Vita Nova (for smartass_captain)

[conjuredskies]

It’s taken a great deal of effort and no small subterfuge to obtain the right co-ordinates. But at long last it’s done, and when Felix and Jim appear it’s beneath the clear blue skies and on the gentle green grass of central Cyrodiil. They’re in a low hollow, surrounded by hillocks that block them from view, though atop one is a small circular structure of worn white columns. The air is cool, but much milder than in Skyrim this time of year. Felix draws a deep breath and turns to Jim with a smile, gesturing toward one of the hills. He’s out of uniform and wearing his own leathers for this trip - it simplifies things.

From the top, he already knows, there’s an excellent view of the grassy slopes stretching down to the shores of Lake Nibenay, its vast waters stretching out to the horizon both left and right… and beyond that, seeming equally vast, the towering white walls of the Imperial City, shadowing the tiny isles and the full-masted ships that ply the waters around it. Only one building rises above those walls: the shining spindle of the White-Gold Tower, impossibly tall from this angle. There’s a road below, following the general line of the shore, and even from a distance the sound of horses and carts and chatting travelers can be heard. It takes a lot of traffic to keep the heart of an Empire beating.

“Welcome to the Imperial City,” Felix says softly.

Comments

[smartass_captain]

"Is she a blacksmith? A ferrier, armor maker, weaponsmith? I know there are all sorts of specialties. Do they blow and shape glass here too? They'd have to for all the vials and bottles you use for your alchemy. I feel so out of my depth here."

Jim lets out a laugh at his own lack of a trade skill and shakes his head. By now the sun is high in the sky and the street has widened and become if anything even more busy with people making there way to and from the main gate.

He may as well be a vagrant in this world, for all the skill he has to live in it. Luckily he has a quite capable guide in Felix.

[conjuredskies]

"She's an armorer - mostly she makes enchanted weapons and armor. I gather she takes an awful lot of contracts from the Legion these days." Felix grins with familial pride. "Even here, not many smiths can enchant their own wares. I understand glassblowing is a very profitable trade too - she used to talk about getting into that business too."

It always helps to have the right connections. If Jim were to be stuck here, well, Felix has no doubt they could find him a post that made use of his actual talents. Cyrodiil in particular is fertile ground for scholars and geographers and those handy with a quill.

They're reaching the main route into the city (on the eastern side of the lake), but they're not going to cross the long stone bridge over to the gate. Not yet, anyway. Where the bridge meets their side of the water is a sprawl of tile-roofed buildings: a sizable village in itself, and very well-kept for the volume of traffic currently passing through it. Cyrodiil is the type of place to have baskets of flowers hanging from the eaves and brightly-painted signs - and not a few stalls selling last-minute provisions to the travelers setting out.

There's also a trio of kids sitting on some barrels outside a candle shop. No sooner have Felix and Jim set foot in the place than one shoves his friend off the barrel and scarpers down the road ahead of them. Felix takes no notice.

"This is Medesgate - which is essentially another district of the City, but generally acts as if it's a town all to itself. Unless they're trying to sell you arena souvenirs," Felix adds with a nod to a stall full of merchandise for the Blues and the Yellows. "If we can get through the crowd, Marcella's house is out on the southern side."

Getting through is no easy task, though it's about to be made easier. There's a sharp whistle and the crowd parts, helpful people like Felix pulling their unwary companions aside. A pair of glossy black horses with lithe riders in green canter through, laden with bulging saddlebags. As soon as they're past Felix nips into the gap they've left, taking advantage of the opening to lead Jim quickly up the street. They're only minutes from home, and he can smell the home comforts from here.

[smartass_captain]

"So like...she makes armor and then casts spells on it?"

He's not sure what good armor that is also on fire would do for whoever is wearing it at a given time, but there's probably plenty about it that's worthwhile to have.

"Or do you mean she uses special materials that make it like..easier to use magic or what."

Just because Jim doesn't understand magic doesn't mean he's ever going to stop trying to. His thought process is jarred when the crowds get thick and he has to keep an eye on Felix not to get separated. Jim gives a thoughtful frown to the men on horseback as he follows Feliz up the road.

"Different outfits than yours. Clearly important...?"

[conjuredskies]

"Closer with the first one. The major difference between the spells I cast and her enchantments is that enchantments are permanent. For example, I could cast a spell to make my armor more resistant to damage, but it would only last a few hours - at the very most. Whereas she could enchant gauntlets that granted you unusual dexterity, and they'd never stop doing so."

