the_lioness | (no subject)

(no subject)

*War horses should not have their manes braided. Not like this. Some might call it an insult to their ferocity. Mithros, however, doesn't seem to mind as Alanna climbs up on the picnic bench and begins braiding, humming as she twines the golden thread through each tiny braid.

It's a beautiful morning, a light breeze occasionally blowing a few pieces of yarn down the gelding's back, forcing Alanna to balance and stretch her arm out as far as possible to retrieve them. The sun feels wonderful against her face, and she smiles. Mithros turns his head and gives her a resigned look. It's possible that he is wondering if the other war horses will laugh and call him names, but such thoughts are quickly dispelled when she reaches up and scratches his ear.*

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The storm has washed everything clean: from the spotless azure sky, to the very air itself—crisp and clear without the faintest hint of humidity to come. Shallow snaking furrows in the flower bed earth are evidence of the heavy run-off around the patio, and leaves continue to languorously drip the last of their burden.

The meadow still sparkles under a layer of cobwebbed dew as Goldilocks makes tracks through it on her way back from the lake. White shorts and a pink tank top are perfectly suited to this beautiful morning, and hair down is a must. The shorts bear a few flecks of moisture around the bottom edges, and there are a few resiliant blades of grass clinging to her knees.

Sun refracting in her golden hair, she looks blissfully at peace with the world and gives Alanna cheerful wave and smile as she approaches the picnic table.

"Morning!"

Good morning, Goldy!

*Alanna waves back just as cheerfully, biting back an oath when her current braid slips right through her fingers, the strands unraveling. Mithros stomps his foot.*

Aye, my boy. I know. It was nearly perfect, wasn't it? Oh well. The next one will be even better.

*She grins, and gives Goldy a small bow. It looks rather funny from atop the picnic table.*

Been for a walk?

She makes her way over and perches herself on the edge of the bench, finally spotting the errant grass and swatting it off her leg.

"Yes, indeed," she says with a grin. "I woke up early and the morning seemed just right for it."

Bright and full of herself.

"Braiding Mithros' mane?" she teases, stating the obvious.

Indeed I am. We went for a ride earlier, and you speak the truth. It is a lovely morning.

*She smiles at her, then glances back at her hands again. They move surely and swiftly, looping the yarn around just so and pulling it through the top so that the braid forms a small button of sorts.*

No real reason, mind. I just felt like being outside. Sitting in there for the last few days has been torture. Plus I got rather drunk last night, and craved fresh air.

She smiles and reaches up to pat the horse's hind quarters fondly.

"Hm, so this would be hair of the horse as a hangover cure. I'll have to try it some time. I bet his gallop blew the cobwebs right out of your head. Didn't it, boy?"

She looks back at the knight. "You look suitably recovered now."

*Alanna grins.* Getting there. I'm not sure if it was the gallop or the hangover cure I acquired from Bar.

*Without turning her head, she points at a glass full of murky liquid further down the table.*

I swear I was not a drinker before I came here. Honestly.

"Aw, I don't believe that for a second. All the knights I knew drank their weight in liquor on a regular basis," she jokes, casting a speculative eye at the horrible looking concoction.

Yes, but most knights didn't have to take care of their future adopted father when he drank too much and started rambling on about the inherent problems involved with chivalry and knight training.

*Her voice drops a bit. There is more to her dislike of drinking, but that is for another day. A rainy one.*

Myles was the court drunk. Lovable, but quite fond of his own wine.

Rainy days are not for talking.

"The Forsworn Knight was quite an amusing drunk. Snow's flying money clerk used to get him liquored up when no-one was around, and let him sing and spout off prophecy. Caused quite a riot one time."

She shifts her self up so she's sitting on the table top, and combs her fingers through the gallant creature's tail. She takes some of the coarse hair gently in her hand, checks his irritable head throw and chuckles. He knows what's coming next. She grins at Alanna and amuses herself by starting to plait his tail as well.

