beyond the horizon of the place we lived when we were young [OPEN]

[counterattack]

Who: Law & YOU
Where: Aldrip and the surrounding area
What: Settling in, getting up to hijinx, with a timeline anywhere from shortly after the TDM to the end of the month
Warnings: Probably nothin'.

Prompts in the comments, some open and some closed! Please feel free to drop any wildcards in the comments as well if there's something else you'd like to do. Law also has a toplevel at the Day of Devotion log, here!

If you'd like to plot something out, you can reach me on discord at tarocchi#8388, or on plurk at astrologies!

Comments

[counterattack]

[ If Law's time working the farm in Menancia has taught him anything, it's that even though just about everything there is for food or resources, that doesn't mean they should be treated like they're nothing more than livestock. That borders on drawing some uncomfortable parallels between animals and Dahnans that he'd rather not think about, but all that aside, animals deserve love too. They deserve names to be known by. And to be pampered and looked after with the utmost care.

Until you eat them.

With Omelette safely transferred, Law grins, encouraging. Although the bird does look a little like she's had her feathers ruffled in more ways than one, there's no immediate unhappy clucking; just a few soft braaaawks before she scrunches her neck down and makes a loaf of herself in Kisara's grasp. That's the best reaction you can ask for, really. ]

Oh, there's lots of ways to tell. Roosters have more feathers around their neck, and their tails are kinda more spiky. They also have different color patterns sometimes. The biggest tail is that rubbery red stuff, though. Hens don't have as much of it. Their combs and wattles are bigger. That's—uh, the stuff on the top and under their neck.

[ Don't ask him to explain "wattle" better than that. He can still barely keep a straight face when he says it. Chickens aren't all serious business. ]

I think she likes you! You can pet her if you want. Just keep your hand underneath, then rest your arm on her back. They usually like their necks scratched.

[sisterlyshield]

[...Can chickens experience affection? She has to wonder that as Omelette loafs herself in Kisara's grasp, which... considering Law isn't issuing some kind of warning probably means that everything is, so far, going according to plan. Aside from the renegade woolly one that is probably still on the run somewhere, enjoying life, and has no real deep thoughts regarding what its future might consist of save rolling around in grass and eating flowers.

...Assuming that's what they do. That's what she'd be doing if she was a woolly.

Law describes the differences between roosters and chickens and the descriptors are difficult not to laugh over. Somehow she manages to refrain and instead just grins. Law is really in his element here. Is this what she sounds like when she talks about fishing.

(How does anyone put up with her?)

Combs and wattles, hm? She'll be mature about this.]

I didn't realise there was so much to know about them. You're a real expert, Law.

[At his guidance, Kisara is incredibly careful about how she keeps Omelette safely supported against her, and with the free hand, she gently presses the weight atop the back, just to let her know she's definitely there. And then she carefully tries to gently ruffle the feathers at Omelette's neck.]

Something like that, maybe? I don't want to be too rough with her. I wouldn't mind having a pet chicken... As long as I didn't have to eat it, I guess. I don't know that I could do that.

[...People don't just eat their pets, after all.]

[counterattack]

[ It's going to be a whole Thing when he remembers that escaped sheep, but for the time being, he's been sufficiently distracted from completing his mission in favor of Chicken Education. In particular, it's especially hard to keep a straight face about "wattles" when even Kisara doesn't manage it entirely, but by the grace of pursing his lips against a laugh, he manages to hold it in. ]

Oh, yeah, I know a lot about wattles.

[ Just kidding, he snorts.

Just one. Just one snort. Listen, there's a bonding moment taking place here between Kisara and Omelette and he's not out here about to ruin it! Said chicken makes a soft... sort of purring sound, some low brrrr noise, feathers ruffling. Law nods his head in approval then, his grin softening a little. ]

Yeah, she likes that. Look, she's already starting to fall asleep.

[ Sure enough, if Kisara takes a peek at Omelette's face, she'll find a pair of beady, half-lidded chicken eyes. ]

I guess chickens wouldn't be too bad as pets... I mean, you couldn't ever keep them in the house. They're super messy and gross. But they don't bite or anything, not like geese. Not too sure how they'd do on a leash, either. But baby chicks, they'll get in a line and follow you around if they think you're their mama. It's pretty cute.

[sisterlyshield]

["Oh, yeah, I know a lot about wattles."

