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 know if you'd be able to get to my universe," Adia muses, the roll of the horse's gait putting her in a contemplative mood. "The portal I first passed through was on a ship. Not even my ship, but one we had relocated to, once we joined the rest of the fleet. I only used it a couple of times before I got myself a PINpoint." She looks down at Paladin thoughtfully. "If I wandered in the wrong direction I could end up in your world, but I'd probably notice the portal first."

She smiles a little at the comparison. "You do need to refuel it every so often. Either by recharging its battery, or in the case of a lot of Earths I've heard about, using fossil fuels." Adia doesn't normally think of other cultures as backwards, but she doesn't understood why anyone would bother with a limited, environmentally damaging fuel source. "And they have lots of mechanized bits that can break down. A horse is more reliable."

[i_paladin]

"A ship! Ah yes, you told me before, it was a spaceship, yes?" A nod of the dark head thoughtfully like Paladin knows what a goddamn spaceship actually is. It sounds fantastic regardless. There is a lot that she is catching up on, portals, spaceships, PINpoint. Though portals are not unfamiliar in her line of work. "What is a PINpoint? A transportation device?"

That is the one she is least familiar with, at least at this point: give it time more out of this world stuff will pop up in conversation.

Or think that jobs harvesting those finite materials are something worth investing in. Because. You know, they won't ever go away. "Is that so?" The words are drawn out like Adia might be wrong. Paladin regards horse who looks over to meet the Tefling's gaze knowingly. There you go again, that gaze says. Being so wrong about everything.

"Yes but if things break you can repair them! With horses it is much more difficult, and they bite." Suck it, steed.

"Are there cars and spaceships in this place?"

[chiron_survivor]

"Yes, a spaceship. We lived on them for over a year, but... it wasn't so bad, really. My position on the Chiron was supposed to be for nearly that long, anyway. We just didn't get any shore leave."

"More like a teleportation device. You can get anywhere with it, if you have the location's coordinates." She reaches into her pocket to retrieve her PINpoint; the horse misinterprets her hand movement as an opportunity to move into a trot, but a quick tug of the reins gets him back into line. More carefully, she pulls out what looks like a stopwatch on steroids and shows it to Paladin. "You can also send messages to people, even across worlds. I try to keep mine with me all the time. Do you see the bright red button? It takes me immediately back to the Plaza."

Adia laughs softly at the wordless exchange between Paladin and beast. "Well, I suppose that's true... I've never been bit by a horse, but I kept away from the ornery ones at the stable where I learned to ride." She smiles fondly at the horse she is currently on. "He has a pretty good temperament, Paladin. He'd probably try to get away with more if he could, but he's not giving me any real trouble."

"Definitely cars... I can't actually think of a time I saw a spaceship, but they must be around here, too." She's not counting the blue police box that makes the strange sound when it appears and disappears in the Plaza.

[i_paladin]

There is a lot to get a handle on here, she is still working on the whole spaceship thing which sort of makes sense but also not? The general principle is easy enough to get ones head around, it's the details that get the most silence for Paladin. In the end it hardly matters: the likelihood of ever stepping for on a spaceship is incredibly low.

Looking up from the thoughts about spaceships not only because her attention is drawn there by the hand movement but because Steed takes the wheel. When he stops a hand will rest against his flank as the Tiefling examines the little device. "It looks very small to be so powerful! The convenience is immense, it certainly makes sense to have such a thing. When the need arises I can move from one spot to another quickly but it is much, much more limited." Like thirty feet limited but it still counts.

Horse gets a few pets and a light pat, he is a good horse indeed. "We shall see when you have all of the open space to ride him. How old were you when you first began to ride?"

As for Paladin? She is suddenly all about that car life: seeing one, riding in one, it calls to the adventurous spirit within.

[chiron_survivor]

Adia interprets Paladin's silence easily enough. "It's a lot like a sea-faring ship. Probably more so than other spaceships I've heard about." Just don't try to jump overboard. "I can try to find you a picture of one, if you're interested."

