Prose log with Watari

[percivalthegale]

Who: Percival and Watari iii_ninja
When: Sunday last
Where: the wooded area just past the stables
What: an accidental encounter leads to reconciliation

Watari patted his mount's neck, an older dun colored beast the grooms had recommended for him since his usual partner was currently out with a lame leg. The gelding made a snuffling noise and shook its head, walking placidly at Watari's urging. Watari took a breath and looked up, watching the slow crawl of the ominous gray clouds over his head. He had intended to get in a good practice ride today, but it seemed the weather might be against him. The gelding snorted again, and Watari turned his attention back to the animal, taking up on the reins and urging the beast into a trot back towards the barn. Better to be in the barn when it rained than be caught in it. The beast had been placid for the past hour, and thus the reason the ninja was caught off guard when the beast shrieked and half reared, stomping its hooves and throwing back its head in panic. Watari could see nothing that might frighten the animal so, but whatever had made the beast fly beyond panic. It screamed again and Watari felt its hind muscles bunch. With an explosion of force that threw the ninja against the beast's neck, the gelding took off, crashing into the woods like an army of fire breathing dragons was on its tail. Watari attempted to sit up, but overhanging branches and the gelding's sparodic twists and turns made than a more dangerous task than he liked. What was worse, the gelding seemed to have the bit in its teeth, making it difficult to haul back on the reins and reinforce the command to stop its mad dash.

As of late, Percival had been riding a lot of patrols in the wooded areas between Budehuc and Iksay, out of some pretense to root out bandits or somesuch mission that sounded more impressive than it was. To be fair, there were occasionally bandits stalking the roads, especially this time of year with trade in full swing, but he'd had hardly any action. It was good for Midnight not to be in any serious combat yet, but Percival was itching for something, anything, to happen. Then, he heard something large crashing through the brush a few hundred meters ahead. He sat bolt upright in the saddle and waited, his hand hovering near the hilt of his sword.

The beast suddenly bolted into a more open space, and decided to screech to a sudden halt. But that momentum had to go somewhere, and it produced itself in the form of a gigantic rear. Watari instantly stood up in the stirrups, pushing his body over the gelding's head. His eyes fell on the sight of the Knight Percival on his black horse Midnight, the one he had curled up to while drunk. But time enough for that later. He felt the back of his neck brush something rough and he glanced back, seeing a tree branch that seemed thick enough to handle his weight. Taking the chance, he reached back and grabbed it, sliding his feet from the stirrups just as the gelding landed and thunder boomed over head. The gelding screamed and turned on hindquarters, bolting back the way it had come towards the barn, leaving Watari hanging in the tree.

The horse that burst into the clearing startled Percival, but seeing that it was just a horse out of control, his hand went to the reins instead, checking Midnight's head to keep him from contracting the same fear as the other animal. He watched in perplexity and horror as he recognized the rider nearly thrown, but before he could move in to the rescue, the horse had bolted and the ninja was now hanging on to the branch of a tree. Keeping Midnight in firm control, Percival urged him forward into the clearing at a walk. "Are you all right?" he called out.

Watari didn't immediately answer as he got stock of his situation. He wasn't that far off the ground, but he wasn't sure if there were hidden tree roots of anything either. Landing on one of them could permanently ruin his legs. "Do you have rope?" he asked as he readjusted his grip.

Percival shook his head slightly. "No, I don't. It's not standard issue in knightly gear." His face twisted uncomfortably for a fleeting second, but he swallowed it and nudged Midnight a little closer to Watari's position. "The best I can offer is a safe landing. Here. Drop down behind my saddle - and take care how you land, you don't want the cantle catching you in an unpleasant spot." He maneuvered his horse beneath the branch and Watari's dangling legs, backing him into the safest position he could.

Watari regarded the position, shifting on the branch till he thought he got a good angle. He released and pushed his legs forward slightly. He caught them on the saddle, then slid them down and out. It hurt, oh yes it hurt, to land in a saddle like that, but he bit back any protests. Once recovered, he began to shift so as to get off.

