Thank the gods that Lydia has lived in a more rural area before, because while the Big Island is beautiful, Honolulu is were all the action is. But what the Big Island does have is the Mauna Kea Observatories, and Lydia finds it to be a fair trade. She can hop over to the capital whenever she has a free day, and often does.
But for some reason this weekend she's ill-inclined to do her usual island hop for the more metropolitan entertainments that Honolulu has to offer. She finds herself exploring some of the smaller beaches that locals tend to favor, and while she's never been much of an outdoorswoman (not true, she spent more than a fair share of time in the forest with...best to forget about it) when she hears tell of a waterfall that requires a something of a hike, she's oddly drawn to the idea.
Alright, so she knows enough to take care of herself. She knows enough to wear hiking boots and carry water and a compass and a little bit of portable food, and a utility knife along with her phone.
When she finally parks on the side of the road and hikes into the tropical forest, Lydia feels prepared.
The last place Gale would have expected to end up would be Hawaii, but it’s been a few years since his life took a surprising turn. It had been his mother’s suggestion, something she’d heard about before they’d reconnected, and she’d thought it would do him some good, after his required years in the Legion were up. You’ve been through a lot, she’d said. And you’re good with kids - look at your brothers and sister. You’ll know how to handle this better than most.
After a few months of floundering as construction on the new, mingled-pantheon city continued, he’d finally agreed to give it a shot, and was surprised to find out that being a wilderness therapy guide isn’t as strange and awkward as it sounds. The tropical island quickly becomes familiar territory, and in no time, Gale is navigating the forests like he’s lived here his whole life. He goes out every day, with or without the kids he works with, and makes a point to discover something new every time.
The waterfall, he’d discovered in the first few months of his stay. While the whole island is relatively rural and quiet compared to Honolulu, the waterfall has a certain tranquility to it that’s always brought him back to it when he has some time to himself. It’s... relaxing, he supposes, to hear the trickle of water and not have to worry about anyone else intruding. Oftentimes when Gale is trekking through the woods, he’ll find his feet leading him here, and he has to stop and admire it for a little while before moving on again.
There is no work today, so he’s decided to go out and explore some more in the early morning light. Gale has already been out for a few hours, a light pack on his back with all the essentials while he’s out in the wild. Tucked into pocket is an old, golden watch that he’s always carried, the very same that raises curious comments about antiques and family heirlooms from his coworkers, but none of them know its real significance. It’s one of the only remnants of his life in the Legion and his father’s legacy, a precaution should he or the children be faced with a monster like the days of old. Wind it in just the right way, and he’ll have his old gladius at the ready, sharp as ever. In all his years in Hawaii, he hasn’t had to use it once, and he doesn’t expect that to change anytime soon, but it never hurt to be ready.
Except the one thing he isn’t ready for is to meet a… a friend from the old days. Once he’s out in the forest, Gale doesn’t stop moving until he hears the sound of a twig snapping, and freezes for a moment before carefully moving forward so his steps stay quiet and unheard, if possible. He’s expecting to see one of the endemic birds of the island making the noise when he rounds the next tree, keeping his eyes toward the noise, but as he finds a way through the leaves, Gale’s jaw loosens in surprise.
He allows himself a moment to catch his breath and gives himself a good mental shake. Then he approaches, no longer bothering to quiet his steps.
“You’re slipping,” he says simply, carefully keeping his expression neutral. “I heard you from a ways off.”
The world is a big place. Had Lydia been in the new city for the gods, the very realistic possibility of seeing Gale would come to mind, and she would prepare herself for it.
But there's no reason, none at all, to even dream of him being in Hawaii. So the familiar voice startles her on such a level that when she turns toward the sound that her body shifts into a defensive posture; one that he himself taught her.
"Gale?" From her tone, she hardly believes that he's standing in front of him. "What are you doing here?" Besides the obvious.
“I work here,” he replies, shrugging. Today may be his day off, but that doesn’t mean Gale won’t still go out into the wilderness. It’s the only place he really feels comfortable, even with the abject friendliness of the locals. Even after a few years, he still feels out of place in the culture here, and that’s not even bringing his heritage into the equation. But the woods?
