just a nerd, watching birds, all alone.

“I wanna watch the birds do what they will, Sorry if I'm ornithologically prone.”

Independent oc rp blog! 

Featuring Orson Cabrera, an animal lover with a gentle heart and sinking depression

This blog also features his parents, Aiko & Nicholas! Available on request.

Low activity, mutuals only blog, college life be like that.

As loved by Peach <3

"Orson, what the HELL!? You didn't tell me it was your birthday the other day!" Sure, the three of them were suddenly swamped with work so it was easy to miss, but still…!

He frowns. "We're going to have a late birthday lunch RIGHT NOW, or so HELP me ARCEUS." The assistant is upright again and shaking his head, braids swishing with the movement. "C'mon, don't make me pick you up and throw you out the door."

{some late af birthday asks oops}; closed

"HOP CALM DOWN-"

Ah, there was no quelling his excitable co-worker, was there? Though yes, his birthday was missed last week because of the sudden onset of work that had been pushed upon them, was the startling of Sonia and the ringing in their ears deserving of the so-called ‘injustice?’ Probably not.

...Then again, that was just like Hop, hm? Lovable, excitable, and loyal Hop. Wouldn't want him any other way.

{some late af birthday asks oops}; closed

"I... haagh."

Wow. Just wow. What a way to celebrate one's birthday eh? Just a thieving kitsune stealing your writing materials yet again.

{some late af birthday asks oops}; closed

“I... huh???”

In the blink of an eye, before one’s mind could even process what had happened, everyone’s favorite long-haired Prince, Takumi, had ran off in the distance, leaving dust in his wake. ...Ah. An object had been pressed into his hands, a present from the royal himself.

A snack. One obvious to any Hoshidan. 

“Ah... this winter weather and schoolwork isn’t doing any favors for me, hm? Well, I’ll just have to fix it this Sunday or something.” (I hope, here’s hoping the weekend isn’t as hectic.)

I totally didn’t flat out forget who I stole this meme from, nope 8)

{Questions to Ask}; Accepting!

“The... truth? Forgive me for any misstep in my words, Your Highness, but I do not understand what is this ‘truth’ that you’re searching for.

“I am aware that my heritage may strike suspicion, especially in these tense times- but the truth is that my mother and I haven’t left the kingdom ever since we fled here. The truth is that she loved a compassionate, gentle man to move to Nohr with, before coming back when our lives were in danger. The truth is that neither of us would raise a blade against the land who took us in. There is no other truth, here. 

{Questions to Ask}; Accepting!

"A-Ah... yes, I'm well aware of... well aware of my current limitations. Perhaps maybe too much, so.

"For so much of my life- it was easier, to stay small. To be silent. it was the only choice I felt I had, I think. Though I'm much older now and... and those times are far behind me- old habits die hard, unfortunately.

{Questions to Ask}; Accepting!

“At times, yes. Of course. What good parent doesn’t have a laundry list of things they regret they didn’t do better for their children?”

“...I think the thing my mind can’t let go was missing the first few months of Orson’s life. No one had warned me, the depths a depression can hit after such a strenuous ordeal on one’s body. Those tiny, precious moments when he was just a babe, I couldn’t be fully in the moment and appreciate them. My thoughts were too clouded, my mind, barely holding on. 

“I didn’t even love him at first sight. Strange to talk about now, hm? I love him so freely, so passionately now. But it felt like an insurmountable mountain, in those early months. An impossible task. It wasn’t until I truly, finally admitted that something was wrong, that I finally needed help, that things started to turn up for the better. 

❛ i’m so glad you’re alright, ma'am. ❜ and now relieved, he can keep working without worrying too much about aiko- the clothes can be washed and fixed later on (he also has some skill), but right now all that mattered is healing this person.

once he’s given permission to touch, he gently places his hand on the person’s shoulder- letting radiant energy flow through him and into them, quietly praying to his goddess of earth and life: o’ goddess resting your feet on the same blessed land as us, grant to me your benevolent power to heal, allow your faithful servant to grant health in your name, connect with me through the earth you are the patron of.

soon, the magic in his hand fades away and he breathes, attempting to stabilize his own energy before he felt discentered and dizzy. ❛ i’m glad you’re feeling alright now. ❜ he can tell his body is starting to lean while he’s regaining his composture- it takes him a second or two, to react and stop himself from falling over. ❛ ah… i’m afraid the heel i cannot fix, miss. that sort of magic is out of my reach, i’m sorry! ❜ a slight red tint to his cheeks- embarrassed of his lack of ability to fix things. it would seem he’s only really ever considered himself useful for the breaking part- and, skilled as he may be with stitching clothes, it was of no use here.

