08.06.3013: Just Choose
Summary: Demos shares a story with Talynne and Balius before horse riding.
Date: 6th August 2013
Related: Prior: Plain Majestic.
Balius Talynne Demos Roxy 


The Bottoms
Wherever the Caravan of House Rovehn may be, the stretch of plains where they set up their temporary settlement is known as The Bottoms. They favors flatlands where there is plenty of room for each of the large, wheeled caravans to set up comfortably — usually ranging from a one and a half to two square miles of open space. There is an organic way in which the caravans arrange themselves, almost naturally establishing districts and neighborhood blocks with roads of trodden grass winding their way between them. It is exceptionally rare to come across a parked caravan that doesn't have its rampways extended and exterior doors open. When weather allows, most of those caravans with housing units have their windows open, noises of everyday life mingling with the sounds of the plains.

Surrounding The Bottoms are the various horse herds, each of which are looked after by dozens of riders. Destriers, thoroughbreds, and walkers all mix and mingle together into cohesive groups. Hard light fences and paddocks are erected to provide safey and necessary shelters for the herds.

08.06.3013

The night hadn't been without its fair share of interest and action. The Royal pod that the visitors had been allowed to stay in was no less well appointed than any other royal home would have been. Lots of fine furniture, people serving food, drinks, offering some sort of refreshment or another and the constant possibility of entertainment occuring in the form of boistrous conversation. But the rooms they'd been given were quiet, nice beds, soft sheets. Even the constant movement of air through the open windows was somehow a silent thing in the middle of the night. The random hoofbeats of the herd were able to be heard no matter where you were, though, especially in the dead of night. Small sounds travelled well across the flat plains they'd stopped in for this period of time, which made it far easier to make sure the herd was safe through the night.

Once morning had arrived, no one was pushed out of bed, instead the sounds of the world coming to life around them would likely have called them anyway. Breakfast being cooked, plenty of meats, eggs, cheeses, breads. The thicker fare of those people that might need a good number of calories to keep their bodies moving through the day and into the afternoon before lunch would be served. It was at breakfast where Talynne sat now, the large table piled with food that had been slightly picked at, but not yet cleared by the rush of royals that would eventually wake up. She didn't have a small amount of food on her plate, but she ate it in nice, ladylike bites, sure to chew with her mouth closed. In front of her was a pad of paper where she was idly drawing with her free hand, attempting to design some sort of saddle or possibly a riding system, would be hard to tell at this point since it was so early into the sketch process. Even so, she was at least keeping herself busy while the rest of the house, and her visitors, woke up and came out to eat.

With a book in hand, Balius will slowly wander down into the kitchen. Having never stayed the night at a noble's dwelling before, he was bound and determined to follow protocols, though he was certain he had no clue what those amounted to. Wearing the usual tunic but he's been wearing cloth shoes in the house, he'll peer around to see Talynne. He tries to slowly sneak up behind at the table, but his foot makes a very audible creak on the floor. He'll shrug and chuckle at himself. "There goes that plan." He'll grab a plate and pile on the bacon. "Sleep well last night?" He'll say with a smirk and a wink.

Coming himself to join in at breakfast, Demos takes the opposite approach of Balius. Staying as far away from the head of the table and where the higher positions would gather, he choose a location where there might be those knights not of the line, or taken from the citizenry. If none of those exist, he merely arrives and takes a seat at one end of the table that doesn't seem to draw attention and will take anything close to start putting onto his plate while keeping mostly quiet. He seems to have slept well on the Plains with windows open and the sounds of the plains wafting into his room.

Smiling over at Balius when she heard the telltale CREAK behind her, Talynne seemed entirely amused at his plan going awry. When he took the plate with food, she motioned to the seat near her and nodded to it. "You know, it was oddly restless. I had the most realistic dreams of a handsome man carrying me off across the dark fields on horseback. I found that when I woke, it was almost as if I'd been there." Her hazel eyes twinkled slightly as she spoke, the tone of amazement and awe somewhat over played, as she was obviously sharing a little joke with Bey. "How did you fare last night, Balius? Was your rest a thing of pure rejuvenation?" A slow, knowing smile rested on her lips before she noted Demos come into the room. "Demos! I hope that your trip shopping yesterday evening went well? How did you like your room?" She motioned for him to come closer. "Come sit up here, with us. That way I don't have to holler at you. Most of the family is already gone for the day, or not awake yet. I have a habit of being the earliest riser."

