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.

[kneel_majorzod]

Zod's eyes widen slightly as he runs his fingers over the cave wall. He stands in silence for several seconds before speaking. "How?" he asks simply, his face void of emotion. "These markings are of Kryptonian origin. But aside from Kal-El, I have encountered none of my people on this planet."

[have_no_mercy]

Tess remains silent as Zod takes it all in, keeping her own expression blank, but watching him and his reactions very carefully. When he asks his question, however, since she can answer, she does.

"That's because he's not here anymore. These markings were made over five hundred years ago. The Kawatche say they were visited by a man from the stars. He taught them these symbols and made such an impression on them that they incorporated him into their mythology." At this point she shines her flashlight on an opposite wall, where a clear story is depicted. "He told them the legend of Naman and Sageeth and when he left, he promised he would send another to protect them and this planet; that he would send Naman. They've been waiting ever since."

[kneel_majorzod]

Zod returns his stare to the drawings and frowns. Without turning, he says softly, "Why did you bring me here, Tess? To make me feel at home by showing me something from Krypton? Or do you simply want me to translate these for you?"

He glances at her questioningly. "I find this enjoyable enough, but I don't like being used. If you truly wanted me to interpret them, you merely had to ask. Bringing me here under the pretense of a 'free day' was entirely unnecessary."

[have_no_mercy]

Well, score one for the Major. That's not a reaction Tess was expecting, although now that she's got it, she thinks she really should have been. That doesn't stop the brief flash in her eyes that indicates she's been caught off guard.

"You're right. If I just wanted a translation I didn't have to bring you here." She shuts off the flashlight. "We can leave whenever you want."

OoC: I have to leave now for a while. Be back in a few hours.

[kneel_majorzod]

Zod catches her hand in his and turns the flashlight back on. "I didn't say I wanted to leave. I was merely making a point," he says with a small smile. "I honestly didn't expect anything less from you, Tess. The day we start being completely honest with each other is the day our relationship becomes much less appealing."

Zod brushes his hand over the cave wall again. "But since we're here, you do want to know what they say, don't you?"

[have_no_mercy]

Her eyes drop immediately to their hands the second he touches her. "Don't worry," Tess replies quietly, raising her gaze to meet his. "I'm not completely honest with anyone."

She moves away then, tilting her head to look further up the wall. "That depends. Do they say anything important?"

[kneel_majorzod]

"'Important' is such a relative term," Zod says slowly and distractedly as he runs his eyes across the many symbols in front of him. "Most of this is rather hard to understand. Like a riddle. Also, a lot of it you probably already know... But it will take me some time to sift through it all."

Zod's eyes sparkle slightly as he reads each glyph with ease. His mind wanders to Krypton. Kandor. His home. And it serves as a painful reminder that his planet is gone forever. Catching himself, Zod carefully puts his emotions in check. He doesn't want to appear weak.

[have_no_mercy]

He's not the only one.

Tess continues walking along the wall, looking at symbols she's actually seen many times, but never up close. "So it doesn't tell a story like the other ones do?" She sighs, softly. "I've always felt that if it was truly part of the legend that got lost, they wouldn't have let it get lost to begin with."

Then another thought occurs to her. "Is it possible he was trying to teach them Kryptonian and this is simply all they were able to remember at the time?"

[kneel_majorzod]

"It would take closer examination to discern how these glyphs are connected. If they do tell a story, it is certainly a strange one," Zod says thoughtfully.

He turns and looks at Tess, pondering her idea for a few seconds before answering. "Possible, yes. Whoever created these glyphs did not have an extremely vast knowledge of the Kryptonian language. The alphabet is used consistently, but many of the words are not actually of the language itself."

[have_no_mercy]

Tess nods, not terribly surprised. "Then for our purposes, I'd say it's not that important. Perhaps, though, we've found you a hobby after all, if it interests you that much."

"But really," Tess continues, half over her shoulder, "I just thought you might be pleased to have some sort of connection to your home here on Earth."