Percival held Midnight as still as he could, even though the unexpected landing of something human-sized on the gelding's back had naturally made him shift his feet nervously. But Percival was nothing if not a supreme horseman, and could keep his steed in check even with thunder growling over their heads, so Watari could slide off to the ground. He turned in the saddle to regard the surprise visitor, his brow furrowing again. "What exactly are you doing out here, and on such an unsteady horse at that?"

"The grooms did not indicate he would spook so easily," Watari said as he attempted to find a method of getting down that did not involved him sliding off Midnight's rear or kicking Percival in the gut.

"You should have asked Kathy, if she was around," Percival lectured with a bit of a frown. "She knows every horse in the stable as though it were her family. She could tell you of their hidden quirks - such as being afraid of thunder." He crooked his arm and offered it as support for Watari to dismount. "That's unfortunate that you had such bad luck."

Watari took the arm and managed to swing his leg over without causing damage to either himself, Midnight, or Percival. He hit the ground with a soft thud and nodded to Percival. "Thank you," he said, rolling his shoulders experimentally to make sure hanging like he had had not damaged them.

Percival nodded but said nothing for a minute. He was only a little bit irked that, of all the people to run into, it had to be one with whom he'd had such trouble of late. Yet, instead of wave dismissively and ride off as he normally would, he chose to linger - after all, there was a storm coming and Watari was now alone, on foot, and possibly hurt after that. "Are you sure you're all right?" he asked calmly. "You very nearly took a nasty spill."

"I believe I'm okay," Watari said, doing a few more shoulder rolls and testing his ankles. He paused, knowing the bad blood that stood between him and Percival. Ever since his conversation with Geddoe, he'd thought about what had happened. "Percival," he began, pausing and biting his lip beneath his mask. "I'm sorry."

A startled look passed briefly through Percival's eyes, as he wasn't expecting that at all. Taking a deep breath, he looked away, pretending to scan the distant skies. "It's...all right," he murmured, not sounding entirely convinced of himself. "I understand that...it was the drink, not you, so...I sort of have no right to hold it against you."

Watari shook his head. "No. I lost control. It was not something I should have done. I...I don't want to repeat the same mistakes." For the first time the ninja's golden-blue eyes flashed with something other than anger or cold dispassion. For a minute they swam with hurt from an old wound, one that might never close but at least had begun to heal somewhat.

Percival stared down at his gauntleted hands on the pommel of his saddle. "Apology accepted," he said, but just then, the trees began to roar with the leading gust of wind from the coming storm. Midnight shied, forcing the knight to grab the reins and haul him in before he, too, could rear and bolt. "Dammit!" he snapped out. "We're never going to get back before the rain. We ought to seek shelter until it passes." He glared in frustration. "I hate being caught in the rain fully-armored."

Watari looked around the wood, agreeing with the knight's sentiments about not wanting to get caught in the rain. "Is there a cave or overhang somewhere nearby?" he asked.  

"Not likely. Our best bet is a thick tree, like an elm or a fir." Percival dismounted in haste and caught up the reins in a fist, keeping firm control over Midnight's head so he wouldn't wander. "As long as it fits the two of us...Midnight doesn't care if he gets a little wet."

"I think there was one a bit back," Watari indicated the direction he and the gelding had come from. "One of its branches nearly took my head off." He moved around Percival and into the wood, easily following the trail of destruction the gelding had left in its wake.

Percival tagged along behind him, keeping his eyes peeled for any tree with a thick canopy low to the ground, but trusting that the ninja might spot one first. He began taking off his armored gauntlets in preparation, stowing them in the saddlebag so he could have full use of his hands just in case.

"There," Watari indicated a large oak tree up ahead. It was covered with thick leaves on long branches, creating a canopy that would not keep them fully dry, but at least let them remain less wet than anything else around.

