[ Teaching someone of Killua's age how to sit upon a horse feels a bit like teaching them how eat with a spoon -- normally, one simply knows by now -- so there's more than a flicker of amusement as he watches the boy get situated. ]
Don't touch her tail. [ He glances over his shoulder. ] Hold onto me.
[ Or he can balance on his own. Either way, Geralt's already moving Roach off at a steady trot. It's not often he lets anyone on her, so Killua can count himself part of an exclusive club. ]
[ Killua can balance well enough on his own, but in all honesty, he's not feeling his best so maybe it's not a bad idea. After a moment's hesitation, he grabs Geralt by the side of his belt, a sort of 'just in case' hold. ]
Uh... lots of stuff. But I guess you don't know what they are, if you don't even know what a train is.
[ He considers this; it proves a good distraction. ]
So you know carriages? Imagine those, but without horses. They use machinery to power themselves. Well, a person has to drive but you don't need animal power. Those come in small ones that fit a couple of people, called cars, or really big ones that fit dozens of people, like buses. Bigger than the omnibus in the city, and without the horses, like I said.
Trains are like that, but even bigger, and they run on rails. They carry more people faster, but they have to follow set routes, while cars can kind of go wherever there are roads in whatever direction.
Um... There are also airships. Kinda like regular ships, I guess? Except in the sky.
...you've heard of ships, right?
[ there are at least some of those in Aefenglom, if not! ]
[ Huh. It's a fascinating description and the sound Geralt makes suggests he can only vaguely absorb some of it. Though there's enough magic that powers this city in unexpected ways -- like the lights -- he supposes it wouldn't be unusual for more of it to power...
Air ships? ]
Ours stay in the water. [ He considers for a moment. ] Sounds like a recipe for vessels falling out of the sky.
[ Roach continues to canter through the woods, the city's silhouette looming in the distance now. He can't imagine any carriage-like invention going through woods this dense, but maybe Killua's world has little by way of trees. ]
They're made to stay in the sky. You know, like ships are made to float. I mean, if it gets damaged or there's a huge storm or something, I guess that'd be a problem -- same as a water ship.
It's not like airships go around falling out of the sky for no reason.
[ Geralt doesn't need to look back to practically hear Killua rolling his eyes. ]
No? [ Geralt most definitely doesn't need to look back. ] Must be crowded up there for the birds.
[ It's possible Geralt is just fucking with Killua at this point, though as always, it's difficult to discern from his voice alone. Briefly, he considers the plight of those who tested the first flying ships. Probably didn't go well.
As they cross through into the city, the temperature drops. Most of the green disappears into white. Killua doesn't seem to be getting worse, which is about as good a sign as he can expect. ]
[ Killua grumbles without really being annoyed, and as the temperature begins to drop rather drastically, he actually scoots a little closer, his good arm winding around Geralt's waist since he doesn't seem to mind. He's the one who said to hold on, right?
The conversation is a decent distraction, and Killua keeps up well enough -- trying to explain what he knows about the mechanisms of airships and how there are definitely people driving them so they don't crash into birds -- but he's getting tired, even if it doesn't show. He'll be glad to get to the Coven. For now, he's trying to ignore the guilt and embarrassment at letting things get so bad. ]
[ Geralt continues to look straight ahead, if only so Killua doesn't see the faint smile that tugs on his lips at the boy's indignance. He listens without interruption for most of the ride. Talking keeps Killua both distracted and tells Geralt he's still doing okay.
Luck's on their side; nothing interrupts them through the city. It's quicker going on the flat cobblestone roads, even with the heavy snow on the ground. Geralt pushes Roach to go faster now that he knows they're home. The Coven looms ahead, with its open yards and fences.
He stops just outside the block leading up to the infirmary. Geralt hops off first, reaching up to offer Killua a hand down if he wants it. ]
[ As a stubborn brat, Killua ignores his help, jumping down off the horse on his own to land lightly on his feet in front of Geralt. His infected hand, however, is back in his pocket in a flash, like he doesn't want Geralt to see. ]
[ Stubborn brat is about right. Geralt knows better than to make any offer of escorting him inside; besides, they're at the front gates and the Coven will take care of their own. He has no reason to linger.
He might look in later, though. If he's in the area. ]
Mm. [ He takes Roach by the reins to lead her back home, where the stables are warm. ] Next time you want to blow off steam, come find me.
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no subject
Don't touch her tail. [ He glances over his shoulder. ] Hold onto me.
[ Or he can balance on his own. Either way, Geralt's already moving Roach off at a steady trot. It's not often he lets anyone on her, so Killua can count himself part of an exclusive club. ]
What do you ride if not horses?
no subject
Uh... lots of stuff. But I guess you don't know what they are, if you don't even know what a train is.
[ He considers this; it proves a good distraction. ]
So you know carriages? Imagine those, but without horses. They use machinery to power themselves. Well, a person has to drive but you don't need animal power. Those come in small ones that fit a couple of people, called cars, or really big ones that fit dozens of people, like buses. Bigger than the omnibus in the city, and without the horses, like I said.
Trains are like that, but even bigger, and they run on rails. They carry more people faster, but they have to follow set routes, while cars can kind of go wherever there are roads in whatever direction.
Um... There are also airships. Kinda like regular ships, I guess? Except in the sky.
...you've heard of ships, right?
[ there are at least some of those in Aefenglom, if not! ]
no subject
Air ships? ]
Ours stay in the water. [ He considers for a moment. ] Sounds like a recipe for vessels falling out of the sky.
[ Roach continues to canter through the woods, the city's silhouette looming in the distance now. He can't imagine any carriage-like invention going through woods this dense, but maybe Killua's world has little by way of trees. ]
no subject
It's not like airships go around falling out of the sky for no reason.
[ Geralt doesn't need to look back to practically hear Killua rolling his eyes. ]
no subject
[ It's possible Geralt is just fucking with Killua at this point, though as always, it's difficult to discern from his voice alone. Briefly, he considers the plight of those who tested the first flying ships. Probably didn't go well.
As they cross through into the city, the temperature drops. Most of the green disappears into white. Killua doesn't seem to be getting worse, which is about as good a sign as he can expect. ]
no subject
[ Killua grumbles without really being annoyed, and as the temperature begins to drop rather drastically, he actually scoots a little closer, his good arm winding around Geralt's waist since he doesn't seem to mind. He's the one who said to hold on, right?
The conversation is a decent distraction, and Killua keeps up well enough -- trying to explain what he knows about the mechanisms of airships and how there are definitely people driving them so they don't crash into birds -- but he's getting tired, even if it doesn't show. He'll be glad to get to the Coven. For now, he's trying to ignore the guilt and embarrassment at letting things get so bad. ]
no subject
Luck's on their side; nothing interrupts them through the city. It's quicker going on the flat cobblestone roads, even with the heavy snow on the ground. Geralt pushes Roach to go faster now that he knows they're home. The Coven looms ahead, with its open yards and fences.
He stops just outside the block leading up to the infirmary. Geralt hops off first, reaching up to offer Killua a hand down if he wants it. ]
no subject
Thanks for the lift, old man.
I'm good from here.
no subject
He might look in later, though. If he's in the area. ]
Mm. [ He takes Roach by the reins to lead her back home, where the stables are warm. ] Next time you want to blow off steam, come find me.