Early Morning: Manuel & Amara

[x-empath.livejournal.com]

While Valentia is at school, Manuel holds up his promise to give Amara lessons. Questions are answered but they leave Amara more confused than before.

The lesson was over. Indeed, he was sure she wasn't going to show up, but her manners seemed to commit to things that were probably not good for her. Except, he knew he had surprised her with this lesson on a horse that had far too much energy. Manuel could only ride her for half of an hour before Amara came to work off some of that energy, but ultimately, Amara's first lesson was on a horse that was well above her class.

He could see that she enjoyed it, even if she was wary of her teacher and the final brush down of the horse became a lesson in itself of how to care for the animal before putting her away.

"Here is the pick, just as I showed you before. Run your hand down her leg, though keep in mind that you are by her legs and horses react without thinking. Just like people," he said, adding the last part.

Amara nodded at the instruction - at least the start of it - and slowly ran her hand down the horse's leg, being carefully to only touch the horse lightly. She didn't want to spook it, especially given how close she was to her hooves.

"Not everyone reacts without thinking."

It was possible that actually following through on the riding lessons was a bad idea, as extended periods of time spent in Manuel's company just served to infuriate her. But she was not one to turn down the gift of education, and she was not determined not to let him get to her. Again.

It was without effort that he seemed to get to her and carefully cultivated that through controlled ways, even if she didn't realize what he was doing.

"Very good, but harder. She cannot feel your light touch. Lift her leg and hold it. If you let a horse bully you, then they will always be difficult. Again, much like people."

Amara took a deep breath, fighting the urge to snap at him. She knew where that would lead, and a temper tantrum now would result in little more than a broken plate. He might be trying to get to her, but for now, she wasn't going to let him.

"I don't want to overheat her," she said lightly, putting more pressure into her touch as she lifted the leg, her grip tightening further to ensure that the horse did not move. "You would know, I suppose. About bullying people."

"Bullying or entice?" he asked. "There is a difference."

"Bullying," she said firmly, carefully examining the hoof before carefully starting to clean it. "I do not know how you could consider your behavior enticing."

Manuel left her and rounded to the front of the horse, picking up a soft cloth that he brought for his horse's face. Her eyes fluttered close as he wiped over them, taking careful care to be gentle, sensing that she warmed to him when he did it. "You ask why however you ask the wrong questions."

Amara worked carefully, not wanting to hurt the horse as she worked. It was something to focus closely on, and the focus helped her keep herself calm.

"It's not my business."

"It is if it involves you. Is enticed the wrong word I am using?" he asked, thoughtfully looking over the horse's face, picking at something in her mane.

Amara blinked at that, letting the horse put her hoof back down on the ground. "Are you trying to entice me into doing something?" She started to move towards the next leg, putting extra distance between them.

"Release, in a fashion," he replied and cleaned the horses' ear. Funny, he would never touch a toilet but Manuel could clean all aspects of a horse, probably because a horse's emotions had a calming effect.

"What?" Amara paused mid-reach for the horse's hind leg, straightening up and staring at him. "Why on earth do you never make sense?"

Manuel regarded her as she regarded him but with much more calm. "You seem to restrain yourself from overly feeling anything at all, except for whatever you put on as a polite, overly sunny disposition. Being in much the same way, I can only think that this has to do with your powers and if you lose control of your emotions, you lose control of your powers, yes?"

Her mouth snapped close after he finished speaking, busying herself with a sudden need to examine the horse's tail, simply because it was there and she did not want to be looking at Manuel anymore. "That is none of your business," she replied eventually, struggling to regain her emotional equilibrium. Her control over both her emotions and her powers was not something she wanted to discuss with him.

"You are right, however I understand it and I am sure it is nice to have understanding when most do not," he replied evenly and dropping the towel into the tack box. The leadchain was picked up, attached under the halter and the cross ties were released, dropping them to the side of the stalls with a thud.

"It is not wise to stand so close to the rear of a horse you do not know," he informed her and offered the lead.

Amara backed away from the horse, silently taking the lead from him. She wasn't ignoring what he'd said, far from it. He was right - and part of her hated that he was - and she was curious. Even more than the guilt she'd carried over the deaths she'd caused, Amara knew the close tie between her emotions and her powers was her biggest weakness. She'd learnt how to control her powers, but it had been at the expense of her emotions.

"You're right," she replied eventually, with a touch of reluctance. "What exactly... I mean, when you spoke of release. What do you mean by that?"

"I simply gave you the means for release when you had opportunity. It is not always about pissing blondes off," he said with a hint of a smile and nodded towards the empty stall.

"Walk in the stall with her and turn her around before you release her. Less chance of being kicked this way."

"You goaded me on purpose?"

"You act as though I have time for anything else," he replied evenly.

"Why?" There's a long pause, as she actually started to move. "I mean, yes, I understand taking advantage of the opportunity. But why would you do that?"

"Why not? I have the means. I am not well liked by any and the overall impression of my reputation is less than desirable. It is only by natural reaction from what you have heard that you would follow suite and let go of your falsehoods to flash me a bit of anger." Oddly enough, Manuel wasn't bothered by this in the least. Friendships never came easy but making meaningful enemies, yes, he was very good at that.

"Well maybe if you weren't so rude half the..." Amara abruptly shut her mouth, not willing to get into an argument with him now. "So out of the kindess of your heart, you pushed me into losing my temper just because I could?" Forgive her if she's sounding skeptical, Manuel, but being at all nice wasn't part of your reputation.

"Would you please put the horse backin her stall. She is waiting and getting anxious," Manuel replied, closing up the tack box and not bothering to answer her question. He never thought that this would be easy from the start, it was possible that was why he did it.

"If you insist," she said with a very slight smirk, taking the time to carefully lead the horse back into her stall, and run her hand down her nose before closing the stall.

"You didn't answer my question."

Manuel walked over, right up to her and reached over her, taking the lead and unhooking it from the halter before he removed the halter completely. "I know," he said and withdrew, heading down the hallway.

"You are unnecessarily confusing, did you know that?" After giving the horse one last stroke she followed him, her step quickening until she caught up with him.

"Yes, I know that as well." He hung the halter up and turned, face to face with her and lifted his brows. "Are you going to be my shadow now, trying to work out this equation?"

"I have no reason to stay in the stables," she said with a little bit of a laugh. "But I will admit, I am curious now. Maybe you are not the man your reputation and attitude paints you as." With another little smirk, Amara kept walking.

Manuel removed the bridle from where it was hanging and resumed cleaning the tack. He let her leave, sensing her amusement over bearing her intial confusion and considered it a start.