12685/Games Birds Still Play

Games Birds Still Play
Date of Scene:	05 September 2022
Location:	Clan Káeh qihár field, Kyshán
Synopsis:	Titans rock at birdball.  Terry's aim with glitter sucks.
Cast of Characters:	Kian, Gar Logan, Michael Hannigan, Terry O'Neil

---

Kian has posed:
    Upon first arrival on Kyshán, Kían had presented Terry with a new wingset, in red, so that he'd have a set to wear while here, and besides, red was the color he chose in dreams.
    Everyone else he let stew for about a day, worrying about Glitter From Above and whatever other mayhem Terry could get up to while in flight.  And then he revealed he had wingsets for all his guests, although all the others were in gray… and Kaida was sadly left out, because no one had ever engineered a wingset that small.
    Yet.  Kían has already sent out the correct measurements to fit one heroic mouse, so next time!
    So now that everyone has a couple days practice under their belts, it's time to play qihár.  In order to keep things fair, Kían and Gar are going to play on the Titans' side, so that they've got some players who've done this before.  It's just a quick four-on-four pickup game, although they were able to get the clan's playing space for it.  Turns out there are benefits to being a Rhyták, all you have to do is ask nice.
    Lined up against: Kála, of course, the clan team's coach.  Kían's sister Shíri, and friends Áre and Raká.
    Kían for his part has to take up the role of coach on the Titans' side.  "It's very easy; Gar has played before—and I want you to be a hunter this time, you definitely have the moves for it."  He goes down the line, checking the ribbons clamped to each players' belt—bright lemon yellow.  Kála's team are sporting bright neon blue.  "Mike, Téri, you will be blockers.  Just try to herd their hunters away from your teammates, or herd their players towards me an' Gar so we can try to score.  No physical contact," he says firmly and clearly.  "An accidental touch while grabbing a ribbon is fine, but a body slam is not."
    Look up… look way up… there is a large space defined by eight hovering drones.  That's the playing field.  Here, closer to ground level, is a net, in case one of the field guards can't catch anyone in time—although Kian says he's never seen a field guard miss.
    "If you lose both your ribbons, you're out an' must leave the field.  Also—" and Kian points at Terry and Mike, "—even though your job iss not to catch ribbons, if you find you can, do it.  The game iss over when one side is eliminated, or concedes."
    There is a small crowd—mainly family and friends—although the playfield drones will catch all the action in 3D and Kían expects to get asked to allow the footage to be shown, since it's the first match involving non-Akiár to be played on their world.

Gar Logan has posed:
    It's no surprise Gar has taken his Akiar form for this.  Since arriving, he's been one almost exclusively.  It makes communicating with Kian and his people much simpler.  "Aww yiss.  I mean, oh yeah.  I was born to be a Hunter," he says, rubbing his three-fingered hands together as his wings spread out so he can buzz past Kala with a smile for her.  "I'm coming for you," he says, swooping around in a loop before returning back to his team's side.
    "Let's show them how we do it Titans Style… plus friend," he tells his teammates once he's back over with them, including Mike as one of the two with their wingsets.  All the ribbons look to be in proper order.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
    Mike was a bit tired today.  The reasons of which will not be discussed but—he was tired.  Possibly exhausted.  Although, one might point out the key word in that statement is 'was'.
    So what was it that managed to kick that looming cloud of fatigue to the curb to provide the rocker the much needed energy today?  Why it was the opportunity to goof around, play a new sport, and fly in a way he hasn't been able to do on his own before.
    The musician is not currently phantasmed or shifted in any shape or manner but there is a pair of gray wings resting upon his back being held in place by some straps.  Due to the warm temperatures and the fact they're going to be moving around a lot, Mike has forgone the shirt and his hair has been secured in a ponytail.
    The wearable wings shift as the musician rotates his body a bit to look to Kian during the instructions.  He's got to admit that the device so far has been pretty alright to use.  It's more or less picked up on his thought process when he's out being all raven or dragon like.  Mike smiles to Kian.  Likely the brightest expression he's had all trip.  "Got it!" he assures.
    Well the instructions at least.  Let's see how it plays out.

