The Learned Society of Nexus Geographers

[conjuredskies]

Felix wasn’t strictly untruthful to Verity, and perhaps that’s good enough.

He is, after all, free. It’s just that rather than waiting to be sent off-duty, he waits until Stratos disappears into their home portal, then scribbles a note to say that it’s been six hours(!) and he needs food. He leaves it pinned beneath a rock at his desk.

How could that possibly backfire?

He’s delved into the streets of the Nexus before, but as usual it’s an education in architecture – and food, and commerce, and the entertaining arts. His map holds him true though. Aside from a bit of shock when he learns what an Escher bridge actually is, he makes it safely to the Fox and Crozier. It’s a surprisingly pleasant place, opening onto a tree-shaded yard of its own. The clink of glasses and murmur of pleasant conversation drift through the open doors. Rather impressed, Felix glances around the lane to check if Verity’s waiting outside before he heads in.

Comments

[brave_heart_verity]

This is officially on The List.

She laughs, shaking her head. "Oh no. The flight was to get to it. It's thousands of miles away from where I grew up. We could see it from the plane when we flew over it though."

[conjuredskies]

"Oh." He's still impressed, though a little disappointed that she didn't get to go flying around a vast canyon. "That's a very long way to travel, especially for a young girl. But... if you trust the machine entirely, of course flying would be much safer than a road."

[brave_heart_verity]

"I didn't fly it. There are people who do that. They have special training. I was only a passenger." Sorry Felix, she's not half so cool as you want to believe. "I could learn if I wanted, now that I'm an adult. I don't know if anyone around here teaches that kind of thing."

[conjuredskies]

You're just determined to whittle away at your image, Verity. Leave him some illusions.

"I doubt there's anything they don't teach here. Or at least close by. I haven't seen any flying machines yet - perhaps the Nexus is too unstable to risk it. Would you like to learn?"

[brave_heart_verity]

Honesty is important to her.

"I dunno. It sounds like fun, but I'm not sure where I'd go. Maybe if I had a jetpack or something."

[conjuredskies]

"Why, is that easier to take places?" He can imagine a flying machine might be little hard to take care of sometimes. Even a carriage needs a driver and groom to take care of it while the owners enjoy themselves.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Some places. It's meant for carrying just one person, and it's a lot smaller, so it can go places an airplane can't. But there's weight limits and not a lot of fuel, so it won't go as far. Plus if I had a jet pack back home everyone would assume I'm either a hero or a villain and either way fighting would ensue. But around here, it could be a lot of fun."

[conjuredskies]

"Your people sound, er, excitable," he remarks. Not a little puzzled - a flying machine in Tamriel would be something to get very excited about, but in her realm it seems like an everyday occurrence. "You could always go to places where there aren't many people - with one of those you could go just about anywhere. Even Malacath's realm, where there's no solid ground."

[brave_heart_verity]

"That's true. It'd be great for exploring." She's never been much of an explorer, not until she came to the Nexus, and even then she's been timid. "So what you're saying is, you really want a jetpack for Jül?"

[conjuredskies]

"For any reason at all!" He laughs. "Of course if you don't know how to use one, I surely won't. What does, er, Jül mean?"

[brave_heart_verity]

"I'll make sure it comes with instructions," she promises with a laugh. "Jül is a mid-winter holiday traditionally celebrated by giving gifts to friends and family. And eating, because what holiday is complete without eating?"

Speaking of, looks like their food is ready.

[conjuredskies]

"Of course. You know, that sounds a bit like the festivals they have up in High Rock. My aunt used to tell me stories about Saturalia there."

He finishes the sangria quickly when he spots the food coming and gives the server a smile. Whatever goslingroot is, the tagliatelle made with it has a delicate green color beneath the red pepper sauce. The spicy smell mingled with the freshly-roasted lamb sets his stomach rumbling. "That's good timing, thank you."

[brave_heart_verity]

The server gets a smile and thanks from her as well. Her rabbit has a nice mustard crust and is served over polenta with fennel and carrots. (You have to have carrots with rabbit, that's a rule.) "Mm, it all looks so good."

She's going to take a few minutes to cut the meat off the bones, setting the latter on the edge of her plate. She is quick and neat about it; she's deboned a lot of chickens and things in her life. "There used to be a holiday called Saturnalia where I'm from, celebrated at the same time of year. That's a funny coincidence. But that's not something you celebrate I take it... what holidays do you celebrate?"

[conjuredskies]

He gives her polenta a curious look, though tasting his peppery mushrooms comes first. And figuring out how to handle these long ribbony pasta things. The learning process is going to be a little messy.

