rekindleme | Of Birds and Barns

Entry tags:

[ou] m'gann m'orzz

Of Birds and Barns

Who:Anyone, Everyone
Where: Fourth District, unoccupied lot
When: 20th-22th January
Summary: Trying to find room for two Chocobos was a puzzle enough; now, with four more on the way, it's in everyone's best interests to get a place together to house them all.
Warnings: Not recommended for those with bird allergies.

Ramza was forced to draw upon a few favors- and no small portion of his stipend- in doing so, but- one way or another- he couldn't simply leave the birds without a roof over their head.

Eventually, and after a bit of generosity from Saeng Seong's administration, he was able to have set aside a vacant, verdant lot in the fourth district for use as a pasture... or, at least, he was assured of its green; in January, it was harder to discern beneath all the gathered snow. The Chocobos seemed comfortable there, at least, the season's weather notwithstanding. It wasn't huge, but... then again, there wasn't a huge herd that called for acres and acres.

The more pressing matter, however, was a lack of housing for the birds. And while there were materials plenty enough for such a task- from tools to planks and old corrugated metal, some purchased, some donated, others 'reclaimed' from the past month's more violent happenings, and some of it even sitting in sorted stacks on the sidelines- Ramza had to acknowledge that, for all the Chocobo stables he'd passed through in his homeland, the process of actually building them was well outside of his skills and knowledge.

Thankfully, a few kind souls throughout the city were willing to offer their help in any number of ways... or at least to come and see the big, strange riding-birds for themselves.

((OOC: Apologies for the delay! Feel free to start your own threads, and don't think you need to focus entirely construction either; get involved, mingle, and play out however you wish... and feel free to use Ramza's two chocobos to lend yourseves a hand. Thanks again, everyone!))

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At one side of the lot was an old foundation Ramza and his birds had thankfully managed to uncover from beneath a couple inches of lingering snow. With the aid of the birds' strength and an old borrowed cart, most of the lumber, metal, and tools for construction were brought on-site, though mos

Ramza would be spending much of his time either with a roll of measuring tape held to whatever pieces have already been set in place, or- more likely- back by the cart, mulling over some of the blueprints of similar buildings provided by Saeng Seong and trying to work out a plan that would fit what he was given to work with...

From the looks of things the area was once some sort of defunct park, and a few lingering remnants reinforce the theory. At least a few seating areas and a single old drinking fountain seem to have survived, at least, and Ramza's put aside a few hot drinks of barley tea and coffee as thanks to everyone who showed to offer support- moral, labor, or otherwise.

When not being called to aid as beasts of burden, Ramza's two chocobos would usually be seen here as well. They would both be all too happy to meet all the nice humans who have come to help them; and Ramza, of course, always has plenty of wisdom to give for those who wanted to know more about them or needed tips on raising their own foster chicks...

While the barn-to-be is probably the most prominent of the sights in the lot, it's by no means the only happening to be found there. Helpers and onlookers alike pass in and out, and it's not like there isn't anything else that could happen with dozens of people all milling about in a big, snowy field... right?

Don't mind him, he was just gonna help himself to some coffee after barely being able to feel his face while hammering away on nails and holding wooden bars in place. It was nice to just sit down and take a rest, running his upper arm over his forehead before taking that first drink.

"Man... ya look at a barn and it looks so simple, but puttin' one together...!"

Rei was astonished, really, to see a lot going on here when not too long ago there was nothing here. But today, like all days, was a day for a good hard jog, which brought him here to ogle at the hard work of so many people.

"No wonder the streets had gone empty today..."

Cold weather? Snow? Ice?

Pff. That isn't going to stop M'gann from wearing the correct wardrobe one should have when it's time to build/paint a house. And that outfit is a pair of cute working overalls (which she constantly flickered between green and yellow before heading out, before finally settling on green with a cute yellow flower pattern on the pockets) with a long sleeved t-shirt; the one concession M'gann makes to the fact that it's cold weather.

She's tempted to go with a caucasian skin for this, but…Well, she wants to make full use of her powers for this project, and there's still some glimmer of a secret ID she's trying to keep. So, M'gann floats above the snow, levitating a few beams around her, while looking for a spot to plant them in the ground OR hammer them in place.

…And she's not even bothering to conceal that mile wide grin on her face. She's helping! And doing an Earth thing!

Freya's come to help with the construction, but her curiosity brings her to come see the birds in question first. She's ridden a few chocobos before, so she's familiar enough with the ones on Gaia, but she hasn't spent enough time with them to really tell if there's a huge difference...

They sure do look the same, though.

