Like a bird upon the wind, these waters are my sky

[berriedmemories]

WHO: Noctis and.... anyone near the water!
WHAT: Fishing!
WHERE: On the banks of the creek
WHEN: Early fall
WARNINGS: Check subject lines

SUMMARY: Noctis has one goal in life: to Fish. Luckily it's something really helpful he can do! Come help?

I. So don't you sit upon the shoreline

Noctis swiftly develops a routine, something that is possibly unexpected from those who know him. Staying up all night is a lot less fun when there's no technology, only terrible light given by candles that they have to make to replace. It's awful and maddening and Noctis has never been one for early mornings.

Yet, after those first few days of depression napping, he becomes a regular occupant of the riverbank just North of Town. In the grey pre-dawn hours it's easy to see the small lantern hung from a branch near the water and a sleepy figure sitting in the grass, already casting a line into the dark waters. By the time the sun is properly coming up, though, he's a little more alert, has a few fish already in a bucket, and will give a lazy sort of two fingered wave to anyone passing nearby.

II. Chose to chance the rapids

By the time midday rolls around Noctis' rod has been propped up by a small branch for support, a small bell looped onto the very tip of the rod. The boy himself is slouched back under the tree, baseball cap pulled low over his face, dozing through the late morning when the fish are less active. He's still vaguely aware, he's not foolish enough to fully fall asleep where anyone (or anything) could come up on him. The first round of fish have long since been hauled to the market, trout offered up to be currency for whatever else Ignis needs.

Really it's, if nothing else, a way to be useful here. He has no idea what else to do. No other skills that are all that marketable. Aside from fighting but his style of combat isn't the sort of thing one employs going after a deer or something. They're used to fighting anaks and sabertusks, much more vicious pack critters or absurdly large magic infused beasts. Especially when he can't warp anymore? No way he's tracking down a deer with his sword.

So here he sits, drifting off, waiting for another bite that's unlikely to come any time soon. Half asleep and bored out of his mind.

Comments

I

[hasitsthorns]

When Rosie can't sleep, she does something that always soothes her regardless: sing. She's taken to walking along the river that runs through Town and beyond during the early morning hours of sleepless nights. "Breathe, breathe in the air. Don't be afraid to care. Leave, but don't leave me. Look around and choose your own ground..." Today, she's headed north and isn't anticipating to come across anyone else in her wandering.

"For long you live and high you fly and smiles you'll give and tears you'll cry and all you touch and all you see is all your life will ever b-" The quiet tune cuts short as she catches sight of that lantern light. Curious, the blond wanders in that direction but keeps silent so as to not disturb the early morning fisherman or his catches more than she might have already.

But he waves and so she gives one back in the form of a small raise of her own hand. "Sorry," she apologizes, in hushed tones. "I didn't think anyone else would be out here this early."

[berriedmemories]

When he first hears the melody he can't help being suspicious. It's not the giggling of pixies but he's close enough to fae territory that it puts him on edge. But, gradually, he relaxes when he sees it's just a random girl. The wave is offered before he really has time to register the lyrics.

But as she quiets and approaches he can't help the way his thoughts turn to Lunafreya. To what Ravus had told him of how brilliantly she stood her ground and all the many lives she touched and-

He has to clear his throat before he answers her, voice hushed in turn though not because of any concern for the fish, not really. "Wish I weren't but-" A roll of his eyes and a sigh. "Fish are assholes."

[hasitsthorns]

Although her penchant for pranks and mischief might make her more akin to pixies than people sometimes, she's not out for kicks this morning. The blonde's far too tired for that, for one. For another, she couldn't trick such an unassuming kid just going about his business. Tease, sure, but not actually upset. Not intentionally, anyway!

"You know," she says, settling in to sit down on the dewy morning grass, "I've heard that. One of my friends back home was a boat captain and he fished early a lot too." She didn't mind setting sail with him but only because due to what he was she knew they'd always be safe. The sea tends to listen to its related deities. Or, well- Deity-born beings, she guesses, in his case.

"You have my respect though. I don't have the patience." For a lot of things, but especially fishing.

[berriedmemories]

"Yeah? That's cool. Get to spend every day on the water." He sighs wistfully and in the early morning chill he can't help longing for the warmth of Galdin Quay again. The excitement they'd all had to get on the boat, to head out to Altissia... it feels like a lifetime ago even though it's barely been a week.

"My friend is a really good cook. It's so worth it to see what he does with 'em." A glance out over the water and he takes a moment to twitch the rod a couple of times but nothing seems willing to take the bait just yet. "I worked in a sushi place for awhile too so I can kinda do that? I was never the chef or anything but I'm decent with a knife."

[hasitsthorns]

"Yeah! Sometimes, I think, he could get a little lonely but... That's why I always tried to greet him when he returned if I could." Sometimes, she wasn't able to due to work or other obligations. Sometimes, she thinks it was just Charlie being a little jealous and barring her from going to the bay to meet with Misto. The woman wishes she didn't like that idea, but- She did. Does? Just a little.

"Sushi's one of the few things I can make, too! Rice doesn't seem to be as in supply here though as home. Maybe I'll have to teach them how to grow it so we can have sushi again." All the other ingredients were there! She did wonder though if it was just here rice might not be as readily available. Maybe she could barter for some? Ugh, so much effort just to get decent food.

"I also miss instant ramen more than I ever thought I would already too."