maskormenacelogs | If I get up, I might fall back down again

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If I get up, I might fall back down again

WHO: Kel and whoever runs into her
WHERE: De Chima mostly
WHEN: Month of August
WHAT: Open prompts
WARNINGS: perhaps sparring violence, eta: kissing

[Kel has settled into a routine now, and it’s starting to show. She is easily found on the road to De Chima, on her way to or from work, or accompanying Lucy to her duties as Ambassador. Perhaps she’s in one of the many parks meditating to pass the time, if so, her gelding Peachblossom will probably not be far away. He’s been clever about getting out, so it’s better he’s close to keep an eye on, AND SHE HAS HIM UNDER CONTROL, YES THANK YOU.

…If Peachblossom wants something from you, he may start tapping his hoof impatiently.
For those with previous appointments, Kel can be found at the Pevensie farm, ready and willing to spar. Or maybe just grab one of the horses for a ride, who doesn’t love trail rides?]

(ooc: need a prompt or don’t like these? I can be found at

Kithnkin for plotting!)

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[Utena spreads out under a tree, taking a break from the summer heat. She takes a swig from her water bottle before rummaging around for her lunch (if one can call a brown paper sack full of snacks and fruit "lunch".) Utena pulls out an apple and- aaaand that's a horse. An actual horse that's trotting around the park. She stares for a moment, before it starts trotting over towards her.]

Whoa! Uh, hey there.

[What's she supposed to do here? Can she pet it- no, this isn't a dog. And it might bite. Wait, do horses bite? Anyway, horses can be pretty skittish, right? So maybe she should take things slow...

While she debates with herself, though, the horse starts to tap its hoof. She furrows her brow and tilts her head, before looking back up at him]

Do you want something?

[Tap tap tap tap tap - huh, is that normal? She wonders what a horse would wa-wait a minute]

...what, this?

[Aaand she's going to hold up her apple]

[OOC: If this doesn't work, let me know and I'll be glad to edit.]

[Peachblossom has learned that as long as he doesn't ACTIVELY threaten anyone, they tend to be willing enough to hand him food to go away. In his opinion, hatred of strangers in his personal space is trumped by free sweets.

The problem being that despite Daryl's help, not many people know Morse Code, or even recognize what he's trying to do. And he's not all that fond of them getting close enough to look at the paper either.

So he points with his nose at that apple and keeps tapping out 'apple'.

Understand now, stupid two-legger]

[Peachblossom could tap out an entire dictionary's worth of words and she still wouldn't be able to understand him. The way he's pointing his head at the apple makes it obvious what he's after, though. Utena hesitates, before she holds it up closer to his mouth, careful to move her hand slowly. Horses spook easily around strangers, don't they? Then again, this guy doesn't seem too shy...]

Here you go. Help yourself.

[She's speaking softly enough to match her movements. If only she knew the horse's true personality, she wouldn't be so careful (nor would she be so eager to share her lunch. If she heard him call her a stupid two-legger, or a stupid anything for that matter, then he could get his own apple!). But for now, she's kind of curious about what's going to happen next. She's never actually fed a horse before, but hey, there's a first time for everything.]

Edited 2016-08-14 06:26 (UTC)

[It's a good thing for all involved Peachblossom can't speak, and he's even got enough manners not to snatch the apple. Instead he snags it almost delicately from her hand and crunches it in obvious enjoyment.

As he does so, he eyes this two-legger. Imports tend to come in all shapes and sizes, but the hair is Different to the gelding's eye.]

[Utena's only had one experience with horses before this, which means that even the simple act of feeding one holds a special sort of novelty. It feels a little odd, but watching how much he's enjoying himself is just endearing, and she help but smile.

In other words: smart move, Peachblossom. Your patience has secured you infinite treats, and if she knows you'll be around, she might just keep an apple just for you! Especially if they can be exchanged for petting that soft, luxurious mane. Or his neck. Or his fa-no, probably not the face. Then again, he does seem awfully friendly, so he must be well trained. Which just makes her wonder: where's his owner. She looks over her shoulder, glancing around the park as best she can from her angle.]

Say, I don't suppose you've seen your friend around, have you?

[Friend may be a funny way of describing the horse's master, but it's hard to shake old habits, even if they rubbed off on you from someone else. Either way, the question is more rhetorical than anything, and she's not expecting an answer from him any time soon.]

[Peachblossom pauses in mid-crunch to eye her. Friend? Well Daryl hadn't been by all day. NOT that Daryl was a friend, mind you. Horse Lords, no.

And Kel was off doing Kel things that she tried to explain but then he got bored and didn't pay attention. So he shakes his head, the problem being that this includes the mane as well, and might just look like restlessness.]

[Utena turns back to Peachblossom and- wait a minute, did that horse just shake its head at her?! Okay, it probably doesn't mean anything. Horses do that sort of thing all the time, right? Then again, between her time with Himemiya and her time here, she's learned not to underestimate anything. She tilts her head, looking at Peachblossom in a new light, before speaking]

...can you understand me?