For all that she's trying to keep a straight face over this, just hearing that makes her laugh a little harder, only restrained because she's intent on not causing Omelette too much distress. Thankfully, she seems to be... Well. Making whatever noise it is that she's making. Kisara didn't know chickens could even make that sound. Not that she's an expert in chicken sounds, of course.

She looks between Omelette and Law, the softened smile he gives contagious. As she's mirroring with the turn of her mouth, she seems to relax a touch, too. One could say it's as much a bonding moment for her and Law as it is for her and Omelette. She really can see herself with a pet chicken.]

That sounds cute. I'd love to have chicks following me around...! I wonder where I'd keep them, though, especially if I couldn't bring them inside. Not sure Shionne would be too happy with their little peeps either.

[counterattack]

[ Born and raised on raw practicality and having spent most of his life practicing extreme acts of resourcefulness in order to survive, Law can't quite think of most animals as anything other than edible, or something to train for a purpose, like messenger pigeons and tracking dogs. Still, he's always wanted an animal friend to just have as, y'know, a pet, so why not a chicken? Why not eschew practicality in favor of a feathery friend? There's nothing wrong with that. Even if the feathery friend does already have a food name. Names don't mean anything. I mean, his name is Law and he is not even remotely law-abiding in the least. Sometimes irony is fine too. ]

Mm, you could build a little henhouse for them outside! They don't need a whole ton of space, just a yard to run around in with a fence to keep them in. Chickens can't fly very far, so you don't even have to worry about them getting over the fence once it's tall enough. Usually they just wanna stay cozy in their coop or peck around for worms and stuff.

[ Ah, the life of a chicken. Omelette is over here half-asleep, neck completely sclornched down, in total Loaf Mode in Kisara's arms. Who wouldn't want to be a chicken at a time like that? Just maybe not at dinnertime. ]

I bet Shionne would think they're cute, too. She just wouldn't admit it.

[sisterlyshield]

That's a good idea. I wonder if the locals would let me have a personal one, especially if it's not going to take up much space. Sounds like they wouldn't be very difficult to take care of either.

[A good beginning for Kisara into the world of... farming? Chickening? She's not sure what one would call a person who specifically takes care of chickens. And it's not like she wants a huge flock or anything. Maybe... just a few to begin with? She could name them after people from home. Probably name one after Law since he's the one who presented the idea to begin with.

She's still turning the idea over in her head when he makes mention of Shionne. Her smile lessens just a touch, but is still just as warm. He's probably right about that, too. Shionne does try very hard to seem... Well. Hard. Sometimes the hardest exterior gives way to the softest interior. Not that she'd be so inclined to say that openly.]

Guess we could find out. Think you'd want to help me put together something for the chicks? I can't think of anyone better to do that, after all.

[counterattack]

Can't see why they'd mind... I mean, just as long as they know they're pets and not for sale, or for eating, that is. But the folks in Aldrip don't really seem like the type to, uh, chickennap.

[ Maybe during the food shortage, but even then, they're so... well, it's not like it was in Ulzebek, where you couldn't ever seem to keep a chicken present and alive for very long before it'd get scarfed up or just plain disappear. Of course, as a kid, Law didn't really know or care very much about it being strictly for food; he just wanted to play with it. ]

You could always get a guard dog, though... just in case. Dogs and chickens get along great, y'know.

[ He would know. Also, if he's glowing just a little bit about being the best suited for the job, no he isn't. Everybody's gotta have a Niche, okay. ]

Yeah, I'd love to help! We shouldn't need too much by way of materials. I'll look around the farm and see if we have any extra laying around, too.

[sisterlyshield]

That’s true. I’m sure if I said something they’d probably make sure there was proper notice put up. I don’t think I’ll have to fend anyone off from them.

[At least, she hopes not. But the people so far have been incredibly kind and understanding. She doubts anyone would mind if she did some errands for an egg or a few and incubated them. That’s… what one does with eggs, right?

Law makes mention of a guard dog and that’s a good idea, too. Unless of course he’s talking about himself or Alphen, because the two of them could be likened to such things. He probably isn’t talking about it in that way, though. Still, it’s worthy of some consideration.

He agrees to lend her some help and she brightens up.]

If you tell me what we need, I’ll help get it together. There’s no reason for you to try taking it all on yourself. You might be the expert on this and that’s what I really need. The knowledge to make sure that I’m doing things right. You can guide me if I start going in the wrong direction. If the two of us work together, then that’s all that matters.