For Piceous' Sake. [open]

[Bree]

The blue Lexus pulled up into the Dover parking lot. Micheal pulled the car to a stop and dropped the gear into park. Unbuckling her belt she checked all her essentials.
Keys, check; debit, check; list, check; ID... She took out her drivers license. The stamps in the background shined when she brought it up to look at it. The face in the corner looked pale and had a distinct 'deer caught in the head-lights look'. Check. Micheal sighed and widened her eyes as she stuck it in her wallet. Sliding down from the truck she closed the door and "beeped" it locked. As the sliding doors opened the distinct leather smell took her and she gladly followed it in. With the raising of her sunglasses a whole new world appeared in front of her. She breathed a silent 'wow' and stepped father into the store checking to see where everything was.

Since Pie was getting better in jumping and excelling wonderfully she would soon need a proper jumping saddle and naturally a matching bridle would ensue. Micheal smoothed back her hair that hung loosely in a small ponytail. If only she could think of something else to get. Looking around the store with eager curiosity. She saw the check-out and nodded to the boy who was leaning against the counter who acknowledge her.

Whistling a nonsense tune she walked up to the upstairs floor where the saddles were.

[femalefred]

Ella was having a slightly strange day. First of all, her older brother Rob had turned up this morning - admittedly he'd told her he was coming to visit for a while due to a few problems with his relationship at the moment, he just hadn't actually said when. Secondly, he'd brought her a present. Thing was... it was a puppy.
Ella had wanted a puppy for a while, and she'd been saying she'd start looking for one when she found a place that allowed pets, and Rob, being the kind and loving older brother that he was, had decided it'd be nice to surprise her with a little white greyhound. Right now, she'd left both brother and puppy at home and was trying desperately to think of the actual things she'd need for a puppy, and Dover had been the place that'd sprung to mind. She knew they had a section for stuff for dogs, at least.
It was this that she was browsing when she heard whistling, and turned to catch sight of Micheal trotting over to look at the saddles. Smiling she waved at the younger woman, before turning back to the leads and contemplating whether it was really worth buying a nice leather one or not.

[Bree]

Micheal felt each saddle with care kneading her fingers into the seat of each one. The saddles creaked with ever stroke of her hand. At each leather saddle she could smell the rich scent that radiated from them. She had her heart set on a leather saddle preferably one of great quality. A Courbette caught her eye the beautifully designed leather was a chocolate brown. Micheal felt down the seat the soft leather cushioned her fingers. The price tag that hung loosely from the strap read 869.00. Her pursed lips showed her disappointment but she picked up the size she needed anyway.

As she turned around she saw Ella waving to her. Micheal waved back smiling. She hadn't seen Ella for a while and it would be nice to talk to someone familiar. Clinging the saddle to her side she walked awkwardly over to the older woman. She examined what she was browsing.
"That's really nice although I don't really think it would fit Duke. Neither would he appreciate it."
Her smiling face told of the joke. She stood shifting her weight from one leg to the other.

[femalefred]

At Micheal's comment, Ella grinned and let out a little peal of light laughter. She wasn't entirely sure what Duke would think of the dog - who'd she'd been mentally referrering to as 'Thin Dog' so far, but would have to have a better name before too long - but she was going to try and get the puppy a bit better socialised before she took her to the barn.
"I doubt he'd appreciate one either. My brother bought me a puppy as a gift, which was nice of him, if unexpected.. Piceous is sure a lucky mare," she added, eyeing up the saddle the other girl was carrying. It looked like a nice one, and probably pretty dear. "Or is that for.. Paladin, is it? The poor tobi stallion," she asked, pretty certain she'd been told that Micheal was the one taking care of the neglected horse.

[Bree]

Micheal grinned at her laugh. Most of the time she was afraid that her jokes would fall flat. At the mention of a brother she smiled. She'd always wanted a brother or a sister but that would be impossible the way things were going.
"That's so sweet of him, no matter how unexpected."
Grinning she looked down at her hip slightly lifting up the saddle.
"Uh, no this is for Piceous. I'm not sure how big Paladin will be so I'm holding off on a saddle just yet."
She mentally shook a picture of Paladin on the day of the auction out of her head.
"He's really coming a long way though."
Micheal nodded as she said it wondering how Ella had found out she was caring for him.