but aiko steps in- he backs away instinctively, wanting to give her space to work without getting in the way. oh- magic? great! this should work.

olive green eyes fixated on the heel, watching carefully every move as if he were a child amazed by fireworks during a festival, there truly wasn’t a moment the shine in his eyes went away. suddenly- it happens! he’s surprised, obviously, and he claps his hands together- ❛ that was fantastic, ma'am! you’re quite skilled, oh it was such a sight! it fixed right before our eyes- thank you so much for your kind help, ma'am. ❜ he’s complimenting aiko, but his body is already moving to give a hand to the waitress, still sitting down at the chair- she’d need some support to get up- just to make sure that everything would be alright.

he doesn’t notice, but each time he offers his hand to help, he instantly puts the other against his chest, smiling warmly and appearing as gentle as he could possibly be. ❛ no harm done, it’s quite alright. please, don’t beat yourself up over this- it was an accident, it happens to everyone. what matters is that you’re alright and unharmed. ❜ once she’s up, leo only takes his hand away when the waitress has walked some steps.

❛ hm? oh, yes, of course. ❜ he responds only now that he’s really taken in that he was spoken to. ❛ helping others is the least we can do around- i believe, i wouldn’t say i’m the best at it but i certainly do try. if i don’t do it, then nobody else will and i just cannot have that, you know? if i have what it takes to help then i will be there. ❜ he nods his head, suddenly regaining a burst of energy- he truly is a source of neverending energy. ❛ but thank you so much for helping me- eh- help her! i really appreciate what you did for her… if… that makes any sense at all? well, you got what i was trying to say, i hope. ❜

quick, leo, don’t let yourself feel like things are getting awkward. ❛ i’m happy i found someone else who also enjoys helping others- some time ago i was part of… a group, you could say, and we tried to help as much as we could. but it was still… challenging to teach youth that helping others is important. ❜ his son was a challenge, truly, but not one he minds. ❛ thank you so much again, for what you did. it was- eh- fantastic to look at! i sort of recognize what you did, are you a druid? your abilities are quite impressive! ❜

“We do what we must with the gifts given to us by life, that is for certain.” There’s a nod to his sentiment, a smile upon her lips. “Combined, it seems we handled the problem quite well.”

After stepping around the broken dishes and wiping away the remains of food in her seat, she sits back down at the table, inviting Leónidas to be across from her once more. Business must be discussed, after all. A little food spillage mustn’t sway her from her goals.

“My husband and I run an apothecary in our village. Needless to say, helping those in their time of need, no matter how big or small the ailment, was always our priority.”

The mention of youth tugs at her heart- the visage of her darling boy comes back to mind.

Orson. Her little bear cub, though now, he’s not so little anymore. Right at the cusp of adulthood, yet not quite- there are some more years left before growing into the role. His smiling, bright face comes into memory, attentive as he scooped up an injured squirrel to whisper words of healing before setting it free. The fruition of her and Nick’s work, truly.

“Some young people may resist the idea more than others, for sure.” Surely, he must speak from experience. Best to keep silent about her own life- having Nick as a gentle guide helps the process along, after all. “It is a goal everyone should have- to pass down our goodness to the next generation, so that the world may be just a little better. Isn’t that all we can ask of them?”

A mention of her Druid skills! There’s a blink, just one, before her hand finds its way to the staff leaned against her chair, her fingers running along the oak wood.

“Why, thank you, Leónidas. You noticed that, did you?” There’s a small tilt to her head, a hum on her lips. “I am a druid, as you say. That spell was one taught to me ages ago, when I was much younger. Time flies quicker than I can hold it, sometimes.”

Too quickly, indeed. Her mind teases her with memories of the one who taught her such magic in the first place, yet just as quickly as it came, she pushed it away Not tonight. Too much has happened tonight.

“It is not the flashiest spell, of course, but you can imagine its versatility when you have a child running around your home.” She stifles a laugh, the sound of many snapped glasses clear in her mind. Poor Nicholas. Even well-behaved children were allured by the eyeware.

