(open) this time i know

[sparsity]

Who: mikazuki augus (sparsity) & various & you!
What: january catch-all, open prompts/closed quests.
When: throughout the month.
Where: mostly wyver, a smidge of olympia.
Warning(s): none as of now!

I. WITHIN WYVER

A. ODD JOBS:
[ Calling Mikazuki a workaholic wouldn't be an understatement. He seems to sleep as little as he can possibly get away with and spends the rest of his time either training in the jungles or picking up odd jobs around the dense, vibrant marketplace. Constant movement comes to him easier than being inert, though no one would really figure him for a restless sort. Whatever the case is, he's been hefting deliveries for different shops, earning some silver and a snack or two along the way.

His current task, one that has him parked outside a café with a carved facade depicting a dragon and a few spartan teacups wreathed in steam, sees him cleaning up a pretty tenacious gnarl of plantlife. Foliage grows freely in Wyver, but overgrowth can be a nuisance. He doesn't seem to mind doing the job barehanded, peeling back vines and thorns from bright red blossoms. Luckily his hands are tough and show he's been at this a while as a result: dirt darkens his wrists, fingertips sticky with sap. At his side is very small deer who daintily steps over the carnage, picking up fallen leaves to chew on. With a flat look, he reaches up to push at its nose. ]

Cut it out. You'll get a stomach ache.

[ While most of the unruly vines have been snapped and put aside, there's a pile of flowers neatly laid out, separated from the bulk. Mikazuki sits back on his knees if approached, reaching up to wipe beneath his bangs with the back of his wrist. There is now dirt on his face. ]

Take them if you want them. [ He places another one down. ] It's a waste to throw them away.

B. FIELDS OF THE EXALTED:
[ Working with animals had taken some more getting used to. Mars had no animals to speak of; insects and birds were rare, strays and rodents a little less so. He'd never seen livestock or working animals, so the abundance of wildlife on El Nysa had been drastic change in pace. But Mikazuki seems to thrive on new things, even (or maybe... especially...) when they're wild, strident, and bloody. Which is why he's parked on an outcrop of rock in the fields where he has his main job babysitting dragons. He tends to be not so good with small or sick things, so he spends his time with the older beasts. They're a pretty cavalier bunch, proudly turning earth and whipping the air with their wings. Squabbling over the last sheep, things like that.

Right now, it's fairly peaceful as the early afternoon sun arcs overhead. Mikazuki lets his legs dangle from his perch and watches over the windswept fields below where the dragons come and go, some napping, others blustering about proudly. He's never really approached one, but he's patient. ]

I heard you could bond with one. [ Whether it's a coworker within earshot or a visitor come to sight-see, it's the same statement. ] Somehow.

[ Though he looks relaxed, he's pretty alert, considering where they are. ]

C. LHONGHA STABLES:
[ Things Mikazuki has done: knife fight moon-crazed wyverns in his underwear. Things Mikazuki has not done: actually ride a wyvern. He's interested in seeing more of the place he's chosen to live, but the insistence on it being done with mounts leaves him skeptical. Still, it was supposed to cost lots of money to do this normally, and maybe he won't get the chance to again. Not that this makes him look any more sure about it despite the calm lay of his features. He lingers outside one of the pens where a wyvern is lashed to its fence. It dips its head over the side and tries to take clips at the edges of his hair with its pointed snout.

He doesn't look nearly as alarmed as he should at being so close to an animal that could fit his whole head in its mouth. ]

It's not that I haven't flown before...

[ Just, you know. A talented pilot doesn't necessarily mean he'd be a talented rider. ]

D. LAGOONS:
[ Whatever or whoever convinced him to go, Mikazuki did in fact take to the wilds with a large reptile creature in tow. Whether he actually rode it or just walked it along with him isn't immediately apparent, but he's stopped by the lagoons for a spell. He's left it tethered to a tree where it idles with brief flexes of its pliant wings. For his part, he's, well. Poised over the edge of one of the cold springs, his head entirely underwater. It's a sight.

With some bubbling, he finally pops his head above water with a breath and a splash, not unlike a dog shaking off. Sorry if you get the brunt of that? Glancing over his shoulder, hair now dripping and mussed every which way, his gaze hones. ]

What? It's hot.

II. WILDCARD

[ what to do something else using the jan outline or unaffiliated quests? go for it! plotting comment here or hit me up at rivalry! ]

Comments

[notwagging]

[ he's going to miss some of those hairs! they were his favorite? the ones he never actually touched, much like the rest of them. but it's cute, and he always swore he would never kill another beast, even though that thought isn't even close to the front of his mind. ]

Well. I probably could take a few off your hands... if that's okay.

[ with a thoughtful hum, he reaches out to pick one up and doesn't see the slightest, smallest thorn on it. not expecting a sharp prick, he winces. ]

Yikes! Dang, did it really go through my glove?

[sparsity]

Yeah, it's okay.

[ Content with the discovery that Keaton isn't food despite wild excess of fluff, the deer eventually backs off and tiptoes its way around Mikazuki's workspace in search of better things to chew on. Conversely, the cry has Mikazuki leaning forward on his knees to look at the damage, task stalled. Flowers weren't supposed to do that, though he supposes there's nothing for the thorns. He hadn't thought to shear them off. ]

Did it? I guess they're pretty sharp...

[ Before he can think twice about it, he's held his hand out expectantly, like he wants to see. ]

[notwagging]

Didn't expect them to nip at my fingers.

[ said with some hesitation, a little light humor, and only the smallest of worries. it's not like the thorn tore his hand off, nor did it rip a digit into pieces, but the sudden shock of the most minuscule wounds? combined with the fact he could already feel it bleed, sure that there would be a bead of blood greeting him once he slipped the glove off...

and there it sits. he rotates his hand, studying it carefully, before slowly placing it into Mikazuki's open one. ]

... it's not too bad. I think. I don't know, are flowers here special or something?

