[What he's not expecting is Freya to be sensitive to him or responding accordingly to it. Smart creature, that. He's incredibly careful in how he steadies himself before hoisting himself up and over, onto her back. With all of the gentleness that a guy like him can even harness.
He doubts any of it was graceful. But whatever. At least he's up there.]
You sure I'm not too heavy for her?
[Although he suspects if she couldn't, he'd know by now.]
[And, as if to answer for herself, Freya gives a little whinny in response, and Tifa gives her a pat on the neck.]
See? Even she doesn't mind.
[With all of that out of the way, Tifa grins even wider before she climbs up onto her bare back right behind him, giggling all while she hoists herself up there with ease, and Freya doesn't buckle once.]
Not so bad, right? Now, just clap her easy on the sides and she'll know to start walking.
[He feels almost afraid to breathe. Like he might loose it and cause her to collapse underneath him. But she seems to be... fine. Tifa joins up behind him and he finds himself hesitating a moment. He'd feel better being able to keep an eye on her, but he'll just have to focus on how it feels to have her at his back.
He does look over his shoulder when she speaks up.]
...Clap? You don't... literally mean clap. Or do you?
[A light tap, she says. He's going to have to figure out how to be a little more delicate, which isn't necessarily a talent of his. But when others have faith in him, he feels more inclined to making it a reality. She holds him securely and without really thinking about it, he settles a hand atop one of her forearms. He can't quite say why.
Security, perhaps. Wouldn't matter who it was, he thinks. He would likely do the same thing.]
Here goes nothing—
[And it's with a great amount of care that he taps in the sides of his sandalled feet along Freya. Not too hard. Just something as gentle as he can muster. Tifa really is putting him to the test today.]
[They'll feel a light jerk as Nier's feet spur Freya into motion, and she immediately breaks off into a slow trot with a tiny, pleased whinny.]
See? Not so bad.
[She's steady, graceful even, as she makes her way to the beaten path, Tifa helping to steer her as she reaches around to give the reins a gentle tug in its direction.]
So, where exactly were we headed again? There were a few places I could think of that would have some flowers...
[Ah, there they have it then. It’s enough of a movement that at first it almost startles him, but it’s considerably nicer than his other forays into animal riding, as it were. To be fair,a horse is a bit of an unfair comparison, all things considered.
His chin dips just enough to watch Tifa’s careful pull on reins, just to commit this to memory. He’s already decided he might like to do it again. Maybe take Nanashi or Kainé with him in the future.
At her question, he seems to be brought back to life, or at least out of his thoughts.]
Uh. Wildlands, I think. I haven’t spent a bunch of time out there myself, but I’m sure I can handle anything that comes with us. Might not be good with a horse, but I’m still pretty good with my sword.
[Although perhaps a little rusty. His sword really hasn’t seen as much use as he’d like for it to.]
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He doubts any of it was graceful. But whatever. At least he's up there.]
You sure I'm not too heavy for her?
[Although he suspects if she couldn't, he'd know by now.]
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[And, as if to answer for herself, Freya gives a little whinny in response, and Tifa gives her a pat on the neck.]
See? Even she doesn't mind.
[With all of that out of the way, Tifa grins even wider before she climbs up onto her bare back right behind him, giggling all while she hoists herself up there with ease, and Freya doesn't buckle once.]
Not so bad, right? Now, just clap her easy on the sides and she'll know to start walking.
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He does look over his shoulder when she speaks up.]
...Clap? You don't... literally mean clap. Or do you?
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[She probably could have worded that better.]
A light tap with your feet should do the trick. Nice and steady.
[And she's clinging to him tight, her arms wrapping around him before he does.]
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Security, perhaps. Wouldn't matter who it was, he thinks. He would likely do the same thing.]
Here goes nothing—
[And it's with a great amount of care that he taps in the sides of his sandalled feet along Freya. Not too hard. Just something as gentle as he can muster. Tifa really is putting him to the test today.]
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See? Not so bad.
[She's steady, graceful even, as she makes her way to the beaten path, Tifa helping to steer her as she reaches around to give the reins a gentle tug in its direction.]
So, where exactly were we headed again? There were a few places I could think of that would have some flowers...
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His chin dips just enough to watch Tifa’s careful pull on reins, just to commit this to memory. He’s already decided he might like to do it again. Maybe take Nanashi or Kainé with him in the future.
At her question, he seems to be brought back to life, or at least out of his thoughts.]
Uh. Wildlands, I think. I haven’t spent a bunch of time out there myself, but I’m sure I can handle anything that comes with us. Might not be good with a horse, but I’m still pretty good with my sword.
[Although perhaps a little rusty. His sword really hasn’t seen as much use as he’d like for it to.]