|
|
Post by Cristie Stjerna on Mar 1, 2009 22:08:57 GMT -5
{ooc: This is gonna start a lot like my other thread lol, since that one was originally intended for Kyler and I liked the atmosphere of it. =) Sorry for the ridiculous rambling!}
and while she wishes she was a dancer, and that she'd never heard of cancer
It was a pretty scene. The kind you might see on a postcard, or in a magazine. The golden sunlight was slanting down into the tiny valley that the small, but prestigious, racing farm was nestled in. It might not even be called a valley, just a little dip in the land. There were several stands of trees in amongst the immaculately kept paddocks. A path wound up to the main stable buildings. A couple horses were grazing peacefully in the setting sun. The pastures were largely unoccupied though, many of the horses tucked away in their stalls for the night.
In one of the paddocks, a rather ordinary looking horse grazed quietly, his dark tail flicking every now and then at the spring midges. The grulla sabino was lean and athletic, and seemed fairly content to crop away at the young shoots of grass. At his shoulder, brush in hand, a girl murmured softly to the gelding, running the brush over his withers softly. She was rather average height, with a small but curved build. Her blonde hair was slightly wavy, falling to just past the bottom of her shoulder blades. She wore simple jeans, that were clearly 'barn only' pants, with fraying at the knees, and a blue v-neck tshirt.
Sitting at the girl's feet, as always, was the ever faithful dog. The fawn and white brindled pit bull sat quietly, leaning gently against the girl's neck and observing the quiet goings-on of the evening with a yawn. Her cropped ears twitched. The girl, it was now evident, was not murmuring to the horse, but singing very quietly. "El tiempo que paso y no supe ver..." She paused, glancing over at the gelding. At her silence, he snorted, and she grinned, continuing softly. "Las horas que ya no quieren volver..." Burshing softly, she kneading the gelding's withers with one hand. "Donde estan, donde estan corazon."
With a sigh, the swede placed one hand on her hip, stopping her brushing. "Does this do anything for you, buddy?" She said in swedish, with mock frustration. Grinning, she continued brushing her gelding quietly. She worried that he missed Argentina. He probably didn't give a fuck, to be honest. He rarely did. But Cristie still felt sad for him. She'd pieced together his past, and it wasn't a pretty one. Born wild in the hills of Argentina, he was rounded up at about four. He was broken in roughly. It was a sport down there. She supposed she didn't really object to it. The horse's weren't really hurt, they were just stripped of their dignity and a little shaken up. They got the wild horses, fresh of the range, and plunked cowboys on them. Then the crowd got to watch the ensuing show.
She didn't know what had happened to him after that, but it hadn't been pleasant. The scars on his legs and head were enough to show that. He'd been smacked around pretty badly, but clearly hadn't come off the worse for wear, mentally. He was a smart horse. He knew that just because one human had beaten him, didn't mean they all would. Still, Cristie tried her best to give him a little piece of home every now and then, even if it was just the language he was used to. She herself hardly spoke a word of Spanish, but she knew songs in the language, and the horse seemed to enjoy the familiar sounds.
"All right, Mr. T, I'm not staying out here all night with you." She dropped her brush in her bucket of grooming supplies and headed back over to the fence, setting it down by the gate. Cris sat down quietly in the short grass, leaning her back against one of the fenceposts and sighing, watching her horse. One hand reached out to Vimy, who had followed her, and now flopped down beside her. The dog rested her head on Cristie's thigh, watching her with large brown eyes. The girl sighed. She liked it here. It was a shame she'd be gone in just a year. By then she would have made enough money to get back to Sweden and pay for her tuition at university.
The girl had come a long way. She knew that herself. One hand rubbing the dog's ears, she thought back over her time in the states. Who would have thought that so much could happen in such a short period of time. Some things were painful to think about, but Cris went over them in any case. She remembered her first night at her new school... that sure hadn't gone well. She'd been lucky that Kyler had been there that night. Quietly, she mused over how different life might have been if he hadn't. He'd supported her 100%, through everything. The pregnancy (now that was not a fun memory), the night he spent up with her while she cried. She remembered going to his eventing competition, standing at the sidelines as he and Shimmer shone in the dressage. They'd cantered out on to the cross country course like champions. She remembered the disgusting horror she'd felt as she saw the mare's legs slide out from under her as she landed. To this day, Cristie would swear she had heard the mare's leg crack. She'd rushed out on the field, but the paramedics wouldn't allow her to get close to Kyler. All she had seen was him being strapped into an ambulance, unconcious and pale as a sheet.
She'd gone to Shimmer. The mare had been brave, like she always had. Cristie'd had a strong personal attachment with the mare. She remembered crying, arguing with the vets on scene. Kyler would have wanted to try to save her. But since she wasn't Shimmer's owner, they hadn't allowed her to make the decision, and she'd been put to sleep on the course.
There'd been shitty times. There'd been the happier times too. Riding to the water hole, getting lost on the way back. Sneaking out occasionally at night with her dorm-mates. With a slight smile on her face, the girl closed her eyes for a moment. How she'd managed to come out on top of all that had happened, she'd never know. Cris was almost tempted to laugh at herself. Was she really the girl who had run around the family farm naked as a two-year old? She was a farm girl from a town in the middle of nowhere in Sweden. What on earth was she doing here, in the horse-racing capital of the world? Funny how things went.
we are all, we are all innocent
|
|
|
|
Post by Pixel on Mar 2, 2009 0:01:51 GMT -5
The young man made his way down to the barn. He'd already brought the first stallion, Cloud Walker, in for the night. Now he was off to get the big bay stallion, Stranger-Worthy. Kyler had seen him that morning when Kilandria had shown him the loops. The massive bay was almost built more like an eventer than a racer, and that brought a pang deep within Kyler's soul. He hadn't been eventing in almost two years, not since Shimmer had died.
He thrust the thought away as he stalked up the paths, suddenly in a black mood. He had been a lot that way lately, though, his moods growing ever more mercurial, shifting at the slightest provocation, although thinking of his old and faithful companion was hardly "slight" provocation.
He stalked on by the paddock where the little paint gelding was grazing. Had he taken a glance, he might have recognized the little horse, whom he had most certainly met before. HE would have recognized the gelding immediately as Tierno, his old friend Cristie's horse. But he didn't chance a sideways glance.
Instead he walked past two more gates before pausing, and giving a shrill whistle. The massive bay stallion responded, throwing his head up, ears pricked, and promptly came trotting over to Kyler, eager for the oats that he knew awaited him in his stall back at the barn. Slowly, Kyler slipped into the gate, moving carefully. He still didn't know the stallion very well, and while he seemed a decent sort of fellow, Kyler was taking no chances.
Like the gentleman he was, the big stallion dropped his head so Kyler could slip the engraved leather halter over his fine head. Kyler gave the horse a firm pat on the neck, glancing at the stallion's back, a look of slight longing in his eyes. He hadn't been on the back of a horse since Shimmer head died, which was why he had sold Jupiter. He still regretted that decision, some, but he knew Jupe was a good horse for the teenage girl he'd been sold to. The now gelding would serve her well. Kyler sighed, the temptation to swing on the stallion's back nearly overtaking him...But he knew that would be stupid, and fool hardy. Not to mention probably a good way to get himself fired. And he definitely didn't want that. He'd wandered far and wide for a while, but horses had called him home. He knew that this job at Riverside wasn't one that he could possibly pass up. He sighed, giving the stud a final pat before leading him out the gate.
His thoughts turned again to Shimmer, his good and faithful companion for a scant three years. In that short time she had become his truest friend. Other than maybe Cristie. He frowned at the thought of the young woman who had, in truth, been the only girl to steal Kyler's heart. He shook his head. He regretted letting her go, almost more than anything else. She had been there when Shim died, had been the one to be with the mare in her last moments, had fought with all her heart for the mare and for Kyler. He shook his head, feeling tears burning in the corners of his eyes. This was ridiculous. Man up, Kyler he told himself, suddenly angry, angry at the guilt he felt, at the pain of loss, at the frustration. For he did feel guilt. Shimmer had had a bad feeling about that jump. In all the time that he had had her, Metallic Edelweiss hadn't refused a jump. He had felt her falter slightly in her stride, two steps from that jump. He had clucked, had encouraged her on, and, valiantly, she had sailed over. It had all been fine...And then she slipped. Kyler closed his eyes tight, willing the tears to go away. He had cried enough tears over Shimmer, over Cristie. He had given them both his best while they had been in his life, and that was all he could give them.
