Lessons in Advanced Door-Opening [for Amelia Ronsam rogueinladysclothing]

[conjuredskies]

It’s been some while since they made their informal arrangement, but Felix hasn’t at all forgotten the light-footed rogue or the dance he promised her. A pact is a pact, no matter how many duties – foreseen and otherwise – have demanded his attention.

For that matter he and Verity haven’t been meeting for Geography Club quite so regularly, and the smells when he steps through the door of the Fox and Crosier make him regret that fiercely. Alchemy study may have to be relocated whenever possible. He scrapes some of the snow from his boots and leather armor, then strolls up to the desk chicken to ask after Amelia.

Comments

[rogueinladysclothing]

"I don't envy them that." She likes her simple world with its lack of magic. Or, rather, she liked it. After this incident, she can't claim the same simplicity she once did.

It's getting harder to suppress the shaking of her hands as she continues to answer his questions. "Grown, I think. It was as if... the armor was a part of it, not something separate." How are the details so fuzzy already? For months on end she had seen it every time she closed her eyes.

...had the year and a half since the incident really passed so quickly?

[conjuredskies]

"It has its charms, I assure you..." But a mage would say that, wouldn't he?

Noticing the shaking, he sets the delicate picks aside and catches her hands gently, studying her face with concern. "I'm sorry, Amelia. I didn't mean to distress you. It's often hard on a person to recall such things - I should have remembered."

[rogueinladysclothing]

That whole 'physical contact for comfort' thing is still something she doesn't understand. She jumps at the sudden contact and intakes a breath sharply. There's a fleeting moment of terror until she's able to process what's going on. Felix isn't going to hurt her. She knows that. They may not know each other very well, but if her friends trust him, then she should, too.

That said, they aren't that close and she's not a physical person when the topic isn't violence. She carefully pulls her hands back with a soft sigh. "No, it's all right. You were curious and I respect that. I'm the same way, after all." There's a small smile for him here, but it's a sad one. "It's difficult to speak of anything related to my home, though. I've been away for so long and it... rather hurts."

Damnit, Amelia, don't you dare start crying in front of Felix. Wipe your eyes and be done with it. There's nothing nonchalant about the movement, of course, but hopefully it's not enough to cause a scene with him.

[conjuredskies]

Okay, touching was a mistake, if not a tad presumptuous. He withdraws when she does, inclining his head.

"I understand. I get quite homesick when I start speaking of Cyrodiil." It would be ten times worse if he were trapped here. But Amelia clearly doesn't want to make a scene... "Perhaps we should speak of something else while we finish our lesson, and then go for lunch."

[rogueinladysclothing]

Many people in the Nexus are from some version of Earth, in which frequent contact is completely normal. It's not a terrible assumption to make, but it's one that most people don't make twice with Amelia.

She wants to lie, to say she's all right, but there's little point if he's offering to change the subject. "Thank you, I appreciate that." With a deep breath and a quick nod toward the door, she gets in place to begin their lessons again.

"So," she says after a moment, "I'm sure you don't want to talk about it, but what could possibly draw a legionnaire to the art of lock picking?"

[conjuredskies]

Felix himself is particularly tactile for Tamriel, but he's used to there being strict rules about what's allowed within different relationships. He's not used to people being as wary as Amelia is, but he takes the message that she doesn't consider him close enough for that, and adjusts accordingly.

He may be able to coax more out of her later, but trust needs to be earned.

"Well, that's simple enough. I'm sure you can imagine how many locks we have around our barracks and forts. Somebody needs to test them... or at least work out better ways of defending them." That answer is smooth and easy and really incomplete.

[rogueinladysclothing]

Time and patience will help on that trust front. Felix has little to worry about for earning it eventually - Amelia already likes him as a person and her friends trust him, which is a great start.

The answer may be smooth, but it's also complete and utter bullshit. And try as he might, she knows that. "You're a mage. You don't need to know how to pick locks when you can open or knock the door down with magic."

Felix will find that lying to her, or even misleading her, is an easy way to add to the amount of time it'll take to earn her trust. At least when it comes to things that could come back and bite her in the ass. She frowns at him. "Why won't you tell me the truth? I'm not some maid in need of protection, if that's your worry."

[conjuredskies]

"Well, but lock-opening spells are definitely not in my school of magic. I'm not sure anyone even knows those any more," he points out. Not that he should expect Amelia to know these nuances.

"I don't doubt you know how to use that pretty armory you have inside, but suppose it's better for both of us that I don't commit to any details?" He likes covering his own ass too.

[rogueinladysclothing]

"You really expect someone to come back and ask me about it?" She raises a curious eyebrow in his direction. "Furthermore, you think I would say anything? And before you even ask, I know my way around truth telling herbs well enough to counteract them." ...well that says a lot about what she does with her free time, doesn't it?

[conjuredskies]

That's certainly something he doesn't hear too often. Felix finds himself blinking at her before he snaps back to the present and sighs. "I don't know. There just isn't much to tell yet. I want to add to my repertoire of skills. There's a new trick I'm in the midst of developing, and I can't perfect it without understanding how to do- well, this."

[rogueinladysclothing]

"Trick?" The concept of magic tricks is completely foreign to her, which is understandable given the lack of magic in her world. Sleight of hand is one thing, but no one ever claims it to be a magic trick. "I don't understand what you mean."

If Felix ever wondered why Amelia has so few friends, he can be assured that he's now found the reason. She is trying to work on it, though.

[conjuredskies]

"Oh, we mages have our tricks of the trade. Just as I understand thieves do. Perfecting this one - this particular spell - requires I learn the feel of a lockpick. And since I don't yet know what I'll use it for - nor if it will work at all - I'm a little shy about the details."

