InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I would prefer not to."

Avoid if triggered by misplaced apostrophe's. (essayel) wrote in morningstar_mnr,
@ 2010-09-22 15:46:00

Entry tags:

allan, ben, chas, chloe, demitri, guy, urquhart

Working day, various, OTA
Guy took a break between pickups and bought a coffee and took it to the angel statue. He liked sitting in the shadow of the big green wings while he drank. It made him feel safe.

###

Ben also had a drink - tea he had made himself. It was getting cold on the counter while he unpacked and shelved books. The door was wide open and the workmen were in and out whistling. Ben was very pleased with the way the work was going. The soft pale turquoise paint on the walls made him feel happy and relaxed. he hoped it would have the same effect on his customers.

###

Charlie should have been answering emails but a thought had struck him and he'd gone and found a sheet of paper and had got out some pastels and was making a glorious smudgy mess that was slowly beginning to look like the City on a windswept and rainy evening. He was particularly enjoying doing the neon reflections in puddles.

There was a big smudge of pink across his cheek.

###

Allan pumped the bellows watching the iron go from red to a glowing yellow-pink, then he took it from the fire to the anvil and picked up his hammer. White sparks showered as he struck, and again. He wasn't making anything in particular, but it really helped him to think.

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	essayel 2010-09-22 04:57 pm UTC (link)
	"Because the coat hook at the gallery is pants," Allan said and grinned at her. "It's a gallery, for fuck sake. We should be surrounded with things of beauty, even in the loo. Not some bit of nineties kitsch with a knob on the end." He glanced up at here agin. "You're looking nice today. Did I tell ya?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_kel 2010-09-22 05:02 pm UTC (link)
	She smiled and glanced down then back up at him. "Thanks," she said and looked him over for a moment. "So do you." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	essayel 2010-09-22 05:12 pm UTC (link)
	"This ol' t'ing," Allan said looking down at his apron with a laugh. "Come an' make yerself useful woman. There's a spare apron by the door. You can come and pump my bellows!" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_kel 2010-09-22 06:34 pm UTC (link)
	Both her brows rose but she smiled and went to put on the other apron. "You really know how to sweet talk a girl." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	essayel 2010-09-22 06:43 pm UTC (link)
	"I pride myself on it," Allan said gravely. "And if you pump my bellows I'll let you have a look at the macquette I been making of your pony." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_kel 2010-09-22 06:50 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh well when you put it that way..." She tied off the apron and grabbed the handle on the bellows and began pumping. Tiny she might be but she was stronger than she looked. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

essayel
2010-09-22 06:58 pm UTC (link)

"Whoohoo." Allan whooped as the fire glowed hotter. With one hand he turned the shaped metal and with his free hand he raked the coals into a more efficient nest for it.

"Red like blood," he said, "means it's not hot enough. I can hammer it to shape but it won't fold like silk. I want it to be that bright light peachy pink. Here we go, almost there. See - see it beginning to spark. That's all the dross burning off. Earlier it was like a sparkler but it's almost clean. It'll last for ages. Good, good just a couple more."

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	mm_kel 2010-09-22 07:15 pm UTC (link)
	She kept at it until he said to stop, paying close attention to the exact color of the fire and coals. She'd be able to do it again if needed. "Okay, I've pumped your bellows. Show me my pony." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

essayel
2010-09-22 07:32 pm UTC (link)

"Jaysus," Allan said. "Hold your horses half a goddam minute." He had to raise his voice over the sound of his hammer but he was laughing, clearly not at all upset by her impatience.

Cha-chingggg cha-chinggg, cha-chinggg, chingchingchingching, cha-ching

He turned the hook over and applied the hammer again in a series of little ringing taps, then took two long strides over to a bucket and thrust the tongs into it. There was a burst of steam and Allan lifted the hook out and lay it on the anvil to cool. It was a villainously grinning cat, crouched, hunched, teeth bared, with a twisted tail that formed the hook.

"Now," he said. "Your pony. Come along with me."

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	mm_kel 2010-09-23 12:46 am UTC (link)
	She'd laughed a bit at the 'hold your horses' comment - for someone like her that always made her laugh - but she followed him readily enough. "I think Zeus is hoping you'll come out and want to watch him again," she said. "He does love to show off." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

essayel
2010-09-23 07:25 am UTC (link)

"I'd like that too," Allan admitted. "In fact it's essential cuz I need to see his face again. I think I got his body set up right."

