[ When a stranger comes by, looks up, and speaks to her, Koharu can't help but start in place.
Wait... he can see me?!
It's a thought that distracts her from giving an immediate response, but eventually, it does seem to dawn upon her that perhaps she should respond... And so, she shrinks a little into herself with a sheepish air about her. ]
[ Before the words can linger, Claude hurriedly waves his hands in her direction. ]
I'm joking, I'm joking, please don't do that!
[ He's a kidder, sure, but he wants nothing less to see this poor kid go splat down on the ground below because he got too wrapped up in riling her up. She already seems pretty upset up there from what he can tell, but he'd be upset too to be trapped in a cage without any good way out. ]
Now, we've got ourselves a couple of options. I can go looking for whatever ladder they used to get the cages up there in the first place... or I can fly to you and get you down that way. What do you say?
[ Her heart drops pretty quickly, but at least he's just as swift to ensure it was only a joke. Not that she would've been eager to try, but there's no real lingering on that before he reveals something that leaves her in surprise. ]
... You can fly?
[ From her perch, Koharu starts really looking him over; he doesn't have any noticeable wings, and given his hair color, he's got to be human, right? ]
[ Claude tucks his hands behind his back and rocks back onto his heels as he grins up at the poor kid stuck up there. He should probably be a little more gentle with her, all things considered, but he has a funny feeling that being serious about this whole thing would probably just scare her more. ]
So, my little swan? What'll it be? Because I'm not so cruel as to just leave you up there.
[ She really doesn't like how precarious her current circumstances feel. ]
Erm— It'd be easier to fly up here, right? Instead of trying to find a ladder tall enough to reach me.
[ And then keeping that still. And making sure that doesn't blow over from the wind. And then he'd have to carry something that big all this way in the first place. Given how easily she's watched her fellow cupids take flight, that's definitely the least cumbersome option here. ]
All right, flying it is! [ Claude claps his hands. ] I'll be right back with some help! Only...
[ He pauses, feeling as though he's perhaps buried the lede a little here. The poor thing seems frightened enough as it is, and the last thing she needs is having a terrifying lizard bearing down upon her without warning. ]
My friend's a wyvern! That's just a big flying lizard. She's perfectly friendly, so try not to get too scared, all right?
[ A— a what? A flying... okay maybe she'll question this later, baffling as it is to hear. A brief pause follows before giving something of a resigned nod. ]
I—okay. I won't. [ ... Probably? ] I'll just... wait right here.
[ Claude disappears for long enough that one may reasonably think that she's been abandoned yet again -- but then in the distance, there's the leathery flap of wings against the breeze as an ivory wyvern comes sailing into sight, Claude seated upon its back. The creature is large and as fearsome as can be, with narrow yellow eyes and a row of immaculately sharp teeth, an enormous wingspan and a long, whipping tail.
But Claude looks as self-assured as can be as they approach her cage, Claude leaping off of her back and onto the cage itself (sending it swinging a little more wildly than anyone would be comfortable with; sorry kid!), long enough to jimmy the door open and hold his hand out to help her clamber out. ]
Just a little hop right onto Zaffy's back. I'll join you in just a second.
[ He is gone for long enough that she begins to question where he's vanished off too. Abandonment doesn't come to mind, not yet; he did seem genuine, so maybe he had to walk far, or perhaps a wyvern is a difficult thing to wrangle, but it's also a possibility he simply got lost...
Koharu couldn't say how much time passes, but she's still hopeful. Probably.
In the end, her hope isn't for naught; however, any and all thoughts of how long it's been instantly vanish the moment a large—something soars into view. Once it's close enough, Koharu's eyes grow wide, stunned at the sight. The sudden, violent shaking of the cage does jerk her out of her stupor, accompanied by a yelp, and not long after she's staring at the extended hand towards her. ]
Wh... whoa.
[ Okay! Wow! He did warn her, but the real thing is a lot more than she had anticipated, so it takes Koharu a moment longer than it should to take his hand, cautiously look down upon the wyvern's back, and nod. This should be safe. There's no reason to believe it isn't. Mentally prepared, she slips out, her own wings giving an instinctive (but ultimately useless) little flap as she lands, balances herself, and shifts into what she hopes is the proper way to sit upon their steed. ]
[ Claude hops from the cage onto Zafeera with a practiced leap, like he's done it a million times before -- probably because he has. He and his wyvern are so attuned after so many years that he has full faith he could topple out of a building, and Zaffy would still manage to catch him. Not that he intends to test that theory out.
From where he sits behind her, he brackets her with his thighs, arms reaching around her to grip onto the reins. ]
Just hold onto my arms. We'll be on the ground before you know it.
[ The descent is always more frightening than the ascent, especially at what is frankly a pretty low height for Zafeera to try to flap her way down from. The way down is a bumpy, heartstopping affair as Zafeera gets her balance back with an additional person on her back and several trees to navigate between as she makes her way down to the forest floor, finally landing with enough force so that she has to keep on running for a moment afterwards, just to avoid completely hurling her riders off with such a sudden stop.
