[D1 LA] Short Lesson Before Dinner

[Asako Hirase]

"I learned it from tribesmen." He paused, then clarified. "Well. Women. Daughters of Fire, their tribe is named." This time, he didn't bother changing back to Rokugani...he was well aware his Cousin knew this tongue as well and thought what one sister knew, the other would as well. "They are not so far from Phoenix lands that we never meet them and I was very curious right after my gempukku and rash with it."

[Usagi Tomoe]

"You'd just fall off the horse, and I'd have to patch you up again." Tomoe chuckled in return with a shake of her head.

"I've been fine... a bit exciting to go all the way here as my first assignment outside of Shiro Usagi, and father seemed a little reluctant at the idea that I might end up married into the Unicorn to some strange... now what was the words he used... uncouth barbarians who can't even hold chopsticks, I believe he said," she laughed a little at that. "He'll live."

"And you? I trust you haven't broken any bones since I last saw you?"

[Asako Yuki]

Yuki blinked as first the one sister, then the other, spoke Yobanjin. "Where did you learn the language of the Yobanjin tribes? And why didn't we hear about such contact..." Yuki played with her hair more as she thought about this. "I learned Yobanjin from my father. We're close enough to them in Phoenix lands that some have picked up the language in the course of studying them." Yuki's Yobanjin was considerably better than her Mekhem.

"As for my picking Mekhem up, well, It's been nearly two years since we heard you were returning. More than enough time to pick up enough to speak. Even if I'm still not very good. But I'm sure I'll get better!"

[Soshi Yuuru]

"You'd just fall off the horse, and I'd have to patch you up again." Tomoe chuckled in return with a shake of her head.

"I've been fine... a bit exciting to go all the way here as my first assignment outside of Shiro Usagi, and father seemed a little reluctant at the idea that I might end up married into the Unicorn to some strange... now what was the words he used... uncouth barbarians who can't even hold chopsticks, I believe he said," she laughed a little at that. "He'll live."

"And you? I trust you haven't broken any bones since I last saw you?"

He shook his head and smirked, "No broken bones... But I had a run in with a tiger."

[Shinjo Liu Fei]

"Rokugani, Mekhem, Yobanjin, I sought to learn the languages that would be of most practical use for us in our travels," she answered, which seemed to also highlight the accent in Liu Fei's own use of all three languages. With the call to attention it was more and more noticeable how she had a focus on practicality in the languages. Knowing them well enough to be able to converse with those she would meet. Able to talk, or translate, for any situation that might have arisen. Something a Scholar and Bushi could both appreciate.

[Usagi Tomoe]

He shook his head and smirked, "No broken bones... But I had a run in with a tiger."

"Suuure you did," she chuckled, knowing by now that Yuuru could easily exaggerate a housecat to be a Matsu Warcat. "And let me guess, you wrestled that big kitten into submission and it ran away in fear?"

[Shinjo Liu Yue]

"I learned this language because my sister did," she admitted. She had no further input on the nature of her knowledge.

She then smiled brightly. "Hirase-san, you expressed a wish to learn horseback riding. Would it please you to start learning today?"

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"They're smart as well. Maybe not quite so clever as a camel... but far more loyal to their partner," he says with a smile. "And much more agreeable."

Monkhbaatar leans presses his head against Meushi's for a moment, before he looks back to Kogo. "So... are you going to go for a ride?"

[Asako Hirase]

With no hesitation, Hirase bowed. "If you are willing to teach, I will learn. I'm afraid I'm not versed in the terms for horses or riding in Yobanjin, so you will have to use Rokugani for those things. Given my relative lack of active skills, we might be wise to start with the proper way to fall off. I expect to do so at least once."

[Matsu Kogo]

"They're smart as well. Maybe not quite so clever as a camel... but far more loyal to their partner," he says with a smile. "And much more agreeable."

Monkhbaatar leans presses his head against Meushi's for a moment, before he looks back to Kogo. "So... are you going to go for a ride?"

Kogo looks somewhat concerned. "I regret to say that I am not as experienced at this as I would like to be. But I am willing to learn. For does not Akodo say, “When one commits fully to a course of action, with no doubt or remorse in one’s heart, defeat cannot be the outcome"?

