[Open/Mingle] Wanna Be A Cowboy

[ziedrich_bearer]

WHO: Gladiolus, Open
WHERE: Network, Starduck, Sh'Ka, Where You Want
WHAT: A hunt arranged and executed
WHEN: Sometime In March
WARNINGS: N/A
NOTES: This is a Mingle Log, that means you can put your own TL posts up here, in fact, even Gladio's getting one. Use this space to interact with anyone else going on the trip (because large numbers of players at once in one thread is hard)

[Enjoy a video shot of Gladio as he's entering one of the ships, in full uniform, and with a stuffed pack over his shoulder. That will be the visual as Gladio walks through the ship to the cockpit. It is interesting to look at, though, given the beautiful wood-like paneling of the Starkduck.]

Hey. Just got back, more or less, from a train trip to Sh'Ka. Saw the weirdest shit there. There were these huge creatures, look a bit like Garulas from back home. Reason I'm mentioning it is because I haven't seen anything like them in Sh'Ka before.

Anyway, they look smaller, easier to take down than the Bunnyboars. And we need to restock the meat supplies, get all curing and drying and all that. And steaks. So, I'm going to take and pick out some of the herd. Definitely going hunting, but if they seem placid enough, maybe I'm going to try and bring some back too.

Could use some help. Anyone up for some wrangling like some proper Chocobros, help me herd some onto the Starduck to bring them in for easier handling, let me know. I'm going to be setting up the hold here for my aims for a few hours, so if you make it to the Starduck in the next two hours and you're equipped for a hunt and herding, you're welcome to join.

See you then.

Comments

Gladio TLs

[ziedrich_bearer]

I. Starduck On The Flight Over | Starduck Cockpit

Advantages of being a pilot: Gladio got to decided when he made trips, and he had some control over it. It was nice, because that wasn't the usual thing for him back home. Other advantage? So much leg space.

Once Gladio had the information punched in for where they were going, he leaned back in his chair, kicked his feet up on a bare spot on the console, and tucked his arms behind his head. Yeah, this was the life.

"Hey," he said, even as he heard the door to the cockpit sliding open. "Here for the view? Or to plan?"

II. A Teamed-Up Take Down | Sh'Ka

There they were. It had taken hours for the group to get close enough while in cover to consider their prey. And while they weren't as big as a bunnyboar, Gladio knew they were still a bit large. Good thing he knew that most of those with him had absolutely no issues with the idea of going after something big.

"Better to respect the proper order of things. Check the edges of the herd for things that look injured. Not sick. No guarantee we can't catch what they've got. But older or younger or injured, that's good targets. Still, gotta remember, we're trying to drive them toward the hangar."

Which would probably not work out well, but hey, he was hoping. Protein was useful.

"There," he said at last, pointing. "You ready?"

III. First Banthas In Flight | Starduck Hold

"Can't get over how ugly they are."

Gladio sat on the far side of the hold, just plonked down on the stairs that would take him to the dorm and the other useful rooms, watching. The Bantha were too large to make their way up these things, but he was still watching them curiously.

"Almost look like they are used to this shit," he observes, frowning, as he shovels as spoonful of chili protein paste into his mouth. "Maybe they're like the glownies, a friendly little species. Ain't as much like Garula as I thought."

II

[newmemorywhodis]

Was Link ready?

Well, he had the hat. Link wasn't really sure what a 'cowboy' was, or what the hat had to do with it. Honestly his first thought on hearing the word was that it might refer to a race of cowlike people. But he had the hat, and apparently that meant Link was now a 'cowboy', whatever that was.

And he had his compound bow, already notched with an arrow.

In fact, Link might be a little too ready, as he'd been about to head straight for the beasts. But then Gladio started talking, so Link waits to listen. The nods, at the end.

Yes, he's ready.

[ziedrich_bearer]

Damn but the guy was quiet. And serious. Like, creepy levels.

"You'd get on with Cor," Gladio says with a little sigh. Which was absolutely wrong. The guy was way too flighty for Cor but hey, he didn't know that.

"Alright then. You try and go for a debilitating shot and I'll see about getting in there to take down whatever you hit?"

[newmemorywhodis]

Link has...no idea who Cor is. Or why Link would apparently get on with them.

But the rest, at least, is straight-forward enough. And there's one bantha, just on the edge of the herd - one that's a little slow, an older male.

Link aims for that one, bow poised to strike it in the head or between the eyes. When Gladio moves close enough to be near striking distance, Link will fire.

[ziedrich_bearer]

Damn, those are strong arms, Gladio can appreciate that rather well. Then he nods and starts a stealthy, though quick to not overstrain his hunting companion, path toward their target.

Once he was in what he felt was a good range for him to work for, he gestured for Lnk to start the attack.

[newmemorywhodis]

Link watches Gladio as he moves, though the bow remains trained on the bantha. Then Gladio gets close - and Link fires.

One arrow strikes, into the beast's jaw. The beast roars, but Link is already drawing another arrow, and firing his second shot into its neck.

Not enough to take something like this down. But certainly enough to get started, and to give Gladio something to work with.

