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Suri enjoyed their little jaunt on the plains to reach the Chocobo farm. His ankle still gave an outburst of pain here and there, but it was quite walkable. The big yellow avians seemed to be vivid with life, always hopping and striding about, making a general show of themselves and reveling in the attention. He watched as Miya ran her fingers through one of the bird's soft feathers and was momentarily saddened. He held up his metal hands, exquisitely crafted to bend every which way a human hand could, and even a few directions a human's couldn't, and realised yet again the sacrifice of touch for metal. His sadness was temporary, however, and he realised he could still feel with his face, and promptly laid his head on the nearest bird. Ignoring the vaguely pungent aroma the bird gave off, Suri could hear and feel it's heart beating strongly. It bent it's long neck and without hesitation, yanked out a few strands of hair, probably thinking it for food, or just being a cantankerous bird. "Yeowch! That's my hair you know!" He said while rubbing the spot. The bird merely chirped and trotted off.

Miya was seeing if anyone wanted to come with her to help carry supplies. "Erm...I would volunteer but I've not ridden one of these things before. But then again, if you think it's not too hard of a skill to learn, I suppose I could try it out and go to pick up some supplies." he said, eyeing one of the nearby birds with some apprehension. It looked fun...but he'd probably get hurt....but he'd still be having fun. Then he began to wonder if these birds were comfortable with his kind of weight. He'd been assembled with the lightest but most durable parts available at the time which put him near 280 lbs. Just moreso than the average heavyset male.

With the raging dust storm gone, Tylem looked quite nice to be in. A stunning blue sky dominated by ever-moving clouds combined with the rolling plains provided a rather peaceful scenery to gaze upon. He noticed a quick smile flashed by Joylre and smiled to himself, apparently she was noticing the same thing.

The sky was the bluest blue that she hadn't seen since the floating city of Lamina. Reflecting off the depths of Iriem, it was truly breathtaking.
The sky was her favorite place to be and a wistful sigh escaped her.
I’ll need someone to come with to help me carry things…if anyone’s willing.”
Her attention returned to the group.
Jolyre hadn't dared to even gaze at them lest they had seen her smile. Her slip in composure.
It was best that they thought she was a warrior. Unfeeling and cold. Attachments didn't end well if you're name was Aegis..
It was to Jolyre's dismay that Suri and Rigo agreed to help Miya gather supplies from the neighboring town. This would be a chance to talk to the woman. A chance she so desperately wanted but refused to do in front of her fellow bearers.
She walked over to them, and inserted herself into the conversation.
"I can go. I've ridden before." she offered in a very neutral, even tone. It wasn't a complete lie. Even after her failed attempts, Alexei had pushed her and, after several gysahl greens, Jolyre and the chocobo had a cohesive relationship for one day.
She knew all about the balance. Where to sit, how not to sit, what not to say to a chocobo, which way to lean. How to make them run, jump, flap, squawk , walk, and be stealthy. Jolyre had learned it all.
She just hated having to ride the beasts. They were majestic with their immensity and their graceful gait and any knight upon one looked regal, but Jolyre preferred the sky to the strong talons of chocobos.
It was this time only and never again, would Jolyre Aegis agree to mount one for no good reason. She could let Rigo and Suri go in her place, but the only thing Jolyre hated more than irony, wind, and chocobos, was a missed opportunity.
Granted, she'd rather impale her own eyes out than be around the condescending fire bearer, but this was a special occasion.
Whether or not Miya would accept her offer was another story...

((Okay, thank goodness, I was worried that I would have to retcon the part where Gio revived Kasumi. If you hadn't come back I probably would have had to make it that she had died and we'd need to find a new Water Bearer. Anyways, glad to have you back Kasumi.))

When they finally arrived at the ranch, Gio was excited to see the Chocobos. He felt like a little kid again as he saw the large, dangerous, but immensely adorable birds grazing and resting and running around the cultivated and grassy cliff side. There wasn't a whole lot of grass near the Pandemona Canyons. Most of the grass was a few miles out from the depths where the winds were lighter since the higher intensity winds of the canyon tended to blow nutrients away, but with diligent cultivation, such lush greenery was able to be maintained.

Gio laughed as he saw Kasumi run straight over to one of the big bird, and in moments, without a single Gysahl Green to bribe it, she began riding it in small circles completely bareback. Bareback Chocobo riding was always a possibility, but was really only ideal for short-term trips since too long without a saddle could make both the Chocobo and the rider fairly uncomfortable from nonstop riding. He still couldn't help but laugh at the irony, given the unpleasant experiences that a few of their group seemed to have had with the birds.