And, back from his outing to boldly fetch some more nails, Ramza and his birds returned to... quite a sight.

In fact, among all the sorcerers, magi, and supernaturally-gifted souls Ramza had known of in Ivalice, he had never seen one that could do so many tasks at once so effortlessly, so... casually! And to see her dressed like a common farmhand only left him with that much more confusion at the sight, and left his Chocobos more than a little bit intimidated.

In fact, it was baffling even more than the green skin... the latter was merely confirmation that M'gann wasn't human; and nor, for that matter, would she even be the first non-human he had met since his arrival. But it begged the question nonetheless; what was she, exactly?

Or, more to the point, how could she do all of... that?

"Incredible...! Are you some manner of Esper as well?" And as odd as it was to consider, M'gann wouldn't be the first quasi-divinity he'd come across, either...

Then perhaps he'd be even more astonished by the beak nudging him further into the lot by the big, red, feathery beast of burden who crept right up behind him. Thankfully Ramza's able to jog over and scold her as he takes a hold of her bridle. "Come now, if you must ask, ask nicely!"

Ramza swiftly turned back to face their 'guest'. Ah-- this was the one who held that party a while ago. "You'll pardon her... she's all the more excited for the company."

Certainly none that could be found at a glance; especially in Boco, the more commonplace-looking one of the lot as far as Chocobos go. Persephone's more stubborn, wary behavior to some of the company was a bit different, of course, and hinted to a particular harshness peculiar to Ivalice's wild lineage.

Not that Freya had to worry about such a thing. Heck, they seemed more content with her presence than with most of the humans. Hopefully she wouldn't take too much offense at being comfortably 'animal' by their standards...

Ramza, of course, was more content to pour her to a cup of tea between his measurement-taking. "Again you come to my aid, Freya. I cannot thank you enough."

"To think that my brothers might have called it a drudge's task..." Ramza might have had only the slightest fatigue to his muscles, but his eyes and his thinking had both grown weary after hours upon hours of figuring out the particulars of the matter. Certainly more complex than nailing together a square frame! "'tis as rigurous in thought as in labors."

Of course, Boco hadn't forgotten his little gift and proudly wore his brightly-colored patchwork cape as he stepped over to offer thanks of his own to Kanji with a nuzzle against his shoulder...

"Nonsense. It's the least I can do." At some point these two probably needed to stop offering nonstop gratitude to each other, but today was not the day that would be happening.

Regardless, she was glad to see the mounts being so friendly--not that she had expected much else. Chocobos didn't exactly tend to be hostile in her world ~~since they were seeking enlightenment or something~~. She wouldn't have minded the reason if she knew, since it had such a nice result.

"How many will there be, once their eggs hatch?" she asked, not sure of how much space they'll need.

Perhaps it was simply in his nature to be as polite as he was verbose. But Freya's inquiry brought about a thoughtful sigh as he turned his gaze to the not even half-constructed barn.

"Four more by the eggs makes six," he muttered. "And Y'akeno has one of her own, I'm told. They would number seven in all." Of course, he hoped there would be at least some room to spare lest they should yield another clutch, or at least the space to build it later. He'd likely need it, the way they were necking together in their break.

Then again, Freya was probably one of the few people who would know enough of what that entailed. Ramza turned to her with a question of his own. "...Are they as you remember them from your own world?"

She nodded. "They are very similar, if not identical. Do they eat gysahl greens, as well?" Even if it wasn't called by the same name, she couldn't see the birds eating anything that different. Vegetables just seemed like the right thing for them to eat. Hopefully they had something they liked here as well as the space they needed...

"I'm sure we'll manage to build enough for them as long as we keep at it," she said. "Even if it takes some time." She wasn't planning to help for one day and leave, that was certain.

"Yeah, I guess so," M'gann was really just overhearing the statement while drifting over to see if any of those drinks had cooled a little. It's reflexive that she answers it, all before looking at who spoke. "But it's so different from what I usually get to do, and-"

And-

...Oh. Hello, person she sang at in the past! M'gann tries not to freeze up, and also reminds herself that she's in her super hero ID at the moment, instead of a civilian one as she scrambles for more words.

"A-and it's...Been fun so far? Right?" Okay, friendly social question asked; good first step! Now she just has to work on making eye contact without staring or looking like she's analyzing him too closely.

"Oh! Hi again!" Clearly, she's glad to meet him in person, as she gives him a friendly wave with one hand while using the other to act as a focus and keep the building supplies steady. Though a moment later, she catches the staring and swivels a little in the air, looking unsure.

