18th Death

[twisted-baroque.livejournal.com]

[written down like usual.]

If you're not sure what to do today, what do you do? I'd like some....[what was that word?] suggestions. Help? Something like that.

[a long pause then Dextera writes a note for himself.]

Make a list.

Comments

[wishmadeinfire.livejournal.com]

Hmm, well, you could always come riding with me, if you like.

[twisted-baroque.livejournal.com]

'riding'? What's that?

[wishmadeinfire.livejournal.com]

Riding a horse. Equestrian.

[twisted-baroque.livejournal.com]

[there's a very long pause and then...]

'Equestrian'? And what's a horse?

[wishmadeinfire.livejournal.com]

_{[Ah, well, this settles this.]}

Dexter, meet me in the Lobby of the Castle as soon as you can. I think you might enjoy this.

[twisted-baroque.livejournal.com]

Okay. I'll be there soon.

[or as soon as someone who's still terrible with directions can be. but none the less the mute shows up, bright eyed and curious as a cat. it was something that his deaths should have beaten out of him by now but Dextera couldn't help it. and nothing bad should happen.]

[wishmadeinfire.livejournal.com]

_{[Ashura smiles when he sees the other.]}

All right, come on then. We are going to go to the barn and I am going to show you what a horse looks like. Perhaps I can teach you to ride if you want.

[twisted-baroque.livejournal.com]

[and he smiles a little bit back before nodding. he felt a bit more confident about trying this if someone was there to help him.]

[wishmadeinfire.livejournal.com]

_{[Ashura leads him out to the stables and heads inside, telling Dextera to wait outside. He then appears with a mare he knew as rather docile - a beautiful dapple gray palfrey.]}

This, Dextera, is a horse.

[twisted-baroque.livejournal.com]

[he can't help but stare at the horse. this was a very new thing for him and Dextera was growing more and more curious about it, though he wasn't sure if it was okay for him to touch it yet.]

[wishmadeinfire.livejournal.com]

Come and pet her. But remain to the side and touch her neck first, all right?

_{{He smiled, standing beside the horse's hand, stroking her jaw and neck.]}

[twisted-baroque.livejournal.com]

[Dextera does what Ashura says, slowly reaching up to touch the horse's neck once he moved. it felt strange not to have to worry about the risk of being hurt when his curiousity got the better of him, and the mute couldn't help but smile at that.]

[wishmadeinfire.livejournal.com]

_{[Ashura watched with a smile, his fingers tickling the horses' nose.]}

She is beautiful is she not? Do you want to try and ride her? I can have her saddled if you like.

[twisted-baroque.livejournal.com]

[he nods but can't help a questioning look at the horse. how exactly was he going to ride her?]

[wishmadeinfire.livejournal.com]

<sub>[Ashura takes her back inside and hitches her in the cross-ties, then goes to get her tack. He makes quick work of it, adding in the bridle, though he will have the lead over her bridle. He was not about to make the poor boy start off with no lead.

He brings her back out and motions him around to the left side.]</sub>

All right, come over here and I will show you how to mount.

[twisted-baroque.livejournal.com]

[he'll thank you for that once he's on the horse. but for now he'll do what Ashura says and come over to his side, wondering how he was going to get from the ground to the horse's back.]

[wishmadeinfire.livejournal.com]

_{[Ashura foregoes the usual hand cupping and just grips Dextera's hips, using his superior strength to lift him up.]}

Grab the saddle and through your leg over it.

[twisted-baroque.livejournal.com]

[it takes a minute for him to figure it out but eventually he manages to get himself straighten up in the saddle.

...it's high up here Ashura. just so you know.]

[wishmadeinfire.livejournal.com]

_{[He smiles and guides Dextera's foot into the stirrup, adjusts it for him and pats his ankle.]}

Keep your heels pointed down and grip the reigns. I promise you will not fall, so just relax.

_{[He keeps hold of the lead, so the mare cannot real go anywhere, and she is to docile and good natured to try anything anyways.]}

[twisted-baroque.livejournal.com]

[Dextera reaches for the reigns, feeling the material under his fingers and does what he's told with his feet. he's still a little nervous but the fact that the horse wasn't moving on its own yet is helping.]

[wishmadeinfire.livejournal.com]

All right, we are going to start...

_{[He clinks his tongue and moves forward, the horse placidly plodding along beside him.]}

[twisted-baroque.livejournal.com]

[gripping the reigns a bit tighter, he keeps his eyes on the ground and hopes he doesn't fall off.]

[wishmadeinfire.livejournal.com]

Hehe, it is all right Dextera. Nothing will happen. Hold your head up for balance and look around.

_{[He smiles as he leads the mare around, keeping to a sedate walk, the mare seeming happy with this arrangement, able to snag a few sweet flowers on the way.]}

[twisted-baroque.livejournal.com]

[it's a while before he relaxes completely but when he does, Dextera is struck by how much fun this actually is when calm. it's...really nice up here.]

[wishmadeinfire.livejournal.com]

Do you like it?

_{[He looks up at him, smiling as he turns the mare to head back down the paddock line.]}