{ Drizzle ... Clove & Gray }

[lyra]

It was raining today, pouring. It was one of those hot but humid days where it was unlikely to have anything else, as far as weather goes. Potholes and ditches in the street were puddling up with water. finding it's way slowly to the drains on the side of the sidewalks. Clove's long, laced boots came up just below her knees as she walked through the soaking rain, hood over her head. Her little cloak has suited her well for years, and she couldn't bear to leave it behind. It was black with a hood, and it fell down to her backs of her knees. It wasn't waterproof; sadly.

She steps up onto the sidewalk and opens the door to the Stardust Cafe. It smelt good. It smelt of various scents such as coffee, mocha... sweets. You could just about sum it up to smell like caffeine in one way or another. A few tables were by the windows, across from a counter where a employee was sorting out some things around the area; little slips of paper(or what looked like receipts.), mugs, and dividing the change from a small container on the counter for tips. She pull the hood off of her head. It was damp, but it had remained the same texture it always had; soft and worn. She placed it around her arm and set it down on a chair by the window to seat a table; revealing a little white blouse and some casual black leggings. The blouse was tied at the top with laces, then drooped smoothly down her arm to just below the elbow. Her leggings continued down into her boots. The tinted light through the gray clouds lit up her hair through the window, also reflecting a twinkle off her eyes. Clove's feet echoed a bit through the room, which was remarkable well sized for the small coffee shop she had expected. Around are a few other people, discussing lightly about the weather and other small talk for what she can hear; spread around the room. As she reaches the counter, the cashier looks up from her work, seemingly ready to take her order. She orders a medium coffee. The worker seemed to have one ready, or at the least bit prepared because it was right on the counter behind her; still giving off steam. Clove places the change from her pocket down on the counter-top and the lady slides the coins off with her hand. Clove hears a little ting of the register as she walk away with the mug. A little side table contains various things to put in it. Clove grabs a few sugars and a little milk; then stirring them all in with the coffee. She walks back to the table with her coat. Clove slides the chair away from the table a few feet, so she can sit. It made a noise, and one person looked up from their conversation with another person for a moment, then continued to chat quietly. She sits down, more careful now to be more gently with the table and chair. Outside the window, the rain is dripping off the roof and falling continuously onto the pavement. Clove enjoyed days like this. She was normally very active with what she does, but rainy days give an excuse to relax a bit. She sips her coffee off and on.

[Crush]

Rapid fire pounding of unshod hooves on cobblestone echoed through the air as the messenger tried to outrun the impending storm, not that it worked well. Within seconds the rain was upon him and he slowed the black stallion beneath him. It wasn't worth the effort anymore; he was already soaked to the bone. He raised a hand off the reins, pushing his hair out of his eyes, squinting through the downpour for somewhere dry and warm. His searching was cut off, though, by a sarcastic comment that most wouldn't understand.

'I told you to put the waterproof quarter sheet on, and a rain poncho. But do you listen to me? No. Now we're both soaking wet!'

Gray sighed and shook his head, rolling his eyes at the stud, catching sight of the Dust and turning Ricochet towards it. He slid out of the well-worn leather, tying his horse to a hitching post nearby. There was no need to take a bit out of his mouth; like always, Gray rode him in a gentle hackamore.

It was hot and humid without a cloud in the sky when we left. If I had put them on, Rico, you would have been yelling at me to take the sheet off before you boiled to death and we both know it.

The stallion snorted, not even to form a word that Gray could understand which meant it wasn't a word at all. Just a noise meant to inform the messenger that his horse was displeased, but conceding unfortunate defeat. He slipped a money pouch from his saddlebags, his latest pay, and tied it to his belt. There was nothing else of value in the saddlebags, not that Rico would let anyone near him without an insistent glare from his rider. With a pat to the wet, black shoulder and a sugar cube from his pocket that quickly got eaten up by the beast, Gray slipped inside. He took a moment to wring out his clothes as best he could without taking them off, then stepped further into the welcome warmth and smell of coffee.

The usual, please, Rosa.

The cashier nodded, taking the coins and then busying herself pouring the cup. He raised it in a sort of salute for thanks before turning, taking a sip, and scanning the seats. His face fell into a slight frown at the realization his favorite spot was taken. But, then again, it was taken by a lady, so perhaps he'd be able to sweet talk his way into sharing the table... He noticed the sly glance from Rosa out of the corner of his eye and flashed her a small smile - no teeth showing, of course - and gave her a wink. He let his empathy stretch out a moment, encompassing the general public rather than focusing it so that no one would end up slipping into his own feelings, or memories for that matter. There was a few bad vibes, but from another corner, so it wasn't like he'd end up with a knife pulled on him, he didn't think. With that thought, he set out toward the table with a confidant stride, Rico peering in through the window at the table in front of him, where the girl sat. Gray was pretty sure the stallion's eyes rolled, though he couldn't be positive. Placing a slow, gentle hand on the table in front of her to get her attention, he made sure his empathy was very much blocked off, then flashed her that award-winning smile. Sure, she still couldn't see his pearly whites, but it was good enough.