"Hahahaha, it looks like Kasumi's a real pro at this, guys! No greens or anything and she's already trotting around! Hahahahaha!," he was smiling one of the first genuine smiles he had smiled in many years, and laughing like he hadn't in even longer. "Orin, Alane, Jolyre, I think you all could take something from her example. Hahahaha.

Eager to ride on of the fluffy birds himself, Gio walked over to one and held his hand out, nearing it to pet the soft feathers of its neck. However, upon noticing him, the bird recoiled suddenly, hunching over and lowering its head close to the ground, a wary and frightened look of a cornered animal in its eye. Gio also recoiled his hand subconsciously. He hadn't ever ridden a Chocobo, but he had had a few rare chances to pet one in his life, and never had they reacted to him like this. It unnerved him as it brought his mind out of the happy clouds and down into his depressing situation. Could the Chocobo feel something dangerous inside him? Was it really that horrible a feeling?

No. Gio didn't want to think about those things. He pushed them down as hard as he could and approached the bird again, this time more slowly. The bird warily held its stance but neither turned and ran nor lashed out at him, however, it seemed ready to do just that on a moment's notice. Gio's hand touched the the side of the bird's neck and it jerked in place, but when Gio did nothing but pet it softly and scratch at its sweet spot, it relaxed after a few moments and gave a cute little chirping of kwehs. It bumped its forehead on his and pushed against him, imitating how a cat rubs up against someone to show that it likes them.

Gio breathed a small sigh of relief, but said nothing to anyone in the group. He privately hoped that nobody had noticed, but since he had just been laughing and talking to a few of them, he was bound to have attracted attention to the event. His face flushed red realizing that they all must have seen it, but still he didn't want to think about it, so he put on a happy smile again and after a few minutes of diligent petting and scratching, he tried climbing on the bird. Thankfully, it allowed him on and he started guiding it around. He used very light pushed on the base of its neck to indicate every turn and made sure it only walked around until he got a saddle and harness for running.

When Gio heard Miya's request for a partner in going to get supplies for the group, he rode the Chocobo closer to the group and said, "It seems like almost everyone is offering to go along with you. I don't really think I should, since this is my first time riding a Chocobo, and I'm sure someone else could do better helping than me." He heard Harrier and Alane bicker about how Alane should go with her, since she knew the local trade better than most anyone else did, and it was a good point, but he had a feeling that something else would be a better decision. He couldn't tell what it was exactly, but Miya and Jolyre seemed to have an uneasiness between each other... it seemed to mostly be on Jolyre's part, but it was there regardless. He piped in, "I think it might be a good idea for Jolyre to go along, getting some space from the group could be a relief for her." He was more implying that getting space from HIM would be better for her, but he wasn't going to go right out and say it, and it was a fairly valid reason, but his real intention was to get some interaction between Miya and Jolyre so that they could be more comfortable around each other.

He also added, "If Alane needs to say goodbye to family, then she can take her Wyrum to do that, that way she doesn't have to ride a Chocobo, since it displeases her so much." It was a valid argument that Alane appeared to completely dislike Chocobos, and they seemed to like being mischievous with her in turn, so not having to ride one was as good of an argument as any. Her wyrum was too small it seemed to carry supplies, and flying with weight was likely a fair bit harder than running with weight. Chocobos were ideal pack-animals.

Gio looked over to Suri and said, "I don't really think that you going is a good idea, Suri, since you do weigh a bit more. From what I've heard, a Chocobo should be able to carry you easily enough, but we wouldn't be able to hold as much supplies on your bird. We'll put less on yours when we divy-up the supplies, but for the trip we'd need someone who could bring back as much stuff as possible."

Now he was surprising himself. He had systematically found reasons that each of them should not go and why Jolyre should go. He hardly had to think about it really. Maybe he was just getting used to the unique traits of each person in the group very quickly, but he was still surprised at his powers of observation.

He also gave a bit of a look to Rigo, hoping that he would understand what he was trying to do, and withdraw his offer to help. Miya and Jolyre really seemed like the best choice to send for supplies at the moment, given how he looked at it. However, he really couldn't think of any reason for Rigo not to go, so he was lost there.

((Sorry that I haven't posted much. I took a small break to recharge my creativity, and on top of that my weekends are notoriously the computer territory of my mother and brother while the weekdays are mine mostly. Anyway, glad to see you back, Kasumi.))

((Yeah, didn't you hear? Rigo hogs the computer on the weekends because he has to tend to noble business matters during the weekdays, when Gio can goof off. Anyway, welcome back, Kasumi.))

