Cut 'em out, ride 'em in. [Open]

[captain-jtk.livejournal.com]

Even captains need their moments of rest and relaxation. Kirk had retreated to the Sensoriums to try and catch his breath and ease some of the tension from the past few months. This ship was draining, sometimes in the extreme. Not for the first time he missed Enterprise. She had been his ship, for better or for worse and now that she was gone, he found he missed her more then ever. That didn't even account for the crew. Sulu, McCoy, Uhura, Scotty, Chekov - he wished he had them here right now. Their advice and support would meant quite a lot. As it was, Spock had recently arrived, but he seemed different somehow. Something he hadn't been able to put his finger on yet.

Kirk sighed to himself and finished saddling his (virtual) horse. The whole affair with Roxie Schreiber had gotten too far out of control. He'd reacted instead of letting himself think. He'd overstepped his boundaries. In one smooth motion, he slip up onto the horse, settling himself in the saddle. An apology to the crew at large was probably in order. They had a trust in him that he'd violated to a certain degree. He just wished that some of them returned that trust.

Giving up was out of the question, though. There was no such thing as a no-win situation. With a click of his tongue, Kirk flicked the reins and set the horse out into a steady trot. Ahead of him were rolling hills and blue skies. A beautiful day for a ride.

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Has an Angel to Comfort You!!!

[trenchcoatange1.livejournal.com]

With the Nightmare King dealt with, Castiel was now free to focus on his primary mission: ensuring Sam's and Dean's safety. With the Winchester's refusal to leave with him, they had tied their fate to that of the ship and its crew members. It was risky and perhaps even unwise, but they had done it all the same. He could feel the discontent amongst the crew, the hostility and frustration that was fraying at their unity. It was making everything volatile, turning the ship into a tinder box that needed only a spark to ignite it. It was putting Sam's and Dean's lives at risk.

It needed to be stopped.

However, this motive, rather conveniently, also suited another of Castiel's desires. The man, Kirk, who had been made leader of the group intrigued the angel. He sensed something unique about him, something that caught Cas' attention much in the same way that Dean had. There was something about this man that Castiel sought to understand. Thus, he was determined to learn as much about him as he could.

"Hello, Captain," he said, appearing suddenly, as if from thin air, in the sensorium. He stood several feet away from where the Captain sat on his horse, the angel's arms at his sides.

[captain-jtk.livejournal.com]

Kirk reined in his horse in surprise as a man suddenly appeared in front of him. He recognized him (vaguely) from one of the earlier podpops. The name wasn't quite coming to him yet. He looked down at him for a moment with a small frown. "Hello there. Is there anything I can help you with?"

[trenchcoatange1.livejournal.com]

"No."

His answer was blunt. Turning his attention to the horse, Castiel moved towards the captain, walking right up to his mount and placing his hand gently on the animal's head and petting down it's neck. "It's a fine creature, the horse this illusion is drawn from," he said appreciatively. "It is yours?"

[captain-jtk.livejournal.com]

Kirk raised a brow. What a strange person. He patted the other side of the horse's neck and shook his head with a wry grin. "No... I haven't the time to own a horse just now. Well, I didn't. I was too busy exploring the galaxy."

[trenchcoatange1.livejournal.com]

Cas continued to pet the beast, running his hand down it's jaw until it lay open before the horse's mouth, it's tongue lapped at the angel's palm as Castiel watched it with a curious expression on his face. His head tilted slightly to one side. "You are troubled," he said, his eyes still focused on the horse.

[not-prncss-tldr.livejournal.com]

Lafiel was ready for her daily practice, klanyu strapped to her side when she entered the wrong sensorium door. The smell of grass was sharp in her nostrils. Earth smelled rich. The ground was gritty and uneven.

And then there was something with a long face, too long with eyes wide on either side of its head. For legs like a cat but they were set under its body instead of slightly angled out the way a cat's were.

She was startled and instinctively reached for the laser pistol. But then she saw the captain on top of it and turned red with embarrassment. "Captain...Oh, this must be a 'horse'."

[captain-jtk.livejournal.com]

Kirk laughed at Lafiel's reaction. He kept forgetting that she wasn't used to the ground. Different cultures, he supposed. He reined the horse in and turned it so he could look down at her. The horse was perfectly fine with this and bent its head to munch on some grass.

"That is is, Deca Commander. How are you?"

[not-prncss-tldr.livejournal.com]

"I am...without major injury." That was the best she could say for the moment. "Would it be too much trouble to summon another of those and...help me learn to ride? It could prove useful." And it looked fun, not that she would admit that.

[captain-jtk.livejournal.com]

"Glad to hear it."

He looked at her for a moment with a smile and then shrugged. "I don't see why not."

A moment later there's another horse, bridled and saddled standing there rather placidly. Kirk slid off of his and took both animals by the bridle. "The first step is getting on, which is a bit trickier than it looks. Grasp the bridle and saddle, slip your foot into the stirrup here and then simply go up and over."

