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___Rasui had always had a romantic love-affair with the idea of horseflesh. They were strong, powerful, valiant, and loyal. Really just a very large puppy-dog. He remembered the small quick horses at home, and the magnificent thoroughbred races that were held. The horse was a God in its own right, and worshiped all the same. Tears shed whenever a victory or fall took place, no matter if they were rivals or companions. The horse was the most magnificent of all the animal kingdom, in his opinion, and his very favourite. Fine-boned Arabians, swift Thoroughbreds, rough'n'tumble Quarterhorses and spiritual Mustangs from the wilds of a long-forgotten America. In the few wide-open spaces that had been preserved in his dying planet earth, they were given the wilderness once more.

___When Rasui had discovered that Cirque had its own stables and a training ground, he almost leapt out of his skin in excitement. Quickly he had searched it out and found the round corral filled with rust-coloured sand. The stalls were brimming with the beautiful creatures, soft eyes, delicate noses, and naughty teeth. Each one, each breed, each colour, he felt it was all too good to be true. Rasui found it hard to contain himself and wrapped his arms around the long face of the nearest animal, breathing in its salty and natural scent. The peace was shattered however, by a high-pitched female shriek, or perhaps it was a horses high whinny. His heart jumped, someone was in trouble, and before anyone knew it he pounded out of the stableyard and to the corral.

___A very large, very unhappy horse stood near the middle, with a small girl victim to its rambunctious ways. Pulling himself up and hoisting over the wooden fencing, Rasui landed heavily yet gracefully in the sand and sped over to the animal. With a large hand he reached out while dodging damaging hooves, and wrapped the reins tightly. The animal reared, angry at this human for challenging its authority, and Rasui dug his heels in to pull it taught.
___"Be good ... be good." Softly the man whispered to the unhappy creature, a bit of his British accent coming through the heavy Egyptian rumble of his voice. The horse wheeled, trying to get the man off him but Rasui played dead weight, and let the horse try to shake around. As the stallion finally calmed down, Rasui tentatively reached a palm out, allowing the animal to nose him carefully. Animals didn't like being touched unless they had a chance to inspect you first. The horse nickered quietly, and the man leaned slightly and let a warm breath wash over the flared nostrils. It needed to know him. Gradually its breathing slowed, and finally dropped a hip in complete relaxation. Rasui could now turn his attention to the young lady.
___"Are you hurt?" He questioned, smiling at her charmingly, almost completely oblivious to anything else besides the horse.

___Rasui laughed, loudly, his voice ringing with joy. It was the kind of laughter that didn't make you feel small because it seemed it was directed at you, but more because of the pleasure and happiness it brought to the inner glow. She was small, and seemed quite sweet.
___"Of course they eat plants." He said with a broad smile, his bright green eyes twinkling at her. "But if you frighten or upset any animal, they will do whatever possible to discourage you." He motioned with a finger to the small tear in her clothing. "That has happened to me many times before, except most of the time I wasn't fast enough and suffered a nasty bruise." He chuckled. Rasui had been kicked, thrown, bitten, and crushed by these creatures he adored, but he had no resentment whatsoever. It was in any nature of an animal which lived and breathed.

___He reached up and smoothed his facial hair, bringing thumb and forefinger down the carefully tailored mustache to his goatee and trimmed beard. Rasui often did that when he was regarding something, or someone. His white teeth flashed at her in a gentle smile.
___"What on earth were you trying to do?"

___"Tigers, eh." Rasui smiled at her. "Big old brutes aren't they? Nice to watch, but not so much to be part of their snacktime." He laughed again. "Never really been around horses?" The man seemed almost appalled by the idea. "Well get over here then!" His large frame swept her up into his arms and right into the creature's nose. "See, he likes you!" Rasui clapped her on the back proudly as she stared the thousand-pounder down. At her comment on trying to make it disappear, he frowned with slight bemused patience.
___"Disappear? Like close your eyes I can't see you, you can't see me disappear?" He teased. "Playing peek-a-boo with the animals, are we?" Rasui winked at her and grinned. The sun was setting, and instinctively he held her just a little bit closer as the cold began to set in. Beautiful colours, like a prelude to a night-time symphony. When they were between worlds, Rasui really had no idea where the caravan was. It looked almost warped between spaces, and you couldn't go anywhere except to the edge of the camp before it dropped off. Where it went to, he didn't want to risk his neck to find out.

___Rasui smiled at her nervous expression. Horses were hardly anything to be frightened of. Naturally curious and quiet, they were fantastic companions whether on a long journey or short trot.
___"He's not going to hurt you ..." The bronze man said quietly, cradling her in his large bicep. "Animals never ever really mean to hurt anyone, it's all just survival." He said wisely. "They need to trust you."

