[ 001 ] [ Audio / Commentlog ]

[bloodtothebest]

 Ladies and Gents, Bots and Trolls,

Welcome to the Keep and all that other crap I'm meant to say.

[He makes an amused, growling sound.]

You can call me Dos. I'm one of the staff here and I man the stables. The doors are open down here so come say hi and stuff.

[In the background, a horse whinnies, the sound followed closely by the cry of a chocobo.]

We

Comments

[yeoldedragon]

[Hunger.

Strong smell of meat emanating from the stables.

Evening, Dos. Have an adult dragon poking her head through the doors.]

[bloodtothebest]

[Evening, Moonie. Have a shovel prodding the end of your nose.]

This ain't meal time.

[yeoldedragon]

[She jerks back, hissing.

A very insulted Moonie snaps her teeth at him, shouldering her way into the barn. The gleam in her eye seems to be daring him to poke her with his stick again.]

[bloodtothebest]

[Oh is it a challenge she wants? Dos smirks and strolls past her.]

If you want meat, ask for it. Plenty of game out there to hunt without you killing off my horses.

[His tone is light and casual, as though they're discussing the weather.]

[onlyonemysize]

[There's a little girl staring up at the moose curiously. She's never seen anything like it!]

[bloodtothebest]

[The moose peels it's ears back and stomps a hoof. It's not very happy to see you, Thumbelina.

Ever observant of his charges, Dos turns to the moose and, oblivious to Thumbelina starts towards it.]

You gonna start that angry tantrum stuff again, Moosey? You know I don't like that.

[The moose grunts and stomps again, hoof landing dangerously close to Thumbelina.]

[onlyonemysize]

[!!!! Goodness. What an ill-tempered meanie!

Thumbelina scrambles out of the way and looks up at Dos.]

Is he always this mean?

[bloodtothebest]

[Voice. He knows he heard one. Dos frown and looks around, confused by the lack of person in his view.]

Yeah, he is... Been giving me trouble for days now.

[It's a good thing that Moose is locked in or it would probably charge. Instead it grunts again and does an angry shuffle on the spot.]

Uh... who's talkin'?

[drinkuntilidie]

[Now that Kevas isn't spending every waking moment in the bar he's actually getting around to exploring this place. So why not give the stables a look? It'll be nice to see some animals that aren't bears.

Oh hey he remembers you. You're the asshat he met his first day here.]

What, no raptuhs?

[bloodtothebest]

[Dos chuckles.]

Oh princess, good to see you didn't die.

[He keeps his focus on the red chocobo he's saddling up.]

Not this time. Maybe next round. Like I said, things change.

[drinkuntilidie]

Be takin' a lot more den dat to kill me asshat.

[Oh he can tell that he's going to get along real well with you.]

Who da hell would wanna ride a giant chicken? Dat t'ing would be bettah on a plate.

[bloodtothebest]

[Dos laughs.]

Asshat. Heheh.

[Chocobo saddled up, Dos checks the stirrups and if all is in place, will be opening that gate to mount up and go for a ride.]

You'd be surprised how fast these things can run. Pack a hell of a kick, too.

[longfallen]

[how could he avoid the stables? he had plans, after all, and for as swift as he was on his own two feet (and despite the general disposition of horses), he wasn't really looking forward to carrying them out without a steed. at this point, he knows he's slowed, so he'll take all the help he can get. or steal.

chase gave the chocobos a wary look before turning to eye the horses in turn, wondering which would be the most amenable for his plans. he glanced around for the stablemaster - inevitably the man would know his own horses far better than any estimate chase could make.]

Which of these is most suited for a long ride?

[bloodtothebest]

[The Helcian shoots Chase a sidewards glance and arches an eyebrow. Setting down the shovel in his hands, Dos walks over and reaches to touch the neck of one of the horses.]

In this group? I'd say the chestnut mare over there. She's young, strong and well-trained. Can hold her pace longer than the other two and she's a better jumper.

[He watches Chase with mild amusement.]

Speakin' hypothetically of course. What's got you askin'?

[longfallen]

[he turned to look at the horse dos was speaking of, giving her a thorough once-over. while he could tell that she was, yes, not an old horse wearied by years, he hadn't had to deal with horses in some time, so to err to the stablemaster's judgment was a better idea. he was more used to warhorses, anyway.]

Hopefully there wouldn't be much need for jumping. I'm planning to travel to the forest outside the keep, and while I have no doubt I could make it on foot, a horse would speed up the process considerably.

[if only he could have just soared there, or teleported. but he wasn't going to be foolish enough to drop himself in the middle of an unfamiliar forest with no known way out.]

[bloodtothebest]

[Dos does his best to hide his amusement.]

Do I get to ask what you're gonna do when you get there? Just ridin' around or what?

[He makes no mention of the six hours rule, or that the horse will vanish after said time.]

By all means though, she's the best of the three. Take her out for a spin.

[thequeensown]

[Talia has been exploring the Keep since her arrival, keeping her journal and quill on hand in a satchel at her waist. When Dos' announcement is made, she has a moment of pause, torn in several ways

[bloodtothebest]

[Around that point Dos, who had been silently watching the woman from across the stable strolls on over to lean on the gate beside her. He smirks and watches the horse.]

Don't be a rude bastard, bucko. Come say hello to the pretty lady.

[His voice is a low, amused growl, but there is nothing menacing in his tone. Dos is nothing but affectionate of his horses. The chestnut mare in the stall behind them gives a sound and stomps a foot, looking to Dos for attention. He speaks again, language one unknown to any in the Keep. The mare settles and Dos turns his attention back to Talia and the stallion.]

[thequeensown]

[Whether clamped down on her shields or not, there is no missing the presence of another mind, nor the approaching footfalls. Talia's stomach clenches painfully as a voice accompanies the steps, but her gaze flits to him only briefly.

The stallions snorts at Dos' arrival, baring his teeth and tossing his head. As Dos turns his attention to the mare, though, his ears flick forward and he snorts, stamping his hoof. He plods warily forward, shaking himself out and comes to a halt before the pair of them. As if to prove a point, he nose bumps Talia's hand and snorts.

Talia's hand moves lightly over his muzzle, before sliding up his cheek. The stallion looks like he might be trying to stay irritated, but he sighs contently as she scratches her nails against his coat, mindless of any dirt it scuffs up. She speaks softly as she moves to stroke his neck, smiling briefly as the stallion leans into it.]

It is not often that I see such mutual respect between man and horse.

[She glances sidelong at him, hand moving to smooth over the

[bloodtothebest]

[Dos offers a small smile and nods his head.]

Yeah, I'm stable-master. And you would be the lady that was screaming in my head a little earlier. Guessin' you've calmed down now?

[There's no bite to his words, the comment and question a more idle statement. He brushes his knuckles on the back of the stallions neck.]