adventures in farming [skwog]

[Kat]

As the Watch Lieutenant for the Chydyn region, it was Ros’n’s job to ensure that the city, her home city, was protected from the threat of the Xymokoxi. And that meant having a solid record of all the sightings of the koxi from the area around the city as well as in the city. Because of Chydyn’s arboreal setting, the Xymokoxi attacks were limited within the city’s walls, but the areas outside the city could be unfortunately plagued, and it was the job of the Chydyn watch to prevent and to control such attacks and to protect everyone within the lines of their watch. Despite her obligation to her position, Ros’n preferred to venture outside the city, sometimes, as she found the occupancies on the periphery completely fascinating and unusual. They were different than the monotony Ros’n perceived in the city, new locations for her to explore, at least to learn about, and Ros’n enjoyed excavation. Ros’n’s heart beat with excitement, the thrill which always accompanied new places for the curious, childish woman.

Because Ros’n knew she would interact directly with people, she had dressed herself in a way which labeled her by her profession. While Ros’n’s wardrobe often lacked the elements which labeled her as a rider, she made a point of including them today, so that when she approached people, her identity would be clearer. The harness which Ros’n strapped across her chest felt restrictive and tight, as the brown leather was stiff with newness. The straps also meant that the white shirt which Ros’n usually kept unbuttoned far enough to expose an ample swatch of tan skin, had to be clasped almost to the nape of the woman’s neck. Ros’n wore her leather jacket over her shirt, but left it unfastened so that her other garment were visible. The stitching which Ros’n used to repair the unfortunate tear in the leather from the koxi battle only days before gleamed in the light, a blemish which Ros’n already resented. Despite her need to appear professional, Ros’n kept her light brown hair messy and uneven. She tied it back from her face in a small, lopsided ponytail, with a satin ribbon, blue, to match Wegmeph’s down.

Because Ros’n did not want to impose Wegmeph onto the property of strangers, she chose to land rather far from the farm which she targeted today. As she slipped off of his back, Wegmeph growled with disapproval. He wanted to be with Ros’n, to protect her and to spend time with her, especially after his recent neglect. Both bonded partners had already discussed the plan, and Wegmeph knew Ros’n was making the proper decision, he just did not like the situation. Ros’n began to walk away, her leather pants creaking as she stepped, and she fought the desire to remain attached to Wegmeph’s side. His need for her, his current state of neediness, almost overwhelmed her. Holding a map to ensure she found the right location, and did not survay a property to which she had already attended, Ros’n walked onto the farm which was owned, apparently, by a pair of botanist. The whole property sounded fascinating to the woman who appreciated places formed of unusual aspects. They had more personality, and they were more interesting to the woman.

As Ros’n approached the farmhouse, she turned back to Wegmeph. He needed to be visible from the door, so she could fully explain her reason for bothering the family. No matter what Ros’n did, she could not make herself look like a rider without Wegmeph’s presence. He was the professional partner in their pair, the one that exuded importance and sternness. In contrast, Ros’n’s girlish coyness lacked a professional air. When they were together, Wegmeph could keep Ros’n in line, discipline and tease her into a submissive aptitude. The woman reached the door of the farmhouse, and she knocked abruptly, twice, with more force than she meant, so the sound resonated in a harsh and course manner. Ros’n cringed, her nose wrinkling, before she twisted her lips into a bright and friendly smile.

((God, in my head, this post was a LOT better than it turned out in practice. I'm very sorry for the suck; I'll get over it soon. Also, I don't know how you want to time this in relation to your search thread. I think it has to occur before the search, because otherwise Grey would be already in the Eyrie. I just thought about that.))

[skwog]

"It's my turn!"
"Nuh-uh! It's mine!"
"It is mine!"
"Grey! Find out what your sisters are arguing about!"
"Yes, mother."

Grey, who was sitting on the back steps of the house, got up from his spot and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. Though he had a full night of sleep the previous night, he was still tired. A break from his farm work was rare, and he was relishing the moment when his mother had yelled at him. "Okay, what is the matter?" He walked into the house's room devoted to all of the sibling's toys, and found a multitude of siblings sitting around a board and playing a game. The distress was between his twin sisters, Willow and Aspen, and his youngest sister, who he presumed were all fighting over whose turn it was on the game. Upon his entrance to the room, his youngest sister, Rosemarie, ran up to him and tugged at his shirt tail. Looking down at his sister, her eyes were sparkling, and glossy, hinting that she was on the break of crying. "Rosie, what is the matter?"
"Grey, it was my turn, but Willow took my piece and threw it across the room."
"Then what happened?"
"Well..." Rosemarie paused to sniffle a bit, using the collar of her dress to wipe away the tears that were forming. "Then they started fighting over whose turn it is, and mommy yelled at us."
Grey looked over at the other siblings who appeared to be playing in content now that Rosemarie was not sitting there crying over her lost turn. "Come on, I'll play a game with you."
The young girl lit up instantly, and ran across the room for a brief moment. She picked up a small box, and ran back over to Grey, leading him out of the game room and into the house's dining room. "Okay, the game is checkers. I am black, and that means I go first."
"Wait, what if I wanted to go first?"
"Nope, Grey, it is my turn. Everybody knows that smoke comes before fire!"
Grey chuckled at his sister, taking a seat at the table as he did so. Just as he had settled down in his chair a knocking was heard. Two abrupt knocks came from the front door, diverting his attention away from his sister and to what could have caused it.

