RP for kneel_majorzod

[have_no_mercy]

Tess has had a busy morning. There were business reports to initial and fax back to the office and instructions to be sent to the lab for today's work schedule, as well as making sure her assistant was clear on what did and didn't constitute a journalistic emergency to bother her with. Then there was a light workout and breakfast before finally

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[kneel_majorzod]

Zod's curiosity was not easily aroused. Most of the time, he simply didn't bother being interested in the goings-on of those around him. He had learned from a young age that high hopes almost unquestionably meant disappointment. Today, however, was different. Today he was letting himself indulge. He was a bit uncomfortable with the notion that he did not know what to expect. He had no idea what Tess's idea of a "free day" was. Regardless, the day would be interesting. Of that the Major was certain as he left his men with strict orders to not try to find him.

Zod walks into the mansion with almost a smile. The guards let him in without question; they are apparently getting used to Zod's appearances.
Unsure whether to be eager or concerned, Zod steps into Tess's office. He is immediately taken aback by her appearance. He never remembers seeing her dressed in anything but her business clothes.
"Well, don't you look delightful this morning?" Zod says with amusement.

[have_no_mercy]

"Thank you," she replies without missing a beat, offering an amused smile of her own over her shoulder. Then to complete her look, she tugs on a long sleeved hooded sweater and grabs a winter coat from her desk. It's cold outside and Tess is nowhere near cold climate friendly.

She turns to face him finally and holds out a flashlight. "We're going on a little field trip."

[kneel_majorzod]

Zod raises an eyebrow. A field trip? It's not really what Zod was expecting. But then again, a lot about Tess goes against his expectations.

"A field trip?" Zod asks with another smile as he glances down at the flashlight. "I honestly have no idea where you're going with this, Tess."

[have_no_mercy]

"That's why it's called a surprise," Tess says, stepping closer to him, flashlight still proffered. "Don't worry. You'll survive it."

[kneel_majorzod]

"I certainly hope so. I think the surprise would be rather soiled if it involved my untimely death," Zod says pointedly, taking the flashlight from Tess's outstretched hand. "We're not going to go burglarize some bank in Metropolis, are we? I think my reputation is bad enough as it is without a criminal record."

[have_no_mercy]

The only response he'll get to his first comment is a small smile before Tess starts to lead the way through the mansion and out to a waiting car.

"There's hardly a point to me robbing a bank. This is just something I thought you might appreciate, since it seems you're here to stay."

[kneel_majorzod]

Zod follows thoughtfully, his amusement replaced once more by gnawing curiosity.

"Fine," he says as they approach the car. "But I make no promises that my face will light up with satisfaction when your plans become clear. You of all people should know that I'm not easily impressed."

[have_no_mercy]

Tess stops short of actually laughing. "I may be cocky, Major, but I'm not expecting miracles." Not at the moment, anyway.

She opens the rear door of the car, waving the driver to his own. "But I suppose we'll find out soon enough. We're not going that far."

[kneel_majorzod]

"I will do my best to curb my anticipation until then," Zod says as he walks around to the other side of the car. "Under normal circumstances, I would be annoyed to be kept in the dark. But today I'm in a good mood, and I am willing to wait a while longer."

It is true that Zod normally hates not being in control. Being lead anywhere, by a human no less, should make him quite irritable. But when that human is Tess, Zod is somehow ok with it.

[have_no_mercy]

"Lucky me." Of course, Tess has no illusions that Zod doesn't know she's doing this on purpose. Nor is she unaware he's indulging her. The trick is in the why, the theories of which she'll keep to herself, for now.

Thankfully for one of them the trip is in fact short and silent, though where they stop is a rather deserted area in the outskirts of Smallville.

It's only then Tess glances over at her companion. "Have you heard or read anything about the Kawatche people since you've been here?"

[kneel_majorzod]

Of course. He should have known. Tess's idea of a "free day" has to be something at least semi work-related. Anything relaxing would be too obvious. But Zod is hardly disappointed. Quite the contrary.

"Kawatche? That sounds mildly familiar. Perhaps I came across it during research. But please. Refresh my memory," Zod said, his curiosity returning.

[have_no_mercy]

There's room for him to be disappointed yet. Regardless, Tess allows herself to be pleased, if only briefly.

"They're the native tribe of this area. To most people, that's really all there is to them. But they had a few legends that were so important to them, that they managed to keep a written record of them at a time when they didn't have a written language of their own." She half smiles and glances out her window ahead of them. "That's what I wanted to show you. Their cave drawings."

[kneel_majorzod]

Cave drawings... Zod is slightly confused. He fails to see how cave drawings could possibly be of interest to him. Nevertheless, he will give Tess the benefit of the doubt for the moment and hear her out. Knowing Tess, she still has something unexpected in store.

"I do not understand what this tribe or their writings have to do with me...but show me, by all means," Zod says, placing his hand on the latch of the car door.

[have_no_mercy]

"You've indulged me this long, what's a few more minutes?" A rhetorical question, it seems, as she exits the car without waiting for a response and instructs the driver to wait for them to return.

"Or look at it this way," Tess continues once Zod has joined her and she starts leading the way down to the cave entrance, "if you're not at least somewhat interested, you can hold my failure over my head for the rest of my life."

[kneel_majorzod]

"The rest of your life? Well, I can't argue with that," Zod says as he follows. "Although, I'm sure you'd find some way to make up for it."

He can't hold back his curiosity as they make their way towards the cave entrance. Tess is over-confident, yes, but she is not foolish enough to lead him on a pointless trip. With Tess, there is always a reason. Therefore, Zod decides to hold off judgment until he sees the cave drawings for himself.

[have_no_mercy]

"Maybe I would and maybe I'd just let you have this one." Over-confident? Absolutely. And with good reason, she thinks. Or hopes, at any rate.

The entrance is easily passable and once inside Tess switches on her flashlight for the first several feet of narrow passage, which are remarkably drawing-free.

"There's only one part of legends the Kawatche remember and we've been able to decipher. The rest appear to be just random symbols, clearly connected but we don't understand them." She pauses, finally stepping out into a more open area where the light is better and dozens - if not hundreds - of markings can be seen. "I have a feeling you won't have that problem."