|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 5:54 pm
"Hmmm...." Laura thought on it a moment as she shoveled the manure. "Almost half a year I suppose." She murmured, shrugging. "You wouldn't believe the entrance fee... It's a noble's sport, but I've been training Leolin since he was big enough to carry me." She workedd dilligently, getting the stall she worked on cleaned out before placing the shobel on the cart and going to Leolin's rear leg. "It broke here." She ran a hand along his flank to let the griffin know she was there, and lifted the fur on a section of the griffin's leg to show an old scar that had long since healed. "It doesn't bother him, and he's a great sprinter." She smiled fondly at her griffin, and began leading Leolin out of the stables to dump the contents of the cart.
The griffin chirped as he was looked over, pawing at the ground when Rem gave him the once over. Making sure not to step on the man's feet of course, but the griffin wasn't used to it. After all, the only one who tended to him now was Laura. His wings folded tightly against his back, head bowed low, and the griffin began to pull the heavy load out of the stables reletively easily. He wanted the work to be over as soon as possible.
"Would you like him to take you flying?" Laura asked pleasently as she looked back to Rem. "He trains with sand-bags, so he should be able to carry you into the air, Lieutenant."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:26 pm
“You’d be surprised at some of the things I’ve seen,” Rem commented with the same small smile. He had, after all, traveled extensively before coming here to settle down. “For most racers, I suppose the fee is no big deal. They all have sponsors to take care of such things.” Hm. Come to think of it, he could always sponsor Laura. She wouldn’t have to work then and would be able to spend more time training her gryphon. Rem was about to suggest this when a little voice in his head reminded him that free help was often considered to be highly suspicious, especially if it was generous and it came from a complete stranger.
Well, he would just have to send anonymous donations then. Laura seemed smart enough to figure out who was sending it, but Rem doubted she would turn her feminine anger on him unless she knew for absolute sure.
With a hint of wariness in his eyes, he glanced towards the gryphon, apparently trying to imagine himself on its back. “No, I think I’ll leave that to you… I’m happy here on the ground.” A fear of heights? Not him! Of course not! He was a lieutenant! They couldn’t be afraid of silly things like heights…
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:36 pm
"No one will sponsor a wench, I tried asking." Laura muttered under her breath bitterly, though it wasn't directed at Rem. She gave a deep sigh, and once they were outside, Laura gave a whistle to her pet.
The griffin spread his wings wide as he positioned the back of the cart to face the compost heap. Flapping his wings hard, slowly the cart's front began lifting up into the air, and Laura was able to scrape the feces off the cart while Leolin held it airborne. If nothing else, it was great training for wing muscles, and Leolin came down with a small thud when all four paws hit the ground at once. A shrill call came from the griffin, and he looked quite proud of himself as he folded his wings behind his back once more.
Laura let her griffin return to the stalls first, waiting for him to pass her before looking to Rem. "You don't already sponsor a racer, do you Lieutenant?" She asked curiously, though didn't keep her hopes up. He might seem kind, but for a man in the military, she could only assume he was a traditionalist.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:48 pm
In many ways, Rem was indeed a traditionalist. He was the sort of guy who figured that, if it had lasted for a thousand years, there was no reason why it couldn’t last another few thousand years. This was what he had been taught and he had never questioned it either. Well, not until relatively recently in his life. Someone had told him, ‘I dunno… all those guys who did it before are dead, right? I dunno about you, Fluffensnug, but I try to avoid following a dead person’s example’.
“No, not yet. I just moved here recently. Up until now, I’ve mostly been traveling around,” he added, just in case she was wondering. It happened, occasionally, wondering. “If you ever end up looking for a sponsor, I wouldn’t mind sponsoring you. I would have offered already, but… well, people tend to look askance at offers of what amounts to free money from generous strangers.” Especially if that particular stranger happens to be a man and the one being offered happens to be a woman.
Leolin was stronger than he looked, that was true. Rem wouldn’t have suspected the gryphon was capable of holding up a wagon like that for that long.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:59 pm
Though it was terribley unladilike, even despite the fact she was dressed as a lad, Laura gave a whoop of gratitude as she flung her arms around his neck to hug him. "Thank you!" She cried at once, not enjoying the stable work in the least and was quite happy to be able to say good ridance! "I won't let you down, Lord Remiel, I promise! You won't regret it!" The woman pecked him on the cheek before relinquishing him, hurrying to get her griffin out of the cart. "So much to do before the race... Oh my, oh dear..." It only seemed to now sink in what she'd just done, and Laura gave a very large and very sheepish smile as she cringed slightly. "Forgive me, Lieutenant Remiel.... I-I don't know what came over me." No longer needing to muck out horse stalls seemed to have quite an affect on the woman's behavior. Perhaps she wouldn't be likely to go flying off the handle any more? ....Nah, just not likely within that day.
