abraxaslogs | january catch-all

[ While the "vacation" they'd all been taken on the month before had come with a stipend that covered all of their costs, now that they've returned to their respective factions it's back to earning a living wage. Steve's never been against putting hard work in, though, and when word comes of a larger caravan that wants to make the trip out to Aquila, he's quick to accept the job.

Thankfully he'll only be taking the group of wagons half the way, through the more dangerous and bandit-infested parts of the trip. It means he won't be away from Cadens for too long, though he's confident that Sam can hold down the fort anyway.

He's told that they've hired two people onto this job, which doesn't bother him or rub him the wrong way. He could probably handle things on his own, sure, but he understands the desire for extra security given the sheer number of people and supplies that are involved.

Maybe he shouldn't be that shocked that his partner on this job is another Summoned. Most of them have backgrounds as soldiers or other combatants, it seems like, and they're also all in need of work. Steve hasn't spoken to this guy before, but he definitely saw him in passing on the ship last month.

They've been on the road for a few hours without incident. Steve's ridden solo until now, remaining focused on the possibility of an ambush as they leave Cadens. They've hit a quiet moment, and he finally decides to direct his horse over to fall in line with Altaïr's. ]

Used to riding? [ He nods down to Altaïr's mount. ] You seem as comfortable as if we were walking. [ Steve's managing well enough himself, but he definitely isn't used to long rides like this. The only other time was when he'd made that supply run with Sephiroth, which was months ago now. ]

Edited 2023-01-12 00:56 (UTC)

[Altaïr has become a jack of several trades since arriving in the Free Cities. Security, messenger services, whatever has been necessary. Theft, occasionally. It's different from his life back home, where he'd often been alone but had resources provided to him by the brotherhood.

It's fine. It all comes down to survival in the end, and he's good at that. This latest job is a simple one, although the ease of it remains to be seen, and that's been welcome. It's given him time to think as he rides, settled onto his mount and into his thoughts about all that's happened lately — although his gaze is never less than alert as he keeps an eye on their surroundings.

His partner, if that's what the other Summoned is, seems an amiable sort. He hasn't chattered for the sake of hearing his own voice, which Altaïr appreciates. It's not that he dislikes conversation; he simply prefers to speak when he has something to say.

Steve has something he wants to say now, apparently. Altaïr nods at him as he approaches, guarded but not unfriendly.]

It's the common way to travel longer distances where I'm from. [The corners of his mouth twitch in a half-smile.] I was surprised by how many of the Summoned haven't ridden. It seems unnecessarily limiting.

[ Steve is perfectly content with going for long stretches of time without making conversation, but when it comes down to it, he knows it's important to get a sense of who he's working with, on the off chance that something does happen on this trip. Their very presence may be enough to dissuade any potential bandits from attacking the wagons, but that's not a guarantee by any means.

So, he'd like an idea of who this guy is and what experience he has with this sort of work, to know how much he can expect him to have his back if things go south. ]

Well, a lot of us come from places where there are cars or motorcycles, which are... a lot faster, and a little more predictable.

[ He glances down at his horse, which gives a little toss of its head and snorts, as if proving his very point. Cars and motorbikes don't spook or stop listening. ]

... But if the primary way of traveling where you're from is horseback, I'm gonna guess you don't have a clue what I'm talking about.

[ Similar to Claude and his friends, in terms of the level of technology he's familiar with. He didn't make any mention of wyverns, though... ]

[He half-lifts a hand in the air and waggles in it a gesture that can be universally read as 'ehhhh.' Some communication transcends time, space and language.]

Perhaps a small clue. I've heard a few things, and visited the gasoline station in the Horizon, so I can try to visualize it.

[He'd kind of like to try drawing what he imagine a car might be like and show it to someone who knows them to learn how inaccurate it is, but that will probably depend on whether he's willing to take the substantial risk of looking very foolish.]

That doesn't mean it's an accurate mental image. Have you been riding long?

[The man clearly isn't a novice, but he doesn't have the look of someone who's spent their life in the saddle.]

