Tea Time is Fiesty

Lani noticed the spark of flame in her movement first, the buck, and the loud squeal from the other mares. The flashing of hooves and the stamping that she used to shove them away from a hay bail that had been placed, something to draw the horses closer to the fence, a way to present the herds more so that they could tie their ribbons, try to claim them as their own. He smiled, leaning his weight on the fence as he watched her move, her ears flared back, and she made a sharp bite towards another horse.

"I like her, do you think she'd get on with Magnolia and Dogfish? They're pushovers." Lani asked no one in particular, his father having tagged along on the second attempt to find a horse, but he could tell from his son's eyes this wasn't for him; this was for someone else. Someone who, while he knew wouldn't be able to handle a mare that had so much spunk without help, knew it would give him more reason to speak to the crush that he'd desperately been talking about for ages now. He gently gave a firm pat on his son's shoulder, nodding slightly before leaning a bit closer.

"I think that she could be perfect for what you're thinking of. I suggest you go up and try to tie that ribbon carefully; she might throw you for a loop if you don't keep your wits about you. Remember, she's more like Spaghetti, not Magnolia." The black mare is much more feisty than his bay, despite age and handling. Lani groaned quietly but smiled a little as he turned towards his father. He'd heard the mare's name mentioned, Tea Time, something that he knew fit her in a way that the madness fit the hatter. He leaned over the edge of the gate more, humming quietly before, like usual, just hopping the fence. He smiled towards his father for just a moment before starting towards the mare in the pasture. She'd successfully chased off any competitors for hay, and he knew that she was just the one. She was perfect.

"Hey, Mrs. ma'am, you're causing quite the ruckus, aren't cha?" The question came playful, gentle, and soft, trying to ease the mare into approaching him rather than the other way around, standing stationary about twenty feet away from where she was happily munching down on as much hay as her body could hold. She took a lazy step forward, not even giving the boy a glance, who just smiled and grinned, immediately lighting up despite the lack of response. She didn't buck. She didn't rear. He was winning.

"Do you think I can walk towards you, or will you throw up a fit?" Lani spoke softly, taking a step forward. The blue ribbon in his pocket didn't match his own mares, but it gave something more that he couldn't describe. Something that he was excited to share with a boy that he hoped liked him as much as he did, and got as much luck as that boy did as well. Dogfish was a catch, what can I say?

"I'm going to bring over this ribbon now, okay?" He wanted to keep talking, keep making sure that the mare was aware of where he was, that she wasn't going to bolt or make a sudden movement of attack. He smiled more at the way her head lifted as he approached, hair flung recklessly over her face and halfway down into her mouth where she'd accidentally eaten it with the hay. He laughed quietly at the expression, the almost curious tones that plagued her face. He stepped closer.

"I would love to tie this ribbon into your hair. I think you'd love to meet my mares; they won't steal your hay, no matter how much you have." Lani promised, a bit bright as he reached into his pocket, slowly drawing out a carrot. The treat seemed to brighten her expression, the mare taking a few strides towards Lani, sniffing some as she reached for the treat. Lani grinned more, laughing quietly to himself before finally shifting his weight, softly pressing the carrot to her mouth. Glad to offer compensation for the chance to pet her, love on her, and possibly loop his ribbon and bell into her mane.

Lani softly stroked her face as she softly accepted the carrot, much more care than she had provided to any of the mares that were out in pasture with her. Lani slowly reached his hand towards the side of her face, holding the end of the carrot as she ate, before finally reaching for the bell in his pocket. The mare followed his hand for a moment, trying to see if the bell might be something she could eat, before promptly returning to her hay at the realization that there was nothing to be shared. She snorted, shoving her nose against the ground before continuing to eat, unbothered by the male beside her trying to tie a ribbon into her hair.

Lani moved as quickly as he could, uncertain when the others would make an approach and inevitably flare up her anger and rage again. He barely glanced over, making a loud noise of shock as he tied the last knot before a mare came charging over, shoving against him as she tried to get some hay from Tea Time. Tea Time immediately released a loud squeal, bucking as Lani ducked underneath the flying hooves, racing towards his father with a bright grin, sticking his tongue out. He hopped the fence, falling with a loud thud and a huff.

"I think you managed to get that ribbon in pretty well."

"I certainly hope so! It's not for me, after all." Lani laughed quietly, smiling as the two mares threw a fit. He truly hoped that the ribbon wouldn't fall. He needed a reason to talk to him more.