You happened. She doesn’t like the sound of that. Her immediate reaction is to interrupt, but she doesn’t; lets the annoyance fester while he speaks, and yes, she’s guessed who this is by now. It’s not a hard deduction. 

   Annoyance to anger, which silently sits as she bites on her tongue; he’s using her fondness to call her selfish, to imply she’s there to separate Flora from what she holds dear, and something in Athena erupts at the accusation. “Why, you – “ She moves, briskly – but stops. This is just what he wants. She is not going to give him the satisfaction.

   She needs a different approach.

   “So, let me get this straight,” She snips, “You cause trouble for my coworkers, and trouble for me. Then you come into my workplace – again – and you threaten me – and you think that’s going to make things right? You think you can scare me into getting along with you? Are we on the same planet? If you’re really Flora’s family, you would be making the effort to be nice to the people she sticks with, wouldn’t you?”

   “You will not threaten me. You will not use Flora against me. Do you understand?!” …she’s finally paying attention to the bucket, just as he kicks it down. If Widget wasn’t red already, the shade it dons is certainly a scary one.

   Athena pauses. Her eyes flutter shut – she mutters something, inaudible, and swipes her hand in the air. “You sure talk a lot for a goose! I think you’d like to be quiet for a bit and think about what you’ve done! Now leave, or I’ll make you!”

"There was uproar immediately the first day I was hired, and I didn't even do anything yet. The sole idea of a goose being an employee was infuriating, shocking enough for almost everyone. Can I not be infuriated about such goosephobic displays?"

Unlike her, he wasn't willing to be patient and listen her out, continually talking in-between, like a goose honking no matter what you're trying to communicate. Oh, wait.

"I even tried to help around in this establishment, but you denied my application right off the bat. Why, is it because I can't neatly write these forms like you humans do? You're in luck, then. I'm already attending education to catch up in that aspect. I care to learn."

"I don't mean to scare you to get along with me, but I'm not going to stand idly by and ignore the disruption you cause for one reason and one reason alone; because you disliking me, has a higher value to you than both her and my feelings."

"I did my part; I was nicer than you ever were. I want to see her be happy with someone, after all, but don't expect me to tolerate you if you're just waiting for the first given opp—r—-"

...

Suddenly, there was silence from him, despite him moving his mouth. The confusion was palpable, but it clicked as she spoke. ... Hah.

He'd smile. It's a lovely day in the city, and he's a horrible goose.

That won't change anytime soon, it seems. She made her answer, her intent, all too clearly. They're all the same.

   Athena wearing anything other than bright attire is an unusual thing; and today she’s decked out in black, from the ankle-length dress with lace trim to the pointy hat set atop her head, a sure sight against the sunny colors of the clinic. It might’ve been a little inappropriate if she’d had any clients in her schedule, but today is just paperwork and she will do the boring parts in whatever she pleases to wear in this festive season. ( Including the extras, of course. )

   It’s been a quiet day – no visitors – so it’s a surprise when Athena catches the shuffle of movement from beyond the office. Nobody knocks or calls out, at least at first, so she tentatively walks into the lobby, and–

   It’s a child. So it looks like. A child that looks familiar, nagging at her stagnant memory but not igniting any new ideas for the moment that she regards him – and he knows her name as though they’re on a first-name basis. Even Kay never really calls her by her first name, so this immediate lack of manners confuses her.

   He continues, and her bewilderment quickly shifts into concern. ( She has not noticed or paid much attention to the bucket. He’s got that going for him, at least. )

   “Flora? Did something happen?” She can’t hear anyone else beyond him on this floor. If he’d wanted to talk about Flora, would it not make sense for her to be accompanying him? What is this about? “I’m listening…?“

"Yes. You happened."

It still didn't introduce itself, and didn't see much of a need to do so either. If she deduces it herself, good for her — but the goose didn't want to waste much time around the bush. She's listening.

"It's difficult not to trust her judgement, isn't it? What a kind soul. Too good for this place, isn't she..? So why do you not trust her judgement? Or do you simply see yourself as wiser, smarter?"

"The goose. You'd to get rid of it if you could, right? What an inconvenience, an obstacle. Horrible, horrible bird. Right?" that's what they all say. Eventually, you just make the best out of it, thrive in it — even if it inevitably proves them right, why care? "Athena, you don't want to be part of her family, do you? You want her all alone. Just her. No soul can blame you, but can't you see how that'll hurt her in the long run? How selfish that is? Deep in your heart, do you care?"

"... Oh, but the goose is a threat, isn't it?" he'd ask as if he was about to correct himself. "It's in their nature, isn't it? To ruin everybody's day? Hm. Who knows how Flora gets along with it, then. Somehow ... somehow she lives with it peacefully. Why can't you?"

"Wouldn't you be butthurt if someone spoke like such about humans?" a hypocritical lot. "You might perceive it as a threat, but why does it act the way it does? What started all this? How are you contributing? What are you doing differently than her? Who's the threat, here? Can't be the selfish lady looking to separate her from her family, no way."

"— You'll have to learn to get along with the goose, for her sake, if you truly care about her." he'd place a foot on the water bucket. "... Or it'll make your life a nightmare."

Cykes & Co.

It was relatively easy to find, close to the university he regularly visited anyhow. One thing happened after the other, him now in the lobby that was peacefully empty due to the time. Nothing wrong with that itself — he didn't break in, unlike with the agency, or any of that stuff. The only concerning part was that he was carrying a bucket filled with at least 4 litres of water. Well, he wasn't moving it around anymore, placing it on the ground, but, it's still not something usual to have with you.