It seemed that not everyone was having great luck or animosity with the Chocobos. Orin threatened to freeze a bird that had decided to cure its curiosity by pecking at the scholarly Ice Bearer who bore no allegiance to Tylem and the area. Alane, though to be fair the ranger had instigated the ruckus, was the unwary victim of scarf chewing and hair loss. Kasumi, on the other hand, was quite cheerful and just as joyful riding on a Chocobo like an expert. Of course, Rigo kept a watchful eye on Gio when his younger brother went to touch a Chocobo. The Chocobo's response wasn't something Rigo expected. It withdrew itself, and Gio seemed to be surprised too. However, that passed as bird and brother opened up slightly and began interacting friendlier.

Mario's appearance and his entrance of clapping took Rigo's attention away from the others momentarily as he looked at the Chocobo farm owner calmly while observing the man's demeanor and clothes to gauge the man. Alane and Harrier seemed to trust him, and he didn't seem to be the deceiving type. His offer in return for them borrowing his Chocobos seemed fair to Rigo. Rigo couldn't imagine these bandits to be related to their attackers or the horrendous arrogant mantis creature from before. Besides, it would be good practice for the troupe and a fair exchange, if they couldn't talk the bandits out of ... being bandits first.

Jolyre then volunteered to go with Miya as well, bringing the potential volunteers up to four: Suri, Orin, himself, and Jolyre. He could feel something coming from Jolyre. She seemed to want to go. Gio then suggested that Jolyre go as well and batted Suri's heavyweight out of question. Orin had no experience with Chocobos, so he was already out. At least Rigo's brother was thinking logically now. Rigo noticed the look his brother gave him and nodded. "I'll help with the matters here. I believe Gio has a valid point. Suri, unless you can carry more separately from the Chocobo, it may be better for someone else to go in your place. We are not a small group, and we will need to be efficient in time and space management."

He looked at Kasumi, when she asked the question, and answered courteously. "We should stock up on some supplies before leaving while Mario and Harrier make arrangements for us."

((sorry for the shortness of posts lately. Its a combination of being tired and my hand burn from work))

Suri realised his offer wasn't a well-thought one. His weight plus that of supplies would be torture for one of these creatures. But he was perfectly fine with staying behind. Still, he almost did a double-take when Joylre volunteered to go for supplies, but then listened to Gio's reasoning of it, and it made better sense. It seemed they would be on their way shortly, Suri wanted to ask Miya what a 'Behemoth' was, for he'd never read of those in his books. He surmised it was probably the name for some gigantic monster. He hoped he wouldn't have to face one of them along with Malboros either.

On the tail end of the conversation, as he gazed into the rolling sky, Suri heard Mario list the condition for their transport. "Always a catch..." Suri muttered quietly under his breath before stretching and drawing closer to hear better. "Bandits...it figures. Ah well, it probably won't be too hard to set em straight. It's not like they have Crystals or anything. A pittance of a task for the Mighty Crystal Bearers!" he said grandly, making a dramatic flourish and grinning like a fool.

((lolz, shortest post thus far. I'm just at a loss for what to write atm. Since we are in-between scenes sorta.))

Miya watched as Jolyre picked out and attempted to tame a disgruntled bird. After a small struggle, the woman was victorious. Leaning confidently against the yellow plumage of the bird, she was caught off guard when the bird took off and ended up on the ground. Miya took that as her cue to find her own instead of staring at Jolyre as she stood up and began wiping herself off.

Chocobos were old hat to the older woman so she wasn't particularly choosey. She walked up to a large male chocobo and reached up to pat it's beak as though they were old friends. The bird gave out a loud kweh before submitting to her. It was an older bird, not as fast as the young ones, but calmer. Miya liked the older birds for their reliability. It followed the other chocobo to the stabling area and Miya turned her attention back to Jolyre as she asked her if she was ready. Miya nodded to her and followed the birds.

As a stable hand went to saddle her bird, Miya stepped in. "Do you mind if i saddle my own bird? I like to get to know them a little," she asked, and was given a strange look. The man nodded, letting her know it was okay and stood off to the side, he may have given her permission, but it was obvious he didn't quite trust her. Grabbing a saddle, Miya expertly buckled, fastened, and tied it until she was satisfied it was on tight. The chocobo patiently waited until she was done, obviously used to being ridden. Miya gently put the reins on the birds massive beak, careful to avoid any unexpected snaps of beak. When she was finished she patted it's neck and went to mount it. Her foot slipped into the foot holder and she grunted slightly throwing her weight upwards and over. Shifting her weight around until she was comfortable, she gently urged the bird forward and out of the stables. She was up higher than she was used to, but for some reason this comforted her. She was a bit caught off guard by the birds long strides that caused her to rise and fall so quickly.

Pausing for a few moments to gather her bearings she figured out the direction they would need to go. Miya waited patiently to give Jolyre time to join her. When she did, Miya nodded a farewell to the group and took off, slow at first, then gradually to a nice pace; not too fast, not too slow. She remained silent, her mind making a mental list of things to buy.