She waits until Paladin is done looking over her PINpoint before tucking it away again. The horse resumes his slow, steady pace. "Do you mean you can do full-on teleportation, or do you mean you move really fast?" Either way, that's super impressive.

"My nana signed me up for lessons at age six, but that was mostly sitting on a pony while an instructor led me around. I don't think I started riding unassisted until I was about eight or so. The lessons were kind of expensive, so I only took them in the summer." She thinks back on those times fondly, but with a touch of guilt, as well. "It was a totally unnecessary thing to learn, but I begged my parents like crazy. I didn't even enter any riding competitions, I just rode for fun."

Adia would say that riding in a car gets old fast, especially when you're stuck in traffic, but it's likely she'll get the opportunity in the Nexus if she asks around enough. None are on the street today, however, not even as they get further away from the city center. No one appears to be driving in the direction of the grassy area that Adia is headed towards.

[i_paladin]

"I must admit," Paladin says after the offer for the picture. "I was slow in working through the necessity of a ship that floated through space: the comparison is easier for me to comprehend. I would very much like a picture, thank you!" Now just wait until that picture is something other than a sketch: ka-boom!

"Teleportation, it is quite useful in tricky spots," there is an eye narrow in the voice. "More often than not it's in combat, but I suppose it would be very helpful if one was mistakenly detained by local authorities. That doesn't happen as often as it used to." Because the Tiefling is spending less and less time at the cards table and more and more time getting hit by evil things.

"That sounds like a wonderful memory! You didn't own a horse, yes? There was one at the stables you went to?" If so, that's interesting: that even in a world like Adia's not everyone could afford a horse. "I am curious about your family but I am unsure if it's too sensitive a topic to speak about, Adia, so I would understand if you would not like to talk about them." Paladin tilts her head up to gaze at the woman on the horse, leaving an unspoken offer at the end of the sentence. If she would like to speak, Paladin would like to hear.

[chiron_survivor]

"You're welcome." Now Adia only needs to find a working printer... she'll probably have better luck in the Nexus than on her own world.

There's a small amount of relief in Adia's expression; fighting evil is one thing, but she doesn't like the idea of Paladin getting in trouble with local authorities, especially if they are those corrupt princes that she spoke of earlier. "Does it take a lot of effort to do? How many times can you teleport in a row?" She thinks about the PINpoint in her pocket. "I'm not sure how my PINpoint works, but it is technology-based. Our ships use a form of teleportation to travel long distances, but it's much more hazardous."

"No, I didn't own a horse, although I did ask for one for my birthday every year." A horse is an impractical purchase when you already own two cars and your daughter only rides during summer vacation.

She looks down at Paladin, surprised and touched at how respectfully her query of interest is phrased. "No, it's... it's okay. I don't mind talking about my family." She still grieves their loss, but it is a simple grief, uncomplicated by mixed feelings; her parents were good parents, and she loved them dearly. She's not sure where to start, though. "What would you like to know about them?"

[i_paladin]

"Not a lot of effort, the magic I possess stems from my relationship," small bitter taste in her mouth. "With the god or the gods I - act on behalf of." More bitterness. It is a miserable thing to be on a path, to have access to such power but to be beholden to the deities that grant it. "As it stands I could perform the spell twice in a day, after that I would be spent."

Spell slots, they're a real thing.

"Going such far distances through," Paladin makes a motion with their hand to the general atmosphere because who knows what space is actually made up of. "Has to be extremely difficult, you don't know what you'll run into." So the Tiefling will take their 30 feet and be happy with it.

The idea of a small Adia asking for a horse every year for a birthday makes her smile. "That is very sweet," because children with wants and wishes are.

Paladin's tact comes from a number of encounters with traumatized people which, unsurprisingly, happens quite a lot in her world. "As long as you don't mind," if that changes so will the topic. "What were they like you have told me their professions but what else? It sounds like you were very close with them."

