[There's a look of surprise that crests upon Arthur's features at Daniil's speaking English without the aid of the translator. The thickness of the accent marking the authenticity of it, and he can't help but wonder what made the doctor choose to learn English.
He's not complaining, far from.]
As well as a feller with TB can be. I see you been studying more than medicine in your free time.
[But then attention is brought to the reason he's here in the first place, and with a similar fondness he looks to the horse in question.]
But anyway, the horses are over in Purple Windy, it's to the west of here. He handles well—Tennessee Walking horses tend to be fairly docile, though he's still got a little bit of wildness in him. But that's just him getting used to us.
[Arthur gently strokes along the horse's broad neck, it's ear flicking for a moment as it looks at Daniil, assessing him.]
[He does look to Arthur as he mentions the TB. That and cholera and many others still struck the fear in the hearts of men. Dangerous diseases.] Well enough to break a horse.
I’ve encountered too many miscommunications lately. [His pun based joke flopped and he’s sick of people asking if he’s married.] It was frustrating me. Half the people here speak it, so I may as well, too. I have to be prepared to function if it breaks. It’s just technology, like anything else.
[He strokes the horse’s neck as he talks.]
How could I be so thoughtless, I should have brought a treat. One moment-
[He walks briskly back into the hospital and comes out with the entire tray of muffins.]
[Arthur nods at the commentary. Sure, he's well enough to stand so he's well enough to break a horse. He figures he won't be fit to tame horses when he isn't fit to breathe no more, but that doesn't seem to be coming for him here.
Of course this is just the beginning, no horse is broken in just a couple of days, but it was best to get Daniil introduced to his new companion and work with them both to see how they get on. After all, if the horse dislikes him, well...]
Guess preparing for the worse ain't a bad call.
[But then Daniil is gone and back with muffins just as quickly, the horses both looking quite interested in the treats he's brought along.]
Now don't go spoiling him too much, you still gotta let him know who calls the shots here. You become too big of a pushover and he'll see how far you tip.
[Arthur says that, but then Nickel is lipping at those muffins and he's not stopping him. Yet, at least.]
I’m just making a good impression. Don’t you worry, my father raised me to be a general in the army, like himself. He didn’t give up that particular delusion until I left for my first day of medical school.
I won’t be pushed around by a horse, of all things, so easily.
Isn’t that right, Arion? We’ll see who’s boss when only one of us has our testes. [He croons at Arion, feeding him a muffin out of his flat hand.]
Only incidentally. General Dankovsky is an incredibly forthright man. He’s the only one who couldn’t tell what a joke he was setting up. Still, my upbringing stuck.
[Treats are certainly helping Arion warm up to this weird guy.]
I know the amount of time you’ve spent in hospitals has been nominal, but that is not an ordinary scheduled procedure. Can you imagine? “Yes, we’ve got three procedures today— Mr. Karamarov for his appendectomy, Mrs. Ivanova for an X-ray, and oh- poor old Rostova’s losing his balls. He’d like them pickled in a jar for posterity.”
You'd think he'd get the punchline just looking at you. Doubt you know how to throw a punch, let alone be able to weather war.
[Not that Arthur has exactly been in war, but he's certainly been in his fair share of shootouts. And he's dealt with some conflicts with the military not too long ago.
The thought hardens his features for a moment, but the joking about ball removal is a welcomed distraction.]
Well shit, can't a man get his balls pickled if he wants to? I can't say I'm of that mind, but what a man goes to the doctor for is his business. It sure would explain some fellers I've met in the past.
[He lets out an amused breath, almost like a chuckle that doesn't quite get audible enough to fit the name.]
But yeah I do, I've gelded stallions before, when they was too hot otherwise. But before I go taking a knife to his balls, there's another matter we gotta settle.
What’s that meant to mean? I’m a man, I can throw a punch. I’m not about to show you when you’ve just brought me such a beautiful horse, and I am civilized after all.
[Daniil lets all jokes fall aside for now. He said fifty last time. He doesn’t have fifty.]
Payment, of course. I can simply contact a bot to settle for the agreed total of twenty-five.
[Arthur doesn't even dignify his protest with a verbal response, just a knowing looking that says all that needs to be said.
But as for the matter of payment, well, he did say fifty, didn't he?]
I don't think you understand the position you're in, doc. You don't get to set the price. Sure, we had an agreeing conversation, but I don't recall us shaking on it. But I do happen to recall you annoying me something fierce.
[Shit, Shit, fuck, he was so good at pissing this guy off. What he wouldn’t give to try this conversation a couple more times.]
[He didn’t want to lose his chance with this horse! He’d already named it! And his feet fucking hurt!]
