#plus i would need to figure out carrd. which. scary

[clumsyclifford]

bellaaaaa hii!!! i don’t think you are awake but i also know you have a very weird sleep schedule and i see your posts at weird hours. ma’am go to sleep!!🤧

SO I think you told me classes started on monday?? I hope that was good!! yay sending you good vibes always bc college sucks half of the time💗💗🥰also the dining hall closing at five... hello?? who has dinner at five ?? or before that?? that’s weird. (yeah yeah i’m in argentina which is not relevant at all. but i do want to excuse my grammar, english is not my first language obviously🥴🥺)

i haven’t had tea since the last time we talk, I think I should stick to coffee. i make a pretty decent iced coffee i think🥺. how do you drink your tea? i need advice... yeah.

and i had a weird week. Nothing strange happened but the weather has been terrible lately, i haven’t talked to my therapist in like a month and i’m having the worst toothache ever. I hope you are having a waaaay better time than me🤧🤍🤍 - vd Xx💗 ps: also about the carrd, idk what you can put in it🤧 gee that was unhelpful. but I can’t imagine what you’d write in it. Like, you are right. it’s easy to acroll through your blog and get to know you💕

vd hiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! uhhh i don’t know i was probably awake when you sent that lmao let’s be honest when do i sleep these days

yes!! classes did start on monday and since i don’t have class on fridays i am actually technically done with my first week of classes and you know what, they could have been a lot worse. like they couldve been better but thats always gonna be true.........but coulda been much worse indeed. we move

omg well i support all beverages of choice though i am a tea slut i drink so much tea it’s insane !!!! proper english way or as ive been told it’s called “builder’s tea” which is english breakfast with milk & sugar (i unfortunately cannot advise you on how MUCH milk and sugar, it’s about the color and the taste and i cannot help you w either of those. possibly watch the video that started it all for me?? yes it’s a charlieissocoollike video i love him i’m not ashamed)

oh yeah the weather has been WILD we’ve gotten a whole lot of snow here what’s it like around you? and i hope you talk to your therapist soon and that everything else sorts itself out!! sending good healthy happy vibes your way <3

yeah i also really dont know what to put in it i am like the most open book on the planet lkdafhjklmsfjhg well ! ill keep thinking about it

[nonamedrk]

For The Birds!

Writing for Ysolie Aguetois (carrd), a FFXIV Dark Knight OC: Prompt Provided by https://nightraidbounties.carrd.co/! Check them out if you like Bounty Hunting Roleplay in the FFXIV universe! Big thank you to them! 1,929 words -- TW/CW:  VIOLENCE, BIRD MURDER, birds in danger, jungle, blood, gore, entrails, impalement, harpoons (again), infection, BIRD CANNIBALISM, seasickness/airsickness, food mention.

5U-9th Sun "Mother told me I need to get back to keeping track of things. Said she knew I wasn't writing anything down anymore. Gave me a talking about with how important it is for the culture. Plus them Wisefolk always say it help you see your patterns and that help you see how close the Twelve are to you or something like that. Always about the effect on your fate. Plus she kept talking about my blessing. Well I respect them and her and I guess it would help keep track of work. Guess I call this entry day 3 of the Birdjob. I’ll write details later. Ready to get started."

<><><><><><><>>><><><><><><><><>>><><><><><><><>>>

Ysolie closed the journal, shoved it back into their pack, then stretched. Eastern La Noscean sun filtered through the clouds and they figured it was probably a pleasant day.

They couldn't feel it.

Blue plate armor, layered over mail, layered again over a protective tunic and breeches, blocked out all but the wind caressing their face. And then that breeze was blocked as they squeezed their helmet on-  the snap of their long pointed ears, finding the holes in the helm to accommodate them, always elicited a slight wince-- and then came the armored ear covers, attached to the helmet separately, to muffle the sound of the island jungle.

A friend had asked once if the ear covers and the helmet hurt to put on. Of course, Ysolie told him that it was a feeling one could get used to which, well, wasn't exactly a lie. Getting used to the feeling was akin to getting used to being slapped over and over- it was always going to hurt but eventually one would expect the occurrence. Or something.

Ysoloe whistled.

