Owner	Pose
Josiah Ellis	Josiah's workshop does actually have a large, rolling garage in the front, but it's the smaller, side door he uses to get them all inside. "Mmmm, I'm pretty good at protecting my home myself," he comments once the key's in the lock and the door's opened. Not much for modern technology, he sometimes still struggles with the alarm system that came with the place. He /just/ manages to enter the right code - after a few 'bloody hells' muttered under his breath - so the alarm doesn't sound. <You have to hit the off button first, how many times, how many times...> Whisper chirps in a tone that actually manages to sound put upon. "How many times have I put you back together after you've flown into a window, huh?" Josiah, too, sounds put upon, but there is a fondness that can't be missed beneath it all. "Soooooo," he drawls out. "I really haven't the foggiest idea what to call you. I suppose we can't just be referring to you as 'the woman' for the rest of the evening?" He extends his right hand, oddly not gloved despite his left hand being so, "My name is Josiah, Josiah Ellis. Most people just call me Joss."
Khanitiel	Khanitiel watches the entry of the code in confusion. She has, of course, memorized it instantly, no matter how long it is. The conversation between bird and man is unusual. "Can you speak with all birds? And can the bird speak with all men?"     Inquiring minds and all that. "You are fragile?" she asks the bird, then. "You seem to be made of sturdy materials. I am just flesh now." She looks at an extended hand. "Not the stuff of the heavens."     And in that moment, she can extend her hand to Josiah. "I am Khaitiel Himlael," she replies. She knows the custom, and she does shake his hand, but her grip is careful, as if she were trying not to inflict harm. It's very much a wet noodle.     "Josiah. I am. I am unsure if I am a person or not."
Josiah Ellis	Off in the corner of the workshop is a small seating area with two well loved, well worn leather chairs with a small table situated between them. It's there that Josiah heads after the introductions are over. "You won't mind if I just call you Kate? That name is certainly a mouthful." Of course his mind is going over 'not the stuff of the heavens' and everything else she's said thus far. Josiah is not a stupid man, not by any stretch of the imagination. "...and Whisper is only fragile when it comes to head on collisions with windows." That's not entirely the truth, the little bird isn't exactly the most sturdy thing out there. "I'm usually the only one that can understand her." Although, as smart as Josiah is, he still has no idea /why/ he can understand her or why she's able to think completely independently. "...and, no, I unfortunately cannot speak to animals other than her. That's Doolittle's job." After a few rounds around the garage, Whisper settles back onto the top of Josiah's head. <I guess she can sleep on the workbench if we clean it off proper? But that would be hard. There's your laundry basket, but that would be too small and too soft. ....> the little metallic creature tweets. "All right then, Whisper, she is not Goldilocks," Josiah cuts the little thing off. He settles the bag down on the table and retrieves a can of pineapple Crush from a small refridgerator nearby. Even the refrigerator is designed to appear 'retro'. "Where are you from, Kate?" he asks. The question seems casual enough, just something two people that have just met might talk about. But he's really fishing for more clues to this current mystery.
Khanitiel	"Kate? Yes, you may call me Kate." She agrees to this request easily enough. But there's no sign of what she thinks of it. "I imagine the name is rather challenging. Unfortunately, I am no longer able to speak my full name, so this approximation of it is all that can be offered. And now I am Kate."     She does not sit, but does follow Josiah in a way that she believes is polite. Kate nods to Josiah's comments about understanding Whisper. "Hello, Whisper. It is a pleasure to meet you." And just as she understands, so can she always be understood.     "You do not need to trouble yourselves greatly. If it is inconvenient to you, all I require is a place that will stay dry and some old newspaper to stay warm. This has worked well."     A pause and she asks, "Goldilocks? My hair is silver." The odd woman takes a lock of her hair and studies it. "It is still silver. Nothing changes in my form now, yet it is also less permanent."     Her word choice is as if she were speaking of someone else. "Oh, where am I from? The last place I recall being before now was a distant word called Thosalos." She pauses, and for the first time, almost shows a flicker of expression.