Perhaps we can come to a gentlemanly agreement. Perhaps I ought to start with a genuine apology. I’m sorry, Arthur. That was inappropriate of me. It’s clearly a sensitive topic. Perhaps there’s something I can do for you to make it up to you? I’ve only got 25 points to my name until a bit later.
Oh, I'm a gentleman now? Here I thought I was just some horse catcher for the fancy doctor that ain't got no problem telling anyone and everyone my business to! But sure, that apology is a start, maybe.
[He looks Daniil over, then looks to Arion, petting along the bridge of his nose with a gentle hand.]
I dunno boy, whatchu think about this little twig of a man, huh? Think he's worth your time? Think that apology was good enough?
[He leans in, conspiratorial:] He wants me to lop off your balls, might wanna think on that.
[Daniil is trying so hard to stay cool. His polite exterior can only handle so much of his interior emotional state. He’s terrified of saying the wrong thing.]
[Daniil grits his teeth and clenches his fist. He chides himself. What was he going to do, punch him? His heart pounds in his chest. Was he really going to stand there and let himself get robbed? He already paid a deposit. He opens his mouth to speak but nothing comes out.]
[Finally Arthur looks at Daniil, and a smirk pulls at the corner of his mouth.]
I'm just joking with you. I'm fine with the prior agreement. But watch yourself, I ain't always gonna be so forgiving after a little bit of well deserved needling.
[Daniil lets out a breath he doesn’t realize he’d been holding.]
[It would be a lesson learned if he could stop making the same mistakes absolutely all the damn time. So he was just trying to stress him out?
Did that throwaway line about the TB on the network piss him off so bad?]
[Daniil is still failing to say anything. He notes that he’s getting a little lightheaded. He absolutely could not tip his hand about how upset he was right now.]
[He reaches out for Arthur to hand the lead to his horse with a slightly uncontained crazed look on his face.]
[Arthur's not as much of a fool as he plays himself off as being, and he can tell that Daniil is off from all this. He really was a sensitive sort, huh?
He'd make a terrible general.
Arthur follows his silent request and puts the lead in his hand, a flash of concern in his eyes, but mostly because horses themselves are particularly sensitive to the moods of people, and... Daniil's mood is wretched right now.]
[Daniil places a hand on his new horse’s muzzle. Arion is clearly picking up what Daniil has going down. He anxiously stills as Daniil lets out a long breath as he feeds him another muffin. He heaves a sigh, stroking down his horse’s face to his cheek.]
[And then Daniil seems mostly fine again. He pulls Arion away a few feet and mounts with relative ease.]
[He's not so sure this is a smart idea, given Daniil's emotional state, the unfamiliarity with Arion, and Arthur has no idea Daniil's skill as a rider but... well, there's no better way to measure the results of all three at once, he supposes.
He did mount a saddleless horse easily enough, which is a good sign. Likewise, Arthur climbs onto Nickel's back, and directs the horse to stand besides their competition.]
A lap around the hospital, or you looking for a longer track?
[It is a very large building, as it was. There’s a light density forest behind, and trails anyway. Daniil has good control of the horse, though really, some training would be much wiser than pushing the limits of their muffin-made connection so early. But Daniil’s pride had been severely wounded, again and again. He had to show him that he wasn’t just pathetic.]
Three, two, one, go!
[Daniil presses his heels and braces himself for this thing to go off like a shot.]
[Knowing how to control a horse and handling one that is still being tamed are also different things. After all, properly breaking a horse is a process of weeks, not days, and so as of right now Daniil is likely more shielded by the horse's good nature than merely the skill he has.
Arthur, however, has no such concerns for he has been with Nickel for months now. Working with the horse every day, and there's an ease and confidence in knowing the limits and personality of the animal that weighs hundreds of pounds beneath you. With Daniil's signal, Arthur gives Nickel a sudden, but light, contact with his spurs to drive him forward with an impressive burst of speed.
Arthur leans into the movement of his horse, something a bit more difficult with a lack of a saddle proper, but it's not something he hasn't done before. There comes the trees as they make their way around the hospital, but Arthur weaves around them easily enough following the trail. Curiosity gets the better of him, however, and he casts a glance Daniil's way to see how he's fairing.]
[Daniil is off to a great start, actually. The knot of anxiety in his belly that wondered if his ubringing would ultimately fail him sighs and relaxes. His seating is excellent. He is one with the horse.]
Don’t call me doc.
[He gives Arthur a smirk as he leans forward, his movements with the horse natural. He pulls ahead of Arthur as they enter the tree line.]
