Fakir regrets the terms of staying with the Auspex.
He couldn't really object; if they wanted to have any sort of progress with Duck, the Auspex had to spend time with her. That didn't mean he had to like getting stuck with the chores associated with caring for the birds in the sanctuary, however. He also didn't like getting stuck alone to think on the Auspex's words.
"Are you sure this is what she wants?"
"What?" Fakir had said, jerking his head up from watching Duck swim with the other birds.
"To have Princess Tutu's curse reversed," the Auspex explained, adjusting his glasses. "Is this something for her or something for you?"
He opened his mouth to speak but the 'Of course!' that wanted to come out just couldn't.
"Hmmm," the Auspex hummed. "I'm not sure I managed to catch your name."
Fakir's tongue had hit the roof of his mouth before he answered and he briefly wondered where the hell that urge came from.
"Well, Fakir, I think you should consider the answer to my question while I ask Duck what she wants."
The question weaves in and out of Fakir's mind as he sweeps the filth out of the housing, distracting him from the stink of the waste. Why is he doing this? Why is this so important?
Is he losing focus?
Duck waddles across the table, glancing at the spread of the day's notes. Some pages were filled to spilling over while others had more space for drawings of Duck and her gestures. The Auspex strokes the feathers on her head with his free hand while tapping his quill over his work.
"Am I understanding you correctly so far?" he asks while she looks over the notes. "You're more complex than the creatures I normally communicate with, Duck. And your memory is simply astounding."
Duck quacks with a nod and gives him a pat with her wing.
The notes take shape like puzzle pieces, the elements of her story sitting on the table waiting to be assembled. The Auspex rubs his nose, in part to reassure himself that he's still wearing his glasses. Some parts read sharper and clearer than others, half due to what Duck herself remembers and half due to what he can understand of Duck's strange, self-crafted language. A bird familiar with speaking in human tongue makes for an interesting marriage of language.
The Auspex sighs and goes, "I hate to say this but we would probably have better luck if I could teach Fakir what I know. But I don't know what sort of time frame you have to work with. You plan on returning soon for the royal wedding, correct?"
Duck gestures with her wing, conveying an unwavering yes.
He sits back a moment, treading down a different path in his mind.
"Duck, I think I know you about as well as I can in our short time. And I imagine you're exhausted by the relentless questions."
He laughs lightly when she nods.
"How about we just talk for a little while?"
The Auspex is waiting as Fakir returns from the chores.
"Well?" Fakir asks. "Have you found how to reverse it?"
The Auspex nods and goes, "I believe I have."
"And?"
"And you are oddly important, Fakir."
"What do you mean by that? What do I have to do?"
"Not important like that," the Auspex clarifies, waving away his concern as they step inside for supper. "It could turn into important like that but it's not what I meant."