chiron_survivor | A fine day for horseback riding. ((For i

Adia would probably take the trolls, too, if given a choice.

She's happy that Paladin likes the name. "Sometimes simple is the best. And you want something you feel comfortable saying out loud." She can think of a few wishful horse names she had when she was a child that would be downright cringe-inducing now.

"It's good that they had this space," she remarks, looking about the pavilion. She smiles again at Paladin, touched by her offer. Getting to ride a horse again, just once, was a dream come true. "I would like that, thank you. I have a friend who lives in the Nexus woods, I'll ask him if he knows of any good trails."

The Tiefling sputters out a sudden laugh. "Now all I can think of is the names you could have chosen that would embarrass me to say out loud. Sir Cute Hooves? Snuggle Pony?" Maybe these are bad examples, historically speaking Paladin is absolute trash at naming things. This is the same Tiefling who named their previous horse 'horse' and named themselves 'Paladin.' Tieflings kind of struggle with this kind of thing actually.

"I would prefer an actual stable, that's what I am currently looking for." In the pavilion Shadow is put on a line, his water checked and some grain given. The saddle and reins just sort of disappear. ~*Magic*~ "I believe there is still an apple in the small hutch over there," Paladin tips their head toward the little cupboard set in stone she has been keeping the grain in. "If you'd like to give him a treat."

Adia laughs as well. "The only one I remember was Eurydice the Faithful. It held the right amount of gravitas for my eight-year-old self. Sir Cute Hooves has a nice ring to it, though. It's not too late to change your mind."

"If you find one, let me know. The Nexus often has what people need, it just takes some searching." If enough people came to the Nexus on horseback, a stable would likely materialize closer to the Plaza. It's how things seem to work around here.

She startles when the saddle and reins disappear, but only a little. Paladin does not have to guess if Adia wants to give Shadow an apple, based on how eagerly she heads to the cupboard to retrieve it. "I was wondering if he ate the same sorts of things as regular horses."

"Eurydice the Faithful! Brilliant! I like that one." The horse, formally unnamed turns to look at Paladin with an expression that could only be: please don't. Adia is going to get a look took, because this act of betrayal cannot stand unaddressed. Sir Cute Hooves, indeed!

"I plan on thoroughly exploring the streets here after lunch, I am hoping my quest for a stable will be a simple one. I am sure the innkeeper is as well." Seriously, horse, spirit or no, is a big thing to have in your backyard.

"As far as I know," Paladin will give Shadow a rub down. "He hasn't said anything but seems to enjoy what is given to him, it could be for show. I knew a spirit familiar who ate books, this way it absorbed their knowledge. For the most part this was fine but occasionally things would get weird... Awful jokes, limericks, the family line of long dead dynasties. On the plus side he was always good for a conversation starter."

Adia offers Shadow the apple as apology, although that might be her secret nickname for him from now on. "Your story reminds me of a pet budgie I had. A small parakeet," she clarifies, in case Paladin doesn't know what a budgie is. "I named him Minty because he was a pretty green. He knew a few words and liked to talk, mostly for attention. But you had to be careful not to swear in front of him, because he'd repeat it back to you."

Paladin is secretly and silently happy that Adia clarified what a budgie was because that is not something she is remotely aware of.

That gets another laugh from the Tiefling as she wraps up the work on Shadow. "What words did you teach him? The good ones, not the naughty ones." Paladin probably knows all the naughty ones.

Rubbing dark hands against the thighs of her slacks, Paladin motions toward the inn: more than ready to get to lunch.

"I taught him his name, and to say that he was a pretty bird," Adia says as she watches Shadow finish eating his apple, amused by the way he scrunches up his muzzle while crunching his treat. "I tried to teach him a few lines of The Odyssey, but that was a little too much for him. I definitely didn't teach him any naughty words, that was my dad's fault."

Adia rubs her hands on her coat, somewhat surreptitiously. She makes a mental note to wash her hands before eating as she follows Paladin into the inn. "Do any of the animals on your world talk? The magical ones, I mean."

Paladin eyes the horse who is currently enjoying an apple and doesn't even remotely look like he is about to talk. Paladin might be a little jealous. "I think those are excellent things to teach a bird. It can introduce itself and understands his basic nature: that he is a pretty bird. That's important to know. I wonder if Shadow could learn how to talk."

Which is dangerous if you think about it. Who knows what goes on in the mind of a horse? It could be nothing but nonstop song and bad jokes.

Paladin leads them off to the side and the restaurant portion of the inn. The place is relatively empty and so Paladin makes their way to a free table and steps around to pull a seat out for Adia. "Indeed! Familiars can speak, they also share a mental link with who called them. The Owl, Stanley I believe his name was, would fly and keep lookout with his wizard's eyes. She could see everything he saw. Of course there are the mythical beasts that have a language but there is no guarantee that you'll know that language. For instance, celestial tends to be the language of heavenly creatures. I speak abysmal, it's not hard to figure out what beasts speak that. Regardless they rarely want to simply chat or not not murder things."

"I never thought of it that way," Adia admits. "They're just the standard things you teach a parakeet." She gives Shadow one last look as they leave the pavilion. "I don't know, he seems expressive enough without speech." At the minimum, Paladin would be on the receiving end of a lot more sass, of the verbal instead of non-verbal variety.

Adia gives Paladin a sweet smile of thanks when the seat is pulled out for her, before sinking into it gratefully. Who says chivalry is dead? It lives on in the manners of androgynous tieflings, apparently. "That sounds incredibly useful. Are familiars just for wizards, or can anyone have one?" Paladin's talk of heavenly creatures and abysmal beasts gives her a thoughtful pause. It's an easy enough concept to grasp, but it only reinforces how different their worlds are. "What are heavenly creatures like? I've had Heaven explained to me, it sounds like our Elysium Fields, but even in our myths, it's a place for souls, not creatures."

"I just had this awful thought that if he could talk all he would do is give me attitude," which is a wearisome thought for the Tiefling. Sassiness always keeps a person grounded though, so his unspoken 'tude isn't completely unnecessary and unappreciated.

A nod, and the chair is gently pushed back in when Adia sits. Gotta keep the old traditions alive, though, in Paladin's case they are just kind of traditions. Unfastening the cloak, Paladin drapes it over a nearby chair and sits down as well with a sigh. "Ah, wizards and warlocks are the only two professions who can get familiars. If you're a druid or ranger however you can get an animal companion. I think." Paladin's arcana knowledge is kind of low.

A broad smile and fingers fold together and rest on the table. "You should speak with Brother Selmo, he loves discussing such topics. Heavenly is probably a bit of a misnomer, Celestial beings are beings of good and light, outsiders who reside in a different plane. They specifically fight against evil and chaos, and generally range from anywhere to lawful, neutral, or chaotic good. Typically you call to them in order to aid you in your battle against evil." That name sounds so familiar and Paladin chews that thought over for a minute.

"We have a plane similar to that it's called Blessed Fields of Elysium. It is a plane where souls who sought to do good and further peace are sent in the afterlife. Guardinals live there, and, from what I have hear they are absolutely beautiful and peaceful while on their plane. When they aren't, they are fucking terrifying, if you're evil or doing wrong. Which is kind of how I like it."

Edited 2016-11-29 14:35 (UTC)

"Probably," Adia says with a small, amused grin. "He's a good horse, but he's got a strong personality."

Adia resettles herself once the chair is pushed in. Belatedly, she slips out of her coat, the temperature inside more hospitable. "An animal companion sounds nice, too. And you can bring them with you, wherever you go?" Being a ranger is out of the question, but a druid doesn't sound too bad... Adia shakes her head at her own wishful thinking. Like she could ever survive in a world like Paladin's. Still, it's fascinating to learn about, like a fantasy novel brought to life. The battle of good and evil sounds so much more clear-cut, at least when it comes to the beings that Paladin speaks about. It's unfortunately always so much messier for humans (and other humanoid races).

"That's... quite a coincidence." Even more so than having the same number of gods. Adia needs a minute to think about it as well. "We don't have... guardinals, you called them? Just human souls. It's where you go when you die if you've been good." She shifts in her seat uncomfortably. "If you believe that sort of thing."

"Indeed," Paladin confirms. "I believe, but I am not entirely sure, that if something happens to your animal companion you can summon it once again. I know that's what happens if Shadow dies, but he's also a spirit." Which makes things a bit easier when it comes to plunging him into the heat of battle.

Like Paladins are want to do.

As for Adia stepping into Paladin's world, it might be easier than she thinks, all she would need is to find a Druid coven and they would probably welcome her in and teach her all they know. Druids are pretty interesting people, they have the ability to manipulate land, talk to animals, and heal.

"There is nothing in your afterlife that guards and protects the plane?" A narrow shouldered shrug, "there might be such a thing, just with a different name." A dark eyebrow raises at Adia and that squirm. "You question that belief, Adia?"

That's a relief to hear, particularly about Shadow. Although it raises another set of questions. "Where do they go before they're summoned again? Is there another plane for animal souls?" If that's even how it works. She would never put her animal companion at risk, but she'd never be in the heat of battle, either. A druid would be a good fit for her, class-wise.

"Oh... well, it's not something that needs to be protected. It's just there. Hades rules the underworld, but he doesn't... own it? He's just in charge of who goes where." She looks down at her lap briefly, unsure how to explain her own beliefs. It's not easy talking about religion with someone whose gods are real. She doesn't want to offend. "It's a nice idea. But I don't believe in the afterlife. I grew up agnostic. And... with everything that's happened, I don't put much stock in gods. If they're real, they either don't care about us or hate us as much as the Cylons do." She pauses before adding, "The Cylons have a god, too. Only one. He's supposed to be a loving god, but I don't believe it, either. Not after what happened to Caspar."

