nysalogs | (open) this time i know

Entry tags:

(open) this time i know

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! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ As Reign was wearing gloves, he wouldn't have known the roughness of Mikazuki's hands. But his keen eyesight was able to catch hints of it.

Either way, Reign did his best to calm his nerves, knowing that the more you're nervous, the more likely the creature wouldn't be receptive. He nodded, trying to stifle his whimpers. ]

If it bites me, I'm holding you responsible.

[ He was just kidding, really. Now to see how the wyvern react to Reign's attempt to pet it. ]

Don't worry. It can take my hand first.

[ With the way he says it, it sounds like he's completely serious rather than the tongue-in-cheek jest anyone else would make in this situation. Whatever the case is, he's confident in the way he takes Reign seriously, if not completely contrary.

Without further ado, Mikazuki lets his fingers crawl over Reign's hand to switch his grip and allow the other man's palm to come down first, square against the wyvern's nose. A throaty rumble comes fluting out through its teeth, but it's otherwise calm beneath the touch. Without any experience with animals, he's not used to how domesticated mounts really are, but he's counting it as a win either way. Especially with how severe the wyvern looks.

Then again, maybe he understands that misconception, his own grip fairly light. ]

[ Well, if Mikazuki said so. At least that was some semblance of insurance. It really was hard to tell if the other was being serious or not, what with his stoic expression.

Either way, with the shift in grip, Reign forged on and lay his palm on the wyvern's snout, tensing briefly at the rumbling sound it made. But when neither of their hands got bitten of, or the creature pulling back, Reign began to grin.

If Mikazuki were to release Reign's hand to allow him some freedom, Reign will continue to pet the wyvern, throwing a wide smile at Mikazuki at this small victory. ]

I get to pet it! I'm petting it!

Yeah.

[ A quiet affirmation as Mikazuki does eventually release him. With its neck at an arc to keep its head lowered, it seems to actually enjoy the attention, the joints of its wings flexing. ]

It still looks peaceful, doesn't it?

[ As much as it can. Unlike mammals, it doesn't have much to express itself with, its scaly face set with fierce eyes like jewels. ]

[ Reign petted the wyvern a few more times, even slipping in a quick scratch on its thick scales, before pulling his hand back. ]

I think so. It's not growling or snapping its jaws, so I believe you're right.

[ Even so, he was pretty sure that the wyvern could express itself in other ways. The sway of its tail, or the flap of the wings. ]

Do you still want to attempt to ride it?

They were riled up a few months ago, but they seem fine now. Maybe someone fed them a lot.

[ Because of course he'd relate being ornery or hardworking to needing food. Brows drawing up, he considers that at length, even if he's not showing fright towards the creature. ]

I guess I could...

[ Maybe it was waiting for that too? ]

I'm quite certain someone did. Any living creature who's hungry is bound to be cranky.

[ Heck, Reign himself would be in a bad mood if he was hungry as well.

The wyvern seemed to understand the intention of Mikazuki's words, head raising and slightly tilted. It let out a huff of breath, a soft rumble. ]

It seems even the wyvern's eager for you to ride it. If it's not ready, I doubt the stable hands would allow the wyvern to be used as a mount. Should we get someone's help? [ He asked, glancing around for an assistance. ]

[ Reign has a point, and Mikazuki isn't too hard of a sell when it comes to reckless things, so while he's looking for an attendant, Mikazuki reaches up to unhook the latch of the pen and swing the door open. The creature within seems to like the promising look of that, shaking out its thick neck with a loud chuffling noise. ]

It should be okay to try it by ourselves. It looks prepared.

[ And the stablemaster last time seemed to be pretty sporting about his animals, at any rate. Peering around the bulk of wing and muscle, he spots the tether attached to the saddle. ]

[ Reign still took a careful step back when Mikazuki opened the door of the pen, though seeing as the wyvern didn't instantly attack them or fly away was a good sign. Not that it could fly far when it was still tethered. ]

I'll just wait here and see you ride it. Doesn't look as if the saddle is a two-seater anyway.

[ Even if there was, Reign will just leaving the flying in Mikazuki's hand. The wyvern moved its head in Reign's direction, giving the vampire a sniff, seeming satisfied before turning its attention back at Mikazuki.

