[P] Control the things you can control [Complete]

[Raymond]

It would be difficult to categorize how Raymond felt about Asterion - or about anyone, for that matter. Friendship was a luxury he'd not been able to afford for a long time, and no sooner had he indulged himself in the companionship of an innocent, defenseless kitten than reality saw fit to strip that from him. Suddenly the isolation previously enforced by necessity seemed like the only logical lifestyle choice, but the red stallion also understood he could hardly get on in a place like this on his own.

In essence, he didn't want friends but needed them anyway, which made the whole ordeal of sending holiday cards even more of a drag than usual.

Thus his professorial aggressiveness truly came from a desire to help. Asterion was an attentive and eager learner, if lacking in self-confidence, and Raymond could appreciate his desire to try even when he seemed happy to admit he was well out of his depth as regent of Terrastella.

How would you defend against a man like yourself? he asked, and Raymond chuckled in spite of himself.
There was a reason the rendari had little love for such encumberances as battle armor. He patted the bay stallion lightly on the flank with the flat of his blade as he veered toward Tinea Swamp - a gesture of fraternal warmth among his kind that probably just seemed vaguely threatening to anyone else - and shrugged his amusement at the question.

"Me? I wouldn't bother trying."

And with that he took his leave to continue exploring, leaving Asterion to finish his trek back to the distant court with his own thoughts for company.

Raymond.
and at his feet they'll cast their golden crowns
when the man comes around

@Asterion