[ Tsukasa is stupid—anxious, but stupid, except being around Anya worsens the second one even as it (gently, like stoking a fire place) betters the first. He doesn't notice she's thinking, not when he's much too happy to be holding her hand like this, standing in her doorway for real, having her so close when just last night he'd been feeling so sorry for himself not being able to take her out on a Valentine's date...
...a Valentine's friend date, because he made a mistake, but it's probably better like this, for now. If he keeps thinking that, maybe it'll come true. ]
Of course. I'll pick a safe, but important, task next time as well... This Tsukasa Suzakura will do his best for the both of us. [ That makes it sound so cheesy...~ ] For now, though... Allow him to escort you to wherever your heart desires. I'd like to be out while the sun is, after all. Not that the dark is bad, but there's a lot of it underground...
[ Besides, Anya looks best under natural lighting ♪ ]
[Anya gives him a smile at that - nodding easily even as she goes to shut the door of her home behind her. She doesn't need much, everything that she could really need is already on her person. Phone, check. House keys, check! So she'll otherwise squeeze his hand in hers and hum happily.]
Then to the sun we will go.
Лошади? We can still go see the horses? Does Tsukasa still want to?
Of course. I promised I'd take you riding, didn't I~? And I never break my promises. [ At least, he tries not to. So...! Off they go, hand-in-hand, Tsukasa never happier—there's probably small chat, he's totally telling Anya about Hinata wanting to go roller skating for his birthday
but, most importantly, the stables. Tsukasa's quick to get things sorted out and he tugs her back to the horses (and, on another side, the chocobos). Ahem. ]
Any of these are available for riding... Please pick whichever one catches your eye. Or, um, that you feel a connection with... If you find one like that. [ ...He's sort of drifting over to a butterscotch-colored one. Whom is named Butterscotch. Everyone is clever here. ] We can sign them out after that. It isn't too cold, so I think we'll be able to use the outside paddock.
[Whichever one she feels a connection with - well Anya is a creature of habit to be honest. She immediately drifts over to the one that she'd met the last time that she'd visited - ]
Tourmaline...!
[ARMS OPEN, READY TO GIVE THIS HORSE A BIG HUG]
Здравствуйте! Hello...! Anya is happy to see you again. Are you happy to see Anya?
[ Tourmaline seems to be, leaning her head out of her stall to press it to Anya's chest. Tsukasa smiles and finishes getting Butterscotch out, carefully leading her over so he can slip into Tourmaline's stall and get a lead on her, too. He'll give that one to Anya ♪ ]
I'm glad you picked her... ♪ Tourmy gets huffy whenever I talk about you, probably because she wants to see you not hear about you. Um, not that I talk all the time about you or anything but... Little comments and things. Nice stuff, I promise.
[ ...Tourmaline is also giving him the stink-eye, so he laughs weakly and uh. He'll get the rest in order, saddle them up, all that good stuff... They're going to a larger paddock, and Tsukasa'll pause once they're both in and he's shut the gate. ]
Right, so... Getting up's pretty easy—just put your foot in the stirrup there and pull yourself up with the saddle—but it can be a little tricky for first-timers, so... Do you want some help?
[ Butterscotch and Tourmaline exchange a glance like booooooooy. ]
Anya glances over at Tsukasa for a moment and giggles - he talks about her? Ah, she had guessed that before... but that's sweet! Tsukasa must be very affectionate with his friends, then. She watches him closely as he gets everything ready - as if she's ready to mimic this if she visits again? - but at the offer for help, she'll glance between Tourmaline and Tsukasa.
She considers the height... and - well, she'd rather not cause more trouble for him if she doesn't get it right. So.]
If that is okay? Anya will learn quickly, promise!
[ these horses know tsukasa doesn't usually help people up personally. he usually gets a mounting block instead. ]
You can take your time learning. [ But alright, alright ♪ He'll move closer. ] It'll be a little bit of a reach, but do juuust as I said before... Um, I'm going to push you up though, so you don't have to just pull yourself up... Okay?
[ He'll be hooking his fingers in the saddle ring, his other arm ready to sort of be a rest for her thigh (✨) he can push up with (✨✨). ]
Well okay. Anya just nods as she reviews the instructions over in her head again, moving to put her foot in the stirrup as directed and mentally prepping herself to take this step. She's also going to completely trust Tsukasa? Because why wouldn't she.... So she manages a little nod to herself and - ]
[Sure, she can do that! She'll swing her leg over and settle on the saddle, finding her balance as best as she can and making a small noise of excited delight - ]
[ Some genuine applause, and he'll go one-two-three pull himself up on Butterscotch. Like an expert or something. ]
Good job! Ah, and thank you for being patient as well, ladies. [ The horses, he means. ] Alright... Sit up straight, hold onto the reins—not too tightly, though—and instruct her to walk when you squeeze her sides with your heels. Gently.
