nexus_sages | Will accept character sheets

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Will accept character sheets

A multiversal plane is not an every day occurrence. Aliens, zombies, sentient robots... they're not a familiar sight either. Despite all of this, Isidor Briar Durant strides into this unfamiliar territory chin up, tailored suit, heels clicking against the ground, as if she owns the place. Viatorus follows nervously behind her, offering her answers whenever the smallest spark of confusion appears in her eyes as she scans area. She takes her time about putting names and terms to the things around her. It is important. She needs to be more than just informed about the Nexus, she needs to be familiar with it.

And then, when she decides she's ready, her intense examination changes with a blink. Isidor clasps her hands together and smiles, becoming the picture of a friendly stranger. "Hello. This is an exciting place, isn't it? Full of interesting people, I'm certain. I'd very much like to get to know you. Your name, a little bit about you and where you come from, maybe."

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"Hi." He can rest easy, she won't be going for a hello hug while Isidor is around and they're in public. She has limits. But that smile suggests that the minute Isi turns her back...

"I'm well, thanks. How have you been enjoying your tour?" Her eyes flick behind them both while they're talking, trying to pick out any bodyguards that might be hanging around trying to look casual. "Did he bring you to the pastry shop with the non-Euclidean kneading machine?"

That kind of smile only makes him smile more. Probably a good thing, considering how many people Isidor seems to want to talk to.

"It's... interesting." A fairly neutral answer accompanied by an approving now. "Good to understand what Viatorus was trying to explain to me. But no, he hasn't brought me to the pastry shop. I'll make sure he does though." Her smile strains against feigned seriousness. "For research purposes. Of course."

The idea of hugs makes him smile now? That is progress. She'll have to reward him later.

"Of course. It's an intriguing situation, philosophically and scientifically, to eat a pastry that sort of... unfolds in your mouth." She's happy to play along and leans forward to play whisper, "Make sure you take little bites."

Oh he isn't thinking that far ahead, he's just happy to see her happy. Still taking small steps in the hugging department.

"Thanks for the tip." Whatever seriousness she was acting at falls away back into friendliness again. "Anywhere else I should see while I'm here? Viatorus is acting like I'm grading his papers and not being much help." She turns around to catch her brother pulling a face and tease, "Say that you're not and you'll just sound like you're sulking."

Just shatter all her hopes and dreams, V, that's fine. He's still getting a hug later.

Ver pokes her tongue out at V while Isi's back is turned, but doesn't delay too long in answering in case she gets caught too. "I'm sure he's already taken you to the library. I like the open market. You can find just about anything there, but buying it can be tricky. There are so many kinds of currency going around here. Still, it can be fun to look. I heard there's a shipment of flying cars coming in soon."

It's okay, V can make more dreams for her. He can fix them!

He might have returned the gesture if he wasn't too busy trying to suppress a smile. Besides, his sister wouldn't be too happy if she discovered she was being treated like the Oblivious Adult.

That... actually gets a laugh from Isidor and she grins at Viatorus. "I am suddenly very glad you can't drive!"

"Maybe someone else can," he suggests and then looks to check Verity's expression.

He is the best friend a girl could hope for. And there's the new hope, so, good job! Already fixing things.

If V ever sticks his tongue out at her, Ver might faint. For realsies. She could weather the smiling if he wanted to. Even if it makes Isi realize she's the Oblivious Adult in this conversation.

"I can drive," she points out. "I can drive, in fact, in New York traffic." Just... don't ask her how well she can drive, or when the last time she was behind the wheel of a car was.

Viatorus doesn't hesitate in asking, "Would you like me to buy you a flying car?"

"No. Definitely no." A fraction of Isidor's hard look comes back, flickering between the two of them, but it's not quite enough to dim Viatorus' smile entirely. "No one is buying any flying cars for anyone. It's hard enough keeping up to date with the dangerous things he's doing as it is."

"Aww." She didn't want a flying car until Isi said she couldn't have one. Isn't that always the way? "What dangerous things have he been doing? Darling, have you been having adventures without me?" That would be unforgivable. But obviously he can't be in danger if she's around. Right?

Edited 2015-11-18 18:52 (UTC)

"No." Viatorus is quick off the mark. It would be terrible if Verity thought he was having fun without inviting her.

"I'm sure he's done a thousand things I still don't know about, but for now I suspect you're up to date with his risky goings on. Possibly more than me. I can only imagine how many would be added if a flying car came into the mix."

He gets a bright, if brief, smile.

"Isidor, you make it sound like I'm a bad influence." Yeah, she knows she's probably considered the worst sort by the family: the kind they can't find a good excuse to get rid of. "The most dangerous thing we do is try pastries without asking what the filling is. We're exceptionally boring people. Really. Anyway I'd make him wear his seatbelt..."

The joking gets a sceptical, "Mm." Then she sighs. "Honestly, I'm more worried about all these portals." She catches the expression on Viatorus' face. "I know it's part of your studies, but that doesn't mean I won't wish you were studying herbs or shields. It makes things... challenging."

Viatorus thinks about this for a second. "If it wasn't challenging, you'd probably be bored. Besides, I have Verity." He smiles at his friend. "We're keeping each other safe."

Perhaps it's because she doesn't say anything that it's clear she's unconvinced.

"I don't go wandering through random portals," Verity volunteers. She's quite serious now. "I only go through when I know what to expect on the other side. And after I'm reasonably sure I've had all the necessary shots. And he's going to have more bodyguards soon, right? He'll be the safest person here, and this place is basically built of safety."

Isidor lifts a finger and points at Verity, equally serious now. "You. Try to drill some of that sense into him."

"But I'm meant to be exploring dreamlands. They're not dangerous."

