faderift | [ OPEN ] You'd Think I'd Know Where I'm Going

Entry tags:

[ OPEN ] You'd Think I'd Know Where I'm Going

WHO: Jim Kirk & You
WHAT: Late catch-all for late August
WHEN: Roughly August 15 - August 31 (feel free to backdate for timey-wimey necessitiy)
WHERE: Around Skyhold
NOTES: Flirting, charmingness, possible bad language, possible head-butting, possible fights, general shenanigans

After the emotional trek to Asher's home and back, Kirk found that he was rather glad to be back within the walls of Skyhold. It was familiar and comforting and he knew what he could do here to keep his mind off things. To keep his mind off the passing of a friend that could have been, keep his mind off injustices in Orelais, keep his mind off his own situation. Funny, how death brought those things to surface with startling clarity.

He can be found in the early mornings running around Skyhold's perimeter, followed quickly by moving to working on his horsemanship at the barn (which in variably also means that he will spend some quality time around the bog unicorn, which in his mind he has unofficially adopted). More often than not he is also accompanied by a small black and white cat who has something suspiciously like a mustache on its upper lip. Don't tell Anders.

From there things are a bit more difficult when it came to finding ways to fill his time, except on the days when he was teaching lessons in math, science, and hand-to-hand self-defense. That latter of which he can now join in on since he has fully recovered from his previous injuries. It meant that more people were hitting the dirt, but that's how it was supposed to be. You didn't learn if you didn't come out with a bruise or two.

Of course he usually finds his way around to the library, usually in search of another story to read since he's not much of one for the historical texts anymore, biased as they tend to be in his view. Maybe he's napping. What? It's comfortable there. But why just ready about places in the library when he can out and explore in the woods outside Skyhold? Granted, he never goes far, but it's something and for just a bit he can pretend he's Captain Kirk exploring a new and exciting planet again. Let the Rifter have his tiny fantasy. (Invariably, Leonard the Cat tends to join him on this too, complete with fashioned harness and leash to keep him from wandering to far.)

And if all else fails he makes his way to the tavern, where he can easily be convinced to share a drink, sing a song, or maybe turn the tables and convince you to play some chess.

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He had already been outside the hold practicing, working on his tracking, and seeing what other animals lived by. Today he was tracking down a rabbit, picking up its trail each time he lost sight of it - damn they were fast. Course it was in the middle of this that he heard someone coming through the woods. Not too long after a familiar scent wafted his way, immediately drawing his attention away.

Finding Kirk was an easy task, but he doesn't make himself known just yet, keeping to the areas right out of sight and low enough that he blended easily into the snow. He'd follow for a moment to see where the man was going before he did anything.

Kirk didn't have senses for the wood. Oh, if something was actively trying to hunt him, meant to kill him, he probably could pick up on that. That latent animal instinct inside of all humans that helped them survive (sort of, Kirk was quite good at ignoring it). Leonard, however, was not so unobservant.

The mustached feline meowed, angling towards Sam's position, tail flicking as he considered the forests. Which Kirk simply took as Leonard finding something interesting in the low brush to stalk.

"Don't terrorize whatever it is to badly. It might bite back out here," he cautioned the cat with a chuckle.

It would figure that Leonard would notice, but then again cats were predators and excellent hunters. Knowing that has Sam's tail wagging slowly, he's proud of the cat, but honestly it was making it difficult to sneak up on Kirk.

For a few more moments he just watches, crawling ever closer forward everyone once in a while when neither of them were looking in his direction. Once he felt he was ready Sam is dashing across the snow, quietly as possible, so that when Kirk does notice he's already getting tackled by a large pile of fluff.

(He'll have to give Leonard a lot of treats after this.)

He hears Sam the instant before he tackles him. Of course by then there really isn't much to do except go with the force of a not insignificantly weighty dog crashing against him. Instinctively he wraps his arms around the other, fingers sinking into the thick fur as he lands back in the snow with a heavy grunt, Leonard meowing in surprise and indignation. He's sure the cat is judging him for this. How ungraceful, not to be able to dodge.

"This is revenge for the snowball fight, isn't it?" he glare-pouted up at the fluffy white creature in his arms.

What was it you said Kirk? About dodging and sensing intent, or something along those lines that you said back at the snowball fight?

Yes, yes it is revenge for the snowball fight.