Mind if I join you? I'd like to keep an eye on my horse.

'I can take care of myself; you, I'm not so sure about.'

Gray nearly snapped back to the stallion, but with others around he knew better. He'd been called crazy talking to animals before; very few understood that he wasn't crazy, that they really did talk back if you only listened.

[lyra]

As the rain drummed off the roof, Clove's eyes rolled out of focus with the pattern of the droplets. The wind that whisked over the water was mere inches away; though the warm air that breezed through the cafe was enough to calm her. A sudden movement from the streets outside the window caused her to blink, looking over the figure. It was a horse and rider..though it was mainly the horse that caused her to stray from her gaze. The team halted at a post outside the shop; where she could see the rider better. It was a guy, and he looked about her age. She ruffled her hair a bit instinctively and crossed her legs in a feminine way before she heard the creek of that door opening.

The same clacking echo of heels walked across the floor, just as hers did. As he turned to the counter, Clove couldn't help but look over him for probably longer than she should have. The motion of his turning to face her table shook her out of the daze and actually made her blink, looking at his face up close for the first time. She had just seen him out the window, and he was already feet away from her. Clove couldn't help but casually sip her coffee and fix her hair slightly. As the voice appeared into her mind-scape, she realized what he wanted. Clove couldn't seem to wipe a little smile off her face as he said it, too. She nodded and looked out the window at the horse tied to the post, then back to him. "Of course," she said and sipped her coffee once more. "Oh, sorry," she muttered as she realized that her coat was on the other seat; therefore preventing him to sit. She lifted her hand and removed it from the top of the chair, placing it on the back of her own. For some reason, she couldn't sit quietly very long and smiled gently, "I'm Clove." The name rang off her tongue. The way so many people she knew who said it differently. It seemed her mother was the only one who could say it quite perfect; but it still rolled off her lips just as good as her mothers'.

[Crush]

He shrugged off the matter of her coat, not really caring either way. He could have moved it with little issue, of course, and he certainly wouldn't have sat in the chair with it still there. He was still dripping bits of water after all, no thanks to getting caught in the downpour. He settled in the chair once the coat was moved, taking a gulp of his coffee, ignoring the burning sensation as it slid along his tongue and down his throat. He nodded at her name, the smile that had disappeared for a brief moment returning now.

Gray. And that miserable beast is Ricochet.

You didn't have to understand animals to see the stallion was offended, as his ears swept back and a the sound of a snort reached through the window to them. Gray's smile lifted to a small smirk, eyes sending a challenge to the stallion, proof enough for Rico that it was his way of telling him off about the horse's last comment.

'Just you wait, Graydon. You forget who you rely on to get paid.'

Gray's eyebrows rose at the horse's comment, hardly worried. Of course, the looks he exchanged with his horse probably appeared strange to one who couldn't hear the creature's words. But, nonetheless, Gray was hardly worried. It was the money he earned that allowed him to feed Rico grain rather than just letting him eat what grass he could find. Rico would never give up his grain; which meant the horse would behave himself while they were on a job.

Gray stretched a moment, working out the kinks from riding for hours. He wouldn't be sore, of course, he was used to it, but it didn't stop his muscles from stiffening right after without some sort of stretching to prevent it. With a soft sigh, his arms fell back down, hands wrapping around the warmth of the coffee cup, soaking up the heat as he took another sip. His eyes traveled to the window, peering up at the dark clouds, praying for there to be no thunder. Then, his eyes traveled back to her.

You from around here, or are you visiting Carvalo?

[lyra]

Clove's eyes wandered up to the clouds for a moment, as they drenched the streets with pouring rain. The coffee warmed her grip on the mug, softening her mood from the dreary day beyond the glass. Clove looked back down at the drink in her cup, stream rolling off the top.

Gray and Ricochet. Miserable beast? Miserable is probably fitting considering the rain. Beast may also fit well depending on it's personality I suppose. Clove shrugged off the thought. Clove set her coffee gently down on the table and looked up at Gray, her emerald eyes reflecting the rain drops outside the window's barrier. "Actually, I just moved here. I'm not from around here at all... but from what I have seen so far of Carvalo, it's beautiful already." She couldn't force back a gentle smile spreading across her lips. "You've lived here a while?" She asked while picking up the coffee and sipping it off and on. Her eyes wandered from the window, to Richochet, to Gray; mainly on Gray as the light conversation continued. The water pattered onto the windows as the wind began to blow the rain sideways. The wind... was this going to become more than a little shower? Her mind began to wander for a moment to the endless summers of hunting with her father. He had taught her to hunt with but one weapon, and that only... a bow and arrow. She was just about a master at it when he took her out one day to watch or 'evaluate' as he would say. It wasn't a very clear day as it usually had been for the majority of the summer. As fall approached, so did the rain. A thunder and lightning storm corrupted her lesson that day. She can still remember the way the deer jumped when that first initial boom of thunder struck through the atmosphere. It took some strength to not laugh or feel pity on the deer as it jumped... because her arrow pin pointed it's neck moments later. The thought shook out of her mind shortly. Clove set down her coffee onto the table steadily. She lifted her hand onto the glass of the window. It was cold... from what she could feel. She was usually fairly warm or hot 'blooded'... temperature wise, so not that she would be much of a judge to whats cold. But if something were to be cold to her touch, it was sure to be a little chilly in reality. Clove removed her hand from the glass and brushed her hair back from her eyes. Holding the cup within her hands once more, her eyes moved back to Gray.

[Crush]

A vaguely amused smile lifted his features a bit as he reclined in his chair, gaze shifting outside to the streets he knew like the back of his hand, his eyes soon falling on his horse after that. He'd met the stallion just a few blocks down at an auction, beaten and bruised with his ribs showing. Just like Gray's psyche had been, really, after the firefight and the months of healing and rehabilitation, despite some of the city's best healers working with him. One hand reached to rub his shoulder, over top a scar she couldn't see, though to anyone watching, he was just rubbing a stiff shoulder. A soft chuckle escaped, despite the bad memories.

I suppose you could say I've lived here since I was eighteen, though I'm not always around. Spent some months away, then back for a few months. Since then, I've been here some days, others I haven't been. I mean, I have a house here, but that's a big difference. Though, comes with the job territory, I suppose.

The snort outside the window caught his attention, dragging it away from her again as he looked to the stallion. If he could have, Rico would have had his eyebrows raised in skepticism, Gray could just see it, and hear it in his voice a moment later.

House? You call it a house? Gray, you could have someone squatting in one of the spare bedrooms and you'd never notice. It's more like a freaking palace.

A twitch at the corner of his mouth stretched the amused smile a bit, flashing the briefest moment of perfect teeth, but it was a blink and you'll miss it type of moment. Of course, Rico was right. His house was one of the biggest in Camelot, the gated community of Carvalo. He liked his space, and the government and royalty had owed him. They'd offered him a spot in Jackson Tower, but he'd turned it down. He preferred a bit of solitude, and his mansion in Camelot afforded him both that and the space he craved. Not to mention, there was a stable in the back. Rico was the only horse he really used for messenger deliveries, but still. The point was, he could have more horses if he needed them. For now, it was used as a rehabilitation center of sorts. He had a habit of taking in strays.

He saw the stallion's ears flick back out of the corner of his eye, listening closely, eyes shifting to watch the beast, though his face stayed pointed towards her. The stud shifted nervously, huffing a moment. Then, his eyes met Gray's and he stopped pretending nothing had happened.

You aren't going to like this, but I think I just saw a flash of lightning.

When lightning came, thunder followed. Gray tensed at the soft rumbling, glad it wasn't a gunshot-like crack like it sometimes was. His gaze drifted to the coffee in his mug a moment before he downed it, then looked outside, wondering if he should dare the slick, wet streets and the low visibility the rain caused. Probably. At least when the thunder came, he'd be alone. He got up abruptly, not a single word said, not even a goodbye, heading straight to the door, empty mug resting on the table.