❛ i just hope they’re happy! ❜ he says, looking at the picture with a fond expression in his face- truly, his family was the love of his life. he adored the family he’d formed with the people he’d met and grown close to, he was happy he had been given the chance to adopt children to care for them- he’s happy. he misses them- his heart aches a bit, but he’s able to make it go away thinking that he was doing this for them, he was doing what was right.

there’s a moment of silence, he thinks again of his sweet daughter calling for him and his partner to show them she had been able to summon a little spark of fire- they had been so excited, they celebrated her new discovery- he misses them, but he hopes that he can send all his prayers to make sure they’re happy.

and then the mess happens- he sees it and grows worried immediately. ❛ are you alright, ma’am? nothing hurt you? ❜ he asks aiko, clearly concerned that something might’ve managed to give her an injury. he’s so quick to want to help anyone that might need it and it’s showing. ah, talking about his children and helping people- it’s almost like everything he ever does has condensed in this very moment of his day.

the sound of someone in need of help makes him stand up immediately, falling to his knees quickly (not caring for his injury there) to help the person on the ground. ❛ hey, it’s alright! it happens- don’t worry. ❜ leo gently gestures for aiko to move aside just a little bit, not wanting to hurt her by accident when he takes the person and lifts them effortlessly to then put them down on a chair so they’d be sitting. ❛ let me see that wound, yes? it won’t hurt, i promise, i can help you. ❜

he turns to aiko for a moment. ❛ please stay there ma’am, there’s shards on the ground- don’t want you to get hurt! ❜ and his attention is back on the waiter. ❛ i can heal you- i just need to be able to touch you- not the wound, of course, just anywhere. may i put a hand on your shoulder to help? ❜ he puts one hand on his own chest, softly calling forth his magic- just a quick use of a healing skill he’s learned from his paladin teachings and they’d be all good. his free hand has a bit of a soft glow, he’s learned that it’s the best way to show people that he can do this.

he titls his head, still smiling kindly. ❛ don’t worry about anything else right now, i’ll handle it too. i just want to make sure that you’re no longer injured- yes? it’s gonna be okay, i promise. ❜ a paternal tone in his voice makes it all more believable. 

“I am unharmed, Leónidas.” With ease, she flicked a stray piece of pasta off her hand, letting it fall to the floor. “Just sullied clothes, is all.”

It all whizzed by her eyes in a blur- the crash, the spilled food, the fallen waiter- before it could settle in her mind, giving her time to even breathe and take in the scene, her newfound acquaintance was already quick to rise at a moment’s notice, ready to, quite literally, sweep the fallen waiter off her feet.

“O-Oh, I…! Uhm… Thank you, sir…” Her demeanor, same as before, became withdrawn, meek as a tiny mouse in the field. In the chair, she looked so small, arms huddled in close and legs tucked in, yet her eyes looked at Leònidas with such sincerity, nodding at his every word. “I’ll- uhm… let you do that, yes.”

At that moment, then, when the telltale signs of blessed, radiant magic began to flow through from Leónidas to the waiter, that the pieces all fell into place, scattering away any last doubts in the wind.

Gods, what a sign you have given to me tonight.

This hearty man who stood before her, offering her his ear and services, speaking aloud his family with utmost passion and who swooped in to save the day- was a paladin. Warriors who committed themselves to righteousness and justice, helping those in need. Such individuals were few and far between, though she remembered, once, when one paladin healed her son’s scrapes when he tripped on the cobblestone in town, handled with the utmost of care. The same spell was before her now, for all to see.

“My… my ankle! It’s all better now! Thank you so much, sir! But- oh…” With a crestfallen sigh, the waiter pulled her foot onto her knee, showing the bottom of her shoe. “The heel broke off! And they were a gift from my girlfriend, too…”

“May I be of any assistance?” Taking a moment to brush off the remaining stray food on her clothes, Aiko stood up from the ground, taking a step toward the two of them. “I know a trick or two too, myself.”

No matter where one goes, there will always be important things that need to be fixed. Always. Over the years, many items around their home had been fixed with this exact spell, such is the reality when having a small child. With two lodestones from her pocket and the broken heel plucked from the floor, she lined the pieces together, pressing the rocks against the break with her palms and muttering the words in druidic.

“Broken pieces with some wear, come together to fix this tear.”

After a minute, Aiko took her hands off of the heel, before wiggling it for stability. Good. The spell had worked. Pocketing the rocks back, she looked back up at the waiter, showing her classic motherly smile. No need for Leónidas to take care of everything by himself, after all.

