[ Gray delays her answer as she watches Slow Dancer go to Johnny. Even though Gray is capable of conversing with her, Slow Dancer would never go so far as to admit she missed Johnny — so when the horse promptly gives him a lick right up the head, Gray finds herself suddenly choked up. After taking care of this unruly horse for five months and watching her reject person after person, it's quite moving to see her welcome Johnny back so warmly. By Slow Dancer standards.
Gray sniffs and wipes her eyes as she comes to a stop in front of Johnny, looking him over. He seems just as she remembers him, and she'll be much as he remembers her — save for the new blonde streak of hair above her left eye. ]
She's been staying with me, Mr. Eustace, and Mr. Dokja. When you disappeared, I suppose she didn't want to go to people she didn't know.
[ Gray genuinely doesn't know if Slow Dancer accepts anyone else Johnny knows. Even with Gray, "acceptance" may have been a strong word before. ]
[ the blonde isn't particularly noticeable against her already-pale hair, so Johnny doesn't see anything different - at least not right away. It doesn't help that he's being distracted by the horse. She's not exactly affectionate, but she is quite concerned with confirming that he's back, in that way reunited animals can be; even Gray's approach doesn't seem to bother her, as Slow Dancer stays put, sniffing and nosing all around Johnny until he puts a hand on her snout to gently push her head back. ]
-- All right, all right, I get it, you missed me, [ he sighs, though he can't help cracking a smile at her demeanor before his attention goes back to Gray. ] Figured she would've just run off, but I guess she knows humans have the good food. Thanks for looking after her...
[ he trails off when he sees Gray looking a little teary-eyed. ]
Uh, you okay?
[ he figures this can't be about his return, because no one would be that happy to see him, and that leaves him puzzled. The fact that his horse has belonged to someone else for months hasn't quite set in; to him, it feels like he's been away for a day or two at most, even though he knows the truth. ]
[ Gray smiles at Slow Dancer's insistent affection. With both Eustace and Johnny's returns and Slow Dancer so happy, it's been a long time since Gray's heart has felt so full. ]
I'm just glad... I've never seen her so happy. She must have missed you this entire time.
[ Maybe if Gray had made more of an effort to ride her, Slow Dancer would have felt less lonely... but now that Johnny is back, Gray is glad she didn't encroach on that honor. Her smile warms, this time for Johnny. ]
[ Emotional over an animal, huh...? He gets it. Gray is such a sweet girl; despite everything, he can't help smiling back at her, though it's small and quiet as ever. ]
Yeah? Well... thanks. I'm glad someone cared about her.
[ especially as genuinely as Gray seems to. Johnny keeps a hand on Slow Dancer while he speaks, absently stroking her long nose. ]
As long as she didn't hurt you or anything. [ a beat. Then, awkwardly: ] ... Sorry for vanishing and makin' you take care of her.
I didn't mind. [ Though the same couldn't be said for everyone else around her. ] Her being here made me think you might come back. And I felt safer with her around. In a lot of ways, I admire her.
[ Most people would be appalled to hear it, but Gray really does think she should be more like Slow Dancer: proud, tough, and uncompromising. ]
Actually, I was hoping I could still come by and help take care of her. If you... and she don't mind.
[ he can't say he doesn't understand that feeling: without Slow Dancer, he would never have gotten anywhere, literally and metaphorically. She made him safer, too - and stronger.
The question takes him by surprise, but not in a bad way. ]
Uh -- sure. I mean, if you really want to... It'd definitely be faster with two people. [ unsurprisingly, it takes a long time to tend to a horse properly in a wheelchair. He'd question her further on if she really means that, save for the fact that she's been caring for Slow Dancer on her own for a few months now. ] You ended up liking horses, huh? Even a mean old nag like this one.
[ She has to think about that. DOES she like horses? ]
To be honest, I've never ridden a horse... but I do think they're regal, and good companions. And I enjoy brushing them down.
[ Looking after animals is one of the few things that's stayed the same all the way from her humble village to this fantastical place. She glances back to Slow Dancer. ]
She can be a bit difficult for people to approach, but she's been a lot of help to me. Like a lot of Shard-Bearers, actually.
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Gray sniffs and wipes her eyes as she comes to a stop in front of Johnny, looking him over. He seems just as she remembers him, and she'll be much as he remembers her — save for the new blonde streak of hair above her left eye. ]
She's been staying with me, Mr. Eustace, and Mr. Dokja. When you disappeared, I suppose she didn't want to go to people she didn't know.
[ Gray genuinely doesn't know if Slow Dancer accepts anyone else Johnny knows. Even with Gray, "acceptance" may have been a strong word before. ]
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-- All right, all right, I get it, you missed me, [ he sighs, though he can't help cracking a smile at her demeanor before his attention goes back to Gray. ] Figured she would've just run off, but I guess she knows humans have the good food. Thanks for looking after her...
[ he trails off when he sees Gray looking a little teary-eyed. ]
Uh, you okay?
[ he figures this can't be about his return, because no one would be that happy to see him, and that leaves him puzzled. The fact that his horse has belonged to someone else for months hasn't quite set in; to him, it feels like he's been away for a day or two at most, even though he knows the truth. ]
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I'm just glad... I've never seen her so happy. She must have missed you this entire time.
[ Maybe if Gray had made more of an effort to ride her, Slow Dancer would have felt less lonely... but now that Johnny is back, Gray is glad she didn't encroach on that honor. Her smile warms, this time for Johnny. ]
Welcome back, Mr. Johnny.
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Yeah? Well... thanks. I'm glad someone cared about her.
[ especially as genuinely as Gray seems to. Johnny keeps a hand on Slow Dancer while he speaks, absently stroking her long nose. ]
As long as she didn't hurt you or anything. [ a beat. Then, awkwardly: ] ... Sorry for vanishing and makin' you take care of her.
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I didn't mind. [ Though the same couldn't be said for everyone else around her. ] Her being here made me think you might come back. And I felt safer with her around. In a lot of ways, I admire her.
[ Most people would be appalled to hear it, but Gray really does think she should be more like Slow Dancer: proud, tough, and uncompromising. ]
Actually, I was hoping I could still come by and help take care of her. If you... and she don't mind.
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The question takes him by surprise, but not in a bad way. ]
Uh -- sure. I mean, if you really want to... It'd definitely be faster with two people. [ unsurprisingly, it takes a long time to tend to a horse properly in a wheelchair. He'd question her further on if she really means that, save for the fact that she's been caring for Slow Dancer on her own for a few months now. ] You ended up liking horses, huh? Even a mean old nag like this one.
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To be honest, I've never ridden a horse... but I do think they're regal, and good companions. And I enjoy brushing them down.
[ Looking after animals is one of the few things that's stayed the same all the way from her humble village to this fantastical place. She glances back to Slow Dancer. ]
She can be a bit difficult for people to approach, but she's been a lot of help to me. Like a lot of Shard-Bearers, actually.