The Stables: Saturday evening

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal was exhausted - who knew shopping could be so tiring? - but pleased as he trundled down to the stables. Not that he was going to try putting anything on Trenor now, but there wasn't a lot of space to keep horse gear in his room.

After feeding Trenor and cleaning the stall, he sat down to unwrap his parcels. "You'd best be good tomorrow," he warned as the horse peered over the top of his stall, watching Karal with interest. "I really don't want anyone to see you dump me in the dirt."

[ooc: is open, la.]

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[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

With embarrassed reluctance, Molly made her way down to the stable, clean mug held behind her back.

She hesitated briefly at the entrance, but stepped in for fear that Karal might think she'd been just watching him. "Hey, Karal," she called with a small wave.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Molly?" Karal looked up in surprise and then jumped to his feet, expression slightly worried. "I'm not going to stalk you," he blurted out after a moment.

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly blinked at him, wondering where that came from. "Why do you think I'd think you would?" she asked.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I didn't think you thought I would, at least I hoped not, but I was talking to someone, and their ex-boyfriend stalked them and then snuck into their house, and it was right after I came into your room without permission, and I'm very sorry. It won't happen again, I promise, and," he ran out of breath and sort of deflated, "and, yes, I'm not. In case you were worried. Which I hope you weren't."

Now he felt extremely foolish, but slightly better for having said it, and if he was lucky, the floor would open up and swallow him whole.

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly couldn't help but laugh a little. "No, I know you wouldn't stalk me," she assured him. "Besides, usually it's the dumpee," she pointed to herself, "who does the stalking. Not that I'm going to do that either," she added hastily.

She pulled the mug from behind her back. "I just wanted to return this and apologize for yelling at you on Tuesday."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Oh." He looked down at the ground, then reached out for the mug. "There's no apology necessary, Molly. I shouldn't have bothered you."

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

"No." Molly shook her head and let him take the mug. "You were just being nice and if... well, if I hadn't been doing stupid stuff because I was feeling sorry for myself, I would have appreciated it. But..." she looked away and shrugged.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I was concerned, but I had no right to foist it on you." He closed his fingers around the mug. "Are you fully recovered?"

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly nodded. "It was just a hangover," she said and looked at him again. "The tea helped. Thank you."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I'm glad it helped," he replied, smiling a little. "I've had two since coming here, and neither were fun. I knew the tea would help."

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

"I can't believe you did that twice." Molly rolled her eyes up, looking mildly ill at the thought.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"The first time I didn't know to expect it, and the second," he shrugged, setting the mug down. "I was very dumb."

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly couldn't help but chuckle at that. "I know I'm going to be very careful if I ever drink again. If I do drink again? I'm going straight home afterwards, that is certain."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He nodded, smiling wider as he relaxed. "I heard on the radio what happened. Did you get into great trouble?" he asked, then reached out to pat Trenor's neck. "And if you're ever stuck, you can always call me. I would come and get you."

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly blushed a little. "We had to spend the night in jail and we have to clean up the spray paint." She looked down and poked at some straw on the floor with her shoe. "I appreciate that, Karal, but what I said on Tuesday is true. If I do something stupid because I'm feeling sorry for myself, right now you're going to be the last person I want to see."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I remember." Trenor nudged him and Karal scratched under his forelock, not looking at Molly. It wasn't surprising, but it did make him just a touch sad. "I meant what I said, as well. I won't bother you again, I give you my word."

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

"Only when I'm upset, right?" she asked, just to be clear. "Because I don't mind the other times."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"You don't?" he asked, looking at her now, more than a little surprised.

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

"No!" Molly said with just as much surprise. "I'm certainly not happy that you broke up with me, but I thought you wanted to be friends. How can we be friends if you never talk to me?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I thought--" He shook his head. "It doesn't matter what I thought. I'm still your friend, I always will be," he said earnestly. "And I'd miss talking to you."

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly gave him a repentant frown. "I know I'm being confusing, Karal and I'm sorry," she said. "But, I'm still a little confused about why I'm not--" she stopped and sighed, "about what exactly changed. I was kind of waiting for things to settle down again before figuring out what was going on."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"You're not being confusing. I just," Karal turned away from Trenor, so he was facing her, "I've never done this before. I'm not sure what's right, or how to act to make this easier for you," he explained, then rubbed one hand against his forehead. "I can explain, or try if you want, but not here. The barn's really not the place."

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly nodded. "Okay, yeah and you were busy." She took a few steps back towards the door. "I should let you get back to that. I just wanted to give you your mug back and say sorry."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He watched her for a moment, tracing the edge of Trenor's stall door. "You don't have to go," he said quietly.

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly stopped backing up.

She thought maybe he'd been hinting for her to leave, but maybe he hadn't been. She was torn. Part of her was still hurt about the break up, but she did honestly want to be friends.

"You sure?" she asked just as quietly.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He nodded. "I could show what I bought for Trenor today, if you wanted to stay. There's even some tea in the tack room." He smiled. "I could refill your mug."

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly grinned. "Okay. Is Trenor going to do a fashion show?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"He might dump me in the dirt," Karal replied, picking up the mug and disappearing into the tack room. He came out a few minutes later with two mugs of tea, one of which he offered her. "It's starting to get very cold, and the stables aren't heated like he's used to, so I got him a blanket and a hood. He's never worn anything like them before."

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly accepted the tea gratefully. "Maybe you should model them first," she suggested, "so that he can see that they're safe to wear." She hid her grin by taking a sip of tea,

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal sat down on a hay bale and nodded at the stool. "Please, sit, if you'd like. And I think they might be a bit big for me," he explained, taking a sip of tea. Teasing, teasing was good. "And Trenor might laugh so hard he'd make himself ill."

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly sat on the stool. "Which would be bad when you bought them to keep him from getting ill, yes. So how do you get him to wear it then?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"Patience and persistence." He smiled up at his horse, who was currently sneaking his head over the side of his stall to try and nuzzle Molly's hair. "He's well trained, and he trusts me. I think as long as I take it slowly, it will go all right. But I'm going to try out in the stableyard, in daylight, just in case it doesn't.

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly reached up to stroke Trenor's nose and chuckled. "If I promise not to bring a camera can I come watch you chase him around the yard when you try the first time?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"You can if you like." Trenor stretched his neck out and pushed against her hand, making a happy whuffling noise. "Jaina's threatened to record it, so it may be preserved forever even without a camera," he said, laughing quietly. "I was going to try them tomorrow."

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly made a face as she continued petting Trenor. "I may be cleaning spray paint tomorrow so I'll have to hope that Jaina really does record it."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"If he comes running past you, make sure you stop him," he said, settling back a little as he sipped his tea.

This wasn't as awkward as it had been, and he was glad to have a chance to talk with Molly again. "I'm glad you stopped by."

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

"I'm glad I did too," Molly said and pet Trenor's nose some more.