abraxaslogs | catch-all — take a sad song and make it better ;

Entry tags:

catch-all — take a sad song and make it better ;

Who: rocket and you
When: post-august event
Where: solvunn settlements, the horizon
What: a day in the life (and also building his horizon)
Warnings: none so far but will warn if they come up!

my schemes are just like all my dreams — solvunn ;

[ It's just another day in the commune, and in his newly mended and much better fitting robes (with pockets!), Rocket makes the rounds. Not that he makes a point of it at all, or says anything, or even thinks about it but he's taken to helping the locals whenever he sees an opportunity: mostly simple stuff like mending fences and roofs, fixing up tools, and then there's the odd wrangling of a goat.

Because, yeah. After his confrontation with some weird too-many-armed creature in defense of the goats, he's been keeping an eye on them a little. Every now and again. Just because.

Throughout the day(s) he can be found:

i) Mending said fences, just knee-deep in manual labour and looking surprisingly content while doing it. It's not just busy work (even thought it kinda is) but there's a surprising kind of productive feeling to the act. Maybe even something like ... fulfillment. But like hell is he ever gonna admit such a thing. Gross.

ii) Later, he might be found at one of the nearby little drinking holes, taking a local up on their offer for a free meal for helping them with a task (this time it was fixing a roof). If he recognizes you, he'll nod his head, which is essentially your cue to join him if you want. ]

Eh. Anything you want, it's on me. They owe me like twenty more of these things just today.

[ iii) And finally, at the end of the day Rocket will be making his way back to the treehouse near the Black Eye Lakes. He pauses as the sun sets to lift his head towards the bright orange skies and watch them for just a little bit.

To no one in particular (though clearly within earshot of you): ]

Well, I guess it's not all bad here.

here am i floating 'round my tin can — the horizon ;

[ Rocket's experience with the Horizon is still a little new and will take a little practice, but following his last visit there with Vash, in which there had been a lot of empty barren land and not much else, he decides that it's finally time to get to work on his own space.

He doesn't take up a whole lot of that space because being ruler of a planet or a kingdom or even grounded land has never been Rocket's ambition. Instead, it's a metal platform that he's currently working on, which stands beneath a system of control panels and steering systems that have already been installed, lights glowing through the motherboard. It looks like it's the kind of thing that will take a hell of a lot of work, and it'll be slow in its progress, but it's precise and it's exactly the way that Rocket wants it.

It's the starts of a spaceship. ]

Yeah. [ He makes a sweeping gesture with his free claw, while the other readjusts his goggles. There's a small shiny little symbol to signify the Chariot emblazoned on the side.

He points to the box of tools to the side, perfectly sized to him and looking already worn and well-loved. ] Yeah, that thing. Can you pass it over?

and oh, it's never quite as it seems — wildcard ;

[ feel free to leave your own starter below in any such fashion you wish if the above don't quite work for you! i'm down to party with anything and reach out to me via plurk/PM/discord to hash out any details! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Oh, she'll definitely be asking all of the questions. It's up for debate whether or not asking a multitude of questions is the best play right now to diffuse the situation or create more havoc.

Not that havoc needs anymore assistance. Mogwry at least seems to listen to Hilda and reaches for the correct tool this time. But then Rocket has his own (rightful) outburst which of course the moogle isn't going to take sitting down. Hilda can read someone winding up to throw something a mile away and that still applies to small creatures like Mogwry. ]

Try it, kupo! I'll sock you right -

[ Hilda immediately grabs a hold of Mogwry, placing a hand over the moogle's mouth and pries the tool from him before he has a chance to throw it. Once that's safely out of his paw and into Rocket's, Hilda plants Mogwry firmly in her lap. She has now acquired a furious, huffy moogle. At least he's not throwing or yelling things (for now), right? Is this how parents feel with small children? ]

So is this going to look like a spaceship from home? Or is this one that you're building from scratch with that brilliant mind of yours?

[ The smug little shit-eating grin that crosses Rocket's features shouldn't be hard to miss as he stares directly into Mogwry's stupid little annoying face — and then he's taking his proper tool and settles back to work.

Like nothing ever happened.

Because Rocket won. 😌 ]

Both, I guess.

[ He turns his head to glance back over at Hilda. ] I — uh. Always wanted to build ships, bigger and better than the ones I've flown.