[lyra]

As the rain came down outside, water droplets began to race down the window; colliding with each-other. A soft crackle of thunder silenced the sky to the pitter-patter of rain along the cobble-stoned streets. Bright an dark spots in the sky created an array of different shades throughout the atmosphere...the sun being the brighter patches where the clouds layered thin. Clove's mind jotted off at the silence and her eyes drifted as if through the window. Even the sight of the windy storm outside made her shiver. Her body commanded her hands to a fiery warmness that heated her coffee inside her hands. Though, this wasn't thought through very well; using her power condemned her to cold because the heat drew the warmth from that area. Ah well. At least the mug was steaming. Still, Clove reached over her chair and grabbed her jacket. Even so, it was designed for wear and tear or durability, and not as comfortable as a fuzzy, sweater of a sort; it provided warmth in a way. Clove looked up abruptly as Gray stood and walked out of the cafe so suddenly. She hadn't said anything she shouldn't have..had she? No, no. It couldn't be her. The comprehension of it made her rethink what had happened from the time he walked in the door. Small talk, you know; where he lived, how she came here.. why. The weather... it didn't occur to Clove that the last reason was his reason. His mug was resting on the table, empty. Maybe he had to go to bring his horse in from the storm...but why so suddenly? Clove set down her drink on the table and crossed her arms in annoyance. ugh. She couldn't help but be the slightest bit frustrated with his rudeness. No. That was the wrong word. Informality? She couldn't define it at the moment. Clove stood up and grabbed his mug after finishing hers out. Her boots clacked on the floor as she placed the mugs on the counter near the register. She pushed out the door to the rain and flipped on her hood. Beyond the frustration was curiosity. Clove walked straight by Gray and his horse, Ricochet. Her hand lifted up and padded the animal's neck softly as she waded into the streets. They were now being drowned out to puddles on the uneven ground. Clove stepped through the water in the road as she was halfway across to reach the other side.

[Crush]

He had flinched the moment the thunder boomed, though the thick rain obscured it as he exited the building. Ricochet snorted softly, nuzzling his rider with a care that one wouldn't have pictured him having unless they knew him.

It's just a storm, Gray. You know that.

Doesn't help, Rico.

He muttered before he heard the door close again. He glanced over a shoulder, spotting her just before she brushed back and catching hold of Rico before he tried to bite her hand out of pure instinct. Thunder cracked overhead, sharp and loud and he nearly literally jumped. He quickly untied Rico and swung up, settling into the saddle as lightning flashed and he braced himself for the boom to follow. A rolling one this time, though, nothing like gunfire. He was safe for that one. Still, his manners kicked in and he turned Rico her direction.

Oh, hell no. I'm not giving her a ride!

Yes, you are, if you want your grain tonight.

Rico grumbled and pranced a few steps, ears flat back and clearly unhappy about this idea. Nonetheless, Gray held a hand down, which would help her climb up. His one hand stayed on the reins, keeping Rico in pace directly beside her, his foot already out of the stirrup so she could use it to climb up as well.

Come on. Never let it be said I won't help someone get out of a storm.

[lyra]

The rolling thunder was ignored by Clove. She sometimes even enjoyed storms. The lightning intrigued her thoughts and sometimes even inspired her to do things. Sometimes that was sleep. Often not. Clove's tall equestrian boots were black leather and can be used for just about everything, though she wore them mainly for casual. Clove has experience with horses, and enjoys them. They have their own opinions, and that shows to the best of riders. Their personalities was one thing Clove enjoyed the most. As Ricochet's hooves clacked along the echoing rain as she heard the distance, the sound drew closer over the patting of rain. it caused her to look up in what actual direction they were going. As Gray's hand reached down to help her up, Clove could tell his horse wasn't too thrilled about the idea at all by his ears pinned back. At least she was light. She wasn't about to say no and trudge off. She turned for a moment and continued to walk slowly, though she lifted up her hand warmed with leather gloves and pulled herself up with the open stirrup behind the saddle, and allowed Gray his iron back that she had used to swing herself gracefully on. She didn't know what to say at first, because he had just gotten up and left her so suddenly at the table moments before... she thought she may as well thank him for the ride home from the bad weather. "Your quite a gentlemen, Gray. And you too, Ricochet." Clove said warmly as she patted Ricochet's rump then folded her hand softly over his shoulder for balance. if she hadn't she'd have fallen from the position she was in at the saddle, and any other place to hang on to would seem quite inappropriate considering the circumstances.

[Crush]

Trust me, lady, if I had any say in the matter, you'd be walking home. I don't do the whole new people thing.

Rico snorted, as if she could understand, prancing and dancing around in an attempt to make it harder for her, not that it worked. He stomped a foot, only prevented from kicking out at the pat on his rump by Gray's hands shooting straight up to keep the stallion's head far too high to get away with it. As they lowered back down, he let his fingers skim the horse's neck, sending a flash of emotion to him. Rico never liked when he did that, and it served as a far quieter punishment that openly admonishing him for his behavior, and it certainly didn't draw any strange looks.

