Of course the part I decided to write tonight was 'Tough Love', it was bound to happen.
This is the spot where I share some updates and whathaveyou. Story starts soon, don't you worry.
As of the time I write this, school starts tomorrow. This doesn't matter. I only write in the evenings anyway. I plan to write a few things, actually.
I had an idea that I would start literally a whole series of wholesome-ness. Short stories, if you will. An inkling into Blu and Jewel's lives. Do let me know if you'd especially like to see that, or, indeed, if you have any ideas for it. I'm always listening. As for where 'Barely Human' is, I don't know, myself. I said I'd write another part by the end of the month but... That hasn't happened, has it? I've learnt my lesson in promising when I'll write things as I can never predict my moods. I'm a mood based writer, so that's important. If I'm not in the mood to do something, I simply don't do it. Funnily enough, I don't need to be in a mood to procrastinate by watching YouTube... Hmm...
Anyhow! Onto the story!
In the last part, Jewel had told Blu directly that she knew he had feelings for her, and that to prove to her they were genuine, and to provoke her to have the same feelings for him, then he would have to prove to her that he loved her, and would be able to provide for her, and the family that they were bound to have.
How would Blu be able to set about achieving this feat? It all begins here.
Also seen previously, was Blu unfortunately stirring up something from Jewel's past. Something terrible that came back to haunt her...
"I can see I've upset you... What did you just think about?" asked Blu.
"Yeah... Wouldn't you like to know..." sniffed Jewel, fighting to regain her cool composure.
"I would like to know. I'm not going to sit here and see you upset." he replied, before adding "Let me help you."
Jewel breathed in, intaking a vast amount of oxygen that would allow her to speak her demons.
"You're right about not wanting to sit around and see me cry... But you're going to have to. I cannot speak of what has happened before me." She said, her emotions practically escaping out of her, via her beautiful crystalline eyes.
Blu admitted defeat and hesitantly declared, "Very well..."
"Thanks for understanding. Despite your flaws, you're a good bird at heart. I can see that." said Jewel.
"Are we both playing the mentalist here?" chuckled Blu, to which Jewel replied, also with a chuckle, though hers was more melodious, "It's not my fault if I can read you like a magazine."
"Well it kinda is... But, can't be helped." retorted Blu.
"There's that. Now... What are we doing, today?" asked Jewel.
"Good question..." thought Blu, and said verbally, "Hmmm..."
"Shall I figure out something to do?" she asked.
"Be my guest, I certainly don't know what to do all day." admitted Blu.
"Well... We could always go out? Take Emile, too. Can't leave the kid here." suggested Jewel.
"That sounds like a good idea. Where do you propose we go?" asked Blu.
"Uncertain." admitted Jewel, then proposed "Perhaps I'll take you to some fine eating establishment. They are around, and they are certainly a good place to while away an evening in style."
"That sounds nice..." said Blu. "When can we go?"
"Soon. We must wait for the night to grow near, then we can leave." she assured.
"Very well, then." he finished. "What do you plan to do until then?"
"I don't know, in all honesty. Emile is still looking around the cage, and will likely find something to entertain himself with." said Jewel. "There's always the talk of a few things... Such as... What's it like?"
"What is what like?" asked Blu, puzzled.
"Being a... pet." she prompted.
"Oh, right. Well... Despite what you might think, it's not that bad..." he told her.
"I have my doubts. Is it not cramped?" she asked.
"No. Human houses are like bird nests, only much, much bigger, and comfier, and they are warm!" he continued.
"Yeah... But do you have fresh air in there? And food? And what about the humans, hm? They must treat you so badly." inquired Jewel.
"Actually, no." answered Blu.
"Impossible! Humans are nothing but savages!" she shouted, although, not loud enough that Emile might hear.
"If all humans are so savage, and cruel, then why am I in pristine condition? There isn't an inch of damage on me." he argued.
Jewel noticed that, and said, slightly embarrassed, "So you are..."
"Hmmmm? Savages?" he teased.
"No. Not all are savages. But you're way too cute to do anything bad to." admitted Jewel.
Blu blushed, and said "Thank you... I don't think anyone would eh... come too close to you, either."
