awashlogs | catch-all for May

[ dextera has no rope, but he does have bird-catching experience. this is not something he has communicated to either noctis or izuku, however, so it's probably a little alarming when he pipes up—in his own way, straightening his shoulders and trying to make himself look present—with a gesture that looks a whole lot like just grabbing.

that's the extent of his plan for goose-wrangling. using his hands. ]

I don't have rope, but I have a lot of fabric scraps we could use for that.

[And then, Dextera's gesture catches his attention, making Izuku turn toward him curiously. It takes a second for the meaning to sink in.]

You...want to just grab them? [That sounds dangerous, Dextera...]

[ dextera nods.

is it dangerous? almost certainly, but he doesn’t mind too much. he’s not sure he can catch twelve of them all by himself, but he can knock out a necessity for some supplies.

and maybe spot can help herd them, or something? it’ll all be fine. ]

[ Never one to turn down anyone else's ideas, Noctis looks from Izuku to Dex, quickly calculating the odds of them catching twelve geese alive with Dex's skills and their new companion's fabric scraps. ]

All right, fabric scraps sound like a good idea -- and Dex, I think you can give that a shot, too, we'll have your back. We can corner the birds near something and get in close enough to pick them off one by one. I imagine Spot can help, too.

[ He frowns thoughtfully. ] Don't let them get the chance to bite you, though. Geese bites really hurt.

[Good thing he left a bunch of fabric scraps in his backpack after the gold leaf quest! Izuku continues petting Spot's neck as Noctis speaks, pausing to pull a face at that last comment.]

And considering it's the forest we're going into, they probably aren't normal geese either.

[And now he looks thoughtfully between his companions.] We could take turns catching the geese... if we're muzzling them, one person will probably have to hold onto the bird while the other ties the fabric. Dextera-san already said he's willing to grab them, I don't mind either...what about you, Noctis-san?

[ they definitely won't be normal geese, but then, dextera's experience is not with normal birds. he's gotten all right at wrangling the chickens on their little makeshift farm, but it's the meta-beings he knows the best. he's ready to catch! ]

...

[ he looks at noctis, oddly expectant—of course you're going to risk getting your arm bit off by a mutant goose, right?? noctis??? ]

Yeah, yeah -- I can definitely help hold onto the bird.

[ Noctis says without hesitation, because what is risking getting his arm bit off, right? Ignis will fix it; Ignis always knows how to fix these things. So he straightens up, pleased that they have a plan even if there's a real risk Noctis will probably end up armless or something. But, can't lose, right?

So off they go, and soon enough, there are the geese. One, at first, seemingly straying from the flock. Noctis, struck with an idea, turns to them. ]

Hey -- what if we lure them out, one by one instead of cornering them?

Great, we can take turns catching them! [This is totally going to end well.]

Lure them out... it's not a bad idea. If we do that, we'll need to use some kind of bait. What do you think the geese in here eat?

[ dextera wants to touch that goose. it looks horrifying, but he's never seen a goose before, so for all intents and purposes, he considers it completely normal. it's just that it has the devil in its eyes, and sharp teeth, and dextera is also pretty sure it's leaving claw marks as it trots around nearby. ]

...

[ he looks to the others, slowly signing out the letters to spell his proposal for the geese's diet. ]

Meat?

[ Don't touch the damn goose, Dex! That thing looks like it ought to be from hell, and Noctis doesn't have any meat, but he has a better idea. He's stepping forward into the goose's line of sight, holding his hand out like he has something in it.

Well, that ought to get its attention, right? And it does, because the goose is staring, starting to trot towards Noctis.

Better get ready, Dex. ]

[Noctis??? When he'd suggested using a bait, he didn't mean yourself!!

Izuku quickly digs into his backpack for some fabric scraps, nervously watching as the goose (Why is it bright blue? Are there any normal animals around here?) approaches his new friend. He'll be ready to jump in to tie the thing up when there's an opportunity.]

[ oh... well. dextera didn't expect that, but it works well enough. the once the goose realizes there's three of them, though, it looks at noctis with a fiery hate and honks, though that honk, also, sounds like it may have come from hell itself.

dextera winces, but just as the bird is getting ready to rip into noctis like he's a sunday brunch, dextera swoops in and just grabs it.

it writhes in his hands, and he has to hold it out to keep from getting bitten or clawed, but he's got a firm grip on it and someone please come help him now before the rest of the geese come running, or this one finds a way to kill all three of them by itself. ]

[ He's got this, he's totally got this! Noctis steps in quickly, gripping the goose's beak in a spectacular show of epic recklessness -- it's a wonder he didn't get a chunk of his hand chomped off.

But he's got this! And the goose really looks like some sort of demon, and Noctis barks quickly. ]

Izuku! String! We're tying the wings together, too!

On it! [With a burst of speed, Izuku joins the fray and quickly loops the fabric several times around the goose's body, to keep its wings flattened at its side. His hand gets smacked by one of the goose's flailing feet as he works (ow).

Then another strip of fabric to keep its beak from opening--this one Izuku ties more carefully, moving around Noctis' hand until it's finally done.]

