The trees are just as sweet as he had hoped. It feels right, to be surrounded by purple flowers, and healers, and an army he's not in charge of. Amando feels safe, and accepted, and lonely, and so very sad. How sad is it, that he didn't even know he was sad until that Sentry pointed it out-- he didn't even give Aeolus a nickname, and that upsets him more than the outcome of the actual interaction, like he cheated the guy, somehow.

He lifts his head, to watch the wind in the leaves. There's just nothing like it-- like waves, but so much nicer. The trees don't have a hit-list for him. The timbre looks totally regal, with his head high, armor gleaming in the sunset, as he announces to the trees, "I'm gonna call him Aioli," with no clue they're not the only ones listening.

He used to startle like a jackrabbit, but Amando isn't nearly so jumpy these days. Maybe he's getting older and anxiety has all of his energy occupied; maybe he feels safe in Inaria. His ears swivel the instant the sound is made, but he takes a moment before actually looking over. The markings carve his eyes out sharply, although one of the white dots above his eyes is raised higher than the other-- curious, more than anything, with a side of concern. "Y'okay, kid?" The timbre ensures, standing despite the creaking protest of his cuirass. "You look like you seen a ghost or somethin'." Not that Amando has-- never; just the white wolf in the water, with knives for eyes and razor-claws, that would hold his head under until the pond ran pink and-- actually, let's not go there.

The leather looks a little heavy on him, with a cobwebbed coil of rope tied to his side. Dressed for war, with the voice of a caricature, and a hopeless smile. "I'm Amando, by the way." Not that anyone asked.

The timid youth felt his face flare with embarrassment as the stranger focused his attention on him. His own attention fell down to his toes seeking refuge that he knew didn't exist. Sure the other sounded like a nice person but Birch was just too scared to open up to someone he didn't know or his family trusted. This stranger didn't fall into either of those categories which made the dire lock up as the other began trying to converse with him. However Birch soon found himself glancing up at the black and white stranger as a foreign sound caught his attention reminding him about the strange contraption that the darker male had strapped to his figure. It seemed rough and weathered making the sheltered youth curious about how long the other had been wearing it and how they were able to clean themselves properly if they never took it off.


Birches response was a knee jerk reaction, "I-I-I'm F-fine," he squeaked out in broken pitches as his body tensed up in preparation for his flight or fight instincts to take over. He wanted the ground to swallow him up right then and there; this was so humiliating. 


Brain frazzled into an overworking mess replied, "Birch," his ears fell back a bit as he just comprehended what he was doing before he started trying to figure a way out of this situation. He couldn't do this. He'd mess up soon and the stranger would know how pathetic he was but he had so many questions about the object attached to his frame. "Isn't t-that he-heavy," he softly inquired before quickly adding in a more frantic tone, "y-You d-don't have to a-answer."

He smiles a little, happy to have gotten even a name out of the kid. "Birch. That's good, it fits you." He comes a little closer, keeps his head down so as not to scare him off. "I'm still not gonna call you that, though. Always come up with nicknames-- it's just a me thing." He finally looks up when asking about the armor, but backpedals faster than Amando can run-- and he's pretty good at that. Glancing down at the chestpiece, he conveys, "Nah, not really. Weight's distributed all over, so I don't even notice it." He's not sure that's a good thing.

Finding his eyes again, Amando presses just a little, "Really though, you sure you're alright?" He knows the look of scared out of your mind. Used to spend a lot of time looking for reflections.

 
                                                                       
The smaller dires attention was no longer on the strangers strange....accessory. Instead the child was devoting his focus to anywhere but the figure standing before him. For some reason the compliment made Birches face grow warm and he became oddly self conscious. Mainly he observed the trees surrounding the two and how beautiful the light appeared as it filtered down from the canopy creating a series of brilliant luminescent beams that cut through to the forest floor.  The youth groaned silently to himself. This was why he disliked talking to others it just brought about odd sensations that made Birch feel out of place and overall embarrassed. Whether it was from shame or the praise the world would never know. It was at this moment, however, that the chocolate dire took notice of the others proximity. Was it just his imagination or had Amando gotten closer?! Swallowing thickly Birch was now unable to look away from the sneaky timber, less he try sneaking even closer, and was surprised at how bright their eyes appeared in contrast to their fur. I mean the green just popped amidst the black and white coloration. It was hard not to look at them.


A stretch of silence accompanied by a series of blinks was the only response Birch was able to muster as he processed what the male had just said. "W-what," he inquired softly his voice sounding so loud in the quiet morning air, "n-nickname...but y-you don't even k-know me." He finished with a squeak as he tried to find out just why on earth this stranger, named Amando, had just stated that he would be giving the child a nickname. Sure his siblings and father had given him nicknames but they were close and from what he understood nicknames were given to people who were dear to you....Birch didn't even know this guy for five minutes! The dire was about to ask the other to not waste the effort of thinking of a new name for him but he was cut off as the bubbly male chose then to answer Birches earlier question.


There was just no way that the shy recluse was going to be able to change the others mind seeing as it was bouncing all over the place. Can we focus on one subject please, Birch silently cried out as the realized that Amando was going to do as he saw fit and Birch was just going to have to accept that fact. It was like he was meeting a male version of his sister Trillium and that thought kind of terrified the child as he recalled all the shenanigans that his spritely sister had dragged him into. None of them had ended well as far as Birch could recall. Amando wasn't like that though....was he? 


Once again the shy dire felt his face flare up as Amandos eyes focused on his and he felt his fur stand on end before he ended up looking away swiftly, "Y-yEs," he yelled out before calming himself,"I-I am f-fine," this time his voice was smoother and more stable, "I j-just d-don't talk with others m-much is all." It was true but he wasn't going to be rude and say that the black and white timber was making him feel uncomfortable with the oddly close and cuddly vibes he was radiating...was this guy always like this? Were others alright with his interactions?! Why oh why did Birch have to go through this! He wasn't ready for holding a conversation it was starting to get awkward. Can't he just politely leave and call it a day? No that would be rude wouldn't it? ARRRG why didn't anyone teach him about correct social ediquette so there the chocolate dire sat unable to meet the others gaze and worrying that he was making a mess of this conversation but honestly...it was all Amandos fault wasn't it? 

Birch's face lights up, like spring blossoms blushing out the white, saliva so thick when it snakes down his throat, Amando flicks an ear at it, and plants his rear on the ground, heavier than he has to. Stop trying to snuggle up, he's not into you, dude-- Just kidding, but Amando's always been overly friendly. Well, as long as he's been himself, anyway.

Kid stutters over disbelief, and Amando cocks his head. "Well not yet, I don't." he needles, good-natured. He's wondering if Inaria is just a more uptight than he's used to, if he should tone down the boundless positivity he holds for the sake of his new packmates' sensibilities-- oh, forget that. "It's called making friends, you should try it some time." He lifts a paw, limp at the wrist, and nudges the dire, just in the slightest, to help fish him out of Amando's eyes. He'll jump from it-- he jumps at everything-- but maybe he'll see the smile that's melted hearts halfway across the straits, and know he's just joking.

White eyebrows shoot up when he shouts, and although one settles while he explains a lack of interaction, the other's not so sure. The male glances left, the right, in a slow, conspiratorial swing. "I'm gonna tell you a secret, Birch," he admits, and a smirk stays even as he lowers his tone, "Neither do I."

Birch may be awkward, but the boy just met his match.