[ziedrich_bearer]

It's definitely something, and Gladio's used to working with people who hit from a range. Granted Prompto was more of a guns guy, but there had still been the autocrossbow, so he knew something about working around arrow wounds.

The man rushes in, his massive sword swinging out to cut at a large leg, hoping to hamstring the thing fast. Not that it works out well at first, with the beast bellowing and flinching back from the second arrow. Then it swings its shaggy head at Gladio.

It's a quickly coming blow, not one he expects to easily avoid with weapon in hand. So Gladio just flicks his wrist in a way that sends his sword away and instead summons a large shield to his hand. Gladio braces himself to take the blow and while he's pushed back a few feet, he doesn't seem much worse for the wear.

1

[fatedsacrifice]

Noctis had travelled on ships before and then there was that time of warping ship to ship to blow them up.

He sighed, and went to find Gladio. He knew that they were on the same ship but hadn't seen him and his shield was really hard to miss in a lot of ways. So he wandered around and finally got to see who was in control of it.

Surprised, he sat down in the seat and smiled.

"Guess I get to call you captain again."

[ziedrich_bearer]

"I guess you do," Gladio said right back with a smile before lowering his legs and turning his seat. HE crooks a finger at Noctis, beckoning him over.

"WE should save seats for other people if they want them."

[fatedsacrifice]

That had Noctis look at Gladio for a moment. "So you're going to attempt to fly this thing with me on your lap?" He's both amused and nervous.

Gladio was just teasing or something. He had to be.

[ziedrich_bearer]

"Should be pretty easy," Gladio said with a grin. Oh yes, he's planning on this. Mostly because he'd set up an auto-pilot. He could do it and fake proper flying.

[fatedsacrifice]

The king had no idea what his Shield was up to, but he saw that grin. And Noctis had no idea what to do except try to awkwardly sit on the man's leg. It was so weird to be doing this.

"How is this flying if you're not.." His voice cut off because he wasn't sure how to put this without trying to insinuate something.

[ziedrich_bearer]

"Called auto-pilot," Gladio confessed as he wrapped his arms around Noctis. "I call it 'Ignis Mode'."

Which was probably not as funny as he wanted it to be.

III

[tempredmental]

"Only one way to find out." Keith shrugged. He also knew better than to trust that any docile looking animal was going to remain docile if it felt threatened. "We should still be prepared just in case they're not."

[ziedrich_bearer]

"Suppose there is," Gladio said, watching the animals. "Some of them fought back when Link and I took some down for meat. But this is very interesting anyway."

Because they seemed complacent now.

[tempredmental]

"They're pretty big. I imagine it might not have been the easiest thing to bring down with just two of you."

Keith looked them over.

"They kinda remind me of wooly mammoths with ram horns."

[ziedrich_bearer]

"Nah, guy's really talented," Gladio said with a smile. With a sword and a bow. It was great working with him.

"We got something like them back home too. Larger though. Tend to rove in backs with the cow leading the herd and caring for daughters and granddaughters and the boys. Males rove solo."

[tempredmental]

"You know, that size would give us a lot of meat for a while... if they're edible."

Keith looked like he was considering trying for one himself.

"At least, it looks like it. Unless they're all fur and no body?" He glanced back at Gladio. If he'd taken one down already, he'd know.

[ziedrich_bearer]

"Alright cooked up a skewer from the first one I butchered. If I survive, you'll know it's edible. But tough, but tastes good."

Probably be better to chop the thing up and stew it, but he was happy.

"There is a lot of fur though. Hell of a thing to deal with."

Link | going for a ride

[newmemorywhodis]

So, hunting and herding the bantha was all well and good. But that wasn't enough for Link. No, from the moment he saw them, he knew there was something else he had to do.

He was gonna ride one.

Sneaking up behind one, Link approaches slowly. Carefully. And then when he gets close enough to touch...suddenly he bursts into action, climbing up the back of the beast before vaulting into his back. The bantha tosses its head, startled by the sudden new weight - but Link grabs it's great big horns, and makes soothing noises as he strokes the long fur on its head. The beast soon settles.

Victory!

His prize acquired, Link starts using his new bantha mount to herd the other bantha. And maybe to ride breezily by the other bantha-wranglers. He's not showing off, nope, not at all.

[tempredmental]

Dude... [Keith laughed.] Okay, that was impressive.

[newmemorywhodis]

Link looks over at Keith. "...Dude?" What was a 'dude', and why was Link being called one?

But confusion about terms of address aside, he considers the next statement, and shrugs. Maybe it's impressive. Link hasn't really thought about it that much, in that kind of way. It just seemed a good way to get up.

[tempredmental]

"Oh... uh... it's a... nickname." Keith shrugged. "Sorry."

[newmemorywhodis]

"...Doesn't sound like my name."

At least it was easy enough to figure out where Purah's 'Linky' came from. But 'dude'? He didn't have a clue where that came from.

[tempredmental]

"Well, no. It's generic. Like... you can use it for anyone? So, it's not supposed to sound like anyone's name in particular."

At least, that's what he thought anyway. Keith had no idea what the etymology of 'dude' actually was. He was guessing... big time.

"You know, it's not really important. It's just something to call someone when you don't know their real name."