shri | FADE RIFT [INBOX]

[ And if there is ever a question that Lakshmi could want to hear asked more, she couldn't think of one right now. As if it didn't make her more certain about the lessons she needed to impart, and quickly.

She keeps busy, adjusting, soothing, adjusting again. ]

Not by itself, no. But it can hurt them if you are heavy handed with the reigns when you direct them. If you meet a horse with a hard mouth, it has had bad riders. But if you are careful, use a light hand, and make sure to check as you put it on? You will not hurt them and your task will be much easier.

Oh. Okay.

[ Kitty doesn't look entirely convinced - that stuff all looks miserable - but...Lakshmi looks very certain of it. And it's not like the horse is trying to spit it out.

Out loud, she speculates: ]

I suppose it's not like the buses we used to get around were any better.

[ once everything is in place, she hooks the reigns around her hand, and gestures for Kitty to step out of the way. ]

Buses? What are those?

What? Oh. Er -

[ How to describe it to someone from the past? ]

They're sort of...carriages, but ones that can carry fifty people at once. And not pulled by horses. They're powered by magic.

Ah [ she nods, surprising that might be butshe comes from an off place in between this world and the next. ] Like a train?

[ but it's just small talk for the time being as she walks the horse forward into her back step. Until it's out of the stable and she beckons Kitty once more. ] Come. I'm going to show you how to mount by yourself. Pick your strong side, right or left, and go to that side of her. She's not skittish thing, but be firm on you grip.

[ Oh, this looks like a bad idea. This seems like a bad idea. Kitty looks at the horse, mistrust in her eyes - but, slowly, moves to the left side. ]

All right.

Alright grip the saddle horn, first - [ she shows her, brief touch to the handle for want of a better term in the middle of the front of the saddle. Then she goes back to the rather more important task of keeping the horse on a short lead to keep her still and straight. Feeling the soft nicker in response. ]

Once you've got a hold, put your left foot into the stirrup.

[ Kitty, who's spent the last four years of her life balancing on gables and shimmying up drainpipes and slipping down chimneys, is not terribly challenged by this order. ]

All right.

Now jump with the leg on the ground, push down with the one the stirrup and once you're at the height you need, swing your leg over the other side.

[Because it was that easy, of course. ]

[ But it's fairly intuitive - and pretty natural for a thief like her. She bites her lip nervously - eyeing the horse skeptically - but then pushes, twists, and settles, rather gracefully sitting atop the saddle. ]

Oh.

[ By her face, she's a little alarmed and creeped out by the sensation of being on top of a living creature, but - she's there. ]

[ she pets the horse's nose to keep it steady as Kitty gets ready to move - adjusts to it. A warm earnest smile when she does it. Effort always ought to be rewarded, and she's a little pleased. City children did not always respond so well to animals. ]

Well done. Your first attempt too. Most do not always manage it so well.

[ She would always encourage even the smallest sign of bravery, trying. But still, on with the instruction, coming around the side. Unravelling the reigns over her leather gloves as she goes. ]

Your form is good. But keep your heels down, press into the stirrup. [ As she gets closer, she holds up the reigns for her to take. ]

Edited 2018-07-10 04:56 (UTC)

Oh. Well.

[ Kitty gives an little half-laugh in response to the praise, a bit more awkward than pleased. Encouragement isn't really something she knows what to do with. ]

Erm - like - do I have to stand up, then?

[ She demonstrates by half standing in the saddle. ]

Sometimes, but we will get to that. For now, just make sure your feet stay in the stirrups, that can be harder than it seems.

[ She catches herself a little - when do I stand up like you?, Anand had been so eager - swallows, keep moving. Keeping pressing on. Her hands stay on the reigns a little longer as she jostles them with a tug.

Obediently, the horse starts to walk, easy, easy, easy, one foot in front of another - letting her get used to it by herself as they go in the odd backwards-forwards dance of horse, rider and handler, and out of the stable. Out into the fresh, open air. Warm here, maybe not as warm the desert, but pleasant weather for a ride. ] Make sure you're comfortable.

[ Because once they are free of the building, and walked a little further into the courtyard of the Gallows, she passes the reigns to Kitty directly to hold. Not much in the way of explanation, one more check over everything, a brief whistle to a stable hand to tell him that they were heading out. Then she moves closer herself. Her hand hooking on the saddle horn, and vaults herself the same way - if without the use of the stirrups. To sit right behind Kitty, hooking her arm around her waist to snag the reigns off her once more. ] Still holding on?

Still holding on.

[ Kitty sounds just a little bit stressed (there's still quite a bit of mistrust for the large, deadly beast beneath her) but she's doing well enough. She's keeping steady in spite of the swaying of the creature - well. At least until Lakshmi jumps up behind her. Then she goes a little tense; even though Lakshmi has amply proved herself, Kitty is still a bit nervous of anyone at her back. ]

I suppose it gets harder.

It can. But we'll start you off getting comfortable. Hands on the reigns, eyes forward, and I will make sure we do not go off a cliff.

[ And with that, she gives a firm kick to the horse's flank. Enough to spur the animal forward into an even walk. ]

Towards the gate. Remember - firm, but not hard. She will listen.

[ Uncertainly - ]

So I...move the reins?

Mmmh. Tug with the hand you want to turn on the side of.

[ And she trusts her, at least, to be able to follow along with the rest. Even if they do wander around in a circle too long. But even so, she leans around, making sure that her chin stayed above Kitty's shoulder to find her hand and show her the pressure she needed to pull with to get the horse to listen. ]

It feels - weird.

[ She sounds a little uneasy with it, even as she does tug. ]

Controlling it.

[ She laughs, not meanly. ] How times have changed, then. I could not imagine wanting anything more when I was your age.

[ Because you look so much older, Lakshmi, anyway - ]

It becomes second nature, and you will need to adjust, I'm afraid. But the Inquisition treats their horses well, you can have that much peace of mind.

Can any treatment be good when captivity is involved?

[ She gives a sigh immediately after saying that, though, shaking her head. ]

I guess it's just a stupid horse.

An animal, any animal, is your family. I do not suppose all of them are happy, as not all families are happy ones. But if you mistake calling love, care and affection from a horse as stupidity, you betray yourself as even more the idiot.

[ she will tug you by the ear Kitty if you ever hear you say that again. As it is, she reaches forward, tugging at the horse's reigns to still the horse before they go any further. Stopping them, right then and there. ]

So you should apologise to her, for she is giving you the benefit of her trust and sweet temper.

What?

[ Kitty half turns around to shoot Lakshmi a look of are-you-crazy. ]

I don't think it loves me when I'm climbing up on it and making it take me places.

She trusts you. Or else she would have bucked you off and trampled you. They are want to do that, from time to time.

[ It's firm, not even slightly back down. ]

Apologise.

To the horse?

[ One long, unrelenting blink. ]

Yes.

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I am so glad that this is the first thread in my inbox and we're going to break the whole damn entry

Same, same...

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