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

[i_paladin]

"Family you make through experience and friendship is the best family." A bold statement but Paladin knows no other. What family she had did not want her: what friends she has made are true and would go through hell with her - literally.

Hands in pockets and gaze up at Adia as they stroll down the main drag of Nexus, Paladin listens intently, brows furrowing as they go farther and more of the story is revealed. Unable to help it, a shudder runs down her back, being trapped and hunted: that is truly terrifying. Once again, there is an urge for a sympathetic touch but the only part available is leg and, well, that can send mixed messages. "It must have been hard for you, Adia."

I'm back from Thanksgiving! Sorry for the delay!

[chiron_survivor]

It is a truth that is unfortunately either learned through loss or rejection. Neither of which is in short supply for Adia, but she probably doesn't give herself enough credit, either. Maggie and Seth consider her family, too.

Adia looks straight ahead, blinking a few times to keep her eyes clear. She wonders absently if it will ever get easier to talk about. "It was. Losing him... losing him like that. I felt like I couldn't even grieve for him. Not only because he was a Cylon, but we hadn't..." She shakes her head and scoffs quietly. "We were close friends, but we only were dating for a week. I had... I had all these feelings for him, but for such a short time. Everyone else had lost husbands, wives... partners of many years. I felt like I hadn't earned the right to mourn."

As they reach the inn, Adia pulls on Shadow's reins to bring him to a stop. But she doesn't move to get down quite yet. Some things are easier to talk about on top of a horse. "I found out much later that Cylons are able to download their memories into a new body when they die, so Caspar is still alive. Somewhere. But he hasn't bothered to contact me in all this time. So maybe a couple of months isn't enough to change a Cylon's opinion of humans."

no worries! hope you had a good holiday!

[i_paladin]

Paladin purses her lips together and stays silent for a stride or two before finally speaking. "Your emotions are valid and I feel that you should relax on yourself a little. You are morning the loss of many things with his departure, including a future, those are things important to grieve for." People can feel deep, intense things shortly after meeting someone, when that, and the possibility for a longer, more intense relationship is gone? It is reasonable to grieve.

"Possibly," the Tiefling stops and stares out as she speaks before pausing and looking up at Adia. "Or he might be unable to contact you yet," there is always hope, Paladin firmly believes that.

I did, thanks!

[chiron_survivor]

Paladin makes an excellent point. Adia was not one to jump ahead in a relationship, to hear wedding bells or pick out children's names. But she was looking forward to so much with Caspar. All the little moments of affection, and bigger moments, too. "I was going to invite him to take shore leave with me," she confesses. "He had never been to Leonis."

The problem with hope is that as long as Adia has it, she can never get closure. But she appreciates it, anyway. "I've thought of that. I haven't exactly tried contacting him, either, but the stakes are a little higher for me." She starts to swing out of the saddle, then winces, a little sore from having not ridden in so long. "Paladin, do you mind helping me down?"

excellent

[i_paladin]

The Tiefling gives her a rather tender smile. "It is alright to be sad that you didn't have the chance to do that, Adia." In this situation Paladin can offer very little outside of reassuring the rider that her feelings are alright, are good. In a situation where we are helpless that's sometimes the only thing we can do.

"Of course, of course," Paladin will step forward, hands automatically reaching for the dismounting rider, hands going for her waist in order to help her down. "Ah, that ache after the first ride in a long time."

[chiron_survivor]

"I know," Adia says softly, more for herself than Paladin. She's often hardest on herself when it comes to these sorts of things.

With Paladin's assistance, she dismounts easily enough. She rubs at the small of her back while arching backwards slightly, then forwards, trying to work out the soreness, but even that brings back fond memories. "It was always like this at the start of the summer," she smiles, shaking out the stiffness in her legs. "I'll be fine in a few." She pats horse's neck with a gentle hand. "Thanks for the ride, Shadow. You're a good boy."

[i_paladin]

Paladin will never not enjoy helping a lady down off their horse, which in some situations might make her a bit of a cad. Usually there is a bit of a linger afterward but not this time, they were just speaking about a person Adia lost who was very close to her, comfort is appropriate but not perhaps not overly close contact.

"A nice walk should help with that, or time, either or." Stepping away, Paladin reaches for the dangling reins to take Shadow in hand despite the fact that she is well aware that he will not bolt. "Would you like to meet me inside or come along for his care? Whichever you prefer is fine with me."

[chiron_survivor]

A lingering touch would probably only confuse her. Adia reacts to subtle flirting with obliviousness, and not-so-subtle flirting with awkward blushing. It's probably why it took nearly three months for her and Caspar to get together in the first place. (Although Adia did kiss him first. For the record. She can be brave when she needs to be.)

"I'll come with you. The walk will help me stretch out my legs."

[i_paladin]

At times Paladin would rather face a room full of trolls then actively try and flirt with an unknown factor. At least sober. Generally though, flirting is a dungeon filled with traps that no amount of tip-toeing can avoid, it gets a bit safer if the other person seems keen to play along but even that can lead to awkward silences. Which is why Paladin tends to lean toward sure things, men and women who require no flirting.

After that building of rapport generally works best, with the bonus of gaining friendships and looking less like a fool.

"Excellent!" Paladin heads off to take Shadow behind the building and toward an enclosed pavilion. It's not a stable, Paladin is still looking for one of those, but it will do in a pinch for the time being. "I think Shadow is an excellent name for this steed, you have picked a fine name." Paladin shares with Adia after some contemplation.

"If ever you should like another ride please feel free to do so! Shadow would appreciate that I think."

[chiron_survivor]

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."

[i_paladin]

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."

[chiron_survivor]

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."

[i_paladin]

"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."

[chiron_survivor]

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."

[i_paladin]

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.

[chiron_survivor]

"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."

[i_paladin]

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."

[chiron_survivor]

"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_paladin]

"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."

[chiron_survivor]

"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."

[i_paladin]

"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?"

[chiron_survivor]

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."

[i_paladin]

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."

[chiron_survivor]

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."

[i_paladin]

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."