Party at the Nexus Stables! ((Open to everyone!))

[simply-ellie.livejournal.com]

Ellie had rushed over from work, and had been delighted to find that Mr. Dobson, Nat, and Jinian had already begun setting up for the party. The old cowboy had already fired up the grill in preparation and the girls had set out bread baskets and salads to start. There were tables with hurricane lamps set up near the house, and some additional ones down by the pond. And with clear skies, it was going to be perfect for stargazing even if you never left the table.

Several of the horses were frolicking in the paddock, and she wondered if any of their guests might like to go riding. She was definitely game, and had decided to try riding Bucky this evening. He was a beautiful Palomino, but also quite mischievous too. She was still getting to know the horses and Mr. Dobson had helped her choose which horses would be best to introduce to their guests.

While she waited for Michael and the others to arrive, she climbed up onto the fence of the paddock and watched the horses play.

((Thanks for playing with them! Simon-mun and Ellie-mun need sleep, and will be back to keep playing tomorrow if y'all like!Back!))

Comments

[master_simon]

He grins and nods. "Definitely. I'd have asked them tonight, but a few of our guests would be even harder to explain than the Tower."

He winks.

"Soon, though. I really want to have my mom here."

[simply-ellie.livejournal.com]

"True, there is that!" Ellie likes his parents very much, and loves spending time with his mom. When they have lunch together tomorrow, she hopes there's an excuse for them to go gardening again!

"Me too. I like her a lot. Maybe I could even entice her into gardening with me here!"

[master_simon]

"That would be fantastic. I think Nat'd probably like to assist you with that, too." He winks, nodding at the girl currently setting out plates in careful order.

[simply-ellie.livejournal.com]

"Really? Mr. Dobson says that she can you know, read minds or something. Should I put on a tinfoil hat so she's not um, scandalized or shocked by how I think about you?" Ellie's only half-joking here!

[master_simon]

"Hmmm... I don't think she reads thoughts, but she does seem to do something that lets her talk to people regardless of what language they speak. The way he put it when I talked to him was 'a human Babelfish,' only I guess better than the program of the same name that you can use on the Internet."

[simply-ellie.livejournal.com]

Huge sigh of relief much? Oh, yes. "Ah, okay! I was afraid she might know I'm thinking about that photograph in your bedroom, and didn't want her to get upset."

She hugs him again, feeling rather silly at the moment. "So, which horse are you going to ride tonight?"

[master_simon]

"I imagine if her telepathy was that powerful, she'd be used to seeing disturbing images from people by now. I was thinking of riding Eagle. Jake says he's ornery, but every time I've dealt with him, he's been really friendly and calm, so we've decided that he was just destined all along to be my horse and didn't like putting up with other riders." He laughs and hugs Ellie back.

[simply-ellie.livejournal.com]

"True! You and your Earth logic!" Giggling, she mock rolls her eyes.

"I'm going to try riding Bucky tonight, and see how that goes. I've always had a thing for Palominos, and I've been dying to ride him."

[master_simon]

"Oh have you now, Palomino?" He winks at her and wonders if he'll be as successful at catching her in their next anonymous chat as he was in the last two. "Bucky's a good guy, according to Jinian. She likes to ride him, too. Actually, she and Nat can ride Eagle without any trouble, too, because of that whole talking-to-animals thing they have going."

[simply-ellie.livejournal.com]

Ellie gets that 'Doh!!!' look and blushes! "Me? Never!"

"Maybe next weekend, can we spend Saturday out here, maybe have dinner with Mr. Dobson and the girls?"

[master_simon]

He grins and winks at her. "Before we begin our 24/7 week, you mean?"

Now that the unmasking has happened, after all, they can do the 24/7 without quite the total isolation from the mundane world that they'd originally envisioned.

[simply-ellie.livejournal.com]

"Oh wow! That is starting beginning next weekend, isn't it?" And contemplating it makes her all blushy! "Tomorrow, when we go sailing, maybe we can plan some of it out? Oh! And I need to write a story for Djehutymes this weekend too."

[master_simon]

"We're going to have busier weekends than ever now, aren't we?" He winks, not minding that at all. "So, in between ravishments on the Antares, you need to write chapters of Djehutymes' story?"

[simply-ellie.livejournal.com]

"Yes! I mean sorry!" She gives him her best, 'I'm sorry, really!' grin.

"I have some ideas about what I'm going to write for him, but need to start writing it out. So maybe, inbetween ravishment and getting too much sun, I'll go inside and write!"

[master_simon]

"Or you can write while sunning, and while I massage you and pose for paparazzi shots." He winks at her; actually, he plans to take the boat out far enough to avoid all cameras.

[simply-ellie.livejournal.com]

"Oh my! I don't think I'd be write anything coherent if you did that!" It's the truth, too.

"Oh! Where are we staying tonight, my place or yours? I still need to pack a bag for tomorrow."

[master_simon]

"Any preference? Jasper's still sleeping on my pillow, I think." He winks at her.

[simply-ellie.livejournal.com]

She mock gasps! "Did you steal him from me in the middle of the night?!"

"Actually, I put myself in your hands. If we stay at yours, I just need to pack a few things, my bikini, stuff like that. So, totally up to you!"

[master_simon]

He laughs. "No, I made him comfortable on it when I made the bed this morning, while you were making us breakfast."

He kisses her forehead.

"And thank you again for the breakfast. It was delicious."

It's been less than a week, but he's already starting to plan out how to suggest that maybe they should have breakfast together every morning... for the rest of their lives.

[simply-ellie.livejournal.com]

"Are you sure?" Grinning, she's obviously just teasing. "Really and truly sure?" Giggling, she can't keep up the ruse. "Is it okay to leave him in your bed when we go sailing?"

His kiss makes her grin even wider.

"You're very welcome! I may not cook an awful lot, but I sure can cut mangoes!"

[master_simon]

He laughs. "We can take him with us anywhere you'd like, Kitten. You two are so cute together anyway. And you cut mangoes wonderfully."

In the morning, he decides, he's going to make her a big pancake breakfast.

[simply-ellie.livejournal.com]

"As long as he doesn't get lost at sea or anything!" Now that would be tragic. "And thank you. What kind of dinner should we plan for tomorrow night? Would you like me to get anything special?"

She'll be delighted when he makes them tomorrow. They'll probably make her blush, thinking it an obvious 'keep your strength up' meal.

[master_simon]

Michael knows exactly where to go to get a little orange life vest, complete with built in gps homing beacon, that they can put on Jasper. Because one of the high-end nautical stores he's especially fond of actually makes them for children's plush toys.

He'll make a quick run over there before it closes, and surprise her with it when it's time for them to go to the boat. He definitely wouldn't want her to lose Jasper, not after everything the two of them have been through together.

"If we're eating on the boat, it should be something ship-themed. Maybe we should do shellfish?"

[simply-ellie.livejournal.com]

Were Ellie to know what he has planned, she'd be incredibly touched. The ways in which he cares for and looks out for her never cease to amaze her, and she's so incredibly thankful to have him in her life.

She's been on the lookout for a Jasper lookalike to give to him. Hopefully, he won't think it's silly, but it's for the nights that they can't spend together. So far, that's been none and she loves that.

"Lobsters, or maybe scallops?"

[master_simon]

"Would you like both?" Indulging her? Him? Never! "Oh, and this Sunday it's my turn to visit with my grandmother. Would you like to come with me? I'd really like you to meet her."

He's never brought a girlfriend to meet his grandmother before, and he knows it's something she's hoped would happen for years.