[ He'll take the best of what he remembers, and then improve on the rest of it, and one day he'll take everything he learns here and build a spaceship for real. ]

[ Hilda has really yet to see a shit-eating grin on Rocket's face before this moment, but she's seen it enough times on others (and herself) to know that there's probably some deep level of satisfaction running through that tiny body of his. It's hard not to smile at Mogwry's expense - but there's definitely the hints of it in her eyes if Rocket looks closely enough.

Thankfully Mogwry can't see it and continues to struggle for a short time in Hilda's grasp until he droops a little bit, tired from the exertion. ]

You've never built one before? [ There's surprise in her voice. ] I thought that you would have at least once or twice with how quickly you're putting everything together.

[ Everyone has to start somewhere though, right? ]

What's the one thing you've always wanted on a spaceship? And is it spray bottles to hunt down giant bees in space?

Edited 2023-09-19 20:35 (UTC)

[ Oh, yeah. It encourages him to be the little brat that he is, too. So — thank you for that, Hilda. You're the best.

And, Mogwry? Screw you. ]

I've worked on other ships. Made ships better. [ It feels like a kind of distinction he needs to make, even though it doesn't really matter in the long run, does it? He could say whatever the hell he wants and no one would think to question it.

Still. ] But I ain't ever made a ship like this from nothing.

[ Yeah. There's a special kind of satisfaction that comes from building something from the ground up and he wants to voice that aloud.

He chuckles now though, thinking back on their first meeting. ]

Freakin' bees. [ He sighs. ] Every ship I've ever been on lacked the right kind of weaponry and defense mechanisms. Maybe I don't need 'em here but I'm gonna build every last thing I've been thinking of into this.

[ He pauses. ]

And maybe a real observation deck.

[ Only the best for her bestie.

And scratches it seems for even the brattiest of moogles. While Rocket talks her finger absently gives Mogwry's head a little scratch which is immediately rewarded with an unintelligible grumble. Rocket is right of course; Hilda doesn't know anything about ships, especially not the sort that can fly through the skies faster than any wyvern could but she doesn't particularly mind.

Hilda is well aware of the knowledge that she lacks, but she doesn't think for a moment that Rocket is lying to her. There's no reason for her to, especially when she can hear the pride in his voice that comes from saying a goal aloud. She can relate in a very distant sort of way. Making her jewelry from scratch, making a sword from scratch for the first time had felt a lot like what Rocket's voice sounds like. ]

I can't wait to see it when it's done. Weapons and defence systems and all.

[ Her head tilts curiously at the last part. ]

Is that what it's supposed to sound like? Or do you just go up there to make observations?

[ For now Rocket moves over to another part of the controls, making some minor adjustments, the sort he can literally do with his eyes closed if he wants to. It helps to ... keep himself busy, and to keep working on his ship, while also maintaining a conversation, now that Hilda's more or less got him going. ]

It's a proper hole in a ship, made for looking at the stars. Staring at the controls is nice and all, but sometimes it's nice to, y'know, park the ship and just ... look at the stuff all around you.

[ The endless sky. ]

So — yeah. [ Anyway. ] A deck to make observations. A deck to observe. Take your pick, I think you'll like it. Most people do.

[ The unsaid invitation is there for her, though. Open and everything. ]

[ She hears that subtle invitation and it brings her no small amount of joy. It starts like a twinkle in her eyes catching like kindling across the rest of her face. An offer like that is genuine and it means the world to her that he seems to think she's worthy of an invitation. ]

Staring at the controls feels like it would take more brain power so I think that the observation deck sounds much more like my speed.

[ Waffle gives a big snort in his sleep making her glance over. It brings a thought to mind. ]

Have you ever flown in something that isn't a ship?

[ Don't get soppy, Hilda!!!!! Rocket literally wouldn't know what to do with that kind of emotional reaction (aside from retaliating with being a little jerk again). ]

Yeah. Nothing but a healthy appreciation for big, wide, endless space is all it takes to enjoy the observation deck. That won't be for a little while though. Gotta build all this stuff first.

[ To her question he frowns; the thought has likely never even crossed his mind. ]

You mean aside from flying with a jetpack? [ Which he has, with great delight. ] What other kind of thing can you fly?

[ Mmm too late. ...Except getting sappy would ruin her makeup and even if they're in the Horizon she hates crying (real) tears. Here, have some playful sass to diffuse the mildly tender moment. ]

A wyvern, obviously.

