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

[chiron_survivor]

Adia is full of nervous energy as she waits outside of the Nexus inn for Paladin. She is mostly excited, but it has been a long time since she has ridden a horse. Her riding boots and helmet are long gone, lost along with everything else when Leonis was destroyed. She is wearing her regular boots and jeans, along with a sweater and her heavy wool coat. She didn't bother with a scarf, worried the fluttering might startle or distract the horse. Paladin did say that he was sassy.

Shifting her weight from foot to foot, she pulls out her PINpoint for the hundredth time and checks for messages. The innkeeper was happy enough to play go-between, printing out Adia's electronic messages and transcribing anything that Paladin wanted to write back in return. It's how they were able to plan their get-together. But Adia checks anyway. Plans can change, after all.

Comments

[chiron_survivor]

"I don't think I've met anyone who found the Nexus on purpose. For me, a portal opened on my ship and I stumbled through it without noticing. Once I got my PINpoint, the portal disappeared. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the portals, but I think the more one gets used, the more stable it becomes."

Adia saves the ribald jokes for those she's extremely close with, or when she's drunk. Which is not nearly as often as one would think, given her circumstances. "Do you use this magic for anything in particular?" Other than making jello sound haunted and other parlor tricks.

[i_paladin]

"I should get one of those," Paladin sort of mutters to herself, a reminder of sorts that undoubtedly she will forget until Adia (bless her eternally) brings it up again. "May I ask a rather sensitive question? If you do not wish to answer you do not need to but I am curious: have you ever given some thought to not going back to your world?" Because it would be so easy to stay in this place, to never go back, to enjoy the fresh food and find a place of employment and settle down.

Clearly they need to go out drinking and get into some shenanigans.

"Only to frighten, sometimes for fun, sometimes not. They occasionally work as diversions as well, but most of the time it is to intimidate. That's what the magic was originally given to us for, demonic half people are good for little else," Paladin finishes with a slight, humorless smile.

[chiron_survivor]

She'll keep reminding Paladin, if it seems necessary. She's already met two people who can't return to their own worlds because their portals disappeared. "It really is more useful than relying on a portal, no matter how stable the portal is."

The question doesn't surprise her. She's been asked that many times, usually soon after the other person learns how crappy her current world is. It's a question she asks herself, every time she visits the Nexus. "I've... thought about it, yes. But..." She sighs and picks at the remnants of her chicken. "I can't leave my friends behind. I could bring Maggie here, and Seth and Will and a few others, but there wouldn't be enough time to rescue everyone, and... it'd be too much like giving up." And all the comforts of the Nexus wouldn't take away that shame. "If... If things get really bad, I'll consider it. But for now, I can't leave them."

It doesn't seem fair, that Paladin's inherent magic only works to make people more afraid of her. "It's not like that here, you know. I mean, you might run into some people who are prejudiced against anything remotely demonic, but... everyone is an individual here and should be treated that way. If someone can't figure that out, then it's their loss."

[i_paladin]

"I understand," Adia never gave off the impression that she was someone who walked away, no, she is much too strong for that even under the rule of the Cylons. "You are very brave, Adia, and a good friend. I truly hope it never gets to the point where you have to flee." Being cut off from your home world, even if your home world is a mess is a little like having a limb amputated: it may be necessary but a part of you is still missing and you feel that deeply.

The tight, humorless smile relaxes and the Tiefling gives a slight shrug. "I am used to it, and, for the most part I do not blame them for their fear or hesitancy. You would be wary of any Cylon, yes? Thankfully, I have a village where people trust and accept me, and that feeling is growing, and I have yet to run into such fear here. The Nexus, I have found is a very diverse place and I believe that helps a great deal."

[chiron_survivor]

She doesn't feel very brave, most days. Maybe someone stronger than her would save those she could and rebuild a life in the Nexus, rather than stand around helplessly while the Cylons slowly crush what's left of humanity under their metaphorical boot. But she appreciates being called a good friend, and smiles bashfully in response. "I hope so, too... but it is a comfort knowing that the Nexus is here when I need it. "Maybe not in all the ways she expects, but there for her nonetheless.

The question is rhetorical, her wariness of Cylons, but her mind stumbles over it nonetheless. It'd be more than wariness, if a Cylon set foot in the Nexus. "That's true... although I have made friends with other sentient robots. But I'm glad you have a place back on your world where people accept you, too."

Adia finishes up what's left on her plate. She hasn't skimped on lunch, but she's made sure to make room for dessert, another thing that is in short supply on New Caprica. "Let me know when you're ready to get dessert. Unless you're just having the jello for that."

