The Gig, Monday

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

The hedges bordering each end of The Gig were disgraceful, half wild and threatening to twine around the pasture fence and pull it down, or reach out and grab passing pedestrians. This would be why Rosie was out the front, wielding a hand axe as if the hedge had personally offended her.

At least, it would be what she'd tell people if they asked.

It had nothing to do with wanting to exhaust herself so she'd sleep. Or frustration so overwhelming that she wanted to scream. (And somewhere way down deep underneath, fear that she'd vociferously deny, because the distant voice that used to whisper to her that she wasn't who she thought she was had been right, and being right, had returned.)

STOP STOP STOP.
STOP THAT honestly, some people, no manners, no manners at all.
Think they can just chop down somebody's home.
So rude.
No manners.
Tell her to stop right now!
I am I am, will you let me handle this?

The hedge, as it turned out, was home to a family of field mice, who were extremely displeased at having pieces hacked off of it.

With a sigh, Rosie plunked down on the grass, cross-legged with the axe over her lap, and attempted to explain what she was doing and why to a cross old mouse who glared at her from inside the hedge.

[ooc: open, whee - want a horse? Come and get one! Want a job? Come and get one (or, you know, just email me)!]]

Comments

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

After class, Helen went out wandering. She saw a young woman sitting in the grass with an axe and apparently talking with... mice? Helen's face brightened and she made her way a bit closer to see just what might be going on.

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

They'd just reached an agreement that the mice had pronounced themselves happy with, when Rosie noticed the girl approaching. The mouse showed no interest in dashing back into the hedge, which was a surprise, but stayed where he was, clinging to a branch and watching with bright eyes.

"Hello," Rosie greeted, even if the last thing she wanted to do was socialise. But making a good impression had been hammered into her by Kat, and even here, she would do her best. So she even looked over her shoulder and made an attempt at a smile.

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

Helen smiled at the mouse, letting it know how pleased she was to see it, then managed another smile for the young woman. "Hello," she said politely. "I've never seen anyone else talk to mice before. And have them listen."

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

It was the 'anyone else' that surprised her into answering completely honestly, "They weren't happy that I was putting holes in their home. Which I wasn't," she added, with a look at the mouse, who sniffed, nodded at Helen, and turned on his tail to disappear into the hedge, "just tidying it. Mice are very forthright, I've found." She paused, then asked, "You can speak to them?"

Did everyone on this island have beast-speech?

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

"Well... not speak, exactly, but they understand me and I usually understand them. I can influence quite a number of animals, but I like the insects and rodents best." She looked at the other young woman thoughtfully. "I don't believe I've seen you around before. I am Helen Haras-Uquara. I'm pleased to meet you."

Well, whether she truly was or not had yet to be determined, but politeness dictated she say so at the moment.

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

"You wouldn't have." Rosie stretched to her feet, axe hanging loose in one hand. "I'm Rosie, just Rosie. I arrived Friday night." And it had been luck that Bold knew about the days of the week, and had been able t fill her in on those, too. "I'm a horse-leech by training who knows a bit of smithing, but someone thought that putting me in charge of The Gig would be a good idea, so now I hire horses."

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

Helen nodded. "Then welcome to Fandom. It is a bit odd, but overall quite a good place."

She looked intrigued by Rosie's description. "You care for animals? Now that sounds like a good job."

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

"Thanks, and it is." Rosie favoured her with a brief, but more genuine, smile. "I was the horse-leech, that's someone who cares for sick and injured animals," since the word didn't seem to be common here, "for Foggy Bottom. It was goats or dogs or cows as often as it was horses, though."

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

"I'm not very familiar with the bigger animals," Helen admitted. "But I must say I usually feel more comfortable with animals than people."

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

And that got another. "Yes," she agreed. "Would you like to meet the horses?"

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

Helen's whole face brightened. "Oh yes, yes, I would!"

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

Rosie grinned back at her. "Come on then," she said, and led the way through the hedge into The Gig proper.

The horses were in the small paddock, sleeping, but Bold's ears went forward and he wandered over to peer at the newcomer. "This is Bold."

This is Helen, who has the good sense to prefer the company of animals.

Bold switched his attention to Helen and hung his head over the fence to peer at her. A person of good sense, indeed.

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

"Hello, Bold," Helen said, smiling at the beautiful horse. She put a hand out, mentally asking him to allow her to touch him.

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

Dignified he might be, but Bold was happy to thrust his nose into her hand, eager to be patted.

Which was, again, a point in Helen's favour, as far as Rosie was concerned.

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

Helen laughed delightedly, looking back over her shoulder at Rosie, then turned her full attention back to Bold, petting him and seeing if he could understand her when she mentally asked him to shake his head.

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

Bold shook his head, then lipped at Helen's hands.

Rosie watched them thoughtfully. What do you think?

She's quiet, I like her.

Hands on her hips, Rosie looked around The Gig, at all the work to be done, then turned back. The mystery owner had specifically said she could. "I don't suppose you're looking for work?"

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

Helen laughed again, assuring Bold that next time she would bring a treat for him - as soon as she knew what an appropriate treat would be.

She turned to look at Rosie. "Well, I wasn't actually looking, but I have been thinking that I have far too much free time and should find some way to fill it. I think I would greatly like to spend some of it here."

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

"It will be hard work," she warned. "Stalls to be cleaned, horses to be groomed, hiring them to people, the place needs to be maintained, and half a hundred things I haven't even thought of yet, but if that doesn't scare you, we could start with you coming by once a week."

Rosie never thought she'd be hiring somebody, but then she'd never thought anything that had happened since Ikor's arrival in Foggy Bottom would happen, so she'd add it to the list.

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

Helen gave her a Look. "Does it look as if I am a stranger to hard work? I would be glad to do most anything here in order to spend time with these marvelous creatures."

Yes, far better with animals than humans.

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

For the first time since she'd arrived, Rosie laughed, full throated and genuine. "Then welcome to The Gig," she said, and held out her hand to shake on the arrangement. "We'll figure out the details as we go along."

[elephantgadget.livejournal.com]

Helen looked at her a bit curiously, then smiled herself and shook Rosie's hand. "Thank you," she said. "I think I will enjoy it very much."