[open] 📌 hey brother there's an endless road to rediscover

[phoenixdominant]

Who: Joshua Rosfield + you
Status: Open
Where: The Roost, Eltrut and Nogard.
What: An open log and a catch-all for all things March. Some manta board quests and open prompts.
Warnings: Tba.



[ 📌 a. the roost; closed to the hideaway crew + adjacent cr]

[Since Joshua's brother Clive's sudden departure into the rifts, a certain gaggle of brightly colours birds have been left behind to manage. While the crew has divided the work up thus far, Joshua feels as though the task of taking care of the island's local chocobos should be mostly his responsibility.

Now he finds himself in the middle of the makeshift pen holding out two very large, very juicy radishes out like they're vegetable-shaped swords.]

Now... Please. Let's try this again, shall we? Please be gentle when taking your treats.

[The chocobos are starting to coo and whistle sweetly at him. But they're also starting to crowd in closer and closer... And it looks as though Joshua is going to be mauled under a mountain of feathery friends if he doesn't get a hand with feeding them soon.]

[ 📌 b. manta board: out of the blue]

[Joshua may be aboard The Enterprise, The Stormbringer or any one of the neutral ships for this quest while going out to sea in search of the ever elusive and rare gemstone sharks. The early springtime air is still chilly on the wind but it's a beautiful sunny day for trying to find some exotic or dangerous fish.

Although, Joshua isn't sure how dangerous they will actually be or not. When he sees one swimming serenely through the icy water, he can't help but to watch it with some awe. And these creatures are certainly worthy of awe.]

It seems almost a shame to capture them...

[📌 c. bounty: bear necessities]

[On Eltrut, Joshua is on a mission to help track down and apprehend the thief that has been stealing ... women's panties. It's an outrageous crime and one that should be stopped immediately!

... Please ignore the way his face is blushing mad?]

We must find this man and force him to face the reality of his crimes. Immediately...!

[Perhaps Joshua has a personal stake in this bounty? Maybe someone took- his undergarments. Not that he would ever admit such a thing since he is not, in fact, a woman!? He is a gentleman!]

[📌 d. wildcard;]

[got something else? feel free to put it down here. or you can find me at michrure for more planning]

Comments

a is for KWEH KWEH KWEHHHHH

[indispensable]

Keep still.

[Alhaitham, as always, doesn't really bother with being gentle when it comes to giving instructions, seeing no point in beating around the bush—he certainly wouldn't want it himself if he was asking somebody what to do, after all, so he's just doing what he expects to get himself.]

The reason they're approaching like this is because you keep backing off and making them think they're not going to get it. Just hold still and keep the food steady, and they'll take it out of your hands in a flash.

🐤🐤🐤

[phoenixdominant]

[In most cases, Joshua doesn't enjoy strict instructions of any kind. But with Alhaitham behind him and Joshua taking a step back the moment that he speaks, he has to second guess it. All because the chocobos do seem to squawk at him when he takes that step backwards, and one snaps at Joshua as well.]

Tch...!

[He frowns softly and tries this again while trying to hold is ground. Let's try this again.]

You seem much more adept at handling the birds than I, despite them not being native to your world. Hm?

[He adds a small sheepish smile. Yes, please help him.]

🐥🐥🐥

[indispensable]

You can thank Kaveh for that.

[His husband just keeps being enamored with any and all kinds of creatures and these large chicken birds are very much not excluded from the list. It's a continued struggle to stop his husband from bringing one of them back, really.

And its hard to say if Alhaitham has taken the (not so subtle) hint, as he continues to stay by the sidelines and watch Joshua struggle with feeding the chocobos. Some of the others have noticed Alhaitham, however, and have started to waddle their way towards him, making their loud demanding cries to be fed.]

[phoenixdominant]

[Joshua smiles.]

He does have a knack for care taking.

[But the moment of distraction does have Joshua yelping as a chocobo snatches a radish from him with a sharp snap!! He's forced to drop it, and the bird attacks it with happy flapping feathers and coos.]

Fine, take it. Beast.

[He watches Alhaitham.]

It seems you might be the next target, my friend.

[indispensable]

More like a knack for attracting unwanted attention.

[Too many people and beasts keep flocking to him, Joshua. It is a Problem. (It is not actually a Problem but Alhaitham thinks he has every right to be annoyed. This is his husband!!)

