Day at the races!

[indigo_league]

Who: Everyone!
Where: Moo Moo Farms
When: Saturday, March 20th
Summary:



The day is as lovely as you can expect any early spring day to be. You'll need a coat, yes, and there is a bit of a breeze, but the sun shines happily onto the wooden buildings that make up the Moo Moo Farms where we have all gathered today.

The various farm workers have worked hard to make their farm presentable to the public. Cheerful banners hang between the various sheds, stables and barns, which all have been given a bit of a cleaning (and perhaps a new coat of paint here and there). Of course, it is still a farm, so perhaps don't wear your very best shoes, but as far as farms go, it's been made as neat as can be.

And while the main draws of the day may be releasing the Miltank herd out onto the pasture again after a long winter inside -- whimsically called 'Cow Ballet' on the info sign -- and the Great Tauros Race, Moo Moo Farms has set up various little events and booths to entertain their guests, and perhaps teach them a thing or two about farm life.

A large information sign stands at the gate to the farm, letting visitors know what sort of events are taking place, as well as where and when these are happening. The two big ones -- the Miltank Ballet and the Tauros Race -- are spaced in such a way that people can easily attend both, and most of the other little events are available throughout the entire day.

The Miltank Ballet will be taking place at 1PM over by the big barn. There is little you can do to participate in this (unless you are a cow?), but if you want to watch some ecstatic Miltank dance through the mud and grass after a long winter inside, you should definitely come check this out.

The Tauros Race will start at 4PM (sign ups close at 3PM) and anyone who wants to help give the Tauros a good round of exercise is encouraged and welcome to sign up. There is, according to the sign, a small mystery prize to be won, but surely we are all here because we want to help some cooped up Tauros, right?

In addition to those two big events, two paddocks have been made ready where visitors can test themselves against a Bucking Bronco -- that's his name, Bronco the Bouffalant -- to see how long they can last in the saddle. Due to safety concerns, participants for this event will need to be 16+. For the children, there is a separate rodeo in which they can ride Vaquero the Dubwool, who, for all his seemingly wild behaviour, is actually a very well trained Dubwool who'll make sure no harm comes to the kids.

Of course, while people are free to bring their own food, the Moo Moo Farms have also set up a wide variety of booths where people can buy anything from fresh Moo Moo Milk and milkshakes to freshly made cheese and bread, and oh, is that apple pie? That most certainly is apple pie, as well as various other homey pastries. And as the day goes on, and people might start craving something a little less sweet and more filling, a booth opens up selling various curries. Don't worry, there won't be any Snorlax you need to share with this time!

And for anyone who has found themselves wanting and craving a bovine of their own after all these cute sights, you are in luck! Amidst the various booths, there is also one run by two cheery farm girls, advertising a sale on eggs! All the eggs that are normally available from the Moo Moo Farms can be bought at a whopping 50% discount. Mind that this is only on the purchase price of the egg itself. The price for any additional egg-moves remains the same.

There are also some other, smaller things set up, such a station where you can learn about milking a Miltank and a barrel where you can bob for apples, and even a horseshoe toss game. Most of these are definitely aimed towards teaching and entertaining little kids, but nobody will stop you if you decide to muscle past a row of Youngsters to claim the apple bobbing barrel.

Comments

[mightdoriya]

"Yeah, I've...never ridden a horse before at all," Izuku admits, though it's not too much of a surprise that he hasn't. He's always lived in the city after all, so he rarely comes across things like horses or livestock normally.

"I'd appreciate that...I'm a bit less worried since Pokemon are easier to communicate with than actual animals, but...seeing those bulls even from a distance is a little nerve-wracking."

And this is coming from a boy who risks his life on a daily basis.

[nastyboy]

"It's understandable," Dimitri assures Izuku. "Even the average horse where I am from is rather tall, and difficult to communicate with. These Tauros are even more massive; it's easy for even a large person to feel small around them.

"Fortunately, while they are larger, they also have something that separates them from an average horse. All Paliens are easy to communicate with here, if you simply take the time to reach out to them. So if you have not already, I would certainly recommend you spending as much time as you possibly can with your steed before the race starts.

"If you know the place you will be riding ahead of time, it will do you no good should your steed have no desire to work with you. In contrast, if you know your steed, you can work with them as two members of a team to get past any obstacle in your way." Dimtiri pauses for breath, stepping away from the milking area so that he's not in the way of the farmers here.