Most people would be feeling a bit wobbly after all that, Claude knows. So he jumps down first, then holds up one gloved hand for Koharu, helping her off of Zaffy's back. ]
That was very brave of you, [ he says, voice more earnest than it is condescending. Where he's from, wyverns are just a fact of life; people are used to them in their midst, as unafraid of them as they would be of horses. But in Fodlan, it was a different story, used largely by warriors, not the commonfolk. He'd watched enough of his classmates tentatively approach wyverns with a cautious air to catch onto that much. ] I know she's an intimidating looking beast. Most people start their wyvern-riding journeys just by practicing riding around on land, let alone starting in mid-air.
[ Which is to say: if she's scared, that's okay. He's not judging. ]
[ The descent is a bumpy ride, to say the least, but honestly by the time they reach a full stop, Koharu seems to have more of an air of childish awe than fear. ]
No, no, that was...
[ She trails off, like she needs to find the right words here, taking a hold of his hand. As she slides off its back, Koharu gives the wyvern another look-over. ]
It felt like I was living the storybooks I've read when I was little!
[ It was far less a harrowing experience than previous mid-air encounters, where at least this time she was considerably more secure. With her safety ensured, she could savor the moment! ]
[ Claude's grin widens into something a little less gentle, less kind, but a hell of a lot more genuine. He's always happy to reassure someone on their first flight, but it's not as though he can wholly relate to them; he's been riding wyverns since practically before he could even walk, perched safely in his mother's lap.
Enthusiasm, he's a lot happier to see. ]
Zafeera here is very much real, but she always appreciates some positive attention. So do I, in fact! [ He exclaims with a chipper sort of life. ]
Claude von Riegan, at your service. Welcome back to earth!
My name's Koharu—thank you very much for helping me. [ Goodness knows she would have been stuck up there for a while, otherwise. ] And you too, Zafeera!
[ Given that she's clearly a close companion of Claude's, it was only right to thank her, too. ]
No trouble at all! Zafeera doesn't mind either, though I think she'd rather get an appropriate reward than a word of thanks, [ he says, rummaging around in his pockets before he unearths a package of dried meats, holding one out to Koharu. ]
Hold this out to her in the palm of your hand, and she'll lick it right out. That'll make her happier than anything else.
[ He carries them around like dog treats. He always does have an animal or two wandering behind him in the streets, making hopeful little noises in his direction for a snack or two. ]
You must be completely out of sorts after all that. Come on, let's get you somewhere where you can have a sit and figure out where exactly you are. You seem new.
[ She doesn't, really. But Claude keeps an eye on the comings and goings of this place, and he certainly doesn't recognize her. ]
[ Huh. For as fantastical a creature as Zafeera is to Koharu, she doesn't appear to be treated any differently than like, a horse. So... normally. It's funny in a way, but Koharu carefully picks out one of the dried meats and places it upon her palm, then holds it out for the wyvern. She trusts it won't bite her hand off or anything. (Hopefully.) ]
Then... here you go! As thanks.
[ Regardless of the fate of her hand, Koharu's already quite endeared. ]
As for me, I—uh... I guess I don't know where I am. [ Or why he can see her. That's unusual. ] But I'm almost sure I didn't fall asleep in a cage.
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expiationlogs2024-10-14 08:59 am
no subject
Wait... he can see me?!
It's a thought that distracts her from giving an immediate response, but eventually, it does seem to dawn upon her that perhaps she should respond... And so, she shrinks a little into herself with a sheepish air about her. ]
I, erm. I haven't learned how to yet...
no subject
[ Before the words can linger, Claude hurriedly waves his hands in her direction. ]
I'm joking, I'm joking, please don't do that!
[ He's a kidder, sure, but he wants nothing less to see this poor kid go splat down on the ground below because he got too wrapped up in riling her up. She already seems pretty upset up there from what he can tell, but he'd be upset too to be trapped in a cage without any good way out. ]
Now, we've got ourselves a couple of options. I can go looking for whatever ladder they used to get the cages up there in the first place... or I can fly to you and get you down that way. What do you say?
no subject
... You can fly?
[ From her perch, Koharu starts really looking him over; he doesn't have any noticeable wings, and given his hair color, he's got to be human, right? ]
no subject
[ Claude tucks his hands behind his back and rocks back onto his heels as he grins up at the poor kid stuck up there. He should probably be a little more gentle with her, all things considered, but he has a funny feeling that being serious about this whole thing would probably just scare her more. ]
So, my little swan? What'll it be? Because I'm not so cruel as to just leave you up there.
no subject
N- no, I would appreciate the help down.
[ She really doesn't like how precarious her current circumstances feel. ]
Erm— It'd be easier to fly up here, right? Instead of trying to find a ladder tall enough to reach me.
