Magnificent! Stunning!

“On Wednesdays we wear Bowling Alley Carpet.”

Wuh… OH. Oh, right. That’s a thing that Lunars can do, with that whole zero-gravity thing, isn’t it? Nevertheless, DJ Grooves’… utter chillness is a surprising, but not unwelcome change from the norm of exploding trains.

“Y-yeah, that’s me, si- Grooves! I’m surprised y’know me! Did I freak out any of your team or somethin’? I know that the Big Cheese don’t exactly leave thangs peaceful.”

    THAT EARNS AN exasperated sort of chuckle from the penguin, and he shakes his head with an equally tired shrug.

❝That he doesn’t... Well, I can’t speak for any personal frights the penguins might’a gotten from you, but we’ve had a good ten years to get used to The Conductor’s... tendencies. At this point, I think a peaceful day might worry us more. But that’s neither here nor there.❞

    The DJ’s wings fall to rest in his pockets, and he looks up to ( presumably ) meet Stanley’s gaze.

Anne grins ear to ear, a slightly crooked, gap-toothed grin. She gives him one extra, final squeeze before letting go and giving him a bit of space.

“It’s Anne! My name is Anne! I live here in the Metro! I never see anyone but the cats and Persci down here, so it’s a real treat to see you in person! I watched all your movies, and listened to all your music -” Does this child even breathe?

    MILE A MINUTE she may be, but what sort of bird would he be if he were upset about that? Not a good one, that much is for sure ( and he very much fancies himself as good ). A fan of his movies, a fan of his music... Seems this one is more than just a typical fan, huh?

    It’s as bolstering to his ego as it is to his heart... doesn’t hurt the ‘ol motivation, either... He waits until he’s sure Anne is finished before responding, sporting a pleased and reasonably proud little smile.

“Well I’ve actually been here for a couple centuries… Granted I was trapped in an eternal blizzard for most of it….. I take it there were others like you?”

Family perhaps? Ah but being the only one here could only mean something horrible happened to them……. Especially considering the look on the other’s face. His own appearance must have struck a nerve. He had always been the only one like himself, but to be the last one when once there were others sounded awful in a way he couldn’t quite comprehend.

“I won’t pry, you don’t actually need to answer, it’s not my place to ask. Regardless it is a pleasure to meet you Callisto”

He bowed somewhat, perhaps an unnecessary formality but at the very least he was polite.

    CENTURIES?!? AGH, CURSE this horrid trap he’s stuck inside, barring him from meeting folk like this! A vitriolic glance is cast to a distant, glowing fence before a more pensive glance is offered to the creature’s present company.

❝More there were... but that was at a time that has long since passed. None more remain, save for the caged soul with whom you speak. You appear similar to us, and yet I find it perhaps too fanciful on my part to think you are truly what you appear. Deepest apologies.❞

    He offers a deep bow of his head, returning the other’s gesture as he brushes a claw against his face to clear the few tears that escaped his eye.

@lunar-luminary​ ;3c ~ ✰

⋆★ @themustachemenace​ asked:

"Uh, Groovy-Grooves? ...Do I get bird protective benefits automatically now?"

    THE QUESTION ALONE is enough to throw the DJ for a loop, much less the sight that greets him when he looks over his shoulder to regard the girl. While his shades do wonders in hiding the widening of his eyes, the sudden tightening of his grip on his clipboard is less concealable.

    ... Still, he can’t afford to lose his composure! Carefully, the clipboard is set down and the penguin turns to regard the bird-turned-human properly.

A little giggle escaped her, nuzzling into those soft feathers as he embraces her in return. She lifts her face from fluffy heaven just enough to look up at him with big, sparkling eyes.

“You’re DJ Grooves, right?! The REAL DJ Grooves?! In the - th-uh. The feathers!” Nailed it.

The excitement and sheer, utter, uncontainable joy was obvious in her voice. And her face. And her .. Tail?

“Mister Grooves, I’m a big fan!”

    OH? NOW THAT’S... well, not exactly new, but unexpected all the same. To think he had fans all the way down here... and a child at that! It’s enough to warm the DJ’s heart ( not that that was particularly hard to do when it came to kids being sweet ) and earn an approving sort of gesture from the penguins behind him before they turn around to continue their work. He doesn’t make any move to remove himself from the kid’s embrace, instead smiling down at her fondly.

❝The one and only, Darlin’! Couldn’t be happier that you like what I do, and I really do mean that.❞

    One of his fins moves to adjust his shades.

It was like staring into a mirror but- not quite. There were similarities just as there were differences… But who exactly was this, and why were they both so… similar? Last he was aware, he was one of a kind? Just…. something someone… Came up with.

“Well ah- I have no idea…. One moment I was back on the planet and now I’m… here? That’s what I get for trying something new I guess…“

Umbriel sounded about as confused as he looked, ghostly tail twitching a bit in uncertainty. Well, someone who looked kinda like him shouldn’t be too bad, right?

“Who… Who are you? My name is Umbriel“

❝Umbriel...?❞

    The creature echoes the name in a tone that almost incredulous... the fact this one had a name certainly implied they weren’t the same... and yet the resemblance is still enough to leave him shaken. He takes the introduction as an invitation to move in closer, and he regards the odd visitor with a... complicated expression.

❝That simply isn’t possible. You cannot be possible! There has ne’er been another like soul in this system, less this horizon in centuries! Yet you... no, no surely not...❞

    The other moves a palm to brush away a few tears that he made no move to prevent from falling, shaking his head before speaking again.

He addressed him–! Wait, how should he act? I mean, he IS the other BigWig of the Studio (and by featherstyle standards, the BIGGEST wig)… The large owl cleared his throat, and spoke up, eyes glued to the elevator doors.

“H-huh!? Oh, uh. Nah. I mean, no, Mr. Grooves, sir.”

Oh gosh… Grooves is surprisingly calm, but surely that’s a facade, right? The way the Conductor talks about him, he’s gotta be winding up an earful or something, right?

“I-I’ll getcha a cuppa coffee as soon as we’re out, sir!!”

    HM. DESPITE THE figure this one cut, he seemed to share the same sort of nervous energy the rest of the Express Owls displayed. It’d almost be endearing if Grooves wasn’t more concerned with how intimidated the other seemed to be. Calmly, the penguin lifts his fins.

❝Now now, no need for all the formality, Darlin’! I’m not gonna bite or anything. I figure you deal with that sort of thing enough as it is.❞

    The DJ crosses his legs, quite literally sitting on air as he looks the other over for a second or two with a gaze that can’t be seen.

“MISTER GROOVES HE ATE THE BOILED MILK AND THE SPOON AND IM NOT EMOTIONALLY EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH THIS.”