( it's quick work of the topmost knot. the bottom knot makes aspen let out a soft 'tsk'—and he meets sylvain's eye when he realizes the other is giving him a look over. he tilts his head coyly. )

Surprised? I wonder where you may have thought I learned how to tie knots.

( though he does smile a little wider. )

Not only horses, then? Gods, what else could you mean?

( he flutters his lashes innocently at sylvain, undoing one part of the knot. )

Bear with me. This is a load-bearing knot, it seems. I think our rope friend expected me to be on top of you.