But he does indeed notice the chocobos that are coming towards him, and after eyeing them all with a sigh he brings out the handful of food that Kaveh had made him bring over. The chocobos immediately let out excited cries as they flap their wings, ready to feast, but Alhaitham forces them to wait as he walks over to where the feeding tray is and drops the food there instead.

The chocobos immediately swarm to it, as food motivated as always, making it easy enough for Alhaitham to walk about even with the flurry of feathers happening behind him.]

[phoenixdominant]

[He wouldn't fault Alhaitham for those annoyed feelings whatsoever. Kaveh is, in fact, a magnet for unwanted attention. Old gods bless him.

Joshua watches Alhaitham control the situation with ease, and once again Joshua does have to wonder if the man is just as talented with animals as Kaveh is or if he's just a man with a commanding aura.

With the birds distracted, Joshua is able to pick up the basket of radishes and he makes his way over as well. He can safely deposit the radishes in the feeding trays now without getting nipped. The birds are very happy.]

There we are. Thank you, Alhaitham. Perhaps I merely misjudged my own confidence with them as well.

[indispensable]

[Oh, Alhaitham has none of the (unwanted) talent that his husband has when it comes to animals. He's just very good at standing his ground and ignoring them... which seems to be enough in some cases, apparently.

Anyway, he nods to Joshua's thanks, acknowledging it even if it wasn't really necessary in the first place.]

I didn't think you'd be so wary of them. Aren't they supposed to be native to your world?

[Or at least that's what he assumed, from how adept Clive seemed to be with them from his understanding.]

[phoenixdominant]

They are.

[Joshua nods quietly as he reaches now to pet one of the calmer birds on the side of the neck.]

I can ride just as well as anyone else. It's only... I was never allowed around the birds much when I was a child. When they crowd together like this, I do feel an inch of nervousness.

[Clive was the soldier who was raised with how to ride very early and how to handle Ambrosia very well. Joshua was pampered inside, never allowed to go out.]

[indispensable]

[...well there's clearly a story behind that answer, but Alhaitham is the last person who is going to pry about it. No point in bringing up old history, anyway.]

Well, last I checked there's nobody here to stop you from living in the stables with them if that's what you want to do. [Just says this kind of dryly as he idly swats away one of the chocobos that have started to take an interest in him again now that their hunger has been satiated.] I wouldn't recommend it, though, for sanitary reasons.

[phoenixdominant]

[Yeah, no reason to bring up Joshua's childhood trauma. It's fine-

Alhaitham's actual response pulls a small laugh from Joshua's lips.]

No, of course not. I'd rather not smell of birds and feathers every night.

[How will he ever get a husband if that happens...]

[indispensable]

[Find one who likes the smell of chocobos ez.

Anyway, there's a small huff in response here, though its hard to say if its from agreement or bemusement.]

They do carry a particularly strong... odor.

[He had to correct himself from saying 'stench'. Chocobos are maybe a bit too stinky for him long-term.]

[phoenixdominant]

[But Joshua wants a charming husband to sweep him off his feet. Not a man that likes the smell of chocobos-]

They do, particularly worse after a few day's ride.

[He shakes his head and gives another bird a half of a radish. Even with the smell, he still likes chocobos.]

Do you have anything like chocobos back home?

[indispensable]

[But they can smell of chocobo and sweep him off his feet!

Anyway, Alhaitham has to pause a bit at the question to think about it for a moment, but he does answer quickly enough.]

Yes, but not in Sumeru. Natlan—the nation west of Sumeru—has the Qucusaurus, but from my understanding only a certain number of people are able to ride them. They are also primarily for air travel, rather than anything land based.

[...mostly because they have the other Saurian species to cover that for them.]

[phoenixdominant]

[Meanwhile, Joshua does pick up one of the chocobo brushes that helps pick and preen their feathers clean and he starts gently on Ambrosia's glossy white feathers.]

Primarily for air travel. Interesting.

[He can't quite picture anything other than a bird for that. Qucusaurus...]

What does it look like? Do you know?

[indispensable]

[Alhaitham kind of just naturally looks to the chocobo that Joshua starts to brush, though its not long before he ends up looking at the actual brushing itself rather than anything else. Not that he's really paying attention to it, since he's kind of trying to compare and contrast what he knows of a Qucusaur versus the chocobo before him.]

