530/Riding Lessons

Riding Lessons
Date of Scene:	02 September 2014
Location:	Ivalice
Synopsis:	Now that Toph's chocobo has grown bigger, Faruja decides that the girl needs riding lessons. Which proves to be one hell of a challenge for both the rider and the mount.
Cast of Characters:	20, 152, 301

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Faruja (152) has posed:
~~ Plains outside Eagrose Castle, Ivalice ~~

The rolling hills and valleys are perfect for riding lessons, and so one Faruja Senra has mounted his best chocobo, and met Toph at the nearby city. Leading the young woman and their feathery companions out to a flat section of grassy plains, the Burmecian smiles. He makes a show of checking Nuggets harness.

"Hmm. He did an excellent job I see. Well then! Hath ye ever ridden a mount at all, Toph? Tis relatively simple, at least when it comes to the fundamentals. Once ye learn, ye shant ever forget, the Lords own truth!"

Then, the rat is helpfully tapping the stirrups of the harness. "Keep thine feet here, my dear. One foot up, hold yourself upon the saddle, swing said foot over, then gain thine balance." Explains the rat, when it comes to mounting. Given she cant see, it might be slightly awkward. Still, the rat demonstrates, if only she could possibly see the vibrations.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Why did she agree to this? Riding lessons? She will have nothing but lessons at this rate! The blind girl did grumble, but she eventually made her way to Ivalice with her chocobo chick... which isn't quite a chick anymore, now is she? Nugget has grown, and the chocobo is large enough for a small girl like Toph. And within the next months even Tony might be able to ride her!

    Has she ever ridden a mount? The question earns a shake of the girl's head. "Kinda a bad idea when you don't know how to steer these and can't see what the crud is going on, Twitchy," she points out. And his demonstration... well, let's just say it earns a heavy sigh from Toph. But she does move over to Nugget, holding onto the side of her saddle as she raises her foot and searches for the stirrup there. "This isn't going to end well, is it...?" Will Nugget even know what to do?

    Awkwardly the blind girl hoists herself up, her unseeing eyes wide as she clutches to the saddle, her free leg sticking out as she tries to get it over the saddle. All in all, a rather comical sight.

Faruja (152) has posed:
Faruja cant help but grin a bit as Toph makes her way up onto the mount. It might be a little mean, but seeing the girl picking up a proper skill is a joy to see for the rat. After all, its rare that he gets to teach a skill that doesnt end in someone ending dead. And to a friend? The rats tail sways jauntily atop his own chocobo.

"Excellent, excellent! Come now, when hath ye allowed such things to stop ye, hmm? /Confidence/ mine dear! Ye hath watched Nugget grow. Exercises such as these shall only draw ye closer. When mount and knight art as one, then they art truly something to behold!" Wait, when did Toph become a knight? Farujas ears flick.

"Bah! Pessimism doth not suit ye! Come, chin up! A fall or eight shant hurt ye overmuch! Only thine pride, my dear. Something that oft needs bruising if one seeks the slightest vestiges of humility!"

"Now then! Just ensure ye hath a firm grip to the reigns. Nugget hath never worn a harness, therefore, ye shall hath to coax her through it. Chocobo hath certain instincts that ye must take advantage of. For instance, loud noises. Observe."

Faruja grips the reins firmly, and cracks them in a swift downward motion. His feet gently tap both sides of the chocobo.

"HYAH! Forward, in Ajoras name"

Forward the bird goes! Then, after a few feet, he digs back with his feet.

"There we art! Make a loud noise as ye tap both sides of your mount with your feet, and crack the reigns downwards. To stop? Firmly slide thine feet backwards along thine mounts sides and pull back upon the reigns. Every chocobo is different, ye shall needst to find Nuggets particular quirks. Now then. How art ye...erm, feeling? Can ye sense the ground beneath her?"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    This. Is. Not. Promising.

    Nor amusing. The blind girl frowns, muttering slightly. "Wipe that grin off, Twitchy..." she commands. "I just don't see the point! Nor the ground from up here!" she adds in as she lets out a strained noise before dragging herself up into the saddle, scrambling to get properly seated. By the looks of it it should be easy to tell she has not ridden anything before.

    "I thought I was an acolyte and that GOLDIE was the knight?" With some effort she finally manages to sit upright in the saddle, though she wobbles slightly and clutches onto the front of the saddle as well as the reins. "And falling is the least of my worries..." she grumbles. No. What is the ground suddenly stops? What if the damn chocobo tries to go somewhere she doesn't want to?

    Observe, he says. Easier said than done. But at least she isn't deaf, and she listens and hears his chocobo head forward after he makes that noise. Yet she seems rather hesitant to follow his example... "What if I don't want her to rush forward like that, though?" she questions.

    His question earns a shake of her head. "I feel the ground, but I can't see around me when I' not touching it!" Pardon her frustration.

    Though she does sigh and press her feet in against Nugget's side. "HEY! Onwards."

    In response Nugget blinks and turns her head, looking slightly confused.