[not-prncss-tldr.livejournal.com]

Lafiel placed her foot in the bridle, where it felt rather loose and wobbly. She vaulted herself up with a surprising grace and looked inordinately pleased with herself. "Thank you sir. What's next?"

Of Power and Other Profound Things

[bluebrassmonkey.livejournal.com]

The Empath had come to question his sanity more than once in his life.

He'd done so again and found himself here as his trait did as it was supposed to -- turn on him and let his own body handle the things he'd taken on from others in Medbay. It hurt. It bled. But it was the way of things and he understood his own nature.
Renne did not understand other things.

That day, years ago. That night, years before that and words that were at best questionable and at worst, utterly unbelievable.


Ty'Rekh, he knows, remains time-frozen in his pocket. He knows she's safe there, without hunger, without thirst and without aging. Still, upon entering the Sensoriums, the smell of grass and dirt takes him by a bit of surprise.
He'd not taken her out in a place like this in forever -- not since a frantic chase Northward in a freezing winter. And back then, he had to send her back to her stables for fear of running the poor girl to death.

Quietly, the creature finds the miniature of his Welsh miniature mountain pony and awakens her. If only for a while, he takes the chance while he has it.
Riding bareback and without a bridle is easy to him even if his posture is still quite off.

Ty'Rekh had always been good to him.

Re: Of Power and Other Profound Things

[captain-jtk.livejournal.com]

Kirk blinked. The small blue creature who claimed to have known him - Renne - had a small pony. How odd. He reined his own horse up to a stop and glanced down at the little ball of emotion curiously. "I didn't know you rode."

Re: Of Power and Other Profound Things

[bluebrassmonkey.livejournal.com]

"Eee?"

Chirp. Ear-twitch. Up comes his head and after a minute, his face tints with the faintest of blushes. It's probably no surprise but one hand/paw gives the stormy-sea-coated animal an affectionate skritch.

"Is Ty'Rekh. Rrrr-enne go-t leahrrrrn."

He learned. Sort of. His posture's still quite off and he's too high on the back. Saddle? Bridle? Tack? What means these? And his first days, oh Jim-Boy, he was inordinantly clumsy back then.

[captain-jtk.livejournal.com]

"You're just full of surprises, aren't you? How have you been holding up?"

Kirk let his horse trot on a few more yards. The strange creature intrigued him, but it was odd. He didn't know him, despite the fact that Renne claimed to have spent quite some time in his presence.

[feelnothinatall.livejournal.com]

Ahava pokes her head into the sensorium before walking in the rest of the way. She doesn't see anyone at first, but then she catches sight of the horse and rider and smiles. "I'm not interrupting, am I, Captain?"

[captain-jtk.livejournal.com]

Kirk glanced up, reining the horse in with a laugh. "No, no. Not at all. Just taking a quick ride to try and take my mind off of things. Come in, please."

[feelnothinatall.livejournal.com]

"I think you'll find you're far from the only one needing a break at the moment," Ahava comments, accepting the invitation to approach and eyeing the horse with a mix of amusement and curiosity. "I wouldn't have pictured you to be interested in horse riding, however."

[captain-jtk.livejournal.com]

"I imagine so. He brought the horse around, chuckling. "Really? I don't see why not. I love the outdoors and horses are magnificent creatures."

[pocketloli.livejournal.com]

Rein had finally re-sized herself after a long and arguably brutal week. She had managed to get some sleep lately but the small device had been restless for some time.

As she floated towards the Sensoriums, she noticed the smell of fresh grass and the chirping of a beautiful day coming from one. Curious, she floated in and blinked at the captain riding around at a brisk trot.

Floating over to him, she waved. "Good day Captain! Are you rested now?"

[captain-jtk.livejournal.com]

Kirk looked over, seeming a bit confused before he spotted the small woman. He laughed and shrugged his shoulders. "I'm doing better then I was. It's nice to get away for a while."

[pocketloli.livejournal.com]

"Oh I understand completely." giggled Rein as she did a little loop and floated on her back, staring up into the sky. "But are you doing well after, well... everything?"

Rein's concern was at 100 Megawatts of puppy dog eyes. To deny her was akin to inquiring if you wanted to sack a puppy.

[captain-jtk.livejournal.com]

"Frustrated with the crew to a certain extent, but otherwise just fine." Kirk flashed a winning grin. "It's nothing I can't handle. Thank you for your concern though."

Just a passing-through Kamen Photographer...

[capture-worlds.livejournal.com]

*Click*

Tsukasa took a picture of the man astride the horse as he passed him. From any sane person's perspective, he passed way too closely. Tsukasa knew better, though...and he wanted to show off, too.

[captain-jtk.livejournal.com]

"Recording for posterity?" He glanced down at the young man curiously. He didn't think he'd seen him before.

[capture-worlds.livejournal.com]

Tsukasa shrugged, moved to another angle, and took another picture. "All things are possible, after all."