In the Stables

[awesome_lilly]

It looks, upon entering the stable, like Duncan’s stall is empty. But if you walk a bit closer, you’d be able to hear otherwise. Lilly is sitting in clean hay with Duncan’s head more or less in her lap as she tells him stories of his namesake and braids his hair. By now, there are quite a few braids interwoven with red and gold ribbons scattered through his mane.

“So yeah, Boy Duncan had been more successful than usual in taking the blame for it, so Celeste was scolding at him for once. I was behind her and I started making this face at him, and he totally cracked up and oh man, her face when she realized what was happening? Duncan, it was classic.”

She finishes another braid and eyes her work critically.

“Duncan, you are one fabulously handsome horse, you know that?”

Comments

[highking.livejournal.com]

Peter comes sprinting into the stables, talking before he gets to Duncan's stall, his voice quiet but tense.

"Lilly, so help me, if you gave him one of those... mohawk things..."

And then he gets to Duncan's stall, and he sees what she's doing.

"...oh."

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly looks up and smiles wickedly.

"Oh, did my note make you worry? Wow, I can't imagine how that happened. Relax, Pete. As you can see, Duncan is not mohawked and I am able to braid. I even used your colors!"

Lilly looks proud of herself.

[highking.livejournal.com]

Peter crouches in the aisle, catching hiw breath.

"You planned that," he hisses.

And then he realises - red and gold, and she said she used his colours.

"How did you know?"

[awesome_lilly]

"I asked the bar," Lilly replies matter-of-factly.

She frowns.

"It said these were your standard colors... I didn't get them wrong, did I?"

[highking.livejournal.com]

"No, they're perfect," he assures her. "I didn't really think I'd ever see precisely that shade of red again."

[awesome_lilly]

"Oh, well, just look in a mirror sometime after we've been talking," Lilly replies. "It's pretty close to the same shade."

[highking.livejournal.com]

Predictably, Peter blushes.

"Someday you shan't be able to shock me anymore," he grumbles.

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly grins.

"Doubtful. I've been holding back. Anyway, I'm glad you like your surprise. I already knew that Duncan did."

[highking.livejournal.com]

"I do like my surprise, very much. Thank you, Lilly."

He remains crouching, watching Lilly's fingers deftly braid ribbons into Duncan's mane.

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly ties off the braid she's working on and takes a look at Duncan.

"What do you think? Is he good, or should I put in a few more? The ribbons are shimmery, so when you ride him and it's sunny they'll sparkle a little. But because I'm not doing his whole mane, it'll be subtle."

She grins at Peter.

"Better than purple spikes, huh?"

[highking.livejournal.com]

"Infinitely," he agrees. "But I really think the number of braids is up to you."

He still looks rather taken aback.

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly notices.

"It's okay that I did this, right? I mean, if you don't like it or if it's too distracting, I can take it out. It's no problem."

[highking.livejournal.com]

"Oh, no, it's wonderful, Lilly. Really. Thank you. I'm just surprised, and I'm not used to being surprised."

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly arches an eyebrow.

"Really? Because we've been hanging out for over a week now, and I thought you might be getting more used to it."

[highking.livejournal.com]

"I'm not used to good surprises, then."

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly beams.

"I'm not used to doing things that are considered good surprises, so we're even then."

[highking.livejournal.com]

Peter beams back at her.

"So we're having a good effect on each other? That's rather frightening, really."

[awesome_lilly]

"Terrifying," Lilly agrees. "Dare we keep it up and go for a run?"

[highking.livejournal.com]

"We can try. However, I reserve the right to jump into the lake to escape from you, if need be."

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly cracks up.

"Pete, I'm hurt. Really. Why would you want to escape from me?"

It's hard to pull off puppy-dog eyes while you're fighting giggles, but Lilly gives it a pretty good shot.

[highking.livejournal.com]

"I really don't know, Lilly. That's why I reserve the right."

He smirks at her.

[awesome_lilly]

Lilly rolls her eyes.

"Fine, but only if I also get the right to push you in the lake. If need be, you know."

[highking.livejournal.com]

He raises an eyebrow.

"You can have the right to try. I highly doubt that you can, though."

[awesome_lilly]

"I guess we'll see," Lilly replies as she stands up and brushes off hay.

She scratches behind Duncan's ears.

"I'm going to go, Duncan, but you look fantastic and I'll visit you again soon."

[highking.livejournal.com]

Peter strokes Duncan's nose, whispering to him for a moment, then turns to Lilly.

"After you, milady."