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I didn't say anythin' of the sort.

[He says it with no hesitation, attention already on the machine again, but he at least refrains from pointing out that this isn't a submarine. Or is it? Who knows. Maybe they can go in the water. Maybe that's part of how they fill up.

Probably best not to test that unless as a last resort, though.]

Yeah, askin' is probably a good idea. I don't know anythin' about horses either, so that's going to be on you.

[He's never even met a horse, and has actually never even been close to one except passing by them on the street since arriving here, so he's utterly useless on this front. Also he imagines horses might hate him, so definitely better if Hilda handles this just in case.]

[ Okay fine, he's got her there. But she can't help but assume that it was at the very least implied. No one makes something to be inherently dangerous, right? ]

Huh? What you makes you think that I know a ton about horses?

[ Unless 'know' is being used loosely here. She's dealt with horses sure, but she's not exactly a horse whisperer. That's more Sylvain's thing. ]

Are you sure you don't want to come along? [ The doe eyes return in full force. ] I can do all the talking.

[ She's fully expecting him to decline. It's worrying that he's been rather antisocial - not that she knows anything about what he was like before arriving in Abraxas - but she can't help but wonder if it has something to do with the everything that had happened in the pit. ]

[Know is definitely being used loosely, in the sense that she might have actually been within five feet of a horse at some point in her life and therefore incredibly qualified compared to him. But he doesn't bother clarifying that, instead regarding her suspiciously for a moment at both the doe eyes and the offer to do all the talking; there's definitely an angle here, and it isn't too difficult to figure out.

That, combined with that he can't--or rather shouldn't--mess with the not-sub until they get some more information, makes it easy enough to make a decision. But he still pretends to think about it for a brief moment as very mild payback before responding.]

Sure, but I'll hold you to that.

[He won't, as he has no real problem talking if necessary. But despite his agreement, and especially despite his usual avoidance of discussing anything involving his feelings, he thinks he should also add--]

Y'know you don't have to be coddlin' me, right?

[It isn't defensive or annoyed--in fact he really appreciates that she cares--but just factual. He's sure she has enough to worry about without him being on the list, and although he might not have the best coping mechanisms ever and it'd be a lie to say he's fine, he's still slowly figuring things out.]

[ Satisfied with Jayden's response, Hilda turns on her heel back up the sloping hill and back in the direction of the nearby farm. Glancing back over her shoulder, she doesn't seem the least bit surprised or offended about Jayden's insistence. ]

Who said I'm coddling you? [ She definitely doesn't see it that way but that won't stop her from giving him some good natured teasing. There's a put on huff before she turns her gaze back forward. ] Someone would have to pay me for that.

[ It's not like she's been hovering about him and his general presence. Insistent about coming out of his room, sure. But it's not like she's been pestering him during all hours of the day. ]

We're friends aren't we? And friends check on friends that lock themselves in their room for long periods of time.

[Friends. Right, that is what friends do, isn't it? He's just so out of practice, something that's mostly a result of his own choice to be polite but reserved when given the chance, and people rarely bother to challenge him on it. They're usually content to be just a distant with him as he is with them.

So he has to remember basic concern is normal, and hopefully not sound like a completely pathetic weirdo in the future. He's pretty sure that ship has sailed with Hilda though, but at least she seems to accept that he's a pathetic weirdo, which is oddly reassuring.]

Good, 'cause I'm still broke, and last thing I want is to be runnin' up a bill I'm not expecting.

[He follows after her, punctuating his stupid comment with a briefly dubious glance at the hill--it's not that steep, but he still hates hills--before continuing, taking the excuse to keep his focus on what he's doing instead of looking at her.]

Back home, I don't do a whole lot aside from work. It takes up more of my time there than anythin' I'm doing here does, but otherwise, this is pretty normal for me.

[So clearly nothing to worry about, which he almost even believes is true.]

[ Good thing she isn't a mind reader, because the self-deprecating comments wouldn't have flown and definitely earned him a flick to the back of the head. Maybe that would have been effective in having it fly out of his head when it wasn't warranted at all. Thankfully she hasn't developed any sort of telepathic powers and instead gives him a teasing smile. ]

Well if I were, you can be rest assured that I wouldn't even charge you interest.

[ In reality she'd probably refuse to take anything back in kind, unless you counted some chores "in kind".

Hearing that Jayden held similar habits to ones he held back home is worrying to say the least and she gives him a look. She doesn't likes hills as much as the next person but this discussion is certainly helping to distract from the fact that they have to walk up it. At least they're almost at the top. ]

What are you doing in your room all the time anyway? Clearly not reading up on submarine repair.

