[LEONARDO SAMUEL WHITE]

He couldn't help but let out a slight laugh at the kid's eye roll - it was a very familiar expression he received on a regular basis. "Well, if my life is ever in danger and I need to throw a pretty face at it, I know exactly who to sacrifice then." Leo laughed more openly at that and inclined his head in acknowledgement. "And I am the prettiest face you'll find in town, so that's a very valid response - I won't even be offended as you hand me over." He joked back, though he might be a little concerned about being given away. He gave the horse a little scratch on his neck to help settle him when he attempted to pick up a jig jog once again, but as wired as the animal was he slowly began to come down off the edge of his adrenain.

"You're funeral. I think I value my life too much." Leo laughed at that too and gave him a nod, a fair expression on his face. "Completely understandable, and right you are. She's not one to be messed with, but I get a free pass for being blood related." He did not, but he had more bravery than sense a lot of the time, and he knew she wouldn't really mind. It wasn't like Leo always intended on being annoying, most of the time it happened by accident, but occasionally he could be quite useful for things. Adonis tossed his head and Leo clucked to the animal, applying a little pressure with one heel, and then the other to ask the horse to shift first one way and then the other away from the pressure, getting him to concentrate on something for a moment other than his own attitude.

Leo was always cautious about divulging his past. It wasn't just his to tell, it was his siblings too, and that made a difference. That aside, he wasn't much of a talker when it came to his history, he preferred to leave it where it was, in the past, and not to dwell. "Sorry to hear that mate. Guess if you can make it work though, I can make it work as well." He nodded at that, "You'll be surprised at what people can survive when they want to, just make sure you do more than survive it. Thrive." He was starting to sound like some ridiculous guru and he chuckled, rolling his eyes at himself.

He didn't give the kid a chance to respond before he was gone. Adonis went from zero to a hundred in no time at all, keen to open up and just run. He gave a squeal and a kick up of his heels, which Leo laughed at and sat with ease, used to horses that like to throw shapes beneath him. He enjoyed riding a horse that was enjoying themselves, and he gave a little "Whoop," of joy as the animal did it again. "It'll slow you down though, mate," He warned the horse, hearing the thundering of hooves catching up to them. "That was dirty!" Leo laughed and glanced over his shoulder, "Rule number one, never fight fair!" He shouted back, letting his reins loosen so the horse could have his head until the end of the track came up toward them. He glanced over his shoulder again to see if Ronan had managed to gain a lead on him before he sat tall again and brought Adonis back to a trot first, then into a walk, letting him stretch out. "Better for that, young man?" He muttered as the horse felt more relaxed and at ease beneath him now.

[RONAN DAIRE SLADE]

Lost I Was Born, Lonesome I Became

Not that Ronan had been at Seven Oaks very long, but Leo White was shaping up to be exactly who everyone said he was - a good looking bastard who could charm the pants off of everyone. Even the teenager, who often had issues befriending people just due to his own sour mood, felt like he was striking some kind of connection with the older man, even if his quick wit often made him want to groan. Max, on the other hand, didn't seem to care for the pair besides him, if only for the fact that he was much shorter and needed to work a bit harder to keep up with the wired show horse, "You remember those words when I'm handing you over to the authorities." Blue grey eyes looked to Leo now as he proclaimed that Ronan was quite right about his funeral, but it was the next comment that truly made him arch his eyebrows, "Completely understandable, and right you are. She's not one to be messed with, but I get a free pass for being blood related." The teenager wasn't so sure about that, not what he heard around the yard. Granted, nothing horrible was every said about Lily White, everyone loved her. She just wasn't one to cross, "I think that's your bravery talking there, mate." Ronan replied with a wry smile, although maybe he shouldn't be calling out one of the owners of the barn. That said, Leo acted like wanted to just be seen as 'one of the riders' so to speak, and if that was the case, the teenager was more than happy to oblige. But perhaps he crossed a line now, and had been too friendly, as he stumbled upon something that maybe he shouldn't have. Ronan got it though, the past sometimes could be a hard thing to talk about. Not everyone had it easy. As much as Ronan hated his own childhood, he knew that was for teenage angst and mellow drama, and that was a far cry from something truly awful. He wasn't sure if he just ruined anything, but the the older man spoke, putting him at ease: "You'll be surprised at what people can survive when they want to, just make sure you do more than survive it. Thrive." The teenager eyed Leo curious, clocking that eyeroll, "Man Leo, I'm beginning to think that trickster stuff is just a joke, and you're really a wise sage." But perhaps that was the wrong thing to say, because now he and Max were being left in the dust. They had finally caught up to Leo and Adonis, but something seemed off - as if the pair had slowed down. All that whooping and hollering must have done something, and Ronan had caught the large horse let out a good, joyful kick. Ah, no wonder they had gained grown. Max finally had caught up, but once more, like a fucking sports car, the older man gave rein to his steed and they took off. Ronan should have seen this coming due to the words that Leo let out, "Rule number one, never fight fair!" It took everything in his power to not cuss. The brumby's ears pinned back, annoyed yet again, and Ronan squeezed him forward. But the race was won, there was no arguing, and at the end of the line, Ronan slowed Max down to a walk, "I'm going to remember that rule the next time I'm out here with you." The teenager said, finally caught up as he looked around, "Where the heck are we even?" He really should have studied that map.

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