snow & macaws > meghan

The macaw perched on his shoulder hunkered down against the scarf around the Peacekeeper’s neck whenever the wind picked up. Snow was already falling in fluffy flakes, peppering the man’s black hair and the bird’s rainbow feathers with white, but it was a pleasant afternoon. The wind didn’t add much of a cutting chill, as it was quite a light breeze, but it did have the occasional gust here and there. Not enough to make the outing uncomfortable at all, however, and RinTin was grateful for that.

His normal routine put him on a path directed toward the town square and all the shops. Citizens bustled around, all dressed in fine coats and sweaters to showboat their wardrobe, toting bags from all their shopping that would only expand that collection. RinTin, while he was from a quite wealthy family, did not flaunt the same attire as his neighbors. His jacket was older, as shown by the patchwork and fading colors, and certainly wasn’t top-tier like those around him, but it was his favorite and he was quite warm. Lucy was, too, whenever she decided she wanted to nuzzle against his scarf, but she did enjoy watching the snow fall and the strange humans walk by.

She’d gotten into this awful habit of whistling at people - not a fox whistle, but a whistled tune or ’ooohhh’ nonetheless - and not very many believed him when he pointed at the bird to blame her. They’d often give him a suspicious glare, but when the macaw whistled again, their eyebrows would shoot up. ”Guess you were right, kid.”

The Peacekeeper had told the bird time and time again that whistling in such a manner was inappropriate but she refused to really acknowledge that. If anything, he figured she now only did it because she liked annoying him. Fortunately she didn’t do it too often, so he could spend the outing getting fruit and cutting it up for her to eat along the way, otherwise he was speaking to a stubborn macaw that had retorts like ’I do what I want’ and ’only for more strawberries.’ So, of course, he’d purchase a single strawberry and let her have it.

His last and favorite stop, as always, was the doughnut shop. A regular there on his days off, the store owner only had to see who it was entering before gathering a little box to put the usual requested assortment in there. RinTin was already pulling out the money to set on the counter as he approached.

”Hey, man.” The Peacekeeper offered the baker a smile as he handed over the money while the register was being tapped with the amount paid. ”How’s things here?”

”Same as always,” the man responded with the usual grin. ”Hey Lucy.”

The macaw bobbed her head and whistled in response and RinTin shook his head. ”Thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow, probably.”

The baker chuckled and waved to the duo as they left.

Out in the falling snow once more, RinTin didn’t hesitate to open up the box and select his favorite chocolate doughnut. Still warm and soft, he hummed with delight at the taste and did let Lucy take a little nibble when she essentially reached in front of his face to get a morsel.