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?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

If Ferris was intending to fend off interest, that had been exactly the wrong way to go about it. And so very obvious. "Very well, thank you for asking," he replied, studying the other boy carefully. "You're not about to tell me you don't like priests, are you?"

[takingthedayoff.livejournal.com]

"I couldn't really say. You're the first I've met. Wait, no. I have met the Archbishop of Chicago, but those weren't exactly normal circumstances, so you're the first I've had a conversation with. It wouldn't be fair to say whether I like or dislike priests without getting to know you."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Glory, that's quite a lot of pressure!" Karal said lightly, amused and a bit baffled by Ferris. "Hopefully you won't dislike them based on my example. I'd hate to be responsible for a future filled with disliking the clergy."

[takingthedayoff.livejournal.com]

"I wouldn't worry too much about it. I'm not easily offended." Mock offended was one thing, truly offended was another entirely. He looked around Karal to see what Trenor was up to, then straightened and turned his attention back to Karal. "What brings a priest to high school? It's not exactly the holiest of places."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"And I try hard not to offend." Trenor's ear flicked at Ferris' attention, but the grass was much more important than people without treats. "As for why I am here," he paused, ordering his thoughts, "I was, for a time, my country's envoy to Valdemar, a neighbouring country. I was sent here to gain experience. I'm no longer Envoy, but I've been blessed enough that the Son of the Sun permitted me to stay."

[takingthedayoff.livejournal.com]

"Son of the Sun? Son of the Sun. There's a tongue-twister. Fandom seems good a place as any to get experience. Have you ever had a hot dog? It's an important experience that a lot of people around here seem to have missed out on."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal rubbed his temple, boggling a bit at Ferris' manner. "As it happens, I have. In New York, actually. A friend of mine bought it for me. It was...interesting."

[takingthedayoff.livejournal.com]

"Karal?" Ferris said sincerely, removing his hands from his pockets. "You have made my day."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

And now he was just confused. "Umm, good?" he ventured.

[takingthedayoff.livejournal.com]

He reached out to try to pat Karal gently on the arm. "Trust me, it's a good thing. Everyone I've talked to has denied ever having a hot dog. I've come to terms with the fact that I'm from the past and that there are aliens and talking turtles, but trying to come to terms with no one knowing what a hot dog is has been hard."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Oh!" He smiled at the pat on the arm, and at his sudden understanding. "I see! They do definitely exist. A man was selling them from a little cart," he added. "That must be very frustrating for you. I can certainly attest to their existence, if that would be of any help."

[takingthedayoff.livejournal.com]

"It helps more than you know. I thought I was going to have to walk around town with a hot dog cart." Ferris paused. "That's not to say I still won't, but at least now I know it's not a matter of urgency."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"If you do, I will definitely buy one." But possibly not eat it. His memory of the hot dog wasn't the best. "It might prove quite popular, especially if it stays cold."

[takingthedayoff.livejournal.com]

"I'll hold you to that. Speaking of food, I'd better get moving before my stomach decides to revolt."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"And that would be a terrible thing to happen," he said. "It was interesting to meet you, Ferris. Enjoy your day!"

[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."