[ He'll demonstrate~! Look at him and Butterscotch go; he tilts the reins here and there to guide her so they can turn around and face Anya and Tourmaline, and he gets her to stop with a little tug and a instruction to. ]
We're just going to walk around the area first so you can get used to how it feels.
[AMAZING. Anya's eyes sparkle with delight and amazement as she watches Tsukasa closely, listening to his instructions and moving to mimic the same with Tourmaline. There's a noise of surprise - giddy surprise - when Tourmaline does move and Anya praises immediately:]
[ Tourmaline's going to learn Russian before he does...
.......actually. ]
Kru... Kora... Ah, I'm not going to even try pronouncing it—but is that what that means? Amazing? [ Tsukasa glances at her, then scratches his cheek idly. спасибо was a lot easier to say. ] ...I wanted to learn some so we could, um... Well, I wanted to learn... An-anyway, if you'd be willing to teach me, I could hook you up with some more riding lessons...~?
[ ...does he just use riding lessons as a bartering tool? yes. all the time. ]
[Oh...! Her eyes are drawn to him as soon as she hears him trying to pronounce and she'll - carefully.... - try to guide Tourmaline to move closer to Tsukasa, at least close enough that Anya can hold onto the reins with one hand as the other reaches out to him. Slowly:]
Хо - ро - шо! It is... to say very good? Something that is nice.
[And she giggles at the offer - ]
Anya would teach you for free... but if there are more riding lessons, then I will get to see Tsukasa more? [Her expression turns a touch playful as she winks - ] I like that more.
[ tsukasa's ghost is what had a sleepover with hinata later and also went on to complete his work in respartum.
He mouths the word a moment, just to distract himself from blushing too hard at her wink, and gently takes her outstretched hand. ]
W-Well, I think a trade's fair... Um, it's... Хоро...шо. [ He's trying. It's still clumsily said, and he looks even more mortified-embarrassed at his own pronunciation, but. ] ...I'm very sorry for butchering your language, Anya.
[Did she play too much... Anya tilts her head a little bit - Tsukasa has a crush on someone else, doesn't he? So it's okay if Anya plays with him a little... maybe it was too much.....
But her expression still smooths into something gently amused, closer to endlessly fond.]
You do not need to say sorry...
When Anya tries new words in English or Japanese, I feel like it is the same. Нервный... Or when I meet a new person, who does not know the way I talk. It is scary. Maybe they will laugh at me....
[So she shakes her head and gives his hand a squeeze.]
If you want to try... that is already xорошо. [Gentle repetition, still slow, enunciated carefully so he can catch all the parts.] Already good.
[ Ah, be still his heart... He squeezes her hand right back, terribly regretful that he can't just keep holding it while they're riding. That's dangerous. ]
...Thank you. I think it's xорошо [ slowly too, purposeful, a little better] for you, too. Um...
[ ...mmm, yes, he can do this much. ] If you ever want to practice Japanese, I can help with that. I'm sure you have plenty of chances to practice English, so... This is really all I offer.
[That is super dangerous and probably not the best idea of Anya's first time riding - but she smiles wider when he tries the word again. Wonderful! She loves just hearing the sound of other people trying Russian. It makes her feel more and more at home.
She switches to Japanese briefly:] Thank you, Tsukasa.
[And then back to English.]
I would like that. I will keep trying to get better and better at everything.
[ Heeeee, she sounds so cute in Japanese...!!!!! He's trying not to beam, he's turning his face away, oh gosh. Just for a moment. Phew. Back to looking at her, he's good, she's fine. ]
Everything, hm...~? Me too. [ y'all don't fucking enable each other like this ] Riding first, then.
[ He, a little reluctantly, pulls his hand away and grips his reins again. ]
If you want to go faster than a walk, just squeeze Tourmaline's sides with your heels again while you're walking—that'll be a trot. After that is a canter—my favorite speed—and then gallop... I think trotting should be our limit for today though. It's only a little faster than a walk, and Tourmaline's experienced enough to handle it... Ah, right. If you start getting sore, let me know too, okay? We can stop.
