Matteo

It's tough to be a god

"It will work, I think, Mon Amie. It is not what I am used to but it weighs almost nothing and Darius does not seem bothered by it. It is comfortable too."

Matteo sat more deeply within that new saddle, his hands gently tugging backward on those reins to ease that black Barb stallion from his canter, back to a trot, before finally slowing to a walk to continue that circle around Alexander. The pair having spent the better portion of that day testing those new 'Bareback' saddles. Alexander having desired to see how that saddle both looked and fitted from the ground. Matteo and Darius so having carried out those required maneuvers while the rest of the Mounted Division finished up for the day. The majority of Hunters having seen to their mounts and taken their leave, a small handful lingered outside that arena to watch that saddle testing with curiosity. Alexander, seemingly satisfied with the days progress, announced his own intention to retire from formal riding for the day and head toward the beach with Frost. That towering white stallion and his own black-coated mount so refusing to be within the same space as one another for any length of time even despite his and Alexanders efforts so far. His eldest companions invitation to join him upon that sand was met with a small shake of his head. Matteo, for now, content to spend the rest of the afternoon almost lazily.

The Frenchman swung easily from the saddle in near the same moment as Alexander lifted himself near effortlessly onto Frost's back, the pair disappearing up that trail and off toward the shoreline. Matteo's attention returning largely to his own mount then. How far Darius had come since he first acquired the stead! The ebony stallion had gained that condition he had lost beneath Xerxes, his coat all but glowed and indeed most of that fiery personality had returned- even if Darius so vehemently refused, despite Matteo's efforts, to shift back into his human form. The man seeming to distinctly prefer his equine skin. The near ancient Fae so simply having come to accept such a state of being. Matteo reached upward then to lift those reins over the stallion head, the Were's neck wet and dark with sweat from the afternoons work.

"Come now, let us see to your comfort."

Darius fell so easily into step beside him, Matteo merely leaving those reins to barely dangel from his fingertips. His relationship with his assigned mount having improved markedly in turn. Darius still refused to speak and yet the pair had become companionale over those last few months. If only so much could be said for the rest of that Unit! Matteo was so hardly oblivious to the distinct glares of outright disdain he was offered by those few remaining Hunters as he passed. His position as Lieutenant having upset far more than one being within that internal bureaucracy. Several even going so far as to make threats agianst him- such things occurring more often than not once Alexander was not within ear shot and yet the Frenchman had long since ceased to find any true discord in the prejudice of others. Ah, but he had been in a thousand wars. They could dislike him all they liked. It would not help them in the end. He did not need their companionship, nor their friendship, nice though it surely would have been. That they followed his orders was all that truly mattered in the end. Even if they were reluctant to do so.

Darius' hooves rang out agianst the concrete floor of the stable block as they entered, the Frenchman draping those reins over the nearest hitching rail before moving to undo the girth strap and lift that feather light saddle from the stallions back. It was remarkable, truly, how far technology had come. That such a saddle existed at all was quote the engineering feat. Less weight upon a horse always preferable to more. The saddle was rested on the stable door, Matteo effortless summoning that bucket of warm water and sponge to his feet before bending to grasp the sponge and apply it to the stallions coat, his hand moving in those sof, smooth, circular motions to wash away that cold sweat and bring that shine back to the horses coat. Darcius, seemingly content with such an affair, allowed his gaze to half close in a lazy reprieve. The last few of those Hunters disappearing then to leave that stable block, seemingly, empty save for the Frenchman and his horse.

"What do you feel like today, Mon Cheval? The classics? Rock? The popular music? Let us take a gamble and see what is on, hmm?"

That radio was effortlessly summoned to a nearby stool only moments later, Matteo pausing briefly to hear the beginning of that song. Darius' own ears swiveling atop his head to catch those lyrics in turn as Matteo returned to grooming that coat. The Frenchman humming softly to that music. Aiden, he was certain, would have enjoyed that song. Dorian, in equal measure, would have frowned at it. Matteo chuckled softly at the mere thought. Several off those lyrics muttered beneath his breath as he worked. Ah, but he was not so old to have forgotten the words to the song! He still had it, he was sure.

"Ridin' down the highway, goin' to a show....."