So far so good. ]

You don't want to go?

[ He's pretty small, able to duck around the folded wingspan to get at the tether and undo it, letting the wyvern free save for his grip on the reins. It lumbers forward out of the pen on its powerful hind legs and clawed wings, giving Mikazuki room to peek up over it at Reign. ]

There's room, probably.

[ Never having been in a saddle, he's not under the impression he absolutely needs to be in it... ]

I don't know if I'm ready to ride on it yet.

[ But Reign was definitely waffling, seeing how earnest Mikazuki's question was.

Now that the wyvern was out of the pen, Reign could see just how large the creature was. He glanced toward the top of the wyvern's back, pointing at the saddle. ]

It's enough for one rider only. Are you going to ride bareback on it? What if you fall?

It's okay if you don't. I just don't think I'll fall.

[ He can't know that for sure, obviously, but with the way he says it, steady and confident, there's no question to whether or not he believes in his ability to keep from falling off. If he was nervous or scared, that'd just botch the whole thing from the get-go, wouldn't it?

Stepping out behind it, reins slack in his grip, Mikazuki is also caught by the size of the reptilian creature as it stretches its tough spine in the sunlight. ]

...it's really cool.

[ Even he has to say it. ]

[ The relief on Reign's face was quite clear. In all honesty, he wouldn't mind trying out other mounds, like those pegasus in Olympia, but he wasn't certain about the wyverns in Wyver just yet. Mostly because pegasus was a horse with wings, and Reign was used to horses.

Mikazuki's awed tone drew a smile from Reign as he nodded, watching the wyvern opened its large wings before folding it back in. ]

Yeah, it is. Go ahead and hope on it, then let me know how's the experience like.

Got it. Let's see.

[ Hopefully this thing is patient with him considering it looked like it wanted to get out and stretch its wings just as much. Approaching it from the side, Mikazuki notes the saddle's stirrups. Unlike Reign, he doesn't even have experience with horses to fall back on. ]

I guess I use these...

[ Reaching up, he grips either end of the saddle to see if it'll jostle any when he tries to pull himself up. ]

[ Reign moved to the other side to watch Mikazuki test the saddle, giving the other a bit of pointers on where to put his foot in the stirrup, then to grab onto the saddle's edges to pull himself up.

Hopefully it all worked, but the wyvern seemed patient enough to let Mikazuki take his time. When Mikazuki did finally settle on the saddle, Reign clapped his hands, smiling widely even as he fawned over the sight before him. ]

Look at you two. How dashing. A valiant man and a wyvern.

[ With Reign's help in figuring out the saddle situation, he winds up getting astride the wyvern relatively quickly, though it takes him a second or two to get used to the feeling of being on something so... alive.

The clapping draws his attention aside, where he hadn't really expected to see Reign's expression. It's pretty cute? ]

I don't know about that, but...

[ Leaning forward to try and get a look at the wyvern's head, he hums. ]

Seems okay so far.

[ It definitely was different compared to flying a spaceship, which was a first experience for Reign previously. Even if he knew how to handle and ride horses, he had a feeling riding on a wyvern required extra skills.

The wyvern chuffed, stretching its large wings again, as if eager to take flight. ]

All right, I'm not sure if wyverns work the same way as horses, but give it a light tap with your feet.

I've seen a little bit...

[ How people ride their mounts, but he never thought it'd apply to him so he hadn't really looked at the process closely. And horses were a lot different from the animal he's now got in his hands. Now or never, though. Body setting, he nods to Reign. ]

This is all that's left.

[ Obeying, he pulls back on the reins and gives the wyvern a nudge with the sides of his heels. With its wings already outstretched, tips fanned, it picks up on the cue immediately, giving a proud burst of air. With one big swoop of its wings, it kicks off the ground with a lot of force, stirring everything around it as its wing beats propel it upward.

He keeps steady, but throws a glance to the side. ]

It worked?

[ Mikazuki was right in the sense that riding and handling a wyvern may be quite different compared to horses, but generally the methods would be rather similar.

Reign only hoped that his advice was the right one, waiting with a kind of tense nervousness and excitement. The burst of wind from the wyvern's wings had Reign holding up an arm to shield his face from the cutting wind.

