(Day 4, EA) Back In The Saddle Again

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"Just like a sword. First thing you learn is to hold it steady, then you learn to swing it, then you learn to put it where the enemy doesn't want it," he replies with a laugh of his own. "I've got the staying in the saddle and holding her steady parts down. Now I just need to master the intricacies of mounted combat. Like I've said before, while it's natural for me to be in the saddle now, I still have a long way to go before I'm a master. But that doesn't stop me from being able to enjoy the freedom Meushi provides to me."

He turns his head to peek at her with a smile. "I don't mind when you're holding me tightly you know. Feel free if it's more comfortable for you," he gives her a playful wink and a chuckle.

[Matsu Kogo]

"Just like a sword. First thing you learn is to hold it steady, then you learn to swing it, then you learn to put it where the enemy doesn't want it," he replies with a laugh of his own. "I've got the staying in the saddle and holding her steady parts down. Now I just need to master the intricacies of mounted combat. Like I've said before, while it's natural for me to be in the saddle now, I still have a long way to go before I'm a master. But that doesn't stop me from being able to enjoy the freedom Meushi provides to me."

He turns his head to peek at her with a smile. "I don't mind when you're holding me tightly you know. Feel free if it's more comfortable for you," he gives her a playful wink and a chuckle.

She blushes all the way up, startled by his flirtation for a brief moment as her focus had been on his words on the sword. "Ano....It is....complicated? This would likely be seen as hopelessly forward in some families. I understand the Unicorn do not feel the way, but it is hard to break the habits of a lifetime." She shifts forward a bit, finding a better placement to move with the horse.

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"That's okay. I understand. But you will have a Unicorn husband soon. It will be difficult and perhaps impossible to break him of such an openness completely. Even harder given he'll have such a capable, strong, and beautiful wife." He smiles at that as Meushi stops to nibble on some grass for a moment. The Shinjo gives her a little bump to keep her moving.

[Matsu Kogo]

"That's okay. I understand. But you will have a Unicorn husband soon. It will be difficult and perhaps impossible to break him of such an openness completely. Even harder given he'll have such a capable, strong, and beautiful wife." He smiles at that as Meushi stops to nibble on some grass for a moment. The Shinjo gives her a little bump to keep her moving.

The blush gets even darker. "Ahhh....That is true. " Capable and strong, I can believe, but beautiful? "Hopefully my husband will be one who is understanding of my blushes, just as I could be understanding of his...openess. Meeting somewhere in the middle."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"If he's anything like me, he'll be more than understanding... he'll enjoy those blushes and appreciate them. They're a sign that you're feeling something nice if embarrassing, no?"

[Matsu Kogo]

"If he's anything like me, he'll be more than understanding... he'll enjoy those blushes and appreciate them. They're a sign that you're feeling something nice if embarrassing, no?"

Oh god, oh god. Kogo takes a deep breath, trying to get her face under control. "I am...glad you appreciate my little lapses here. It has always been a difficult thing for me to control." She mumbles for a moment and then says, rather quietly, "One could call it that.

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"Well, you have nothing to worry about. I won't be indecent even if a bit mor forward than you're used to," he says with conviction. "As long as you can forgive me that then we have many more days to get to know one another."

[Matsu Kogo]

"Well, you have nothing to worry about. I won't be indecent even if a bit mor forward than you're used to," he says with conviction. "As long as you can forgive me that then we have many more days to get to know one another."

She nods. " I believe that is something I can do." She says a little quieter, "It is not that it is not...pleasing. Merely something I am unused to. She takes a breath. "Perhaps it is a bit like riding a horse. At times exhilarating, at times unnerving, but quite unfamiliar. But something I would wish to continue."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"Then we'll continue. I'll learn to properly restrain myself in public when necessary from you, while you learn to ride and accept flattery from me." He chuckles at that. "Sound fair?"

[Matsu Kogo]

"Then we'll continue. I'll learn to properly restrain myself in public when necessary from you, while you learn to ride and accept flattery from me." He chuckles at that. "Sound fair?"

She nods. "Very fair." She chuckles. "And perhaps I can teach you a bit more strategy at Go."

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"Hah! I think that game may be a lost cause for me. And it's exceedingly difficult for me to concentrate when I have such a lovely view sitting across from me. Not that I'd refuse the opportunity to play against you more in the future."

[Matsu Kogo]

"Hah! I think that game may be a lost cause for me. And it's exceedingly difficult for me to concentrate when I have such a lovely view sitting across from me. Not that I'd refuse the opportunity to play against you more in the future."

She ponders for a moment, relaxing into the motion of the horse as she does. The blush is slowly abating as she becomes alittle more used to his compliments. "Hmm, perhaps something else then? I fear most of my skills are related to martial activities. Learning Go has been a recent activity of mine for quieter times." She thinks and then realizes she has started moving with the horse without thinking about it. "Shinjo-san! I am riding without thinking about it as much!" She says with a tone of excitement and a smile on her face.

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

He smiles when she seems happy about that. "That's great!"

"Hmm... perhaps, some martial practice then? I've only got basic training with swordplay and archery and could certainly use the practice with either," he suggests.

[Matsu Kogo]

He smiles when she seems happy about that. "That's great!"

"Hmm... perhaps, some martial practice then? I've only got basic training with swordplay and archery and could certainly use the practice with either," he suggests.

She thinks. "I have no prior practice with archery, but the sword is definitely an art I could provide some guidance on it. " She wraps her arms a little more around his waist, instead of clutching his sides. It is easier but her cheeks begin to burn a bit again. "Shinjo-san...what does it feel like to see a new horizon every day?"

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"Imagine how you felt when you woke up the day that you left Lion lands to come here. Then imagine your first day waking up here. I imagine that both days were filled with anticipation, excitement, and uncertainty. Not knowing what to expect." He looks up at the sky.

"Your life becomes anticipation, excitement, and uncertainty. Every day a new adventure to partake in. Always moving forward and learning to never look back or question what had happened before that day. It helps you see that while the road that helped you arrive where you are is important, but not as important as the road that you are looking down. That each step forward should be taken with confidence and not be avoided because it too will be in the past as soon as you take the next. Living that way... that is the way one can truly understand how to let go of Regret and ensure it never has meaning to you again. That you live your life for the future by building on the past."