[rogueinladysclothing]

"Ahh." She doesn't fully buy it, but she shrugs it off. It's obvious she won't get anywhere by pressing him further. "Good thing you knew a willing rogue to help you in your quest," she adds after a brief pause. He should be able to tell she's teasing again by the smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.

[conjuredskies]

“Indisputably,” he agrees with a warm smile for her. “Believe me, there’s nothing I appreciate more than a well-placed friendship – even if you can’t always answer all of one another’s questions.” It’s an admission, and a promise – he’d do the same for her, few question asked.

“All this pinching is going to cramp my hands,” he adds. “Do you have a recommendation as to where we go for lunch? I know the food here is excellent, but you know the area better than I.”

[rogueinladysclothing]

"Not all questions need answering," she quips. Someone knows all too well the importance of not giving away everything.

"A break might be in order, then. But... I'm afraid I'm not very familiar with a lot of the restaurants in the Nexus. I don't... really go out that much." Her cheeks turn a light shade of pink as she withdraws her hands from his. "But the food here at the inn is amazing. Wonderful hearty stews and breads, fresh roasts, and a few sweet wines, if you're so inclined. I don't know if you were hoping for something different from what you would normally eat in your world, though. If you are... I know a place with delicious pizza we could go to." Someone was never meant to be an explorer, it seems.

[conjuredskies]

“‘Pizza’?” he echoes, before it clicks. “Oh, is that how you say it? I haven’t actually tried it, although it seems to be on all the menus here. What is it like?”

[rogueinladysclothing]

"It's hard to describe in terms of foods from worlds like ours, but basically it's a very thing bread-like crust topped with a tomato-based sauce and cheese. It can have more ingredients on top as well, such as various meats, vegetables, and fresh herbs. It's actually quite delicious and there are literally thousands of combinations to try with all the variations that have exist." It's hard not to smile when she talks about pizza, because pizza also means more ginger ale. And that is something amazing that must also be shared.

[conjuredskies]

Anything that gets his companion smiling is first preference in Felix's book. He's attentive that way. Besides, Amelia seems a little embarrassed by her lack of experience, so letting her show off a little seems like a good way to cheer her up.

Also, of course, to add to his own exploration.

"Well, now I think you have to show me. It's something like a... bread-based tart?"

[rogueinladysclothing]

She appreciates that, even if she won't mention it.

"Not really. The crust - that's what they call the bread at the base - is lighter, thinner, for most kinds of pizza. And it doesn't enclose the other ingredients - those actually sit right on top of the crust itself."

This is getting harder and harder for her to explain by the second, so she decides that it's time for some show, rather than tell. She stands and nods toward the entrance of the building. "Want to try it?" She still needs to get her weapons from her room, of course, but that's a quick and easy thing to do.

[conjuredskies]

Felix still wants to get the hang of this, but a), who says they can’t meet up again and b), if pizza is really that good then yes, he wants some. Besides, his hands are finding all this tension and unfamiliar positions a strain.

“Why not?” he agrees cheerfully, waiting while she retrieves her weapons (one mustn’t go out undressed, after all). “So, where does one find really good pizza?”

[rogueinladysclothing]

They can always meet up again. Amelia's easy enough to find these days, after all. There are always more locks to try that won't get them in trouble when he's ready for more practice.

Her weapons are quickly retrieved and they can be on their way in under a minute. "There's a few places in the Commercial District where you can buy pizza, but there's a restaurant I've been to in particular that I like. I'll take you there." She smiles and leads him outside into the cold at a brisk pace. No need for them to be outside any longer than is necessary!

[conjuredskies]

Felix tugs his hood up as they step out, shivering a little at the bitterness of the wind. He's got a leather skirt and no trousers beneath, after all. Goodness knows how legionnaires survive that in Skyrim. "And do they have dancing there, or will we need to find somewhere else again for that?"

[rogueinladysclothing]

"Oh, I... hadn't thought that far ahead." Were her cheeks pink before because of the cold? Certainly that must be it. "I really don't know where people go to dance around here. Certainly not how I like to dance, anyway." She may know how to waltz, but she certainly prefers the more lively styles of dance from her world. Sure, a good pavane never bothered her, but she would never pretend that it was her favorite kind of dance.

The restaurant is easy enough to find. No one raises an eyebrow about an armed rogue and a legionnaire walking in together - it's just another day in the Nexus for those that work there. Amelia snags them a booth away from most of the tables in case they decide to speak of less reputable activities while they're here. She orders them each a glass of water and a ginger ale before picking up her menu. "They offer some pre-set pizzas, but feel free to look at the whole ingredients menu before deciding what you'd like. Any combination you'd like to try, we can. We can also order two smaller ones so you can try multiple varieties if you like, too." Because trying new combinations of ingredients on a pizza is something Amelia is more than happy to do today.

[conjuredskies]

"I'm sure we can find something. We'll simply follow the music that sounds most familiar." Business arrangements aside, it's nice to know someone else with the same sort of world as his. Someone whose yardstick for normality is similar- at least in non-magical matters.

"I rather like the idea of experimenting, if you'll indulge me." He flashes her a smile before he peers at the menu. that's quite a list of toppings! "Which combinations have you tried before?"

[rogueinladysclothing]

"The snow has a way of muffling sound outside right now. We might have to step inside quite a few places to find the right kind of music..." Not that she's suggesting this would be a bad thing, of course. She's been enjoying Felix's company since he arrived and that's certainly not going to change in the span of a few heartbeats.

"I've done some very basic things, like fresh basil and oregano, as well as the listed special with all kinds of meats on it. Right here." She leans over the table a bit to point out a pizza offering three different kinds of sausage, pepperoni, and ham on it. Once she's certain he's got it, she sits back down. "I've also tried mushrooms on a pizza, which was surprisingly good."