Across a double sized loose box - and how appropriate was that? - Allan had strung up a curtain, from behind it came the soft purr of a humidifier.

"Hang on," he said. "It's going to be a bit steamy in there. Got to keep him wet you see. Also - um - don't let the framework worry you. It looks a bit brutal but it's holding him up."

He pulled back the curtain and a wave of damp air smelling of clay and wet stone and, just very faintly, stables washed over them. Allan turned on a light and there was the framework of wood and bronze rods with a clay horse, slightly more than life sized at its heart. It was that moment when he picked up from a trot to a canter. One hoof planted firmly, one just touching. One ear was back and the head was slightly turned. There was still a lot of work to be done, but the breed, sex and spirit could be determined from the pose and it had the look of Zeus - couldn't be any other horse really.

"Phew smelly," Allan said.

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	mm_kel 2010-09-23 02:24 pm UTC (link)
	Chloe's eyes widened. "Oh, Allan," she breathed. Yes there was a lot more to be done yes but it was Zeus - without question. She knew her horse so well and she didn't see anything out of place. "He looks fantastic." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	essayel 2010-09-23 02:45 pm UTC (link)
	"He's a nice ol' lad sure enough," Allan said and patted the clay flank gently. "I just need to get his expression right. I'm aiming for that "Who? Me? I can't heeeeeeaaaaar you!" thing he did when he was bouncing around his paddock. That thing where you know he'll come to you in a minute but he'll have a ego boosting run about first." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_kel 2010-09-23 02:50 pm UTC (link)
	She laughed. "Yes that's it exactly! He's such a diva." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	essayel 2010-09-23 03:06 pm UTC (link)
	"That he is," Allan agreed. "So - there he is and I'll sculpt some turf under him, that's nice and easy, but do you want a marble plinth or concrete with bas relief bronze around it? if the latter, what would you like it to show? Could do the farm. Mares and foals." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_kel 2010-09-23 03:09 pm UTC (link)
	"I think I'll leave that up to you," she said, feeling more confident in his abilities than ever after seeing this. "Whatever you think will work best is good with me." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	essayel 2010-09-23 03:40 pm UTC (link)
	"Marble's cheaper," Allan warned. "But I could do you some lovely images in bronze. If you want any text on it could you let me know what it is in good time before I get carried away." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_kel 2010-09-23 03:58 pm UTC (link)
	"I'll get you the text and we're not really worried about the cost," she said, though there was a tenseness to her tone that hinted that she hated saying that. She felt it made her sound stuck up. "My father will want the best." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	essayel 2010-09-23 05:12 pm UTC (link)
	"Okay," Allan said with a grin. He had had plenty of experience of breeders with state of the art stabling and monthly tack bills that ran into four figures while the family walked around with their arses out of their trousers. It was all a business of priorities. "I'll come see you soon," he promised. "I'm buying a car." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_kel 2010-09-23 05:15 pm UTC (link)
	"Oh are you? What kind?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	essayel 2010-09-23 06:02 pm UTC (link)
	"Something that'll carry big blocks of stone," Allan said, "and that I won't hafta worry about getting dinged so a few years old." he shrugged. "Not fussed what kind as long as it's solid." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_kel 2010-09-23 10:18 pm UTC (link)
	"My dad hates my old truck," Chloe said with a proud grin. "He keeps insisting on buying me the newest flashiest thing but I like my old Chevy. It'll haul everything I need and I'm not worried if I have to drive it out in the pastures or if Zeus gets a bee in his bonnet and kicks it." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	essayel 2010-09-23 10:37 pm UTC (link)
	"See that's the kinda thing I need," Allan agreed. "A worry free vehicle." As he was speaking he was testing the dampness of the clay, and picked up a spray bottle and gave it a misting. "That should do it. Right, let's wrap him up again." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mm_kel 2010-09-23 10:54 pm UTC (link)
	Chloe helped then glanced at her watch. "I better get going. I'm going to get stuck in rush hour traffic as it is. Thanks for showing me this, Allan. And come on out to the barn anytime you like." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	essayel 2010-09-23 11:28 pm UTC (link)
	"I got your number," Allan said. "I'll call first. Don't want that head groom of yours chasing me off with a shot gun." He closed the curtains on the clay horse and followed her towards the doors. "here," he said reaching to the anvil. "Have a coat hook. He'll bring ya luck. Every stable should have a cat in it." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

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mm_kel, 2010-09-23 11:34 pm UTC

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essayel, 2010-09-23 11:41 pm UTC

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