"That'll do," the knight agreed, trudging through thick leaf litter to get underneath the spreading branches of the tree. As long as he and Watari curled up against the trunk, they would stay relatively dry - compared to walking through the wood while it rained. He let Midnight's reins slack a bit and tied them off to one of the reaching branches so he could nose around and graze at leisure, hearing the first patters of raindrops on leaves already. Sighing, Percival clanked over to the trunk and leaned against it, running both hands through his hair. "Well. Now we wait."

"Do you want to take off your armor?" Watari asked. "You can use my half-yukata to cover it."  

Percival shook his head. "I'm not worried about it getting wet. It won't rust after one rainstorm," he explained. "I just hate...when the water runs down and gets underneath it, and soaks my clothing. There is nothing more detestable than having a cold, wet layer of wool between your skin and plate armor." He looked up at the sheltering leaves. "This should hold it off enough."

"Assuming the upper branches are as thick," Watari pointed out as he snuggled into the crook of the oak's roots and trunk, leaving room for Percival as the soft hiss of rain began to play steadily.

Percival remained standing for the moment, leaning against the trunk of the oak, but he looked down at Watari and considered how long they might be stuck waiting out the rain. "If fortune smiles on us," he sighed, folding his arms as best he could over his breastplate. A long silence stretched between them, broken only by the rain and Midnight's occasional shuffling and snorting. It forced Percival to think, and he ended up saying something just to stop his mind from racing. "Watari? May I ask you something...rather tactless and blunt?"

"Yes," Watari replied. He felt he owed it to Percival. Geddoe had said that saying sorry might not be enough, and if asking such a question and answering it might be a way to help Percival realize his sincerity, then so be it.

Percival chewed on his lip before springing the question. It was indeed rather blunt, but he needed to know for his own peace of mind. "You aren't...attempting to pursue me, are you? I mean...this is just a chance encounter, right?"

Watari looked up at Percival with one golden blue eye. "You honestly think I am a capable enough horseman to engineer my own horse panicking and somehow getting said crazed and panicked animal to find you in the middle of forest that is nearly impossible to navigate when my beast is going at break neck speeds?"

"Well, no..." Percival frowned down at him. "I didn't mean that. But you are out here in the same vicinity as my patrols...it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that, if you had intentions of any kind toward me, you might have been hunting me down, or something." He shook his head rapidly. "Forget I said anything. I didn't mean to insinuate anything malicious by it."

"To be honest," Watari said, "I wouldn't even know how to 'pursue you', as you put it."

Percival's expression eased somewhat. "All right. Then, I'll stop being taken aback any time I have to cross your path. I've never had reason to mistrust you until...until what happened, and I'd like to believe you. That it was a mistake that won't happen again. I would like things to be back to normal."

"And what is your definition of 'normal'?" Watari asked.

Percival's eyes closed. "I just don't want to be afraid, anymore. That I'm going to be caught off-guard again, or that someone is going to see and misinterpret and start spreading rumors. I don't want to be constantly nervous when I'm anywhere but on duty or asleep..."

Watari thought on it a moment. "Then...you would need to be comfortable with yourself, create and define your version of normality."

The knight peered at him in confusion. "I don't know that it's as deep as all that," he said wryly. "A simple 'no, I'm not interested in you that way,' will do wonders to prevent me from being afraid that you are."

Watari obliged him. "No, I'm not interested in you in that way. I'm not capable of it."

"Thank you," Percival breathed, sounding actually relieved for once. "Not...capable of it?" He flushed slightly, making an annoyed face. "I wouldn't have thought that considering the way you kissed me."

"I didn't mean as in I can't physically," Watari explained with a shrug. "I'm not capable emotionally."

".......oh." Percival immediately felt sheepish for even saying that, and shrank down in his armor turtle-like. "I suppose...that can happen. I don't know that much about ninjas, but I would imagine there isn't much room for relationships in your line of work." As usual, Percival rambled when he was nervous, and rarely realized he was doing it. "Not that I've ever really been in a relationship either, but...I guess it doesn't matter sometimes."