He sucked in a breath as suddenly he hit the end of the lead rope, nearly falling over backwards. Stranger didn't even seem to notice the tug on his halter, as insignificant as if a beetle had tugged on him, and Kyler suddenly felt an even deeper appreciation for the stallion's easy going nature. Stranger could easily kill Kyler, or anyone else, for that matter, if he took the notion into his head....
He clucked energetically, at first not seeing why the stallion had stopped. "C'mon, Stranger" he said, his voice sounding brighter than he felt. Finally he glanced down, following the bay's gaze to the girl that leaned against the fence. "Gee, ma'am, I'm sorry about him" he said, giving another, rather hopeless tug to the leadrope as the stallion sniffed at the girl's hair through the fence. The dog lifted her head and looked at him with curious eyes, and Kyler frowned. The name popped into his mind with a slight start. Vimy. And..."Cris...Cristie?" he choked out, shock coloring his tone. Oh no way. This was just too weird....
|
|
|
|
Post by Cristie Stjerna on Mar 2, 2009 17:05:47 GMT -5
romeo take me somewhere we can be alone
The footsteps of somebody passing behind her were registered in Cristie's mind, but she didn't turn to look at the person. She knew the grooms were bringing in the last of the horses from the paddocks. After a minute or so she could hear the groom leading the last of the horses in, probably Stranger, she'd noticed he was still out when she'd gone down to spend a little time with her gelding.
The hooves stopped, right behind her it seemed. She wasn't sure, though, if the groom had noticed her at the bottom of the fence post or not. Confused, she turned her head partway, coming face to face with the rather large nostrils of Stranger, who snuffled at her hair. "Oh, hey..." She grinned, then as the groom apologized, unseen somewhere behind the bulk of the horse, she got up. "Oh, that's fine, don't worry about it." Brushing off the seat of her jeans, she watched as Vimy hopped quickly to her paws, tail wagging with excitement. The dog ducked under the fence and scurried over to the boy. Cris raised her head to see who it was, just as she heard her own name.
Her blue eyes round with wonder, the girl stared blatantly. The boy's face registered in her mind in a split second, but the wave of mixed emotions at the sight of his face had swamped her. Incredulously, she grinned, mouth open with a laughing breath. What the fuck was he doing in Kadin?! "Kyler!" She didn't even think to reprimand Vimy, who was fussing pathetically around the boy's feet, giddy with pleasure at seeing her old buddy.
The girl's bright eyes were lit up. At first she'd been shocked, then overwhelmed with joy at the unlikely reunion. To be honest, after graduation she'd never expected to see Kyler again, and she was sure the feeling was mutual. It had been a shame but they'd needed to go their separate ways, and as they were both young and busy, keeping in touch had been a struggle.
Cristie was over that fence in an instant, pushing past the fortunately laid back Stranger. How familiar, a girl running back to the arms of a boy. Right before him though, she stopped, her hands acting on their own accord, resting on his biceps. Was this appropriate? They were friends, right? It had been a year, maybe more, since they'd last seen eachother. And even so, there was no denying the surge of emotion that she'd felt at the sight of her best friend.
Her clear eyes searched his, and her joy was clouded by doubt.
His initial expression had dragged her back in time to when he'd woken up in the hospital. In the weeks and months that followed, he'd been almost impossible to console, but god knows she'd given it her best. This boy had been one of the closest friends she'd known. In a moment, she knew he still wasn't happy.
The old Kyler hadn't come back. The shy, stumbling boy that had never really known what to say, but always managed to get it right anyways. Cris felt a familiar sadness weighing her down. Before the death of Shimmer, Cristie had never, ever cried for anybody else. That had changed after the mare's death. Cris had spent more than a few nights crying for her friend. To see him go through so much at the loss of his horse had hurt her, and she could see now he was still carrying the cloud around with him.
