[ The bird's priorities seem to be the same as the man Clover knows, because it snatches the grape of Clover's hand and begins to tear it apart on the countertop before any answer comes.
Once the sweet treat is wholly consumed, however, the crow tilts its head to eye the cautious human and beeps twice. ]
[ Clover avoids a chunk being ripped off his finger by a hairsbreadth when that sharp little beak snatches the fruit from his hand. Reflexively shaking out his hand he bites back a curse then -
Two calls, two deliberate little sounds.
Things might as well get this weird. Clover holds out his hand like a perch, ]
[ It isn't often that this particular bird deliberately introduces himself to people, but honestly, this is going more smoothly than expected. No screaming in disbelief, no outrage that it was a kept a secret for this long. With a brief fluttering of its wings, the crow hops up onto Clover's outstretched hand, tiny claws gently prickling on skin as it gets settled.
In response to Clover's incredulous statement, the bird bobs its head towards the grapes again. ]
[ There is a lot Clover could say - holy shit springing to mind, for one. Only he doesn't and there was a good reason for that. So much of their lives where it intersected had survived on secrets. From Ozpin to Salem and the Maidens, all of this was still so new even if he hadn't had long to process it. In the grand scheme of things, Qrow should be allowed his own secrets.
Little ones that climbed up his hand and made throaty, plaintive noises with exaggerated head bobs for more grapes. ]
Okay, okay. Let me sit down first.
[ Clover drops onto the window seat in the barely renovated breakfast. Trying not to jostle Qrow's perch as he uses his free hand to gather a tiny hand full of grapes to hold out. ]
[ When Clover sits, the crow takes the opportunity to hop its way onto Clover's much broader shoulder with another flapping of wings for balance and a little scrabble of talons on his arm. No offense to Clover's hand, but his shoulder makes for a much steadier perch from which to pluck another grape from the man's palm.
It also allows for a cozy little headbutt against Clover's cheek.
I'm guessing this isn't some windfall benefit of your Semblance.
[ Clover goes very still, not brushed up on his 'bird lore' to know if sudden movements spooked them. Was Qrow entirely himself still? Obviously he could answer simple yes or no questions but Clover couldn't help but wonder what turning into something with a walnut sized brain did to higher functions.
Then Qrow gives him that little headbutt and he decided he just doesn't care about the details as his heart turns to melted goo. ]
You're such a cheese.
[ Clover reaches up with his free hand to give little scritches around the feathery little head with his fingertips. It was then the lights went on in Clover's head. ]
[ The little scritches earn a pleased pouf of neck feathers from the crow perched on Clover's shoulder, though it barely pauses in its enjoyment of the snacks on offer. Qrow did say he likes grapes, and - just like the casual affection - he seems to like them a lot more enthusiastically as a bird than he does as a human.
Then Clover calls him a grackle, and half a grape ends up plopping onto the table with the bird's exasperated squawk. ]
[ Watching shimmering black plumage fan out until the profile of the bird was comically almost spherical, Clover had to bite his tongue. He had never been the type to go gaga over cutsey animal antics but when it's someone you're this attached to doing it...well. It was an effort on Clover's part not make some embarrassing fawning noises.
He does however laugh when Qrow squawks at the indignanty of being yet again misidentified. ]
I'm joking, I'm joking! [ Sort of. He is pretty sure this is a crow but he'll wait for Qrow to clarify in person. Or in the flesh. Whatever.
Wait.
Clover stills and just barely had the presence of mind to deposit his handful of grapes in the basket. Something clicked. ]
You were that bird I was seeing around the city and on the property all these weeks?
[ Crow Qrow is a damn cute bird, if he could say so himself. He can't and won't, not even as a human, but as a bird he isn't above ducking his head chasing after Clover's fingertips for more of those scritches.
He doesn't get to indulge in these things very often, which is why Clover doesn't get any audible answer to his question.
It's obvious anyway, isn't it? Not like there are any other small black birds around this place. Should he be ashamed that he spent the past few weeks lowkey stalking the guy he was angry with?
