(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

[chickenhearted]

[ He did go to Thesa, to search for that one person, just one time. He sort of psyched himself out about it and chickened out though. But he still searches for that person, still wants to believe that he's there, sleeping in one of those pods, waiting to be woken up again. He wants it, so badly...

But that's neither here nor there. Right now, he focuses his attention on Mikazuki and his little gardening project. And he lets his gaze wander to the pile of flowers just sitting there, unwanted.

It kinda makes him feel a little guilty. ]

When you say it like that, it's kind of sad...

[sparsity]

[ Sad. Maybe that's how he ought to have felt, when his attempts to grow flowers on Mars failed one after the other. But he'd wanted those, whether they lived or died. ]

You know. [ He reaches forward, shearing off another bloom. ] I read about it once. Flowers should get cut off after they bloom, so they can grow back stronger next time.

[chickenhearted]

Eh? [ Waver tilts his head, watching that bloom get snipped off and join the others. ] That just sounds like what weeds do.

[ And there goes Waver, ruining a nice sentiment. He can't help it, it's just the way he is. But he huffs a little, still attempting to see the good in those blossoms on the ground. ] But, maybe. If they grew back stronger, more people would want them.

[sparsity]

Is there a difference?

[ A useful counter to Waver's practicality, even if it would probably offend a normal person who likes flowers. Plants were hard enough to grow on Mars that even weeds would have to be carefully cultivated. He wouldn't know the difference between a dandelion and a daisy.

Still, there's truth in that. ]

It could be that there's a lot too. If there's enough for everyone, not everyone wants them.

[chickenhearted]

Yes. A weed is a wild plant that grows where it's unwanted, competing for resources with other plants.

[ He shrugs. He's not one to really care about flowers one way or another, but he knows that there's a difference between weeds and flowers. There just is.

He looks down at the pile of blooms again. ]

... Right. They want something strong and extraordinary. Not some common, useless thing. [ It makes him a bit emotional, clenching his fists. Because he knows what it's like to be thought of as common and useless. ] Maybe I'll take them after all.

[sparsity]

Competing, huh... [ He had read a little bit about that, but the concept didn't coalesce much. ] I guess I understand that.

[ If he equates it to his own situation — well. They're not so dissimilar. Waver's agreement has Mikazuki pausing in his work to lean aside and scoop the pile of blooms into his grasp. One knee slides beneath him to push him to his feet so he can move to Waver's table and offer them out.

It's a sight. ]

Here.

[ He hadn't taken that "maybe" as a maybe at all. ]

[chickenhearted]

Mm. [ Waver nods, looking back to Mikazuki. ] Weeds will strangle the life out of other plants if left on their own.

[ Kind of like certain kinds of people. But anyway, he watches as the other scoops the blooms up and stands, coming to offer them to Waver with his arms open like that.

It's. It's kind of embarrassing. ]

Oh, th-thank you...

[sparsity]

[ Social cues and niceties escape him, so he has no problems standing there, completely work-disheveled and offering up a quite frankly absurd amount of flowers to the other boy. It plays well with his inability to get embarrassed.

Still, the explanation has him craning his neck aside despite himself. ]

Then I wonder if that's what those vines would have done.

[chickenhearted]

[ Waver knows enough about social cues and niceties to get embarrassed, so yeah, he's definitely blushing up a storm. Even though he knows it's stupid. Mikazuki isn't offering them like that, stupid!! He swallows hard to try and get himself to calm down over it. ]

Pr... Probably. That's why they want you to clip them all, right?

Or... were you just clipping them here for fun...

[ it occurs to him that he doesn't know what Mikazuki's hobbies are and if he's on a job or just passing the time like Waver is. He'd try not to judge if cutting flowers was a hobby...he'd really try. ]

[sparsity]

[ A hum rolls in his throat, as if considering that point. That Waver's face is on fire is escaping him. ]

Well, the owner just told me he needed a job done. But... I'm having fun too.

[ Is this a hobby? ]

[chickenhearted]

[ That's actually a good thing. It gets him to calm down a bit. ]

I see. So you like gardening and such. [ He smiles a little. ]

Do you have a lot more to do?

[sparsity]

No, I think I should almost be finished.