[femalefred]

She grinned and nodded. Rob was a good big brother, even though she was pretty sure the puppy was something of a guilt gift - he was going to be staying for probably a week or so, and he knew his sister didn't really have that much time to keep him entertained. "He's a good brother. He's visiting this week so I might have to bring him down to the barn at some point or other. He'll probably get bored otherwise," she added, shaking her head a little.
Ella nodded when the other girl mentioned the stallion's size. He was very skinny - though she'd not spent any time with him, she'd seen him in his stall - and unless it was a cheap saddle with an adjustable tree there wouldn't be a great deal of point in buying one now.
"Hope mentioned that you found him at the auction. I was surprised, they're usually pretty good with the welfare of their horses down there. I guess it's just the market at the moment though," she said, shaking her head again, this time sadly. "I really hope we get a better summer this year so the hay prices get a little less insane."

[Bree]

Yeah, I know about guilt presents.
Micheal slightly rolled her eyes. Although guilt presents were free they still held a sting in the heart for one reason or another. But the concept of going back down that road made her uneasily shift her weight. The saddle was getting heavy no matter how light it was.
"You should bring him down. Maybe you could saddle up one of the lesson horses?"
She tired to hold back a laugh when she thought of which horse would be beneficial and came across a bunch of fiery ones.

Micheal shook her head in unison with Ella when she talked about the auction. Although most horses where quality and well cared for horses there is always a chance of a rotten apple. Not that Din's a rotten apple. She cocked her head at the mental note.
"I have no doubts that he is actually a quality horse I just think he came into a bad situation. He seems to be quality even under the guise of his condition."
She rolled in her bottom lip as she thought of what breed he could be. He was definitely a warmblood but the type was indistinguishable at the moment.

Micheal stole a quick glance at the clock on the wall. Slyly she read the time.
"I better finish up my shopping before long. I promised Pie I'd work her later. Maybe we will meet at the counter."
She laughed and waved as she walked down to the main floor to pick up a bridle.

[femalefred]

Ella grinned at the thought of her older brother on a horse again. The whole family had ridden when they were children - she and her sisters because they liked ponies, Rob because he was otherwise left alone all weekend and got bored - but he'd given up when he was about 13 and had discovered girls. "Heh, I'm sure he'd love that," she replied, smirking.

When the other commented about Paladin as a quality horse, she nodded. The stallion seemed a pretty calm, well socialised creature - he didn't seem to have any stable vices as far as she could see and he was happy enough when the younger kids were running around at high volume. Neglect was an awful thing and it was on the increase now with fewer people being able to sell horses that weren't top-notch.

"Alright, I'll probably see you there," she replied and nodded, turning back to the leashes. After a brief weighing up of the benefits of the various types, she grabbed a wide collar, a leather leash and a couple of bowls for food and water. Rob had brought food, a dog crate and a bed with him, so this was all she needed. With that, she headed towards the till.

[Bree]

Micheal walked to the bridles. Each one's buckles sparkled in the bright building's light. Locating a Coubette bridle she picked it up and matched it to the saddle.
"Perfect."
She whispered slinging over her shoulder after catching a glimpse of the 125.00 dollar price tag. At least it comes with reins. Sighing she went to the bits to pick up an eggbutt snaffle. After deciding on a bit she headed up to the register.

When she saw Ella again she smiled and slid in behind her. Examining the items piled near the check-out she grabbed some treats for both horses.

[femalefred]

Ella smiled again when Bree stepped in line behind her. She'd added some mint horse treats to her bag, seeing as they were Duke's favourite. She felt a little bad that she hadn't got anything for Music, seeing as she was working with the barn horse almost as much as her own gelding, and grabbed a second bag of apple treats. She really wasn't sure which the big warmblood would prefer, but most horses seemed pretty content with either.

She winced a little when the cashier announced the prices - she hadn't noticed that the leash was so expensive, but hey, at least she wasn't buying a whole new saddle and bridle. That, she could not afford right now, even though she really ought to be getting a better dressage saddle for Duke. At the moment she was doing dressage work with him in a standard English Pleasure saddle, and it was fine for the moment seeing as leg yielded was about as complex as they'd got up to, but sooner or later she'd have to get him a new one.