Terry O'Neil has posed:
    "A cat herding birds?"  Vorpal grins.  "I can believe that."  He isn't preening, that's what Gar does, but… he probably would preen a little with how fancy the red wingset looks on him.  He is dressed in the Akiar fashion, because When In Rome—and it's easier to deal with the heat outside, when you're covered in fur.
    He swoops upwards, and there is a quick glitter-toss to mark his ascent.
    "Eyes up here, Logan," he teases Gar, flying close to him before veering off.  "You can flirt with the opposition later, right now we're doing serious business!"
    Meanwhile, in the audience, Agatha says to one of Kian's moms, "—Kian said they might have enough wingsets for me to join in next time.  It's a pity.  It looks like an interesting game."
    You have been spared.

Kian has posed:
    "We've got one other advantage—we're the only ones who speak English, so we can talk in the clear and as long as Gar and I are careful about keepin' our minds quiet, they can't even get a hint about what we're up to."  Kían talking strategically?  That's what qihár does for a birdman.
    A siren goes off, and Kían looks up sharply.  "That's the signal.  Gar, you take the left corner straight up, I'll go to the right, Mike and Terry I want you in the center below us, and when the signal goes, come up a little ways to give us some cover, we'll be able to get around you when we need to.  And Terry: no magic, no glitter, no Rabbit Holes, this is just you and your natural agility, and I know you have plenty of that."
    No comments, anybody.
    Kían stops halfway up to confer briefly with Kála—the team captains will normally do that at the start of a game—and then with a casual wingflick he's taken up his position at the upper right corner of the playing space.
    Before the starting horn goes, he 'sends privately to Gar, {Kála says, and I quote, "Good luck, pretty green bird, you're going to need it."}

Gar Logan has posed:
    Gar Logan sticks his tongue out at Vorpal, then flashes Kian a grin that he sends further in Kala's direction before speaking aloud.  "She's welcome to talk, but I've learned a few of her moves."
    No comments, anybody.
    He angles toward the side Kian calls for him, measuring the field as he notes the pair of Hunters (Kala and Shiri) and the Blockers (Are and Raka).  {You know I'm going after one of her ribbons.} he tells Kian privately.  {Hopefully our new fliers can block well.}

Michael Hannigan has posed:
    Mike looks over to Terry as he's warned off of the magic, glitter, and rabbit holes.  The musician gives a bit of a grin at Kian's stated expertise on Terry's agility but, he makes no comments on it.  Beyond the smile.
    "Got it," Mike responds to Kian regarding what he's asking him to do.  He flies into position, waiting for the signal.

Terry O'Neil has posed:
    "Glitter is not a power," Terry says with all seriousness, "It is a lifestyle.  But I will refrain.  Until someone really asks for it!"
    On the opposite camp, he spots Raka, and the Cheshire cat raises his eyebrows.  Playing in a match against your boyfriend's ex-boyfriend on Earth would be a little weird.  The Akiar do things differently, here.  Still, he doesn't know what the proper etiquette is for these things, so he simply throws a wave in Raka's direction and a grin, and maneuvers to his spot.

Kian has posed:
    {Just don't underestimate her!} Kian warns… and then the starting horn blows and Kían is off like a shot, straight down, then left, then back to the right, aiming to cross between the two opposing blockers.
    Raká returns Terry's wave and grin with one each of his own—and then shoots upward on the assumption that Kían is going to cut across the top to get at Kála.  Oops.
    Kála was actually going to do the same maneuver as Kían, which sets up a potential collision in the center of the field.  Both break off their attacks; too early in the game to get over-aggressive.
    Shíri and Áre have teamed up, Áre flying just a little below and ahead of Kían's sister, and they seem to be taking their time choosing a target.
    The safety net, which seemed vast from the ground, looks uselessly small from way up here.  Probably a good idea to not look down.

