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Post by Twilight-Claw on Aug 31, 2024 14:34:52 GMT -6
With Royale swishing her tail to experiment with the sound she makes with the gold bells and chuffing at it, she leaves momentarily to check and see where the equipment she brought along is left, needing a worker to lead her to the closet it got to be stored into. Thanking them, she picks up the poles and jump rails that she will be needing for her entry.
Settling the equipment on the ground near the entrance of the contest ring (but certainly well away from the opening that it could impede an mount from exiting the ring, she starts watching behind the stage how one of the contester’s makes a dazzling performance with their mount. She claps just as cheerfully as any of the audience, and hope’s her and Royale’s performance will be just as well received. She knows her Dash-claw isn’t as well trained as she usually brings along, but feels like it would be enough to get at least some points. And as far as she remembers, she never saw a robot perform before, well… A three-quarter robot in the case of Royale, but the point still stands.
When the show ring is cleared of any objects the previous contester used, she heads in with her own equipment. Setting it up so that there are two horse jump rail obstacles, each on opposite sides with one pole on it that Royale will have to jump at least a fifty five inches high over it, and two poles in the middle on opposite sides as well. If one would think of the judges sitting at the north, then they will have one pole close to them there, another at the south, and the jump rails at the west and east side of the show ring. She wants to keep it simple, so this is what she will do.
Grinning, she leaves the ring for a few moments to gather her backpack, take out the smaller items she could carry in her coat pockets, have her hair cover up the bandage more at her temple, and untie Royale from the pole, the gold bells seem to have kept her entertained enough that Royale didn’t seem to mind having been left alone for a couple minutes. Carefully she leads her companion to the entrance. Dropping her backpack near it, and taking off the collar and leash entirely to be stored inside one of the empty pockets. “Stay Royale.” A small chuff from Royale slips out as she pats the dark blue dyed chin plate as a small reward. She heads towards the ring, a large smile fixed on her face, the stripes on her cheek make it hopefully look more like warpaint then silly, while her hands are just as blue and she is clothed almost entirely black with silver at certain parts of her trench-coat. “Hello all!” She says cheerfully. “I am Twilight, and today I want to show my performance with Royale, an Artic Dash-Claw, come Royale darling! Don’t be shy.” She continues, giving a small grin while looking back at her companion, the command quite clearly layered in her speech.
Chuffing, Royale steps forward, the spotlight’s so bright that she almost seems to shine with how much wax, scale shine and mixed dye she had used to make her stand out compared to a common Artic as the blue really pops out, the green streaks at the flanks almost looking like water plants going with the flow of the river, while the white plates that weren’t dyed, really making it appear even more saddle like. That the dark blue dye makes the necklace and gold bells stand out even more, almost making it seem like royalty is intentional on her part as they glimmer just as good as the rest of her companion.
‘Good Royale, let’s get this started.’ She didn’t say anything as Royale came towards her, the chiming of bells a soft background noise as she hears the audience murmur.
(On Command: Name, Come) (Used Items: Gym Poles, Horse Jump Rails)
Twilight 0.2 Royale Lv 11.2, Ly 5.2
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Post by Twilight-Claw on Aug 31, 2024 14:35:20 GMT -6
Patting Royale’s neck she calls out. “Lay down.” Waiting just long enough for her companion to lay on the ground with her head raised. “Easy Royale.” She says softly while she starts to sit on her companion’s back, this is a riding show after all. Smiling as she takes a hold of what she considers to be the pommel on her companion’s back, she uses her legs to prod Royale into standing up once more. Royale does that, but also starts shaking just a bit as if she wants to get rid of sand. Holding on tightly to the pommel and with her legs the sides of Royale, she slowly starts prodding her companion to start moving. “Go Royale, go slow.” Letting Royale get used to walking on the sand, and having her observe where all the objects are placed on the first round around the ring, she starts to prod her companion into going faster till it’s at a comfortable gait for her and Royale to try the next part. All the while the bells start chiming just a tad more loudly from the movement.
