Sime~Gen Roleplaying: Householding Naros Scenario
Episode #167: Rhonda's Rose (10/16/99)
Nick shows up at the luxury hotel promptly at noon, holding a bulging pair of saddlebags and a bedroll.
Nick is wearing his old coat, not having gotten that far in his shopping.
Nick figures he can always get one on the road, and he'd rather get road dust on an old coat, anyway.
Riyyh is in the lobby thanking the clerk for her flexibility in his payment times.
Riyyh finally manages to get free, after many promises that he will return in the spring.
Nick steps into the lobby, his new boots clicking on the floor.
Riyyh turns to the door, only to run into Nick.
Riyyh: Nick! You're... pauses... not done shopping yet.
Nick had, of course, lost his old winter boots in the avalanche, and had used summer weight ones on his travels since.
Riyyh is mildly disappointed; he'd hoped to leave today. However, it's far too pleasant a morning to let that be a problem.
Nick sets his bags down with a muffled clunk.
Nick: I'm ready. I can pick up any other necessities later.
Nick has, for once, a ready supply of personal cash, even after leaving his share of the rent for the next few months with Linn.
Nick never had really adjusted to a Donor's pay scale, aside from his residence, which Arat pretty much chose.
Riyyh: Are you sure? Most of the places we'll be going won't have as many shops and tailors as Capitol.
Riyyh also wouldn't want perfect strangers to think he can't dress his Companions properly.
Riyyh being Riyyh, however, he will probably let Nick look grubby if he talks him into it.
Nick shrugs.
Nick: I'll make do.
Riyyh looks unhappy, but won't push him on it.
Riyyh: Well, shall we go get the horses, then?
Nick: Certainly.
Nick picks up his saddlebags and bedroll.
Riyyh has had a busy 24 hours, beginning with non-stop partying, then about an hour of sleep, then a few hours of early morning horse-hunting, and finally a thorough thank you for Meexie.
Nick's time was spent sleeping, of course, writing a seven-page missive to Snake about his change of plans, and much briefer notes to Linn and Arat.
Riyyh: We will have to return here for my things. Do you want to put yours with mine? It's quite secure.
Riyyh is used to relatively formal travel, compared to Nick.
Nick: Very well. Where are the horses?
Riyyh: At the stable.
Riyyh looks a bit surprised, as if not sure where else they'd be.
Riyyh: It's about three blocks from here.
Nick: Ah.
Riyyh is glad he wasn't paying for upkeep for four horses the entire time he was in Capitol, as the place charges astronomically.
Riyyh thinks it was worth it for his Narosian horse, but for common pack horses it would be a shame.
Riyyh may not like horses at all, but he does appreciate the value of the one he brought from home.
Nick looks around for Riyyh's luggage, spots it behind the counter, and his eyes widen as he sees its extent.
Nick suddenly understands why Riyyh mentioned two packhorses for the pair of them, when Snake's group of a half dozen required only one.
Nick is well aware that Riyyh and Snake differ in some basic values, however, so he merely places his bags beside Riyyh's.
Nick: There.
Riyyh leads the way out the door.
Riyyh: I hope this horse will be suitable. I don't choose them for others very often.
Riyyh frets as he imagines Nick being stuck with a horse he doesn't like all winter.
Nick follows, reflexively calming the ambient for Riyyh as he goes.
Nick: I'm sure it'll be fine.
Riyyh stops worrying as much.
Riyyh: I tried to get something that was stylish without being as difficult to manage as some.
Riyyh means, without being as irritating as his own mount.
Nick: I see.
Riyyh: As well as having the stamina for regular long journeys... well. Something else can be obtained if this one doesn't work out.
Riyyh: There is something to be said for starting out from home, where the experts can be trusted. [smiles]
Nick starts to worry just a bit, at this emphasis on stylishness, remembering Snake's stallion, but he keeps it to himself, not wanting to upset Riyyh.
Nick: There is.
Riyyh: They should be getting them ready in back [says to Nick as they arrive at the livery stable]
Riyyh: I'll just settle up accounts, and meet you there.
Nick: Fine.
Nick strolls towards the rear of the stable, reflecting that there are occasional advantages to working with a channel who underrates one, and a degree of emotional privacy is one of them.
Nick is just as glad to have a private look at his new mount first, though, as he is starting to grasp how easily Riyyh's feelings can be hurt.
Nick rounds the side of the stable and spots four horses tied to a hitching rail.
Nick is able to identify the packhorses quickly, and notes their good condition.
Nick assumes the gray wearing the saddle blanket embroidered with the Naros symbols is Riyyh's.
Nick turns his attention to the fourth beast.
