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)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Yuna keeps her eyes on the ceiling. It's a little hard to say but it's been on her mind and being here, in the rain, she wants to talk about it.]

Before I came here... a lot happened. I haven't talked about it because there is another Yuna here. [She shakes her head.] I don't want to change the future in anyway or influence her but...

The world I was in before this one. [She pauses feeling a little awkward.] You know, I look nineteen but I'm actually a few years old. [Two years to be exact.] I stopped aging because my teacher, the man we fought, placed a piece of the chaos into me.

[She won't be able to die through normal means thanks to that piece and its only really hit her now. Now many times has she died in Crystallis? How many times has she come back? Not being able to die is a very lonely existence.]

I'm sure someone could kill me but I won't be able to live out my life.

[Despite Ven's intention to listen without comment until she's done, he can't help starting slightly in surprise.]

Whoa -- you mean you're immortal?

[Or mostly so, if there's a chance someone could still kill her. Even so...

Ven considers that for a quiet moment.]

I don't know anything about chaos, but... you can still live, can't you? You've still got friends to fight for -- and they'll fight for you, too.

[He knows he will.]

Does it really matter how long or short your life is, compared to that? [He's not lecturing -- he's asking, genuinely curious. He nearly died when he was eleven years old, willingly submitted to death when he was fifteen, and has had several brushes with it in this world; he's no stranger to the idea of dying young, and if he was able to find love and contentment in his short amount of time, he can only imagine that living much longer would give even more opportunities for happiness.]

It just hurts.

[Yuna's whispering now, her eyes closed as if it might keep the memories away. She hasn't forgotten the day that Tidus disappeared.]

Each time you say goodbye... it never gets easier. I've started to wonder if it's really worth it.

[Her voice is soft and pained as if saying those words aloud is finally admit it to herself. She is scared to get close to people and when she first arrived in the city she did everything in her power to say very far away from them. Somehow she gained friends, allies and family but she knows that she'll lose it all again one day.]

I just don't know if I'm really that strong.

[Ven blinks -- and then something seems to leave him as he realizes what she means, his shoulders dropping slightly.]

Oh...

[It does make a sad sort of sense. If you live a really long time, and your loved ones don't... He looks sidelong at Yuna, his expression sympathetic and sad. It's frightening to think that his next loss will hurt just as much as Eraqus' did, if not worse, but... even in the wake of that, he's not afraid to make new connections. Of course, he's not going to live forever, so he can't really compare the two of them.]

It's... hard for me to say. I want to say it's always worth it, because it's better than always being alone. But... [But he can't speak for her, and he doesn't want to try.

After a moment, he looks down at his hands again.]

You know... I'm actually older than you. [He gives a short, quiet exhale that might be a shadow of a grim laugh, the corner of his mouth quirking humorlessly.] I knew it was a long time, but I found out it's been almost thirteen years. I'm actually closer to twenty-eight.

[The expression fades back to something more solemn.]

My heart was separated from my body for all that time. I guess that's why I still look the same. I was... actually supposed to die -- but I did it to protect my friends. I knew they'd be sad, but... I knew they'd be okay, too. If that had happened, and they'd outlived me, I'd have wanted them to keep being happy, the way we used to be. It would've been tough for them, but not impossible. I know now -- because I've been there.

I guess... what I'm saying is -- it might take a long time to heal from something, but... even when a person's gone, they're still with you. You've got your memories with them, and that makes your heart strong. It's the only way your heart can get strong, I think. And that helps you heal. It helps you love again, even when you're still hurting.

[He gives her a sad smile.]

At least... that's what I think. And I think you've got a strong heart, too, even if you don't always feel like it.

[It's a lot for Yuna to take in though when he mentions his age her eyes blink open. She turns slightly to look over at Ven, her expression a mixture between curiosity and worry.

Her voice is soft, her expression slowly relaxing.]

I'm happy you didn't die.

[Yuna smiles brightly at him before looking back at the tents roof.]

Maybe, if I always knew someone like you, then it would be okay. You have an amazing ability to remind people that they will never be alone unless they choose to be, you know?

[She's happy, happier than she's been in a while.]

Thank you Ven.

[She pauses.]

Oh, I'm twenty one but I don't know when my Birthday is. Spira didn't celebrate birthdays.

[Yuna thought about talking about her home and about the world before this one. Maybe she's been keeping a little to much to herself.]

[He wasn't sure if he managed to convey his thoughts all that well in what he said -- so when Yuna replies, and smiles, Ven's relieved, and glad. He hates for anyone to be sad, of course, but after what she told him, it's a joy to know he helped in some small way.

The mention of her age earns a playful smirk.]

Still younger than me, though.

[...Technically. He hardly remembers those twelve plus years, so he's not sure his "real" age actually counts, but... technicalities do count for some lighthearted teasing.

