[D8 EM] Of Pups and Ponies [Open, Expecting]

[Seppun Hideo]

Hideo, who worked slower, was still finishing as Amaya stopped. His arms ached as well, but he didn't give up.

[Ide Amaya]

She kept her hand on Ti-Lu's rump, and circled behind the pony with as much room as the delicate limb would allow. She watched Hideo work, idly imagining the ripple of the muscles of his shoulders and back under his kimono.

[Seppun Hideo]

She would see that the man was giving it his all, and had ensured he had done a thorough job. He was working hard.

[Ide Amaya]

She smiles. Admiring the man and his handiwork equally.

[Seppun Hideo]

Eventually he finished up, and took a half-step back, looking his work over with a critical eye.

[Ide Amaya]

"You have done well. And there is just one last thing to be done."

[Seppun Hideo]

"I had a good teacher" Hideo bowed to her, nodding "what is the last thing?"

[Ide Amaya]

She picks up a brush. "It would hardly be fitting to allow Ti-Lu's coat to gleam so beautifully, yet leave his mane and tail wind-tossed." Her own hair, though captured in its Maiden's Tail, has also been tangled by her ride. "Take this, and I'll fetch another."

[Seppun Hideo]

Hideo accepts the brush, nodding. "I'll wait for you to return and show me, to ensure I do this correctly."

[Ide Amaya]

She isn't gone long. Giving Ti-Lu a quick pat on the nose, "why don't you brush his mane while I take care of the tail? I don't want to risk you getting kicked."

[Seppun Hideo]

"Kicked?" Hideo sounded concerned, but did as told, moving to the head and brushing the mane carefully.

[Ide Amaya]

She stands to one side of Ti-Lu's rump, gathering up his tail and teasing the brush through the tips. "Mm, kicked. His mane shouldn't give you trouble, just brush it like you would m--- a woman's hair. Gentle but thorough. The tail has skin and bone at its core, and he cannot see me back here. It takes more care."

[Seppun Hideo]

"Ah, so it may cause panic" Hideo nodded, understanding "and cause the horse to react."

[Ide Amaya]

"Imagine if a little monkey crept up on you and pulled your hair before you knew it was even there." She doesn't mention the range even a pony can achieve with a kick. She was dangerously within strike range and Hideo was barely out of the way, but if he moved much closer to Ti-Lu's withers, that would be a different story. She also tactfully leaves out that, if Ti-Liu was to kick the Imperial like that, it would likely open a gash down his leg to rival a katana strike.

[Seppun Hideo]

"Hm...I would certainly be startled" Hideo nodded "it would be an unenjoyable experience for the monkey also, but I suspect a horse could do far more damage than I could."