Gar Logan has posed:
    There is immediate action as Kian zips ahead, Kala does about the same, and they head in opposite directions.  With a Hunter and Blocker on the other side moving more in tandem, Gar takes note of Raka and his proximity to Kala.  "Vorpal, why don't you play with your friend for a sec.  I have a plan."
    The warning from Kian is heeded as he sends back to him, {Maybe she's the one who shouldn't be underestimating me!  I'm more than just a pretty green bird!  Remember who I learned this from!}  He seeks to allow Vorpal to help run a little interference for him, showing off his own speed and agility in the air by looping and darting unpredictably so as to throw off any efforts to track his path more easily.
    Then he pulls a sharp angle to pass closer to Kala, already making a grab at one of her ribbons as his flutter along with his own path.

<DICE ROLLER> Gar Logan rolled 1d20 <18> + 0 = 18
<DICE ROLLER> Kála rolled 1d20 <9> + 0 = 9

Michael Hannigan has posed:
    "And like fur it gets all over everything," Mike adds in, glancing across the field to look to the players on the opposite side of the field, smile still on his face as he takes a deep breath of fresh air.
    Upon the signal, Mike flies upwards a little in order to act in accordance to the Blocker role.  And then a thought comes to mind.
    Who blocks for who?
    When Gar shouts out something towards Terry, Mike matches them up on the field.  Which leaves—
    Mike follows with Kian.  With the two captains altering their paths slightly, Mike ends up having to adjust his flight.  As he is used to flying like a raven that involves him essentially making a partial backflip mixed with a bit of a corkscrew maneuver.  Which, IN MIKE'S MIND he has done plenty of times.
    But his sense of touch is still kind of weirded out with the sudden changes with the the direction the breeze from flying is coming in.
    Mike blinks, adjusting his flight to keep with Kian.

Terry O'Neil has posed:
    Vorpal smirks at Gar's wording.  "You make it sound terrible, Gar.  Good job."
    He shoots upwards after Raka takes off, since Gar has asked him to run interference with him.  The Cheshire cat maneuvers to stay directly under him and staying just far enough away—he figures Raka has to change trajectory soon, and he is hoping he can reach out towards Raka's belt when he does when the change happens and yoink himself a ribbon for his troubles.  Of course, his luck is such that this could all backfire horribly because Raka decides to dive back down and thus enter a collision with the Cheshire Cat.
    Surely that won't happen.
    Right?

<DICE ROLLER> Terry O'Neil rolled 1d20 <11> + 0 = 11
<DICE ROLLER> Raká rolled 1d20 <2> + 0 = 2

Kian has posed:
    Twin cries of "Kya!" go up from the field.
    One is from Kála, who just stares at Gar for a moment before her face settles into a dangerously determined look.  Rather than risk the mindtouch and accidentally giving away her strategies, she calls something in Akiár'shak, which Kian translates to English: "She says she's—"  This is where he spots Agatha among the spectators.  "—going to get you for that."  Suffice to say it's not an exact translation, but it carries the meaning.
    The other "Kya!" was from Raka, who looks absolutely flummoxed at being down a ribbon, especially since it's in the paw of an Earth cat and not an Akiár.  "RAKÁ!"  It's Kála's voice, loud and peremptory, and the rest of it is evidently handled telepathically.
    "She iss going to work him into the ground for that," Kían remarks on a pass by Terry… and laughs, then stoops to the attack on Áre, who's paying just a little too much attention to Ráka getting chewed out.

<DICE ROLLER> Kían rolled 1d20 <1> + 0 = 1
<DICE ROLLER> Áre rolled 1d20 <19> + 0 = 19

Michael Hannigan has posed:
    Encouraged by the Kya surround sound, Mike shoots up.  While Kian goes for Are, Mike can't very well get between the two so he ends up spinning around, moving to the other side of Are.  And, well since it's there and they're going to be focusing on one or the other—he grabs for the other flag.