"Do you think....it's okay to think that being happy like Geddoe is not a bad thing?" Watari asked suddenly, cutting into Percival's rambling. He'd thought on the subject as well as the 'i'm sorry' subject. In fact, he had for awhile, ever since he became fully aware of it. Geddoe had been like him in many ways, and seeing him so happy now...he wondered, sometimes, if the Kage had gotten it wrong, as they had on many other things.

"Happy like...?" Percival gave him another curious stare, and finally decided to slide down the trunk of the tree and crouch next to him, so they were on the same level. It was impossible to sit on the ground in his armor, but he could crouch there, and fold his arms on top of his knees. "I don't really see what Captain Geddoe has to do with it. I admit finding out about his preference was a shock, but...he has been around a long time. And mercenaries don't exactly care about the rules of polite society. I'm sure it's perfectly acceptable for him." He tilted his head in a shrug. "If that's where he found happiness...then I suppose none can tell him he's wrong."

"I just meant in general," Watari clarified after a moment's thought.

Percival rested his chin atop his folded arms. "I think it's natural for every human being to want to be happy. Somewhere deep down. We all crave it, don't we?"

"Do we?" Watari replied. His upbringing in the Kage had not exactly given him time or desire to contemplate these questions.

"I'm fairly certain." Percival's eyes wandered to where Midnight was tearing up tender vegetation with his teeth. "I used to think, as do many people where I come from, that there was a certain set of conditions that led to happiness. Starting a family, having a fulfilling job or task. But after having been through war and nearly dying several times over...maybe they're wrong, and it will take something else for me to be at peace. But I still want it. Moreso the past couple of weeks, when I distinctly did not feel anything close to happiness."

A rain drop splashed on Watari's cheek, and that jolted something inside him. "I dreamed of you," he said quietly.

Despite having just been reassured, Percival could not help but stare wildly at the ninja. "Er...what? What do you...?"

"Of you, and everyone else," Watari said softly. "You were the last to push the blade through before I ended it."  

The look on Percival's face became disturbed. "You...dreamed I killed you?" he whispered, uncertain.

Watari's hand brushed over his heart, where the blade in his dream had punctured him. "The most recent of victims," he murmured, "in a very long string."

"I have heard it said, in some beliefs, hatred can murder the person you hate," Percival murmured. "But I assure you...I don't hate you, Watari. I was afraid of you, and of what you represented, but I don't hate you."

That made some of it better. Watari curled a little bit closer into himself. "It wasn't all about that," he murmured. He paused, listening to the hiss of rain. "I'm not a good person, by any standards," he said at last. "We have both killed, but you have killed in defense. I killed because I was trained too, I'm good at it, and a life is worth many potch." His body shuddered a little as a cold storm wind blew. "Somehow, I think, I thought I could stop that if I came here. Then I lost control and...and I ended up hurting someone again."

"At least you only hurt my pride and self-confidence," Percival reasoned in a soft tone, keeping his eyes lowered to a raindrop splattered on his arm guard. "It isn't as though you stuck a knife through my ribs."

"Still, I should make it up to you," Watari pointed out, slipping back into his pragmatic way of thinking.

"I don't think that's necessary." Percival glanced aside at the ninja. "You've already apologized, and I can see you mean it. That's more important to me than some gesture of atonement." He rested his chin on his arm again. "Unless there's something in your ninja code that requires it. I can't really refuse a man when his beliefs dictate something."

Watari shook his head. "I just...I didn't know if I needed to. I've never...well, I am not entirely sure how to rightfully apologize."

"Apologizing too much is usually better than not apologizing enough," Percival said with the slightest touch of his old humor. "I don't know what you could do, anyway. Children may be placated with extra dessert, but I don't think that could restore a reputation or heal a wound. Fortunately," he added, "it wasn't nearly so bad as that. No one knows but me, and I will put it behind me."

"Thank you," Watari said after a moment's silence.

Percival lifted his head to the peeps of gray between the green leaves, as if daring any raindrops to sneak through and wet them. "Honestly," he added after another long silence between them, "hearing now how much that mistake hurt you as well...is more than enough. Perhaps...it's a sign that you do have the ability to stop the killing, if that's what you want."

