(Untitled)

[still_burned]

It's been a while since Michael was here but he's glad to see the place for once - he'd been about to go for a run and it'll be much easier to do it here rather than the sweltering humidity of Miami.

He heads out to the lake and starts a ten mile circuit. He'll be back in the bar afterwards for a protein shake - catchable anywhere.

Comments

[ostro_goth]

While he is running around the lake, Michael will hear hoof-beats approaching from behind.

[still_burned]

He does and it would happen to be approaching a point where a rock narrows the path. He pauses and jogs on the spot so the rider can pass if they want to, shaking his hands out as he does.

[ostro_goth]

The horse walks past slowly, and the rider turns to look at Michael, as if wondering what he is doing with his hands.

[still_burned]

He looks up, his small, friendly smile of acknowledgment/greeting turning a little confused at the scrutiny. Still, he doesn't say anything; he's a little winded and if the guy doesn't want to chat, he won't hold him up.

[ostro_goth]

"Good morning," the rider says, friendly enough. "What happened to your hands?"

[still_burned]

'...nothing?'

What.

'Just keeping the circulation going.

...you're not a runner, are you?'

Definitely not built like one but even sitting on a horse, it's obvious the guy knows how to handle himself. Not modern either, or American.

[ostro_goth]

"Not for its own sake," the rider says. "In combat and training, I would be on my feet much, and can keep at it for hours; but I never just ran, the way you are doing."

[still_burned]

He nods, his thoughts confirmed.

'It's good cardio. But your hands and arms can get numb and tense from holding them bent, so...'

A shrug, to indicate the reason for shaking them out.

'What sort of combat are you into?'

[ostro_goth]

"Battle," the rider says. "I would not say I was 'into' it, as men from the future put it; it was a necessity, in my lifetime. Sword-fighting, battle-axe, spear-throwing, archery, all from horse-back or on foot. Since I came here, I also learned about the unarmed combat as taught in the lands of Japan, and a very handy weapon named the naginata, which one might call a Japanese battle-scythe. I have a rocket launcher, also, and have gone to other worlds to use it."

[still_burned]

He laughs at that, walking easily next to the horse.

'I guess I should expect people to be proficient in archaic weaponry and rocket launchers, in this place. You sound like you'd be a pretty handy guy to have around in a fight.'

He offers a hand up for shaking.

'Michael Westen.'

[ostro_goth]

The rider bends down from the horse and shakes the hand.

"I am Teja, son of Tagila," he says. "I was the last king of the Ostrogoths in Italy and died in battle, on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius, in the year 552 of Christian reckoning."

Pause.

He sits straight again.

"I have been here for two years and a half," Teja adds. "I have learned many things not of my time, since then. Among them, the handling of rocket launchers. One can destroy much, with a single shot."

[still_burned]

He nods politely, non-commitally.

'Yeah, I've heard that about them.'

Michael has been trained with every weapon that carries a grading but he'd never just blurt that out, not even here. Even if it weren't against every spy regulation there is, he's just not that open a guy to start off with.

'The movies make them look like fun. There's a lot to be said for some impressive swordplay too though.'

He rubs sweat off his forehead and looks sympathetic.

'Two and a half years is a long time to be stuck in this place.'

[ostro_goth]

"My favourite weapon was ever the battle-axe," Teja says. "But swords have their uses, also."

Pause.

"This is the afterlife, for me. I have visited other worlds, but Milliways is home now, for the time being."

[still_burned]

'You're...dead?'

Hmm. He's been told that dead people move around here but he doesn't think he's met one of them before.

'Doesn't it drive you crazy? I got stuck here for a week when I first came in and nearly went insane.'

[ostro_goth]

"Many universes are connected to this place," Teja says. "It would be hard to become bored. I was not used to peace while I was alive; it is still a novelty to be savoured."

[still_burned]

He looks at the path ahead and doesn't say anything for a dozen footsteps or so.

'I suppose battle in your time was a lot different to how it is today. I'm not surprised that you're glad to be finished with it.'

Beat.

'Though probably being killed isn't the ideal solution.'

Smooth talking there, Mike. Way to go.