esp_dragon (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
esp_dragon) wrote2015-07-28 10:33 pm
esp_dragon) wrote2015-07-28 10:33 pm
All You Have to Do is Breathe [Part 4]
Fandom: Noblesse
Summary: There's a new guy in town, an inventor, and if Tao can steal a few interesting things from him, he'll be able to eat for a few days, maybe longer. He might even be able to get out of the town!
Tao's wish comes true, just not in the way he expected.
Rating: PG-13
Notes: I decided to change the carriage to a wagon.
Genre: Steampunk? Friendship
Word count: 5,238
Total word count: 20,634
Status: Work in progress
Tao perched on the stall wall furthest from the door, swinging his legs. His hat covered most of his face, and he peeked out from under the rim when he could.
"So all I have to do is go to you?" The red-haired man at the stable door squinted at Boss and Dark Spear, not seeming to see Tao, which suited him. The man had two pistols by his sides and was the fifth person to come from Boss' advertisement. At the rate people were arriving, Tao imagined a line had formed outside – and with how much Boss was offering, he wasn't surprised.
"That's one of the requirements, yes," Boss said, standing behind Dark Spear, who was already shifting on her hooves, staring at the man. By this point, Tao could estimate how close the person would get before she charged. "She's rather sensitive, you see; if she dislikes you, I'm afraid I can't employ you."
The man wasn't going to make it three steps in.
Dark Spear got a quick look over. "Nervous, huh?"
She flicked her tail.
Two steps, Tao amended.
And Tao was right - the man scrambled out of the stable a minute later, Dark Spear on his heels.
She skidded to a halt at the doors like she'd done with the others, trotting back to place, her head held high.
The good thing about those kinds of exits was Tao didn't need to go out to ask the next person to enter - they would hear it.
* * *
"I think the entire town came out to try," Tao said, seeing the stars come out as he closed the stable door.
"There will be more tomorrow," Boss said, "some wanting to try again."
If Dark Spear didn't like them the first time, Tao didn't think she would have changed her mind in a few hours.
"And the word would have spread further as well."
Tao grimaced. "That sounds...fun." More boring, and he wasn't the one who had to stand there and repeat the same thing over and over again. Boss didn't seem bothered by the lack of progress, but he must have known how picky Dark Spear was.
…But then, why did Dark Spear like him?
Boss chuckled, petting Dark Spear as Tao walked over. "You can stay inside the house if you wish; there's no need for you to watch."
"I want to though," Tao said, checking how Dark Spear's braids were. They were tight and tidy, but he started to unravel them, Dark Spear stilling when he touched her. He wanted to see who Dark Spear liked. Which had been no-one so far.
"Very well," Boss said, giving Dark Spear one last pat. "I'll get dinner started."
"Okay!" Tao smiled back at him and continued undoing the braids as Boss left, a warm feeling in his chest after watching Dark Spear's reaction to other people for the whole day. Her first reaction to him had been so different compared to theirs. "You really do like me, huh?"
She nudged his shoulder, and Tao's smile didn't leave the entire time as he undid her braids.
* * *
"What do you want to do tonight?" Boss asked as he put Tao's plate in front of him.
Tao fiddled with his fork for a second and then said, "I want to buy a radio -or two- so I can figure out how they work." He had enough money for it.
"Oh?" Boss sat down with his own plate. "A personal project?"
Tao paused, about to brush it off and say it was nothing. Something Boss didn't have to worry about. But... This was for him. "Yeah. I was thinking I could listen in so we know if we're heading for a dangerous place." Tao doubted they would find someone in this town or the next, so it was best if he found a way to reduce the chance of them running into trouble.
Boss nodded. "Good."
"You...don't mind?" Boss seemed as calm as he always was, but Tao wasn't being taught by him any more...
"Of course not!" Boss chuckled. "I want you to be curious and to want to discover how things are made. More importantly, I want learning to be fun for you."
A smile grew on Tao's face. Then he sighed, laying his forehead in his palm. "I'll have to buy them tomorrow - I got distracted watching Dark Spear and forgot to go check the shops." He could try buying them before people started arriving, or at lunch when the trickle of people slowed, but he'd spent that time calming Dark Spear down and talking with her, so it would be better if he went first thing in the morning.
"And in the meantime...?"
Oh. Right. Even when he was working on the radio, Boss could still teach him.
Tao smiled at him again. "Can you we do what we were doing yesterday?"
Boss shared his smile. "Of course."
* * *
Tao managed to buy two radios that were as portable as he could carry, and they were on the table in his room by the time the first people arrived in the morning.
This time, Tao spotted some people carrying fruits as he led them to the stable. He kept his smile to himself; that wasn't going to work.
The morning went the same as the day before, with Dark Spear accepting none of them.
Tao winced though when she crushed some of the fruit under her hooves. "Aw, I could have eaten that..." he murmured. He would need to clean the stable up too, but he didn't mind that. It was the waste of food that bothered him.
The next person Dark Spear drove out, she missed the apple being offered to her. Before someone else could arrive, she picked the apple up between her teeth, trotted over to Tao and pushed the apple into his hands.
"Hey, thanks!" He brushed the dirt off as best as he could and bit into it. It was fresh and crisp and he hummed as he chewed, watching the new person arrive. If he got free food during all this, that was another reason to stay and watch.
* * *
The next morning, Tao went to the stable and froze at the wide open door. The house side had still been closed and the luggage was untouched.
Where-?
The door wasn't off its hinges and Tao hadn't been woken in the night, so they couldn't have been found by the Union. But then why would Dark Spear leave?
He dashed to the stable door and peered out. Her hoofprints stood out on the ground, overlaying human ones, and Tao hesitated, bouncing on his toes. He could run back and tell Boss what had happened, but that was wasting time from trying to find her. She could look after herself; Tao knew that.
He was still worried about her.
It was early enough that not many people would be out. Awake, but not left their houses yet.
Decision made, he closed the stable door and followed her tracks, glad that she was the size she was, her tracks clear and easy to follow.
He switched between watching the ground and around him, trying to find her. He passed a few buildings, his stomach knotting the further he got from the house.
There was no reason for her to leave - unless she wanted exercise? They had left her cooped up in the stable the whole day, but she hadn't seemed to mind in the previous town... Running at people in a stable didn't count as proper exercise.
If someone had tried to break in, there would have seen blood all over the floor. But they might have lured her away and trapped her.
Dammit!
Tao picked up speed, hoping he wouldn't follow the wrong tracks.