[Daniil ducks under branches and guides his horse well through the path. They jump and hook left to start the loop.]
[Theyre out of sight one moment, and then a squawk and a whinny as the full picture comes into view. Arion’s backside hurrying out down the path- riderless.]
[Daniil. Suspended from a branch he successfully ducked, but grabbed his proffered cravat in turn. Daniil’s hands at his throat, legs kicking, trying to avoid being hung by a sturdy branch.]
[Well, he should have seen that coming, and so should have Daniil.
As he sees Arion gallop ahead without a rider, he quickly turns back to find Daniil—]
Oh, you damn fool, you can't go weaving through branches like that. Now you just look like some forgotten laundry.
[Joking aside, he does quickly approach, and just as quickly he pulls out his gun to shoot the branch that's presently hanging Daniil. Look, he could try to grab him and pull him free, prolonging his strangulation, or he can do this. It's not that far of a fall, anyway!
He'll guide Nickel over to Daniil, looking down at him with a flat expression of sympathy while offering a hand to help him up on Nickel.]
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He's not complaining, far from.]
As well as a feller with TB can be. I see you been studying more than medicine in your free time.
[But then attention is brought to the reason he's here in the first place, and with a similar fondness he looks to the horse in question.]
But anyway, the horses are over in Purple Windy, it's to the west of here. He handles well—Tennessee Walking horses tend to be fairly docile, though he's still got a little bit of wildness in him. But that's just him getting used to us.
[Arthur gently strokes along the horse's broad neck, it's ear flicking for a moment as it looks at Daniil, assessing him.]
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I’ve encountered too many miscommunications lately. [His pun based joke flopped and he’s sick of people asking if he’s married.] It was frustrating me. Half the people here speak it, so I may as well, too. I have to be prepared to function if it breaks. It’s just technology, like anything else.
[He strokes the horse’s neck as he talks.]
How could I be so thoughtless, I should have brought a treat. One moment-
[He walks briskly back into the hospital and comes out with the entire tray of muffins.]
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Of course this is just the beginning, no horse is broken in just a couple of days, but it was best to get Daniil introduced to his new companion and work with them both to see how they get on. After all, if the horse dislikes him, well...]
Guess preparing for the worse ain't a bad call.
[But then Daniil is gone and back with muffins just as quickly, the horses both looking quite interested in the treats he's brought along.]
Now don't go spoiling him too much, you still gotta let him know who calls the shots here. You become too big of a pushover and he'll see how far you tip.
[Arthur says that, but then Nickel is lipping at those muffins and he's not stopping him. Yet, at least.]
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I won’t be pushed around by a horse, of all things, so easily.
Isn’t that right, Arion? We’ll see who’s boss when only one of us has our testes. [He croons at Arion, feeding him a muffin out of his flat hand.]
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[As Daniil croons about Arion's impending gelding status and feeds him a muffin, Arthur helps himself and likewise feeds Nickel one.]
You're a doctor, right? I'm sure you know all about removing balls. Or is that something you're wanting me to do for you too?
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[Treats are certainly helping Arion warm up to this weird guy.]
I know the amount of time you’ve spent in hospitals has been nominal, but that is not an ordinary scheduled procedure. Can you imagine? “Yes, we’ve got three procedures today— Mr. Karamarov for his appendectomy, Mrs. Ivanova for an X-ray, and oh- poor old Rostova’s losing his balls. He’d like them pickled in a jar for posterity.”
[Danill scoffs a laugh at his own joke.]
But it sounds like something you know how to do?
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[Not that Arthur has exactly been in war, but he's certainly been in his fair share of shootouts. And he's dealt with some conflicts with the military not too long ago.
The thought hardens his features for a moment, but the joking about ball removal is a welcomed distraction.]
Well shit, can't a man get his balls pickled if he wants to? I can't say I'm of that mind, but what a man goes to the doctor for is his business. It sure would explain some fellers I've met in the past.
[He lets out an amused breath, almost like a chuckle that doesn't quite get audible enough to fit the name.]
But yeah I do, I've gelded stallions before, when they was too hot otherwise. But before I go taking a knife to his balls, there's another matter we gotta settle.
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[Daniil lets all jokes fall aside for now. He said fifty last time. He doesn’t have fifty.]
Payment, of course. I can simply contact a bot to settle for the agreed total of twenty-five.
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But as for the matter of payment, well, he did say fifty, didn't he?]
I don't think you understand the position you're in, doc. You don't get to set the price. Sure, we had an agreeing conversation, but I don't recall us shaking on it. But I do happen to recall you annoying me something fierce.
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[He didn’t want to lose his chance with this horse! He’d already named it! And his feet fucking hurt!]