Within seconds, a chocobo swooped down from above, then landed next to them. Today, the execution of well researched "Bird Tactics"-- as Strymgiem had called it-- would begin. Strapped to the Chocobo's saddle was a huge chunk of reeking Crab- this being prime bait an opportunistic omnivore, like the Bountry target, loved to snack on.

For two days, Ysoloe had asked around for information, and for three more, they had deprived the target animal of ample food supply-- not entirely could they prevent the multitude of Rainbow Zu from gathering something, but they definitely prevented enough for adequate sustenance for the lot of them. From the days of watching them, Ysolie had found some form of respect for the target, as well as vital information for what exactly they were up against.

At least eight Zu, three of which were already rather runty were occupying the remnants of a mess that must’ve been the nest of a much larger Bird. Due to how many there were, the lack of food had driven them to desperation. Already, their presence had began to throw the balance of the ecosystem off- so food was already near scarcity. During the final moments of observation, Ysolie noted the three runty Zu seemed significantly more lethargic, and a forth had already been killed off by the rest, in a flat out display of survival-of-the-fittest.

That had been particularly had to watch. Nature was scary.

Truth be told, Ysolie had never seen a Zu until this bounty was taken on. So the sheer size, despite the fact the Rainbow Zu were apparently not fully grown, had made Bird Tactics even more appealing. Their ferocity in tearing apart their weak brethren had only further driven that point home.With a series of hand and arm gestures, as well as ample body movement, Ysolie communicated with the Chocobo-- the bird warked excitedly then sprinted off toward the Zu nest, leaping from the top of the white-rock cliff and out of sight. Thus began the hunt. Where had the Zu even come from? Was the coloration so odd for them? Having seen the bounty title, Ysolie had concluded it must’ve been a distinctive feature at the least…

A beat passed.

Ysolie moved further into position, drawing their Claymore, then crouching near the edge with the blade held to the side more like a club. Hunting always brought up the cycle of moral debates- was this fair? Had starving them been the right thing to do? Was that technically cruelty? When it’s a them versus me situation, shouldn’t one use every tactic to get the advantage?

Silence. Sweat tickled its way down Ysolie’s spine. Were the chains secured? Would the rock hold?  Would they have time enough to get into position? Did the Chocobo remember the trained flight pattern? A heavy exhale and their grip tightened.

