i'm [nobody's] angel;; Renee

[ALEXEI FERNAND ADRIANO]

I T U R N ON A DIME, S P I N ME AROUND.
so you can S H I N E , shine right now !!

Alexei approached the stables with a slight amount of dread. Though he'd ridden a horse, sure, it had been YEARS and he was certain he didn't remember. So this day he had decided to go and observe. Surely if he watched enough of others riding, he could do it just as easily. No one was racing the horses around, it seemed they were all steadily trotting, a few were kind of galloping here and there. Oh it couldn't be that hard!

Even as he was trying to gain confidence, he swallowed a lump of nervousness in the back of his throat. Like hell he was doing this! Those horses must have been ten feet tall! How was he even supposed to get on it?! Alexei sighed, feeling more than a little defeated. He had no choice. He just had to relearn to ride before he was assigned a lady. If it was taking him this long to recieve a letter, she must be the cream of the crop. Just because he was a Level F didn't mean he could stop there. He had to go above and beyond, learn how to not only be damn good, but be perfect. So he leaned against the fence surrounding the ring, just staring at all of the riders and trying to memorize their every move. One person seemed to be especially good, and happened to catch Alexei's eye.

Neatly cut blonde hair framed the face of his horse riding God. He'd have to get to him to learn. Perhaps he could even admit that he had no clue what he was doing. As Ladies and Butlers alike seemd to be done with lessons, the track was clearing up. With the exception of a few that perhaps were not in the process of learning to ride, this man was one of the last few there. Alexei stared as he seemed so in tune with the movements of his horse, mouth slightly hanging open. 'Whoa,' he thought, 'This guy is good!'

[RENARD ARISTIDE CHEVALIER]

It felt good to be back on a horse. The arena was steadily clearing, but Renard was no longer paying attention to the people around him - butlers accompanying their ladies on their ride, the last dredges of a lesson, even a few stable hands on their own warming up for later groups. He paid them no heed and he spun his horse neatly on its hind legs, executing a pirouette in the canter before allowing the bast to bound forward at a steady pace. It wasn't his, of course, but rather one of the academy's many fine equines, and it lived up to the standards that he expected. Renard brought the gelding back to a trot, then back down until it was practically at a stand-still, legs still generating a perfect piaffe - he allowed his concentrated expression to relax into a brief smile before his long legs closed around the horse's side and it surged forward again, lithe legs carrying it forward effortlessly.

Renard gently brought the horse in a circle, aware of its every movement beneath him, the fact that he was precariously balanced atop seventeen hands of muscle-bound form that could, if it really wanted to, rip the reins out of his hands and gallop off and he would have almost no power to stop it. Horse riding wasn't about the force you could put into your movements, it was about how you executed them. One slight tap of his heel and the horse changed its canter lead, floating off effortlessly onto a circle in the other direction. Renard's gloved hand brushed against its neck in a brief moment of praise. He had intended to focus on the flatwork today, but the jumps were too tempting. Eyes flicking left and right to check the way was clear, Renard steered the horse towards the first one - an ensemble of red and white poles - and let it do the rest of the work.

The horse sailed effortlessly over it, hooves tucked in to clear the poles by at least half a foot. Renard followed its movement and steered it over two more in quick succession, before collecting the horse back to a steady canter - it had excited itself a little. It was as he turned into the fourth fence that he was aware of someone watching him. Renard turned his head to one side, blonde hair fluttering in the breeze as the horse cleared that one, eyes scanning the edge of the ring for his watcher. There, he turned the horse into the fifth, and final, obstacle, having located the eyes he had felt following his every move. Landing in the soft sand on the other side, and he brough the horse down to a walk and turned it over to the fence line, hands barely moving. It wasn't a lady - he was somewhat glad of that - but instead a butler. One he was sure he had seen around. That red hair was hard to miss, and even harder to forget.

