The United Kingdoms Of Auradon

"Pigeon... coops?" he asked, startled for a second, then he shook his head, smiling. "In Auradon, most birds tend to be friends or companions or sidekicks. So we try to avoid insulting them. Cages and things like that are kept only in specific areas that those who are friends know to avoid. We don't have access to any of those here though, that would be out on the farms. We've all agreed not to eat each other here. While some creatures are aware that others eat their kind, we try not to make that too obvious in the capitol, since everyone needs to feel comfortable coming to see the king and queen."

From:

She hesitated. "The birds my goblins kept were given shelter and places for their nests. There were no cages involved... but setting up similar here, to collect eggs, wouldn't do?" She frowned a little to herself, uncertain what to make of that.

From:

Her... Goblins?

Okay that was a little bit worrying. But something to consider later. And possibly to discuss with Mal. He still had that proposal from the Dwarves on his desk about the Goblins on the Isle, but with everything going on, he had put off making a decision on that. Maybe there was more he could learn here.

"It is something we could consider, I suppose. I would need to learn more about it. And we might want to consider asking Enki if there is anything we need to consider that we might both have missed. I think he has spent more time with the birds here than even I have, at this point."

From:

She nodded, quiet a moment. "...So I ought not to begin setting them up yet?"

From:

"Not just yet, but if Enki is available, perhaps we can have a meeting, the three of us. Then I can run whatever we come up with by the Queen and get you an official decision as soon as possible."

From:

Another little nod, a hint more of a smile. "Ought I find him, then, or would--"

She was interrupted by a loud, sudden fweep from the bird in her arms, and looked down at it. "I beg your pardon?"

"FWEEEP!"

She resumed petting it against her, stepping up her efforts as she did, ruffling its feathers as she ran her fingers through them, and looked back to Ben. Right, time to pretend that they hadn't just been so rudely interrupted by an attention-demanding bird. "...Or would it be better to convene at another time?"

From:

He chuckled, used to that. "I can zapp him a message, if you want? See if he is free?"

From:

"You--" A brief pause, trying to figure out what he'd just suggested; she clearly wasn't very familiar with the phone and its apps yet. Had she even used it before? But she didn't dwell on it, and simply smiled a little more. "Well, if you're able to and it's convenient...?" That's a yes.

From:

He smiled and pulled out his cell, zapping a quick message to Enki.

"Would you be willing to join Mallia and myself for a conversation about birds, if it is convenient?" "Now we just have to wait to see if he replies."

From:

[It was not long before Enki replied.]

Where should I meet you?

[Communicating via text? Not his strong point.]

From:

[He sent the location to Enki's MPS, or Magical Positioning System, app.]

From:

There was no reply on the phone, but Enki showed up before long, giving both Ben and Mallia a small wave as he approached. Seeing one of the birds made him a bit uneasy, but he continued his approach.

From:

"Thank you for joining us, Enki. Mallia had an idea, and I figured you are our resident expert on the subject. I was hoping you would be willing to give us some advice?" he asked politely.

From:

She nodded. "Coops, for the rooftops," she said. "We could build nesting boxes in structures, so that the wild birds may lay eggs there, in shelter. The eggs could be collected to eat..." She glanced to Ben, "...Or not. But either way, I'm certain the local birds would appreciate it."

From:

Enki hadn't even considered the idea. He'd been to enough places to know that things like eggs which were edible from some birds were not from others. "I mean, it seems like a good idea to me, any birds who don't want to use them, wouldn't." He paused to chew on his lower lip. "They're smart enough we might be able to mark a specific coop or two for egg collecting and let them know?"

From:

"As far as I know, none of the princesses who could speak to animals that cannot speak human are present. Are you able to communicate well enough to explain things to the birds, so that we take no eggs for eating without permission, and they know which coops are theirs to use, even if they allow us no eggs?"

From:

She was going to stay quiet there; that wasn't her question to answer.

From:

"I... I think so. I should probably collect the eggs the first couple times though. That way I can move them to another coop if it turns out they didn't understand."

From:

"Very well. Is that acceptable to you, Mallia?" Ben asked, formally.

From:

"Of course. Do we... have materials for making them at the ready? Or ought I start collecting branches off the bigger trees, and drying some grasses?"

From:

Enki looked to Ben for an answer on that. "Either way, I can help."

From:

"Get me a list of materials, and Mal and I will get what you need. Then I can leave it to the two of you?"

From:

She nodded, glancing to Enki. They could do mockups with conjuration, and then figure out how to build the coops for real after, right?

From:

Enki chewed his lips as he thought. He might have considered the exact same option as Mallia, honestly. "Ie. We can figure it out and get you a list of what we need."

From: