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Post by Featherfall on Jul 14, 2019 16:03:30 GMT -5
“Yes, yes he does! Those beady little eyes just see right through you, how does that not freak you out?” Axl asked, going along with her teasing, flashing Thayer another grin. Despite their vastly different social standings, he always fell into this easy banter with her. She was by far the easiest person he had ever had the pleasure of speaking to, even compared to his friends who he had more in common with. Thayer was special that way; it was no wonder why he liked her. He looked back forward, reaching up to scratch at the back of his head, allowing himself the momentary feeling of sadness that overtook him that friends were all they could ever be before shaking it off.
Axl just shook his head at her question. “No, we’ll just take your bird today. Speaking of,” he said, pausing outside the building that housed the hawks, gesturing Thayer to go inside. “I will wait out here, away from eyes that see right through me,” he told her with a bright laugh, “then we can go to the stables and get some horses.”
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Jul 14, 2019 16:58:07 GMT -5
"They're not beady. They're keen, intelligent, eyes that see far more than anything you could ever hope to see," Thayer "lectured" him. "Hawks are much more efficient hunters than dogs are, more silent and patient, and if they were bigger and capable, could easily out hunt a dog any day." She was also incredible bias on all her opinions. The woman loved the hounds of the estate, but it was the birds she had spent more time around. There was something about not being able to handle them like the dogs that tempted her. Like all children, it was the things that she couldn't play with that caught her eye the most. It was the challenge to learn and gain the ability to handle the creatures that she worked towards. Now that she had gained that ability, she took any chance she could to show it off. Yes, she got on some people's nerves, but she knew how long to act such a way before it truly caused problems.
Reaching the building she had dubbed the Roost, unofficial name as it was, that made up of the home of the estate's hunting birds, she smiled over at him. "How about you go on and get the horses ready? I'll get Salem and send a servant to fetch us food, and I'll meet you at the stables. No sense in wasting too much time. Unless, that is, you just want to wait here until I'm done."
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Post by Featherfall on Jul 14, 2019 21:12:49 GMT -5
Axl just gave Thayer a look that said ‘really?’, having heard this lecture from her already. He was not a fan of birds in general, including his family’s chickens; they had chased him when he was a child and he had never really recovered mentally though he’d never tell Thayer that. He supposed that incident was the real driving reason for his negative reaction to birds in general.
He nodded at her suggestion. “Good idea, it’ll save us some time. I’ll see you in a bit!” he said before starting to jog off in the direction of the stables, slowing as he neared the big building that smelled of hay and oats, a small smile playing on his lips now. Out of all the buildings on the estate, this one was by far his favorite. He loved the days he was assigned to help out, usually sticking close to his father and learning how to handle the horses better. He had been coming here with his father long before he started working here too, often just content to sit on the fence of a paddock and watch as his father taught the horses to respond to certain commands that Thayer’s family wanted them to know.
Entering the building, Axl scanned the open area between the stalls, quickly spotting his father and calling out to him. “Father! Thayer and I are going out today and she’s requesting some horses. Who have you got free?” he asked as he approached the older man.
“Take whoever you like today, Mr. Hawthorn didn’t have any specific instructions today beyond his new yearling. We’ll let Miss Thayer have her pick,” his father said, wiping the sweat that had gathered on his forehead off. While it was still early, most of the stable staff was already hard at work mucking stalls and grooming horses.
Axl nodded his agreement, looking at the horses who had poked their heads out of their windows to look at him. He spotted his personal favorite, a bay gelding with white socks named Wolfe. He was an older horse, but Axl had learned to ride on him and generally favored taking him out. He was reliable and not as skittish as some of the others in the stable. He went ahead and took him out, attaching a lead to his halter and tying him up outside the tack room, grabbing his saddle and other necessary tack and quickly putting it on the old horse, who stood patiently still during the entire process. After he finished adjusting everything, Axl reached over and scratched the horse’s cheek, earning him a pleased huff.