"Oh?" she chuckled, "Do I sense a compliment?"
"Yes..."
"Well. Thank you. God gave me this beautiful body, and I shall do my utmost take good care of it." she told him, then said, with a giggle, "It's just like you to try and seduce me."
"Hey! You started it!" he protested.
"I know! I'm just messing with you!" she said, joyfully, glad to be having a bit of fun, at last.
"Well stop! You're gonna make me blush!" he retorted.
"Oh, am I? Ah well. Can't be helped, can it." she finished.
After around 30 minutes of talking about pet life, Emile grew bored of the cage, and joined Blu and Jewel in their discussion. Though, it was more of a "Pet Life" informative speech by Blu than an actual discussion.
All three birds whiled away the time until around midday, when Blu ran out of things to tell. He had recounted on his holidays, and his days out, and various other things. At this time, it was 12:30pm, and Jewel had had enough of talking. They had been chatting away for around an hour and a half, by this time.
"Y'know? I think that'll do. Let's go and get something to eat." declared Jewel.
"Oooohh. What are we going to have?" asked Emile, excitedly.
"That's a good question. What do you feel like having, darling?" asked Jewel, her motherly tenderness towards the child shining through.
"I don't know..." he admitted, feeling a bit silly.
"Well, I'm sure we'll be able to find anything you might desire?" said Blu, hoping that Jewel would agree.
"More like, If I'll be able to find anything." she laughed.
"Well... Yeah, but I'm assuming you won't have to find anything, as you have a place to go in mind?" he said, again, hoping that Jewel would be able to enlighten him.
"There is one place. I expect you'll both find it to your liking." announced Jewel.
Soon the macaws were all left with a dilemma. How were they going to be allowed out, and with Emile, too? It would be near enough impossible. But Blu was determined to do it. Especially if it would make Jewel happy.
After getting the human's attention, they soon found some very confused faces looking at them.
"Tulio, what's with the little scarlet macaw there?" asked Linda, and Tulio could not answer her definitively.
"Jewel tends to go wandering and do things like this. Maybe I should ask Sylvio if he knew what happened. He's been strangely quiet, lately." answered Tulio.
"But, what are we going to do? Can we... Let them be with the little scarlet?" she asked, again.
"You don't argue with Jewel. She does what she wants." laughed Tulio.
"So long as he'll be okay." said Linda, a hint of mistrust towards Jewel in her voice.
"I'm fairly confident that she won't hurt him." assured Tulio.
Linda said nothing more, and looked to Blu to see if he were happy or not. He didn't seem really relaxed, but he certainly didn't mind being around Jewel.
"What is it, Blu? What's up?" she asked him, kindly, lowering her arm for him to sit on, which he did gratefully. Blu made a scribbling motion in the air with his left talon, a motion which Linda deciphered and immediately knew it's meaning. She turned to Tulio and asked for a pen and paper. Confused, he did as she asked, bringing her a notepad and a pen.
She set the notepad down onto the table, and offered Blu the pen, which he took, and began to write.
"Must we stay in here, or can we go out somewhere? I'd like to take Jewel somewhere nice, so we can, Blu took a pause when he wrote up to here, to think of exactly how to put what he was trying to convey, and then he thought of it, and put, "Save the Species"
Linda was used to Blu writing, but Tulio hadn't seen anything like it.
"In all my years of ornithology, I've never ever seen a bird that could write!" he exclaimed. Now even more desperate to save the species, he said "Yes!" with no issues, except that they had to wear these trackers. Tulio even got one for Emile.
Jewel protested to having something attached to her, and after struggling for ages, and stubbornly refusing to wear anything, Tulio thought It'd be alright, given that both Blu and Emile had one.
They were told not to stay gone for long, and that if anything happened, they'd know, and come and look for them.
And so, Blu, Jewel, and Emile, all prepared to go out for a nice day, all together.
And that's that...
I have no idea when I'll write another part, but I will. Things have been slow and busy recently. Procrastination has grabbed me by the throat. I might not be able to write as often as I'd like, but still. I did this, and it's enough for me.
Thanks for reading!