The griffin's feathers ruffled as Leolin got himself out of the yoke, though when he saw what Laura had just done he gave a screechy sort of laugh only a griffin could manage. His owner was happy, and that made him happy- which he showed by nudging Rem's sleeve in hopes of being pet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 7:15 pm
Rem wasn’t quite sure what to expect. He had half expected another rage, in which case he would have simply left, on the basis that it wasn’t wise to piss off a woman armed with a dunging fork. This sudden affection surprised, confused and pleased him all at the same time. No, not like that! Gutter-mind… he was simply pleased that she was happy. It always gave him a sort of warm fuzzy feeling, making someone else happy. Especially when it took so little effort. He didn’t even have time to return the hug and simply stood there, red-cheeked, as Laura embraced him and gave him a light peck on the cheek.
…
Well. There was something that clearly didn’t happen to him every day. Once he unfrozen, he returned the smile before scratching the gryphon’s head. “It’s… it’s perfectly alright. The news of no longer having to shovel manure would make anyone happy.” And the news that she wouldn’t have to hide her sex, at least around one person. That would be, Rem guessed, rather cathartic. “Feel free to call me ‘Rem’, if you prefer. I don’t mind.”
Addressing Leolin directly, he said, “So, what do you say? Do you want to give up this glamorous life of pulling around a manure cart and go into the life of a racing gryphon instead?” This was said in a bright tone, the one usually reserved for such sarcastic questions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 7:25 pm
The griffin moved much closer to the Lord, and began preening his short hair as delicately as if tending his own feathers. A deep throated coo coming from the large bird as he shared the sentiments of his care taker- though certainly not to the same degree.
"All right... Rem." Laura blushed slightly at such a casual referance to the Lord. "I have to tell my boss, so please look after Leolin a moment, won't you? It won't take too long!" She was already halfway out the stables to head for the stable master's quarters. Doubting the griffin could get into much trouble at all with someone right there to look after him, Laura hoped to quit and leave all the more quickly. Hopefully she could take Leolin flying once they left to train for the day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 7:41 pm
D’aww… well, that was sweet of Leolin. Rem smiled and rubbed the bird’s neck, wondering what it was like to be so easily pleased. “Leolin, eh?” Laura, being in the hurry that she was, hadn’t really gotten around to telling him the gryphon’s name, although he had picked it up from general conversation with Laura. Hopefully, they had a place to stay… well, even if they didn’t, he could provide that. After all, his home had plenty of extra room. So far, only he lived there with a few servants. It got rather… boring and quiet there. And the stable was very spacious, especially since there weren’t many horses there yet.
Blech. The rumor mill that was Xuan City politics would love this. Remiel snorted slightly and continued stroking Leolin’s neck. Politics and rumors! Who cared about those things? If he did nothing, everyone suspected him of something. If he did something, people suspected him of doing something else. There was no end to it! It was best to simply ignore it. They would move onto someone else once they realized that he honestly was not doing anything that interesting.
It was a little strange that Laura had accepted the offer so easily… if Rem was an overly suspicious sort, he would have been convinced that this was some sort of plot to get him killed.
But, he wasn’t. So, he didn’t. He hoped that Laura’s quitting was going well. That is, he hoped that her boss didn't start yelling at her or something.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 7:50 pm
Quite the contrary- within a few moments of the door to the Stable Master's quarters being closed, one of the windows shattered as the man threw a horse shoe at the fleeing woman. Loud swears came from the direction of the man's residence, and Laura kept her head low as she hurried away. "Consider my two week's notice up effective imediately!" She snapped at the man's broken window.
Giving a loud 'wark?!', Leolin hurried towards his caretaker who promptly hopped on the griffin's back in front of his wings.
"If I ever catch you or that mangy bird around here again, I'll call the guards!" The man shouted from the busted window, shaking a fist at them. Apparently he had a worse temper than Laura did.
Holding fistfulls of fluff at the base of Leolin's head, Laura brought the griffin over the stables in a few flaps of Leolin's wings. Landing at the exit nearest to Rem, Laura held out a hand to him. "We should go, M'Lord. Before he makes good on his promises." The griffin pawed the ground, ready to take off at a moment's notice. Surely he could carry two people over land at a running pace. Flying would be out of the question with that weight.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:00 pm
Rem jerked at the sudden sound of breaking glass and his hand went to his hip, as if reaching for some invisible weapon. While just a moment ago, he had been petting the gryphon calmly, he seemed tensed for a battle until he realized exactly what had happened. Slowly, the man calmed down, deciding that neither he nor Laura was in immediate danger. Or Leolin, of course.
