nexus_crossings | The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills...

The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills...

The day was just too lovely to be cooped up indoors.

After breaking fast together and tending to their horses, both Aes Sedai and Warder ventured from their dwelling to go for a walk through town. Their place didn’t feel like home just yet, but it was at least a roof over their heads while they got accustomed to this strange place. Plus they weren’t infringing on Katiri's space at her apartment. The Guardian had graciously let them stay with her after she had pulled the pair out of the Wilds until they could recover, regroup and get their own space.

The cottage they had found bordering the park had been perfect. Cozy, with a small stone wall around it and space for a garden; though it was too late for any planting now. It didn’t stop Haralel from doing some indoor planting though. To at least keep her hands busy.

The tiny floating mage that had been staying with them wasn’t present when Haralel and Belnan left. Orko must have left before they got up - getting up to who knew what. It didn’t worry Haralel too much - the little creature could take care of himself and would return later no doubt.

The walk through town was uneventful and quite enjoyable as the pair savored the sunshine, warm beverages and the crisp air that held the promise of winter. Their stroll led them back through the pathways of the local park, where they both settled on a bench by a well traveled path. Haralel, small slender with long black hair; and Belnan who was tall, fair and with long dark chocolate-auburn hair woven in twin braids decorated with tiny silver bells. He wore his twin swords sheathed on his back with their hilts over each shoulder and was wrapped in his fancloth Warder cloak which reflected the light oddly and tricked the eye like a form of camouflage.

Haralel settled, wrapping her Aes Sedai shawl snug around herself with a flick of its long brown fringe while Belnan, through some unspoken agreement, reached into his pouch and pulled out his flute. Holding it vertically, he began to play and the notes flitted playfully around them. Haralel’s feet were crossed at the ankles and a foot bobbed to the rhythm that her Warder set while she listened. She never used to wear her Shawl all the time like a new Sister that had just been Raised. But being so far from the White Tower in another universe prompted her to hold this piece of home tightly around herself for comfort.

Once Belnan finished his song, one side glance from him and a small smile, caused Haralel to grin back and pull out her own flute. The pair, on some unspoken cue, began to play in duet; one the higher melody and the other the lower. Their notes danced around each other effortlessly while they closed their eyes and played - basking in the feeling of the Bond that linked them.

Haralel lowered her flute when they finished their tune, watching the passer-by. “What is your favorite music? Or alternatively, what is music like in the world you come from?” The Aes Sedai couldn’t help but ask.

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Aal and Dor, were taking their triplets on a wee stroll whilst it was descent. Though they weren't tottleing about just yet. Having a bit of fresh air and socializing was good for them. Especially before winter descended and prep went into full swing. Five pairs of ears perked up at the music.

Gawian roos softly trying to peek up more in his seat to look rocking a bit and babbling as if to encourage his mama to push faster. "Bababa"

Aal chuckles warmly and checks to be sure he's not getting himself tangled or bothering his sisters with the wiggling. "Ya like that Gawiany?" She asks warmly. Her husband chuckles at his excited sounds in reply.

Their dark-haired daughter opens and blinks her eyes owlishly as she sketches and yawns, making a soft questioning sound but listening raptly. As they pad toward the lovely music.

The elder pair tilt their heads curious and in thought. "Oh well.." Aal murmurs half in thought at the first question. "Usually something with strings myself..Though we tend to have things like lutes and the like back home." She slightly tilts her head as Dor pulls one of the blankets from the stroller's storage area so they could sit nearby on something for a bit.

Well, that was an interesting contraption to hold the little ones. Haralel watched as the parents approached. It eased her to feel that Belnan was relaxed sitting next to her. "That sounds similar to where I'm from." The Brown Sister noted. "Lutes and mandolins, harps, flutes, fiddles and drum is quite common." She waggled the flute in her hand; the instrument resembling something like a recorder and simply carved. Belnan's was similar but slightly larger and could play lower notes than hers. "These are just easier to carry while out on a stroll."