[So much to learn... Anya memorizes it, repeats in her head over: walk, trot, canter, gallop. Ah, how exciting! Just likes in all the stories that she'd read when she was small... She smiles and does as directed, encouraging Tourmaline back into a walk - and then further into a trot.
It's an odd feeling to move with the horse, but she learns the rhythm as best as she can and adjusts carefully.]
Tourmaline...! Спасибо... Thank you for listening to Anya. ♪
[ Tsukasa follows along after her, freely grinning since he can't be seen looking like a lovesick idiot. He's glad she's having a good time though—he is too, and he almost, almostwants to show off...
...well, at least he could do it, here. He'd feel way safer if he was properly dressed for that though. ]
You're being kind and patient with her, Anya~. It's only natural she'd return the favor. [ Tourmaline's also one of the calmer horses too so— ] "If you're nice to horses, they'll be nice right back." Well, I guess that saying goes for any kind of animal, though.
[And she laughs a little bit because - ] Horses are Tsukasa's favorite. It makes sense for you to say it like that.
[SHE'S UNSURPRISED - but then she'll hum a happy little note as they trot along easily. She's still adjust, she knows that. So she definitely shouldn't push and try to learn something new but also:]
Tsukasa can do more than this, yes? Продемонстрировать? Will you show Anya?
[just show off, tsukasa. she wants to see it anyway.]
Not that much more. [ It's both true, yet just him being modest. He'll still lean forward on Butterscotch and pat her neck. ] Mmm... Do you want to show off a little, Butterscotch? We've had a good warm-up so far, so I think you can do a few jumps, right?
[ A little nostril flare, she recognizes jumps— Tsukasa'll sit back up and look at Anya and Tourmaline, tempering his smile. ]
Seems like she's up for it... They're not going to be that impressive though—not like you'd see with real show jumping or anything. I'm just a stablehand, after all, not a jockey. [ He can't afford to be a jockey..... because he'd so want his own horse. ] Is that okay?
[Jumps!!!! Anya's expression lights up the same way - and she gently tries to guide Tourmaline into a stop just so that she can pay absolute attention to this! She's careful to not pull on the reins and confuse the horse when she claps her hands together in delight.]
Пожалуйста! Please...!
[Look, she just loves being impressed - and unfortunately given who Anya hangs out with, the feeling is actually quite rare. Regardless she hums a happy note and all of her attention goes to Tsukasa.]
[ Ah, she'd love to see... ♪ Tsukasa trots over to the paddock's fence and calls over a fellow worker, and in short order they have a small obstacle course set up. The jumping fences are pretty low, but "low" in jumping terms means you still have to clear at least three or four feet. ...He is also given a soft scolding and a helmet to make sure he doesn't get hurt or something doing this.
Regardless, Tsukasa gently guides Butterscotch to the beginning and gives Anya a little wave. He's trying not to be anxious—he doesn't want his horse to catch it—but it's thrumming just beneath his skin, knowing he's being watched. He wants them to do well, to impress Anya... He leans forward to murmur an apology to Butterscotch for the nerves.
They don't start at a walk; it's a brisk trot that breaks into a canter, and they run through the jumps with practiced ease—largely because Butterscotch does this anyway, and he's putting his faith in her abilities. A long canter around the rest of the paddock and they do it a second time, rounding off on a third that he slows her to a trot to, then a walk back to Tourmaline and Anya.
It doesn't feel so impressive, despite the fences getting a little higher every jump until the end each time, but maybe it looks impressive. Maybe it looks cool ♪ Regardless, he tugs Butterscotch's reins gently to bring her to a stop in front of his friends, straightening up with a bit of a flush on his face. ]
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...a Valentine's friend date, because he made a mistake, but it's probably better like this, for now. If he keeps thinking that, maybe it'll come true. ]
Of course. I'll pick a safe, but important, task next time as well... This Tsukasa Suzakura will do his best for the both of us. [ That makes it sound so cheesy...~ ] For now, though... Allow him to escort you to wherever your heart desires. I'd like to be out while the sun is, after all. Not that the dark is bad, but there's a lot of it underground...
[ Besides, Anya looks best under natural lighting ♪ ]
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Then to the sun we will go.
Лошади? We can still go see the horses? Does Tsukasa still want to?
