Information
Valentino_106
Legacy Name: Valentino_106
The
Common FesterOwner:
PintoAge: 13 years, 8 months
Born: September 3rd, 2010
Adopted: 12 years, 7 months, 1 week ago
Adopted: September 23rd, 2011
Pet Spotlight Winner
September 11th, 2012
Statistics
- Level: 1
- Strength: 10
- Defense: 10
- Speed: 10
- Health: 10
- HP: 10/10
- Intelligence: 0
- Books Read: 0
- Food Eaten: 0
- Job: Unemployed
1840
Paloma was a tiny settlement in the south-west of Texas, charged with a different electricity than East Coast towns. It was a wild energy. Everything was tinted red and covered in dust and there was a sweet spice that blew on the wind. Adventure hung on the horizon like a beacon, luring the bravest and most foolish of men ever westward with its sparkle. It was dangerous in Paloma.
The jailhouse sat at the end of the only street in town, tucked next to a general store. There was only one cell window. The view from behind the bars showed crumbling red stone mesas rising from the horizon and an endless scrubby, grey-sage wash of desert that stretched for hundreds of miles.
--
Valentino drifted awake. He lay on a bed, feet hanging off the end, muscles stiff from a bad night's sleep on an uncomfortable mattress. He kept his eyes closed against the fierce sunlight blazing through the barred window above, wanting to put off this day as long as possible. Not much he could do, locked in a jail cell. Not much worth doing anyhow.
The scent of the rough-cut pine floor and the fresh straw mattress filtered through Valentino's sleepy consciousness. He half-dreamed of a barn, full of smartly stamping horses, tossing their heads and fighting for attention. But in his office, the Sheriff dropped something and cursed loudly and Valentino was awake again. This was a stable of a different sort, there weren't any horses here.
He rolled over on the mattress, sharp bits of straw poking his bare, bruised chest as he tried to go back to sleep when he heard the faraway jangle of familiar spurs. Suddenly Valentino was awake. He lay for a moment, staring at the ceiling with tired eyes before he sighed to himself. This is not what he had expected.
He sat on the edge of the bed and stretched, his muscles sore. He scrubbed the sleep from his eyes with the back of his hand, ran his fingers through dirty hair, trying to tame it down, and winced when the smell of stale body odor hit his nose. It had been weeks since he had bathed. What he wouldn't give for a bar of soap.
Incomprehensible murmurings drifted from the Sheriff's office—a pause—then, "Valentine, darlin', wake up call!" the Sheriff drawled from his office. Valentino could hear the smirk on his face, the squeak of his old boots as he walked. For some reason, the Sheriff found his name amusing. "You've got yourself a visitor," he continued, strutting down the short hallway to the cell, hands on his hips. "Ain't you just the picture of beauty, look at you."
Valentino was sure he looked anything but. His greasy brown curls stuck up in angles, dirt was caked in odd places, a crust of dried blood flaked across his face from a split lip. He was shirtless, his chest covered with yellowing bruises. Valentino stood, watching the Sheriff silently, waiting for him to speak. The Sheriff grinned back, fingers absently tracing along the ring of keys hanging from his pistol belt. "Some pretty guy's here to see you. He got some money it seems, and is just itchin' to set you free. What you think?"
"I think I'm innocent." Valentino rasped, throat dry, he needed a drink. The Sheriff huffed.
"We know that's what you think. Insufferable bastard." He added, under his breath. "Just get outta here, kid. God knows Ashley deserved it, but that don't make it legal." He stepped forward, unhooked the keys from his belt, and unlocked the door. The tumblers fell into place with a soft click, and the door swung open, silent on new hinges. The Sheriff stepped back. "Your friend out there says he got a horse for ya. You need anything else?" Valentino answered without thought.
"A bar of soap."
The Sheriff laughed and tossed him a penny from his pocket, told him to buy himself some soap. God knows he needed it.
The Jailhouse was empty as he walked out, his savior nowhere to be found.
