It's a Bird, It's a Plane

[betarade_spill]

Aw, shucks. It's that large, funny-talking horse dude with the winged helmet. What's he doing with that big wooden sign? Hammering it into the ground in the Forum? And, what does it say? "FREE PIGGYBACK RIDES." He can't be serious. Who would trust this huge, jolly weirdo (even if he does clean out demons like it's his day job)? The long-snouted thief of Thor's wardrobe must be nearly seven feet tall, and he's wide enough to weigh a quarter ton!

Oh, great. He's hovering. He must really be insane to expect anyone to go FLYING with him. The 'man' looks like some kind of monster. And, is he looking this way? Too late to hide...

"Wouldst thou care to take to the sky with Beta Ray Bill?" The joy of flight is apparently worth sharing. Boy, someone must be in a good mood...

((Note: any characters taking Bill up on this offer are in danger of seriously getting their hair mussed. Horse jokes may result in one unassisted flight lesson...just one))

Comments

[brave_heart_verity]

What.

What.

No, but seriously, what the hell.

"...so that's where his shirt went."

[betarade_spill]

Oh, look, a pink-haired person with whom Bill is equally as unfamiliar. He's jolly as ever as he turns her way. A momentary glance at his own attire, and he asks, "doth thou say me yea, or nay, mine compeer?"

[brave_heart_verity]

"...what?"

She's not even going to comment on the horse man making horse sounds. "Who are you?"

[betarade_spill]

What a silly question.

He cheerfully responds, "Why, 'tis Beta Ray Bill, before thee. Whom doth thou be? Ne'er wouldst I drop thee..."

Well, he hasn't lied to her, yet.

[brave_heart_verity]

"You're not Asgardian. But." Well, look at that outfit. She's so glad his name isn't 'Thorse' or something. "Verity. Verity Willis. I didn't realize Asgardian influence extended beyond Midgard."

[betarade_spill]

The gears turning behind his unmarked eyes theorize that she doesn't seem to be Asgardian, either. Hmmmm, don't they shake hands or something on Midgard? Bill approves of this gesture. Out comes a three-fingered mitt in a white glove.

"Nay, Bill haileth not from Asgard. Though, as long as mine hand doth wield this hammer, some of Odin's influence followeth me whither I go."

[brave_heart_verity]

That is not reassuring to her, but she doesn't want to be rude (without a good reason) so sure. They can shake hands.

"That's... good for you?" Probably not, but he seems proud of it, so.

[i_amgroot]

Groot peers at the small, leafless tree Bill was hammering on, before turning a curious look to the horse himself. "I am Groot?"

[betarade_spill]

Well, what do you know? A tree person!

"Ho, Groot. Thou art well met. I be Beta Ray Bill."

And they say Bill has tree-trunks for arms...

[i_amgroot]

They can compare! Such a genial greeting earns a smile from the great tree. "I am Groot!"

[betarade_spill]

Though he's a bit unsure of why the tree-man is repeating himself, he knows (and cherishes) friendliness when he encounters it. Bill was fond of the gesture he'd learned on Earth, the shaking of hands, so he stuck out his open palm with its three-fingers.

"The sky beckons thee, Groot. Ne'er wouldst I drop thee!"

[i_amgroot]

Groot beams, his hand wrapping around Bill's for an enthusiastic shake. He, too, likes this Earth custom, and goes to it with gusto. "I am Groot!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNOpjU6yWYQ

[betarade_spill]

A MORE VIGOROUS HANDSHAKE WAS NEVER MADE.

Bill is noticing a pattern of speech, with Groot. At least there's no ambiguity about who the tree-man is!

"Shall we soar, mine compeer?"

[rogueinladysclothing]

People who are part human and part animal, or all animal but with the ability to think and speak like humans, still make the rogue who appears on the Forum quite uneasy. Hopefully he doesn't think that's the reason for all the weapons and armor she's wearing. In reality, that's just how she walks around most days. The question is intriguing, though.

"You mean to say you can fly? As in..." She points up toward the sky as if to finish the thought. "I'm afraid I don't know what a "piggyback ride" is, but I assume it relates to flying?"

