melodiesoflife | Chocobo Roundup

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Chocobo Roundup

WHO: Rukia Kuchiki, OPEN!
WHAT: A group of adventurers sets out to find themselves some new feathered friends, as well as spend time together camping out and battling monsters. On the last day, the adventure is capped off with a battle against a chocobo eater.
WHEN: November 7th - 9th
WHERE: Calm Plains

OOC NOTES
There will be two threads for each day: one for mingling, and one for fighting monsters/encountering chocobos. The encounter schedule is listed below. Assume encounters A-E happen in the daytime, and F-J happen at night. We can assume that most of the encounters are handwaved, so if there's one you'd love to play out, start a thread with the encounter listed in the subject. Example: Day 2, Encounter X: Five Hamsters.

Note: We will not find five hamsters. No one is allowed to die horrifically in this fun-filled expedition.

Some chocobo captures are reserved for those who signed up, and have been marked accordingly. You can claim one of the encounters on this list, if you like. And if you're a new character, you can join too! Either assume Rukia mentioned it to them and invited them along, or PM me and I'll have Rukia meet your character in the intro log if she hasn't already.

Day 1
A: Enemy female yellow chocobo (accompanied by two Buers)
B: 3 Red Elementals
C: Friendly female aqua blue chocobo - Claimed by LEVY
D: TREASURE CHESTS! (surprise it's two Mimics)
E: ANOTHER TREASURE CHEST! (still a Mimic though)
F: Friendly female green chocobo
G: Enemy female yellow chocobo (accompanied by 2 Gargoyles) - Claimed by RAMZA
H: 1 Mandragora
I: Friendly female yellow chocobo
J: 1 Hamster (run)

Day 2
A: Friendly male yellow chocobo - Claimed by FAI
B: 2 Geezards
C: Unfriendly male yellow chocobo - Claimed by YUNA (AU)
D: Enemy female yellow chocobo (accompanied by 2 Wyverns) - Claimed by K'pandolu
E: 3 Goblins
F: 1 Gargoyle
G: Friendly female yellow chocobo
H: 8 Goblins
I: Unfriendly male yellow chocobo
J: 2 Touch Mes

Day 3
A: Unfriendly female yellow chocobo
B: Unfriendly female yellow chocobo
C: Friendly female purple chocobo - Claimed by KIJA
D: 3 TREASURE CHESTS! (Nope still Mimics who puts a treasure chest in the middle of the plains seriously)
E: Enemy female yellow chocobo (accompanied by 2 Mandragoras)
F: Unfriendly female yellow chocobo
G: 9 Buers
H: Unfriendly female white chocobo - Claimed by RUKIA
I: Unfriendly female yellow chocobo
J: CHOCOBO EATER (small)

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[ Truthfully, the job wasn't nearly as rigorous as to forbid those couple of days off, but Ace had still decided to take a longer shift before joining the group on their little hunt, and that choice has been slowly beginning to take its toll ever since the evening rolled around.

The way he is nestled against his own Chocobo (oh, what a joyous bird gathering they're currently having!), with how the boy's head dangerously rolls to the side every ten seconds or so, certainly makes it seem like the cadet is on the verge of drifting off as Cloud gives him a small nudge and passes the thermos into his hands. Grateful, he nods and brings himself forward into a sitting position, allowing himself a small cup of cocoa that manages to slightly shake him awake, the drink feeling pleasantly warm against his fingers.

What follows is that the thermos once again lands in the hands of another Hero, because hey, let's get this circle going. ]

Any kind works, so let's see where that takes us.

[ Frankly, he believes they've already had their share of scary stories lately, but he's reluctant to point out the obvious for the sake of them all, really. ~~Looking at you, Cloud.~~ ]

[Yuna smiles and has to stand for a moment to take the thermos from Ace. Her chocobo seems displeased but he doesn't make a move to get up.

She wasn't expecting scary stories but the atmosphere certainly would make it interesting. She pours herself a cup and her chocobo squawks indicating he wanted to try some. What harm is there in that? So she pours the chocobo a small cup as well.

As she passes the thermos to her left she smiles.]

It doesn't have to be scary and we can all go in a circle telling one.

[That way everyone is able too. She looks up at Rukia with a smile.]

Do you need help with that?

[Yuna had started the fire but she felt like she should be doing more since there were others still working.]