[ A gas station in the Horizon? Steve hasn't been there himself, which is probably a sign that he needs to wander around in there some more. He knows it's his own hang-ups that make him wary of the Horizon overall. A gas station is certainly a choice, though, when it comes to domains. ]

A motorcycle is kind of like a mechanical horse, but with less animal features. You sit on it the same way, but it's a lot lower to the ground.

[ Steve could draw a few pictures himself to give Altaïr a better sense of it, but nothing is going to beat seeing the real deal (or something close to it) in the Horizon.

At the question, Steve shakes his head. ] I hadn't really ridden horses until I got here, but then I realized I needed to learn quick. I'm definitely not an expert, but I also don't really get sore from this kind of thing, so...

[ He's a cheater and has an unfair advantage compared to others from the modern world. ]

[Altaïr tries to imagine a horse made of metal with no face and gives up shortly thereafter. This picture in his mind definitely isn't accurate.]

Then you're doing well. The first few rides can easily be a pain in one's backside.

[He can remember well the complaints he and his peers had made when first learning to ride. Of course, they'd been much younger than this man.

Semi-turning away, he takes the time to scan the horizon rather than get too caught up in conversation. They'd be poor providers of security if caught unawares.]

Have you made this journey before?

[ Steve lets out a low chuckle at that and nods. He's pretty sure if it weren't for the serum he would have felt every ride that he'd made on horseback in the morning. He's well aware that the benefits of the serum outweigh the downsides at this point and he tries not to rub people's faces in it.

However, Altaïr is quick to shift the subject back to the task at hand, not that Steve minds. They're working, after all, and he'd rather not get too distracted either.

Right now all that's around them are sand dunes, but some of them are massive enough that they could easily hide a group of bandits lying in wait on the other side. They'll need to stay sharp. ]

No, actually. [ He readjusts on the saddle, not wanting to end up stiff. ] I rode to the Solvunn border for the supply run, but not toward Aquila. You?

No. It's one of the reason I accepted this job. I want to be familiar with as much of the land as possible.

[This isn't his home, but he wants to treat it as such. He hadn't known every rock, every bush, every twist and turn in every path of the Holy Land, but he'd known as many as possible. Even if his real work meant knowing and blending in with every corner of the cities, it had been important, and doubtless saved his life more than once.]

And it's work worth doing. I'd rather protect the people than take up arms on their behalf.

[Given the amount of weaponry he's carrying right now, one could argue that the two prospects are much the same. Altaïr would not agree.]

[ Steve nods, understanding that desire to map out as much of this world as they feasibly can. They have a lot more space to move around here when compared to the Summoned in Thorne, and why not take advantage of it? It means that if things really start to go south, they'll know more about their surroundings and where to usher civilians in the event of an emergency.

It's also just nice to have the chance to stretch his legs, when he can.

Despite Altaïr's second statement, Steve doesn't seem to blink at how he's armed, though he's definitely clocked it. The desert is not a safe place and they're here as bodyguards, so it makes sense to be ready for anything. ]

Yeah, I don't think most of us are that interested in being drafted, but it's not like I don't want to help where I can.

[ He's just not interested in fighting wars that are about little more than territory. Well, that and deciding what to do with the Singularity, which is far too close to a weapon of mass destruction for his liking. ]

What did you do, back home?

[ Altaïr's clearly got combat experience, he knows how to ride a horse, and he's comfortable serving as an escort. It's got Steve curious. ]

The difference lies in having free choice.

[Not entirely true. There's also a difference in potential violence on behalf of others and being a soldier — but choice is where it starts.

Altaïr considers for a moment before answering. He's more or less settled o a particular stated occupation, but he has a sense that "mapmaker" won't be so easily accepted by this man.]

I made and sold maps in my homeland, but it wasn't my only trade. It couldn't be, once war came. I did some work similar to this at times.

[The rest of the time he'd spent studying, training and taking the lives of men who deserved it, but he doesn't need to get into that.]

And you?

Edited 2023-02-19 02:17 (UTC)

january catch-all

— altaïr

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