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It was probably true to say that Corsant would rush in where Mariasha would never intend to tread, but that she, like a very good friend, would go in after him. Sometimes it was to prevent him from getting into trouble, sometimes it was to fish him OUT of trouble, and sometimes…sometimes, it might even be to get into trouble with him! It wasn’t really Cor’s way to contemplate anything seriously, but if he ever did, the list of subjects to contemplate would have to include what a patient and good friend he had, to say nothing of long-suffering!

Like right now. Some Soquili might argue there was a perverse fascination in forcing someone to do something against their will, especially if you were successful in the endeavor. There might not be any great excitement in forcing someone to bathe against their will, but success was success, and for all her small size Mariasha had quite effectively ‘trained’ Corsant into acquiescing. Though it was doubtful she’d ever manage to make him do so without complaining, it was still a victory of which she ought to be proud!

For his own part, Corsant was trying to behave himself in as proper a manner as he could, in spite of his continued petulant outbursts. In response to her comment about brushing his hair, he mostly managed to hold in his snort. “You’re kidding, right,” he asked as he looked from the stick, still contained by the protection of his wing. “When have I even managed to pull off that stunt you call hair brushing without making it worse?” Making a face, he passed the stick from one wing to another, then held it out to her with his best sad puppy face. “Will you do it for me, please and thank you?”

Corsant liked to think he was very good at taking care of himself, thanks very much. He’d taken to fighting like a duck to water, was highly skilled at hunting his favorite food (the elusive apple), was able to treat his own wounds when needed and those of others in a pinch, had an uncanny ability to find water (usually by falling into it, but that was another story…), was able to survive the constant adrenaline high which was the natural state of his family…all in all, he had a pretty good bunch of basic skills. Was it so wrong that they didn’t happen to include a predilection towards bathing or prissying himself up?

Though if he were to be honest, really honest with himself, he might admit there were worse things than bathing. Sometimes, after a particularly rough fight, the water could even feel good. And it was nice to not have his mother and sisters, or Mari herself, wrinkle their noses up at him.

That was information best kept to himself, though. There was no telling what such knowledge could do to Mari!

“Soquili’s honor, I will be as still at the grave. Not even the current will sway me.” He said this with near perfect solemnity, planting his feet on the bottom of the steam for extra support. “Just please do my scalp a favor and go slowly this time, ok?”

It was somewhat ironic that Corsant's hair could have taken on a 'fabled' status when he disliked it so, but it was only logical, given how much he talked about it. Perhaps when he's matured a little bit more, he would have the grace to accept it in stoic silence. That, or he would have developed the determination to just cut it off, regardless of whatever his family might think. He was his own Soquili, after all, and more than capable of making decisions about his own appearance!

Though those were rather strong thoughts, though, coming from a Soquili who was currently taking a bath against his wishes and having his hair brushed by the same female who had talked him into the bath to begin with. This was one of those tidbits that he'd never share with his cousin or any of his brothers, because such sharing would result in unmerciful bouts of teasing that no small amount of thrashings would stop. A stallion had to be aware of how he was being perceived by his peers, after all!

Though a stallion had distinct limitations when it came to knowing how he was being perceived by mares, or, in this case, made to look by a mare! Without the slightest suspicion that Mariasha was sabotage his 'tough guy' appearance, he continued to hold (relatively) still and refrain from making any comments about the ridiculous amount of time he'd spent thus far dealing with grooming. Though it really was taking a long time...

Ok, screw silence. "Are we about done, do you think?"

Poor Corsant had no idea what mischief had been played with his hair, and he hardly would have been converted to love his long locks if he knew. However, he saw nothing suspicious in Mariasha's smile, and felt nothing suspicious in his hair. Though he was standing in water, the current was moving swiftly enough to leave his reflection as nothing more recognizable than a red and yellow blur, so he remained (for the time being) in blissful ignorance of the fact he was well on his way to looking like a poodle dog.

Though it was questionable if, at the moment, he would really care. With a whoop of enthusiasm, he burst out of the water like a latter-day kraken, sending a shower of water left and right. He caught himself before going into a full body shake, but he did shake out his wings and tail and kick out his legs with a high-spirited energy that was greatly at odds with the sighing sufferer he'd been in the water.

"What, and undo all your hard work? Nah, I'll acquire a little accidental dirt first. Besides, you don't really want our hanging out to be limited to bathtime, do you?" He stuck his tongue out at Mari a little saucily, then continued in the same high-spirited way, "Unless you have somewhere to go, I was thinking it might be fun for us to go on an amble. No races or scuffles, best behavior only!" So saying, he made a 'cross his heart' gesture over his chest with one wing, then gave her a hopeful look. "What do you think?"

"Awesome!" With the satisfied air of a child who'd been allowed to stay up past bed time, Corsant ceased his shaking and stamping and settle himself down into a semblance of rational behavior. He still looked rather ridiculous, with his poodly hair and water dripping off of every spike and feather of his wings, but he was at least making the motions of behaving in a dignified manner. And it was true that he was trying; Mariasha might roll her eyes at his antics, but it was doubtful she could begin to guess the positive influence she had on his...well, coarser habits. He was a stallion, after all, and one who spent most of his time fighting to boot.

But for Mari, he made an honest effort to be...well, more amenable. He loved his mother, and he loved his father, and he loved his siblings and his cousin, but this was different. They were family. His grandfathers were family, his cousins were family. You could slack off with family. But you didn't do that for friends, especially not good ones!

Grinning, he gestured for Mari to proceed him with a grand sweep of one dripping wing. "Eastward trail sound good to you?"