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Grian was in a bit of a pickle.
His day had been fairly normal:
He mined ten full shulker boxes of sand and gravel to restock at the Barge.
He avoided the back of his base like a plague.
He fed Mumbo’s weird sentient base… all very normal, non stressful activities.
Inside the Barge, as Grian was opening the chests to collect his diamonds, he suddenly slipped and set off a firework rocket. It made a loud BANG sound, and left lots of pretty purple paper bits all over the floor that were going to be a pain to get out later. It had been mostly harmless really, only a tick or two of damage, but on instinct Grian jumped and grabbed onto the campfire-thatched ceiling of his upper floor for dear life.
This would not have been a problem, were it not for the fact that his talons had caught the wood in a stress grip, and now he couldn’t let go.
Grian was stuck on the ceiling.
He sighed. It wasn’t often that his avian behaviors interfered with his day to day, but boy did they choose the most awkward times! Grian stretched his wings in annoyance.
Okay! Let's assess the damage:
His entire left foot’s talons were wrapped securely around the campfire wood on the roof of the barge. He had no control over the vice-like grip strength that his talons held in these situations. Depending on the level of stress that induced it, this could keep him stuck for anywhere from minutes to hours.
His right hand had grasped a fence post on the wall to stable himself in his fright. That grip was less… grippy? His knuckles were still white with tension, but in his experience he was usually able to gain control over his hand far more quickly. Grian wasn’t really sure why, maybe it was because his feet were more bird-like, and his hands were less so? He wasn’t going to question it.
Right foot, left hand, and both wings free to flail idly while he waited. And bump awkwardly into all his chests.
With a bit of focus and begrudgingly calm breathing, Grian managed to dislodge his other hand. Great! Now he could hang upside down like a bat while he waited for his foot to be less grippy. Nothing to see here, just an average day at the Barge, doing his stretches…
Grian really hoped no one came in to see him like this.
But it seemed luck was not in his favor today, as he began to hear singing in the distance growing slowly louder as someone approached. And singing generally only meant the arrival of one person in particular.
“Why, hello there! What are you up to on this fine afternoon Grian? Hanging around?”
Grian leveled Scar with his most unimpressed expression, though the effect was slightly diminished by his predicament. Scar shamelessly eyed the avian down and up, undeterred.
Growing a little self conscious of his jumper slipping and showing his stomach, Grian adjusted his arms so he was leaning extremely casually against the wall. Very casual and also comfortable. He hoped Scar left soon because he could not keep this up for long.
“Hello Scar. I’m doing quite well actually! Just doing my daily stretches.”
Scar nodded sagely, “Ohh I see! Always good to stay fit, that’s good, keep the muscles strong.”
“Yes, precisely! So, did you need something?”
“Hmm, I actually came by looking for some lanterns, but I think I’ll do some leisurely shopping around the Barge! I’m sure you don’t mind, do you, Grian?”
Grian did mind, actually! He minded very much, Scar! Grian cursed his bird luck under his breath, but gritted out “Don’t you have some mayoral duties to attend to? More evil lasers to build?”
“It’s not evil! It has solar panels,” Scar said as he brought himself face to face with the hanging avian, placing his hands on the sides of Grian’s shoulders, “And besides. I’m much more intrigued on what’s going on with you. I think you’re lying, pesky bird.”
Grian felt his face grow hot. He tried to shift away, to no avail.
“Scar…”
“C’mon! You can tell me, what's up?”
“..... I’m a bit stuck.”
“Really?!” Scar gasped, “Stuck in your own shop? If this isn’t Grian-safe, it surely isn’t Scar safe… I may need to write you a citation!”
“No, no, it's like a bird thing. I got spooked by a rocket and then I stress-gripped the ceiling.”
Scar’s face lit up in a way that usually did not mean good things for Grian.
“Oh, I can help you calm down! Hold on right there Grian, I’ve got just the wizard crystal for this occasion…”
“I really don’t think that's needed here,” Grian protested as Scar rifled through his enderchest, coming out triumphantly with a pink piece of glass.
“Here we go! A one of a kind calming crystal just for you! Oh, and I can go get Jellie for you as well, she’s very calm…”
In the midst of Scar’s rambling, Grian felt his talons release from the ceiling. He tumbled gracelessly to the floor, taking out Scar in the process and landing them both in a tangled heap on the ground.
“You deserved that,” said Grian fondly, making no move to get off of Scar.
Scar looked up at him with a smile, “Another satisfied customer! Can I interest you in a bulk deal?”