“Doesn’t matter if you like it, it’s my name regardless,” she muttered back, ignoring the heat that burned her ears at the minor compliment. Honestly.[break][break]

This was getting much too ridiculous for her tastes. It was just the dizzy spin of the big height affecting her thinking and reactions. Nothing else. It would be proven as soon as her feet were on solid ground again, she was sure of it. Then she could scurry back to her apartment and hide away again, and there would be no ruffians on birds around to use corny one-liners or say they liked her name.[break][break]

They drifted down smoothly, and though it still made Calla’s stomach launch up into her throat, it was appreciated that they were at a lower elevation again. “Liam,” she called back over the rush of wind, testing his name for herself, “how’d you forget so fast?”[break][break]

Soon the power pole and the offending nest was back in sight, and feeling confident, she let go to lean for it when the corviknight lined itself alongside it. Maybe she was a little too confident, because in the effort she felt herself slip sideways, fingers just out of reach. The tilt was enough to startle her, and Calla latched onto him again—convinced she really would topple off. How embarrassing.[break][break]

“Closer.” The grumbled word accompanied by an embarrassed huff over both the blunder and her short arms.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Liam Cassius m: cuckoo in the nest [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-bulbasaur"]

"I'm a forgetful guy."
[break][break]
Liam only watched as Calla goes to reach out toward the nest, only to come crawling back, clutching onto his back for support.
[break][break]
Sucks.
[break][break]
"Aight, Klaus, move over bud."
[break][break]
He gave his corviknight another tap, to which the bird responded with a harsh squawk before ultimately moving itself closer to the nest. Twisting his back to face Calla, he lifted the red tinted shades from his eyes, resting it back on his head like a headband.
[break][break]
"Don't worry. I got you, Calla."
[break][break]
Slithering his closest arm to the nest around her waist, he securely fastened her to himself, both enclosing the space between them while also negating the possibility of toppling over. A win-win.
[break][break]
If she leaned forward to try again, he'd take the opportunity to coo, "Y'know, it'd be such a shame to let our little adventure die out here. Maybe we could continue this down the street? There's this sick Chinese restaurant I'm sure you'd love."
[break][break]
And it had a bar right next to it. Another win-win.
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Liam Cassius[break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

“Not sure that’s something you should admit so easily.”[break][break]

No matter her reservations, or her irritation over his relentlessness, Calla did feel reassured by his words. And the arm that slipped around her waist. An extra measure of security, because ultimately she’d take his flirting over falling down to the concrete below.[break][break]

Calla did, in fact, lean forward to reach for the nest again. Her focus was meant to be on snagging the bundle of twigs and feathers and knick knacks, but when Liam spoke again, she found her gaze flickering back to the gold of his eyes. “I know which one you’re talking about. I do live here, you know.”[break][break]

She sighed, forcing herself to look away and not fixate on the lack of space between them, or the linger scent of cologne on his clothing. “You’re persistent, I’ll give you that.” Another grumble as she reached again, this time successfully snagging the nest with both hands.[break][break]

Letting go of her stubborn resolve was not on Calla’s agenda. She did have work to get back to. What she also wasn’t about to admit was that she was nearly finished with said work, and he had been helpful, obnoxiously so or not. Little peeps from the nest made her look down, and there were a few surprised baby taillow for her to peer down at–a tiny smile ghosting across her mouth in spite of herself.[break][break]

“I’m literally wearing pajama pants, so I’d need to change,” she added bluntly, finally daring to look at him again once she’d steeled herself. “That’s not a yes.” She studied him, teeth sinking into her bottom lip in deliberation. “Help me relocate this to that tree over there, and put me down already. Then I’ll decide whether or not to humor this ‘little adventure.’”

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Liam Cassius m: cuckoo in the nest [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-bulbasaur"]

That was most definitely a yes.
[break][break]
Or, at least, that sort of response usually meant as much when coming from the more standoffish types. Flashing a wolfish grin in her direction, Liam used his free hand to comb back his golden locks.
[break][break]
"Who said I didn't like the PJs? But, sure, if that's how ya feel."
[break][break]
Whenever Calla decided to fully lift the nest from its place, he'd return to his previous position, where he could easily direct his flying type back over to the tree she'd pointed out a second ago. They drifted over without any issues.
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] calla roth[break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

What was he playing at? Grinning and running a hand through his hair. It totally wasn’t working. No, not at all…….[break][break]

Her lips pursed into a thin line as she looked at him flatly. “I’m not wearing pjs to a restaurant.” She was just a little too put together for that.[break][break]

Ready to go with the nest bundled in her arms, Calla waited for him to direct his corviknight over to the tree. “This is much better,” she said—more to the little birds than to him. Once the nest was secured on a sturdy branch, she turned back toward Liam, hands only resting on his shoulders this time.[break][break]

Obviously, she was expectantly waiting to be set down on the ground again, so that she could go change. And also scoop her frantic Bulbasaur up into her arms.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Liam Cassius m: cuckoo in the nest [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-bulbasaur"]

Liam had half a mind to send them barreling upward again, just to get her to grip on again, but he relented, for once, and had Corviknight drift back toward where they found them.
[Break][break]
He was an ass, but even asses have their limits.
[Break][break]
"Here you are."
[Break][break]
With a huff, the large bird settled back down.
[Break][break]
Liam swung his leg over the bird's head and slipped off without too much trouble. Then, with an arm outstretched, he offered to help Calla do the same.
[Break][break]
"So how long will I be waiting? 20 minutes?"
[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] calla roth[break]
[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

“Thanks.”[break][break]

Calla gave Klaus another appreciative pat on his dark, glossy feathers for the work done. Then she watched Liam as he hopped down, and while normally she might’ve refused the assistance, she was feeling a bit wobbly.[break][break]

Her hand on his arm, she allowed him to help her down. Immediately, she stooped to pick up Turnip, who had quickly tottered over. “It won’t be that long.” That was as much of a ‘yes, I’ll go’ as he was getting.[break][break]

Turning to head back into the building, Cal paused and glanced at him over her shoulder. “You can come up, if you want.”


[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] Liam Cassius m: cuckoo in the nest [break]


[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-bulbasaur"]