The Stables [afternoon]

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"Hi Pips hi!"

The horse, who was used to Mat being, well, normal, swished his tail and shied away.

"Awww, don't be like that," Mat said with a little frown, searching for a stool so he could put the saddle and bridle on.

After a bit of time, he led Pips out of the stables.

Being an enterprising five year old, Mat'd scrawled out a sign in blue crayon:

"PONIE RYDS! 1 KYSSSS EECH. (GYRLS ONLEE)"

Because kissing boys was icky, okay? But until he got customers, he was happy to ride his horse.

Pips might have a slightly different opinion.

Comments

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

Claire was BORED so she was out looking for ADVENTURES.

A horsey was definitely an adventure.

"You gots a horsey!" she said to Mat.

[trigons_child]

Raven went down to the stables because Mat had promised to be nice. She paused to stare at the sign. "What language is that?" she asked. Other than Creative Spelling.

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"His name's Pips," Mat said, patting his neck. "Hi!"

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"What do you mean what language?" Mat said. "There's just the one. And the Old Tongue, but that's just in tales."

[trigons_child]

"There are many languages," Raven said. "I do not know them all, however."

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"How many do you know?" Mat wondered.

[trigons_child]

"Twelve," Raven said, "including magical ones. But I have many more to learn." She studied the sign again, trying to figure it out. "Does that say kisses?"

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"HI PIPS!" Claire shouted. She had to shout because the horsey's ears were real far away.

"And hi! What's your name? I'm Claire!"

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"I'm Mat and shhhhhhhhh," he said. "You'll scare Pips."

Pips was a trained warhorse. You weren't going to scare Pips.

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

Mat nodded. "I added extra s's."

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"Horseys don't get scared," Claire said with a wee little glare. "He's a nice horsey!"

She reached out her tiny hand to pet the horsey.

[trigons_child]

"I do not have kisses to give," Raven said. "May I still have a pony ride?"

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"Horses do to get scared," Mat said. "That's why you can't go near a strange horse without Da."

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"Why don't you have kisses?" Mat demanded.

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"Who's Da?" Claire asked. It was a name she had never heard. "Can I ride the horsey?"

[trigons_child]

"I am not allowed," Raven said. "Azar said so."

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

Mat frowned. "Da's...Da. Mother and Da. And you have to give me a kiss before you can ride the horse."

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"Oh, you mean Daddy. My daddy's not here," Claire said. "But I can gives you a kiss."

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"Is Azar here?" Mat asked, craning his neck to see.

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"Then you can ride my horse," Mat said graciously. "Kiss first, though."

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

Claire grinned and leaned over to kiss his cheek. "There. Now I get to ride the horsey!"

[trigons_child]

"No, she is on Azarath," Raven said. Well, not really, but at this age she was still alive for Raven.

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"Call him Pips," Mat instructed. "That's his name. Have you rode a horse before?"

[wantstocheer.livejournal.com]

"I rided ponies at the fair!" Claire said.

Because that was totally the same thing. Really.

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"Then she won't know," Mat decided.