21st Gate - Meeting the Companion

[peacockherald]

[ Filtered to Clow]  

Are you free this afternoon, Clow? I was hoping we might be able to go for a ride. And Yfandes is getting anxious to meet you too. She says that after you got me on a ferris wheel, she has to meet the man with the silver tongue.

Just, let me know when you want to go.

Comments

[legacydeck]

I'm free - I think the pie shop has enough to get them through tonight if not half of tomorrow.

I'll warn you, though, it's been a long time since I've ridden.

[peacockherald]

_{[He laughed quietly.]}

That's all right, we'll go slow.

Be sure to bring something sweet to butter up my girl.

[legacydeck]

The concessions to age, hmm?


And I've got some fresh apple turnovers - will those suit?

[peacockherald]

You're not that old.

_{[If only he knew...]}

Be careful, else you might have a new pet if you bring those. You'll be her new favorite, and I'll be jealous.

[legacydeck]

If I told you how old I actually was, I doubt you'd believe me.

And I don't think you have to worry about a loss there - much as I wouldn't worry overmuch if you tried to bribe Kero away with cake.

[peacockherald]

You would be surprised the things I do and do not believe.

One day I hope I can meet this 'Kero'. Are you on your way then?

[-> action!]

[legacydeck]

Yes, I'll be there shortly.

[And true to his word, it doesn't take him too long to get over, with a paper box from the Pie Hole in hand]

yay ~

[peacockherald]

<sub>[Vanyel has already fetched a lovely black gelding for Clow, the horse tethered to the outside of the bar, saddle already on and tightened.

Vanyel appeared from around him, dressed in soft doe-skin trews, a lovely green tunic with an accenting brown belt, knee high riding boots, and his black hair pulled back in a tail tied with a green ribbon.

A peacock, to the end.

He smiled at Clow, raising his hand in greeting.]</sub>

Glad you could make it. I've got you a nice quiet gelding for our ride.

_{[He patted the black shoulder.]}

Yfandes says he is steady and true.

[legacydeck]

[Clow is somewhat more sedate in a plain shirt and black trousers - which may still have a few patches of flour on them. He wasn't feeling particularly vain today.]

I'll trust you both - and hope I haven't forgotten too much in the last few decades.

[He goes to take the the tethers with his free hand, and then gives Vanyel a smile]

Where is your lovely lady, anyway?

[peacockherald]

_{[Personally, Vanyel found the look quite fetching on him, and he could not help but smile a little. He reached up, brushing a bit of flower from the other's shoulder.]}

She is on her way, never fear.

_{[And, as if she had heard the summons - and she most certainly had and timed such to the most opportune moment - she appeared around the gelding, a beautiful white mare with bright blue eyes that held more than equine intelligence.]}

Clow, meet Yfandes, my Companion. Yfandes, this is Clow, as you know.

[legacydeck]

[For a brief second, all Clow can think is that this is the most beautiful horse he's ever seen. And then he remembers what Vanyel said, and the nature of his own creations, and like that, his thinking shifts. Not a horse, but a spirit in her own right, as intelligent as they were. He gives her a smile, and a small, courtly bow.]

A pleasure to meet you, my lady.

[He pries his little box open, and pulls out one of the apple turnovers - still warm from the over - and offers it to her]

It's a meager gift, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.

[peacockherald]

_{[Yfandes lets out a snort and looks to Vanyel with clear amusement in her eyes. She comes forward, delicately taking the treat and munching away at it as Vanyel quickly saddles her.]}

She says she likes you already.

Do you need help mounting?

[legacydeck]

[Clow chuckles a little]

I may be old, but I think my father would be rolling over in his grave if I had forgotten that much.

[He offers the rest of the box to Vanyel]

I brought one for you, too.

[peacockherald]

_{[He smiled at the gesture, taking it in his hand and munching with a happy sound as he took the cantle of his saddle and swung up, neat and as easy as you please.]}

Shall we go then? The woods have a few nice trails we could go along.

[legacydeck]

[Ah, the flexibility of youth. And, well, a life spent with far more exercise than climbing around library shelves, if Clow is going to be quite honest. It takes him one failed try, but he does manage to pull himself up on his own, and get settled fairly comfortably]

I'll let you lead the way, then.

[peacockherald]

_{[He nodded with a smile, and without anything on his part Yfandes began to head for the wood, keeping to a slow walk for the moment.]}

I don't go riding with company very often. It's a nice change.

[legacydeck]

[Thankfully for Clow's dignity, he hasn't entirely forgotten how to ride, and he follows easily enough]

I don't think I've done any riding for pleasure since I left England, so it's a nice change for me, as well.

[peacockherald]

Well, than I am glad I brought you along then. I think horse back riding should be an essential skill here, but it surprises me how few know how.

[legacydeck]

Mmm, well. It's never really been a skill for city-dwellers, and I get the impression we have a lot of those, here.

[peacockherald]

So it seems, but even in a city... well, actually, I grew up out in the country, and when I'm on circuit - yes, I think I spend more time in the wilds than anywhere civil.

_{[He shakes his head as they pass into the cool shadows of the forest.]}

[legacydeck]

In the city, a horse is a luxury. Even in the country too, now. Though given the lack of other forms of transport here, you have a good point.

[peacockherald]

They are integral to a good farm, back home - help with crops and rounding up herds. Admittedly, I always had a few more than most. My family's business was part horse trading.

[legacydeck]

Ahh. I don't know much about running an estate - I was never in line to inherit. But it seems that lately in my own world, the work done by men and animals is increasingly being replaced by machinery.

[peacockherald]

Ah, I had heard tell of these 'machines'. Personally, I think a horse would be reliable.

[legacydeck]

The machines are, too. And they don't require feeding or pasture or medical care. It's all a matter of economics.

Of course, you can't go for a nice ride in the forest on a threshing machine.

[peacockherald]

And nothing quite beats that.

_{[He smiled, reaching up to rub between Yfandes' ears.]}

I used to ride like this a lot, before I was Chosen. I took Star out all the time.

[legacydeck]

And then riding became part of the job, instead of part of pleasure?

[peacockherald]

It is still a pleasure, but yes, it is part of a job. Thankfully, Companions are different from horses, even in the ride.