Stories sound good to me! [Scary, not-scary, Ven's a big fan of them either way.

Rae headed back to the city this morning and his Chocobo's grazing a little ways off, so he only pours himself a cup before passing the thermos on as well.] I'm curious what kinds of stories come from different worlds.

Not to worry. I've almost finished.

[That's three corners now, and Rukia drops to the ground with a proud smile. She's already drenched, so being out in the rain a little longer is no big inconvenience. Once the fire is protected, they can build the blaze to be higher and warmer. But as she climbs the final tree, Rukia decides to get started.]

It begins with high school senior citizen, Will Hunter.

[That's high school senior, Rukia, not senior citizen.]

He hears the voice of his father, calling for help, as demons leap and prance from the flames. Will falls off of a cliff, and the earth is shaking! BUT THEN! He opens his eyes...and it was all just a terrible nightmare, and his wicked stepfather is shaking the bed. Then, the cruel, mocking stepfather releases a terrible fart before fleeing from the room. Truly, this is a sad life for a young man, who has just moved to a new town and must ride the large yellow car, called a bus, that transports students from their homes to the school.

[She leans back, securing the final knot. There! The canopy is in place. Rukia eases herself back down the tree and hustles under the shelter, her fingers sweeping back the raven locks plastered to her cheeks and neck as she scoots herself close to the fire. Ahhhh, so warm.]

He sees a girl named Natalie, and they immediately fall in love, for he is quite handsome you see. Then! All of a sudden! A plague of crows attacks the bus! CAW CAW!

[She looks around, looking triumphant, wanting to see just how many people are spooked by this terrifying tale. ~~Probably no one.~~]

[ The audience is thrilled.

An avid reader, Ace is always willing to give any kind of literature a try, except... this all sounds like a huge mess that he's struggling to make anything out of. Even assuming Rukia might have been the tiniest bit chaotic in her retelling, there's still the matter of explaining why the elements of her story make so little sense on their own already, and that pushes him to pose a question after a moment of silence. ]

... Did you just make this all up?

[ Believe it or not, it's with nothing but good intentions that he says it, and there is no sarcasm to be detected in his tone. He's simply curious. ]

Edited (an edit for the sake of keeping that subject line |D) 2015-11-11 01:18 (UTC)

You flatter me.

[That might not actually be a compliment, Rukia.]

No, it came from a book I checked out at the library. I was quite captivated with the story! Ah, but I haven't reached the part where he attends the party and descends into the sewer to fight demonic rats with his MegaShocker...

[Maybe someone else should tell a story now.]

What about legends from home?

[Sorry Rukia, but Yuna hadn't really been able to follow that story at all. Maybe something she knew better?]

It wasn't really scary either.

[It takes a lot to frighten Yuna.

She takes a sip of her hot chocolate before looking down at her chocobo. The bird seems to really like hot chocolate. Her mismatched gaze then flicks towards Ven and the others around the fire.]

Anyone can share one.

[It's a good thing Ace spoke up first, because Ven wasn't sure for an awkward moment whether he was supposed to be scared or laugh. Fortunately, he doesn't have to make up his mind on that matter.

And as open-minded as he is about nearly everything, he nonetheless found that story way harder to follow than any lecture, so he goes with the topic-changing flow.]

Legends, huh? [He hums thoughtfully.] I only know one, but it's not really scary. [If you want scary, he could tell you about his creepy ex-master and the number of times he nearly killed Ven, how the universe-wide apocalypse nearly came to be, or his psychotic evil twin who manifested from the darkness forcibly ripped from his heart.

But. Nah. Those are more fit for a therapy circle than a campfire.

So he'll also glance around expectantly to see if someone will save them from Rukia's storytelling.]

[Rukia doesn't seem offended at having her story cut short. She'd freely admit that she isn't the best at conveying fiction, especially without her book of illustrations ~~to make everything worse~~. So she sits down with her hands laced together on one knee, regarding Ventus's offer curiously.]

I wouldn't mind hearing about this legend.

[Her attention is pulled away briefly as the thermos reaches her. She blinks at it, then smiles and gratefully pours herself a cup of cocoa. One sip is enough to draw a sigh of contentment from the wet shinigami before she passes the thermos onward.]

[Cloud smiles and nods in agreement.]

