[give me novacaine]

[D E M O N //]

They walked back to the barn from Hope's house. Walking straight to the thoroughbreds stall. Getting a brush he did a quick grooming of the stallion's coat. It was already in great condition, his coat kept in perfect condition at all times. Daniel quickly picked out his hooves, making sure that there were no rocks or anything in it. Grabbing the stallions halter Daniel quickly clipped on a lead and led him out to the indoor arena.

Unclipping the leadrope Daniel let the stallion go. He shot Daniel a puzzled look. This confused him. What was going on here? He had never been turned out like this before, so what were they doing now? He stepped forward and nudged Daniel with his nose, but as the teen did nothing walked away.

Soon he took off galloping around the arena, throwing a buck every now and then. Now more then then. He weaved around the arena in foundations that nobody could have followed. Letting out a loud neigh he shook out his mane. He liked the freedom.

"Be careful," he told Estee starting to worry. He seemed kind crazy today, alright, he was always kind of crazy, but that wasn't really the point now was it. Because those days didn't matter.

[DJ]

Estee attempted to help brush, but holding the brush in her left hand was hard for her. She gripped it awkwardly and when she tried running it along the stallion's coat, it flipped from her hand, onto the ground, making Dose jump. She felt bad and gave up, standing off to the side with an apologetic frown, just watching Daniel brush him quickly.

As she walked next to Daniel to the arena, Dose's head stayed high and his legs rose highly. This is going to be interesting. The stallion seemed confused in the beginning, but once her figured out he was free, he pranced into an extended trot down the long side of the arena, bolting into a gallop at the corning down the long side. Playful bucks were distributed around the ring, leaving energy behind. "Good boy," Estee cooed loudly, praising him for getting his extra spurts of energy out.

As the stallion cut into the center and slowed from his over extended gallop to a speedy canter, he swerved down the centerline, doing a flying change as he cut to the right. She glanced at Daniel, impressed by the lead swap. Most horses could do them, just didn't understand what you were asking as you taught it under saddle.

Dose continued dodging around the ring. Estee wasn't too worried, even as his heels flew near her. As long as she stayed still in the ring, he wouldn't run into her. If she ran, it may end up as an accidental collision. Her feet stayed planted, on top of the lunge whip on the ground she hadn't bothered to hold. She certainly didn't need it, and had no reason to hold it.

Her eyebrows rose and she shot Daniel a comforting smile. "I'll be fine." She pushed her helmet farther down on her head with her left hand. "Don't worry." Estee was very good about helmets. Whether it was with riding, lunging, or working with young horses. She'd ridden about twice without a helmet ever. And it's not that she didn't trust Glow or Dose or any horse she worked with, but she was always on the safe side.

Dose slowed to a trot, spinning to face Estee and planted his feet, standing toward her. "Go," she shooed, clicking to him and asking him to continue. But his front end popped into a small dominance threat. So he thinks he's in charge of me? A smile grew on her face. Glow did this when she'd first gotten him. Both of the female's hands rose in the air, waving as she made the stallion think she was bigger. She took a step toward him at a time.

He stood for a moment, questioning her, but as she asked him to continue, he spun, continuing back into a prancy trot, tail high and neck arched as though he'd been taking notes from an Arab.

Estee was almost surprised at how well he was going for her. Sure, he was young, and if you were afraid of him, he could easily take advantage, but as Estee had began working with him, her fear dropped. The stallion was fun to interact with. He was definitely smart and a bit stubborn at that, but a great project.

[D E M O N //]

Daniel watched Dose dart around the ring like he owned the place. He was proud, energetic, and not afraid to show it. It was hard not to see the raw power of the muscles rippling under his shiny coat, and it seemed if he were to just quite down a bit he would make a champion school horse.

"I'm impressed," he said chuckling to himself. He was surprised to see the stallion was actually listening to Estee. That was something that he thought he'd never see, and with someone he didn't know? That was just odd.

[DJ]

A smile grew on Estee's face. Complements were much appreciated in her book. She never got any because she had no one to give them to her, but it felt good for someone to think she was doing something right.