Edited 2023-06-02 06:32 (UTC)

[Yet another reason to never share feelings, because then no one can challenge them, even when it would be good for him. Clearly the best way to handle things.

He notices the look she gives but ignores it, focused more on keeping his footing going up the hill; he's a lot steadier now than he had been right after arriving or just after getting out of the pit, but he can and will still be terribly clumsy for no particular reason if he isn't careful.]

I've been in the Horizon a lot.

[Which is something he's slightly surprised that other people don't do more often themselves.]

Been practicing how to use it, and exploring other people's domains.

[ They crest the hill and she's embarrassed to say that her heartrate had elevated somewhat because of it. Maybe Natasha was onto something with all her nagging about her resuming some kind of training. Ugh.

She whirls around to wait for him, hands planted firmly on her hips and eyebrow arched. ]

You haven't come by to mine yet though - unless you're also trying to avoid me there.

[ There's more she'd like to ask all things considered. Like why he was spending so much time in the Horizon when there's a life to be lived out here. She liked the Horizon just fine, but the Free Cities had just as much to offer and explore. ]

[Although the wet ground does threaten to slide away under his feet once or twice, Jayden reaches the top of the hill without incident, and gives Hilda a flat look in return for both her own expression and the comment.]

I don't know whether to be more offended that you think I'm avoidin' you, or that you think I'd be so bad at it if I was.

[He is here, after all. And in actuality Hilda is one of very few people he's willingly engaging with, at least out of the Horizon anyway.]

But as far as your Horizon goes, would I know it if I see it? Is it pink and full of jewelry?

[He says it with a light tone that makes it obvious he's being obnoxious on purpose.]

People avoid people all the time for plenty of silly, stupid, and practical reasons.

[ It's matter of fact and said without an ounce of pettiness, like she isn't also avoiding someone else right now.

Off in the distance she spots the farm they had passed by on the way here. Once she's certain they've both caught their breaths, she sets off the short way. Luckily there's someone in the field she figures they can ask along with a handy horse and carriage.

Hilda can't help but roll her eyes at the attitude but thankfully her back is turned. Her tone doesn't betray any of her own attitude however and is instead as light as Jayden's is. ]

I guess you'll know it when you see it - I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise. What does yours look like?

I guess that's true.

[Jayden rarely has to purposefully avoid people, and if he is avoiding them they're usually avoiding him in return, so he doesn't put all that much thought into the intricacies of it.

He only briefly has to catch his breath, although the fact that he has to at all registers in his mind as an annoyance; a month in a hell pit and then two months--even if in reality it's somewhat less due to time in the Horizon--in his room has apparently not been great for him. Who would've thought.

It's no surprise that his own sass is returned, though it is nice to not feel terribly awkward about that.]

Guess I'll just have to keep an eye out. Mine's a hotel; big white building, hotel lobby inside.

['Pretty boring' is implied at the end of that, even if he feels no need to change it to something less boring.]

[ If the sass is an indication of returning to some level of normalcy, Hilda will happily take it - even if it'll be the last thing she'd admit to anyone's face. Sass she knows how to deal with. Trying to help people through trauma that they experienced while she wasn't there? That's a little bit more difficult. ]

I'll need a grand tour once we're done today which - [ She catches herself, realizing what she's saying. ] is the only time that I'll ever ask you to meet in the Horizon. Just know that I expect it to be decked out in fun dinosaurs and an actual submarine by the time I get there.

[ The teasing and conversation about the Horizon is put on pause for the time being. Reaching the boundaries of the farm, Hilda actually does make good on her promise to do all of the talking and with minimal flirting to boot. Hilda didn't think it would be that difficult to convince the farmer anyway considering she had promised they'd stop here first on the way back with their water. Before they know it, they've hitched the horse (Maple) to the cart and they're on their way back down the hill in style. ]

See, now that wasn't so bad, was it?

[Jayden reserves his sass for two main categories of people: those who deserve worse but he for some reason can't just go off on, and those he likes and is at least semi-confident will take it in stride. And since Hilda is in the latter category, which requires him to be in something at least approaching a relaxed mood, it's definitely a turn toward normalcy.

Is that because he repressed his issues instead of dealing with them? Sure. But the end result is the same, so good enough, right? Right.

He can't help but give an almost-smirk at the mistake of encouraging time in the Horizon, but he will definitely have to make a few dinosaurs later to practice. And a submarine, even if he's a little less concerned about that; he's pretty sure he could get away with a less-than-accurate one, and they're much less cool than dinosaurs.

While Hilda talks to the farmer, Jayden isn't completely against chiming in if necessary, but thankfully it isn't. Instead he just observes, lurking until they're heading back with their borrowed cart and horse, and he gives Hilda a flat look for her question.]

