[ 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
[ 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.