The Park; Monday Afternoon.

[ecirpnellehada]

It wasn't unusual for Adah to be ready for what she needed to do before it needed to be done or, in this current situation, before she could do it. Most of her things had been shipped for convenience, so Adah sat at the base of a tree in the park with one simple, small suitcase beside her and a notebook in her lap. She had a bit still until her

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[vkandis_son]

Karal was simply walking, and thinking, Altra padding along beside him, and he stopped when he saw Adah. "Hello, Adah," he said hesitantly, unsure about disturbing her.

[ecirpnellehada]

All Karal would be interrupting was a rather lovely little cartoon in three panels of a squirrel realizing all too late that he was about to spontaneously combust. That was, of course, fairly important, but not important enough to stave off a chance to say good-bye to him after all. Her plans to visit him at the library were a little trashed by a lack of desire to leave her bed and, more importantly, what was in it all last week.

She glanced up, giving him a small, careful nod. "Karal."

[vkandis_son]

He smiled and nodded back, head tilting as Altra studied the suitcase. "You're leaving?" he asked, smile fading slightly.

[ecirpnellehada]

Adah eyed Altra a little warningly as he studied the suitcase, but, for the most part, her attention went into another small nod, into Karal. "My cab should be here in a few hours," she explained. "Classes start Wednesday."

[vkandis_son]

He was surprised at how sad he felt. "May I sit with you while you wait?" he asked. "Just for a short time," he added, corner of his moth quirking in a smile. "I wouldn't want to wear out my welcome."

[ecirpnellehada]

Adah nodded her welcoming gesture toward a spot on the grass beside her. "Far be it for me," she said, "to refuse an audience with the once father of my fake robot child."

[vkandis_son]

Karal sat down, crossing his legs neatly as Altra settled on the grass in front of them, so Karal could see. "And I'd hate to have missed a chance to say goodbye to the once mother of my fake robot child," he replied lightly. "Are you glad to be going, do you think?"

[ecirpnellehada]

"I had intended," Adah offered, feeling a bit bad for the fact that if he hadn't happened by, that good-bye would have been missed, "to stop by the library, but I got caught up in other affairs. And I have mixed feelings, to be honest." She drew in a bit of a breath, glancing around the park. "I'll be doing something that's more important to me than anything else, but I feel so antagonistic about where I'm from. It's like taking a giant step backwards, but it's a step backwards I have to take in able to move forward."

[vkandis_son]

He nodded slowly. "It often seems to be the way, two paces back for one forward. It would be nice if the way could just be clear occassionally!" He plucked a bit of grass, turning it over in his hands. "I won't insult you be saying that those things we truly want, that are important, always come at a cost." He smiled. "But I will tell you that I have no doubt at all that you will succeed. I cannot imagine you allowing the world to turn out any other way."

[ecirpnellehada]

Adah grinned a little, knowing that she couldn't imagine it any other way either, and gave her head a light shake. "Why would that be insulting me?" she asked, and her smirk sharpened a little. "Especially considering that it's considerably more insulting for you to tell me anyway in the way that you did and think I won't notice."

[vkandis_son]

Karal laughed. "Ah, but if I hadn't said it, I'm sure you would have been waitign for me to say it, and I'd hate to have you think I forgot a homily." He schooled his features to solemnity, though it wasn't easy, another smile trying very hard to escape. "Given you have such a high opinion of the clergy." And he grinned.

[ecirpnellehada]

Adah's grin was a little wry, but mostly biting as it lead into the roll of her eyes. "The fact that I associated with you and Luke both," she said, "is a true testament in and of itself that no one can ever make too strong a case that I have a closed mind. I still stand by my belief for that every clergyman like yourself, there's probably at least ten like my father."

She might have even mentioned to him that she was even doing research now regarding a medical search for a soul, but she would hate to test his sense of humility.

[vkandis_son]

He held up his hands, even if he was a little pink at the praise. "I would never say such a thing," he promised. "And sadly I have known more than a few Sun-priests who are lazy and venial, and have little faith in anything beyond their next tithe." He wrapped the grass around one finger, head bowed even if it didn't change his view of her. "And while on that subject, would you consider humouring me a little before you leave?"

[and I go get on a plane now!]

[ecirpnellehada]

Adah's eyes narrowed in suspicion. And curiosity, which is what caused them to drag slightly toward Altra. Everyone knew how the phrase went, after all.

"That would all depend on exactly what you'd like to be humored with."

[[ have a good flight! even if you are mean and suspensery with that ping, you meanie head! ]]

[vkandis_son]

Altra twitched his whiskers at her, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.

"There is a blessing that Sun-priests give, a traveller's blessing," he said quietly, laying the piece of grass across his knee. It was odd, watching them both through Altra's eyes. "Would you humour me by allowing me to say the words for your journey?"

[ecirpnellehada]

Adah drew in a small, slight breath, but she gave a small nod. "It would hardly be fair," she said, "to deny you the privilege when I allowed Luke to do something similar when he left. All I ask is that you don't particularly expect me to have much faith in it."