Even as a dog, Sam seems rather smug with himself at that moment, sprawled on top of Kirk in the snow, tongue lolled out and tag wagging happily. In response he only gives a soft woof at the man before twisting so that his head was laying out by Leonard, silently being apologetic.

Oh you are going to be so smug, aren't you Sam? Could dogs be smug? Could humans in a dog body be smug? He was sure they could. He could feel it.

"You got lucky," he grouched, but his hands stroked the fur gently - maybe with a little tug to his ears. Leonard, for his part, trots forward and bats at Sam's nose, seeming to accept his apology. Because even though he had not been wronged, in the way of cats he was owed an apology all the same.

Being a man that could be a dog, yes, he could be smug, and he was going to revel in it considering how smug Kirk usually was when he got the upper hand.

Yes, he was sorry Leonard, because he had toppled over your human, aka your transport. Sam gives a small huff at the claws batting at his face, only tolerating it for a few moments before he sat up again to look down at Kirk. His paws move in an excited fashion that the man relents that he had been caught off-guard, ears twitching at the little bit of abuse.

His prize was just enjoying laying there and being pet, head flopping down on Kirk's chest as he enjoyed the attention.

Several small grunts escape Kirk as Sam's paws dance on his chest, but allowing it as the dues to the victor. He does roll his eyes a bit, because really this a bit much for celebrating one tackle, Sam. Maybe it was because you were in this form that he simply lay there and took it, or perhaps he would have allowed it anyways. Something about fluffy animals just makes it easier to put up with things, though...

"You know eventually I do need to get up and move. This cloak is water proof, but I don't want to push it all that far," he chided, scratching behind previously abused ears and along his spine.

Scratching behind his ears and down through his fur isn't helping your case Kirk. Sam merely makes a long satisfied whine before he gives a wide yawn, shifting a bit to get more cozy on top of the trapped Rifter. Dog or man, he makes a good bed.

Leonard, feeling left out, and seeing that there is attention to be had is next to climb up, spreading out in Sam's fur where Kirk's fingers are currently paying attention.

Well this is not how he planned on things going. So far he was merely cold along his back and mildly wet along his legs, but he was only human. Even with a furnace sitting atop him, it wasn't an entirely comfortable position. He glanced at Leonard, mouthing "traitor" at the cat, who blithely ignored him from his perch.

"Sam, I'm laying in snow," he reminded him, cupping his face. "I promise we can play 'Warm Up' tonight regardless of if I am cold or not later. So may I get up now please?"

Sam makes another long noise as his face is taken, tail wagging just slightly. He would argue that Kirk did sit on his for a time then shoved colored snow under his shirt, but alas being a dog he couldn't speak.

At the mention of this 'game' Kirk mentions he gives a bit of a snort, clearly amused at his careful choice of words - either being mindful of Leonard or perhaps thinking he'd understand better with the hint. Giving another huff though Sam does stand to get up and moves off to the side to let Kirk up. Somehow in the process Leonard had managed to stay on, purring lightly in his fur, even as he turned to poke the cat with his nose a bit.

All right, he did sit for awhile, but he didn't think it was quite this long. You were about to fall asleep on him you naughty dog!

It could have been either, not that Leonard really needed to be shielded. He was around for their playful moments, so frankly he had and Nikita had been exposed to much more than simple euphemisms. Another grunt left him when Sam pushed off, rolling his eyes at Leonard's feline aplomb. Far less gracefully he got to his own feet and brushed himself off, pulling his cloak back around him in and into proper place.

"Well don't you two make a pretty picture," he teased, scratching behind one of Sam's ears.

At least he was warm and not a cold snowball to the stomach, right Jim?

Sam shakes slightly, not enough to dislodge Leonard, but to at least knock a little bit of snow off his fur. Quite honestly he was considering on transforming back, but with a cat currently using him as a form of transport he thought better of it. Instead he leans into the scratching, bumping his head into Kirk's leg, then looking at him as if questioning where he was going.

Hey, you could have done that, but you chose to be a dog today, Sam.

The gentle bump has him smiling, fingers continuing their absent scratching. He caught the look, always surprised at how easy it was to read the dog's expressions. Maybe it came from knowing Sam so well, and seeing those similar movements reflected in a canine face.

"I was just out exploring," he told him. "Getting a little fresh air, so to speak. Maybe see if I couldn't find anything interesting."

He gives a bit of a snort there, standing a little bit straighter as if to say 'aren't I interesting?' Because come on Jim, what's more interesting then finding a shapeshifter in the middle of some woods?