The stallion almost instantly settled, glaring back at his rider a moment before snorted and moving out again. Gray softened his aids, letting the reins go longer, knowing Rico wouldn't try anything now, not with Gray's hand still resting on his crest, just in front of his withers. He left the reins untouched on Rico's neck a moment, reaching around to pull her arms around his waist. Once Rico had a heading, there would be no slow pace. He was still in the mind set he always was on a job; that of a messenger horse. It would be fast and, although Rico was smooth, there would be quite a few tight turns and she wasn't exactly in a good spot for staying on with sheer balance.

Safer this way, particularly with this guy. Where are we headed?

Another crash of thunder; another shiver ran through his spine causing his muscles to contract, stiffen in an attempt to avoid jumping or openly quaking. After all, what sort of man was afraid of a little thunder? A child, perhaps, or someone with a more flighty personality, but he was an ex-soldier. He was supposed to be strong, sturdy, reliable. The tenseness in his horse dissipated as Rico remembered the thunder, walking straight though managing to duck his head back a moment, just far enough to nudge Gray's toes for a brief moment before slipping into a collected trot, letting his hooves clap out a rhythm to echo through the streets, something for Gray to focus on. The two, though usually in a constant argument, were a fair match for each other. One kept the other calm when it was needed, and it left them in a balance that riders everywhere would strive for, and would often never earn.

[lyra]

Clove could feel Rico under her, especially behind the saddle. He was prancing for a moment, and not in a good way. As if to throw her off. Clove saw beforehand when she petted him that he tried to bite. And the moment ago when she went to go pat him rump too. She was watching Gray's movements of his reins. The slight stroke eased the horse for some reason. She didn't know if it was a warning of a calming sensation for him, but it worked. She learned from experience that you have to know your horse to ride it. As Rico moved out into a paced gait, she felt the release of his neck stretch out from reins loosened, then Gray's hands came back and wrapped around hers. She let him take hers and place it on his waist. She nodded as he spoke. Though it wasn't much use because he was in front of her, therefore he could not see her. She would have felt embarrassed to place them there herself, but it could be likely she would have fallen off if he hadn't. The rain patted down along the streets now. Her voice was clear and soft through the rain. "Just the next left here, then the second after that. I'm only a minute down the street from there. I walked this morning and it didn't take that long. I hope I'm not too much trouble." Clove's eyes wandered down in a momentary glance at Ricochet as the stallion carried Gray and herself along the cobble-stoned streets. Her eyes then drifted to the darkened skies. A little light of lightning flickered above the lower clouds. She knew that the stallion probably didn't want to be caught in the rain giving a ride home to a stranger. Clove was grateful she not only didn't have to walk home in the down pouring rain, but at least she wasn't as completely lonely.

[Crush]

With directions, as Gray had expected, the soft pitter-patter of hooves paused, then they flew forward into a canter; not as fast as he had expected Rico to go, but fast none the less, and sudden enough that, had he not been expecting it, he probably would have been unseated, or perhaps blown right off. Rico never had cared for smooth transitions unless he was specifically asked for them, and they got rougher when he was unhappy, like now.

Not at all.

He replied softly, just loud enough to be heard over the background noise of the rain and the hooves. Unfortunately, he hadn't managed to spot that last flicker of lightning, and the rumble started as a splitting crack. He nearly jumped right out of the saddle, saved solely by Rico's fast reaction to slow and steady his rider. A practiced motion; they couldn't avoid all thunderstorms, after all. They were there anyway, and he pulled to a halt, a soft nicker of concern bringing Gray's mind back from the gunshots that had nearly ended him.

Graydon, it's just thunder. You're alright.

Blinking it away, he tried to pretend nothing had happened, which hardly surprised Rico. Gray wasn't exactly known for sharing that part of his past, not without being directly asked. Still, he didn't turn his eyes to meet her's.

There you go. Home.

[lyra]

Rico's transition between gaits was very sudden and rough, and she has grateful Gray had reached back to place her own hands around his waist. The constant 'clip clop' was the thing that kept Clove awake. The rain pitter pattering along the road calmed her, almost putting her to sleep, though she retrained herself from leaning on Gray's shoulder. Clove felt Gray's body shake a second as the thunder cracked it's way across the atmosphere, then the clopping stopped. Gray's voice awoke her from the mesmerizing trance from the rain-fall. She realized then that the little building was her own, and she had already arrived home. She thought that Gray might be a bit more talkative; like the way he smiled at her in the cafe when she looked up. Eh. She didn't judge. Clove swung herself effortlessly off of Rico and onto the cobbled sidewalk. [b"Thank you for the ride, Gray. Your very kind." A slight smile spread across her lips. "Maybe I'll see you around again." The rain had flattened out her hair a little, dripping a bit wet. Hopefully this rain would stop soon.