Fukusei Crystals -- Logs

Tara waits until everyone's off on their way to collect things for the adventuring weekend, then turns to Shinsetsu, the one person who has nothing to collect. "Shinsetsu-kun, I was wondering. I've got all the stuff I'm bringing collected already, and I thought it might be useful to use the time to see what else I can do with the crystal." She pauses, considering, then says carefully, "If you'd like to help, that would be nice? And if you have anything else you'd like to tell us... that'd be nice too?"

Shinsetsu is still wearing the archaic outfit from yesterday... holes and all. At Tara's question he smiles and nods. "Alright. Though... I'm not sure how I'm supposed to help with using the crystal." Right now he seems in a similar mood to last night when he participated in the banter over preparations.

Tara is already dressed in her comfortable hiking clothes, and pats the pile of stuff she has waiting before heading off eastwards through the grounds towards the sea-side cliffs. Over her shoulder she says, "Well, I figure a huge golden horse galumphing around town would be a tad bit too noticeable, you know?" She grins, then continues, "So I thought I might experiment a bit in the little cove. If you would watch from the top of the cliff, then you could shout a friendly-sounding greeting or something to me, and I'd know someone was approaching and I should hide."

"Also..." Tara ponders a bit, then gives him a thoughtful look, "Also, it's possible we may have an emergency and I may have to scoop someone up onto Gullinfaxi quickly, in order to escape or something. If I want to be able to do that, I should try it at least once ahead of time, right? So... would you be willing to practice that with me a bit?" She considers, then adds more pragmatically, "Only if you're all healed up, of course. Wrenching your torso around while wounded would be bad."

Shinsetsu brushes back some hair, tucking it behind a pointed ear. "So, you want me to play lookout and also be swept off my feet and onto a horse? Repeatedly?" He looks down at where the arrows had hit home and stretches. "Well, I'm fit for it, but it seems an odd role. After all, what are the chances of somebody both knowing ahead of time and being willing?"

Tara ruefully says, "Probably not repeatedly, especially if I'm awful at it. But you're light, and I suspect of all the guys you're the most likely to twist and land on your feet if we can't pull this off. And frankly, if I'm going to try a pick-up in an emergency, I'd yell ahead to them, so they'd know." She pauses at the top of the cliff, "Is that okay?"

Shinsetsu pauses as well, and thinks about it a moment. "I suppose it's all right. I'm not used to being rescued, though."

Tara gives him a curious look, "You aren't? Don't you have friends- er..." she trails off, realizing this may be a sore subject for a forced exile. "Hmm. Well, do you mind helping me learn?"

Shinsetsu stares a moment, then blinks back to reality. "No. I'd be happy to help you learn. Maybe it's a technique that'll be useful later, you think?" The smile is a little forced.

Tara smiles in relief, "Hai, I hope so! Or, er, not... that it's not needed, I mean... um..." she pauses, then says in some chagrin, "I'm sorry, Shinsetsu-kun. I didn't mean to be rude. It's just very hard to talk to you sometimes, and... I forget." She hesitates, then realizes saying anything else will probably just exacerbate the issue, so she hastily adds, "Um... right. I should get going." She turns and darts towards the winding switchback path down the cliff-side, calling over her shoulder, "Just yell and wave if anyone's approaching!"

Shinsetsu nods and settles down on a point of the cliff where he can see down to where Tara is and also out along the way here. He settles down cross-legged, not bothering to keep looking around, instead settling into a neutral position and letting his ears do the work. Tara will trot quickly down the path to the little cove. Once she's on the sand there she pauses to look up once, verifying Shinsetsu's in sight, then concentrates on the crystal, "Gullinfaxi! Come, please?"

There is a rainbow-colored ribbon of light which arcs out of the sky, landing by Tara's feet. A brilliant spark of fire shoots down the rainbow, enveloping Tara in a dazzling orb of intensely golden-glowing light. A moment later the vivid light fades slightly -- and Tara can be seen once again, astride the fiery Gullinfaxi, attired in glowing golden armor.

