[Practice Thread]

[scorpiobird]

It costs a lot of money to maintain a horse in Darrow, more than I expected. I thought it was hard on Thisby but at least no one was charging us on her lean-to. The money that comes each month isn't enough to pay for my apartment and Dove's stall at Villa Cordova. That's without her food, the costs of her veterinary care, or the new shoes the farrier put on her. No one cares here that she's the first normal horse to win the Scorpio Races. 

People talk of things arriving from home sometimes and in the back of my mind, I can think of any number of things that I'd like to see arrive but the Races' purse is most prominent in my thoughts.

Until then, I work. I've sold some painted plates and teapots at the cat cafe but not enough. Computers, mysterious as they are to me, seem a requirement to getting real paid work around here, so I'm bound for the library with mine in my bag. Hopefully someplace quiet will help. 

Comments

[onefootinthesea]

When we settle at the table, I make a point of sitting beside her - but not too close - instead of across from her. I wasn't planning for this visit, so I haven't really got anything. And, besides, it will be a good learning experience for both of us. Probably.

Assuming we don't make complete arses of ourselves.

"Maybe one of the librarians can help? They seem to know a lot about these sorts of things, anyway."

[scorpiobird]

"Probably," I say. Many of the staff here are sitting behind the computers as we speak, typing away as if it's the simplest thing in the world. I could ask for help. I should ask for help but the apparent ease of use makes me stubborn.

Reaching into my bag, I withdraw the small, flat computer and prop it open. "I've gotten as far as turning it on and that's about all," I admit, pressing the button.

[onefootinthesea]

I smile, very small, at the way that Puck's eyebrows come together as she looks at the librarians. It seems just as much a challenge to approach them for guidance as it was for us to create our understanding on the cliff overlooking the beach. But, for her, it may be just as vital, unless she wants to eat beans for a month.

"That's about as far as I've gotten as well," I admit softly, and shake my head. Her computer takes a moment to come to life, and we're both left momentarily staring at it. I end up snorting a laugh at how helpless we both are about this.

[scorpiobird]

Sean Kendrick laughs so rarely that it catches me off-guard to hear him do something so common as snort. I laugh too, suddenly reminded that he's an odd man and an old one in a young skin but he's still a man as much as I'm a woman. Or almost one. We're human, the both of us.

"I'm going to find a book. At least I know how to use a library." Maybe the only library I've used is the school library in Skarmouth but how different can the sorting be?