"Where do you hail from?" Belnan spoke up curiously. Haralel could sense through their Bond that her Warder was both relaxed but watchful. His eyes always roamed and watched for dangers, even here. He sat forward with the soft tinkle of the bells in his hair, elbows on his knees as he grinned a little at the stroller. "It's a good day to bring out the wee ones. Enjoying the sun?" He addressed the triplets.

Aal hums squinting in a happily slightly canine way as her ears wiggle. "Aye, does it?" She murmurs warmly and a mite excited. It ha been a while since they'd run into anyone who knew of such things let alone could relate. "Oh, lovely." Aal murmur brightening.

Dor grins softly, pleased his Beloved Mate has run into some possible new friends. "Indeed." He murmurs warmly, as he checks on their second eldest daughter who shared his coloring. Gently stroking her little check his finger. Which had her grabbing it and giggling. A small fond smile instantly grew on his lips.

He then scents the air and does a slight scan of the area as well. True the place was typically peaceful most days but one couldn't be too careful. For when it wasn't it could be extremely so.

Aal's face softens as she watches fondly for a moment, before blinking and her eyebrows go up as she glances back. "Oh, ahem originally a place called The Enchanted Forest or Mist Haven by some." She informs them warmly. She'd be slightly surprised if they did know of it unless they were Multiversal Scholars or Realm Jumpers or some such.

But then there was a first time for everything. She tried not to get her hopes up too high though.

Aal makes a soft bemused warm sound.

"Baba Ooh." Gawain murmurs at the pretty sound and sight of the shiny things and reaches his little hand out opening and closing toward them.

Mary wiggles a little and blinks, peeking at him from partly in her cocoon of blanket snuggling into it slightly curious but also cozy. She does make a soft cooing sound. "ooh."

"Yes,.." She nods, " we are aren't we." Aal murmurs on their behalf they were only roughly five months old after all. As she brushes some hair out of her son's face and gently strokes Mary's head. As she subtlely checks on them. With a small chuckle. If any of them were going to be bold it would likely be her eldest.

"This is Gawian, Elisabeth." She nodded toward the other blonde, then her youngest "and Mary." She murmurs warmly before reaching her left hand out to shake. "I'm Aal and this is my Mister, Dor." She murmurs warmly tilting her head towards her Mate having her hands fullish at the moment. "Ahem, SinClairs at yer service." She adds after a moment remembering her manners.

Isamu paused, and sat to listen to the flute music being played. When Haralel and Belnan finished, he clapped softly and complimented them both.

“I admit, I have a bit of a soft spot for beautiful instrumental pieces.” He replied. “The shakuhachi, shamisen and the like… it reminds me of festival music, of traveling to Japan with my family in the summer, all around pleasant things that contemporary music cannot quite convey.”

At the clapping, Haralel lowered her eyes demurely and Belnan grinned and bowed slightly. He even gave a little flourish of his cloak like some sort of Gleeman! Haralel side glanced at him and her Warder only continued to grin; wholly amused and satisfied at the feeling of mutual amusement from his Aes Sedai (though she kept hers externally hidden).

"I have never heard of such instruments before, or country. But, then again there is much I have not heard of since arriving here." She recovered smoothly. "I thank you for the compliment."

"I would have liked to have my mandolin, but I didn't have it with me when we...arrived." Belnan added, inclining his head slightly with the soft tinkle of the silver bells woven in his twin braids. "Well met, lad." The Warder added warmly.

"Do you play?" Haralel asked with a small smile.

“Me? Oh. Heavens no.” Isamu quickly dismissed the idea. He couldn’t carry a tune if it had a handle. “I do not play, but I do enjoy listening. If you are curious to hear the music of the shakuhachi flute, might I recommend a visit to the Henka no Kaze teahouse? The owner, Fujin, is particularly skilled. The tea is also some of the best I have ever found.”

The Lord Mariner listens with some interest, looking over the duo of strangers. The clothes and styles are unfamiliar, but there's plenty of time to ask. For now there's time for a little cultural exchange. "Sea-shanties. They're my personal favorites. You aren't a sailor without knowing some good ones. I can sing one for you - one I learned in this place."