"You do realise your mouth is open and I doubt that will go down well with the ladies," Renard pointed with one gloved hand, the other hand keeping the horse still. He couldn't resist the little jibe and the playful tone in his voice was very much evident. "I noticed you were watching - not here for a specific reason, are you?"

template: by moi
text: forever the sickest kids
muse: bon karma - HnNKn
notes: kekeke, thought i'd just list a few of the harder words. pirouette = the horse basically spins on one hind leg, piaffe = the horse is trotting on the spot, canter = the next pace up from trot, you may know it as the lope? collection = the horse's strid shortens but becomes slightly more elevated, changing leads = in the canter, the horse leads with one leg, and this is when they switch which leg it is. i think that's it. x3 oh, and seventeen hands means at the point just in front of the saddle on a horse, the horse is 170 centimetres tall, about five foot eight.

[ALEXEI FERNAND ADRIANO]

I T U R N ON A DIME, S P I N ME AROUND.
so you can S H I N E , shine right now !!

His mouth snapped shut as soon as the other man mentioned it. God, Alexei could barely believe he'd noticed him, let alone that he was gawking. His eyes travelled up the side of the horse, to better view this man. Alexei couldn't tell how tall he was of course, the horse made him tower over this particular butler. He'd have to be about twenty feet tall for it to work the other way around though. This rider's blonde hair was much more vibrant close up, and his face was thin, cheekbones prominent. He was quite a handsome fellow, this one, and Alexei paused before speaking.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude! I was only admiring you're riding skills, how long have you been at it?" Alexei had obviously avoided telling him why he was there exactly. He wouldn't want some man he just met to make fun of him. He lifted a black gloved hand to his face, sweeping a few stray hairs from his face. This man- he admired him really, a rare thing for Lex indeed. He didn't often say that he looked up to anyone, because he didn't need to. As a butler, he was the highest class, and as a man, well...he felt more than adequate. His eyes shifted from the other man's to the horse. "He's very beautiful..." Alexei thought about petting him, but he wasn't sure how the horse would take to him at all, so he thought better of it.

At that moment, the horse sighed, and Alexei jumped back visibly. He thought it was sneezing or something, and god was he paranoid about germs and bacteria and the like. Luckily for him though, it could be passed off as him being surprised or startled. "Sorry, eheh....that kind of surprised me there." His face turned a light shade of pink, enough to notice but only if you were paying attention. And he very much hoped that Renard was not. That would have been embarrassing. Then again since this man seemed to have a playful nature, who could really say.

[RENARD ARISTIDE CHEVALIER]

"Well, thankyou," Renard arched an eyebrow slightly and took his feet out of the stirrups, letting them hang by the horse's side. "Nice to know someone is appreciating my skills. And since you ask," he calculated quickly in his head, "I must have been riding for about ten years now. Used to ride almost every day if I was lucky." He nodded along to the man's comment on the horse's beauty, yet he ever so slightly got the impression he had a little fear for the creature. Or maybe it was the enormous size as opposed to seeing people so skilled with them that put the red head off. He didn't strike Renard as the type to get on a horse and ride around like it was nothing. He actually reminded him of one of the more dainty ladies, watching and waiting in the wings, fluttering their fans and swooning if their corsets got too tight, and never daring to sit on a horse, oh no.

"He is a bit of a looker," Renard petted the horse's musled neck, reins held neatly between his fingers as the horse exhaled softly, before its head shot up as the man on the floor jumped back a little, a startled expression on his face. Easy mistake to make. In a split second, Renard went from relaxed to his full attention on his horse, steadying it with his voice and hands, bringing it away from the fence a little. It snorted and pawed the ground with one hoof, which earned it a tap on the shoulder from his crop. "Steady," he muttered to his mount, circling the creature, feet still not in the stirrup. His position hadn't shifted at all through the entire minute or so and, as he brought the horse back to a standstill, he dismounted, booted feet landing softly in the sand of the arena, before turning to lean against the fence, holding the horse with one hand.