"He's really an amazing horse," she stated, although she assumed he'd already figured that out. "He's so smart." And the stallion was. Although he acted foolish and young at times, he was just being too smart for his own good and getting himself into trouble.

As she spoke to the stallion, he slowed to a walk. "Whoaaa." She spoke softly. It took a few tries, but Dose finally halted where he was. "Good boy!" Estee's eyes were bright and twinkling. She'd not worked with many other horses other than Glow. Glow was her only horse and her only project. And was her only friend for a while.

Until some other boy came along. Hm. I wonder who that could be, her smile didn't disappear. She went over to praise Dose and he stood still for a moment, but as she turned to see if he'd follow her, he took off at a trot, still full of energy.

But that's what you got with Thoroughbred. They could go all day. Their endurance never faded.

[D E M O N //]

Daniel watched the stallion come to a halt chuckling to himself. He could hardly get him to do that from his back most of the time. Though he had always known it it was now painstakingly clear just how intelignet the stallion was. He just pretended to be an idiot. But of course, Dan knew that all along. Just to damn smart for his own good.

"That he is," said Daniel watching his horse go back to prancig around the arena looking very pleased with himself. Daniel loved the horse, even if he got frustrated sometimes he couldn't stay mad for more then thirty seconds.

[DJ]

Estee took a step toward the stallion kissing. "Can-ter!" Dose continued around at his prancy trot. Another step closer. He cantered, twisting his head to the side quickly, jerking it around for a bit in excitement.

Her slowed again, calming. "Nice work." The female started over to Daniel. "Do you think he's done?" Of course he was never done with his energy, but he'd been cantering a while now and was sweating steadily.

Estee reached for his halter on the gate, going to retrieve the stallion who turned and walked in the opposite direction as he saw the halter. She frowned, trying to catch the stallion following behind him slowly, not chasing him.

Finally, after many laps, the stallion halted, allowing Estee to slip the halter over his face. It wasn't pretty trying it one handed, but it was done and there wasn't too much complaining from Dose's part. The stallion wouldn't need walking around to cool him out as he'd just done it for a while and his veins were lowered and chest less warm.

She lead him over to Daniel, walking on the incorrect side so she could hold the lead rope in her left hand. "Here's your horse." Her hand extended to Daniel, allowing him to take his horse. Estee'd had fun with Dose and she was surprised how long they'd gotten along together.

[D E M O N //]

"As much as he'll ever be." he chuckled watching his horse. That fewllow never ran out of energy, and he probably never would. He could gallop around a paddock for hours and still have enough energy to go on a hack with his rider. Two things he never really ran out of, energy and attitude. Though he definitely liked Estee, he behaved very well for her.

"I think he likes you." he said with a fake pout as if he were extremely jealous of how the two of them got along. Of course, Dose was never really that good for him, but they had fun together, and he knew he only did it because he knew it got on his nerves, but he was sure that if Daniel ever really meant business that Overdose would snap out of it and behave...somewhat.

"Why thank you," he said taking the leadrope from her and leading the stallion forward and back towards his stall. Running his hand over the horse's chest just to check his temperature. Of course he trusted Estee, but he just double checked to be sure. He clipped the stallion up to the cross-ties for a minute just to give him a quick brush. Dose probably needed a bath soon, but he didn't feel like giving him one right now, maybe tomorrow. Leading the stallion into the stall he got him more food and water. "Need any help with glow?" he didn't think she did, but he had nothing else to do.

[DJ]

"I think I like him," she grinned at Daniel's fake pout, reaching to scratch the stallion's forehead.

The female followed Daniel and Dose out the indoor gate and down the aisle. Estee was excited to see Glow, as always, and as Daniel asked about help, she snuck another glance at her hand. "Actually, that'd be really helpful." Her left hand reached up, raking downward through her hair. She really hated the feeling of needing to rely on Daniel to work her own horse. "I think I can work him, but the brushing will be hard. "

--

She led the gelding up to the cross-ties and he stood calmly, sighing and lowering his head as Estee fought to attach the clip to his halter. One reason she loved Glow. The older gelding could really care less what you did to him. He was relaxed about most anything and it really helped at times. Estee reached for a teal brush, stroking downward on his black pelt. It wasn't dirty, but the gelding had a thin layer of dust just from being a horse. Walking through the dust, being around sawdust and hay. The world was out to dirty up the horse.