[chiron_survivor]

"Oh..." She looks down at Paladin briefly, unsure if offering her condolences would be appropriate in this sort of situation. "We don't have magic, where I'm from. And our gods..." There is a bit of bitterness in her own words, "Well, if they're real, they aren't paying us much attention one way or another."

"Yes, exactly." For someone unfamiliar with space travel, Paladin seems to understand its physical limitations well enough. "It takes a huge amount of calculating power to make sure each jump -- ah, what we call it when the ship teleports -- to be safe. Otherwise you could end up in the middle of an asteroid field or worse. It's even harder when you have to coordinate the entire fleet. We've had some close calls."

"My parents didn't think it was so sweet," she laughs. "At least I had the sense to ask for a horse and not a pony."

"Yeah, we were close." She smiles sadly. "I was an only child, and my extended family lived a little too far to see daily, so it was just the three of us most of the time. We did everything together. My parents had flexible work hours so I didn't need day care or a babysitter, unless they were going out at night... they were kind of an odd couple, I guess. My mom was taller than my dad and more educated in some ways, but they loved one another very much."

[i_paladin]

"If one was a bit more cynical they might argue that the less attention from the gods one gets the better off they are," just putting that out there. "In my world they have great power, I have often heard their voice or felt their presence. As graciously as they give their strength they can take it away if you displease them." For a moment Paladin pauses and then continues.

"Often people see their power only in healing or a blessing for their land, but the strength of their smite is awesome to behold. I find much satisfaction in it." There is almost a gleeful tone in Paladin's voice: it might be the first time she sounds like she looks, wicked.

Paladin makes a note to ask about asteroids later.

A slight shake of her dark head to shake free the previous smitting thoughts that she entertained. "It sounds very nice, being able to see and spend time with your parents, being very close to them. Did they teach you as well? You mentioned that they were educated."

[chiron_survivor]

"That's probably true," Adia says with a huff that's not quite a laugh. "Our gods are supposedly aren't as fickle, even if the older stories paint them in a different light." It's hard to put faith in a pantheon of divine beings who let humanity be nearly slaughtered to extinction, but Adia sometimes wishes that she had it. Maybe then she wouldn't feel so lost or hopeless.

She doesn't know what to make of that look on Paladin's face. She has the upmost respect for warriors. It's her own fleet's military who have worked tirelessly to protect what's left of her people from the Cylons. But she will never, ever understand the pleasurable feeling that comes from committing an act of violence, even if it is against something or someone truly evil. "They sound very powerful," she says finally. "Did they choose you, or did you choose them? Does it depend on what kind of magic you use?"

If she does ask, Adia will consider getting Paladin an introductory book on space as well as that photo of a spaceship.

"Oh... not formally, no. My mom was an English professor, her students were all young adults. But she did help me learn to read and write. And my dad did science experiments with me. He's why I became a scientist."

[i_paladin]

"I suppose what is appealing to us about the gods is that they are fickle, just like us." Even Paladin has a hard time figuring out how she feels about violence. Is it from her bloodline? Is it actual joy in protecting innocents and ridding the world of evil? The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, very little is black and white.

"Lhuitantl chose me, probably because he was bored." Which sounds flippant but isn't in the slightest. "There had been a disagreement between I and a gentleman about the outcome of a game of cards. The man, for some reason, didn't believe I had won fair and square and had me cornered. In the end I was indebted to Lhuitantl, and for my troubles I took the man's weapon." From under the cover of the cloak, Paladin withdraws her arm to show off the spring loaded blade on the sheath strapped to her arm (very Assassin's Cred.)

"I truly have no idea how I ended up under his sister's watch, but she is considerably easier to deal with. Lucriosa is the goddess of death, mercy, charity," and without thinking about it: "I quite like her." The confession startles even Paladin and it shows on her face. Weird.

