[Backdated to sometime shortly after the return from Paris]

[forgedinbattle]

[Elektra, Carolina]
You guys got a minute? There’s somebody I’d like you to meet

[For anyone else, Xena can be found tending to the aforementioned somebody in the stables- a rather beautiful and extremely intelligent horse. And if Xena’s looking more tender than you’ve ever seen her…it’s because she likes this horse more than she likes most people, to be honest. Best castle Solstice present ever.]

Hey girl. I’ve missed you.

Comments

[optimystic]

Then I'll be there before you can say 'hamburger'! [and off she goooooes]

[forgedinbattle]

[And when she gets there, she'll find Xena lavishing attention on a very pretty horse. She's totally not a secret softie, what are you talking about? As she comes into view, both Xena and Argo will look over.]

Hey there.

[optimystic]

[oh my gooooosh, you can practically see Maya's eyes sparkling]

She's gorgeous!

[forgedinbattle]

[Now see, that's a reaction she likes.]

Come here. She won't bite.

[optimystic]

[and she does come over... and reaches out to pet her *^*]

I don't know a lot about horses... but I've seen a few, and she's definitely one of the prettiest.

[forgedinbattle]

[Argo likes this! She'll just be pressing her muzzle to Maya's hand.]

Smart too.

[optimystic]

[heh, she strokes Argo's heaaaaad] Well then I guess she knows how good she looks.

So tell me about her? Do you ride her on adventures all over the wilderness?

[forgedinbattle]

You could say that. She's been with me in battle, in the wilderness, on the road. Just about anywhere you can take a horse.

[optimystic]

[:O]She's a battle horse? Can she fight?

[forgedinbattle]

Sure. She can take out as many men as I can, if she has to.

[optimystic]

[she nods... in respect..... hardcore horse]

A true warrior horse... how cool.

[forgedinbattle]

[Xena just chuckles at that.]

[optimystic]

That's a pretty awesome Christmas Present. And she'll go home when you go home, right?

[forgedinbattle]

[Fuuuuck. Don't make Xena think about these things, Maya.]

Hope so. I'm not in any more control of it than she is.

[optimystic]

Don't worry, the castle wouldn't separate an awesome team like you guys!

[forgedinbattle]

[Eyebrow raise] Are you always this.... [Vague hand-gesture]?

[That's helpful, Xena.]

[optimystic]

This....? [ahaha, moves her hand around in the same way]</small. Wavy?

[forgedinbattle]

...Happy.

[Your optimism. It is confusing.]

[optimystic]

[asldgkha sorry for the html fail. haha, and that makes her laugh]

I guess so? There's just always a lot to be excited about.

[forgedinbattle]

[Don't worry about it haha.]

I don't know how you keep that up.

[optimystic]

Well I don't know how people stay down in the dumps all the time!

[.......]

Wait, I don't mean you! You're not grumpy, more like.... serious?

[forgedinbattle]

[So secretly amused.] Take it easy, kid. I knew what you meant.

[optimystic]

Good! [phew]

Anyway, the point I was trying to make, is that it's pointless to be all doom and gloom.

[forgedinbattle]

Guess so. But it's worse than pointless to think everything's all sunshine and roses. It's dangerous.

[optimystic]

[haha.... she smiles look a little odd for a minute as she looks over at Xena's horse... then back at Xena]

Appreciating the good stuff doesn't mean you ignore the bad stuff. You just don't let it burden you.