Maybe. But he'll wait to see Clover's reaction before he acts sheepish about it. ]
[ Clover goes quiet, but he keeps at scritches the little feathery soft head where the bird is perched. Even before he knew the whole truth he had some suspicions. Ones that to him seemed rational at the time, that Qrow could control or train birds or...something. ]
I'll take that as a yes. [ He said, evenly. Not really betraying if he was upset or not until he said. ]
Not going to lie I'm not thrilled that I gave you space and you couldn't do the same for me. [ It did feel a little hypocritical of Qrow to have spent those weeks ignoring him and saying he needed time alone just to effectively stalk him. ] Only...I was so alone and miserable that I think I'm not angry.
At least, it's good to know you were sort of around still.
[ The little red eyes close in something akin to bliss as the scritches continue, even while Qrow is listening to what Clover honestly has to say to him. And yeah, maybe he is a little embarrassed, but hell...
Qrow already admitted that he was lousy at staying away when he should. For better or for worse, he never could do it.
The croaking sound the bird makes somehow manages to sound placating, which is probably as close to an apology as most people have ever gotten out of Qrow Branwen. ]
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Once the sweet treat is wholly consumed, however, the crow tilts its head to eye the cautious human and beeps twice. ]
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Two calls, two deliberate little sounds.
Things might as well get this weird. Clover holds out his hand like a perch, ]
No kidding?
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In response to Clover's incredulous statement, the bird bobs its head towards the grapes again. ]
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[ There is a lot Clover could say - holy shit springing to mind, for one. Only he doesn't and there was a good reason for that. So much of their lives where it intersected had survived on secrets. From Ozpin to Salem and the Maidens, all of this was still so new even if he hadn't had long to process it. In the grand scheme of things, Qrow should be allowed his own secrets.
Little ones that climbed up his hand and made throaty, plaintive noises with exaggerated head bobs for more grapes. ]
Okay, okay. Let me sit down first.
[ Clover drops onto the window seat in the barely renovated breakfast. Trying not to jostle Qrow's perch as he uses his free hand to gather a tiny hand full of grapes to hold out. ]
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It also allows for a cozy little headbutt against Clover's cheek.
Apology accepted, apparently. ]
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[ Clover goes very still, not brushed up on his 'bird lore' to know if sudden movements spooked them. Was Qrow entirely himself still? Obviously he could answer simple yes or no questions but Clover couldn't help but wonder what turning into something with a walnut sized brain did to higher functions.
Then Qrow gives him that little headbutt and he decided he just doesn't care about the details as his heart turns to melted goo. ]
You're such a cheese.
[ Clover reaches up with his free hand to give little scritches around the feathery little head with his fingertips. It was then the lights went on in Clover's head. ]
Ooooooh, I get it. 'Qrow'!
Then why do you turn into a grackle?
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Then Clover calls him a grackle, and half a grape ends up plopping onto the table with the bird's exasperated squawk. ]
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He does however laugh when Qrow squawks at the indignanty of being yet again misidentified. ]
I'm joking, I'm joking! [ Sort of. He is pretty sure this is a crow but he'll wait for Qrow to clarify in person. Or in the flesh. Whatever.
Wait.
Clover stills and just barely had the presence of mind to deposit his handful of grapes in the basket. Something clicked. ]
You were that bird I was seeing around the city and on the property all these weeks?
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He doesn't get to indulge in these things very often, which is why Clover doesn't get any audible answer to his question.
It's obvious anyway, isn't it? Not like there are any other small black birds around this place. Should he be ashamed that he spent the past few weeks lowkey stalking the guy he was angry with?
Maybe. But he'll wait to see Clover's reaction before he acts sheepish about it. ]
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I'll take that as a yes. [ He said, evenly. Not really betraying if he was upset or not until he said. ]
Not going to lie I'm not thrilled that I gave you space and you couldn't do the same for me. [ It did feel a little hypocritical of Qrow to have spent those weeks ignoring him and saying he needed time alone just to effectively stalk him. ] Only...I was so alone and miserable that I think I'm not angry.
At least, it's good to know you were sort of around still.
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Qrow already admitted that he was lousy at staying away when he should. For better or for worse, he never could do it.
The croaking sound the bird makes somehow manages to sound placating, which is probably as close to an apology as most people have ever gotten out of Qrow Branwen. ]