<DICE ROLLER> Michael Hannigan rolled 1d20 <20> + 0 = 20
<DICE ROLLER> Áre rolled 1d20 <16> + 0 = 16

Gar Logan has posed:
    Gar Logan waves one of those neon blue ribbons, Kala now down to one after staking his claim to it.  Any counter in the process happens without success.  "Oh, I'm sure she will," he calls back to Kian.  "But she'll have to be more specific about how!"  He flicks a wing in the direction of the qihar coach, then lets out a cheer of his own as Vorpal snags a ribbon as well.  "Nice!  Just don't get distracted by it!"
    Problem is, Kian's in a bit of a bind as well.  Either his pass is miscalculated, Are counters well, or… it's just all wrong, because rather than Kian getting a blue one, it's Are who ends up with a lemon yellow in hand, and somehow just barely misses scoring both at once!  {Hey!  Head in the game!} he sends to Kian, trusting Vorpal to keep up as he shifts course in making a run past Are himself.  Mike picks the same time for a shot of his own.  Will Are survive it, as Gar sweeps past on the other side?

<DICE ROLLER> Gar Logan rolled 1d20 <12> + 0 = 12
<DICE ROLLER> Áre rolled 1d20 <11> + 0 = 11

Terry O'Neil has posed:
    Vorpal is not getting distracted by his win.  Rather, he drops away, letting gravity claim him before swooping back and away so he can get a better view of the field and potential threats.  Kian's botched assault is about to be avenged by Gar, so there is no need to be reckless on his part.  As he surveys the field, he has a brief stirring of an impulse to blast off and come for Kala—but it's minor enough that he can ignore it.  For now.  While it would certainly be a chaotic and unexpected move to make, this is Kala, she is extremely skilled.  That would be a terrible decision to make.
    So he doesn't make it.
    For now.
    He remains surveying the field, playing lookout while Mike makes his move.

Kian has posed:
    Kían did not notice losing a ribbon, nor being avenged immediately—it takes a moment to rid himself of the bug that flew up his nose.  By the time he clears his head enough to mentally call a time-out, it's all over with and Áre is leaving the field and Kían signals that the time-out is no longer needed.
    He wheels about as if getting his bearings… and then dives at Shíri, who's still laughing.
    Raká tries to get around Mike's side to edge him towards one of the light-walls and cut off his options for movement, pushing him generally in Shíri's direction.
    And Kalá launches a top speed diving attack on Gar.  Well, that was bound to happen sooner or later.

<DICE ROLLER> Kían rolled 1d20 <8> + 0 = 8
<DICE ROLLER> Shíri rolled 1d20 <6> + 0 = 6

<DICE ROLLER> Raká rolled 1d20 <9> + 0 = 9
<DICE ROLLER> Michael Hannigan rolled 1d20 <11> + 0 = 11

<DICE ROLLER> Kála rolled 1d20 <11> + 0 = 11
<DICE ROLLER> Gar Logan rolled 1d20 <2> + 0 = 2

Gar Logan has posed:
    Though the playing field is entirely aerial, with no physical obstacles save other fliers themselves, the boundaries can lead to some dicey situations along with making it difficult to tell where everyone is all the time.  Qihar can get hectic.
    Gar loses sight of Kala long enough for it to turn into a mistake, and by the time he has a chance to realize it Kala's returned the favor and claimed one of his ribbons.  This leads to a very Akiar-esque "Kya!" out of him.
    But, lest he allow her the chance to gain momentum, he pauses in place before charging after her, simply trying to speed up to reach the skilled coach while working to match whatever moves she tries to put on him.  Fingers wiggle as he cuts a closer angle….