___At her next face he became slightly concerned.
___"I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." Rasui said in an apologetic voice. He was just teasing, if she really could make things disappear, he could buy into that. "Go on ... Show me." He nudged her, but before he could even get the words out the horse vanished and reappeared. "Holy-!" The man whooped, startling the horse for a brief moment before it went back to its relaxed posture. "You really can-"

___He caught her gently, leaning over her as gracefully as he would when dancing with Shen. She looked very tired, and it bothered him. Gently he picked her up in his large arms and held her to his chest.
___"Come on, I know exactly what'll pick your spirits up." He winked at her and motioned at a nearby worker to take the horse in. "Some tea, or coffee, how about some hot cocoa? I've got loads of cocoa." Rasui grinned at her.

___Rasui had almost forgotten he was carrying her for a moment, as he took his long strides across the dusty arena. She was very light, and unless her little voice had peeped up at him from the swaddling of brown sinew, he would have completely forgotten about her. Sheepishly he smiled at her and delicately let her down. The sun disappearing on the warped landscape caused a hush and shudder to run through the camp, when it got cold here, it got cold. Very few people could probably stand to be far from the spelled trailers for long, much less survive. Pale people made Rasui shiver sometimes, they always looked like they needed a blanket. Fortunately, Rasui had several.
___"I'm sorry." He apologized with a wide grin, hoping to make up for being so absent-minded. She had probably noticed by his shocked look back down at her that he had completely forgotten her presence, focused intently upon the sweet liquid treat that awaited him inside the trailer. He reached for her again and then pulled back, repeating the gesture a few times as a childlike confusion crossed his face.
___"Ah ..." Should he lead her in? "No, no wait ..." Perhaps she could follow, but his legs were so long he tended to go faster than he meant to. He briefly searched his mind before coming to a conclusion, they would stroll. Rasui held out his arm to her, bend forward at the elbow in a gentlemanly gesture.

___Rasui's eyes glazed over as he mulled over the complete wonderfulness of cocoa. How could he describe it? Within every taste bud was the gentle memory of family and friends, whipped cream and marshmallows. His other hand reached over and gently rested upon hers, squeezing it with fondness upon his large forearm. A slow smile crept upon his lips, as he looked at her and led her forward.
___"Cocoa is a delicious, fantastic, marvelous warm beverage. It's sugary and velvety, with bittersweet undertones. A little frothy, but every gulp makes your heart feel a little stronger."

___As he led her through the busy labyrinth of cages, practice rounds, and tents, his mind began to wander as he rattled off random information about it. "Cocoa is made from the cacao bean, which is indigenous to the Southern Americas. Well, though, now it's being grown everywhere. The ancient peoples who lived there brewed water with it to make a bitter drink, pouring chili powder or whatever else they had into it to give it a rough strong flavour."
___Reaching the door to his shared trailer, he gently opened the door and escorted her inside, motioning to the expansive easy-chair he usually sat in. Everything in the trailer either was riddled with old Broadway posters, playbills, and flowers; but also Rasui's worldly treasures, gathered from every corner of the earth from digs or exotic places. Cultural statuettes and fetishes stood on bookcases filled with musty cloth-covered books with faded lettering. Rasui seated her gently, before reaching to the nearby table for his rounded spectacles.

___"Just a moment." He smiled at her, making his way to the makeshift kitchen and pulling a tin out of a small cupboard. Setting the glasses on the bridge of his nose, he read the back of the metal box to ensure it was the right one before getting a teakettle. He stood in front of the sink, until he turned and opened a small chillbox retrieving a carton of sweet whole milk. Pouring the milk into the kettle and setting it on the tiny stove, he assembled the rest of his precious ingredients with care. He looked over at her, arms akimbo as he tried very hard not to watch the kettle boil.
___"Most everyone's had cocoa before, or at least chocolate." Rasui commented.

___Although he had expected it from her response earlier, hearing her say out loud that she'd never had chocolate blew his mind into a million different pieces. He hadn't been as prepared for it as he thought he would be. He looked at the kettle, and then back at her, then to the kettle one last time. It never boils when you watch it, but with all his heart he wanted it to be done now. It excited him, and he hoped she would like it. Deciding it would be better to distract himself with good company, he walked over to her and leaned on the armrest of the chair.
___"We'll have to fix that then." He smiled at her. While he couldn't expose her to everything he was familiar to in his own world, he could most certainly make an attempt to expose her to as many things Cirque made possible! It was an interesting notion, because as traveling various worlds went, it was all going to be mostly brand-new to him as well.

___His glasses glinted in the last shot of sunlight, and realizing how dark it was becoming, he stood and began turning on the various lanterns across the room, casting warm shadows along the silks and carpets. The evening air was heavy with excitement, and little breezes carried upon it whispers from other tents sharing stories of previous lives. As he lit one last candle, he picked up a cushioned stool and placed it near the chair, seating himself upon it with care. After all that, the kettle still hadn't blown, frustrating.
___"Where are you from then, to not have had either, little blushing rose?"