[ME] They call the thing a rodeo

MELITA

Melita was here for the spectacle – the chaos, the events, Iskra ’s outfit, and the potential victims of future Ludo quest incidents. Her eyes widened as she listened to quite a few opt to participate, because based on her previous experiences (i.e. that tournament), she figured she’d just use the opportunity of gathered people to go pants someone later.

Not a fan of jeans, she’d opted for a more country-fried dress, that way she could still hide all her knives. The boots were a hard no, but she left her hair down. She’d already eyeballed Iskra’s mountain man cowboy crossover with a mixture of amusement and uncertainty, but patted him on the shoulder for the effort.

Hovering near his elbow, and realizing her uncle was going to be a part of it (she tried not to roll her eyes at the obvious riding innuendo), she snorted, before glancing around and casing the perimeter of people. “Do you think they’re taking bets?”

--

Melita’s spectating and looking for victims~

This is a gift, it comes with a price
Who is the lamb and who is the knife?
Midas is king and he holds me so tight
And turns me to gold in the sunlight

Astaroth

i think i'm the devil in disguise, here's my state of mind

He’s fairly confident he’s never been to a rodeo. But he has read about them. And while Danta had spent the span of three seconds to decide to wear the denim on denim outfit he’s currently stuffed in, the butcher had also understood the assignment.

Standing at his lover’s side like his taller shadow, the butcher’s dressed in all black. From the hat set upon his head that’s as void as the night, to the paisley shirt he wears that’s a combination of black and bronze threads throughout. It’s tucked in neatly to the pair of dark jeans that has evidently trapped Danta’s hand in his back pocket (not that the butcher would ever complain). But the look isn’t complete without the snakeskin boots and the chaps he’d found, ones with a perfect fringe that added just that much more flare of dramatics while he walked.

“If we are lucky, perhaps.” His arm is slung around his lover’s shoulders, fingers tapping a soft little rhythm into the knot of bone that makes up his lover’s arm, turning toward him to flash a shark tooth grin. “You might be pleased to find out that despite the finery some people wear, they are more than willing to get them dirty if it meant settling scores.” This last portion is hummed close to Danta’s jeweled ear, enough distance to keep their hats from smacking into one another before he’s withdrawing to take in the sights.

A bright smile is offered to Charlie and Lena in turn, while more professionally acceptable nods are offered to anyone else who may look their way. “Shall we snag a snack and see if there shall be blood?” It’s another conspirator’s whisper, even if Asta isn’t anticipating it.

It could be a nice surprise, after all.



Asta is solely there to watch!!

give me destruction, tell me i'm scrumptious
i'm a fucking delight

do you feel like a young god?

She’s late. Though, perhaps not too late, given the fact that her sister and brother are still settled around her father. She’d gotten distracted on the way in, lingering by some of the horses still out in the pasture, admiring the quiet power in their bones and the ease of which they drifted from space to space, that only when she hears more commotion begin does she finally make her way there.

Adorned in much of a similar outfit to the rest of them, her pale cowboy hat matches the pale cowboy boots as she flits in – making a beeline for her brother and sister, of whom she snatches their hands or arms for gentle squeezes, right in time to hear Charlie’s quip to her father which has her nose wrinkling as the idea of it flashes just briefly in her mind before she shivers with obvious distaste. “You better give ‘em hell, V.” She teases, as if she doesn’t already expect her triplet to do the best he could.

---

Caly is watching!

Calypso

so we take our time and skip around some

Arriving in what is essentially y’allternative, Thorn makes his way over toward Colt with a bright grin of greeting. A black cowboy hat sits on his head, casting shade over his bright seafoam eyes, hair restrained as he wears something similar to what he’d worn when Colt had taken him line dancing – the shimmering, glittery tanktop that’s sheer enough to be breathable with a tall neckline not unlike the start of a turtleneck, paired with dark pants and the dark chaps with fringes that swish and sway with each movement.

“You excited?” He asks her when there’s a momentary break, a crooked smile flashed her way when he notes Vesper among the mix of people around, wondering if there’d been any developments regarding the young man – especially, given the fact she’d made him go to their birthday party, too. It was neither here nor there, though, not as he takes in the popularity of the event, spotting faces that didn’t even live amongst the region they both called home.

---

Thorn watches!

Hawthorn

half my love is on the run

If you live your life slowly, you live only half life;

Nova giggles at Jack's wink, certain that it means he's rooting for her to win (who wouldn't?). The support for her victory only grows when Vesper comes up beside her, his words making her spin to show off the tassels and the starlight that winks into existence around her. Of course she doesn't expect anyone else to win. It's why she's wearing her winner's outfit as opposed to her 'participant' outfit - which has slightly less beading. 

Placing her hands on her hips and puffing her chest like she's giving orders to a deputy (or a possibly unruly steed), Nova grins at her brother, determination and misplaced confidence making her look a little taller in her boots. "Don't go easy on me!" Although she adds silently, But go extra hard on everyone else. She still wants to win after all. And if Vesper catches images of glittery retribution if he bucks her off - oops.

