LOG: amara, manuel and valentia [back dated]

[x-volcanic.livejournal.com]

Last week, Manuel and Amara run into each other again while he is out near the stables with his sister, and to her utter confusion, he is perfectly polite and offers to teach her how to ride a horse.

Manuel stepped outside of the barn, tugging on the cuff of his shirt as his sister came bouncing out and walked around the corner, heading for the paddock. He watched her parade up to the fence, crunchies in hand and climbed up the first railing, then the second so she could hang over the top while a hand rested on her back to steady her. Leaning over, she waved the carrot to the group of horses and got all their attention, though the only one she wanted was her horse, her Mellasan Devonarie.

Given the size of the property, you would think that a person would not have trouble finding a quiet spot where no one was actually around. But apparently this was going to continue to be a problem for Amara, as her stroll over to the barn was quickly cut short as she spotted Manuel exiting. Coming to an abrupt halt, she swore under her breath before starting to move again. She did not want a repeat of their last encounter, but nor was she going to let him spoil yet another day. She tilted her chin up, determine to just ignore him as she went past.

Of what troubled news he recieved from Kyle, Manuel tried to over shadow his own dark feelings from his sister by distracting her with attention to the horse. Drawing the attention of four horses had her smiling to him and holding out the carrot until his hand closed over hers to steady it and prevent little fingers from getting lost with rows of teeth.

"Good afternoon Amara," he said over his shoulder, though he didn't look at her at first.

So much for getting past without speaking to him. Refusing to be childish enough to simply ignore him now that he'd spoken to her, she just gritted her teeth and attempted to sound as cordial as possible.

"Good afternoon, senhor."

"Come," Manuel beckoned her, offering a carrot to the blonde. "Feed the horses."

Amara frowned slightly, not exactly trusting his offer, but then she'd already promised herself she wouldn't be rude. She changed the direction in which she was walking, joining Manuel and his sister at the railing. She didn't take the carrot from him, instead just looking over at the horses.

"They're beautiful," she said absently, reaching out to stroke the nose of one of them.

"Yes they are. Very emotional too, surviving off the brink of their reactions. Though of course, this one is getting fat and out of shape," he gestured to the one that was lazing her way towards them. He resisted making a crude remark about the blonde next to him with similiar traits.

Amara resisted the urge to raise an eyebrow at that, instead glancing over to him briefly. "Well, you would know." She glanced over at the horse that he referred to, taking a moment to feel sorry for it. "It can't be easy for him, being penned up in here like this. He could do with being ridden more frequently."

"She can do nothing until her owner is grown up." He nodded to Valentia who gestured for another carrot. He handed it to her and hoovered his hand over hers until he deemed it safe that she let the horse take it from her freely. He had to let go and loosen her leash sometime.

"Are you interested in lessons?" he asked, raising a hand to place behind his horse's ears, pulling her head down so Valentia could pet her. It was a trick he'd been working on with her, due to the fact that she struggled when the bit was being put into place.

"My apologies." Her lips quirked up into a little bit of a smile. "Well then perhaps her owner's older brother should take responsibility for her fitness until her owner is able to." Her gaze shifted to look at the horse rather than at Manuel, the smile not leaving her face as yet.

"I have ridden a horse before," she said with a shrug, not exactly answering the question properly. "But I will be the first to admit that I do not ride particularly well."

"Maybe it is time to change that, what do you think Valentia?" he asked, pulling his hands away from her so he could pose his question in sign language. She replied though it was choppy at best due to the fact that she did not know specific words concerning horses and had to try and spell it out, another feat which was futile but he got her overall response.

"She thinks you would be beautiful on Mellasan. Would you like lessons?"

Amara smied properly as she watched the communication between brother and sister, doing her best to hide her confusion at the change in Manuel's behaviour. He was usually such an ass - but then, his sister was here. Obviously he was behaving.

"Thank you, Valentia. It's very kind of you to say so." After a couple of moments she looked up at Manuel, her brow briefly furrowing before smoothing out. "If you think you can spare the time, I will not say no."

"Very good," Manuel said, wrapping an arm aroud his sister's waist to lift her up so she could be on the railing better and reach the horses. "We will set a date later, something more approperiate when you and I have sufficient time to do it. I cannot ride Mellasan too often as she needs, due to the fact that she requires more exercise than my leg permits."

Amara just nodded at that, taking a few moments before she spoke. "We can discuss it later." There was a longer pause, as Amara struggled to figure out what else to say. "Thank you," she said somewhat awkwardly and ubruptly, still confused by his sudden cordiality.

"You are welcome." Manuel stoodup and helped his sister back down, if only because the company was awkward. He briefly signed to her what he was going to say to Amara and then conveyed it similiarly. "We must be going, however, you may email me and we will talk about specific times. Yes?"

"Yes, I will. I should also be going." She glanced over to Valentia, smiling. "I will see you later. Good bye, Valentia." Amara turned to keep walking herself, still not having any particular destination other than just to walk. That. Was weird.