Go on, tell it to us.

[If anything it'll give Cloud time to think up a story to tell of his own. Even if some of the others aren't in the mood for a spooky story it really is the right situation for one. Cloud leans back and listens to the others as he mulls things over. He's not going to let this chance go.]

Edited 2015-11-11 22:12 (UTC)

[Yuna looks over at Ven with a warm smile. Her hair is slowly drying and as she continues she absently runs her finger through the silky brown tresses.]

I'd like to hear it too.

[She has a lot of scary stories but they are more sad then they are freighting. She doesn't want to make others sad though Yuna was determined to think of a scary story to tell. She might be able to make one up.]

If you're alright with telling us.

[While the others had been telling stories and talking, Fai had been on the outside just listening and not really contributing for any odd reason. In fact he did just make sure the chocobos he had now were fine and doing okay before he finally sat down. Legends were always interesting after all.]

You don't have to tell them if you don't want to, but I get the feeling they'll keep insisting until you do.

[Well, everyone's still interested despite his disclaimer that it's not a spooky tale, so that's reason enough to concede. So after another glance around, Ven nods with a smile.]

I've heard it a few times, but this is the first time I've told it.

[His Master told the same version on several occasions, and a couple textbooks had some slight variations. He'll draw more from the latter, mostly to avoid any mentions of the Keyblade or Masters.

After a short pause, he starts.]

Well, you know how we all come from different worlds, right? It's said that a long time ago, everyone lived in one World. It was full of light, and so were the people. Everyone was happy. But then some people started to fight over that light, and that's how darkness was created. It was born in their hearts, and as the fighting went on, it got bigger and more powerful. It broke out into war, and a lot of people were lost because of it.

[At this point, he stops looking around at the others and instead settles his gaze on the ground in front of him. It's a reflective look; a sad look. He's been to that ancient battleground, has seen the results of all that needless bloodshed. It's an eerie, unsettling, and depressing memory, not least of all because he nearly lost his own life there on two separate occasions.]

A lot of the light was lost to the darkness, and so were people's hearts. It got so bad that the whole world was covered by it, and everything was lost. But some light survived -- just pieces, in the hearts of children. They used it to rebuild the World, but as a bunch of smaller worlds instead, like we are now. It's like that because the "true light" is still asleep inside the darkness somewhere... and it's said that someday, the door to that light will be opened again.

[Ven looks up again, and this time his smile's back -- although it turns a bit apologetic as he adds,]

That's... all I know, though. If the prophecy said anything else about it, I wasn't taught.

[Although... after hearing Xehanort's true plans, and speaking to Ira, Ven has a guess as to what that "true light" might be, after all. But that's largely speculation, strictly need-to-know, and too serious for a happy time like this, anyway.]

[Rukia sips on her cocoa as she listens. It's obvious to her that Ventus is very invested in this legend, and she concludes he may very well believe in it. It could even be more factual than legend.]

[Sip.]

[When she finishes, there's just one thing that really puzzles her, so she has to ask.]

Why did people fight over light?

[It makes no sense to her.]

If there was no darkness, then surely it was always present.

[How do you win more light by beating up someone else? This is a mystery.]

[Yuna leans forward with a smile. Its an interesting story though she wants to hear a little more of it.]

Isn't it because light creates darkness? Like when the sun casts a shadow, you know? [Or at least that's what it sounds like.]

So with so much light, it began to create shadows.

[She's seen the light and darkness in people's hearts though she doesn't know what to make of it herself. It makes her sad to think about. She looks over at Ven with a warm smile.]

I liked that. I've never heard a legend like it.

Or for control, perhaps.

[K'pandolu frowns, flicking another twig into the fire. The time when the Twelve walked the land, and then the time when the tribes began to war… A common link? A common story? She can't be sure.

Her expression eases, and she leans back, closing her eyes from a moment.]

I've heard something like that. Little of a 'true light', though…

[she turns her head towards Yuna.]

What sorts of legends are there where you come from?

[Fai had listened and had taken it in. he did admit to himself it seemed odd that there was light without a shadow or darkness somewhere. But he also knew that legends came from some form of truth. Although that could be disputed. If it was based on some truth, the deeper truth could be something else. Never the less he looked at each and every person here, wondering what other legends existed.

So long as he didn't have to say any of his, he was good.]

