one last perimeter check

[siriusly]

Who: Spacetrain Impact (Childe, Diluc, Kaeya, Manabu)
What: a scouting trip, testing some waters!
When: early June
Where: from the Waystation to the edges of Trench's border

Content Warnings: monstery shit, perhaps!!


The timing may not get any better: With the sun back, the weather warming (well, most everywhere except Shiver), and the season stirring a coldblooded thirst for adventure, there's no way Manabu can just sit on his hands any longer. He sends out some messages, packs up his gear and, with Magnet striking out ahead of him, takes the nearest lantern to the Waystation to wait up for the others.

From there? A little further... They'll leave that...nasty, giant mass of...whatever unbothered. It's beyond the border Manabu's interested in exploring, but they gotta make sure it's safe to even get that far.

Still, one step forward is more than none!

Comments

[searingwing]

[His arrival is announced by a sense of someone watching. Forseti his jet black nightmare horse seems to appear out of the shadows with a hooded rider.

Once they get close Diluc pulls his hood back and exposes his bright red hair to those who might be waiting. He gets close enough and dismounts, putting a hand on his horse’s nose.] Let me get my gear then you can go eat.

[The horse tosses his head but there’s the air of something a little too pleased.]

[siriusly]

[Magnet perks up first and barks, prompting Manabu to finally peel his eyes away from the tree line.

he holds up a hand in hello, waiting for Diluc to gather things and mosey his way. Magnet will scamper over to investigate the horse in the meanwhile.]

You're first! [second, technically. but.] Did you bring horses for everybody?

[searingwing]

[Diluc nods and points back the way he came.] I did. They’re just inside the tree line. Forseti is the only nightmare but, horses from the town stable as just as good. Each is loaded with a small set of emergency supplies in case we get separated.

[He removes his pack and Forseti trots off in the other direction.] He’ll be back when I signal. …I’m glad we’re getting the chance to do this. I want to know what’s out here.

[siriusly]

Eh? Eh, really?? [Manabu double-blinks, looking out where the horse is off to, Magnet giving chase.

while rubbing the back of his head:] I was just kinda being funny... [animal-riding, huh...]

[searingwing]

For a venture like this, even using them as pack animals is a good idea. [Diluc says with a brief flicker of amusement in his eyes.] Don’t worry. You’re with a former and current Calvary Captain. We will help you adjust of you wish to ride.

[He lifts an arm and Dellingr appears, ruffling his leathery wings.] Other wise I’ll scout ahead from time to time while we proceed on foot.

[siriusly]

[quickly:] I-I can handle it! I've ridden before! Sort of... [not voluntarily and not for very long, either. BUT IT STILL COUNTS]

Can horses...travel by lantern, too? In case we get in a real pinch...?

[searingwing]

Yes, but I wouldn’t recommend it. [Diluc says as he lifts a hand and a small flame appears on the tip of his finger.] We can use our flames and omens to scout if we need to do that.

But I would suggest if we need a fast escape we use Dellingr and Rime. One is fussier than the other but show Rime affection and treat them like a prince and they will take you anywhere.

[siriusly]

Dellingurr...Rhyme... [he's musing and muttering to himself to put the names to memory when a wild Childe appears--!

quietly to himself, while they're chatting about riding styles:] If they work like the Deerington animals, then it's...probably fine...

[monoceroscaeli]

Now, don't forget about me.

[Childe walks up, clapping a hand on Diluc's shoulder.]

I'd like to know the riding secrets behind the Knights of Favonius Calvary as well.

[He flashes a grin at Diluc- surely, there's nothing suspicious about a Harbinger asking, right?]

[searingwing]

[Diluc snorts as he regards his friend. Technically his best friend now that he thinks about it.]

I wouldn’t dream of leaving you out. Technically, it be less Favonius and more Ragnvindr riding secrets.

[He glances the way Forseti went and says,] Kaeya has his own secrets and mine are refined by traveling Teyvat.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Childe laughs- he can imagine what traveling Teyvat included, but that's all water under the bridge at this point. At least, between the two of them.]

Honestly, it's been a while since I've ridden a horse. Perhaps the last time was when I went to Dragonspine for a work opportunity, but since then...well, you know where I was.

[Since Diluc has been with him almost since he left Teyvat anyway.]

So, needless to say, I'm a little rusty. I wouldn't mind a few pointers to help me get back into the swing of things.

