Dapper Lads

 Competition: Mental Illness Awareness Show 2016
 Horse: Kazitago
 Breed & Age: Brigandor-Smartblood | 5
 Rider/Handler: Jaisten Jarrd
 Age: 27
 Class: Halter
 Placing: 1st | Results  



 Things Used:
 Program: GIMP 2.8.10
 Tablet: Wacom Bamboo Fun (~ 5 years old)
 Layers: 71
 Time: ~6 hours


KAZI
I DREW HIM A BODY FINALLY
YAS
Green is a fabulous color for Kazitago <3


Story: 746 words

Stable story:
   "You're going to be fine. I braided his hair. My braiding is magical," Demeta on a video chat showing on a laptop that glasses-wearing Jaisten sits behind on a hotel bed with his legs folded says, smiling. "I offered to braid your hair too. Or give you a haircut because you need it."
   Jai huffs and runs a hand through his admittedly quite long hair. "You're being human-ist, his hair is way longer than mine," he protests, commenting on the long mane and tail of his dashing stallion that he and his girlfriend had combed through just yesterday in preparation for tomorrow's event.
   "Just tie the front back, okay? Promise me?"
   He grunts, being playfully difficult. "Okay."
   Demeta sits back in her chair on her side of the chat. "You hair was so much shorter when I met you."
   "Yeah, and then I came to VVEE."
   Demeta laughs. "Wow, nice one," she chuckles. 
   "It's so true it hurts," he replies, grinning.
   "Despite how it might seem here, you can be manly and not have long hair!"
   He chuckles. "I guess I'll let you cut my hair when I get back."
   She claps her hands together. "Thank you very much."
   He falls silent. 
   "Hey," she says, holding onto the sides of her screen from her side, looking deeply into the camera and thus to him. "You are gonna do great. You are gonna strut out there with your best pal who helped you through OCD and be wearing green and y'all are a hella handsome couple. I know this. You got me to go on a date by pure handsomeness alone. Yeah?"
   He balks slightly, feigning offense. "I was hella charming too."
   She tsks at him, flapping her hand at her camera. "You're great at showing. Because you're so incredibly charming."
   He inhales deeply. "I feel so old and rusty...."
   "As soon as you march onto the grounds, that'll go away. You'll have a giant smexy red and white horse next to you too."
   He nods. "Yeah, I know...."
   "Text me when you're out there and see how you feel. I'm sure you'll feel much better surrounded by horses instead of a dank hotel room."
   He nods, stretching his arms a bit. "Mkay."
   She smiles, kisses her fingers, and pats her camera with them. "It's late."
   He grins too and does the same. "Night."
   "Night, boo. The glasses are still cute."
   He grumbles as they disconnect. He inhales deeply and then exhales.
   
Competition story:
   Jaisten neatens up the braiding as he waits for the halter class to start, Kazitago standing patiently, very interested in the things going on around him, watching the other horses and handlers and ribbons and decorations. The event is quite popular and Jai had been seeing gorgeous green-adorned equines all day, and the sun was starting to set now. 
   He scratches at some stray paint chips from around the painted green ribbon on his steed's rump and picks a few lingering pieces of glitter from an idea that didn't go as planned and thus was ditched (brushing did most of the job or removal, but you know glitter, it comes and then happily exists for years where it's not wanted), trying to distract himself from his own nervousness. Kazitago huffs and swings his head around and eyes Jaisten, who can't help but smile at his four legged best friend.
   "I know, bud," he sighs, moving to his head and patting his neck. "You're doing all the work and I'm complaining."
   The stallion flicks his ears, then reaches and pats on Jai's face with a velvety upper lip, the recipient of which shuts his eyes and holds still, fighting the smile to keep his mouth closed.
   "Yup... yes, thank you, dearest," Jaisten says as a satisfied Kazi looks elsewhere. He rubs his cheek with his shoulder, tickled by the whiskers, and flattens the braiding lattice.
   When it is time to enter the arena, Kazi is relaxed and takes easy strides. They go to their position inside of the arena next to the stone fence, able to see out across a green field and then the treeline, darkened by the backlight of the setting sun. Kazi looks around the pleasantly lit sand arena, pricked ears and standing patiently. Jai holds onto the lead just below the halter. 
   His stallion moves his head and exhales a warm breath on the side of his face, and Jaisten smiles. Kazi always made him smile. And that meant everything was okay.