"That is odd," he remarks of the coincidence, when he's done savoring his first taste. Maybe there's some common root to the celebrations? He notes to ask one of the Breton knights about it. "Hmm. Well, I'm from further south, in Cyrodiil. The biggest festival there is for the new year, especially in the Imperial City. You know - parades, parties, an address from the Emperor, people giving thanks to Father Akatosh. Everyone reflecting very soberly on the year behind and then getting as drunk as possible to prepare for the next."

[brave_heart_verity]

She'll push her plate aside when she sees him having trouble, reaching across the table to cover his hand. "Here. Put the fork down through the pile of noodles, and twirl them around it like this." Hopefully, he'll see through the bossiness to the good intentions behind them. Or just enjoy the fact she's willing to touch him, that's pretty rare.

"That sounds like New Year's Eve where I'm from too. Well, we don't have a parade, but we do throw some kickin' parties and get stupid drunk usually. It doesn't have a lot of religious connotations anymore. Do you make new year's resolutions?"

[conjuredskies]

He's fond of quite a few bossy people (and beings) so he looks amused but pays attention. She's doing him a kindness, after all. Both sparing him embarrassment and sparing his stomach a wait. "Ah, I get it. Thank you."

His meal starts to go more smoothly once he starts practicing the noodle-twirling. Much better! "Not really, no. What sort of resolutions?"

[brave_heart_verity]

"You're welcome." She'll let him get back to his regularly scheduled eating now. And don't worry, Felix, you'll have to teach her how to handle fire-roasted everything and forks that are missing a tine some time.

"Usually to give up bad habits or pick up better ones. Going on a diet, exercising more, giving up overindulging in things, being kinder to people. They rarely last long."

[conjuredskies]

He does like trading.

"That sounds quite religious, actually," he comments, successfully twirling some pasta in the sauce and popping it into his mouth. He realizes then how that might sound, so he chews and swallows hastily to clarify, "Er, not necessarily the part about breaking them."

[brave_heart_verity]

It gets a laugh. She's not a particularly religious person. "Oh no, religions, where I come from, are full of broken promises, so that's fitting. I meant we don't make the promises to a god, only to ourselves. I suppose that way we have nobody to blame but ourselves."

She takes a bite of the rabbit now that she's quite thoroughly taken it apart. "Mm. This is good."

[conjuredskies]

Felix looks relieved. And since he hasn't offended, he can get back to enjoying his food. He's using the conversation to help him resist stuffing it all down his gullet at once. That and drinking.

"My people do that all the time, too. Part of the mortal condition, I suppose. We're wise enough to know how we should act, and too changeable to reliably stick with it."

He has to grin for a moment at how carefully she's disassembled the rabbit. "It looks nice and tender. Is that some sort of grain with it?"

[brave_heart_verity]

If they keep this up, with the good manners and paced eating, people might start thinking they're civilized.

"That's a good way of putting it. You're very philosophical, aren't you?" This is an attractive quality to her, so say yes.

"Hmm? It's called polenta. It's cornmeal porridge. Want to try some?" Her plate is slid closer to him in invitation. "It's really good."

[conjuredskies]

He needs some kind of cunning disguise, doesn't he?

One should always accept a compliment, and he lifts his ale in salute. "You need to be, in my line of work. Especially when you're trying to understand otherworldly beings. It's important to have... perspective."

And, incidentally, a willingness to try things. He'll scoop a little of the polenta into his bowl. "Thanks. Would you like to try the pasta? You've had it without the goslingroot, so you'll know what difference that makes."

[brave_heart_verity]

Ah, very sneaky.

"Perspective, or the ability to see other perspectives anyway, isn't much prized where I'm from. I suppose I shouldn't judge them too much, I didn't always worry much bout other perspectives either." She sips her ale and blinks in surprise as the rosemary in it. Hmm.

"Thank you." She deftly hooks a few long noodles with her fork and winds them up. He'll be able to do it that neatly too with a little more practice. "Mm. Green but earthy at the same time. I like it."

[conjuredskies]

"My people appreciate that kind of skill more than most, I think. They just... often think they're better at it than they really are." He pulls a wry smile as he tries the polenta, with and without sauce. Every combination must be examined! "Do you get concerned about other people's opinions much now?"

[brave_heart_verity]

She smirks at the admission but doesn't say anything... for now. Possibly because she's more interested in how he likes the food. "Mm... not generally, but I've learned to value the perspectives and opinions of my friends. No man is an island, though gods know I tried."