After a moment, Ven turns around -- and lies down beside her, draping the blanket over them both to share. He's not right up against her, but the closeness is enough to suggest a friendly trust and familiarity.]

I'll remind you as much as you want, okay? My friends did the same for me... so it's the least I can do for others. [Then, more brightly,] And hey, if you don't know your birthday... that just means you can pick it yourself, right? Not many people get to do that.

[Yuna laughs and then lightly taps his shoulder with her own.]

I don't think that counts or do you want me to refer to you as an old man?

[She's happy, though it's hard to say aloud. She considers herself really lucky to have a friend like Ven, he's much stronger than her and yet she feels stronger having him nearby. Just like with her guardian's, it's a feeling she's missed.]

Thank you Ven.

[Yuna turns slightly to look over at him.]

When do you think I should make my birthday?

Hey, watch it! [It's a playful objection as he also laughs. He can't even point out that twenty-eight isn't all that old, since he's still very much fifteen at heart and that does seem kind of ancient from his point of view.

He's thoughtfully silent for a moment, staring up at the tent ceiling as he crosses an arm under his head.]

Hmm... well, which season do you like best?

[Yuna's met people who've died and yet lived on through centuries. Maybe if they were still around she'd ask them but after Sin was defeated everyone was able to rest. They didn't seem to like being alive for so long.

She pushes the thoughts away before they spiral further. Instead she looks back up at the tent's roof and begins to count the rain drops. It's warm with Ven by her side and she's thank for the blankets. She wonders if Rae's fallen asleep or if the little moogle has quietly listened to their whole conversation.]

I don't know. I grew up on an island and it felt like summer every day. I guess it'd be summer though I really like spring, fall and winter too.

[That whole sentence might not be helpful.]

[Ven can't help a good-natured laugh that's at least partly a snicker -- because yeah, that really didn't help at all.]

Okay, well...

[Hmm... oh!]

Mine's in March! [As far as he knows, anyway. It's what he was told, although there will come a time when he realizes that it's most likely not accurate.] I guess that's closer to winter, but if you wanna pick one around there, we could have 'em near each other.

[Yuna laughs softly.]

Okay but then we’d have to celebrate together.

[It’d be nice to share something like that, since there are only so many days in a year it’s a safe guess that someone has a birthday every day. Thinking about it that way is a little strange and it makes Yuna shake her head to push the thought away.]

What day? Maybe before yours?

[Though he would technically still be older.]

[Ven grins, because he definitely has no objection to that.]

Mine's the thirteenth, so... right before that, maybe?

[Yuna thinks about it and then nods.]

How about the twelfth? Or… is that too close?

[She looks over at Ven with a smile. It was strange to lay here and just talk. It wasn’t something that Yuna did often and she really enjoyed it. It reminded her of home a little but not in a sad way. She’s glad to feel that feeling once more.]

[He shakes his head.]

Nope, the twelfth is perfect! We'll definitely remember each other's birthdays that way. And we'll do something big to celebrate. [There's no "if" in there -- no question about whether they'll still be in this world by then. Even if they aren't... well, he won't be separated from his friends so easily, he's decided.

Meanwhile, the bundle of towel that is Rae has gone still; she's finally warmed up enough to drift off to sleep.]

You'll have to plan it then. I've never had a birthday, I don't really know what you do.

[She got Fai a cake this year, except she didn't get him a present and the whole exchange was a little awkward; in short birthday's weren't really her thing. With a heavy sigh she looks back up at the ceiling. She's feeling better, light but as quickly as the warmth and happiness fills her it's replaced by uncertainty.]

Hey, Ven... how much have I told you about my home?

[She doesn't remember.]

Heh, okay! It's a deal.

[They never did anything extravagant for birthdays back home -- a small gift, bigger-than-usual meals, and the privilege of doing no chores for the day -- but it's all Ven knows and that's plenty enough of a celebration in his mind. Still, given what he's seen of parties here thus far, they could probably do a little more, especially for a double-birthday... he'll look into that later.

He glances at her curiously.]

Oh, uh... not a whole lot. You said it was a small, and mostly water. And that they have Blitzball there.

[Yuna nods and then settles a little bit more into bed. She's decided to just talk until she falls asleep.]

That's right. There was also a lot of conflict there and born from that conflict was a monster known as Sin. He could never been killed for good but you could kill him and he'd stay dead for a few years before he was reborn. His only mission was to kill...

[She's talking in past tense so that's a good sign.]

It was the job of the summoners to fight Sin, those born with the magic to gain the blessings of the Aeons. Sort of like here, except that the Aeon's where the souls of regular people, who gave up their life and their death to help in the battle against Sin. The summoners would call the final summoning and then be killed by Sin. Sin would rise again and the cycle would repeat.

It did this for 1000 years.

