The Beach, Friday Evening (11/02)

[comelyhonour]

Beauty hadn't given A.J. a chance to rethink his offer to go riding with her this evening. Instead, she'd nearly dragged him through the dorms -- making a very brief stop at her room to grab her boots -- and off to the stables. Greatheart had picked up on some of her excitement, and it had taken a few minutes to get him to settle down, so Beauty

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[by137]

Boy, A.J....sure didn't remember the walk to the beach from the dorms being this...short before. He pressed his lips together a little nervously, glad that it wasn't so dark that things couldn't be seen but still dark enough that Beauty wouldn't have to read his expression. "Uh, you sure it's not too late?" he offered as one last finally resort. He'd been alright with just walking with Greatheart, especially now that he wasn't being all.....jumpy, but the idea of actually riding. "He, uh, looks tired. Wouldn't want to wear him out or anything..."

[by137]

"...How fancy are we talking here?" A.J. asked.

[comelyhonour]

"Here, we'll just do a simple parade walk," Beauty replied, giving Greatheart another pat on the neck and then signaling him into a fancy walk. The horse arched his neck and plucked his feet off the ground in quick, precise steps. After a brief demonstration, Beauty slowed him back to the ambling pace they'd been at before.

"That's the simplest one. I haven't ever ridden him in parade, so I won't try any of the others. But all the Great Horses raised in the city are trained to do that. Usually they're ridden by princes and pull fancy carriages."

[by137]

"And, so, what do you think he thinks about prancing around like that carrying around a dork like me on his back?"

[comelyhonour]

"I think that he's happy to be loved," Beauty replied easily. "Tom Black said when he gave Greatheart to me that he'd never miss doing things like that. And so far, he doesn't seem to. And I'd guess that taking a couple of friends out for a stroll on the beach is a step up from pulling a plow, or hauling out tree stumps. Even when we ask him to show off for us."

[by137]

"So, he's not, like..." A.J. bit his lip for a second, seeming to draw himself a little closer to Beauty, "bored out of his mind and going to hate me for being, you know....and stuff?"

[comelyhonour]

"I think he'd probably be more bored just in the paddock by himself." Beauty tilted her head just a little to try and look at A.J. without dislodging his chin. Not an easy feat to accomplish, which meant she was mostly looking out of the corner of her eye at him. "What do you think he'd hate you for, A.J.? Greatheart likes to be ridden, and he likes people. And, believe it or not, he even likes you."

[by137]

"I just worry, that's all," A.J. admitted, and went quiet for a minute. "He's your horse, you know, and he means a lot to you, so the last thing I need if for him to dislike me."

[comelyhonour]

"I don't think I've ever met anyone Greatheart didn't like," Beauty said, after a moment's consideration to be sure she really couldn't think of anyone. "But anyway, A.J., I don't think that would happen with you. I like you, and Greatheart is pretty attached to me, so I think that he'd like you just for that reason alone."

She put her hand over his again, and leaned her head a little to the side so that their cheeks touched. "He'd have misbehaved in some way by now if he really didn't like you."

[by137]

"Or," A.J. offered, unable to keep from smiling a little and lowering his voice as if in conspiracy, or perhaps to just let it sink in that, wait. He was riding on a horse on a beach on a beautiful, if chilly night, with just about one of the most amazing girls he'd ever met, and that was pretty amazing, and the lowered volume just seemed to fit that sort of scene better, "he's just waiting for the right time to really misbehave."

[comelyhonour]

Beauty smiled in response, and answered softly, "Well, I suppose it's lucky that you're with me then. Because if he misbehaves with me, then who will braid his mane and read him poetry?"

The situation hadn't escaped her noticed either, in fact it had been very much at the front of her mind ever since they left the dorms.

[by137]

"That's a good point," A.J. smiled softly and, hesitating for a moment, wrapped his arms a little tighter around Beauty. "And, without braids and poetry, where would he be?"

[comelyhonour]

"Terribly sad and lonely," Beauty murmured, leaning back just a little into A.J.'s embrace.

[by137]

"So, I guess," A.J. ruminated quietly, "it just works out for all of us that he just likes me, then."

[comelyhonour]

Beauty nodded happily. She felt hard pressed to imagine a more pleasant way to spend an evening. "I knew he would. Greatheart is a very good judge of people, I think. I knew he'd adore you."

The horse seemed to know he was being talked about, and gave his head a little toss.

[by137]

"Adore, huh?" A.J. grinned, taking note of the headshake. "Was that you agreeing, or disagreeing, there, big guy?"