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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[Caesar takes a breath as Astrid's pace quickens again, attempting to brace himself for the speed. If he could just deal with it, he'd definitely get used to it... right? Hopefully. And hopefully she really would stop when he tried to make her do so.

He only feels a little less nervous after a minute or so, but he tugs back on the reins then to make her slow down. It's mostly just to prove that he can. He can feel his brother's glare. As usual.]

[Astrid slows back to a walk at the tugging, and Albert continues watching quietly. His voice is even as he gives more instructions.] Squeeze your heels against her sides. She knows to speed up when she feels that.

[Caesar glances over to one of Astrid's sides, and does just as he's told. He does it slowly, cautiously, and asks—]

How fast?

The more urgently you kick, the faster she responds. [And that's a sign of how much training the horse has had.] That's why you have to stay relaxed. Your mount can typically sense how you are feeling -- and will respond according to your demeanor and relationship.

Why didn't you say that in the first place...? [Not that it would have eased his worries. He's content with the horse's reaction, though. He was afraid of a more immediate reaction, so it was good that he'd been cautious.] So she can tell I'm nervous, huh? That's great.

Of course she can tell. You should consider yourself fortunate she is mild-mannered; nervous or stubborn horses would have taken advantage of your fear and thrown you already.

Heh... [He laughs a little. Nervously, of course. If he'd mentioned that sooner, he probably wouldn't have gotten on this horse. He pulls on the reins again to slow her down.] But you knew she wouldn't do that. I suppose I am indeed rather fortunate.

I wouldn't be teaching you horseback riding so laxly if I didn't trust Astrid and my training of her. [There's confidence in his voice.] This is much simpler than if you were taking actual riding instruction.

Because you know her far better than any of the horses I could have practiced with. [It's just a guess, but it makes sense. Albert knows very specifically how to deal with this horse because he's the one that trained her. That's why he's so confident.] And you won't teach me things I don't need to know.

Are you sure about that? I gave you a plant after all. [His tone is nonchalant, but he is looking at Caesar as he speaks, as if testing him.]

[Caesar tilts his head, confused by these words. He hadn't forgotten what his brother said when he gave him the plant, so there has to be a reason for this. The problem is... what is it?

After a moment, he decides to just tell him what he thinks.]

Of course I'm sure. The plant is an exercise in responsibility. Being patient, attentive, and responsible... Being able to succeed. Those are important things, aren't they?

[He doesn't say anything in either approval or disapproval.]

Now you are going to continue practicing speeding up and slowing down. Responsiveness. I'm going to do some other work. [That is, in the stables.]

[...well, that isn't very encouraging. But he isn't surprised by the change of topic. He nods, trying to hide his exasperation.]

All right, all right. I can do that. [He pauses. His brother had been very dismissive about the subject, but since he'd brought it up...] Hey. Can I show you something when we're done?

[As he's walking towards the stables, he looks over at Caesar continuing to ride.] Show me what?

Uh... Since you mentioned that plant, I remembered that I wanted to ask you something about it.

[Which is a lie. He doesn't want to ask anything. But it is about the plant.]

[Remembered something? Well, whatever it is, it isn't urgent. Albert turns back around, walking to the stables.] Fine. After you are finished.

Don't work too hard, okay? If you forget about me, I will surely be stuck here!

[Well, maybe not. He's exaggerating. He does what he had been told earlier, moving to squeeze his heels into the horse's sides a little faster this time. ...it makes sense not to get ahead of himself by making her respond too fast.]

If you somehow forget what you just learned, it's your own fault, little brother.

[He shakes his head and opens the doors into the barn. He'll be back out once he finishes filling the water troughs with Sona's help.]

[Caesar glances over as his brother walks off, and then focuses all his attention on the horse. He doesn't know what Albert has to do, exactly, so he doesn't know how long he'll be gone. Still, he tries to vary his pace so that he can make sure that Astrid responds properly each time. He feels relieved to be working with such a well-trained horse, and it was only a matter of getting used to all of this.

...of course, that is not as easy as it sounds. He's still kind of nervous. But the more he does this, the more confident he feels.]

[It doesn't take too long for Albert to finish with the troughs, but he takes his time walking out of the stables and shutting the doors before turning his attention back to Caesar. This entire 'lesson' is a matter of getting Caesar comfortable riding without needing hand-holding the entire way.

He doesn't say anything right away, watching Caesar go around the corral one more time before speaking.] Well?

[He looks up, tugging on the reins when he's addressed. He's done it so many times by now that it almost feels natural. He raises an eyebrow at his brother.]

Well what?

[There's just a little less patience in Albert's voice as he responds.]

Are you done?

[He shrugs his shoulders.]

I'm done if you are. No more instructions?

Do you feel you need more instructions for basic riding? The entire point of this was to see how much you can do by yourself. Obviously you haven't forgotten everything despite how long ago you last rode.

No, I don't feel that I need more instructions for this. And if you don't, either, then yes, I'm done. [It's Caesar's turn to sound a little less than patient, apparently.] Should I get off?