The old couple who ran the general store watched him warily as he poked around, but said nothing of his disheveled, shirtless state. After dropping the penny on the counter, he stuffed a bright waxy bar of clean soap in his back pocket. There was a horse trough in front of the store, and Valentino made his way to it.
He cupped a handful of stale water to his mouth and drank deep, ignoring the horse that watched over his shoulder. He splashed some on his face, scrubbed at the crust of blood across his cheek, let another handful run down the back of his dirty neck. Soap could wait for a proper washing, when he wasn't in the middle of town.
The stocky, unfamiliar mustang tied to the trough eyed him with suspicion. Valentino flicked water at its nose and the horse snorted and shook his head, bridle jingling, almost cheerily. Valentino missed his own horse. It had been four years.
As he took another swallow of water, a shadow fell across his back. Valentino stilled and stood slowly, wiping the back of his hand across his mouth before he spoke. "What are you doing here, Winter?" He asked evenly, turning around.
"We both know that's not my name." Winter replied as their eyes met, a tentative smile playing on his lips. He was taller than Valentino remembered. His dark tanned skin and shocking white hair belied his age. He couldn't be over 30. His sharp, three-piece suit was exactly what Valentino remembered, though. He somehow looked cool in the blazing sun, despite all the layers.
"What are you doing here," Valentino parroted, taking a step back from Winter who was suddenly too close.
"I'm breaking you out of jail." Winter said with a friendly laugh, a smile. "Like old times. Isn't it obvious?"
"You never broke anyone out of anywhere," Valentino mumbled. "You always paid off the Sheriff." Winter smiled, despite Valentino's cool tone. They hadn't seen each other in four years. Winter had missed his friend's blunt honesty. But Valentino was wary, stepping around the words of his friend, working out where they stood after all this time. After the way they parted.
"You haven't changed at all, have you," Winter said with a bright smile, and Valentino wished he would stop.
"I've changed a lot. You're the same as ever." Valentino gestured to his suit, the watch chain that flashed in the sun, expensive leather boots, beautifully embroidered waistcoat. Winter had always had the money.
"Now you're just being an ass." Winter clapped him on the the shoulder, tried to steer him with a strong hand out of the street, but Valentino stood fast.
"I'm not going anywhere until you explain what's going on. Why are you here?"
"Don't ask me that, Valentino," Winter said wearily, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. "You know why I'm here, don't make me explain."
---
They were summering at Winter's estate in Newport. Winter had somehow convinced Valentino that a bit of sophistication and refinement would do him some good. But Valentino wasn't accustomed to such a lavish way of life. He had been born on the prairie and lived around a campfire his whole life. Such finery intimidated him. He spent his time in Newport in the barn, walking along the beach, or napping in the garden. It was during this summer when he met Rana.
She was the most beautiful creature Valentino had ever seen, and he had to have her. Cost didn't matter. He wasn't above asking for handouts, which is exactly how Rana ended up in the barn.
She was a fine Arabian. Her dappled grey coat shone even in the dim, dusty light of the barn and her mane and tail were glossy with good health. She was feisty, only half broken, Winter had said, and wouldn't take direction from any handler. She had a mind of her own, which was something Valentino admired, in people and in horses.
Rana was a beautiful horse, but she was difficult. No man wanted a horse who enjoyed tossing her riders. Liked to nip toes. She would stamp her feet and stick her nose in the air, as though she were laughing when a handler would try to swing a saddle on her back.
Valentino had to have her, and Winter's father was happy to get rid of her. For some reason, Rana listened to Valentino. She still bit his toes, tossed him when he tried to get her to do something she didn't feel like doing. But she seemed to respect him, as much as a horse was capable of respect.
Winter's father said they should ride down to Virginia together, to the other estate. Some adventure would do his son good, he told Valentino in a whisper, eyeing his son with dark eyes. Show him how a real man lived from the earth. But Valentino wasn't sure what good that would do. He knew for a fact Winter was a real man. They made it as far as Connecticut.
--
"I'm here to bring you back to Newport." Winter stood in the street, unmoving.