[ He looks back to consider the pile of vines he's loosened from the flowering plant. It's actually pretty meticulous for him being a deadlift. ]

I wanted to farm back home. Gardening isn't bad though.

[chickenhearted]

Ah, I see.

[ He glances at the pile of vines too, and then to all the flowers he's holding. Guess there isn't much to do after all...

But then he blinks, eyebrows raising. Somehow he didn't peg Mikazuki as a farmer... ]

Eh? Really? At least now you have the chance to do that, if you wanted to.

[sparsity]

If they'll let me buy land. [ He doesn't sound broken up about it, more like he's just thinking aloud. He's still an outsider to them, probably. ] But I've been reading about it.

[ In between being a shameless workaholic and catnapping for five hours a day. ]

I didn't know you could grow so many things in the jungle.

[chickenhearted]

That's true... but they might, someday. [ He perks up a little as the other mentions he's reading about it though. Waver loves reading! Yay for reading. ] Reading about it is a good way to start. You can learn a lot just from books.

[ Says the boy who has almost all book smarts and no street smarts to speak of. ]

What kind of things can you grow here? I mean... what would you want to grow?

[sparsity]

It's amazing. Learning to read changed a lot.

[ He says as if that's a recent thing... (because it is.) Without even having to stop and think about the answer, he goes with what first pops into his head: ]

...dates.

[chickenhearted]

You ... didn't know how to read before?

[ He tilts his head, a bit of a concerned look on his face. But then, if he can read now, that's a good thing at least! ]

Dates? You want to grow...dates? Not the answer I expected, but certainly an interesting choice.

[sparsity]

No. It's not like I got to go to school.

[ Mikazuki says it like it's obvious to him. He just assumes from his demeanor that anyone would think that about him, being used to the attitudes of people from home.

Still, he places the flowers on the table with an offhanded shrug, going to dig in his pockets. ]

I really like them. Want one?

[ Because he has some on hand, naturally. ]

[chickenhearted]

What ... did you do, exactly?

[ It strikes Waver that he doesn't actually know much about Mikazuki, despite sharing a pretty intimate moment with him before. Waver tries not to judge from looks alone, since he's often harshly judged by his own looks. Small and scrawny, nobody looks up to Waver.

He blinks a moment, a little startled that Mikazuki just happens to have some dates in his pocket while they're talking about dates. Ah... ]

Sure, I guess. Where did you get them?

[sparsity]

Fight.

[ No more or less complicated than that, body and brain basically all the proof anyone might need. He carries both with that singular harshness and determination befitting of someone like that. Mikazuki has a hard time with scale, so it seems like explanation enough to him.

He fishes out a little pouch of the snack in question, offering it out. ]

A shop nearby. They're not like Mars dates, but they're still good.

[ (Sort of. His taste buds are also blunt.) ]

You look like you need nutrients too.

[chickenhearted]

Fight ...?

[ He looks at Mikazuki expectantly, like he needs to hear more of an explanation. "Fight" could mean a lot of things. Like was he a soldier? Or was he a cage fighter or something.

He does take the date, looking at it thoughtfully for a second before taking a bite of it.

Then he turns a bit red. It's automatic for him to get a bit indignant when people talk about how scrawny he is. ]

I.. I'm just fine!!

[sparsity]

[ To be fair, a lot of people, even physically fit ones, would be scrawny compared to Mikazuki. Not that he's thinking of it like that, instead popping a date into his mouth and helpfully pointing out: ]

— ah, you turned red.

[chickenhearted]

[ What??? Waver stares, his face going a shade darker if that's even possible. He waves his hands. ]

You... you're not supposed to point that out!

[sparsity]

[ Oh, he wasn't? He's not entirely chastised, but he does offer a blasé: ]

Sorry.

[ But he's not going to go back on what he said! Actually he's going to empty out a small handful and offer them over as a punchline to his observation. ]

You can take these. One day, I'll have a lot.

[ #lifegoals ]

[chickenhearted]

[ Waver stays red faced for a few more seconds before it starts to fade finally. He'd have to accept that sorry regardless of how blasé it really was.

But he blinks as suddenly a handful of dates is being offered to him. Is this... a peace offering?! ]

Ah..um... thank you....

[ He nods. Not really one to be optimistic about dreams and such, he still wants to wish Mikazuki well. He deserves a chance at growing lots of dates. ] I wish you the best.