A Future For Consideration

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Follows After: Not Much Has Changed

     Chris felt he had been held back by many things in life by social constructs: time, titles, and even age. It felt like eons, waiting around for a single day to tick over before he was magically proven to be an adult because of some number society taped to him. Congratulations, in the span of 24 hours, you've existed long enough on this planet, you may vote in elections now. Oh, but for the love of god, don't have a sip of beer. Congratulations, indeed.
    "Congrats on your birthday, Chris. Welcome to being old like the rest of us," Jennie kidded with Chris in her office.
    Chris smirked, "What a great gift. A future of wrinkles and grey hair."
    "Botox and hair dye. There, I've given you the secret to everlasting youth as your present." She gave him a playful wink, leaning back in her chair. They both knew there were further things to discuss. The subject had been touched on sporadically throughout the years. Sometimes in jest and sometimes absolutely serious but it was time to formally push the offer. "Or, if you'd like…" Jennie pushed forward a manilla folder with a pamphlet of neatly documented papers. "I'd like to formally extend an offer on behalf of RidgeRunner to have you ride for us. Not just under us but to represent the kind of quality we like to have on our team."
    There. It was official. Chris was of age where the legalities of him working for her weren't as strict and risky. It had been a long time coming. Ever since she had hired Dave years ago, she had her eye on Chris even then. Dave was step one in a long term goal to acquire Chris. The time had come!
    Chris looked down at the folder. Just as long as Jennie had been thinking it over, so had Chris. He had to secure a foothold of some sort. He couldn't- wouldn't mooch off his parents' livelihoods. He wanted to become his own identity. But. But he also didn't want to jump into any rash decisions. As enticing as RidgeRunner was, Jennie wasn't the only one with offers on the table.
    Jennie put a hand over the folder, distracting him from taking it too quickly, "I don't want any decision on this today." She looked stern and yet, concerned. Jennie was a great businesswoman because she was a good people person. She liked to connect and understand a person before working with them. She knew Chris through his teens so he knew the rough patches and the golden moments of his youth. "I just want you to really look it over and weigh your consideration on it. I know you know it's a lot to consider. And you know I'm more than willing to bend over backwards to get your signature. You're a great rider, Chris. And I'm well aware I'm not the only birthday present you'll be looking at."
    She lifted her hand and slid the folder his way. Leaning back in her chair, she laced her fingers together on the desk. "And let's not bother beating around the bush on the matter of your father. As much as it would tickle his heartstrings to have you positioned in the same branch, I'm completely content and willing to have you work from a different branch if that suits your interest." She went right for it. She knew it was a question rolling around in his head. It had to be addressed. From the fiasco she had to put the stable through dealing with Sydney, Tristan, and Jarin; she was hyper aware of internal relations that may stir problems down the road.
    "Just...consider it," she asked calmly. "You've been a tremendous force of positive reputation for the stable already. I know I've been super proud of your progress and I'd love to provide a catalyst to propel you further. And I won't even make you ride dressage," she chuckled. That got a smile and a quiet laugh from Chris. He could move and operate to the best of his abilities. Finally. Freedom. But was it free enough? And he wasn't sure how free he'd like to be…
     "I'll give it a look over," Chris confirmed, taking the folder to take his leave from the office. 
    "And a consideration," Jennie added.

    Chris looked at his phone, feeling it buzz.
    'Dogshit: hey u gonna be in the Portland area next week? dat ass calls~ <3<3'
    Chris didn't bat a lash, swiftly responding, 'no'. He wasn't up for playing with shit-for-brains. He was becoming more of a chore than anything else. Chris had business to take care of. Something Fang would never understand the definition of. Proof of someone without a safety net that had crashed to the floor like the flaming idiot he was.
    'Dogshit: aaawwwwww another pony show?'
    Chris rolled his eyes at the text. 'Yes'. Why he even responded was dumb on Chris's part. He didn't need to know what he was doing at all times.
    'Dogshit: good luck get fucked dont die <3'
    "Ch." Chris didn't respond, putting his phone in his pocket. As if. He had a greater chance of dying from some disease contracted from Fang.