(On Command: Lay Down, Carry Rider, Go, Faster/Slow Down)
Twilight 0.3 Royale Lv 11.3, Ly 5.3
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Post by Twilight-Claw on Aug 31, 2024 14:36:57 GMT -6
“Okay Royale. Let’s go just a bit faster.” She says softly as she prods with her legs at Royale’s sides, she feels like the warm up is done now, and the show can really start. Steering with her legs to have Royale face the jump rails on the west, she’s confident that they are now at the right speed for it. “Jump over.” She calls out to make certain Royale knows what needs to be done, clamping her legs tightly against Royale’s sides, she moves first forward with the jump, then leans back when Royale starts to hit the sand. A soft ‘Ooph!’ could be heard coming from her at the landing together with the sound of a louder chiming coming from the bells at Royale's tail, she’s just glad to still be sitting in the saddle after that first jump. The bandage on her head a reminder to be aware and stay careful when doing this. Dodging to the right the north pole is passed on quickly as they make their way to the east jump rails, this time when Royale jumps is much easier for her to go through, and when Royale lands and is quick to reach the south gym pole she passes by it just enough to then make a easy turn towards the north gym pole to pass that one and turn to the west jump rails, effectively reversing the direction she has Royale running in.
(On Command: Jump Over, Turn Right/Left)
Twilight 0.4 Royale Lv 11.4, Ly 5.4
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Post by Twilight-Claw on Aug 31, 2024 14:40:11 GMT -6
Letting Royale jump over the west rails she has Royale slow down at the south gym pole as she fishes out of her pocket a special potion, the shimmering of snowflakes that are twirling in it could easily be seen from up close, but from afar, it likely looks like it has a slight rainbow sheen on it, fresh snow always seems to have that in her opinion, but only in morning light. The spotlights of the stage just seem to slightly mimic that effect. “Alright, here goes.” Uncorking the potion, a blast of cold wind gets swept up in the ring while snow starts pouring down to the ground, glimmering or maybe it could be said, sparkling in the air. It starts covering the ground nicely in a layer of snow, a different terrain for a mount to walk on.
She certainly had to hold tightly against Royale’s sides with her legs as the suddenness spooked her, but once she slowed down Royale’s speed once more to a manageable manner, she makes it seem like it was intentionally for Royale to run through the different terrain so fast. Certainly the chiming of bells didn't make it appear like Royale got spooked. Laughing, she switches out the potion for something else once she corks it back up, taking out of her pocket one more different item. Keeping her palm up and wide open with the object in the middle, she focuses on the link to activate it. The tennis ball sized triangle starts unfolding its blades and rotating and her vision changes from being able to look in one direction, to multiple at once. Gripping the pommel with her other hand tightly as her attention gets split, she commands the object Galuchin to go up in the air and act like a glowing blue star with obsidian blades rotating around it. Slowly letting go of the link that lets her see in so many different directions, she keeps it in the air as she starts focusing back on Royale and her own body.
The crunching of snow being trampled under Royale’s foot are pleasant and satisfying to hear in some strange way, but she got a show to perform, and the snow won’t last long either. Prodding Royale’s sides while holding the pommel with both hands tightly, she urges Royale to go faster again. For one round more she lets Royale run across the snow, letting her get used to the feeling, then urges Royale to jump over the east jump rails. Leaning forwards with the jump while holding tight, and more back when Royale lands with her feet in the snow and continues running again. At the north gym pole she makes Royale turn towards the south gym pole and have Royale turn to the west jump rails, urging her companion with a bit of prodding to jump one last time over it and start to slow down in speed, making her avoid jumping over the horse rails this time. Rummaging through her pocket she found the bag with meat pieces, and took a few out as she let Royale trot slower.
“Okay Royale, go eat.” She calls out as she scattered some pieces in the snow, some leaving red prints behind as it melts into it. “Grahh?!” Royale has her tail high up in reaction when she sees the meat laying on the ground, and is quick to snatch them up, throw it lightly in the air, before swallowing it whole when she snaps it up. The pieces are certainly small enough to do that, and it makes her smile that unintentionally Royale does add a little natural predator performance as a mount with it.
