The Cadence of Redshore

Four for a Boy

Content Warning: Sex

As I wait patiently for my date, I use the mirror to adjust my feathers. The ones down the nape of my neck have a distinct curl to them, giving them a beautiful bounce. I've chosen to wear an elegant royal purple dress, with coordinated eye shadow. My favourite opal necklace and a blue flower for my head feathers to compliment my eyes. I do so love an opportunity to dress up. After a final spritz of perfume to complete the ensemble, my doorbell chimes. I attend to it, and greet Klaus who awaits me. He is wearing a dark blue suit, no doubt purposefully chosen so he can still wear that blasted beret.

"Good evening, Cadence. These are for you," he hands me a bouquet of white lilies. My favourite flower.

"Oh Klaus, you didn't need to bring these," I say, accepting them all the same.

"Cadence," a laugh hiding beneath his voice, "you and I both know that if I hadn't brought flowers, you would've refused to leave until I did."

"Ugh, you know me too well," I playfully push his shoulder. "Alright, just wait a minute while I put these away." I quickly retreat to my kitchen and pick out my nicest vase for the flowers. Satisfied, I return to my beau and take his arm.

"So, where are we going?"

"The Robuchon."

I stop and look at him in disbelief. "But that's one of, if not the, highest class restaurants in the city!"

"I know," he looks at me with a proud smirk, "only the best, right?"

The journey there is uneventful, save for my heart pounding away with excitement in my chest. I don't know what sort of food they serve there, nor do I care. It's not the food that's important, but rather the opportunity to see and be seen in such a prestigious place. That I, Cadence, am worthy of this and deserve to be there, just as much as any of the elite and wealthy. For a brief moment, I am completely unaware of the fact that we are the only interspecies couple there. It is not until we are seated, that I notice the subtle side-eyes and raised eyebrows. Klaus does not seem to notice at all, or if he does, he doesn't care. I try my best to imitate him. He browses the menu, so I pick up mine also. The waiter comes to take our orders - we decide to try the truffles. When he finally departs, I can speak to Klaus freely at last.

"So Klaus... Not that I don't appreciate the attention, but I must ask... Why me?"

"Really? You're asking that already?"

"No - Yes, what I mean is..." I lower my gaze. There's simply no other way to say it. "Klaus, I'm a bird." Why did I say that as if I were confessing to a crime.

He laughs as though he heard something absurd. "Of course you are. I'm not so old that my vision's going."

"No, I mean, is this what you imagined for your future? You with... a bird? A magpie?"

"Well, before I met you, I suppose I always assumed I'd be with another monkey," he rubs the back of his head, "but it doesn't really matter to me. Once I met you, I knew no other animal, monkey or not, could compare."

"And you don't care what your family would think?"

He shrugs. "It doesn't concern them."

"A-and you know we wouldn't be able to have kids," I continue, conjuring up excuses, reasons, why he should not love me. Self-sabotage at its finest.

He eyes me for a moment, probably wondering why I bring this topic up so soon, and trying to understand my motivation for it.

"We could adopt. Or find a surrogate for a proboscis child. Or a donor for a magpie child. No shortage of options."