Poor thing. She doesn't fully know what she's getting herself into by considering Bill's offer, but that doesn't stop the curiosity, or the desire to fly. Again.

[betarade_spill]

If she knew it, the good news would be that Bill is 100% alien, 0% animal. If she knew it. The cyborg alien thunderer apparent-horse-man scrunched up his face a bit, thinking about the term 'piggyback.' She does seem rather heavily armed, even to a warrior, but who's to say what kinds of threats she's prepared for?

"Aye; ne'er wouldst Bill drop thee," he says. "I knoweth not why a...piggy's back...represents such a way of one hoisting another, but. This tongue be not mine."

At least this isn't the first step in some long, elaborate scheme to steal people's souls.

[rogueinladysclothing]

Depends on the day, really. Today? Everything. Rapier, gauche, daggers, slingshot - this girl has it all. And that's not even counting all the fun things she has hiding in her pouches, of course.

Thank goodness for that. Soul stealing is not on her list of things she wants to go through. Ever.

"Not mine either. My world doesn't have such a term." She hesitates for a moment then asks, "What would you like in return for taking me into the sky?"

[betarade_spill]

Well then. Maybe the lady rogue can appreciate the ornate hammer Bill seems to hold with reverence. There was a certain respect she might be able to feel, from the old warrior, because he could appreciate being prepared for anything. All he needed was his enchanted hammer, though, to feel secure.

Bill cants his head at her, as if the concept of a favor for a favor hadn't crossed his mind. "Verily, m'lady. Thou must promise to enjoy it." It apparently gives Bill joy, to give joy.

[rogueinladysclothing]

The hammer is exquisite. Even without a blacksmith's eye she can tell her blacksmith friends back home would love to get their hands on it. Especially the stout dwarf with a fondness for hammers to go along with his shield when he charges into battle.

She raises an eyebrow at his response. "Really? That's it?" Where she comes from, everything is done in trade. Even if the other half of the trade happens later, there's always a trade.

[betarade_spill]

There are many who'd like to wield Stormbreaker, but few who can lift it. So, he senses that she doesn't quite believe him. He'd encountered this before, and had a simple solution.

"Actually, if thou knoweth a recipe for lizard, Bill would feel greatly indebted to thee to taste it..."

...The man's appetite for reptiles is truly incomparable.

[sumarusfinest]

OH hey, it's that vaguely demon looking guy from the fight with all the demons. It's good to know he's doing well at least. Officer Suou watches him work and can't help but chuckle at the being's antics.

"You seem to be quite pleased. I'm glad to see you well."

[betarade_spill]

Oh, hey, it's that brave man who fights demons despite the fact he can't fly through Wendigos on demand! Have a hearty handshake from the last son of Korbin!

"Ho, stranger, 'tis Bill who be pleased to see thou art still whole."

[sumarusfinest]

For such a skinny human, he has a firm handshake. Hidden strengths. Literally. Whatever a son of Korbin is.

It's this lumbering guy shaking his hand. Not a helpful description but not an unwelcome gesture by any means! See? He's smiling even.

"Whole and even mostly functional." Katsuya affirms. "Why the uhm...? He gestures to the sign and tries again. "New hobby? ..Why?"

[betarade_spill]

Bill lowers his snout at the skinny man, like he has a secret he's about to share. "Hast thou ever zoomed betwixt the clouds with naught to hold thee aloft?" Well, they probably didn't teach Katsuya this particular form of English. This should be interesting.

[sumarusfinest]

No. No they did not.

"I'm sorry? Have I ever..." He points up. "Flown? Outside a plane? I've been pushed out of a burning blimp and into the ocean. Without a parachute." Katsuya wishes he was joking.

"I did not like it."

[betarade_spill]

He tilts his head, not unlike a big curious horse. That sounds like a tale worth hearing.

"Fret not; ne'er wouldst Bill...nudge thee from a blazing blimp." At least, not without catching him afterward.

...For whatever reason they were in a burning blimp...

"Ah, but thou speaketh of falling." The big, jolly alien rotates in midair like he's on some invisible rotisserie spit, showing exactly how much control he has. "Tis flight, which Bill offerest thee!"