[ And at that she motions towards Waffle who is looking a little less than majestic right now. He's since rolled over onto his back, splayed out beneath them, belly up and warming himself in the sun. Unfortunately the hand she used to motion towards Waffle was also the one placed over Mogwry's mouth. Despite looking like he was snoozing, apparently he was just trying to feign the appearance of sleep. ...Or biding his time until he could find the opportune moment to begin chirping again. ]

That shoulda been the most obvious thing in the world, fur brain!

[ Appalled, Hilda immediately clamps a hand down over Mogwry's mouth. In an attempt to rush right past that and any possible retaliation, she follows up with - ]

That's the only way we can fly in Fodlan. What's a jetpack? [ The second word is obviously some kind of backpack worn on your back but what a jet is beyond her. ] Is it similar to a helicopter? I think that's what they're called right?

[ Reno had only ever talked about the flying machine in passing. They hadn't really had time to go up and take a closer look because a Demonic Beast had come in and abruptly put an end to that. ]

[ Phew! Thank goodness for the sass. ]

Huh. So that's what that thing is? Doesn't exactly look like it's ready for passengers —

[ Oh, come on.

Eyes go straight from Hilda to the tiny bundle of attitude, and boy Rocket could pick those little wings off of its back if he wanted to. ]

Are you frickin' kidding me right now? You think I can't blast you into a million pieces right now, you little shit?

[ And with no one to put a hand over his mouth, he really could keep going but Hilda ... sweet Hilda ... quickly interjects with another question. ]

Yeah. [ Slightly distracted, he has to get back on track to the original topic of conversation before his mild rage blackout there. ] It's like having a couple of rockets strapped to your back, only you get a little more control over how you fly and how fast you fly. And they ain't limitless either. After a while, depending on how they're made, the fuel could run out.

[ An eyebrow arches when he refers to Waffle as 'a thing' - that's her son he's talking about! Then again, there's probably no ill intent behind it. Before she can go on to explain that Waffle isn't a thing however, Rocket's (rightful) anger towards Mogwry's outburst makes itself known.

It's not that she condones vaporizing Mogwry into a million pieces because she definitely didn't want any actual harm to come to the moogle, but he was certainly making it difficult for her to be on his side and vouch for him when he was being so rude. She was going to have some very choice words for Mogwry the moment they left here.

The thought of plummeting out the sky thankfully nudges her away from Mogwry threatening to embarrass her in front of her friend. Her eyes widen. ]

But running out would mean you would just fall, wouldn't you? That's horrifying!

[ With the hand not clamped securely around Mogwry's mouth she motions briefly to Waffle. ]

At least with a wyvern or a mount that's not really something you have to worry about. I mean, as long as they've slept and no one is trying to put them to sleep either.

[ Or you know, shoot them down. ]

Mmhm. [ Oh-so-matter-of-factly.

Rocket's never had to worry about that so far, mostly because he'd built his own set with a set of long-lasting fuel cells and it wasn't often that he'd be away from a perch-point for too long. It helps to have some kind of a loose game-plan.

Man, he misses his jetpack. ] So, you know, it's good to keep track of how far you're going and how high.

But it's not unlike the energy stores of your wyvern, when it comes down to it. Just that a jetpack doesn't have a pulse.

I feel like I'd rather trust my wyvern than a jetpack. What if your attention is on other things going on that you forget about the fuel level?

[ It's not like she distrusts technology. The technology in the Free Cities is far and above anything that they've got in Fodlan and the wonders of science and innovation has indulged the lazy side of her more times than she can count. She knows that there's more advanced technology out there though (and elevator for example? She'd never take the stairs again if she had the choice) - case in point, Rocket. If not for him would she ever have gotten this up close and personal (or as up close and personal as you can when it comes to magic and imaginary) with a spaceship otherwise?

Her skepticism, if she can even call it that, has more to do with feeling like there's comfort in knowing that she's learned how to read Waffle to the point where he becomes an extension of her on the battlefield. Well, that and Waffle has no problem telling her that he doesn't want to do something anymore. He really does take after her in a lot of ways. ]

Hey - would you want to try and fly Waffle? I'm sure it's not as fun as having a jetpack, but it's probably a lot less tiring.

[ How exactly she doesn't know but she's really trying to entice him here. ]

Eh. [ Rocket shrugs.

It really is neither here nor there for him, because he'd always go for some well-working tech over any creature whose life is just too freakin' fragile to take any chances on. ]

What if your attention is on other things and you keep leading buddy-boy over there too far from someplace to land? At least I know I can trust the things I make, 'cause I've made 'em.

