[CATCH-ALL] This is gonna hurt kid…

[sleepyhollowed]

Who: Kieran Duffy (sleepyhollowed) and you!
What: A catch-all for the month of February; closed prompts mostly (let me know if you want something for your character at Sheepi!)
When: /points to previous sentence
Where: anywhere you want, p. much!



For Ben [FIRST COUPLE DAYS OF FEBURARY]

[This is a thought that’s been on Kieran’s mind for a while now, the weight of what he’s planning on asking weighing heavily on him. He’d acclimated relatively well, in his opinion, to losing his sight. The help provided to him by the other people trapped in Anchor had no small part in making sure that said acclimation went as well as it could, given the circumstances. But therein lay part of his issue: the fact that he still had to rely on others. No matter how much his own confidence had grown over the months, nor how much his friends insisted that they didn’t mind (and, according to some, actually enjoyed) helping, something nagging at the back of his brain told him that no. This is unacceptable. If he’s going to take advantage of others’ benevolence, he has to do something in return.]

[The culture that he’d come from, rife with machismo and eating the weak, insisted upon it.]

[So, he’s pretty sure he’s ready to take the next step, but, like any major change, he needs to make sure that it’s the right thing to do. And what better way than to phone a friend.]

H-Hey Ben, is this a good time? I can call back later if it ain’t!

--

For Carlisle [WITHIN FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY]

[Although Kieran didn’t expect it, Carlisle jumped on the chance to heal his sight the moment he brought up the idea. It’s a surprise, to be sure, but a welcome one.]

[One that sends him towards the barn as quickly as he can, relying on a pre-determined path that hasn’t led him wrong yet, thankfully. It doesn’t take him long. Kieran doesn’t like to be too far away just in case there’s something or someone who needs his attention. He knows he’s in the right spot when there are two familiar whinnies and the sensation of velvety snouts against his hair and arms.]

Hey, buddies. Didja miss me?

[Kieran hadn’t been gone for long—certainly for a much shorter time than when he’d been initially moved to the dorms—but to finnicky horses, nearly anything feels like forever. He can relate to that.]

[Running a hand down Eavan’s long face while simultaneously scratching under Branwen’s chin, Kieran starts to coo at them.]

I’m waitin’ fer a friend. He’s, uh, h-he’s gonna set everythin’ right so I can see yer pretty faces. Ain’t that somethin’?

[It sure is something, because for a few moments there, Kieran has to fight through a sudden grip in his throat and choke out the words. It isn’t fear, though, as he initially expected… but a sudden, hopeful excitement. Whatever happens next is going to change everything. Hopefully for the better.]

Comments

[sleepyhollowed]

Yeah, she was the first horse I found while here. Don't think there are a lot like her left.

[Which is a sad fact, but not surprising, given the combination of the overall state of Anchor and the size of the Agricultural Level. It isn't exactly conducive to housing herds of animals of any size, let alone horses.]

[Kieran places his rake against the edge of an empty stall before he reaches over to offer Jacob a handshake.]

K-Kieran Duffy. Pleasure to meetcha.

[nothinglikefather]

What about the green? On the lower levels? Wouldn't that work as grazing for some animals?

[ He only suggests it because back home, most of the parks and commons are still used by people for feeding their horses. And cows. And sheep.

Not that it matters when the rake is set down and the man comes up to him with hand extended.]

Jacob Frye. Are you... are you the Kieran Charles knows? Ran with the Van Der Linde gang?

[ Charles had said there were people here from his past, his home. He hadn't said much, but knowing there were people here who had known him? It makes him feel... strange. Uncertain.]

[sleepyhollowed]

[There is, of course, a question that needs to be answered that involves one of Kieran's favorite topics ever, ever. He's ready to wax poetic (or at least the cowboy equivalent thereof) about the space needed for an actual herd of wild horses and how this big ol' building may be enough for a small handful of them, but also that dangers both natural and its cold opposite could be impeding them. But, his little spiel is overshadowed by the revelation of an overall mundane, but uplifting fact.]

[Someone had talked about him to someone outside of the Van der Linde gang.]

[...He also has no idea if this talk had erred on positive or negative.

[To mirror those ideas, Kieran's face brightens up, then lowers a couple of notches as he meekly responds:]

Y-yeah! That's, uh, that's me!

[nothinglikefather]

[ It hadn't been negative, that's for sure. Aside from the fact it had referred to Kieran very much in the past tense. Charles hadn't detailed exactly what had happened to the man, but Jacob had been given the impression that Kieran had died before all the shit had hit the windmill.

It's a little surprising to see him here, and not dead. Instead of remarking on that- he does have some tact- he simply offers a smile in return.

Whatever his concerns, he's glad Charles has people from home, people to talk about the bad-old-days with. People that seem potty about horses.]

Any friend of Charles is a friend of mine. A pleasure to meet you, and your charges.

[sleepyhollowed]

[Not only did Kieran die, he, like, super died. Good stuff.]

[Which means the only way to go from there is up, right? And with the way he tentatively smiles at Jacob's greeting, he's well on the way there.]

[Or he's a little bit further along, at least.]

P-Pleasure's all mine! And I'm sure it's theirs, too.

[With a special spark introduced into his step, Kieran gestures with his entire body over to Eavan. The movement is deliberate and well within her view to avoid spooking her with any sudden movements.]

D'ya ride? I-I got some gear if you ever wanna go out fer a stroll around the area.

[All you have to do is mention being into horses just a little bit, and this guy is ready to share pretty much anything.]

[nothinglikefather]

[ Even in Jacob's fairly extensive experience of killing people, he's never done anything like what was done to Kieran. That was certainly over-kill, forgive the pun. ]

Ah, I'm sure we'll get along. I'll remember to bring a nice treat for them next time.

[ There's a gentle chuckle, and another stroke down Eavan's long nose, making a soft friendly noise as he does so. She's a gorgeous creature.

At Kieran's offer, his smile grows wider, and he turns his head back to the man as if he's just been offered as much free beer as he can drink, or something equally wonderful.]

Is there any other way to travel? If you... you're free now? I don't have any plans.

[ Okay so sure, technically he was home not all that long ago. But he didn't ride in London. Everyone has carriages. He misses just being able to get on a horse without the fuss of having to steal one. ]