"No. I'm staying here." Valentino could be as stubborn as Winter.
"So you can get arrested again? All you do is drink and pick fights. Come back with me. To Newport. Mother, Father and Carolina are in Connecticut for the summer. The house is empty."
"Winter, no." Valentino looked Winter in the eyes, imploring. He had never been good at voicing his feelings. He was a man of simple words. But Winter had an uncanny ability to read him like a book, which Valentino often took for granted when talking with others.
"Tino," Winter's eyes softened, "I wouldn't forget. I can't. I've tried. I--" Winter was beginning to sweat under the hot sun. He shuffled his feet in the dirt. "I think about it constantly. You have to come back. Everything there reminds me of you, I can't get away from it."
"If you want to get away from it, stay here."
"Valentino, I can't--"
"With me. Stay with me. Here." Winter's eyes went wide with surprise. Valentino added, "Did you bring Rana?"
Winter chuckled weakly to himself, how quickly Tino could crumble his resolve. "Of course I did, you love that horse more than life itself." Winter sighed and ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair, mussing it up. He could never say no to Valentino for long. "I'll send word to have my things packed and shipped on the next train."
A slow smile broke across Valentino's face. "I've missed you" he said quietly.
Winter smiled back.
--
Winter frowned. "Tino, we can't. What if Mother finds out?" His voice was hushed, his eyes alert even in the darkness.
"She won't find out unless you tell her." Valentino laughed quietly. "I'm not gonna tell her."
"I have no plans to tell mother the things we do, Tino."
"Ok."
"But-" Valentino silenced the protest with his lips.
"Stop talking." he said, voice heavy with lust. Winter began to speak, and Valentino silenced him again.
--
Rana eyed him warily. They hadn't seen each other in four years. When Winter had taken everything with him. Valentino didn't think he'd ever see her again. "Rana, Rana," he whispered, "Rana, it's me."
She shook her head and snorted, stamping the dusty earth. "Remember me? Valentino. It's Tino." He held out his hand for her to inspect. She sniffed it, warily, and prodded it with her nose as if to test its strength. Valentino laughed at her hesitation, and that's what did it. She shook her head and trotted around him in a tight circle, trying to nuzzle him at once and whinnying in deligh. She remembered him.
Valentino let out a great whoop of joy and jumped onto her back. He grasped a handful of her mane and away they flew. Winter smiled. He had never seen two beings as connected as Tino and his horse.
Maybe he was jealous. It was stupid, being jealous of a horse, but Valentino bared his soul to her, while he could hardly tell Winter how is day went. They had a connection that only a cowboy and his horse could share. Winter knew Valentino talked to her as if she could reply. He had overheard him in the barn. Maybe that's why when they fought the last time he had taken the horse. He knew, above everything else, that taking Rana would ruin him.
And it had.
--
They had been together for most of six months, driving 500 head of sheep from Texas to Wyoming. Despite being a city-boy, Winter was more than capable at driving a herd, much to Valentino's surprise. They got along well enough, like water and oil. If you shook it up it sort of mixed together for a bit, before splitting again.
Valentino and Winter were shook up on each other, but it didn't last.
Winter wanted Valentino to come back to Newport after the drive. Valentino had the prairie in his blood and refused. Winter got upset, said Valentino had no soul. Valentino had no words in reply, and Winter took it for acceptance. He was gone the next morning, and so was Rana.
Valentino finished the drive on his own and took a train back to Texas where tequila quickly replaced Winter in his heart. He grew restless and spent most nights in jail.
--
But Winter was back now, Valentino thought as he and Rana raced over the desert. Maybe it would be alright after all.
art bysien
overlay byroar
thanks tohipster for the horse help
Paloma was a tiny settlement in the south-west of Texas, charged with a different electricity than East Coast towns. It was a wild energy. Everything was tinted red and covered in dust and there was a sweet spice that blew on the wind. Adventure hung on the horizon like a beacon, luring the bravest and most foolish of men ever westward with its sparkle. It was dangerous in Paloma.