<DICE ROLLER> Gar Logan rolled 1d20 <20> + 0 = 20
<DICE ROLLER> Kála rolled 1d20 <5> + 0 = 5

Michael Hannigan has posed:
<DICE ROLLER> Michael Hannigan rolled 1d20 <13> + 0 = 13
<DICE ROLLER> Raká rolled 1d20 <8> + 0 = 8

    Blue flag in hand, Mike does a loop, routing his path to where he's below Kian again to try and block.
    With the last interaction, a general strategy forms in mind.  Blocking is hard.  When there's only one person around you can't very well do a block when the hunter's mid-strike.  It interferes with the hunter.  But there's the possibility of another getting involved so you still need to maintain a close proximity.  So it seems the best way to 'Block' would be to do something like what was done if there's only one person in the immediate area.  But if there is two then he should keep the second from getting involved.
    The glimpse of Kian approaching Shiri has Mike about ready to follow when Raka shows up to… drive him towards the one he was planning to fly towards?  Okay.  As he starts to get crowded by Raka, his wings stop, causing for him to plummet out of his boxing maneuver.  As he falls, he grabs Raka's remaining flag on the way down.
    If Madison were watching this, there'd probably be references to Return of the Jedi by now.  Someone needs to sit Mike down to watch it sometime.

Terry O'Neil has posed:
<DICE ROLLER> Terry O'Neil rolled 1d20 <11> + 0 = 11
<DICE ROLLER> Shíri rolled 1d20 <19> + 0 = 19

    Up there, in the sky!  Is it a bird?  Is it a plane?  No, It's Super Vorpal!
    Seriously, though, have you ever thought about what the hell was going on in the mind of the over-excitable sap who was losing his mind over a bird in the sky?
    But we digress.  Suffice to say that Terry saw an opportunity with Shiri and tried to do his best dive-bomber imitation in order to take advantage of it.  He cuts through the air like a knife, and… grasps at the ribbon like a flailing moron and completely blows it, coming up with a hand full of air and no ribbon!
    "Aw, fucknuggets!" he lets out.
    And out from the audience, a piercing voice: "TERRY!"
    "Sorrymom!"

Kian has posed:
    Kían's go at his sister's ribbon isn't up to his usual standards… but it doesn't need to be, since she's still laughing at his encounter with an insect, and doesn't realize until he's already taken it that she's down to one.  He says something in his language, and anyone who guesses it was «Who's laughing now, huh?» gets no points for being correct because it's so completely obvious.
    «Shíri!  ...ai, QOKH!»
    Guess who just noticed her last ribbon dangling from Gar's clutches?  Again, birdspeak between herself and Kían, and again, Kían translates, this time with a snicker: "She says you're going to have to make this indignity up to her, and she has some suggestions."
    And just like that, it's four Titans against one Akiár.  And for the first time, Shíri looks concerned that this just might not go the birds' way.  She says something that has the cadence and emotion of, "Ohhhhhh, shit…."
    "Let's give Kála a chance to concede," Kían advises his team, "but stay sharp.  She might just decide on her own regardless of what her coach wants."
    Shíri has been slowly rising; Kían waves Terry to cut her off on the left, and Mike on the right, just in case.
    And then Shíri makes a desperate bolt to the right, charging Mike with everything she's got, speed-wise.

<DICE ROLLER> Shíri rolled 1d20 <4> + 0 = 4
<DICE ROLLER> Michael Hannigan rolled 1d20 <4> + 0 = 4

Gar Logan has posed:
    Gar Logan waves the second ribbon he's taken from Kala, and due to his current Akiar body he's in the proper form for a trill and a "Ki-ai!" before he calls back out to retort, "Oh, does she?  Maybe I learned better than she thought!"  Surely it can't be great for the coach to be eliminated by the pretty green bird, even if he does have that Akiar side right now.
    As for Shiri, when she decides to stay in rather than any quitting on Kala's part, he doesn't make a move for her yet.  Instead, he leaves that up to Kian to direct while he seeks to take an advantageous position to hem her in.  Even still, she makes a move that's swift, as he maneuvers to keep himself ready to react.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
    Shiri's work is cut out for her as Mike's still tumbling.  FlipFlipFlipFlip… FWWOOOSHHH.  The wings unravel once more, catching the air to stop Mike's fall suddenly, lifting him past Shiri.  Not to turn down an opportunity, there's a brushing upon the respective belts.
    Once the pair part ways, Mike's wings flap and the musician moves the third blue ribbon into the same hand as the other two, unaware of that he is down one as well.  That is until he looks down to see where Shiri is.  "Fuck."