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Of course. I promised I'd take you riding, didn't I~? And I never break my promises. [ At least, he tries not to. So...! Off they go, hand-in-hand, Tsukasa never happier—there's probably small chat, he's totally telling Anya about Hinata wanting to go roller skating for his birthday
but, most importantly, the stables. Tsukasa's quick to get things sorted out and he tugs her back to the horses (and, on another side, the chocobos). Ahem. ]
Any of these are available for riding... Please pick whichever one catches your eye. Or, um, that you feel a connection with... If you find one like that. [ ...He's sort of drifting over to a butterscotch-colored one. Whom is named Butterscotch. Everyone is clever here. ] We can sign them out after that. It isn't too cold, so I think we'll be able to use the outside paddock.
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Tourmaline...!
[ARMS OPEN, READY TO GIVE THIS HORSE A BIG HUG]
Здравствуйте! Hello...! Anya is happy to see you again. Are you happy to see Anya?
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I'm glad you picked her... ♪ Tourmy gets huffy whenever I talk about you, probably because she wants to see you not hear about you. Um, not that I talk all the time about you or anything but... Little comments and things. Nice stuff, I promise.
[ ...Tourmaline is also giving him the stink-eye, so he laughs weakly and uh. He'll get the rest in order, saddle them up, all that good stuff... They're going to a larger paddock, and Tsukasa'll pause once they're both in and he's shut the gate. ]
Right, so... Getting up's pretty easy—just put your foot in the stirrup there and pull yourself up with the saddle—but it can be a little tricky for first-timers, so... Do you want some help?
[ Butterscotch and Tourmaline exchange a glance like booooooooy. ]
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Anya glances over at Tsukasa for a moment and giggles - he talks about her? Ah, she had guessed that before... but that's sweet! Tsukasa must be very affectionate with his friends, then. She watches him closely as he gets everything ready - as if she's ready to mimic this if she visits again? - but at the offer for help, she'll glance between Tourmaline and Tsukasa.
She considers the height... and - well, she'd rather not cause more trouble for him if she doesn't get it right. So.]
If that is okay? Anya will learn quickly, promise!
[But sure, she'll accept help this once.]
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You can take your time learning. [ But alright, alright ♪ He'll move closer. ] It'll be a little bit of a reach, but do juuust as I said before... Um, I'm going to push you up though, so you don't have to just pull yourself up... Okay?
[ He'll be hooking his fingers in the saddle ring, his other arm ready to sort of be a rest for her thigh (✨) he can push up with (✨✨). ]
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Well okay. Anya just nods as she reviews the instructions over in her head again, moving to put her foot in the stirrup as directed and mentally prepping herself to take this step. She's also going to completely trust Tsukasa? Because why wouldn't she.... So she manages a little nod to herself and - ]
On three...!
[AND SHE'LL JUST COUNT IT HERSELF - ]
One, two, three! ♪
[MAYBE A LITTLE LESS FEARLESS, ANYA]
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And he pushes her up, grinning a little. She's so brave ♪ and cool ♪ ahh, he really likes her...
rip tsukasa]There we go~. Just swing your leg over and get comfy, Anya.
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Высокий! Tsukasa - it is so high up!
[she loves it]
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Good job! Ah, and thank you for being patient as well, ladies. [ The horses, he means. ] Alright... Sit up straight, hold onto the reins—not too tightly, though—and instruct her to walk when you squeeze her sides with your heels. Gently.
[ He'll demonstrate~! Look at him and Butterscotch go; he tilts the reins here and there to guide her so they can turn around and face Anya and Tourmaline, and he gets her to stop with a little tug and a instruction to. ]
We're just going to walk around the area first so you can get used to how it feels.
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Хорошо!
[Tourmaline's going to learn Russian.]
Amazing....!
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.......actually. ]
Kru... Kora... Ah, I'm not going to even try pronouncing it—but is that what that means? Amazing? [ Tsukasa glances at her, then scratches his cheek idly. спасибо was a lot easier to say. ] ...I wanted to learn some so we could, um... Well, I wanted to learn... An-anyway, if you'd be willing to teach me, I could hook you up with some more riding lessons...~?
[ ...does he just use riding lessons as a bartering tool? yes. all the time. ]
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Хо - ро - шо! It is... to say very good? Something that is nice.
[And she giggles at the offer - ]
Anya would teach you for free... but if there are more riding lessons, then I will get to see Tsukasa more? [Her expression turns a touch playful as she winks - ] I like that more.