When all the pieces of food are gone, she guides Royale to the middle of the ring, facing the judges as she says just for Royale when she is about to start moving forward again. “Royale stop.” Patting Royale’s flank when she listens, she starts to dismount after pocketing the meat treats. “Well, this is it for our performance. It might not be a too excited one admittedly, but a change in terrain at least makes it a surprising one.” She chuckles at her own joke while looking directly at the audience and judges. “As you’ve seen, for all that my companion is acting as a steed, he is still very much a predator.” Eluding to the meat and throwing around said meat in the air before eating. “I hope you’ve enjoyed it, and I won’t let things be held up further now.” Focusing on the link of her scouter, she makes it slowly start heading her way, the snow has already stopped, but that doesn’t mean the strange star like object coming to her palm isn’t keeping people from being interested in it. Deactivating it once it reaches her open palm and pocketing it, she calls out towards her companion. “Stay Royale.” Royale upon hearing it lets out a low inquisitive growl, but doesn’t move away from her spot, not even to look behind her to see what is happening.
As she walks away towards the exit of the show ring and rummages through one of her other pocket for the leash and collar, she hears the soft chiming of bells while Royale starts fidgeting at the wait. Turning just as she reaches the exit she calls out once more. “Come Royale!” With the collar and leash, she is ready to put it on to her companion the moment she is in reach, smiling when her Dash-claw turns and steps towards her direction, she murmurs only to her. “Good girl.” Clipping it on, she leads her companion away from the ring just as some workers get into the ring and she spots them cleaning up the equipment she brought into it. Good. That definitely saves her time.
(On Command: Stop, Stay) (Used Items: Make It Snow Potion, Galuchin, Meat Goodiebag, Deluxe Collar & Leash)
Twilight 0.5 - Logged Royale Lv 12.0, Ly 6.0
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Post by Elvye on Aug 31, 2024 19:59:50 GMT -6
✦
Embernacht ♂ Level 21 | Loyalty 16
Stamina: 8 Strength: 8 Resistance: 9 Dexterity: 7 Mentality: 3 Special Abilities: Fly Moves: Bite, Poison Sting, Climb, Wing Buff, Lava Spit Trained: Name (1), Fly (3), Wing Buff (3), Carry Rider (2), Bow (1), Go (1), Stop (1), Turn Right/Left (1), Higher! (2), Dive (2), Land (1), Tack Up (1), Faster/Slower (1)
Items:
Cheers roared in distant waves, answered by her own echoing footsteps as she led Embernacht forward. They stopped just out of reach of the waiting lights, and Elvye exhaled a long, steadying breath. Tonight was not about her journey, her mission, her enemies—not even her brother. Tonight, she would take to the stage in exultation, truly, wholly, for herself.
Her heart fluttered with a sense of overwhelming pride. But this wasn't a pride won alone. Her wiurn, close at her side, was no longer eager to charge on to his own desire. Though turned to face the open air of the arena, his gaze still followed her. Their routine came not from the will of one alone, but two beating hearts. What was it to ride, but to move together as one?
Her hands lifted the delicate mask, cool against her brow as she secured its place. Not for long.
Side by side, Elvye and Embernacht stepped forth.
Elvye (2/10)
Embernacht Level 21 (1/5) | Loyalty 16 (1/5)
Elvye dons Elegant Mask.
Elvye and Embernacht enter the ring.
✦
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Post by Elvye on Aug 31, 2024 20:17:49 GMT -6
✦ Quiet murmurs wrestled in the stands, anticipation of the display to come. Darkened lights provided cover, and Elvye swiftly set the saddle into position along the ring's edge. Without missing a beat, she took up position not quite center stage, and waited. These last few moments, the instant before her cue, were agony. This time, it was not fear. She was—no, they both were—ready.
And it began.
Music rose to fill the ring, and a soft light illuminated the pair. The fiery oranges of her mask, reflected in the same shade by Embernacht's eyes, stood striking against the faint blue glow that now surrounded them.
She didn't speak, but stood, facing him, and in unison, the dancers bent low—a practiced, graceful bow.
And as she rose, Embernacht waited, while she spun in delicate steps, dress twirling, mask catching the light. The saddle, pulled from darkness, hastened to his back. His head remained low, shoulders dipped, patiently waiting, as her steps floated with each deft latch, each belt cinched tight. Every move was poignant, placed just so with the tune of the song.