Nick is hardly an expert on equines, despite being dragged across country on them by Snake.
Nick is, however, relieved to note the presence of the basics: four legs, the requisite number of eyes and ears, and so on.
Nick notes that it is large enough to carry him easily, and that its bay coat and abundant mane and tail make it a much nicer looking beast than poor Pumpkin.
Riyyh emerges some time later, fully paid up and looking a bit flushed and windswept.
Riyyh smiles at Nick.
Riyyh: Have you been getting acquainted?
Nick: Well, sort of. I assume that one's mine?
Nick points at the bay, with its plain saddle cloth.
Riyyh: Yes, it is. His name is "Rhonda's Rose".
Riyyh: Do you like him?
Riyyh smiles hopefully.
Nick: He's very pretty.
Nick just hopes the beast's manners match its looks.
Riyyh hopes so because he wouldn't want to experiment with putting Nick on his horse.
Riyyh: I rode him for a little while this morning, he seems quite willing and responsive.
Riyyh thinks, for a horse.
Nick: Good.
Riyyh unties the reins of his two horses from the post.
Nick approaches Rhonda's Rose, somewhat gingerly, and holds a hand out for it to sniff.
Riyyh considers for a moment, then unties Nick's packhorse's reins too, thinking to save Nick from the distraction of having to deal with it at first.
Rhonda's Rose snorts on Nick's hand.
Rhonda's Rose twitches his ears with interest.
Nick is glad when the beast at least refrains from trying to bite him.
Nick: There, there. I'm sure we'll get along just fine.
Nick: ~~ hope ~~
Riyyh's horse becomes very excited when it realizes they are going somewhere.
Riyyh groans mentally as he swings aboard the prancing, skittish animal.
Nick unties Rhonda's Rose, and proceeds to attempt a mount of his own.
Rhonda's Rose naturally perks up as well, shifting around a bit.
Nick: Shen!
Rhonda's Rose being very tall and narrow, can make quite a shift with only a small effort... the lever principle in action.
Nick turns Rhonda's Rose to face a corner of the building, where there are no visible distractions.
Rhonda's Rose isn't sure what sort of a game Nick is playing, but it looks like fun.
Nick: Now, stand still.
Rhonda's Rose turns his head around to see what else Nick will do.
Nick lifts his foot to the stirrup again.
Riyyh's horse snorts, spraying the courtyard area with snot, and arches his neck, jogging in place.
Riyyh: Oh, dear.
Riyyh wipes a fleck off his thigh.
Rhonda's Rose moves gently sideways.
Rhonda's Rose is still watching, so he can tell just how far to move.
Nick takes his foot out of the stirrup, and turns Rhonda's Rose again, this time facing into one wall, with another at his off side, thus preventing him from having anywhere to sidle to.
Nick: There. Now stand still.
Nick repositions his foot in the stirrup once more, and this time manages to get on board.
Rhonda's Rose thinks that was a fun game, and looks forward to playing it again with his new friend.
Rhonda's Rose always appreciates a friend with a sense of humor.
Nick turns his mount to follow Riyyh's.
Riyyh: Ready? [smiles]
Nick: I suppose so.
Riyyh directs his horse out toward the street, leading the two packhorses beside them.
Nick consoles himself with the knowledge that as long as he rides behind Riyyh, his horse will do its best to stay with its buddies, thus minimizing the necessary amount of rider-input.
Rhonda's Rose sees they are going out in public and expectantly waits for some advice as to how to look his best.
Nick nudges Rhonda's Rose lightly, and clucks, to indicate that it is to follow Riyyh.
Rhonda's Rose interprets Nick's [to his mind, anyway] rather explicit instructions and starts off suddenly at a semi trot. Semi because his front half is actually cantering.
Nick flares ~~ alarm ~~ at the strange gait.
Rhonda's Rose is sure he must be very magnificent doing the new step his friend has taught him, so he holds his head up proudly, mane streaming.
Nick: Whoah!
Riyyh turns quickly as Nick and Rhonda's Rose come charging towards them.
Riyyh: Oh, my.
Riyyh wastes a precious moment fighting his own mount, who finds this apparition delightfully scary.
Nick clings to the long mane, trying hard to sit the... gait?
Rhonda's Rose senses that something isn't right. Usually people don't clutch the mane and sit that off-balance if everything is going right.
Nick does have the presence of mind to direct his mount squarely at the other horses, which present a large obstacle in the road.
Nick hopes that his mount will stop rather than run them over, thus eliminating the strange-gait problem.
Rhonda's Rose decides that the blurted "Whoa!" and the obstacle means he should stop... already! It's hardly fair.
Rhonda's Rose snorts and stops on a dime.