He rounded a corner and breathed a relieved laugh when he saw her standing there, her tail to him and not looking hurt. She hadn't been in danger.
"There you are, hey," he said, jogging over. "Why did you-"
Dark Spear turned and nickered at him in greeting. Which gave Tao a clear view of the person she'd been standing in front of, and Tao slowed, his smile dropping. He hadn't thought Dark Spear would have been with someone.
The person she'd been with was - wait. But Dark Spear distracted him, filling his view as she pressed her forehead to his, and he patted her neck out of habit.
"Is she yours?" the other man asked, and Tao peeked from around Dark Spear. The man was tall and broad-shouldered, his shirt straining against his chest like he was built like a draft horse underneath. The man's waist-long hair, tied up in a ponytail made jealousy flash in his gut at how the man had been able to keep it that length, but it was the man's features that held Tao's attention. His face was rounder than what was common around here, similar to Tao's own.
"Ah, no," Tao said, wanting to both keep staring and look away. "She's my boss'." He got a nudge for that, but it was as truthful as he could say.
The man nodded, his attention on Dark Spear. "She's powerful."
"Heh, she is." The man had no idea how much. Tao squinted at Dark Spear and she snorted, walking around him and pushed him towards the man.
No question what Dark Spear wanted.
"So, uh, how are you with guns?" Tao never started conversations with anyone, but he did feel better with Dark Spear at his back.
The man arched an eyebrow at him, and now that Dark Spear wasn't in the way, he could see the gun holsters at his side.
"I know my way around them."
Haa… "My boss-" Dark Spear nudged him again. "-ah, we're looking for someone to ride with us." Tao couldn't keep his gaze steady, flicking towards the man and away from him.
"Where are you headed?" And the man wasn't discounting it after knowing who he was riding with. Which made sense...
"Anywhere," Tao said, starting to relax. "What about you? Where're you headed?"
He got a small smile at that. "Anywhere so long as I'm paid."
That was perfect if Boss liked him.
"So, do you want to see my boss?" Tao asked.
The man nodded, and when Tao started walking back, a hand on Dark Spear's neck, the man fell in step behind them.
"What's your name?" the man asked, and Tao blinked at him, not expecting the question.
"Huh?" It took him a second to get his thoughts back to answer. "It's, ah, Tao."
The man kept watching him and he must have been waiting for Tao's family name.
Tao was a bit more confident telling him his name than to Boss.
"Xiè Tao."
"Xiè-san?" the man said, dipping his head but still watching him.
Tao blinked. Huh, Japanese? "Yes," Tao said.
The man gave him a small smile. "I'm Takagi Takeo."
Hn. If the man added that with his name… "Takagi-san…?"
This time, his smile went wider and Tao shared it with him.
Tao hoped Takagi-san was the one who travelled with them. Dark Spear seemed to like him too, so now it depended on Boss.
They were halfway to the house when Tao spotted Boss hurrying towards them and Tao raised an arm, waving.
"I was worried where you two had gotten - ah, hello," Boss said, looking at Takagi-san and Tao winced. Oh, right, he'd left the house empty without telling Boss. Boss might have imagined they'd been kidnapped like he'd thought Dark Spear had.
"Sorry, Boss," Tao said, ducking his head. "Dark Spear wasn't in the stable this morning so I ran out trying to find her."
He got a pat on the shoulder. "Tell me next time, hm? We could have searched for her together."
Tao relaxed, smiling. "Okay, I will." If there was a next time. They shouldn't need any more people to travel with them so she wouldn't have to find one herself.
"And may I ask who you are?" Boss asked, turning his attention to Takagi-san.
"Takagi Takeo," Takagi-san said, inclining his head. "Xiè-san said you were looking for someone to ride with you?"
Boss blinked, his face blank. "Xiè-san-?" He glanced at Tao, who nodded. Well, Boss knew his family name now.
Before they continued, Tao said, "I'll just put Dark Spear back in the stable." He didn't need to listen to this; it was all Boss' decision now.
He got nods in return and he led Dark Spear back.
As they neared the house, Tao turned to her. "Do you want to go in or-" She was already walking in and Tao chuckled, following her. So she hadn't wanted exercise.
"You worried me," Tao said. He sighed when Dark Spear tugged on the bag where he kept her brushes.
"I know you're trying to distract me." From what Boss and Takagi-san were talking about, if Boss would like Takagi-san. How long it would take to find someone else if Boss didn't.
She continued to pull on the bag, her ears pinned on him.
"Oh, fine." He walked up and got out her favourite brush. "I need it, don't I?"
She nodded.
* * *
"And how did you get out anyway?" Tao asked later, almost finished brushing her down, and about to start on her mane. Could she control her parts without needing Boss to help?
"She's smarter than she looks."
Tao looked over his shoulder and beamed at Boss, who was standing at the stable doors. "Heh, she looks smart anyway." And that made her really smart then.
Boss smiled at that. "That's why she likes you."
"And you and Takagi-san," Tao added, glancing past Boss at the reminder of what Boss had been doing. But…he was alone. Oh. Tao's brush strokes slowed. "So…are you employing him?" If Boss was alone, it seemed doubtful.
Boss didn't answer straight away, walking in instead. "What do you think of him?"
Huh? Boss was asking what he thought? "Boss?"
"As I said, you will also be travelling with him, so it's important you feel comfortable with him."
Something welled up in Tao's chest, making it hard to breathe, but he couldn't identify it. It wasn't a choked feeling, but like something was expanding in his chest and his body couldn't contain it. "I like him!"
Boss smiled. "Then he'll travel with us."
Tao beamed at him. "Great!" He started brushing Dark Spear again, humming. A few seconds later, he slowed and peeked at Boss. He was at Dark Spear's head, petting her.
"...Boss?"
"Mm?" Boss looked at him, giving him his full attention.
"If I'd said no, what would you have done?"
"Not taken him with us." There had been no hesitation.
Tao's eyes went wide. "R-really?"
"Really." Boss smiled at him. "I want you to be comfortable as much as you can."
This time, when Tao threw himself at Boss, he wrapped an arm around Dark Spear as well. It was because of her they'd found Takagi-san in the first place. Boss returned his hug, sliding an arm around his shoulders.
When they pulled away, Tao glanced at Dark Spear.
"Are you going to tell him about Dark Spear?" Because it would be hard to hide what she was since they weren't feeding or watering her.
"Hm, I will. Now then," Boss said, looking at him, "tea?"