He's enjoying being the one to explain this time, happy to show off his world and its- well, not wonders here, but certainly comforts.

"Deliveries for the Black Horse Courier," he explains of the horsemen. "The biggest printer of news pamphlets in the Empire. They'll be taking early copies of the next edition to Cheydinhal and Bruma, I'd guess. The next one to go out will have a copy of the Emperor's New Life address. We can't have anyone miss that, I suppose." He chuckles.

[smartass_captain]

"How strong of a magic user do you have to be to make something stick around for good like that? I thought you had to concentrate pretty actively to keep your magic around."

Not that Jim wants to imply Felix is not great and awesome at his job, because Jim would never do that. He is a biased man and more importantly loyal to those he likes. Clearly they must be different schools of magic is all.

"Does she have to put a piece of herself into the things she makes? Like, what does she have to give up for something like that?" The laws of science demand that both sides of any chemical equation be equal but it doesn't occur to Jim until after he's asked that it may not be so when it comes to magic. His frown is thoughtful and intense as he puts the brunt of his attention toward trying to figure this out. It's unlikely Jim will ever get tired of trying to wrap his head around Felix and his world.

"Oh, a paper. That makes sense." He doesn't dare say he didn't expect them to have something like that out here. Though he probably should have. They're rather progressive in a number of ways.

[conjuredskies]

"Less than you'd think. I mean..." He doesn't want to imply anything about his cousin's abilities. (If he thinks about it, he doesn't really know what kind of magical muscle she packs, he just made his own assumptions.)

"She'll explain it better, but enchantment isn't really about raw power. She doesn't feed it her own magic, she... um, takes it from another source." Didn't Harrow mention soul gems in front of Jim? Probably, but he doesn't want to remind Jim of that interrupted discussion. A shame they're reaching the end of the main thoroughfare: the crowds begin to thin out with the buildings, and the diminishing noise gives Felix less excuse to duck questions.

It's no Federation colony, here, but Jim will soon learn that the people of Tamriel are very keen on the printing press. To say nothing of decent plumbing and sewer systems, thank the gods. The breeze from the city is tinged with smoke but it could be far worse. Felix soon turns off the main road toward a knot of reasonably large houses between the road and the lakeside. One of them, low and sprawling, is partly taken up by a forge. No smoke from inside today, though. Someone's been tending the garden, Felix notices: a splash of orange and gold here and there marks where the snapdragons are blooming.

[smartass_captain]

"Would she be offended if I asked her about it? I have to admit I'm really curious."

Though lets be honest here Jim is naturally curious and determined to figure out all sorts of things he does and doesn't need to know to get by. The quieter side road winds to a collection of houses that makes both of Jim's eyebrows raise a bit. Lakeside property is kind of exclusive back on Earth. Felix's cousin must do quite well for herself.

Actually, considering she makes magical armors, this makes complete sense to the captain. Corner the market and all that.

"It's just her that lives here?" Jim gives the conjurer a sideways glance and a smile. "Nice place."

[conjuredskies]

"I'm sure she'd be only too happy to explain. Just as long as you don't try to steal any craft secrets, or she might have to silence you," Felix teases. The closer they get the more nervous he's growing, wondering just how Jim will get along with his occasionally-abrasive relation. The image of them indulging their mutual thirst for knowledge, though... that's a hope he'll cling to.

"This is my aunt's house too, at least normally. They moved here after the Great War. The Emperor offered rewards to people willing to resettle and rebuild the city, especially if they had a craft to offer." It is a very nice house, big enough for a good-size family, or a small one with servants. There's even a smaller second story. But contrary to what Jim might expect, land along the banks of Lake Rumare was very cheap then...

[smartass_captain]

"As if I could do anything with them if I had them."

The captain chuckles and bumps against Felix again while they walk toward the house. Felix may be worried about introducing them but Jim seems to be as relaxed as could be expected given the season. He slows his pace when Felix does but doesn't bring up the hesitation. Instead, he leans over and brushes his lips faintly against Felix's ear.

"It's a gorgeous place. Damn sight nicer than Skyrim's weather, too."

[conjuredskies]

He chuckles, relaxing despite himself at a mere touch from Jim, the low voice in his ear.

"This is the part where I disappoint you by admitting my hometown is up on the Skyrim border. This makes a more exciting trip."