"Don't worry about him, he isn't going to do anything," Renard wasn't sure whether to reassure the elder butler, or poke another joke, not that he had seemed to enjoy the first one. He had noted at the speed the man had shut his mouth after he'd pointed it out - obviously someone who took jokes a little bit too seriously. Renard removed the glove from his right hand with his teeth, and stuck it in his breeches' pocket, before extending a clean hand for the redhead butler to shake. "The name is Renard Chevalier, currently unassigned, but my familiars tend to call me Renee," he shrugged a little, not exactly minding that they were calling him a girl's name - he'd brought it on himself and preferred it to the all too simple Ren, "who might I be aqquaintance of, then, monsier?"

template: by moi
text: forever the sickest kids
muse: bon karma - HnNKn
notes: less horsey words in this one. um, stirrups are the metal half-circles riders put their feet in, breeches is the specialised trousers they wear xD.

[ALEXEI FERNAND ADRIANO]

I T U R N ON A DIME, S P I N ME AROUND.
so you can S H I N E , shine right now !!

Ten years. This Renard guy had alot of skill then. Much more than Alexei could probably ever hope to acquire. "Well you can probably keep that luck up at Stella Fiore, you know. The stables arent going anywhere." He chuckled. His laugh was deep, a good indication that the high tone he had just used was more because he was slightly flustered than anything. Yes, it was easy to assume he was afraid, that was probably better. And it was even easier to assume he was more like a lady, at least in the respect of horse riding. It was about then that Alexei wished he wouldn't have stopped riding so young. This coversation would most likely prove to be embarrassing.

Alexei really was afraid, however, when the horse seemed to become afraid itself. "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-!" Embarrassing? Check. He had just scared the freaking horse. Luckily, Renee was experienced, and seemed to calm it down considerably. Alexei couldn't seem to keep his emerald eyes off of Renard, he was just so impressed. As the other man dismounted, he finally got to see him eye to eye, and Alexei's posture became much more relaxed. Now both the horse, and Renee didn't seem to intimidate him in the least.

"Oh, alright, good then." He watched as this man used his teeth to pull his glove off. For a moment Alexei's mind went elsewhere, but he couldn't really help that. And then he was offered Renee's hand. His own hand came gracefully forward, almost like a woman's, and he placed it in Renard's gently. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Renee. My name's Alexei Adriano, currently assigned to Lady Claudia Dusseu." He didn't offer a nickname, only because he'd just met Renee, but he was sure he could become friends with this man. Perhaps he'd tell him to call him Lex. Lexi had always been kind of embarrassing, and up till this point no one but female members of his family called him that.

[RENARD ARISTIDE CHEVALIER]

"Well, I guess I struck lucky there," Renee nodded in reply to the older butler's statement. Of course the stables weren't going anywhere, but there was always the worry he would be too busy caring for his lady - when he was assigned to one - to get a ride in every day. He would be making the most of it as it was. He had no guarenttee this good luck would last forever - who knew? Maybe his lady would dislike horseriding or be one of the boring socialite types who just sat around in groups and chattered about next to nothing for hours on end, covering thousands of trivial topics whilst they, the butlers, wilted like unwatered flowers around them. Oh, very poetic, Renard, Renard chastised himself mentally. "There's few stables that compare to this one," he continued as the other elegantly took his hand, reminding him very much of the ladies themselves.

"Pleased to meet you, it seems, monsier Alexei," Renard shook the redhaired butler's hand delicately, as if it was made of glass. He didn't check himself as to why he was treating the older man like a lady, but it sort of struck him as the thing to do. "Claudia, eh? She is one of the less social ones, if I have noted correctly," Renard bobbed his head gently. "Don't worry about the horse," he gestured back tot he beast in question with his free hand before continuing, "he's a little nervy. You did nothing at all." Not perfectly true, he knew the horse had been a little startled at the movement and the richness of the colour of this butler's hair, but he decided against mentioning it for some reason - he couldn't quite find it in his heart to put the already unnerved man dow further.

"Regardless, you don't exactly strike me as the sort of person to come down to the ring and ride in a similar fashion to me," Renard tilted his head to one side, blonde hair sliding under his riding hat. Speaking of which - he reached up and unclipped the chinstrap, before pulling it off his head and sticking it on the fence. He shook his hair out before continuing, "correct me if I'm wrong of course. Or are you down here because you want to learn?"

template: by moi
text: forever the sickest kids
muse: buried alive - creature feature
notes: fail post is fail =.=.

