The Gig, Friday [5.12]

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

Up on the rooftop, click, click, click...

Rosie groaned as she stared up at the barn roof. There were horses on it. Tiny horses. Frolicking tiny horses. White ones.

Bold, ears laid back, was staring up at them, radiating displeasure.

You could come down, Rosie told them. There's oats down here, and hay and sugar. Yes, she was wheedling. She was not above bribery if it meant stopping the noise. Wee and happy they might be, but hooves on tin were never going to be considered melodious.

The reply came not in words, precisely, but in a burst of joyous happiness as they cavalled, leapt, and piaffed their way down the sloping roof, then wheeled to gallop back up it.

Rosie couldn't help smiling. Look at it this way, she said, leaning companionably on Bold's shoulder. At least it's not boring here.

Bold snorted and grudgingly allowed his ears to straighten. Boring, he replied, curving his neck to nose her face, is underrated.

Comments

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

Mr. Twain was eyeing the tiny horses with a mixture of bewilderment, and amusement. Part of him was waiting to see if one would fall.

Tully came by to see his friend, and noticed the horses as well. "So, you've got 'em too."

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

She greeted the question with relief. "So they're not just here," she said. "That's something, at least."

[cowboy-sailor.livejournal.com]

"Yeah there's a few on the roof of the keeper's dwelling. Makes me glad that was one of the first things I fixed."

[nojesusfreak.livejournal.com]

Biff was off for a wander. As you do when you don't have enough to do and the tapping on the roof of your house is driving you absolutely insane.

"Do you happen to sell tiny shoes that make horses quiet?" he asked.

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

Rosie was startled into a laugh. "I only know how to make horse shoes out of metal," she replied, leaning on the fence to smile at him. "Which would just make it worse."

[nojesusfreak.livejournal.com]

"It really would," Biff agreed. "I suppose it could be made even more ridiculous if they were wearing tiny tap shoes."

He paused, then addressed the air above him. "That isn't a suggestion!"

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

Rosie eyed him, as did Bold. "I don't think they can understand you," she said carefully.

[nojesusfreak.livejournal.com]

"It never hurts to check," Biff said airily, then grinned. "I'm Biff, and not generally insane."

Big liar.

"Hello."

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

She grinned back, completely against her will. "Rosie, and neither am I," she said, offering her hand.

[nojesusfreak.livejournal.com]

"It's very nice to meet you, Rosie," Biff said. "Have you been in town long?"

He'd thought he knew what most of the pretty women in town looked like.

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

"Long enough to take tiny horses on the roof in my stride," she said, just a touch wryly. "I've been pretty busy here, though, so I haven't ventured out much."

[nojesusfreak.livejournal.com]

"And that is a real shame," Biff said sincerely. "It means I missed knowing you sooner."

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

Rosie rolled her eyes and Bold snorted at Biff. "Really," she said deadpan with just a sneaking hint of amusement.

[nojesusfreak.livejournal.com]

"Too much? I thought that might've been too much," Biff agreed, eyes twinkling.

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

Reluctantly, she was smiling at him again. "Just a bit," she said, on a huff of laughter.

[nojesusfreak.livejournal.com]

"So what do you do here, Rosie, if it's not providing me with soundproof shoes for bitty horses?" Biff asked.

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

"I run this place." And it still surprised her. "Hire horses, do some blacksmithing, but I'm an animal leech by training." She considered him, head tilted. "And you, Biff? What do you do on the island, besides delivering outrageous flattery."

[nojesusfreak.livejournal.com]

"If I could get paid for that, believe me, I would," he said with a wink, "but I work over at Wellspring Arms & Meditation."

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

"Arms and meditation?" she asked. "Isn't that a bit of a contradiction?"

[nojesusfreak.livejournal.com]

"Yep," Biff said happily. "Sometimes all the meditating in the world isn't going to stop you from having to bop someone really hard in the head."

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

She laughed. She couldn't help it. "True. I often find myself with the urge to bop people over the head, but some people bring it on themselves."

[nojesusfreak.livejournal.com]

"That's because a lot of people are dumb," he told her oh-so-wisely. "You should stop by sometime. I could show you how to properly meditate. Or bop people."

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

She shook her head at him, charmed despite herself. "I may just do that."

[nojesusfreak.livejournal.com]

Biff grinned at her. "If you don't, I'll come back and demand tiny dance shoes for horses."

[berserkerminsc.livejournal.com]

Minsc was...just taking a stroll, and it just so happened that Boo wanted to go down the way where the Gig was, and, well, it would just be terribly rude to not say hi while they just happened to be in the area.

"Hullo, there, Rosie; I see you have visitors on your roof as well!"

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

"Minsc," she called, and smiled, feeling simultaneously far too happy to see him and a sneaking guilt that she'd not been to visit. "They seem to like it here," she added.

Bold shook his head and snorted at the wee horsies, who ignored him.

[berserkerminsc.livejournal.com]

Minsc gave Bolt a smile. "Boo was not a fan, either," he disclosed to the horse so that he did not feel too bad. Turning to Rosie, though, he added, "Although that might have had something to do with me thinking we were under attack when I woke up this morning to hear them. You should see the house!"

He was very, very proud, indeed.

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

Oh no. Rosie couldn't help wincing, just a little. "That must have given the tiny horses a surprise!" she said, then added, "I can come and have a look tomorrow, if you don't mind a visitor." There might be repairs she could help with, after all.

[berserkerminsc.livejournal.com]

"They did seem a little startled," Minsc admitted. "But do not worry! They are all safe! Very quick, those tiny little horses! And I would love a visit!"

He just have any reason to expect that there'd be one this time, either.

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

"I'll be there," she promised, and this time she would. "Someone new works here on Saturdays, so I've got the whole day free."

[berserkerminsc.livejournal.com]

"Oh, yes," Minsc nodded. "I've met her! Lady Juno seems a very nice addition to your employment."

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

Rosie nodded. "I hired her when I was still a panda, so I think she'll take most things in her stride," she said. "I won't worry about the place when she's here." She looked at him curiously. "When did you meet her?"

[berserkerminsc.livejournal.com]

Minsc took a moment, finger to chin as he tried to think carefully back. It was hard to remember exacts sometimes, thanks to all the head blows, but he thought he had it.

"I think," he said, "it was indeed last Saturday. I had a bit of a twist with one of my swords."

A twist, clearly, being somehow managing to knot steel.

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

Her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "How did you manage that?" she asked. "And do you need me to fix it?"

[berserkerminsc.livejournal.com]

Minsc ducked his head sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "It was very impressive," he said. "But it was an old sword, probably made with Nashkel iron during the Mine Crisis, so it was bound to happen eventually! I have many more, better swords. It would be an insult to your time to have you bother fixing it now, Rosie."

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

Rosie fixed him with a look. "After everything you've done for me, I'm not sure any use of my time for you could ever be an insult. Fixing your sword definitely isn't," she said firmly. "I can collect it tomorrow when I come and see you."

[berserkerminsc.livejournal.com]

"Unnecessary," Minsc said with a nod, having to bolster himself back up again after softening a little under that look. "I have many other, better swords, I assure you, and it will stand as it is as a vigilant reminder of what to keep my steel out of."

[waytoomanynames.livejournal.com]

She kept looking at him, then threw up her hands in surrender, knowing there was no point arguing with him. And really, it was his sword. If he didn't ant it fixed, she couldn't make him give it up. "Okay, but next time you damage a weapon, I get to fix it. Deal?"

[berserkerminsc.livejournal.com]

Minsc chuckled a little. "Depends on what you'd considered damaged."