He moved around the large animal so that Thayer would see him whenever she entered, ready to help her get her chosen steed ready to go.
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Jul 14, 2019 21:50:49 GMT -5
Thayer watched as her friend left for the stables. Once he was out of earshot, she couldn't help but chuckle in amusement. She could never understand why he disliked the birds so, but other than her teasing, she never took it more than that. While Axl went to get the horses, she turned and stepped into the Roost. Inside, the layout was similar to the stables, but converted to the comforts of the different types of hunting birds favored by the Hawkthorne family.
"Up and out early today, are you?" called a gruff voice on the other side of the building. Walking up the aisle towards her was Harris. The hulking figure of a man, heavy set but not all entirely of fat, a foot taller than Thayer herself, and the only hair on his head was in the form of a well kept beard, belonged to the Falconer she had grown up annoying and learning from.
Thayer smiled. "It's a fine morning for a hunt," she replied, continuing down to the large enclosure that held her Salem. "I've been caught up with other things recently, and have been neglecting my pretty boy. I thought today would be the day to make it up to him."
"Aye, that you have," Harris responded. Even though the family didn't hunt with the birds as often as they did with the hounds, he still liked to give the birds as much exercise as he could. Salem being Thayer's personal bird, he had stressed that responsibility to the young woman. She normally came out every other day to take the hawk out, but during the week she hadn't, Harris had done it for her. He knew it wasn't for any ill intent to the bird. She cherished the creature as he had hoped she would. It was for that reason alone he had been happy to take care of him in her absence. "He'll be well rested and eager for a good challenge."
Hanging on several hooks outside his enclosure, Thayer first put on the thick leather glove that covered her arm up to her elbow. Then she opened the door. Inside sat the little red tailed hawk that was Salem. "Come on, lets get you ready," she crooned to him. With a flew flaps of his wings, she watched as Salem flew from his perch onto her outstretched, gloved hand. Once there, Harris assisted her in placing the hunting hood over his head and the "leash" around his foot. While he helped, the falconer filled her in on the bird's current health, behavior, and any issues she would need to know. All of this, Thayer nodded and filed the information away in her mind.
Soon enough, she had all the equipment needed, and she left the Roost. Before she did, however, she had gotten one of the boys under Harris's training to run to the kitchen for provisions for two. The food would be brought to her at the stables whenever it was ready. So, with Salem perching comfortably on her arm, the young lady made her way to rejoin Axl. Even before she got into shouting distance, she spotted Wolfe waiting outside. It was no doubt this was the horse Axl would be taking. The man was fond of the old stallion, and she couldn't blame him. Wolfe had a calm and gently demeanor, and he had been a favorite of her's as well. "I hope you're planning on picking one out for me as well," she called out once close enough, seeing her friend standing by Wolfe and clearly awaiting her arrival.
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Post by Featherfall on Jul 15, 2019 13:59:27 GMT -5
“Figured I let you have your pick,” Axl told her, eyeing Salem as she approached. “I’ll get whoever you choose tacked up and ready to go, since your hands are otherwise occupied. My father said that any of your family’s horses are free today, by the way. They’re just doing some cleaning up around here today.”
Wolfe nudged his shoulder, using enough to force to bump him forward slightly, making Axl huffed in feigned aggravation. “Yes, yes, I see you. You haven’t been forgotten, you attention-seeking creature,” he told the horse, twisting around to continue scratching at his cheek where he liked it. The large animal tossed his head up in appreciation, black mane bouncing and small sections picking up in the ever-present breeze. Wolfe swished his tail, matching in color to his mane, swatting away a few of the bugs that were buzzing around him.
“We can’t stay out too late today,” Axl told her, almost as an after-thought. “I’ve got to head back into town this evening before everyone closes shop to pick up more chicken wire for our coop back home. That fox has been trying to get in again.”
