Working Things Through (Open)

[Lottii]

Rowan sighed as she slipped out of her room on the staff floor. It was 6am, just getting light. Her mind was buzzing with thoughts, and she needed to get out and clear her head. There wasn't much chance of students being up yet, was there?

The woman's legs automatically carried her to the stable yard. She might not have been here long, but she knew her way to the stables and back! Her slim frame hurried across the quiet yard into the tack-room, collecting a bridle, vaulting roller and bandages. Her fingers fumbled with the buckles on the bridle, removing the reins. A faint smile rose to her lips as she made her way to Razzy's stall and started placing the equipment on the mare. The bridle went first, followed by the roller and finally the four white bandages which protected the mare's legs whilst she was working. At 17hh, the horse towered above Rowan's petite height, but it was clear who was regarded as the leader of the pair when Razzy followed loose behind the woman out to the round pen. Normally in Vaulting, somebody would stand in the center and lunge the horse whilst the Vaulters performed, but Rowan had no-one to do that for her at the moment, and Razzy knew - and loved - her job. The gentle giant would canter a smooth circle in the round pen whilst Rowan leapt on and off her back, doing all manner of things in between.

Rowan set the mare going before she ran lightly alongside and jumped up onto her back. She worked her way through six movements, Seat, Flag, Mill, Scissors, Stand and Flank which dismounted. Razzy continued cantering, and Rowan worked through the movements again - sitting astride the large mare with her arms outstretched and her feet arched, kneeling on the horse with the right leg and left arm in point, the 'round-the-world' type movement, a handstand with legs switching over so she lands facing the opposite way and then repeat it to face forwards again, standing upright with arms outstretched and finally the movement which incorporated the dismount, a handstand, landing sitting sidesaddle facing inwards and then pushing upright and flipping off the other side of the horse. That time she was happier with her moves. These six exercises had been practiced every single day since she was thirteen, but she still hadn't reached perfection. Rowan reprimanded herself for thinking so negatively as she signaled to Razzy to stop.

It was only after the woman finished praising the horse and turned to lead her back to the yard, that she noticed a figure watching them from the edge of the round pen.

[Onzy]

Simon walked with slow purpose. One more week until his strapping came off, but he needed to be around his horse. Waking up this early in the morning was something that he was used to, and it had nothing to do with the fact that he had to go to class sometime in a few hours. So far he had been sleeping the best of six hours a night. Nightmares kept him awake, and the shadows taunted him. So far it was okay, but his fear was kept only at bay when he was around Vic. Even going to town paralyzed him. Moving in a crowd scared him. Being alone scared him. It was all thanks to that man he called a step-father. The one who had ruined his life from the first moment he had hit him. A few years later it had turned into more than just hitting. It was emotional, physical, and wholly unbearable.

Sticking his hands into his pockets, Simon made his way to the barn. Eager, but sleepy eyed horses looked at him, and he made his way to Vic's stall. The bay horse nudged him affectionately, and Simon fed the horse a few carrots. Whuffing into his face, Vic asked for more, but there was none to be had. I'll be back later, he promised the horse.

Making his way back to the dorms, Simon chose the route around the arena's. The outdoor arena was where his accident had taken place, and so far all he knew was that his step father had been the one to scare Vic. The man had also been in the hospital room, and Connor had spotted him several times in the town. Never coming out fully, but hiding in the shadows. It was a taunting threat. The man wanted Simon to come after him. It would be the only way to end the pain. With Hayden by his side, as well as his family, Simon would make sure the man rotted in a jail cell for the rest of his life. It would just take some time is all. Time was not so bad. He had a year left at the College, and after that he would still think of.

Coming to the round pen, he saw a woman riding a horse. He stood mesmerized by her movements. She was Vaulting, and the horse was running itself. He watched the discipline several times, but he himself had missed out on the flexibility needed for the sport. With this one started young. Just like gymnastics, one needed to start young. When the woman stopped, he noticed that she was looking at him. Sorry. I'll leave you in peace, he said with a friendly smile, and turned slightly. He had changed. Usually he would have created a whole conversation, but now he offered an apology and left. He would be glad when this whole drama was over. Now all that was left was to call out the man, and get rid of him.

[Lottii]

Rowan's eyes ran quietly over the male stood outside the pen. He had clearly been injured recently, and she recalled another staff member mentioning there had been an accident a short while back. The apology that came from the male surprised her, after all he hadn't caused a problem simply by looking. "It's fine, you can watch if you like. I was just finishing off though. I'm Rowan, although I guess if you've heard of me it will be as Miss Drache." She smiled warmly, her friendly vocals softer than normal. Vaulting was something which often caught the attention of others, particularly those who hadn't seen it before. The woman refrained from explaining every detail of the sport, knowing that although it was one of her many loves, most of the students here would probably be more focused on the more traditional disciplines of show-jumping, cross country and dressage.

