#just a friendly pseudo neck snapping now i guess :)

[babagaboosh]

just a little somthing for someone

[the-wardens-torch]

Ixal

A word-doodle exercise thing for your amusement. I think I rely too much on distracting, flowery descriptions to make my writing interesting, and I tend to use words like “rather“ or “somewhat” or “slightly” too often. In that spirit I challenged myself to write something with a minimum of metaphors and similes, and try to use a more direct descriptive style.  Featuring Fal, his horsebirb, and my favorite beast tribe. 

...

“I told them to expect you, so they shouldn’t give you any trouble.”

Falerin hadn’t doubted that T’Majaan had meant those words, but he was apprehensive nonetheless. He had met very few beastmen in his time, and most of those had not been friendly.

Lamrei seemed not to notice her master’s apprehension.  Falerin’s weight on her back and the weight of the tanned dravanian hides in her saddlebags meant little to the sturdy mare. If anything, she was enjoying herself as she snapped up whatever unfortunate plant or insect matter she could find along the edges of the forest path.  The click-clicking of her beak as she grazed turned to a disappointed cluck as he gently urged her into the barren mountain pass that marked the entrance of the camp.  He recognized the thumps, cracks and murmurs of industry echoing off of the bare rocks.  They must be busy indeed.

He held his breath as he rounded the last twist in the path.  His nervousness made him want to stay quiet and hidden, but he knew that catching them by surprise was the last thing he wanted to do.  As far as these bird folk knew, any Gridanian who approached their camp was a potential genocidist.  Friendly visitors were the exception rather than the rule.  Hesitantly, Falerin urged Lamrei through a sturdy wooden gate and into the heart of the camp.

Perhaps ten figures were milling about, most in the process of working or fetching tools. Saws growled their way through timber, hammers thundered against nails, and needles whispered through leather and cloth.  Most of them seemed not to notice him, and those that did seemed more concerned with finishing their work.  He was glad for their momentary disinterest, as his curiosity was causing him to stare.

Their bodies were caricaturish - a too narrow waist upon which balanced absurdly muscular shoulders. Legend had it that the ancestors of these birdmen had the gift of flight, and their descendants had clearly retained the very large upper body muscles necessary to power a pair of wings.  The rest of their willowy frames seemed to be an afterthought, slim and almost emaciated by comparison.  There were barely enough feathers among them to cover a chocobo, their skins instead dominated by smooth scales in unusually cheerful shades of pelagic blue and green. Ridged horns of brilliant red protruded from their long, serpentine heads.

As he was mulling over what to say to respectfully get their attention, one of them looked up from its task and began to approach him, moving with a grace that belied its size.

“Falerin, your name is?” it said.  The way it spoke the Eorzean tongue was more jarring than he had anticipated. Its husky, guttural voice whittled the hard “F” sound into something more like a soft “H,” and its voice had an almost shrieking cadence to it.

“Yes.  Are you Methuli?” he asked, attempting to make eye contact but meeting only with a pair of narrow eye slits in a metal helmet that saddled her neckless head.  Just the same, he chose to look at the eye slits instead of the arched beak, or the jagged teeth that lay incongruously within it.

“I am she. ” Methuli said.  She crossed her arm across her chest and lowered her head - a curt imitation of a courtly bow. She lingered a bit over the word “she,” and he had a feeling it was to spare him the awkwardness of guessing what her gender was.  

“Have something from T‘Majaan for me, you do?” she said, telling moreso than asking.  

“Of course.” Falerin said, performing an accurate but shaky dismount. He turned to Lamrei’s saddle bag and removed a few long, cylindrical bundles.

“Maj told me this would be the perfect kind of leather for your needs… Light but resistant to tearing. ”  Falerin spoke softly and politely. He realized now just how tall Methuli was.  If not for her naturally stooped posture, she could have easily stood eight fulms tall. He was forced to crane his neck most of the way back to continue making pseudo-eye contact with her.

“I hunted these myself, and Maj tanned them.  I can promise there isn’t any damage to them. ” he said, handing her one of the bundles.

“Yes yes,” Methuli said, waving her hand dismissively as she accepted the bundle gently.

Falerin held Lamrei’s reins and stood silently, grateful that the chocobo hadn’t spooked at the sight of this strange new… person.  Despite her size and apparent gruffness, Methuli radiated little malice.

She unrolled the bundle and bent her head downward, inspecting the bruise-colored leather with an artisan’s eye.  As she held it in one hand, she curled the fingers of the other and raked the leather with her claws before flattening her hand to stroke it with her palm and fingertips. A test of strength followed by a test of delicacy.

“It is as you say.  We prize this leather for our airships, but  to kill the beast that wears it?  We cannot.  We are neither warriors nor fools like you and your adventurer brethren.”

“My reputation precedes me!” Falerin responded, shrugging his shoulders.  “Just promise you and Maj will remember me if the next monster I try to skin skins me first.”

A series of staccato coughs erupted from Methuli’s throat as she rolled the hide again. Falerin quickly realized, with some amusement, that she was laughing.  He couldn’t help smiling at this revelation, no matter how awkward the preceding exchange of jokes had been.

“Of course, of course, Falerin.” Methuli nodded. “A deal, it is.“ She reached out her hand tentatively.  Falerin took it without hesitation, even thought his hand barely covered her palm. Her grip was much warmer and gentler than he had expected.

“Your hide would indeed make poor leather.” Methuli said.

This time Falerin was the one to laugh.

[raindrenchedstories]

Archibeard. Meeting the boys.