Tara laughs delightedly -- this is so cool to her! -and companionably slaps Gullenfaxi's shoulder. "All right, big boy, this time we're just practicing. Show me what you can do, okay?" The big horse snorts and happily tosses its head, then leaps into a rolling canter across the little sandy cove. It gives a small 'happy-buck' (causing Tara to laugh), then picks up speed, heading... directly for the ocean! Tara blinks, then hunkers down over Gullenfaxi's withers -- there's going to be a lot of spray flying around real soon!

At the last moment Gullenfaxi's muscles bunch up -- then he leaps out over the water! There's a startled, "eep!" from Tara, who grabs a hasty double handful of mane to not get swept off by the water -- and then, with a small splash, Gullenfaxi alights gracefully on the water, and continues the long-limbed gallop! Only light plashing sounds let Tara know they're not actually on land any more, and she straightens slowly, looking around her in wonder. "Oooooooh...!" A moment later Tara grins and cheers happily, then twists around as best she can in the armor to wave cheerfully at Shinsetsu on land.

Shinsetsu sees -- the armor is difficult to miss -- and waves back. He's feeling a little guilty; an emotion he'd been trying to avoid these last few years. Right now, he finds a great temptation to simply play the grand, cheerful trickster. I wonder if she's strong enough to haul somebody up with one arm?

Tara realizes after a moment that they are really tearing along, at a much higher rate of speed than she's ever been at over water -- at least without an engine on the boat! She runs a caressing hand down the crest of the big horse's neck and says softly, "Wow... you're amazing, handsome! Let's see, what else... can you go up the cliff?" She figures since Shinsetsu's not said anything it should be safe up there at least for a bit, and she'll be able to see how agile or clumsy Gullenfaxi is on the winding switchbacks of the narrow path up the cliff.

Gullenfaxi snorts in answer, whirling agilely on his haunches to head back at the same headlong gallop towards the cliffs. Tara can feel the power pounding under her and she can't help laughing again in sheer delight! A moment later she blinks, realizing the big horse isn't headed towards the cove...? "Uhh... Gullen...?"

The heavy horse snorts happily again, his head bobbing with the effort he's putting into galloping, and Tara's eyes widen abruptly, staring at the cliffs rushing at them and she wonders a little panickedly what he's doing and grabs very tightly with legs and hands for the expected sharply abrupt veer to avoid the cliffs and then he LEAPS! straight up, her shocked, "yyyaaAAAAAAH!" trailing behind them both! -and lands in an easy canter on the cliff top, prancing and tossing his head delightedly with himself!

Shinsetsu scrambles to his feet as the horse sails upwards, backing away in a rush, just in case. Tara gasps! clinging reflexively still... then half-laughs, half-yells, "You are a crazy horse, you know that?!"

Tara giggles a little shakily in relief, nudging Gullenfaxi towards Shinsetsu. When it comes to a final prancing halt, tossing its head smugly, she grins and shakes her head, then reaches up to take her helmet off. A flood of golden hair cascades down her back as she grins at Shinsetsu. She's still a little pale as she says, "Um... he can jump real good!" She giggles again, adding, "In case you didn't notice..." and rubs a caressing hand along the big horse's withers, murmuring affectionately, "You jerk. Nice jerk... but still... a little warning next time, please?"

Shinsetsu recovers himself and bows. "Hai. Understatement of the year."

Tara giggles again, almost dropping the helmet. It takes her a moment to recover -- she was really startled! Gullenfaxi solemnly nods his head to Shinsetsu in reply to the bow. "Ah... yow. Moment, let me catch my breath, and then if you're still willing we can do a pick-up practice, okay?" She adds firmly to Gullenfaxi, "And I want you to behave whenever we're practicing with someone else, okay? It's fine to play with me, but no scaring anyone else like that!"

The kitsune laughs. "I suspect you'll end up startling quite a few people if you do even a quarter of that."

Tara grins cheerfully at Shinsetsu, her normal color reasserting itself, "Hai, I think so -- it sure shocked me!" She will review with Shinsetsu and Gullenfaxi exactly what she wants to practice, then checks with them both, "Got that? Any questions?"

Shinsetsu listens carefully. "I believe so. How confident are you in your arm?"

Tara thinks a bit, then says, "Well... I know I'm pretty sturdy, and I'm wearing armor that's well matched to this saddle. Further, I trust Gullenfaxi to run a straight line and not waver speed unexpectedly, so I should be able to use both arms." She thinks a bit, then adds, "Would you want to swing up behind, or get pulled across the withers?"