Any time I go talk to a stranger and don't get shot at or somethin' is 'not so bad.'

[Just because he doesn't like talking to people doesn't mean he can't, although he did definitely prefer not having to do so. But--]

I'm a little more nervous about the horse, actually.

[Are horses always this big up close? And sure, she's trotting along completely agreeably, apparently happy to be doing her job of pulling the cart, but who knows what she's actually thinking? How do you read a horse's body language? So many questions.]

[ Even if the dinosaurs and submarines aren't completely accurate, it's unlikely that Hilda would know any better. There's only so much (read: very little) that she knows of Jayden's world, let alone modern times in general. It would take a fair amount of certainty that someone was trying to pull a fast one on her (and maybe some pettiness) for her to go out of her way to fact check someone from their own world.

Had she not learned about his occupation in their first meeting, Hilda probably would have felt a little more alarm towards Jayden's first statement. It isn't normal to get hurt speaking to a stranger but then again, Jayden's line of work seems to introduce a little more risk than any job she'd ever be willing to take on. Everyone is nervous or scared about different things though. So it's not the getting shot by someone comment that gets an eyebrow raise from Hilda - it's the horse comment. ]

Seriously? She's a sweetheart though. [ Not that she's any better at deciphering what Maple is thinking. Hilda's animal perception skills, funnily enough, are better suited towards wyverns. ] I've been around horses that are way more temperamental than she is. You should give her a pet after we're done this as a reward for a job well done - that will help you get over your nerves for sure.

[He has zero reason to be afraid of horses, having never had a bad experience--or really any experience--and he's not typically the timid type, even if he can certainly be somewhat anxious. So although Hilda's comments are encouraging, not insulting or patronizing or anything, Jayden feels a sudden flash of annoyance at himself and considers Maple for just a moment before stepping closer and reaching out to touch her mane as they walk.

Maple, unsurprisingly, barely pays him any attention, one of her ears twitching but otherwise the horse seems much more interested in continuing to pull the cart than anything else. Jayden, on the other hand--]

I didn't think it'd be so soft.

[The mane. He thought it'd be a lot coarser.]

[ Jayden's tentative pet of Maple's mane brings a bright grin to her face. ]

You can tell that her owners really care for her. Some people don't take care of their horses properly but Maple is lucky. All the more reason that we should make sure that we take good care of her while we're borrowing her.

[ Thanks to the carriage, they're back at the machine far quicker than they had on the way there. ]

Okay, so we'll just have to tie Maple to the submarine and pull it a little further into the water so we can fill it up! [ She tosses the ropes over to him. ] Please tell me you know how to tie a knot.

Yeah. He did seem most concerned about her when it came to loanin' her out.

[Which had been a point in the man's favor; even if Jayden doesn't really consider himself an animal person--nevermind that he's still petting Maple's mane as they walk--but it's often a good indicator of personality to see how someone treats them.

Once they're at the bank again, Jayden catches the ropes Hilda tosses his direction, and then gives her a flat look.]

How could you have forgotten my expertise at tying fancy knots?

[And sure, he'd been talking about ties specifically at the time, but still. And he is not actually at all offended by Hilda possibly forgetting about that conversation, since it was not even slightly actually important, but will he pass up the opportunity to tease her about it? Of course not.

Of course knot.

If he looks vaguely pleased with himself while carefully securing the horse to the machine with a slightly ridiculous but still very secure knot, it certainly isn't because he made that stupid pun in his head.]

I don't blame him. She seemed like she's his own horse. And horses don't just grow on trees - they're expensive!

[ That much at least she knew. In spite of her spoiled upbringing, information about the cost of livestock had at least managed to float into her mind as second hand information. Wyverns for example, cost more than a handful of coin. She says the next part based on personal experience as well. ]

But I'm sure he's just as attached to her on a personal level.

[ The awful joke practically telegraphs into the air despite Jayden not having spoken it aloud. His pleased expression says it all, prompting her eyes to roll into the back of her head. Gods. When she's certain that he's done, Hilda slides off Maple's back before coaxing the horse forward.

It does take a little effort on the horse's part to tug the metal machine forward, but slowly and surely, the wheels on the device roll forward too. Hilda lets out a cheer, going so far as to wade a little bit into the water to give Maple a quick hug around her neck. ]

One part down...a couple more to go? We'll just have to get that hose into the water and we should be on our way, right?

[Jayden keeps a hand on the side of the machine as Maple starts pulling it, as if guiding it--he isn't--or ready to stop it if it gets out of control, which is something that would definitely not be possible. There's not much else he can do, but fortunately everything goes smoothly and although Jayden doesn't follow Hilda into the water, he does give a relieved smile at the success.]