    “You’re headed to Pemberley again, is that correct?” Dave asked in passing as Chris was packing the travel trailer. Of course, he already knew where Chris was going. He knew the horses he was taking and the classes he was riding in, the times, the local weather, hell, he even knew the outfits Chris had packed - mostly to make sure he packed a jacket or two. “Ah, that grey horse of yours, I take it. Well, one of the many you’ve acquired,” Dave offered a quiet chuckle. “I reckon he will do…most satisfactory for you. You’ve done well with him.”
    “Yep,” Chris answered shortly with an added huff. Chris knew it was just an excuse to come blabber to him. It wasn't like he really had any interest in Jax. Still just as block-headed as always. But Chris had made huge improvements with the stud. He had consistent results, becoming, at least, some kind of competition on the circuit. Besides Jax, his other horses were catching their steam too. Finally, people were starting to refer to him as Chris Burton rather than "Dave Burton's boy". The sensational media seemed to help too, separating his life from Dave. Even if it had been a bit distasteful in the way he did it. Fang was enough of a stark contrast to anything that revolved around Dave's lifestyle. Everything was falling into place...other than Dave. Chris just pretended this small talk had nothing to do with the tremendous amount of tension between the two of them. "He still has quite a ways to go," Chris said plainly. He shut the door to the trailer, intending to walk away if that’s all he had to say.
    Dave smiled, "My, do you intend to close the door on all of us? Any more improvement and you'll have the podium to yourself." It was honest praise. Even if Dave never liked the horses Chris had picked for himself, there was no denying that but he had put in the hard work to make something out of them. And he didn't think it was just luck either.
    Chris sighed, growing impatient, "If there's no one to stop me, sure." He shrugged and carried on with his business, cutting the conversation short. He didn’t want this. Dave wasn’t going to say anything of importance and Chris wasn’t going to express any more emotions or feelings. There wasn’t a point to this. He wasn't a little boy. Those days were gone. And in particular, now as an "adult", things were only going to keep changing. He wasn't going to Pemberley because he needed the show. Not at all.

    Chris hopped off the sweaty horse, looking back at the showjumping arena. Damn. That was a good round. A really good round. Jax didn’t buck after a jump, he didn’t try barging through a jump. He still jumped the first one like a lunatic but even that felt like it was under control somehow. Hmm…
    “Woooow, Chris!!” Jarin swooned as soon as Chris was exiting the arena. “You did so good! He was really fast too!”
    “Thanks,” he just responded flatly. He didn’t want to encourage more talking. Especially when Jarin got into this fanboy thing. It was…awkward. Chris stopped in his tracks, unable to miss the large man standing nearby looking right back at him. He had met him a while back but it was brief. Jarin about shit his pants, turning to see him!
    “Excuse me, Mr. Burton...” The large man began. “My name is Mr. Durant, I'm head of security here at Pemberley Park. I need you to follow me, sir... Right now. There are some things that are needed to be discussed with you...behind closed doors. So finish what you are doing. I’ll wait for you while you finish up. I was asked to escort you back to the office. ‘No’ or that ‘you can't’ is not an acceptable answer...just so you know.”
    Chris scrunched his nose slightly. What did this guy want with him? He hadn’t done anything to warrant a security guard. “Jarin-”
    “Yea!?” Jarin squeaked, taking a step back behind Chris just in case. Was Chris in trouble? Did he do something bad? Like what!?
    Chris handed over Jax’s reins, “Take care of him, would ya?”
    “Uhm! Okay!” Jarin had no choice, really. Chris was already headed off with that giant guy! He glanced over to Jax and down to the reins in his hands. This was the first time he had ever gotten to handle Jax… Was this okay??


Previous: Not Much Has Changed | Next: TBA

(1628 word count)
beefy~

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Eyoooo, my kiddo is a big kiddo now~ Fang is fully incorporated, the Burtons are still emotionally stunted, Jax is being a good boy, Jarin's a rug on the floor, all is well in pony land~ (Well, provided Chris didn't just get in trouble ;D whoops~) 

SOOO The art theme challenge of the show was inspired by Salvador Dali's works! So I scoured through his works and had so many ideas (or well, ideas I wish I could have formed). The one I REEEALLY liked was: Portrait of Abraham Lincoln. Which, hey, I'll freely admit - I just like the colors and the blocks and framing and then I read the title. AND THEN I REALIZED IT WAS A FACE xD (look, I'm not clever) And that just floored me. I really really wanted to do something like that but I am yeeeaaaarrrrssss away from being confident enough in my art to be able to formulate that kind of imagery and color work. No way. Not happening. 
And so I scoured some more, kind of picked out the themes he tended to do such as death, skulls, and nekkid people xD I respect this. So I tried to make my own hidden imagery~ What you may have seen, thought, "huh? Naw, can't be." BEHOLD! A HIDDEN SKULL: 

(and now you can't unsee it~) 
This was to represent Fang coming into Chris's life xD Why a skull? Well, because that's metal af like Fang. And the deeper topics that gravitate around them. <''3 Perhaps it will symbolize more (with the new life of spring all around it ;D) but that may be spoilers so stick with this for now~ 
(also: I've hidden a penis in the trees because that is very on point for fang as well; you're welcome.) 

I also used the Don Quioxote piece as inspiration for the circus merry-go-round jump :''D Ride at your own risk, folks.

Ohhey, Jarin was there~ 

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Chris/Jennie/Dave/Sydney/Jarin/Fang/Jax/Art © Drasayer
Tristan © Saoradh 
Durant/Banners © decors 
No specific refs used for pony/boyo or grounds; inspirations listed above

SAI/Photoshop CS6