nexus_sages | (no subject)

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A young man sits on one of the many couches in the Forum, and sighs at a notebook in his hands. The page is full of scribbled-out text, pages and pages of it. The pages are dog-eared and a bit ragged, indicating he's been using this notebook for a while.

"How can it be this hard to think of a good name for a secret identity?"

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"You are quite welcome. I am pleased to think I may have been of some help. On the subject of names," he extends a pebbly-scaled hand, the claws neatly trimmed, "I am called Shade-Seeker."

Oh good, handshakes are part of this guy's culture too. "I'm Jonathan Kent," he says, returning the gesture. "Most people just call me Jon."

"It is good to meet you, Jonathan Kent." Handshakes are, indeed, part of this guy's culture. His own is somewhat firmer than is the average among mages where he comes from, but is by no means an attempt to assert himself with a crushing grip. If those large, pink eyes are anything, it is sincere.

Jonathan's own grip is a strong one, though not as strong as it could be. That's very much on purpose, for safety reasons. "And you, Shade-Seeker. Sorry if it's rude, but what are you? I don't think I've ever met someone of your species before."

"I am a Saxhleel," he answers, "or Argonian, in the Imperial tongue. I come from the province of Black Marsh, in the Cyrodiilic Empire on the continent of Tamriel, in the world called Nirn. I have noticed that while there seem to be an abundance of humans in other worlds, my people have fewer analogs."

"Yeah, I've noticed that humans tend to outnumber everyone else by a lot too, even places like this," Jon agrees with a nod. "It's really weird."

Shade-Seeker chuckles wryly. "By definition, it is not weird, but normal--however counterintuitive."

He laughs a little at that. "Yeah, I guess so."

"And there, the attentive student of life finds a valuable lesson: intuition makes a welcome traveling companion, but is not infallible as a guide."

"Interesting way of looking at it... are you a philosopher?"

"To some extent, I must be, yes," he answers. "Philosophy seeks to broaden the mind in order to encompass the world; magic seeks to shape what of the world the mind can encompass. If I am to be a mage, then I must also be a philosopher." He smiles, then, a cheerful expression full of small, pointy teeth.

"Is magic common where you're from? Uh, Nirn?" he adds, remembering what Shade-Seeker called his world.

"Assuredly," the lizard replies. "Magic is in all things--some, perhaps, a little more than others, to be sure."

"There aren't many magic-users where I'm from, but it's not unheard of. It's a bit more common in Mom's home universe."

"An intriguing genealogy, to be sure," Shade-Seeker muses. "It is from your mother, then, that your knack for flying comes?"

"Oh, no, that's from my dad," Jon says, shaking his head. "He just does that naturally."

"Naturally? He flies without magic or, I presume, wings, and this is natural? My fascination grows."

"Yeah. It's a Kryptonian thing; I can't really explain how it works."

"No? A pity. My curiosity must remain unsatisfied, it seems." He pauses, then asks, "Kryptonian--is that a tribal distinction, racial, something else? As I reconsider our discussion, it seems possible that your remarks might have consciously distanced you from the humans you resemble--at least, to the extent of my ability to distinguish."

"Different species," Jon explains. "I'm only half, but apparently it's enough to get some of the perks."

"Different species, capable of joint reproduction? Interesting." He pauses, then shakes his head a little. "I apologize. Academic curiosity has prompted me to inquire more deeply than is polite."

"It's okay," Jon says with a small smile. "I get the whole curiosity thing."

The smile is answered with one that might be relieved (it's hard for some people to read those reptilian features). "I am pleased, then, not to have given offense in excess."

"I don't get offended easily. Besides, you never know stuff unless you ask."

That prompts a wide grin. "The spirit of the scholar! It is well-said!"