CHAPTER FIVE: MARGALO ADLER AND RAMBERT FALCON
"Hello Margalo!" It was Rambert Falcon.
"Make like a bee and buzz off!"
"Playing hard-to-get, I see."
"I was going for impossible-to-get. I can see that I'm not trying hard enough if you aren't getting the point."
"Your father already promised you to me. So you're easier to get than you think."
"Talk to the tailfeathers!" Margalo turned around, shook her tailfeathers angrily, and flew away from him.
Rambert Falcon flew into her path. "Hey, where you going? I'm not done talking yet."
"Well, I'm done listening!" The eagle made a wide swerve, moving aside from the peregrine falcon and continuing on her way.
"I'm sure we can work things out."
"Work things out. Yeah, like a pellet out of the gizzard."
"You know, you really should lose the sarcasm!
"Or what, you won't like me anymore? If so, I'm going to octuple it!"
"You've turned down every eagle that's tried to court you! I thought I'd have better luck! I can fly and hunt so much better than any eagle! I'm make a good husband for you."
"I don't think so!"
"Well, nobody seems to be good enough to be your husband."
"I'm gay." This wasn't true. She was most definitely straight. Still, she would prefer to be single and happy than be married to the wrong guy.
"Somehow I doubt that."
"And you can be the judge on that, how?"
"You haven't tried to court a female either."
"In this flock?! Are you crazy?!"
"Margalo, you aren't fooling me. Don't try and fool a clever bird like me!"
"If you were so clever, you'd know I wasn't interested in you!"
"I already do."
"Then why are you continuing to-?"
"Because I believe I can change your mind."
"By 'change my mind', you'd have to mean 'remove my brain'. Otherwise, I don't see it working."
"We'll see."
"What's there to see?"
"Look, I'm sure we'd do well. I have high standards, and you meet them."
"Just what are your standards?" Margalo was curious. If he valued her for her independent thought, that would make him a better candidate for a mate in her mind.
"Great hunter, pretty dame, and lots of energy."
Margalo sighed. Not what she'd hoped for. "I'm afraid that you don't meet my standards, though.
"And what are they?"
"If I told you, you might just fake it, pretend to kiss my tailfeathers to court me, then dump it all after I married you."
"I wouldn't do that. I have too much honor."
"Well, you can tell my parents, so far, you don't impress me."
"I'll just have to work on that."
"You'll have to be up all hours of the night as well as the day if you hope to have a chance, rate you're going."
"If I must." Falcon said, before flying off.
"Not in a million years, can I see us being together," Margalo said, before flying off as well.