(Untitled)

[callsignhusker]

It's not the first time Adama's found himself in Milliways since he and Hektor spoke; it's the first time he's approached the bar.

It's a surprise, therefore, when a wooden figure appears, with a note attached (the four corners of the paper have been clipped

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[forced_pilgrim]

There are people in Milliways who carry themselves with strength and quiet dignity. And on the other end of the spectrum, there's Monkey.

Monkey has gotten tired of being small, and is now back to being merely short, a shuffly four foot high long-tailed ape in a saffron robe, meandering around the bar.

He stops to peer at the statue with bloodshot eyes, and while he's been told repeatedly by Tripitaka that we look with our eyes, and not with our hands, he's a monkey, and it's worth keeping an eye on him.

[callsignhusker]

Adama does.

Both of them.

He doesn't do anything else -- just watches, closely.

[forced_pilgrim]

Monkey chatters noisily to himself more or less at will; he does so now, as he looks over the statue. "What is it?"

His instinct is to extend a long black finger and prod it, but after enough repititions, even "don't poke the Buddha," sinks in.

[callsignhusker]

"A representation of a god from my world," Adama says, even.

Any trace of what the hell, a four-foot talking monkey is invisible in speech, posture, expression.

[forced_pilgrim]

"Gods should have more divine markings," Monkey says. Not skepticism, but criticism--this is a subpar god. "Did you commission it, for the sake of your soul?"

[callsignhusker]

A four-foot talking monkey with theological proclivities.

"It was a gift."

[forced_pilgrim]

"Oh." Monkey thinks about this. "What is it for? Do you meditate on it?"

He's not good at standing still; his tail begins to thrash from side to side as nervous energy builds up.

[callsignhusker]

"Some people do."

[forced_pilgrim]

"I know that," Monkey says, mildly. "In the Middle Kingdom, they have no scriptures, so they practice buddhanusmurti. They meditate on the body on the Buddha, and the markings. But do you?"

Idly, he begins to crane his neck around; maybe the statue has hidden significance when viewed upside down?

[callsignhusker]

Adama watches this.

He doesn't respond immediately.

"No."

[forced_pilgrim]

"Oh." There comes a point when gravity takes a toll on neck-craning; Monkey grips the back of a chair, and continues his rotation into a full headstand, instead.

He regards Adama-upside-down with the same blank, black-eyed stare the statue gets. "Is someone trying to convert you?"

[callsignhusker]

"No."

He maintains eye contact.

(With a four foot tall talking monkey who likes talking about the nature of gods.

It's been a while since he's had the luxury to think about Leoben and the encounter at Ragnar Anchorage.

Leoben and the monkey might get along.)

[forced_pilgrim]

"You're very quiet." It's possible this is a criticism; it's possible not.

It's hard to read Monkey.

"Did you know," he says, "giving to the priesthood ensures a good rebirth."

[callsignhusker]

...Leoben and the monkey would get along.

Adama's eyes narrow.

"No."

[forced_pilgrim]

Awkward silence! "Well... it does."

Monkey reaches up--balancing on one hand--and fishes a wooden bowl out of his robe, then proffers it to Adama. There are a few coins in it--roughly round, irregularly thick, with square holes in the middle--and some dried vegetables.

[callsignhusker]

Adama regards the bowl.

Regards the monkey.

Rebirth is for Cylons. Not humans.

Adama was never religious in the first place.