Winter tithe

[shardofwinter]

Although the Nexus is generally well kept, this year its inhabitants are a fraction more careful about keeping the paths clear of snow. As if by pushing the mound of white powder to the side they will stop the Nexus from being buried like last year. But as with all places lacking an organised effort, the clearance is patchy. Where some people have thrown out dirt or salt to clear the paths outside of their homes or houses, an equal number haven't. Ice sits perfectly clear over stone and concrete, or hidden under the thinnest layer of snow. All of it a precarious balance of mortal awareness and a Winter spirit's work.

This is one of the few times Reynard walks freely in his human form through the streets. Occasionally someone will recognise him and hasten to take care of their home or pull gloves onto their hands. Most people don't, however. Such is the nature of the Nexus, in a place filled with so many people they don't seem to be able to point to the person encouraging their troubles, even if he has proclaimed it from the rooftops. Once he's done admiring the hard work of some and punishing the negligence of others, he ends up in the centre of the Nexus.

Leaning against a lamp post, he takes his hat from his head, inspecting it briefly before address those passing by. "What are you leaving in the past this year?"

Comments

[shardofwinter]

This is certainly not the first time he's met four armed creatures. In fact, he's vaguely fond of the ones he met last year. More respectful than fond, but nevertheless, he has no issue with them. Although these two could probably use some of the furs he's seen lining Fallen collars.

To skekGra's extroverted introduction, Reynard tips his head and lifts the hat in his hand slightly. "Reynard North."

Whether it's 'wonderful' to meet them is still up for debate, naturally, but he'll share the greeting regardless. Afterwards he falls quiet, listening and waiting until the other being settles on an answer.

"Will you be able to?"

[skeksisheretic]

While urGoh's four arms are fully functional, skekGra's secondary pair are bound behind his back with tight rope, in such a way that it's impossible to undo.

Thra is a warm planet, with warmer winters than the Nexus is used to. The winters there are longer but hotter. It's taken some adjusting for the Skeksis and Mystic to the new climate, but they take it in good spirits. skekGra and urGoh in particular are used to much warmer temperatures, but they had some help adjusting.

skekGra shrugs in response to the question. "We had to abandon our home at the Circle of the Suns and move our operations here. But it's okay! urGoh and I have made new friends in the Nexus." The Skeksis gives a tooth-filled smile. "So it turned out all right in the end."

"We...lived as...hermits," explains urGoh. "Meeting...so many people...is new...to us. Forgive my...counterpart. He's...excitable."

[shardofwinter]

Despite leaning back ever so slightly at the excitable one of the two, Reynard watches with a quiet amusement in the tilt of his brow. It's only made stranger and more comical when followed by the weary apology of his companion.

"It's alright," he assures urGoh. "I'm used to excitable."

Tina is a riot and a half. He loves her dearly, but his spirit is glad to have a break for a Season.

"Does the Circle of Suns have actual suns?"

[skeksisheretic]

The Mystic gives a slow but sincere smile on hearing the comment.

"So...am I. You...have to...when you...live with him." urGoh pats his Skeksis counterpart on the back gently.

He lived with skekGra the Heretic and all his eccentricities for 379 trine, and he loves all of him.

"Three of them," says skekGra, holding up three claws. "The planet of Thra has three suns. The Circle of the Suns is found deep in the Crystal Desert. urGoh and I went there when we were banished." It was far enough from the other Skeksis to fit their needs, and the rumors of curses kept Gelflings away.

[shardofwinter]

"Three suns. No wonder it's a desert," he comments with a quirk of his lips. "Can the climate change under three suns? Do you have Seasons? Or nights?"

It sounds so alien, so different from his dear Earth. What must the Nature spirits there be like? As energetic as his new acquaintance is, the other balances him out.

[skeksisheretic]

"Thra has nine seasons! It depends on how the suns are arranged. We have winter ninets on Thra, when the planet is farthest from the suns, but they're much longer than they are here," skekGra says, explaining. He's not the Scientist, but he knows a fair bit regardless. "They can last a hundred trine."

But they're...also milder...then the Earth's." urGoh joins in. "Less snow. Less ice. Not all...of Thra...is desert. We have...swamps. Caves. The Silver Sea."

[shardofwinter]

Nine Seasons. They have Reynard's full attention. For the first time in this conversation, the spirit stirs with energy, looking less statuesque.

"Tell me about the Seasons. What are their names? What do they look like? Feel like? Do you have festivals for each of them?"

[skeksisheretic]

skekGra springs in to explain what he can, now he has Reynard's curiosity.

"We can provide you with books on the subject from Thra herself! That will tell you everything you need to know about our planet. But in general it is a warmer planet than the Earth, and its seasons are longer. We call them ninets. Each ninet is about one hundred trine, and a trine is the amount of time it takes Thra to orbit the Great Sun."

[shardofwinter]

Books aren't usually his thing. He's slow in reading them, and they're rarely common in the places he frequents. Still, if there's a book that's going to interest him, it's one about Seasons.

"You don't hesitate in talking about them," he notes with a hint of appreciation. "Are they so important to you and your people?"

[skeksisheretic]

"We Skeksis and Mystics are long-lived," says skekGra, "but even we haven't seen all of the ninets pass. So yes, they are important to us. When the seasons change, that's something we celebrate."

"skekGra and I...have...been together...for three ninets. 379...trine." urGoh shuffles closer. "That's...how long...they are."

[shardofwinter]

"Perhaps one day I'll visit, so I can get a feel for how lone a ninet and a trine are," he suggests playfully. "The people on my world measure time in days, months or years. Occasionally centuries, or millennia. All very different terms to yours. But I see how much more important it is to celebrate the Seasons, if they come so rarely."

[skeksisheretic]

"We know a little about how your world's time works," says skekGra, scratching the nail in his head as he thinks. "People here talk about days and months and years, not unum and trine and ninets. We slip into those terms ourselves, since the Nexus's seasons pass differently from Thra's."

skekGra vaguely knows Reynard's name and who he is, but doesn't know much more about him than that.