"For more practical concerns... I am certain it will be easy enough to have someone help you get up on the Tauros when the time comes, and they will make sure things go right. I will spare you on the details there, in hopes of that. For the actual riding... You should keep the reins in at least one hand at all times. There is also the horn, the front of the saddle, that you can keep your other hand on."

Dimitri pauses, considering things. "If you are not joining the race with an intent to win, then... You may want to see if you can convince your steed to try at a slower walk or trot first? If you have that experience under your belt, adjusting to a gallop may become easier. Needless to say, adjusting yourself in your seat will be different for each movement, but... would you care for that?"

[mightdoriya]

Wow...Izuku wasn't expecting Dimitri to give him such a thorough breakdown, but it's something he appreciates. He tries to commit every piece of advice to memory, though the majority hinges on getting to know his Tauros as well as the track before the race begins. That seems like the most important first step. As for the actual part where riding comes into play...he figures it's something he'll pick up on the fly, as with most things he does. Tauros are more understanding than your average horse, he suspects.

"Hm...well, Kacchan is going to be in the audience watching...he'd probably be mad if I didn't at least try to win the race."

Or at the very least just be bitchy about it.

"I guess it's probably going to depend on what the track is like, too. I feel like I heard from some of the volunteers that it's not just going to be a completely straight path the whole time."

[nastyboy]

"I see... That does make this a little difficult." Dimitri frowns. Having to impress someone, and them not taking anything less than the best... He understands that.

"Then... Staying on a Tauros while they walk should be simple enough, once you get to know them, so I will skip straight to advice on when they're at a run. The most important thing you will want to do is keeping your feet firmly in the stirrups as they burst into a gallop. This will be because, normally and at least for horses, when you are encouraging them to speed up, you rise out of your seat and lean forward."

Ah... It occurs to him that a demonstration might be in order. So, best he can, he mimics it while still standing, best he can. "Something like this... You should only start at a run when you feel perfectly balanced and in control, or else you risk falling off. If you sit plainly in the saddle, you will suffer for it both then and later."

Take care of your ass, Izuku.

[mightdoriya]

Asking Izuku to take care of his ass is like asking him to stop breathing-

"That makes sense. You'd probably be really sore otherwise..." he remarks, looking over as he talks to the pasture nearby. They can actually see a few of the Tauros from where they're standing, all of them built much stockier than the Miltank. Izuku can imagine just sitting without them moving on a Tauros for too long would make you ache.

"How long do you think the track might actually be?"

[nastyboy]

"Hmm. Well... I do not think it could be for very long." Straightening up, Dimitri shakes his head. "This celebration is only meant to last a day, and this seems to be at the very end of the festivities. Additionally, you do not want to exert the Tauros too much."

Trust Dimitri; he knows about steeds. When you have a messenger in a rush, you can overwork horses by running as fast as you can to the next town, and then replace them... But these are the farm's prized Tauros. They aren't going to treat them so carelessly.

[mightdoriya]

BLESS DIMITRI...giving Izuku all of this forbidden steed knowledge because fuck if he knows what he's doing otherwise.

"That's a relief...n-not that I'm not excited about the race at all or anything, I just don't think I'd be able to stay in it for too long, you know."

Mighty chirps a little from Izuku's arms. Quit acting like you've lost before you've started, damn.

[nastyboy]

"No, I understand... This is quite the undertaking for someone who is so new at riding." Dimitri nods. Usually you walk before you run in a race with a bunch of other Tauros who are all very loud and noisy and prone to running into you -

"Try to stay to the side if you can, away from the rest of the herd. That may help keep you out of too much trouble."

[mightdoriya]

"I will!" If he makes it to the end of the race in one piece, he'll have you to thank, Dimitri.

By this time though, Mighty is starting to show signs of falling asleep in Izuku's arms. Blessedly, since the race will be soon and Izuku wasn't sure who would watch him...Katsuki probably, who is surprisingly good about keeping excitable Pokemon in line.

"I guess I better get my team ready before then. And this little guy somewhere he can rest. He doesn't like being inside his pokeball all that much...I'll see you at the race, yeah?"

[nastyboy]

"Of course." Dimtiri gives a small bow of his head, patting Gabby between her horns again. "I will gladly see you at the starting line, then, and take care to guide my own steed away from colliding with yours."

And then, leaning over a little, he smiles down at Mighty. "And you have a good nap, all right?" Reaching over, he lightly strokes the top of that furry little head before pulling away. He should probably get to work as well in preparing for the race.