[ALEXEI FERNAND ADRIANO]

I T U R N ON A DIME, S P I N ME AROUND.
so you can S H I N E , shine right now !!

"Yes, I must agree that these stables are quite fine." Alexei couldn't help but admire everything Stella Fiore had to offer. Of course coming here he had expected no less, but having it right in front of him rather than imagining it was almost overwhelming. His eyes travelled from Renard's to take in the sight of the stables, and they really were just...magnificent. When his eyes finally found their way back to the younger man's, they seemed more lightened, as if the beauty of his surroundings had somehow been absorbed into his eyes. Emerald became jade, and where they seemed like a flat-albeit dazzling- green before, they were now vibrant and full of life.

He seemed surprised that Renee was knowledgeable about his Lady, and the astonishment showed on his face. "Oh? I don't know her too well yet, but she seems...agreeable." Alexei smiled gently. He wanted to cut the Butler act for once, but he'd become so accustomed to it that he wasn't sure he could. So he continued to speak effortlessly like he was upper class. He was, at least for a Butler, but that was beside the point. He felt comfortable enough with this man, but he had just met him after all. Wouldn't it be stupid to act like a normal guy in front of someone he wasn't sure did the same? Alexei was brought back out of his head when Renard spoke again. "Oh, alright. I suppose I must look...different. But it is my natural colour, I promise!" He chuckled.

Alexei flared red and laughed nervously. "Well...I used to ride. Very long ago. I was admiring you because I thought if I watched enough, I would remember. But then I saw you, and you were just...stunning." It was true, what he'd said. And it was about time that he stopped avoiding the truth.

[RENARD ARISTIDE CHEVALIER]

"Just watch your step," Renard raised one finger, feeling a little bit rebellious for giving an older, and inevitably better, butler advice. "These high class ladies are flighty as little birds. I'm going to be as careful as possible when I get assigned." And he meant it. He hadn't learned half the things he needed to become a proper butler yet and even failed at cleaning, pressing and tidying up his own clothes. He hoped to somewhat improve on these 'skills' - well, to gain them, that would be more accurate - by the time he got a lady of his own. Though, the problem with that statement was that he would be the one belonging to anyone at all. We will clear that obstacle when we get to it, Renard told himself, watching as Alexei's eyes glittered - taking in the facilities, it seemed.

And then he had to go and make the butler blush - going almost the same colour as his hair. Smooth move, monsier Chevalier. Renard resisted the overbearing temptation to calm him down - he wasn't developing a soft spot for the rather feminine man already, he just found it hugely amusing, if not slightly embarrassing to both of them - mortifying, that was the word - at the colour he was rapidly going. Then came the compliments. Renard was suprised. He knew he was a decent rider, but stunning? That put him out of him stride for definite. No one, not even the riding instructors back home in France whom he'd beaten numerous times at a diverse variety of courses, had described his skills as stunning. That was a new experience for him. It seemed life at the academy was one big bunch of surprises.

"Well, uh," Renard half grinned, a little pink touched across his cheeks, "thank you for your compliments. No one has described my riding as anything close to that much before. And from an F level butler as yourself." It certainly was something - an F level butler praising an A level in such a manner, it had to be a rare occurence. He instantly filed this memory away in his mind as one to hang on to, and to look back on when he himself attained the level of F - if that happened. When, he corrected himself, when that happens. Must think positive. "Watching others," he moved swiftly on, face returning to its natural pale colouing with a touch of tan left over from the summer months, "certainly is a good idea - but I'm guessing that you would prefer a little more than that," composture recovered, he left a little playful tone slip into his voice. "You're in need of an instructor?"

template: by moi
text: forever the sickest kids
muse: holiday - green day
notes: even more fail post is even more fail =.=.

[ALEXEI FERNAND ADRIANO]

I T U R N ON A DIME, S P I N ME AROUND.
so you can S H I N E , shine right now !!