In the woods, he still feels free.
“I could ask you the same thing,” Gale continues, keeping his distance. Years ago, he might have taken her stance as a challenge. He’d immediately taken note of it - old habits die hard - and approves that Lydia hasn’t forgotten what he’d taught her, but they aren’t training partners anymore. They aren’t partners of any sort. “I thought you were still in school or something. Vacation in Hawaii?”
"I study here," she replies, unconsciously mimicking his shrug, though deliberately mimicking his tone. Her defensive stance relaxes; she highly doubts Gale is going to attack her. But she's taking his tone as indifference, and it irks her. Her mouth presses against itself in a mannerism that is distinctly recognizable.
"I'm doing my post-grad studies at the observatory." she explains, studying him askance. "I've been living here for a few months now. When did you get here?" She has a hard time not feeling like it's fate, even when certain it's coincidence.
His eyebrows rise, both surprised and intrigued at the news. It would be impossible not to notice the observatory, or to know that a number of people studied there for university. Gale has even met a few students during his time here. But somehow it had never occurred to him that Lydia would come here.
“I started here a few years back,” he answers, hesitating while he tries to calculate the exact number. Finally, Gale says, “Three and a half, maybe. Almost four.”
This is… not how he’d pictured a conversation going, whenever he’d thought about seeing Lydia again - stilting, awkward, like strangers with familiar faces. It isn’t a good development either, Gale decides. Something is missing.
“So… school’s going okay, then.” He offers her a faint, unsure smile. “Studying the stars, just like you wanted.”
She never even pictured this conversation, much less in a random location in the tropical forest of Hawaii's Big Island.
Gale has always been a touch gruff, and she had to learn to sense what was under his words and sometimes even his tone to get an idea of how he really felt about things. The fact that he's trying to soften the situation doesn't escape her notice. And the fact that he's trying surprises her and softens her irritation, makes her feel like she needs to give him more of a chance.
"Yeah," she says, her smile suddenly blossoming. "The observatory is amazing, the islands are beautiful; I'm pretty lucky." She doesn't realize that she's taken a step forward, seeming to move past being disarmed by this reunion. "Your family, are they here with you?" She can't help but think that Posey in particular would love the island.
Her smile is as beautiful as ever, Gale realizes, stunned silent for a moment even if it doesn’t show. Lydia has always been beautiful, of course, but there’s something about the way her entire demeanor lights up like the Fourth of July when she talks about something she loves that makes her absolutely radiant. It might be a blessing of Aphrodite, but he prefers to believe that Lydia always had something of her own, an allure independent of her mother, but no less entrancing.
Nonetheless, he finds himself glancing away, suddenly more interested in the leaves surrounding them.
“No,” he says finally, shaking his head. “They stayed in the city. It’s safer for them there - no more worrying about monster attacks with no way to defend themselves.” Rory had done a good job after New Rome’s destruction, but there’s no way Gale would have left them alone without some sort of defense. As long as they stay in the city, they don’t need a soldier to fight off monsters - the wards keep them as safe as they’ve ever been.
But, safe or not, Gale still misses them. Family has always been everything for him. They’re all he’s ever really had, and leaving them behind again, even knowing they’ll be safe, isn’t easy.
“They might come visit sometime, if they can,” he adds, giving himself a mental shake. Given the financial situation, it isn’t likely, but he can still hope. Looking back up at her, Gale forces himself to smile back. “I’m glad you like it here. It’s a great place, and everyone’s always talking about how amazing the observatory and the equipment there is. Sounds like you’re right where you belong.”
He takes her in, and then looks away, and she can't help but wonder if suddenly he just can't stand the sight of her. And then she wonders why she cares. It's been years.
"I hope one day they feel safe enough to come here for a vacation or something." she offers. "It's so beautiful." Not that they haven't made that point already. The very socially savvy daughter of Aphrodite is suddenly not sure of what to do with herself.
