onemind: (Default)
THE N E S T ([personal profile] onemind) wrote in [community profile] station722017-08-23 07:57 pm

[mission: hyrypia] then the holy paths we'll travel strew'd with rubies thick as gravel

CHARACTERS: EVERYONE
WHERE: Hyrypia - The Graze
WHEN: DAY :014 - 016
SUMMARY: Two days of horseback hunting training, followed by the second round of competition.
WARNINGS: Will update as necessary. Need a warning added? PM this account please!






THE GRAZE
DAY :014 - :015

THE DAY FOLLOWING the festivities finds the majority of competitors and spectators still buzzing with the competition’s failures and successes, but there is little time to gloat or moan about the results. By the time the sun has risen over the graze there's a new announcement: there will be two days of additional training followed by another day of competition. Today and tomorrow will be dedicated to learning skills vital to the hunt.

0. TRAINING

THE TRAINING FIELD has become familiar, but the decor has changed- as have the the teachers. Unlike the previous riding and herding lessons which featured ropes and hooks, today's syllabus includes a series of more dangerous tools. The short spears that line the racks may be dulled but they still look painful, and the speed at which they're hurled from the intricately carved Sarvat - the traditional spear throwers - is intimidating.

At first glance, the slings of woven and stained Gryer leather are less impressive-- but the different ammo that can be loaded in them proves interesting: a bio-luminescent tagging liquid that stains the targets that it hits and leaves distinct trails, hard metal weights, and carefully handled poison globes.

Over the next day the envoys are are trained to use the weapons from Elinback in addition to being schooled in a number of simple traps and snares that leave little confusion as to the nature of the next challenge events...



THE GRAZE &
THE MINIATURE FINGER MAZE
DAY :016


I. THE CHASE

THE HERD of technomanced automaton Gryer sits idle in the knee-high silvery grass of the Graze. They're nothing like the Elin (who exhibit all the traits of live animals); these automatons seem to know only two basic concepts: don't run, and run. Right now they're practicing the former as the competing riders are divided into large, mixed hunting parties. Once the parties have been formed, they take turns taking their runs at the herd. Among the herd of thirty, four Gryer have been painted a brilliant sapphire. To strike one down requires either two metal weights to the head, a spear to the neck piece, or two spears to its midsection.

When the hunting parties take off so do the automaton Gryer. And they're fast, moving as of one mind - a school of mechanical fish through a sea of silver grass. It'll take cleverness, skill and a bit of daring riding to either cut the targets free of the herd or go crashing through among the running Gryer to strike a target down among its brainless brothers and sisters. Once struck enough times or in the right place, the sapphire Gryer will lose power and drive spectacularly into the earth.

The attentive audience (many of them armed with an array of binoculars from their personal belongings) might cheer when appropriate, but due to the distance at which much of the action takes place most of the observation is spent eating, drinking, and enjoying the shockingly pleasant weather.

II. THE 75th HUNGER GAMES PURSUIT

THE BREEZE GROANS through the shadowy pocket of the canyon system, whistling tiredly through the coral structures - along narrow bridges and between tight passages. Familiar to anyone who competed in the individual race on Day :013, this shadowy miniature canyon is crawling with automated creatures to 'kill.' The only problem? Beating everyone else to one of them. With the blare of that now-familiar horn, the hunters mounted on their Elin take off into the canyon and rapidly splinter into disparate groups or simply go off on their own into the tangle. It doesn't take long at all to lose sight of other riders, to begin to feel completely alone in the low light of early evening. Mist rises from the canyon floor and the breeze moans ominously through the pockmarked coral structures.

It'll take more cleverness and accuracy than high speed riding skill to claim a prize here. But best work quickly and quietly to avoid having your target poached out from under your nose…

III. THE AFTERMATH

THE SECOND CHALLENGE ENDS with a long, mournful cry of the now-familiar horn. All of the possible targets have been captured and to the victors go the spoils in the form of the accumulated scores, carefully kept by the judges. The losers are left empty handed-- at least until the spectators and competitors alike have made it back to the tent encampment. Then their hands are filled with the same liquor and a new spread of simple, filling, and delicious dishes expertly prepared by the servants of the manor.