[sparsity]

Even flowers have to protect themselves.

[ Plants were pretty cool that way, Mikazuki thinks. Of course, it doesn't do them much good when it comes to humans and the like, his dexterity helpful in snapping the blooms off and relocating them. Besides, if what he'd read was true, flowers needed pruning this time of year to grow back strong...

Lifting Keaton's hand, he presses on either side of the little wound with his fingers. ]

Does it itch?

[notwagging]

[ he growls lightly under his breath. not at Mikazuki, of course--- just at the entire situation. it's frustrating to him that his gloves couldn't keep a plant's thorn from pricking his skin! what good are they, honestly. ]

Nah. It's just annoying.

[ though he doesn't mind Mikazuki's attention. that little drop swelling slightly on his finger, and he huffs. ]

Flowers... have to protect themselves? [ hearing that makes him smile again. ] You think so?

[sparsity]

[ Oh, a growl. That was sure a sound, not that he's trying to make the pain worse. Mikazuki lets the blood bead there for a few seconds before swiping it away with the pad of his finger. It'll staunch eventually. ]

Yeah. Just like anything else that's alive.

[ Thorns, sap, poison, smells. Plants had a lot of ways to deter harm. ]

[notwagging]

... maybe I should've paid more attention to them. I sort of avoid plants. They're never that cool, but I guess if they can give people tiny stabs like this, I can give them a second chance.

[ like the flower. he would always give that a chance, but only because of the memories tied to them. ]

You like working with your hands, huh?

[ because he finally realized what Mikazuki was doing. it only took him like, forever. ]

[sparsity]

You will? [ Whether or not he intends it, that seems to liven him somewhat. ] I'm still learning about them too, so.

[ Having someone willing to get down in the dirt to learn with him would be good, rather than just having to sit inside and read about it. Speaking of, he nods, long twists of hair falling against his work-warmed cheeks. ]

That's right. It's better for me to see it this way.

[ Even if it's also a job. ]

[notwagging]

If I'm going to be here for a while, I might as well enjoy everything that I can. It's not like I'm home or anything.

[ and being adventurous, despite easily getting lost and distracted, is certainly something that is markedly Keaton. why else would he enjoy the company of others so readily, especially humans of unknown origins? ]

Kinda admirable. [ and even though his finger hurts a little, it's becoming a far away memory as he stares at Mikazuki's hands. they look pretty capable. big. strong. what does he do to get them like that? ]

I know some humans will stay away from dirt. They don't like getting messy. But the ones who do, they're the real good ones.

[ and Mikazuki is good, by the power of deducing. ]

[sparsity]

If I was home, I couldn't do this at all.

[ See flowers on every corner, sure, but also work them out of the dirt and into the sunlight with his bare hands. Finally, Mikazuki lets Keaton go once the little wound stops bleeding. Messy hands have only ever been proof of his own choices.

Coming to El Nysa had been like that, too. ]

Huh, really?

[ How good is real good? He looks like he doesn't know. ]

[notwagging]

Oh, totally. Anyone who is always clean all the time can't be trusted. [ said with an air of confidence he normally lacks. this is at least one thing he totally knows! ] They worry about their appearance, how they smell, how they walk and talk instead of the really important things.

[ leaning in, he bats his eyelashes at Mikazuki with a knowing smile. ]

But these ears don't miss it. This nose? Also doesn't miss it. These hands?

[ he wiggles his fingers, wincing as he forgets for a moment that he did have the tiniest of an injury. ]

... and this mouth. I've tasted liars before.

[sparsity]

[ ...it's surprisingly simple. But simple speaks to him, especially when there's that extra bit of experience to back it up. Something that can't be faked. Mikazuki doesn't lean in to match, staying propped on his knees, but maybe the urge exists to for a moment. Because of what, the heat? The smell?

Something like that. A breath leaves his nose, like he's impressed. Those wiggly fingers prompt him to lift his hand again, pushing the tips of his fingers to Keaton's palm. ]

What do liars taste like?

[notwagging]

Stringy. Foul. Nothing about them is tasty. When you live your life all twitchy and wondering if you'll get caught, it makes everything... gross. And not a good gross! A bad gross.

[ said like a true connoisseur, but the subject matter feels odd. after all, Mikazuki is a human. or human-ish. he knows not to judge a book by its cover. he also knows books are dumb. ]

... but I don't need to eat humans here. None of them have tried to poach me for my wicked cool fur, and every one of them has been very nice. Very kind.

[ and then his tail starts to accelerate when his eyes lock onto Mikazuki's, despite the look on his face. ]

[sparsity]

[ Oh, he's being literal. ...Well, that's better for someone like Mikazuki anyway. With a thoughtful noise, his fingertips pause. ]

I've never eaten anyone before.

[ just kinda

throwing that out there ]

But I get it. If you don't want to be hunted, use your teeth. [ His gaze travels downward in thought, settling on the swishing of Keaton's tail. ] I haven't had to here either.

[ Mostly. ]

[notwagging]

I... don't really know any humans that would. [ he scrunches his face, not in a judgmental way toward Mikazuki, but kind of toward himself. ] I guess I also never thought humans could be so strong before, either. I should be lucky I'm alive.

[ almost on cue, his tail perks up and wiggles a little more, almost curling in Mikazuki's direction. ]

Let's hope we never have to, okay?

[sparsity]

[ No humans, really? ]

Those humans must not have to fight very often then.

[ It's just sort of how he developed. Teeth helped him survive, literally and metaphorically.

That tail going gets a brief lick of a smile. ]

I don't mind it... but yeah, okay.

[ Maybe it'd be nice to not have to, someday. ]