Most of their conversation went over my head, I didn’t understand this talk of breweries or legs that didn’t heal with magic. Or anything like that. I didn’t know who or what Raevin was, or why there was demon magic involved in a place that just made and sold alcohol. It made no sense to me.

“No understand…” I mumbled as I tugged gently on Nevin’s sleeve. “Nevin is god right? Nevin can fix with...uh…” I trailed off. I wasn’t sure what his abilities were, nor how much they had grown. But I had seen him grow, and with the prayers of the people in his church...I could tell that he was gaining more confidence. “Can you fix?”

“I can try. Not really on the healing front - more about acceptance. Which I doubt Raevin wants to accept the loss of his leg.” Nevin hummed thoughtfully, still spinning his pen. His eyes weren't focusing on either of us despite apparently responding to my question.

Stare almost choked as she stared at Eteri, eyes massive. “God?! You think - Nevin - well yeah you're the Messiah or whatever of your church and …” she leant back and held up her hands, looking to Nevin. “I mean you can if you want. I'm not jealous.”

I turned to Stare. “He hears prayers. He helps people.” I grinned, tail flicking side to side as I began to grow excited. “Not just messiah!” I held my arms out wide trying to show Stare what I meant, what I had seen in my head. “You see… there place, big place with many sands and dead things and its all red…” I turned and pointed at Nevin’s hair. “Like this! All shades red and - and - he is like - that place will die without him and-” I paused and took a few breaths, I had been talking fast, perhaps too fast for the poor woman to comprehend. I gave her a firm nod. “Nevin. Nevin is most definitely a god. I see the divinity part right here.” I pressed a finger to his chest, pointing at the section of his soul that was coloured slightly different to the rest.

“Yes, I know, I have seen it in his chakras,” the kenku answered back. “But trust me. Prayers don't make someone a god. Power doesn't either. Don't-” she looked at Nevin. “Do not get carried away with this stuff, Nevin. Please. You have a church, that is good, look after your people but … well gods are frigging arrogant and all powerful. Most even omniscient. Call yourself some deity if you want, but be careful. The-” she broke off, dragging in a breath. It seemed she wanted to go on but she turned away, furious.

Nevin blinked, and his eyes refocused and he gave a confused grunt. “Wha - what? Ok what? I - Stare. Stare - I’m currently, at best, a fledgling godling. Fuck, even if I do ‘take over’ the role of my church fully - I’d be nothing like the level of gods like the Thaynes or the Ethereal Sway. I mean - before meeting me, had you ever even heard of the Great Flow of Crimson? I - doubt it. Because whatever the hell I am - not from this world. I doubt my divinity functions the same way they do. Hell, to hear the prayers that Eteri was talking about? The followers have to have a pearl of my blood to form a connection. It’s not like they can just pray all willy-nilly to me and get my answering service.” He spun his pen around and pointed it at Stare. “I’d call what I’m becoming an Outsider at best, not a true God like those you had experience with. Now. My ambiguous state notwithstanding. I believe, I might be able to help Raevin with Alchemy.”

I pouted. Things were turning.... Bad. Stare didn’t seem to like the use of the word god. A part of me wanted to hug it out. Just wrap the giant bird lady up in a giant cuddle and tell her that it was ok. Nevin would do good things. He would not be arrogant and all powerful. He would still be my Nevin. My ears flicked up and I wriggled my nose. It was difficult...being silent for this long as the two spoke. I took a breath and clambered back onto the counter. I could hear Nevins exasperated sigh from behind me as I pushed myself back off the counter (Who has time to walk around it like a normal person?) “Is ok!” I said to Stare with my arms out wide. “Nevin is the modest. Nevin do good. I am Nevin Priestess will reign him in if he do the bad!” I approached her for a hug. She looked odd. Like she was staring off into space. I would fix that.

When I approached Stare suddenly reacted and threw up her hands. She flinched back, away from my arms, making a loud ‘clack’ sound from the inside of her beak. Her eyes narrowed quickly. “Don't you dare, cat!”

I lowered my arms. My shoulders slumped and my ears twisted back against my head. Tail slumping dejectedly between my legs. She didn’t want a hug? Were they really that bad? “B-but you is not look the happy. Eteri not know how help. Only know hug bring happiness.”

“Eteri, honey. Not everyone likes hugs, first off. Some people don’t like contact. Secondly - Stare is really stressed about one of her friends being hurt really badly, and she - has problems with gods. Stop - stop trying to hug the kenku, honey.” Nevin sounded torn, behind me. Like he was trying to be exasperated, but also trying not to laugh, but also not be sad.

I sighed. “Fine.” She was gonna get hugged one day, again. Regardless of if she liked it or not. This whole ordeal felt like it was over my head. That I was just some third character thrown in for comedic relief or something. I wanted to be more useful. I wanted to show him that I would continue to do the best I could - and I wanted to show her… show Stare that I could be useful too. “How help?”

Stare’s jaw seemed to tighten for a moment before she tore her eyes away from me before the bird nodded stiffly. “Raevin is … the injury goes from here,” she gestured to her knobbled leg, “To here,” she placed a hand just under her armpit. They found some dead tissue, some of it even down to bone.” She closed her hands into fists. “And no, I do not like hugs, Eteri, please do not give them to me. I'm not hugely fond of physical contact … just from some people, that I have chosen.” She adjusted herself, and the lumps on her back wriggled around a little. “Can you help him?” she asked Nevin.

She SAYS she doesn’t like hugs - but she just hasn’t had the right hug yet. Still, I nodded. “Eteri understand. Maybe Nevin hugs would be better?”