Tao smiled. "Sounds good."
* * *
A few days after they left that town, Tao looked up from tinkering with his radio (it was the battery he had trouble figuring out; he had to break it open, but he wanted spares first before he did that), watching Takagi-san clean his guns. They hadn't run into anyone, Tao listening to his spare radio when he could and they avoided trouble areas, but every night, Takagi-san disassembled his guns, cleaning them as the sun set.
It was obvious he knew what he was doing, his movements as confident as Boss' were when handling his inventions. He knew every piece, where they went, and Tao was sure he could do it blindfolded if he had to.
"Do you stare at everyone cleaning their guns?" Takagi-san asked, his gaze flicking up to meet Tao's. His hands continued moving without hesitation.
Oops. Caught.
"Ah, not really..." Tao said, ducking his head and prodding at his radio again. He tried to not stare at anyone if he could. "I was just...curious. Sorry."
Takagi-san's hands slowed. "Curious about what?"
"I want to see how they work," Tao said, rolling the screwdriver in his hand.
Takagi-san nodded towards Tao's hands. "Like with your radio."
"Yeah."
"You're not taking apart this gun."
Tao's face fell. Damn.
"But…I've got a spare one," Takagi-san said, pulling his bag closer to him. "The aim's off so I don't use it anymore."
"Thanks!" Tao said as Takagi-san rummaged through his bag.
Takagi-san took out a dark box and got to his feet, walking over. "It's unloaded and there's no gunpowder so there's no chance you'll shoot yourself but..." He sighed, sitting down. "I'll tell you the safety rules anyway."
"Sure," Tao said, scooting closer as Takagi-san opened the box. He was always up for learning new things, and learning something so he wouldn't hurt himself was high on the list.
* * *
The impromptu lesson lasted longer than Tao expected, Takagi-san making sure he knew the safety rules without thinking.
After that, Takagi-san had shown him how to disassemble the gun and clean the parts, and Tao itched to try it himself, to build one himself. The problem would be getting the pieces…
Or maybe it wouldn't.
Once the lesson was done, Tao looked around, trying to find Boss. He was by Dark Spear, petting her and...huh. Tao hadn't seen Boss the entire time Takagi-san had been teaching him - had he been keeping out of the way? Or Tao had been that engrossed in the lesson to not notice anything else.
"Hey, Boss..." he said, walking over, and Boss smiled at him.
"Yes?"
"Would I be able to use some of your spare parts?"
Boss nodded, continuing to pet Dark Spear. "Of course. You know where I keep them."
Tao breathed a small laugh. "Thanks, Boss, you're the best."
Boss chuckled. "I'm glad I am to you."
Now he had to figure out how to fit them altogether!
* * *
Tao spent the next few nights dismantling and putting back together Takagi-san's gun, seeing how all the pieces fitted together and how to clean it. During the day, he sketched out the pieces, making sure he knew what each part looked like and where they went. When he wasn't doing that, he practiced his writing and reading, writing down the rules Takagi-san had told him.
When he started building a new version of Takagi-san's gun, he knew what he would change. It took some trial and error, Tao finding the best way to make the pieces and how to put them together without it falling apart as soon as he let go.
When he was done, he glanced over at Takagi-san, who had finished cleaning his guns for the night. ...Okay. They were both done. Now he had to give Takagi-san's gun back and see if his own gun was useful as a gun, or if it should be used as a club.
Tao didn't move, fiddling with his gun, checking it for the... He wasn't sure what time it was now, and Tao stopped halfway through, squeezing his eyes shut. He wanted to wrap his hands around it but Takagi-san had made sure he'd memorised what not to do even when it wasn't loaded.
All he had to do was give the gun back and ask Takagi-san if he wanted to check his gun. Easy. One question.
Except it wasn't. Tao had never made something out of nothing before, only reconstructed it after disassembling it. The rest of the time, he was watching Boss do it. And now he was going to give it to an expert, who would be able to see every flaw and mistake he'd made and point all of them out.
He should stuff it back into his bag, disassemble it when they got into town and get rid of it. Or do that from the back of the wagon. It wasn't going to work and he knew it.
Tao twitched at a hand on his shoulder and when he looked up, it was Boss, moving to sit down next to him.
"Is there something bothering you?" Boss asked, and Tao stared at his gun again, running his thumb over the barrel.
"Not..." Tao trailed off, taking a breath. Boss was the only person he could talk to apart from Dark Spear, and it would be nice to have someone who talked back.
"Yeah...?" He huffed, not feeling the warmth of the fire even though he was in front of it and if this was how he felt talking to Boss, how was he supposed to talk to Takagi-san? Who had moved from where Tao had last seen him. He must be getting ready for bed. Tao had taken too long and now he had to wait for the next night. If he gave it to Takagi-san then.
"I made something - this," Tao said, holding the gun up for Boss to see, "but it won't work."
Boss looked at it, tilting his head, and then he gazed back at Tao. "And how do you know it won't work?"
Tao opened and closed his mouth, the words trapped in his throat. "I made it. So it won't work." It was that simple.
Boss hummed. "Have you tested it?"
He stopped moving his thumb. "No..." That was the problem. He couldn't test it because Takagi-san had the ammunition and he was the only person Tao could trust to know how to use it properly. Tao was sure if he attempted to use it himself, he would shoot himself in the face.
"Then you don't know if it does or doesn't work?"
He'd made it. It wouldn't work.
When Tao stayed silent, Boss said, "How many prototypes have we made with some of my projects?"
…That question had come out of nowhere. Or maybe it hadn't. They were talking about making a prototype Tao had made. "A few." Some of them they still hadn't figured out yet.
"Exactly." Boss nodded. "You won't get perfect results on your first try," Boss said, giving him an encouraging smile, "but you can use it as a learning experience to improve on your next attempt."
That...was true.
"It may be easier to picture it as a journey," Boss said, holding a hand up, his palm facing the sky. "Every time you make something, you are getting one more step closer to what you want to achieve." He walked the fingers of his other hand across his palm. "It can and will be painful with setbacks along the way-" He moved his fingers back. "-but so long as you continue to do it, you will get there." His fingers continued to the tips of his other hand, and Boss lowered his hands again.
Tao didn't say anything, trying to think over Boss' words.
"Ah, it's time for dinner, so I will speak with you later," Boss said, getting back to his feet.
He heard Boss leave and Tao explored the gun again. He should at least give Takagi-san his gun back - it did belong to him.
