Cowboys and Bards

[rialynn]

WHO: Rialynn Kollmann, Sparks Nevada
WHAT: The Moogles have decided that Sparks and Rialynn are the perfect match for one another, openly defying Barkeep's fanfiction! Horrors!
WHEN: February 14th
WHERE: Aqures Ixen


Anyone who really knew Rialynn would have been shocked to see her waiting calmly on the sidewalk, not glancing furtively around her for a path of escape, no horse waiting nearby as a convenient excuse to flee the scene.

Oh she had been nervous to be sure, but once Kunia told her that her match wasn't Ramza, she relaxed significantly. That would have been beyond awkward. Technically, Kunia wasn't supposed to tell Rialynn who she was set up with, but when pressed, admitted that his named started with 'S', and ended with 'parks.' That had surprised her, but also settled any unease she might have been carrying. He was level-headed and rational, not the type of person prone to engage in uncomfortable flirtation and flattery.

This was all right, wasn't it? He was sure to have a thousand stories to tell if his robotic horse was any indication, and when it all boiled down to the basics, this was little more than a chance just to spend some time with a friend and an ally. And that was not too terrible at all!

She pinned up her auburn hair in a light twist, leaving a few strands to hang in soft curls to frame her face. The sleeveless dress of forest green was simple and modest, the full skirts rippling slightly in the wind. Rialynn shivered and quickly rubbed at her arms. There was a good chance he might not show up at all, and she couldn't really blame him. The scheme was a silly one, but well-intentioned enough that she didn't feel compelled to bail at her first opportunity. She adjusted the bag containing her journal and pen, shifting the strap a little higher on her shoulder.

"Will you sing him a love song?" Kunia whispered loudly at her side.

A grin crinkled the corners of her eyes. "If he really wants one, I suppose." She doubted he would. "Oh hey, I think that's him just up ahead." She clasped her hands tightly together, not out of nervousness, but to resist the urge to clap them over her ears once the trumpets started to blare.

Comments

[rialynn]

Rialynn watched Sparks with mild concern as he started to fidget. Jib Janeen the Jupiter Spy? Points for alliteration, but he'd hooked her curiosity with his strange reaction. She propped up her chin a little better on her fist. "I'd love to find out how someone goes from a life of crime to a life of religion, but wwwwwwhat about the spy guy?"

She glanced briefly toward the road ahead before looking back at her 'date.' "It's fine if you don't want to talk about it, but you don't have to hold back if you're worried the story will make me uncomfortable." As she didn't know the reason why he'd stalled, she didn't want to just assume she shouldn't discuss it. But neither did she want to press the issue if it really was a sensitive topic for him.

[red_planet_blues]

"Oh, uh, well, with Techs it was all just a manner of programmin'. Bein' an outlaw was a glitch, 'n once that got straightened out, I guess he was programmed for preachin' instead." He shrugged at that. The why never really concerned him.

Sparks nervously tapped his fingers on the chair as he considered what to say about Jib Janeen. He really wished he hadn't said anything at all now, but it was too late.

"Okay, so... Y'know how we got Illusionist here? Jupiter spies're kinda like that. Except all they can do is disguise themselves real good. Like, super good. And it causes, um... problems."

[rialynn]

Rialynn waited for a few moments, to see if he would say anything more. 'Problems' was pretty vague. But after the pause proved to be fruitless in yielding information, she decided to press it just a little...enough that she might get some clarity, but light enough that he hopefully wouldn't feel forced.

"So...they can disguise themselves as people you might care about?" she guessed, laying her fingertips together as she sat back. "Really care about?"

It was the only thing she could think of that might cause some sort of embarrassment and reluctance to talk about the matter.

[red_planet_blues]

"Oh yeah." He answers that a bit quickly, then cleared his throat nervously.

"I mean... It's pretty much the easiest way to get info on someone, so... spies 'n all..."

From the way he's not making eye contact, Rialynn can probably assume that he's been a victim of this.

[rialynn]

Her mouth quirked to the side. Obviously that wasn't the type of story he wanted people to know, and she couldn't really blame him for that. There was no telling just what the spy had been willing to do...erm...intimately with his or her target. It must have been mortifying.

"Well, we don't have to write that story down," she reassured him with a grin. "How about the story where you first met your horse? Is it true that it can fly with fire power?"

Because as far as she knew, Sparks and Rialynn were the only Heroes of Light who'd managed to bring their horses into a world that never knew horses. And Rocket was far from typical as far as horses went!

[red_planet_blues]

That question manages to get him to relax.

"Oh, yeah, Mercury. Been with me since I first got to Mars. Came with me from Earth. And he sure does fly, thanks to his rocket parts. He also has shields. And a sidecar. Been with me through thick 'n thin. He's a good horse."

He has some strange advice when it comes to horses, though.

"But, if there's ever an opportunity for you to talk with yer horse? Don't take it. They're much better then they're, um, just a horse."