They aren't the only people on this little road. It looks like the other houses here belong to different types of craftspeople, with one or two ducking into sheds or checking on their gardens. Felix and Jim don't stand out all that much, though Felix returns the polite and cheerful greetings from people carrying crates of wine and baskets of food and bunches of paper lanterns. One of the kids who ran off earlier is sitting on the wall outside Marcella's house, munching on a sweetcake. He hops down and strolls the other way as they approach.

Felix raises an eyebrow at him, but strolls through the open gate and knocks on the door. "Marcella! We're here!"

In reply, a voice swears very faintly from behind the house. A moment later an Imperial woman hastens around the corner, keys jingling at her belt and a pair of wooden poles in her arms. The poles are propped against the wall, and she wipes her hands on the cloth also at her belt before she extends her hands to her guests. Felix lets go of Jim to clasp them for a moment, grinning at her. "Vita Nova to you too, cousin."

"I didn't expect you to be so fast," she admits, remembering abruptly to yank off the cloth covering her hair and stuff it into a pocket. Marcella doesn't look like a woman who smiles all that often, but she bestows one on her cousin. It's tinged by wariness as she turns to take in Jim, however. "Vita Nova to you too, Felix, and... you must be the captain he wrote about."

"Marcella, this is Captain James Kirk." Felix tries to adopt an assuring tone, as if he can convey 'No, it's all right, he's practically one of us' in that alone. "Captain, my cousin Marcella Avita."

[smartass_captain]

Jim's heard that word before but only ever breathlessly ripped from Felix's throat. He doesn't have time to say so to Felix before Marcella is there and Jim quickly deposits that small piece of information somewhere for safe keeping while he watches Felix greet her.

He waits patiently for Felix to introduce him and offers a charming, if not slightly diplomatic, smile toward Felix's family.

"Jim is fine, Miss Avita. Thank you for allowing me into your home." He doesn't think this is the sort of woman he can win over with a kiss on the hand and a few nice words, so he gives a slight bow instead. "Vita Nova to you."

[conjuredskies]

"And to you. You're very welcome, and Marcella will be fine." She bows a little in return, her smile more polite than anything. Grace doesn't come easily to Marcella, but she's doing her best. It's the closest thing to a family occasion they've had in years, the most important festival in the calendar - and somehow, of all people, she's the one playing hostess.

Make no mistake though, he's made the right choice when it comes to winning her approval. It makes her think he's on the reserved side, but that's not a bad thing. By the time she finds out otherwise she'll have had time to warm up to him, Felix reasons.

That'll have to wait until she's settled down, of course. First she gestures to the door and leads them inside when Felix steps smartly over to open it for them. The hall inside has a red and white tile floor, marking out a familiar type of symbol to Felix.

"You'd better come inside- you must be tired from the journey..." Though speaking of that, she trails off and looks quizzically between them before pressing on. There are a great many details she's unclear on, she just wants to pick a good moment to extract answers. "Will you take a cup of wine?"

She's guiding them straight through to an obvious sitting room: it's not the most luxurious of Cyrodillic houses, but there are smoothly plastered walls and carved arches to the doors, the more ordinary flagstones hidden beneath beautifully patterned rugs, a scattering of framed paintings on the walls and a few shelves of books and ornaments around the room. The biggest difference Jim might notice is the smell of smoke and the high ceilings - both a result of the covered fireplace and the number of lamps around the room. It's rather less spacious and open than his own house. Good thing they have glass windows.

[smartass_captain]

Jim's never been someone you brought home to meet the family before. It's a pretty big first time for him so he may be working a little bit harder than normal to impress. Or at least not whisper shameless things in Felix's ear while she's looking right at him. He has some manner of self control, despite what Bones tells anyone who will listen to him grumble.

Her commentary of the journey almost makes him speak up, but it's occurred to him he has no idea what Felix has told Marcella or anyone else about Jim and where he's from, so instead he inclines his head politely in his best impression of his first officer and follows them inside.

It's the first time he's ever been in a legitimate house while visiting Felix's world and he stops in the entryway to take it all in with a look of wonder on his face. He has to blink when he realizes Marcella is speaking to him and he worries his bottom lip in his teeth before shaking his head.

"I..I shouldn't, probably. I'm allergic to most berries." He shoots an apologetic look Felix's way. He's still not sure what's safe for him to eat or drink here but he hardly wants to ruin the trip before it's even properly started. He hopes Marcella won't take offense or think he's making it up. He'll dutifully follow to the sitting room, now too nervous to properly take in the decor and home around him.

[conjuredskies]

"Oh. Yes- of course. Felix mentioned that." Marcella frowns sharply, reprimanding herself. "Ale, then?" She shoots Felix a querying look.

"We've traded drinks before; I'm sure we have something to suit Jim," he assures her. He has a smile for both of them, but it's trained longer on Jim - and so he misses the flicker of a mischievous smile on Marcella's face.

"You'd better come and see what there is," she says firmly. She gestures at the cushioned chairs around the fireplace. "Please, captain, make yourself at home. We'll be no more than a moment."

She's off quite briskly, but Felix stays to draw close, hands sliding around Jim's waist for a minute. "It's not quite a starship, but I hope you like it..."

He hopes he sounds relaxed and reassuring, too. Because what he's feeling is a kind of terror he's not at all used to.

[smartass_captain]

"More than fine, thank you."

Jim's trying his best to cover his own nerves with a wide country boy smile, still desperately trying to give Felix's family a good impression of himself before he gets a chance to put his foot in his mouth and fuck this all up.

A tension that eases when Felix's hands find his waist after MArcella's hurried out of the room.

"Grew up on a farm, remember? It fits, this place. It fits you. A lot more than my ship does....much as I hate to admit it." He gives a low chuckle and leans some of his weight onto Felix while they're close like this. "I'm sure your family home fits you even better..."

[conjuredskies]

"Being with you fits me." He leans into Jim, close enough to brush the other's cheek with his lips as he murmurs, "But if you really want to see Bruma, we can arrange that sometime-"

"Felix!" Marcella's voice calls from the kitchen. He lets out a breath, half a chuckle, and gives Jim an apologetic smile as he steps away. He's not gone from the room long when Jim will hear a muffled exclamation, followed by laughter from the kitchen. Sounds like there's another man there, perhaps?

Marcella appears a moment later, having washed her hands and bearing a plate of flower-shaped sweetcakes. "Felix said these should be safe, captain. I sprung a little surprise on him, so he'll be another minute bringing the drinks."

[smartass_captain]

"I want to learn everything about you that you'll let me." His hands are slipping down to find Felix's waist and he breathes in deep the smell of Felix's leathers and skin and--

The hail snaps the moment they are sharing and Jim chuckles under his breath at the same time his lover does and moves to keep his hands to himself once more with the barest traces of a nod. They've left him alone in the sitting room so Jim will take the opportunity to look around on the shelves and at any books left sitting on the small endtables or shelves. Which he puts down at the sound of another person's voice and turns back around.

There won't even be time to take a step toward the hall before Marcella is back with food in hand.

"Oh, thank you Marcella." Jim quirks his lips into a smile and turns around to face her properly. "He usually likes those. Surprises, I mean."

[conjuredskies]

The objects littering the shelves look more like accumulated clutter than carefully-picked ornaments: a trio of purple soul gems, facets glinting in the light; a couple of pewter tankards decorated with embossed stags; spare paper and charcoal. The books are tidier, though there's not much order to them. Jim probably won't be surprised to find the big tome left out is a well-used catalogue of armor and weapon styles from all over Tamriel, accompanied by detailed illustrations. There are concessions to more general interests, though - a couple of history books, a small collection of novels.

Not that there's much time to examine them, of course. Marcella looks amused as she sets the cakes down, pulling a small table out into the middle of the room. "Hah! He does, doesn't he? I didn't quite plan it, mind - our uncle was already on his way down to visit when Felix sent his letter..."

She's interrupted by the other voices coming their way: Felix is joking about the food in Skyrim, but that cuts off as soon as he enters the room, ale bottles in hand. "Jim! Ah- this is my uncle Terentius, down from Bruma. Uncle, this is Captain James Kirk."

"Captain, eh? A sailor or a soldier?" The older man beside him sets down a bunch of mugs and gives Jim an amicable smile as he bows. He's darker than Felix and heavier-set, but there's a resemblance to both cousins in his features - and Jim's clearly found where Felix got that easy grin.

[smartass_captain]

Jim's caught sight of those purple gems before but has no idea what it is they're supposed to do. They look like rough dilithium crystals but he's never had a chance to scan them before and he'd be lying if he said he wasn't even a little bit curious about them. The books are the more immediate curiosity as well as determining if he can make sense of the script.

The captain nearly moves to help her with the table but realizes she's got it fine on her own. It leaves him awkwardly standing by the shelf and nodding along with her explanation. Another family member joining them? He's not sure if this is something to be celebrated or afraid of. Either way his nerves are making his stomach drop and his smile force itself a bit brighter.