Who still hadn't - oh, he was walking back now.
Tao fidgeted with the gun one last time, watching Takagi-san sit down and before Tao could convince himself otherwise again, he shoved his gun in its case, scrambled to his feet and walked over.
Takagi-san nodded to him and this was a bad idea, he should turn back around and not do it, but Takagi-san had already seen him.
"Uh, here's your gun back," Tao said, holding out the case. Takagi-san took it from him, setting it down next to him, and Tao dithered, his heart hammering. Now he just had to show Takagi-san his own gun.
Except it wasn't just a 'just' - other things would follow after it.
"S-so, I made my own gun from it and I was wondering what you thought of it?" There. He'd asked. Now Takagi-san could sneer at him and he could leave.
Takagi-san smiled at him instead and waved him down, taking the case from him. Tao had already swivelled his foot to leave, then stopped. Wait, Takagi-san wasn't turning him away? When Tao dropped down next to him, Takagi-san opened Tao's case, taking out the gun.
"I tried to make it a bit lighter," Tao said, rubbing the back of his neck, watching Takagi-san inspect it. "Streamlined some of the mechanisms because I thought the original ones slowed it down." When Tao had taken Takagi-san's gun apart, it seemed like it had been made complicated on purpose. "I don't know if the sight's lined up to the barrel." The only way to find that out was through using it.
Takagi-san flicked the chamber back into place, and looked down the sight, the muzzle pointing at empty scenery.
"How many guns have you made before?" Takagi-san asked.
"This is my first one." Tao said, shrugging.
Takagi-san's movements paused and when he lowered the gun, his eyes were a little wider. Tao's stomach sank. It was bad. "...How many things have you made before this?"
He didn't seem to get it. "It's my first one I made myself," Tao repeated. "The stuff I was working on before, I was helping Boss make them." And even then, he wasn't touching them.
"You're serious." Takagi-san's voice was flat.
Tao cringed. "W-well, I tried?" He flushed. "I thought - it might-" His words got tangled up, his tongue refusing to work. Neither did his lungs, the air getting trapped in his throat.
"It's amazing you made something like this on your first try."
Tao stopped, surprised by the warm tone.
"I don't think most people would be able to do this without years of teaching and you made these by hand?" he asked, looking over at Tao.
"Wait, r-really?" Tao said, his eyes wide. Takagi-san thought he was good? "And yeah. I was able to make a couple of them from Boss' stuff..." He trailed off. He'd had to adjust a few of the bigger pieces to make sure they fit together.
"How long have you been learning under him?" Takagi-san seemed like he really did want to know.
Tao furrowed his brow as he thought. They'd spent a couple of days travelling, the couple in that town, then more travelling... "Under two months?" Something like that. Tao hadn't been keeping track.
Takagi-san spluttered, his eyes going wide.
"Yeah," Tao said, his gaze sliding away. "It's been long-"
"Long?"
"You...haven't tested it yet." Why did Takagi-san seem so surprised? He couldn't know how well it would work.
"I can tell when something's been well made by looking at it."
All of Tao's face heated up at the compliment.
"You need to make the spring stronger with the hammer," Takagi-san said, drawing it back and squeezing the trigger until it snapped back into place. "The gun won't shoot if it doesn't hit the primer."
"Okay, got it!" Tao said, nodding. He didn't mind Takagi-san telling him that, elated that Takagi-san had liked it enough to say so.
Takagi-san packed the gun back and Tao took it, humming as he left.
After Tao had put his gun away, he went to find Boss.
"Boss!" He found Boss by the wagon and Boss had enough time to turn around before Tao wrapped him up in a tight hug. "Thanks, Boss." He was muffled against Boss' shoulder but he didn't care. This close, Boss would hear him.
"Hm?" Boss returned his hug. "I didn't do anything."
Tao pulled back to stare. "Yeah, you did!" But it didn't matter now, because it was done and it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be.
Tao blinked and then looked at the wagon. It was dark, far from the campfire and there was nothing on the seat. "I thought you said you were preparing dinner?"
A sheepish smile grew on Boss' face. "I, ah, got a little side-tracked."
"You..." Tao's eyes widened and he looked behind him. The wagon was far from the campfire for light, but close enough to hear the conversation there. "You were making sure it went okay."
Boss nodded. "I was making sure you were all right."
Tao swallowed and threw himself back at Boss, giving him a tight hug. Boss returned it, rubbing his back.
* * *
Tao hummed the next morning, watching Boss lead Dark Spear to the front of the wagon.
Everything had been packed up so all that was left was - Tao blinked as Dark Spear snorted, throwing her head and backing away from Boss.
Were they being attacked again? Tao whirled around, trying to find what had spooked her. No-one was approaching though.
"What's gotten into you...?" Boss murmured, walking towards her. She sidestepped him, snorting again.
"All right," Boss said, stopping, his hands by his side. "Do what you want."
Dark Spear's ears pricked up and she walked away from the wagon.
And headed straight for Tao.
There wasn't anyone behind him - Tao's hand went up as Dark Spear nuzzled his head. Wait.
She shook her neck, loosening the reins and then stood closer to him, so the leather brushed his hand.
"It appears she wants you to take the reins," Tao heard Boss say.
"What?" he squeaked. Boss couldn't be saying what he thought he was saying. "Are you sure?"
She nudged his head, snorting and okay, there was no mistaking what she wanted. He lifted his head to stare at her. "You want me to drive?"
She tried to put the reins back in his hands and Tao smiled at her as he took them. He led her back to the front of the wagon.
"You know I've never done this before, right?" Tao said as she backed up into place. He had seen Boss secure her numerous times before but he'd never done it himself, usually unloading or packing up while Boss did that. "Ever. I'll probably-" She nudged his head and he sighed, starting to strap her in. No trying to talk his way out of it then.
He muttered under his breath as he strapped her in, trying to remember everything Boss did, following the wear of the straps.
When he was finished, Tao took a step back to look over what he'd done. "Took longer than Boss, but what do you think?"
She pulled at the straps, but not strong enough to move the wagon. She lifted one hoof in the air and Tao went over to look.
"You need to tighten the belly-band," Boss said, coming over and patting what he was talking about. "If it's too loose, it'll be uncomfortable for her."
"Ooh, okay," Tao said, following Boss' advice.
They spent a few minutes making adjustments and Tao beamed when they were finished. "How's that?"
She threw her head, all her hooves stomping the ground.
"Okay! Let's go!"
