Turn to Face the Sun

[Lily Chambers]

Lily had spent the entire day working, and now he was paying for it. Bandit was a collection of adolescent mischief and evil incarnate on the end of the reins, and what with Lily having to ignore the stallion basically all day, he was two times worse. It was just after three in the afternoon, but the day was warm and still, and would remain light for quite some time. It was for that reason Lily had finally succumbed to his own desire and taken a break, finishing the last saddle he had been polishing, and tacking up his stallion Bandit in record time. The paint, while it had suited him, had stood quiet and well-behaved until it was actually time to get going.

Lily set about shortening the stirrups while Bandit tossed his head about, the white mask over his eyes flashing in the dim light. The horse was spirited. It was one of the things Lily loved about him, and what made their partnership so great. However, they were both handfuls on a good day. "Yeah, I got it." He muttered as he was sent yet another urging glance. Looking up, Lily was about to mount when he spotted a familiar face.

He knew Cyril from their shared work around the stables, and yet very little past his name was known to him. Lifting his hand, Lily called a greeting, then added after a moments thought, "Just heading out, did you want to tag along?"

[Cyril Kingsley]

Cyril had been hard at work most of the day, but every day he worked hard to make sure all of the horses were taken care of and the stables were in good condition. Overall it had been a pretty good day and after getting done with his tea time, Cyril felt the need to go out for a ride. Problem was he was debating on who really needed some practice being ridden and that would of have to been Ivy. She was not a bad horse or anything; she was just stubborn and likes to act more like a wild stallion then a domesticated mare. Not that Cyril was going to fault the Buckskin Quarter Horse for it since he liked her spunk. He loved all of his horse equally as well as the ones that belonged mainly to the school, but he had always a special connection to Ivy.

It might have been because he originally got her for his sister and now that she was off doing her own thing, Ivy was practically the major tie keeping Cyril still here. After all he had only come over here because of his younger sister and the job had just been a bonus but now that his sister had decided to probably go off to college somewhere else. Cyril had the choice to either follow her, go back home, or stay at BA. Yet, what was really here for him? Such thoughts ran thought his mind as he got Ivy saddled up and started to lead her out of the stables. Cyril's cat Sphinx; following along for a moment before she darted off into the pastures. Probably having spotted something out there or knowing that Ivy had a tendency to try and step on the feline.

Just as Cyril was heading out he heard the greeting, having to blink for a moment and look to the voice owner. Right, Lily Chambers...who was sort of like his boss right? Cyril could not remember and just knew that the other guy had been working here longer then him. There was not need to feel any sense of jealousy or competition of course because they were both horse lovers. At least that was what Cyril kept telling himself but the Brit had still been slightly wary about the other guy since even with working down here together they didn't really have many dealings. Yet here was the standard greeting but now an invitation to go ride. Good thing Cyril had Ivy already to go and he did not even hesitate to go closer towards Lily and the horse he had with him. "I would like that if you don't mind Ivy here possibly getting a little rowdy here and there." Cyril pointed out as he gave the horse a pat on the side of her neck. Ivy just stopped her hoof on the ground, wanting to get ridding underway.

"Are we going for a casual ride or something with a little more speed?" Cyril figured he asked, already moving to left side of the horse and mounted up. Moving around a little and pleased that no one had recently adjusted the stirrups on the saddle so everything was adjusted perfect for him and Ivy.

[Lily Chambers]

Lily's smile widened as Cyril approached, attempting to appear welcoming. He wasn't the kind of person to operate with a 'boss' mentality, and his own position and employment constantly gave him doubts when dealing with others around the stables. He'd hoped to have gotten to know Cyril better already, and yet the two had barely interacted. It was disappointing, and Lily though, rather inexcusable considering his position. Why work when you didn't know who you were working with? Some measure of trust was necessary between people, just as it was between people and horses. Considering their employment, that was something Lily was certain Cyril could agree with him on.

"Rowdy's never a problem for me; just means more character to explore," Lily assured him with a glance at the horse. He couldn't help but admire the well-sculpted head and defined body. Ivy was clearly a beautiful creature, and a horseman at heart, Lily noticed it immediately. 'Sides, Bandit's no less of a handful, so I was 'bout to ask you the same thing." Lifting a hand, he ran his nails over Bandit's neck, smiling as the stallion hammered the ground.

Finally obliging, Lily turned and swung into the saddle fluidly, shifting until he'd settled into the well-worn saddle. Collecting the reins, he threaded them through his fingers, face creasing in thought. "Speed, without a doubt." He finally concluded with a wicked grin. "These two are too high-wired for anything else, I'm thinking." Not that he'd ever complain about getting to run with Bandit, and a friend either. It had to be one of the best feelings in the world. He sent Bandit forward with a gentle squeeze to his sides. "I wasn't taking you from any work now, was I?" So close to the end of the day, and considering Cyril had already had Ivy tacked up, he doubted it was something to worry about. There was still a part of him that had to ask.

[Cyril Kingsley]

Lily did look kind and while Cyril was still thinking in the back of his mind that: This guy has a really girly name. He still was going to be a nice guy even if he was also feeling some kind of way with also having a boss that was non-powered. Wow, he didn’t realize that he had an issue with non-mutants before. No, he was fine with them…perhaps it was just the thought of being told what to do by one was the thing that was getting him. After all when he had to take orders it had always been by other mutants when he was growing up or he was his own boss so was not taking any orders. So here…now it was just making him feel off but he figured after a spot of tea such odd feelings would go away. Plus Lily was a horse lover so that really should have been all there was to it.

“I could not agree more, makes it all the more fun when working with them.” Cyril said as he gave Ivy another good pat as she just started to bob her head up and down. She was ready to go, run fast, and put her body to the test. She was the one the Cyril often rode at his leaser, that or Artemis but it mainly was Ivy. “Be nice to Bandit, Ivy.” Cyril told her as Ivy didn’t even pay any mind to Bandit since she often didn’t socialize a lot with the other horses. She did not mind grazing with them and being in the same pastures as them but she didn’t like to be up close and personal with them if she could avoid it. Yet since they were going to be racing, soon Ivy was going to have a bit of her focus on Bandit in order to make sure she was at least always a little ahead of him.

Cyril waited for Lily to mount up before he gave Ivy a gentle kick to get her moving. The whole squeezing her sides would have worked too but Ivy tended to need a bit more persuasion to get moving at first and to know that Cyril meant business. Cyril chuckled and nodded his head in agreement with Lily again when he talked about the horses going for speed. Cyril moved to follow Lily, wanting to see where they were going to head before they would go off at full speed. Ivy still was trying to move ahead but Cyril kept her back enough. “You were not. I finished up everything and figured I give Ivy a good run before I took my tea break.” Cyril responded back with a small nod, taking in a deep breath. “What made you want to walk at Bellefonte?” Cyril went ahead and asked because he was really wondering why a non-mutant wanted to work here of all places when he could work among his fellow non-mutants.