gondolindrim | Reading is fundamental

Kak: *flies up to Nuala*

Nuala: *holds up her hand so he can land, then transfers him to her shoulder* What's the word, friend?

Kak: A lot of people went into the holes in the streets. Some came up bloody.

Nuala: Well then, I'll be staying far from those holes. I don't want to get involved with that mess.

Kak: That's why I told you! *preens her hair*

Nuala: *pets his wing* You're a good raven.

Kak: So true. Sales today?

Nuala: A wool blanket and a light jacket, plus a few orders. Not bad.

Kak: Good! Good. More coins.

Nuala: That's right. And you? Did you find anything interesting, apart from the holes?

Kak: An excellent dead mouse. *still brushing his beak in her hair*

Nuala: *makes a face but doesn't stop him*

Kak: Nice meal. There should be more provided around here! Too clean.

Nuala: Well, the elves do like to keep tidy. I've never seen such clean people in all my life.

Kak: 's not natural. Nature is full of things to eat, here I need coins or to beg off the frizzyhead.

Nuala: Frizzyhead? You mean that lady elf who cares for the animals?

Kak: Her!

Nuala: She seems nice. And she doesn't mind giving away food, it seems.

Kak: But it's begging. *annoyed strut on Nuala's shoulder* We have dignity, me and Awk!

Nuala: And that's why I give you coins and things for helping me.

Kak: Yes! But find someone else willing to pay a raven. *annoyed strut!*

Nuala: Do I not pay you enough to buy food? *curious*

Kak: That's not the point!

Kak: *fluffs* What's an economy, even!

Nuala: *shrugs* Just money, money, money.

Kak: So we try to get more! But only you work! And tricking is getting harder! *wings out* It's ridiculous!

Nuala: You help me with the store, and you keep me informed of what's happening in the city. That counts as work.

Kak: *clicks his beak for a moment to re-orient himself* I mean no one else gives us work.

Nuala: You just need to advertise your skills, is all. You're clever. I'm sure there are others who can see the value in that.

Kak: Go on. *presses his cheek up against hers to listen*

Nuala: *laughs* Well, you are my eyes in the sky. Maybe someone else could benefit from the same service. Ask that captain of the guard, perhaps; he seems like he knows what's what.

Kak: The guard! They have the yellow haired humans that don't like you. I don't want to deal with them.

Nuala: *leans her head against his wing* Aye, that's true. There have to be other people, though. Isn't there some kind of paper that circulates, with news and such? Perhaps we could put in an ad for you and Awk.

Kak: Two birds rapidly losing dignity seek human patrons. *ducks his head under a wing for the shame of it all*

Nuala: *hmms* It sounds a lot sadder when you put it like that.

Kak: It IS sad.

Nuala: Dignity is overrated. Staying alive is what matters.

Kak: To a human. *says the bird who was cheerful about eating what amounts to roadkill earlier*

Nuala: No, really. What is dignity, anyway? It's an illusion that high-born people use to make the less fortunate feel bad about themselves. But don't you worry. We'll find someone who can write and have them draw up an ad for you. Dignity or no, if you want work, that's a good way to get it.

Kak: Fine. I should learn this writing and reading. It would help you.

Nuala: I ought to learn it, myself. Let's have someone teach us, eh?

Kak: *tries standing on one foot to see how well he'd be able to write*

Nuala: It might be easier if you used your beak.

Kak: We'll have to experiment.

Nuala: We will. Even being able to read would help you, regardless of if you could write. You could get the drop on people that way. No one would ever expect a raven to be reading their letters. *blackmail is what she's saying, basically*

Kak: *little chuckle* I understand.

Nuala: *sly grin* Now it's just a matter of finding someone who'll teach us.

Kak: Can we do an ad there too? *not wholly sure what an ad is*

Nuala: Don't think so. I'd have to be able to read before I could write an ad asking for someone to help me learn to read and write. I have to find someone first. Maybe at the library...

Kak: Once we find someone, I'll find where Awk's gotten to and we can begin.

Nuala: Let's go to the library now, then. No sense in wasting time.

Kak: *takes off to fly around her like a protective harbinger of doom*