Fiddling with the handle, it's clear he was trying ... something, but he stopped abruptly when the door opened, leaving the water bucket alone.

... There she is.

"Hello, Athena." he'd greet her with zero interest to keep proper formalities. He knew her, after all, even if she might not recognize the avian yet. "I'd like to speak with you." The goose stood up, pretending as if the bucket next to him didn't even exist; it didn't matter right now. 

The NokNok Cafe was a lovely place, an unpretentious atmosphere that was never empty, but never stressfully filled either. He was proud to be an artist, here, but now — with a human form, the goose could actually order something here. So here he was, with a strawberry milk tea, people-watching a bit.

He'd notice a particular young man who was staring at the paintings hung up on the walls, although not seeing their face, the goose couldn't tell if they were delighted or disgusted. Being as prideful as he is, however, it could only be the former; why wouldn't someone be delighted to see his artworks?

The art could only be described as abstract & modern at best, although more accurately as a baby's doodle. Except it wasn't a baby, but a goose; it was signed as "Mr Goose", actually, if the pawn prints were not an indicator enough.

The goose, while undoubtedly horrible, wasn't evil; no blood was on their hands (or feathers, for that matter), and while it revelled in ruining other people's day, that was it. It was always something recoverable, something to move on from, not destroying somebody's life. That wouldn't make him any better than humans. Or, robots. A particular one almost having killed him for, what, him being a mild inconvenience? Those were the truly horrible ones here. Not him.

That said — now where they didn't have such a massive advantage, of course, the goose would get back on them. It would have done this even without provocation, but now it was just even more urgent.

If there was something it remembers very clearly, is that his honks irritated her; she didn't like loud noises. So, naturally, the trap he'd set up; an air horn replacing the door wall protector.

A fun way to meet them again, for sure. 

Did the goose like the law establishment? No, never. It did, in fact, like being there, like causing problems, like getting away with it — but the law establishment itself, no chance. Yet, the goose still held a grudge after not only being fired from his workplace, but also getting banned from entering the new agency for an eternity. And, well, if there'll ever be a chance to act on that grudge, that'd be now.

With patience, he'd wait for the young man to attend to other matters, sneaking into the office with one goal; plant as much inconvenient weed and grass as possible.

They'd take some days to grow, but the sight when it does? Worth it. Plenty of things would likely need to be replaced, too. In the windows' gap, by the shelf, between the keyboards, in the seats and couches, on the m... ...

oh, whoops. It seems like they've returned quicker than expected. "Oh, uh, hiya," he'd quickly shove the Lil' package in his pocket, hoping they'll just assume it was a phone or something.

Being human, well — it had its perks. Don't get him wrong, the proud Lil' Goose has no desire in being such permanently, (not as if it could, anyway), but, there was so much potential of what he could do now, blending in perfectly instead of being a tiny avian.

Loathing humans, yet also appreciating the new possibilities given by a human form, are two statements that can co-exist, after all.

"Hello, sir!" the goose would call out to a stranger, hurrying over. The height difference was still extremely obvious, but nothing abnormal. Just a young small fella. "Do you have a moment?"

It's fortunate that he listened & watched properly whenever Flora would teach him something. Of course, it was useless knowledge as a bird, him not able to use it in some shape or form, but that was different, now. "Would you like to purchase a homemade caramel apple or two? They're going for a good cause!" he'd say, gesturing at the plate he was holding, filled with the caramel goods. "It's only 100 Dust per piece!" a little less than a pound, going by what Flora said.

what’s worse than being targeted by a horrible goose? being targeted by a horrible goose that is human now, of course!

Pale King had not entered the lecture hall with the intention of sitting besides the odd looking chicken which, he assumed had wandered in and would quickly be shooed out. And even when he was forced to sit besides it, he paid little attention to its webbed feet shuffling on the vinly.

Then, the HONK

There could be no reasoning with an animal. Bribery, however, was another story entirely and one about to be enacted. ❝Hey. Chicken,❞ he hissed to catch its attention before placing a handful of trail mix onto the goose’s desk. Gesturing with a flat palm, Pale King returned to the note taking which had been so rudely interrupted.

It's not rare for people to assume that it is lost, the goose standing out like a sore thumb — but, no no, it was smart enough to come here wilfully. Unfortunately. Though, if it was smart enough to grasp even slightly what the professor was on about, is debatable. At least it had a pencil on the table — progress.

Eyes squinting over the nickname, it'd wave with its wings, a bit frustrated that it couldn't get back at them while in a school environment. Nonetheless, it wasn't appreciated; people have called it a Duck before, but Chicken took it too far.

Bribery wasn't going to fix the awful start, but nothing is saying that it couldn't just take the offer regardless. If there are unwritten rules, the goose sure didn't know what they are.

No. Instead he will lie here in misery at his piddling intellect.

A ten thousand year old Wyrm, God King of Hallownest upset over a less than average mark on an exam? 

It’s more likely than you think!

What a horrible goose.

She’s never known wildlife that would so calmly steal something in broad daylight– what does it even need it for? Geese can’t even read in this plane.

(…can they?)

It’s not like she has a better use for her allotted spell slots, so she doesn’t mind using one to foil this would-be thief. Casting ‘Shield of Faith’ is second nature to her, and suddenly a shimmering barrier stands in the goose’s path. 

She smirks, putting one hand on her hip and extending the other expectantly.

“I’ll be having that back, thank you very much.”

The goose stopped on its tracks right when the barrier went up, but didn't turn around. If it was capable of grumbling right now, it would.

how annoying.

It still didn't turn around when she spoke up, instead placing the book down infront of itself right before the barrier, only to immediately sit on it, making itself comfortable on the damn book.