"Ky..." She whispered. She didn't want to be blowing this out of proportion, but how could she worry about ridiculous things like why he was even in Kentucky in the first place when her friend looked as though he'd been crying. Cristie just... longed for something to be able to say to him.
it's a love story, baby just say yes
[/quote] |
|
|
|
Post by Pixel on Mar 2, 2009 18:08:03 GMT -5
Kyler couldn't help crouching down to greet Vimy, who had been his buddy way back at New Moon, god, it seemed like ages ago. Stranger snorted at the dog, curiously lowering his head to investigate her, but he was nonplussed by the whole situation.
Kyler rose as Cristie sprang agilely over the fence. She looked much as he remembered her, the blond haired, blue eyed beauty who had stolen his heart from the very beginning.
He watched her stop just in front of him. His green eyes searched her blue ones, registering in a quick glance the change of expression, from elated disbelief to sudden doubt.
He knew in a single glance that his friend had fared better than he had in the big wide world outside New Moon. She looked happy, and that was something he could recognize. He would have known if she was sad, just as she had instantly known that he himself wasn't really okay.
All at once, though, feeling the fluttering touch of her hand on his arm, a grin lit his face, his eyes suddenly sparkling as he reached out and pulled her into a bone crushing hug. Emotion overtook him again as he pressed a quick kiss against her head, holding her in close. "Cris" he said softly, his voice rough...
((OOC: Sorry this sucks, but my friend is standing here awiting for me so yeah..))
|
|
|
|
Post by Cristie Stjerna on Mar 2, 2009 22:25:34 GMT -5
we keep quiet, 'cos we're dead if they knew, so close your eyes
To see him smile so suddenly at her touch caused Cris to react instantly. The kink between her eyebrows immediately smoothed and her own face broke into a huge grin, moments before she was enveloped in one of the most enthusiastic bear hugs she'd ever experienced. Her face pressed against Kyler's sturdy chest, Cristie breathed in deeply, shaking slightly as she let the breath out. He still smelled the same. He smelled like comfort and memories, and feeling warm, if that could possibly have a scent. Her arms wrapped tightly around his body, trying to squeeze herself even closer to him, however physically impossible it may have been.
The girl's heart pounded and although she didn't move back out of his embrace, she managed to turn her face upwards to study his again. Cristie's eyes seemed less worried, more at ease and well, to be honest, euphoric. "What on earth are you doing here?!" She exclaimed, her fingers tightening on the fabric of his shirt just in case he'd had plans to end this hug too early for her liking. She could feel Vimy bumping against their legs gently, trying to be polite about wanting in on the little reunion, but she ignored the dog, pressing her forehead to Kyler's shirt once again and feeling a gentle kiss planted on the top of her head. Just like he'd always done...
Unable to stop her smile, even if she'd wanted to, she looked at him again, hardly believing that he was actually there. Mock serious, she frowned at him. "I definitely hope you're working here and not just trying to make off with this guy." Grinning, unable to keep up the facade, she finally drew back, regarding her friend fully. Somebody had turned handsome. Holy crap. Obviously Kyler was working here, so he must be even newer than she was. "When... when did you get here? I've been here a week and I haven't seen you." As if he was a groom for Kilandria... But he had to be new, she'd been introduced to all the other staff on her first day and had hung out with them and seen them around the barn. The staff were all pretty close knit. She and Kyler would practically be roomies.
And they for sure would be for the next twelve hours, in any case. Cristie had no intention of sleeping that night. They had an entire year to catch up on. Still gazing at him incredulously, she squeezed one of his hands. "How've you been, Ky?"
romeo save me i've been feeling so alone
|
|
|
|
Post by Pixel on Mar 3, 2009 23:26:44 GMT -5
He felt the butterflies that had fluttered in his stomach since first laying eyes on Cristie die down as she grinned and returned his tight hug with enthusiasm. He felt her glance up and grinned slightly as she asked about him working here or stealing the valuable stallion, who stood, wandering out to the end of his lead rope and plucking at the grass. "Yeah, you know, I've made a business out of horse thievery" he joked.
