nexus_crossings | Finally, a place stranger than his office!

Finally, a place stranger than his office!

Strange things happening around an office filled with magical beings is the norm in Mordred's life. Every day he deals with with magic users, vampires, and landlines in a bag (that call God, no less), so opening a door and finding something unexpected on the other side isn't really a shock. Or it shouldn't be, but a multi-dimensional hub is far outside even the young man's definition of "normal".

Instead of stepping into an unused office supposedly filled with the missing supplies he needs, he finds himself stepping out onto a chilly street along the Plaza. Mordred blinks a few times as he takes in his surroundings (including a-- Captain America PSA?), silently thanks the Goddess he's actually wearing a sweater while he looks around the area, and then makes his way over to the pamphlets to check one out. It's not the most helpful reading material, but it's enough that he looks slightly less nervous once he's worked up the nerve to ask a question as instructed.

"So, I-- This might not be the best first question to ask of strangers, but..." The druid's cheeks flush as he tugs at the bottom of his sweater, his fingers worrying the hem as he gathers his thoughts. "My fiancé and I are getting married soon, and a-a friend of ours-- his sister, actually... Well, she's planning everything-- for us, but I feel like I should contribute something." He frowns thoughtfully for a moment, then sighs heavily. "If you could add-- anything you wanted to a wedding, what would it be? Anything I should-- avoid, at the very least?"

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

"Now for me... I would be downright grateful to not have any responsibilities. Someone else wants the work and stress? Just let them take it."

The reply comes from a talking fox, that has approached where Mordred stands. Nick is short, by human standards, as he only stands about 4 feet tall. Definitely looks like he is used to walking and standing on his hide legs. Dressed in human attire.

"As for a wedding..." Nick twitches and ear. And smiles. Thinking of Judy. "I would want anything that made the bride. Or husband. Or whomever you are marrying. Happy."

There were always people coming and going. At one time Astaroth would have stopped and watched each and every one of them. He has hobbies, of sorts, now that occupied his time. He's striding across the plaza, blue skin with the shifting black oilslick wings, and he's tall. Two foot taller than most, almost four foot taller if one looks at the tops joint of his wings rather than his body height.

The question catches his attention and he answers as he stops without missing a beat. Deep twilight colored eyes turning downward. "Shooting stars. It answers both questions."

"Hello, lad." The Lord Mariner looks at the newcomer quizzically. "That's a good question you have. It depends on a few things - what you and your partner are looking for, what you like, what kind of party you're expecting. Whether it's a roarer or a quiet sort of affair with you and some close family and friends. Those sorts of questions are good for planning."

skekSa scratches her fuzzy neck, sure that answer's just confusing the human. She's working from Sifan culture and the weddings her clan holds, which she hopes aren't too different from human ones. There's a lot about humans she doesn't know.

"But there are a few things everyone reasonably expects at a party. Food. Wine. Song. Dancing and flowers, maybe - I figure wedding traditions on whichever planet you're from aren't that different from the ones on mine. I've presided over a few in my time. Gelflings sometimes choose a site to marry that's special to them and their clan. Many Sifa choose to marry at sea, on board the Omerya, or at the home port of Cera-Na."

Have a long, thoughtful look from a tall individual in green and gold.

"My own wedding," Loki asks, "or someone else's?"

It makes a big difference. Answer wisely.

A talking, fox? That's unusual, but oddly not the first talking animal he's met. Mordred tilts his head curiously as he looks down at the creature, nodding along with the advice.

"Well, my husband will be happy with whatever-- happens at the wedding. He just wants to get married." The druid smiles shyly at the fox, his cheeks flushing a little as he thinks about his soon-to-be husband. "I want to help at least a little, but I don't have anything to offer. O-other than asking for a chocolate cake."

...this is not the kind of angel or demon Mordred is used to dealing with. His mouth hangs open a little as he looks up at Astaroth, not exactly sure what to make of someone who's so imposing. This will be an interesting thing to explain to his fiancé later.

"Shooting stars? I thought-- they were good omens?" He's never heard of them being bad omens, at the least.

"My advice is to ask your planner to make it simple then. If you both just want to be married... save your money for your household needs in the future. Instead of a one-time event." Nick is solid in financial advice. For a fox.

"There are a few good bakeries in the Nexus. You might be able to get a pretty special chocolate cake right here."

While Astaroth is tall, he is also waifish. He's looking curiously at the human, intrigued for the moment.

He laughs at the question. "They are romantic in the sky but they do hit the ground sometimes. That would definitely ruin a wedding if a meteor fell on it."

Oh. Uh, that does seem important to mention. Mordred's cheeks flush bright pink as he looks up at Loki and continues to fidget with the hem of his sweater.

"F-for yours, I think. I want to know-- what people want to do at their own weddings. O-or have done. Or, ah... well, you understand, right?" Goddess, he's not usually this flustered but this question caught him completely off guard. Something about this person also feels imposing to the young druid, so it's incredibly difficult to stay calm.

Mordred blinks a few times as he parses through all of this information. There is a lot here, on top of skekSa being a lot on her own. He's used to all kind of magical creatures, but he can't say he's ever seen or met someone like this before today.

"I-- Well, yes, there'll be traditional-- things there already. It's going to be a big event with lots of food and in a beautiful garden outside a local church. Everyone will get dressed up and have a nice dinner before dancing and the like." Mordred smiles nervously. "I don't have much of a say in anything, though, because I don't-- have any ideas to add. The food and cake are covered, the garden is good for my heritage and my fiancé's, but it's still someone-- else making all this happen for us. It's... helpful, but I feel odd about it."

"Money's not really an issue for us." And probably won't ever be, but Mordred appreciates where Nick is coming from. Most humans do need to worry about things like that. "But I suppose any money we save could go back into making our new home more... us than it is even now." Still unlikely they get a large fish tank wall as his fiancé would like, though.

Mordred smiles at the suggestion and shakes his head. "My fiancé's sister is already making us one, but... are any of these bakeries nearby? It couldn't hurt to find something special to have for dessert tonight. To celebrate." What Mordred chooses to be celebrating is up for debate, but he really does not ever need an excuse for having more cake.

He's still very tall and not at all like the angels his celestial construction of a fiancé has described, so this is still Mordred being a little shocked by Astaroth's appearance.

"Oh!" That makes sense. Mordred's cheeks flush a bright red as he rubs the back of his neck a little. "I could probably make sure that doesn't-- happen at our wedding. I don't think God or the Goddess would do that to us, but it won't hurt to ask for their leniency." Just to be safe. The druid would really like to not cause a scene on his wedding day.

"I am glad you don't have to worry about that." Nick smiles. "If you ever want to donate to a good charity, let me know. I help orphaned animals in Zootopia."

"There is an excellent bakery run by a friend of mine. Gideon Gray. Or more... he is a friend of Judy's. Used to be her bully. Now is making the most of his life."

"He makes really great pies. If you want to get away from a cake."

"I've never dropped one on a wedding." Astaroth mentions thoughtfully. "Terrible monarchies are where most divinities drop shooting stars."

Oh, goodness. Loki wasn't expecting such a nervous response. That kind of reaction is always entertaining, of course--Adia could tell this fellow how much Loki enjoys harassing anxious people--but for the moment, he opts to continue the conversation in good faith.

Still, there's something a little sly in his smile.

"I haven't had one, as of yet. I live in hope that I will yet see the day my brother marries, so that I may create mild havoc at the celebratory feast."

"In the interest of actually being useful, I do recommend you avoid anything that confers excessive obligation on the guest, financial or otherwise. People will already feel compelled to offer gifts and dress as well as they can afford. Make everything else easy on them."

"For myself, though..." he thinks a moment. "Anything I were to add would have to be child-friendly, since I have four, and they have friends. Something whimsical, I think, to entertain the young or the young-at-heart. Friendly animals to pet, perhaps, or maybe even a carousel."

This man looks exactly like Mordred, which has the knight curious and moving a bit closer to the small knot of people already gathered around the druid and answering his question. After listening to Mordred speak and taking in his style of dress, it’s easy enough to tell that this person isn’t the the same man as the knight he’s familiar with. With his own wedding on the horizon, though, Galahad feels compelled to offer the man what help he can. Maybe he can learn something from the conversation, too?

“I can’t speak as well to a modern wedding,” the knight admits, “but I would think it important to ensure that there will be plenty of time to be with the one you love both during and after the ceremony.”

Edited 2021-03-11 01:40 (UTC)

Charity is an idea Mordred hadn't thought about. He nods, his smile becoming a bit more confident. "I think that's a wonderful idea. I'll have to ask-- my fiancé how he wants to go about things like that." After all, it's not just his money anymore!

Now there's a good suggestion. When was the last time he brought home a pie? ...Galeas does like pies, right? No time like the present to find out. "We never choose to have pies. I'd be happy to try one from your friend, if you'll lead me there."

