quarante-huit ° dictated

[signedlefthanded]

Pie day was pretty clever of the castle. It isn't something I've heard of, but being an inspired and hopeful engineer, the number is an important part of mathematics and physics.

Speaking of, I was thinking about the idea of a school again. I don't know how many qualified teachers there are, but is anyone willing to become one? I know we have many people who have studied a variety of things, and it can be beneficial to anyone who wants to pick up a class or two.

The subject is up to you.

[Filtered to Percy]

I'm headed to the stables if you're not busy.

Comments

[waterproofed]

[Percy opens the stalls, guiding out one of the horses. The other waits expectantly, staring at Violet]

I think that one wants you.

[signedlefthanded]

[She smiles brighter as she moves into the stall. She offers a hand before petting her nose.]

Hello, girl.

[waterproofed]

[he grins watching her] She says hello back. And she promises to be gentle with you since it's your first time.

[signedlefthanded]

[She smiles gently at Percy before bringing the horse all the way out.]

Thank you for that.

[waterproofed]

Okay, there are reins, but try not to pull on them too hard. Want me to boost you up or you want to try getting on yourself?

[signedlefthanded]

I just step in and lift my leg over, yes?

[waterproofed]

You got it. Feel free to put your hands on her back and use the leverage to push yourself up. Like this. [he demonstrates by mounting his own horse, trying to do it slowly so she can watch]

[signedlefthanded]

[She watches what he said before slowly attempting it. Her hands go on the horse before she steps in and lifts herself off the ground. In another moment, she pushes on the horse to give her enough momentum to mount her.]

[waterproofed]

[Percy guides his horse next to hers so he can keep a hand close by to help if she needs it]

Grip with your knees and try to keep your back straight.

[signedlefthanded]

[She straightens her posture and holds onto the horse, doing as he says.]

Like this?

[waterproofed]

Yeah, that looks good. [he of course doesn't need reins to guide his horse] We'll just go at a walk for now. I'll be right here so there'll be no chance of you falling.

[signedlefthanded]

[She gives Percy a nod before letting up on the reigns, letting the horse start to move. She's bracing herself anyway, but is sitting tight just in case.]

[waterproofed]

[the two horses walk forward out into the cold. Violet's horse moves carefully; it seems she knows that Violent is important to Percy and wants to be extra careful]

See? No sweat. You're doing great!

[signedlefthanded]

[She moves with the horse, smiling a bit.]

It's... not so bad.

[waterproofed]

[the horse snorts. Whatever it's saying makes Percy blush a little]

Once it gets warmer we can step it up to trotting, and maybe even gallop if you feel confident enough. I don't want the horses to get hurt falling in the snow.

[signedlefthanded]

Whatever you thinks is best, I'll follow.

[waterproofed]

[that makes him grin, and he guides his horse to walk around a little bit more. Violet's will follow]

[signedlefthanded]

[Her horse follows, trotting behind Percy's.]

Where do you want to go?

[waterproofed]

Just a loop around the grounds should work. We can stop by and say hi to Alcaeus.

[signedlefthanded]

Who's that?

[waterproofed]

He's the giant squid who lives in the duck pond.

[signedlefthanded]

Oh right. We met when we went in the boat last summer.

[waterproofed]

[his horse is already heading in that direction; yay for horse telepathy]

He's pretty groggy in the winter, so I usually just drop by to check on him.

[signedlefthanded]

Does he sleep? [She doesn't know the lifestyle of a giant squid.]

[waterproofed]

Sorta hibernates, yeah. Not much else he can do with all that ice.