"Yes, you spoke about that before we parted - you deal with the science of sickness?" The Tiefling's words are slow, stilted, because this is harder to work with than spaceships. "You heal people?"

[chiron_survivor]

"How many gods are in your pantheon?" She asks curiously. "There are twelve in ours. Although people used to believe in more. You hear a prayer for a forgotten one every now and then."

"Lhuitantl helped you win the fight? What is he the god of?" She looks at the weapon; it seems appropriate for someone who fights in close quarters, but honestly she knows little to nothing of weapons. "It's... um, very nice," she says politely.

She's not entirely surprised that a goddess could rule over both death and mercy. Death can be a mercy, at times. "Maybe she saw qualities in you that she has herself. Is that strange, to like her?" After a moment's pause, she adds, "My parents weren't religious, but they pledged me into the service of Persephone when I was born. She's the goddess of spring and the queen of the underworld."

"Technically, I deal with the science of microscopic organisms," Adia explains. "Specifically, the ones that cause illnesses." And because she can already tell that her explanation is needlessly complicated, she tries again in simpler terms. "I study the things that make people sick. And for a long time, that was all I did, but these days, I help give people medicine and sometimes tell them what they can do to feel less sick." There, that should be easier to follow. "I still do some research, but the Cylons are in charge of that now, so it feels kind of like a farce."

The corners of her mouth tighten, and for a moment she looks a little angry. All her other talk of Cylons has been with an undertone of fear, with a bit of guilt thrown in for good measure. But thinking about how they make a mockery of her research, that's what pisses her off. Go figure.

[i_paladin]

"There are twelve in ours as well!" There is an excitement there like Paladin just found out that they had the same favorite food or color. Weird. "It is very exciting to me that some things cross even into other worlds." Which is fair.

"He is the trickster god, one of entertainment, humor but it tends to be not Ha-ha funny, more dark. When I said he did so because he was bored, that honestly might be the case." The blade is put away, Paladin is aware that not everyone finds sharp pointy things enjoyable.

"It is for me, for while I enjoy the power I feel a sort of resentment toward the indebtedness and guidelines I must follow, as loose as they are." Even across worlds people have problems with authority figures. "Your Persephone sounds very lovely, do you know why they pledged you to her? Did it at all influence you going into science?" Sometimes that's actually the case, even after she mentioned her father's influence on her career path.

Bless Adia. Seriously, Paladin catches on to a lot but busting out words like 'microscopic organism' just flies over her head. These are just not things in Paladin's world, not those names anyway. "Healing is very rewarding, it is one of the greatest gifts to be given," as someone who tends to die a lot, the Tiefling feels strongly about this.

"What are the Cylons doing with your research now?" Not to interrupt the flow of conversation but Paladin points. "Is this a good place to turn off for the Wilds?"

[chiron_survivor]

That's some coincidence. But considering that she's never heard of at least two of Paladin's gods, that's probably all it is. "Each colony had a patron god, and there were twelve of them. That's probably why we have twelve gods."

She frowns a little, as Paladin explains Lhuitantl's purview. "I don't think I'd like him much," she admits. She's not fond of being tricked. Or maybe he sounds too much like someone she knows. Either way, she sits up a little straighter and adds, "But he did help you out of a tight spot. That's something. How long are you in his debt?"

"They said I reminded them of the hope that she brings when Spring returns." She shrugs awkwardly. It's a bit of a burden to put on someone, even if her parents did it with the best of intentions. "It didn't influence me, no... aside from your dedication ceremony, it doesn't come up much." It's a very different world she lives in than Paladin's, on a number of levels.

At least they can agree on healing. It's not technically accurate, but it's close enough. "I do like being able to help people more directly. The goal of my research was to find better ways to fight specific diseases, but there were lots of steps between me and the actual treatment." She sighs in annoyance. "Nothing, is what they're doing. It's like I'm sending my data into a giant black hole. They won't even let me do any analysis."