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"I actually do not know if Akodo says that," he replies with a smile. "But he likely said a great many insightful things that didn't get recorded and disbursed until after the Unicorn's departure. I'm certain that we have much we could learn from his wisdom."

Well... it's true. And it should definitely not be a huge surprise that the Unicorn don't exactly have many copies of Leadership around after 800 years on the road.

"But that sounds about right. And don't worry, for now I'll be right by your side," he says with a nod. He reaches down and undoes the stake, and takes the rope from the reigns, packing them away. "Until riders are more experienced they usually use a small step to help them up or a boost from their teacher. Take the reigns in this hand, put your hand on the saddle here..."

He explains the whole mounting process and then takes a knee so she can use the other knee as a step stool, keeping a hand on Meushi's neck to keep her steady.

[Matsu Kogo]

"I actually do not know if Akodo says that," he replies with a smile. "But he likely said a great many insightful things that didn't get recorded and disbursed until after the Unicorn's departure. I'm certain that we have much we could learn from his wisdom."

Well... it's true. And it should definitely not be a huge surprise that the Unicorn don't exactly have many copies of Leadership around after 800 years on the road.

"But that sounds about right. And don't worry, for now I'll be right by your side," he says with a nod. He reaches down and undoes the stake, and takes the rope from the reigns, packing them away. "Until riders are more experienced they usually use a small step to help them up or a boost from their teacher. Take the reigns in this hand, put your hand on the saddle here..."

He explains the whole mounting process and then takes a knee so she can use the other knee as a step stool, keeping a hand on Meushi's neck to keep her steady.

Kogo looks slightly flabbergasted that one could not know what Akodo said, but realizes that this is part of cultural exchange. "If you would ever wish to learn more of Akodo, you would be welcome to borrow my copy of Leadership. I brought it with me, to continue rereading and plumbing the depths of Akodo's wisdom. It is a text that never becomes dull."

She looks skeptically at the knee, but accepts it as the convention. She mounts relatively easily, and runs a soothing hand down Meushi's neck. "Now what do I do?"

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

"First things first, you have to learn how to sit," he says with a chuckle. "It takes a bit to get used to posture enough so that you know how to sit without straining the horse or your self. A bit of time getting used to it before you can ride off on your own, and a lifetime to master. Much like a weapon. The first days with your weapon your sensei corrects your form and you don't swing life steel without him watching closely. And then you spend the rest of your life trying to make it part of yourself."

"And I would be interested in reading this Leadership. There are many things to learn yet, and many things to teach. It seems like a worthy exchange," he says with a nod.

"Alright, the hardest thing to get used to is learning to relax your legs. You don't want to squeeze too tightly. Your weight will hold you in the saddle. And you'll want to keep your back straight. I'll guide her around for a bit so you can get used to the feeling. But like working any new muscle there's going to be stiffness and soreness if you overwork it too quickly."

[Matsu Kogo]

"First things first, you have to learn how to sit," he says with a chuckle. "It takes a bit to get used to posture enough so that you know how to sit without straining the horse or your self. A bit of time getting used to it before you can ride off on your own, and a lifetime to master. Much like a weapon. The first days with your weapon your sensei corrects your form and you don't swing life steel without him watching closely. And then you spend the rest of your life trying to make it part of yourself."

"And I would be interested in reading this Leadership. There are many things to learn yet, and many things to teach. It seems like a worthy exchange," he says with a nod.

"Alright, the hardest thing to get used to is learning to relax your legs. You don't want to squeeze too tightly. Your weight will hold you in the saddle. And you'll want to keep your back straight. I'll guide her around for a bit so you can get used to the feeling. But like working any new muscle there's going to be stiffness and soreness if you overwork it too quickly."

Kogo looked somewhat concerned but determined. "All right, in this, you will be my sensei. I am honored to learn. And you may borrow my copy at any time." She attempts to settle herself into a correct posture, but likely looks sort of ridiculous. "How does one keep from falling off?"

[Shinjo Monkhbaatar]

He smiles widely. "Correct posture and proper balance. When you are sitting correctly and comfortable with that your legs will naturally hold on how they need to. Then with control you'll be able to guide the horse by nudging and leaning. The more you do it the more comfortable it will feel and the more natural your control will be. It's all about feeling the connection between yourself and the horse." He takes a few moments to point out and adjust her posture and keeps an eye on it to remind her when she seems to be slipping out of proper form.