If you can swim, can you ride? (Day 3, expecting, LM)

[Soshi Taira]

"Oh. A squeeze."

He gave it a go, and managed to hide his surprise at the sudden motion.

Still, it was a comfortable walking pace, so his balance recovered almost immediately.

"As for techniques, joint strikes, kicks, sweeps... couple different ways to get someone on the ground, and once you have them there, you can do a lot with pressure on the neck. No matter if a man has a hand free, if you've got his head, he'll learn right quick to stop struggling, and your own knees can be used to apply pressure."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

Yue walked alongside them, occasionally running a bit to catch up. "Good, good," she said to both of them.

"Sou desu ka. Perhaps I should learn, Taira-dono." She looked away a bit meekly. Well, my sister wrestled with a potential suitor, right? Is that what Taira-dono thinks of me?

"However, I still believe I am at a disadvantage in wrestling." She afforded herself a small sigh. "It is a shame, given my strength."

[Soshi Taira]

Taira nodded. "Hai, it is unfortunate, but you can still compensate, I am certain."

A soft shrug. "You would probably want to focus on avoiding actual wrestling, certainly."

It wasn't so bad, at the walking pace, and he thought, given some practice... he might manage to even go a little faster.

Next time. Maybe.

"If you like, I could always offer pointers." He glanced at her, "It's not like it could hurt, neh?"

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

"I would hope it would not hurt, Taira-dono." She blinked and then looked at Hikazume. "Do you have any treats for her? She may expect one afterward."

[Soshi Taira]

Taira looked surprised. "I didn't mean it.. it's a phrase... sorry."

As she asked about treats, he looked chagrined. "I didn't even think to bring one."

He really was losing points today.

"I should have... my apologies, I can fetch some..."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

"There is no need to get nervous." She looked over to Hikazume. "It would be better to be calm while horseback riding," she reminded him with a gentle smile.

She let out a laugh. "I do not feed horses snacks often. My sister lectured me for doing so too much when I was younger."

[Soshi Taira]

"Ah, well, if you say so."

He still looked a little embarrassed.

"Still, if you would ever like any pointers on grappling, or breaking grapples, I'd be glad to help. If that would interest you."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

Hikazume let out another rush of air our of her nostrils. "Taira-dono," Yue said gently with pleading eyes. She debated taking the reins for herself. But he wanted to go forward with it. Why are men so difficult?

"'Breaking grapples' sounds useful for me, Taira-dono. I would not want to be pinned down and helpless."

Her cheeks flushed. The horse snorted once more.

[Soshi Taira]

Sensing the discomfort, he reined in, coming to a stop. He let the tension out, and gave a lopsided smile.

"Hai, that would be unacceptable. No one should be stripped of even that basic freedom."

With a faint sigh, he offered the reins. "I don't wish to upset our friend here... if it will comfort her, I don't need to carry the reins today."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

Yue shook her head. "Iie. Daijoubu." She waved away the reins. "You are doing well. This is what you wanted." The Shinjo planted a kiss on her horse's cheek. "Hikazume is skittish at times. She is among the gentlest among my Clan, Taira-dono."

[Soshi Taira]

"And a fine lady she is."

Taira shook his head, unable to hide his smile.

"I can see why you are so determined to stay with your steeds, even if you were to join another clan..."

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

That elicited a bright smile from the Shinjo. "Good! You will be a fit husband for a Unicorn bride!" She stayed in high spirits as she followed along. "That was never a question, Taira-dono. My horse will follow me wherever I go." She cupped her chin for a moment. "I wonder if I could arrange for my husband to receive a horse too."

[Soshi Taira]

"I imagine that would depend on if your clan wanted to offer him one."

She did have an impressive optimism to her.

"Who knows, they might consider it a good way to start the couples relationship."

Marriage support via horses. Worse ideas existed, he supposed.

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

Yue put on a sly smirk. "We have established that every Unicorn woman wants a husband who can ride a horse," she began, "And every horse rider should have a horse to ride. It would be unfortunate to force a couple to share one horse, Taira-dono. It would be much better if the couple could ride side by side."

[Soshi Taira]

"That does seem reasonable."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Though I suppose some might like the idea of riding together... I suppose if they had a very large horse. You could hardly go fast then, however... which I imagine would curtail some of the fun."