Caspian X | at the stables, in the bar

[the_seafarer]

It has been some time since his last sojourn here at the end of the Universe, but when Caspian enters from his cabin on the Princess Royal, the place looks quite the same as ever. 

A few new faces, and the lack of some old ones, but that same warm feeling is as present as he recalls.

And it's spring – better still. Moments after he arrives, he makes his way to the stables, where he spends a good deal of time cosseting his old friends. Who is managing the place now, he's not certain, but the horses and creatures seem well cared for. It gives him a pang to see Susan Allgood's once bustling stables so quiet and still, though, and he makes himself a promise that he'll come back more frequently to care for them as they deserve.

The horses he turns out, letting them stretch their legs in the warm spring sun as they frolic around the paddocks. Once they're set, he turns his attention to the problem of the Hope, waiting patiently in the stall where he'd set her to winter. The little boat needs plenty of work, but it'll be hard work to move it out into the fresh air by himself. He draws open the stable doors as wide as they can go, then begins setting wooden rollers on the ground.

Later, towards the evening, he may be found at the bar proper, a cup of tea at hand as he pens a letter.

... it is passing strange, to look about this place and not see those I expect. It feels rather as though they are simply just out of the corner of my eye, waiting for me to look at them so they can tease me for my long absence. And, of course, it is not the same without my raven girl, wind in her hair and the spring sun shining down upon her. The wildflowers are blooming, Marian. I wish you were here to see them.

Do come say hello.

Comments

[the_seafarer]

"Here, at least," Caspian agrees, and turns to haul another roller into place.

"One never does know what season one might walk into here. This was a pleasant surprise."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Need a hand with that?" he offers.

"I guess you're right. I've just gotten used to taking this place as it comes."

[the_seafarer]

Caspian glances up at him and smiles, sea-grey eyes crinkling at the corners. "Oh, that's very kind," he says, and straightens, stepping back so the newcomer can see more clearly how the rollers are laid from an open stall containing a small wooden boat.

"Easier to get a cart, I expect," he muses, "but with the rollers I can move it myself."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Or a sling, or a trailer," he agrees. "But this should work."

Bucky eyes the boat with interest. "She's a nice one."

[the_seafarer]

"I suppose I could hitch Corella to a cart," he agrees, "but I've already turned her out, and a little exercise won't hurt me."

He nods to the rollers and sets the next in line, then moves to the boat and begins pushing it onto the first. "Thank you," he says, sounding pleased. "I built her... oh, years ago, now, when I first arrived at this place."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Here, let me," he says, and comes to the side of the boat. Bucky braces it with his left hand and arm, figuring that using it as a lever to propel it forward is better than risking an accident with his grip, and uses his right hand to guide and steer.

"You handle the rollers, I'll handle this, if that works for you."

[the_seafarer]

"Isn't that marvelous," Caspian exclaims, studying the man's metal arm. "Yes, it certainly does. And we needn't go far; there's a spot just outside which will do nicely."

He goes to the rollers, standing back as his new acquaintance pushes, and makes ready to move the rollers from the back to the front as needed.

[nerves_of_ice]

"It's pretty useful," he agrees. More so to be using it like this than what it was originally created for - the first version, anyway. "The woman who made it's a genius."

He guides the little craft carefully over the rollers as the other man places them with no apparent difficulty whatsoever.

[the_seafarer]

"I imagine she must be," he says, and gestures to the boat. "You see the extent of my engineering prowess here. To make something like an arm, which moves and acts just as a flesh and blood one – that is far beyond my understanding."

The man makes quick, easy work of a task which would find Caspian sweating and straining, and Caspian laughs, quick and bright, as they quickly push the little boat out into the spring sunlight. "Oh, stout fellow," he praises. "You've made my day a good deal easier."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Wait, you made this boat yourself?" he exclaims. "That's amazing."

Once they have the little craft steadied where the other man wants it, Bucky keeps it braced with his left hand and offers his right to shake.

"Bucky," he says. "I'm Bucky Barnes. Nice to meet you."

[the_seafarer]

"I did, aye. Long ago, now, but she's aged gracefully, like the lady she is," he laughs.

Caspian meets the man's hand with his own and shakes firmly. His palm and fingers are callused and strong; a token of the time he now spends at sea.

"Caspian," he introduces himself. "What a pleasure to meet you, Bucky. That would have taken me all morning by myself."

[nerves_of_ice]

"Happy to help," Bucky tells him. "Been a while since I worked on the docks, but some things the body remembers."

[the_seafarer]

Caspian laughs as he unclips the tarp from the top of the boat and pulls it away. "Well, if you've any interest in reliving those days, there's plenty I need to do to get this old girl seaworthy again, and I'd be delighted for the company."

Free of the tarp, one can now see into the interior of the little boat. The cushions that normally pad the seats are packed away, as is the mast, but there's a bag of rustling material tucked away in the cockpit, cheek and jowl with a beautifully carved rudder and tiller made of some dark wood.

Caspian digs the bag out and opens it, hauling the canvas sails out to spread them on the sweet-smelling grass.

[nerves_of_ice]

"Like I said, happy to help," Bucky repeats. "Where do you want me?"

[the_seafarer]

"Over here," Caspian says. "Help me spread these out, will you?"

The sails are showing their age, but even the faded canvas looks bright and cheerful under the spring sun. "I hope I'm not keeping you from anything," Caspian says, as they work. "Dear me, I didn't even think to ask. How terribly rude of me."

[nerves_of_ice]

"You're not," Bucky assures him. "I was just checking one of the pastures to see if it'd be good for a goat. Nothing big."

He takes the other side of the sails from Caspian, helping to draw them over the grass and looking for signs of tears or damage in need of repair.

[the_seafarer]

Caspian laughs, bright and boyish. "Won't the horses be surprised?" he says, amused at the very image.

"But do me a favor and keep the creature away from the stallions, won't you? They get a bit territorial."

[nerves_of_ice]

"I was thinking to keep her away from all the horses," he says, dryly. "I just figured it'd be a better idea for her to be out here rather than tied up in the bar for longer than a few minutes."

[the_seafarer]

"Heavens, yes."

He is far less familiar with goats than other four-legged beasts, but even he knows that much. "Well, the horses aren't likely to mind her, but if you like, I'll help build a little pen where she can stay."

[nerves_of_ice]

"That'd be great," Bucky agrees. "Thanks. She's definitely too small for the pasture. She'd be through that fence quick as lightning."

[the_seafarer]

"A favor for a favor," Caspian says, cheerily, as he sinks to a knee and begins fastidiously checking the larger of the two sails.

"And I'll feel better having repaid the labor. There's some clever wire fencing I've seen used here on occasion, perhaps that would suffice, on a wooden frame."

[nerves_of_ice]

He keeps working through the sail he's already taken up. "I don't mind," he points out. "Don't feel like you have to repay anything."

[the_seafarer]

Something about this quiet man and his statement reminds him suddenly and forcefully of Ennis, and Caspian's smile turns crooked for a moment.

"Well, we wouldn't get very far if we didn't help one another with things here, would we?" he asks, reasonable. "And I shouldn't mind in the least. Besides, the animals here were once my responsibility, and I suppose old habits die hard."

[nerves_of_ice]

"True," Bucky agrees, then looks up at him in surprise.

"They were?"

[the_seafarer]

"Oh, yes."

There's no mistaking the wistfulness in his expression now; he pauses a moment in his work and looks over at the stables, seeing something or someone invisible to the eyes of his companion. "I was stablemaster here for... oh, quite a while."