He chuckled slightly and answered her earlier question about what he was doing here, feeling her little hands grasp on to her shirt, as if he had any thought of letting her go. "I'm working, of course. Odd chance of fate that we would both end up here though, huh?" He asked.
"When... when did you get here? I've been here a week and I haven't seen you." He laughed dryly. "I got here late last night, and Kilandria showed me around this morning" he responded. He couldn't help giving her another extra squeeze, still a little flabbergasted that she was actually here. The odds were just ridiculous.
"How've you been, Ky?" He shrugged slightly, the elated look slipping from his eyes to be replaced by the usual dull, dead to the world look. He slipped away from her, keeping an arm tight around her shoulders, holding her close to his side as he started walking slowly forward, glancing over his shoulder and clucking at Stranger, who grabbed one last bite of grass and wandered amiably after them. At their leisurely pace he didn't have any problem nabbing a few bites of grass here and there.
"I've been alright" he said, a bit evasively. "You, though" he said, a slight glimmer returning to his eyes. "You seem to be flourishing" he said, with that cute Belgian accent of his, although it wasn't as obvious as it had been when he had first arrived in the States two years before. He couldn't keep himself from reaching over and planting another kiss on the side of her head, giving her another squeeze as he burst out laughing. "This is too weird" he said with a slight shake of his head, still grinning. "I mean, beyond fantastic, but weird. I never though I'd see you again" he said, shaking his head, still somewhere in mild shock...
|
|
|
|
Post by Cristie Stjerna on Mar 4, 2009 16:57:24 GMT -5
and i don't know how it gets better than this
Cristie's mouth opened and she let out a laugh as he joked about stealing Stranger, gently smacking him on his shoulder. Odd chance of fate indeed. Giddy with delight, she leaned into the boy as he drew her close into his one armed hug. "I got here late last night, and Kilandria showed me around this morning." She found herself beginning to respond, to chat idly about the farm. It was ridiculous how normal it all felt, that she was here talking about simple things with Kyler, of all people. She shut her mouth with a grin. There were more important things for now.
Cris could sense his dip in mood, back to the upsetting face he'd had on before... the unhappy one. She wrapped her arm around his body and gave him a quick squeeze before comfortably allowing her fingers to hang in the belt loop on his opposite hip. "I've been alright." Yeah right, but they'd have time for that later. At his comment her grin widened slightly. "Hah, flourish? Don't know about that, but..." She cast a sideways blue glance at him. "I'm happy." There were still a million and one things she wanted to do, places she had to go, but she was having a good time getting started on it all. "I'm having fun here."
"This is too weird." Cris giggled again. God, she was behaving like a little kid all over again. "Really?" Her head tilted slightly as she regarded him, still walking slowly. Of course it was odd, a simple stroke of fate, but... "For me it just feels so right." Grinning, she glanced back at Stranger, meandering behind them, and Vimy, glued to Kyler's other side, her jaws split open in a wide smile. Tierno, who never really smiled about anything, was still grazing quietly back in his paddock. Nothing much could affect his world, and the return of an old friend, unfortunately for Kyler, didn't seem to grant any attention from him.
Letting out a breath, Cris turned her eyes forward again. "Come on, let's put this guy to bed, and then we've got some serious catching up to do." Giving him a squeeze, she thought about the mess her apartment was in. Lately, she'd been so easily distracted by the horses and barn and making new friends that she hadn't really paid any attention to tidying up. It looked like a warzone, but she was sure that wouldn't surprise Kyler, considering the state he'd always seen her dorm in, back at New Moon. "Are you living in the apartments, or off-property?" God damn, if he had some other home some place else, she was not letting him go back to it tonight.
you take my hand and drag me head first, fearless
|
|
|
|
Post by Pixel on Mar 4, 2009 17:12:25 GMT -5
He settled easily into habit. "For me it just feels so right." He smiled slightly at her response. It was right. It was more than right, it was...He didn't even know. An odd chance of fate, for sure. There was no mistaking that, but it was most definitely right, somehow. Inwardly, Kyler smiled. It had always been "right" for them, somehow. They'd always seemed to mold so perfectly, to blend so well. They seemed to fit each other like a glove fit a hand. They went together like peanut butter and jelly....Okay, so maybe that as just a touch weird. But it wasn't too far off the mark. He heaved a contented sigh as she slipped her finger's through his belt loop.