"You drop shooting stars on people?" Mordred goes a bit pale(r) as he tries to digest that statement. He really needs to not anger this angel. "I-I-I do try not-- to upset anyone, especially those-- with power like yours-- I-I mean like that. Power like that."

He's not making a very good first impression, is he? Goddess help him, this is very awkward.

"You are in luck. Gideon happened to have his truck just down the plaza." Nick leads the way down the street. Where there is a food truck parked nearby.

Another fox wearing human clothes is pulling out some fresh pies onto the serving area of his food truck.

Mordred may assume that Nick is from a world filled with Fox People now.

"Gideon!"

"Awww shucks Nick. You have brought a friend over. Good evening sir." Gideon has a slight southern accent.

Edited 2021-03-11 01:37 (UTC)

For her part, skekSa's grown more used to the presence of humans. They're interesting creatures, although she has a lot of questions. They aren't native to the planet where she comes from.

"Somebody's helping you? I figured that from your description. It's the same for weddings back where I come from, too. Earth and Thra aren't so different, it seems." She takes off her hat, formally introducing herself. "skekSa, Lord Mariner - though I prefer Captain skekSa, myself. It's good to meet you, lad. Reckon you're not a familiar face, and I figure you've never met a skeksis. Welcome to the Nexus then."

"Once. It's more common among gods." Astaroth shakes his head. "Angels of my kind are not fickle like the gods of religions."

He watches the blossoming nervousness. "I am the angel of the stars, but most meteors that have impacted Earth have been the work of God or Zeus. The Baetylus have not been my doing."

Mordred's a naturally nervous person, but being in a place like the Nexus, one that exceeds even his own very high weird meter, has him even more on edge. The last thing he wants, or needs, to do is to piss off someone who sets off his internal 'not quite what they appear to be' switch.

All of the advice is very good, though. The druid gapes for a moment and then pulls out his phone, quickly taking a few notes for himself so he can relay them both to his wedding planner and his fiancé.

Easy obligations (for guests). Activities for children. Petting zoo???

...that last one is probably bad to suggest because Galeas will like it and want it, but that's part of why he has to write it down. It would also be an adorable sight and Mordred is very much okay with this being part of their wedding day.

As he slips his phone into his pocket, Mordred looks up with a small smile. "We've a lot of magic around us we could probably use to make whimsical things happen. I'm already planning on making the garden where we're getting married as lush and beautiful as I can-- the morning of the wedding." Hopefully God won't mind him messing with the plants that are already planted there, but the druid will insist on a few varieties of flowers for the benefit of his husband.

There is one thing he wonders about with Loki's suggestions, though, and he can't help but ask it. "Do people really like carousels? I haven't even thought about one since... well, since I was a small child, I think."

Mordred's eyes widen when Galahad steps forward, and he can't help the way he reaches out as he asks, "Galeas? Did you follow-- me?"

But-- no, that's... not right. This man doesn't dress or speak like his fiancé, and there's no way Galeas would have followed him, changed his entire look (including the way he keeps his hair and face??), and then answered his question. The druid's cheeks flush as he takes back his hand so he can immediately begin fidgeting with the hem of his shirt again. What's happening here??

"S-sorry, I-- You--" Goddess, he can barely breathe as he tries to figure out who this man in front of him is and why he's not his fiancé. Apparently he's finding a new high bar for strange today. "You have good advice, but who-- are you...?"

Adia is passing through the Plaza, her kneazle Anastasia trotting at her heels. With spring approaching, she's trying to fit in one last round of research in the Grand Library before gardening completely takes over her free time.

The question gives her pause, as it's something she can relate to easily. She looks over at the nervous young man and smiles sympathetically. "My best friend did nearly the same thing for my wedding. I didn't mind, honestly, planning a wedding is a lot of little decisions that I didn't feel like making, but, um... well, is there anything you feel very strongly about that you want there? For me it was the flowers. Orange tulips have a lot of meaning for me and my husband."

Ah, someone else who's been through this. Thank the Goddess. Mordred spares Her a brief prayer and smiles at the woman as she approaches, grateful to get advice from someone who's been where he has in the past.

"A chocolate cake for me and my fiancé. Our cake has to be chocolate." His cheeks flush a little at how quickly that came out and he quickly turns his attention to worrying the hem of his sweater again. "That's taken-- care of already, though. I'm not sure what else is even important at weddings. My mother never married, and most of my friends are unmarried, so I've only been to-- a couple weddings in my lifetime. Other than food and dressing up, I don't have any-- clue what there is to think about. How do people bring in things they feel strongly about?"

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 6

Finally, a place stranger than his office!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject