Morning Jog (An On Going In Between)

[Akirapryde]

She nodded in gratitude over the bit of information that he allowed her to have. "You are guarded with your information" she pointed out. "I can understand that. We all have our own secrets and demons we much live with" she added as she leaped over another log like a professional hurdler. Her breath labored as she spoke. "It was the one thing that was throwing me off about guessing which order you came from. My knowledge of the Orders is not vast. But what I do know, Awakened society has always had its share of rebels and strange geniuses, mages who could never accept the easy answers of Atlantean tradition. The Silver Ladder cast them out, the Adamantine Arrow refused to protect them and the Mysterium expunged their words from history. In you I see this very sense of rebellious nature. Don't get me wrong, change is a very good thing. Even when that change is wrong. We learn from our mistakes and grow from them. This is what makes our sub-Order different from the rest of the Silver Ladders."

She kept her focus on her footing once more to ensure that she didn't slip or break an ankle. "This is why i suspected you as Free Council. But your guarded nature was throwing me off. As for your brother, I am almost sure he too is Free Council." She slowed down a bit to get over a large rock out cropping, "We are a Cabal. This I do not dispute. We are going to have to learn to work together. And that means, accepting each other for who we are." On that she came to a stop and turned to face him. "This is why I am trying to get along better with you two" she said in labored breath. "I want us to be able to work together. I believe it is in our differences is where our strengths are to be found. Do you agree?"

[a magical taco]

Richard hurried behind Rebecca, his chest already burning again and his legs felt weak. Running was not something he imagined he was going to get use to anytime soon. When Rebecca stopped and turned to face him she and show his two mind went in opposite directions. Half his mind knew what she was trying to say and could agree with it on some level while the other half just thought she sounded foolish. 'Strength to be found in our differences' it just sounded like a bad fortune cookie.

He made sure to keep his face stoic, he did not want to insult her now, and he nodded his head. He was getting to tied to talk and decided to boost his physical abilities with magic, making himself more athletic and agile. He threw in a little euphoria just for fun. He also decided to merge his mind back to one. "I imagine our differences are what it's going to keep us alive as we move forward since our organizer doesn't feel the need to keep us in the know".

[Akirapryde]

She nodded as she turned and continued with their jog, "I don't know what is fully going on. But I do know that what ever it is, it is really big....." She paused in mid-thought making no attempt to conceal her pause. She was caught between what she has been taught and what she must learn. He was Free Council and she was Silver Ladder. Two factions that normally rarely see eye to eye on anything. But now she was hand picked to be part of a Cabal which one of the most powerful members of the Silver Ladder had created. Not only was he a recognized leader of the Ladder, but well respected.
She took a moment to clear her head of any doubt. Richard might be Free Council, but they were in this together. How could she expect him to trust her if she couldn't trust him.

"Give me a moment please" she said softly as her heart rate started to climb. She focused her mind and magical abilities on the spells she knew she would need in the moment. She wanted to make sure that no one could ease drop on this conversation. Either through regular means or via magical. She hoped that her own limited abilities would be enough. "Please don't be alarmed" she warned as she prepared her spells. "I want to make sure that what I tell you remains between us" she said. After a few disappointing attempts, she finally managed to get what protection spells she knew of up and ready. Satisfied that she has managed to do what she could to keep on ease droppers out of their conversation. I hope that is enough.

(OOC: I am still unfamiliar with the spells. I hope that what she is doing is possible for her levels. If the Narrator wishes to address this with me, by all means. If I am completely off on her action, than please assume her attempts failed.)

Still, she was unsure if she could trust him. So many times she was warned that the other factions simply couldn't or wouldn't understand her core beliefs. She paused once more second guessing herself. But one thing rang true in her mind. Faction over Blood. Her Faction Leader trusted him, so she would as well. Without, finally all doubt passed from her. "My father" she stated after another more than noticeable pause. "As well as other leaders of the Ladder have been involved in nonstop meeting. The World leaders of my Faction have gathered and are speaking about this. I don't know if your faction is doing the same as we speak, but I am in regular contact with my Faction and they have been keeping me up to date on what they know. Which as it stands now, nothing more than we actually know."

She hoped that her trust in him was not misplaced. She hoped that she wouldn't regret this choice. In that moment she realized that she couldn't hear his heavy breathing anymore. She glanced back wondering if he had fallen behind. To her surprise he had not only kept up with her but was doing far better than she was. 'Magic!' she thought quickly. She slowed her pace to allow him to move along side her. "I know its hard and takes a lot out of you to do this" she said speaking about the long jog that they were doing. It was even hard on her. Sure she could do it, but her own weak body was making this so much harder on her. "But this conditioning of mind and body will make us stronger in the long run" She got an idea and hoped it would help him over come the temptation of the easy way out. "Your faction has been known for personal courage in the face of adversity. This is a challenge for you, and I know it. But how you face challenge will define who you are."

She looked at him for a moment, "I wouldn't judge you. But I know in my heart you can be better. You can do better. Just like you inspire me to be better." In that moment she had inspiration. "Already meeting you has caused me to rethink a lot of my past choices. Have you noticed, since our first meeting I have not had any alcohol" she asked softly. "We are taking part in a grand quest. One that could literal reshape who we are at our very core." She smiled feeling good about her words, "I mean to embrace my weakness, like being over judgmental." She realized that she was sounding preachy and opted to take heed of that little voice in her head telling her to shut up. She smiled and gave him a nod letting him know she was done for the moment.

[a magical taco]

Richard knew she wasn't going to let him use magic for long but he needed a breather. He would have to do this the old fashion way, or at least what would look more like the old fashion way. He released his active spend and decided to instead bolster his virtue. Richard believed in testing himself when the opportunity arose even if in the past he way happy to for go test of the physical nature. He also cast a spell to help him be more sure footed here in the woods. He would put in the work but he wasn't interested in straining his ankle. He also cast his mage sight to see if any mind were present. Aside of the expected wildlife he did not sense anyone.

"I would imagine members of my order are aware of Arune's return. Though I have made no attempts to contact them". Which was technically true, he had told Simon to contact them. He hoped they would hear back from the Free Council soon.

"I do not sense anyone near by. Would you like me establish a telepathic link, just to be safe?"

[Akirapryde]

"Thank you for helping me keep this secure. But I don't think a telepathic link is necessary. Thank you though," she replied trying to be pleasant. But the jog was starting to take its toll on her. Her body was quick but her endurance and over all physical strength were not anywhere near she wanted them.

The burning in her legs told her that she was pushing her limits. But this was her sweet spot. Long after others would have given up, Rebecca found strength to push just that bit further. It was a  talent that she had to summon up this kind of inner strength.

Despite the conversation and the progress she felt she was making with him, Rebecca still felt uneasy about an issue. Rebecca thought long and hard over what Richard had said. 

There was a nagging issue that was dividing them and she wasn't sure how to bring it up. Well if not the Cabal as a whole it was clearly affecting her desire to work within the Cabal. 

For a few moments she allowed her focus to be centered on her jogging through the forest of Colorado Springs. Her surroundings filled her heart with such warmth. She could hear her heart beat beating in her chest. She could even feel the warmth of her breath through the chilled spring air washing back over her face as she ran.

"Richard" she said in a tone of voice that reflected the change in subject. More than that, her voice signaled that this subject was important to her. "It's about your brother" she started then paused. "I know we had a rough start. There was the issue with the pictures and I drew a gun on you. I don't blame him for drawing on me in your defense. I would have done the same thing if it was Kira in your place."

She gathered her thoughts for a moment, "but even after we realized that we would be in a Cabal together, his aggressive posturing has yet to subside. You were there when he again pulled a gun on me over my being critical of his smoking weed. That argument by the stairs leading down to the Library. Then he slapped me."

It wasn't that she believe that she was wrong in what she said in that moment, but she did take note that her words did play a part in what happened and how it escalated. "Okay I concede that I might have pushed the issue as well. But when words turn to direct threats and violence against me I do become alarmed."

She paused long enough to leap over a large log. "Then there was yesterday in the cavern. An offering was suggested and I suggested that we had your brother. I guess he took my statement the wrong way. Cause he accused me of referring that he was a slave and once more threatened my life. I only meant that in the alley he had preformed admirably as a diplomat. But again the violence is there and this time I did nothing wrong."

Without missing a stride or her thought she leaped over another fallen long. "I know we need to work together. But for the life of me I don't know what his problem is with me," she said then almost already knew the answer. "Well okay I know what his problem is" she conceded. "How do I bridge this gap between us?"

[a magical taco]

"Sleep with him" Richard voice was even. "That would be the easiest way"

[Akirapryde]

Rebecca's first reaction was to call him out on the poorly timed joke. But then she realized that if she was to actually earn his trust more than just as members of a Cabal, than she would have to actually accept his kind of humor. Luckily, she was ahead of him so she figured that he missed the facial reaction to his words that cut deep.

Doing her best to hide her initial reaction she made an honest effort to joke back. "You are mistaken" she replied with an equally even voice. "That is not the easiest way. I could simply kill him. Speaking from experience, guilt fades over time. revulsion on the other hand lingers for years to pass."

She hoped that her attempt at this kind of humor was taken the right way. Still she figured that she would clarify her stance on this issue. "However, ultra extremes aside. Is there something more practical that you might be able to suggest?"

[a magical taco]

Richard laughed out loud. He knew Rebecca was a little uptight but she had come back with a pretty funny response. Richard considered the possibilities. Currently Simon had been on one of his building kicks and had been trying to create whatever he could get his hands on. "I suppose you could help him design something to build, a greenhouse maybe".

[Akirapryde]

Rebecca released an inner sigh of release that he laughed over her attempt at joking. She wasn't sure if it would have been taken the right way or not. She didn't want to admit that after his comment, she had a hazy fogy flashback. She could see looking up as strange men laughed over her. They were all either naked or half naked. She wanted to know more about the flashback but before she could focus on it, it was gone again. The broken memory left her with a sickening feeling in her gut that nearly broke her stride.

Before she was nearly over whelmed with that sickening feeling, she realized that it was starting to show on her. Fear gripped her heart as she thought that he noticed her reaction. She didn't want it to be shown, but the feelings were so over whelming that she couldn't help it.

By sheer force of will, she bottled up the memories and the feelings that came with them and pushed them back in to that dark place in her mind. Despite her attempts at humor, the weak smile on her face that only further confirmed the distress that she was in just a moment ago. "Greenhouse" she uttered. "That is very do able" she added softly.

Just through the trees she saw the cliff that over looked the lake that was near their cabin. "Oh HEY" she said braking her own tension. "Look!" she pointed as she pushed through the trees and bushes till she was at the edge of the cliff. Beyond and far below was the lake and in the distance on the other side was their cabin. "Isn't this just a sight to be hold" she said softly allowing the scene to be taken in.