3rd ♥ [Audio/Commentlog]
I'm going riding.
[Yes, her mind is made up.]
If anyone wants to come or ... Maybe could help me harness a horse, then meet me in the stables in half an hour.
[Of course, even though it's an open invitation, Kairi will be gathering up friends along the way ( Read more... )
[Yes, her mind is made up.]
If anyone wants to come or ... Maybe could help me harness a horse, then meet me in the stables in half an hour.
[Of course, even though it's an open invitation, Kairi will be gathering up friends along the way ( Read more... )
She glanced across at Xanth before placing a hand on the pommel of her horse's saddle.]
You ready?
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Besides, this is more fun than he expected.]
Y-Yeah, just-- j-just about!
[The lessons were brief, but these horses seem well-trained. All Xanth had to do was not fall off.
And not ride into a wall.]
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Okay.
[This... This wasn't so hard, right? She just had to press the horse a little and it would go.]
Should we practise here a little before going out the gate?
[She released the reins with one hand to wave at the curtain wall and the outer bailey beyond.]
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[Biting his lip, Xanth squeezes his legs together and his horse starts walking. It's jarring and he rocks a bit in the saddle, but at the same time, it's exhilarating.
He can't help a grin.]
W-Woah! Um. W--Wow.
[His horse walks a few steps forward, then Xanth turns it so he doesn't stray. He sneaks a glance at Kairi.]
G--Go on, it, i-it's not th-that hard!
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Still, once they were going, she pulled gently and steadily on the left end of the rein and the horse began to turn.
She looked up and tried to catch Xanth's eye, grinning.]
Okay.
[The yard wasn't very big. She was ready to go.]
Are you ready?
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[With an almost challenging grin of his own, Xanth turns his horse towards the exit. Perhaps they could walk out by the lake? That would be nice. The fields, too, are quite large.
There are so many possibilities.]
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Okay.
[Once she had the gelding pointed in the right direction, he seemed to know where he was supposed to go, and she chanced a look around to find Xanth.]
Do you think we can get as far as the lake?
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Riku's up on his horse as well, a large roan. He's not too sure about these horses--his had first tried to nip him and, when Talia had told him to give the horse a firm tap on the nose as "no," had then turned to trying to lip the tails of his blindfold. But he's up, his blindfold still in place, and he's paying it wary attention as he clicks and shifts his weight to signal it forward.
He'll be coming up to join the two of them, now, catching the tail end of Kairi's words.]
Is that where we're heading?
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He's judging the distance. Really.]
Y-Yeah. I-- I-I think we can m-make it, it's n--not that far.
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Kairi's yet to notice. She stares at the blindfold on Riku's face.]
Are you wearing that?
[Out of the corner of her eye, she catches sight of Xanth's horse and whips back around, reining her own mount in.]
Oh! Sorry!
[She's thinking that they can make it too. It isn't that far. But clearly, she'll need to be careful.]
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But the momentary pickup in speed lets him catch up to the other two, coming up on Kairi's other side. It's then that he finally responds to her question.]
Yeah, I am.
[Did she really expect that he wasn't going to...?]
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W-Woah!
[And with that, Xanth's horse comes to a stop. She's well-behaved and, in fact, following Xanth's unintentional command. She swishes her tail and snorts, awaiting further instructions.
Xanth clicks his tongue and moves her forward. He's watching Kairi's horse very carefully, but he's smiling, too.]
L-Let's, uh, not-- h-have any a-accidents today? That-- that'd b-be nice.
[You know. For once.]
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[Kairi too readily agrees. She smiles at Xanth. LIke it or not, he just backed her up on this one.]
Which means you can't wear your blindfold, Riku. A blindfold on a horse is just asking for trouble.
[She shoots a triumphant grin at Riku.]
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I can see with it on.
[At first, he just looks at her warily--he wouldn't put it past her to try and take it from him. But on a second thought, he lifts up one side of the blindfold so he can actually -look- at her, smirking like he might have done back on the islands before this whole thing began.]
Or don't you trust me, Kairi?
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Don't you trust us? Your with friends.
[She turns and looks at Xanth, her expression only the tiniest bit uncertain. Xanth was her friend. She knew that. She didn't know if it was just because he'd known Namine or if it was for another reason, but that didn't really matter. He was her friend. But that didn't make him RIku's friend too. She tried to catch his eye, looking for some kind of tell or support that she wasn't sure she'd find.]
Xanth? Tell him.
He doesn't need to hide here.
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Why Riku would wear a blindfold, or how he can even see through it, isn't something Xanth knows. But there is one thing he does know: Riku is not Xanth's friend. On the Elegante, they were anything but friends. Enemies was a much more accurate descriptor.
But this is not the Elegante.
Xanth cracks a smile.]
Y--Yeah. D-Don't worry, I-- y-you can-- t-trust me.
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