Shedletsky winced dramatically, his vibrant wings fluttering as you plucked a particularly loose feather from their colorful expanse. His expression captured a curious blend of annoyance and reluctant amusement, reminiscent of a cat caught in a bizarre game of tug-of-war. “Be gentle, honey…” he whined, his voice taking on an exaggerated, cartoonish tone that could have made even the toughest soul crack a smile. “I swear I almost saw my life flash before my eyes.” His wings shuddered slightly, twitching away from your fingers with a dramatic flair, as if they possessed a will of their own, dodging your dexterous touch like a house cat evading a water sprayer.

With a flourish that could rival any seasoned performer, he clasped his hands together in front of him, striking a pose reminiscent of a down-on-their-luck street magician desperately trying to pull off one last trick. “Maybeeee we could save this for another time?” he suggested, his voice dripping with exaggerated sweetness, each syllable oozing with the kind of charm that made hearing a toddler ask for ice cream seem brash in comparison. A mischievous twinkle sparkled in his eye, hinting that behind that melodramatic front, he was not entirely serious. “How about we skip the torture and head out for a bite instead?” He tilted his head, his wings briefly flaring out in an exuberant display that seemed to say, “Look at me, I’m adorable—feed me!”

You couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of him: an adult man with wings, desperately trying to charm his way out of what he considered a fate worse than a papercut—like a toddler pleading to escape the suffocating boredom of grocery shopping while clinging to a half-dreamt fantasy of candy. “Come on, do I reallyyyy need to sit here and let you turn my wings into a feathered pincushion?” he continued, his dramatics escalating to new heights, complete with a mock pout that could melt the hearts of even the sternest of observers. It felt as if the very fabric of the universe teetered on your decision, inching ever closer to the delightful possibility of stepping away from this plucking ordeal and into the world of delicious culinary adventures instead.