Still the idea of getting out isn't a bad one considering he was doing it himself. Granted he wasn't exactly himself, but it was nice to get away all the same.

Well yes, you are very interesting Sam, but he knows you can shapeshift. If you had been, say, a bear, that would have been a touch more exciting. He reached down to poke Sam's nose, as if to say he knew what you were saying and you are being quite silly, Samouel.

"Don't let Leonard fall now," he cautioned as he continued his trek, assuming that Sam would follow him through the forests. "Any place fun we should head towards?" he asked, since Sam would likely know these forests better than himself.

In that sense, if you knew he could turn into a bear then he wouldn't be interesting still. (He's working on it okay?)

At the caution Sam makes a noise that seems like he's saying 'yes yes I know'. So of course he's careful to not dislodge Leonard, though it's because the cat will dig its nails into his back if he doesn't. Following along slowly he tilts his head before starting to march in a different direction, stopping to look over his shoulder to see if Kirk was following.

"I'm coming, I'm coming. It's harder on two legs," he said, following in the dog's tracks. He watched him a moment and then he had to laugh. "You like the world's most dignified cat carrier."

He would argue that's you Kirk, but again no Common while a dog. So instead he just wags his tail and waits patiently for Kirk to catch up. Once he's close enough Sam continues on, trying his best to find the shallower spots to move through.

It takes a little time the two of them find themselves in front of a large tree, three large limbs stretching from the trunk, just a bit higher then where Jim's head comes to it. It's not super exciting, but it is different, no other tree in the woods like it - at least none that he has seen.

Kirk is suitably impressed. It is true he has not seen a tree like it. He looks up at it, considering before looking down at Sam and scooping up Leonard onto his shoulder. "Let's see what we can see, shall we?"

He grinned and jumped, grasping the lowest branch and hauling himself up. Leonard holds on tightly, meowing, perhaps in concern or encouragement, Kirk wasn't sure which. He straddled the first limb and stood up to look for the second.

"Do you have a shape that can climb, Sam?" he called down.

With Leonard no longer on him Sam takes the time to shift back, black smoke enveloping him then being dissipating away to reveal him back in his normal form. "No, but I can climb well enough like this."

Following Kirk's lead, Sam grabs the low hanging branch and pulls himself up, then settles himself in the nook where the three limbs branch out. "Thinking of getting something that can fly honestly."

Kirk had seen the transformation a time or two now, but even then it fascinated him. He had to admit, at times he envisioned a certain fantasy where Sam was naked when he came out of the smoke instead of clothed.

"Haha, if I had a choice I would say you should be like one the birds in my world called peacocks. They're bright and colorful, and have a lot of feathers," he said, moving up to straddle the branch in front of him, Leonard taking the opportunity to pad further out behind him and pretend to be a king of the forest for a moment. "Or maybe you would look nice as a bald eagle."

That would certainly have to be something Kirk requested considering Sam would have to be naked before going into his form and then planning not to out of it until, well, alone.

"You have bald birds where you come from?" That seemed a bit odd, but then again some stuff from Kirk's world did seem as such to him at times. "Really? They're called pea-cocks?" You weren't just pulling his leg were you Jim?

He laughed. "No, they're not actually bald. I mean, we do have some with featherless heads, but a bald eagle is fully feathered. They're birds of prey, so they have large talons, with white feathered heads and brown-black feathered bodies. It's one of the largest birds of prey, and serves as a national symbol for my home country."

He grinned brighter as he moved into peacocks.

"Peacocks are a tropical bird," he explained. "They're semi-flight able, and the boys are beautifully colored. Blue bodies and tail feathers that are blue and green and reach over five feet long. They spread them out behind them and up like a big fan or a sunburst as a mating and defense display."

"We don't have any birds of prey with that coloring, but the largest ones are brown or dark colors." Big birds, something he'd be interested in being. Something strong that could take him up high and far.

How Kirk details the colored birds has him raising a brow, and leaning back on his branch as he listens. "Sounds like something they have up in Tevinter." Or at least he's read something with a similar description, but he's not sure they were called peacocks. "May I ask why you'd want me to be a peacock?"

Woods Outside Skyhold

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Nikita must be lonely

he can only handle one kitty at a time (plus wasn't sure if I could nab your cat)

You can certainly nab both (has done so)

dually noted

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