burningblossoms | Recolle Inbox

[Yukiko is also pretty fond of birds, given that her soul is shaped like a winged metal bird woman, but Chocobos are a special treat. Since they arrived here in Recolle, she's found herself drawn to the odd creatures and often winds up at the corral.

Slipping inside the pen, she walks over to her favorite one of the birds and holds up a hand. It nuzzles her palm with a beak rather affectionately. It's not a natural affinity, but it's certainly a friendship of a sort.]

Good, how about you, Mohammed?

[Greensleeves, the Chocobo whose beak is currently being petted by a very soft and warm hand, coos.]

It looks like you've done this before.

[Mohammed only visited the corral once, and that was to look at the majestic creatures, not to ride them. After today, he's going to learn how to travel across the plains on a feathery steed.]

I'll need a few pointers before we actually race, though.

A few times. I've really enjoyed coming here, since it's not far from the B&B.

[She grins, nuzzling her nose against the Chocobo's beak.]

Honestly though, the best pointers I have are to remember that they love to run, so you don't need to use the blunt spurs too much. And they won't respond to you yanking on the reins. Guide them more gently, and they'll respond better.

That should be easy to remember. [Hurting birds? Him? Please, he knows how to read his budgies and understand when he's holding them too tightly. He can't purposefully hurt a bird that isn't attacking him.]

Let's see.

[Following the ranch owner's directions, he slides a foot into the stirrup, swings his leg over, and plops onto the saddle. It's...more wiggly than he expected, especially as Greensleeves shifts his weight.]

...I'll need a bit of practice first.

[Once he climbs up, she does the same, scrambling up and quietly stroking the Chocobo's crest.]

Take all the time you need. We aren't on any time table, after all.

[It's easy once he gets used to it, which will be in about two weeks. He can't figure out how to stop himself from bouncing around with each step the Chocobo takes.

He's managed to stay on while it trots. Good enough? As long as he leans forward as it runs, he should be fine.

Mohammed leads Greensleeves towards Yukiko, more confident in his riding but still cautious.]

I think I'm ready for a run.

[Leaning down to peck at her chocobo's feathery head, she nods to her older friend. The bird capers a little, long legs carrying it towards the race track.

Warking happily, it strains a bit, eager to run. To move...]

I think that this guy is too.

[Kweeeehhh! Totally excited. At least, if either of them spoke bird that's what they'd hear.]

Let's say once around the track, to give the two of them a good stretch? I don't want to strain the poor dears.

[Greensleeves warks in response.]

A test run first? Just to make sure.

[It's his first go, so he's more likely to win on the second round.]

sure thing. One lap, to get them warmed up.

[And with that, she starts off at a steady trot, her chocobo ready to run. Happy to run. It has a feeling that a race is going to happen, and that's something any chocobo loves.]

[Mohammed leans forward on his Chocobo and snaps the reigns. Greensleeves skips the trot and goes straight into a run. His knees turn inward and he tightens his grip around the saddle.]

Slow! Slow! [Patting his hand on Greensleeves' neck, he hopes he can calm it down. Thankfully, after dashing up to the other Chocobo, it slows down.]

[Yukiko's settles into an easy lope beside Greensleeves, feet kicking up dust as it moves along the track. Keeping low, she hugs her mount about the neck and it warks happily. Human contact is apparently something it loves.]

See? Not so bad!

I can manage.

[Yup. Now that he knows how to deal with Greensleeves going from zero to breakneck speed, he should deal with the actual race. After several minutes in silence, the two of them return to the starting point.]

Fair enough.

[Yukiko tugs her bird into a stop and sets herself, ready to go when he is.]

On three?

Ready.

[He won't die.]

One, two. [He leans forward.] Three!

[He whips the reigns like before, and Greensleeves makes a mad dash along the corral like before. And like before, the ride is bumpy and kind of uncomfortable.]

[Yukiko's takes off at a squeeze from her knees and bolts after Greensleeves, warking happily. It loves to run, always, and Yukiko's holding on tight. Leaned over to make herself more aerodynamic, she laughs brightly as she catches up to him, keeping even for now.]

Haha! Go, go!

[Greensleeves warks happily, seeing this as a game of running free while Mohammed clings to the saddle horn. Yukiko catches up to him swiftly, as the Chocobo has grown overconfident in his abilities and starts falling behind.]

Faster!

[He shakes the reins. Please interpret this as running!]

[It might help too, that Yukiko is a bit lighter. Either way, she's making good progress, her bird setting a quick, ground eating pace that catches up.]

Hah! Look out! I'm going to catch you!

[And then they're basically neck and neck, her bird straining it's beak out low to get a little further ahead.]

[Greensleeves ignores the reigns, but he can't allow himself to be the loser. He lowers his head and sprints ahead of Yukiko.

Mohammed shuts his mouth and waits for it to be over.]

[And Yukiko's bird, by contrast, speeds up. It refuses to be number two. This is it's home turf, bro! Don't disrespect him bro!

The finish line is coming up, just a few feet ahead, and it comes down to what amounts to a photo finish as they both thunder across the line with heartbeats at most between them.

And no camera to call it.]

Weeee! I looks like a tie!

[He can't tell who won either, but Greensleeves seems satisfied. One round is enough.]

It looks like. [That was fun, though.] I think we can call it a match?

[He wants to ride again, but after a week-long break.]

I think so too.

[She agrees, slowly bringing her chocobo down to an easy trot and sliding off the bird's back. Rolling her fingers along it's sides, brushing off some of the lather that's begun forming at it's side...]

They need a break. That was a good race.

Recolle Inbox

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject