Very Important Hunting Club Time

[greatestkingdom]

The morning of the hunt was a perfect clear, warm day. Stephen was the first to arrive at the meeting place out near the stables-- normally he aimed for fashionably late, but he didn't want to risk anyone important showing up before him. It'd just be rude. So he was already dressed for the hunt, and sitting astride one of his horses. Stephen Jr.

Comments

[lady_kuchiki]

Rukia came galloping toward them as quickly as she could. She was smiling, and although there was something solemn in her eyes, she waved and singsonged, "Hello, everyone~! I hope I'm not too late." more than cheerfully enough.

Rukia's riding outfit was black, lined with white, simple and dull and more than a little dirty, a far cry away from the fancy, girlish dresses she usually wore at her brother's home or when visting the castle (such clothes simply weren't practical for a riding endeavor).

The dark-haired girl was riding Snowdance, the only horse that could be said to belong to her rather than to her elder brother. An older gelding, Snowy's temper was exceptionally even -- there was, in fact, a genial obliviousness about the horse as he plodded toward the group. He lived up to his name, and Rukia, with her dark hair and clothes, look a little odd contrasted with the pure white of her horse. That she was so small didn't really help; even though Snowdance was one of the smaller horses the Kuchikis owned, Rukia was so tiny that she still looked slightly perilous perched atop him the way she was. Rukia knew full well she was capable of handling far rougher horses in spite of her size and gender, but Byakuya was having none of it.

Trotting alongside her was her dog Kon, a high-strung beagle who was every bit as loud, whimpering and nervous as Snowdance was gentle and unruffled. Kon didn't bark, but instead made a high-pitched whining noise at Stephen Jr.

[oh_look_a_dime]

((Don't kill me, I haven't rped...like this before...o_O; Let me know if I fuck up))

Zelda trotted elegantly toward the group, her stomach with a slight sinking feeling as she came to the conclusion that she was late. Nevertheless, she sat with very good posture and put on a smile, keeping a note to herself to argue less with her mother prior to meeting someone the same morning.

"Kilas...ooh...good morning, everyone," she said sweetly. She looked at the dogs and giggled at them, and then turned to Rukia and said, "We meet again, with horses~!"

[lady_kuchiki]

"Hello, Fay-sama!" said Rukia, with a little bow (as much as one could bow from atop a horse, at least) in his direction.

With a beaming smile, she turned to Zelda. "So it appears we do~!" she giggled. "It's nice to see you again!"

[greatestkingdom]

"Ladies," said Stephen when the two women arrived. "I'm so glad the two of you could make it."

Hunting was really a man's sport, but it'd be useful to have more nobility along, so it'd be all right.

Stephen Jr. eyed Kon curiously at the look he was being given, and flapped his wings, but didn't fly away.

Yuzuru, meanwhile, was enjoying having his ears scratched very much, leaning against the mage and wagging his tail, hoping that he'd get more scratches. Tamaki approached Fay as well, sniffing him and pressing his cold nose against the man's neck, wanting some attention himself.

Stephen grinned at the sight. "They like you! Looks like you're a real dog person, aren't you?"

[guard_puppy]

"Good morning," Kurogane greeted the two ladies, and Tamaki, with a respectful nod of his head to the prince. He could be polite when he wanted to be. For short amounts of time, anyway.

Still, he was more interested in Fay than any of the proceedings there. He looked over. "Doesn't matter," he said honestly, also missing any innuendo there. "You can hold on better from behind, right?"

[guard_puppy]

Kurogane had to bite back the automatic I'm not a dog, but knew saying it would only be embarrassing, since Fay hadn't actually called him one. Just implied it. Dammit, mage...

"Right." He swung himself up onto the horse easily, rubbing a hand over the side of her neck to soothe her. "Need a hand?"

[greatestkingdom]

"Uh, Actually," said Stephen, "don't you think that's a little impractical? Fay'll hardly get to do any hunting. Besides, uh--" he actually had no idea what that guy's name was "--you would probably be more comfortable on your own horse, yeah? I've got one in the stables that would be right for you."

The one Stephen was thinking of in particular was the giant ill-tempered stallion with a tendency to bite and thow its riders.

[greatestkingdom]

"You sure?" asked Stephen in an oddly strangled voice. "Because I could show you how to ride your own if you wanted. You could even borrow Charlene here! I've got a lot of others horses. Just a lot."

None as well-trained or well-bred as Charlene was, but he wasn't going to tell Fay that. After all, he was important enough to have a lot of really fine horses. Why shouldn't he?

[guard_puppy]

Now Kurogane gave the man a weird look. "He knows how to ride on his own," he pointed out. "If he doesn't mind, I'm fine with it." More than fine, since it meant Fay was cuddled up to him, but he didn't say that.

[greatestkingdom]

Stephen coughed, as something appeared to be caught in his throat. "Well, that's all right then. I guess it's nice that you and your servants are so close."

[guard_puppy]

"I'm not a servant." And he wasn't--he provided a service, but there was a clear difference in his mind. "I'm his bodyguard."

[lady_kuchiki]

Hoping to diffuse any possible tension, Rukia cut in, "I think it's nice, whatever you are. Charming, really. Good morning, both of you." Byakuya would never approve of such friendliness between a man and his bodyguard, but Rukia herself found it cute, and it wasn't like Byakuya would ever find out what she said when he wasn't around.

Kon, far more vocal than his mistress, had been growling at Stephen Jr. when the bird's wings started to flap, but had abandoned that for panting and looking adoringly up at Zelda when it became apparent that Stephen Jr. was not going to either fly away or attack.

"Is there anyone else we're waiting for?" Rukia asked.