I've only seen pictures and sketches, but their plumages are only known to be in hues of pinks and reds. [What else...] They're a lot sleeker, and their tails are longer, along with their necks.

[There's a pause, and then he adds on.] If you really want, you can ask Kaveh to draw you a picture of it.

[phoenixdominant]

Hmm. I might do just that.

[Joshua has a knack for learning, after all. Comparing worlds is just interesting to him.]

They say that some rare breeds of chocobos do fly, as well. But I've never seen the kind.

[indispensable]

[Alhaitham hums at the comment, giving the chocolos here a cursory look in extended silence that lasts for about a minute before he speaks.

...I can see why.

[No offence to you and your world Joshua but the chocobos here definitely don't look... air capable.]

[phoenixdominant]

[No offence taken. Joshua nods because it's true... Flightless chickens.]

Exactly why I am curious how your Qucusaurus are able to fly.

[Ambrosia is a very well-behaved and calm bird. She trots over when Joshua gives her a gentle whistle.]

[indispensable]

A Natlanese or somebody from the Amurta Darshan will be better equipped to answer this question—but from my understanding they make use of a gaseous form Phlogiston, a type of energy that is unique to Natlan. With it they can rise into the air, and their wings are built to allow them to glide across large distances.

[Honestly it would be something that he would not mind seeing himself... as comfortable as he is living and staying in Sumeru, maybe it might be worth making the complete trek across the desert one day to explore Natlan. Then again, considering its constant struggle against the Abyss...

Regardless, it doesn't matter as long as he's still stuck in this world anyway.]

[phoenixdominant]

I see... This phlogiston seems like it might be akin to what I would call aether.

[Very interesting, indeed!

Meanwhile, Ambrosia comes over to coo at the two men. The chocobo has glossy white feathers which is very rare for a chocobo as most of them tend to be yellow. She flaps her wings and then nudges Alhaithan's shoulder with her beak very gently.]

It seems someone likes you.

[indispensable]

[Too bad Genshin retconned that Aether is a name others won't know!!

He hums at the comparison there—he hasn't heard too much of it, mostly understanding it as the term Cid and his people use as the principle behind their own abilities. It does make him wonder again, of the nature of this place and how its able to somehow make so many differing abilities all come together despite their differences in origin. There are still so many mysteries of this world left unanswered...

Before he can express any of this, however, one of the chocobos has decided to come and accost him, and Alhaitham huffs as he gets nudged on the shoulder, shifting just enough so that he can step out of the way.]

I'm fairly certain that they'll like anyone who gives them food. [He responds, voice dry. No offence to all the chocobos here but you all are very food motivated. Don't think he hasn't noticed.]

[phoenixdominant]

[Joshua does enjoy finding the similarities and differences between all of their worlds and origins. It has become a sort of fascination of his. Perhaps he should write more.

He smiles knowingly and watches as the white bird makes another cooing noise before poking at Alhaitham's shoulder once again. Maybe he smells like... dendro greens?]

That so much might be the case. But I can say that it sometimes takes more than just snacks for Ambrosia to like someone.

[He's known Ambrosia almost all his life. She's an old, calm bird.]

[indispensable]

[Alhaitham just sends over a flat, unimpressed look at the chocobo, refusing to move this time. He has nothing for you, madam, so please stop bothering him.

He also says as much too, just in case it wasn't obvious enough.] Pandering to me also isn't going to reward them with extra food.

[Go back and do... whatever it is that chocobos do. Shoo.]

[phoenixdominant]

[If Alhaitham's not going to move or reciprocate then don't mind as Ambrosia makes a warking noise and then proceeds to gently pick at Alhaitham's headphones (? Are they headphones??) with her beak-]

Oh.

[Sorry, Joshua might be trying not to chuckle. It's not funny---- It's kind of funny.]

[indispensable]

[Alhaitham immediately steps aside the moment his earpieces get picked on; one hand comes up to cover it, protecting it from any further pecking, and the glare that he shoots over to the chocobo would probably be considered 'deadly' in any other circumstances. Guess who's definitely not getting any extra food now.

Also he's too distracted by the chocobo to really notice Joshua's reaction there. Which frankly might be a good thing in this instance.]