A Wisp of Curiosity

*floats down to gently nudge at his fingers, humming softly*

<want. choose. you? choose?>

<fun? not sure. just is.> *twirls around the glass with a hum of consideration* <this. good! is enough!>

*flickers again through the colours it's learned* <birds! please. yes! more!> *chirrups just like a blackbird and returns to the glass for another taste*

<cold?> *bumps the side of the glass for a moment before darting back with a squeak* <ah! cold!>

*cautiously moves closer and drifts slightly through the glass, flickering brightly as the level in the glass slowly drops an inch or so, then moves back with a shiver* <good! cold but. sweet! thank!>

*drifts in a slow circle, humming thoughtfully* <cloud. this? yes! can show!>

*darkens to a deep bluish-grey, a brief electric blue flickering through its centre, before returning to its usual soft glow with a long drawn-out hiss like rain on water*

<loud too. cannot make.> *chitters sadly*

*flickers delightedly at Cole's dancing steps, chittering in affirmation* <yes! compassion. taught well!>

*drifts closer with a curious chirp as he prepares the treat, filaments cautiously reaching out* <what is? sweet? tasty?>

*twirls to a stop in front of Cole, shimmering brightly*

<yes. shining! many colours. like birds!>

*flickers through several shades of blue, green, red, purple, then back to its usual blue*

*chirps affirmatively and spins in place* <dancing. yes! like flying!> *amused, almost smug chittering* <but not. flying is. this!>

*takes off at speed and zooms around Cole in an elaborate spiral, leaving a trail of blue sparks in its wake*

*moves to gently brush a few bright filaments against Cole's palm*

<exploring. found. saw people!> *buzzes excitedly, then dims slightly with an uncertain chitter* <word. not sure.> *weaves in a vague figure of eight, its hum changing to mimic a lilting waltz* <this! what is?>

*drifts down to rest on Cole's shoulder with a gentle chirp*

<friend. compassion. missed. yes!>

*presses closer in imitation of a hug, humming softly*

*chirps in alarm*

a close up of a person holding a chocolate chip cookie with a bite taken out of it ALT: a close up of a person holding a chocolate chip cookie with a bite taken out of it

*zooms across the skyline to deliver a birthday cookie to @duckzio.bsky.social , chirping excitedly for all to hear*

*presses lightly against his neck with a soft chirp, wishing to offer comfort despite not quite understanding his hesitation, until his next words offer a distraction <book. yes! birds!> spins rapidly and chatters like a magpie*

*hums softly as they enter the lighthouse, returning to its perch just above Cole's shoulder <many names. many ways.> it flickers softly <choice. ours.>*

*manages to resist the distraction of the other wisps, flickering in greeting as they pass, and spins around Cole in a wide spiral as he walks <name? so many. how to choose? cole and manfred. how?>*

*floats along beside Cole, easily keeping pace, and hums thoughtfully at his questions <manfred. also curiosity? not same. not sure. idea?>*

*flickers through red, green, purple, gold, then back to blue <colours. yes!> flits to rest above Cole's shoulder and chirrups like a robin*

*dances through another spinning spiral, then bobs in the air as if to mimic a nod and trills proudly <yes! some. learning still.>*

*squeaks and darts out from under the hat to dance in front of Cole <wisp. great?> spins in a spiral and hums contentedly <compassion. great also!>*

*flickers and chirps uncertainly <best. at being?>*

*chitters softly and shrinks itself down as much as it can, hiding beneath the brim of Cole's hat*

*chirrups affirmatively, flitting briefly through the glass before hovering above her palm and scattering glitter like sparkly snow*

*spins in a rapid figure of eight around Bellara, trilling loudly*

*excited chirping*

*spins out of reach, scattering the last of the paperwork as it zooms ahead, trilling in a pitch that mimics her furious scream*

*spots her reaching for scraps, chirps brightly and scatters a few more, not wishing its new playmate to run out of things to chase*

*squeaks in delight on realising that it is being chased - it knows this game! - and gains speed, spiralling through the air and leaving scraps of paper in its wake*

*chitters again, eerily reminiscent of a child's giggle, and dances through the air above her head one last time before it flees the room, taking some of the sketches with it*

*chitters in amusement at her flailing, nimbly dodging her attacks and swiping several sheets of paper from the air in its filaments, flapping them like wings*

*drifts closer, drawn by the inexorable temptation of a desk covered in paperwork... and dives to scatter the pages with an excited trill, sending paper flying in all directions including out the window*

*flickers faintly pink at the compliment, humming softly and spinning in place*