Shinsetsu considers. "That would depend, wouldn't it? If I had space to move and the time to prepare, then swinging into place behind you would be best. However, if I were in the thick of something, I may not have that option."

Tara nods, considering, "All right. The harder one for me is to bring you up behind, so let's try that one first, okay?"

Shinsetsu nods. "Hai."

Tara nods again, then winds her hair up into a quick bun and stuffs her helmet firmly back on. Gullenfaxi whirls lightly to canter easily away for several feet, then turns again. Tara pats his shoulder and says calmly, "Now remember, nice steady canter, all right?" She settles herself firmly into the saddle, then clicks to the big horse, who starts a long-strided, steady canter towards and just to the right of Shinsetsu. Tara takes a firm hold of the pommel with her right hand, then sways easily out and down towards Shinsetsu, reaching out with her left arm for him, to swing him up and behind her.

Shinsetsu watches the horse approach. As it nears he holds out his left hand, knees just slightly cocked, and reaches for the offered arm. The two hands brush, clasping for a moment, and Tara pulls, but the grip isn't firm, and Shinsetsu ends up tumbling to the ground. He rolls in a backwards somersault and is back on his feet in a second. Tara gives a startled, "oh!" as the connection isn't quite made, twisting to look back and reassure herself he's not been accidentally trampled. Gullenfaxi obligingly turns as she calls, "Are you all right?!"

The kitsune grins as he brushes some grass bits out of his hair and off his shoulders. "I'm fine!"

Tara whews quietly in relief... then frowns as she walks back over, thinking aloud, "All right, we're not giving ourselves enough contact points, I think. Can you try grabbing for around my neck, and I'll try looping around your waist, and maybe that'll do it? Or rather, around my torso. Then when I straighten you should come with me?"

Shinsetsu mulls this over. "That should be possible... if I don't end up getting knocked down from it." He grins again.

Tara winces slightly, then says firmly, "Gullenfaxi is very horse-like -- if it's at all possible not to hit or trample you, he will!" She thinks a bit, then adds, "Let's try it once just at a walk too, shall we? That way we can see what we're aiming for." She has the big horse back up a bit, then pace sedately forward. She'll lean out and down, aiming to curve her left arm about Shinsetsu's waist, and trying to provide a clear, strong target to grab onto as well.

Shinsetsu answers with an amiable grin and a shrug, then watches the approach. Horses and people tend to shy away from each other when moving fast, he thinks... even going straight there's a temptation to not be too close. This time Tara's grip is firm, but Shinsetsu's ponderings leave him a little distracted, so he moves belatedly. The end result is him hanging from her grip, trying to prop his foot on the stirrup to finish the movement. After a moment he succeeds, and adds his momentum to Tara's strength, swinging into place.

Tara laughs, pleased she can apparently easily lift the smaller boy, "Hey, it worked!" She releases once she's sure he's secure, and pats his thigh, "Cool. So we know it can work. Ready to try again, a little faster this time?"

"It could have been a little smoother," he replies ruefully. "I'm ready; just let me slip back off."

Tara smiles, "We're practicing; we get to learn from our mistakes, and no harm done." She keeps Gullenfaxi at a walk until Shinsetsu slides off, then trots the big horse away a bit so they can get into a steady canter again. Shinsetsu gets ready again, this time keeping his mind on the task at hand. A mistake could be painful, not to mention embarrassing. Tara turns, puts Gullenfaxi into the rocking-horse-steady canter again so they'll move right past Shinsetsu's left, and braces for impact and grab-up.

The practice must have worked; this time it's as smooth as could be expected, considering all the armor and tack in the way. Shinsetsu is successfully hauled up and swung into place. Tara cheers happily, slapping Gullenfaxi's neck in congratulations, and then twisting to share a high-five with Shinsetsu, "Yeah! We did it!"

"You might want to practice with the others, too, if you wish to make this a habit," the kitsune observes.

Tara laughs, "Well, with luck it won't be a habit, but you're right -- it's a good thing to know!"

"Are we doing this one again, or moving on to the other?"