Her eyes flash between the various newcomers. She's particularly admiring of Charlie's outfit and their many similarities. Nova doesn't know that the commonalities stop at the blonde hair, short stature, and appreciation for chaos fashion, and she definitely doesn't catch the double meaning in the words she says to her dad; so when Calypso comes to join them, she's grinning innocently at the woman. "I like your horns! They go great with your boots!"

Nova

if you live your life fast, you live five lives or ten lives or fifteen lives!

And I came to, walking on the train tracks
How did I get here? And how do I get back?

As the King's End Seer, it seemed appropriate for Alys to join in the rodeo revelry - even if she wasn't entirely sure what she was getting herself into. When she arrived, she found that she was entirely unprepared, and she and Sascha simply did their best to stay out of the way of the people and horses and all other manner of creature, meandering here and there amongst vendor airing their wares. She saw Sunjata and waved a hello, then caught sight of Maea. Sidling up to the Ancient, she decided to say hello.

"Hi, Maea," she said, stepping out of the way of a particularly spirited horse and rider pair. "Are you thinking about entering?" Alys herself wasn't quite brave enough to give any of the events a try, but perhaps Maea felt differently.

---

Alys arrives and decides to spectate!

I've been up all night, let's stay awake
Push it further, you know I'll never break

Alys

COLT

Her gaze follows Jack as he walks in, something richer than amusement quirking her smile deeper on one side as she notes his hat and his greeting. "Suit yourself sugar," she says as her own fingers slide along the brim of her hat and send him off into the crowd. A few others arrive and file in, delight curling against her chest as everyone has done their best to play their part with every odd assortment of hats, boots, and even chaps. Nova's arrival is met warmly, and if Colt's eyes start straining a bit harder to find Vesper on her heels, it's not for very long, since he rolls in as easy as any summer storm does. She tosses him a wink and a grin, eager to see him put to work.

Sunjata's approach earns another beaming smile, one that's more real than the customer service one she's maintaining to greet every stranger or half-acquaintance. "Give 'em hell Flood," she says with a fond shove against his shoulder in return, sending him off into the noise. Ronin and Remi each earn a knowing tip of her head as they stroll past, 'brows lifting to match Dantalion's as she returns the look over of his outfit.

She glances up as Hawthorn finds her side, a low whistle cutting loose at the sight of him, glittering as always. "Lookin' good Thorn," she remarks with a twist of her lips, and a nod in return to his question. "You bet! This'll be one for the books, just you wait." She flips her hair, jewelry glinting with the movement as she elbows his arm gently. "You better grab a seat before all the good ones are taken," she warns him.

The crowd's arrival had begun to lull as the events started up, so Colt abandoned her greeting post for spectating, lingering on the edges so she could slip away as needed to assist the flow and behind scenes workings, though her team had a handle on most of it.

---

Entries for bull+ riding are now closed! You may still join this main ME as a spectator at any time.

1. Vesper as a horse will be ridden by Nova
2. Sunjata as a pegasus will be ridden by Charlie
3. Ronin as a dragon will be ridden by Zavien
4. Remi as a pixiu or kraken will be ridden by Maea

You have 48 hours to make your breakout riding threads. Round 1 starts once the bull+ leaves the chute and begins trying to buck the rider off, and the rider responds trying to stay on. Remember, 1 round = 2 seconds. Stay on for 8 seconds (4 rounds) to win! Dice rolls are based on stats and post actions. Please wait for your dice roll results before proceeding to the next round.

Wild horse out the gate
Yeah your heart about to break
She the type of woman that gon' make you lose control
She something wild, you might need a lasso

there exists a tipping point between gods and monsters

Not having expected to draw such a crowd - the captain isn't the most popular man in the world on a good day - Jack nevertheless offers a nod of greeting to Calypso as she sidles up to complete the trio of Safrin-born, and glances around as he senses a spark of fiery thought racing up the length of his spine. (And pressing against the back of his calf, if Charlie's tail has anything to do with it).

"I must've made quite the impression when we last met," he drawls to the petite Ancient, turning a little to lean against the stands and offering out his whiskey for her to share.

"I do better ridin' waves than dirt," he explains, raising a brow down at her over the rim of his sunglasses. "And bein' ridden on 'em, if you must know." And he'd love to further embarrass the Marin siblings, but at that moment it appears that the riding is about to commence. "Off you go, then. Don't break nothin'." he smirks to Vesper and Nova.

Dantalion

but you can't be free

"Uh, yes," Danta says with gusto, of finding a snack and somewhere to spy the blood on the ground (hopefully). Handing Astaroth's drink across to him before taking a generous sip of his own - a balancing act given that his free hand is still jammed in Asta's pocket - the Maverick offers a fanged, sunny smile to Charlie as they pass, sidling into the stalls to get a seat.

"Looks like she's on the hunt today," he remarks of their resident priestess as she goes to bother a cluster of people, Sunjata and Jack counted among them. Once they finally find somewhere suitable, it's with a soft curse that Danta somehow manages to pull his hand free, shooting a glare at Asta's back pocket as if it's got a vendetta, before he plops to sit down.

