achtenberglogs | [OPEN] the horse whisperer

who. Guinevere Kirkland, open to everyone else
what. hanging out at the stables
location. Daphne Phifer Stables
date/time. June 2, afternoon
warnings. probably nothing bad!

"It's been a while," she said as she walked into the stables, dressed in her school Equestrian Club outfit and grinning at a certain horse. It was auburn with cream-colored spots, and a few black blotches near the muzzle and on the ears. He made a soft noise as Guinevere approached and immediately nosed at her hand. "I missed you too, Excalibur!"

She planned on riding, but not before grooming and feeding her beast. She combed his coat, continuing to coo and talk to him about what she did for spring break, or about how her classmates were bubble-headed idiots. For the moment, Gwen was the only lady in the stable, and she felt at ease. Sometimes, it was much easier to just talk to animals. Gwen would swear up and down that they talked back to her, and often people could find her happily chatting with a cat or bird, and sometimes she would talk to something that wasn't even there at all!

But that was alright. She didn't care to explain herself. She told the others that she preferred being alone. Things were simpler that way. And yet, she would never tell anyone just how lonely she really was. She told Excalibur, though, many times.

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Lauren had come down to the stables to see the horses and it was only when she got close that she heard someone talking. She was surprised to find only one person there. But there were a few horses at least. Lauren looked at all of them as she walked past and she stopped by Gwen and admired her horse.

"Do you ride?" she asked, not recognising this part of the uniform. Lauren hadn't paid that much attention to the prospectus or the website.

Gwen stiffened when she heard someone else enter the stable. It had startled her since it was a quiet day, she didn't expect anyone else to drop in. She hushed and turned to look over as the other girl came closer.

Ah, her roommate. Guinevere gave Lauren a nod, though her look was slightly mocking. "You've never seen a rider's outfit before?" Of course, she quickly continued talking, to show that she wasn't annoyed. Perhaps the girl really hadn't. "I've been riding since I first came to Achtenberg. But even as a young girl I had some lessons. This is actually my horse. I bought him." Well, her parents bought for her. Most likely to keep her busy and from returning home, which was always why they bought things for her.

"He's really yours?" Impressed, Lauren reached out to pet him. "I'm going to take riding lessons, but I couldn't ask Dad for a horse. We wouldn't be able to put it on a plane."

She stepped back to look at Gwen's outfit again. "Do you have to wear that to ride?" It was a genuine question, although Lauren didn't think very highly of it.

The animal was very tame, and he allowed Lauren to pet him without a second thought. "Well, you don't have to," Gwen grinned. "At this school, or if you're in contests, you do. But if you want to just ride, you can wear whatever you like."

She nodded. She was sure she could live with that. Especially if she did end up getting good enough to go to contests. But she was sensible enough to know that wouldn't be soon. "So how good are you? Have you won many contests?"

Guinevere went back to brushing Excalibur again, on the other side this time. "I've placed, but not in first. Only third. I hope to change things this year." That's right, no distractions! She was going to keep herself busy with school in hopes to succeed in everything she did. Nothing half-arsed.

Then she would rub her success in her father's nose.

Lauren nodded and watched her brush the horse. She supposed that riding lessons might mean taking care of the horses too. "I'm looking forward to the semester starting," she said. "It's exciting, being at boarding school."

It wasn't bad. Guinevere liked having time alone with her horse. Then again, it was her horse, though she knew she would have given a school's horse just as much attention. All animals should be treated with respect.

"This must be your first year here," she said, smirking softly. "It's certainly a different experience, being away from home."

She nodded. "I've been away from home before, but not for a whole semester. What's the school like?"

"Oh, you know," Gwen sighed. "Strict but civil. Most girls do what they're told, and the ones who don't are singled out. Things like you see in the movies." She shrugged and gave her horse a hug around the neck before putting the brush away. "It's not bad. Just be prepared to work your little arse off."

"If it's like the movies then I'll love it," she said excitedly. "I know how to work. I've been home schooled practically my whole life."

"Home-schooled?" Guinevere replied, looking interested. "Why?"

"I had to fit school in around gymnastics training," she said easily, as if that sort of thing was normal. Well, it was for her.

That must have been some pretty intense training, Guinevere thought, if Lauren had to be home-schooled because of it. She supposed there could have been stranger reasons to be taken out of school. "I wonder what that'd be like. Personally, I'd hate being at home all the time. I'd go mad."

Lauren shrugged. "I was training more often than I was at home. But I always wondered what school was like. It looks like so much fun in the movies."

Only a home-schooled kid would think school was fun. Perhaps Lauren should have watched British movies about schools. Then they would not have seemed like a bag of laughs. Gwen shook her head, chuckling.

"I'm afraid you're in for a rude awakening." She began preparing her horse for a ride, hooking up his reigns, fitting the saddle. "This school... is not fun."

"It's been fun so far." Of course there hadn't been any lessons yet. "I'm looking forward to trying new things." Although she sounded a little flat, when saying it, as if it was something she recited without necessarily believing.

That was the old cookie-cutter saying, yes. "So you'd rather be here than at home?"

"No," she admitted after a pause. "But I agreed to come, so here I am."

Guinevere looked up and nodded again, giving Lauren an almost-sympathetic look. Really, she didn't hate her roommate, at least not now. There was no reason to. And she wasn't trying to scare of discourage her.

After a brief pause, Gwen finally dropped her head and sighed again. "Well, maybe I am just being negative. you seem like the type of person who will make plenty of friends. Being here could benefit you."

"I'm sure I'll make friends," Lauren said brightly. "And there'll be proms and parties and all the usual things that you have at school."

"...Right, of course."

Guinevere began leading Excalibur out of the stables so that they could ride. This talk with Lauren was making her feel insecure. They were both so different.

Lauren just shrugged and watched her go before turning to the other horses.

[OPEN] the horse whisperer

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