fandomhighdorms | The stables: Thursday afternoon

Entry tags:

The stables: Thursday afternoon

Given the nasty weather, Karal had tied Trenor in the walkway of the stables instead of taking him outside. The horse was relaxed while Karal groomed him, the occasional ear twitch or content sigh the only clue that he wasn't asleep.

It might be cold outside, but it was warm in the stables, smelling of clean horse and clean hay, and Karal was humming under his breath, completely lost in what he was doing.

[ooc: for two in particular, but completely open.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He actually came by broom today, though he made a point to land some yards away before poking his head into the stables.

"Karal?"

Trenor lifted his head, ears pricked forward with interest as he looked at Liir.

Karal ducked under his neck to smile at Liir. "Liir, please, come in! How are you?"

He smiled and ducked his head as he made his way through the stables. He wasn't that familiar with horses, but neither was he completely unfamiliar; they were just another thing in the stable.

"I'm fine. I talked to Andrew like you said and it's a date date though a casual one so if it doesn't work then it's fine."

He got it all out, mostly so that he could immediately change the subject. If it was handled early and quickly, they wouldn't have to discuss it and there wasn't a chance of him talking about the flutter or the way he kept wanting Andrew to actually run his hand through Liir's hair.

"This is your horse?"

Karal had the feeling Liir really didn't want to talk about it, so he confined himself to saying, "I'm glad you asked him, and I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself."

He set down the brush he'd been using and stroked Trenor's neck. "This is Trenor, yes. Have you ever met a horse before?"

Trenor, for his part, was stretching out his nose towards Liir, because new people inevitably meant pats and possibly treats.

He shook his head.

"Never. I've met a Horse once or twice, but never a horse."

He looked at the horse and reached his hand out to let it get a sniff.

Karal nodded. "Trenor's a good horse, wonderful, at least I think he is, but he's just an animal."

An animal who was sniffing the proffered hand with interest and, finding it empty of apples or carrots, sighed and looked sadly at Liir for a moment before moving to nudge his hand.

Liir sort of moved to pat the horse's nose carefully.

"How long have you had him?"

Trenor's ear flopped sideways and he dropped his head so it would be easier for Liir to pat him.

"Since I was eleven, and he's always been an opportunist," he said, sounding amused as he leaned on Trenor's shoulder. "I was permitted to select a horse from those tithed to the Temple, and I chose Trenor."

"He seems very nice," Liir commented as he lifted his hand and patted him a little more. "Very handsome, for a horse."

"He was the best of them." Karal tugged affectionately on Trenor's ear as the horse wallowed in the attention. "And he's never let me down."

For a long time, Trenor had been the only friend he'd had. Shaking his head, he straightened. "I have something for you," he said, gesturing at the box and the bag on a nearby hay bale.

He was focused on the horse for a moment, seeing how he liked to be patted, before turning, curiously, to Karal.

"Oh."

It was just his week for it, apparently. Like Lurlinemas come early.

He bit his lip. "You don't have to take them if you don't want to," he said quietly.

Karal moved to fetch the box (http://www.englishteastore.com/lofgrteafort.html), leaving Trenor watching him expectantly - because of course, it must be carrots for him - and then held it out to Liir.

"This is a traditional Karsite gift. It's given when you welcome someone new to the family, which, I know the school matching us up is not the same." He was unaccountably nervous. "But, well, it seemed close enough."

"It's the closest thing to family I've ever had," he admitted just as quietly. "And you accepted it. You didn't have to."

Then he took the box, opening it a moment later.

"Oh," he said again with a faint smile at the tea set. His own tea set, green as Vinkus grass. Smooth and well-finished.

He smiled at Karal and put the box down on the ground ever so carefully before stepping forward and moving to sling his arms around him.

"Thank you."

It was with a great deal of relief that Karal hugged him. Foolish as he'd known he was being, he'd been worried Liir wouldn't want to take it. "You're very welcome."

He smiled and looked up at his Big Brother.

"You'll have to come by for tea sometimes."

And he'd have to buy some tea for the set.

"I'd like that," he said with an answering smile. "There is another thing, but it's just silly." He proffered the bag, which held the pale green, vaguely pine scented candle he'd bought yesterday. "Something for your room."

He reached out and took the bag, opening it even as the scent of the candle hit his nose. It was pleasant, almost like a musk but greener and he put it to his nose for a closer smell.

"Thank you."

He held it by the wick.

"A candle, yes?"

He nodded. "I got it from the Magic Box," he explained. "The scent is supposed to be soothing. Even if it's not, candlelight is nice all on it's own."

He blushed at the mention of the Magic Box.

"It is. I wasn't allowed candles, usually."

Karal hid his smile at the blush. "Well, you're allowed them here. I burn mine quite often."

Trenor snorted and shook his head and Karal moved to scratch under his forelock. "I know," he said to the horse. "You want your dinner." He untied the lead, then looked up at Liir. "Would you like to put him back in his stall?"

"Tell me how," he said, "and I would."

"It's very simple." Karal held the lead out to Liir. "Just take the lead rope and lead him into his stall." He pointed at the one that was open, a big box stall, with deep shavings covering the floor. "Turn him around so he's facing forward, unclip the lead, then come out and close the door. Trenor has excellent manners, so he won't give you any trouble."

Liir nodded just the once before doing as asked, taking the utmost care in each action.

"You seem very sweet," he murmured to the horse, mostly under his breath, "a very sweet horse."

Trenor was placing his feet very carefully, following obediently, and he nuzzled Liir's shoulder.

He liked it when people talked to him.

He smiled at the nuzzle and leaned just a little in response.

"My name is Liir," he said, feeling... understood. Perhaps not his words, but understood all the same. "It's very nice to meet you."

He unclipped the lead and stepped out of the stall before clothing the door behind him.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject