Closed

[contrarianlibrarian]

Who| Emily Finch and China Sorrows
What| Horseback riding and congratulations
Where| A stable in the Capitol
When| Backdated to before the Crowning
Warnings/Notes| None as of now, will update as needed

Filthy as they are, China harbors a secret adoration for horses. Whether it’s their beauty, their power, or the fact that they can’t whisper insipid nothings into her ear, she’s always enjoyed being close to the creatures. That’s a fact that few know about her, Emily being one of the few people she’s shared it with.

It’s been longer than she’d like since she really spoke with the Mentor, especially given the woman’s recent ascendance in status, so China looks forward to their planned engagement.

She’s already decked out in her riding gear when she meets Emily at the stable—fashion is, at least, probably one of the few things you can expect Capitolites to be reliable about.

“Hello, Emily. Before anything else, I believe congratulations are in order. Few deserve that honor more than you do.”

Comments

[conifer]

"I'd love that." It felt odd, being able to show her enthusiasm so openly, to have found something within the Capitol that made her feel good rather than running her down. But as she moves closer to the horse, running her palm against its fur and feeling it nuzzle into her hair, she finds something of a sense of peace, which is gone as soon as she realises it was there in the first place, making her feel introspective and vulnerable all over again.

"How on earth do they have the patience to cart people around all day?"

[contrarianlibrarian]

She laughs dryly at the question. "That is a great mystery. They're much more impressive than the people with whom they're often burdened, are they not? Strong, patient..."

China's admiration for the horses could almost be described as unabashed. She's finding more temptation to be open in this setting--it feels rather nice.

[conifer]

"We could learn a lot from them," Emily agrees, reflecting only after she's said it that that's as bold a condemnation of the people she's surrounded with in the Capitol as she'd have the courage to say here.

[contrarianlibrarian]

China eyes her a moment, wondering if any more introspection will come from that statement. She's curious, as such a thing could have a variety of implications. "That we could."

She sighs, knowing that her next words must be picked carefully. "Who knows what burdens the future could thrust upon us, after all? If we aren't willing to bear them, I'd hate to think of the consequences."

[conifer]

She has to bite her tongue to keep her from responding that most Capitolites wouldn't know how to shoulder their share of burdens, with how wrapped up they were in their own lives and petty problems. Instead she nods toward China. "At least there'll be two of us prepared."

[contrarianlibrarian]

"Prepared? You overestimate me." Here, on this subject that isn't going to personally offend the Capitol leadership, she decides she can be a bit more honest. It's freeing, in a way.

"Knowing intellectually what will come and truly being prepared for it are very different things, dear. I have yet to fully reconcile myself with the thought of actually putting my hooves in the mud, as it were."