Faruja (152) has posed:
Ahem! Faruja clears his throat. "Come, come! Take a touch of joy in thine lessons! Else, ye shall be quite miserable for some time. Life /is/ a lesson, Toph!" Someone needs to get him off his high chocobo today.

The rat waves his hand dismissively. "The point being, my dear, is that ye must become one with Nugget! Ye must be friends and companions if ye art to properly ride her! If ye cannot see? Then let her be thine eyes. Tis a good lesson for ye, methinks." A shake of the head. Faruja sighs.

"Then merely gently snap the reigns like so and shift thine weight forward!" Snap! His own mount goes forward slightly, though the bird pauses as it watches its counterpart just look about. One might imagine an eye-roll from the older chocobo.

"...Mmm. Louder! Give a swat upon her flanks. At times, ye may hath to be a touch forceful, Toph. She must respect ye!"

Faruja rides up alongside Toph. As much as he admires her stubborn fierceness, he doesnt envy Jarvis.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    It's easier to take joy in something she sees a use for. Seriously, she can get places by bending the earth, why does she need a mount for? Okay, Nugget IS cute and all, or was cute before she got huge. "I prefer my earthbending lessons," she sighs for herself.

    Become one... with Nugget. Is she serious? The blind girl blinks and arches an eyebrow at that, then points to Nugget who seems more interested in nibbling on her sleeve. "Does it look like she has the attention needed to focus on what's in front of her?" she questions. Sure, she is cute, but she seems... easily distracted.

    Okay. Show her who's boss? Toph grumbles. "If she throws me off, I'll blame YOU," she informs him. Then with a deep breath she grips the reins... tugging on them before she cries out. "GET GOING, OVERSIZED CHICKEN!"

    The response is immediate. Nugget blinks and lets out a 'kweh', feathers bristling, and she turns around, staring at Toph as she moves sideways. Or at least partially forward.

Faruja (152) has posed:
"Which is exactly why she must learn focus! Chocobos art intelligent, graceful animals!" Pause. He looks to Nugget. Squint. Is she nibbling Tophs sleeves. Sigh.

"....Most at any rate. The incompetent craftswoman blames her implements, as they say." Faruja rubs his temples. Oh, this is going to be a long lesson. Deep breath, and the rat sits up high in the saddle.

Two ears twitch, and the rat huffs. "Another complaint like that, and I shall throw ye off mineself! Less whining and more riding! Off with ye!" Cue stubborn rodents versus stubborn Earthbenders.

Sigh. Faruja /stares/ at Nugget a moment, before dismounting. "I see we shall require more forceful methods of training thine mount. Alright! Here is what we shall do. Ye shall urge her forward. Meanwhile, I shall provide a bit of gravitic encouragement for her to remain straight. Not enough to hurt, merely enough to show her what to do."

Farujas hands glow black and grey, as he awaits Tophs snapping of the reins. Should she veer off course? The rat will toss a bit of gravity magic to encourage her in the other direction.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "How am I supposed to teach her that?" Toph asks, letting out a slight yelp as Nugget begins to move in that clumsy manner, clutching tightly and nervously. Sure, she can feel that there's ground underneath her chocobo, but she can't tell anything about the area around. Which of course makes her nervous, as she prefers to have her feet on the ground. She is an earthbender, after all!

    And earthbenders are stubborn and with lots of pride. So when Faruja delivers his threat, the blind girl blinks, suddenly looking quite indignant. "I'm not /whining/!" she states, "I'm just pointing out I'm not sure whether I can trust her to actually make sure she knows where the hell she's going since I can't tell from up here!" Oh yes, that certainly seemed to rile her up. Why, Toph is even /pouting/.

    But at least he sees the problem, which does help. "THANK YOU," Toph exclaims with a tired groan. And even if she doesn't look too pleased with this, she does snap the reigns again. "ONWARD!" Sure, she could go 'yip yip' like Aang does with Appa, but eh... it would be wrong. Either way, Nugget responds and seems confused about the tugging of the reigns, about to turn around and nip at Toph again. At least until the gravity magic hits and tugs her forward. A startled kweh leaves the large bird, and she begins forward, which causes Toph to let out a gasp, leaning back and clinging to the reigns. AH, shes MOVING! she exclaims, her voice shaking just slightly. What now? What is she supposed to do? "A-ah, Twitchy?!" Theres no hiding it; Toph is nervous!

Faruja (152) has posed:
Its a bit strange, really. Farujas used to far less stubborn students. Somehow, she manages to be even worse than eight foot tall lizard people. The rat shudders as he imagines his old students and Toph in the same room. Worlds would shake with the amount of hard-headedness.

"Practice, as any other skill, mine dear. If she continues to be /too/ much of a problem, we may well hath to apply blinders, so much as I hate doing so." Frown. Clearly not something hes looking forward to.

Still, the rat listens. "I /will/ admit this shall be something of a learning experience for all of us. A vexing problem. Mmm. Mayhaps...ahh, nay offense to thine good adoptive father, whilst I hath little love for technology, there may be some sort of solution there. One moment."

