Fiore Florvedge Yggdmillenia (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
cheir) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
pullmeoutalive2019-03-27 05:13 pm
cheir) wrote in pullmeoutalive2019-03-27 05:13 pm
Entry tags:
Only if you wish.
[Chiron pauses, then adds:]
I'm told my flanks are comfortable to rest against, if you'd like.
[Chiron pauses, then adds:]
I'm told my flanks are comfortable to rest against, if you'd like.
Or my middle. I can only go by how I've seen others get comfortable.
[Tiny, tired Greek heroes pick weird nap spots.]
You realize that it's only disrespectful if I tell you not to do something and you do it regardless, yes?
[Tiny, tired Greek heroes pick weird nap spots.]
You realize that it's only disrespectful if I tell you not to do something and you do it regardless, yes?
Generally, anything you shouldn't have done, I've allowed for already.
[There's a small, embarrassed smile at Fiore.]
Most of us don't appreciate being used as horses, so for someone to ride our backs is a rarity. That's the biggest taboo.
[There's a small, embarrassed smile at Fiore.]
Most of us don't appreciate being used as horses, so for someone to ride our backs is a rarity. That's the biggest taboo.
And what other centaur are you seeing that you're so worried about any of this?
[He's never seen her flustered like this before. Maybe it's cruel to tease but...well, what other centaurs would she even make this mistake with?]
[He's never seen her flustered like this before. Maybe it's cruel to tease but...well, what other centaurs would she even make this mistake with?]
[Oh.....he's gone a step too far, hasn't he? Chiron knows to knock it off, and there's a far more apologetic look on his face. He turns so that it's easier to face Fiore.]
I hadn't realized that such a thing mattered that deeply to you. I won't do it again, although I am afraid you are not going to talk me out of letting you ride.
I hadn't realized that such a thing mattered that deeply to you. I won't do it again, although I am afraid you are not going to talk me out of letting you ride.
[ It's a good minute or so before Fiore glances back at him, not entirely mollified (though a great deal of that is really just her being embarrassed and flustered).
Still, he seems contrite enough, and after a moment, her shoulders slump slightly in defeat. ]
I may not have conveyed it properly before, but I respect you immensely. If I was rude in some fashion, or disrespectful, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself. And if I had done something to someone respectable, even unknowingly, the punishment would not have been light in my family.
[ The influence of a magus upbringing apparently still sits heavy on her shoulders. ]
... If, however, you insist, then I'll regard this as the actual honor that it is.
Still, he seems contrite enough, and after a moment, her shoulders slump slightly in defeat. ]
I may not have conveyed it properly before, but I respect you immensely. If I was rude in some fashion, or disrespectful, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself. And if I had done something to someone respectable, even unknowingly, the punishment would not have been light in my family.
[ The influence of a magus upbringing apparently still sits heavy on her shoulders. ]
... If, however, you insist, then I'll regard this as the actual honor that it is.
Fiore, every action you have ever taken has conveyed that fact to me. [Chiron has known that since the moment he was summoned. He was one of the few servants who was gifted a master who worked besides him. Who allowed him to be himself, and knew that it was a worthwhile thing to listen to him when he spoke.
But there's something far deeper here. Family expectations have wormed their way into even this discussion, and Chiron understands the real reason this worries Fiore so.]
I can only insist, and only reassure that whatever your family might make of the actions, they would be coming from an outside perspective with no understanding of what centaurs are like.
But there's something far deeper here. Family expectations have wormed their way into even this discussion, and Chiron understands the real reason this worries Fiore so.]
I can only insist, and only reassure that whatever your family might make of the actions, they would be coming from an outside perspective with no understanding of what centaurs are like.
I imagine that very few people are privileged enough to know what centaurs are like...
[ But he brings up a valid point (as per usual), and Fiore leans back a little more against his side. ]
So long as I don't offend you... then I'll accept that. [ And maybe one day she can move past her upbringing, even if the process is just as delicate as physical therapy. ]
[ But he brings up a valid point (as per usual), and Fiore leans back a little more against his side. ]
So long as I don't offend you... then I'll accept that. [ And maybe one day she can move past her upbringing, even if the process is just as delicate as physical therapy. ]
In these days, you're absolute correct.
[It feels nice, being leaned on in this particular way. There are a great number of memories wrapped up in those leans, his daughters, his students, even his wife some days. To use the centaur as a sofa was a true honor, one earned in so many different ways.]
If it happens, I will always let you know immediately. But until that comes to pass, I beg you to not worry about it.
[It feels nice, being leaned on in this particular way. There are a great number of memories wrapped up in those leans, his daughters, his students, even his wife some days. To use the centaur as a sofa was a true honor, one earned in so many different ways.]
If it happens, I will always let you know immediately. But until that comes to pass, I beg you to not worry about it.
... I understand. Thank you, then, for this opportunity.
