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

[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."

[conjuredskies]

He devotes a moment to contemplating both her words and the food. "Hmm. What stopped you trying? If you don't mind discussing it."

[brave_heart_verity]

Boy, she is suddenly really into turning that piece of rabbit into slivers with her fork.

"I made a friend, and he taught me to... let myself feel."

[conjuredskies]

"Ah. Well, I'm glad of that, for one," he says, giving her a small smile. "You know, this polenta's delicious stuff. Much lighter than it looks."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Me too." She can smile about it, for all it's a sad subject.

"It is. It's amazing what can be done with a few simple ingredients, isn't it? D'you have corn, or maize, where you're from?"

[conjuredskies]

Felix looks interested. "Corn as in the big yellow ears? On the really tall stalks? Because we have that all over Cyrodiil."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Yeah, corn like that," she agrees with a grin. "You dry it, grind it, then cook it to make this. It's the same stuff you make cornbread with."

[conjuredskies]

"There's bread too? I must investigate whenever I make it home. Either the farmers have been holding out on us, or I have something new to show them."

[brave_heart_verity]

"There is. It's also very easy to make. But if nobody's tried milling corn yet in Cyrodiil, well, you're going to be very busy when you get home."

[conjuredskies]

"It shouldn't be that hard to convince them: they mill just about everything else in the lowlands. Though I think I'll leave the cooking part to people with some skill for it."

[brave_heart_verity]

"What, you can't call one of those fire ladies to do it for you? Controlling fire should make cooking so much easier."

[conjuredskies]

"Asking for a fire is easy. Asking for edible food from a being who doesn't eat, that's almost as hard as trying to conjure it yourself. Which doesn't work at all, might I add."

[brave_heart_verity]

"It doesn't? Huh. I wonder why dad was always so worried about magic food..."

She's going to be wondering about that for a moment (and the rest of her life).

"I guess you'll have to learn to do it for yourself."

[conjuredskies]

"Food can have magical effects - especially if you lace it with some kind of potion. Maybe that's what worried him?" he suggests. It seems like the most logical answer.

Her latter comment makes him grimace a little. "At this rate I'll be learning to do it for the whole squad. Curse of the apprentice, you know. Not that it'll be anything this nice."