There’s some ceremony to it - the meat they are eating is the same that they would have served if their hunt had been for something more than machines. However, mostly this seems to be a chance to relax sore muscles. That's aided by the addition of several leather-enclosed tents raised earlier in the day. Once the sun sets, these tents are filled with hot, relaxing steam and lined with benches: saunas! ...which might provide some comfort for anyone not stuck wearing a heavy robe. :(






((OOC Notes: This log covers the two days of mounted combat/hunting skills training and the competition which follows. You can find a full breakdown of the events/a place for mini-event specific questions HERE. Sign-ups will remain open until the next event log for the finale goes live, however going forward please make sure to either join the individual event or have a full team selected for the team events. Please be aware that signing up late won't give you extra time to finish your thread to qualify for the finale event.

Have more generalized questions? Drop them on the MISSION: HYRYPIA OOC POST or get in touch with us on the Mod Contact page.))







otrazhenie: (159)

[personal profile] otrazhenie 2017-09-24 07:08 am (UTC)(link)
[ He looks as tired as she feels, an emotional exhaustion clinging to her and making everything seem... heavier. Harder. But that's to be expected after the last few weeks, isn't it?

His words take her by surprise; she hadn't thought it that obvious, but then her shielding is awful from the hunger gnawing away at her. He's read her like an open book and there's no hiding that yes, it means a lot to her, but that's not important right now. She looks down at her hands, at how small they seem among all the fabric of her costume, and she doesn't look back at him as she begins to tug her sleeves up. ]


This isn't about me.
wille: (& plotting)

[personal profile] wille 2017-09-24 08:02 am (UTC)(link)
[ Misato drinks in the compliments eagerly, but knows not to make a show of it or even call attention to it. His words are etched for permanence and stowed away, should she ever need fodder for her morale, should she ever waver in her convictions. What may seem to come so naturally from the outside is in fact a well-honed and diligently applied craft. Her confidence is earned. ]

Prince doesn't like it when I call this a war.

[ She assumes Gildor knows who she means. The guardians are always there to greet the new ones. It's clear from the reverent way she speaks that the reprimand was received and taken to heart, even if not without questioning. That she grapples with it means she respects it enough to consider it, where lesser counsel would be summarily dismissed. ]

He said this is about stealth and ingenuity. Actually, you might be able to teach me a thing or two about that instead.
shiro2hero: (please don't do the thing)

[personal profile] shiro2hero 2017-09-24 08:25 am (UTC)(link)
It is. A little.

[He knows, very much, those words don't make sense. It shouldn't make sense to need to get yourself medical attention for someone else's sake. If it were just a matter of getting a splint or a cast, it would be nothing. If they had the tech here they did in the Castle, it wouldn't matter. If it were simple like that, he wouldn't have hesitated.]

[This is someone else. Extending their hand, their literal blood for his own foolishness.]

[Maybe it's guilt, more than anything, keeping him from agreeing. The same reason he would hate to go to Sam with something this simple.]


I believe you, that it won't hurt you. And I trust you. [Metal fingers extend, reaching out to cover her hands where they pull and tug at fabric. Part of him still wants to pull away when others see the arm, but she gets a pass. They're alike, aren't they? In this.] You ever feel bad about someone pulling out the stops to clean up a mess you made?

It's... a little like that, I think.

