The lawns around the dorms: Saturday morning

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

It was cold, yes. It was cloudy, yes. You wouldn't guess either of those by looking at Karal.

He'd risen early, trotted up to the roof to say the Dawn Rites, even more enthusiastically than usual, then down to the stables to feed Trenor.

Now Karal was riding Trenor in nothing but a halter and lead rope, letting him graze while he lay back, one arm folded under his head which was cushioned on Trenor's rump. Perhaps not the wisest way to ride a horse, but he was comfortable, Trenor was calm and content, and it let him watch the clouds scud across the sky.

Boy and horse were completely relaxed, enjoying the morning.

[ooc: open of course.]

Comments

[takingthedayoff.livejournal.com]

"I may not be an expert on the subject, but that looks like an odd way to ride a horse," Ferris called from some distance away as he approached. Breakfast could wait.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor lifted his head, grass dribbling from his mouth, and snorted.

Karal sat up, blinking a little because he'd been foolishly close to falling asleep. "It's not recommended, but Trenor and I've been together for a long time," he replied. "I don't believe I know you, do I? My name is Karal, from Karse."

[takingthedayoff.livejournal.com]

"I'm Ferris, from Chicago. I've heard your name on the radio. Nothing but good things, of course."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal blinked again. "And suddenly I'm pleased I don't listen to it very often." Or at all, really, truth be told. "Glory, I'm not sure I want to know what squirrels are saying about me."

He swung a leg over Trenor's wither and slid off, landing neatly on the ground. Trenor went back to grazing.

[takingthedayoff.livejournal.com]

"I'm still getting over the fact that the squirrels say anything at all." Ferris jerked his head towards Trenor. "You look pretty at ease with the whole horse-riding thing. Were you a knight in Karse?" Ferris figured he'd met a ninja, the radio station was run by a pirate, Doom looked like a robot, there were stories of zombies so all he needed to round up the collection was a knight and a cowboy.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He laughed and scratched Trenor's neck. "No, I was - I am - a priest, but my father was a stableman. I have been around horses since I was born, working with them since I was four. I'd have followed my father's path were it not for joining the Kin of Vkandis."

[takingthedayoff.livejournal.com]

"A priest?" Ferris sounded surprised, but it was quickly followed by a brief calculating look, then a friendly smile. His hands were in his pockets, offering very little in the way of body language. "Interesting. How's that working out for you?"

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

Needing to pick up some things and deciding that coffee he hadn't actually made himself might be a thing, Dean headed out intent on a trip into town.

He paused when he saw Karal. "Y'know that would be probably the one advantage I'd grant you of a horse over the Impala. I can't take a nap while she's moving."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I'm not asleep," he protested, though it took him a few moments, having been half-asleep. "And, really, I shouldn't take such liberties even with Trenor." As he sat up, Trenor flicked an ear back at him and kept eating. "How are you this morning, dean?"

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"I'm good," Dean said with a quick smile. "Been reading that book you gave me."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal's eyes lit up and he slipped off Trenor. "What do you think so far?" he asked. "Have you any questions?"

[saltandammo.livejournal.com]

"It's all making sense," Dean said. "Kinda surprised me. I've always thought religions are kinda not supposed to make sense when you look at them too closely."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"It depends, I think, on whether the priesthood serves their god or themselves. Gods do not need extra mystery, and if the priests serve Him, they try to make His tenets understood. If they serve themselves, they obscure as much as they can, so they're needed at every step. That way they gain power." Karal made an apologetic gesture when he realised he was going on. "Forgive me. No lecture intended! But, yes, the Sunlord wants people to know Him so they may choose freely."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

Someone was sitting below a tree...

Or so it looked, anyway. 'He' was actually above the tree, in the branches, attempting to examine how his senses worked when he was out of his body. Every once in a while, the haze would start and he'd begin to see things differently, but he reigned himself in and got his vision back to normal.

That was why he saw Karal with Trenor on the grass, slipped back down into his body, pulled himself out of the meditation, and waved hello.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor snorted, looking at Liir strangely. Almost as if he'd sensed something.

Or, more likely, as if he was disappointed in Liir's apparent lack of apple-having. The snort caught Karal's attention, and he sat up and waved back.

"The dance was lovely, wasn't it?" he said, nudging Trenor to walk over to where Liir was sitting.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

Liir stood before stumbling back against the tree. Apparently, his foot had fallen asleep. He held up a hand so Karal knew he was fine.

"It was. I had a lovely time. And you? I admit I was preoccupied."

When he looked to Trenor, he noticed the slight disappointment. A quick reach hooked him the strap of his bag and a pull got him the rest of the bag. Three seconds of searching produced a sugar cube.

"May I?" he asked.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor's ear went up and he whickered, stepping closer of his own volition, top lip stretching out to wiggle in the air.

Karal had to laugh. "I'd be afraid to say no at this point," he said, sliding off Trenor to lean against his greedy horse. "Please, go ahead." His smile got wider. "And I had a wonderful time."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

He held out the cube to the horse.

"Good day, Trenor," he greeted the horse. Animals, even the lower-case kind, were always treated with care and respect.

...well, usually. Monkeys he couldn't help himself.

"That's good. I got to dance with a few people. I even met a girl I didn't know before."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor took it delicately, crunching it up in a state of obvious bliss, making happy little snorting noises.

Karal tugged on his ear. "Such a silly horse," he said fondly. "I danced only with Andrew. Neither Evey nor I are much for dancing."

[solo_sword]

Jaina had started out to pick up some things in town, but stopped when she saw Karal and Trenor. Instead, she detoured over, saying "You look like you're having a good time."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor pricked his ears and started walking over to Jaina. She was a giver of treats and pats, after all.

"Good morning, Jaina," Karal said as he quickly sat up, slowing Trenor. "I am, actually." He smiled at her. "Cold as it is, it's a beautiful morning."

[solo_sword]

She walked over to give Trenor a pat, smiling. "I was going to say hi last night, but I didn't want to interrupt."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Trenor sighed happily and nudged her hand.

Karal went pink and looked down at Trenor's mane. "The dance was very enjoyable," he said, smiling to himself.

[solo_sword]

Jaina grinned, trying to remember if he'd blushed at their last conversation, too, or if this was the start of a new streak. "Oh, just say you like her."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He beamed at her. "I like her, very much, and she likes me." He slipped off Trenor's back. "She's wonderful, Jaina."