Perhaps we can come to a gentlemanly agreement. Perhaps I ought to start with a genuine apology. I’m sorry, Arthur. That was inappropriate of me. It’s clearly a sensitive topic. Perhaps there’s something I can do for you to make it up to you? I’ve only got 25 points to my name until a bit later.
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[He looks Daniil over, then looks to Arion, petting along the bridge of his nose with a gentle hand.]
I dunno boy, whatchu think about this little twig of a man, huh? Think he's worth your time? Think that apology was good enough?
[He leans in, conspiratorial:] He wants me to lop off your balls, might wanna think on that.
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We don’t need to make a eunuch of him just yet.
Listen. Please. What can I do to appease you?
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See how quickly he folds under just a little pressure? I don't know if he can handle you, even though you're such a good boy.
[He is pointedly ignoring Daniil now.]
Maybe once he finds his own balls, pickled in the hospital somewhere, he might be able to ride you.
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[And it’s working.]
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[After all, Arthur still has the leads to both the horses, and what's Daniil gonna do? Take it from him?]
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I'm just joking with you. I'm fine with the prior agreement. But watch yourself, I ain't always gonna be so forgiving after a little bit of well deserved needling.
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[It would be a lesson learned if he could stop making the same mistakes absolutely all the damn time. So he was just trying to stress him out?
Did that throwaway line about the TB on the network piss him off so bad?]
[Daniil is still failing to say anything. He notes that he’s getting a little lightheaded. He absolutely could not tip his hand about how upset he was right now.]
[He reaches out for Arthur to hand the lead to his horse with a slightly uncontained crazed look on his face.]
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He'd make a terrible general.
Arthur follows his silent request and puts the lead in his hand, a flash of concern in his eyes, but mostly because horses themselves are particularly sensitive to the moods of people, and... Daniil's mood is wretched right now.]
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[And then Daniil seems mostly fine again. He pulls Arion away a few feet and mounts with relative ease.]
I’ll show you a man. Let’s race.
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[He's not so sure this is a smart idea, given Daniil's emotional state, the unfamiliarity with Arion, and Arthur has no idea Daniil's skill as a rider but... well, there's no better way to measure the results of all three at once, he supposes.
He did mount a saddleless horse easily enough, which is a good sign. Likewise, Arthur climbs onto Nickel's back, and directs the horse to stand besides their competition.]
A lap around the hospital, or you looking for a longer track?
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[It is a very large building, as it was. There’s a light density forest behind, and trails anyway. Daniil has good control of the horse, though really, some training would be much wiser than pushing the limits of their muffin-made connection so early. But Daniil’s pride had been severely wounded, again and again. He had to show him that he wasn’t just pathetic.]
Three, two, one, go!
[Daniil presses his heels and braces himself for this thing to go off like a shot.]
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Arthur, however, has no such concerns for he has been with Nickel for months now. Working with the horse every day, and there's an ease and confidence in knowing the limits and personality of the animal that weighs hundreds of pounds beneath you. With Daniil's signal, Arthur gives Nickel a sudden, but light, contact with his spurs to drive him forward with an impressive burst of speed.
Arthur leans into the movement of his horse, something a bit more difficult with a lack of a saddle proper, but it's not something he hasn't done before. There comes the trees as they make their way around the hospital, but Arthur weaves around them easily enough following the trail. Curiosity gets the better of him, however, and he casts a glance Daniil's way to see how he's fairing.]
You hanging in there, Doc?
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Don’t call me doc.
[He gives Arthur a smirk as he leans forward, his movements with the horse natural. He pulls ahead of Arthur as they enter the tree line.]
[Daniil ducks under branches and guides his horse well through the path. They jump and hook left to start the loop.]
[Theyre out of sight one moment, and then a squawk and a whinny as the full picture comes into view. Arion’s backside hurrying out down the path- riderless.]
[Daniil. Suspended from a branch he successfully ducked, but grabbed his proffered cravat in turn. Daniil’s hands at his throat, legs kicking, trying to avoid being hung by a sturdy branch.]
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As he sees Arion gallop ahead without a rider, he quickly turns back to find Daniil—]
Oh, you damn fool, you can't go weaving through branches like that. Now you just look like some forgotten laundry.
[Joking aside, he does quickly approach, and just as quickly he pulls out his gun to shoot the branch that's presently hanging Daniil. Look, he could try to grab him and pull him free, prolonging his strangulation, or he can do this. It's not that far of a fall, anyway!
He'll guide Nickel over to Daniil, looking down at him with a flat expression of sympathy while offering a hand to help him up on Nickel.]
C'mon, let's get your horse.
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