Faruja shuffles about in a pack upon his chocobo, who properly stays still. He pulls out a light green crystal.

No time to give it to her, though. Rider and chocobo alike will feel the /slightest/ of lifting from the ground, the rat squinting at her for a moment. A gentle reminder that hes not quite kidding!

But, the bit of gravity magic seems to urge her onwards! Faruja grins!

"Excellent! Yes, there we art!" Faruja remounts, and urges his own chocobo forward, catching up to her.

"First of all, confidence! Show her ye art not afraid!" Reaching out, hell all but shove the green crystal to her chest.

"And try focusing upon this. A geomantic-attuned crystal! Mayhaps it shall assist thine sight!" Who knows if itll actually help, though!

"Yes, keep that pace! Another snap of the reigns if ye want her faster. Keep going as long as ye like, ye hath naught to trip ye!"

Indeed, the land is remarkably flat, and only a few dips and bobs in the landscape might trouble her!

"Just get used to her feel!"

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Perhaps it's a good thing that Tony is Toph's supervising officer as well as her adoptive father (at least once the paperwork has been approved and all), as he has the necessary ego in order to push Toph's stubbornness and energy in the right directions. Not to mention he is somebody whom Toph quickly learned to respect as he has a sense of humour, as well as focusing on the same things that the blind girl does.

    Blinders? Toph tenses up. "What?! It's bad enough that I can't see?! Why are you going to blind her as well?!" she demands, her voice slightly squeaky. Yes. Toph has no clue what blinders actually are. Then again, can you blame her?

    Onwards Nugget goes, a bit curious about the strange tug she feels. But oh well, she gets to stretch her legs, so all is good! The chocobo is certainly energetic and seems to have developed a far better demeanor than Cuddles, at least. If only she could have the war chocobo's focus, though... Toph grits her teeth. It's easier said than done to now be afraid when she's unable to 'see' around her. The ground feels bumpy from up here in the saddle! And then Toph yelps when she feels the crystal shoved up against her, and she fumbles just a little bit with the reigns before she grabs it, confusion clear on her face. "What the...?" A crystal? It feels a bit weird... and somehow familiar?

    "I am /not/ going faster!" she stubbornly announces. "I haven't gotten used to /this/ speed yet!" No, she can move faster on her own, but still... she still needs to learn to trust Nugget, it seems. As well as get used to it. But luckily it seems that while Toph is still struggling, her mount seems to like this, letting out a happy sound as she continues along, glad to be out of the pen and getting to move like she did when she was allowed to run more around. They are birds made for running, after all. And Nugget suddenly bolts forward, eager to test her legs! In response Toph lets out a surprised shriek, the sudden movement causing her to fall back and off of the saddle, landing with an 'ooph'!

    Following that, she emits a loud word that perhaps a girl her age should not know, even less utter. Nugget? She halts and turns to look back, slightly confused... and then runs back to inspect her fallen rider.

Faruja (152) has posed:
Faruja blinks at Toph, staring at her for a moment. Thank Faram for her inability to see, as his faux-pax hits him.

"Ahem! Ahh, forgive me. Blinders reduce a chocobos field of vision until they can see naught but straight forward. It ensures both that they art not startled by sights in their peripheral vision, nor otherwise distracted. Not blind in the literal sense."

Faruja licks his muzzle, and watches a bit! Considering, the rat finally smiles.

"Mayhaps I am overly hasty." Admits the rat. After all, hed hardly know what its like to be totally blind!

At least Nugget seems to be enjoying it! Faruja trots along atop his steed, the older chocobo about a stride or two behind to allow the rat to observe. Then the dear bird bolts forward!

"Ahh, is not the wind in thine face and feeling of such...Nugget! Bad chocobo!" Pulling his chocobo around, the rat dismounts, frowning.

"...I suppose hold on tightly is a bit of advice ye shant wish right now?" Faruja might just be teasing a little, even as he offers Toph a hand up.

"Whenever she does that, yank back upon the reins. Give her a light pinch if she doth not slow."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "They should change the name then," Toph mumbles slightly, though she nods. That might be a good idea from what she can tell about visual sight. It's pretty hard to tell at times since she lacks it herself.

    At least Toph can /hear/ that Faruja is follow behind on his mount, who seems to know just how to ride, and his bird seemingly know how to behave and move as his rider wants him too. If only Nugget would follow his example. Well, she returns at least, looking a bit confused as Faruja scolds her. What? She was only running!

    The blind girl grumbles as she works on getting up from the ground, rubbing her tailbone. At least now she can 'see', and well... she seems to ignore the offered hand. She can get up by herself, thankyouverymuch. "A bit late for that..." she grumbles about his advice. But the next set of advice does seem to make sense, so Toph nods her head and sighs. "Snap reigns to speed up, yank to slow down... pinch to discipline. Got it." After all, she had to pinch Nugget some to keep her from summoning meteors all over the place when they started getting larger.