Josiah Ellis	Distant world. Josiah goes back to his original thought of 'Alien'. She certainly seems alien enough. Polite and, for the most part, seemingly harmless... but alien. "Please sit," he gestures to one of the chairs before he *pops* the top to the can of soda. "I do apologize, but I don't really have any glasses down here, they're all upstairs in the apartment. Whisper looks up from where she's actually preening Josiah's curls and chirps <She understands me? You mean I finally have someone to talk to that isn't you?> Can a bird chirp and tweet in a way that sounds 'joking'? Well not all, but this one can. "Goldilocks is a children's story wherein a blonde-haired young girl wanders into the house of Three Bears that are away - but I don't suppose all that bloody well matters, does it?" <Language, Joss> the little automaton chides. "Go on then, eat up." Josiah nudges the bag in 'Kates' direction. "Spoons, forks, napkins, it's all in there. I generally just eat the rice right from the carton." That flicker of emotion isn't lost on him. Josiah presses gently enough, "What is this place like? This Thosalos?" The gentle nature of the question is surely because he's thinking maybe she comes from some planet that's blown up or been irradiated or ... any number of horrid things that happen to planets.
Khanitiel	Kate does sit. Her posture is completely rigid, perfect, flawless, and utterly out of place for the occasion. If someone were to draw-up a schematic of how to sit, this would be the result. "Glasses are not required for beverages," she replies in a way that may be an attempt to reassure.     "Of course I understand you, Whisper. You are right there. You are quite clear." Those vibrant, strange eyes inevitably come back to the food, though. She can feel the pangs of hunger. It is clear what must be done.     "It is not appropriate that I take all of your food," she says. But she knows she must eat. And so, reluctant or no, she begins to do so. "This reminds me of a place I once knew," she says quietly. She handles the chopsticks with the same odd grace. Her motions are utterly efficient. "And the flavor is familiar. This would have pleased them." Her eyes change subtly, her memories filling her vision for a time. "It was so very long ago, wasn't it? How old are you, Josiah?"     She very pointedly remains silent when it comes to that question. The only thing she can do is remain mum on the topics that would be problematic.
Josiah Ellis	He has a decision to make. Does he come out with it? His true age? Or does he lie as he has so many times before. Josiah's brow furrows ever so slightly during his pondering. Well, bloody hell, she's an odd enough duck that maybe she won't be put off by a human being stating, "One hundred and seventy-three." <I know I'm right here. I'm certainly not over there, so where else would I be than right here?> Whisper sing songs. <Josiah created me and, thus far, has been the only one to ever understand me. Not even other birds seem to know what I'm saying.> "Probably because they're /just birds/, Whisper," Josiah points out. "Really, it's fine. I have more food upstairs," he insists. That part is true enough, but he really is a little letdown to let go of his take-out in favor of whatever he can manage to scrounge together in his kitchen.
Khanitiel	"So very young," Kate says. She is eating as if she enjoys the food. She certainly appreciates it. "Thank you very much for this, Josiah. I am sure this must be considered a very special meal in this world." She does not say how old she is. He did not ask.     Her attention is drawn back to Whisper. "You were created by the hands of a man, and you are a new life. Certainly the divine favors you both, for Freedom and Will have found a home in your form."     Her attention is drifting through memories as she eats. There is something unusual about the meal, perhaps. It is among her first, after all. "The last time I encountered something like this was many, many years ago. Before your star was alight, certainly."
Josiah Ellis	It certainly isn't polite to ask a lady her age, nor is it appropriate to pause before answering when she asks if her dress makes her butt look big. But... so very young? He didn't miss that and he certainly is not so very young for a mortal man. Perhaps another man might make the leap from Alien to Heavenly quicker and Josiah might just get there before the conversation is over, but for the moment his science brain is winning out. Talk of the Divine and stars and Freedom and Will? Until he wraps his mind around the alternative, it must all just be some otherworldly culture in play. Finally he settles down in the chair at the other end of the table. Through all Josiah's movement, Whisper has been in that nest of curls, preening between chirping. Could it be that this little mechanical bird holds some sort of affection for Josiah? It seems that way. "After you're finished eating, perhaps you would like to take a shower or a bath? Unfortunately I don't believe I have any clothing that will fit you properly, but we can take care of that tomorrow." <If you have plans of murdering him in his sleep, please do tell me now so...> "Whipser, why would you ask... just don't, that was highly inappropriate." Perhaps, after the time passed between now and the alley, little Whisper is starting to get more of the weird and creepy vibe Kate's throwing down more than his creator seems to be.