nexus_stables | [[Open to simply_ellie only.]] Warning: Language and suggestive

Her arm tightens around him in preparation. She's never even played games like this with Simon, and she's only able to do it because she trusts Michael just as much as she does her Master. "Ready as I can be!" Yes, she's a little nervous too.

Michael steps forward, leading Elise through the portal with him. Suddenly, they're surrounded by the sounds and smells of a barn, very much like the barn they visited only a few days earlier in Indiana.

"So now... ready for your surprise?"

Ellie frowns a little, taking in those sounds and smells. It's like Indiana, but not... nah, couldn't be. Petting zoo? But this smells sweeter and fresher than a zoo would be.

"Yes please!" Grinning, she bites her lip in anticipation!

Pulling the knot on her blindfold, which he deliberately hadn't doubled, he whips the fabric away.

They're in the Stables' barn. Stalls stretch to either side, and the sounds of the horses already stabled here are very audible. A marmelade barn cat saunters over and winds around Ellie's feet. Through the open door at one end, they can see the paddock and, beyond it, rolling hills.

It's even more beautifull this time.

Ellie blinks as he undoes the blindfold, and her eye slowly adjust to the light again. At least wherever they are -- Oh. MY. We're going to meet horses?!

"Oh my gosh!" She's already bouncing, careful to not disturb the cat. Her mouth is open in shock, incredulous that he'd found a way for them to meet horses or go riding so soon after their trip.

He grins. She doesn't know the full significance of it yet, but she will soon, and that excites him greatly.

"What do you think? Want a tour?"

"Yes please! Is this your parents' club?" She can't help herself and bends down to pet the marmalade cat. He -- or she -- reminds her a bit of Tiger, one of the barn cats from home, and that widens her smile even more!

"No, actually, we're in part of the Nexus. But I might introduce my parents to the Nexus by showing them this place. My mom will probably want to ride here, too."

He's dying to tell her he owns it, but wants to find a way to make her guess it, so that he can see the look in her eyes as she does.

"Wow, that's right. You did say that, didn't you? How did you find this place?"

Catching sight of the paddock and the pasture beyond, she's enrapt. This is... like a dream. Like what I used to envision, playing with my plastic Breyer horses on my bedroom floor. But real. Even getting to just see this place is a phenomenal treat for her.

The snuffling of a horse pulls her from her daydream. "I'm sorry, did you say something?"

"No, I think Eagle did... that's him in this stall... I found it because there was a for-sale ad about it in the Nexus internet system." He has the smuggest grin imaginable on his face.

"Oh, that's so clever of you!" Ellie gives him a huge hug before turning to see Eagle, the owner of the snuffling.

"It must be a lot easier to come in and visit, with a place that's up for sale." She thinks that Michael is very resourceful that way, and is glad of it.

"Well..." His grin gets even bigger! "It's not actually up for sale anymore."

"Oh gosh! So we came here just in time?" Obviously, someone's not getting the punchline, is she?

"Well, see, we can come here whenever we want... that's the beauty of it." He wonders if he's going to have to spell it out... but he's hoping not!

"Wait... what?" Blinking several times, she wonder if she heard what he said correctly. I think I need my hearing tested. Or something. Because what he just said... Oh. MY. GOD.

"You did say 'anytime,' right?" She has to reach out to hold onto him, because what's been implied so far is rather overwhelming.

His hand moves to her waist to steady her, and his grin is almost splitting his face open. "I should probably have made sure you were sitting down for this, shouldn't I?"

Blinking, she has to lean into him. Having a friend own something like this is beyond her wildest dreams, and she hopes he'll let her come over frequently.

"Yes, wow. I... I had no idea. When did you buy the stable?" This -- the stable -- has to be it, right?

"Thursday... once I saw the place, things moved pretty fast." There's still paperwork in progress, but the money has changed hands and everything's in order. "We have plenty of space, some really great horses, a lot of countryside, and if you want, next time your parents have a fillie to sell, she could come here."

Yes, he's used we, without even consciously noticing it. In his mind, the Stables aren't his as much as theirs.

Ellie is still quite agog. "So when you went out to do errand during lunch Thursday, this is what you were doing?"

That 'we' makes her blink. He has to be talking about his girlfriend, right? Or maybe he went in on this as an investment with his parents? I'm not sure, but I don't think he and Dad had discussed Muscut, and how the stud service pays for a lot of things on the farm.

"This is is just wonderful! I'm sure your girlfriend is going to love it too!"

"This is what I was doing, yes." Crap, the imaginary other woman again... he hates lying, so how to finesse it... "Oh, definitely. I really caught the riding bug from you. Want to see everything? You can tell me if there's anything I need to get."

"Yes please! I want to see everything!" She's still overwhelmed at the moment, thinking that she's probably still missing thing right in front of her. Both literally and figuratively, really.

"Have you brought your girlfriend here yet?" Ellie's certain that she'd love it too; otherwise, the woman would be crazy!

Oh God. "You're the first person I showed this to... you're the one who'll appreciate it most."

There, not actually a yes or a no, so not a lie in any posible sense, right?

"You have no idea what an honor this is!" Impulsively, she hugs him tightly and kisses his cheek. "Thank you so much!"

"I'm sure she'll love it when she sees it though. How could she not?"

He hugs her tightly in return. "You're welcome."

He kisses her cheek, and then cringes at her next question.

"Who wouldn't? This place is amazing."

Duck, duck, duck, duck... crow. He's going to be eating crow.

"I'm sorry to bring this up now, but it's been bothering me since last night. Does she happen to read the Chicago society magazines? Because if she does, I owe her a huge apology."

Biting her lip, she's felt so guilty since Sharon had showed her those magazines last night. I should've been better behaved, and I hadn't been. I am so sorry, Michael.

[[Open to simply_ellie only.]] Warning: Language and suggestive

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