006 | action | wild wild west

[mintjulep]

[ In perhaps a bizarre twist, one Leonard McCoy isn't a doctor today -- though he's close. He's a horse rancher, breeding and training and selling the fine horses of the City, and instead of hiring out for a veterinarian, he's got training there, too. Call him Doc, call him McCoy, call him Doc McCoy, whatever suits your fancy -- maybe Bones, short for Sawbones, when he's lecturing you on proper animal care.

Either way, he's sitting out on a bench, drinking from his flask and watching people wander by. Truth be told, he watches their horses with more interest. ]

Comments

[thenormalsquint]

[Back in the day, ladies used to be ladies. They would stay home, raise the kids, care for their men, do all the things a good woman would do. Angela? Does none of this. So her question as she plops down beside McCoy with a grin is a real ridiculous one.]

What does a lady have to do to get a drink around here?

[mintjulep]

[ Ladies used to be ladies but McCoy, well, he's used to this particularly lady. He chuckles, turning his head slightly to look at her. ]

Well, y'could ask.

[ His Southern drawl is more pronounced than usual today. ]

[thenormalsquint]

I could, but that would be boring. What's the point in that?

[Do keep speaking, Bones. The ladies love the accent.]

[mintjulep]

It's polite.

[ Not, you know, that Angela cares... ]

Darlin', one of these days you're goin' to ask someone that question an' get more than you bargained for.

[ But he's passing his flask over to her. ]

[thenormalsquint]

[Jackpot. Flask in hand, she tips it up as a thank you before taking a sip. Pinkies up.]

Or maybe I'll get just what I really want, ever think that?

[withloadedguns]

[Here comes a horse... I mean, with someone riding it, but, you know, horse.]

[mintjulep]

[ Oh look, yes there is. He's watching, cataloging the way the horse moves, how its coat looks. ]

[withloadedguns]

[It's a desert rat of a horse, certainly wouldn't win any shows, but it's healthy.

But, anyway, the human involved notices the other one looking.]

Hello.

[mintjulep]

Hello.

[ Tip of his hat, for politeness and all that. ]

[auguria]

[Jast doesn't come in to town much, prefers to stay out in the fields with the horses, but there are sometimes errands to run into town and he does them when he's told to, without complaint. He slows his steps when he sees Doc, shuffling over curiously. He makes a few motions with his hands, a hello, a wide sweep across the line of sight, an inquisitive little motion. He's better at talking with his hands than he is with tongue and teeth.

What are you looking at?]

[mintjulep]

[ Luckily body language is something McCoy is well-versed in, even if it tends to be horse body language more than human. He nods his head toward a chestnut mare tied across the street. ]

What do you think of that one?

[auguria]

[Jast's eyes go towards the mare, tilting his head to catch her eye from across the street. He smiles warmly, lingering a moment too long before straightening up to look at the doctor once more.]

[He bounces his hand in the simulacra of a trot. Both hands go up, like alert ears. A swaying motion back and forth with his wrist.]

[She has a good gait, and she's clever, she'll take a bridle well if she's treated right.]

[Jast pauses to consider for a moment before he touches his fingertips to his cheeks with a wry smile.]

[Cheerful too.]

[mintjulep]

[ Some of the small things might have escaped him, but McCoy gets the gist of it, nodding as he looks back over at the mare. ]

I'd hope people'd treat her right, but you know how they can be. Shall we take a closer look?

[ Her temperament would be good for breeding stock, and if he's got her, no one else will be treating her badly. He's been described as a bleeding heart before, beneath all the gruff, and it's probably true. ]

[claimyourself]

[Lena's in town, posting signs over donation boxes in the hopes the good people of the town will think of the children and donate to the orphanage. But she's on a mission too. In the little basket she carries at the crook of her elbow is a kitten, snuggled up in an old bit of fabric. When she sees McCoy, she approaches, hoping she isn't bothering him.]

Excuse me, Doctor? Might I trespass upon your time? You see, I have a patient for you.

[mintjulep]

'course.

[ McCoy straightens up, tucking his flask away inside his vest. ]

Let's see 'em.

