d&d scenes } { of gods and redemption

[iluvroadrunner6]

Ric: [since they got back, Ric has kept himself scarce from the Institute, which is an amazing achievement since he owns the building and runs the clinic on the first two floors. But he's quietly slunk in, making his way to the library where he's pulled a few books off the shelf and found a table in a hidden corner under a window. He's got his earbuds in, listening to music and his sweatshirt's hood is pulled up over his head to try and keep his face hidden]

Donna: [is helping Giorgio out with the library. When she sees Ric, she slows down, giving him a smile and a wave. Halfling height makes it harder to fully obscure your face when you have to look up to begin with. She doesn't intend to keep him long - she figures he doesn't want to talk since he's been ignoring her texts - she's just being friendly]

Ric: [he will see movement and look up. He offers her a half smile and wave in return. He doesn't have a phone at the moment since he destroyed it in the fey wild, so it's not you, Donna.]

Donna: [oh right. she forgot about that.] Don't want to interrupt. Just saying hello.

Ric: [well, he did it while no one was looking, so no one would know] Hi. Sorry, I just get focused when I read, but you're not interrupting. I could probably use a break.

Donna: [she nods] Well, there's coffee in a small break room that way, where the books will be safe from it.

Ric: [and he'll look in that direction, because he's not really up for talking to SOME people in the Institute. But coffee sounds really good] Maybe a quick cup.

Donna: Good. [and she will show him the way to the little snack room that she's been keeping stocked - coffee, tea, some cookies. On the inside of the door once they enter, is a sign Giorgio made that reads: ALL FOOD AND DRINK MUST REMAIN IN THIS ROOM.] Help yourself.

Ric: [once he realizes that it's just for the library and not the entire Institute, he relaxes a bit.] Can I pour you something?

Donna: Some tea would be nice, thank you.

Ric: [which he will do, finding the tea and making her a cup, then pouring himself a coffee and fixing it before walking back to her] I wasn't sure if you wanted honey or lemon in it. [he's got a honey packet and a lemon juice packet in his hand with it]

Donna: [she reaches for the honey] I've always had a bit of a sweet tooth.

Ric: I think I remember that. From before.

Donna: It's strange, the way things intermingle, don't they?

Ric: Yeah. How different was your rewritten past from the real one?

Donna: Oh, I never left the Tundra. Served an entirely different goddess, and she was not my favorite. [a beat to sip her tea] In this world, not the old one.

Ric: If she's not your favorite, why do you stay with her?

Donna: Well, before I remembered, Auril ... she's not really one for giving up her acolytes. If you're going to use divine magic in her territory, you use it for her ends. Without the institute, I never had a reason to leave home. But once you all came and woke me up, I ... had the means, I suppose.

Ric: That makes sense.

Donna: Before we changed things, it was a lot easier to leave. To even worship the god you chose. With the gods here on this plane, separating from them is much more complicated.

Ric: [huffs in laughter] Yeah, I'm well aware of that.

Donna: [small smirk] How is that going, by the way?

Ric: [sips his coffee] Still at the crossroads. I asked Tatiana about Shar before we left, and basically she told me the only way to break free was to worship a new deity.

Donna: Do you want to worship a new deity?

Ric: In my old life, I didn't. Even here, until Lammel found me, I didn't. I relied on myself and my own wits. Now, I don't feel I can trust myself sometimes.

Donna: Not trusting yourself isn't a good reason to go deity hopping in my opinion. Granted, you do have some extenuating circumstances, but I've always been of the opinion that faith is meaningless unless you truly want it.

Ric: Sounds about right. Thing is... Donna, I loved her. I would have done anything for her... hell, I did. And Selune broke the curse, sure... but that power I got... I felt like I was one of her favorite ones. And there's a big part of me that misses that. Wants it back, even.

Donna: [she nods] Is it wanting the power, or is it truly believing in what she stands for?

Ric: I believed that despair was an essential emotion in life, same as sadness, anger, joy: it will always exist as long as humans have free will. Pain causes it, and it gave her power. I made the clinic because I wanted to help people who didn't have the means to get help. It brought their pain and despair into the building, giving it to her, and then we'd help and make things better for awhile. Sometimes they would find a better life, and sometimes it was impossible to get away from. And sometimes people just chose to give into it. That last group... that was where I chose my sacrifices from. I couldn't help them, but I could help them get the release from the pain and suffering of the body. [he looks into his cup] I believed in that, and I thought I was a good person because of it.

Donna: What do you believe now?

Ric: I believe I was an idiot.

Donna: [she smirks] Fair enough I suppose. But what do you believe in regards to despair and how you chose to help people.

Ric: I still believe that it's a staple to the human experience. I still want to help people, it's just a part of me. My parents taught me that, back in our past reality. You're supposed to leave the world a better place than you entered it.

Donna: Then maybe you should focus on finding a god that matches that aspect. Leaving the world a better place than you found it.

Ric: That's, um, actually what I was researching over there. [nods towards his workstation]

Donna: Any interesting prospects?

Ric: I haven't gotten that far yet. There's one or two who I might look into further, but there are so many gods and goddesses.

Donna: There are, it's true.

Ric: It makes my head hurt, honestly.

Donna: Maybe you should take a breath then. Keep making your own choices. I believe that the right god will find you eventually.

Ric: You think so?

Donna: [she nods] I do. It's what happened for me.

Ric: Yeah, but you're a great person. I'm surprised gods didn't fight over you.

Donna: I don't think gods really feel inclined to fight over anyone. They have plenty of followers regardless.

Ric: Are there any good gods who would take a former acolyte of Shar?

Donna: There are a few who favor redemption.

Ric: Good to know. [nods to himself]

Donna: You might want to look at Sarenrae. She's the big one. But also Nusemnee might be a good fit.

Ric: Sarenrae was on my list. It looks like a lot of people follow her. I don't think I've come across Nusemnee yet

Donna: The daughter of Zehir. Her story is interesting. I think you might relate.

Ric: I'll look her up.

Donna: Good. And if you need help communing, you know where to find me.

Ric: Yeah. And um, if you ever want to maybe grab dinner one night... [rubbing the back of his neck] I still work nine to five at the clinic.

Donna: [she nods] I'm around. Just text me and let me know.

Ric: Oh, yeah, I need to pick up a new phone soon.

Donna: [squints] That's why you weren't responding to my texts.

Ric: You were texting me? Sorry, I've been busy at the clinic that I forgot I needed a new one.

Donna: It's alright. I was just checking in. Griffin may not remember what he did, but I do.

Ric: Well, I appreciate you checking in. [smiles] Don't really have many friends these days.

Donna: Well, you can count on me. [smiles in return]

Ric: [and he drops his hand from his neck] Well, I should get back to researching so you can get back to work. I'll call out if I need help.

Donna: [she nods] Good luck. [and off she goes to go back to shelving books]

Ric: [and he'll head back to his books, pushing some of them aside and focusing on the two goddesses that Donna had mentioned]