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Jul 15, 2019 15:43:11 GMT -5
Thayer, very much amused by his one-sided conversation with the horse, smiled and nodded. "Then I'll take Odessa," she replied. Odessa was a sleek, dappled grey mare that she favored herself. The four year old mare was one that her father had given to her as a foal to use, a birthday gift. Mei was also given a steed of her own, a chestnut mare of similar build and grace. "I'm sure she'll be eager for an outing as well."
Walking with him into the barn, she took not of his second comment. "I don't have plans on being out too late, so you should have plenty of time to run your errands," she assured. "And if not, I'm sure we have some lying around that you can take with you."
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Post by Featherfall on Jul 18, 2019 20:48:25 GMT -5
Tell me why my ex decided to text me 20 minutes ago BOY LEAVE ME ALONE
Axl nodded at Thayer’s request, leaving Wolfe outside as he went inside with her. He found Odessa and pulled her out, attaching her lead to the hook outside of her stall that mirrored the one outside of Wolfe’s before jogging to the tack room and grabbing Odessa’s set. He rested parts of it on her stall door as he began getting the gray mare ready to go out.
“It’s fine, we’ve already paid for it, I just have to pick it up. We had been planning on enforcing the coop before, the shop just didn’t have enough so we had to order some,” he explained to her, quickly working on Odessa’s saddle, testing the tightness by sticking three fingers under the girth to make sure it wasn’t too tight to hurt the horse, but tight enough that it wouldn’t shift too much as she walked. His fingers worked quickly, with the skill of someone who had done this many times before. He wanted one day to work in the stables alongside his father, but for now he was biding his time just doing the household chores Thayer’s family needed him to do.
“I think we’re all set. Do you want help mounting?” Axl asked, looking at Thayer as he moved away from Odessa. She was tall enough that he was asking more out of courteousness.
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Jul 18, 2019 21:56:06 GMT -5
He better have a fine good reason for doing so. I don't know how he achieved ex status, but he shouldn't be wasting your time like that. *snaps fingers*
Thayer never liked to wait while other people prepared her horse for her. It made her feel like the pompous aristocrats that she tended to avoid. While she did have her hands full with Salem, she still didn't like letting Axl do all the work while she watched.
"Like I said, I don't plan on being gone all day," she assured while he saddled her horse. Every movement was made with ease, she noted. The results of years of practicing these actions day in and day out. It was hard to imagine that something so mundane could attract one's attention, but she found herself paying close attention to him whenever worked around her. When he was finished, she nodded. "If you could give me a leg up, I'd be so grateful," the woman told him, smiling. She could climb into the saddle on her own with one free hand, she had done so before, but why pass up the offer? Thayer moved to stand by the left side stirrup, placing a few of her hunting gear into her saddle bags.
(Meh, bad post, sorry. >.< )
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Post by Featherfall on Jul 20, 2019 15:26:23 GMT -5
He was literally just saying hi and seeing how I was doing. He was the one who ended things and I did not handle it well to say the least. I don’t think he truly understands that when I say I want my space, I mean don’t talk to me until I reach out first so. :/ And like the thing that sucks the most about the whole situation is that he became one of my best friends while we were dating, so when things ended and we stopped talking, I really missed him and I still do, but it’s not as bad as when everything was still fresh. So there’s that at least. Just. Men are dumb. Cute, but dumb as hell I swear
Axl nodded, moving to help her up. He crouched down, almost on one of his knees, while lacing his fingers together, creating a step from his hands so that it would hold Thayer’s weight without him dropping her. He was almost surprised that she had accepted his help, but lately he had noticed that she had been going out of her way more often to spend more time with him.
He didn’t want to read too much into it, but it almost seemed like she might like him as more than a friend. Axl already liked her much more than he probably should, and thinking that she might return his feelings was just asking for trouble.
“Whenever you’re ready,” he told her, hating that his voice sounded slightly rougher than usual. He didn’t want to be obvious, and knowing Thayer she’d definitely notice that he sounded different.
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Jul 20, 2019 16:36:26 GMT -5
Ah. My sister had a somewhat similar experience. The guy was being a jerk to the highest degree, she ended it, and yet he had the nerve to try and act like everything was fine between them afterwards. I would have loved to have hit him a couple of times myself for his idiocy. They can have their moments, but I agree, they are dumb.
