Stories and hobbies and other ways to pass the time

[brave_heart_verity]

Verity's in her favorite seat in the forum, drinking coffee and trying to read a book that's frustrating her. It isn't long before she puts it down with a scowl aimed at the cover (or possibly the concept of books). "Does anyone understand Norse mythology? Is that a thing? Because I do not get it."

"Alternately, any suggestions for hobbies for someone with lots of time and few skills? Preferably things that aren't group activities."

((A note about Verity: she's got a magic spell stuck in her that lets her always know when someone is lying to her. Please respect this; if your character is trying to lie to her, please make that known so she can react appropriately.))

Comments

[ixis]

"Perhaps they are! Most gods have a means of calling them. Burnt offerings or the like, I don't know. And while you may not be the believing sort, you still managed to befriend a god, did you not? Perhaps a little piety will help you on the recovery of your companion."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Maybe. But that's going to make teasing him when he burns the bacon really awkward."

She'll do it to get her Loki back though.

[ixis]

"He should know that it's a common method of calling gods' favour and attention; he'll have no room to talk. If you would like, I could do some research as well? I've not had a great deal of experience with the divine, but as I said," he gestures towards the book she has, "most anything can be read up on. I'd imagine this place and it being an intersection of all realities makes it that much more of a prime hub of information."

[brave_heart_verity]

She's a little suspicious, but desperation wins out. Plus he knows magic, which will probably be important.

"You wouldn't mind? I mean, aren't you still trying to find your way home?" She doubts he'd come back voluntarily, given how unhappy he was when he arrived.

[ixis]

"I can multi-task. I don't sleep much, besides." Why waste time sleeping when you can STUDY and DO MAGIC and MAKE WEAPONS and PLAN COUPS or any of the other things he fills his time with. "Besides, I intend to secure housing in this place soon and any place I dwell will become a hub of research, reading and arcana in short order. Why not branch out?

"Either way, if gods walk freely in this place, I should prepare myself anyhow. Like I said, not a great deal of exposure to their sort."

[brave_heart_verity]

((I'm now picturing that list as his battle menu.))

"Oh? Decided it's not so bad here? That's good." If he has to be stuck, he might as well enjoy himself. "All the gods I've met are like people, but. But more, somehow. They're also impossibly pretty. It's very disconcerting sometimes."

[ixis]

((HAHAHA excellent. Little drop-down set to this.))

"I may as well make the best of it so long as I'm exiled. It'd hardly do for someone of my stature to nap about on the benches here like a vagrant. I may just secure something simple and then shape it to my needs." He means that quite literally, what with his earth-controlling and crystal-shaping abilities. Hell, maybe he'll just set up in a little spot in the park district and everyone else can just deal with it. Though that line of thought makes him wonder.

"Might you have any suggestions as to, ehh, the best places to seek these sort of things? I've mainly stuck to the forum regions thus far." And he knows jack about real estate.

[brave_heart_verity]

((But this goes with everything!))

It wouldn't shock her. Loki made his apartment out of nothing more than dreams and old issues of Better Homes and Gardens as far as she can tell.

"There's a couple of nice neighborhoods. Lots of different kinds of houses available. Some of them look like they've been abandoned a while, so they might need some fixing up. On the other hand, they'd probably be free. At least until the owners come back. I could help you look if you like?"

[ixis]

((HAHAH. I just picked my favourite old Sega RPG, but like you said, THIS GOES WITH EVERYTHING.))

His ears go upright, then back down in a little flip-flop of surprise. "I...suppose? I don't need anything substantial. Most anything made from any kind of earth or stone will do. Granted, ANY material will suffice, so long as it's not organic." How many houses is she going to find that would be made of ORGANIC material? Imagine a realtor hearing how someone is more concerned with what the house is made of rather than the size or furnishings. Then again, this IS the Nexus.

[brave_heart_verity]

"So... earth, stone, brick maybe? But not wood? Hmm. Or did you mean living organic material?" If it's the latter she can work with that easy, thanks to the powers of knowing how to use a computer. Finding a building with no wood in it would be more difficult. At least a building she'd consider acceptable, what with the standards and prejudices of her homeland. She hasn't been here long enough to get rid of those yet.

"Are you going to want anything particular nearby? Certain kinds of services or resources?"

[ixis]

Can you imagine this guy using a computer? He'd only be able to type with one hand. It'd be like watching your great-grandpa trying to access his email, but somehow worse.

"Privacy. A must. An absolute must. I require being alone if I am to make any progress on research. And..." He thinks. "Lets stick to stone and brick. It's just less complicated that way." He should be thankful Verity's not questioning his weird stipulations.

[brave_heart_verity]

Considering her great-grandpa might be several centuries dead or more... nope, not thinking about that.

"Stone and brick, lots of privacy. Okay." She's really good at going along with these things. She likes understanding things, but she can make some guesses on these things and they make enough sense for her to not feel the need to ask further questions. "I'll see what I can find."