Glow didn't spook as the brush slipped from Estee's hand. She began getting the hang of gripping the brush, although it was still hard to press it enough to actually get some of the dust off.

"Might you be able to do his hooves for me?" She handed Daniel the teal pick.

[D E M O N //]

Daniel watched Estee struggle with the cross-ties and the brush. He wanted to help her with it, but he felt awkward stepping in without being asked with the daily care of horse. He probably would not appreciate it if someone did that with him. Of course, he was awfully overprotective of his stallion, and it was a rather tell tale sign that he cared about Estee seeing that he let he free lunge his horse.

After hesitating for a minute Daniel picked up a spare brush and walked over to the horse's other side and quickly began to clean his side coat. He saw Estee struggling with his other side, but by the time that he had finished the side he was doing so had she.

As she asked if he could help with the hooves he nodded taking the pick from her. Running his hand down the geldings neck and then leg he picked up the horses hoof carefully picking out all the dirt. He repeated this for the other three legs patting the horse on the shoulder.

Running his hand through his hair he placed the tool back with the others; He stepped back waiting for Estee. He was interested to see how this would go. Just because the people at his old barn didn't usually free lunge their horses, so he had never really watched someone do it before, and though he had just seen her work with Dose, he was interested to see how Glow did. Especially since he realized that he really didn't know much about the gelding.

[DJ]

"Thanks," she gave Daniel a small smile over Glow's back. She really appreciated the help. She finished wiping the dust around her horse's left side and moved to his head, dropping the stiff brush into the brush box, reaching for his mane and tail brush as Daniel picked his hooves.

The gelding stuck his nose out, trying to bump Estee's arm as it hovered over his head while the teenager combed through his forelock. "Good boy," she whispered into his ear as he easily lifted his hooves for Daniel. Glow was always good. Besides going through rivers. But still... Estee rubbed his three white hairs on his forehead.

"You're going to get all pretty tomorrow," she spoke to the gelding, remembering his clean-up day. Her voice grew a bit louder, certainly not "loud" just louder than she was before, cooing into her gelding's ear. "I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow..." her voice drifted off, not sure what else to say. The brush raked through Glow's mane smoothly, and his tail didn't take long either.

--
"He's boring at this," Estee smiled as the gelding stood still while the halter slipped off of his head. She walked away, hanging it off of the gate. Glow twisted his neck, watching Estee journey away and return not really caring.

The female bent down, reaching for the whip and drifting it toward the gelding's rump. He set off at a smooth walk in a circle around his owner in the middle as though he were on an actual line. After a few circuits of a walk, Estee clicked, waving the long whip toward him. Without snapping it or touching him, Glow picked up a long-strided, low-headed trot, continuing to follow the circle he'd set himself into.

"Told you," she laughed at her overly-calm gelding.

[D E M O N //]

Daniel shrugged slightly as she made her wish that it wasn't going to rain tomorrow. Daniel always loved rain. He didn't really know why, for some reason he had always found the weather kind of comforting. Maybe it was because it was almost like the world itself was crying making him feel like he wasn't alone. Who knew. He just loved rain. It wasn't like it was going to rain on his parade so to speak. The only difference that it might have on his plans was that he would probably work Dose in the inside arena if it did. The thoroughbred was not quite as fond of the drips of water from the sky as his owner was.

Daniel was going to be riding him tomorrow. Estee might have been able to keep him out of the saddle for the day, but no longer. If you had asked him the day before he would have told you that no one in the world could keep him off Dose, except perhaps the stallion himself, but that was not the point.

The teenager watched his sort-of-almost-girlfriend work with her gelding in the ring. He was so calm. It almost scared him. He had grown so use to his stallions rambunctiousness that he had practically convinces himself that that was the way horses were supposed to behave.

[DJ]

Estee sighed, giving the whip a light snap, motivating her gelding into the canter. Glow rocked into his smooth three-beat gait. His head cocked to the inside and his back end lifted in an attempted buck, although it didn't seem very exciting like Dose did at times. Or any other normal horse. Glow was boring. And that wasn't a bad thing.