[ He'll ask how she's doing afterward. ]

[claimyourself]

[She carefully lifts the little furball out and hands him over.]

He's limping. It's his back left foot. I took a look, but I didn't see a thorn or anything. I thought maybe you'd know what to do.

[mintjulep]

Hey there, little guy. [ The kitten gets some soft strokes down the back of its head before McCoy moves it in his hand to examine the rest of the little fuzzball. ] Did you find him somewhere, or has he been around?

[candothat]

[Hey there, Doc. Lucky you--the local Pony Express station has recruited you to look after the horses that come in a little worse for the wear. An unfit horse is bad for business and they need the best... and they pay rather handsomely.

Today's client is a fine pinto, only fourteen hands high and favoring her front right leg as she's led to McCoy's ranch. Her coat's visibly slick with sweat and her head's down; by the look of the tired animal, she's fresh from a run. The same might be assumed of the scrawny kid leading her, although he doesn't look tired so much as in need of another hand to help carry the heavy rider's kit that he has relieved the horse of. The mochila and cantinas attached to the saddle might be empty, but the saddle itself is no light thing with its water sack and the revolver and rifle strapped to it.

McCoy is doubly lucky today. This rider's one of the regulars and, between juggling the pinto's reigns and the heavy riding kit, shoots the doc a smile of recognition.]

McCoy! A moment, please, if you can spare it? The stationmaster is not so happy with Reliant's condition.

[mintjulep]

[ Lucky him indeed. Not only is the pay good, but McCoy gets to look after the horses. He's got a soft spot for critters and kids.

Chekov's kind of like both, seventeen (man enough, he supposes, but still) and gangly like a foal. If nothing else, he seems to get along with his horses, and McCoy heads over to help relieve Pavel of what he's carrying, letting the kid keep leading the mare. He wouldn't bother to help Pavel if he weren't pleased that the kid took the rider's kit off in the first place. ]

I can always spare a moment for a patient. C'mon, let's set this down an' get her tied.

[candothis]

[The horse was carrying everything most of the way; it only seemed fair to give her a break. Still, Chekov is immensely grateful for McCoy's help and more than happy to turn his full attention to the pinto, whom he addresses conversationally.]

Не волнуйтесь. Доктор помогут Вам. [The mare's only response is a snort. Perhaps she doesn't speak Russian. McCoy, however, gets English.] Thank you, sir. She took a hill poorly, Reliant, and the stationmaster is willing to pay five dollars if you can fix her.

[It's five times what an unskilled laborer earns in a week, but the horses the Express uses are good animals and worth the expense. What goes unspoken, of course, is what will happen to the animal if there's no fixing to be done.]

[mintjulep]

[ Or perhaps she does speak Russian and just finds Chekov amusing. McCoy certainly doesn't speak Russian, but Pavel's a good kid, speaking to his horse. ]

I'll see what I can do. No promises, though.

[ Still, he knows exactly what will happen if he can't fix her up. Poor girl. Might be better if she's suffering, but if not, he'll probably end up trying to buy her himself, if the kid doesn't do it first.

Once Reliant is tied, McCoy clucks to her, checking her other legs first for comparison (and in case there's something there), getting her used to his touch, before going to the injured one. ]

Were you ridin' her at the time?

[coyote_walking]

[And when he looks up at a quiet moment, he'll see an Indian standing there, waiting to be noticed. Slight frame, hair braided back, loose deerskin... She could easily be mistaken for a man, and she wouldn't mind that at all. She's hoping he might have a job for her, she's good with horses, very good, and they respond well to her.]

[mintjulep]

[ There's a bit of an eyebrow raise, but McCoy tucks his flask away, straightening up to show he's alert. ]

Can I help you?

[coyote_walking]

[Her eyes are downcast, voice low.]

Heard you might be hiring. 'M good with the horse. Don't need much.

[mintjulep]

I might be.

[ He shifts, stands and rubs at one shoulder. ]

I've got a bay in a corral nearby. Let's see how you do with her.

[ He wants to see how she works with the horse, moves with it, treats it. ]