"Come on, let's put this guy to bed, and then we've got some serious catching up to do." He chuckled slightly at the young woman's antics. She really hadn't changed all that much, had she? Still impatient, wanting everything done right now, this second, still sweet, and beautiful. And, apparently, she was still graciously, deliciously, beautifully his. By appearances anyway, but Kyler knew it wouldn't do to assume to much.
"Are you living in the apartments, or off-property?" He pulled himself from his thoughts to answer Cristie's question. "I'm living in the apartments" he responded simply. He glanced down at Vimy walking close beside him, her tongue lolling happily out of her mouth. "Still quite the happy little thing, aren't you dear?" he asked the dog. They, Cristie and Vimy, seemed to have changed so little. With a pang, he wished things hadn't changed, that it wasn't a law of the universe. Why couldn't things have stayed the same? Things had been perfect at New Moon. But then everything had gone and changed. And now they were changing again. This time, though, he hoped things were swinging for the better. "God, I've missed you like crazy" he murmured.
|
|
|
|
Post by Cristie Stjerna on Mar 4, 2009 17:42:52 GMT -5
it's you and me, let me play the lead role in your wildest dreams
Cris followed his eyes as they crossed the stable yard. "Oh, she's still as pathetic as ever." She grinned, teasing her own dog. "So much as look at her and she falls in love with you." The pair entered the stallion barn. It wasn't particularly large, with a capacity of ten, but then again, ten is a lot of stallions. Stranger's stall was next to Cloudy's, so the two could have some good old fashioned manly company, but thick iron bars and reinforced wooden partitions separated them so no damage could be done should a fight break out. Although Cloudy occasionally got moody with his room-mate, Stranger's relaxed nature prevented anything from escalating into an actual fight.
Somewhat unwillingly, Cristie unraveled herself from their gentle hold on oneanother and hurried forward to unlatch the big bay's stall door, sliding it open for Kyler. When the stallion was nicely settled in and digging into his grain, she slid the door closed once more. "Nightnight, big guys." She murmured to the stallions, watching them. Cloudy had finished his oats and was clearly feeling amiable that night, standing at the partition between the two horses, head low and ears tilted back as he dozed.
"God, I've missed you like crazy." The soft words made the slight girl turn, grinning/ "Oh, I've got no doubt you'll be absolutely sick of me by this time tomorrow." She joked, hurrying back to his side. Cristie glanced at the deepening twilight, framed by the barn's doorway. "I've gotta feed this little monster here," she waved a hand vaguely towards the pit bull, who stood with one paw on the toe of Kyler's boot as though she couldn't bear physical separation from him. "But want me to come find you in like ten minutes? I'm sure you can imagine what my room is like..." She really had some major tidying up to do. Odds and ends, from clothes to Vimy's leash, were scattered on most available surfaces in the little apartment. There wouldn't be much room to sit down.
i'll show you things you'll never believe
|
|
|
|
Post by Pixel on Mar 4, 2009 18:16:45 GMT -5
Kyler let her disentangle herself from him as he led the mild mannered bay into his stall. "You're a pretty good fellow, aren't you boy?" he asked the stud, giving him a final pat. He turned to Cristie as she said something about his being sick of her by morning. He shook his head as he pulled her into another hug, hardly able to keep his hands off her, almost for fear he'd look back over and find she was gone, that she had never really been there at all, that he had just imagined it. When he was touching her, there was solid proof that she was there. "I could never get sick of you" he said simply, his voice confident.
He chuckled slightly at the memory of her dorm back at New Moon. Cristie was about as far from a neat freak as one could get. It had driven Kyler crazy for a while, but eventually he had gotten used to it and then it hadn't bothered him so much. "Why don't you just come by my apartment?" he asked. "It's number five" he said with a slight nod, letting her go. "I don't have my stuff unpacked, but there's a sofa and stuff, so we won't be sitting on the floor or anything." He nodded. "Meet you there"
|
|