It's just as it looks as though the main event is about to start that he hails down someone selling popcorn, because as far as snacks go, it seems perfect for both enjoying and throwing, depending on the situation.

'cause I'm selfish, I'm obscene

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

charlie

Charlie beams at Nova like she'd just been handed a bouquet of fireworks wrapped in tinsel. "Thanks babe!" she says with a delighted purr, striking a playful pose and twirling in place to show off the full sinful glory of her outfit. "You’re an absolute vision yourself. I love the glitter." With a wink that practically sparkles, she gives Nova’s outfit an approving once-over.

Then Jack speaks, and oh, the grin that blooms across her face is positively wicked. "Mm," Charlie hums, tilting her head as if appraising a rare bottle of trouble. "Well, playing hard to get always gets my attention." She takes the offered whiskey like it's her divine right, tips it back with the same ease she might accept a lover’s dare, and licks a drop from the corner of her mouth with theatrical flair. Her fingers trail lightly across the small of his back as she steps away, a teasing touch more promise than farewell. "Come find me after," she murmurs, low and humming like embers under velvet. We’ll compare rodeo notes."

With one final flick of her tail—cheeky, provocative, and gleefully unapologetic—Charlie turns and swans off into the crowd in search of Sunjata, lips already curled in anticipation of whatever glorious chaos the Flood has decided to manifest as today.

oh I like my boys playin' hard to get
and I like my men all incompetent

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

// to the green lessons //

Zavien pulling Ronin as a dragon had sent her into a bit of apprehension, striving to keep her nerves to herself as she granted him more fortune in the moments to come – and then tried to find a place to sit. Her mind reeled to unfortunate possibilities, given how much they’d experienced over the last year, but faith in Ronin being steadfast and Zavien being determined enough set some portions at ease.

Though her fingers grasped hold of her staff quite tightly as Dragoon and White Knight set to gather themselves…

And Zavien fell off. Almost immediately.

Grimacing inwardly and shaking her head, she clapped her hands, supportive through and through. “Good try! Nice work!”

Lena

// of soft, simple quiet beneath the sun //

MELITA

The events went on – and she watched as several were bucked off or fell, tilting her head, pleasantly surprised and amused. Only thereafter some of the festivities did she check the crowd again, fully intending to make this the public notions Ludo had requested.

And there, amidst all the others, was poor ol’ Hawthorn.

She hadn’t forgotten traumatizing the man back in King’s End, and figured, hey why not do it again? “Be right back,” she offered to Iskra, before disappearing altogether, into invisibility measures.

Then she crept along, striving to blend and bend within footfalls and the chaotic rushes of other passersby witnessing the bull riding, sneaking and concealed. Within a few moments she was there, and rushing up from behind the poor Abandoned, she grabbed hold of his belt loops and tugged downwards, hoping the surprise was enough to make him not question anything. Maybe his pants just hadn’t been tight enough. Maybe he’d forgotten a belt. Maybe it was just pure happenstance and bad luck.

Before scooting back, out of the way.

--

Melita tries to pants Hawthorn while invisible.

This is a gift, it comes with a price
Who is the lamb and who is the knife?
Midas is king and he holds me so tight
And turns me to gold in the sunlight

SUNJATA

i'm drowning in all these voices in the sea
and meeting all my vices in the ring

To Jack, the Flood’s grin is bright as he chuckles softly to hear the answer, sighing a touch dramatically. “Suit yourself.” Which, luckily for him, Charlie arrives in all her chaotic splendor, earning Sunjata’s immediate attention. “Chaaaarlie!” Sunjata purrs to her in return, his smile shifting a bit more playful, curved and lopsided. Only then does the Flood step away, back toward the events in motion, sure that things would start to get divvied up soon enough, greeting everyone else he knows in the process.

He isn’t hard for Charlie to find, though, as Colt’s voice rings out with the lineup. And he prepares himself to figure out just how much of an exciting chaotic time he’s able to give her.

so step inside, i ain't afraid to bleed
there ain't a casket strong enough for me

You can’t stop the change,

any more than you can stop the suns from setting.

Only moderately embarrassed by his performance, Zavien took the laughter and shoulder pats with chuckles and sheepish grins. They all seemed to have enjoyed watching him get thrown, making light teases about his grip and playful remarks about throwing the match but nothing too scathing. A few people even offered drinks to help soothe the ego, but he politely declined, eager to make his way back to Lena amongst the crowd. 

When he spotted her in the stands, Zavien gave her a wide smile, the blush a little stronger at having failed so spectacularly with her watching. He wanted to look - and be - strong, to prove that he could protect her. Getting thrown after a mere second didn't really inspire confidence, but neither did dying so... Zavien just did his best to let it roll of his shoulders, taking a spot at her side as he turned to watch the others. "Well, I guess that could have gone worse." Maybe not in terms of his time, but injury wise for sure. A collection of bruises and a scrape on the head was nothing in comparison to broken bones.

Zavien