Balius is all smiles at the rendition of the night. "I must say that your vivid dreams must be inspiring and infectious, Talynne. Though I feel like my dream must have offered the better view." He'll start slowly and methodically on his plate of nothing but bacon. "Though I will say that I was very comfortable and slept well." Seeing Demos and Taly's motioning, Bey feels as if he missed something important - seating arrangements. Here he was sitting like a lord at the table, he'll give a quick headshake and mental notation of the matter. "I'm certain there's no way Demos' shopping trip couldn't have gone well." He'll offer the friendly tease towards his mentor.

Taking what he has gathered on his plate, Demos will move closer to Talynne and Balius after the invite. "My room was quite accomodating," but no mention of shopping, "It was actually quite cool, I could get used to it." He moves over and takes a seat, smiling just the same. "I had a pleasant breeze, it didn't carry dry warmth with it, or recirculated air. I need to get out of the lab more, and spend more time away from Detritus." Not privy to their dreams, he instead ponders, "I think the Storytelling Festival on Niveus will be under way soon, do either of you two plan to attend?" Just by way of passing, he is focused on his food, perhaps thinking he will need a lot of engergy for today.

"I hadn't thought of it. It might be interesting." Talynne looked sheepish, glancing over at Balius for a moment and clearing her throat, then smiling. "As for story telling, I've always enjoyed hearing the tales. Though mine usually involved horses." She chuckled and then took a bite of her food, nodding to one of the servers as they came by and refilled morning juice for those seated at the table, orange or strawberry-banana.. or if you were Talynne, both in equal mix went into her glass. "I'd suggest something besides bacon, Bey, you're going to need some simple sugars to break down as well. Maybe a biscuit or two? They're really good." Talynne motioned to the basket filled with buttery biscuits and also marion berry scones.

Noticing the mixed juices, Bey will smile at memories before. "I've never been, but it sounds like it could be a great time! Who doesn't enjoy a good tale?" He'll be taking great efforts in controlling his eating habits, because this was a plate of delicious bacon. Normally, it would have disappeared. At Taly's suggestion of food, Balius will nod and take a look around the table. Biscuits were weird and flaky, better try for the scone. "I suppose I should keep my energy up, with the way I've been dreaming lately." He'll give her a smile that is both teasing and also content. He's very comfortable in this strange noble house with all the rules he doesn't understand, and it surprises him. Turning back to Demos, "Do you have a favorite story from years past?"

Whether he catches any dream bantor or not, Demos is simply happy to be hear. He doesn't make any comment on food and keepingup sugar levels and calory expenditures. Though he nods, "Not horses, but then again, few of those where I come from. Rather, my favorite involves a certain desert thief and desires for adventure. Rather than realizing the treasure he has in his good life, he seeks so much that misadventure finds him. Through friends and fate he is saved and discovers that those friends and family he had where his treasure." A shurg, he looks down at his plate sheepishly a moment, "Maybe that's a simple idea, but it appealled to me. I think I need more adventure."

"That sounds like a lovely tale, Demos. Why would you call it simple? It has adventure, consequences, allure. How could that be simple?" Talynne smiled to him and then took another bite of her varied breakfast, swallowing before she spoke again. "The best stories are the ones that have it all, action, pain, pleasure, romance, dire circumstance, all followed by consequences and the lure of some truly fantastic imagery. You can get those without a horse." She winked to Demos, which mixed with the smile was very kind. Then she glanced over at Balius "Now mind you, I may not choose to mix them all that often without throwing a good horse in. But I feel that your story would be quite enchanting, Demos." Taking a drink of her juice, she shrugged. "Perhaps you could tell it while we ready the horses?"

Balius will nod strongly at the suggestion. "I'd love to hear it! It is often that what we truly need is a change of perspective rather than circumstance. Adventure awaits to those who will open their minds and eyes to it, at least from what I've found." He'll give a contented sigh as he leans back in his chair, nearing fullness. Bey will look expectantly to Demos.

"Indeed, but the morale of the story is that adventure isn't always good and before one seeks fortune, they should see what they have first." Pondering another bite, Demos forks his food, as if that ends the matter. "You see, Firuz had a loving family, worked as a porter and had the affections Nadia the seamstress. It was that his grandmother fell sick, he had heard of an old mystic who wandered the desert in his life. He had created an item of magic and science that could grant wishes and save lives. One day, he went in search of the mystic's magic, at the Sand Fall Canyons. What he didn't now was that smugglers had been using the Canyons as well."