Yeah. Provided it works like we're thinkin', it should be simple from here.

[Too optimistic? Maybe. But he ignores that possibility for now, instead assessing the machine and the hose, realizing--]

I think we're still gonna have to turn it a little.

[The machine. It's close enough now, but the hose might be a little awkward at this angle, which means there's an ~~excuse to~~ need to try to turn the vehicle.]

If the wheel on top works to turn it, Maple should only need to pull it another few feet and we'll be good.

Okay great!

[ Hilda is still in the water and looking at him expectantly. A beat later she motions for him to get a move on to climb atop the machine. Surely he wasn't expecting her to handle Maple and handle the steering of the machine, right? After all, she's the one that has to wade a little further into the water and ruin her completely appropriate boots.

In the midst of her motioning, Hilda coaxes Maple a little further in, being mindful of her own footing against the rocky bed of the river. Once she thinks it's far enough she gives him a little thumbs up. ]

[Jayden rolls his eyes, more for show than any real feeling, and turns to step up on the rungs on the side of the machine again. A little messing with the wheel, along with the extra pull further into the river, and soon the machine is in position.

Now to see if it actually works.

Jayden uncoils the hose again, but doesn't try turning it on, instead looking toward Hilda again.]

You want to do the honors?

[It's only polite to offer, not that he necessarily thinks she's going to want to.]

[ The look she gives him screams, "Are you serious?" Maple meanwhile, seems completely impervious (or maybe the word is oblivious) to their ongoing banter in the form of sass. All they're waiting for is Hilda's signal to move, and perhaps the prospect of some treats and a good brushing later. ]

Jayden, I'm literally in the water. Don't you think it would just be more efficient for you to turn the hose on since you're there?

[ Despite what she's saying however, Hilda is actually enjoying herself. There's a realization that dawns on her that she had missed this kind of interaction with people - with friends. The thought alone sends a warmth across her chest, and the corner of her lips quirk upwards ever so slightly. ]

And, I wouldn't want to take away this moment from you.

[That looks says so much, and so he's already grinning a little by the time she responds. The response itself is exactly what he's expecting, though he does have to remark--]

Uh-oh, got demoted to 'Jayden'.

[He's joking, of course; like Hilda, he's having fun as well. It's been an adjustment--or a readjustment, perhaps--to have people he enjoys being around, to not feel the need to second guess himself all that much in conversation. It's nice.

But okay. Enough delays, time to see if they can actually accomplish round one of the entire reason they're out here. Jayden puts the end of the hose in the water, takes a deep breath, flips the switch.

He's not sure what he's expecting to happen, but it's... Anticlimactic. In fact, it seems like nothing is happening at all, but he soon realizes there's bubbles in the water and--]

Oh, wrong way.

[He flips the switch the other way and then a deep gurgling noise begins, and as he glances back toward the machine, a small amount of water is starting to accumulate on the bottom.]

Hey, it's working!

You'll be demoted further to 'Norman' if you're not careful.

[ The likelihood of that is actually rather unlikely. Jayden rolled off the tongue far easier than Norman, and frankly suited Jayden better because it didn't make him sound old. Or rather, older than he was. Maybe that was a thought best kept to herself though.

When nothing happens at first, Hilda worries that something else had gone wrong with the machine. But the distinct rumbling of machinery makes her jolt slightly in surprise. Maple, ever steady and true though, doesn't budge even as Hilda lets out a cheer. ]

We'll get those farmers their water in no time. [ She shoots a grin towards Maple who had let out a slight whinny. ] And more importantly a treat for Maple.

[ The water fills up remarkably faster than Hilda initially thought it might, but that just seems like the power of technology in action to her. Once the machine has reached its capacity and it's been turned off, Hilda readies Maple, leading her back up the gentle slope albeit a little bit slower thanks to the added load. When they reach Jayden she gives him an encouraging smile. ]

Did you want to lead her?

[He can't help but laugh at that threat because it's just such a perfect response, as pretty much much the only other people who ever call him Norman also do so when annoyed with him.]

The treat's the important part.

[And he's not even really joking, rapidly becoming more attached to the horse than to the whole point of their little mission, though the latter is still important. He cautiously watches the machine fill, making sure it's all going smoothly and nothing strange is happening, but the tank fills and he switches off the hose.

He's about to ask if Hilda's ready to go when she asks if he wants to take the reins, and only briefly hesitates before deciding why not.]

Sure, but be ready to take over if she decides she doesn't trust me.

[But it seems like Maple does trust him, or at the very least is too chill to really care who's leading her, which is probably most likely. Either way, Jayden feels distinctly encouraged by the success, both when it comes to the mission and the horse.]

Think it'd jinx things if I said that went better that expected?

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