[But if she needs this, too, then... well, it's different, isn't it?]
otrazhenie: (238)

[personal profile] otrazhenie 2017-09-24 07:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[ That certainty of the safety of her loved ones is born out of need. If she doesn't believe it with every part of her being, then there's no way she'd be able to function here. Worry would creep into her every waking thought and her dreams would turn to nightmares of them being harmed and... she couldn't survive that, not with no foreseeable way of getting back to them. Which-- ]

( Yes. I want to go back more than anything. I need to. My brother's all alone now, and I can't bear the thought of him having to live that way. )

[ The hope of getting back to Jeremy is what convinces her to keep waking up each morning, to put one foot in front of the other and continue forward. It's not Stefan, or Damon, or any of the others - it's her little brother, the only family she has left, who isn't ready to be alone yet. ]
perroquet: (03 listen)

[personal profile] perroquet 2017-09-24 10:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Within those few minutes, Gildor has made himself comfortable enough to begin drifting off. Not on his proper, usual cot, but splayed ungracefully in the middle of the tent and propped up on pillows. He can reach the plate of food Elena's left, and while the nausea hasn't faded enough to make him want to eat, he has no intention of moving from this spot for the rest of the night.

He doesn't ask for her to clarify herself when she re-enters the tent - he knows, and when she moves closer he can smell tea. ]


Thank you. [ He waits for her to settle in again before reaching for one of the cups, filling the silence between with idle thoughts. ]

I admit, I still harbored some small doubt about your vampirism until tonight. You are just so unlike any others I've come across...

[ He's settled on her type vampirism simply being different from the kind that plagues his world and Lakshmi's. More relatable to his own plights as a half-human than a monster. ]

Know that what you are is not so important as who you are. Thank you, Elena. For helping me and allowing me to help you.
otrazhenie: (134)

[personal profile] otrazhenie 2017-09-24 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It's not surprising to find him sprawled across the floor again, though she's glad he doesn't seem quite as ill as he'd been before. He's not going to be jumping up and dancing anytime soon, but he seems a tiny bit better, and that's progress that she'll happily accept.

Setting the other cup down beside the plate of food, she moves to lay down beside him, claiming one of the outlying pillows for herself. No, she's not going anywhere for a while, not until she's certain he'll be alright. And certainly not until she's managed to work past the tightness in her throat and the tears stinging her eyes at his kind words. ]


Thank you, Gil. For helping me and... for saying that.

[ It means so much more than she could ever say. ]
greentech: (o)

[personal profile] greentech 2017-09-24 11:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The color fades and with it, Pidge feels that twinge of pain. She doesn't try to keep him in the moment longer than he wants to be. Instead there's a low level of concern from Pidge as she tries to understand why it's bothering him and why it might have been a bit too much for Gildor. ]

Oh, no, uh - it's fine. I guess it'd be a bit much if you weren't really used to any of it. Sort of like how if you couldn't hear, suddenly hearing a lot of sounds all at once would be kind of overwhelming.

[ She reaches out to lightly rest her fingers on his shoulder. ]

Are you going to be OK...?
redheadcarrier: (Monochrome phone.)

[personal profile] redheadcarrier 2017-09-24 11:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[ It is the life they choose. It hurts. It hurts every stupid day, even on the good days, when she actually believes she might have a shot, because she'll see something or think of something and suddenly she'll be that scared, frightened, worthless little girl all over again and she doesn't know if it'll ever change, if she'll ever manage to be anything else. The alternative is to just give up, though. She already did that once and she doesn't think she wants to do it again. Not now. Not yet. She hasn't burned out a second time. ]

I'm never going to be friends with Ikari, if that's what you mean.

[ Her tone is flat. ]

Not like there's that many people "my age" around, right? [ Her look is a touch withering. ]

I have Shepard. And Seviilla.

[ Neither of which are anywhere close to her age. ]

...and maybe Aloy and Annie. [ Who are closer, but still older. ]
perroquet: (09)

[personal profile] perroquet 2017-09-24 11:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Maybe, but any stealth or ingenuity I have is owed to my skills in music and the magic therein. Without that, I'm a bit of a blunder.

[ He's quick not to diminish his own value, but put it in it's proper perspective. Yes he can be sneaky - with the aid of magic, and magic depends on too many variables. If Misato wanted to learn real stealth she would need to talk to a rogue, not a bard.