Her finger swivels to point at Viatorus. "That's a false statement. You know it. She can tell it."

He lifted his hands and shoulders. "I meant that it's not the same as walking into someone else's portal."

"Yes, ma'am." She doesn't much like the pointing, but after the finger gets a look she settles into a more thoughtful expression. "Does this mean I have your permission to get him preventative medical treatments? Because if he's going to go exploring he's going to need something better than a 21st-century flu shot. I've had some preventative and emergency treatments from somewhere around thirty thousand years in our future. Extremely useful."

Viatorus' eyelids flutter and he turns to Verity. "Um, what?"

"I would need to know the side effects and potential dangers of any treatments he was getting."

"... Shots...?"

"If, however, the risks of any treatments are minimal, and they're delivered from a reliable source... Yes. That would be an exceedingly good idea."

"I don't want shots."

"I wouldn't let him get anything I haven't been through first." She wants that to be clear. "Nobody I know who's had the treatment has had any bad side-effects beyond the usual feeling a little crummy for a few days. No worse than getting an ordinary flu shot. I can bring the details next time I visit."

She gives V a reassuring look before adding, "And no needles. It's just pills and hyposprays."

That's a little encouraging, but he's still going to fidget. "What's a hypospray?"

"That would very kind of you, thank you." Isidor hesitates and then tilts her head at Verity. "Is there anything you would like from us?"

"A hypospray... it turns the medicine into a mist that it injects into your skin. It kind of tingle-itches, but it doesn't really hurt." With Isidor, she can be all business; but with V she's gentle, her tone soft, her words unhurried. Everything is calm and peaceful, and her hand is held out to him. "You don't have to do it if you don't want to. But you might regret turning it down when you get a cold this winter and I don't."

Isidor's question is answered with a faint smile. "Viatorus has been taking excellent care of me since... it happened. I like being able to return the favor." The fact she'd like this arrangement to continue is implied.

The hand gives him pause. He looks from the offering to his sister's indiscernible expression and then to Verity. It's almost too long a pause before he takes her hand and gives it a squeeze. "Thank you. I will. I... I should. Even if it doesn't sound very nice." And then he lets her hand go.

She waits for a long moment after Verity's answer before her smile returns. "Alright then. So we've covered health, working on safety and accommodation... Then I suppose it's communication and protocol to sort out before everything is set. There is... one other thing. The Archon has expressed that if you do come to visit our world for extended periods, he would be interested in speaking with you."

Annnd there goes Viatorus fidgeting again. This time he notices it and puts his hands behind his back instead. Now nobody can see him rubbing his fingers!

A squeeze for a squeeze, and she understands why he's brief about it. Patience. "It's really not so bad. I promise." Not compared to some of the other things she does. Then again... they may have very different scales for these things.

It's pretty obvious he's fidgeting, but Verity will pretend not to notice. "That's your... the head of your family?" She's still not clear about the exact relationship. Someone will tell her someday, she hopes. Maybe they've got a very convenient and useful family tree hanging up somewhere. "Wants to make sure I'm not too bad an influence? I was kind of expecting that. When is he expecting me to accept his 'gracious hospitality'?"

She'll only play along with this stuff to a point. For now, she chooses to see it all as terribly amusing. She's Jane Goodall, going to study the rare and elusive Stuffy British Fancypants.

The encouragement is enough to make him smile briefly and give a thankful nod. Honestly, he think shots are nicer than meeting the Archon but he's not about to say that out loud.

"The Archon is our elected head of family, yes. That is, the family including all extended branches of our bloodline. It's an incredibly involved and influential position." In their defence, referring to him by his title is a deeply ingrained habit. The whole point is to keep a degree of formality between them. "He expects that you will arrange it through me at some point in the near future. You both have your different schedules to work with, after all."

Have faith, Viatorus. She's doing really well with Isidor, right?

Maybe it's better she not know. It wouldn't make her think any better of him. "Sounds busy. My schedule's pretty flexible, so with a couple day's notice it's not a problem for me to work it out." The rest is really up to Viatorus. She won't push for an invitation for a longer visit. "And I don't want to make things needlessly difficult."

Discretion is the better part of something.

"That should be fine. I'll work it out with you and Viatorus when an opportunity presents itself." Isidor's smile curls ever so slightly into a grin. "I'm sure that won't be long. The only reason he hasn't invited you to the manor already is probably because the Archon lives there."

"That's not true!" And, despite his cheeks taking on a shade of red, he's telling the truth. He has been trying hard not to look like he's trying to wow Verity with money and privilege. Not after some of their conversations.

Whether it's true or not isn't particularly important to Isidor, though. She shrugs her head and moves on. "You'll need to visit shortly anyway. Hephaestia and Stathis want you to have a look at how they're containing the Casket of Fimbulwinter."

She believes V, and gives him a little smile to let him know it's okay. Then she turns back to Isi with a grin. "Well, you can't blame him for wanting to make sure the wild American girl can pretend she knows how to behave, right? I'm sure you've heard all kinds of stories about how rebellious we can be."

Mention of the casket makes her smile fade. "Oh. Okay, yeah." But... she just can't bring herself to pretend she cares all that much. "I hope it hasn't given anyone trouble?" That's a genuine concern, although she suspects if anyone had opened it V would have told her already.

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Don't touch Lola.

Or press the big red button?

Or get involved in a land war in Asia.

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https://youtu.be/uq-gYOrU8bA

Excellent~

She won't call him Al. It'd probably confuse him if she tried.

It really would. Not that that's difficult.

Did he even get to popular music growing up?

Wagner, Bach and Debussy? :D?

The best of both worlds: https://youtu.be/JZPSV78iQxg

A Viaty disco would be straaange....

But lots of fun!

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