#joyeux

"Not quite" he sighed in response to that babbling. "I know your father would oppose my taking you over the salt, but you're wrong, my little accomplice." he tsked, wagging his finger. "I also didn't tell the owners of this very stable that I was coming, nor that I was bringing someone along." Inwa brought a finger up to his mouth, leaning in close to the little one. "This must remain a secret between us and the giant birds you're here to see."

If he were to be honest, Inwa rarely if ever ventured to the stables. Without a chocobo of his own and no real clue how to care for them, he always made the choice to leave them to Silvain. Even with that in mind, it was easy to find Joyeux, the warbird greeting the familiar miqo'te warmly, nipping and preening at his hair. Troubadour's talkative warbling in the background also couldn't be ignored, calling out to the pair.

"Troubadour! How could I think I could sneak anywhere with you here…," Inwa smiled, holding his finger up again. "I will get to you in a moment. I just--" His words were cut off when the small bun came to realize the large creature that had come into view, taking deep breaths to work up a cry.

"He's very big, isn't he. Oh, it's okay, he's not scary." Inwa leaned down to kill the top of the baby's head, rocking him slowly. The arm that wasn't cradling him reached out to pet Joyeux's beak, "See? He's a good chocobo. You could also pet him, but…" Inwa winced when fussy fists balled into his hair and began yanking and tangling into it as he decided if he wanted to cry or not.

Joyeux rested his head down against the small one, large beady eyes on the long-eared baby. With luck, Inwa was able to untangle one little fist. Placing a finger under it, he guided the child's fist to Joyeux's beak. "There. You see? Everything is fine."

The Baby Bun splayed his hand on the chocobo's beak, wide blue eyes on the dark blue of the bird's feathers. The deep breaths calmed, the child reaching to put the tangled hand on the beak as well, curling little fingers and then opening them again.

"Thank you for being understanding, Joyeux," Inwa also placed his free hand on the chocobo, soothing at his feathers with a smile. "And please don't tell Silvain. I know the stable hands will, but I would appreciate juuuust this bit of secrecy."

A warble from Troubadour direction called Inwa's attention once more, turning to peer at the other chocobo in contempt, proverbial feathers ruffled.