"I could say the same about you." she replies, unable to keep her smile from returning. "Do you ever get out to Honolulu? We could - I mean." A pause. "Well. I'm sure you're very busy."
In spite of the time that’s passed, Gale has somehow never quite forgotten Lydia. There have been plenty of other girls, enough to chagrin his mother if she knew, but no one had ever quite compared - in beauty, intelligence, or even presence.
Ducking his head in a nod, he replies with a simply, “Someday. Maybe when Posy’s older.” Visiting would be one thing, but the bigger problem is finding the funds. Even with Gale’s legacy as a centurion in the Legion, the Hawthornes were hardly a prominent family in New Rome. It’s yet another reason he works - to continue to provide for them, even if they aren’t sharing a house anymore. His family has always been his priority.
His smile falters, eyebrows raising just slightly in confusion. The subject change is sudden, unexpected, and Gale has to wonder what Lydia means by it. But, he decides, he won’t read into it. There’s nothing to read into, anyway.
“I’ve got plenty of time,” Gale says, giving a little half-shrug. “I just don’t have a reason to go out there most days. I’ve been spending my time out here instead.”
The why in his eyes goes unasked, stubbornly ignored.
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5 Years Later, Hawaii
But for some reason this weekend she's ill-inclined to do her usual island hop for the more metropolitan entertainments that Honolulu has to offer. She finds herself exploring some of the smaller beaches that locals tend to favor, and while she's never been much of an outdoorswoman (not true, she spent more than a fair share of time in the forest with...best to forget about it) when she hears tell of a waterfall that requires a something of a hike, she's oddly drawn to the idea.
Alright, so she knows enough to take care of herself. She knows enough to wear hiking boots and carry water and a compass and a little bit of portable food, and a utility knife along with her phone.
When she finally parks on the side of the road and hikes into the tropical forest, Lydia feels prepared.
no subject
After a few months of floundering as construction on the new, mingled-pantheon city continued, he’d finally agreed to give it a shot, and was surprised to find out that being a wilderness therapy guide isn’t as strange and awkward as it sounds. The tropical island quickly becomes familiar territory, and in no time, Gale is navigating the forests like he’s lived here his whole life. He goes out every day, with or without the kids he works with, and makes a point to discover something new every time.
The waterfall, he’d discovered in the first few months of his stay. While the whole island is relatively rural and quiet compared to Honolulu, the waterfall has a certain tranquility to it that’s always brought him back to it when he has some time to himself. It’s... relaxing, he supposes, to hear the trickle of water and not have to worry about anyone else intruding. Oftentimes when Gale is trekking through the woods, he’ll find his feet leading him here, and he has to stop and admire it for a little while before moving on again.
There is no work today, so he’s decided to go out and explore some more in the early morning light. Gale has already been out for a few hours, a light pack on his back with all the essentials while he’s out in the wild. Tucked into pocket is an old, golden watch that he’s always carried, the very same that raises curious comments about antiques and family heirlooms from his coworkers, but none of them know its real significance. It’s one of the only remnants of his life in the Legion and his father’s legacy, a precaution should he or the children be faced with a monster like the days of old. Wind it in just the right way, and he’ll have his old gladius at the ready, sharp as ever. In all his years in Hawaii, he hasn’t had to use it once, and he doesn’t expect that to change anytime soon, but it never hurt to be ready.
Except the one thing he isn’t ready for is to meet a… a friend from the old days. Once he’s out in the forest, Gale doesn’t stop moving until he hears the sound of a twig snapping, and freezes for a moment before carefully moving forward so his steps stay quiet and unheard, if possible. He’s expecting to see one of the endemic birds of the island making the noise when he rounds the next tree, keeping his eyes toward the noise, but as he finds a way through the leaves, Gale’s jaw loosens in surprise.
He allows himself a moment to catch his breath and gives himself a good mental shake. Then he approaches, no longer bothering to quiet his steps.
“You’re slipping,” he says simply, carefully keeping his expression neutral. “I heard you from a ways off.”
no subject
But there's no reason, none at all, to even dream of him being in Hawaii. So the familiar voice startles her on such a level that when she turns toward the sound that her body shifts into a defensive posture; one that he himself taught her.