Though circling back to Prince - oh yes, he remembers. His one encounter with the guardian was brief, but left an impression. None as turbulent as hers - Gildor is still on middling ground with with the older hosts with a heaping dose of suspicion. ]


His non-highness has an interesting choice in words. I agree it's not war in the traditional sense, but then what else is it? [ A synonym for war at best - cold war. ]

As kind and informative as Prince was when I met him, there are gaps. Things we are not being told.

[ He shrugs, and slowly comes to a stop near the edge of the viewing area for the day's events. ]

At least I think so.
perroquet: (01 grin)

[personal profile] perroquet 2017-09-25 12:47 am (UTC)(link)
[ The cold sweat around his brow has dried away, and as the smell of blood fades to the smell of tea, so does his nausea. He holds the cup in both hands, warming them as he continues, because if Elena thought he would stop there she's quite wrong- ]

Of course. The worst loneliness is to not be comfortable with yourself. You've gone through a very drastic change, and you may not feel comfortable in your own skin now, but it hasn't robbed you of you. Hold onto that, and eventually you'll be able to love yourself as you are, I'm quite certain.

[ He sip his tea, trying to keep it casual despite the tightness developing in his own throat. It's a tad annoying and clearly isn't a result of his own emotions - or he's half certain. The quickest way to get rid of it is to lighten the mood, and so he continues, though his voice drops an octave- ]

And when you do, you'll be able to love that Damon boy impossibly more. Mind you I'm not saying I want to feel it any more clearly, but being able to love yourself first opens up magnitudes of possibility when it comes to loving others.
sizeofyourbaggage: (is this you trying to kiss me)

[personal profile] sizeofyourbaggage 2017-09-25 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
[ LOOK Sam learned all his spy moves from James Bond all right, this is what he's got.

Well. James Bond and Clint Barton, but there's not really much of a difference except one of them is a suave British guy and one is a disaster with killer biceps.

...and a little bit Natasha, but she mostly taught him how to kill a guy with his thighs. ]


( No better time. ) [ By which he means holy shit he definitely heard the sound of soft voices and footsteps, and they have absolutely no excuse to be here rooting around in people's shit.

Except that it's private and out of the way, and Sam's just gonna pull his hood down a little more to hide everything better, tug his scarf down so his mouth is free, and tug her in to kiss her. ]
perroquet: (Default)

[personal profile] perroquet 2017-09-25 01:40 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, I supposed it's sort of like that...

[ Though in the same way Pidge struggles with the idea of living without color, Gildor struggles to imagine living without sound. It's never a thought he wants to entertain for long. Instead he continues to sit for a moment, hand still pressed into the bridge of his nose and eyes shut tighter than usual. A breath in, a breath out, he mindfully works on restoring his own inner calm.

The small hand to his shoulder draws him out of that focus, but not in a bad way. He takes just a moment longer to collect himself and relax his face into a gentle smile for her. His hand slides away from his face and comes to rest over hers. ]


Yes, I'll be fine. It was more a phantom pain than anything real. I'm sorry if you felt it, I didn't mean to share that.

[ That pain which comes with sunlight. He'll refrain from explaining for now to avoid any unnecessary guilt. Pidge has so much to feel good for right now, and his happiness and gratefulness are more than enough to wash away any lingering memories of pain. ]

Thank you Pidge. It was lovely to see color with your help, truly.
otrazhenie: (181)

[personal profile] otrazhenie 2017-09-25 01:50 am (UTC)(link)
( Well, here comes the really interesting stuff. )

[ It takes work to lead him into her mind, to maintain a small bridge back to his so they won't lose the way. Everything's she's doing is on the fly, piecing together what she's experienced with Sam and Damon, and she crossing her fingers that this won't be too much for him. That he'll get something enjoyable out of it.

One more breath, two, and then she opens her eyes, her focus going to that stretch of grass on the Graze. She narrows in on those tall blades that move in the breeze, associating that motion in her mind with the feeling of the air on their costumes, and the package is presented to Gil for examination. ]
otrazhenie: (114)

[personal profile] otrazhenie 2017-09-25 02:19 am (UTC)(link)
[ Loving herself as she is. The very idea of it brings up a mountain of things she's been debating and agonizing over the past few days, lobbing possibilities around like a ball on a court. Because it's so hard to love herself like this when she isn't sure that anyone else will.

