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[gynvael]

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Geralt is always reachable by the network. Unless it's an emergency, expect not to hear back for a few hours, if not a few days.

To talk to him in person, you'll need to be in Cadens or go to his domain, a snowy mountain fortress. Yard is open; doors are locked. If he isn't around, leave a delivery with the white wolf.

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[nadine_he_loves]

They roar about the square, Nadine leaning low over the front. Why has it taken her so long to make one of these? She'd forgotten how damn good it feels to just go on such a powerful machine. There's plenty of space even in her own domain to joyride, and there's all of the Horizon to make for a unique scenic ride.

She hopes Geralt is enjoying. She turns onto the road that goes out through the farms and into the woods, a long stretch flanked on either side by idyllic pastures and orchards in bloom and an old red barn here and there. The cows that eternally graze beyond the white wooden fences look up as they pass and resume their grazing with little other reaction.

Here she lets it go with a whoop of joy, increasing speed and tearing down the empty road, letting the wind and the roar and the speed clear her mind.

[gynvael]

The noise is what takes him the longest to ease into. Once he does, once he can pick out his surroundings from beneath the roar of the machine, he lets himself relax into it.

She takes them through the long road that winds about her place. He's actually never explored her town in full, only visited parts of it: the shops, the church, the carousel. Little rows of flowers. The cows, he's never seen before. Not the orchards, either. They blur by. The wind carries every directly scent to him, from the grass to the fruits and a smell that he currently doesn't know to place as the exhaust fumes. It's different. It's been awhile since he's experienced anything so outside the realm of what he knows.

More than that, Nadine is obviously enjoying herself. He can't recall ever seeing her this thoroughly delighted. Hard not to absorb what she's feeling, too.

[nadine_he_loves]

Nadine doesn't slow until they're in the trees and the road peters out to dirt, the shade coming over them and the edge of her domain in the near distance. She pulls the bike up neatly in the road, smoothly dropping the kickstand once they've stopped. The sound grows quieter and then stops as she cuts the engine.

She's breathing heavily but it's from the exhilaration. It's pleasant here in the trees, a gentle breeze rustling through the woods. Peaceful, certainly now without the scream of the bike's engine. Still breathing hard, she rakes back her hair and lifts her sunglasses.

When she turns to Geralt she's smiling brightly and there's a similar brightness in her eyes.

"What do you think?"

She's pretty sure she already knows.

[gynvael]

They come to a stop underneath the hanging boughs. He drops his foot on instinct, even as she steadies the bike, letting go of her. In the Horizon, it's difficult to tell how far they've gone—but it is certainly much further and faster than any horse could dream of.

He lifts the tinted glasses, as well. His smile is softer, but it's there. "You may have given my horse competition."

He's joking—he could never let go of Roach—but this? This is not at all a poor alternative. Nadine once told him there aren't much by way of horses in her world, and between cars and motorcycles, he can understand why. It's strange to think about too deeply, though. A world where horses are almost entirely replaced by shiny steel.

He swings off, running his fingers thoughtfully over the handlebars. It has been, he thinks, a very long time since he's found a reason to pick up a new skill. Something completely different from what he knows. "Do you charge for lessons?"

[nadine_he_loves]

"Not for you."

Nadine slides herself off the bike once Geralt is off and exploring the machine.

"It's not that hard, you'll probably pick it up easily." He'd already known how to move with it, needing no prompting on their little ride through idyllic New Hampshire. It's faster than a horse and more powerful and she thinks that has to appeal. Even to someone who loves his horse as much as he does.

"I think you'll mostly need to get used to the sequence of turning it on. But I'd be happy to teach you. It'd probably be fun to go visiting around the Horizon on one of these. After a few runs on this one, we can make you your own."

And some gear. He'd need proper motorcycle gear.

[gynvael]

He imagines he won't have much trouble, either. A portion of it appears to be reflex and coordination, some balance, and those are things he has a head start upon.

Who the fuck knew he'd find new ways to apply being a Witcher.

Geralt glances up at Nadine. "I'll take you up on that. My turn to be the student."

Seeing as he's taught her and others how to swing a sword—he doesn't mind having his turn to learn something for once. Something which, he realizes, isn't to do with training or his work. Has he even done so before? Learned something for the hell of it? He actually doesn't know. Doesn't think so. Not deliberately. Most of the extraneous bullshit he knows, he's merely absorbed over the many years.

[nadine_he_loves]

"That'll be a change." Nadine laughs a little at the thought of teaching Geralt anything. But it's exciting. Maybe for him, too. When was the last time a guy like that learned anything new?

"But I happen to be an excellent teacher, so you're in good hands. How about we set up a proper lesson 'schedule'." Loosely, of course. Schedules in Abraxas are subject to change at the drop of a hat.

"Next time I'll have the right gear for you and everything. I didn't bother this time, it was just a for-fun ride. I bet you'd look good in a biker jacket and boots."

[gynvael]

In the Horizon, it's easier to make and keep appointments. They don't require him to be at a certain place at a certain time. So he tips his head in agreement.

"Midday or so." That's when he takes shelter from the blazing sun—if he enters the Horizon, it tends to be then. Makes him feel especially nocturnal these days, how often he travels by night, but even in the winter months, he much prefers the plunging temperatures than the heat of the day. Cold, he was made to live in.

He gives the faintest chuckle. He hasn't the first idea of what those things look like. "You'll have to show me."

At least he knows what the glasses are now.

[nadine_he_loves]

"That sounds good. Give it a few weeks, you'll be zipping around just like me."

Nadine has no doubt of that. This...this is going to be fun. She enjoys spending time with Geralt anyhow, and she likes teaching people things. It may not be her profession anymore, but it's a part of who she is.

"And...thank you, for this. Today. I think I needed it."

[gynvael]

His expression softens. He nods. "I think we both did."

Truthfully, he hadn't even realized it until Nadine asked him in here. He's been so focused on...problems. Things fucking happening. Maybe it was good, to take both their minds off the past few months.

For a moment, anyhow. He's still in the middle of the damn desert with Sam.

"I need to go back." Geralt straightens up. "Take care, Nadine."