…Our human's nose is in my spot.
Sussie perks, eyes half-lidded with practiced incredulity.
Derpy holds the magpie's gaze about as seriously as he can manage.
Rumi, meanwhile, has draped herself firmly over Derpy's back, arms and legs dangling, elbows and knees bent awkwardly against the floor.
She has not moved for the past…
How long has it been, anyway?
She's gonna leave a mark.
Sussie, Derpy chuffs. I'm helping.
How long have you been "helping" our human, Derpy?
Why would I have a watch?
Sussie's wing jitters. Resettles.
I don't have a watch, she definitively squawks.
Derpy hums, satisfied, and Rumi's limbs draw in close, soaking up the vibration.
Sussie hop-hop-hops up to Derpy's notes. Leaps up to Derpy's forehead in a single bound. Lightly pecks Rumi's forehead.
Rumi's very… persistent in her stillness.
Sussie reaches out a wing. Pats it atop Rumi's head.
Then, muffled with a helium-like squeak:
"Please don't say it's not weird."
Sussie rolls all her eyes.
I said it's not GONNA be weird. We had time to get used to—
Sussie's head cranes to Derpy's strained smile.
Delicately, Sussie cranes her head back up, finding Rumi — hair frazzled, eye twittering, pupils the size of sugar grains.
She doesn't phrase it like a question.
Rumi's head slams down, fast. Sussie's barely able to clear the falling flesh obelisk.
Rumi screeches into her fur prison. Goes stiff, rigor mortis.
You're not getting your spot back.