One twitches a little at Deka's mutter. "I- yes. Still bad. But...accident not intentional? Just- trying to-" Makes a tiny gesture, tries to encapsulate 'figure out where things sit on the apparently sliding scale of what's good and bad', it probably doesn't come across very well.

"Yeah, that matters. Not going to - yell at them, or anything. Unless it happens again."

Another nod. "If again, more...cruel? Intentional?"

"We're paying them to do this right. Accidents happen but they need a way to stop them once they know, that's - basic kind of thing to expect, place like this. Would be different if it was just some family doing a favor."

One hums agreement. "Should've maybe...asked? About salt lick? Given they don't know goats?"

"Mmhmm. Would have been fine." They're back at the stall; she puts him down and goes in to check on the goat.

"...yeah, little chip. Not - big deal, don't think he's bothered, just need to watch it."

One trots forward a little to the door of the stall. "So he's...okay? For now at least?"

"Yeah. Chance it'll get infected later but not likely, he's pretty healthy. Don't think it bothers him eating, he wouldn't be calm if he was hungry. Guess it could be too new for that-" she offers him some hay from the rack, and he takes it readily. "No, he's fine."

One perks up at that. "That's good! Wouldn't want him hurt. Being hurt isn't nice."

"Yeah," she grins. "Okay. Go tell the manager and I can give him a brush-down." She scoops One up again on the way to do that; he's in his office, now, checking records.

    "Hey, is the goat all right?"

"Little chipped tooth, but he's eating fine."

    "Oh dear. We'll give you a refund for that, of course. And..." he runs his finger down the ledger... "Naer had that stall; he's usually a good worker but I can reassign it if you'd like."

"No need, it was an accident."

    "All right. I will make sure he knows to check with you before putting anything else in."

"Good."

He gives her a handful of coins, and she heads back to the stall to brush Kip.

One continues to watch curiously, but also explores a tiny bit up and down on either side of the stall - not going far enough that he can't see Deka, or wouldn't be able to hear her.

The nearby stalls are occupied by horses, fairly similar to Kip but with much shorter hair in a variety of colors, no horns, and very different eyes, all-black to his blue with horizontal pupils. Most of them are at least watching the little group; one horse two stalls down and across the aisle from Deka reaches out over the door to her stall to try to sniff at One when he gets close.

One twitches a little away, a barely there move, and then creeps forward and extends towards the horse to sniff at her in turn.

She can't actually reach him over the stall door until he reaches up, or even quite make contact when he does; she's close enough to snuffle at him, though, large nostrils moving enough air to thoroughly ruffle his fur.

He shivers a little under the attention, and gives a little giggle-like sound at the sensation. Then he drops down, and pads back to Kip's stall to groom his fur back into place.

Phantasm lags behind to play with the horse.

"Doing okay?" Deka asks when he gets back.

"Mhmm," he agrees with a nod. "Was just curious. Horse?" He tilts his head, almost as if he's not sure that's the right word. "Horse wanted to sniff. Was interesting!"

"Yeah, that's a horse. They're pretty nice usually. Different from goats, good for different things. Don't know as much about them. Could find someone to ask, sometime, if you want."

One thinks for a moment. "Maybe? I think I'd like that. But- not right now, please? Maybe too much right now."

"Of course." She spends a second focusing on her brushing before speaking again. "Want to make sure you have the idea that you can do things, whatever things you want; doesn't mean you have to do anything if you don't want."

One hums quietly while he thinks that over. "I- Yes. It's...probably a good idea? To- do that? And I- appreciate it? Thank you?" (He manages to not say that Deka doesn't have to go to the trouble.)

"'Welcome." Brush brush. "Hard to know if - too much, that stuff, maybe? Might not notice if - annoying you. Can say, if I am. And - I'll try to remember to ask."

    "Wuk. We'll watch for it."

"Thanks, sweetie."

One chirps quietly. "Thanks. I- might not notice. Or- might not- manage to say? Will try, but-"

"Yeah, not much - can do if neither of us notices. But if you do, please say. Helps me, too, I don't want to..." she gestures vaguely with the brush, giving up on finding the word she wants.

"Anyway, griffons will help, they're good at that." She nuzzles Figment.

"They are!" One agrees with a slight bounce.