Okay, I think that should be enough. [He's just... going to hold onto the goose as Noctis lets go. Just in case.]

[ why is it so violent? dextera is used to his chickens, which are all sweet little angels, and spot, who sometimes seems to be sentient with how loyal and clever he can be.

this goose is none of those things. it is a hellbeast, and they still have to capture 11 more. it shouldn't be impossible, but they might not make it out of this completely unscathed. ]

...

[ dextera exhales as the adrenaline of capture subsides, but it seems like this one, at least, is trussed up well. ]

[ One down, eleven more to go. Izuku is skilled at trussing up the hellbird, and Noctis smiles at them both, patting both briefly with thankfully intact hands. ]

Great job, guys. You see that one there, the one that's starting to stray from the others? We need to grab that one from the back. Think you can do it again, Dex?

[ Noctis is cracking his knuckles. ] And I'll have Spot scatter the rest, so that they don't get back into formation that quickly. Izuku, you good?

Just great! [Don't mind him just very gently trying to stick their first captured goose into the net he'd brought along for this purpose. With the way the goose is struggling, it's a Trial.

He gives Noctis and Dextera a thumbs up when he finally has the goose in the bag, where it can't escape.]

Okay. Let's get the next one.

[ dextera doesn't even consider helping, instead captivated by izuku's determination to get this goose shoved into the net. it works, though, so it seems like their plan is moving forward without issue. he nods agreement to noctis' guidance, naturally falling into line under a leader.

he's already moving quietly toward the one that noctis has pointed out, though he wishes that he had one of his sound-dampening bones to help keep the advantage against the geese. this one in particular has two heads, which is unfortunately double the beak to tie. if he can catch it by surprise, though, that should be enough...

so once it's close enough, and far enough away from the rest of the gaggle, he swoops in again and grabs it to pin down its wings. ]

[ Next one it is. This time, they're more polished when they set about capturing the second one; Noctis is right there for backup, grabbing both heads and clamping his hands down their beaks -- and the sounds they make, however muffled, is unholy and awful.

But a quest is a quest, and they definitely aren't going to mess this one up! Also, that net looks big enough to hold 12 trussed up geese, so he's just crossing his fingers and hoping that the strings stay sturdy.

All right, time to string up the second goose! ]

[Tying the goose up goes just as quickly as the capture did, now that Izuku knows how to handle the cloth more efficiently.

He quickly stuffs their second goose into the bag, grinning up at his quest companions.]

This isn't so bad. As long as we keep this up, we should be able to catch the twelve that we need.

[ the geese are very definitely struggling against their bondage, but it seems like everything is holding well enough. dextera does get singed a little by one of the geese that happens to breathe fire, but it’s nothing too bad.

with the chocobo’s help in separating the gaggle, and the three of them working quite efficiently, it’s not long before they’re down to one last stubborn fuck of a bird. ]

...

[ it looks... strong. dextera never expected to describe a bird that way, but this one is something else. ]

[ It is strong. It's quite the asshole, too, and Noctis stares down that last bird. This is the bird that looks like it'll be more than happy to run you over and then do it again just for shits and giggles.

It looks like the kind of bird that didn't ask to be born and is now making the whole world pay for it. Noctis stares at it, then looks over at Izuku and Dex, before stepping forward -- they can't kill it, they definitely can't kill it, which makes things so much worse right about now. ]

Okay, so. We need a plan for this one. I'm thinking we all have to tackle it at once, one to grab onto the wings, and the other the beak and the head. Dex, since most of its power is in the wings, are you strong enough to keep it down?

[Izuku keeps a wary eye on the bird as they discuss plans. Is that...a bit of fire he sees it breathing out? Of course it is. It's the last obstacle keeping them from completing their quest, of course it would be able to breathe fire while being much larger than the other geese in its flock.]

If it's strength you need, I can do it? [He chances a look between his quest partners.] My quirk's strength enhancement, so... [Hopefully, he doesn't need to use it, but you never know.]

[ anyway, fuck that goose ]

...

[ better that they don't kill it, really, though dextera thinks that the goose might actually rip them to shreds if they don't find a way to capture it first. at the sound of voices, the hulking beast of a bird turns its eye on them, but it still seems defensive as long as they aren't moving toward it.

izuku is probably the strongest one here, though—dextera can handle the wings, but if they want to be sure of it, this is better. he tilts his head toward izuku even while keeping his eyes on noctis, his answer instead. let the hero child do it!! ]

Strength enhancement?

[ Noctis asks, both surprised and impressed. They definitely don't want to kill the goose, and they're so close! But Noctis trusts Izuku, the boy has never let them down in the past 11 geese, and Noctis nods, looking from Dex to the young boy. ]

Okay, what about you get the wings, Izuku? I'll get the beak and the head, keep him from breathing out fire. Dex, you're gonna have to help me with the strings, buddy. We good with this plan?

[ He's gonna take a look at your singed edges later, Dex. ]

catch-all for May

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look at me and kamilah... too in sync

YOU GUYS ARE PERF

<33

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