Talynne couldn't help but grin, listening to the tale as she took bite after bite of food. Finally, her plate was empty and taken away. As a final retort, it would seem, she snaked herself a sweet roll to nibble on as she listened to the story and finished up her drink. "But if he's going into the desert to find a miraculous medicine, that's not about him wanting greener pastures elsewhere, but about him wanting to save the life of his grandmother… isn't that a good thing?" Taly asked curiously, taking a bite of her roll. Glancing over at Balius she gave him a grin.

Finishing his juice, Bey turns his attention to the story, nodding along. At Taly's grin, he'll just give a bit of a surprised smile, his eyes attempting to connect with hers for a long while. He shifts comfortably in his seat. "Sounds like his adventure has purpose indeed," he'll add in agreement with Talynne.

There is a nod from Demos to Talynne then Balius. "That is one perspective, yet another is that her sickness was just her age. There was normal medicine, but Firuz wanted more, wanted her better and in part, wanted the adventure. The glory of finding the artifact, and having the adventure itself. One might also say there was little thought, otherwise he might of known of the smugglers. You see, Firuz left with the shirt on his back, and a sword at his hip. No shield, and the smugglers were found of blasters. Thus, it came to be that in the Canyons, beyond the Sand Falls, where dust and light fill the air, he tought he was stumbling into the lair of the old wizard. But the smugglers had detected his arrival and boxed him in. They came at him, four of them, as if to box in the young porter. Firuz was trapped, knowing he only had a sword and his wits."

"It sounds as if he had better hope his sword was sharper." Talynne said darkly, her position in her seat remarkably relaxed, as if she'd possibly just napped there instead of eating breakfast. Her attention seemed to vary between Demos and his tale and trading eye contact with Balius, her smile growing slightly as she did so. At the very least, she was enjoying the tale and engaged.

"Or that his wits are just that much better?" Bey will add, seeming mostly focused on Demos' story, but he'll give occasionally giddy looks at Talynne, not being able to help but smile. He seems perfectly at peace with the world and all around it for the moment, listening intently to the story.

Good thing he's in the telling of his tell, Demos either doesn't notice shared looks are is composed enough to let them share those stolen looks without commenting. He continues, "Ah, he recalls one of the smugglers as a childhood friend, Samil, and he pleads for his grandmother. Yet, his friend also knows of the tales of the old mystic. Samil takes Firuz as a hostage, sets him down explaining he will be taken and ransomed so the smugglers can make some money from him, Firuz convinces him he means no harm so that he is not bound while detained. Yet, Firuz cannot stay and when his friend turns away a moment, Firuz overcomes him and scrabbles for a retreat through small gorges in the canyon. The smugglers give pursuit but Firuz is more agile, yet he becomes more lost until he meets a wandering merchant in the desert wastes."

"Beware of wandering merchants, they have no way to get in touch with them if the product is a failure." Talynne grinned to Demos and motioned that he keep going with his tale, obviously enjoying it quite a bit. "Forgive me, I should stop calling out commentary, but you have managed to pique my attentions." She rested her hands demurely in her lap, waiting for him to continue.

Balius will nod with a smile. "I feel an important choice coming up shortly." He'll seem to silence his commentary likewise, seeming engaged in the story. He'll flash a smile at Taly.

Shaking his head, Demos grins, "Storytelling on Detritus is full of interruptions, by all means do not stop." Then he continues, "In meeting with the merchant, the sun fell and the other moons rose up to great the sands, bringing cool change in the air." As if agreeing with Balius' assessment even. "Firuz spoke to the man of his trouble, his sick grand mother, his desire to find the artifact. The merchant listened as the night wore on them both, fueling the fire to keep them warm as he listened. As dawn slowly approached the two, Firuz explained he did not know what he should due. 'Ah' began the merchant, 'I am reminded of the tale of Omar, an old lord who fought with his brother for control of the title of Lord. Omar learned of a tree of wisdom far across the desert and went in search of that tree.'" There is a pause from Demos, who grins, "Ah, but that is another story …" Then he goes silent.

Blinking at his abrupt end, Talynne made a slight sound of dismay and shook her head. "Leaving me with a cliffhanger ending.. that's likely to get you on your first gallop, Demos." She joked at him with a grin, then looked over at Balius. "What do you say? We can toss him over the back of Sinner and carry him like a blanket out around the pasture, let him know what it feels like to properly ride like that first?" She was obviously teasing, her tone remarkably amiable, as if she were pondering tea instead of terrifying the poor man.

Grinning widely and then nodding matter-of-factly, "It is the true experience for a novice rider." He'll smile teasingly. "A story within a story, eh? That way to keep the audience entertained for multiple sessions - very practical." Bey was joining in the tease, but his remark on the story is sincere. He seems excited about riding again.

