a dance upon a new d a y

[poppy]

Andy had never been one for quiet conversations. His whole life had consisted of a very boystrous family and a huge amount of talking and aruging over the dinner table. This had more or less shaped the young man into what he was like now. However, unlike a lot of his family, Andy had moved to America rather than stay in his native Scotland. He'd moved for a job as a policeman, and now owned a large bay gelding by the name of Ashes to Ashes. His big Canadian warmblood cross was one of his prized possessions, but there was a slight problem. The Mounted Unit of Felicity, KY was extrmely small, which meant they didn't have a stable yard of their own. For the last year or so, Andy had been keeping Ash at a yard just outside the town, but it had just closed down. A slight problem, instead, Andy was now looking for a new place to board the calm gelding. He'd called up a few stables, but none of them had had places for a police horse, even if Ash was low maintenance. It was the tack, mostly, that was the problem.

That was why, right at the end of his Wednesday shift, instead of heading back to the stables which he only had three days to leave, he turned the gelding up a different road. Ash was a handsome gelding, with a deep bay coat and wide, expressive eyes. His long stride took him winding up from the main road and passed the large sign reading 'Maplewood Stable'. The stable was high class and elegant, Ash pricked up his black tipped ears at the new smells and click of hooves on the soft ground around. Andy halted the gelding in the main yard, taking his feet out of the stirrups and dismounting. He was still in his full mounted uniform, each buckle polished to regulation. Ash stood regally, taking in the scene, head raised, own tack polished highly. It was something Andy did almost every day, clean his tack. It was pride as well as regulation. The young Irishman took off his hat, resting it under one arm as he looked around, trying to find someone to ask about boarding. He was conscious he hadn't called ahead, hopefully it would be alright.

[Serenade]

Eddie was crossing from the mare barn to the foal barn, pushing a wheelbarrow full of straw. It was time for Kyss to move to the foal barn, as she was too old and too big to be kept with her mother for much longer. Shaik was going to hate him, but she would adjust. He wasn't selling Kyss, no way. He loved the little bug too much to give her up. He was just moving her to the barn next to the mare barn. Shaik would see her, they would be let out together, just they wouldn't be in the same barn. Dumping the straw into one of the stalls, he spread it evenly, looking it over and nodding in satisfaction. Dusting off his hands, he left the foal barn, stretching his hands to the sky and started walking to the paddocks. He would get Kyss later, when he brought the horses in for the night. For now, it was time to feed Winchester a little something, as he hadn't eaten much that day. Grabbing a spare lead, Eddie entered the paddock, and Winchester came right to him, nudging him happily and following his owner easily out and across the open gravel drive to the stallion barn. Both man and horse paused as a rider came up the drive on a handsome bay paint, who then stopped and dismounted. Wondering who this stranger was, Eddie walked Winchester to one of the hitching bars right outside the barns, tying a loose knot, knowing Winchester wouldn't try to escape. Achilles, sleeping on a patch of spare straw in the sun, woke with a start. The big, golden dog started running and barking to the newcomer. Achilles, stop! Wait! The golden pup froze, though his big ears dropped a bit, and he sat down on his creamy paws, looking back at Eddie and whining. He wasn't vicious, just way too friendly. And since he was still a young dog, he didn't understand that he could spook unknown horses. Eddie walked closer to the man as he stood beside his horse, dark eyes taking in the polished and proper police uniform. This must be one of the sparse mounted policemen of the town. What did he want here? As Eddie passed Achilles, he tapped the dog on the head, a signal to heel. Heel he did, and the huge, cream and gold dog followed happily, tongue lolling and tail wagging. Once Eddie was close enough to the pair that he wouldn't have to shout, he stopped, a smile on his face, one hand in his pocket, and one hand on Achilles head. I'm Edward Jansen, owner of Maplewood Stables. Can I help you?

[poppy]

Ash pricked up his large ears at the sound of the approching dog. Canine's had never really bothered the large horse, if they barked he'd turn his head but Andy had never known him for doing anything else. At the introduction, Andy returned the smile. Not that he hadn't been smiling before hand, he tended to smile most of the time, but now it was a smile in return. In his polished black boots, Andy was around the same height as the man in front of him, but in reality he was a inch or so shorter, which was an odd situation for Andy to be in. He was used to being the tallest in most situations. "Sorry to bother you this afternoon, I should've called first." He started, adjusting his grip on Ash's sturdy reins. "I was dropping by to ask if you had any spare stables. The stables where I kept my horse has just closed down and it's rather important I get somewhere for him to stay. More or less my income." He replied jovially.

Ash took the opportunity to rest on one of his back hooves, adjusting his weight so the brunt was on his right hind leg, his left resting on the tip of his shod hoof. His long black tail flicked over his hind quarters for a second, whipping against his single white streak that ran across his flank. "Sorry, I haven't introduced myself. Connor McFyrne, but Andy's what everyone calls me. You can sort of guess I'm from the mounted police, it's a little odd me just turning up, but I've tried a lot of places and they just seem full. Sorry for the short notice." He smiled apologetically, laying a hand on Ash's withers. It was just a habit of his, leaning his hand on Ash's withers. One of many habits.

[Serenade]

Eddie smiled as the unknown man before him asked for room. A boarder! Sweet! He needed boarders, especially since he had two employees and no people here for lessons or anything. Eddie merely nodded at first as the man kept talking, introducing himself and so on. Once he had finished speaking, Eddie paused a moment before replying, collecting and organizing his words. Good to meet you, Andy. it's no problem at all. I have plenty of room at my stables. In fact, my gelding barn is completely empty at the moment. Just starting up, really. Winchester let out a call, impatient and curious about the newcomers. Eddie glanced back at the stallion, but didn't move, instead turning back to Andy. His accent was interesting, Irish he supposed, not that he was completely sure about accents and their origins. He could only really tell them because of Lord of the Rings, sad as that was. But it was the truth. Eddie loved listening to accents however, he thought they made everything way more interesting than the plain American accent. Winchester let out another call, this one longer and louder than the last, now more demanding than anything. Eddie shook his head at his boy, then turned back to Andy. Would you like to get him settled right now? I have the time to show you around, once I get my stallion settled in his stall in the stallion barn. He gestured behind him towards the gelding barn, which stood empty and quiet between the mare barn and the stallion barn, and even those two were unusually quiet for a barn. When he said he was just starting up, he meant it.