(Untitled)

[a_lioness]

Thanksgiving isn't a holiday in Tortall, but Alanna decides it would be a perfect excuse to follow through on her plans with Mel. Too often, these offers fall by the wayside; she's determined that this not happen here, if only to see Mike investigate the castle's kitchen

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[slayer_fray]

The undead cursed dream thief bounces happily into the stables, fully expecting a ride and a half.

HORSES pretty much covers her entire thought process right now.

[a_lioness]

Following closely behind, Alanna can't help grinning at her friend's enthusiasm. It's contagious, not that she's ever had any trouble getting excited about a good ride.

"I've got two horses to show you," she calls. "Either will suit, so you can take your pick."

But she doesn't point them out yet, instead watching Mel take in the stables.

[slayer_fray]

It stinks, this place. But, the city girl decides, in a good way. It's not a stink that smells like it's lining your lugs with every breath: more one that feels like it's stripping the lining instead.

She heads towards the first stall, peering in. "Hey, I should have brought apples."

[a_lioness]

It's a different stink than that of the stables at the end of the universe: older somehow, if only because the building is and things have settled. Also, there's a marked lack of modern cleaning supplies.

"I keep them in the tack room," Alanna offers, nodding to a nearby stable boy; he'll bring some. "That's Twilight. He pulls all manner of things."

And the big black horse inside looks like he could, too. He shakes his head and peers back at Mel.

[slayer_fray]

Mel smirks and past him on the cheek.

(She could pull more than him. Yep.)

"He's huge," she says. "Hey, boy."

[a_lioness]

He answers with a head butt to the shoulder that should at least wobble a woman Mel's size. It doesn't, and the stable boy gives her a wary look as he hands over an apple.

Stefan has a big mouth.

"Aye, he is. I don't think either of us could get our legs around him."

Well. It's true.

[slayer_fray]

Mel takes the apple with a grin for Stefan and offers the apple on a stiff flat palm.

"Guess not," she agrees, and laughs. "Last time someone said that to me, they meant it as a challenge."

[a_lioness]

Alanna squeaks "I asked for that" and blushes red, though it's hard to see in the filtered sunlight.

Mel suddenly has a whole collection of stable boys. But it's Stefan that heard the tale, so it's his right to step forward and ask:

"Do ya really have a tail? And et the good dreams?"

[slayer_fray]

Mel freezes for a second, and glances over her shoulder at Alanna, who is biting her lip and turning even redder.

Then she turns back to Stefan and grins.

"It's down my pantsleg. Not going to get in the way of the riding, is it?"

[a_lioness]

Alanna manages to turn a laugh into a cough, covering her mouth with her hand.

"Shouldn't," Stefan bravely answers, holding his head high and avoiding looking back at his friends. "Won't get tangled that a way. See?" He abruptly pushes an older boy. "I told ya how she was undead and cursed by the gods!"

"Raph," Alanna mouths to Mel, before turning to the boys. "I think it's time our visitor gets a look at Moira and Sunshine."

Oddly enough, she's not responsible for Sunshine's name.

[slayer_fray]

"Cursed depends on how you view it," Mel admits before she turns back to Alanna. "I mean, immortality and a tail? How was I gonna say no to that?"

[a_lioness]

"Our friend the ninja has quite the imagination," she laughs quietly, while the boys race off to fetch the horses. "I think Stefan is halfway in love.

"With you. Not Raph."

[slayer_fray]

"Pity," Mel admits. "Raph could use the action. Hey - does my hair look like it's covering horns?"

[a_lioness]

"Maybe small ones."

Grinning, she grabs two pieces of straw and holds them to the back of Mel's head.

"Pity Adam doesn't have any powers here; he could give you real ones." And a tail. "So, Raph is lacking in female companionship?"

[slayer_fray]

"Plenty of female companionship," Mel says, grinning and taking the straw to hold them in place.

"Where that's me and Steph."

[a_lioness]

"We should do something about that."

As she speaks, Alanna nudges Mel and directs her to the stall at the end of the aisle.

"Come say hello to Mithros."

The big chestnut gelding is standing in his stall, eyes heavy lidded, and looks as if he's been recently groomed, but there's no evidence that anyone plans on taking him out.