You catch your breath and winter starts again, and everyone else is springbound...

[w_for_wizard]

In the alley behind the Empress Theatre, there's the loud crack of a pistol, easily mistaken for a car backfiring or something else entirely unnotable. There's no reason to be alarmed about it, either - if anyone happens to poke their head into the alley, they'll just see Harry, tucking his pistol away and moving forward to inspect a small leather

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[callyourselfa]

One For Sorrow is not supposed to be in buildings, but he gets in from time to time. Especially when those buildings are establishments for the preparation and distribution of food, which this diner is. And as he's already managed to steal a good bellyfull of scraps from plates the wait staff hasn't gotten to yet, now he's just enjoying the warmth and indulging his curiosity.

At the moment, this takes the form of settling onto one of the windowsills by Casey and tilting his head at her. Sitting here and not availing oneself of the wonderful comestibles? Humans make no sense.

"Try the patty melt," he suggests. "It's delicious."

[andwhosearmy]

There was a time Casey would have been at least somewhat surprised by the talking bird approaching her in a diner. These days, she just stares at him for a second, blinks a couple times, and answers, "Thank you. I'll keep that in mind."

She wonders absently if he's a shapeshifter with a very unusual ability, or just a bird who wandered through the Rift and was lucky enough to gain the ability to speak rather than get morphed into some man-eating monster like most animals seem to.

Instead of asking about any of that, though, she just asks, "Should you really be inside? Someone's going to notice sooner or later."

[callyourselfa]

"And at that point, I'll be sure to be chased out, with brooms and terrified lunchmaids squawking, after I've already availed myself of the warmth and the food you humans just get careless and throw away." One For Sorrow snorts, in a way that birds are not generally assumed to snort. "I'll take my chances, lady law."

He bends down, wiping his beak on the sill.

"Speaking of wasting food, there's all manner of stuff in the kitchen just waiting for a lady like you to order it. I'm told that's why they build these places."

[andwhosearmy]

"So I've heard," Casey answers, and pauses a moment, frowning slightly. She's less concerned about the food in the kitchens than she is... "How did you know I'm a cop?"

Talking birds are one thing. A talking bird who knows something about her when they've never met before is just a little creepy.

[callyourselfa]

"Pfawh. How do you know I'm a bird?" One For Sorrow asks, and then turns his tail to her, cleaning under one wing. He tilts his head when he's done, fanning his feathers. "...European magpie, by the way," he brags. "Anyway. 'It's elementary, dear Wyatt.' Birds know more than you might think."

...if they've been altered by the Rift. But this is One For Sorrow, and only fools pass up the chance to spread a little air of mystique.

[andwhosearmy]

"Yeah, I'm sure all birds are secretly psychic," Casey answers, studying him skeptically. "...though I will believe you on that last part."

Most birds probably don't care about the things they see and overhear, but even in this city, who notices the birds or squirrels? ...and when Casey really stops to think about that, it's just a little disturbing.