Ignoring Laura’s outstretched hand for a moment, he looked back at the stable master’s quarter before voicing the question on his mind. “Just what did you say to him?”
Was there something in the water that made people perpetually angry or something?
Still ignoring Laura’s hand, he merely started walking, his pace proclaiming that he wouldn’t rush for anyone, especially not the likes of a stable master. Hell, he was doing the stable master a favor by merely being in his stable! Rem could say quite a lot of things with just a simple walk. “Do you have a place to stay?” he asked, looking over at Laura. “Or should I pay for an inn for you and Leolin?”
That would solve the problems of any rumors. Unless…
“… you haven’t made life-long enemies with all the inn-keepers in the city due to your temper, have you?” He smirked a little, although he wouldn’t put it beyond her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:15 pm
"I told him he best find someone else to much out the stalls, and I never wanted to come back to this dung-heap." Laura murmured from atop Leolin's back, smiling sheepishly at him. "I have my own home actually. It's not much, but my parents left it to me when they went to stay with my older sister... she married a Squire." She kept from making a face at the very thought of such fairy tale weddings. "Leolin lives with me as well... But, do racers live in their employer's homes?" A bit more worried at this thought, Laura didn't know what to make of that idea. She'd never lived with a man before.
Stretching his wings and chirpping loudly, Leolin looked to Rem beside him and gave the man a nudge with his beak. Lowering his wings until they nearly touched the ground, the griffin hoped the Lord would get on his back. The beast wanted to run, and now that the oppertunity had arisen, he didn't want to leave his new friend behind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:31 pm
Remiel looked vaguely worried as well. “I’m… not actually sure. I don’t think it’s usual. But a few do.” Still, if she had her own home, the problem was solved. There was no need to make the situation any more awkward than it already was. There would already be enough rumors as it was. No need to add any more to the roiling turmoil that was life in Xuan City.
His own experience with the so-called ‘fairer sex’ was somewhat limited, as one could expect. He had an older sister, true, but they hadn’t gotten along for various reasons. Rather, they… tolerated each other, respecting one another’s space. That is, until the day when a particularly mischievous ten-year old Remiel had decided to dump a box full of centipedes into his sister’s underwear drawer. That had caused problems. It was worth it though, to see the look on her face…
The fond memories were broken by a slight nudge from the gryphon. Remiel peered at him, wondering just what was going on. No, he didn’t want to ride. There was the risk of… you know… doing that taking off thing with the flying and the heights and the throwing up. No need to ruin a perfectly good business engagement by throwing up all over someone. It was a serious social error, much like covering your sister’s brassieres in crawling insects. Unlike the latter, however, vomiting wasn’t as amusing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:45 pm
Watching Leolin's actions, Laura chuckled and smiled to Rem. "He won't be able to fly with us both on... Don't tell me you're afraid of heights?" She asked almost teasingly. "Please get on- Leo wants to take you for a ride. You told me you'd never been so close to a griffin before, right?" She offered a reassuring smile, and her hand once more. "No different than riding a horse."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 9:10 pm
Remiel’s stubborn nature kicked in here. “I’m not afraid of heights!” He didn’t so much lie through his teeth as through everything else. Every single fibre of his being was shouting, ‘let me stay on the ground, please!!’.
One could practically hear the military cells in his body saying ‘regroup, regroup!’ as his mind attempted to find a decent reason why he couldn’t ride Leolin. No number of reassuring smiles would convince him to get on that creature’s back. Obviously, he couldn’t claim that he didn’t know how to ride horses. As a lieutenant, that was a given.
“You said that he’s broken a leg before. I don’t want to put any extra strain on his back.” Aha! Perfect! Will the voice that’s saying ‘Liar’ please yield the floor? he thought to himself, wishing it was that easy to ignore such voices. Some people found it easy to lie. Rem didn’t. Well, not usually, anyway…
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 9:19 pm
"That was eighteen years ago." Laura arched a brow at him. "Really, he can't take to the sky if two people are on his back... Don't you trust me even a little?" She asked worriedly, almost looking as if she were slightly hurt. Despite what it looked like, Laura was more worried for the man's reputation- how was he ever going to get a griffin for himself if this was how he acted around them. "Weren't you just telling me not ten minutes ago that you would be looking for a griffin of your own?"
Without the slightest bit of prompting, Leolin decided he'd had enough of this slow pace and reached out with his beak to try and pull Rem to sit on his back with a bill full of the Lord's clothes.
"Leo! No! Don't do that!" Laura chided at once, making sure the griffin's beak didn't tear the man's nice clothes. Luckily enough, Leolin wasn't playing quite that roughly, and there was nothing the matter with Remiel's clothing at all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
