"That's good of you," is said very sincerely. Ellis' voice warms over the praise, moving past Bastien to pass his hands down the horse's neck, shoulder, then chest, crouching to carefully run his hands down one leg.
"Have you decided on a name?"
Bastien seems either unbothered or charmed by the biting, so Ellis doesn't count it against the beast. It suits, somewhat. From the stable floor, he points out, "You're charming enough that I've gone mostly unnoticed."
He takes a step away. Not to evade further snuffling and biting, just to find a better view for satisfying his curiosity about what Ellis is doing. The horse's nose follows him for a few inches before he settles back and shifts his hooves.
He's fine, for the record. The horse. Four or five years old, a gelding, and decently cared for before now, albeit without any signs of particular pampering.
"I don't know about a name. Do they learn their names? The Antivan didn't say he had one, but..."
"You can teach him," Ellis answers, having moved along to the opposite leg. The soft, coaxing cluck of his tongue is all for the horse as Ellis coaxes one hoof up off the floor. "He'll come when he's called, if you spend the time on the lesson."
The hoof released, Ellis straightens. His hand returns to the horse's shoulder, stroking up and then down his neck.
"You don't need to decide on it now. I was only curious."
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"Have you decided on a name?"
Bastien seems either unbothered or charmed by the biting, so Ellis doesn't count it against the beast. It suits, somewhat. From the stable floor, he points out, "You're charming enough that I've gone mostly unnoticed."
no subject
He takes a step away. Not to evade further snuffling and biting, just to find a better view for satisfying his curiosity about what Ellis is doing. The horse's nose follows him for a few inches before he settles back and shifts his hooves.
He's fine, for the record. The horse. Four or five years old, a gelding, and decently cared for before now, albeit without any signs of particular pampering.
"I don't know about a name. Do they learn their names? The Antivan didn't say he had one, but..."
no subject
The hoof released, Ellis straightens. His hand returns to the horse's shoulder, stroking up and then down his neck.
"You don't need to decide on it now. I was only curious."