Careful, he might kick. *Alanna quirks an eyebrow and gives her a wry smile.* He's normally mild-mannered, but he gets irritable when too many people are fussing over him. I, for one, understand this perfectly. We won't mention the day I had five women fawning over me, trying to get my hair up and me in a dress for a court function. Oh, wait. I just did.

*She snickers, tying off another braid.*

Goldy wrinkles her nose and turns back to Alanna, letting the tail work unravel.

"I'm starting to wonder if you've even reached hangover stage yet," she laughs. "It's good to see you so happy. Interviews all done?"

*Alanna laughs.* It's possible I'm still drunk, I suppose. I vaguely remember something called a hot tub and renaming Raven. It's a bit blurry.

*Her hand stills, fingers gently combing through a bit of mane before scratching Mithros' neck.*

Yes, they are. I finished Wednesday evening. *She swallows, looking at her with a smile.* I stayed up all night thinking about it and inadvertently wound up crying over Peter. *She shrugs.* It was a long time coming, and... cathartic.

*She turns back to the mane.* It is good to see you looking so happy too. More poetry?

She chuckles after an understanding nod. "You didn't get sucked down the drain of the hot tub, I hope. Presumably not. You don't look like the type to have a fascination with big red knobs."

She settles back on the table, leaning back on her palms.

"You could say that it was poetry of a sort," she admits with a cheeky grin. "It would make a good article for a men's magazine anyway."

Oh? *Alanna tilts her head, eyeing her curiously.* Please elaborate. I do not know of... a men's magazine.

*She bites her lip, moving down the table a bit and concentrating on a new patch of mane.*

"You're not missing much," she says with a little snicker of her own. "Lot's of photos of naked women with cosmetically enhanced breasts, and made-up stories of scandalous sexual liaisons. Normally between housewives and plumbers."

"Um... plumbers fix water pipes and blocked sinks and stuff. There's a lot of room for innuendo with the tradesman," she explains.

*Alanna blinks, silently having one of those moments when she remembers she is at the end of the universe, with people from different worlds. Worlds with things like plumbers, blocked sinks and... cosmetically enhanced breasts? She glances down. Like... with rogue?

Shaking herself, she sticks some yarn in her mouth and nods.*

So what you're saying is, there is a man involved. *She smiles slowly.* Good for you.

She beams. "Yes. It was rather."

"I assume the feeling was mutal. He seemed to enjoy himself as well."

*Alanna snorts, gesturing to Goldy with her elbow.*

Of course he did. Look at you. He'd have to be an idiot not to, but somehow I don't think you go in for the stupid type. *She smiles.*

She closes one eye and crinkles her nose, slightly sheepish. "That all depends if your definition of stupid includes having sex outside in the middle of a thunderstorm. If it does, then, don't hold it against him, because it was all my idea."

How... elemental. *She smiles, taking a piece of yarn from her mouth and refraining from mentioning anything about Liam and their long trek through Sarain.* Not stupid, no. Perhaps a bit foolhardy.

*Sighing, she turns to look at her.*

I can not hold anything against anyone unless you mention names, but I wouldn't anyway. *She winks, clamping down on her curiosity, and a small twitch in the back of her mind.*

She pulls her knees up and hugs them, making a very convincing play of coy teenaged girl.

"But that would be telling."

*Alanna laughs, quirking an eyebrow at her.*

I can not debate that. It would, in fact, be telling.

She looks up and grins again. "What's it worth?"

*Alanna throws a piece of yarn at her. It doesn't get very far.*

A drink or two perhaps, so that I may be jealous as you tell me about your fun, and I try to remember why, precisely, I've sworn off men.

*She rolls her eyes at herself.*

"Possibly, I might be persuaded to impart my secret for..."

She raises an eyebrow wickedly.

"...a kiss."

And credit where credit's due, she does manage to keep a remarkably straight face.