    "Okay, feather brain!" Toph declares as her chocobo walks back to her, tilting its head in a curious manner. Instead of struggling with the stirrups, Toph kicks the ground and raises a small pillar that she steps off of and onto Nugget, finding that way easier for her. She gets back into the saddle, then snaps the reigns a little. And Nugget? She seems like she's about to turn around again, but Toph kicks her slightly in the sides. "Onwards!"

    Though she does look a liiittle bit nervous as she clutches the reigns when Nugget begins half running forward.

Faruja (152) has posed:
"Partial-Sight-Reducing-Headwear is hardly an elegant name, Toph." Retorts the rat, smiling a bit.

Indeed, Farujas own bird seems highly trained, if a bit less exciteable than Nugget. One might imagine the larger bird peering severely at Nugget, as if sharing many of its riders opinion on the young red chocobo.

"Oh, doth not give me that look, Nugget!" Frown!

Faruja shrugs, and lets the Greatest Earthbender get up, before remounting again. "Quite! Patience, mine dear, tis as much training of bird as rider. Methinks ye art taking the lessons better." Hed give Toph his own bird, but best to learn on her actual mount.

And with EArthbender flash, Toph is back in the saddle, and finally gets the birdbrain going! Faruja follows behind, nodding in approval.

"Goood! Good! Watch out for that dip before ye...err...right, moving along. Turning! Tug thine reigns in the direction ye wish to go. Simple enough, really." Hopefully the bird will turn in time to avoid the slight dip in the land. Not enough to trip over, but enough to jostle poor Toph if the bird hits it wrong.

"Just slightly, either direction. One hundred more paces, and we shall turn around entirely! Then, methinks rider and mount alike may well require lunch! I brought a basket."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
     Perhaps it's Nugget's youthful energy that makes things harder? Or perhaps the fact that she has never been used as a mount before. Yet it does help a little that she's used to Toph and trusts the blind girl, trusting her to feed her delicious greens and be there for her. Even if she can't perch on her head anymore, the chocobo has grown attached to the girl.

    Back on her mount, Toph does her best to keep up with this, clutching tightly on the reigns as Nugget heads on. At least until when she realizes that Faruja is following. A happy kweh is let out, and Nugget turns her attention to the other chocobo, her feathers fluffing up in a playful manner. Swaying in the saddle, Toph yelps but manages to keep on sitting and not falling over. "Turn?!" she exclaims in dismay. "How am I supposed to know when to do that in the field?!" Man, why in blazes did Faruja get this twisted idea to begin with?! Furthermore, how did she let him talk her into this.

    And indeed, Nugget doesnt avoid the dip, jostling Toph who lets out a brief shriek of surprise, causing her to tug hard on the reigns, making Nugget turn to the right with a startled squak. And the chocobo lets out a dicontent sound as she weers to and fro, all with Toph struggling and doing her best to steer her mount straight.

    Right now, shes a tad too busy with even considering lunch!

Faruja (152) has posed:
Never let it be said that Faruja Senra doesn't have a silver tongue when he wants to. It comes from years of preaching and talking with nobles he'd rather /not/ speak with. A pint of home-made ice cream in reward for the lessons along with the lunch probably helped too.

When the other chocobo fluffs up, the older one gives the slightest puff of feathers. This is a riding bird, rather than a war chocobo like Cuddles, and so isn't above a bit of playfulness. Still, it dutifully obeys its riders.

"...Ye know, I must admit, there may well be a slight flaw in this idea. Regardless! 'Tis CHARACTER BUILDING my dear! Perserverance through fear and adversity! Years passed, ye shall look upon this day with a smile and raise a glass to this fool of a Burmecian whom hath brought ye to this!" Smile! Faruja might just be enjoying watching poor Toph and Nugget veer to and fro.

"Now cease shrieking like a frightened /Water Bender/! Straight in the saddle!" She'll get a helpful gravity nudge in that regard. Faruja might have picked up a few choice 'encouraging' bits of information in his dealings with her world.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "Isn't character building what they call boring stuff that really sucks?" Toph calls back even as she struggles to keep Nugget running straight ahead. Damnit, she might not be able to ride alone... sure, she might be able to follow somebody else, but to rely on Nugget actually knowing where she's going?! That's too much to imagine right now.

    Nugget however seems to enjoy herself quite a lot, letting out playful sounds to Faruja's mount and seems to like running close to it. Why, it even leaps up into the air, flapping its wings a bit, enjoying what it considers freedom, though of course this makes Toph yelp in surprise and slight fear, making her pull on the reigns! This makes Nugget let out a startled 'kweh', eyes wide. And as she skids to a halt, she looks rather /miffed/. As does Toph when Faruja calls her a waterbender of all things! "I am an /earthbender/!" she protests, collecting her wits again. Okay, she got Nugget to stop! So that's good... "I prefer my feet on the ground where they belong! Be glad I'm even trying this!" If she wanted, she could have laughed it off and stayed at home! Right? Right.