[i_paladin]

Paladin would empathize with that as well, some days the Tiefling does not feel brave, some days she feels so tired, and some nights all that plagues her dreams are nightmares about battles she has faced and the battles yet to come. It's wearisome to close your eyes and find no rest only more to do.

"Our minds were built to learn, fears are not always unfounded we just need to make sure we don't let them rule us." That's the problem. When fear dictates everything you do.

"Please go," a gentle shooing motion with her hands before picking up her fork. "I am still working here but you should go and get what you please."

[chiron_survivor]

"Easier said than done," Adia says with a small, wry smile. But it's easier here, in the company of a friend, to look at her own fears from afar without stressing about them.

"I'll be right back." She stands and heads for the dessert section; their waitress will come by and clear plates and refill drinks as needed. When Adia returns, she is holding a slice of strawberry cheesecake. "They didn't have too much. Just this and some pie. But I spotted a few dinner mints by the door, I'm going to take some of those for Maggie when we're done."

[i_paladin]

"Also very, very true. The easiest thing in the world to do is talk." As long as you can talk in the first place, if you're nonverbal than it is not the easiest thing in the world to do.

While Adia is gone, Paladin digs in to her second plate. It's slightly odd eating lettuce, usually it's used as a filler, but it actually tastes pretty good with the chicken and some cold vegetables. It is perhaps something Paladin could get used to.

"Oo," the Tiefling leans forward slightly to check out the plate. "What is that? I know those are strawberries."

[chiron_survivor]

"Cheesecake," Adia explains, turning her plate so that Paladin can get a better look. "It's not like a traditional cake, it's a mixture of eggs, cream cheese, and sugar." Which probably leads to a question about cream cheese, so she explains what that is preemptively. "It's a mild, soft cheese. A little tangy, like yogurt. You have to eat cheesecake while it's fresh, it doesn't last like other cakes." At least not without refrigeration.

She takes a quick look at Paladin's plate and smiles, glad that she's enjoying some of the salad options. (And not wasting food.) "The pie they have is blueberry. It looked good, too."

[i_paladin]

"It smells really good," the Paladin says kind of wistfully because she has a plate with food on it when all she wants is cheesecake and pie, mmmm, blueberry pie. Sinking back down into the seat, Paladin contemplates the rest of the food, the current room in her stomach, and then glances over to where Adia went for the dessert.

"If I was to get a slice of blueberry pie would you share it with me?" This factors into eating tactics which is incredibly important when at a buffet or some establishment where everything just looks so good. Also, the ability to nap afterward, very important.

[chiron_survivor]

"Of course," Adia says without hesitation. Friends always help their friends eat dessert. "I can split this slice of cheesecake, too, if you want." That way they get to have both. Adia has been careful not to overeat, but she is reaching her limit, and she unfortunately doesn't have the option of napping afterwards.

[i_paladin]

A sign of a good person and a good friend is assistance in the consumption of sweets and baked goods. Blue eyes widen and light up in delight at the offer. "Oh, that would be very nice! Bogbad never shares his dessert with me, but he's an Orc and not so surprising. I'll go get a piece!"

He saves her life and that more than makes up for it.

It doesn't take the Tiefling long to get a nice, still warm, slice of pie. Returning to the table, Paladin sits with a leg tucked under herself before setting the plate down between them.

[chiron_survivor]

Adia only has a vague idea of what an orc is, but she nods in sympathy. It's more fun to share, anyway.

By the time Paladin returns, she has neatly sliced the cheesecake into two equal pieces. "Do you want me to cut the pie, too?" It probably won't slice as evenly as the cheesecake, but that's all right. She'll take the smaller piece for herself.

[i_paladin]

Very smart thinking, clearly Adia has done this before. Paladin would have just gone for the free for all method of sharing dessert. Cutting it can be a lot more equitable.

"Yes please!" It's a rather childish sounding request as she pushes the plate forward. "Then you can dish out the piece you'd like on your plate, and give me the piece of cheesecake that you wouldn't like for me."

[chiron_survivor]

A free-for-all method would result in Adia worrying that she was taking too many bites, or making a mess of the dessert. Better to split it up at the beginning.

Adia grins. Dessert brings out the child in everyone. She takes a clean knife to the piece of pie and slices it in two. The flaky crust breaks slightly unevenly, but she has a surprisingly steady hand. Must be all those hours spent preparing slides in the lab. "Here you go," she says, after taking her slice of pie and giving Paladin a share of the cheesecake.

[i_paladin]

A fantastic plan, though Paladin would insist that she was not even remotely taking too many bites. Splitting it is the safe way to go though, it ensures everyone gets a fair shake.

"Bless you," Paladin breathes and takes her plate before sinking back down in the chair. "I have a sweet tooth, I will admit it. When I was a wee Tiefling my baker friend used to make these sticky, honeyed buns that were the most amazing thing to smell and to see. Every day I would stare at them through the window, get the free smells," Paladin will start with the cheesecake first because that's new to her.

It is so light but very rich, that will get a hum of appreciation from her.

[chiron_survivor]

"They sound delicious." She hopes that her baker friend let her have one on occasion. "You should look around at some of the bakeries here, I wouldn't be surprised if someone sells them."

Adia also starts with the cheesecake, since that is what she chose in the first place. "This is very good," she tells Paladin, after swallowing a bite. "Some cheesecakes can be a lot denser than this, but I prefer it this way."

[i_paladin]

On occasion, when they became friends and Paladin was good with their lessons. "Are there Dwarves here?" Paladin didn't even think to ask, there might be other races that she is familiar with here. "Regardless, I do have a soft spot for bakeries," oh no, taste testing all the bakeries in the Nexus, how awful!

"Between the richness and the sweetness I think I prefer it like this as well." Of course there will be a taste of the pie along with the cheesecake because good separate might mean good together as well. Before so, Paladin pauses: "would you like some coffee?"

[chiron_survivor]

"I've never met one, personally. Do they have to be baked by a dwarf? They sound like something we used to have in our own bakeries."

Adia is not as adventurous as Paladin (in many ways), so she sticks with one dessert at a time. She nods in response to Paladin's question. Some coffee would go wonderfully with dessert.

[i_paladin]

"I think these are a Dwarven recipe specifically." And they have a soft spot in her heart. But then there is that moment when something from both their world's intersects and Paladin gets rather excited. "What were the ones like on your world?" Shaped like a bun and covered in honey aside, or maybe they weren't like that at all.

The Tiefling catches the eye of the waitress and when she comes near Paladin politely asks for two cups of coffee. "I am very glad this is here as well, but it is a bit weak." Sooner rather than later two steaming mugs are placed on the table.

[chiron_survivor]

"The dough was rolled into a spiral, and the honey was like a glaze that was within the spiral as well as on top." She suddenly feels rather nostalgic, although not so much for honey buns specifically. Her mother would sometimes make desserts like that for breakfast: cinnamon rolls, popovers, baked goods that weren't honey buns per se, but in the same category. "If you find the ones you're familiar with, let me know."

"The coffee is stronger on your world?" Adia picks up the mug and lets its warmth seep into her hands before taking a small sip, not bothering to add cream or sugar. It's better than the free stuff she drinks in the Plaza, but not exceptionally so.

[i_paladin]

"Mmmmmm," hilarious, talking about food while eating food, it can't get any better than this. "Ours were very similar but he would put cinnamon and a nutty mixture in the spiral, I never figure out how to make that, it was his special recipe. If I find some we shall have a feast." Maybe someone in the Dwarven settlement can make them just like he used to.

"I believe it's the way it is made in my world," think super old fashioned coffee, throwing grounds in a kettle to boil. "The machines you make it on here are nothing like the ones we have."

[chiron_survivor]

It seems inevitable for two people who enjoy their food, desserts in particular. "Oh, we had those, too. We called them cinnamon rolls. We didn't make them with honey, though, we used brown sugar for the filling." It is impossible for Adia not to think of lazy Sunday mornings with her parents, the smell of cinnamon rolls wafting up to her room. "My mom made those sometimes. They came from a can instead of from scratch but they were still good."

Adia nods, having a vague idea of what Paladin means. "This is strong enough for me, usually. And after all that iced tea, I don't need much more caffeine."

[i_paladin]

"Cinnamon rolls, the name just sounds delicious. I would try cinnamon rolls," in a New York minute, if there was a New York in her world. "That must be a very pleasant memory for you, would you eat them with her while having a cup of coffee?" That also sounds lovely, half of which comes from having a mother that one can sit down with and have a meal with.

Paladin licks the blueberry filling from the fork before going in for another bite, the mixture of the two is really appealing, it's probably the sweetened fruit. "It is the perfect thing for a long watch, or a cold morning." Suddenly a grin and a bit of a laugh. "Or any time really."

[chiron_survivor]

"They're very good. And I know I've seen them for sale in the Nexus. The Crossroads Cafe has them for sure." She takes another sip of coffee, letting the memories wash over her without getting swept up in them. "Yes. Well, not when I was very young. I didn't start drinking coffee until I was older... she'd make them on weekends. Days that we didn't have to rush off to work or school, so we could just sit and enjoy them."

It's hard to believe that she ever took for granted such simple rituals. "What other drinks do you have on your world? Do you have any carbonated beverages?" She asks before taking another bite of cheesecake.