Her attention turned to Razzy as she loosened the girth holding the vaulting roller in place. Rubbing the mare affectionatly on the forehead, she laughed gently as the mare returned the favor - the large equine pushing the petite female off balance. "How did you get injured?" she offered forwards the words, hoping it wasn't a sensitive subject. Rowan's eyes flickered to the male again before returning to her horse. The chestnut nickered softly, wanting a fuss from the boy. Rowan led her forwards, opening the gate and pausing just outside.

[Onzy]

Simon knew heard the woman's words, and his own smile was pretty forced. It was something that he had learn't how to do so many years ago, that one didn't even see the difference between his real one, and his forced one. Of course his family knew, and Hayden obviously. An old worry of Hayden set in. The male was the love of his life, but Simon was worrying that the male wasn't looking after himself as he should. I'm Simon Greene. Pleasure to meet you Miss. Drache. he said in his Irish vocals.

Then came the question of his injuries. Mental or physical? Past or present? he thought to himself. The horse I was riding spooked at something in the bushes, and went on a bucking frenzy. Went over topside, and was in a coma for two weeks, he answered matter-of-factly. He had repeated the story so many times, the answer was automatic. The reasons that Vic spooked he kept to himself, and what happened after his hospital stay he kept to himself as well. The mare nickered for his attention, and how could Simon resist. He walked over to the mare, and scratched under her forelock.

"You boy! Come here!" shouted the drunken voice from the top of the stairs. "Coming sir" was his automatic reply. "I thought I told you to clean your room?!" Simon flinched. He had cleaned his room, but for an eleven year old it was hard. "Never disobey me again!" and then the fist connected with his face. He fell down the stairs and when he reached the bottom, he grabbed his side in pain. In the ER he said he tripped. His mother confirmed the story. And each time it happened, he had to think of something else. In the present, Simon flinched at the memory. His left hand immediately grabbed his right side where he had his broken ribs. He breathing quickened for a moment, but he regained control, and calmed down.

TAG;; Lottii
WORDCOUNT;;
MUSE;; NUMB - LINKIN PARK
NOTES;; YA...LIKE...SHAAAAAA
CREDITS;; CREDIT FOR THIS TEMPLATE GOES TO OMG! TORALEE SEES A BIRDIE OF CAUTION 2.0 AND DONT STEAL!!! ITS NOT VERY NICE

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[Lottii]

"Nice to meet you too, Simon." Her silent observations took in his Irish vocals, and the slight strain to his smile - as though he was either constantly stressed and worried, or a very well covered fake. Rowan didn't voice either of these though, it wasn't her place to do so. The woman noticed a lot of things that other people missed due to ignorance, but in her teens she had learnt the hard way to keep her observations of people to herself. Rowan listened to him explaining how he was injured. Of course, he must get that question all the time. She reprimanded herself but took in what he was saying. "Ouch! Was that the college horse people have been saying put someone in hospital? Vic, I think the horse was called." She smiled again, it was something that came easy to her. No matter what faced her in life, she could always produce a genuine smile from something as simple as an honest conversation.

When Simon started fussing over Raz, she automatically started explaining. "This is Razzy, she's my vaulting horse although we do the odd bit of English Pleasure. She's a twelve year old, seventeen hand, Irish Draft Sports Horse. She's a proper gentle giant. " Rowan drew to a close, realizing if she continued talking she would begin to list the horse's vaulting merits, something guarenteed to bore most people. Simon might be a student, but he was one of the only people who had been willing to speak to her so far. To stop herself nattering on about Raz, she switched the subject. "How long until you can start riding again then? Can I expect to see you at any of my classes?" Another smile graced her lips as Razzy's large head butted gently against her side. Laughing lightly, she rubbed the horse's shoulder roughly, grinning as Raz nodded her head up and down.

[Onzy]

Simon kept fussing over the mare, allowing the memory to fade away before moving again. It scared him at how fast the memories came, and how they could just come. It was something that he wasn't used to, and he hated it. Then he realised when the name sounded familiar to him. This was to be his psychology teacher, but rather than just say anything just yet, he kept quiet. She spoke about Vic, and a small smile crossed his face. That was him. He isn't an angel, but he's solid enough. It wasn't his fault that he spooked, he said, knowing the person who was.

Simon moved his fingers along the pretty mares head, listening to Ms. Drache boast with her horse. It was a knee jerk reaction for any rider to do that, and he gave a smile. She's a friendly one, he gave as a reply. Razzy turned her attention to her mistress, and Simon stuck his hand back in his pocket. I am in fact. Psychology. I've the spent the last 4 years in a psychologist's office, I think it's about time that I get my head straight my own way, he joked, but it never reached his eyes.

TAG;; Lottii
WORDCOUNT;;
MUSE;; NUMB - LINKIN PARK
NOTES;; YA...LIKE...SHAAAAAA
CREDITS;; CREDIT FOR THIS TEMPLATE GOES TO OMG! TORALEE SEES A BIRDIE OF CAUTION 2.0 AND DONT STEAL!!! ITS NOT VERY NICE

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