Elowyn kept her attention to the large mare in front of her, glancing at him again with narrowed eyes. "Why are you so invested?" She asked skeptically, quietly reaching up to undo the messy bun at the top of her head. Her hair was dry now, and she didn't like the feeling of having it up for prolonged periods of time. It fell softly around her in waves, and she batted it quietly over her shoulder, waiting expectantly for his answer.

"'Cause you don't know jack. And I would rather my 'boss' know what she's doing than randomly make decisions." Dante was now to glaring. Watching her hand. He still liked her hair. He took a breath and looked down, trying to fix face.

Elowyn raised her eyebrows coldly as his tone switched to something she could only find insulting. There seemed to be a little switch in her mind from flight to fight, and she turned slowly, crossing her arms over her chest and turning to face him. She planted her feet, glaring right back at him. "I would watch your tongue, Dante. I can be very amiable, but I'm not naturally. Whether I know jackshit or not, I am your boss. You will treat me like your boss. You will respect me like your boss. You will speak to me like I am your boss. And you'll learn to like it, or you can get the fuck off my property." She said flatly, her chin tilted upward slightly. She was easily insulted and she couldn't stand to feel like she was being disrespected- not the best of combinations. "I may not know much about this life, but you can't hold that over my head. You don't know my reasons, I don't know yours. Don't make me be nasty."

Dante may have been putting on some tough façade, his shoulders squared, but he couldn't quite bring himself to look her in the eyes while she was using her angry voice. Keeping his head tipped down. One of his feet rocking.

Despite how blunt and unsavory her words felt hanging over his shoulders, he was too damn stubborn to let her feel like she could rule over him. Even though he was going to try to keep his mouth shut a little better with the threat of being fired and kicked out of his home. After what he'd seen and heard, he was the one who should be most worried about losing his job.

"You still haven't picked a horse." That was all he could get out without raising his voice, cursing or sending back at least seven sarcastic remarks because for one, she already was nasty. He clenched his jaw, slightly pursing his lips with a vaguely annoyed but more so tired expression on his face.

The way he backed down seemed to please her, and she backed off slightly, letting out a small sigh and running a hand over her face as she turned back to the mare behind her. His somewhat toddler-like expression was soothing, because it meant he accepted her authority. She would rather not be second guessed, at all, if possible. "You pick the horse." She shrugged flatly, petting the mare behind her and shifting lightly to bring her feet closer together and under her.

I don't think any toddler has ever made the face he's making))

Dante was- to put it lightly- pissed. He clamped his jaw shut as best he could. Her arrogant attitude should've been put in place. If she wanted the good side of any employee here, she'd have to lay off the pompousness. Being the owner doesn't make you the boss.

He let out a ragged breath and walked over to her, picking up the halter off of the big gypsy's door. "Jane is good with beginners." He'd managed to remove the insulting tone he wanted to lash out at her with because he really wanted to rub her inexperience in her face. Composure kept by the feeling of her soft coat. He guided her face closer and pulled her halter on, buckling it quickly. He didn't have a lead for her but she was about 18 and didn't really need any more guidance to follow beside him.

Pursed lips, staring at the ground, that overall "I'm mad but I cant say anything" timeout look))

Elowyn watched him like the plague as he walked closer, moving out of his arms reach as he came within about three feet of her. She didn't scurry, she sort of... slinked away, crossing her arms tightly over her chest again. She bit her tongue slightly at the beginner comment, tempted to lash at him for it. Then, she would only seem irritable. She stayed silent, seriously considering leaving because she didn't like the company. She sent a longing look down the aisle toward the house, but she wouldn't be seen as a quitter. She watched Dante walk Jane down quietly, running her tongue over her teeth bitterly and reluctantly following. Again, staying as far as she could from him.

I don't know about pursed lips, tense puckered lips maybe))

Dante was keeping quiet now, trying to let his anger mellow. He was ignoring Elowyn almost completely til Jane was between the latched crossties. There was a shelf beside them, as many shelves tall as necessary for cleaning a horse.

He pointed them out to her. "This one is for her main body, this one for her legs and the softest for her face. I wouldn't try if I were you but that one is a hoof pick, cleans her feet out." He gestured vaguely and named off a couple others and than walked off.

"I'll get her tack ready for if you do decide you want to." He called, leaving her alone. Figuring she'd do better if he wasn't there.

What? No I'm not totally not trying to provoke her with the "I wouldn't try if I were you" comment))

"So I'm not gonna show you the techniques for anything, but I am going to leave you alone with a hoof pick, a gypsy vanner, and no experience- try not to break any toesss or the horse-"))

As he continued, she was honestly ready to just walk away without a word. Let him get her tack out for nothing. She set her head in her hands and leaned quietly against Jane's neck for a few moments, fighting the urge to snap out of frustration. She stood and let out a slow, miserable breath as she pulled her hair into a high ponytail. She walked quietly to the shelf, just looking over the brushes for a few moments. Most were pretty self explanatory, except the curry comb was a little interesting looking. She took it, since it was what he made it seem like She should start with, and started moving it in- Well- a brush like fashion. So far? Her teacher was awful at... teaching.

((Is- is she supposed to get kicked now-))

"If you fuck up its my fault too but I don't caaare you're the boss and you don't want me heeeere"

i mean she could get kicked if you want her to he was pretty much taking a break from her cuz what could go wrong with some brushes and something he told her not to touch))

It took Dante all of 30 seconds to find her saddle and bridle, but he stood over it for a minute and took a deep breath. Bristling less now that he wasn't in her presence. It didn't take too long to make him feel better. He was out pretty fast, striding over to the shelf, avoiding her personal bubble that seemed to expand the whole barn when he was there.

"Good." He said simply, glancing over her hand and moving to Jane's other side. His brush was a little softer than the curry comb. She'd already been brushed recently so there wasn't much to be brushed, he was just going for where her saddle would be. "If you want you could pick a softer one, she's cleaner than I thought." His suggestion came out calm and far more considerate than his last words.