I Don't Carrot All For This Quest

[worstintheworld]

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.

Comments

[neverfirstclass]

Having been taking time to do the Santa Cloud promotional thing as well as helping watch over those first facing their shadows, Cloud had been taking time off from the Ranch. So of course when he was able to show up for his shifts that meant the Old Man worked him double hard. Cloud was used to this by now, the Old Man always seemed to think that his being a Hero was all the more reason Cloud should work harder than the others, especially when he split his time to other things.

But it kept him in good shape and the work was good for his soul, which was a real help as their saga as Heroes went on. Sometimes Cloud wondered if the Old Man was actually doing all this to help...Well he'd never admit to believing in Cloud to his face anyway.

While Natalia worked in the field picking the greens, Cloud kept the birds busy so that they wouldn't try to steal any. The fences could only do so much to discourage a hungry or greedy chocobo after all. Eventually their work lead their paths to cross, Cloud keeping a firm grip on a ranch bird's lead while the princess walked past with her full basket.

"Hey there. Thanks for coming out to lend a hand with the picking. Is everyone treating you alright?"

[A rare occasion at the Chocobo Farm]

[shinrasfinest]

Sometimes, albeit not so often, within the line of his work when Sephiroth couldn't scramble a shuttle ride nor find anyone who would mind to teleport him, for an urgent dispatch back to Esdham for new orders, there was only one last resort.

"Qw-arrrrk!"

The sound of an over-excited chocobo echoed loudly around the stables as her hero came to the front of her gate. She was brilliant and yellow, rearing up as high as she could suddenly -from where she'd been apparently snoozing on the floor- and flapping her short wings with joy. Sephiroth had first caught her within his first three months of being brought to Crystallis, but the occasions which he had actually come to see the -still nameless- chocobo were few and far between. This did not seem to dampen her ardor for her hero, though!

"Whoa...easy-" Sephiroth hooked his fingers along the inside latch and steadily opened the door, extending his leather-clad hand forwards to nuzzle at the beak of the bird. She coo'ed lowly and settled as if he had such great control over her; in truth this particular chocobo would do anything to prove herself to him.

[uncoiledpromise]

Alisaie, meanwhile, had made a one singular reaction when handed the memo. T'was not that she had any problem with chocobos; on the contrary, she adored the creatures. It was the fact that only one other person had been assigned the request by Cid, and she had zero experience tilling the land. Hopefully for both their sakes, the other was slightly more capable of eliciting aide and perhaps a teacher. Because of course she'd be willing to assist in the effort; she only hoped she did not, well... damage the greens in the process of harvesting.

...Half an hour in, and she was already regretting only studying mercantilism and other arcane arts in her travels.

[redigere]

Naminé and Sora had been wandering the nearby fields, slaying monsters for experience and to help her get used to the flow of battle. Frankly, it's exhausting for someone who has never been violent once in her short life. So when it seemed that she needed a break, Sora had been so kind as to escort her to the nearby chocobo farm to rest (and let her see the chocobos again, she suspects) before heading back out into the fields to train more. He'd promised to be back in an hour or so to pick her up again.

And now she's apparently acting as a cushion for half a dozen baby chocobo chicks. Naminé isn't quite sure how this happened, especially considering just ten minutes ago she'd been standing instead of laying down, but here she is.

The sound of shuffling nearby has her attempting to sit up-- much to the chicks' disapproval.

"Sora, has it already been-- oh!" She blinks and offers a hesitant smile to Natalia. "Hello again!"