________________________________
So halfway through editing I realised Takeo would have called everyone by their family name, and that's what he would have preferred too. I went for Takagi because it's fairly close to Takeo and it means 'tall tree', ahaha.
Summary: There's a new guy in town, an inventor, and if Tao can steal a few interesting things from him, he'll be able to eat for a few days, maybe longer. He might even be able to get out of the town!
Tao's wish comes true, just not in the way he expected.
Rating: PG-13
Notes: I decided to change the carriage to a wagon.
Genre: Steampunk? Friendship
Word count: 5,238
Total word count: 20,634
Status: Work in progress
Tao perched on the stall wall furthest from the door, swinging his legs. His hat covered most of his face, and he peeked out from under the rim when he could.
"So all I have to do is go to you?" The red-haired man at the stable door squinted at Boss and Dark Spear, not seeming to see Tao, which suited him. The man had two pistols by his sides and was the fifth person to come from Boss' advertisement. At the rate people were arriving, Tao imagined a line had formed outside – and with how much Boss was offering, he wasn't surprised.
"That's one of the requirements, yes," Boss said, standing behind Dark Spear, who was already shifting on her hooves, staring at the man. By this point, Tao could estimate how close the person would get before she charged. "She's rather sensitive, you see; if she dislikes you, I'm afraid I can't employ you."
The man wasn't going to make it three steps in.
Dark Spear got a quick look over. "Nervous, huh?"
She flicked her tail.
Two steps, Tao amended.
And Tao was right - the man scrambled out of the stable a minute later, Dark Spear on his heels.
She skidded to a halt at the doors like she'd done with the others, trotting back to place, her head held high.
The good thing about those kinds of exits was Tao didn't need to go out to ask the next person to enter - they would hear it.
"I think the entire town came out to try," Tao said, seeing the stars come out as he closed the stable door.
"There will be more tomorrow," Boss said, "some wanting to try again."
If Dark Spear didn't like them the first time, Tao didn't think she would have changed her mind in a few hours.
"And the word would have spread further as well."
Tao grimaced. "That sounds...fun." More boring, and he wasn't the one who had to stand there and repeat the same thing over and over again. Boss didn't seem bothered by the lack of progress, but he must have known how picky Dark Spear was.
…But then, why did Dark Spear like him?
Boss chuckled, petting Dark Spear as Tao walked over. "You can stay inside the house if you wish; there's no need for you to watch."
"I want to though," Tao said, checking how Dark Spear's braids were. They were tight and tidy, but he started to unravel them, Dark Spear stilling when he touched her. He wanted to see who Dark Spear liked. Which had been no-one so far.
"Very well," Boss said, giving Dark Spear one last pat. "I'll get dinner started."
"Okay!" Tao smiled back at him and continued undoing the braids as Boss left, a warm feeling in his chest after watching Dark Spear's reaction to other people for the whole day. Her first reaction to him had been so different compared to theirs. "You really do like me, huh?"
She nudged his shoulder, and Tao's smile didn't leave the entire time as he undid her braids.
"What do you want to do tonight?" Boss asked as he put Tao's plate in front of him.
Tao fiddled with his fork for a second and then said, "I want to buy a radio -or two- so I can figure out how they work." He had enough money for it.
"Oh?" Boss sat down with his own plate. "A personal project?"
Tao paused, about to brush it off and say it was nothing. Something Boss didn't have to worry about. But... This was for him. "Yeah. I was thinking I could listen in so we know if we're heading for a dangerous place." Tao doubted they would find someone in this town or the next, so it was best if he found a way to reduce the chance of them running into trouble.
Boss nodded. "Good."
"You...don't mind?" Boss seemed as calm as he always was, but Tao wasn't being taught by him any more...
"Of course not!" Boss chuckled. "I want you to be curious and to want to discover how things are made. More importantly, I want learning to be fun for you."
A smile grew on Tao's face. Then he sighed, laying his forehead in his palm. "I'll have to buy them tomorrow - I got distracted watching Dark Spear and forgot to go check the shops." He could try buying them before people started arriving, or at lunch when the trickle of people slowed, but he'd spent that time calming Dark Spear down and talking with her, so it would be better if he went first thing in the morning.
"And in the meantime...?"
Oh. Right. Even when he was working on the radio, Boss could still teach him.
Tao smiled at him again. "Can you we do what we were doing yesterday?"
Boss shared his smile. "Of course."
Tao managed to buy two radios that were as portable as he could carry, and they were on the table in his room by the time the first people arrived in the morning.
This time, Tao spotted some people carrying fruits as he led them to the stable. He kept his smile to himself; that wasn't going to work.
The morning went the same as the day before, with Dark Spear accepting none of them.
Tao winced though when she crushed some of the fruit under her hooves. "Aw, I could have eaten that..." he murmured. He would need to clean the stable up too, but he didn't mind that. It was the waste of food that bothered him.
The next person Dark Spear drove out, she missed the apple being offered to her. Before someone else could arrive, she picked the apple up between her teeth, trotted over to Tao and pushed the apple into his hands.
"Hey, thanks!" He brushed the dirt off as best as he could and bit into it. It was fresh and crisp and he hummed as he chewed, watching the new person arrive. If he got free food during all this, that was another reason to stay and watch.
The next morning, Tao went to the stable and froze at the wide open door. The house side had still been closed and the luggage was untouched.
Where-?
The door wasn't off its hinges and Tao hadn't been woken in the night, so they couldn't have been found by the Union. But then why would Dark Spear leave?
He dashed to the stable door and peered out. Her hoofprints stood out on the ground, overlaying human ones, and Tao hesitated, bouncing on his toes. He could run back and tell Boss what had happened, but that was wasting time from trying to find her. She could look after herself; Tao knew that.
He was still worried about her.
It was early enough that not many people would be out. Awake, but not left their houses yet.
Decision made, he closed the stable door and followed her tracks, glad that she was the size she was, her tracks clear and easy to follow.
He switched between watching the ground and around him, trying to find her. He passed a few buildings, his stomach knotting the further he got from the house.
There was no reason for her to leave - unless she wanted exercise? They had left her cooped up in the stable the whole day, but she hadn't seemed to mind in the previous town... Running at people in a stable didn't count as proper exercise.
If someone had tried to break in, there would have seen blood all over the floor. But they might have lured her away and trapped her.
Dammit!
Tao picked up speed, hoping he wouldn't follow the wrong tracks.
He rounded a corner and breathed a relieved laugh when he saw her standing there, her tail to him and not looking hurt. She hadn't been in danger.