A brow furrows and Paladin frowns as the waitress puts down menus on the table along with two glasses of water. A brief interruption means they are asked for their drink order and get told about the lunch buffet that they are welcome to check out whenever they'd like. Paladin will stick with water for now. "You know, I'm not entirely sure, I suppose there is a plane for them as well."

Typist note: Druids do not get to resurrect their animal companions, which really fucking sucks. They do get to train another one though. Which doesn't mean anything when you get really strong feelings for a companion and you feel like the worst person on earth when they die.

Paladin listens and watches intently, hands still carefully folded. The Tiefling's response should put Adia's mind at ease: "They are miserable bastards, regardless if their power can be felt or not. Clerics will tell you that the Gods have put fate in our hands, but I feel that's a pretty easy excuse for their inaction even with Paladins doing their service. For you, in your world, I cannot imagine how betrayed and hopeless one must feel when all they see is suffering and no proof of divine grace or mercy."

Adia says to the waitress that water is fine for her, also, but at the last moment asks if she can get an iced tea. They have clean drinking water on New Caprica -- it's one of the few infrastructures the humans managed to build on the desolate planet, and one that the Cylons have helped maintain. Iced tea, regrettably, is a luxury.

An animal companion that Adia couldn't resurrect would break her heart, especially if she were somehow responsible for its loss. "Are they reunited with their owners at some point?" It seems a shame to bond so strongly with an animal, only to lose it in the afterlife.

"We have priests who say the same thing," Adia says, relieved that Paladin understands where she's coming from. "Or that everything happens for a reason. What reason, I have absolutely no idea." She picks at the corner of her menu. "Sometimes I wish I had that kind of faith, though. It must be a comfort, to believe that you'll be with your loved ones again someday."

Iced tea, excellent choice.

Getting an animal companion killed in the heat of battle? Awful and heartbreaking. "Yes, well, presumably if the Paladin survives as well. When it comes to spirit animals, like steeds or familiars they just need to be summoned once again." If the Paladin or the Wizard isn't there, well, maybe there is a plane in which they will meet again. If there is Paladin isn't familiar with it.

"It is a reassuring thing to tell a person hurting. We look for reasons and patterns in all things," Paladin says quietly but firmly, clearly this is a matter that sets something off inside of her. "We look for patterns among the stars and with them we guided our ships to set sail. Our worlds are terrifying and chaotic but there needs to be a reason for that otherwise it all becomes too much, yes?" A shake of her head and the waitress returns with one glass of water and one iced tea.

"If you have them, yes. Perhaps look at it another way: the passing of those you care for is never truly the end, the very fabric of them breaks down and gives new life, builds new beings."

"Resurrection," Adia murmurs softly, before realizing she's said it out loud. "Never mind. I'm glad you can summon Shadow." For both their sakes.

Taken aback by Paladin's conviction, she doesn't say anything for a while, not until after she thanks the waitress and takes a sip of the iced tea. It's as good as her memory of it. "When you put it like that, it does sound reassuring," she says finally. "But the way it's been presented to me... it's as if there is a purpose behind me surviving, as opposed to someone else. That there was a reason that so many people needed to die, but not me. And... that's not comforting, not at all. I like for things to make sense, but I don't think that ever will."

She smiles faintly. "I have thought about that, how we break down into the very elements that make up the universe." Unfortunately, she doesn't know how to apply it to Caspar, whose body was replaceable. "This is... sorry. This isn't the best topic over lunch, is it?"

"There is resurrection in my world, not only for spirits. It takes an extremely high powered Cleric to do so though. And I am extremely glad for him as well." He's a fantastic steed and, like, absolutely silent which is a plus.

Paladin will be unapologetic about her beliefs in faith, about gods and demons, maybe it's in her blood, but there is a moment of silence in which the Tiefling feels badly about coming on so strong. Dropping her gaze she picks up the straw and starts unwrapping it absentmindedly. "Survivors guilt," setting the straw down she looks up. "All have perished for this reason and you remain, what lies inside of you that makes you so special? It such a heavy burden for a person to bear." An ache rises up like a wave, an urge to some how take away that hurt and sadness: as if Paladin had that ability in her healing touch.

A little cough to clear the throat and the emotion, Paladin sips at her water. "It is a fine topic, you are a fine conversationalist - but if you wish to move on to other topics that is more than fine. There is food to be had, let us not forget."

