Mal-Kaylee, outside.

[badinlatin]

Caspian is around...Mal thinks, anyway. The thought is enough - and a filled flask that is easily tucked away - for Mal to head out to the stables and not just to the paddock where some of the horses were out for the morning. A dry swallow, and the door is slid open to the stable, and the interior of the building is traversed quickly - Tequila's tack has even been cleaned, thanks probably to a meticulous stablemaster.

"Sorry I got...lazy on you, Halo," Mal says absently. Tequila does not forgive Mal until the carrots come into view.

Saddle pad, saddle and bridle and reins are fetched and harnessed quickly, and Mal walks his horse to a flat area just in front of the paddock gate. He can't decide if he wants to ride for speed or tricks today, and Tequila isn't helping - antsy for action, the horse gives a loud snort.

Of course, that may be in recognition of hearing someone else in the vicinity.

Comments

[gonna_live]

Kaylee eyes Tequila, a little warily. "Seems to be doin' a pretty good job of that on his own."

[badinlatin]

Mal laughs. Surprisingly bright, Mal lets the laugh die out to a chuckle, then he looks to Kaylee.

"Don't suppose you want to ride 't all."

[gonna_live]

Kaylee suddenly looks remarkably shifty. "Xiexie, but I'm better off with both my feet on the ground."

[badinlatin]

"Tequila wouldn't drop you," Mal offers quietly.

[gonna_live]

"Don't figure as he would, but..." A helpless shrug.

[badinlatin]

Can't control a horse? Can't control *my* horse?

Mal doesn't press it.

"Le' me let Tequila off his tack, then," Mal starts, going for Tequila's bridle. Tequila pulls his head away as a weak protest, but starts to acquiesce.

[gonna_live]

More like irrationally nervous around horses and does not want to suddenly be about four feet taller than usual.

"Oh -- you don't have to do that -- "

[badinlatin]

Mal leans across Tequila's saddle, both arms folded and hands under his chin as he looks at Kaylee.

Headtilt. "How'm I supposed to talk to ya and go riding at the same time if you don't want to come along? 'Less you'll be about for awhile."

[gonna_live]

A very small smile.

"You know where I live. And -- yeah. It's a nice enough day out -- I'll be here for a while."

[badinlatin]

Mal swings up again in the saddle still strapped on his horse's back.

"I'll stay in the paddock," Mal announces. "Back in fifteen."

Without really waiting for a response, Mal skips immediately to a canter then quickly into a gallop, letting Tequila lead the lap around the length of the paddock gate.

[gonna_live]

Kaylee spends the time trying to figure out how to sit comfortably on a fence railing.

She shortly comes to the conclusion that it's not possible.

[badinlatin]

Mal does recognize this, and eventually, on the opposite side of the enclosed area, he dismounts, slowing and cooling Tequila down.

By the time the pair return nearer to Kaylee, Mal pushes his windblown hair away from his face with a grin. "Can y' help me a bit?"

Help seems to indicate holding the reins and bridle after they are removed from Tequila while Mal unsaddles him.

[gonna_live]

This Kaylee can do, gladly.

"Windswept's a good look for you." Teasing, a little.

[badinlatin]

A snort from the opposite side of Tequila; the saddle buckle is problematic.

"Inara would disagree. Sometimes."

[gonna_live]

"...this like to lead into somethin' falls under the category of Stuff I Don't Really Need To Know?"

[badinlatin]

"Probably not. We are not completely depraved, you know."

"Besides, me 'n her disagree on lots o' things. Like suspenders."

[gonna_live]

"The necessity of 'em, you mean?"

Surely Inara is not hating on the purple suspenders.

Surely.

[badinlatin]

"Necessity o' seein' 'em in a disposal bin on her end maybe."

[gonna_live]

Kaylee looks Very Sad.

Very Sad.

"...don't know quite what to say to that."

[badinlatin]

"If there's a fight, I demand to sell tickets."

Smirk.

Mal lifts the saddle off, finally, and sends Tequila off running through the enclosed space on his own. Mal hops the fence, lifts the saddle and walks toward the stable.

[gonna_live]

Kaylee trails behind him, and says, cheerfully, "I'm a lover, not a fighter."

[badinlatin]

"...I can't know that."

[gonna_live]

Satisfied: "Point for me."

[badinlatin]

"Never mind. I need to keep you 'n her as far the hell away from each other as ruttin' possible.

Dangerous to my health, you two are."

[gonna_live]

"...we live on the same boat," Kaylee points out. "It's kind of hard."