[ And no, it's got nothing to do with him knowing he can fix some tech that breaks down, but he can't fix something fleshy and alive that's gone.

But in the midst of getting back to his work, Rocket does look back to Hilda. And then to the wyvern snoozing in the corner, and then to Hilda again. She really is trying, so he'll ... be nice. Or whatever. ]

Well, I guess it couldn't hurt.

Well it's not like we have very many options where I come from. It's not like I have a Rocket in my world, do I?

[ It's part protest, part explanation. How else was she going to ever fly unless someone in Fodlan figured out how to make the equivalent of a spaceship or a jetpack? Well, that and she'd have to survive through a war. And she's already well aware that she doesn't in one timeline. She shakes the thought away.

When Rocket (begrudgingly) agrees however a grin lights up her face. ]

Really? [ There's a muffled "kupo!" from Mogwry as she squeezes him a little too tightly in excitement. She's quick to readjust her grip so the little creature can move. ] We could go right now. Or we could wait. I know you're in the middle of something. It's not like Waffle is going anywhere in the Horizon. And then maybe next time I could try one of your jetpacks?

Yeah. I guess you got a point.

[ He's the only one of his kind and he knows this, and even often flaunts the fact in order to mask all of the stupid insecurities he otherwise has, so obviously Hilda's world won't have a Rocket.

He wouldn't want to curse this kind of an existence on anything out there in any world.

Now he narrows his eyes at the stupid little moogle, but returns to a more neutral, perfectly friendly expression when he shifts his gaze back to Hilda. The shift can really only be described as petulant brattiness, like a child making a really stupid point. ]

Sure. Why not? [ He sets his tools down and shrugs. ] Yeah, let's go now. This stuff can wait.

And next time you absolutely should try a jetpack. I'll have 'em ready for us.

[ Of course, Hilda has no way of knowing that he's the only one of his kind. She had been referring to the fact that he was brilliant and could, at least in her mind, cobble anything together into something working.

The petulant child energy channeled into that brief look Rocket gives Mogwry doesn't escape her. But from one petulant child to another, she understands. Particularly with the source of his ire happens to be the bundle of fur in her arms. She doesn't even have to look down to confirm that said moogle is glaring furiously right back. Goddess, Reno’s “gift” is turning out to be more of a pain in the ass.

None of that matters though. Not when Rocket had agreed to come for a ride. Hilda's face blooms into an exuberant smile and she's quickly to stand up, holding out a hand to Rocket. Waffle stirs as if sensing that they're about to depart. His wings stretch, soft light making the thin skin between his bones look like tissue in the light. ]

We could also try and race them too. What do you think?

[ Yeah. Rocket's just gonna very deliberately ignore Mogwry now, because he's hoping that'll piss the little fucker off even more, and that's enjoyable to him in this moment.

Well. That and, maybe, the prospect of flying something that isn't a machine may also be exciting too, because he's never done that before and it's ... you know. A new experience. Being in Abraxas sure is chockful of new experiences, isn't it?

And to her question: ]

Yeah, sure. I'll make sure they're good for that too.

[ He'll ... take her hand because she's offered it, and there's something about this moment that feels like he shouldn't refuse. ]

[ Mogwry may be mouthy but full of brain cells he is not. If the vigorous motions of Mogwry's restrained arms are any indication to Hilda, the moogle is probably attempting to give Rocket a rather rude hand gesture. In other instances she might have been willing to let him because sometimes stirring the pot is exactly the sort of thing a girl needs to brighten up their day - but that's what the flying is for. And frankly, she'd prefer to avoid Mogwry and Rocket wrestling themselves off of Waffle and plummeting into the sky.

When Rocket slips his hand into hers, her smile brightens that much more as she helps hop down the platform towards the awaiting wyvern. Getting Mogwry up is the first course of action. Just as she lifts him however she gives him a stern look that very clearly warns him to be on his best behaviour. It's met with a stubborn silence that she takes as agreement and finally relinquishes her grasp on him. Mogwry's little wings flutter up to his appointed spot and at that point it's Rocket's turn. He'd probably be able to scramble up but she motions for him to go first anyway. ]

Since you're smaller it might be easier if you sit in front of me.

Yeah, sure.

[ Rocket nods.