Bear meets all five of Archibalds sons. And I get down a physical descriptor for them.

“I know the shrinking spells are uncomfortable. Sorry Dove.” He’d never seen Archibald so tense. Eyeing over the man, Bear slipped an arm over his shoulders.

“It’s fine! I’m exited to finally see you’re migraine generators!” He teased. Arch gave a weak chuckle before opening the door. Bear could hear a sharp inhale as they entered the house made specifically for his children.

All five boys stood there, in order from shortest to tallest. Each leaning on, or making contact with one another affectionately. However, the air in the room was less than friendly. They appeared to be judging him.

Archibald cleared his throat. Each of the boys snapping their heads in his direction. “Boys... This is William... my... boyfriend.” He reddened. Bear on the other hand offered a hearty smile.

His hand swung out open and ready to be shook. “Heya lads! Nice to meet you.”

As opposed to shaking it, each brother looked at one another. Finally, the even middle of the group returned the gesture. grasping Bears hand firmly but not in an unfriendly way. “It’s a pleasure Mr. Heart. Dad’s said a lot about you.”

“All good I hope?” He snickered.

“Eh. You may want to groom your beard a little more often.” The boy pancaked the hand in the air, delighting in Archibalds flustered response.

“YOUNG MAN! You are not too old to put in time out!” The man chuckled. He shared greatly in Archibalds rich skin tone. Though he was far more toned than his father. Eyes a deep reddish brown. Hair pulled into a series of pseudo dreadlocks.

“Will. That’s my eldest. Shanadoh.” The man folded his arms. The boy nodded once, then pulled his hand away. One thing Bear couldn’t help but notice was the abundance of scarring on the lad. His exposed arms looking rough and leathery.

The next to come up and meet him was also the smallest. Bounding brightly over, nearly knocking his brother off his feet. This one had more of a ‘I just woke up and what the hell is a hair brush?’ look to him. It was a good thing he suck to a crew cut.

He was a little lighter in tone as well. Sharing in his fathers bright, gold eyes. Judging by the laugh lines, this boy smiled. A lot.

Before Bear had time to react, his hand was being slung violently up and down, threatening to dislocate. “It’s great to meet you! How long have you been dating? How did you meet. Doggy or missionary?”

“ADEX!” Archibald wailed. Now being held back by the two bigger sons. The two smaller dragging the boy away. Shanadoh was placed in charge of holding Adex back. While the third approached.

“Er... Teffladoh. Nice to meet you. I apologize for... HIM.” He jerked a thumb back in Adex’ direction.

“No worries lad. I must say you’re a lively bunch.” This boy... well in facial structure and hair colour, Bear could see a resemblance. But he very much resembled his mother as well. Skin a ghostly pale. His eyes, though a rich brown, had an unnatural gleam behind them, calculating. Predatory. But they still held Archibalds golden tone.

Like his father, he held scars on his wrists. A tight collar wrapped around his neck. Unlike Archibald, he didn’t bother to hide them. Even accentuated them a little it seamed. With clothing that exposed a bit more than Bear was comfortable with.

He turned his head a moment towards one of the two larger boys smiling. Slowly making his way over to hold his father back. the second largest plodded over. An easy going expression on his face.

He was somewhere between Teffladohs pale skin tone, and Archibalds rich olive. The other largest being much the same. “Hey, So ah... Guess it’s my turn.”

“Guess so.” Bear shrugged. Re-aligning his shoulder and stretching his hand out. So far, this was going well. Though, he was starting to suspect most of this meeting was planned out between the siblings.

“Karod. Nice to meet you Mr. Heart” Oddly enough. Karod was a redhead. Eyes like his fathers. Overall, he seamed to be a bright young man. He stood taller than both Bear and Archibald however, causing the man to, for once in his life, feel short.

“Don’t worry you’ll get over that!” Karod spoke up, causing Bear to jolt. “Oh... Oh did you not say that out loud? Sorry. My brothers and I... We’re telepathic. We’ve been holding a conversation this whole time actually.”

Bear paused. Glancing meaningfully at Archibald. In turn, the man waved with indignant resignation. 

“So... You boys have been sizing me up then?” He folded his arms. Staring the taller man down. Karod wisely leaned away.

“Well... Yes.. sir. But it’s not out of malice! I swear.” He began backing off, smiling sheepishly. Bear smirked. Stepping quickly to close the gap and patting the lads arm.

“Relax! I get it! Verdict so far?” He beamed. No reason to scare the lads after all.

Karod eased up considerably. “W-well sir, so far so good.” He heaved a long sigh, though continued his retreat. Apparently behind Shanadoh.

Finally, a much larger, firmer hand clasped on Bears shoulder. Spinning him abruptly. Something hard and heavy rammed into his stomach then retreated. Causing the man to double up. He could faintly make out a series of outraged shouts.

Then, one clear firm voice. “Hurt dad. And I’ll hurt you.” The largest of the boys, bore about as many scars as Shanadoh. Several large ones dotting his back and shoulders. That was about all he could see of the shirtless lad.

“NASHENDOH FELIX ANDERS! YOU GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT!” Archibald tailed after the boy snarling. 

“H-he really meant no harm.” Adex tried. Bear just shook his head. 

“Nah. Reminds me of your old man when he was younger.”

“Wait. Dad was aggressive?” Teff inquired, helping Bear back to his feet.

“Oh yeah. Used to be the meanest little shit I knew.” He dusted off. “What? You think you boys got your protective streak from your mother?”

[ludovicahappy]

Nice

just a little somthing for someone