"There you are, hey," he said, jogging over. "Why did you-"
Dark Spear turned and nickered at him in greeting. Which gave Tao a clear view of the person she'd been standing in front of, and Tao slowed, his smile dropping. He hadn't thought Dark Spear would have been with someone.
The person she'd been with was - wait. But Dark Spear distracted him, filling his view as she pressed her forehead to his, and he patted her neck out of habit.
"Is she yours?" the other man asked, and Tao peeked from around Dark Spear. The man was tall and broad-shouldered, his shirt straining against his chest like he was built like a draft horse underneath. The man's waist-long hair, tied up in a ponytail made jealousy flash in his gut at how the man had been able to keep it that length, but it was the man's features that held Tao's attention. His face was rounder than what was common around here, similar to Tao's own.
"Ah, no," Tao said, wanting to both keep staring and look away. "She's my boss'." He got a nudge for that, but it was as truthful as he could say.
The man nodded, his attention on Dark Spear. "She's powerful."
"Heh, she is." The man had no idea how much. Tao squinted at Dark Spear and she snorted, walking around him and pushed him towards the man.
No question what Dark Spear wanted.
"So, uh, how are you with guns?" Tao never started conversations with anyone, but he did feel better with Dark Spear at his back.
The man arched an eyebrow at him, and now that Dark Spear wasn't in the way, he could see the gun holsters at his side.
"I know my way around them."
Haa… "My boss-" Dark Spear nudged him again. "-ah, we're looking for someone to ride with us." Tao couldn't keep his gaze steady, flicking towards the man and away from him.
"Where are you headed?" And the man wasn't discounting it after knowing who he was riding with. Which made sense...
"Anywhere," Tao said, starting to relax. "What about you? Where're you headed?"
He got a small smile at that. "Anywhere so long as I'm paid."
That was perfect if Boss liked him.
"So, do you want to see my boss?" Tao asked.
The man nodded, and when Tao started walking back, a hand on Dark Spear's neck, the man fell in step behind them.
"What's your name?" the man asked, and Tao blinked at him, not expecting the question.
"Huh?" It took him a second to get his thoughts back to answer. "It's, ah, Tao."
The man kept watching him and he must have been waiting for Tao's family name.
Tao was a bit more confident telling him his name than to Boss.
"Xiè Tao."
"Xiè-san?" the man said, dipping his head but still watching him.
Tao blinked. Huh, Japanese? "Yes," Tao said.
The man gave him a small smile. "I'm Takagi Takeo."
Hn. If the man added that with his name… "Takagi-san…?"
This time, his smile went wider and Tao shared it with him.
Tao hoped Takagi-san was the one who travelled with them. Dark Spear seemed to like him too, so now it depended on Boss.
They were halfway to the house when Tao spotted Boss hurrying towards them and Tao raised an arm, waving.
"I was worried where you two had gotten - ah, hello," Boss said, looking at Takagi-san and Tao winced. Oh, right, he'd left the house empty without telling Boss. Boss might have imagined they'd been kidnapped like he'd thought Dark Spear had.
"Sorry, Boss," Tao said, ducking his head. "Dark Spear wasn't in the stable this morning so I ran out trying to find her."
He got a pat on the shoulder. "Tell me next time, hm? We could have searched for her together."
Tao relaxed, smiling. "Okay, I will." If there was a next time. They shouldn't need any more people to travel with them so she wouldn't have to find one herself.
"And may I ask who you are?" Boss asked, turning his attention to Takagi-san.
"Takagi Takeo," Takagi-san said, inclining his head. "Xiè-san said you were looking for someone to ride with you?"
Boss blinked, his face blank. "Xiè-san-?" He glanced at Tao, who nodded. Well, Boss knew his family name now.
Before they continued, Tao said, "I'll just put Dark Spear back in the stable." He didn't need to listen to this; it was all Boss' decision now.
He got nods in return and he led Dark Spear back.
As they neared the house, Tao turned to her. "Do you want to go in or-" She was already walking in and Tao chuckled, following her. So she hadn't wanted exercise.
"You worried me," Tao said. He sighed when Dark Spear tugged on the bag where he kept her brushes.
"I know you're trying to distract me." From what Boss and Takagi-san were talking about, if Boss would like Takagi-san. How long it would take to find someone else if Boss didn't.
She continued to pull on the bag, her ears pinned on him.
"Oh, fine." He walked up and got out her favourite brush. "I need it, don't I?"
She nodded.
"And how did you get out anyway?" Tao asked later, almost finished brushing her down, and about to start on her mane. Could she control her parts without needing Boss to help?
"She's smarter than she looks."
Tao looked over his shoulder and beamed at Boss, who was standing at the stable doors. "Heh, she looks smart anyway." And that made her really smart then.
Boss smiled at that. "That's why she likes you."
"And you and Takagi-san," Tao added, glancing past Boss at the reminder of what Boss had been doing. But…he was alone. Oh. Tao's brush strokes slowed. "So…are you employing him?" If Boss was alone, it seemed doubtful.
Boss didn't answer straight away, walking in instead. "What do you think of him?"
Huh? Boss was asking what he thought? "Boss?"
"As I said, you will also be travelling with him, so it's important you feel comfortable with him."
Something welled up in Tao's chest, making it hard to breathe, but he couldn't identify it. It wasn't a choked feeling, but like something was expanding in his chest and his body couldn't contain it. "I like him!"
Boss smiled. "Then he'll travel with us."
Tao beamed at him. "Great!" He started brushing Dark Spear again, humming. A few seconds later, he slowed and peeked at Boss. He was at Dark Spear's head, petting her.
"...Boss?"
"Mm?" Boss looked at him, giving him his full attention.
"If I'd said no, what would you have done?"
"Not taken him with us." There had been no hesitation.
Tao's eyes went wide. "R-really?"
"Really." Boss smiled at him. "I want you to be comfortable as much as you can."
This time, when Tao threw himself at Boss, he wrapped an arm around Dark Spear as well. It was because of her they'd found Takagi-san in the first place. Boss returned his hug, sliding an arm around his shoulders.
When they pulled away, Tao glanced at Dark Spear.
"Are you going to tell him about Dark Spear?" Because it would be hard to hide what she was since they weren't feeding or watering her.
"Hm, I will. Now then," Boss said, looking at him, "tea?"
Tao smiled. "Sounds good."
