A Little Monster (Ferian Adair)

[Auralee]

Birds were never very bright. All it took was a small bit of seed on her windowsill to lure the Dantooinian pigeon into Auralee's midst. She was quick with her hands, grabbing it before it had time to react. It's shrill little cries pierced through the calm afternoon air. It would've been nice to have a neighbor child over to show them what the inside of a live bird looked like. But ever since she'd gotten hold of their pet dog, the neighbors had refused to let their child anywhere near Auralee.​

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They were so afraid. It was funny. She laughed a bit and she shoved two sticks through the bird's outstretched wings to keep it pegged to the ground. The countryside was too quiet. Not enough people to play with. Animals were nice... But it didn't quite have the same kick. The little thing thrashed about a bit, shrieking still.​

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"Poor little thing, lost and confused. A little fly that wandered too close to the spider's web..."​

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[member="Ferian Adair"]
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[Ferian Adair]

There was hardly any reason to come this far out from the core, as for most purposes there was nothing for the likes of he in this corner of the galaxy whilst subsumed under control of the Mando'ade; for naturally occurring crystals of the deepest rubied red, there was no other place but the Crystal Cave of Dantooine and the eggs of the poisonous kinrath within, which could harbour the crystals he sought - for no other reason than his feeling it time to unfold his influence upon fertile minds, and this trip was but one preparation. Of course, he hadn't at all planned to happen upon a very young girl doing the very opposite of what young girls did when it came to small, socially endearing creatures... but even he couldn't deny that the Force dropped him an unbidden yet useful clue at times.

"Hm..."

Perhaps the crystals could wait. Hands slipped into jacket pockets and he veered off the walk towards her, while also considering the fact that most girls considered attractive by generally accepted social standards wouldn't be playing alone. It doesn't even take a whole millennium for people-watching to become an art, to know well all the little things that comprised the whole. Gradually, his shadow overtook her, and he came to be at her side, a towering presence to her small form.

"...tell me, child, do you eat what you kill?"

This wasn't her first. Oh, far from it. He knew.

[member="Auralee"]

 

[Auralee]

"Tell me, stranger. Should little girls talk to men who loom so ominously over them?"​

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Auralee replied. Her voice was light and sweeter than honey. She didn't turn to look at him. Her fingers continued the delicate process of plucking each and every feather from the screeching pigeon's form. She was smiling, eerily happy with what she was doing. It wasn't often that strangers decided to wander up to her. Most people on Dantooine minded their own business. That probably meant that this particular stranger was an off-worlder. Something about him... Didn't feel normal to her.​

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[member="Ferian Adair"]​

 

[Ferian Adair]

The comment was nothing more than information, to the pale-eyed man. Information that told him a little more about her. How she spoke, the words she used, how she remained fixed on the task at hand, the work so delicate, so careful, and how skillfully her small fingers manipulated the feathers, one by one. Something wasn't normal about her, something he recognised, and it drew his attention. Perhaps just a curiosity, nothing more, but...

"Most little human girls do not dissect living creatures for fun."

...her disposition could be ideal.

"Of all the reasons to deprive a creature of life, to do so for personal enjoyment serves no real purpose or use."

He examined her work a moment.

"It accomplishes nothing."

[member="Auralee"]

 

[Auralee]

Auralee would go to start plucking the feathers from the bird's wings. It wasn't unusual for someone to protest against her methods of entertainment. She giggled a bit at his comment.​

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"I suppose I could play with dolls and frolic through the meadow like other little girls. But there isn't anything engaging about such frivolous endeavors. Other little girls bore me when they're happy. I'd sooner see them cry. Or scream. Possibly both."​

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The pigeon shrieked some more as if to animate her point.​

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[member="Ferian Adair"] ​

 

[Ferian Adair]

Ah, but she was no little girl - that much was becoming apparent, though it begged other questions. So, then...

"Why don't you?"

It could be that he knew the answer, but it was of significant interest to see how she reacted to the query. He folded his hands in front of himself, and observed her response, awaited any key of emotion.

[member="Auralee"]