"Maybe," Watari acknowledged. "But...next time we go drinking, let me chose the liquour," he said in a flat attempt at humor.

Percival winced and groaned. "Yes, I think I'll leave that up to you. I didn't realize there was such a difference." He tilted his head toward Watari again. "Or perhaps next time we're feeling sociable, we'll skip the drinking altogether."

"Whatever works best," Watari nodded. He bit his lip beneath his mask again, and then..."Friends?" and held out a hand callused permanently from holding a swordblade.

Percival gazed at the offering for a moment before shifting to free his arm and reach to clasp the hand. "Friends," he agreed.

Watari released the hand and leaned back against the trunk, watching the rain patter down beyond the shelter of the oak. Without think, he let his throat contract and relax as he forced air through it, creating a sort of humming/closed mouthed singing noise.

Percival smiled vaguely to himself as Midnight lifted his head and looked toward the strange sound. "I don't suppose you know any good ninja drinking songs?"

Watari coughed, clearing his throat. "No, I'm afraid," he said aloud. He watched the rain, then opened his mouth and began to sing. He knew he didn't have the prettiest voice around, but he wasn't god-awful either. He sang a small ditty he learned in a town he'd lived in for a few weeks once, listening to the child of his employer sing it at the window as they watched the rain come down.

Percival slumped back against the trunk of the tree, still smiling. The ninja's voice hung in the air for a moment, and then seemed to disappear into the whisper of rain on leaves. "Not bad," he complimented. "I'm afraid I couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, even a nursery rhyme."

"A little girl sang it," Watari admitted. "She was the daughter of an employer. She sang, and said it was supposed to keep the rain away."

"We have a similar song where I come from...but I won't torture you by singing it for you," Percival chuckled. He looked sideways at Watari. "That's sort of sweet, that you should remember a little girl's song."

Watari looked at him out of the corner of his eye. "She sang it A LOT."

"Ah." Another chuckle rose from the knight. "So it's more like, you couldn't escape it if you tried."

"Unfortunately, yes," Watari admitted with a dry note to his voice.

Percival glanced up at the gray sheets shimmering just beyond their leafy shelter. "I don't think it worked," he muttered, and then lifted his right hand. "Would that water runes could control the rain. We'd be in much better shape."

"Perhaps it's not such a bad thing," Watari commented. "It did give us a reason to actually talk without the other fleeing."

"Yes...I suppose you're right." Percival heaved a short, dry laugh. "There's nothing like being trapped somewhere together to get people talking."

"Or singing," Watari commented, thinking back on that horrendously bratty little girl.

"You can do the singing," Percival vowed. "I'll...tap my foot to keep time." He tried shifting his feet, but they were supporting him and couldn't even do that at the moment. "...or not. Do you...?" He caught himself, not sure if it was appropriate, then decided to ask anyway. "Do you have many more of these hidden talents? First the cooking, then singing songs? What else are you hiding?"

"I wouldn't call my singing a talent," Watari shrugged. "I'm not spectacular at it." He paused though, thinking over Percival's question. "I suppose, I'm good at puzzles and board games like chess. One employer who kept me on for some time used to make his sons challenge me once I'd learned the game. It became a nightly routine, and I could not refuse my employer."

Percival's eyes widened in fascination. "What sort of employment...? I mean, I don't know very much about...what you do. I was under the impression ninjas operated much like mercenaries. But...is that the case? Or do I have it all wrong?"

"It depends. I can operate as a bodyguard, as an assassin, as a mercenary. We are trained to do many things, though we often have our specialties since ninja usually belong to clans, and the clan functions as a whole." He shrugged. "That man hired me as an escort for his trading business since bandits had been about lately. I was released from his service once the last bandit was dispatched."

"Ah. I see." Percival blinked for a moment, and then chanced a teasing smile. "So what is your specialty - cooking?"

"Desserts," Watari clarified.

"Naturally," Percival laughed. "Perhaps we ought to team up. I'll make the main course, you can make the dessert. Hm, but I don't know who around the castle would deserve to be treated to such a meal made by experts..."

