Courtship
Request: Fluff with Pluck courting the female reader. Bringing them berries and little trinkets. Puffing up to seem bigger.
There was another small basket of berries outside your room this morning. This time there were flowers and little shiny objects as well as your favourite sweet bush berries. You glanced down the hallway, expecting to see the Kenku druid peeking around one of the corners. But you spotted only Werblund shuffling out of his room yawning loudly and heading downstairs for breakfast.
Smiling, you picked up the basket and headed back inside your room. It was no mystery who left the gift basket. Ever since Ayna blurted out Pluck’s affections for you in-front of the entire Pretty Cook, you have been enjoying these gifts more and more. Some mornings it was filled with herbs and flowers. Other times, Pluck had rummaged through trash and given you, what you expect, he thought you’d like. But it wasn’t the shiny trinkets or the foul smelling items; it was the thought behind them. But you were still to give back a gift of your own. It was just hard to decide what to give Pluck. He was an awkward bird, so giving him an expensive, or something that seems like an expensive, gift would probably freak him out. And you didn’t want to be an under-gifter either. Since this was the seventh gift basket in the past three weeks.
You decided you’d think about it over breakfast. Maybe even Anya would... no that was a terrible idea. The snake woman meant well, but she was horrible with keeping secrets. Trixia would be a good informant. Maybe should would even ask Pluck for you. She was... subtle in her own ways. And you really wanted to give Pluck something that he’d enjoy and maybe even use. Like a metal water canteen with gems? That seemed too much. Pluck would prefer the gems anyway since he already had a new canteen.
A small pocket watch would be convenient. Pluck was infamous for missing dead-lines or missing mission meet-ups. Maybe a copper one, with intricate details. That would be a nice little gift. Iron-Hoof would gladly make something like that. Or at least have something similar in his workshop.
So lost in thought you wandered down the stairs to the Pretty Cook Inn almost automatically. And within your own mind, you were too slow to properly notice a town guard wandering past. He was just as lost in his own mind, that when the two of you collided, you both went down in a mess of limbs and curses.
“Oh shit, sorry, love!” The guard immediately was on his feet to help you up. “I wasn’t looking where I was going. Are you alright?”
You chuckled to yourself as the young man took your hand and dragged you to your feet. Dusting yourself off, you waved away his concerns with an amused tone. “It’s alright, I’m ok. I was a million miles away too. Some thick armour you have on there, though. Bloody hell, it feels like I rain into a brick wall.”
The guard laughed and clanked his metal chest plate proudly with his fist. “Newly forged. I really am sorry about that. Let me get you breakfast as an apology for-”
Suddenly the room was blanketed in darkness. You felt the usual sensation of magic fill the room and you cried out in shock as you suddenly went blind. All around the Pretty Cook, you heard people curse and start calling out. Attempting to find their way out of the blackness.
“Pluck! You stupid pigeon, why’d you go do that?” You heard Werblund snap somewhere to your right. “Oi! Pluck. Where’d you go mate? Fix this darn spell or I swear I’ll pluck you naked!”
You chuckled. Imagining the gnome squabbling over the table to try and strangle Pluck. But then you felt a warm hand take hold of your wrist. You were pulled closer to a feathered body and suddenly the light returned in a blast of sunlight. You groaned and quickly covered your eyes. Attempting to at least protect them so you weren’t left without your vision for the next hour. Beside you, Pluck had positioned himself almost protectively. His back was to the guard and he waited patiently for you to blink away the bright yellow light that was currently obscuring your vision.
“Pluuuck,” You mumbled. “I’m blind now! Look! I can’t see!” You playfully started slapping your hands around in front of you. Making contact with Pluck’s tunic and the very fluffed up feathers that blanketed his body. When your fingers felt the softness, you opened your eyes and dropped the blind act. He looked a lot bigger than usual. Not taller, but broader and it was the most adorable thing you’ve ever seen him do. Every feather was fluffed up to a point. He looked like one of those fluffy chickens you see running around every so often. “Are you ok? Why are you all fluffy?” You asked and Pluck tilted his beak downwards. It was an awkward motion he did when he didn’t have an answer or was too embarrassed to say anything. He merely shrugged and then without a word, started dragging you towards his table. Leaving the bewildered and half blinded guard behind.
“Well, well... jealous are we Pluck?” Werblund grinned as the two of you sat at the table. “You know, girls don’t like being thrown into darkness. It’s bad for their hair.”
You scoffed at Werblund’s jab at you, throwing a piece of something you found on the table at him. He easily dodged it, merely laughing at poor Pluck’s embarrassment. You cooed softly and nudged Pluck playfully, speaking quietly enough so only Pluck could here you.
“Thank you for the berries. I’m going to bake a pie with them, and of course I would have to share it with the adorable druid who just saved me from an awkward breakfast with a guard.” Your words seemed to brighten up Pluck immensely. He clicked his beak and nodded. He then slid his hand into his cloak and pulled out a small wrapped up parcel. The cloth around it was soft like velvet, and as Pluck handed it to you, it felt heavy in your hands. “What’s this?” You asked, beginning to unwrap it.
Werblund leaned forward a little to get a better look as a small metal object was revealed in your hand. You smiled. Instantly recognising what the object was. It was your lucky charm, something you’ve had since you were a child. But recently, it had been lost in a fight from the last adventure you had with the gang. You expected to never see it again. Especially since the area was guarded by thieves and murderers and monsters. It almost brought a tear to your eye to see it again. And the realisation that Pluck had ventured back into the maw of danger to retrieve it for you was just as endearing.
“P-Pluck... you didn’t have too.” You were speechless. Unable to look away from the charm in your hand. Pluck however was smiling broadly. Watching you as you moved to pin the charm to your clothes. Where it had always been since the day you got it.
“I hated seeing you without it.” Pluck murmured. Looking down at the table as you looked up at him. “And... if you’d accept it as.. as um...would you accept it as a....courting g-gift?”
His words didn’t surprise you, but the suddenness of the question made you pause for a second. You hesitated for that second too long that Pluck started to spiral into an apology, to which you immediately started to deny that you weren't interested that you’d very much take it as a courting gift. But the two of you were so heavily in your own embarrassment and shock that Werblund had to take it on himself to slap you both back to reality. And to do this, Werblund threw his empty breakfast plate at Pluck. Slapping the kenku in the face and promptly breaking the clay plate. You immediately went into nurse mode and started cooing over the ruined feathers and removing bits of clay from Pluck’s head feathers. Glaring at the gnome who went back to staring at the two of you expectantly. You sighed and turned to Pluck, dusting off his feathers before saying: “I would love you to court me...or that we court... or however the appropriate answer for a ‘yes’ is.”
Pluck took a deep breath and sigh slowly. Smiling, he nuzzled his beak against your cheek. And for a moment, you let yourself enjoy his closeness. The gentle embrace of his arm around your shoulders holding you against his side.
“Ok.. that’s enough lovey-dovey shit for today.” Werblund blurted out. “You’ve put me off my second breakfast.”
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