Elvye (3/10)
Embernacht Level 21 (2/5) | Loyalty 16 (2/5)
Embernacht dons Wiurn Saddle.
Demonstrating: Bow, Tack Up
✦
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Post by Elvye on Aug 31, 2024 20:29:29 GMT -6
✦ It was moments, movement, peace, freedom, and a brevity that made each step lighter than air. And now, a gentle leap, her feet far from ground, she leapt on from his right. The instant she crested the saddle, his movement mirrored hers. A left turn, following her momentum, as the heart of the dance began. They spun in a tight circle, her subtle leg cues blending with the notes of song, as the two moved together, she as the lead, but partners all the same. On beat, the turn stopped, then switched, and his spin began toward the right, slow, and easy, gentle, and practiced.
Tonight, it was not awe and majesty she sought in the ring. Even she, the last time she had entered, had thought of Embernacht as a foreigner. Tonight, it was a bond—it was feeling. The audience faded, a blur beyond their illuminated realm. Their gentle turns, like a swaying partner, spoke more words than she could ever say.
Elvye (4/10)
Embernacht Level 21 (3/5) | Loyalty 16 (3/5)
Demonstrating: Carry Rider, Turn Left/Right
✦
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Post by Azrie on Aug 31, 2024 20:29:54 GMT -6
It was their time. The other contestants had all kinds of equipment and fancy bells and whistles. Azrie didn't have so much as a saddle. The phrase 'the show must go on' was a cliche, but one Azrie had often used as a motto. The important thing was, he had an Equillion, and that was really what the show was about. He stroked Sal's neck a few times while they waited backstage. "We're gonna do just fine, okay? You trust me?" She nudged his shoulder with her nose and he gave her a toothy grin. "Here we go!"
With that, the man turned and strolled out into the spotlight. "Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen!" he called to the people with an exaggerated wave. It was dizzying, all these lights in his face, though it did not intimidate him. He was too focused on the task at hand to even think of it. "Now the Labs have created a ton of amazing creatures. A lot of these, as you've seen today, you can hop on and ride around. But let's not forget, with all these technological advancements, and fancy, fire-breathing creatures, where it all began: the Equillion - the original breed! One of the traditional mounts. Tried and true, beautiful, strong --" He should stop talking. "Saladonia, come on out!" The mammalian turned, extending an arm.
And at his call, Sal emerged. She strode towards him dutifully, her long, sweeping tail trailing along behind.
(Demonstrating: Name, Come)
Azrie: 0.1 Sal: 7.4, 14.4
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Post by Elvye on Aug 31, 2024 20:41:11 GMT -6
✦ She urged him on, then, striding forward to the ring's center, the light following their path in its misty glow. And all at once, it began to lift, as Embernacht's wings expanded—her call buried safely beneath the song, not to break the moment—and they took to the air. The light rose, warming now to a brilliant orange glow, as the show ring was illuminated, fully now. The thrill of takeoff only excited her more, and the soothing sounds brought their dance to the skies.
This was where all came to fruit. They flew together, in one great sweep, around the ring, before a sudden turn back to the center, where her feet slipped into position. It was no different than a dance, as their limbs moved in unison. She pressed close to him, feeling the movement of every muscle as they rose higher, higher, higher—into the cusp of the light, and the height of the arena.
Elvye (5/10)
Embernacht Level 21 (4/5) | Loyalty 16 (4/5)
Demonstrating: Go, Fly, Higher!
✦
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Post by Elvye on Aug 31, 2024 20:51:46 GMT -6
✦ At its pinnacle, she only wished the ring were higher. They rested just an instant before the drop began. Embernacht turned, with his own lilting flair, into the dead-drop dive that had stolen Elvye's heart.
The lights swallowed them, and now, she let all trust fall on him. Though the audience was unlikely to appreciate it, in this moment, her eyes fluttered closed. She felt his heartbeat, and her own, and the rush of hot, stadium air, still cooling even so as it raced past her masked features. What felt like only inches remained before the wiurn's wings flashed, catching them up into another curving swoop, and Elvye's eyes opened once more. It was a sensation that could make her chest burst, the bond they now shared. They made their turn around the arena once, then wove an S-shape through its center before spinning back the other direction.