"Those that can pay for it," Watari cocked his brow, being his pragmatic self.

Percival shrugged in return. "Good point. Though I was thinking such an effort would make a nice gift to someone." He turned more toward Watari as something crossed his mind. "How about Lord Thomas? I'm sure he would appreciate it more than some."

Watari blinked. He hadn't thought of that. It had been some time since he had seen the little lordling, and was it not by his grace that he was able to stay at the castle at all? "Mmm, I suppose," he agreed.

"We'll have to make a plan of it, then," Percival said proudly, nodding. A moment's pause to think left him staring somewhat blankly at Watari. "Well," he remarked, "this conversation has gone much better than the last one we tried to have."

"In which I lectured you," Watari pointed out. "Sorry, for that."

"I was thinking more of that night over drinks," Percival said, "but that, too. All I wanted was a friend to chat with, I didn't expect it would turn into...what it did." He glanced to the ninja again. "For my part, I'm sorry I've been avoiding you out of sheer, stupid fear."

"You are not the first," Watari shrugged. What he did not say, however, was Percival was the first to make him feel true, painful regret over his actions.

"No, I suppose not," Percival said regretfully, "but that doesn't make it right. We were allies once, and I would have liked to call us friends by now, but...I didn't know how to react."

"I don't think many people would have, unless they too were equally drunk," Watari attempted to soothe him.

A shiver went down Percival's back as violently as if cold rain had been trickled down it. "I don't even want to consider what might have happened, were I that drunk," he murmured. "I already did enough stupid things the week before at the festival...that was bad enough..."

"What happened there to make you so afraid of something like a kiss?" Watari asked, not afraid to be blunt.

Percival blushed hotly and stared at the leaf-strewn ground between his feet. His instinct was to clam up and say nothing, but Watari had indulged him some fairly intrusive questions, he couldn't refuse the same in turn. "It's just...well, Mr. Billy said some rather rude things about myself and Sir Borus - you know how Billy can be when he's wasted," he added warily. "And Kathy...Kathy said far less rude but far more blunt things on the same subject."

"Things?" Watari thought on Percival's reaction to a male-male relationship. "Oh, such as you and Borus perhaps....well, 'sharing a bunk'?" Watari asked, putting it in a term he had heard in a dock town.

"That's precisely it," Percival growled, keeping his eyes studiously averted.

Watari paused. "So...the idea of being with Borus or a man in general bothered you?"

"Well..." Percival stammered about in search of an explanation, finding that his thoughts weren't exactly clear on the matter. "It's that...that people think that I'm capable of it. They jump to conclusions, they think that just because Borus and I are close friends, that...that..." He shut his mouth, then, and sighed through his nose.

"But you yourself do not see Borus in this way?" Watari pushed.

Percival rounded on him sharply. "Borus is my friend!" he insisted. "Nothing more! I'm not...I'm not like that!"

"Just a question," Watari said casually.  

Percival turned away just as sharply. "I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I don't mean to get angry. But...it's an unpleasant subject."

"Oh...," Watari trailed off. "I did not mean....I did not mean anything by it. I simply thought...I simply thought discussing it might help you sort it out."

"I don't think there's anything to sort out," Percival said curtly. "I'm quite clear on the matter, and I wish everyone else was." He hid his face in the shelter of his folded arms, so that whatever else he said came out in a faint, muffled whine. "Just because I have no feelings for Luserina doesn't mean I'm gay..."

"Of course not," Watari agreed. "A man does not have to like all women, the same for a woman."

"That's right," Percival said smartly, seizing on the ninja's words as if they proved everything. "I don't care what people expect of me. If you don't have feelings, you don't have feelings. Simple as that."

The ninja was not a fantastic people-person, and his next statement proved it. "Of course, if a man takes no interest....physically in a woman from time to time, then one might rightfully question said man."

Percival's body tried to do two or more things at once in reaction, and as a result of being encased in plate armor, the movement caused him to flail his arms and topple over into the leaves on his side. That drained all protest out of him, leaving him lying there in defeat. He cursed precisely as a proper knight ought not to, and went quiet.