But once the wyvern was hovering slightly above the ground, Reign was giving a whoop of joy for Mikazuki. ]

Wow! It did! Just remember to keep a tight hold on the reins!

[ Even the wyvern looked pleased to be able to spread and use its wings. ]

[ With a reaction like that (for him?), he can't let him down now. ]

You're right, I won't let it go.

[ Not that he's here now, tasting the success like the sweet, humid air being churned by the creature's wings. Unlike a cockpit, he's completely out in the open, the lurching of the wyvern's muscle and spine giving him a brief taste of what actual flight will be like. No better time than now to find out for sure, though. Here it goes...

Turning the reins in his grasp and using his knees to guide the wyvern, he urges it into a deep lunge, wings tilting to finally propel it forward. And for its size it's off like a shot, the snap of its leathery wings loud as it arcs up into the sky, scales rippling with sunlight. Wind claws at him and with nothing at his back to keep him upright, he has to rely on his lower body strength, the sound of the wyvern's great lungs echoing between his knees.

He doesn't want to go too far from the stables, so all Mikazuki can think to do is rake their trajectory straight up, until all that fills his vision is fearless sky.

It's awesome. ]

[ It was amazing to watch Mikazuki riding on the wvyern, the creature suddenly seeming so majestic as it flew through the air on Mikazuki's guidance. For a being so large, its flight seemed so weightless and smooth, gliding without a single hitch.

Watching the flight was a sight to behold, and part of Reign was just a tad bit regretting not joining Mikazuki. Maybe if they could find a two-seater saddle, though he doubt it was advisable without a properly trainer rider with them.

Whenever the wyvern flew close enough, Reign waved at Mikazuki, his smile wide and filled with a kind of giddy happiness for the other. The wyvern let out a low-pitched sound, clearly enjoying itself. ]

[ It's definitely different in the air than it is on the ground. It moves sleekly, as though submerged in water, a far cry from its lumbering around on land. It belongs here, and Mikazuki realizes that as it cuts through the air at a hard angle when he nudges it aside with minimal effort. He knows it has to be used to work like this, intuitive enough to make up for a novice like himself.

But it's like the dragons he sees out in the fields every day. Respect for the power he's feeling right now goes a long way. After he's gotten a few good, high spirals in, Mikazuki dips the wyvern back down again, aiming for a tract of flat earth leading up to the stables to safely land it. When it touches down, it lowers its speed with a broad backwards stroke of its wings, kicking up dust as it hovers, flaps, and then descends with a bellowing thump of its feet. It shakes out its muscles and Mikazuki is sufficiently wind-tousled too, but the lively look on his face is unmistakable.

Looking up over the creature's neck, he spots Reign, giving him a quick smile. ]

You should have come up too.

[ When the wyvern landed back down on the ground, it was with a thump that seemed to shake the very earth, the wind from its flapping wings strong enough to nearly blow Reign back. He waited until the wyvern had settled before walking up to its side, grinning up at Mikazuki with a sheepish chuckle. ]

I really should, huh? But I think I'll give it a try some time later.

[ Having gained a bit of courage, Reign gently patted the wyvern's thick hide, earning him a chuff from the creature. ]

Maybe if I sit behind you...

You seemed happy, that's all.

[ Mikazuki didn't appear to be watching Reign's reactions that closely, but it's impossible to not notice someone so seemingly... genuine. Without lingering, he swings his leg over the saddle, trying to gauge how much distance he has to reach the ground. He's short.

For the wyvern's part, it seems spirited by the flight, all anticipatory movement. ]

You can, if you want. There should be different equipment nearby.

[ To account for two. ]

Is that so?

[ Again another sheepish chuckle. It wasn't often that Reign got happy over mundane stuffs. Well, he did, sort of in a way where he tried to be optimistic about life.

When Mikazuki moved, Reign hurried over and held his arms up. At this height, jumping down could be dangerous. It had been easier climbing up the wyvern instead. ]

Mn, we can find one later. Ah, be careful. Here, let me help.

[ Reign wasn't exceedingly tall, but his height should be enough to close the distance between him and Mikazuki. ]

(open) this time i know

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