    The gravity nudge does make her sit up straighter in the saddle, and she snorts, even as she snaps the reigns slightly again. "If you jump again, I'll teach you to stick to the goddamn ground, Nugget..." she mutters under her breath as the chocobo starts running again.

Faruja (152) has posed:
"Welcome to the Inquisition, Acolyte Toph Beifong! Where only the Inquisitor gets the boring jobs amidst piles of paperwork, and the Acolytes rarely hath a day without excitement! Or absolute, soul-wrenching terror." Shrug.

At the jump and flap of its wings, the other red backs off, startled. Faruja's jolted mid-stifled-laugh, clenching his own reigns and narrowly avoiding hitting a similar dip in the ground. Toph might catch a slightly undignified squeak. A pull on the reigns, and Faruja's own mount slows to a stop.

"And the fact that ye art doing so, despite the complications, and indulging me in this Toph, is one of the reasons I value thine friendship so, how ye hath earned mine respect. 'Tis a talent, and an asset. Develope it, and cleave to it more than life itself. It shall take ye far." Faruja's voice is gentle here, advice from an older person to a younger one. Then, with a smile, he nods.

"Bloody /Greatest/ Earthbender." Wink!

A snap of the reigns! Faruja's off again.

"Alright. Time for the entertaining portion of the lesson, or at least I believe so." Faruja's grin is almost feral.

"Nugget is an energetic, lovely bird. But never forget she is dangerous. Her 'talents' art instinctual, and shall never be fully controlled. Nor should they. Merely, ye must reach an understanding between her and thyself. Observe. I prefer squeezing both legs, mineself, however 'tis different for every rider." What is he talking about? Faruja squeezes his legs.

With an affirmative 'kweeeeh', the bird flaps its wings, and a ChocoMeteor smashes into the ground some twenty feet in front of Faruja's own mount. The rat deftly turns the chocobo aside, avoiding the debris.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    That earns a groan from Toph as she rides. Sure, she knows that Faruja signed her up as an acolyte in that damn church of his, but to be referred to in such a fasion? It makes the girl wonder just how seriously he's taking it all. It's not like she believes all that stuff anyway, and it's just so she can actually help in his world.

    Her annoyance decreases somewhat when he speaks to her about friendship with genuine fondness in his voice, even if she pouts slightly. "I'm only doing it because Goldie told me to," she protests. Tony does seem to want her to learn many things, and well, as her superior officer and now adoptive father, she is expected to do as he says. At least with most things.

    Wait, entertaining portion? That catches Toph's attention, and she listens intently. "What are you talking about?" she asks. Oh yes, she /knows/ that Nugget is energetic and quite headstrong. "Squeeze both legs for /what/?" However, she recognizes the sound easily enough. Having heard them in smaller versions as her chocobo has grown up this half year, she can't help but blink. Nugget isn't startled either, and she lets out a happy sound as she too runs around the fallen meteor. "You mean, make her summon a meteor?" Toph asks with a slightly confused expression on her face. Nugget seems far more eager and lets out an eager cry. "Well..." If he says so...! Toph presses in her knees, and the effect is immediate. Nugget loudly lets out what might be a thrilled sound, spreads her wings... and several meteors begin raining down, causing Toph to yelp and try to steer her mount /away/ from the falling objects!

Faruja (152) has posed:
Certainly the rat wouldn't have ulterior motives! Faruja's well aware of the girl's distaste for him and his Church's high level on the Fuddy-Duddy-Meter, but the position's advantages far outweight the headaches and potential risks. As long as he can keep Toph and the High Confessor miles away from one another, anyway.

"/Surely/~." Faruja can't help but prod a bit. Faram bless it, but kids can be cute!

"Correct! Come now, doth not hold back dear Nug...OH FARAM, 'TIS DEATH BY IRONY!"

Oh yes, this was a bad idea. Faruja swerves away from one falling rock of doom, only to be confronted by another. A blast of gravity has the rat very nearly thrown from his saddle, but keeps rider and chocobo alike from getting squished! No, this time Toph is all on her lonesome, as the rat neatly tries to negotiate death.

When it ends? Faruja is panting, and riding towards Toph. "Art ye alright, Toph!? How is Nugget? By Ajora's knickers, we /truly/ needst to teach that bird control and fine..." Pause. He looks to Toph, then to Nugget.

"Well. At least I truly picked a fitting bird. What say we call a break for the moment?" Faruja slumps a bit in his saddle. Whuh.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Oh holy /shit/!

    Toph yelps when Nugget works on avoiding the falling meteors. Sure, the bird isn't worried, just annoyed when Toph tries to steer her to and fro. She summoned them, she knows where they are coming! All in all it's a rather loud and messy situation, though somehow it seems that both rider and mount make it through the field alive and unharmed, though Toph looks rather tense for once.

    "I.... I am fine," Toph admits. Nugget lets out a frustrated sound, her feathers a bit ruffled as she is ordered to stop by Toph pulling on the reigns. "Fitting bird?!" Toph asks with a sigh. "She's a bit enthusiastic, don't you think?" Nopes. The irony doesn't strike her at all.

