milliways_bar | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

The front door opens, and in stumbles Edgar, looking exhausted and covered with red dust from the knees down. At his side ambles a baby thoat, which looks around at the noisy crowd and immediately tries to hide behind Edgar's legs.

"Oh thank Christ," Edgar breathes, as Tars Tarkas steps into the room behind him.

[Edgar is taggable! Tars is heading home pretty immediately.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Lie on its back? That worked?" It doesn't seem like it should but Edgar doesn't look trampled.

Dry: "Its back's twice the size of that fuckin table there, man."

William tries to picture that and frowns, "But other people were ridin' them astride? How'd they manage it?"

Brahmin are bigger but still cattle sized just big cattle.

"Well, they've got legs about the size of me, for one thing. Except skinnier."

"Hell, this place. Do you want a drink or somethin' for Nitwit?"

"I should get her some moss," he says a bit uncertainly, "and ... figure out where to put her. I don't think keeping her indoors is a good idea."

"There are stalls in the stable. I work there or you could but her out in the paddock. I can show you and Bar will get some moss for her."

"Could you? That'd be excellent."

"Yeah, I'm glad to. Will she follow us?" He stands up and looks down at Nitwit.

"She should, she's been following me for about two days -- Nitwit? C'mon, we're gonna go outside."

She follows readily enough, although seems determined to keep Edgar between herself and the strange new person.

When William notices what Nitwit's doing, he walks farther ahead and opens the door for them,

"This way."

They emerge into the sweet cool air of a summer evening, and relative silence. Edgar breathes in appreciatively; Nitwit does the same, and perks up a little.

And almost immediately tries gnawing on the grass, only to raise her head with a look of shocked dismay. THIS IS NOT MOSS. WHAT IS IT.

William grins at Nitwit and holds up the bucket he picked up from Bar,

"I got your moss, don't have to look like someone tricked you."

Edgar chuckles. "It's new to her, is all. They don't have this where she comes from."

"I know, she's like a colt or a calf, there's a way the world should work and they get annoyed when it ain't doin' what its supposed to."

"D'you ... take care of animals a lot, then? Baby ones?"

"Yeah, I'm a rancher. Calves are always bein' born and horses need takin' care of."

"Well, uh." Awkwardly. "Thoats aren't horses, but that's still more than I know about how to take care of one."

"I know, but young animal though know she'll surprise me. That right, Nitwit, you plannin' on makin' us both go now why'd you do that?"

They're coming towards the stables and he heads to the main door.

Nitwit hesitates on the threshold of the stables. It's dark in there, and smells completely unfamiliar.

"It's okay," Edgar encourages her. "Go on."

"I'll get the lights," He has to get in to hit the switch but he does and the horses all neigh in greeting.

Nitwit lets out a terrified wonk! at the noise, and tries to hide behind Edgar.

"Hey, no." Edgar reaches to pat the leathery head, soothingly, and scratches a little behind the nubby horns. "It's okay, you poor dumbass, none of them are going to try and eat you, I promise. They're just horses. Okay?"

William sets down the moss and gestures for them to stay there before walking down the stalls,

"Now you're all used to odd smells and you're goin' to be nice to Nitwit. Just quiet down a little cause he's littler than you are."

"See?" Edgar murmurs. "They're all scared of you too. Cause you're gonna be ten times bigger than them when you grow up. You're okay here. You'll be okay."

Nitwit shuffles her feet a little, and blows out a breathy sigh.

He comes back and opens an empty stall, "What do you think he'll like to sleep in, hay or should I get more moss?"