A few days after they left that town, Tao looked up from tinkering with his radio (it was the battery he had trouble figuring out; he had to break it open, but he wanted spares first before he did that), watching Takagi-san clean his guns. They hadn't run into anyone, Tao listening to his spare radio when he could and they avoided trouble areas, but every night, Takagi-san disassembled his guns, cleaning them as the sun set.
It was obvious he knew what he was doing, his movements as confident as Boss' were when handling his inventions. He knew every piece, where they went, and Tao was sure he could do it blindfolded if he had to.
"Do you stare at everyone cleaning their guns?" Takagi-san asked, his gaze flicking up to meet Tao's. His hands continued moving without hesitation.
Oops. Caught.
"Ah, not really..." Tao said, ducking his head and prodding at his radio again. He tried to not stare at anyone if he could. "I was just...curious. Sorry."
Takagi-san's hands slowed. "Curious about what?"
"I want to see how they work," Tao said, rolling the screwdriver in his hand.
Takagi-san nodded towards Tao's hands. "Like with your radio."
"Yeah."
"You're not taking apart this gun."
Tao's face fell. Damn.
"But…I've got a spare one," Takagi-san said, pulling his bag closer to him. "The aim's off so I don't use it anymore."
"Thanks!" Tao said as Takagi-san rummaged through his bag.
Takagi-san took out a dark box and got to his feet, walking over. "It's unloaded and there's no gunpowder so there's no chance you'll shoot yourself but..." He sighed, sitting down. "I'll tell you the safety rules anyway."
"Sure," Tao said, scooting closer as Takagi-san opened the box. He was always up for learning new things, and learning something so he wouldn't hurt himself was high on the list.
The impromptu lesson lasted longer than Tao expected, Takagi-san making sure he knew the safety rules without thinking.
After that, Takagi-san had shown him how to disassemble the gun and clean the parts, and Tao itched to try it himself, to build one himself. The problem would be getting the pieces…
Or maybe it wouldn't.
Once the lesson was done, Tao looked around, trying to find Boss. He was by Dark Spear, petting her and...huh. Tao hadn't seen Boss the entire time Takagi-san had been teaching him - had he been keeping out of the way? Or Tao had been that engrossed in the lesson to not notice anything else.
"Hey, Boss..." he said, walking over, and Boss smiled at him.
"Yes?"
"Would I be able to use some of your spare parts?"
Boss nodded, continuing to pet Dark Spear. "Of course. You know where I keep them."
Tao breathed a small laugh. "Thanks, Boss, you're the best."
Boss chuckled. "I'm glad I am to you."
Now he had to figure out how to fit them altogether!
Tao spent the next few nights dismantling and putting back together Takagi-san's gun, seeing how all the pieces fitted together and how to clean it. During the day, he sketched out the pieces, making sure he knew what each part looked like and where they went. When he wasn't doing that, he practiced his writing and reading, writing down the rules Takagi-san had told him.
When he started building a new version of Takagi-san's gun, he knew what he would change. It took some trial and error, Tao finding the best way to make the pieces and how to put them together without it falling apart as soon as he let go.
When he was done, he glanced over at Takagi-san, who had finished cleaning his guns for the night. ...Okay. They were both done. Now he had to give Takagi-san's gun back and see if his own gun was useful as a gun, or if it should be used as a club.
Tao didn't move, fiddling with his gun, checking it for the... He wasn't sure what time it was now, and Tao stopped halfway through, squeezing his eyes shut. He wanted to wrap his hands around it but Takagi-san had made sure he'd memorised what not to do even when it wasn't loaded.
All he had to do was give the gun back and ask Takagi-san if he wanted to check his gun. Easy. One question.
Except it wasn't. Tao had never made something out of nothing before, only reconstructed it after disassembling it. The rest of the time, he was watching Boss do it. And now he was going to give it to an expert, who would be able to see every flaw and mistake he'd made and point all of them out.
He should stuff it back into his bag, disassemble it when they got into town and get rid of it. Or do that from the back of the wagon. It wasn't going to work and he knew it.
Tao twitched at a hand on his shoulder and when he looked up, it was Boss, moving to sit down next to him.
"Is there something bothering you?" Boss asked, and Tao stared at his gun again, running his thumb over the barrel.
"Not..." Tao trailed off, taking a breath. Boss was the only person he could talk to apart from Dark Spear, and it would be nice to have someone who talked back.
"Yeah...?" He huffed, not feeling the warmth of the fire even though he was in front of it and if this was how he felt talking to Boss, how was he supposed to talk to Takagi-san? Who had moved from where Tao had last seen him. He must be getting ready for bed. Tao had taken too long and now he had to wait for the next night. If he gave it to Takagi-san then.
"I made something - this," Tao said, holding the gun up for Boss to see, "but it won't work."
Boss looked at it, tilting his head, and then he gazed back at Tao. "And how do you know it won't work?"
Tao opened and closed his mouth, the words trapped in his throat. "I made it. So it won't work." It was that simple.
Boss hummed. "Have you tested it?"
He stopped moving his thumb. "No..." That was the problem. He couldn't test it because Takagi-san had the ammunition and he was the only person Tao could trust to know how to use it properly. Tao was sure if he attempted to use it himself, he would shoot himself in the face.
"Then you don't know if it does or doesn't work?"
He'd made it. It wouldn't work.
When Tao stayed silent, Boss said, "How many prototypes have we made with some of my projects?"
…That question had come out of nowhere. Or maybe it hadn't. They were talking about making a prototype Tao had made. "A few." Some of them they still hadn't figured out yet.
"Exactly." Boss nodded. "You won't get perfect results on your first try," Boss said, giving him an encouraging smile, "but you can use it as a learning experience to improve on your next attempt."
That...was true.
"It may be easier to picture it as a journey," Boss said, holding a hand up, his palm facing the sky. "Every time you make something, you are getting one more step closer to what you want to achieve." He walked the fingers of his other hand across his palm. "It can and will be painful with setbacks along the way-" He moved his fingers back. "-but so long as you continue to do it, you will get there." His fingers continued to the tips of his other hand, and Boss lowered his hands again.
Tao didn't say anything, trying to think over Boss' words.
"Ah, it's time for dinner, so I will speak with you later," Boss said, getting back to his feet.
He heard Boss leave and Tao explored the gun again. He should at least give Takagi-san his gun back - it did belong to him.
Who still hadn't - oh, he was walking back now.
Tao fidgeted with the gun one last time, watching Takagi-san sit down and before Tao could convince himself otherwise again, he shoved his gun in its case, scrambled to his feet and walked over.