    The call for a break does sound tempting. So she nods. "Yeah... I really need a break now!"

Faruja (152) has posed:
With a sigh of relief, the rat nods, and dismounts. Reaching to the pack on the side of his own bird, he pulls out a basket and beach towel. Laying it out, he's quick to set food for the both of him.

"Mayhaps one day ye might be able to put both thine own talents, and Nugget's to use. Whom knows, it may well save the both of ye." Shrug. Faruja sips upon tea. Ahhh.

"To many, many more lessons in the future." Grin! He raises the tea cup.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Bringing Nugget to a halt, Toph holds onto the reigns before she jumps off of the chocobo, leaving the bird with some slightly poofed up feathers in annoyance. Though Toph herself looks far happier back on the ground. "Aaah, solid ground!" she exhales, digging her toes into the ground and the grass before she walks over to flop down next to the towel and the food on it.

    Though the comment that she might be able to use her talents and Nugget's in combination like that? Now that earns a disdainful snort from the blind girl, even as she reaches out for whatever food the rat brought with him. And while he grins and makes a toast to more lessons? Toph shrugs. "If you guys have your way I will be spending more time learning stuff instead of doing something /useful/." Reading, swimming, guqin, riding... what's next?

Faruja (152) has posed:
Faruja holds out a small package of greens towards Toph, tapping on it as he sets it on the ground near her. "For our dear, energetic young friend there." Gysahl greens! The good stuff, too. The Burmecian sets about sipping tea and feeding his own bird, who soon toddles off a few feet to munch away.

It happens to be sandwiches! Ham, turkey, and tomatoes. There's also a few rice dishes.

"More comfortable now, hmm? Well done. Methinks we both shall hath a story after today!"

Nom! Ahh, good food. He can appreciate it now that his heartbeat isn't triple it's normal. Faruja's nto used to being on the receiving end of meteors, chocobo related or not.

"My dear, there is rarely a shortage of /that/ to do. Enjoy possessing the luxury of...well, I shall spare ye the 'ye art lucky to hath the opportunity' speech, but ye get the point. One day ye shall be /pining/ for carefree days." Pause. He looks Toph over, then chuckles.

"Or mayhaps not! Some grow into their professions."

Tony Stark (301) has posed:
As Toph wriggles her toes in the earth and flops, she might feel the trotting footsteps of another, large chocobo. Not that this is really unusual for this area. But the trotting steps lead on a beeline toward the little picnic, and there's a faint jingle of harness as the rider pulls up. "I see I got here just in time," Tony's voice emits amusedly from high up on Cuddles' back. His steed paws the ground restlessly and sidesteps as Stark tosses a satchel down onto the grass nearby.

"Take it easy," he mutters to the big red bird, and then to girl and rat again, "I brought dessert. Don't worry, I didn't bake them." The smell of rich chocolate cookies wafts from the bag.

"So!" Tony tries to swing gracefully down from the saddle, but another sidestep from Cuddles has him getting his foot caught momentarily in the stirrup, and he has to hop awkwardly after her to free it before stumbling to the ground. At least he doesn't fall on his ass. It's a very nice ass and it would be a shame to bruise it. He gives Cuddles a chiding slap on the shoulder, but the chocobo is more interested in Faruja's mount's greens. "Hey, stop it, you have your own! C'mon, over here." He fishes some of the large smelly turnip-like plants out of a saddlebag and lures her away to munch without molesting the others.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "Hmmm?" The item that Faruja taps on catches her attention, and she picks it up. Immediately Nugget is there, making hungry sounds and making her interest in the tasty plants known. "Yeah yeah, calm down, feather brain!" Toph laughs, then gives the food to her mount before she herself grabs a sandwich. And she isn't slow to start eating on it. "I dunno how story worthy this is, though." Nopes, she's not going to tell of what happened today. Why should she? It's just lessons. It's hardly like she reports on the progress of her lessons to various people all the time.

    Though she does blink when she realizes that somebody is riding towards them, and she sits up, eyes widening as she recognizes who it is. "Goldie?" And there he goes calling out to them, the sound of Cuddles' harness a familiar sound. "What are /you/ doing here?" she asks, arching an eyebrow. Though she seems pleased at his declaration that he brought tasty treats. "If you had baked them, the kitchen would be a mess and Pepper would have grounded you," the blind girl jokes with a grin. "You finally done with all that work?"

    Faruja's words are as always quite wordy, and Toph snorts. "I have had the opportunity for many things I didn't care for. And spare me the speeches, I've had quite enough of them lately," Toph grumbles a bit even as she eats. "I just want to keep on fighting, do my bending, work with the Union, all that stuff..." When Tony has some troubles getting out of the saddle with his foot caught in the stirrup, she snorts. "You sure /he/ doesn't need riding lessons more than me...?"

Faruja (152) has posed:
Suddenly, Tony! Faruja slowly grins. "Ahh, but ye missed the most exciting part Ser Stark! Come, Toph, shall we re-enact our little display for thine dear commanding officer, hmm?" The rat prods gently. He's almost used up his teasing quota, after all!