Fortunately, Paladin points out the turn off for the Wilds before Adia can work herself up. She's supposed to be having a good time, after all. "Yes, I think so... there are a few more buildings and then it's open space until you reach the forest." She pulls on the reins and presses one leg into the horse's flank, both on the same side, to turn him off the road. A swift press of her heels and he continues on.

[i_paladin]

"Ahhhh... The towns I have traveled through tend to focus more thoroughly on a specific deity as well depending on where they are located. More agricultural towns focus on the mother goddess who is the goddess of the harvest, so on and so forth." Not to say every God and Goddess has a town but there are towns that focus more heavily on one that they need the most favors from.

"He's an asshole," blunt, straight to the point because he is - Paladin has interacted with him directly. "You are a good person so it makes sense that you would not like him. As for debt, I am uncertain: until he is done with me or grows bored." Either one could actually happen.

Oh, Adia. Paladin beams up at her, a happy laugh. "Very true, you remind me of the first of spring: bright and sweet."

Paladin will follow the horse and Adia's lead as they turn off the main Nexus drag. "It sounds incredibly frustrating. The lack of action is almost the most frustrating. I wish I could offer you some advice or comfort." A step around a bit of a hole and Paladin takes a few more steps to catch up to the horse and rider.

[chiron_survivor]

"Oh, it's similar for us, too. You pray to the god who is most relevant to your situation. Your harvest goddess sounds like Demeter, she's popular on farms. Persephone is her daughter."

She laughs a little at Paladin's blunt assessment of her god. "That won't get you in trouble, to call him that?" The humor leaves her face and she asks worriedly, "Seriously, he won't hurt you, will he?" It does not take Adia long to be invested in the well-being of others. No wonder Paladin thinks she is a good person. "Oh, but... well, he won't hear you here, anyway..."

"You haven't seen me before I've had my coffee," Adia says with a soft laugh, brushing off the compliment. She smiles down at the reins in her hands briefly. "You know, I met Persephone once, in the Nexus. Or, a Persephone, anyway. She was very nice, but not what I expected. I've never met a god, otherwise."

"Thank you, Paladin. I shouldn't complain so much. The fact that I can still do my research is a blessing. Sometimes work is the only thing that keeps me sane. Ah, here we are." As promised, the green space stretches before them. Not manicured like a park, but not overrun with undergrowth, either. An ideal area to run a horse. "I'll start taking him through his paces, if that's all right?"

[i_paladin]

A look of surprise crosses the Tiefling's face, wide blue eyed surprise at the dark haired woman's reaction. "Hurt me," it's more of a statement than a question.

"I have never considered," a few paces in silence has her thinking before answering: "yes, but only for a laugh." Glancing upward in the traditional searching for god position, Paladin shrugs. "That might work against my favor if that is correct. I suppose that is a good question to find the answer to for my stay here, however long that may be."

It's good to know when you do and don't have access to divine smite.

Snagging a stalk of grass while she passes, the Tiefling begins to rip it apart as they stride through the grass. "I would not trust anyone who appeared perfection and moved grace before coffee. Clearly a demon."

Stopping among the grass, Paladin nods: "yes, please! Enjoy yourself."

[chiron_survivor]

That wasn't the answer Adia was hoping for, but it doesn't surprise her, either. A trickster god of dark humor wouldn't think twice about hurting a mortal. She slouches a little in the saddle, heavy with newfound worry. Horse, used to her mannerisms by now, doesn't take advantage. "Well, now I really don't like him..." It takes her a moment to figure out what Paladin is referring to. "You think you might not have access to your powers in the Nexus?" She frowns thoughtfully. "People can talk to people who aren't in the Nexus via phones or the internet... maybe divine communication works the same way."

It would be a shame of Paladin tried to use divine smite and instead heard, Sorry, you spell could not be activated as dialed. Please hang up and try again. Hopefully she'll never have to test it.

