EP: Kate Barlow | Outside, Stables / Main Bar

[ikissdhimbck]

It's been a long time since Beaut's had the pleasure of startling the bar with her presence. The front door admits the five-foot cowgirl and her mount, obviously on their way someplace else, depositing them smack dab in the middle of the bar.

Beaut snorts.

"Oh, come now. S'good t'be back, ain't it?"

Kate wins an ear twitch for her trouble. With a chuckle, she sets about navigating the tables and chairs — and waitrats, we mustn't forget them. She'll get Beaut resettled out in the stables and check on the stock, and once she's done there she'll find a calendar. Once she knows the date and has stopped to look for messages in the stables, at the board, or with the Bar, she'll settle in for a while.

Then again, it's such a beautiful evening out. Maybe she'll take advantage of the lingering light and give Beaut a proper ride up the mountain path.


[ooc: I'm so sorry for inundating the bar! I did try to space everything out. ~sheepish~ Post open indefinitely; catch Kate anywhere you like, she'll be making her rounds and she's in a great humor.]

Comments

[jack_f_twist]

If she does pick the latter, well, she'll probably come across a familiar-enough cowboy, saddling up the chestnut mare Grace had called Boomer. She's standing peacefully by, tail flicking at her hocks, as he settles blanket and saddle on her back, adjusting the girth while a low hum comes tuneless out of his throat, somewhere behind the cigarette hanging off his lip.

The mare's ear flicks, and he runs a rough hand over it, kinda affectionate, before pushing her head away from where she's nosing at his pockets, sniffing out tobacco and mint.

Still pretty damn cold, these evenings, but it's not like he's gonna get dumped on with a fuckton of snow, so. He's surely had worse.

[ikissdhimbck]

The last time Kate saw Jack, he had breasts.

So you could say things have changed some.



"Well, howdy!"

Her smile's as bright as that sinking sun out on the western horizon. She's not sure what kind of etiquette one should employ when talking to friend when, the last time you saw each other, you were a man and they were a woman and you were flirting mercilessly with each other, but such is the nature of Milliways. Hell with it.

[jack_f_twist]

He turns, squinting under the wide brim of his hat -- black, now, dusty and beat-up, nothing like the pretty white one of before -- and, yep, there are plenty of things changed about Jack Twist from that day, but the blue eyes that widen so slightly on seeing Kate ain't one of them.

"Mz Barlow."

Her smile's all bright and shiny, his is slow but no less warm, and he brushes his hands off, makes certain Boomer's hitched secure, and walks over, bow-legged, pushing at the brim of his hat with one blunt finger. "Good t'see you again."

And if he's flushing slightly, well...could be the rosy light of the setting sun to blame, or might be the way he remembers leaning across the bar, hooked on the same smile flashing at him now.

Makes things a mite awkward, if they let it, but Jack's fairly determined not to.

[ikissdhimbck]

Oh, only slightly awkward.

She catches sight of that blush, but as ever has the grace to pretend she doesn't. Only, now he's got her going, and she suddenly has to hide her smile — which has turned a touch too embarrassed, though laced as always with amusement.

Eyes on her boots, she marches on.

"S'good t'see you as well. An' in ... good form."

Okay, she really can't help the laugh that just sneaks through on that last syllable. She doesn't pun often, but when she does, she is hilarious.

[fiery_ring]

Carlotta is in the stables, feeding Bramble a lump of sugar, when Kate comes in. Her train of thought breaks and she smiles at Kate.

"Hallo Kate."

[ikissdhimbck]

"Well, hello Carlotta!"

The last time she saw her was just after the vow renewal.

The memory pulls her up short, smile flickering for the briefest moment as Tommy infiltrates her thoughts. She brushes it off, leading Beaut over to her stall.

"How've you been?"

[fiery_ring]

"Oh, up and down." Carlotta says. "But I think Will and I are getting back on track at least. How have you been?"

[ikissdhimbck]

"I hope there haven't been any troubles since last we spoke?"

She's concerned for Will. For both of them, naturally; all the excitement from their vow renewal is ever present in her mind.

"I've been well, thank you."

[knightoftheswan]

Lohengrin is outside as well, going through a quiver of arrows on the targets while it's still light out.

But Pfeifferkuchen isn't in the stables.

[ikissdhimbck]

She catches sight of him on her way back to the bar, pausing to smile and wave.

[knightoftheswan]

The Knight spies her out of the corner of his eye. He nods before letting his arrow fly. His hand now free, he returns the wave.

His smile is present but a bit smaller.

[ikissdhimbck]

It's not the kind of expression she'd expect from a newly wed.

She carefully picks her way over, giving his targets a wide berth.

"How are y'farin', Sir Lohengrin? Enjoyin' the evenin'?"

[ostro_goth]

Teja is by the fireplace; he watches with amazement as Beaut dances her way between the furniture.

He does not applaud, as not to startle the horse.

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate notices they've garnered attention, and laughs haplessly.

"She's practically a professional at this now."

Still doesn't much care for the waitrats, however. One scuttles by, and she pulls at her reins in a huff.

[ostro_goth]

"They few times that I had to take Bramble and/or Orion through here were always much less elegant," Teja says. "She has poise, doing that!"

[ikissdhimbck]

There comes a soft whickering. Flattery will get you everywhere, Teja.

"The first time she put hooves on hardwood was far less elegant, I can assure you. Since it kept happenin', I figured it'd be wise t'get her used to it. An', bein' fair, she's a touch smaller'n Bramble."

[not_his_pa]

William's settled in the tack room with his current book, The Black Arrow as he waits for the coffee to finish.

The tack he was cleaning is on a nearby table as he will return to it once he's finished this chapter.

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate's not quiet as she enters the stables. Each and every animal here has their own personal greeting, and she takes care to acknowledge them all as she moves toward Beaut's stall. Whistling, cooing, speaking soft words; she laughs when they 'answer' her.

[not_his_pa]

The sounds of her filter into his thoughts and William marks his place and looks out from the tack room,

"Miss Barlow, that you?"

[a1enzo]

"You know, sometimes Milliways brings people in through the grounds."

He's just saying.

[ikissdhimbck]

"Sometimes she does."

Kate smiles without restraint.

"But not always. There's only one official way in, an' I think she likes keepin' us on our toes now an' then."

[a1enzo]

"Or hooves."

[bornuntotrouble]

Well, if she's going up the path...

"Well, well, well. And here I thought Texans couldn't stand the cold."

...there'll be a very familiar silhouette coming down it.

[ikissdhimbck]

She squints down the way, hunting out the familiar voice.

"Can't. Haven't y'noticed I ain't been 'round much?"

She grins.

"Ho there, John! Maybe I'm tougher'n I look."

[bornuntotrouble]

John tips his hat in response. "Wouldn't surprise me, Miss Barlow. How've you been?"