[He didn't think she was going to go into detail, let alone that much, so at first Ven only blinks at her in mild surprise, and then curious interest. Partway through, he rolls onto his side to face her -- a simple reflex, because she has all his attention -- and by the end he's frowning, the expression perturbed and sympathetic.]

A thousand years? But... if it came back that often, then...

[They would have lost a lot of summoners. More than he wants to try and count.]

[Yuna shakes her head.]

He did come back but.. well... it'd sometimes be centuries before another summoner was able to defeat him. If history surveys me there are twelve high summoners, not including myself.

[She pauses.]

I guess I should tell you the end of the story... well.. that story.

[Yuna takes a deep breath.]

I was very young when my talents as a summoner showed. I became an apprentice and at sixteen I was a full fledged summoner. I started my pilgrimage to give up my life and defeat Sin. I didnt really go as planned...

[Since she's alive.]

[Ven keeps listening without comment, although again his surprise shows here and there. So she's a summoner...

He doesn't want to push when she stops, since it sounds very personal -- but he's not sure why she's telling him all this, other than the guess that she must want to talk about it. So after a moment, he leans up just enough to prop his temple against his fist.]

Why? What happened?

[Yuna looks over at him before inhaling a deep breath. The tent is warm now and she can no longer taste the chill of the air or the bite just outside the thin walls.]

It was a lie.

[She doesn’t know why she’s telling him this either but it feels right.]

Yevon… they told us that if we repent for our sins we would be forgiven. That Sin would finally disappear. While traveling I learned that Yevon didn’t even practice its own rules and when I stood against them they fought back. They… [Her voice trails off thinking back on her wedding.] So many awful things happened but I chose to go on. I was never a summoner because Yevon told me so. I did it because I felt that it was right. Like my father before me, I’d give me life for the people of Spira.

When we arrived… we learned the full truth. I had to sacrifice one of my friends in order to achieve the final summoning. Lady Yunalesca would turn them into a faith and when I summon them they will have the power to defeat Sin. Then I would be killed….

I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t do that to my friends. I was ready to give my life but they shouldn’t have to give yours…. So many of them volunteered but it didn’t seem like the way. [She pauses again, her fingers slowly fiddling with the blanket that’s wrapped around them both.] I ended the final summoning and sent Lady Yunalesca to the farplain… only, we still had to defeat Sin.

So we fought, with my friends beside me, I was able to win but even that wasn’t so simple. The true monster was once a summoner named Yu Yevon. He attached himself to the Aeons and controlled them. I had to kill every Aeon… all of my friends in order to defeat Yu Yevon for good.

[That's... a lot to take in. Not just the length and detail of it, but... the emotional weight, too. Especially her admission at the end.]

So you-- [Ven stops himself, abruptly.] So...

[It hurts just to ask; he can't imagine how it must feel to tell it from experience, or, worse, to have gone through it.]

All of them? They really had to...?

[He doesn't ask if there was any other way -- he's positive she would have found one, if there were.]

[Yuna closes her eyes feeling tears gather. She hasn't forgotten the feeling that day. She knows that it's what they wanted but it still hurt knowing that she had to fight her friends. They had traveled together and fought together and the best she could do is to let them rest.]

Yes.

[Her voice almost cracks but she manages to keep it composed.]

It the end we won but... I lost so much.

[The story doesn't end there but Yuna isn't sure how much more she can say in one night. It's the most she's said in a long time.]

[It seems like a lot of victories are bitter, Ven's coming to realize. It seems like some price always has to be paid -- some bigger than others, but it's always a sacrifice. He learned that firsthand, and he hasn't seen much to contradict that thought since then.

At the pause, he reaches over with his free hand to cover one of hers, his expression concerned and sincere. He doesn't know if there's more to tell, but either way, his voice is quiet and gentle.]

It's okay. You don't have to talk anymore.

[Yuna keeps her eyes closed but there is a light smile that pulls just at the corner of her lips. It's nice of Ven to comfort her, this is one of those things that's hard to talk about no matter how much time passes.]

Thank you, Ven.

[She opens her eyes then and feels the tears retreat.]

I was 16 then. It's been... 5 years since? Things seem to have only become more complicated.

[All because she lived.]

Day One - evening campfire

Day One - evening campfire

Day One - evening campfire

Day One - evening campfire

Day One - evening campfire

Day One - evening campfire

Day One - evening campfire

Day One - evening campfire

Day One - evening campfire

Day One - evening campfire

Day One - evening campfire

Day One - evening campfire

Re: Day One - evening campfire

Day One - evening campfire

Day One - evening campfire

Day One - evening campfire

Day One - evening campfire

Day One - evening campfire

Day One - evening campfire

Day One - evening campfire

Day One - and now sads

Day One - oh no D'8

Day One - oh no D'8

Day One

Day One