Blanching slightly, even knowing they are teasing, Demos shakes his head, "I suppose … it wouldn't be so bad if you were in the saddle, more safe." Then a chuckle, both at the tease and the cliffhanger. "Such is the way in Detritus," he offers it towards Balius, suggesting he wouldn't be so creative as to imagine that device on his own. "I mean, if I told the merchant turned out to be the wizard, who then bound him, and that Firuz told another story within the framework of stories in stories, to escape then returned home to find his grandmother better through practical medicine, it would be over that quick wouldn't it?"

"Indeed, the ending would come before the great stretch of the middle." Talynne smiled to Demos, watching him pale slightly in response to the teasing they gave him. "I can assure you, however, that I'll set you up properly in a saddle with a lovely mare that will treat you well for the entire ride." Glancing over at Bey, Talynne grinned. "And I've got a lovely riding horse for you as well, I would have had us take Destriers out, but I wouldn't want to get the riding horses feeling bullied by the large ones. Merrily, Canter, and Seal were the ones I'd brought out for Demos to choose from, all three of them you met…" She blinked, blushing slightly. "You met. I figure he'll choose one, then you can choose one of the two left. I'll be taking Braggh out, she needs a good solid ride, and helping train her to keep it slow for new riders will be helpful."

Balius will stand excitedly, only remembering to check that everyone is done with their food after that. "Well, if we're all done eating, shall we go?" He looks to Taly and Demos, a goofy grin on his face. "And perhaps more stories can be told as we quest into the morning light?" He'll say in a mock dramatic tone.

"It is done, let this adventure commence," says Demos, grinning, not as nervous but still, exciting, jittery, both. His food aside, he looks at the grin of Balius, perhaps than to the blush of Talynne. "Should I choose a horse based on a name," he ponders standing, "Or is there some other way, flip of a coin?"

"You should choose based on how you feel about the horses when you meet them." Talynne grinned to Demos and slowly brought herself to standing. She had on her usual leather pants, her tall boots laced up to her knees. "Make it based on how they interact with you, how they react to your presence." Her shirt, though, was different today. Not just a laced up, thin woven cotten, but something that looked almost.. nice… it was silken, with a delicate sheen on it, laced up the front but revealing a small amount of breast. Almost a poet's blouse. She looked pretty though, and had even done her hair smoothly down around her shoulders. For breakfast… "Let's go then." She smiled to the two of them and started towards the doorway out of the Pod.

Balius will nod in agreement "Pick the one you feel the best connection with," and then he'll immediately catch up to her, whispering briefly in her ear "You. Look. Stunning." And he'll start jogging ahead, pausing briefly to pull his shoes off, giving a "yahoo!" as he makes his way to the stables.

He takes all the advice in hand, then follows along with them as they leave the Pod and head for the stables. Demos wrestles with his thoughts of picking a horse and enjoying the ride. He wanted to try it, now is that moment. A lot to think about for the scholar, which probably helps his mind stay focused and not be distracted by laces, those on shoes and the other kind even. "Pick the one I make a connection with, so I just pick the one that doesn't bite me." He'll stay behind until he is either invited into the stables or the chosen animals are led out, pondering what they may look like and imagining them all as big as the horse she greeted them in yesterday.

Blushing even harder, Talynne couldn't help but give a surprised, and obviously pleased, laugh at whatever Bey had said to her quietly. Then she moved out towards the stables, not wanting to leave Demos behind. "Let me introduce you to them, then we'll go from there." She winked and moved over into the stables, motioning for Demos to walk into the surprisingly clean area, plenty of fresh air keeping the place from smelling like it was old or musty. In a large, wide stable that held up to 6 horses, three lovely mares were quietly eating hay and oats from their serving areas. One of them was the color of Golden Champage, bright and bubbly with a shimmering coat that matched her long mane and tale. Standing next to her was a classic buckskin with a light, light coat and long, black tail and mane. Then, there was a sable, the color of good, dark, almost black chocolate.

"You have Merrily, the one that looks like gold, and you have Canter, who is the Buckskin.. and Seal, who is the sable." Talynne motioned to each as she spoke. When Bey came close, one of the horses came up to him almost immediately, as if she knew him. Talynne gave a slight grin and shook her head. "Though they will make themselves known to you, you should still decide which one you like the best for a ride. And don't worry, none of them will feel left out." She winked and nickered into the stall so that the other two horses came over her way, subsequently coming towards Demos.

Seal will slowly move towards the youngest Quellton. He'll reach out gently and pat the horse. "Someone apparently knows who the fun rider around here is," Bey will say with a good natured chuckle. He'll begin to stroke the sable's mane, talking gently to the animal.

