The Gig, Monday

[shiniernyours.livejournal.com]

The horses were at the far end of the paddock when Bender arrived. He grudging picked up some brushes, and headed out. They moved.

He followed them. They moved again, the grey one looking over his shoulder and snickering.

It didn't take long for Bender to use up his small amount of patience and smaller amount of effort. "Don't think that'll stop me seeing you minced up and out of here," he threatened, "I know people in Belgian restaurants!" Belgians, mostly.

The Gig is open, the horses unphased and Bender rhythmically kicking at a wall.

[Open and OCD free]

Comments

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

Hinata had supposed that, really, she ought to get out and about a little more. Checking in on her assigned sibling sounded like a good way to do that.

"W-What," she asked, "are you doing?" A pause. "And t-the why, please?"

[shiniernyours.livejournal.com]

"Are your eyes broken? Kicking the fence," Bender told her.

"And because the horses are too far over there." He finished the sentence with a punctuating kick.

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

"Too far?" she asked, ignoring the insult. "W-Where are they supposed to be?"

[shiniernyours.livejournal.com]

"Out of kicking range," Bender explained.

"Which I wouldn't want to do-" much "-if'd they'd just stand still." He brandished a couple of brushes.

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

Ahhh.

"P-Perhaps tie them," she suggested. "A r-rope around their neck that's attached to the fence. T-That way they'd run away less."

Though, she thought, if he was kicking them, she couldn't blame them for avoiding him.

[shiniernyours.livejournal.com]

Bender hadn't kicked them, wasn't worth his time. Yet. Threats didn't count.

"I'd still have to catch them first," he grumbled. "Moving targets."

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

"Bribe t-them?" she suggested, hiding a smile. "With a-apples, or carrots?"

[shiniernyours.livejournal.com]

Bribery was something Bender preferred to be on the receiving end of. But just because he offered something didn't mean he'd actually have to give it.

"Everyone's got their price," he said, pulling open his torso and pulling out. "Beer, chewing gum, beer from oats..."

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

She ducked her head, letting a soft laugh escape.

"I do not think you o-ought to get them drunk," Hinata ventured.

[shiniernyours.livejournal.com]

"It'd slow them down," he said, almost regretful.

"But yeah, better keep that for Bender," he said, tucking the bottle back in.

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

"You'll enjoy i-it more than they would," she commented. "As far as I k-know, at least. Perhaps t-there are some apples about?"

[shiniernyours.livejournal.com]

"Probably." And with that Bender disappeared for a few moments, coming back and dragging, with exaggerated effort, a bucket holding a few softening apples.

Bender picked one up, tossed and caught it. "These'll do," he said, and whistled at the nearest of the horses.

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

"Hopefully," she said mildly, just watching the horses calmly. "I d-don't admit to knowing much about t-them."

[shiniernyours.livejournal.com]

"You don't have horses out in-- wherever you come from?"

Smudge wandered in a little closer, and Bender lobbed an apple. It smooshed at her feet, and she danced back, nosing at it just out of range.

[shyest-eyes.livejournal.com]

"Not m-many," she admitted easily. "Not in our village, a-at least. I don't t-think they like having them thrown at them."

[shiniernyours.livejournal.com]

"So, hovercars instead? It didn't even hit it," protested Bender, looping and extending an arm - still holding an apple - as if casting a fishing line.