The jailhouse sat at the end of the only street in town, tucked next to a general store. There was only one cell window. The view from behind the bars showed crumbling red stone mesas rising from the horizon and an endless scrubby, grey-sage wash of desert that stretched for hundreds of miles.
--
Valentino drifted awake. He lay on a bed, feet hanging off the end, muscles stiff from a bad night's sleep on an uncomfortable mattress. He kept his eyes closed against the fierce sunlight blazing through the barred window above, wanting to put off this day as long as possible. Not much he could do, locked in a jail cell. Not much worth doing anyhow.
The scent of the rough-cut pine floor and the fresh straw mattress filtered through Valentino's sleepy consciousness. He half-dreamed of a barn, full of smartly stamping horses, tossing their heads and fighting for attention. But in his office, the Sheriff dropped something and cursed loudly and Valentino was awake again. This was a stable of a different sort, there weren't any horses here.
He rolled over on the mattress, sharp bits of straw poking his bare, bruised chest as he tried to go back to sleep when he heard the faraway jangle of familiar spurs. Suddenly Valentino was awake. He lay for a moment, staring at the ceiling with tired eyes before he sighed to himself. This is not what he had expected.
He sat on the edge of the bed and stretched, his muscles sore. He scrubbed the sleep from his eyes with the back of his hand, ran his fingers through dirty hair, trying to tame it down, and winced when the smell of stale body odor hit his nose. It had been weeks since he had bathed. What he wouldn't give for a bar of soap.
Incomprehensible murmurings drifted from the Sheriff's office—a pause—then, "Valentine, darlin', wake up call!" the Sheriff drawled from his office. Valentino could hear the smirk on his face, the squeak of his old boots as he walked. For some reason, the Sheriff found his name amusing. "You've got yourself a visitor," he continued, strutting down the short hallway to the cell, hands on his hips. "Ain't you just the picture of beauty, look at you."
Valentino was sure he looked anything but. His greasy brown curls stuck up in angles, dirt was caked in odd places, a crust of dried blood flaked across his face from a split lip. He was shirtless, his chest covered with yellowing bruises. Valentino stood, watching the Sheriff silently, waiting for him to speak. The Sheriff grinned back, fingers absently tracing along the ring of keys hanging from his pistol belt. "Some pretty guy's here to see you. He got some money it seems, and is just itchin' to set you free. What you think?"
"I think I'm innocent." Valentino rasped, throat dry, he needed a drink. The Sheriff huffed.
"We know that's what you think. Insufferable bastard." He added, under his breath. "Just get outta here, kid. God knows Ashley deserved it, but that don't make it legal." He stepped forward, unhooked the keys from his belt, and unlocked the door. The tumblers fell into place with a soft click, and the door swung open, silent on new hinges. The Sheriff stepped back. "Your friend out there says he got a horse for ya. You need anything else?" Valentino answered without thought.
"A bar of soap."
The Sheriff laughed and tossed him a penny from his pocket, told him to buy himself some soap. God knows he needed it.
The Jailhouse was empty as he walked out, his savior nowhere to be found.
The old couple who ran the general store watched him warily as he poked around, but said nothing of his disheveled, shirtless state. After dropping the penny on the counter, he stuffed a bright waxy bar of clean soap in his back pocket. There was a horse trough in front of the store, and Valentino made his way to it.
He cupped a handful of stale water to his mouth and drank deep, ignoring the horse that watched over his shoulder. He splashed some on his face, scrubbed at the crust of blood across his cheek, let another handful run down the back of his dirty neck. Soap could wait for a proper washing, when he wasn't in the middle of town.
The stocky, unfamiliar mustang tied to the trough eyed him with suspicion. Valentino flicked water at its nose and the horse snorted and shook his head, bridle jingling, almost cheerily. Valentino missed his own horse. It had been four years.
As he took another swallow of water, a shadow fell across his back. Valentino stilled and stood slowly, wiping the back of his hand across his mouth before he spoke. "What are you doing here, Winter?" He asked evenly, turning around.
