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provost's dog (d1) aniki forfrysning

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[There is a massive draft horse of indeterminate breeding on the plane. It does not look happy to be there. In fact all the vibes it's giving off are those of extreme displeasure. Its ears are back, the shuffling and snorting its doing a clear indication that it wants people to STAY AWAY. There are torn clothes on the ground, a broken belt--and the well-cared-for hilt of a sword showing above the battered scabbard in which the sword itself is sheathed.

Yeah. If you recognize the weapon she always carries, you might recognize the pissed-off expression on the horse's face.

Aniki has not had a good day.]

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[She smells the carrot and everything else goes out of her head. Crunch, crunch, crunch. She bumps her nose gently against his chest, hands. Nuzzles his neck. Lips at his hair and drools on it affectionately. This one's hers.]

[He smiles.] Oh, good, you relaxed. Though, mind you, I'm going to need to shower after this. [He almost sounds annoyed but he chuckles and strokes her.] We're going to have to think of something to do with you. Not really sure you should be wandering around as a horse.

[She doesn't understand him in the slightest. His coat smells like all sorts of good things, so she's busy nibbling away at it while he talks and strokes the sensitive part of her neck. Happy sigh.]

[He snorts a bit, gently pressing her muzzle away.] Oi, those are buttons! Here, tell you what. I'll get a present for you. Something to pass the time while you're, well- [he pauses.] There's a brilliant pun to be made here about 'horsing around.' Anyway, one tick.

[He holds up his hands trying to get this point across and disappears from the Plane for a moment. When he does reappear, there's a very large, brightly coloured ball next to him.]

Look!

[She startles a bit, both at his sudden disappearance and reappearance, and takes a few steps back, eying him and his round companion nervously.]

No no no, look, it's all right, Aniki. [The Doctor decides to demonstrate by hitting the ball with his shoe toe, not too far. He moves to it and hits it gently to Aniki.]

[She shies away, alarmed by this brightly-colored thing's sudden attack.]

[He leans against her, stroking her neck and leaning up, saying his words softly.] No no, shh, it's all right. The ball is good. It's fun! Look! [He lets go and goes back to the ball, awkwardly kicking it around and running forward to catch it, smiling.]

[She trails after him, still keeping her distance from the ball but trying to stay close to the one with gentle words that smells like good things. She stands behind him, leans her head over his shoulder to peer at the beach ball and draws it back again, nuzzling his ear and giving a nervous little whicker.]

[He reaches up, patting her fondly.] See? Not so bad, is it? [The Doctor bounces it a bit before carefully rolling it over to her feet.] Just kick it a bit. Or use your head. [He motions with his head towards the ball, like a headbutt.]

[Of course, the directions are meaningless to her, but he's still talking in the nice voice and doesn't seem alarmed by this thing. She noses at it, jerks back as it rolls in response. She gives it a cautious shove with her nose, watching with interest as it rolls across the floor of the plane. Aniki whinnies and trots over to it, this time hitting it with the side of her nose and watching it roll away again.]

[The Doctor claps his hands.] Bravo! There you go! [He hops over to her and kicks the ball as well, though still not too far.] Brilliant, isn't it?

[She races after it, kicking up her heels a bit as it rolls to a stop. She noses the ball, lips at it, shoves it with one hoof. And then another good whack with her nose (it sails in the general direction of the Doctor) and a whinny of delight. This kind one brings good things.]

[He laughs as the ball hits him and bounces it before kicking it back to her.] Nice one! Quite the punch you're packing.

[She shuffles it around with her feet, flops onto her side and does the slow, arduous roll of a horse her size before prancing back to her feet. She's starting to realize there are smells missing from this place. And it is metallic. Unsettling.]

[She rolls the ball towards the kind one by shepherding it along with her nose.]

[He smiles and decides to be silly, headbutting it back to her.] The horse method! In honour of a horse, of course.

[She rears back, waving her hooves at him playfully (and from a safe distance). She lands with a thud, starts to nose the ball forward again. With her nostrils so close to the ground, she realizes what's missing.]

[No green smell. No earth smell. No mud or soil. No ground. No ground to see, no ground to smell, no ground. The ball rolls on, but she surges upright, panicking. She kicks out with her hind legs, rears, the white of her eyes showing in panicked rims around the dark iris.]

[When she comes down again she stays very, very still, ears flat back and eyes still wide. She stretches out her neck toward the Doctor, not stepping closer, but clearly trying to reach him.]

Edited 2009-01-14 09:38 (UTC)

[The Doctor sees the panic and moves forward, slow and careful, his steps deliberate and firm. He realises what's wrong, at least this time he does.]

Aniki. Aniki, it's all right. Do you hear me? [His voice is soothing as he speaks. When he reaches her, he pets her muzzle.] I'm right here. Standing right here. There's ground. See? Ground.

[She rubs the side of her face against him, trembling, still rooted to the spot. Aniki. The kind one is addressing her, she knows, though how she knows is neither clear nor important. She breathes in his reassuring scent, listens to his voice and her breathing gets less wild. She wants him to keep talking. Still no moving. No ground there. No ground. She shudders.]

Edited 2009-01-14 09:53 (UTC)

[The Doctor continues the reassuring strokes and gentle words.] I know, it's a bit strange, isn't it? But it's all right. I'm standing here, right, Aniki? So! Nothing to fear.

[She's still tense and still absolutely refuses to move, but she's not out-and-out panicking, at least. She presses her head against his chest and whickers.]

[He keeps stroking her and frowns.] Tell you what. I'm going to cover your eyes, Aniki. All right? [With that, he does indeed cover her eyes. With his coat. Yep.]

[It takes a few minutes, but after while she calms down and tugs at his shirt.]

[He smiles and peels back the coat.] Feeling better, Aniki?

[As the good smell of the coat and the calm and safety of its warm dark draw away, she tenses up again. Not a great deal, but still. She snuggles close to him as best a horse her size can.]