Well, she's not wrong. Truth of the matter is, no matter how big and bulky and Drax-sized he sometimes wishes he was because it'd be easier to do a lot of things in a world not meant for creatures his size, he's not. And that's fine.

This isn't his first time climbing atop a creature much larger than him, but it still feels different. Maybe because this isn't Groot, and (or) he also isn't aiming to ... uh. Kill. Going on a joyride with a friend in a make-belief mind-world is gonna feel different, there's no other way around it.

So he hops up, finding purchase over scales and using them to climb up and onto the wyvern's back. Well, he can certainly see everything he'd been working on up till now from this vantage point.

(And uh ... it isn't much.) ]

[ Waffle and Groot are at least similar in some ways; Hilda had climbed atop Waffle plenty of times to kill. Thankfully that isn't what they're going to do here (ruling out murdering the mouthy moogle).

Hilda follows after Rocket, settling into the seat behind him, admiring everything he's done so far. While he might not think that he hasn't accomplished much, she certainly does. Of course, having no frame of reference, she can't know that. But if it's anything as large as a sailing ship back home then of course it would stand to reason that these things would take time.

Reaching around him and Mogwry for the reins, Hilda braces her thighs against Waffle's saddle. The wyvern's muscles shift beneath them and Mogwry is quick to slide his goggles into place. And without much notice at all - ]

Ready? Hold tight!

[ Ready or not, Waffle launches them into the air and takes off at a breakneck speed - much to Hilda's delight if the laughter is anything to go off of. ]

[ The brief stomach-clenching woosh of a large winged creature suddenly taking flight is still enough to send a thrill through Rocket. Sliding his own goggles back down over his eyes, he keeps himself rooted in place while they're lurched up into the sky on Hilda's command.

And it. is. awesome.

An enthusiastic — ]

— whoa!

[ — slips past his snout before he can quell it and pretend he's above being excited about soaring up, and up. ]

Hell, yeah!

[ Rocket's joy is infectious and everything Hilda hoped when she had suggested the idea to take Waffle for a ride.

Her smile grows, practically splitting her face with joy. Rocket's excitement is enough of a signal for her to keep urging them on. Her thighs tighten around the saddle. It's all the prompt that the wyvern needs to put on another burst of speed.

Domains blur beneath them as they race overhead. The wind bites at her cheeks and tangles her hair in a way that she had grown to enjoy over her years of learning how to ride. Both are a small price to pay for the exhilaration of rocketing through the sky thousands of feet above the ground. It feels silly that she had been so frightened about the flying and wyverns before. Nothing else can compare to this feeling.

Eventually Hilda brings them back around to their spot above his spaceship, Waffle's wings beating as he keeps them suspended in the air. Leaning from behind him, he'll be able to hear the grin in her voice. ]

Well, what do you think? Is it as fun as a jetpack?

[ The feel of the air blowing past and through his fur is something he's never really been able to experience flying spaceships — for very obvious reasons. Motorbikes and land-vehicles of similar construction don't feel the same either; they're not in the air, for one thing. The jetpack ... well, yeah, it's the closest it comes to the feeling, and he misses it something bad, but even he isn't above admitting (to himself) that this still hits different.

It takes Rocket a moment to come down from the (literal) high, and then to school his expression back into its usual nonchalance, for coolness-sake. And despite his best efforts, it's almost too easy to see the brightness still locked in his eyes because make-belief or not, it's not a memory he's gonna forget for a while. Might even be a feeling he tries to recreate in his own inventions from now on. ]

Enh. It was okay.

[ They're lies. They're all lies. ]

[ From where she sits, Hilda isn't able to easily see how Rocket folds the exuberant thrill he'd had up in the sky back under his normally cool facade. She makes no effort to hide her own knowing grin - not from her face and certainly not from her voice. ]

Just okay, huh?

[ She doesn't believe him one bit.

Silently she signals Waffle to descend and land. She slips off, leaving Mogwry on the saddle before turning around to see if Rocket will need help down too. If it was normally a bit of a drop for her, it'll be more of one for him. It's only when both of their feet are planted on solid ground again that she hums. ]

I was going to say that you could feel free to come by the aerie in my domain any time you want to take Waffle out to fly. But since it was only okay...

catch-all — take a sad song and make it better ;

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no worries if this is way too crusty to tag back! feel free to ignore!

you can pry them from my cold dead hands!!!

ilu 🥹

ILU MORE

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are we okay to wrap soon? 💕

wrapped! 🎀