Up, up, again, for the second—and more challenging dive.
Elvye (6/10)
Embernacht Level 22 (0/5) | Loyalty 17 (0/5)
Demonstrating: Dive
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Post by Azrie on Aug 31, 2024 20:52:05 GMT -6
As she arrived, her patted her on the side, whispering a quiet few words of reassurance to her before turning back to the crowd. "Reliable, tireless, she's a natural!" Under his breath, only to her, he added, "Okay, now don't freak out on me, girl. We're okay." Then, with the ease of years of practice, Azrie leaped up gracefully onto her back. She shifted to accommodate him, and just like that, he felt that they were back. It was easy this time, like it should be.
"Alrightie, Sal!" He clicked his tongue, and she started forward, straight ahead towards the edge of the ring. It was a leisurely pace they were taking, certainly nothing that was going to break a record or stun the audience, but it was satisfying, and it worked. "You see? They're the perfect companions. These guys are loyal and gentle - unless you've earned a good kick," he joked lightly. Sal's head turned to glance back at him; he got the sense that she was saying he should shut his mouth again. She was probably right.
"Let's get y'all a good look on this side, huh?" He nudged her to the right and she obediently pivoted that way, snorting an acknowledgement as she walked along the ring in one direction. "Ah, and let's not forget this side..." He nudged her back to the left, and then circled her around until they reached where they had begun. Then he called out a 'whoa' to her, and she planted her feet and shook her head. The lights were a little much. But it was okay. They did what they needed to do. They were back in the saddle.
Azrie raised his voice one last time. "Thanks for coming today, and thanks for having us!" Once again with an exaggerated gesture, he kissed his hand, and threw that arm up in a wave goodbye as they rode offstage.
(Demonstrating: Carry Rider, Go, Turn Right/Left, Stop)
Azrie: 0.2 Sal: 7.6, 14.6
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Post by Elvye on Aug 31, 2024 21:02:16 GMT -6
✦ The song wrapped around them, and all sensation trickled out of her own body, into his. Their dance was a glimpse of a single being—a part of Elvye she'd almost lost. The absurdity of her first contest felt like a distant memory, knowing the Embernacht she knew now. They were naive, like children, and she could hardly fathom how far they'd already come.
Now they reached the pinnacle of their performance, the moment that would define whether or not they could move hearts. The second dive.
Once circling the top, she kept her eyes open. Now, it was her turn to lead once more.
The drop—his weight descending. The soothing song, her faith in him, in herself—in all of this, brought together as she eased into the cue. This took patience, practice, and she knew how difficult the maneuver was.
As they fell, she cued Embernacht to slow.
The dizzying drop began to soften, as wings fluttered faintly at first, then more carefully, fuller, and fuller, as their speed rapidly fell—and she restrained a cry of joy. The phrase invaded her thoughts, like a whisper of the past: I will always catch you.
Elvye (7/10)
Embernacht Level 22 (1/5) | Loyalty 17 (1/5)
Demonstrating: Faster/Slower
✦
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Post by Elvye on Aug 31, 2024 21:17:38 GMT -6
✦ A faint whistle could perhaps have been heard, as their dive drew to a close. She called for a stop, and he obeyed—but to fully stop a wiurn midair was not exactly viable. Thankfully, she'd found a workaround.
"Storm," she called, her voice only aimed to him. Their stop could be managed, with an added bit of flair, by a wing buff.
His momentary stop swung him into position, his body shifting nearly vertical, leaving Elvye to hold deftly to the saddle as his wings began to beat, heavily. The rapid pounding sent a flurry of air up and around them, halting them center stage. Her smile was beaming, as the pair did another turn out of the move, drifting away to the edges of the audience.
She brought him down easily, then, in a smooth, circling glide.
And as their dance came to its close, they landed precisely where it had begun. As he bowed, once more, she dismounted, spun, and bowed in return—as the lights drew down, from orange, to blue, to nothing.
Elvye (8/10)
Embernacht Level 22 (2/5) | Loyalty 17 (2/5)
Demonstrating: Stop, Wing Buff, Land Elvye and Embernacht exit the ring.
✦
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