The Burmecian's single eye watches Tony thoughtfully, appraising his technique. It's not that bad. Until he gets caught in the stirrup. There's a light frown, perhaps akin to a schoolteacher seeing a particularly promising student screw up.

"Mmm. Methinks ye both require them on a regular basis. Which is fortuitous, learning with others is most enlightening, or so I find. I must admit, ye take to mounting far better. However, as for /riding/..." Faruja says to Toph, with a shake of the head. Yup, this was a terrible idea. Still, Faruja can't help but feel satisfied.

Sniff. Sniff sniff. Faruja's two ears perk up, even as his chocobo does much the same.

"Ser Stark, ye art a knight and an ecclesiarch!" The rat soon slides those cookies closer to the center of the blanket. There's plenty of room for everyone who isn't a chocobo.

"Come, please, join us!" Offers the rat invitingly, already getting some tea for the man.

As for Toph's wants?

"And so ye shall do so. Well...right enough speeches." The Burmecian looks like he's visibly restraining himself, mostly by devouring sandwich.

Swallowing, he looks to Tony. "Nay rest for the wicked, hmm?" Everyone's busy it seems! Faruja tries not to imagine the paperwork piling up on his desk right now.

Tony Stark (301) has posed:
"Done with all my homework for the day, Mom," Tony replies proudly, and returns to the blanket once Cuddles is happily engaged in her food. He walks a little stiffly, stretching his ankle on the side that got caught in the stirrup. "And hey. I learned on horses. And that was thirty years ago. I think I'm doing okay. Considering you gave me a nightmare hellbeast to ride.

To the side, Cuddles lifts her head mid-chew, as if sensing she is being spoken off, and wa~arks.

"The cookies are from Giorgio's," he states a little defensively. "I wouldn't inflict my attempts at baking on you. Or the kitchen. Or Pepper, since she'd probably be the one to find it afterward. Ooh, turkey." Tony folds himself down onto the blanket and grabs for a sandwich, even though he hasn't done any hard riding to earn it.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Reenact that? Toph narrows her eyes dangerously, and she reaches out to /slam/ her fist into the rat's arm. "Then you be me and try riding that damn bird!" she dares him with a snort.

    Nightmare hellbeast to ride? Well, that does kinda describe Cuddles rather well, right? Toph can't help but grin at that, and she sits more upright so she can grab some tea. As for the cookies, she blinks. "Oh, that place where they have all those tasty treats?!" All right! She will have to stop by there later! Once the paparazzi leave her alone, anyway. "And hey, at least you're not as messy as me, right?" Who can forget what the kitchen looked like when she made breakfast for Tony and Pepper on his birthday? Toph sips some tea, then sighs slightly when Faruja insists on more riding lessons. "Seriously? But I'm still not caught up on my reading lessons, you should hear Jarvis!" It does seem to be the classes that they are most insistant on. Not to mention the classes she's been taking the longest.

    As for Faruja referring to Tony in such a manner? Or somebody else, she doesn't care. "He's not perfect, but I wouldn't call him 'wicked', Twitchy..."

Faruja (152) has posed:
Tony gets a good, disapproving squint from the rat! "A touch impious...if accurate." Faruja looks to Cuddles. Some war-birds are just like that!

Faruja makes a mental note to get more of these Giorgio's cookies after taking one bite. And devouring it in about three. Having rat-teeth makes quick work of most anything edible.

"Better as poison than food, hmm?" Smirk!

Squeak! Faruja rubs his arm. Never let it be said that Toph Beifong is a weak girl.

"Ow! Bloody.../Fah/!" Mutter mutter mutter! His tail promptly bonks her atop the head. Truly, the picture of maturity here.

An ear tilts as he considers. "Mmm. Reading /is/ paramount." The rat says severely.

A glance to Tony. "Yes, methinks reading lessons aught progress first. I am sure ye both know mine feelings on education and literature by now, and thus, Lord be praised, ye art spared more of mine loquacious tongue."

"'Tis a figure of speech, mine dear. One fit for a man, whom, methinks works far too oft. Something of an affliction amongst Elite, or so I hath seen. It may well be catching!"

The rat's ear perks, and bowing to the two, he steps away. He has a quiet conversation into his linkshell, the rat returning with a scowl.

"Speaking of, duty calls. Mine apologies, Ser Stark, Toph. Carry on in mine stead, for the Lord's work is never done!" With that? Faruja cheats horribly by teleporting atop his chocobo.

"Save me a sandwich!" Flick! Off rider and chocobo go to fight the Good!? Fight.

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    As Faruja's tail swats her over the head Toph lets out a yelp, then frowns. "I didn't hit you in the head!" she protests loudly with a displeased look on her face. Back her up here, Tony! But the rat and the blind girl are both stubborn and rather different, that should be clear. And damn right he better not call Toph weak!

