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Psykgi's eyes glittered with anticipation at the gorgeous view below. Soon she would be over that view, with nothing holding her back but tenuous cloth and willpower. Freedom... danger... Hang gliding would give her both.

One might think that a redblood would be in constant danger and have their fill of it. Living in Civisect, the shiny new beating heart of Highblooded extravagance and the Alternian way, Psy was very aware of the steep disadvantage that her caste put her in. Without her lusus, that omnipresent swarm, she would probably be dead. And yet...

Maybe that was why she wanted it. Because, in the midst of that danger, she was actually a little bored. She wanted a danger that thrilled her, something visceral that woud test her limits. Something, maybe, that would push back against her Lusus's dual caution and ambition. Something that would push back against her redblooded role as a cog in the machine, a part of the collective, a mostly invisible support for the great Empire.

And maybe she just wanted to do dangerous things for the hell of it. Because it was fun.

The roar of the plane sounded in her ears and she checked to make sure that her floofy hair was tied back and out of the way, even the dyed bits she was so fond of. She hadn't really looked at the other trolls just yet - the view was interesting and she figured that whoever she was paired up with for the gliding was fine by her. Right now, though, the view was so interesting. Down there, in the mountains, were a significant number of her friends. And yet, normally she looked up... fitting, for a lowblood. Looking down on it was the same feeling as when she'd FLARPed as a blueblood during Bloodfest - Transgressive, delicious, and fascinating. And, almost the best part, temporary.

Psy didn't realize she was being talked to until she was hugged. Not usually huggy, she still took it in stride and - with a slight delay - hugged the troll back. Those horns, that color, that symbol... "Oh my gosh, yes!" she said, remembering a much smaller version of this same troll, "You were with that tealblood, right? Flydra?" And the wonderfully competent Lorata Gorgos, if she remembered correctly... that would make this troll... Scorpa? Was that it? She didn't want to dwell on the tower - it was a sore subject, and probably always would be, but it had had its good bits, its good memories.

"Gosh, that was an experience."
Even if it had gone up in flames, in the end.

She had to raise her voice to be heard over the motor of the plane. "Sure! That would be great!" she said. She wasn't picky about partners, but it was always so much better to partner with someone you knew, even as an acquaintence! She moved so that they could sit together and be ready when it was time to attach themselves to their gliders... eee!

"I've been looking forward to this all week!" she confided excitedly.

"Sounds great!" to the lunch. "Lets try it!" to the gliding to Chittentown, accompanied by a wide grin and an accompanying laugh. It was probably impossible, but maybe they would be able to see the canyon and Wouldn't that be fantastic?

"Lets gear up and go!" gear up, meaning attach themselves to the glider and get situated. They were already otherwise geared up - they'd all done so before takeoff, except for someone who had decided to try to put on their gear as they were rising. Which had been very foolish of them.

Psykgi blinked, visibly stopping herself from getting in Scorpa's way. It was almost eerie, not having to do literally everything. Not that she minded. Unbeknown to her, she was thinking much along the same lines as her yellowblooded partner-in-temporary-flight. Irreplacability through competence, protection through usefulness.

Be so useful that the highbloods keep you around.

It was the strategy she used all the time. It didn't really occurr to her, not even as the straps and clips were struck into place, that others might be using it too.

As they were led to the jump, Psykgi looked down. The moonlit mountainside and forests glowed in the night, and she felt her mouth run dry and her skin crawl with anxiety and exhileration. A single step, and she could fall. A single error with the craft, and they both could die. The risk was worth the reward, she thought, as she took in a deep breath, and then another. Whether she was stilling her nerves, or fanning them into a frenzy, she wasn't entirely sure.

No. she corrected herself, The risk is the reward. Flying would be fun, but the thrill of it, that would be...

"Ready?"

Ah! Yes? No? Maybe a little yes, or a little no? Psykgi chose to laugh, a little wildly, instead.

"Here we goooooo!"

There was no ready or not ready. Not up here. She was this far up, and she had no choice... But to fall.

And that, the inevitability of the last second, was the best thrill of them all.

"WOO HOO!!! she cried, just a few beats off but equally enthusiastic. Her thrill was equal parts terror, excitement, and wordless freedom. They soared through the air, cutting the sky with ease as if they were meant to be there. The burdens of the groundbound were not up here -- Gravity didn't weigh them down, it moved them forward. They didn't fall, they soared. Anything was possible, up here, where the air itself danced around them and followed in their passing...

Though, it was loud as heck.

"WANNA DO A TRICK WITH THIS THING?!" She called a little breathlessly. It was hard to hear anything but the rush of wind, and she'd accept just gliding (which was intense enough!) but it was worth an ask.