The teenager asked for a halt, reversing her horse and set him off again at the walk, trot, and canter similar to the other direction. "Good boy," Estee murmured. The gelding followed her to the gate, nonchalantly dragging his hooves in the soft sandy footing. A teal halter slipped over a dark face and pale fingers rubbed three tiny ivory hair surrounded by an expanse of ebony. "Love you." Soft words fell from her lips almost silently. Her lips moved to the gelding's forehead.

She let herself through the gate, shooting Daniel a small, somehow embarrassed smile. Making her way back to the grooming stall, she clipped Glow with much less difficulty as the time before. Her lip met with her teeth once more.

“Yeah.” Her glance moved down to her sneakers, but lifted up to his face as she spoke. “Thank you so much for,” she paused, unsure of how to label today, “just everything today, I guess,” She was unable to put her appreciation into words, leaving unoccupied spaces for speech.

Trying to think fast, Estee wished she could come up with an excuse for Daniel to stay. But as her mind stayed blank, part of her wished he’d figure out something to say. Of course, if he didn’t want to stay, that was alright too. It’d have been awkward to ask him over for dinner because the female still wasn’t feeling exactly up to a meal. Invite a friend over for dinner and not eat yourself... weird.

[D E M O N //]

Daniel watched the two of them work together. Part of him wished that Dose would behave like that sometimes. He knew he couldn’t blame the young thoroughbred, it was in his blood, besides, he was still young. But sometimes it got a little old never knowing what your own horse was going to do. Well, you never really knew for sure. But Glow here was pretty predictable. Daniel figured that the thoroughbred would calm down as he got older, he was a four year old stallion, so it was only to be expected. But he had been so good for Estee, so he knew he had it in him.

He followed the warmblood and his owner back inside. He examined his laces as she tahnkedd him for everything. He wasn’t really sure what everything was though. What had he done? He was the one who had practically fainted on her. What was she thanking him for? It didn’t make much sense to him. ”I’m the one that fainted on you,” he mumbled.

”Erm, so I guess I’ll see you the day after tomorrow?” He asked. He wsan’t really sure what he should say. He ran his fingers through his hair nervously. He didn’t really want to leave. But there wasn’t really anything they needed to do, and he couldn’t think of what he should do now. Go home and read a book, maybe work on his writing, listen to some music. Possibly try to catch up on some missed sleep. Like that wsa going to happen.

[DJ]

Fingers curled back slightly with a flat palm extended; a bandaged hand rose in silence. Her brown eyes gazed. That's what she was thanking him for. Her left hand stroked Glow's neck, smooth, black pelt easily swept under pale fingers.

She took a step closer to the boy as he said he'd see her tomorrow. "Mm. Yeah." Estee was overly disappointed with him going. "I'll be around the barn tomorrow. I'm just going to be working with Glow. And if it's raining or overly hot, I'll probably be free." Her glance shifted down, biting her lip and dragging the white toe of her sneaker along the rubber floor of the grooming stall.

The female had no idea what she'd do after Daniel left. She surprisingly wasn't in the mood for art. Her stomach wasn't agreeing with the idea of a meal. And although she usually didn't get enough sleep, she wasn't overly tired.

[D E M O N //]

“Well, I guess I’ll, um, see you then.” he wanted desperately to ask her to do something with him. But what? He was such a failure at this. He couldn’t help but feel that he was a failure at everything. What did he do right? Should he ask her to go see a movie? That seemed odd. He never went to the movies. But wasn’t that the typical date thing? But here they even dating? He didn’t know. He wished he did. It was all so confusing to him.

Stepping forward, he hesitated for a moment before leaning forward and giving her a kiss. This whole thing was so new to him that he had no idea what he was supposed to do. Apparently sometimes cutting yourself off from society really does come back to bite you in the butt.

After a moment he stepps away looking at his feet and running his hand through his hair again. Someone please tell him what to do. He’d probably take advice from a horse at this point. Alright, so he’d always take advice from a horse, but that wasn’t the point. If he did it would probably go something like, 'Give me a carrot!'