[D0, ME: Stables]Listen to Majesty (Open)

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

"Tomorrow sometime then, maybe in the afternoon", he chanced. "We can be back by evening so no one thinks you're taking advantage of my virtue."

Yūdaina chortled.

[Usogawa Narumi]

"Ah so, of course, such an innocent maiden such as yourself best be on guard against the lecherous advances of a river rat!"

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

"Indeed, I can barely rely on Yūdaina-san to protect me", he chuckled and the horse stopped snorting, seeming to regard him coldly now. Hikimasu laughed nervously.

[Usogawa Narumi]

"Perhaps I might come up with a convincing reason to lose the equine yojimbo," Narumi raised her eyebrows, tilted her head to one side and tapped her chin, deep in thought.

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

"He takes fruit and vegetable bribes", the Scorpion reveals, then offers an apple to Yūdaina, who seems to happily forget he was cross with Hikimasu a moment ago.

[Usogawa Narumi]

"And what sort of bribe does Shosuro-san take?" she said over the lip of her cup as it rose before she took a deep sip.

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

He kept facing Yudaina, making sure the animal consumed the whole apple safely, patting his mane.

"Oh, well who knows?"

You do.

"No one's really tried before."

But you've always wanted someone to.

"I'm sure anything a villain can cook up, I'd bite down on like a fool."

Yes, homemade nikujaga.

[Usogawa Narumi]

She bristled slightly, but hoped it would be chalked up to a chill in the night's air. The smile found its way to her lips once more.
"There's a first time for everything. Though hasn't Scorpion-san been warned away from shadowy figures in the forest offering them a midday respite? These things are most untoward. Unseemly, even. You'd be best to keep to the well-lit trails, then go off with some stranger where horses do not follow."
The things she did to get out from under her aunt's thumb.

[Shosuro Hikimasu]

Hikimasu definitely tensed slightly, maybe he as reading too much into it.

"Being the dark and untrustworthy person I am I admit I have a natural aversion, but...well...", he looked down again. "Usogawa-san seems like she is having a bit of fun at my expense and I can't say I'm against it."

Like before, she had a positive effect on his mood, though he was trying to be careful not to let any hope show, naturally not realizing it just made it show more obviously.