[ 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

[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.

[longfallen]

[chase raises an eyebrow.]

Explore it. See what's there for myself. See if there's some hidden way out none of you are telling me.

[he moves closer to the horse, reaching out a hand to run his fingers over her neck. horses tend to pick up on his inhumanity faster than other species, but this one doesn't seem to mind; maybe she's used to it. the stablemaster doesn't appear to be 100% human himself.]

I'll see if she's agreeable. Horses aren't always ... stable.

[bloodtothebest]

[He smiles, jagged teeth of a carnivore flashing briefly at Chase before he turns to retrieve the saddle.]

She's a good girl, trust me on that.

[Saddle slung over one arm, Dos nods to the mare.]

You want me to tack her up or are you right to do it?

[longfallen]

[those teeth - well, it seems he's not alone here. a carnivore knows a carnivore. he'll be keeping this man in mind.]

I'll leave you to it. She trusts you more, and I haven't had to do it myself in ... quite a while.

[but he'll watch, to refresh his memory.]

[bloodtothebest]

[With his free hand, Dos unlocks the gate and moves inside, the mare shifting her feet and giving an affectionate whinny at his approach. Calloused hands make quick work of getting the horse ready to ride.]

Jump on and I'll set your stirrups.

[longfallen]

[he slips on the horse with some ease, though his first instinct is to grip at her mane as he very nearly slips right back off; like he's said, it's been some time since he's had to bother with a horse. he doesn't make his struggle obvious, though. must maintain dignity.]

How long have you been here, at this castle? [idle conversation - or information gathering - while the setup is completed. no sense in not finding something out.]

[bloodtothebest]

[Dos starts to chuckle but quickly turns it into a cough. He passes Chase the reins.]

Don't hold them too tight, and relax. The horse can feel everything you're feeling. If you're tense, she will be too.

And I been here long enough to know that askin' too many questions won't get you very far. There's a lot of walls in this place when it comes to conversation.

[He rolls his shoulders and offers a stirrup for Chase to slip his foot through.]

Foot through there and tell me if it feels comfortable. Should have a slight bend in your knee. I been here a long time, kid. Let's leave it at that.

[longfallen]

[he heard that very-nearly-a-laugh and scowled, taking the reins and ensuring the horse didn't pick up on anything other than his sheer confidence.]

A pity. I'll have to dredge it out bit by bit, then.

[or force it - not that he's about to say that out loud. yet, anyway.

chase complies with dos's commands but rankles at the designation of 'kid'. there's a good chance he's older than anyone in this entire castle, possibly all of them put together - oh, for his reputation to precede him once again ... ]

'A long time' could mean anything from a year to a thousand years. Don't call me 'kid'.

[bloodtothebest]

[Dos stands straight and grins at Chase, his next words laced with jest.]

Ain't it a mystery? Tellin' you a precise figure would ruin all my fun.

[He laughs and opens the gate.]

How old are you then? I find it's the young ones and the old codgers who always bite the most at bein' called kid.

[longfallen]

[chase sneers very slightly at that enigmatic attitude. it's not one he's unfamiliar with, it's just that he's usually the one doling it out. it's a taste of his own medicine, and my is it bitter for him.

he nudges the horse out once the gate is open.]

Fifteen hundred years. So, yes, I do bite at the mention. I'd suggest you refrain from calling me an 'old codger', as well.

[bloodtothebest]

Eesh, you been around for a while haven't ya? Should get you talkin' to Duran. He's been around since forever too.

[Dos snickers again. Oh Chase, he likes you.]

Alright buddy I won't go callin' you an old guy. If you got nothing else to say, then why don't you take that lovely horse out for a spin?

[Provided Chase doesn't speak, Dos will happily slap the horse on the rump and send her bolting for the door.]

[longfallen]

[duran? it's a name he'll keep in mind, then - he hasn't spoken to too many people in the castle yet, much less many of the staff.

he's very nearly about to respond with yet another snide comment when he sees the movement toward the horse and changes his mind. instead, chase focuses on keeping himself on the horse and the horse steady as dos sends her charging for freedom. all he does is give the stablemaster one last brief, toothy half-grin before turning his attention back to the world ahead of him.]