It was easy to hop into the saddle with Axl's help. Placing one foot into his locked hands, she found herself settled onto Odessa's back without much disturbance to Salem's perch. The hawk spread his wings to make sure his balance wasn't affected by the sudden momentum, but otherwise kept his peace. The woman placed her feet into the stirrups and took the reins in her free hand before looking down at her friend. His statement, short as it was, brought a slight change in the voice, but whatever it was or what caused it wasn't known to her. It was enough to spark her curiosity, but not enough to make her draw attention to it. Instead, she gave him another smile, this on with a hint of challenge in it. "Then go grab Wolfe if you're planning on keeping up with me," she told him, turning Odessa's head so she turned towards the exit of the stables, setting her into a walk.
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Post by Featherfall on Jul 28, 2019 20:02:59 GMT -5
At least my ex wasn't a jerk lol. He ended things because he realized he didn't feel the same way anymore and didn't want to keep stringing me along, which I definitely appreciate but it still sucks. There was this boy I had seen a few times back when I was in high school still and when I realized it wasn't going to work out (my sarcasm flew right over his head every time) and ended things he tried to guilt me into getting back together. Honestly that just proved to me how little he actually knew me because that just got him blocked so fast.
Axl rolled his eyes, smiling nonetheless, at Thayer's statement. Typical, he thought, unable to help the rush of affection he felt for his employer's daughter. He jogged ahead of Odessa, turning sharply once outside to where Wolfe was waiting for him. Deft fingers quickly untied the reins that held the older horse in place, with Axl lifting himself up onto the saddle with a quiet huff of air as he swung his left leg over. He settled into the saddle, double checking that everything was secure enough to go through the rougher forest terrain.
With a soft clicking sound, he bade Wolfe to back up slightly before allowing the horse his head to meet up with Thayer and Odessa. "Lead the way, O Mighty Huntress," Axl said, lips quirking up in a mischievous lopsided grin.
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*Nightwhisper
"And guilty I may be, but don't give up on me... We will still be thick as thieves."
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Post by *Nightwhisper on Jul 28, 2019 20:38:30 GMT -5
Yeah, at least he was decent enough to be honest with you. Now the other guy, he's the jerk. If you don't get sarcasm and then guilt someone into anything, you need to rethink yourself. XD
Thayer followed Axl as he jogged out of the barn, keeping Odessa at a walk so she wouldn't run him over. About the same time they emerged outside, a young boy ran up to them. He was one of the younger boys, too young to work out in the fields or stables and son of one of the cooks. Calvin was his name, she remembered. The slender, red-haired boy had two bags over his arms and was doing his best not to drop them as he ran. Upon seeing her, he skid to a halt beside her horse.
"Your lunch, ma'am," Calvin huffed, trying to pull air back into his lungs.
"Thank you, Cal," Thayer replied, leaning down and taking one bag from him. She secured it to her own saddle before reaching for the other. As she did, she gave the boy a smile. "You go and tell your mom that I said you deserve one of those honey cakes she's been making."
The boy's face lit up at that, grinning and exposing a gap between his top front teeth. "I will!" he said, and, with the single mindedness only children have, turned and ran back towards the house with his new mission in his mind.
Thayer laughed slightly and handed the other bag to Axl once he had climbed into the saddle. The lopsided grin he was giving her was almost enough to cause her miss what he had said. Almost. With a grin that matched his, the young woman tapped her heels against Odessa's sides. In the next moment, they were cantering off towards the east entrance to the estate, heading for the woods.
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Post by Featherfall on Aug 12, 2019 14:20:04 GMT -5
Hi!! Sorry I haven't been on lately; my family went on vacation and I just got back into town and there's this whole mess going on with my apartment's utilities that I came home to so I have to figure that out because my roommates are sweet but clueless so.
Once everything settles down I'll reply but I literally do not have the time currently ^^'
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