smartass_captain | A Very Nexus Reception

To all the friends of the happy grooms, PINpoint messages have already been sent weeks ago inviting them to expect quite the street party arranged in the commons of the Nexus. Guests have been invited to bring an appetite--both for food and for a social adventure. Nirnish weddings are public affairs, after all. While the ceremony has had to be somewhat sequestered for the sake of keeping the existence of Other Worlds a secret, neither Felix nor Jim would want to leave out their interdimensional friends entirely. Having a reception party arranged in the Nexus became the natural plan of action.

Overnight large sections of the Commons are transformed via diligent craftsmanship and quite a lot of magic from those who’ve volunteered. Lanterns representing the Divines are hung along every lamp post, bringing at least the idea of warmth even if the flames are too small to heat their surroundings alone. Bardic tunes carry in the air as readily as the scent of food and drink. Past banners of red and black, blue and white the people gather.

For both grooms this is nearly a continuation of the day before. They’ve had the chance to sleep off the nerves of their ceremony. Today is entirely for celebration--uninhibited celebration at that. No more minding what is said and isn’t. No more pretending to be anything other than who they are. Jim’s traded out his Nirnish finery for a suit and tie, garments he’s much more familiar with. Felix is staying with his native clothing; though he may have dressed down a little from his wedding clothes, the conjurer’s dressed in fitted breeches and his best fur-trimmed coat and boots, the soft hide dyed blue to match his tunic. By their side sits the conjurer’s spectral wolf familiar, ears pricked at the gathering.

As the guests find their ways over it will be easy to spot their friends amidst all the decor along with many other avenues with which to enjoy themselves….

Greetings
Food and Drink
Music and Dancing
Bonfire Entertainment
Party Games

((Links to all relevent wedding Prose can be found Here!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Runa may have moved closer to share her faith and culture, but it looks now like it's so she can hang on Felix's every word. How similar are the Nords of Nirn to the Norsemen of Earth? Is Shor similar to the Thor to whom his name is so close? Or to Odin, who rules over Valhalla?

"That sounds very much like my people," she says breathlessly, reining in her overenthusiastic nature. "I'd like to hear more about those gods."

Yet what he says next isn't about his world at all. It's about Loki, and she has to take a moment to remind herself that there are many Lokis, not just the one she has befriended. It's about a human woman saying she has become a Valkyrie. Runa is quiet as her puzzled thoughts work themselves out across her face.

Finally she laughs, "But it's not?" She shakes her head. "Loki must be tricking her. Odin rules over the Valkyrie, and even Thor I would understand. But Loki? Of trickery and magic? And to name a human woman a Valkyrie?"

Maybe Felix is the confused on here. She presses her lips in a smile and tilts her head at him. "Are you sure she wasn't a ghost, or a spirit? Or raised by Valkyrie? You must be missing something to that story, or else she's been tricked. If she has been tricked, don't let her embarrass herself and say something like that to an actual Valkyrie, or to one of the gods. That would be awful!"

Felix will gladly share what he understands of the Nordic pantheon- which isn't bad, considering that he grew up in the most Nord-influenced town in Cyrodiil and spent a couple of years travelling in Skyrim. But not just now- now, the game is afoot. The breeze ruffles his hair and for a moment he can taste smoke and blood in the air, feel the pounding of the bards' drums in his blood.

"Well, I wondered about that," he agrees, "but being a mortal mage I'm loathe to interfere with a god's plans, especially one I quite like." He has another sip, shaking his head at her questions- and swallowing fast at that last part. He has to wipe his mouth as politely as he can before he says anything.

"No, I'm quite sure she's a living mortal. I know a thing or two about spirits, myself. But she didn't seem to know much, herself, even though she insisted she was a real Valkyrie. I did try to warn her about that, you know, but I barely know the woman personally. It's not really my place to instruct her."

A small pause. "Of course, if you'd like to make sure yourself, I could point her out to you. I believe she's here at this very party."

Anxious scepticism quickly gives way to a cool dread as she realises where this is headed. Felix may have known it wasn't right, but Runa knows why and how it isn't right. She also has a better chance of not offending gods by interrupting their schemes, or at least not having them retaliate so strongly against her. To offend a mortal woman is one thing, to get on the wrong side of five völur and a generational mage-priestess family is another thing entirely.

That all said, this isn't the first time a friend has volunteered her to break some bad news. As if her smile or sweetness protects her at all from a shrieking woman.

She sighs, resigned, and takes a sip of the bottle he offered earlier. Then, nods and sighs good-naturedly. "Go on, then. Point her out to me." Mid way through taking another sip she asks, "Do you know if she's involved with a Loki in the Nexus, or one from her world? I think there are a few around."

Felix gives her an innocent look. He's good at those. He could ask more questions of her and try to figure out another approach, but the opportunity she's presenting is too neat to pass up. He has no desire to bang his head against that wall, after all, even if Harley Quinn was any friend of his.

"By all means, if you wish." He leans back in his chair and casts an eye around the party. He speaks softly, knowing Runa's close enough to hear. "I believe she's involved with the Loki I've met here, though I don't know how to distinguish him from other versions... save that, alas, the Asgard of his world was destroyed not long ago."

"Her name's Quinn, as I recall," he adds. "Harley Quinn- ah." He looks back at the bottle, pouring out the last of the ale. "By the bar, still. Blonde, soft red coat, black breeches and boots. She's quite noticeable."

Oh but if that isn't a terrible combination of words whispered into her ears. Even if she had no gift for seeking out people's connections with one another, this would be impossible not to realise. The Loki she knows so well, and the Harley Quinn Isidor has mentioned to her. At first her brain tries and fails to merge the stories she's been told with this new tale, repeatedly failing to accept both as even potential truths. It shows in the way she becomes suddenly still as these two things ram against each other over and over until they settle down, uncomfortably close.

Finally she looks at Felix and rests a hand on his arm. "You're very mistaken. I know so. I'll sort all this out and come back with an explanation for all of it."

She really is a priestess, he thinks. The servants of Mara would be impressed with her composure right now, even when he can see recognition and conflict struggling beneath the surface. Mara herself knows what connection Quinn has to Runa Durant, but he'll have fun speculating about that later. Later, when he doesn't feel quite so troubled by the dismay he seems to have brought on the lady.

Felix places a hand over hers and reminds himself that if anyone can handle herself it's a priestess and a noblewoman. "Thank you for your guidance, my lady. If I can be of any help, I won't be far away."

Certainly not so far he can't watch the show.

A Very Nexus Reception

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject