[open] if you could only see

[exsoldier]

Who: Zack & YOU, plus some closed prompts!
When: Throughout Aguril
Where: Throughout Aefenglom and the Wilde
What: August catch-all: quests, Zack going feral, red string spell stuff
Warnings: Violence due to going feral

[ prompts are in the comments below! if you want a specific starter for anything, you can pm me or hit me up over at demonology! ]

Comments

[exsoldier]

[ Even though Zack is doing as he said he would and watching the wormipede closely, he can't help but glance back to see what Kor is doing. Where did that dagger come from? Either way, that seems to answer Zack's question about whether or not the kid has been in a fight before. In fact, most people here seem to be used to danger to some degree, for whatever reason. Maybe the magic that brings them here can recognize that in them?

There's not time for questions at the moment, though. The wormipede does somehow pick up on the scent of the seared algae and reacts to it, making an odd noise that's almost like a trill as it starts to scoot closer.

Zack quickly places himself in its path and holds his hands up. ]

Whoa, buddy! Just hold up for a second, all right? He's almost done.

[ Either way, they've accomplished the important thing, which is capturing the massive bug's attention. ]

[spirialink]

Haha! [He couldn't help but chuckle at the wormipede's behavior. Despite being some giant freaky bug thing, it didn't really behave any differently from any other animal, huh?

Finishing up in filling his satchel, he dispels his magic dagger and heads over to join Zack.]

You wanna have the honors?

[He opens the satchel, the scent of that singed algae wafting out.]

[exsoldier]

[ It is kind of interesting to see how even a large bug monster thing can show some typical traits. The noise it made wasn't cute, exactly, but...

With a nod, Zack turns to Kor and starts to reach into his satchel to take some of the algae. Before he can even gather some up in his hands, though, the wormipede is right behind him and attempting to nudge its massive head toward the bag. ]

Hey! I told you to hold up.

[ Zack is bold enough to reach out and give the wormipede's fleshy forehead a shove to push it back. It clicks in frustration but does retreat enough that Zack can turn toward it with some of the algae in his palm. ]

No biting my hand off, okay?

[ Its head lowers and it begins to eat from his hand. The fact that there's no immediate disaster is proof enough that it's been fed like this before, which makes sense. ]

... Kor, you ever ridden a giant bug before?

[ Because if one of them is going to hop on this thing's back, now would be the time -- while it's distracted. ]

[spirialink]

Hmm? No, of course not.

[He leaves it at that for a hot second. Until it clicks in his head what exactly Zack was actually implying there.

And then his eyes grow wide with a huge grin across his face.]

Ahh!

[He's practically glittering with excitement here. No, really, it might actually seem a little brighter in the cave thanks to him right now.]

You think now's a good time?

[He asks that question, but he sure isn't hesitating on inching his way closer to the wormipede and making an attempt to mount it.]

[exsoldier]

[ It's good to see that Kor is excited rather than scared, but what kid his age wouldn't be thrilled at the idea of riding a giant bug like it was a chocobo or something? Zack's almost a little jealous.

At the question, he shrugs and the nods. ] Seems like as good a time as any. While it's distracted. [ The wormipede is still chowing down on the algae in Zack's hands, though there's quickly going to be none left.

Hopefully that doesn't make it angry, but Zack's pretty sure it'll be just fine. The people of the Underground picked out these wormipedes for domestication for a reason, right? They likely had even temperaments.

If anything, it's actually less fussy than a chocobo. Lucky for them!

Once the wormipede's eaten all the algae, Zack takes a few steps back and then wipes his hands off. By this point Kor's managed to climb up at least part of the way. Zack laughs and cheers him on. ]

Hey, nice! You're doing it!

[spirialink]

[By this time, Kor is nearly up there, trying his best to get onto the hydra's wormipede's back. that last stride is the most important though, and also the hardest.

But with Zack cheering him on, he feels determined now. He's going to ride this wormipede!]

That's right! Because I don't just try...!

[With one final push, he manages to hike his leg up and over, landing himself firmly on the wormipede's back!]

I do!

[Having landing on top, he takes the moment to take in his surroundings and enjoy the view from top the wormipede. Which, admittedly, was only a few feet higher than his usual viewpoint. But hey, you take what you can get.]

Hey, check me out, I did it!

[exsoldier]

[ Zack can't help but laugh. This kid is just full of catchphrases, huh? It's not a bad thing, and if anything it reminds him of himself when he was younger. All that talk of being a hero... ]

Perfect.

[ After shooting Kor a thumbs up, Zack turns to look back the way they came. It's a winding path through the tunnels back to the city, but they didn't have to travel too far.

He grabs another handful of algae from the nearest wall, then holds his hand up so that the wormipede can see. ]

All right, big guy. You just follow me.

[ With that, Zack works on luring it in the right direction, toward the Matriarch's city. ]

[spirialink]

[Kor's momentarily startled when the wormipede starts to move. It's a very odd feeling for him, having some creature underneath him move him along instead of his legs doing the work. Sure, he'd likely ridden the powerhogs back home a couple times when he was little, but this thing's a lot bigger than any powerhog!

Still, he can't say he's not enjoying himself, because he sure is. Life's all about experiencing things, after all.]

Easy there, you're doing great, big guy! [He lets out a small laugh, patting the wormipede on the back of its... neck? What he's assuming is its neck, at least.]

[exsoldier]

[ Riding one of these things has to be pretty different from hopping up on the back of a chocobo, for instance, but Kor takes to it pretty well. So long as he isn't scared or apprehensive at all, he won't run the risk of spooking the wormipede.

Assuming they're anything like chocobos, that is. ]

So are you! Let's just keep it up.

[ As they get moving, the wormipede slides its way down the tunnel path with little hesitation -- likely because it's done this before. Having a rider probably also puts it in the right state of mind, so they may as well be home free. ]

[spirialink]

[If there's one thing Kor is good at, it's not letting fears or apprehension get the better of him and stand in the way of doing what he needs to do.]

Say, how far in's the rendezvous point, anyway?

[As fun as it is to be riding this wormipede, he hasn't forgotten they're here on a job.

If only he'd notice that the two of them are being watched.]

[exsoldier]

Shouldn't be too far.

[ The person who'd handed the job out to them had supplied Zack with a hastily-drawn map, which he fishes out of his pocket to check over. He's pretty sure he knows the way already, but it's not a bad idea to double-check.

Except that then his senses pick up on something. Part of it is just SOLDIER instinct, but part of it is his enhancements, giving him that little edge-up on a regular person. They're being followed.

Zack halts, turning around toward Kor and the wormipede and holding up a hand to indicate they should stop. ]

Pretty sure we've got company.

[spirialink]

Huh?

[Kor feels the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He didn't have the SOLDIER's instinct that Zack was "blessed" with, but he was still the finely tuned senses of a warrior. He swings his legs over the wormipede's back and slides down its side to the ground. Once on the ground, he glances around. He could definitely feel something, noticing the gleaming eyes of their predators lurking in the shadows.]

So... How you wanna do this?

[If it was up to Kor, he'd be ready to dive right into action here without worry. But he figures Zack knows his stuff.]

[exsoldier]

[ Instead of panicking, Kor seems to face their current predicament head-on, because as it turns out, they might be in for a fight. When taking the job, Zack had been warned about the bandits that tried to make the tunnels their own and how they might want the wormipedes for themselves.

A pair of the bandits appear from around the bend in the tunnel, brandishing weapons but not outright attacking just yet. Still, it doesn't seem like they're not going to let the bug go without some kind of fight.

When Kor turns to Zack for guidance, he quickly moves to his side. ]

Depends on if they're willing to listen to reason. [ After just a brief pause, Zack clears his throat and then raises his voice to address the bandits. He's not sure they will even understand, but he at least wants to give it a shot. ] Listen! This wormipede belongs to the Matriarch and her people, so back off, all right?