Alexei nodded once, acknowledging the younger butler's statement. "Yes, I have to be quite careful. I don't think I'll have to worry, though, at least I hope not. Even if she's not exemplary as a Lady, it's my duty to put up with that when it happens." He half smiled, wondering what Miss Dusseu would prove to be like. "I just pray she's at least kind. If not that, at least appreciative of my abilities." The man had worked hard to set the standard for excellency as a butler, and he planned to prove that whatever chance he got.

The butler fanned his face with gloved hands, trying to cool his face it seemed. He wasn't such a deep color because of Renee per se, but the fact that the other had made him blush in the first place had embarrassed him even further, hence the deeper color he went. Alexei then closed his eyes, taking a deep breath and calming himself, enough so that his cheeks were now only a slight pink colour. This always had to happen to him! He wasn't born lucky enough to be the type that could easily avoid embarrassment. And the way his mind worked, the thoughts that sometimes invaded his mind didn't exactly help either. His eyes opened to view Renard, expression apologetic. "Uhm, sorry. It's hard for me to avoid turning all sorts of shades of pink." He smiled nervously.

Alexei had made the younger man blush, and he bit his lip so he wouldn't turn red again. "Well, they were fools then. You're obviously far beyond any skill level I've seen. One of my brothers was an excellent rider. But I've never seen him be so...in sync with a horse before." He smiled gently. Lex didn't think it had anything to do with his level, he thought of Renee as being that great purely from one man to another. Then he was addressed once more. "Well, yes. I realized that I could never attain skill such as yours just by observing. Though I'm too embarrassed to ask one of the teachers to show me. Can you...teach me, Renee?" His eyes were hopeful, of course this man could turn him down, but he really hoped he wouldn't.

[RENARD ARISTIDE CHEVALIER]

Renard waved a hand airily. He had yet to receive a lady, as he had already stated - and, to tell the honest and straight truth, with no kinks, he wasn't particularly looking forward to it. Not nearly as much time to himself then. He'd have to learn to get up early - one thing he absolutely despised about the butlering business was the ridiculously early morning wake-up calls, when he paid attention to them - do chores like iron shirts without burning holes in them, cook food at least three times a day - one thing he was good at, then, that was a bonus - and attend to his lady's every need. He didn't mind not envying Alexei - though the man was at a level where all these hardships would coe as natural and no doubt could be carried out with a proffessional air that would no doubt put others to shame. One day I'll hopefully achieve that level, he thought mildly one day.

"I'm going to watch my step more - I must learn to iron a shirt decently by then," Renard sounded a little sheepish at the mention of his last failed attempt at the craft. Though it could hardly be called a craft - it was getting the creases out of a goddamned garment! He was particularly glad of the dry cleaning and clothing facilities inside the academy, otherwise he didn't know where he would be. Lost, most definitely, and with a great deal less shirts than he curently had. A great deal less. And a great deal of crumpled ones to boot. He didn't want to wear the emerald green one that went with his butler suit - prim and clean in his wardrobe, with polished shoes you could see your face in practically - and ruin it Not yet any way. "Some day maybe I can rope you into helping me with that," he added with a brief laugh.

"It's not a big issue," Renard merely shrugged at the apology - it was accepted, despite the lack of a need for it. "I used to have a couple of friends with the same problem - the had absolutely no way of hiding their true feelings. No doubt they will fail with their aspirations in the acting business," he mused aloud, forgetting who was there for a second, before snapping back to Alexei in time to catch his almost-grovelling. An eyebrow arched again, but he couldn't do much to help the slight pink colouring to his own cheeks. So in-sync - that was another new compliment. This guy really knew how to sweettalk anyone, didn't he? Not that it wasn't all good, he liked it. It was nice to have someone so appreciative, even if it was just over horseriding, and his manner with the horse. And Alexei's request seemed simple enough.

"Thank you once more for such sweet words," Renard nodded in gratitude, " and it'd be my pleasure to teach you, although I'll find you another horse in the stables. This great thing," he slapped the shoulder of the gelding next to him in an affectionate manner, " is not much of a novice ride. Not that I'm saying you're a beginner, but let's walk before we run, yes?"

template: by moi
text: forever the sickest kids
muse: heyo captain jack - captain jack
notes: wow...... latest post ever . aside from nearly all of chance's, loltardedness. xDDDD