What about Jeremy? Will he still see her as his big sister, or will she be just another vampire causing problems for everyone in Mystic Falls? And Bonnie, who took so long to accept Caroline? Will Care expect her to have just as much control over her vampire side, and will she be disappointed with Elena doesn't? And Stefan... Will he still be able to love her when she's become something he hates? He'd supported her through her transition, but that had been because otherwise she would have died - he hasn't seen her since it finished. What if he doesn't accept who she is now, the way Damon--

Her spiral of thoughts grinds to a halt as Gildor's words register and she props herself up on an elbow, her expression turning to one of shocked protestation that is conveyed through their connection. ]


I'm not in love with Damon!

[ And maybe that protest is a little too strong... ]
perroquet: (02 sweat)

[personal profile] perroquet 2017-09-25 03:04 am (UTC)(link)
[ The lady doth protest too much indeed.

Gildor winces slightly, sticks a pinkie into the ear closest to Elena, and unashamedly wriggles it a moment to keep any ringing from starting up. When he lowers it back to the cup again, he continues to say nothing - just raises his brows as he goes in for another, much longer sip of tea. And though he says nothing, a few surface thoughts escape to their too-close connection without his meaning to- ]


(That advice was so good, and yet-
Artist Almighty, if currency were still relevant round here I would consider charging for such advice-
Though there's no use in saying what won't be listened to-)


[ He's lost somewhere between exasperated and amused, and his lips are tight around the edge of the mug to avoid showing her a knowing smirk. ]
otrazhenie: (048)

[personal profile] otrazhenie 2017-09-25 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
[ Elena deflates a little at the sight of his wince, lowering herself back to the pillow once he seems to be relatively alright, but she's in full-on pout mode right now and there's absolutely no hiding it. Especially when those words come over their connection. ]

I'm not. Why does everyone keep saying that I am...
otrazhenie: (093)

[personal profile] otrazhenie 2017-09-25 03:13 am (UTC)(link)
[ Oh Shiro. You have no idea. She moves one hand on top of his, not minding the metal in the slightest and only wondering what had happened to him. There's a bit of concern there, but it mingles in with all the rest as she nods at his words. ]

I understand what you mean, trust me. I have... a habit of running into things headfirst. [ And boy it is difficult to admit. ] My plans don't always work out, and it seems like someone's always having to save me.

[ Of course, part of that might be because someone's always trying to kill her, but that's a bit beside the point right now. ]
perroquet: (03 listen)

[personal profile] perroquet 2017-09-25 03:30 am (UTC)(link)
[ Gildor could go on giving her reasons and answers, but they probably aren't anything she would like. He could explain how he suspects her inexperience, stubbornness, and clinging to her past are likely keeping her from identifying the feelings she has around Damon as young love. He could also tell her how he and Lakshmi have already recognized those feelings and remember them fondly, and maybe even suggest she let go of her convictions and enjoy this love in the moment...

Instead, he just reaches out a hand and says- ]


Pass the plate here, would you please?
blooded: (🌙|213.)

[personal profile] blooded 2017-09-25 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
( nothing's going to happen to him. he's all too aware of the effect it'd have on elena if she lost him, and damon is many things but suicidal has never been one of them. he's confident in his abilities, but he's always all too aware of how things can go wrong, and he's not going to risk his life to show off in an ultimately meaningless competition. he's impulsive, not stupid.

although he has been struck somewhat dumb by elena's gift. it's... well, honestly, it'd be weird from anyone else. to anyone else. they are the only two people who could have this exchange and have it mean something rather than it just be... kind of awkward and gross. elena thought of him, specifically, considered her options and chose the one that she thought would resonate with him more.

damon slowly folds the handkerchief back up and slips it into his pocket, stepping forward to lean his forehead against elena's. through all the veils and heavy cloth, he can barely even feel her.
)

Thank you, lady.

