the one year anniversary is a perfect excuse to wrestle chocobos

[stayb100ponyboy]

[The video feeds turns on just in time to catch a loud crash and for the camera to be completely covered in black material. Then the darkness lifts, showing a view of a backyard, complete with a splintered, broken wooden fence and Equius, stalking a blue chocobo.]

[Does anyone remember when Darkleer was a chick and was small enough to ride around on Equius' shoulder? Those days are long past, and it's an almost fully grown, towering feathery asshole that is ducking and weaving, all while warking joyously, as Equius chases him around the yard with a saddle.]

Aha, you think I'll give up that easily? You're wearing this saddle whether you like it or not!

[Equius lunges, Darkleer kicks him in the chest, Equius flies backwards and crashes into the fence, sending more splinters into the air. It's hard to tell who is having a better time here.]

[OOC: it's my Vatheon one year anniversary today! Thank you, everyone, for a year's worth of amazing RP!]

Comments

[420]

[Okay, that has Gamzee raising his head staring at Equius like he just grew a second head.

No scratch that he would stare less if Equius had grown a second head.]

What? Why?

[stayb100ponyboy]

Not at first! But he was so protective of you, and I think he knew I was interested in you before anyone else did, and he used to give me these looks, like if I ever hurt you he would make me regret it...

[Equius chuckles self-consciously.]

But he was always very, very kind to me, and he was a wonderful moirail.

[420]

He was. He was fuckin' amazing. Always did done made me fuckin' feel all like he needed me too.

[He turns his gaze to his knees, quiet for a little, realizing just how long Wataru has been gone now, before he forces to shake his head clear of such thoughts and looks at Equius again.]

So... you had the fuckin' hots for a motherfucker for a while?

[stayb100ponyboy]

[Equius senses that Gamzee doesn't want to talk about Wataru anymore, and takes the pause in the conversation to casually drop the saddle on Darkleer's back. The chocobo eyes it, but doesn't try to throw it off. Progress!]

I think... I think I always did, even back on Alternia. But I didn't really know it until I got here.

[420]

Back on Alternia we only all had our motherfuckin' husktops, yeah.

[He leans back on his hands.]

Best fuckin' thing about that game right there, brother. Got to all get my meet up with all you motherfuckers.

[stayb100ponyboy]

Yes. Even though I lived next door to Vriska... it was really nice to travel through the game with Nepeta. And then to meet everyone face-to-face at the end.

[420]

Yeah. Did ya ever all fuckin' meet her before the game?

[stayb100ponyboy]

Once or twice. It was difficult, though, since we lived so far apart.

[420]

I bet.

[He understands the troubles of distance. He really does.]

[stayb100ponyboy]

[He knows you do, baby. He knows.]

[Time to steer the conversation towards happier things!]

You know, I haven't been here that long, but this place feels more like home to me now than Alternia.

[420]

It does, don't it? Fuckin' magical how that shit all works out.

[He reaches up to pat Pounce's beak, receiving a pleased chirring sound from the chocobo as she presses her head against his.]

Way better here than home.

[stayb100ponyboy]

Yes.

[Equius leans in to kiss Gamzee's cheek.]

It really is.

[420]

[See, he gets kisses here! Way better than home.]

You wanna try riding these bros now?

[stayb100ponyboy]

Okay.

[While they've been talking, Equius has stealthily gotten the saddle fastened on Darkleer's back.]

Do you want to take Pounce and I'll try Mr. Personality here?

[420]

[Gamzee gives him a little grin.]

You'd really up and be trusting me to ride that motherfucker?

[He is familiar with your fussing, babe. He is.]

[stayb100ponyboy]

[Equius looks at Darkleer, and Darkleer looks back at Equius, and they come to an agreement.]

No. You'd be better with Pounce.

[Pounce, at least, doesn't randomly tackle people for fun.]

[420]

[Gamzee could handle the tackles! Just cause he is skinny like a stick doesn't mean he would just snap. Really. Probably.

Gamzee just shares a look with Pounce though. Doesn't matter. He gets along better with the sedate chocobo anyway.]

I'm cool with that.

[stayb100ponyboy]

All right. You put a foot in the stirrup--that's this thing here--grab the saddle's horn--that's that thing there--and pull yourself up onto her back.

[420]

[That sounds simple enough. He can do that.

He grips the saddle horn, puts one sneaker in the stirrup and OH GOD IT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO GO LIKE THAT. WHY WAS THE STIRRUP AROUND HIS ANKLE NOW.

FORGET THAT. WHY WAS HIS OTHER LEG JUST KINDA SWUNG AWKWARD HALFWAY ONTO THE CHOCOBOS BACK THIS IS WHY AND UNCOMFORTABLE, HALP.]

[stayb100ponyboy]

[The long-suffering Pounce holds completely still as Gamzee dangles awkwardly off her back. Equius steps up and puts his shoulder near Gamzee's foot.]

Put your foot on me and use that to push yourself up into the saddle the rest of the way.

[He should have gotten a step stool. Behind them, Darkleer is making the bright, cheerful chocobo sounds that Summoner or Tavros would recognize immediately as laughter.]

[420]

[Yeah well, wark wark wark to you too buddy.

Gamzee manages to push himself further up with Equius' help, landing none too elegantly in the saddle, trying not to slide off again.]

Woah.

[stayb100ponyboy]

Remember when I was a centaur and you were riding on my back? It's not much different from that. Hold on to her with your legs, and you can hold either the saddle horn or her reins to keep yourself from falling.

[He's very sure that Pounce won't bolt with Gamzee on her back.]

[420]

Riding you felt different.

[Well, it had! Pounce is kinda more a roundish bird. It definitely forces his stance different. And when he had been on Equius' back he could cling to his chest. Pounce would probably not let him cling to her slender neck, no matter how good of a chocobo she is.]

[stayb100ponyboy]

[Equius... is just not even going to go there. Let the fresh trickle of sweat running down his temple indicate his feelings on how you phrased that, Gamzee.]

Hold the saddle horn. I'll lead her around the yard a few times, okay? Let you get a feel for it.

[Equius takes Pounce's reins and leads her off at a slow, sedate pace.]

[420]

[He said anything weird? Surely not!

He sort of clutches the saddle horn, trying very hard not to slide off or backwards or forward or anywaywards, really]