Well... While legends always get more questions than answers, legends are in part based on some fact, but have changed over the years for one reason or another. If you think of it like that, it should make more sense, right?

[Rukia's inquiry makes him hesitate thoughtfully, and then he nods at K'pandolu's remark.]

Right. Light's kind of a few things -- it's something we can see, but it's a feeling, too. It's a force inside us, but it can also be used to fight. [If it's confusing, he sympathizes; it confused him at first, too, and even now he doesn't understand every little thing Eraqus taught him.] Some people have more light than others, but having less doesn't mean you're bad. Maybe that's how the fighting started.

[Jealousy, in short. It's a guess on his part, and he's not hiding that.

But he's shared his piece, so he'll also look curiously at Yuna when K'pandolu does.]

[Cloud remains quiet as he listens to the story. Based on everything he's learned about the other Heroes he wouldn't be surprised if it was a bit more than simply a legend were Ventus is from. It might even be true about this place considering the crystals.

He shuffles, pulling his knees to his chest.]

And then there's people who decide, light or dark, they just want everything they can have. It doesn't matter who the Light belongs to or what it's needed for. If it exists they want to own it. No matter the cost.

[He frowns a bit, looking at Ventus with a serious expression.]

The Door to the Light will open...Ventus, does it have anything to do with why your weapon is shaped like a key?

[Yuna fidgets having both Ven and K'pandolu look over at her. She isn't expecting to be asked next and she quickly runs through the stories that she knows in her head.]

Most of the legends I know have to do with a monster known as Sin or the fate of the aeons, um... here they are called summons. I know a few local stories but most don't have happy endings.

[All of them involve death in some way or another.]

I guess I don't know what you'd want to hear. Though I do know that some of them were wrong.

[She doesn't mind telling a story but she'd rather cater to those around her.]

I have a few scary stories of my own.

[Ray would love to hear legends from other worlds, but he wasn't exactly averse to telling a few of his own.]

Comes with the job territory, really. Capturing ghosts, especially older entities, is about one third science, one third research, and half knowing the stories surrounding them.

Edited 2015-11-15 20:48 (UTC)

[At Cloud's commentary, Ven nods slowly, the gesture one of understanding as well as agreement. Then he raises his drink to sip at it -- only to freeze up at Cloud's question, everything about him going perfectly still. Even his gaze stays rigidly fixed on his cup, very much a deer-in-the-headlights look--

--but he's (apparently) (hopefully) saved from answering when the others speak up, so yes why don't we listen to Yuna or Dr. Stantz that sounds great let's do that, guys.

Meanwhile Ven doesn't say a word and he's suddenly very interested in listening to the others and interrupting would be rude gosh so he's just not going to say a thing nope]

[Rukia regards Ventus in silent curiosity out of the corner of her eye. She remembers asking him a similar question, and he'd apologetically stated that he wasn't allowed to answer it. Looks like he won't be answering this one either.]

Ah, I'd like to hear another story as well. Either one of you, feel free.

[She leans back on one hand and sips at her cocoa. No key talk necessary.]

[Yuna lightly taps Ven's should with her own as a comforting gesture before looking over at Ray.]

Why don't you start? It will give me time to think of one.

[Plus he seems to have a better idea of what he wants to say.]

[Ray nodded in agreement, and prepped himself to tell his tale.]

So, this is something I've never had the chance to personally verify. The Winchester Mystery House in California is considered to be one of the most haunted places in the world. It was constructed by a woman named Sarah Winchester.

Legend has it, after her husband William died and she inherited his fortune and controlling interest in his gun company, a medium channeling her husband told her to build a home to house all the spirits of those killed by Winchester rifles. Should construction ever cease on the building, she would die.

Whatever her reasons actually were, she did exactly that. The result was one of the most bizarre buildings in existence. 160 rooms, 2000 doors, 10000 windows. Doors open to walls, staircases go nowhere, windows overlook indoor areas. And it seems that, at least, the part about it being a home for all those killed by the Winchester rifle was true. Visitors have reported seeing ghosts from various times and cultures.

As for Sarah herself, she passed away in the house at the age of 81. Construction immediately stopped on that day.

Edited 2015-11-17 03:38 (UTC)

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damn_juicebox - 2015-11-17 22:37 (UTC) - Expand

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