[Closed] I watch the ripples change their size

[spiritwalks]

Who: Vyng spiritwalks and Obi-Wan jedies
What: A lowkey lakeside jaunt
When: Sometime toward the end of April
Where: Salt Lake in Trenchwood

Content Warnings: Listed in subject lines when applicable



[As they make their decent toward the shores of the Salt Lake, Cloudpiercer raises his body upward. With a mighty whoosh! whoosh! whoosh! of his wings to slow down, his talons spread out, and he seamlessly glides into a landing. The transition is as natural and smooth as any wild animal's touch-down onto solid ground. Vyng doesn't "steer" or give any vocal commands, instead trusting the thunderbird to act autonomously.

Once Cloudpiercer settles down and tucks his wings back against his sides, Vyng gently releases the tuft of feathers at the back of his friend's neck.

"Thanks, buddy," he murmurs, sharing his gratitude through their spiritual connection. Cloudpiercer clicks his beak in acknowledgment — fully aware he's doing his druid companion a solid, but glad to help regardless.

Only then does Vyng look back at Obi-Wan with a rakish grin.]

Enjoy the ride?

Comments

[jedies]

Yes, thank you. It's been some time since I've ridden a creature.

[ the last time was on utapau. it feels like years ago. ]

[spiritwalks]

Yeah? [His mouth curls into a teasing grin.] Well, whenever you wanna change that, feel free to let me know.

[Cloudpiercer, meanwhile, is looking forward to getting these grown men off his back. With a quiet trill, he lowers himself closer to the ground. As soon as Vyng slides down and lets his feet sink into the soil, he turns to extend a scarred hand out for Obi-Wan to take.]

[jedies]

[ he lets out a low chuckle as he takes vyng's hand and slides down. ]

I'll keep it in mind.

[ he breathes in the sight. feels the tendrils of life connecting it all, reaching out back to him. ]

How lovely.

[spiritwalks]

[Even beneath the sickly-green of the full moon overhead, the vibrant, pink lake water shimmers like a beacon in the perpetual dark looming across Trenchwood. It reminds him of the daylong nights that stretched all winter in the Frozen North...and the enchanting auroras that danced and swirled through the black skies of his youth.

Vyng's voice is warm when he responds.]

A sight for sore eyes, isn't it.

[jedies]

It certainly is. I can't recall the last time I saw something beautiful.

[ he hadn't really reconnected with nature. the war, coming to deerington and trench hadn't encouraged that side of him. which is a shame. qui-gon would have loved to find these places. to explore.

he feels a brief pang in his heart. even now, he misses his master. ]

[spiritwalks]

[Connecting with nature in a world riddled with blood-lust and corruption isn't exactly intuitive. Usually it means looking for the silver linings wherever you can. Seeking beauty in the most absurd places. And discovering ways in which even the environment's more gruesome aspects sustain life in Trench.

Sometimes, Vyng stumbles across gems like this one.]

It's an amazing meditation spot, too. Communing with the lake itself can be deeply cleansing on a spiritual level, I've found.

[jedies]

[ he hums. ]

How does it feel?

[spiritwalks]

[Vyng closes his eyes for a moment.]

Like...a warm hug for the soul. Motherly, in a way.

[jedies]

[ hmm. ]

Motherly, is it?

[spiritwalks]

Well. Depending on your own life experiences.

[Far be it from Vyng to attach definitive labels onto a lake, of all things.]

"Nurturing" might be a better word.

[jedies]

Nurturing's a good one.

[ he had mothers, among the jedi. numerous ones, who had helped and aided him. one who was closer than most and passed on too soon. ]

[spiritwalks]

[Vyng just had the one. Sometimes she was a literal mama bear who fended off predators with her bare paws. Other times she was a human who simply lived off the land and worked to pass her knowledge on to her child. But no matter what form she took, she always did her best to help him grow — a trait she clearly instilled in him.]

They say the Pthumerian Queen gave birth to Moon Presence here. So some locals do associate this place with motherhood. And...the nurturing parts of parenthood in general, I guess.

[jedies]

[ trench is such a strange place. born out of the endings of deerington, created in dreams and regrets. it doesn't feel real at times, much in the way the town also felt to him. ]

There are places like that in the galaxy. Where pockets of the Force grew strong.

[spiritwalks]

[After confirming with Cloudpiercer that the area is still safe, Vyng drapes an old plaid shawl over a clear spot along the shore's edge. Once their makeshift "picnic blanket" is in place, he lowers himself to the ground, folds his long legs beneath himself...and promptly starts rummaging through his green suede bag.

"Let's see..." he mutters under his breath. Each movement is punctuated with the soft clinking of mason jars (and god knows what else) bumping into one another. "Mm, nope. Nope...not that, either." A pause. "—That's gunpowder. Uhh, we'll just shove that one over here, and..."]

Ah-hah! Yes.

[He raises the newly-found thermos like a trophy and looks up at Obi-Wan.]

Would you like some tea?

[jedies]

[ obi-wan chuckles, sitting upright. he had been looking out into the lake, feeling the rustle of life against his senses. ]

Tea would be lovely, thank you.

[spiritwalks]

[In his other hand, Vyng raises something else: A small flask, the lake's pink light glinting off its metal casing.]

Wanna make it a hot toddy?

[jedies]

Why not, since we're living boldly.

[spiritwalks]

A little liquid bold to liven things up, then.

[Vyng pours a cup of steaming honey-ginger tea...and adds a generous splash of whiskey from the flask, before handing it over.]

Try this.

[jedies]

[ obi-wan takes it politely, having a sip. ]

Oh, that truly is warming.

[spiritwalks]

That's the idea.

[Vyng sits up straighter and, with a dainty slurp, takes a sip of his own tea.

His own pinkie is out...because there's no handle on the cup? Because he's joking around? Hard to tell. He's leaning into the prim-and-proper aspect pretty hard, though — a sharp contrast with the shabby-wool hobo aesthetic he's got going otherwise.]

Heheheh...

[jedies]

[ obi-wan rolls his eyes fondly. ]

Who are you showing off for?

[spiritwalks]

What do you mean? I drink like this everyday.

[Which is...half-true. Normally it's part of a silly bit he does with Tuck, where they both pretend they're rich and living the high life. It's how they first started vibing as friends: Entering an old, fancy chateau and having one-sided conversations with imaginary staff members.]

[jedies]

[ obi-wan hums. ]

I've had tea with you before. This is the first I've seen it.

[spiritwalks]

[He cracks a grin.]

Do I seem like someone who does anything one way?

[jedies]

I think you look like someone who is showing off a little.