"We both know that's not my name." Winter replied as their eyes met, a tentative smile playing on his lips. He was taller than Valentino remembered. His dark tanned skin and shocking white hair belied his age. He couldn't be over 30. His sharp, three-piece suit was exactly what Valentino remembered, though. He somehow looked cool in the blazing sun, despite all the layers.
"What are you doing here," Valentino parroted, taking a step back from Winter who was suddenly too close.
"I'm breaking you out of jail." Winter said with a friendly laugh, a smile. "Like old times. Isn't it obvious?"
"You never broke anyone out of anywhere," Valentino mumbled. "You always paid off the Sheriff." Winter smiled, despite Valentino's cool tone. They hadn't seen each other in four years. Winter had missed his friend's blunt honesty. But Valentino was wary, stepping around the words of his friend, working out where they stood after all this time. After the way they parted.
"You haven't changed at all, have you," Winter said with a bright smile, and Valentino wished he would stop.
"I've changed a lot. You're the same as ever." Valentino gestured to his suit, the watch chain that flashed in the sun, expensive leather boots, beautifully embroidered waistcoat. Winter had always had the money.
"Now you're just being an ass." Winter clapped him on the the shoulder, tried to steer him with a strong hand out of the street, but Valentino stood fast.
"I'm not going anywhere until you explain what's going on. Why are you here?"
"Don't ask me that, Valentino," Winter said wearily, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. "You know why I'm here, don't make me explain."
They were summering at Winter's estate in Newport. Winter had somehow convinced Valentino that a bit of sophistication and refinement would do him some good. But Valentino wasn't accustomed to such a lavish way of life. He had been born on the prairie and lived around a campfire his whole life. Such finery intimidated him. He spent his time in Newport in the barn, walking along the beach, or napping in the garden. It was during this summer when he met Rana.
She was the most beautiful creature Valentino had ever seen, and he had to have her. Cost didn't matter. He wasn't above asking for handouts, which is exactly how Rana ended up in the barn.
She was a fine Arabian. Her dappled grey coat shone even in the dim, dusty light of the barn and her mane and tail were glossy with good health. She was feisty, only half broken, Winter had said, and wouldn't take direction from any handler. She had a mind of her own, which was something Valentino admired, in people and in horses.
Rana was a beautiful horse, but she was difficult. No man wanted a horse who enjoyed tossing her riders. Liked to nip toes. She would stamp her feet and stick her nose in the air, as though she were laughing when a handler would try to swing a saddle on her back.
Valentino had to have her, and Winter's father was happy to get rid of her. For some reason, Rana listened to Valentino. She still bit his toes, tossed him when he tried to get her to do something she didn't feel like doing. But she seemed to respect him, as much as a horse was capable of respect.
Winter's father said they should ride down to Virginia together, to the other estate. Some adventure would do his son good, he told Valentino in a whisper, eyeing his son with dark eyes. Show him how a real man lived from the earth. But Valentino wasn't sure what good that would do. He knew for a fact Winter was a real man. They made it as far as Connecticut.
--
"I'm here to bring you back to Newport." Winter stood in the street, unmoving.
"No. I'm staying here." Valentino could be as stubborn as Winter.
"So you can get arrested again? All you do is drink and pick fights. Come back with me. To Newport. Mother, Father and Carolina are in Connecticut for the summer. The house is empty."
"Winter, no." Valentino looked Winter in the eyes, imploring. He had never been good at voicing his feelings. He was a man of simple words. But Winter had an uncanny ability to read him like a book, which Valentino often took for granted when talking with others.
"Tino," Winter's eyes softened, "I wouldn't forget. I can't. I've tried. I--" Winter was beginning to sweat under the hot sun. He shuffled his feet in the dirt. "I think about it constantly. You have to come back. Everything there reminds me of you, I can't get away from it."
"If you want to get away from it, stay here."
"Valentino, I can't--"
"With me. Stay with me. Here." Winter's eyes went wide with surprise. Valentino added, "Did you bring Rana?"