    Reading and writing might be boring, and Toph does sometimes wish she was allowed to focus on video reports. But then Jarvis would whine and nag, and since she lives in Malibu officially now, then she would never heard the end of it, right? Sure, she knows just what Faruja thinks, which should be clear with the snort she gives as she flops back down, resting one leg over the other as she gets comfy before eating. "Goldie? Working too much? I think Pepper would tell you differently," she smirks. Oh yes, she knows how Tony prefers to work on his own projects. But at least she's only half joking, since Tony will work if it's important.

    There's some surprise when Faruja gets the conversation on his linkshell, and she turns her head. "Work, huh?" Unlike Tony, Faruja really seems to work too much at times. Though when he /cheats/ and uses magic to get into the saddle, she frowns. "And here you won't let me use /bending/ to get mounted?" she demands, looking slightly annoyed. Just for that she's going to finish up the sandwiches! Oh well. Turning her attention to Tony next, she musters up what she hopes is a puppyeyed look. "Do I /have/ to do more riding lessons today?" Sure, Nugget has gotten a saddle and harness, but the chocobo still needs to get used to things, right? And her butt is still hurting from when she was thrown off earlier!

Tony Stark (301) has posed:
"Oh, you poor thing. Forced to have riding lessons on your very own chocobo," Tony teases, licking his fingers and arching an eyebrow in mild surprise himself at Faruja's cheat-teleportation. "Well, I figured I'd ride with you on the way home, but if you really want to walk, that's your call. People can just think I'm your mean old father making you lead his pack-chocobo back to the mansion while he rides."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    "Hey, I never asked to learn how to ride!" Toph protests with a sigh. Then her expression goes a bit more serious. "I... can't really see what's on the ground. I can feel that the ground is there, but if I'm not touching it, I can't tell where everything is..." Just how is she supposed to steer effectively if she can't see? "Maybe if Nugget actually knew how to do this, but she's never been a mount before."

    "What, you mean they won't think I'm the savage help helping the rich white man?" she jests. Though she kinda gets his point. And well, she can trust Tony, right? So she sighs yet again and picks up a cookie to munch on it. "If you ride first, evade all the bumps so Nugget can follow after you... I guess it would be okay."

    Having finished her greens already, Nugget walks up to Cuddles and lets out an inquisitive sound. All before she leans close to the greens. Care to share those?

Tony Stark (301) has posed:
Cuddles does NOT care to share, and snaps her beak and ruffles up her feathers in a dominance display as a warning to Nugget. Tony keeps one eye on the big birds as he munches on a cookie himself. "Yeah, maybe if we're like your seeing-eye chocobo Nugget can get the hang of things. I wish there were something I could techno-magic you up to be able to see on her back, but I can't think of any way to keep your feet in touch with the ground without... well, getting off the bird. But you know, the more you get in tune with your mount the more you can feel through them. Mom used to be able to guide her horse around with such tiny signals you couldn't even see 'em. Maybe if you start to feel out Nugget more, you'll be able to feel the ground beneath her too."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    Nugget lets out a startled sound and backs off, knowing fully well what Cuddles means by that. And since she's about full grown, it's not so weird that Cuddles doesn't give the younger chocobo much leeway anymore.

    As for Tony's comment and suggestions? Toph breathes through her nose even as she finishes up the cookie and grabs another. "Vibrations don't travel as well through non-earthen stuff for me," she informs him. "If that were the case, I would know what was going on if people carried me, if I was sitting up in a tree or something... Faruja doesn't seem to understand." It's easy for him to tell her to observe stuff when she can't see a thing without her feet or hands touching the ground! "I mean, it /might/ be useful, but I can't imagine how I'm supposed to ride her without help." And she doesn't want help all the time, she prefers being independent!

    Either way, she finishes up her tea and food, and she begins cleaning up since Faruja didn't seem to have time for that. "Maybe she'll learn to actually stay on even ground. And away from cliffs and water."

Tony Stark (301) has posed:
"She's not dumb," Tony observes, as Nugget wisely leaves Cuddles to her food. He fails to offer to help with the cleanup, prefering instead to watch the big animals. "If dogs and horses can be trained to compensate for a blind owner, why not a chocobo? Maybe she just needs an experienced rider to train HER first, and then she can help you out more."

Toph Beifong (20) has posed:
    That... is not a bad idea. "Huh, that might actually work.. Auron knows a lot about chocobos, doesn't he?" There's an idea. Why didn't Faruja suggest that? "I'll have to talk with him later then," Toph decides with a firm nod of her head. Soon enough the things are cleared up, and she hands the wrapped bag to Tony, unceremoniously dropping it into his lap. "Let's get back, I woke up early today and I would like to get /some/ sleep!"

    With that said she whistles for Nugget, who lets out a curious sound before she walks back to Toph, who erects an earthen pillar so she can easily get seated in the saddle. "Lead the way, I'm tired of trying to keep Nugget going." Perhaps it's because Faruja isn't here that she actually allows herself to depend on Tony for this. And hey, if she's really going to ride, she will need to follow somebody who can actually see. At least until Nugget knows how to move with a blind rider on her back.