In her time she'd invented more than a few of them, and taught them to the Sifa clan she was the patron Skeksis of. Over almost a thousand trine, you can learn a lot of things.

"What kinds of music do they have where you come from?"

Haralel automatically embraced the Source, surrounded by an unseen nimbus of soft white light; heart leaping into her throat. Belnan immediately stood in one smooth motion though did not reach for any of his weapons and kept his hands visible. He seemed relaxed enough, though Haralel could feel through their Bond that he was ready to fight if he had to. It was natural instinct though carefully restrained. If it wasn't for the fact they had met a non-humanoid creature before that wasn't hostile, this could have ended up different.

In any case, Light protect them, this being looked almost like some bird-like trolloc! They were definitely big like one, if not bigger. And...dressed in fine clothing? And they had offered to sing?? Despite being caught by surprise, she could feel Belnan's curiosity grow; echoing her own.

"Sea Shanties?" Haralel broke the silence, trying to be polite, keeping her face neutral. This person hadn't tried to attack them and they didn't feel like a Shadowspawn so... "I ah...before I answer your question, what are you?"

"I am a skeksis," the Mariner explains. She's huge, easily nine feet tall, and has two swords and several smaller knives lashed to her side. She hardly blames them for finding her intimidating, even without the reputation that the skeksis have cultivated on their planet as immortal, god-like beings. "I take it you don't have them where you come from?"

She suspects that, given the circumstances of her people's creation, there aren't likely to be skeksis elsewhere. They are products of the Crystal of Truth, and while Thra and the urSkek homeworld both have a sacred crystal a their heart she doesn't know if other planets do.

Mira was actually out on a mission. One of Lucifer's strings had snapped, so after bandaging her hand from that, she was on the hunt for a new set. The soft case with her precious guitar was on her back. She was wearing her favorite cargos with one of her boyfriend's jackets, and the nexus seemed a better idea than checking Gotham or even boomtubing over to Bludhaven. Holiday shoppers set off her fight or flight more than watching her boyfriend and his friends deal with gimmicked villains.

Though the flute music had made her pause in her mission. It had been a while since she had heard a skilled flutist.

"First off, that was a beautiful tune." She smiled at her. "And as for your question, on my world, music is as varied as the people. My personal favorites are blues, and rock. Anything with a good beat. Mostly when I'm working on machines I hear a lot of pop music, which is usually what the kids listen to, or they blast on the intercoms at the malls." She tapped her case. "Sadly I can't show you today, I need to get new strings, pretty sure the damned archer used Luce here to make good on a dare, and if he's messed up the fretboard..." She shook her head. "But yeah, it's a mixed grab bag, especially in the States."

Haralel smiled at the compliment with a nod of thanks, and she straightened to listen to the woman as she spoke of music from her world. The Brown Sister didn't recognize the names of 'blues' and 'rock' or 'pop' (and what was a mall or an intercom?) - but she and even Belnan nodded at the same time at the mention of a good beat. Despite the words she was unfamiliar with, she could get the gist.

"A pity. I would have liked to hear you play." Belnan gestured with the flute in his hand. Like Haralel's, his was carved similarly to a recorder in shape. Though his was a little bigger than his Aes Sedai's and was able to produce lower notes than hers. "I also play stringed instruments like the mandolin, though I don't have mine here with me." He looked over at the dark haired woman at his side. "It's regrettable that you don't have your harp here either." He loved to hear her play it.

Haralel spotted the bandages on the woman's hand. "You're injured. Would you like a Healing?" She offered.

Mira noted the confusion. "Blues, when done right comes from here." She touched above her heart. "It's all the emotion of oppressed and down trodden with hints of hope and promises that things will get better. Pop is popular music, catchy tunes with generic themes that really are empty and void of emotion." She hoped that clarification worked. Mall was a little harder to describe with her gear and music geared brain.

"I know a shop close with the strings I like. Lucifer is screaming to be played too. I mean, my guitar, not the Lucifer, who is totally different but awesome too. But I'm partial to my baby." Her hand went to the case on her back a moment.