"Well, your turn to spend," she said with a grin to Micheal, stepping back from the till with her new purchases.

[Bree]

Micheal, waiting until Ella had moved from the check-out, moved up and set her things gently on the counter. When the total came to $1045 dollars she sighed and swiped her debit. The cashier asked her to swipe again when it didn't take.
"Sometimes this happens with my card." She said handing the debit to him. He looked at the card and swiped it looking at it again more clearly, motioning for her to punch in her pin.
"Your Micheal Mafet?"[/i]
Micheal smiled cautiously and glanced at Ella then slyly answered.
"Yes..?"
"I was just about to call you."[/i]
Micheal looked at him like he was crazy. When he saw the look she gave him he clarified.
"Your parents sent a package, they wanted you to pick up."[/i]
Her countenance drooped immediately.
"Oh."
He left the counter and went in the back returning with a large package and a smaller one. He smiled and put them on the counter.
"Here it is, two packages for Micheal Mafet. Paid in full."[/i]
He set both packages down and handed her a receipt for the other items.
"Thank you, uh, yeah."
She practically whispered the last part. She grunted as she grabbed the big package along with the smaller one with her new saddle and bridle on top. The bit hung from the tag in her mouth.
"Would you like some help?" He asked moving toward her.
She shook her head and headed out to her car giving a grimace to Ella.

[femalefred]

Ella looked at the packages with some interest as Micheal struggled to hold them along with her new purchases. They were easily the right size to be a saddle and bridle, maybe a blanket in the larger one but saddle was what the redhead would've guessed.

"Your parents often do that?" she asked as they headed through the automatic door. "Do you actually want some help, by the way? I can see why you didn't want it from the counter boy, but that's a lot of stuff to carry and I've only got a little bag," she added once they were outside, grinning.

[Bree]

Micheal struggled to the open door taking short puffs of air whenever possible. The saddle on top of the packages swayed as she ambled to the door. At the offer of help Micheal nodded as best she could. The bit danced hanging from her mouth. She nodded and stopped, setting the boxes on the floor. After she took the bit from her mouth she placed it on top of the saddle.
"Yeah, they do."
The forlorn tone made her sigh.
She grabbed the big package and slid the smaller on top.
"Thanks."
She smiled and waited for Ella to pick up the new saddle and bridle. She was glad she brought the Lexus.

[femalefred]

Ella nodded, and waited for a minute while the girl put everything down, and then picked the packages back up again. "Any idea what they'll have bought you? Or, for that matter, why?" she asked, leaning down to heft the saddle over her arm and slinging the new bridle over her shoulder.

"As I said, not a problem," she grinned, glancing across the parking lot and trying to remember what the other girl's car looked like. Unfortunately, she'd never ever seen it before, so it was a somewhat futile efford. "Where we headed?"

[Bree]

Micheal walked out to the parking lot. Keeping the boxes balanced in her hands she looked to the side as she walked. A dismal expression hung over her face.
What a joke.
She thought a moment about what would be the appropriate thing to say to Ella. A thought struck her and she focused on the label on one of the packages. Sure enough her suspicions were correct. It wasn't from her 'parents' but from her father. She sighed wondering what sort of present her mother would retaliate with.
"Uh, the reason might be my birthday. I'm not sure what exactly he... uh, they sent."
For a second the speech almost convinced herself but in all truth her birthday was still but a month away.
Must have been a big fight this time.
She sighed expecting the contents to be an expensive saddle or at least something expensive. Never was it something less.
"It's the blue Lexus RX."
As if there is another Lexus in the parking lot.
She rolled her eyes at herself.

At the car, she set down the boxes and opened the trunk after retrieving the keys. The door slowly opened upward revealing a clean cavity behind the back leather seats of the SUV. Setting the boxes on one side of the back she left room for Ella to set the others items in. Almost closed the door curiosity got the best of her. Taking her keys she split the tape on the large box opening the box. After moving a few protective materials the glossy leather of a new saddle appeared. It's chestnut hue sparkled in the sun bathing in its warmth. Micheal seemed unamused as she lifted up the flap of the saddle to reveal the brand.
"Hennig."
She scoffed almost silently.
I really wonder what I'm going to do with a six thousand dollar saddle.
Not bothering to open the smaller package she shook her head and replaced the packaging where it was and closed the box's flaps.