chikaidestroyer | ∞ 94: The basics [written/action]

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∞ 94: The basics [written/action]

[written]

Welcome to all the New Feathers of this cycle. I am sure that residents, especially the volunteers working in the Welcome Center, have been helpful as you adjust to your surroundings.

Some may have noticed that there are stations some distance away from the village -- watch stations where New Feathers may find clothing or shelter. Residents may also use them as stopping points as they explore the surrounding forests and plains. They are maintained by a group of volunteers, which has been without a head organizer for a few months now. If anyone is interested in taking on this responsibility, please speak with me, Albert Silverberg.

Recent additions to the enclosure are the expansive farmlands to the northeast of the village. There are numbers of farm animals and growing crops up there that are in need of caretaking. While the village has the grocery store for easy access to food, I am sure some would relish opportunity to work with crops and animals.

If there are any questions about these subjects, they may be asked here. Thank you.

[action]

[Around noon, Albert may be found in the clothing store, looking for clothing for warmer weather. Maybe he'll attempt to tan this year. It's been awhile.

Later in the day, he will be in the stables tending to his horse. He will be out there for several hours before retiring for the evening to the house, reading a "Computers for Seniors for Dummies" book. Very funny, Bil.]

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N-not quite. I just wasn't interested anymore. [Which isn't untrue, but he can't say that it was because he had changed that he lost interest.] I guess I forgot how exciting it looked.

And yet you decided that you want to ride now. [It's not quite an accusatory tone, but it's stern. He's trying to understand Caesar's thinking.]

It could be a useful skill, don't you think? I won't be able to ride much here, but who knows? Maybe I'll get to the next time I'm drafted or something. [...not that he'd be doing it for fun then, of course.] The last time we rode together, it was, uh... kind of nice. And besides that, I guess I kind of wondered why you do it so much.

[Albert clicks his tongue, and Astrid slows down until she comes to a complete stop. He looks at Caesar on his perch.] You could have stopped at "It could be a useful skill."

[Caesar takes a breath before he responds, though he realizes it's not one he needs to relax. He feels a lot better now.]

Would you have believed that was it?

[Because he doubted it, so he might as well be honest.]

No. But you wouldn't be giving me more reason to consider you overly sentimental. [He moves in front of Astrid, setting up her bridle quietly.]

Who said anything about being overly sentimental? You have quite the imagination!

[But he watches carefully as Albert does this. He might need to be able to do this himself someday.]

I'm sure you are pleased I have any imagination left at all. [He finishes with the bridle, offering it to Caesar to hold.]

I guess it isn't such a bad thing. [Very obviously an understatement. He takes the reins when they're offered to him, and looks them over in his hands.] Why wouldn't I be pleased?

[Albert doesn't answer, leaving Caesar to wonder about his own question as he clicks his tongue again. Astrid starts walking, her pace increasing until she's moving at a trot.]

Keep your grip firm, but don't tug on the reins.

All right, all right.

[He hadn't been expecting an answer, so he doesn't think very hard on it, focusing on the reins instead. He holds them tight, but definitely not as tight as he had held onto the saddle earlier. He's still nervous, but this... This is fine.

Even if she's moving faster this time.]

...how does she know?

[He watches as Astrid trots in a circle, his attention switching back and forth from his horse to Caesar.] A long relationship and a significant amount of training. Different sounds for different paces, though they are not useful once there is more noise. [Louder hoof-beats, thick brush or stone, other environmental elements...

But he sounds so comfortable explaining. It's as natural as strategy.]

Huh. I see. Not bad. [In fact, it's kind of impressive. He'd like to be able to do that someday, too. But he won't admit that.] She's really well-behaved. I'm not worried with her.

Of course she is. The best horses to ride are those you have practices with. [Astrid tosses her head and mane, as if rolling her eyes at Albert's statement.]

[Caesar looks up at the horse's reaction. He hadn't been expecting it.]

One of you holds themselves a little too highly!

What is that supposed to mean? [His tone is unimpressed; he didn't miss that action from his horse.]

Who can really say? [He shrugs his shoulders, amused.] Maybe she's just spoiled.

I would suggest you not say those things when you are still riding her. Who knows who might take offense? [He clicks his tongue a certain way, and Astrid quickens her pace.]

[He automatically tightens his grip on the reins, and he has to try to keep his voice steady. What a jerk.]

I don't know what you're talking about! I didn't say anything.

[Maybe it wasn't such a good idea entrusting your lessons to your callous older brother. Especially when said older brother is feigning looking at his nails through his gloves rather than watching Astrid trot around the corral.]

[Yes. Yes, this was a terrible idea. Caesar glances over, and seeing that his brother isn't paying very much attention to him or the horse is... troubling.]

I said I didn't say anything!

[As long as she doesn't go any faster, he'll be fine. ...that's what he keeps telling himself.]

Tug back on the reins firmly, and don't favor one side for the other. She will slow down. [He almost sounds amused by the emphasis in Caesar's words and the obvious tenseness in his voice.]

[And that's exactly what he does. He's worried about pulling on them too hard, so it will probably be a moment before she actually starts to slow down, but when she does, he feels better. So much better.]

You're really something else, you know that...?

[Albert's expression remains fairly neutral despite what he's just done.] You learned quickly under stress. Congratulations.

[...that was not why he did it. There is no way that this is why he did it.

Ugh.]

I will take that as a compliment. It wasn't that difficult anyway.