Tara grins, "We're on a roll! Let me try one dead-lift on you, if you're willing? That way I'll at least know how to do it."

Shinsetsu nods. "Alright, then." He slips off the horse. "I should have my back to you, shouldn't I?" he calls.

Tara waits until Shinsetsu's on the ground again, then turns and halts the big horse next to him. "Well, hopefully someone getting a dead-lift out will know I'm coming and face me, so they don't shy away or anything, you know?" She says, "All right, here's what I'm going to try -- I'll loop my arms around your torso this time, and straighten back up with you in front of me. Ready?"

The kitsune nods. "Hai, I'm ready."

Tara nods, then leans down, wraps her arms firmly around the kitsune's torso, and swings back upright, trying to heave him up in front of her. Shinsetsu lets himself go mostly limp, and Tara manages to haul him up across Gullinfaxi's withers without too much trouble. Tara beams at him in front of her, her eyes sparkling through the helmet's eye slots, "It worked! Very cool. How're you? Not too painful or anything, I hope? Want to try at speed now?"

Shinsetsu hmphfs. "Not terribly comfortable, but I wouldn't complain too much in an emergency." He slips back down off the horse and rearranges his layers of clothing back the way they're supposed to hang.

Tara laughs, "It is a bit undignified, true... but hai, an emergency does sort of supercede looking artsy, I think. Okay, moment!" She turns Gullenfaxi, trotting off a bit, then turning and coming back at the same gentle canter as before. "Here I come!"

Shinsetsu keeps himself limp, and Tara grabs him. But then he slips, and she ends up hanging onto his outer garment, leaving him in pants and undershirt. Tara yipes startledly! -then twists, checking to be sure he's all right. She sighs in relief when she sees him standing there just fine... then holds up the shirt, "Um... your shirt is now safe?" She giggles, turning to head back and return his shirt to him.

Shinsetsu accepts the shirt and shrugs it back on. "Well, I would have preferred the shirt have me in it, but it's something."

Tara giggles, blushing faintly, "Sorry! I'll try again. Moment!" Once again she whirls Gullenfaxi. A moment later the two head back towards Shinsetsu at the same careful canter. The higher speed gets a bigger "humphf!" out of Shinsetsu, but this time at least he ends up where Tara's trying to put him. Tara yays delightedly, patting Shinsetsu on the side -- then hastily slowing Gullenfaxi down. A canter on one's stomach across a pommel really isn't the most comfortable way to go!

Shinsetsu gratefully slides off the horse again with a wince. "Yeah, definitely not something to make a habit of."

Tara smiles, sliding off Gullenfaxi herself. There's a brilliant golden glow around her for a moment, and when it clears she's standing there in her usual clothing. She says sincerely, "Domo arigato gozaimas, Shi-kun, for helping me learn something that might help us all be safer." She leans forward and gives the kitsune a light kiss on the cheek, then tilts her head and smiles at him, "How're you feeling?"

Shinsetsu blinks at the kiss, then again at the question. "A little bruised?" he offers.

Tara grins apologetically, "I'm sorry, Shinsetsu-kun -- I tried to be careful. I appreciate your help. If you'd like, we have some liniment at the house?"

He stretches. "I'll be alright. It's not like you were trying to kill me or anything."

Tara laughs! "No, definitely not that." She watches him quietly for a moment, then says softly, "Shinsetsu-kun... may I ask you a question?"

"Well, yes. Go ahead," he answers, rubbing his left shoulder a little.

Tara considers how to phrase her thoughts, absently twirling a lock of golden hair around one finger. Finally she says carefully, "Shinsetsu-kun, I get the impression you have a serious situation in your homeland, and you're certainly not a willing exile. I'd like to help you because friends should help each other, but... well, I'm not entirely sure you consider me -- or any of us -- friends." She studies him puzzledly, then says, "I don't really know what you want, Shi-kun. You're so careful to say as little as possible, to not be open. I don't even know if you want to be considered trustworthy. I mean... well, do you even want friends?" Tara's tone is sincerely confused.

The kitsune sits down abruptly, staring at the human girl. Tara's eyes widen, and she hastily drops to crouch next to him, reaching to make sure he doesn't fall over, "Are you all right?!"

Shinsetsu runs a hand through his hair. "Now, how do you answer a question like that?" he whispers.

