The Stables: Sunday afternoon

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal was standing in the stall, grooming Trenor, something both he and the horse enjoyed. And, enjoyment aside, if Trenor was going to have his picture taken, Karal wanted him looking his best.

Andrew's (now cleaned) coat was hanging over one of the empty stalls.

[ooc: Karal's here to meet Andrew, but open before that as well! It always said Sunday, so hush.]

Comments

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I spent a long time training to be a priest. The manners come with the robes," he teased. "And that's the first camera I've ever seen, but Trenor loves attention." Karal laughed, slowing him. "What would you like me to do?"

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"You're doing just what you need to do," Andrew replied, snapping a few more pictures. He paused and brought up the menu on the camera. "How do you feel about black and white shots?" he asked. "I think they actually have more personality -- allow you to see things more clearly."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I'm in your hands," he replied. "Whatever you think is best."

Trenor tossed his head, then arched his tail and gave a little bounce, making Karal shake his head and smile down at him. "Silly horse."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"I think we'll do some of both. Black and white for that artistic touch and color shots simply because we owe it to your eyes. They're pretty intense. In a good way." He zoomed in on Karal's face.

"So, you're a priest, but you drink. Are you, um, celibate or anything like that?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal blushed. "No, Sun-Priests are required to be neither celibate nor chaste, not unless they take a vow. Sometimes they even marry, though it's usually to another priest."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"Is your society really conservative? Oh, and is this your native language?" Andrew was full of questions.

"Do you think you'll ever marry?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal was happy to answer questions, and he rode Trenor in a slow, highly collected, trot around Andrew. "Compared to here, yes. Women are not permitted to own property, or to dress as men, there are so many things that are deemed heretical...It was a bad place for a long time, but it's changing. We speak Karsite there," he dropped out of English and into Karsite to say, //Which sounds like this//.

He sounded a bit wistful when he said, "I had always hoped to marry someday, but then I never thought I'd leave the Temple. Who knows what the future will bring."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"Not exactly a gay friendly kind of place, huh?" Andrew didn't even pause to think of how hard it would have been for him to ask that question before he came to Fandom.

"Do you have any text written in Karsite and maybe a translation of them?" Andrew was always up for learning a new language. "I'm kind of a language buff."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"No, it is considered heresy there," he said quietly. "Which is a law of men and not of Vkandis, and is wrong, but things change slowly."

He perked up. "Truly? I have a fondness for languages, as well. I have plenty of books, but no translations. I could teach you Karsite, though!"

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"Would you? I would love to learn it. Do you speak any other languages? I know a couple dozen, but most of them aren't really spoken anymore. At least, not in this dimension."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Glory, I'd love to!" He drew Trenor to a halt, giving him a loose rein, and dismounted. "I don't speak anywhere near so many as that! Six credibly, and I can read a few others."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"So how do you say, 'Thank you for a lovely afternoon,' in Karsite?" Andrew asked, putting the camera down.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal grinned and repeated the words in Karsite, pronouncing each word clearly and carefully.

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew repeated it back. His accent might have been heavily West Coast, but he nailed it. "It's a very pretty language. And really, thank you so much."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Very good! And no thanks are necessary," he said firmly. "You're good company, and this was fun. Now, would you like to ride back to the stables? I could lead you, and your coat is there."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"I, um..." Andrew looked nervous. "Sure," he squeaked.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal carefully hid a smile. "I give you my word, nothing bad will happen," he said soothingly. "If you give me your camera, I'll give you a leg up. That's where you put your knee in my hands, and I'll help you up into the saddle." He explained how to mount, then held out his hand for the camera. Trenor had his head turned, watching with interest. "All will be well, trust me."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew handed the camera over and stepped up to the horse. "Okay, Mr. Trenor, you're my friend, right? You are the best horsey in the whole wide world." He reached up to pat the horse.

"I trust you," he said to Karal, waiting for his leg up. "Nothing to it," he said to himself.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor stood rock-steady and Karal tucked the camera under his arm and cupped his hands for Andrew to put his knee in. "Just hang onto his mane and the back of the saddle, push up off my hands, and swing your leg over."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew gulped and then did as he was instructed. It wasn't graceful by any means, but when he found himself on top of the horse he exclaimed, "I did it!" He leaned down and wrapped his arms around Trenor's neck.

"Now how do I keep from falling off?" He noticed that he seemed to slide pretty easily on the saddle.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor flicked his ears but didn't move while Karal guided Andrew's feet into the stirrups. "There. Now you can sit up straight and hang onto his mane. You won't fall."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"This isn't quite like the saddle they have in all those Westerns," he noted, slowly sitting up. He made a conscious effort not to grip Trenor's mane too tightly.

"Is it bad if I close my eyes?" he asked.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"You can if you like," he said, looking up at him in concern. "I'm going to walk him forward a few steps. If you want to get off, tell me right away."

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"Okay," Andrew said. "I'll keep them open, for now. This is really high up. Really high up." Andrew might have a tiny fear of heights.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal patted his leg reassuringly. "I'll be right beside you." He clucked to Trenor, who very slowly and smoothly stepped out. "How does that feel?"