"Gale?" From her tone, she hardly believes that he's standing in front of him. "What are you doing here?" Besides the obvious.
no subject
In the woods, he still feels free.
“I could ask you the same thing,” Gale continues, keeping his distance. Years ago, he might have taken her stance as a challenge. He’d immediately taken note of it - old habits die hard - and approves that Lydia hasn’t forgotten what he’d taught her, but they aren’t training partners anymore. They aren’t partners of any sort. “I thought you were still in school or something. Vacation in Hawaii?”
no subject
"I'm doing my post-grad studies at the observatory." she explains, studying him askance. "I've been living here for a few months now. When did you get here?" She has a hard time not feeling like it's fate, even when certain it's coincidence.
no subject
“I started here a few years back,” he answers, hesitating while he tries to calculate the exact number. Finally, Gale says, “Three and a half, maybe. Almost four.”
This is… not how he’d pictured a conversation going, whenever he’d thought about seeing Lydia again - stilting, awkward, like strangers with familiar faces. It isn’t a good development either, Gale decides. Something is missing.
“So… school’s going okay, then.” He offers her a faint, unsure smile. “Studying the stars, just like you wanted.”
no subject
Gale has always been a touch gruff, and she had to learn to sense what was under his words and sometimes even his tone to get an idea of how he really felt about things. The fact that he's trying to soften the situation doesn't escape her notice. And the fact that he's trying surprises her and softens her irritation, makes her feel like she needs to give him more of a chance.
"Yeah," she says, her smile suddenly blossoming. "The observatory is amazing, the islands are beautiful; I'm pretty lucky." She doesn't realize that she's taken a step forward, seeming to move past being disarmed by this reunion. "Your family, are they here with you?" She can't help but think that Posey in particular would love the island.
no subject
Nonetheless, he finds himself glancing away, suddenly more interested in the leaves surrounding them.
“No,” he says finally, shaking his head. “They stayed in the city. It’s safer for them there - no more worrying about monster attacks with no way to defend themselves.” Rory had done a good job after New Rome’s destruction, but there’s no way Gale would have left them alone without some sort of defense. As long as they stay in the city, they don’t need a soldier to fight off monsters - the wards keep them as safe as they’ve ever been.
But, safe or not, Gale still misses them. Family has always been everything for him. They’re all he’s ever really had, and leaving them behind again, even knowing they’ll be safe, isn’t easy.
“They might come visit sometime, if they can,” he adds, giving himself a mental shake. Given the financial situation, it isn’t likely, but he can still hope. Looking back up at her, Gale forces himself to smile back. “I’m glad you like it here. It’s a great place, and everyone’s always talking about how amazing the observatory and the equipment there is. Sounds like you’re right where you belong.”
no subject
"I hope one day they feel safe enough to come here for a vacation or something." she offers. "It's so beautiful." Not that they haven't made that point already. The very socially savvy daughter of Aphrodite is suddenly not sure of what to do with herself.
"I could say the same about you." she replies, unable to keep her smile from returning. "Do you ever get out to Honolulu? We could - I mean." A pause. "Well. I'm sure you're very busy."
no subject
Ducking his head in a nod, he replies with a simply, “Someday. Maybe when Posy’s older.” Visiting would be one thing, but the bigger problem is finding the funds. Even with Gale’s legacy as a centurion in the Legion, the Hawthornes were hardly a prominent family in New Rome. It’s yet another reason he works - to continue to provide for them, even if they aren’t sharing a house anymore. His family has always been his priority.
His smile falters, eyebrows raising just slightly in confusion. The subject change is sudden, unexpected, and Gale has to wonder what Lydia means by it. But, he decides, he won’t read into it. There’s nothing to read into, anyway.
“I’ve got plenty of time,” Gale says, giving a little half-shrug. “I just don’t have a reason to go out there most days. I’ve been spending my time out here instead.”
The why in his eyes goes unasked, stubbornly ignored.