[ixis]

"A fine exchange, all things considered. I will see to securing information on gods. Particularly..." He squints at the cover of her book. "...Nnnnorse gods? Or any other related information you feel would be pertinent."

[brave_heart_verity]

She hadn't been thinking of it in terms of an exchange, but she'll nod her agreement. Seems fair. "Norse, yes. Specifically Loki. He's the god of stories. And some other things." Naugus may feel a kinship with Loki when he learns about the mischief and lies, and the frankly brilliant gambit to get Red Skull and Magneto to team up and talk about soap.

[ixis]

Tricksters and sneaks are completely his bag. Should he get on this reading anytime soon, he'll probably indeed be impressed! Especially since his present impression of gods are all the divine, holy and serene types. Let's get some gods who know how to have a good time.

"Much like my suggestion with reaching gods, I can be contacted easily if you just whisper my name into a flame. There are other methods, certainly, but I find this one people feel is the most accessible. Have I told you this before? I can't keep all you Overlanders straight." Racist! "And the easiest method to find you is...?"

[brave_heart_verity]

He'll definitely like the Asgardians.

Flames she can handle. The casual racism, not so much. "'All you Overlanders'? That's not cool. As for how to reach me, I'm guessing you don't have a cell phone. Hmm. Clint mentioned a postal service..."

[ixis]

"What? It's true. You all look the same to a degree. No tails or visible ears, no quills or fur. I can pick you out because of your hair, thankfully." Racist. He really is like having to deal with a grandpa. A racist, tech-ignorant grandpa, as most grandpas are. The worst part is his words aren't gonna set off any lie alarms. He has no clue, especially with how he's spent most of his life either locked up in a twisted void of a world or at war with the Overlander nations.

"Post? Post works. Do you have any particular place letters can be delivered?"

[brave_heart_verity]

It's what he believes. That doesn't make it the truth. She wants to yell. It's still her first instinctive reaction to anything she doesn't like. But where did that ever get her? So instead she tries a more careful tone. "Maybe it'd be easier if you tried thinking of us as people."

Then she'll write down her address. Fortunately, she already knows the world code.

[ixis]

"You...are at least a great deal more tolerable than the sort back home. No immediate brandishing of guns and the like." He gives a cringe; guns. So uncivilized, so obnoxious. "I have not have had the greatest of impressions or exposure with your kind is all. Making orphans of our children, constant war efforts, you know. But..." He sighs, like this is such a massive undertaking. "Fine. I apologize if I have offended." He grumbles the apology, but it's said at least.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Thank you." It's not a great apology, but it's a start. Hopefully, he'll learn the rest in time. "I'm sorry about the war. But please understand, the ones doing those things are not 'my kind'. I'm not making war on anyone. So I'm glad I'm more tolerable than the jerks you're used to dealing with."

[ixis]

"True, true. I am...reflexive with my ways regarding Overlanders. Where I am from, if you see one, odds are good he will want you dead in short order. So you'd best be the one to strike first. Though I have begun to realize, ehhn...You are not Overlanders as I understand them. Simply 'humans'. Remarkably less bent on battle and destruction. I hope that I will adjust in time."

He's quiet for a bit, then admits, "...It was rather startling to show up in this place and see nearly nothing but, I will confess. One more reason I assumed this place was made by the doctor to facilitate my end. Just drop me in a closed space full of hated foes!"

[brave_heart_verity]

"That sounds scary," she agrees. "I doubt I'd have reacted any better if someone did that to me. Thank you for giving me a chance to prove I'm not like them." She'll skip over the part where Naugus' own reactions probably don't help the situation when he meets an Outlander. Also the part where she'd have to explain that no, there's plenty of war and destruction where she comes from too. These are facts better saved for later, when they're on more solid ground with each other.

"If your enemy did send you here, I bet he's going to regret it when you get back."

[ixis]

"Oh, I know that he did. And I know that he will feel the coldest of fear upon my return. It is a plain fact that he is afraid of me; he doesn't bother to hide it because he knows how well he has wronged me in the past and how much greater my power is. Why else would he go to these measures to lock me here?"

Not a single lie present.

"Interestingly, said enemy is also an Overlander. I just don't have that outstanding of a track record with the whole race, it seems. But then again, what Mobian does?"

[brave_heart_verity]

"One nation of warmongers doesn't speak for the whole race," she reminds him. "Hell, the ones you've met probably don't speak for everyone in their own country. War is an extremely divisive issue. And you know, you're in a whole new place now, full of all kinds of people. New track, new record."

[ixis]

He hisses but doesn't argue. Guess that's a concession to her point. His tail thumps angrily once or twice, but that's it. No arguments or yelling or voicing his dislike of (presumably) being lectured.

"Do you have that address, by any chance?"