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Verbena had always been described as a lush, thick environment with trees covering the mountain sides and rivers twisting through the peaceful valleys that made up the man-made planet. Even if she was just part of the fourth generation to be born on the planet, every square inch of it was rooted deep in Gwendolyn's system. She had lived and breathed running the deer trails chasing after her brothers or swimming in the creeks on the family farm. Maybe it was the reason that she picked it when she got to the Sensoriums- something familiar after the first few days of being on the living ship.

It was a warm summer day on the grounds. Nothing was there that should have been, the horses, the cattle, people milling about working or even her family enjoying tea on the back porch of the plantation style home. All the windows were up and the front door was open allowing the music to spill outward for anyone that wished to investigate. The house was of a simple design and almost out of a picture book of the Old South back on Earth-that-was. It was in the library that the red headed Browncoat was located standing in the middle of the empty room surrounded by history that no one else aside from her probably would care about again. Her bow danced across the strings drawing the notes out from what could easily be a happy tune to something more quieter or sadder depending on the temperament of the listener. The clothing of choice? Not her plantsuit or what bits of uniform that she had, but her dress uniform with rank bars in red on the long coat sleeves.

So lost in the music was she that she probably wouldn't have heard anyone approach if they wanted. Musicians or curious folk alike were welcome, she was in a seemingly good mood enough to talk about what the place was if anyone wanted to.

[ooc: It looks like LJ isn't let me link to the youtube vid of the song she's playing, but it's the Ashoken Farewell.]

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Oh so he was one of them that traveled the verse bringing religiosity to all the fuzzy wuzzies. Gwen didn't know whether to feel sorry for him or feel some respect for the man. Being any kind of Preacher was hard at least in her world and probably harder if what Ronon said was true about how the War had ended.. well she probably would have lost what faith she hadn't previously during it. She accepted his hand, though, keeping the smile upon her face and hopefully the thoughts from reflecting in her eyes. "So you're a Shepard? Don't rightly seem the type. Always pictured men of the cloth t' be old an' graying."

Yes a little light humor to hopefully dispelling any mood that might pop up. "Gwendolyn Mackenzie though most folk just call me Gwen. And thanks- Da studied a lotta the structures from Earth-that-was when he was lookin' to make the house grow an' be a place of business."

Wolfwood chuckled a little bit.

"Yeah, I get told a lot that I'm a lousy priest. Probably because I spend more time helping people then telling them how they're all sinners." He smiled warmly. "Most of my career was spent in a house like this one, running an orphanage." He seemed a study in contradiction, smiling and yet his body language suggested a great sadness.

"The way it's built... brings back memories."

"Folk don't know what they are talkin' 'bout when they speak like that. I saw many a Shepard out on the fields giving last rights or helpin' local folk where I came from." A wry little smile slipped across her face as she tapped the bow against her leg once more before moving to place it back on its stand. "But... there are them ones that liked t' preach hellfire and brimstone when they could."

Well so maybe he wasn't so bad, having run an orphanage and all. Her smile softened as she watched him hooking her hands in front of her like she often had when the straight backed dress uniform had required it of her. "It's not standing any more," Gwen said slowly, taking her time walking back closer to the Shepard. Raising her right hand she took in the library, it's actual books that lined shelves and paintings on the soft colored walls. "When the Alliance retook my home planet.. they destroyed it all."

Wolfwood's smile faded into a serious expression.

"That's... Terrible." He said, his tone reflecting empathy. He looked down, shaking his head slowly. He had already pieced together a bit without asking. People who weren't in a war didn't walk around in their uniforms. "I never will understand the effect war can have on people. Taking someone's home from them just for being on the wrong side..." His left hand balled into a fist unconsciously.

"Even the devil himself'd find that angering."

"Collateral."

They had taken everything. The horses, cattle, her parents lives- in fact if someone were to walk out back to the big willow tree not to far off the graves for her father, mother, younger sister, two of her baby brothers would be out there too along with her older brothers. Okay so Wil hadn't been that much of a baby when he had died in battle, but Josiah had been. Alliance didn't care a bit about what they were doing when most of them had stood against what the Core wanted for them. Releasing a rush of air through her nose in the form of a sigh, Gwen stopped once she was back within reasonable distance of the Shepard. "Back owed taxes, traitors to the 'right' cause, name it and it's on the books. Devil got his fair share of souls sent down to him. Reckon by the time it's all said and done there will be more."

"'s all in the past though right? We ain't likely goin' back to our own worlds so.. why keep angry 'bout it?" Sure it was more than frustrating, more than infuriating, though the woman was more than content for now living in the moment and remember what was before it was all gone. "I bet you're having a hay day with all this."

"Hay day? Not quite." He said with a weak smile. "I know... used to know... a lot of people who would be taking advantage of a situation like this to push their own agenda. But I'm looking around and all I see is suffering people and lost children. Even if I wanted to, pushing my faith onto others would be downright arrogant right now." He had rested his cross on the ground, now leaning against it. He then smiled slightly brighter.

"I am happy for the second lease on life, though. Before I woke up here, the last thing I remember is dying from a gunshot wound."

"But you're alive."

He looked alive. He looked every bit a man who was living and breathing not lying cold in a grave six foot under. Green eyes studied Nicholas carefully before offering him the softest of smiles that she could manage. She wasn't the hard woman that some of her soldiers might make her out to be at times. "Some suffering is good for the soul, yes? I mean.. It makes us grow and become stronger. And everyone is lost somehow. Every path through the woods has an ending. We just got to keep on going."

"Besides," Gwen said with her smile growing a little more, "we got the best food, the best sleeping quarters, and the best shiny uniforms in th' entire 'verse. I think we'll be fine."

"Haven't tried the food yet, myself, so I'll take your word for it." He smiled again, seeming a bit cheered. He shouldered his cross again.

"Still, I'll try to do what I can to help. Maybe set myself up a nice church." He looked off in space for a moment before looking at the browncoat.

"I should probably be getting on that, actually. Give you some free time to play." He smiled and turned away, holding a hand up in a parting wave. "If you ever need anything, just ask, Gwen. Good meeting you!" With that, he began walking.

"Zài-jiàn, Shepard. Thanks."

Green eyes watched the man leave, a small smile creeping across her face. That one was an interesting man if she had ever met one. Something about the whole Priest thing.. made a spot between her shoulders itch. But that didn't mean anything yet. Maybe one day she'd ask him about the cross he carried 'bout.

A soft chuckle bubbled up before she turned back to the house simply closing her eyes and allowing a tune to reach her lips. No. Gwen wasn't exactly ready to leave quite yet.