"Sir Terentius, it is a pleasure. Felix and I were just speaking of Bruma." He's getting remarkably good at that bow. Thanks years of diplomacy lessons. "Of the two? Sailor, definitely. I see myself as a scholar though." and it's so much easier for his own smile to warm when he sees Felix's grin on the man's face.

[conjuredskies]

Marcella's going to busy herself arranging mugs and bottles on the table, more for the sake of her nerves than hospitality.

"Jim's an explorer above all," Felix says, giving the captain a smile of fond pride.

"Just Terentius, please. No sense in standing on formality when we're here to celebrate." Whether the man's noted Felix's expression or not, he's taking stock of their guest. "I can see why you'd come to Cyrodiil - Divines know we've got more buried ruins than we could explore in a thousand years. But whereabouts do you hail from yourself?"

Felix stirs at that, enough to draw a glance from Terentius. But the conjurer's gaze - and his murmured words - are for Jim. "Ah. Jim, I... think it best to tell as much of the truth as we can. Unless you object..."

[smartass_captain]

"If you say so."

Jim drops his 'diplomatic' tone of voice nearly instantly at the insistence of Felix's uncle. His posture relaxes and a grin that can only be described as eager has settled its way onto Jim's face. In another life he could easily see himself exploring every nook and cranny of this place. It's a calling. The question makes Jim react similarly, gaze automatically shifting to Felix as though to ask for a guide.

"Is he...aware of your brother's current orders in the Nexus?" He's not sure how to word it without sounding like he's stark raving mad, to be honest. "I'm from...quite a ways away. A different place...and a different time. Though I've made a pretty decent effort at fitting in here with the locals."

[conjuredskies]

By now Marcella has straightened up from reviving the fire, exchanging a look with Terentius before their scrutiny returns to the two men in front of them.

"No, but this is one of those cases where the less they know, the safer we all are." He pulls a wry smile, as if amused by saying it aloud. But he does take a step closer to Jim as he meets Marcella's frown and Terentius's patient look. "What Jim says is true: it's best you assume that matters in our, ah, plane are entirely new to him."

"Our time, our plane-" Marcella takes a hard look at Jim before she decides, "He can't be a daedra... can he?"

"He's not," Felix is quick to confirm, to her visible relief. "But it is a matter of conjuration. Jim is a friend to both- to all of us. I need to ask your help in keeping him safe while he's here."

"Why is he here?" Terentius asks, his mild tone belying how pointed the question is. "Or should I ask?"

"I invited him to join me for the celebrations, Uncle. It's truly that simple."

[smartass_captain]

"No, no."

Jim shakes his head. He's quick to put his hands up in a placating manner as if to prove this point.

"Entirely human, no special abilities whatsoever. I can't even do magic. I'd be dead inside a day in this world without Felix here, and that's a fact." The laugh he gives is sincere but tinged with nervousness.

"And if you must know, I'm involved with Felix." He folds his arms over his chest and gives a shrug. It was going to come up eventually, might as well get that out there right now and get allllllllll of the awkward on the table and out of the way so they can go back to enjoying themselves.

[conjuredskies]

"Now that at least makes sense," is Terentius' reaction, the old soldier letting out a chuckle. He's still appraising Jim, though in light of this news his speculation has just taken a very different turn.

Marcella stares at them both for a minute. "So you've been summoning up... people. And you want us to help hide him." She's frowning very directly at Felix now. "And is this how you- no, you're right, I shouldn't ask.

"I don't know about anyone else," Terentius says, settling himself in a chair, "but I need a drink before I wrap my head around all this."

"Excellent idea, uncle." Felix touches a hand to Jim's back, reassuring, more than ready to guide him to a chair and pull one up alongside. His breath caught a little when Jim announced their involvement like that. But his family don't seem entirely surprised, and now it's out in the open he has no reason to stifle his affection so much.

[smartass_captain]

"If it helps, I do have a home of my own that I'm quite able to go back to. I really am just visiting for the festival."

The captain rubs at the back of his neck, unsure of how to ease the tension in the room but Felix wanted them to tell the truth, or as much of it as they're able to. Jim's trying to accommodate here and he's hoping that this hasn't just completely upset the festival plans. He looks enough like the locals in his outfit, Jim figures. No one stopped or questioned him on his way into the city.

Jim goes where he's lead to a chair and glances at Felix to make sure he's not just ruined everything by opening his mouth. What he sees instead is support and affection and he can't help but to relax slightly. Put on a small smile again.

"My apologies. I didn't intend to upset anyone."