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He mouths the word a moment, just to distract himself from blushing too hard at her wink, and gently takes her outstretched hand. ]
W-Well, I think a trade's fair... Um, it's... Хоро...шо. [ He's trying. It's still clumsily said, and he looks even more mortified-embarrassed at his own pronunciation, but. ] ...I'm very sorry for butchering your language, Anya.
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But her expression still smooths into something gently amused, closer to endlessly fond.]
You do not need to say sorry...
When Anya tries new words in English or Japanese, I feel like it is the same. Нервный... Or when I meet a new person, who does not know the way I talk. It is scary. Maybe they will laugh at me....
[So she shakes her head and gives his hand a squeeze.]
If you want to try... that is already xорошо. [Gentle repetition, still slow, enunciated carefully so he can catch all the parts.] Already good.
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...Thank you. I think it's xорошо [ slowly too, purposeful, a little better] for you, too. Um...
[ ...mmm, yes, he can do this much. ] If you ever want to practice Japanese, I can help with that. I'm sure you have plenty of chances to practice English, so... This is really all I offer.
[ At least on the language front. ]
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She switches to Japanese briefly:] Thank you, Tsukasa.
[And then back to English.]
I would like that. I will keep trying to get better and better at everything.
[ . . . everything.]
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Everything, hm...~? Me too. [ y'all don't fucking enable each other like this ] Riding first, then.
[ He, a little reluctantly, pulls his hand away and grips his reins again. ]
If you want to go faster than a walk, just squeeze Tourmaline's sides with your heels again while you're walking—that'll be a trot. After that is a canter—my favorite speed—and then gallop... I think trotting should be our limit for today though. It's only a little faster than a walk, and Tourmaline's experienced enough to handle it... Ah, right. If you start getting sore, let me know too, okay? We can stop.
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It's an odd feeling to move with the horse, but she learns the rhythm as best as she can and adjusts carefully.]
Tourmaline...! Спасибо... Thank you for listening to Anya. ♪
[well she's having fun]
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lovesickidiot. He's glad she's having a good time though—he is too, and he almost, almostwants to show off......well, at least he could do it, here. He'd feel way safer if he was properly dressed for that though. ]
You're being kind and patient with her, Anya~. It's only natural she'd return the favor. [ Tourmaline's also one of the calmer horses too so— ] "If you're nice to horses, they'll be nice right back." Well, I guess that saying goes for any kind of animal, though.
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[SHE'S UNSURPRISED - but then she'll hum a happy little note as they trot along easily. She's still adjust, she knows that. So she definitely shouldn't push and try to learn something new but also:]
Tsukasa can do more than this, yes? Продемонстрировать? Will you show Anya?
[just show off, tsukasa. she wants to see it anyway.]
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Not that much more. [ It's both true, yet just him being modest. He'll still lean forward on Butterscotch and pat her neck. ] Mmm... Do you want to show off a little, Butterscotch? We've had a good warm-up so far, so I think you can do a few jumps, right?
[ A little nostril flare, she recognizes jumps— Tsukasa'll sit back up and look at Anya and Tourmaline, tempering his smile. ]
Seems like she's up for it... They're not going to be that impressive though—not like you'd see with real show jumping or anything. I'm just a stablehand, after all, not a jockey. [ He can't afford to be a jockey..... because he'd so want his own horse. ] Is that okay?
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Пожалуйста! Please...!
[Look, she just loves being impressed - and unfortunately given who Anya hangs out with, the feeling is actually quite rare. Regardless she hums a happy note and all of her attention goes to Tsukasa.]
Whatever you want to show. I would love to see.
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Regardless, Tsukasa gently guides Butterscotch to the beginning and gives Anya a little wave. He's trying not to be anxious—he doesn't want his horse to catch it—but it's thrumming just beneath his skin, knowing he's being watched. He wants them to do well, to impress Anya... He leans forward to murmur an apology to Butterscotch for the nerves.
They don't start at a walk; it's a brisk trot that breaks into a canter, and they run through the jumps with practiced ease—largely because Butterscotch does this anyway, and he's putting his faith in her abilities. A long canter around the rest of the paddock and they do it a second time, rounding off on a third that he slows her to a trot to, then a walk back to Tourmaline and Anya.
It doesn't feel so impressive, despite the fences getting a little higher every jump until the end each time, but maybe it looks impressive. Maybe it looks cool ♪ Regardless, he tugs Butterscotch's reins gently to bring her to a stop in front of his friends, straightening up with a bit of a flush on his face. ]
She's pretty impressive, huh~? [ ...the horse. why wouldn't he praise her. ]