"I'll get it!" Rosemarie shouted with glee as she bolted to the front door. Grey got up and followed closely behind her, curious to see who it was at the door.
"Hello?" The small girl had opened up the door and looked up at the person there, in awe at the outfit that she was wearing. "Woah, you look cool! Grey, look, there's a lady here! Oh! And look over there! There's a simourv! Lady, is that your simourv?"
Grey chuckled lightly at his sister as he opened the door the remainder of the way, seeing Ros'n standing there. She had a stellar smile, and he figured she was not there to cause any harm. "Please excuse my sister." Grey straightened up a little, and brushed his dirt-encrusted hand on his pant leg before extending it out to Ros'n. "I am Grey, how may I help you, ma'am?"

[Kat]

Ros’n grinned, the smile lighting up her face when she saw the little girl. She liked children to some extent. They were so pure, so innocent, and they could be wonderfully amusing. Ros’n had not grown up around other children. She had not only been an only child, but she had also had few friends. She had grown up on the street; she had grown up fast, and she had acted as the adult in her relationship with her mother, who at forty, was far more like a child than little Ros’n, twenty years younger, and not exactly the most mature creature herself. So, the little girl made Ros’n smile, because she made Ros’n think about the friends and siblings she never had. The rider bent down so that she was more level with the child, bending her knees, and placing her hands on them. She thought that addressing the child from above would have been intimidating and unfriendly, and Ros’n did not want to be intimidating or unfriendly. She was an incredibly friendly person, after all. Her eyes danced with excitement. She did not know exactly why she was excited, but she was, and her eyes reflected her emotion as a bouncing, bright energy. Her smile exposed her rather straight teeth, and it wrinkled her nose, which only brought attention to the line of light brown freckles which dotted her nose-bridge.
”Hello, I’m Ros’n.”
Ros’n began, her tone as bright and open as her smile. The thrill of exploration improved Ros’n’s rosy mood. What an adorable child to discover. Wegmeph mentally expressed a sense of annoyance or intolerance to his rider. Had he been closer to her, he might have nudged her or even rolled his eyes at her, to express his humiliation at being attached to her. Ros’n was his, yes, but she was so talkative sometimes. At least she was not talking down to the child, in that awful voice humans used to talk to younger humans or hatchlings. Ros’n’s voice, while a bit slower than her normal, too fast tone, was very much the same as she would have used talking to an adult.
”He’s not my simourv, I’m his human.”
Ros’n explained with a small, but comical, shrug of her shoulders. The more she thought about the statement, the more she realized it was very correct. Wegmeph was definitely the dominate power in their relationship. He was the disciplinarian, after all.

Even though Ros’n found the girl cute, she needed to talk to an older person. The child was useless in answering the questions she needed answered. When the older boy appeared, then, Ros’n turned her gaze to him, looking him over with interest. He was younger than her, but not by too much, but definitely not the oldest member of the household. If she could talk to the parents, that would be best. Regardless, Ros’n extended her hand, encased in a soft brown-leather glove, and she shook his hand in a firm manner, perhaps a bit too hard, especially from a small woman like herself.
”Hello, sir, I’m Ros’n of Blue Wegmeph.”
When she discussed Wegmeph, Ros’n tilted her head towards her simourv. He had been following the conversation in her head, and when she mentioned his name, he bowed, and since he was massive, his action could be seen from the house. Ros’n’s lips twitched into a bigger grin. He was such an impressive, incredible creature, and she loved him.

Ros’n still wanted to talk to the boy’s parents. She could then explain her presence on the farm to him, so when she dropped his hand, she looked around, trying to peek behind him without being too obvious, her green eyes flickering around his form.
”May I speak to your parents?’
Ros’n questioned, speaking both firmly but unusually friendly for such a menial question. She did not reveal her business yet. She did not need to do so until she communicated with the heads of the household. As she waited for an answer, the girl reached her hand up and toyed with the bow in her hair, wrapping the ends around her fingers lazily.