[She's not actually expecting an answer, but who knows, the horse might surprise her]

[By all the Horse Lords and gods of the People, two-leggers were so dense.

Peachblossom holds her stare with his own before slowly and exaggeratedly nodding twice.]

[Aand at first, there's nothing. Really, what did she expect? For him to nod- wait a minute, he's nodding! Utena startles, her eyes going wide, but she keeps her grip on the apple - or what's left of it]

Whoa...

[Then again, Chu Chu understood her too, didn't he? Maybe this isn't so odd after all. she tilts her head, wondering what to ask next]

So... does this mean that you're an imPort, too?

[It feels like an odd question to ask, but if there's bug imPorts, why not a horse? Besides, it's not like the regular horses here can do this.]

[Peachblossom shakes his mane and takes a half step to the side so his shoulder is front and center with its brief sparkle.

Obviously. Did she take him for one of the stupid natives?]

[Now that Peachblossom has stepped away from her hand, she tosses away the last remains of the apple core and wipes her hand on the grass. The shock of Peachblossom's intelligence is starting to fade, and she leans back with a little half smile on her face.]

Alright, alright, so you're an imPort. But if you're an imPort, that means you have some kind of special superpower, right? So, what did the Porter give you?

[You know, besides being a superintelligent horse.]

[Peachblossom stares at her. Then flips his nose at his shoulder.

What more is there? He got a shiny tattoo, he's GOOD ENOUGH as is.]

[Sorry, Utena can't help but laugh. The horse just looks so... so fussy.]

Hey, you can't blame me for being curious, can you? I don't really see a whole lot of horses like you back home, with or without powers. But, if you ever change your mind, I might be able to dig up another apple for you. Think of it as a reward for your hard work.

[Peachblossom gives Utena a rather disgusted look at this. He doesn't work with her, he has a partnership-

Speaking of, there's a whistle and his ears prick, and his head swivels to catch sight of a tall woman striding towards him. Clearly done with this encounter, the gelding shows Utena his rump and walks towards Kel]

[Wow, rude. The whistle gets Utena's attention as much as Peachblossom's, though, and she forgets his horrible manners as she looks over at the woman in the distance. She gives her a wave, and stands up to greet her properly]

Let me guess, you're a friend of his?

[It seemed like a better alternative than saying "master" or "owner".]

[Kel has her palm out to Peachblossom in greeting as Utena stands up, and she pulls back confused. Peachblossom insistently nudges her shoulder until she hands him the peach half she's holding]

You're getting fat and lazy, lad.

Ah-

Yes, I'm Kel. This is Peachblossom, was he bothering you....?

[She's still slightly baffled by this nearly friendly behavior the gelding has been showing.]

No, not really. It was kind of nice, actually - I don't really see that many horses back home, especially not horses like him.

[And she sounds as relaxed as ever. Evidence that she clearly doesn't understand what's going on through Peachblossom's head]

Oh, there are no horses like him.

[Peachblossom tosses his head, pointedly ignoring the heavy irony in Kel's tone. She swats his neck and shakes her head]

He's just usually not...nice is all I was worried about.

Uh-huh.

[She crosses her arms, giving Peachblossom a sidelong glance. Was she just taken for a ride (no pun intended) by a pony scam artist?]

So I'm guessing he's not exactly a noble steed here. But what's he usually like?

[Peachblossom eyes her right back, excuse he is a Very Noble Steed, Kel just chuckles and feeds him another dried apple]

He's certainly works as a steed back home, I'd be lost without him. He's just particular about the company he lets near.

I suppose the amount of fruit here helps smooth that along some.

[Utena laughs a bit when she mentions the fruit, but she thinks more on what Kel said, and she tilts her head as she looks at her]

I can see how that would help, but... what do you two do back home? You're a little too tall to be a jockey, and I don't think that he'd appreciate being put on a racetrack.

[Oh, she can guess, but she doesn't want to get her hopes up. Not until Kel can confirm.]

Edited 2016-09-03 18:06 (UTC)

I'm a lady knight back home, he's my war horse.

[Kel tilts her head a bit, waiting for the reaction. She's always curious and part of her is waiting for the scorn that surely must come from someone...]

[Utena stares at her, wide-eyed]

That's...

[Suddenly her face breaks out into a wide grin, and she continues to stare at her, her eyes glittering with awe]

That's amazing! I never thought that I'd meet a real knight in shining armor in this place, especially not a lady knight. How did you become one, anyway? I didn't know that women could even become knights.

[Yes, there is an emphasis on the words lady knight, but it's not a judgement. Far from it. The words are spoken with nothing short of admiration, with maybe a tinge of excitement.]

[Kel nearly succeeds in NOT blushing. This is a bit more than she expected]

I...Well, the king declared that girls could try for their shields after Alanna the Lioness made it through pretending to be a boy, so I was the first to try.

[Alanna the Lioness... even that name sounds cool! Though to be honest, everything about this conversation is cool]

That must have been tough - both for you, and the Lioness. But you two made it through! There must be a swarm of girls trying for their shields now.

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