It was with a strangely human gesture that Calvin tried to slow the awkwardness creeping in. It tended to be Whimsy's role to point out all the ways in which he failed to assimilate. That made him question why she would be so indifferent to the lights. Those remnants, however one wanted to refer to them, were a part of this world. Even if ultimately they belonged to someone else they made him feel more connected to Shaman. Of course, these thoughts were too complicated for his beer-addled horse brain. So he settled for a smile and a shrug. He nodded, unsure whether Whimsy was having fun at his expense or not. And sure he could try not to sing that song again. The female gender was so bossy.
"Of course," Calvin said with placating motions, gentle green hands brushing such concerns aside. He gave Peets a gentle nudge on the shoulder. It was a playful gesture, but the mare didn't respond in kind, snorting uneasily at his assurances. She felt them too little, too late as she sniffed the air with growing unease. Something long charred and sour smelling seemed carried by the occasional gust. "I don't know any songs about those things," Calvin pointed out. That was probably another reason to join music lessons. Those kept piling up on him.
Peets couldn't understand why the two were so concerned with her preference for avoiding strangers. No one liked that prickling feeling that someone was watching, so why was it so much easier for them to accept when they could see whom was watching them? The mare kept her comments to herself as the filly fairy ran off to play with the flowers. She wanted to see Calvin's fumble fingers manage that weaving. He might start his first day at the academy with a flower crown and a nasty hangover. That would be funny enough. The graceful Arabian looked expectantly at her bonded. Somehow she had sprung from him, but it was hard to see how. Calvin was such a carefree soul.
Clumsily dancing after Whimsy Calvin joined her. He wasn't very good at making crowns, but he managed to make a couple strings that he laid over Peets' ears and braid into her mane and tail. She was being unusually tolerant and Calvin said as much.
"What, no scathing comeback for flowers?" Calvin asked.
"They're pretty," was Peets' reply, "They suit me." Indeed the yellow flowers showed up well against the summer black of Peets. Normally she might object since beauty attracted the eye, but she was feeling tolerant to this type of thing. After all, if they were all together, but not doing anything foolish, no Lomians would attack. She hoped. She turned her mind away from the thoughts of cursed creatures. Her ears remained alert. Horses were prey. Vaguely she wondered where Calvin's sense of the need to run and hide had gone.
"Would you ever go back and visit the hummingbirds you knew before Shaman?" Calvin asked a strangely serious question somewhat marred by the fact his words ran together and slurred a bit. It was going to be a long night once the alcohol wore off. |