melodiesoflife | I Don't Carrot All For This Quest

WHO: Natalia L.K. Lanvaldear, OPEN
WHAT: The Old Man at the Chocobo Farm needs help harvesting greens before the first snowfall. Natalia accepts this quest so that she, too, may one day be a Santa Claus. She'll wrangle anyone she can get her hands on to helping the Old Man, since letting chocobos starve is deplorable. This might be enough to sway her into pursuing a chocobo of her own for easier transport. There may also be monsters in the fields. Bring out your prompts!
WHEN: Early to mid November
WHERE: Chocobo Farm and Nearby

It wasn't as if Natalia were ill-prepared for the hard days of labor ahead of her. She knew how hard her own people worked to provide the capital of Baticul with good food, surely this could be no different. She was also healthy and accustomed to traveling outdoors since joining the little group that was working so hard to save the world of Auldrant.

But that didn't mean the work wasn't hard. She toiled diligently, dirt rubbed into the knees of her leggings, her leather gloves dirty and smeared as she pulled up the plants and laid them in the large wicker basket that she carried from row to row. Everything had to be pulled up and preserved before the first snows of winter came down, so there was no time to waste.

Her muscles ached terribly, particularly her shoulders and back. She had to resist the urge to wipe the sweat from her brow lest she smear her face with more dirt and grime. While it was cold outside, the constant movement and physical labor kept her plenty warm. When she returned home, she was often filthy, sweaty, and very tired. Her stomach growled, but she refused to enter any dining establishments when she was in such a dreadful state. Only after she was bathed and dressed in suitable attire did she make her way to the cafe. There were some nights where she simply didn't eat, too tired to even think of food.

And yet, all the while, Natalia never made one word of complaint. This was a job that needed to be done, and she would do it. It was as simple as that. Until she finished, she wasn't going to give it any less than all of her best. Besides, the sooner she finished, the sooner she could equip the Santa Claus job and return to Trano Golsaucia to resume her efforts of fortifying the city.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That misinterpretation was pretty much the point. At least he was giving her the benefit of the doubt. But chocobos were a better thing to talk about anyway, and just like he said they were good judges the birds seemed to like her.

"Mostly, yeah. The more time they spend around humans the more they seem to understand. They're pretty sharp." His eyes went wide and he whirled around, putting his palm out just in time to block the curious beak of another bird as it tried to make a move on the greens Natalia had spent so long gathering. "Nooooo. It's not mealtime yet."

She couldn't help a fond little chuckle at the mischief displayed. She might have scolded the bird as she had before, but she resisted. For one, her last attempt had angered the silver-haired man that had visited previously. For another, Cloud's duty was to look after these animals. A chiding, no matter how well-intentioned, might be seen as lack of faith in his own abilities. She decided to just keep petting the chocobo that had been introduced to her.

"They certainly are spirited. Are all of them this playful?"

"Most of them yeah. We take good care of them here and so they're happy and lively. If you meet one out in the wild they'll probably be more skittish or aggressive, but there are monsters they have to deal with. Course, if you see a bird penned off on its own here it's probably best to leave it alone too." Cloud didn't want the princess catching the wrong end of a grumpy bird's foot.

The other chocobo nudged against his hand, trying to gently and insistently force its way past, but Cloud held his ground. Soon the bird gave up, raising its head and giving a loud chirp before wandering off.

So that was how they were managed. Natalia paid close attention, taking note of the silent but firm stance. The chocobo understood Cloud's will on its own and surrendered to it. She would have to keep that in mind.

"Is it necessary for all who are summoned to this world to acquire a bird of their own?" she asked, her expression thoughtful. "I wouldn't wish to waste time chasing after a pet when there's so much work to be done, but if it serves a greater purpose, then perhaps I should set aside some time for the task."

'Give them an inch and they'll take a mile'. This phrase was true of many people and creatures, and while the bird might only be surrendering to Cloud's opposition for this single engagement it still knew when not to make more trouble for itself for short term gain.

"It's not necessary, no. But my world, Gaia, it's another world that has chocobos in it, and I've seen more in this world than I ever saw back home. The only real place you could find them close to Midgar was at a farm that was still a few days away. You'd see a few in the city, but even out in the backwater towns people were shifting over cars and trucks." Placing his hands on his hips he took a long breath while looking around, from the birds in the barn to those who were brave enough to stomp through the snow for some exercise.

"They're not just pets. They're companions. And they work as hard as the rest of us." His eyes turned back to Natalia, his gaze critical but not angry. "If you don't consider taking care of one worth it, or if you don't think you can handle it, then a chocobo might not be for you."

She started to state her approval once he'd made it clear that chocobos were not considered pets. That wasn't what she'd wanted, as such pursuits were frivolous and unnecessary. She could have plucked up a stray kitten if that were what she desired.

But it seemed she'd been misunderstood once again. Natalia held up her hand to quell his critical gaze. "I didn't say any of that, please don't presume otherwise. I only wanted to ensure that this was time well spent, knowing how little of it we have available to us. I would be glad to take a chocobo as a partner. I just wasn't certain what role they played: pets, or companions that could prove helpful in the days ahead. If you truly believe the endeavor to be time well spent, then my concerns are laid to rest."

OH!

Cloud smacked his forehead, realizing how he misunderstood. "Oh. Sorry. No. A lot of the other Heroes took the time to get a chocobo when they arrived but you're right. There's a lot we need to do to find a way to save the world. At the least, having a mount you can depend on has been helpful for most of us, but I guess I understand what you mean. You want to make sure that you make whatever you do count for the greater good."

He took a breath, crossing his arms and looked around as he tried to unfluster himself. "I guess it's down to everyone's personal preference, but I think it's worth it. And I've been able to take care of other people's birds so that they can focus on the things they're good at."

He glanced back at her and chuckled, "If there's one thing I've learned here, it's that there's no shame in being good at something that seems mundane. Being a Hero doesn't just mean you have to be a great fighter or a great leader. Sometimes being a good friend or support helps too."

Natalia inclined her head, relieved that they were starting to better communicate. It certainly had been a rough go of things from the very beginning. "Very well. I'll speak to the gentleman in charge of the ranch and borrow the lure. I am certain there will be times when I will need to make haste, and I know they're fleeter of foot than I am."

She pet the chocobo in front of her once more before stepping back. "Whether I'm regarded as a great hero or not, my only goal is to serve the people. Every action I take must be done so with the knowledge that it will have an impact upon their welfare. It's as true here as it was on our world of Auldrant. Not that I'm disagreeing with your statement," she smiled. "Any talent that supports and benefits others is worthy of praise. I hold myself to a particularly high level of accountability, as is my duty and privilege."

I Don't Carrot All For This Quest

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