Nick is, fortunately, already clinging to the mane, and therefore manages not to land on his horse's neck.
Riyyh: They're full of energy. [apologetically]
Riyyh is a bit worried, now.
Riyyh: Will you be all right?
Nick sits up cautiously, taking inventory.
Nick: I think so.
Nick: Does this beast know how to walk?
Nick: ~~ plaintive ~~
Riyyh's horse thought this was very exciting, and tries several sudden stops himself, despite having already been stopped.
Riyyh: Yes, I am sure he does. [kindly, if a bit distractedly]
Riyyh isn't exactly an expert horseman himself, at least by Narosian standards. He does know more about dressage than the average man on the street just because Narosian horses are trained to look their best!
Nick finds this reassuring.
Nick might not have, if he were better acquainted with Narosian standards of horsemanship.
Riyyh starts off again, blithely assuming that his horse has gotten stopping out of his system.
Rhonda's Rose gets all excited as he sees they are going out on the street.
Rhonda's Rose waits for his master's oh-so-sublime and subtle signals.
Nick tries to sit firmly, and holds the reins a bit tighter, in case of a recurrence of the former rapid acceleration.
Rhonda's Rose finds the increased tension stimulating.
Rhonda's Rose trembles like a racehorse in the starting gate.
Nick: No, no. Just give me a nice walk, there's a good horse.
Nick tries to relax his hands a bit.
Rhonda's Rose calms down a bit but still seems hyper-attentive, waiting to find out what they'll do.
Rhonda's Rose don't understand Nick's words, just his tone of voice, so doesn't understand a walk is what he's after.
Nick clucks hopefully and leans forward, hoping that the beast will notice that his three buddies are moving down the street.
Nick hopes that Rhonda's Rose will choose to emulate the sedate packhorses, rather than Riyyh's dancing mount.
Rhonda's Rose obediently and joyfully starts forward in a flying trot, knees lifted high and neck arched flashily.
Rhonda's Rose is well aware of how good he looks when obeying his master's every wish and command, and feels ever so proud of himself and lucky to be out riding today.
Nick clings, but has the presence of mind not to say "Whoa" this time, and thus avoids another rapid stop.
Riyyh half-turns his horse to see Nick coming toward them in a more-or-less under control fashion. The pack horses mill in confusion.
Riyyh: Well, it's only for three blocks. [to himself]
Nick notes their rapid approach to the rest of the party with some concern.
Riyyh turns his horse to keep going.
Nick tries to gently rein in the trot as they catch up, hoping to avoid a collision.
Nick: Easy, there. Just walk.
Rhonda's Rose is glad they are going to keep having fun.
Rhonda's Rose obediently follows Nick's precise leg commands and slows to an elaborate prancing gait.
Rhonda's Rose is aware that the details are important in this maneuver and makes sure he is lifting his legs just so, especially his hind legs which have always been a shade on the lazy side.
Rhonda's Rose wouldn't want to disappoint his new master, after all.
Nick starts to turn a tad green at the jostling, up-and-down motion.
Riyyh is very relieved when they reach the hotel.
Nick is careful to hang on tightly before trying another "Whoa!"
Rhonda's Rose isn't sure if he'd done it right before, "Whoa!" not being something he had been taught in the past, so tries it a different way this time, stopping suddenly with his head up very high.
Riyyh's horse friskily gives it a try also, since it gives him an excuse to pretend he was startled by the hitching post.
Nick is just glad that the bouncing has stopped, and automatically pats Rhonda's Rose's neck.
Nick: Good horse. I think.
Riyyh avoids the flying head with Sime agility, then sighs.
Riyyh dismounts and begins tying up horses.
Riyyh: Really, there must be some more efficient method of transportation [to himself]
Riyyh thinks, such as having everything you need or require all in one place in the first place.
Rhonda's Rose arches his neck, proud to have pleased his master.
Nick debates the relative pros and cons of staying aboard, and not having to mount again, versus getting off, and having some time on his own two feet.
Riyyh: He will no doubt be less distracted once we get out of the city. [to Nick]
Nick decides that his own feet are preferable at the moment, and dismounts.
Nick: I hope so.
Riyyh: I find it is true of this one, anyway.
Nick ties his horse to the hitching post.
Riyyh's horse doesn't see any point in acting the fool when there's no audience - that is, unless something scary comes along, which is only every 10 minutes or so.
Nick: Well, I'm sure we'll get used to each other in time.
Nick: ~~ hope ~~
Rhonda's Rose nuzzles Nick's hair.
Nick is aware that his hair is a bit less groomed and styled than it might be, but thinks that it deserves better than to be mistaken for a haystack.