caughtinanetwork | the one year anniversary is a perfect excuse to wrestle chocobos

Entry tags:

the one year anniversary is a perfect excuse to wrestle chocobos

[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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Are you, really? Uh, heh, well you should really establish that riding is a thing that you wan to do first.

Uh... [A stare, trying not to laugh.]

I could definitely be up for playing that with him again, yeah. But I usually win anyway, heh.

[Pause.]

That probably would be a good idea, wouldn't it? I already got a saddle and bridle on Pounce; I was hoping he'd see that and figure out what I wanted.

[That, and he just enjoys wrestling with his bird.]

big equius isn't very good at that game i don't think he always makes the i give up noises i think big horn troll is better at it yes i do you must win all the time

Unfortunately not. Might uh, want to try and new strategy. This behavior can be seen in hoofbeasts too, especially hoofbeasts new to riding or ones that have been made to pulls plows and field work for a lot of their lives. Riding animals aren't made to be ridden remember, you have to teach them and show them it's a possibility.

[A smile, leaning back a little.]

Oh no no, give the guy credit, he's good at it too. But I think the problem is I think he enjoys losing. Now isn't that silly?

Okay, that makes sense. So what would be the best way to teach him, then?

[Wark wark wark.]

that is very silly why would anyone want to lose do you know the answer to that or i could ask dural i bet she'd know

Asserting dominance. You have to make him know it's not a game. You are not his partner during the teaching stages, you are his superior.

You could always ask Dural!

But... if I do that, I could hurt him.

[When they're just wrestling and playing around, they're pretty evenly matched. But if Equius was being serious about getting the saddle on him, he's afraid he might hurt the chocobo.]

okay i will ask dural she knows all about big equius she'll tell me what's going on

Your voice. Use your voice. Dominance can be asserted with physical force as well but sometimes that causes problems. You're better off vocally establishing the pecking order.

I do hope she properly informs you, heh.

[Equius... is not good at this dominance thing.]

I... could try that.

[He eyes the chocobo, takes a deep breath, and tries to imitate the voice Darkleer the troll uses when he's angry.]

Darkleer! SIT!

[The chocobo looks aghast and immediately flops down in the grass, cowering.]

oh no oh no what did i do now equius is mad at me i don't know what i did wrong what did i do big horn troll

There's a different between assertion and anger, Tinkertot.

[He pauses, closing his eyes.]

He's not mad.

[And then another pause, lifting his head. Summoner can't get too clear of a view of Darkleer, which doesn't help, eye contact is usually extremely important, but he can make due.]

[He swallows, staying quiet, and then suddenly.]

Darkleer, still, whoa. Whoa!

[His tone is quite different. It doesn't sound angry, just hard, strong. He's much more focused on how his voice sounds than what he says. After all, Darkleer doesn't know cue terms yet. 'Whoa' has no meaning for him like it should when he really learns. He's establishing it as something that means more than just babble, which is what english would be to most animals.]

[Darkleer perks his head up at Summoner's reassurance, and looks at the SFC when the older troll speaks aloud.]

what are you saying big horn troll am i supposed to stay on the ground what does equius want me to do

[Equius, meanwhile, tilts his head a bit and watches the chocobo's reaction.]

So... firm, then? Like I'm giving him orders?

[He doesn't commune during this, but he does keep the connection there, merely not using it.]

Yes. Showing him anger makes it seem like he's being punished, that's not the case. People often describe it as 'breaking' but I feel like you eventually want a mutual understanding, not a servile understanding. You order him, not punish him.

But he doesn't understand what I'm saying.

[Equius starts to reach out to touch Darkleer's beak; he's not as fluent with animals as Summoner, but he knows his pet's body language well enough to know that Darkleer is a little distressed and upset. The chocobo starts to stand up, and Equius pulls his hand back.]

Darkleer, no!

[He tries to imitate Summoner's firm tone this time, and the bird sits back down.]

Good. Now, do you know the usual command cues? Or do you plan on making your own?

He listened!

am i doing the right thing big horn troll equius is happy now is he happy because i sat back down when he told me to

[Equius thinks about the question.]

The usual ones, I guess, in case anyone else ever wants to ride him.

Yes, you are!

All right. Well, 'whoa' is usually stop then. 'Easy' to slow down. And then general commands like canter, trot, walk depending on how you want them to move once you're riding. Often riders have other terms as well, like bow, foot, hya, and point, too.

I think maybe we should work on "stop" and "stay" first.

[Equius is realistic, he knows his pet.]

[He digs around in his sylladex for a moment, and finds some chocobo greens. Darkleer's eyes brighten, but he stays sitting down.]

Darkleer, stay!

[Equius holds the greens at his side and starts walking backwards, maintaining eye contact with the bird.]

[Juuuust watching.]

ooooh greens om nom nom i want the greens equius give me the greens

[The chocobo starts to stand up, and Equius holds his hand up higher.]

Darkleer, no! Stay!

[Aaaand now chuckling.]

but you have greeeeeeeens equius i want those greens i am starving you have no idea how hungry i am right now give them to meeeeee

[Darkleer holds the stay command for another few moments, his tail high and waggling in the air, long enough for Equius to take three more steps backwards. Then the bird can't do it anymore and explodes out of the command, rushing the troll and skidding to a halt beside him.]

[Equius reaches out and taps Darkleer's beak to get his attention, then gives him one of the greens, keeping the others in his hand.]

Was that right, Summoner?

Very! I'm proud. Constant training like that is ideal, twice a day if possible. I know I was with Fauna and Flora nonstop though, heh.

[Equius pats Darkleer's beak one or two times, then gives him the sit and stay commands again. It takes the bird a moment, but he does as he's asked.]

Thanks for your help, Summoner. Can I contact you if I have any more questions?

Anytime.

Nice to see you again, Darkleer.

bye big horn troll come and play with us sometime soon okay okay we're learning new things and we'll show you them when you come to see us

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

the one year anniversary is a perfect excuse to wrestle chocobos

Video;

Video;

Video;

Video;

Video;

Video;

Video;

Video;

Video;

Video;

Video;

Video;

Video;

Video;

Video;

Video;

Video;

Video;

Video;

Video;

Video;

Video;

Video;

Video;