shippingmath | IC Voicemail Vatheon

[Even if it wasn't likely to be fine, Dirk would still have come. Why should he let Darkleer stop him from getting a chance to hang around with horses? He shouldn't.

It's not long before he makes his way to the house, and around to the backyard. When he gets there, he leans against the fence to watch Equius saddle the chocobo, and doesn't enter the yard quite yet.]

[Equius notices Dirk eventually, and waves at him. Darkleer the chocobo, used to seeing the middle Strider around the house, warks a greeting as well.]

Hey. The horse is already saddled, you can come in.

[Now that he's been invited in, Dirk wastes no time jumping the fence and heading on over.]

Let's get this started. I have some bribes to pony up.

[He brought sugar cubes because he's a dork.]

[The horse can smell the sugar, and stretches his nose forward, whickering quietly. Darkleer the chocobo, much more ill-mannered, warks loudly and tries to shove Equius out of the way to get at the treats. Fortunately, Equius is a Feathery Asshole Wrangler +5, and he casually pushes the bird back without any hesitation.]

He'll never leave you alone if you do that.

[It's said indulgently, though, as Equius gets out a chocobo green to appease his bird.]

I can deal with that.

[In fact, that's the favored outcome, in his opinion. Which means he steps forward toward the horse and holds out the cubes on the flat of his hand. ]

[The horse eyes Dirk for a moment, then stretches out his neck and delicately plucks the sugar cubes from his palm.]

Look, he likes you already.

It's the Strider swag.

[And Dirk likes him too, because horses.]

You two get to know each other, I'll finish up with Darkleer here.

[The bird is a little disgruntled about being ignored in favor of the horse, and needs appeasement. Equius ruffles his neck feathers and scratches under his beak, and the chocobo makes soft, crooning noises. The little white pony that lives in the horse stall pokes his head around the corner at the commotion, and adds to it by neighing curiously. Just another day in Casa de Highblood.]

Will do.

[And Dirk sets to getting to know the horse (read: pampering the hell out of that horse) while he waits for Equius to finish his preparations. It won't be long before he'll be the rider, he can stand to wait a bit more.]

[It doesn't take Equius long to get Darkleer soothed and ready to go--for all his fussing, the bird loves going out for rides, so he capitulates with a minimum of brattiness--and he walks the saddled chocobo over to the fence.]

Lead him over here, please. I'll open the gate and let you two out, then close it after myself and Darkleer.

[Dirk nods, and takes a handful of the horse's halter to lead Chance behind him as he heads for the gate. It shouldn't be difficult, if the horse is following him with the expectation of treats.]

Anywhere in particular we're headed?

[Equius opens the gate so they can get out, then follows them. He carefully shuts and latches the gate behind him, to prevent other chocobos or ponies from escaping, then STRONG jumps onto Darkleer's back.]

There's a trail I usually take when I'm exercising them, but really, we can go just about anywhere in the bubble.

Fine with me. [If they're used to going along it it'll mean Dirk has to do less steering. And as much as he's researched horses he still doesn't have experience riding them. Which is probably the slightest bit obvious, considering the hesitation before he actually mounts up on Chance.]

[Unfortunately, Equius didn't notice, because Darkleer chose that moment to wark and flap his stubby wings and make a fuss. It takes him a moment to get the bird back under control, and by then, Dirk is comfortably seated on Chance's back.]

All right. I'm going to need to run this guy a little [he pats Darkleer's neck], so if he takes off, you can gallop to keep up or just meet me further down the trail.

[With that ominous warning, he wheels Darkleer around and the bird starts trotting towards the trail in the woods.]

Be right behind you.

[Ominous or not, Dirk's going to make every effort to keep up. It's a challenge, after all, and Striders are never ones to back down.]

[For the time being, Darkleer is behaving--mostly because he knows Equius will rein him in if he starts misbehaving while they're still in town--and walks along quietly, occasionally warking when he sees someone he knows. Or someone he doesn't know. Darkleer likes to wark.]

Is Chance treating you right back there?

[Equius looks over his shoulder to see how Dirk is doing.]

You can bring him up beside us, if you like. He's ridden with Darkleer before.

Great.

[He'll just nudge his heels into Chance's sides lightly. That is how you tell a horse to go faster, isn't it?]

[Chance is used to Darkleer, and trots a few steps to catch up. Equius shoots a quick little smile to Dirk as he catches up.]

Darkleer's showing off for you.

Damn straight he should.

[Dirk should rein in that ego, though mostly he does mean it as a joke.]

I meant the bird, not my ancestor.

[Equius says that with love, Dirk, he really does. Darkleer the bird is showing off, fluffling out his feathers and craning his long neck up and down. Chance, used to his stable mate's shenanigans, ignores him.]

Well, your ancestor can too.

[The chocobo and Dirk are probably a good match at the moment.]

He won't. He doesn't seem to like you very much.

[The issue of the awesomeness of Striders is one where Equius and Darkleer the ancestor just have to agree to disagree.]

[Equius notices Dirk's growing confidence, and gives Darkleer a gentle nudge with his heels. The bird begins to pick up speed, pulling slightly ahead of Chance.]

His loss.

[This time, Dirk doesn't need Equius to say anything for him to speed up, nudging Chance into a faster gait once more.]

Yeah. His loss.

[Chance catching up just awakens Darkleer's competitive streak, and the bird kwehs in challenge, his legs starting to churn faster.]

IC Voicemail Vatheon

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I cannot remember this damn horse's name for the life of me

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I asked James, the horse's name is Chance!

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