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]

"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."

[i_paladin]

A trail would be ideal. Hell, if Paladin thought she could get away with it she would take her back to the world Paladin came from and they could ride all over the place.

"Shadow it is then, trust me, the choice is so much better than I could have come up with." Like, it would just be named horse like her previous horse that was gifted to the temple and brother Selmo.

"What does your time look like? Would you can to join me for a drink or a bite to eat?" Paladin smiles and runs her fingers through her shaggy teal hair. "Unless you have other responsibilities of course: I do not want to impose or your day."

[chiron_survivor]

Paladin's world would take some getting used to for Adia, but probably less so than the other way around. Aside from access to a few modern conveniences (and a water treatment plant), her settlement might as well be in the stone age.

"Well, okay." She pats the horse's neck again. "How about it, Shadow? How do you like your new name?" Not that she's actually expecting a reply.

"Oh... um. I'd like to, but..." The truth is, Adia has more time to spare, and would like to spend it in Paladin's company, but she also doesn't have any money for food or drink. She hates imposing on someone else's generosity. The horse shuffles in place, reflecting his rider's nervousness as she fiddles with the reins. An idea comes to her suddenly and she says, "They have free coffee and tea in the Plaza. We could hang out there?"

[i_paladin]

The differences between Paladin's world and Adia's are very few and far between indeed: maybe the one thing Paladin would notice is any electricity and of course the weapons. The dangers are different but no less frightening and truly treacherous.

It could be a coincidence but at the ask the magnificent black horse bobs his head up and down in consent. Shadow sounds like a fine name to him. Of course he just might like anything Adia had picked for him.

A tilt of the head and a slight narrowing of eyes is the only indication that Paladin is trying to analyse Adia's response. "As you like it," is the easy response along with a gesture of the hand indicating back the way they came. "Would you care to tell me what was going to come after your 'but'?"

[chiron_survivor]

The horse's nod brings a smile to Adia's face, whether coincidence or not. Naming him makes her feel like a piece of herself is with him. It's the closest she'll get to ever having a horse of her own.

Adia gets Shadow to start moving again -- a slow, steady walk -- secretly relieved that she dodged any social awkwardness. At least until Paladin asks her question. If her blush doesn't give her away, the slump of her shoulders will. She's embarrassed. But it's not in her lie, so after a moment's stalling, she replies. "Because of the Occupation, I don't have access to physical money. And what credits I do have, they're worthless here." A steady hand on the reins is the only thing keeping her from fidgeting self-consciously. "I didn't want you to feel like you had to pay for me."

[i_paladin]

"Ah," is the only reply for the moment. It had been an innocent question but ever so often the innocent questions are the hardest to answer: the most revealing. For a time, Paladin walks in silence, digging the bits of grass out from under her nails with her other hand.

"I do not mean to pry," comes the second part of the response finally. "Or hurt your pride when it came to my ask. Since it was my invitation I would of course cover any cost, and be glad to. The pleasure of your company would certainly cover any cost." A turn of the head and Paladin flashes a smile. "Please trust me on this."

[chiron_survivor]

Adia watches Paladin out of the corner of her eye as she leads Shadow back to the city center, feeling bad for creating an awkward moment in an otherwise fine day out. She bites her lip to keep from filling the silence with apologies and tries not to twist the reins.

"You didn't pry," she says softly. "And you didn't hurt my pride." She returns Paladin's smile weakly. "I don't have much of it left when it comes to food, honestly. The food back home is... not good." Shifting her weight, she tries to shake off any residual embarrassment. "But the last thing I want to do is make someone feel obligated. I didn't want to assume, even though you've been very generous already."