“Oogh… you two have shown such kindness to me! And I… I’m the one that spilled the food!” She hid her face behind her hands. “I’m so sorry for all of this trouble….”

leo stiffens when the woman mentions his sorrow- back when he was a soldier, showing his emotions so openly would often end up with him being hurt or talked down to- he has to stop himself from bracing for impact- there’s no need to stand any harsh words that come his way for simply being kind and having a heart too big for his own good. his shoulders lose the tension built up- ❛ it’s nothing, really. this is… this is just what anyone should do- feel for others. especially in a case like this. ❜

there’s a certain shine to his eye that shows he’s speaking from the very bottom of his heart. he remembers, helping others is the whole reason he left home to begin his adventure- and now he’s here, with a family he loves and wants to protect. he’s happy, he just wants to do all it takes to achieve it.

❛ later? ❜ he asks from curiosity, not really because he minds it- he just thinks its odd. but it’s quite alright, he’d never want to hurt anyone, she probably just doesn’t want to think about this at the moment- perfectly reasonable. leo smiles again- ah! getting to know him. of course, there’s more to him than just his name and what he’s currently doing, right? he clears his throat- but all uneasiness goes away the moment she mentions his precious daughter.

❛ ah, yes, my precious child! ❜ he seems to appear happier now that he’s thinking about one of his kids- his smile barely holding back any of the joy he feels. he takes off a chain he wore around his neck, a locket with pictures inside of it hanging from it- he opens it and hands it to the woman before him. ❛ the little girl on the right- that’s my daughter penny, you’ll never meet a girl sweeter than her. ❜ in the picture, there’s a young person with blond hair to the very left, then what seems like a tiefling young man with white hair and to the right, a smiling little girl sitting on her decorated wheelchair- behind them stood an old woman and a half-elf a bit slouched forward to fit in the frame, they’re all happy.

❛ she’s about this tall ❜ he gestures with his hand to the height he remembers. ❛ she’s so cute, too, always getting in trouble and mischief- she looks harmless, and she is, but she’s got this silver tongue that’s a bit merciless. she’s like her other parent in that sense. ❜ oh, right, her magic. ❛ she’s always had affinity to magic, but hers seems very… close to nature. my mother, she’s there in the picture too, she’s a druid- but she can’t figure out the kind of magic little darling penny can use. ❜ he rubs the back of his neck. ❛ i just thought that maybe she has elemental magic, i don’t know anyone that can use that. ❜ a sigh.

❛ oh, those are my other two kids- the blond one is fehr and the tiefling right there is my son kairos, he’s quite a troublemaker! oh, but they’re all really good kids. they all just needed love and guidance. ❜ he looks so happy when he talks about his children- there’s a tangible fondness in his voice. ❛ my kids… they really are something else. there’s not a single boring moment at home when they are around. ❜

❛ being a parent has brought me so much joy, i just hope i can find a good teacher for penny- i know magic makes her happy, she was so excited when she found out she had skills- i want her to be able to do things! but with a teacher, of course, so she can develop to her full potential. ❜ another pause. ❛ it’s the least i can do. ❜ he repeats.

With a gentle touch, held with the utmost care when handling something of such value, Aiko cradled the locket in her fingers while she gazed at the picture inside, looking at their smiling faces as he talked about each one. This was quite a large family, clearly, managing one child was already a hard enough task- three seems like such a tough balancing act! 

Penny. Kairos. Fehr. She tucked the information away in her mind for later, as she held the locket back towards its rightful owner when he was done. 

“What a lovely family you have, Leónidas.” A chuckle, and a smile on her face. “I’m sure they are grateful to have such a dutiful father- even if, at times, they may not always show it.” 

It came again- this feeling of familiarity- at how the mere mention of Orson could make her unassuming husband into the proudest father in the room.

Unafraid. Unabashed. And undeniably honest. 

In her heart, doubts began to melt away like snow in the spring sun, clearing away the frost and the cold. Very few could captivate her in such a short period of time, yet there was something about unabashed honesty, the kind that fills your soul and makes you believe in goodness in the world, that never failed to catch her attention. 

A rarity, truly. A gemstone amidst the mud. Yet even still- one small icicle of doubt remained, refusing to go away. How can one truly know, for sure? 

(...Gods, what sign can you give me?) 

Almost as if on cue, a shout and a loud clang rang out, catching her attention. In the blink of an eye, bits of food had been splattered on her clothes and the table, leaving a gloopy, saucy mess everywhere. Beside them was the poor waiter on the floor, with their dishes and their dignity in shambles.