revivalproject | [Open/Mingle] Wanna Be A Cowboy

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[Open/Mingle] Wanna Be A Cowboy

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.

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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."

Edited 2023-03-14 18:20 (UTC)

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.

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."

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.

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?"

"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."

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

That shield! Gladio just flicked his wrist, and there it was!

Link wants one.

But he can ask Gladio where he got it later. Right now Link is running forward at full pace, rapidly firing arrows as he goes. They strike the beast's back and side, giving it two points of distraction. For a moment the Bantha appears indecisive, unsure which one of them it wants to charge.

In the end, it turns back to Gladio - he's still closer, and to the Bantha's eyes is the more immediate threat. But the distraction may still be enough to give Gladio another opening.

Another opening indeed. Enough of one for Gladio to dismiss the shield, summon his sword, and make another whirling strike at the thing's legs. And lucky him, he manages to do enough to make the Bantha go down on its knees.

Down isn't out though, and he has to dodge aside as another bull from the herd starts to charge him from behind.

"Shit," he curses, because he wasn't prepared for that.

Link runs, but he's still too far away to get close enough to help in time.

At least, not without drastic measures...and something a little out of the box.

He calls forth Revali's gale, a vortex of winds and the spirit of the Rito Champion surrounding Link has he is launched into the air. Then in mid-air he aims his bow - and the world around him slows. As he hands in mid-air he fires, multiple times, at the charging Bantha. Enough, he hopes, to stop it in its tracks.

Then time returns to normal - although from Gladio's perspective, only seconds have past. Revali's winds disappear, and without his paraglider Link plummets back to the ground. He manages to control the fall enough to land in a roll rather than just breaking his legs - although not enough to prevent all injury to his ankles.

There might be a bit of a limp now, as he keeps running towards Gladio.

Edited 2023-03-26 02:56 (UTC)

Damn, that had been hella impressive. Like Noctis, but less being able to warp out of a mess. Gladio was thankful though, for the bull had been turned away in pain. Gladio summoned his shield again, turning to place himself between Link and the angry bull.

"Astrals, you've got balls of steel."

As Link limps up towards Gladio, he tilts his head to the side. Huh. Link's heard himself described a few different ways - but that's a new one.

Now that he's close, though, the bow is returned to his back - and he draws the sword instead. The second beast might be turning away, but there was still the first one to contend with. Keeping an eye on the second one, Link circles the first - and when he sees an opening, strikes.

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.

"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.

Hey, Gladio wasn't going to leave that guy to hunt alone. He rushes forward to join Link, heading straight for the nearest leg, shield replaced with sword once more.

Timing the strike is easy, and hitting at the same time as Link brings the thing all the way down to its belly.

"We should put the thing out of its misery."

"You're naming it after Iggy." Noctis echoed softly, trying to comprehend that along with how warm and safe he felt in Gladio's arms.

He felt nervous and tried to sigh and relax. "You didn't tell me you were interested in having me on your lap during flight. That's a nice surprise."

Link didn't expect Gladio to leave him alone. Although, to be fair, he also didn't necessarily expect Gladio to stick around.

Link was maybe a little bit too used to working alone.

Gladio gets a glance - before Link just swings his sword, and slices across the Bantha's neck.

Should probably do it.

And Gladio was very used to working with small and competent teams. Link is precisely what Gladio's used to, even if they don't have the non-verbal communication that comes with time and experience.

That said, he gives the young man an approving nod. No hesitation, no overwhelming cringing away from what needs done.

"You're good at this."

"Of course," Gladio said with a chuckle. "Got a better idea for it?"

Clearly Noctis needs to calm down, and Gladio does his best to help, one of his hands freeing itself to rub what he hopes is a soothing pattern up and down Noctis's leg.

"I like you close, Noctis. More every day."

"Yes." Link says, with absolutely no sense of shame or modesty. He is good at this. And he doesn't see a reason to pretend otherwise.

But at the dead Bantha, he...frowns. This is normally the point where he'd cut the beast up, and store away the pieces of meat in his korok-enchanted pack. But he doesn't have his pack. And now that they've made their kill...where are they going to put it?

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[Open/Mingle] Wanna Be A Cowboy

Gladio TLs

II

1

Link | going for a ride

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