Watari rose and padded over to him. "Are you all right?" he asked, holding out his hand.

Percival closed his eyes and ignored him for a second, feeling like being face-down in a pile of wet, molding leaves was just what he deserved. "If you don't mind," he said weakly, "I would rather change the subject."

"What desserts does Master Thomas like?" Watari asked, relenting to Percival's request.

The knight finally reached for the hand offered him, since he wasn't going to get up on his own with all that armor. "I think Lady Cecile said something about cake. I'm not sure. We'd have to find some stealthy way of getting that information."

"I am not paying Oboro or Kidd my potch to find out what I can find out myself," Watari snorted.

"I would expect nothing less." Percival inspected himself for any leaves stuck to his armor. "I don't mind Kidd, but there's no need to involve anyone else when you're a perfectly good ninja already."

"But, Cecile said cake, right?" Watari asked for clarification.

"I think so. It's been a while, though." Percival scratched his head. "A couple of months at least."

Watari thought for a moment. "Why not surprise him?" he asked. "It will be a way for us to experiment and get a subject at the same time. If you are as good as you say you are, Thomas should have no reason to dislike it."

Percival drew himself up proudly. "I daresay I am. I've cooked for my fellow knights many a time, and I've never had a complaint, not even from Sir Picky - I mean Leo."

"Well, think on what you plan to cook. I will have to plan to desert around it to compliment the taste," Watari gave Percival the benefit of the doubt.

"Of course," the knight nodded, turning away from Watari. In doing so, he noticed that the rain was finally letting up. "What do you think? We can survive a few sprinkles, can't we?"

"The going will be slow for me, but yes," Watari nodded.

"Well, as to that..." Percival went to collect Midnight before he got too content standing around foraging for greens. "I feel quite differently from when we first ran into each other. I would not be uncomfortable having you ride behind me, if you'd rather ride than walk."

"Promise I won't have to dismount via treebranch?" Watari asked at another attempt at humor.

"If a horseman of my skill can't keep you properly seated, then I ought to turn in my saddle," Percival vowed with a hand raised. "Of course, you'll have to sit behind the saddle - they don't build these for two."

"I gathered," Watari said. "That means I should mount second or first?"

"After me. I'll pull you up behind me." Percival jammed his foot in the stirrup and mounted far more gracefully than a man in full plate ought to, and then reached down to help Watari up behind him. "Use my stirrup, if you can," he added, freeing his foot briefly.

Watari displayed flexibility by raising his leg enough get his foot in and took Percival's hand as he snagged the back of the saddle. He steadied himself, bounced a few times, then hauled himself up and managed to mount with a certain amount of grace for a new rider. He settled himself as comfortably as he could behind the saddle then..."Do I wrap an arm around your waist?" he asked.

"Er..." Percival twisted around to see behind him. "Perhaps it might be easier to find a handhold on my armor, somewhere? If you can..."

Watari blinked. "I'm not an expert on armor, but said handholds are usually around the waist." He tapped an area of Percival's arm that was segmented around his waist and was, frankly, easy to grasp.

Sighing, Percival relented and merely gathered the reins to begin moving off. "I suppose, wherever you can grab. I really ought to stop being so sensitive."

Watari kept any sarcastic comments to himself and looped his arms loosely around Percival's waist - high up, not low, so it was more the stomach than the waist. He clamped Midnight with his legs and kept some distance between him and Percival, but if need be he would hold Percival tight and close. His own survival and preventing bodily injury took priority over Percival's inability to decide if he was gay or straight.

Breathing another light sigh, Percival figured his armor was barrier enough and concentrated on his horsemanship, giving Midnight the lightest tap to get him to move off. They had to ride back to the clearing to pick up the correct trail that would lead directly back to the stables below Budehuc, and though the wet branches brushed their faces and arms, the rain itself had more or less ended.

Watari had a bit of trouble keeping balance, as awkwardly perched on Midnight as he was, but over all he managed. "I've been meaning to try a new recipe," he said as they walked through the woods. "Lemon."