Screeching cries pitched above jungle canopy. Curiosity intensified-- the edge of the cliff begged looking over. Without moving, Ysolie held stayed in position a few moments longer. Another high pitched whistling cry split the air-- the Chocobo's trill. An eternity passed-- Broken by the pale-yellow streak of feathers-- the Chocobo an arrow toward the sun. Pitching acrobatically, Chocobo aimed toward Ysolie, flew within ilms of the top of their head-- heavy wingbeats drummed the air after the gust. Above the white ledge rose a crimson beak. With a single powerful step forward, the weight of the blade shifted along with the body, then came a second step toward the red and green feathered neck of the Zu rising-- twisting screaming-- as Claymore sang through the air-- final note rang as thunderclap-- Force of the blow sent both Beast and Hunter spiraling, reeling, blood and feather dancing with metal and stone. Though the hide was though, crack and snap of bone said otherwise-- the blade had struck but the beasts momentum had sent Ysolie skidding across the ground. Sky turned upright, turned ground, turned upright again-- Ysolie skidded on their feet across the grass. Screaming was the Zu, a thrashing heap atop the cliff. Quickly, Ysolie dashed toward a boulder-- it was wound tightly with chain that was the ending portion of a large bundle. Before the boulder sat the ballista. That Malestrom officer had tried to talk Ysolie into using something else-- anything else-- that wasnt a borrowed tool meant for hunting sharks, made specifically to be mounted to a ship, but Ysolie had to insist on his shutting up instead, and helping her understand how it could work. And this, was the best they came up with. Ysolie fired-- the harpoon bolt shot toward the Zu, which had began to beat its wings, and nailed it quite a deal off target-- which was exactly what the guy had told her would happen-- whatever, Ernaraet, you were right-- Metal jingled then snapped-- the chain pulled taunt-- Oh. It was very off target. Deeply, it was lodged into the Rainbow Zu's abdomen, which was precisely the worst place for it to be. In blind agony, the Zu pulled away from its perceived source of pain, with all the strength it it’s powerful wings, in an unfortunate display of power and success. What followed was an overall mess of blood and thrashing-- entrails and screaming-- combat turned to butchery-- <><><><><><><>>><><><><><><><><>>><><><><><><><>>> 5U- 14thSun "Styrmgiem actually visited today. She found me in a bit of a state. I knew number five had done damage on me but she said infection had settled in. Infection! Da tried to warn me about that but I forgot to drink that potion he made me soon enough. She said it helped but I wasn't doing the smarter thing which was seeing a healer. Even said I should have brought one along. I was hasty and dumb. I just wanted the job done. She fixed me up but now I'm sore and have to wait before getting the last two. Second problem is how to keep these wings from defrosting so much. Crystals and this temperature aren’t agreeing. Actually know a guy that can help with that. If he was real that is. I keep getting lost in the dreams. I can't say for sure if I met him. I’ll go looking. Might take a couple days. How hard can it be to find a corpse freezer in Ul’Dah? Is that a weird question or is it just me? No that’s a weird one too, considering I’m the one writing..." <><><><><><><>>><><><><><><><><>>><><><><><><><>>> Morning sun gleamed off of the blood soaked beak of a Rainbow Zu. Bones crack in its powerful jaws and it tosses its head back, consuming the flesh if its sister. Tilting, head still pointed to the sky, that the eyes might better see--  A dark shape growing in size-- the Zu spread it's wings-- Danger! Once, it beat those powerful wings, before it was flattened to the ground, a searing pain between the shoulders-- screaming in agony, the Zu flailed and thrashed beneath the weight-- this granted lightness. Freed from the burden, the Zu spread its wings once more-- metal jingled sharply-- again a wing became burdened-- but it leapt to fly regardless. Off balance, for the weight was far greater than expected-- the Zu fell to the ground once again-- pain! Not just weight but pain now-- Fearfully, the Zu then turned its head to bite down on whatever held it down-- flee or fight, the Zu needed to fly, to gain the advantage, to survive-- Night fell abruptly after biting-- air became heavy-- panic settled into the sightless breathless Zu. And then the silence fell. And fell. And nothing fell more than the desire to struggle anymore. Ah, the weight was lifted now… the pain was gone... <><><><><><><>>><><><><><><><><>>><><><><><><><>>> 5U-20th Sun "After all that, I can see why three different people said I wasn't being paid enough. It's not entirely about the pay though. The pay is nice but it's about the experience. I've helped some people with this culling and I've gotten to know a marvelous creature! The Zu. Knew nothing about them before now but now? I won’t forget them. This stuff means a lot. It's about helping balance- their presence had thrown things off out there- even the Coeurls were beginning to starve. It's all connected and delicate. Waaaay more than those Gridanians and their tree-kissing make it seem. Well anyway I guess the Coeurls are eating the extra Zu meat now. That’s some kind of poetry.  What I can’t wrap my head around is why the hells this bounty calls for delivering the wings? This has been such a struggle to transport. Good thing I found Tiphane and his cold magic. I don’t like mages that use stuff like that very much. Aether pulling like that always leaves a weird taste in my mouth for days. Best way to describe Tiphane’s magic-flavor is Frosted Basement Cheese. Terrible. He’s a decent man and knows how to make sweets to counteract the inconvenience. I pay him, he pays me, and these wings won’t defrost en-route. Hopefully someone’s making fancy clothing with the feathers or maybe barbecue with the meat? All this writing and it’s not distracting me from my sick. I hate boats. Sea boats or air boats, I get sick every time. Airships are better but so many didn't want to transport this stuff unless I gave them more money than it was worth. Good thing Ernaraet wanted to rub my face in the dirt about the harpoons and he happens to be crew on this particular Airship that is definitely not pirates. He convinced them to transport. I owe him he says and he hasn't specified repayment. That makes me nervous. Vague shit makes me nervous. Guess I'll end up sitting in Kugane a couple of days. There's dango there so it won't be terrible." [<----Previous: Bounty: An Absolute Prick!]                                                                                   [Next---->Bounty: For The Birds!]