The Magic Box, Monday

[existencemisspent]

Eliot had slept through the bulk of the weekend, thankfully nightmare free, and thus had missed any of the holiday antics the island had decided to throw the last couple of days. Unfortunately, the little caped chickens strutting around the streets were a bit harder to miss.

"No," Eliot said, nudging chickens out of the way with the side of his foot as he opened the shop door. "You are not indoor chickens. I did enough cleaning up chicken shit as a minor, thank you. And look at you, you're clearly dressed for the weather. Shoo. Shoo!"

He nudged the last chicken out of the way and closed the door, pressing his back against it as thought the chickens were about to charge it en masse.

"Chickens," he muttered. "I suppose I should be glad it isn't goats."

He gagged faintly. He would forever have a slightly sick reaction to the thought of his family's goats.

He moved to the counter to log into the till, only to have a three pound weight suddenly alight on his shoulder. He closed his eyes and breathed slowly through his nose.

The chicken gently preened his hair.

"I really hate this town."

[open!]

Comments

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon really didn't have any new research to contribute, but he wasn't about to not visit and make sure Eliot was doing okay after...everything.

He managed to get in with only one chicken following him, and toed it firmly back out.

Then he saw Eliot.

"Erm. You seem to have a chicken on you."

[existencemisspent]

“Do I,” Eliot said dryly. There was chicken spit on his curls from the fluffy thing’s attentions. “I hadn’t noticed.”

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"Oh, well, in that case." Jon smirked. "Clearly an hallucination on my part. Carry on."

[existencemisspent]

“I always do.” Eliot have Jon a scrutinizing look. “You look better.”

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"I feel better," Jon admitted. "Thank you. I'd like to know how you're doing, though. I haven't seen you in my dreams, at least."

[existencemisspent]

“Nor I you,” Eliot said. “The spell eater wiped me out, but I got my beauty sleep this weekend, so I’m doing just fine.”

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"Good." Jon breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm really glad to hear that. And, erm...I'm wondering if I need to look over my shoulder for Margo. Or over yours, come to that."

[existencemisspent]

“Margo has had her angry moment. I don’t think you have to worry until we have to do it again.”

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

Jon got quiet. Sorry, Eliot, he was going to go emotions on you.

"I can't believe you're willing to do this for me. 'Thank you' seems inadequate."

[existencemisspent]

“Yes, apparently my beneficence has shocked a few people.”

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"That's not really what I meant. But, um. Yes. Thank you."

He looked around awkwardly for a moment.

"I can get that chicken off of you, if you like."

It seemed like the least he could do.

[existencemisspent]

". . . You're not going to hurt it, are you?"

Just because he didn't like the chicken didn't mean he wanted it injured. It was being kind of sweet, really, in a gross bodily fluids in his hair kind of way. And it hadn't shat on him at all yet.

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"What? No!" Jon protested. "Not unless it's a lot more evil than it looks. Just...if it's hard for you to grab or magic off or whatever, I could pick it up and put it outside."

He'd probably get scratched for his trouble, but that was par for the course.

[existencemisspent]

". . . You could, I guess," Eliot said. "It's not really doing more than just irritating me, though, and if it's just going to spawn another chicken like those stupid hats, I'd rather not know."

[intheeyeofthebeholding]

"...That is a very good point," Jon admitted. "I can tell you it hasn't happened yet, but I also have no idea where these chickens are coming from in the first place."