from.

[Alfie deadpans, just happening to run a hand over his beard.]

[obeir]

[ Well, his assumption was certainly correct. ]

That's. Sure a name. [ It's a real struggle not to laugh, but he's trying his best to be polite. Bushface. Poor Alfie. ] Not "Treebeard"? Missed opportunity, I'd say.

[bywolves]

I don't think they know what beards are. [ Royce says, amused. ] But Treebeard is much better. Far less hilarious, too.

[devoutish]

Treebeard would be plagiarism.

[obeir]

I wouldn't think trees care about legalities. [ Still trying not to smile, and mostly failing. ] You can't explain what beards are to them?

[ Or won't.

He's also sort of vaguely wondering if either of them are familiar with the more modern slang, which makes the tree-name especially... awkward. ]

[bywolves]

I could. Don't know how effective it'd be.

Besides, that's his name. Why would I want to change it?

[devoutish]

Because it's fucking ridiculous.

[Alfie chimes in lightly, without any real offense.]

[obeir]

[ That seems to do it; K finally gives up any pretenses and laughs. ] I'm sorry. It isn't that bad. [ It is. ]

I think they named me after my camera. [ Just trying to commiserate on the goofy tree-names. Though his is oddly cute, he thinks. ] Or they think I'm a toy robot.

[bywolves]

I think it was the camera. Clickbox sounds about what they might think a camera is.

Alfie's isn't the worst one. John's is Little Firestick. [ He thinks about it for a moment. ] Stephen's is Caped Breeze. Which is also ridiculous.

[devoutish]

I wouldn't mind being Firestick; I like that one.

[obeir]

Little Firestick, though? [ K asks with raised eyebrows. Little Firestick. Bushface. ...No, those are about equally bad, he thinks. Also incredibly amusing. Do trees have senses of humour? ]

How do you figure out who they're referring to?

[bywolves]

John seems to dislike being called little, in any case.

[ He shrugs. ] I guess through context clues. Little Firestick and Fiddlestick were walking together through the woods, bickering like an old married couple about a science experiment with the body parts from the graveyard. John and Sherlock.

Though it's a task and a half trying to figure out what they're referring to, sometimes. Graveyards are gardens for those who have withered. Things like that.

[devoutish]

They're poets, then. Is that it?

[obeir]

[ Probably because John's pocket-sized, K thinks but doesn't say. At least Royce doesn't seem to have any similar hangups about also being pocket-sized. ]

Sounds like trying to solve riddles. I wonder if they could be taught other languages, too?

[bywolves]

They just experience the world differently. They don't use graveyards, so they have to come up with a term for what it is, in ways that are familiar to them.

[ A beat. ] I've never thought about trying to teach them other languages. I can only imagine how much of a headache that'd be, but - maybe I'll try.

[devoutish]

Our linguist.

[Alfie leans his shoulder into Royce's for a moment.]

How would that work, if it's all done in your head? Could you teach them to speak out loud, somehow?

[obeir]

[ K thinks on that for a moment. ] Maybe a sign language. They have very simplified grammar compared to spoken languages. And everything's about body language, not pitch or tone of voice. Seems like something the trees might better understand.