OOM: Ticket To Ride... A Horse

[luvs_yogurt]

Meeting Miss Kate was a bit of a surprise, not that he didn't expect to meet a woman from another century in Milliways... far from it - he just didn't expect to meet a lady with a sharp tongue and a knack for horses. Which is precisely how he's found himself dressed down in a pair of worn jeans and a white t-shirt swiped from his grease stained 'working on the car' collection.

He spent the first night in Room 15 since the apocalypse... and it wasn't so bad, really. More quiet than the loft and with a far smaller chance of being woken up by gunshots in the middle of the night. When he woke just past eight o'clock - in whatever passed for local time - he felt refreshed, and dare he say it, enthusiastic about his upcoming lesson.

***

With a slightly cocky gait, he slips on his shades and procures a small picnic breakfast from the kitchen before making his way to the stables. He takes the long way around, enjoying the strange morning chill on his arms as it's warmed by the sun - such a different world from Miami where he'd be choking on smog and applying sunscreen this time of morning.

As he approaches the stable, he keeps his eyes open behind the brown lenses for first sight of his apparent instructor. "Kate?" He calls out with a gentle smile as he approaches the building; "It's Michael..."

Comments

[ikissdhimbck]

By the time he makes his way to the stables Kate's already had a full morning. She rose with the sun, like she always does, and set out on her chores. The animals have all been fed and watered, some let out to the paddocks to graze and get some exercise. There's a saddle laid out on a bench, freshly polished, and some tack hung over a nearby stall door. Kate's hefting another, probably just about as heavy as she is, when Michael comes around the corner.

"Well, good mornin'!"

She smiles cheerfully, not even winded by her heavy work. She drops her saddle on another bench near Beaut's stall, and stands akimbo.

"Glad y'finally decided t'grace us with your presence."

She's only teasing, as evidenced by the wink that chases her words.

[luvs_yogurt]

He's not known for being a morning person, but offers her a fond smile when after she manhandles the saddle to it's bench. Impressive.

"What can I say, I'm not so great with mornings." He holds up the picnic basket and lifts one side; "Coffee and pastries before we get started?"

[ikissdhimbck]

She grins, swiping a loose tress of hair from her eyes.

"Don't tell me you're a city boy."

She doesn't sound too bothered, truth be told. She's known more than her share of them around these parts; though, if the two of them are gonna get along well at all he's gotta be willing to get his hands a little dirty.

"That sounds lovely. Ah, c'mon. There's a desk by the tack room y'can set that basket on."

[luvs_yogurt]

Michael chuckles under his breath as he follows her back.

"City boy? Not exactly... I mean, I was raised in the city but I've spent the last couple decades sort of everywhere. Including villages that probably make where you're from seem like a thriving technological metropolis."

[ikissdhimbck]

"That'd be a real feat, considerin' I'm from the middle of nowhere right 'bout now."

Nothing but sand and sky.


The desk is orderly, as always. It only takes a moment of closing books and shuffling papers to make room for the picnic basket. There's just the one chair, which hardly ever gets used, but there are benches if they decide to sit.

"Y'like travelin', then?"

[luvs_yogurt]

He chuckles again, fetching an apple from the basket.

"It's sort of a gray area," he shrugs. "I like not being stuck in one place."

Of course, he realizes too late that saying that sort of thing requires a little more to be said.

"Some places are worth staying."

[ikissdhimbck]

"Not headed anywhere in particular, pilgrim?"

She tucks her work gloves into her vest pocket, glancing at him just long enough that he'll see the playfulness in her eyes.

[luvs_yogurt]

The glint is enough to draw back his less stoic smile and he shrugs, setting down the apple in favor of an apple fritter.

"Not yet, at any rate." He admits quietly; "I'm a little stuck where I am right now - makes it easy to want to stay here a few days at a time."

Even though he has to eventually go back to exactly what he left behind.

[ikissdhimbck]

"Stuck? How so?"

She wraps her hands around one of the coffees he brought with him, letting the warmth soak into her fingertips. It smells good — far nicer than the mud she'll brew on the trail.

[luvs_yogurt]

The bar brews a mean mocha latte.

But, that's an awfully complicated question that requires a good amount of spin to answer to Michael's satisfaction.

"There are some things going on in Miami I have to take care of." Conceding the slightest bit of his private life, more than most have gotten, he adds; "If I leave, something very bad will happen to people that I care about."

[ikissdhimbck]

Her mouth pulls into a frown. Combined with what he said yesterday, she starts to wonder just what kind of trouble this fella's in. She sympathizes, to a degree. Might be why the corners of her eyes relax, suspicion melting away into acceptance.

"Thank you for this," she says, lifting her coffee. "I feel extra compelled t'make sure your first time ridin's a good experience."

It's a smooth change of topic, if not a very subtle one. Kate hasn't got a clue what a mocha latte is, but hell if it ain't nice.

[luvs_yogurt]

Michael can appreciate a lack of subtlety, makes his life easier than operating on assumption.

"I'm sure I'll do fine," he smiles behind his cup, finishing his pastry quickly.

"Guess I'm ready to get out there when you are."

[ikissdhimbck]

"Sugar, I was born ready. Question is, should I take you the easy way, or give you a proper tour'a the grounds?"

Sweet Mary Mother of God, Kate found the peach tarts in the basket of pastries Michael brought. This is either euphoria, or the beginnings of a sugar rush.

It's gonna be difficult saddling up the horses with her eyes rolling back in her head like that, but she'll do her square best.

[luvs_yogurt]

Oh dear... he was already having entirely too much fun considering he was completely out of his element.

