7.) [video.]

[ijustlivehere]

 

[Observe a very pleased-looking Neil in Lord-of-the-Rings-style garb, waving at the camera before clasping his hands in front of him in a way that he hopes looks dignified.
Today we commemorate the occasion of my birth, occurring on this day some twenty-and-two years ago, or thereabouts.
[He clears his throat.]
As celebration, I am of a mind to search out and take on a dire wolf pup of my own. Together, the two of us will surely be able to retrieve the prize of the day.
All those who would accompany me and offer your services to my cause, I should be glad of your company.
...Oh. And since I've no wish of my own, let the reward go to he or she whom I name bravest warrior in the party.

[ooc: OPEN ACTION, Y'ALL. In brief translation: It's Neil's birthday, and this is effectively a call to arms by a giddy idiot who basically sees this whole thing as LARPing, only more legit! And yes, Neil did indeed have that outfit sitting in his closet. Might be better if you just... don't ask.]

Comments

[totallyinaband]

If by 'ranger' you mean 'I have actually gone hiking before' then yeah, sure.

Watch yourself, man.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Right, right.

[The best way to ignore embarrassment is to keep going, obviously, so Neil does that-- a measure more slowly and carefully this time.]

'S far as classes go, if you're a ranger, I'm probably a Paladin.

[HAHA, YEAH RIGHT. But anyway. After a while the terrain levels out and the path becomes broader again. There is, however, still nothing more than light frost on the ground.]

So uh, down means water. Which way do we go if we wanna go where it's colder?

[totallyinaband]

North, usually. Unless whatever this place is is in the southern hemisphere.

[Stephen glances to where the sun is, trying to work out which direction they're moving in. Suddenly, his head snaps around.]

Dude, did you see that!?

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Neil looks at him, wide-eyed.]

I definitely heard something.

[totallyinaband]

[Stephen stares into the forest, eyes narrowed. He definitely saw something. A distinct flash of white in all the brown and green foliage. And there it is again. Stephen grabs Neil and points.]

Dude! There's totally something moving around in there!

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Neil cranes his neck forward and squints. Yeah, there's definitely something, but Neil doesn't get a good enough look to determine what.]

That's... too big to be a puppy.

[But he's interested enough to abandon the task at hand for now, so he inches forward.]

[totallyinaband]

[Whatever it is, it's moving closer to them, slowly. It's large, judging by the sound it's making on the foliage underfoot. A large thatch of trees is blocking their view, so they only see a few flashes of white, until - they are greeted with the friendly-looking face of a large, white unicorn.]

Uh, hi?

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Whoaaaa. Dude.

[Neil is kind of freaking out. Which is not doing much, because the unicorn seems decidedly focused on Stephen.]

...I think this is a good omen, or something?

[totallyinaband]

[The unicorn starts nudging Stephen with it's nose, whinnying in a decidedly happy tone. Stephen is just trying to keep his hands out of the way.]

Uh, what's it doing?

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Neil lets out one surprised bust of laughter, then covers his mouth and steps back to watch.]

Dude, I think it likes you!

[totallyinaband]

[There is a rustle of leaves, and a second unicorn emerges from the foliage. This one heads towards Neil. He noses him a few times, snorting with interest. Then moves over to Stephen and joins the first one in trying to cover every bit of him with unicorn breath.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Aw, come on!

[Neil reaches out to see if he can get it to come back, but before he can make any progress, two more unicorns wander onto the path and able towards Stephen, joining the others in nosing against him.]

[totallyinaband]

Okay, seriously?

[Stephen hoists his backpack and starts trekking further down the path. The unicorns follow him, trotting along happily and alternatively nuzzling him or trying to nip playfully at his sleeves.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Neil isn't even trying not to laugh anymore.] Oh my god, this is weirder than the dinosaur thing!

[He follows, having to look and step around unicorns to try to stay with Stephen. They are a party, after all.]

Hey, uh, is this way north?

[totallyinaband]

I don't even know anymore!

[By this time there are about eight unicorns surrounding them. A few of the stranglers have taken a cursory interest in Neil and are trotting beside him begrudgingly.]

Maybe if we go off the path we can shake them.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Off the path? Is that safe?

[But one of the unicorns nearly steps on Neil's foot right now, so the comparative safety suddenly seems like less of an issue.]

...Uh, okay, yeah. Let's try that.

[am-i-being-rude.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor is failing so hardcore at actually staying back, but he isn't in front of Neil. Probably a few feet behind, peering into the area around them.]

Why would there be puppies in the forest anyway?

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

The dire wolves of yore once roamed this land freely, but today they are confined to the forests, far from the eyes of men who would have their furs for clothing.

[His voice is full of contempt for anyone who would dare to kill one.]

[am-i-being-rude.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor nods ones, taking that in but feeling that within the context of their... characters, silence is a better remark. Even if he is mildly confused about puppies = dire wolves.]

There's something... Over there. Do you see it? S'white.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Sometimes dire wolves are white! Like, albino ones. Which way did it go?

[am-i-being-rude.livejournal.com]

I think... over here...

[He gets close to investigate a... specific nondescript part of the brush around them and probably nearly trips over himself trying to leap backwards when it comes out all friendlylike.]

Nnaugh! [Approximately.]

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

Oh. Th-that's... not a wolf.

[Neil is so observant.]

[am-i-being-rude.livejournal.com]

[He'd honestly rather it was. Or the puppies. He doesn't like unicorns.]

I'm running into these like I'm making up for lost time. Can you... come distract it.

[illgrowoutofit.livejournal.com]

[Neil definitely isn't one to deny this request, so he steps in front of the unicorn and waves his arms awkwardly.]

Hey, uhmm! You! Dude. Unicorn dude...? Look over here, okay?

lmao, 'look at me, I'm a distraction!'

[am-i-being-rude.livejournal.com]

[The unicorn only seems mildly interested in either, but gets more curious about Neil and his spectacular arms.]

That's a... unicorn. Just a plain unicorn? It doesn't look like an Augean or anything. [If it's investigated then it isn't worrisome anymore.] From the side it looks quite ordinary.