Tara blinks at him, then realizes he's not about to faint -- just shocked at the question. She settles down cross-legged with a faint sigh of relief, and waits for his reply. After a moment, he gets up and paces a bit, eyes stormy. Tara watches him with a faintly surprised look -- she hadn't realized this would be such a difficult question for the kitsune -- but remains silent so he can work it out on his own.

Finally he stops and faces Tara. "Alright, here it is. The last five years I've been trying to not get tangled up in things, and now I am anyway in spite of my best efforts. In all that time, I've been on my own. Deciding whether or not I wanted friends was really the last thing on my mind. To keep from getting sucked into one side or the other, I had to avoid a lot of people. There and gone again, right? If I'd come here of my own design-" and he breaks off for a moment to strangle back anger, "I'd have shown up, dazzled a few people, given away some gifts, and been off again, the perfect fox."

Tara nods up at the agitated boy, still sitting quietly herself. He heaves a muted sigh, then concludes, "I never thought about friends. I just played life as it was handed to me. That took up all my time, anyway."

Tara tilts her head to regard the kitsune thoughtfully, and says, "And now?"

"I don't know!" he explodes, throwing his hands up.

Tara blinks, looking a bit taken-aback at the reaction. Finally she says, "Well... do you want friends?"

Shinsetsu leans back against a tree. "I don't know," he repeats, more quietly. "I don't know what it would mean; what would change, what would stay the same. It's fun to spend time chatting, but that's not anything serious. Anybody could do that and not care about the next moment. What is a friend, really? And when does somebody become one?"

Tara considers thoughtfully, stretching out on the grass and leaning back on her elbows so she can feel the sun on her face. "What is a friend? Well... it's someone you trust. Someone who'll tell you when you've done good, and publicly cheer you on -- and perhaps more importantly, also privately let you know when you did something you should correct. Someone who inspires you to be the best you can be, but who still cares about you the way you are right now. Someone you care about too, and who you want to help in the same way." She smiles, her golden eyes warm and dreamy as she considers, then says, "I guess you know someone's a friend when you start to care... and it's nice if you discover they're caring too."

The boy simply stares at the ground for a bit. "I wonder why Kouketsu asked father to go, then..." he murmurs to himself.

Tara says gently, "What do you mean?"

Shinsetsu blinks at Tara, then frowns. "My father died doing a favor for an 'old friend,'" he says, almost accusingly.

Tara says, "Did the friend know it was dangerous?"

"You don't get the reputation for being a venerable sage by not knowing things," he replies sullenly.

Tara sighs, then pats the grass next to her, "Shinsetsu-kun, come sit down here, please?" The kitsune does so almost mechanically, mind elsewhere. Tara says gently, "You're not foolish, so I'm sure your father wasn't either. I know you miss him, and it sounds like you're still unhappy with the old friend about his death... but do you suppose perhaps your father did what he did because he believed so in friendship? Because it was that important to him?"

Shinsetsu stares at the ground some more, then looks up. "Is friendship more important than family?" he asks the sky.

Tara says, "I think it depends. But I can't say how it is for someone else, Shi-kun. Did your father know, perhaps, that you were old enough to take care of yourself? Or were you left with the old friend for care-taking?"

He stands again. "That was the arrangement, or so Kouketsu told me after father didn't come back. Between that and the kid, I didn't feel like hanging around."

Tara smiles quietly, "Shinsetsu-kun, sit back down, please?"

Shinsetsu turns and bows to Tara. "Excuse me, Tara-san, but I do not feel like talking anymore." And with that he heads down the path towards the cove where she had summoned Gullinfaxi.

Tara sighs, disappointed. So close... ah, well. She wonders still if he wants friends or not, and if he wants to be considered trustworthy or not. She's still very unsure he's trustworthy, but she's at least willing to give him a chance now. She watches him go, considering... then quietly gets up and follows to the edge of the cliff, where she settles down again. If he wants privacy she'll leave, but at the very least until he asks her to go away she can return the favor he gave her, and make sure no one comes along and bothers him.

Shinsetsu sits on the edge of the surf line, tucks his hands away, and stares out at the sea.

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Last modified: 2005-Aug-09 21:48:11

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