#learnspanishorvanish : duo

[ghostsandmirrors]

Duo i need to know. Are you trying to set yourself on fire? Or trying to get it on with the fire?

"I'm trying to keep the flame alive! If I have to use my own feathers to do so, then so be it!"

"The heat does not bother me, Zilly! Those gaps in your lessons do!"

[ghostsandmirrors]

The owl stared almost blankly, watching the man's reaction with that façade of joy plastered over his feathery little face. It was undeniably entertaining to watch him--over the years, the owl had gained an appreciation for people being surprised, startled, or afraid in reaction to him--but beyond that empty cheerfulness, there was no emotion.

"You do not have to apologize," said the owl, rocking on what would have been the balls of its feet if it were a human, "I am aware that owls do not often talk!"

He paused as if buffering, trying to decide whether or not to reveal that he'd found it funny, before deciding not to and instead choosing to just move on. "Maybe that is why humans don't notice a lot? They seem oblivious when surprised…" he mused, now seeming to put actual thought into the subject. It was short-lived, though; there were more interesting things to discuss.

"That is a very good question!" There was a long pause, as if the owl was going to simply not answer, before he spoke again. "I do not know! Some have called me a god, others think I am an abomination!" His voice never changed from that cheerful, bouncy tone that he was known for. "I am just a teacher! Translate this into English; ich bringe menschen bei, wie man angst erlebt!" I teach people how to experience fear!

"You said you are a mutant? Is that how you appeared?" Somewhere, in the depths of that hollow tone, was just a spark of genuine interest that couldn't be smothered by fake happiness.

Startled by the little green owl suddenly talking, Kurt almost fell over. Kurt could see that this was no ordinary owl even before it could speak. It was green and with very large eyes, it looked almost like a cartoon. Almost. Kurt regained his composure and thought about what the little owl said. It wasn't wrong. "I apologize for mein reaction, little friend. I did not expect you to be able to talk. I teleported away from zhe bad men. I hope I am far enough away but you are correct zhat humans do not notice things very well." Kurt bowed his head with his apology to the little sentient owl, and continued to explain his situation in a very happy sounding German accent and gesturing to himself and his blue skin tone when agreeing with Duo. "I hope I am not stepping over any bounds vith mein question but how can you speak? Are you a mutant like me or some species not from here? I mean no disrespect, little friend. Just mere curiosity." Once again in his cheerful German tone, Kurt asked his questions, Praying to his Lord that he would not offend this little creature.

@ghostsandmirrors

[ghostsandmirrors]

“ why are you looking at me like that? ” (for Duo!)

𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒

"Because I want to!" said the owl, a mask of joy over his tone and never quite reaching his eyes as he bounced on the spot, adding a hint more cheerfulness to the hollow joy in his tone. "Who is going to stop me? You cannot kill me, even if you try!" The joy had grown in quantity, though was still hollow, still a mask over a lack of... anything. Everything.

The owl hadn't been programmed with emotions.

"My freedom comes at a cost; your comfort!"

[ghostsandmirrors]

( continued from here with @antioceas )

Now that he was stood, the owl peered up at him, staying silent at first. It didn't take long for that eternally overly enthusiastic creature to speak, though.

"You don't want a conversation!" Besides the enthusiasm--an admittedly difficult thing to ignore--was something else. A feeling, like the owl thought he was being helpful with that lack of answer. "Il diavolo non ha mai finto di essere un gufo!" The devil has never pretended to be an owl!

[ghostsandmirrors]

❝ i begged for a miracle. instead, i got you. ❞ - Ari

✎ … 𝑪𝑨𝑳𝑳 𝑴𝑬 𝑨 𝑺𝑰𝑵𝑵𝑬𝑹.

"You should've begged more, then." The typically joyous and enthusiastic voice was empty, the words almost ringing within themselves; a contained echo from the owl.

Those eyes, those soulless eyes, stared up at her as he spoke again, "miracles come to those who deserve them." He paused. "Förjärnar du dem? Jag tror inte det." Do you deserve them? I don't think so.