She quirked a brow at the offer of healing. "This really isn't bad. I just wrapped it to keep it clean. Joys of being a mechanic in my day job. Being a musician doesn't pay much on my world unless you're a big name. That's not my style."

There is one sure way to attract the angel of art and beauty, play music. They had heard it from a great distance. The sounds lulling the angel in to the park. Phenex is a person of contrast. Skin, hair, eyes, and curled horns all pure white but the wings at the angel's back are a flutter of colors. The feathers shifting through blues, purples, and vivid yellows. This contrasting with the emerald of the robe.

"All of them." Phenex states in a clear, soothingly musical tone. "I am created from art and music, all of it, even that which has been forgotten or not yet written."

Aes Sedai composure be damned. Both Haralel and Belnan's facial expressions were identical as their mouths fell open slightly in amazement. Even their eyebrows rose as if to try touching their hairlines as complete wonderment echoed through their Bond; both of them struck speechless for several moments. They had never seen such a creature before.

Belnan recovered first, and the Warder straightened where he sat as his sharp eyes studied the winged creature; intrigued by the shifting colors. Not sensing an immediate threat, he decided to just roll with it and relaxed with his arms resting on his knees. Bloody ashes this place was strange!

"Forgive us, we have not seen a creature such as you before." Belnan spoke up tactfully. "You are created from art and music?" Haralel sat up next to him, and he could tell her curiousity was piqued. The Brown Sister studied the exchange with wide dark tilted eyes.

Phenex is unlikely to be a threat to anyone. An angel that embraced art and life with very few things that could push them to aggression.

"I don't mind the word but some of my older siblings would not like being called "creatures"." They are polite, merely speaking of a cultural preference among the angels, some of which would be sensitive to a word that sounded less.. well less human. "Yes. My kind are created of passion, light, emotion and the thing which we embody. I am an angel of art and beauty."

Mick watched the flute playing and smiled fondly; the scene reminding him a bit of when he used to work for the orchestra group moving sets around. He used to listen to the flute players and marvel at how peaceful and melodic the music actually was compared to other instruments. At her question Mick piped up;

"That's a good one, love. Not to be biased but I do love a bit of rock music, glam, some heavy guitar but also some classical too."

The blond having learnt classical music long before becoming a rock guitarist. It was something all musicians did before moving on to more modern styles.

Haralel tilted her head slightly with a curious expression. "Interestingly, you aren't the first to mention this 'rock' music to me. Though it's the first time I have heard 'glam.'"

"I'd be curious to hear what this music sounds like. 'Rock' makes me think that it's someone banging rocks together." Belnan laughed. "Though I highly doubt that's what it is. Besides, a drum would work a lot better..."

Haralel's calm expression shifted slightly as she leveled a look at her Warder. Though her tilted dark eyes held quiet humor in them. He shot her an amused look back, shrugging a little; the movement causing the small bells on the hilts of his swords to jingle.

"Well, it looks like another visit to the Library is in order. Perhaps they have records on all these different types of music." Haralel mused before looking at the blonde. "Where are you from? I must admit, the diversity of the people in this strange place is quite wondrous."

Edited 2021-11-26 05:54 (UTC)

The teen wasn't entirely sure what to make of this place yet, but it was useful for being able to just exist. Without his fellow students whispering or pointing, giggling, staring, asking questions he knew they were asking just to be shitty. Half of them hoping to see him murder someone, which really what kind of person would hope for that?

So he was all too happy to have someplace he could duck into for even a few hours without anyone knowing who the heck he was, or that the yellow-trimmed class robes meant he was supposedly not good enough. Stupid classist tracking-

And the music was nice, Evan slowing to listen with a faint almost-smile. Though the expression flickered faintly when the strange woman paused, noticed him enough to ask questions. He couldn't help the faint flush as he shrugged lightly, hands disappearing into his pockets. "Oh there's... all sorts. Country, jazz, rock, classical... I like string instruments myself. Heard someone play a harp once at a festival, which was really nice."

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The Wheel weaves as the Wheel wills...

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