[ She believes him, after all; Chiron isn't one to coddle, and she's grateful for it, even as she draws in a slower, deeper breath. She won't mention it again, focusing instead on just how strangely comfortable this is. He's still so warm, and they're out of the sunlight like this, the light trickling through the leaves.
It's an utterly perfect moment. ]
[ She believes him, after all; Chiron isn't one to coddle, and she's grateful for it, even as she draws in a slower, deeper breath. She won't mention it again, focusing instead on just how strangely comfortable this is. He's still so warm, and they're out of the sunlight like this, the light trickling through the leaves.
It's an utterly perfect moment. ]
[It's a pleasant enough day spent exploring the sprawling grounds. Chiron is, unsurprisingly, thrilled to have the opportunity to be adrift in nature that is unfamiliar to him, and happier still for a calm, guiding hand through all of it. There's the luxury of having a guide, but there's also the sheer joy of being able to give Fiore far more freedom of movement than she might have otherwise. (She's got so much ahead. She'll do so well.)
The consideration of food happens after several hours more, and Alucard has to set Fiore back into her wheelchair so that they can move into the dining room. (It's probably a no horse allowed place under most circumstances, but this isn't most circumstances.) There's contentment there too, along with Caules' presence for a time, but then the whatever the brunch version of between lunch and dinner is concludes and there is a slightly more somber air.
Paying respects, after all, requires that somberness.
There's no saddle bags available, so a back pack gets used instead. A jar of honey. Water. Wine. And that is all, each packed neatly into the bag. Back into the world, this time with purpose.]
How much further?
The consideration of food happens after several hours more, and Alucard has to set Fiore back into her wheelchair so that they can move into the dining room. (It's probably a no horse allowed place under most circumstances, but this isn't most circumstances.) There's contentment there too, along with Caules' presence for a time, but then the whatever the brunch version of between lunch and dinner is concludes and there is a slightly more somber air.
Paying respects, after all, requires that somberness.
There's no saddle bags available, so a back pack gets used instead. A jar of honey. Water. Wine. And that is all, each packed neatly into the bag. Back into the world, this time with purpose.]
How much further?
Not much further at all.
[ Fiore's grown more comfortable since their initial ride, with Chiron's reassure that he was in no way offended by having her as a rider. And it really does feel amazing, feeling that strength surging beneath her and knowing full well that she's perfectly safe on his back. ]
In fact, you should be coming up on it soon. It's just past that copse.
[ Fiore's grown more comfortable since their initial ride, with Chiron's reassure that he was in no way offended by having her as a rider. And it really does feel amazing, feeling that strength surging beneath her and knowing full well that she's perfectly safe on his back. ]
In fact, you should be coming up on it soon. It's just past that copse.
Very well. Nothing's broken in the bag?
[They're carrying a lot of glass bottles after all, and Chiron has been moving at a decent gallop since they set out.]
[They're carrying a lot of glass bottles after all, and Chiron has been moving at a decent gallop since they set out.]
Ah, thank you.
[Chiron's pace slows, as the copse is only a few dozen feet away now. He's happy to be close, but that feels the wrong mood. He hangs left, careful not to overrun the carefully managed land.]
You'll be okay if I let you off my back for this?
[Chiron's pace slows, as the copse is only a few dozen feet away now. He's happy to be close, but that feels the wrong mood. He hangs left, careful not to overrun the carefully managed land.]
You'll be okay if I let you off my back for this?
I want to be sure.
[They're past the copse now, and Chiron's pace is nothing more than a gentle trot. He is not sure what he ought to be looking for now, but this is about the right spot, isn't it?
He doesn't turn back to Fiore, but he nudges her gently with a hand upon her foot.]</small Do I go left or right?
[They're past the copse now, and Chiron's pace is nothing more than a gentle trot. He is not sure what he ought to be looking for now, but this is about the right spot, isn't it?
He doesn't turn back to Fiore, but he nudges her gently with a hand upon her foot.]</small Do I go left or right?
[Shaded area. Chiron nods, and as he bears left, it becomes obvious where he must go. The shade isn't the giveaway though, it's the trees. They are indeed denser than the rest of the area, and he approaches with a slower, more reverent pace than anything he's shown before. His dead may not be here, but there is clearly someone dear to Fiore present, and that is reason alone to tread lightly.
Chiron continues through the trees, stepping ever-so-carefully. He ducks a few times to avoid branches, and then, then they're there in the clearing.
He's looking for a headstone. A marker. Something.]
Chiron continues through the trees, stepping ever-so-carefully. He ducks a few times to avoid branches, and then, then they're there in the clearing.
He's looking for a headstone. A marker. Something.]
[ There's no headstone. No marker. Really, there's no sign that anything was ever left here, but Fiore casts her gaze around the clearing before she rests a hand on Chiron's side and pats softly. ]
Just to the right of that tree. Where the moss is.
[ Her tone is very soft, almost sorrowful. ]
Just to the right of that tree. Where the moss is.
[ Her tone is very soft, almost sorrowful. ]
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