∞ 94: The basics [written/action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[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

Comments

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[mydearapple]

[Caesar has been trying to keep himself busy lately, even if it hasn't been terribly obvious. Checking on Kogoro is a part of his daily routine now, though, and as a result, he happens to be out anyway. When he finishes up with him, he decides to stop by the less empty stables. He should see Astrid even if Albert isn't there, so he quietly wanders in and looks around.]

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[mydearapple]

[He watches the horse as she nears him, and looks hard at the saddle for a moment. He'd had this done for him when he last rode, whenever that was. It wasn't like he didn't know what these stirrups were, but...]

How?

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[chikaidestroyer]

[...A sigh. He shouldn't be surprised.] I suppose it's any surprise at all you know how to stay still in a saddle. [He reaches for one of the stirrups, showing him the buckles and how the leather strap attaches to the saddle.] You have to adjust them for the length of your legs.

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[mydearapple]

Shut up. [No witty remarks for that first comment. Just that. He watches his brother, looks at everything he shows him, and nods at what he says. It's the first time he's ever paying attention to the details of something like this.] Let me see.

[He reaches for the stirrup himself, and starts messing with the buckles. Hmm. How would he know the length of his leg again...?]

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[chikaidestroyer]

[He watches as Caesar looks over the stirrups, waiting patiently as he figures them out. Eventually, he speaks again.] They are currently adjusted for my legs.

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[mydearapple]

So they're too low for normal people. Good to know. [Joking aside, it is helpful-it means that they need to be higher for him. So that's what he does, adjusting this weird thing and using his arm to help with the measurements. Once he thinks he has it, he steps back for a moment. Hmm...] Does that look all right?

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[chikaidestroyer]

[He looks at it, nodding after a moment. Caesar is about the same height as Raine, so it doesn't take long to come to that conclusion.] Very good. Now adjust the other one, and then mount.

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[mydearapple]

[He nods, going to the other side and fixing that one, too. He's quiet as he does this, focusing carefully on the task at hand. He doesn't think he can mess it up, but he still makes sure to put in some effort.

Once he's done with that, though, he steps back and gives the saddle another look.]

...now?

[This was the part he had been least looking forward to.]

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[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert raises a brow at the question, lifting a hand to the side of Astrid's head. She seems to be eying Caesar curiously.]

Yes, now. Don't worry -- she won't move.

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[mydearapple]

[The look Astrid's giving him only makes him feel more nervous, but he will try his hardest not to show it anymore than he already has. He reaches a hand up, grabbing onto the saddle, but he doesn't do anything else yet.]

She'd better not.

[It's a mumbled comment before he finally makes an attempt to pull himself up and get his foot on the stirrup.]

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[chikaidestroyer]

[He keeps his hand on Astrid's head, though he doesn't really need to keep her steady as Caesar attempts to get up there. He wonders if Caesar has a good enough grip on the saddle to balance himself and swing his other leg over.]

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[mydearapple]

[Caesar really hopes so. He holds on as tight as he can, and while he's still a little worried about falling, pulling himself up isn't as bad as he thought it'd be. It's that other leg that's a problem. What if he throws himself off balance when he tries to...?

Okay, thinking like that doesn't help. Now that he's up, he can at least use both hands to help himself up, and- Ah. There.

Can you hear that sigh of relief, Albert?]

...that was easier than I thought.

[But he feels no better about it.]

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[chikaidestroyer]

Good. You led off with the correct foot, so you did not end up mounting backwards. [He looks at how Caesar has positioned his legs, nudging at his knees when he sees how tense they are.] Since it's been awhile, the first step will be improving their riding posture by letting you simply sit up there while Astrid walks.

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[mydearapple]

Who makes that kind of mistake, anyway...? [Isn't it common sense to start off like this? ...unless he was implying that that was something Caesar would do, in which case he wouldn't be very impressed. He looks down when his brother nudges at his knees.] Do I have to do anything?

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[chikaidestroyer]

[He was implying that, yes. Look how frazzled you were acting just a few minutes ago, Caesar.] Hold on to the saddle and try not to slouch. You need to exercise your core muscles.

[And he is referring now to how much Caesar can slouch on a normal day. Even though Astrid isn't wearing a bridle, he motions for the horse to walk around the corral. Astrid is more than happy to do so.]

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[mydearapple]

[Caesar looks down at the saddle, as if he has to see it in order to make sure he's actually holding on. After finally getting on the horse, he thought his nerves might settle, but apparently not. Definitely not when Astrid starts walking.

It takes an incredible amount of effort to sit up straight. Way more than usual. And he has to try hard not to complain, just so he doesn't appear more nervous. He takes a breath, and when he's sure he has control of his voice, he speaks up.]

How long do I have to do this...?