Her smile returns soon enough. It is a nice day with good company and she is on a horse. "Okay. Thanks again, Paladin." Kicking in her heels, she loosens the reins enough to take the horse into a trot. She'll keep him steady at that pace for a minute or so before going any faster.

[i_paladin]

"Ah, Adia, your concern is very touching. Have no fear, I have heard no tale of a God turning vengefully on their paladin, at least without good cause." Maybe it's a rule that god and goddesses just follow. It also doesn't necessarily make for good PR. Hard to get people to work for you when you just randomly fuck them over.

"That is a possibility, perhaps a holy symbol would be beneficial in contacting them. We shall see." That would be super, super bad. Shitty god power coverage, being out of network. Sure, she's got the sword and daggers but what makes them truly dangerous is the power behind them.

All of that worry is erased when Paladin sees the joy on the dark rider's face. It truly makes her heart happy: such a small thing but such a big thing as well. Plus, horse is just straight up happy to have some action without being chased by something awful.

[chiron_survivor]

That's a little more reassuring. "That sort of relationship is very new to me," she explains, almost apologetically. The stories of her gods -- the old stories, when life was much harder for humans -- painted them as vengeful, petulant children. That all changed at some point, of course. The gods turned benevolent and forgiving, watching over humans with a loving, albeit distant gaze. But no one has forgotten the old stories.

"Is there a way to find out without needing to fight anything? Can you, um... call up the spell, without activating it?" Maybe she could practice on something inanimate.

Adia doesn't have a sixth sense for horses, just years of riding experience. But she can tell that this horse is enjoying himself, the way he trots happily through his paces without yanking at the reins. Satisfied that he won't ignore her commands, she kicks with her heels again, urging him to go faster. Picking up speed, he soon breaks into a full gallop. It feels liberating for Adia, even as she keeps a controlled hand on the reins, turning him when he skirts the edge of the forest.

[i_paladin]

It will be something that Paladin will think about as she watches the show. The sight of someone riding a beast for pleasure is, well, not something she has seen in a very long time. Even the Hafling riding troop she traveled with for about a week didn't actually ride for the joy of it. What they did was beautiful, no doubt about it but it was all for show.

The steed moves like smoke with a purpose: silent and undeniably swift.

As Paladin tears apart the stalk of grass she snared from the ground around her, she appreciates the Adia's riding style and how much the steed flourishes under it.

[chiron_survivor]

Adia doesn't try to do anything fancy, having never run an agility course. It's enough to keep the horse at a full gallop for a minute or two before returning to a trot and following the edge of the forest. If she ignores the buildings in the distance and the strange sky of the Nexus, it's as if she's home again, riding worn trails on one of the stable horses, nothing but the smell of hay and creak of the leather saddle for company.

But there is only so long you can run in circles before both you and your horse tire of it. Reluctantly, she slows the horse's stride and turns him towards the direction of his owner. Sensing her ambivalence, the horse tugs his head a little, but a pull on the reins sets him straight again. "He's fantastic," she tells Paladin as soon as they are in speaking range. "A real pleasure to ride."

[i_paladin]

They should find a trail to ride down, or eventually wander into the forest to see what they come across: carefully of course. It would certainly break up the monotony of just riding around in circles for long periods of time.

By the time she starts heading back, Paladin is flicking her tail and swatting at the blades of long grass that continuously pops around her. This is clearly somewhat amusing to the Tiefling.

"Most excellent," is the response and Paladin looks up at the two of them. "Did your ride inspire you with a name? If you must go for another ride another day to figure it out I would understand."

[chiron_survivor]

A trail would be ideal. The forest is a little dense in places for a horse to comfortably find its footing.

Adia tries not to smile at the tail flicking. "Hmm..." she leans forward and pats the horse's neck. "I'm still partial to Shadow, to be honest, as cliched as it is. He's far too smart to be called Hercules, and none of our other heroes were noted for their swiftness."