"Mm?" Percival's eyes were on the trail, ensuring there were no roots or stones for his horse's hooves to knock against. "What, you haven't worked with lemon before?"

"Once, a long time ago," Watari admitted. "But I had planned to mix it with some other tastes, if I could."

There was silence for a long moment, and then, "Raspberry," Percival suggested. "Lemon goes well with a lot of tastes, but...I'm partial to raspberries and lemon."

"Raspberries," Watari repeated and went silent again.

"It adds a slightly sweet note to the tartness of the lemon," Percival went on distractedly. "Like...raspberries put into lemonade, in the summer. Mm...it's getting to be that time of year again. I shall have to ask Mamie if she'll be serving lemonade in the cafe."

Watari just listened and said nothing, mulling over the options of lemon and raspberries.

Percival fell silent as well, his mind more or less in duty-mode and enabling him to focus on the task of riding safely through the woods. It wasn't terribly far to the castle, but the path wound around a bit and he took it slow so Midnight wouldn't slip on any muddy patches.

Watari sat behind him, trying to move with Midnight's beat as he pondered the possibilites of lemon and raspberries and cream. Several things came to mind, and he was sure Mamie would jump at them. But as he thought of cooking..."Did you still intend to take baking lessons from me?"

With his face forward, the only clue to Percival's expression or state of mind was his voice, and it was calm for now. "Well...I hadn't really been thinking about it," he admitted. "Any intentions of asking for a second lesson were kind of...put on hold, you might say. But it's not to say as I wouldn't like another lesson."

Watari shrugged, the motion probably able to be felt by Percival. "I would just need to clear a space for you is all."

"Oh?" Percival glanced slightly over his shoulder. "Racking up a lot of business?"

"Since the nightmares stopped, yes," Watari said casually.

"Nightmares?" Percival asked before he realized he probably shouldn't. He stopped there, leaving it up to Watari to either explain or ignore him, at will.

Watari paused, considering. He had never told anyone about the nightmares, really. Only Kinnison knew because Kinnison had spent the night holding him, keeping the nightmares at bay and letting him sleep in that dark place that brought no rest. "I did something....I am not proud of. Every year, around now, I have nightmares of that time. You appeared in the most recent. I told you of it earlier."

"Yes...so you did..." Percival shook his head slowly. "I suppose...that isn't unusual. Certain events etch themselves in our souls more deeply than we might want. I'm sorry to hear you've had such trouble." One eye peered over his shoulder again, looking sympathetic. "But...it's better, now?"

"I think so," Watari said after a long pause. "I think I finally said the right thing."

"Well, that's good," Percival remarked, though he really didn't understand it. It was explanation enough for his curiosity. At last, through the trees ahead, he could see glimpses of color indicating that the stables were growing near. "Oh, good," he sighed. "We're just about home."

"I hope the horse made it okay," Watari murmured, though his love for the beast was less than loving at the moment.

"It's more than likely it found its way back home, all on its own," Percival assured, sounding more confident yet. "Most stabled horses tend to do that. They know their way by instinct, and know to come back to the warm stall and sweet treats from the master."

"Yet he couldn't do that when he panicked?" Watari asked with exasperation as they made it through the trees and started up the path to the barn.

"Horses panic just like men do," Percival said with a small chuckle. "Running to and fro, completely mindless, just wanting to be away from the thing that frightened them." He drew Midnight to an easy stop beside the fence. "There we are. A bit damp, but none the worse for wear."

Watari released Percival's waist and dismounted. He stepped to the side and bowed to Percival at the waist. "Arigatou gozaimasu," he said formally.

One of Percival's eyebrows arched upward in curiosity, but he let it pass and dismounted as well, clanking noisily. "I'm just glad I happened along when you needed a hand," he said modestly. "Now, if you don't mind, I need to give Midnight a good long rubdown - and then maybe hunt for one myself."

"Till next time," Watari nodded, thinking he needed the same. He nodded his head and turned away, heading up the path back towards the castle.