The night hadn't been without its fair share of interest and action. The Royal pod that the visitors had been allowed to stay in was no less well appointed than any other royal home would have been. Lots of fine furniture, people serving food, drinks, offering some sort of refreshment or another and the constant possibility of entertainment occuring in the form of boistrous conversation. But the rooms they'd been given were quiet, nice beds, soft sheets. Even the constant movement of air through the open windows was somehow a silent thing in the middle of the night. The random hoofbeats of the herd were able to be heard no matter where you were, though, especially in the dead of night. Small sounds travelled well across the flat plains they'd stopped in for this period of time, which made it far easier to make sure the herd was safe through the night.

Once morning had arrived, no one was pushed out of bed, instead the sounds of the world coming to life around them would likely have called them anyway. Breakfast being cooked, plenty of meats, eggs, cheeses, breads. The thicker fare of those people that might need a good number of calories to keep their bodies moving through the day and into the afternoon before lunch would be served.

Large and set up to the point that it would be easy to take down yet still looked solid enough to handle the wandering attention of the horses, the Stables were outside where they'd left them the night before. Inside was a surprisingly clean area, plenty of fresh air keeping the place from smelling like it was old or musty. In a large, wide stable that held up to 6 horses, three lovely mares were quietly eating hay and oats from their serving areas. One of them was the color of Golden Champage, bright and bubbly with a shimmering coat that matched her long mane and tale. Standing next to her was a classic buckskin with a light, light coat and long, black tail and mane. Then, there was a sable, the color of good, dark, almost black chocolate.

At the side of that particular pen standing outside the hard light railing, Talynne had called forward the Champagne and the Buckskin and both of them were walking towards her and Demos slowly. Balius was already being particularly friendly with the Sable, as if they knew one another already and were just continuing the friendship.

The horses they saw today were not at all the same type of horse that Talynne had been working with the day before, nor were they like Sinner. No, these were elegant, lovely creatures that had the build of a runner. Sleek, compact muscle, no more than 15 hands high. Their hide was amazingly soft, without any of the roughness some of the war horses would hold. All of them had brightly colored eyes, as well, the Buckskin had bright hazel as did the Champagne, and the Sable had bright blue.

"Just choose," contemplates Demos as the Champagne and the Buckskin approach. "If it is that easy, I might be satisifed with Canter as the name sounds like that is the horses preferred speed, better then Run or Break-Neck." A grin, he lifts up his hand, as if he might for a dog, to see if either one will smell his hand. Curiously he'll watch their eyes and nostrils while the approach and he is getting closer to this end of the horse like yesterday. Sucking in a breath, he'll steady himself so his hand stays held out for the horses rather than withdrawing at their approach.

There was a solid pat to Demos' shoulder and a grin from Talynne "Be easy, Demos, these ladies don't carry people to battle, they bring people out into the country to enjoy the beauty of the plains. They run only when you ask them to, and jump only when you need them to." Talynne nicknicked softly at Canter as she came closer and pushed her nose against Demos' hand. "Pet her gently, tell her your name and introduce yourself just like you would to a pretty lady, as that is what she is."

Then Talynne left him alone, moving over to pet the Champagne colored horse. "Merrily here enjoys life, she's spirited, but she loves having a rider as well. She seems to take to everything with great joy. Canter likes to do just that, but she hates sitting still, especially when she was younger, as a filly we couldn't get her to stop hopping and running. Seal over there makes silly noises, and enjoys being wet.. so.." She shrugged her shoulders and grinned, watching Bey talking to the horse for a moment.

After waking up too late, an occupational hazard she'd adopted with her current job, lots of late nights and sleeping in. When she had woke, she'd showered, borrowed a pair of breeches, boots and a plain white button up shirt. Such a contradiction to her usual loud and wild wear. Her colorful hair is braided down her back. After late breakfast, she'd headed out to find the others, wondering if she is too late and missed the ride. Seeing them gathered there with smaller, nicer looking horses, she walks over wearing a wide smile. "Good morning." If it's morning.

"Hello," begins Demos, pondering that very topic of talking to a lady as if it were a philosophical mystery. "I am Demos and you, Canter, are an amazing creature, and yet a mystery, perhaps if your are gentle and trusting, you will forgive any mistakes, that I am sure to make, for I promise you, I will do my best to make you happy, giving everything I can to make up for all that I may lack." He'll pet the horse as gently as he can, not pondering to think if that was the sort of talking to a lady she had meant, but its his voice at least right.

RL interrupted, faded … horse riding was enjoyed by all

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