Michael pushes up the short sleeves on his t-shirt and nods with a short smile; "Long and hard'll do, Miss Kate. I've never been one to take the easy way out."

It's utter truth, and watching eyelids flutter and the slow curving of her lips as she digs into the tart isn't exactly helping keep his mind where it should be.

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate hasn't been paying as much mind on her manners since the day the bar nearly swept off out of existence. Guess a sight like that will affect a body in strange ways. She's been taking most of her meals (and a number of her nights sleeping) out here. Twice now she's been caught with smudges on her face, it just so happens that today it's sugar.

She catches his eyes with a bashful chuckle, licking sweet peach syrup from her fingers.

"All right, then. The long an' hard way it is."

Duncan and Rachat are already idling outside their stalls, leads tied to individual hooks. They've been brushed down and are ready for saddling up.

[luvs_yogurt]

Manners are mostly lost on Michael anyway, it's nice to deal with women without the Miami state of mind.

"So..." he drags the apple out with him, halving it with his pocket knife as they walk and then quartering it as he asks; "who gets the pleasure of trying to knock me off?"

[ikissdhimbck]

"Duncan's generally a pretty good boy. Nice an' gentle for a first time out."

She nods to the chestnut thoroughbred, before cutting a teasing glance back to Michael.

"So, we'll put you on Rachat. He's got a bit more spunk."

To be completely honest, the dapple-grey is a far cry from a bucking bronco. He won't give Michael any more trouble than a little attitude.

Both boys patiently endure being saddled up, though their attention keeps flicking to the apple in Michael's hands.

[luvs_yogurt]

He can't help but grin, slipping on his shades before first addressing the chestnut.

"So... Duncan, you seem like a reasonable sort of horse." He reasons that much like people, horses are easy enough to charm - and if you're going to be utilizing the services of one it's best to get off on the right foot. Easily enough, he hands Kate half the sliced apple before stepping in front of the grey.

"And Rachat... love the name." He rolls one section between his thumb and forefinger, offering it to the horse with an almost child-like smile when it eats from his hand. "I think that you and I are going to have a good, strong friendship. But if it's gonna work out, you need to listen to me, alright buddy?"

He's serious, totally serious. And he forces back his smile after feeding him the second big slice. "Alright, are we ready to give this a shot?"

[ikissdhimbck]

Kate accepts the apple slices with a small smirk. Her students used to bring her apples, lining them up along her desk.

But that was a lifetime ago.

She keeps from interrupting their bonding. It's a serious thing between horse and rider, and Rachat approaches it with all the solemnity you'd expect. He whuffles at Michael's hand, warm and velvet-soft lips making quick work of the apple. He flicks his ears, which could mean he's listening to every word he says, but it's more likely there's just more interesting noises coming from other places besides Michael's mouth.

Kate laughs. It's sweet, honestly. Not a lot of folk bother with trying to woo their mount into submission. Not that it's gonna do him a lick of good.

"Lemme help you," she says, coming over to hold the reins. "Grab on t'the saddle horn an' slip your right foot into the stirrup. Use your legs not your arms t'haul yourself up."

Her lips twitch.

"Would y'like a stool?"

[luvs_yogurt]

He's seen it done before, in person even. And it doesn't seem as difficult as mounting a camel.

"I think I can handle it," he replies, trying hard not to sound like she's insulted him... he's pretty sure she's either teasing or genuinely means well - either of which don't deserves a condescending tone.

He approaches it much like anything requiring a little coordination, and does exactly as told - hefting himself into the saddle without looking like too much of a fool. At least from his angle.

"Not too bad..." he holds fast to the saddle horn with his left hand, letting the rest on top until he's got his bearings.

[ikissdhimbck]

He don't look like a fool at all. It helps when you've got good legs like his, and a horse that's so used to this he doesn't move an inch while you're getting settled.

Kate passes the reins up to him with a crooked smirk. She's never one to burst a fella's ego, but when it comes to being the teacher with somebody bigger, stronger, and torn between listening to two very different heads, a little good-natured ribbing goes a long way.

"Not bad at all. Keep a light hand on the reins — 'member it's a horse, not an automobile. Rachat knows where he's goin'. Y'familiar with how t'use your heels?"

[luvs_yogurt]

And it's not easy being the student... Michael's spent his life living on the fly, formal lessons usually aren't on the menu.

He flips the reins to one side of his wrist, finding a comfortable angle to hold them.

"Might be easier if they drove like my Charger." He shifts again, keeping his center of balance. "I'm guessing the trick is to dig in gentle or is it two taps for fast, one for slow?" Ahh, good friend sarcasm.

[ikissdhimbck]

"They may not drive like your Charger, but they'll give y'one hell of a ride."

She takes him through a few basic commands. Rachat's trained to verbal prompts, so a cluck of the tongue is as good as a gentle nudge with his heels, and a 'whoa' as good as pulling back on the reins. Nothing too complicated.

She moves back to Duncan, swinging herself up into the saddle in one fluid motion and walking him a few paces closer.

"If y'feel like you're losin' your balance, don't tug on the reins. Try an' move with Rachat's rhythm. Y'ready?"

[luvs_yogurt]

Another easy smile lingers on his lips, amused as he watches closely.

"I think I can handle it." He nods slowly, not too different from his previous experiences. He loosens up his back and rocks slightly as the large animal shifts underneath him, following Kate and Duncan's simple pace.

[ikissdhimbck]

She shoots him a smile in return, albeit a much brighter one.

"Jus' lemme know if that changes."

Not that she's expecting it will. She clucks softly, and Duncan heads out of the stable at a slow walk. Rachat'll follow, even if it is in his nature to lead.

"Should I warn you where we're goin', or would y'rather be surprised?"