It is something that Adia obviously struggles with. Even now, in the comfort of a restaurant, she thinks of those she has lost, and those who continue to do without while she reaps the benefits of the Nexus. "It's hard," she admits. "But I'm not the only one dealing with it. Everyone in the settlement has lost loved ones. We all wonder what makes us so special that we survived." Except perhaps Gaius Baltar, whose attitude as leader of New Caprica was borderline arrogant at times. But she has seen his increasingly haggard and anxious expression with each new speech he delivers. Being president isn't so much fun when you're under the thumb of the Cylons.

"I think your friends are very lucky to have you, Paladin." If Paladin's words of reassurance miss the mark, it's only because their worlds are so different. Her empathy for Adia comes through loud and clear. Taking another sip of iced tea, she lets the cool liquid refresh her mood. "Why don't we check out the buffet? I'm curious to see what it's like."

"They say it gets easier with time, I do not know if this is true. It seems to me that the only thing that time does is to make a distance between ourselves and the hurt, it helps memories fad." Which is bittersweet in and of itself but almost necessary. To live with such hurt, how else could one survive and carry on?

(also: giaus baltar is a tool)

A look of surprise flashes over the Tiefling's face, thankfully she cannot blush, or if she can it is obscured. "That is very kind of you to say," is the reply after a moment of quiet. It is always a surprise when anyone gives her a positive comment. Years of being regarded as incapable of good has the Tiefling often holding back, downplaying herself, and surprised when complemented. Still inwardly glowing from Adia's kind words, Paladin stands and moves toward the buffet.

It's fare is pretty standard, hot dishes, things for sandwich makings, which Paladin isn't totally sure about but is always happy to eat, along with a wide soup and salad spread. "I enjoy their soups and meats a great deal here, their gravy is delicious. I will not say it is the best I have ever had but it is certainly in the running."

Edited 2016-11-30 17:39 (UTC)

"I don't know, either. I've never suffered such loss before. I was sad when Nana died, but she had lived a long, full life. She passed away peacefully." She smiles ruefully. "And I had the proper time and space to grieve. This is so different, I don't know what to expect. I don't think any of us do."

(Gaius Baltar is the biggest tool. At least Adia can say that she didn't vote for him!)

She can only guess why Paladin would be so surprised by the compliment, but Adia makes a note to mention it more often. She certainly feels very lucky. She joins Paladin at the buffet and takes an appreciative look at the offerings. Instinctively, she moves towards the salad bar. She is not a vegetarian, but fresh fruit and vegetables are scarce on New Caprica. Practically non-existent. "I think I'll start with a salad. I'll meet you back at the table."

"When something that catastrophic happens there is very little that anyone can do to understand it, to safely internalize it. My only thought and hope is that it will get better for you and your people in time, Adia." Not that this is a guarantee, but it's Paladin's fervent hope.

(100% frak gaius baltar.)

It isn't Paladin's first choice but she respects Adia's choices. "Of course," a slight nod and Paladin will head the other way, toward the main dishes, hot and inviting, full of protein. Paladin loads her plate with potatoes, veggies and rather succulent looking chicken. When the choices have been made the Tiefling will return to the table ready to dive in to what can only be described as a gluttonous spread.

"Thanks," Adia says sincerely. It's her fervent hope as well, no matter her mood or current level of optimism.

Adia returns with an overloaded salad plate. She look a little of every fresh vegetable available, but lest Paladin think that she is secretly a rabbit in human form, there are also some olives, croutons, and a buttery dinner roll. "That looks good," Adia says about Paladin's selections, presumably to all of it, although she is eying the chicken in particular. "I hope I have enough room for everything."

"Go slowly," Paladin encourages, because if she has been on a low calorie diet there might be an impulse to just eat everything as quickly as possible and that might make her sick. This is Paladin thinking of her own experience.

"If you don't get to everything you'd like right away eventually you'll get hungry again and can get more. Or we can just come back another time." From her side of the table, Paladin is eyeing that roll, clearly she forgot something. That will have to be remedied. Napkin in lap, fork and knife in hand, the Tiefling will begin to eat.

"I'll be careful," Adia says, for Paladin's sake. She isn't starving on New Caprica, and can take things at a comfortable pace. She completely understands the concern, though. She knows someone who can only eat small meals because of a prolonged bout of starvation -- someone she met in the Nexus, ironically enough, instead of on her home world.

And indeed, she does eat slowly, savoring each bite of fresh produce. The crunch of the lettuce and the sweet burst of the cherry tomatoes are as satisfying to her as the finest meal, and she spaces out her bites with sips of her iced tea. The roll gets eaten eventually -- airy and light, it won't prevent her from getting more food.

"Do they have all these things on your world?" She asks curiously, once she's nearly done and she sees that Paladin is not currently working on a large bite of food.

((I forgot to ask on my previous tag, but does that mean you have seen BSG? :) ))

A fine day for horseback riding. ((For i_paladin))

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