[searingwing]

Why haven’t you ridden a horse here? [He asks but he has a feeling he knows the answer. He has been out beyond the city on patrols and scouting for herbs and the like. But has Childe?] I can show you pointers. …I miss the horses in Deerington. They were incredible and likely spirits but, all the same.

[Again he glances the way the nightmare went.] They weren’t meat eaters.

[It’s downright unsettling. But over time he will get used to Forseti being a predator.]

[monoceroscaeli]

[He laughs nervously- he's not used to horses being meat eaters either, and he's just going to let Diluc handle that. Shrugging, he follows Diluc's eyes, before returning his gaze back to his friend.]

I find my own ways around. I'm not so restricted to having to ride a horse to get from one point to another.

[But that's neither here nor there. He'll have fun riding a horse either way. Of course, he doesn't elaborate on what he means by that.]

Has your Nightmare steed been behaving for you? I still haven't had the chance to see it in action, haha.

[searingwing]

Forseti is like having a companion I have earned the respect of and refuses to leave now I’ve done that. [He turns back to Childe with a sigh. Oh it’s weird.]

I can’t have a conversation on the same level of Dellingr but we have them none the less. It has been a long time since I had that with a horse.

I’m not entirely sure he is just a horse. I suppose we’ll see.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He doesn't say it out loud, but he sort of relates to Forseti in that way...]

I don't think any carnivorous horse is just a horse. Especially ones that act like yours, if it is how I'm imagining it. But, as long as he behaves for you, that's all that matters right now. A companion like that is one who I would definitely want in a battle.

I spoke with Manabu about it earlier, but...I hope this little adventure is a good start to finding those answers we've been seeking together.

[searingwing]

I hope so. I'm getting restless with how little we've found in the city. This is our best lead. [They need to find out more about this world. He isn't in as much of a hurry since the portals but there is an urgency now to explore and go as far as Dellingr's wings will take him.]

I don't want another year to pass without starting to find out what the rest of this world is like. We need to know. Or threats from the outside have the most advance over us.

[monoceroscaeli]

[It sounded like Diluc was just as frustrated as him at the lack of knowledge they were able to obtain since arriving. He's glad he's not the only one.]

Let's make it worth our while then.

[He nods to Diluc, grinning.]

I'm looking forward to finally adventuring, free of work obligations. It's freeing, in a sense. Hah, but anyway. [He waves his hand in dismissal.] Let's go. No use waiting around here.

[unmelting]

[Kaeya is not far behind -- having left his current ride back with the other horses -- and is shaking his head at his thoroughly dramatic partner. Diluc and the nightmare, like something out of a fairytale.

Like he's one to take, if the regal white peacock strutting behind him is any indication.]

It's been a while since we've taken on a proper expedition. It will be nice to shake off the rust.

[searingwing]

Yes, it would. This is what we are trained for and I can’t deny I feel a need to flex every bit of that training. [Diluc says as he offers his arm. For either man or peacock is hard to say.]

I always preferred the wilderness to cities. Remember how the other trainees were about camping? They didn’t even know how to do it.

[He smiles just a bit. More amused than mocking. They had spent summer after summer learning camping and the like.]

[unmelting]

[Rime is the one to take him up on the arm -- a quick flap of wings and the peacock alights on Diluc's shoulder and settles himself in, reaching up to preen at Diluc's hair in greeting.

Kaeya just laughs.] I remember. And everyone so surprised that young Master Ragnvindr of all people was so comfortable roughing it.

[They were good times, and Kaeya doesn't bother hiding the fond smile on his face for once. No sense trying to mask around Diluc; the other knows him too well, and has full access to his thoughts.]

[searingwing]

[He strokes his hand down Rime's back and thinks again of the saddles packed away in Forseti's saddle bags. He sets about unloading supplies from said horse.] They should have known better. We live outside the city.

We always have. [But he sobers a little.] I'll need your help drawing accurate maps. You were so helpful for Lumine when you sent her seeking your grandfather's treasure.

[There's a spark in his eyes. Yes, he not only heard about that but kept an eye on the situation.]

[unmelting]

[Rime squawks a quiet, happy sound at the attention as Kaeya nods. That's right. Diluc's family had long lived in the land of the winery, outside the city proper. And as children, he and Diluc and run those nearby hills under the warm sunshine. It's enough to have him feeling nostalgic.]

Ah... [He half chokes before dissolving into a laugh.] So you heard about that. She was very helpful in trying to recover my family's legacy. [Or, well, putting up with his bullshit. Probably that.]