[ghostsandmirrors]

“Go away, I’m not looking for a conversation.” - Alric to Duolingo Owl (I wanna)

Terrible First Meeting Starters

[ghostsandmirrors]

( continued from here with @stripesofbrooklyn )

"Oh, Captain, I don't threaten people!" The owl was far too cheerful, considering what he was saying, what the abomination of feathers and languages was implying. "I only warn them of what's to come!"

"If I don't have a reason, I remain peaceful!" he said, that same tone being kept up, until it dropped again for him to speak again. "Don't give me a reason, and we won't have a problem."

That dead-eyed looked was back, an owlification of 'the lights are on, but no one's home'; the empty gaze that could bore into even the mightest of souls. Again, it was for a split second before that happy little expression returned, like the owl had momentarily glitched and was back to normal. "We can be friends! I love making friends!"

[ghostsandmirrors]

( @bruxsaria asked for the owl )

There was the tapping of talons on the hard floor, the footsteps of the feathered creature sounding out as almost a skip. Just a little tapping before that voice came. That voice. That horrific voice. That voice that seemed to make words dance on the tune of that too-cheerful tone.

But he knew up to 38 languages!

"Borna!" Her name rung out hauntingly, searching for he target as he held a toothpick in one hand like a joust. "Jeste li vježbali?" Have you been practicing?

"Znaš da učiš samo pokušavajući!" You know you only learn by trying!

[ghostsandmirrors]

"Excuse you?"

"What didn't you understand?" asked the owl, eyeing him as if he were a mouse scurrying through the dry grass of a field, and not an internationally known superhero. "Perhaps I can explain it better through actions."

[ghostsandmirrors]

"give 'em hell, kid."

THREE CHEERS FOR SWEET REVENGE. 

"Don't worry!" said the owl, almost singing out the words with an unsettling amount of joy in his tone. "I always do!" It was one of the owl's few joys in life. He had languages--he loved them--and then tormenting those who refused to do what they should.

What could he say? It was fun.

"And I would do the same to you." He paused, eyes dead and lacking in any sort of warmth that might otherwise come from another living thing. It lingered for only a moment, though, before that characteristic joy was back. "Make sure I never have to!"

[ghostsandmirrors]

they might have exaggerated just a bit. --@deafarcher

“I THOUGHT YOU WERE DEAD” PROMPTS

"I don't think they have!" said the owl cheerfully, staring with an emotionless, blank stare that didn't even almost match his tone. "You just haven't realized the trouble you're in!"

A threat? No. The owl didn't do threats. He did warnings.

[ghostsandmirrors]

( @necrosisfantosis liked for a starter )

"How does this work?" Duo asked with his usual amount of threatening cheerfulness about him, having decided some time ago to take up residence with Borna and having had no reason to change his mind.

He paused, cheerfulness gone, and stared at her. His gaze was empty, like a switch had been turned off to make him seem cold and distant. "What if this does work?"

[ghostsandmirrors]

Don't mind her; she's missed her English lesson

Again

So she's checking the locks

There is tapping at one of the windows, like a stick hitting the glass.

“Uh oh!” A voice is coming from... somewhere in the darkness outside. “It looks like you forgot your English lesson! Let me in, Borna!”

[ghostsandmirrors]

( continued from here with @stripesofbrooklyn​ )

"Because you haven't been practicing!"

[ghostsandmirrors]

“Oh, my adult body is an armchair?” ( sam @ anyone )

UNHhhh Sentence Starters

"It can be!" said the owl cheerfully, striking a pose while maintaining eye-contact with the human in front of him, never blinking, seemingly never breathing, happy expression staying put even while his eyes began to grow empty and hollow. “Leather armchairs are all the rage!” The tone never changed, the body language never changed. The owl stared.

[ghostsandmirrors]

❛ you’re about as intimidating as a butterfly. ❜ ( alice to duo )

𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐌 𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒 

"I don't need to be intimidating!" said the owl, tone oddly cheerful despite his overall demenor. "Actions speak louder than words! And my actions speak very loudly!"

The cheerfulness was still there, though now it was… hollow. Empty. A façade. As if he were trying to keep her from suspecting anything about him, even while his words implied that people--and Alice--should definitely worry.