Before the world dies at my door, I'll break the sky.

[pontmercyfriend]

Somehow, Marius gets it in his head that he wants to venture out horseback riding. If he's honest with himself, he doesn't know where this urge comes from, but having a rare Friday off, he finds himself indulging said urge. And as it has proven a criminal amount of time since he's last had an adventure with his best friend, Marius invites Courfeyrac along without a second thought.

He waits for his friend at the stables, watching the instructor, a lovely young woman that will, no doubt, appeal to Courfeyrac's tendency to flirt with every attractive woman he happens upon, as she grooms one of the seemingly younger mares in one of the rings. She'd already assured Marius that she looked forward to taking them out to the best trails in the countryside; he smiles, breathing in the country air and delighting in this reprieve from the city, for the moment.

Running a hand through his usual, tousled hair, as he leans against the fence, Marius catches sight of himself in the mirror of a puddle by his feet. Against the increase in his freckles thanks to the season, the love marks on his neck stand out more prominently; he flushes, but he smiles at the sight. Though he knows such alterations to his appearance will draw even more teasing remarks from Courfeyrac than usual, Marius finds himself welcoming such commentary.

He glances up again when he thinks he hears footsteps approaching. Pulling himself off from the fence, he waves and heads towards where he thinks he spies his best friend.

Comments

[thepaladin]

Oh, but Marius should know better! How long did he expect any conversation between his dear friend and a pretty woman to last before it turned to flirtation? “I make everything fashionable,” he agrees brightly, “thank you for noticing, ma cherie."

Courfeyrac emits his own yelp of surprise as Marius shouts, tugging his horse to a stop. But when he rounds on his friend, the surprise in his eyes turns to glee, and soon he is laughing. “By God, my friend, that horse has it out for you!” He lifts a brow cheerfully at Violet. “You are not trying to sabotage the poor man, are you? If so, I shall have to complain, no matter how lovely you might be."

[pontmercyfriend]

Marius really ought to know better, and yet, Courfeyrac's antics still often catch him by surprise. But he also thinks that's part of the charm of being friends with Courfeyrac; you both can and cannot expect what might happen on ventures out with him.

Marius rubs at his nose, particularly sore as it took the brunt of the branch to his face. When he pulls his hand back, he finds it red with blood. "Hell," he mutters, pressing his sleeve to stop the bleeding while he tries to think of an adequate tourniquet. His nose doesn't feel broken, at least, but still. Just his sort of luck, as it were.

"I'm fine," Marius assures them both. Violet looks at him in concern before offering the first aid kit she wisely brought along.

"I promise, I'll be alright," he says. He moves to pet Pikachu on the neck, even as irate as he might be for having all but walked into a tree. "I suppose this horse just has interesting ways of breaking people in?"

[thepaladin]

“What an entirely disagreeable animal,” Courfeyrac says, grinning, though concern lingers in his eyes. Maius looks dreadful, and will look even worse tomorrow, he fears. Poor fellow. “But then, they can be quite disagreeable animals for all their majesty. I did not want to concern you, but the first time I sat upon a horse, the creature immediately unseated me.” He does not add that it was the last time, as well. “So you are not the only one to face such bad luck, you see. Violette, perhaps we should return before the rest of Marius’ insides leak of out his nose."

[pontmercyfriend]

Marius manages to make quick work of applying an ace bandage and an ice patch to his nose, though his fingers fumble a fair few times. He offers a reassuring grin again to both Courfeyrac and Violet. "I assure you, I will be well," he tells them, feeling guilty for potentially spoiling the rest of their afternoon. He gives Courfeyrac a look as soon as soon as he mentions his first experience with horses. "Yes, well. That would have been prudent to know, I suppose."

"Probably not a bad idea to turn around now," Violet agrees. Marius winces, both from guilt and the fact that the pain of his nose makes him grateful for the suggestion.

[thepaladin]

“Come now, my good man, this is no time to play the hero. Rat would be devastated if I returned to town with a lifeless corpse.” He inclines his head in thanks to their guide. “I believe the adventure has lasted long enough for both of us."

[pontmercyfriend]

"Excuse you, I still have plenty of life in me," Marius protests, a bit petulantly as he tries to keep the patch steady against his nose. A dark part of his thoughts ventures that Courfeyrac only knows too well about lifeless corpses, but Marius is quick to silence it. "But I suppose you do have a valid point."

[thepaladin]

"I always have a valid point," Courfeyrac says, sailing right past the dark thoughts that his misplaced gallows humor brought to light. "Mademoiselle," he turns he Violet entreatingly. "He will not listen to me. He never listens to me. Perhaps you can talk sense into him."