"Esper?" She tests the word out, but...It doesn't sound like it's meant for her, pretty as it may be in her ears. "No, I'm just a Martian." M'gann looks back at the supplies she's currently levitating, and gives her wrist a light flick to gently pivot one of the beams in place. It looks sturdy enough, even if it's hovering in the air. "And...I thought that a little telekinesis would help build things faster? At least it's come in handy with mending fences, before."

[While Jack had offered to help him out during the construction, there was plenty of opportunity to ~~slack off~~ take a break too, and on this occasion he's decided that perhaps he'll try to get to know more about the birds they were trying to house.

Spotting Ramza, he makes a beeline for him, glancing at the big birds nearby.]

Hey! Looks like things are going pretty well, wouldn't you say?

[Ramza hadn't been keeping a close eye on everyone... and how could he, in good faith, play the stern taskmaster to those who had offered their aid freely?]

Your frequent rest notwithstanding.

[Jack, on the other hand- if only for the owed favor- he was more than willing to sass a bit. In a good-natured way, of course.]

'Tis hard work, I know; we are all the more grateful for your efforts.

[Well, maybe Persephone isn't above a little prodding of her own, with an idle nudge closer to the work site as she passes. But Ramza laughs it off, offering Jack a cup of hot tea.]

You'll pardon her. So much attention has gone to her head.

"Gysahl greens...?" The name didn't ring a chime in his head but he'd heard of similar things. "I know naught of the name, but there was said to be a wild weed the birds would savor and covet to the point of vicious defense... and one guest had a pocket of the sprouts from her own world stashed away when she was brought through. We might see soon enough."

In any case, it caught Persephone's interest enough to stand beside Freya with almost expectant curiosity. Did someone mention the 'G' word? "But they graze in field and forest like any other," Ramza concluded, "and woe to the poor wanderer who strays too close.."

[Ramza isn't the only one who needs a home for animals. Cu Chulainn is leading his pony around trying to find a place to keep it. After all, whenever it got nervous in the house, it would make a big mess. And it wasn't very nice to the puppies either.]

[However, when he enters this vacant lot, he quickly gets distracted by the sight of Ramza doing his work.]

Wow, what are you doing? Are you making another machine to change the air?

And she greets him without so much as a blink in her work. Well, he supposed it followed suit with the rest of her deeds. "There's a name I haven't heard before," Ramza finally managed in reply. "But-- I've seen archmages who could not manage such a feat, let alone without a hint of strain...!"

He cranes forward in a deep bow, a bit cowed by the display. "You... have my thanks, M'gann. Truly. I pray it does not debase your power to use it thus..." His birds were simply content to amuse themselves with walking back and forth beneath her feet unimpeded, occasionally peeking up at her levitation. How's the weird green person doing that?

"I regret that I didn't receive any from home," she said somewhat apologetically, seeing the red chocobo's eye on her. "But they were certainly a way to find a friendly chocobo with little effort."

But her thoughts returned to the other one he mentioned who brought in a bird as well--along with the same sort of greens? Was there another world similar to hers and his in the same strange way? "I wonder about this Y'akeno. What did you speak about other than chocobos?"

What are you saying?

[He comments, with a frown. He's totally not accepting that he's been taking too many breaks, nope. But woah wait, hang on, Ramza's remarks he can deal with but it's not fair having the birds ganging up on him as well! He can't help but throw Persephone a rather sour look at the prodding, though he's not really that miffed. He knows it's all in jest.

He'd much rather something a bit stronger than tea, also, but since he's offering, he'll take what he's given.]

Thanks. [He takes a sip of the tea. It's warming and soothing yes, but not quite satisfying enough.] You just reminded me, where are all the taverns in this place anyway? Where's a man supposed to get a stiff drink from around here?

[However focused he may be, Ramza's not above being distracted from his task, nor above sparing a moment's time for a curious child... especially when the question gives him pause as well. Rolling up his latest notes on the barn's floor plan, he begins to turn around...]

I did not know we had even one of such--

[...But he's momentarily startled once he turns around to greet the equine behind him, fumbling with the paper and pens in his hand.

Heavens, what a strange creature...!]

...er... pray tell, what is that beast at your side?

A jape, and little more.

[A fraternal pat to Jack's shoulder reinforces the point. And after giving that look to Persephone, she all-too-casually returns to her own affairs.]

...Ah, you speak of spirits. I've never had the thirst for them...

[But if that was more Jack's sort of refreshment... well, there was good enough payment for his efforts. Ramza's face lit up in thought.]

Would that be favor enough for your labors?

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Of Birds and Barns

FOUNDATIONS AND FRAMES

THE BIRDS AND THE BENCHES

MILLING AND MINGLING

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Thread hopping!

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