foolishwren | 104. [Video]

_{[As is fairly regular with Heather, who never really plans AHEAD when she turns her feed on, the video opens with a brief glimpse at something entirely-unrelated!]

[Two large Houndooms, one bare-necked and the other wearing a large, studded leather collar-- are at play in a sunny patch of park. Or more accurately, the big collar-wearing one is TRYING to get the other to play, in a show of big-dog posturing, and the uncollared one is sort of just mild-manneredly humoring him.]

[Right before the camera shifts, though, a blur of blue and yellow barrels into the larger of the two hellhounds and the one-sided playtime promptly becomes an enthusiastic wrestling match between Tricia (the Manectric recently inherited from Cooper) and Huan (the Houndoom even more recently inherited from Otacon).]

[But then it's Heather's face dominating the screen, because she apparently has other things in mind than just showing the network a bunch of dogs running around the park.]}

Hey.

So.

If there's anyone around who knows much about horses... riding horses, specifically...

I'm looking to learn. Any advice's appreciated. Thanks in advance.

_{[... Well that was unusually businesslike and to the point. ... For someone like Heather, anyway. There's not much humor in the usually-goofy girl's voice today.]

[Before she can flick the 'Gear off, there's a commotion offscreen and she looks off in the direction of the noise, clearly exasperated.]}

... TCH, god dammit Cujo.

_{[The view shifts as she gets up and it becomes apparent that Cujo the Hulking Behemoth of a Growlithe (tm) had decided to join the fray and promptly plowed straight OVER at least two of the participants, who are now chasing after him in a big herd of barking chaos across the park. OH THOSE CRAZY DOGES.]

[End feed.]}

[PRIVATE MESSAGE TO JEANE]

HEY. How did you do that shit at the party?

_{[... well wtf is that supposed to mean, Heather. Clarification is apparently not going to be provided until she gets a reply.]}

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You better make sure that she wants you t'ride her, first.

[Seriously, what is with you humans.]

_{[Urk. AJ IT'S NOT WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.]}

I... don't think that will be the problem.

Carousel's chill.

The reluctance is kind of on MY end.

Come again? If you don't wanna do it, then why ask?

It's kind of complicated.

But I need to learn.

Whether I want to or not.

You get yourself in some kind of bet?

[Seriously, why else would you want to lay on top of another creature and demand it carry you around. >|]

Wh-- no.

Jeez, I wish it were something that dumb.

I just have to learn to ride, and it has to be a horse.

_{[In fact, it may specifically need to be THIS horse-- she doesn't KNOW. She only knows that Carousel is the only thing that was able to help in a certain situation... and that's pretty much the only lead she has to go on. Otherwise, she's sailing blind.]

[But she's being pretty evasive about the topic...]}

[Alright, Applejack is just going to switch this call to private real quick.]

...You wanna tell me what's goin' on, Sugarcube?

_{[Oh, man...]

[Heather can't prevent a slight grimace from crossing her face, just because... mannn. This isn't something she's good at talking about... and she's not sure she wants to, even if Applejack is probably one of the more trustworthy folks out there.]}

It's ...

_{[She almost says 'complicated', but she's kind of abused that word in the past. It leaves a sour taste in her mouth now.]}

... Not really good conversation material.

An' yet you're on your 'Gear askin' all of Johto if anypony'll teach you. Now I'd be happy t'lend a hoof, but I need some context first.

Well, I have to learn somehow, right?

_{[But she heaves a groaning sigh, planting a hand to her face and dragging it down the length of her cheek.]}

Look, I...

It's a precaution, more than anything else. Someone was helping me with something, but they're gone now so I have to figure out an alternative.

Carousel's proven effective in the past and now my best bet is learning to ride her.

Is that enough context?

Heather... are you in trouble with somepony?

[Because if you are, she'll protect you.]

_{[Sorry, AJ... if it were something she thought others could protect her from, she'd definitely have enlisted more in the way of outside help by now. :c]}

I...

No.

Not really.

_{[Not exactly, anyway.]}

I'm doing what I can to take care of it, okay?

But if you wanna help...

... Tell me some stuff about how to ride a horse.

You...

[Sigh. Okay, Heather. She won't say she's not concerned, but if this is that big of a deal...]

I don't know too much about ridin', but bein' an animal you folks seem t'enjoy riding...

[Seriously, it's still not okay.]

Try talkin' to her. Let her know that you don't mean no harm, an' that you need her help. From there, take it slow, let her get used t'your weight, an' take it from there.

_{[The way Heather relaxes-- her entire posture having been tense without even doing it on purpose-- in relief shows how grateful she is that Applejack isn't pursuing the subject for the moment.]

All right...

I mean, I think she knows that?

But I guess it couldn't hurt to clear the air before I actually do anything...}

104. [Video]

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