Unrequited love

[Jamie]

Aurora walked into the inn, followed by a small blue bird flapping and twittering angrily.

"Not now, Stormageddon, I need to monitor this potion as it's brewing."

More chirping. Aurora ignored the creature until he landed on her shoulder, took hold of her braided hair, and tried to tug her back toward the door.

"Stop that!" She sighed at the little bird. "She's very pretty, I'm sure, but she's not interested in you. You're not..." Aurora waved her hands vaguely, trying to find the right words. "You're not even close to the same species. She must be ten times your size. You're not going to impress her by flying circles around her head."

Stormageddon's chirping took on a pleading tone.

"I said no, and that's final. We are not going back to the Axebeak Ranch today!"

[Gondowon T. Falbor]

Gondowon walked around the corner and back to the table he'd set his many tools at. He noticed Aurora as she worked, and greeted her as he sat down .

"Hello, Aurora! A pleasure seeing you as always," he said, cheery, but a bit fatigued from the building he'd been doing. He then noticed just how agitated her bird was acting and raised an eyebrow. "Storm seems a bit on edge today. Is something up?"

[Loki]

Loki, who had been strumming his guitar slowly, sat bolt upright. His suddenly wide eyes were glazed, his face slack.

His normally mellowed voice rang as clear as a bell. "In de game of love, de little guy always gon' lose."

Without another word, nor any heed paid to any stares from the tavern, he drooped back to strumming, eyes half-closed.