Takagi-san nodded to him and this was a bad idea, he should turn back around and not do it, but Takagi-san had already seen him.
"Uh, here's your gun back," Tao said, holding out the case. Takagi-san took it from him, setting it down next to him, and Tao dithered, his heart hammering. Now he just had to show Takagi-san his own gun.
Except it wasn't just a 'just' - other things would follow after it.
"S-so, I made my own gun from it and I was wondering what you thought of it?" There. He'd asked. Now Takagi-san could sneer at him and he could leave.
Takagi-san smiled at him instead and waved him down, taking the case from him. Tao had already swivelled his foot to leave, then stopped. Wait, Takagi-san wasn't turning him away? When Tao dropped down next to him, Takagi-san opened Tao's case, taking out the gun.
"I tried to make it a bit lighter," Tao said, rubbing the back of his neck, watching Takagi-san inspect it. "Streamlined some of the mechanisms because I thought the original ones slowed it down." When Tao had taken Takagi-san's gun apart, it seemed like it had been made complicated on purpose. "I don't know if the sight's lined up to the barrel." The only way to find that out was through using it.
Takagi-san flicked the chamber back into place, and looked down the sight, the muzzle pointing at empty scenery.
"How many guns have you made before?" Takagi-san asked.
"This is my first one." Tao said, shrugging.
Takagi-san's movements paused and when he lowered the gun, his eyes were a little wider. Tao's stomach sank. It was bad. "...How many things have you made before this?"
He didn't seem to get it. "It's my first one I made myself," Tao repeated. "The stuff I was working on before, I was helping Boss make them." And even then, he wasn't touching them.
"You're serious." Takagi-san's voice was flat.
Tao cringed. "W-well, I tried?" He flushed. "I thought - it might-" His words got tangled up, his tongue refusing to work. Neither did his lungs, the air getting trapped in his throat.
"It's amazing you made something like this on your first try."
Tao stopped, surprised by the warm tone.
"I don't think most people would be able to do this without years of teaching and you made these by hand?" he asked, looking over at Tao.
"Wait, r-really?" Tao said, his eyes wide. Takagi-san thought he was good? "And yeah. I was able to make a couple of them from Boss' stuff..." He trailed off. He'd had to adjust a few of the bigger pieces to make sure they fit together.
"How long have you been learning under him?" Takagi-san seemed like he really did want to know.
Tao furrowed his brow as he thought. They'd spent a couple of days travelling, the couple in that town, then more travelling... "Under two months?" Something like that. Tao hadn't been keeping track.
Takagi-san spluttered, his eyes going wide.
"Yeah," Tao said, his gaze sliding away. "It's been long-"
"Long?"
"You...haven't tested it yet." Why did Takagi-san seem so surprised? He couldn't know how well it would work.
"I can tell when something's been well made by looking at it."
All of Tao's face heated up at the compliment.
"You need to make the spring stronger with the hammer," Takagi-san said, drawing it back and squeezing the trigger until it snapped back into place. "The gun won't shoot if it doesn't hit the primer."
"Okay, got it!" Tao said, nodding. He didn't mind Takagi-san telling him that, elated that Takagi-san had liked it enough to say so.
Takagi-san packed the gun back and Tao took it, humming as he left.
After Tao had put his gun away, he went to find Boss.
"Boss!" He found Boss by the wagon and Boss had enough time to turn around before Tao wrapped him up in a tight hug. "Thanks, Boss." He was muffled against Boss' shoulder but he didn't care. This close, Boss would hear him.
"Hm?" Boss returned his hug. "I didn't do anything."
Tao pulled back to stare. "Yeah, you did!" But it didn't matter now, because it was done and it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be.
Tao blinked and then looked at the wagon. It was dark, far from the campfire and there was nothing on the seat. "I thought you said you were preparing dinner?"
A sheepish smile grew on Boss' face. "I, ah, got a little side-tracked."
"You..." Tao's eyes widened and he looked behind him. The wagon was far from the campfire for light, but close enough to hear the conversation there. "You were making sure it went okay."
Boss nodded. "I was making sure you were all right."
Tao swallowed and threw himself back at Boss, giving him a tight hug. Boss returned it, rubbing his back.
Tao hummed the next morning, watching Boss lead Dark Spear to the front of the wagon.
Everything had been packed up so all that was left was - Tao blinked as Dark Spear snorted, throwing her head and backing away from Boss.
Were they being attacked again? Tao whirled around, trying to find what had spooked her. No-one was approaching though.
"What's gotten into you...?" Boss murmured, walking towards her. She sidestepped him, snorting again.
"All right," Boss said, stopping, his hands by his side. "Do what you want."
Dark Spear's ears pricked up and she walked away from the wagon.
And headed straight for Tao.
There wasn't anyone behind him - Tao's hand went up as Dark Spear nuzzled his head. Wait.
She shook her neck, loosening the reins and then stood closer to him, so the leather brushed his hand.
"It appears she wants you to take the reins," Tao heard Boss say.
"What?" he squeaked. Boss couldn't be saying what he thought he was saying. "Are you sure?"
She nudged his head, snorting and okay, there was no mistaking what she wanted. He lifted his head to stare at her. "You want me to drive?"
She tried to put the reins back in his hands and Tao smiled at her as he took them. He led her back to the front of the wagon.
"You know I've never done this before, right?" Tao said as she backed up into place. He had seen Boss secure her numerous times before but he'd never done it himself, usually unloading or packing up while Boss did that. "Ever. I'll probably-" She nudged his head and he sighed, starting to strap her in. No trying to talk his way out of it then.
He muttered under his breath as he strapped her in, trying to remember everything Boss did, following the wear of the straps.
When he was finished, Tao took a step back to look over what he'd done. "Took longer than Boss, but what do you think?"
She pulled at the straps, but not strong enough to move the wagon. She lifted one hoof in the air and Tao went over to look.
"You need to tighten the belly-band," Boss said, coming over and patting what he was talking about. "If it's too loose, it'll be uncomfortable for her."
"Ooh, okay," Tao said, following Boss' advice.
They spent a few minutes making adjustments and Tao beamed when they were finished. "How's that?"
She threw her head, all her hooves stomping the ground.
"Okay! Let's go!"
So halfway through editing I realised Takeo would have called everyone by their family name, and that's what he would have preferred too. I went for Takagi because it's fairly close to Takeo and it means 'tall tree', ahaha.