Mal-Susan dream.

[bad_in_latin]

Mal opens his eyes and he is riding faster than he ever remembers riding before. The split-rail fence is a whitewashed blur to his left, and he leans in closer to the gelding's neck. No reins and no restraints

Comments

[sai_delgado]

The sound of returning hoofbeats carries through the air like the thunder of a summer storm. The gelding races back over the land towards Mal, running swiftly, its golden mane surprisingly bright in the evening light--

Golden mane?

The sound of delighted laughter is clear -- and as the horse swerves and soars into a leap over a low-lying cluster of rocks, its rider is suddenly clearly visible as well.

Susan Allgood, Susan Delgado-that-was, bends low over the gelding's neck and calls soft encouragement, guiding the horse toward the tree with its bright red leaves, and the man beneath it.

[bad_in_latin]

Mal peels his attention away from the star-studded shawl above him, looking to the horse and its new rider, a quiet smile growing and wrinkling the corners of Mal's eyes.

"I keep hopin' that you show up," he starts in lieu of a hello. "How you been, meimei?"

[sai_delgado]

The gelding minces slightly as he slows to a walk and then to a halt. Susan swings down from his back and murmurs into the horse's ear, then sends him on with a pat.

She stands there before Mal, her soft smile as bright as her hair, even in the starlight.

"I've been good, Mal, say true-- and thee?"

[bad_in_latin]

The question gives Mal pause, and he almost looks like he's not going to answer it, until:

"Been better. You don't want to hear about all o' that, though. Come on over, sit by me."

Mal pats the spot next to him against the wide treetrunk, smirking like he almost always...used to.