Winter chuckled weakly to himself, how quickly Tino could crumble his resolve. "Of course I did, you love that horse more than life itself." Winter sighed and ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair, mussing it up. He could never say no to Valentino for long. "I'll send word to have my things packed and shipped on the next train."
A slow smile broke across Valentino's face. "I've missed you" he said quietly.
Winter smiled back.
--
Winter frowned. "Tino, we can't. What if Mother finds out?" His voice was hushed, his eyes alert even in the darkness.
"She won't find out unless you tell her." Valentino laughed quietly. "I'm not gonna tell her."
"I have no plans to tell mother the things we do, Tino."
"Ok."
"But-" Valentino silenced the protest with his lips.
"Stop talking." he said, voice heavy with lust. Winter began to speak, and Valentino silenced him again.
--
Rana eyed him warily. They hadn't seen each other in four years. When Winter had taken everything with him. Valentino didn't think he'd ever see her again. "Rana, Rana," he whispered, "Rana, it's me."
She shook her head and snorted, stamping the dusty earth. "Remember me? Valentino. It's Tino." He held out his hand for her to inspect. She sniffed it, warily, and prodded it with her nose as if to test its strength. Valentino laughed at her hesitation, and that's what did it. She shook her head and trotted around him in a tight circle, trying to nuzzle him at once and whinnying in deligh. She remembered him.
Valentino let out a great whoop of joy and jumped onto her back. He grasped a handful of her mane and away they flew. Winter smiled. He had never seen two beings as connected as Tino and his horse.
Maybe he was jealous. It was stupid, being jealous of a horse, but Valentino bared his soul to her, while he could hardly tell Winter how is day went. They had a connection that only a cowboy and his horse could share. Winter knew Valentino talked to her as if she could reply. He had overheard him in the barn. Maybe that's why when they fought the last time he had taken the horse. He knew, above everything else, that taking Rana would ruin him.
And it had.
--
They had been together for most of six months, driving 500 head of sheep from Texas to Wyoming. Despite being a city-boy, Winter was more than capable at driving a herd, much to Valentino's surprise. They got along well enough, like water and oil. If you shook it up it sort of mixed together for a bit, before splitting again.
Valentino and Winter were shook up on each other, but it didn't last.
Winter wanted Valentino to come back to Newport after the drive. Valentino had the prairie in his blood and refused. Winter got upset, said Valentino had no soul. Valentino had no words in reply, and Winter took it for acceptance. He was gone the next morning, and so was Rana.
Valentino finished the drive on his own and took a train back to Texas where tequila quickly replaced Winter in his heart. He grew restless and spent most nights in jail.
--
But Winter was back now, Valentino thought as he and Rana raced over the desert. Maybe it would be alright after all.
art by
sienoverlay by
roarthanks to
hipster for the horse help Pet Treasure
Banshee Sleepless Night
Hangmans Point
Indian Corn
Bonnie
Sheep Herding Pen
Blades of Grass
Shimmer Cowgirl Lasso
Colt
Upright Piano
Hangmans Noose
Apothecary Supplies
Olde Tyme Barbers Strop
Olde Tyme Barbers Aftershave
Olde Tyme Barbers Mahogany Razor
Blue Soap
Scientists Key Ring
Killdeer
Brass New Year Lantern
Acoustic Guitar
Harmonica
Handy Atlas
Unopened Letter from Jules
Broken Wagon Wheel
Coiled Rope
Oddly Ornate Revolver
Dark Brown Buttless Chaps
Brown Cowboy Boots
Functional Spurs
Knotted Red Handkerchief
American Bald Eagle
White Winged Dove
Severed Goat Head
Live Turducken
Black Friday Sheep
Chester
Mythical Bicorn
Tequila
Whiskey
Cold Water
Black Bear
Bairin Dried Bean
Black Eyed Peas
Tarnished Fork
Red Chili Pepper
Roasted Corn on the Cob
Beef Chili
Apple Cinnamon Pie
Cornbread