Really? *She blinks, running her tongue over her teeth.* The mare two stalls down seems to think Mithros gives good kisses. Mithros? Turn your head and kiss the nice lady.

Goldy reaches out and thwaps Alanna's thigh.

"Mean knight," she scolds teasingly between her giggles. "I guess the information isn't worth much to you after all."

Oh, just tell me already. I'm waiting with bated breath. *Alanna manages not to stick her tongue out. Instead, she starts another braid, smiling a bit.* Now I'm curious.

"And you know what they say about curiousity..."

Something about killing the cat.

*She quirks an eyebrow, eyes on her hands. Ah, Josiane. I did not know your name was curiosity.. Alanna sighs.*

"Curiosity is the very basis of education and if you tell me that curiosity killed the cat, I say only that the cat died nobly." She smiles warmly and leans her head right back, delighting in the sun on her face, and letting the breeze waft her hair gently.

"I'm surprised he hasn't told you himself actually. You seem pretty tight."

Beat.

"It was Adam," she finishes lightly.

Not... not so tight.

*The braid, almost done, slowly unravels. One of Alanna's hands drops to her side, the other grasping at a bit of mane. Several strands of yarn slide off the other side of Mithros' neck and fall to the dirt.*

Those will be ruined.

*Blinking rapidly, she leans forward and puts her weight on Mithros. It's only the jarring sensation of her feet hitting the ground that reminds her to breathe.

He doesn't want you. Friends, remember?

You've no claim. Just wounded pride. Lots of it. Just pride.

Force it down.

Feeling the heat in her face, Alanna moves under the horse's neck and busies herself picking up the yarn, one strand at a time.

Can't think.

She checks Mithros' hoof for a moment, trailing her fingers up his leg, eyeing it for signs of strain. As soon as she's standing, she buries her face in his neck for a split second and bites the inside of her cheek until it bleeds.

Can't breathe. Stupid to be jealous, really. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Taking a deep breath, she turns to Goldy with a small, distracted smile. Only a few seconds have passed, but it feels much longer to Alanna.*

Well! I'm glad you enjoyed yourself.

None-the-wiser, Goldy lifts her head off her shoulders again, smiling warmly. "It was pretty intense. I have to admit that I'm a bit of a junkie for the adrenaline rush. Hence, the storm."

"Heh. That's why I was out here actually. Lost my necklace in the throes. Fortunately, it was still there." She pulls out the gold chain from her top and dangles the pendant through her fingers.

"Buried it a bit. But she lives," she adds with a waggle of her eyebrows. "I've had this old thing for, oh, several hundred years now. I'd have missed it."

*Intense.

It's odd how that word almost hurts worse than the mention of Adam's name.

You must not cry out in the Chamber of the Ordeal. It runs through her head like a mantra. I will not cry out.

I will not cry.

Alanna slowly leans down and examines the necklace, then straightens with a curt nod.*

It.. *She waves her hand in Goldy's direction and begins to undo the braids, quickly.* It's beautiful.

*And all I can see are his hands on you, his mouth on yours.*

Goldy watches Alanna undo all her work. "Aw. And he was so pretty."

"I think he liked you doing it more than he let on." She eyes Mithros as he shakes his head helpfully, letting the released strands of mane untwist and straggle untidily again.

"He certainly values your company."

It was nothing. *She sighs.* And he just tolerates me.

*A bit pale, she combs her fingers through his mane and stares in the direction of the stables.*

I've kept him from his oats long enough. Until later, then. Enjoy the day.

*She bites her lip and somehow manages to smile at the same time. Scrambling down again, Alanna wraps Mithros' lead around her wrist and tugs gently.

Goddess, Goddess... I have to get away from here.*

Bye, Goldy. Have fun.

Goldilocks hops off the table and dusts her rear down. "Ok. Enjoy the lovely day."

She heads back toward the bar, waving over her shoulder before she enters. "See you!" she calls brightly. "Bye Mithros!"

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