MER-THREAD: THE SWIMMENING

[hobbitstho]

Continuation of this thread!

[This is weird. Julien watches the ground nervously. A fall from here will hurt a lot.]

You're very sure with your feet, aren't you? I didn't know about the swaying.

I've never heard it? I'm serpent-kind, just like my brother is lion-kind. Aren't there different kindreds of legmen?

[Yeah he's not sure how this horse thing is going to work but he's trusting you, guy he just met.]

Comments

[hobbitstho]

It is a riddle. The answer is fish.

[As he speaks, he adjusts the weight of Julien in his arms, taking more of his weight with one arm, supporting him with an arm wrapped around his waist.]

We Men who walk the earth are varied in appearance, yes-- differing in height, and in color, and in temperament. But when we speak of fish, we speak of many things that dwell beneath the waves. I know of no fish called lion-kind.

[He steps forward. With swift movement he takes the horse's bridle with one hand-- and with a great effort shoves Julien (cradled still in his other arm) upward-- holding the shying horse in place as best he can, and trying to keep the Deep-man from sliding back down.]

Catch hold of the saddle, serpent! Catch hold and wait!

[espigeon]

Fish... oh. Huh.

[This is very awkward. Julien just sort of hangs, despite his efforts. He is much the worse for all this time out of the water.]

Because he's not a fish, it just means he has the aspect of a lion, like I have the serpent-aspect. You have land-lions, we have sea-lions.

[what is happening anymore he's lost all control of his life julien has to assume that 'saddle' means 'this weird belt you put on this animal' and he clings to it, bewildered. Wait for what? If some of his tail gets on the ground near enough to him he can sort of balance like this, but not for long, drying out as he is.]

My name is Julien!

PROBLEM-SOLVING OF GONDOR

[hobbitstho]

[The horse is dancing in place, clearly deciding whether or not to go for a really spectacular bolt; it is taking a not-inconsiderable amount of Boromir's not-inconsiderable strength to keep it in place.

The greatest dilemma is that there is so much tail. If allowed to hang, it will surely meet the horse's iron shoes, and the terrain will tear it ragged. But the beast may or may not consent to wear a serpent like a second girth.

...First things first. Boromir gets the reins in one hand and swiftly swings himself into the saddle-- the horse, unhappy with the added weight, turns a circle-- and, controlling the animal with his legs more than his hands, he hoists Julien up further, supporting him, more or less, as though he were sitting side-saddle. Legless side-saddle.]

You must tell me, then, Julien-- [He's winded, but only a little; the horse will shortly, he hopes, accept its fate and rest all four of its feet on the ground.] What is the better for you-- to wind the length of you around the beast, or around me?

BOROMIR, EVERYBIRDIE

[espigeon]

[THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS Julien's great tail is swung in an arc as the horse spins, though he manages to keep it clear of the hard feet. He's pretty sure seeing that movement up close is not helping the creature's state of mind.

Julien doesn't seem to have a distinct pelvis or a squishy waist, though he can bend like he does. Ribs go all the way down much of his tail, though at around where a human ribcage ends his rib bones become much finer and less locked.]

I am so not sure about this.

[He'll try looping himself around the human since the human seems way less freaked out by this, though it takes a clear effort.

It might well be that the horse sees this, decides enough is enough, and just rears up trying to dump them both.]