[ And then keeping that still. And making sure that doesn't blow over from the wind. And then he'd have to carry something that big all this way in the first place. Given how easily she's watched her fellow cupids take flight, that's definitely the least cumbersome option here. ]
no subject
[ He pauses, feeling as though he's perhaps buried the lede a little here. The poor thing seems frightened enough as it is, and the last thing she needs is having a terrifying lizard bearing down upon her without warning. ]
My friend's a wyvern! That's just a big flying lizard. She's perfectly friendly, so try not to get too scared, all right?
no subject
I—okay. I won't. [ ... Probably? ] I'll just... wait right here.
[ Ha. ]
no subject
But Claude looks as self-assured as can be as they approach her cage, Claude leaping off of her back and onto the cage itself (sending it swinging a little more wildly than anyone would be comfortable with; sorry kid!), long enough to jimmy the door open and hold his hand out to help her clamber out. ]
Just a little hop right onto Zaffy's back. I'll join you in just a second.
no subject
Koharu couldn't say how much time passes, but she's still hopeful. Probably.
In the end, her hope isn't for naught; however, any and all thoughts of how long it's been instantly vanish the moment a large—something soars into view. Once it's close enough, Koharu's eyes grow wide, stunned at the sight. The sudden, violent shaking of the cage does jerk her out of her stupor, accompanied by a yelp, and not long after she's staring at the extended hand towards her. ]
Wh... whoa.
[ Okay! Wow! He did warn her, but the real thing is a lot more than she had anticipated, so it takes Koharu a moment longer than it should to take his hand, cautiously look down upon the wyvern's back, and nod. This should be safe. There's no reason to believe it isn't. Mentally prepared, she slips out, her own wings giving an instinctive (but ultimately useless) little flap as she lands, balances herself, and shifts into what she hopes is the proper way to sit upon their steed. ]
I—think I'm good!
no subject
[ Claude hops from the cage onto Zafeera with a practiced leap, like he's done it a million times before -- probably because he has. He and his wyvern are so attuned after so many years that he has full faith he could topple out of a building, and Zaffy would still manage to catch him. Not that he intends to test that theory out.
From where he sits behind her, he brackets her with his thighs, arms reaching around her to grip onto the reins. ]
Just hold onto my arms. We'll be on the ground before you know it.
[ The descent is always more frightening than the ascent, especially at what is frankly a pretty low height for Zafeera to try to flap her way down from. The way down is a bumpy, heartstopping affair as Zafeera gets her balance back with an additional person on her back and several trees to navigate between as she makes her way down to the forest floor, finally landing with enough force so that she has to keep on running for a moment afterwards, just to avoid completely hurling her riders off with such a sudden stop.
Most people would be feeling a bit wobbly after all that, Claude knows. So he jumps down first, then holds up one gloved hand for Koharu, helping her off of Zaffy's back. ]
That was very brave of you, [ he says, voice more earnest than it is condescending. Where he's from, wyverns are just a fact of life; people are used to them in their midst, as unafraid of them as they would be of horses. But in Fodlan, it was a different story, used largely by warriors, not the commonfolk. He'd watched enough of his classmates tentatively approach wyverns with a cautious air to catch onto that much. ] I know she's an intimidating looking beast. Most people start their wyvern-riding journeys just by practicing riding around on land, let alone starting in mid-air.
[ Which is to say: if she's scared, that's okay. He's not judging. ]
no subject
No, no, that was...
[ She trails off, like she needs to find the right words here, taking a hold of his hand. As she slides off its back, Koharu gives the wyvern another look-over. ]
It felt like I was living the storybooks I've read when I was little!
[ It was far less a harrowing experience than previous mid-air encounters, where at least this time she was considerably more secure. With her safety ensured, she could savor the moment! ]
no subject
[ Claude's grin widens into something a little less gentle, less kind, but a hell of a lot more genuine. He's always happy to reassure someone on their first flight, but it's not as though he can wholly relate to them; he's been riding wyverns since practically before he could even walk, perched safely in his mother's lap.
Enthusiasm, he's a lot happier to see. ]
Zafeera here is very much real, but she always appreciates some positive attention. So do I, in fact! [ He exclaims with a chipper sort of life. ]
Claude von Riegan, at your service. Welcome back to earth!
[ Not Earth. But earth. ]
no subject
[ Quickly, she dips into a polite bow. ]
My name's Koharu—thank you very much for helping me. [ Goodness knows she would have been stuck up there for a while, otherwise. ] And you too, Zafeera!
[ Given that she's clearly a close companion of Claude's, it was only right to thank her, too. ]
no subject
Hold this out to her in the palm of your hand, and she'll lick it right out. That'll make her happier than anything else.
[ He carries them around like dog treats. He always does have an animal or two wandering behind him in the streets, making hopeful little noises in his direction for a snack or two. ]
You must be completely out of sorts after all that. Come on, let's get you somewhere where you can have a sit and figure out where exactly you are. You seem new.
[ She doesn't, really. But Claude keeps an eye on the comings and goings of this place, and he certainly doesn't recognize her. ]
no subject
Then... here you go! As thanks.
[ Regardless of the fate of her hand, Koharu's already quite endeared. ]
As for me, I—uh... I guess I don't know where I am. [ Or why he can see her. That's unusual. ] But I'm almost sure I didn't fall asleep in a cage.