( You're weird, he says through the link, though it's clearly teasing. )
earthborn: (not the ugliest of things)

[personal profile] earthborn 2017-09-25 03:51 am (UTC)(link)
[This is part of her day where Shepard finds herself being thoroughly deeply, meaningfully kissed, made blind in both a literal and metaphorical sense, while standing in someone else's bedroom. And not the man she's kissing.

Sense would dictate a certain decorum about this situation, given the relative danger involved. That even when licking your way into Sam Wilson's mouth, you ought to maintain at least a minimum of situational awareness. The mental link, the bond between them throws any such plan into total disarray. Shepard makes a sound, formless but not without meaning, and clutches him under their mingling robes, to emphasize her appreciation.

Behind her eyes, something else is mingling, psychadelic and strange. This isn't like it is with Annie, or Lavellan, or any other Host. Anyone can separate sex and love, and... and this is anything but separate. Even the too-bright slant of sunlight across the two of them is not enough to distract her.
]
otrazhenie: (194)

[personal profile] otrazhenie 2017-09-25 04:29 am (UTC)(link)
[ It's an extremely good thing that Gildor doesn't pursue that line of thought, because it would have dredged up all sorts of things that Elena isn't quite ready to explain to her broodmate. Her worries about becoming like Katherine, about her commitment to Stefan, the ingrained memory of how Caroline had always reacted to her attraction to the other Salvatore brother... None of it would make for very pleasant conversation.

She grabs the plate without a second of hesitation and carefully hands it to him, making sure he has a good grip on it before letting go. ]


I got a little bit of everything they had that you can eat.
otrazhenie: (147)

[personal profile] otrazhenie 2017-09-25 04:35 am (UTC)(link)
[ There had been a tiny gnawing fear at the back of her mind that she'd made the wrong choice, that he would reject her gift, maybe say something about it not being right for her to give him something like this. But he accepts it, and leans their foreheads together in that familiar way, and she breathes a sight of relief. ]

You're very welcome.

( Well, if you don't want it, you can always give it back. )

[ And then she moves, leaning her head to the side and wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug that can be felt through all those terrible layers. She doesn't care if it seems strange for nobility to embrace their bodyguards -- their oddness has been written off so far, so might as well run with it. ]
perroquet: (05 feel)

[personal profile] perroquet 2017-09-25 04:53 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you-

[ He still doesn't have much of an appetite, but he takes the plate and balances it across his stomach. It goes against every etiquette lesson he received as a child, and while he's still very much a product of his training, he has learned to pick and choose which manners are important in certain settings. And despite the tension he brought up or the light snack she made of him, he's relaxed enough around Elena to not worry so much about upholding appearances. ]

You should go on and enjoy the rest of the night's festivities. I'm feeling better already, and I'll probably just sleep after this.

[ It's a promise to be very boring for the rest of the night. He picks around the plate for whatever feels like fruit first, popping a few berries in his mouth. There - proof for her that he'll eat and be good. ]
otrazhenie: ((3x19-135))

[personal profile] otrazhenie 2017-09-25 04:59 am (UTC)(link)
[ It satisfies her worry to see him eat something, but he needs a lot more than that, in her opinion. She'd watch him eat that entire plate if it was her choice, but she won't force that on him. Still...

She turns on her side to face him and slips an arm under her head. ]


I thought I might stay another few minutes, if you don't mind. Give you another song.
shiro2hero: (maybe he's born with it)

[personal profile] shiro2hero 2017-09-25 05:15 am (UTC)(link)
[When she says it like that, he's reminded of his teammates. Of Keith, specifically. A flash of red in his mind, sharp focused, fondness. Enough to garner the flicker of a smile at the corner of his mouth.]

I know a few people like that, to be honest. I've stopped holding it against them.

[It's meant to be reassuring. As is the careful squeeze of his hand on hers.] It's important to you that this does, isn't it?

Page 15 of 21