Terry O'Neil has posed:
    The Cheshire cat smirks.  "Well… looks like my job here is done."  He shoots Raka a wink and holds up the ribbon he took from him, and ties it around his neck like the floppiest bowtie ever, "Which means… celebration time!"
    All of a sudden, the festive musical strains of 'Celebrate' by Kool & The Gang blast out of nowhere—

      Celebrate good times
      Come on!

    And a massive explosion of multicolored glitter radiates from the Cheshire cat, to signal the victory of the Titans.

Kian has posed:
    "Ki-AI!"  There's no mistaking the jubilance in Kían's voice, as he shoots straight up, executes a perfect pirouette on a wingtip, and dives straight back down…
    …into a cloud of glitter.  "ackTHFFP!!  TERRY!"
    A static pulse can get rid of the glitter in his hair and on his kilt… but anything on his skin, in his mouth, or up his nose he's stuck with.
    "I think I preferred that qokh bug!"
    And Shíri is laughing even harder than when Kían had his insect encounter earlier.

Gar Logan has posed:
    It's over, with all of Kian's team safely in the game.  A few ribbons lost, but nobody knocked out.  Gar fans his wings out in his own form of celebration, but he gets even more of the glitter directly in his path than Kian does.  The reaction is much the same… except he can't do that trick with the static, so a lot of it is sticking.  Everywhere.
    "Qokh!" he blurts, not very gracefully, using one of the ribbons to wipe at his face more than anything else.  He does at least take a shot at passing Kala to shake as much of it off on her as he can, catching her off-guard enough that he 'shares' some glitter with her as he loops around her with a wink.  {Sorry, I had to!}  Whether that's in regard to the ribbons earlier, the glittering, or both is unclear.
    Lest Vorpal be the only one to cause a song to 'play,' he breaks into one of his own:

      Ah you gotta be proud
      starin' out in the cloud
      When the odds in the game defy you

      Try your best to win them all
      and one day time will tell
      when you're the one that's standing there
      you'll reach the final bell!

      You're the best!
      Around!
      Nothing's gonna ever keep you down
      You're the Best!
      Around!
      Nothing's gonna ever keep you down
      You're the Best!
      Around!
      Nothing's gonna ever keep you down

Michael Hannigan has posed:
    As soon as Vorpal says the 'c' word, Mike's eyes widen.  "GLITTER ALERT!" he warns, shooting up higher to avoid the cloud that surrounds and trickles down to the audience below.  Once he's certain it's safe to do so, Mike lowers himself down to look to the remaining team.  "Okay, THAT was fun.  It's a lot different when you can actually feel the flying."

Terry O'Neil has posed:
    "Everyone's a critic," Vorpal says, rolling his eyes in a gesture of mock suffering.  When Gar breaks out into his solo, trying to upstage him, the Cheshire zooms over to him, looking like the cat who ate the canary.  "You're a good hunter, but a singer, Mister Logan, you are not!"
    And he takes the excuse in order to plant a celebratory kiss on Gar's lips.  He'd dip the green guy, except that you can't dip someone in flight.  He breaks the kiss and gives Gar an impish look before zooming over to Kian and doing the same.  Because how else would he celebrate, right?
    And when he touches down, he comes face to face with a glitter-covered Agatha, who looks like the city of El Dorado had just puked on her in the middle of Pride.  She gives him a look and says, looking more amused than angry, but still a little miffed:
    "Terry Aine O'Neil, what do you have to say for yourself?"
    Terry gulps and tugs on his improvised bowtie.  "No comment…."