mingle a little Mor tonight

[catamite]

Who: Everyone!
Broadcast: Sure!
Action: The wonderful world of Mor, nearby way-stations, and ships!
When: The first week or so of arrival

[this is it-- Atroma's surprise vacation stay for you all! it's time to explore, speculate, relax, and totally behave yourselves. right?

how are you all dealing with the ever-so-educational volcano? have you played around with the visual toggle on those collars yet? aren't they cool? aren't these peasant clothes rad? if you haven't had a decent meal since Abeo, maybe you could afford some of that authentic farm-raised meat they have here. historical!

I bet you're all excited and completely thrilled to be here! who wouldn't be? ...so, make some discoveries, make some friends, and have fun!]

Comments

Town

[lord_wizard]

City outskirts - early in the week

[While the city was plentiful with opportunities and distractions, Felix's mind settled on one very particular goal - replace this atrocious garb with something closer to his style. But since his funds were still rather small and clothing very very expensive, he opts to try a few menial jobs.

For most of the week, during the day, he can be found wandering the fields and edges of the forest, gathering potion ingredients for a local so-called alchemist. Usually this means picking specific wildflowers and plants, or scrounging the ground for feathers and stones. He might even be caught contemplating the lower branches of a tree, where a bird's nest is nestled, or awkwardly attempting to climb up to get it.

Basically, it's pretty demeaning and he tries to avoid being seen by anyone from the fleet. But it's not a perfect world.]

Marketplace & Tavern - later in the week

[With a few more coin in hand, Felix can't help but do a little casual window-shopping. This is probably why Mildmay always handled the finances. He has trouble helping himself. But as it happens, amid the chaos and tempting smells of real food, he finds himself in an occult shop. He doesn't require much for paraphernalia, but he does start to pick out a few useful items like ink, parchment, and chalk. Which is when the cards catch his eye.

He picks it up and turns to the shopkeep with a blinding smile and an inner thrum of excitement]

I beg your pardon? Do you have any books about the use of these?

[Later, he can be found in a tavern seated at a table with a mostly ignored drink nearby, staring at small volume at one hand while his hands flicker back and forth between the pages at the large divining deck at his other hand]

city outskirts

[noctiphile]

[It's not a perfect world and though he may try otherwise, Felix is a man that attracts attention. Even in a drab disguise, he stands out, at least to one person's gaze. Mattias spots him with ease, standing amidst a field of flowers. He smiles upon seeing him, wading into the wildflowers with a timid wave.]

Felix! I never would have taken you for a flower admirer. They're lovely, aren't they?

[He pauses a few feet away, suddenly catching sight of the collection he's gathering. Chuckling, he points to it.] It looks as if you're collecting a bouquet. Who's the lucky lady? [A beat, he bobs his head.] Or man.

[lord_wizard]

[There are maybe worse people he could have attracted, so his annoyance over the interruption is minimal, especially since the mockery he expects doesn't come.

He straightens to greet the other man, smiling gently at the question, and maybe just a fraction wider at the addendum.]

I think his name was Philip. Or Filius? I can't remember...[He twirls the flower in his fingers with a smirk before dropping into the laden basket] It's not what you're imaging, however. It's for an alchemist in town. I picked up a little extra work so I could have some coin to spend this time around. It's dreadfully menial, but at least it gets me out into the fresh air. And you're right about one thing, they flowers are very nice. I'm not sure what they are, exactly. They resemble a variation of aster, but I can't be sure...

[noctiphile]

I'm afraid I can't be much help there. This is the first time I've even heard the name.

[Hands behind his back, he bobs closer with measured steps, careful to squash as few flowers as possible.] Perhaps I can help you, though. For a price.

[He stops with a slight grin.] Tell me the names of the flowers.

[lord_wizard]

[He leans a little closer and lowers his eyelids in a vaguely flirtatious fashion] Oh, is that all you want?

[noctiphile]

I-[It comes out of nowhere or at least, nowhere Mattias can see. His mind leaps to conclusions. Had he said something to lead him on? He couldn't remember but...

Frantically, he waves his hands, trying to fight down his raging blush but having no defense for it.]-I didn't mean anything like that! That would be-[A lump forms in his throat and he has to cough to clear it, voice turning to a squeak when he speaks again.]-inappropriate and... lewd and-we're crewmates, we couldn't possibly-

[It's best to stop him because lord knows he won't stop on his own.]

[lord_wizard]

[Lewd and inappropriate aren't anywhere near good reasons for him not to want to. He'd mostly been teasing, yes, as Mattias was endearingly innocent about things and it made him an excellent target. But he'd be lying if he didn't find the younger man attractive. His curious nature only strengthened his desire. But he could take no for an answer. That was one kind of monster he'd never become.

Not that he'd stop giving Mattias a hard time now and again. He couldn't help himself.]

Oh, relax darling. I wasn't serious. [Not entirely]

[noctiphile]

You-[His blush increases tenfold, face reddening as bright as a poppy. Drawing back, he rubs at his mouth, debating the merits and consequences of slapping him and deciding against it. He coughs instead, glancing away, hand falling to his neck.] Of course.

[The idea is preposterous, anyway. Who would be interested in him? Definitely not a man at least five years his senior.] Well. I must look like an idiot, then. I'm afraid I'll have to demand my list of flowers after that. As payback, of course.

[lord_wizard]

[It's so tempting to make a move anyway]

But of course. [He...feels a little bad now, but he can't exactly go back on the statement now. Let it sit, and maybe later he'd see how Mattias responded. He wonders if maybe the man isn't quite sure of his own feelings, or just inexperienced]

Let's see now...I already told you one of them. I believe this one is cornflower. These small purple ones are a variety of lupine. The yellow are mustard plants, of course.

City Outskirts

[innercactus]

Ooohh.

[ Sorry person, Asteffiel is more interested in the plant than the human. ]

Trade you? [ He's got a flower that looks the same, just maybe a little less vibrant. And his has roots and all still, so hopefully it's clear what he means.

... also his collar is sitting on one of those leaves that curl about his head and neck rather than actually.. on him. ]

[lord_wizard]

[Felix turns towards the source of the voice but he doesn't get as far as answering the question, his expression frozen in shock and confusion at what he's seeing]

[innercactus]

[ Wow what is with all these people not understanding what a Sylvari is.

Asteffiel blinks a few times, trying to place why he isn't getting a response.

... Is this like the ship? It could be like the ship. ]

... Ah... Hello?

[ Does he need to scoot backwards? ]

[lord_wizard]

[Staring a few more moments]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but what in the name of all the powers are you?

[innercactus]

[ Much better than calling him a demon! So he perks up a bit. ]

I am a Sylvari! I do not know if your "all the powers" have anything to do with us. We come from The Pale Tree.

[lord_wizard]

[Half-mumbled] I often wonder that myself.

[He squints thoughtfully. Honestly, it's not like he has much of a personal reference for demons or would care if he was one.]

I've never heard of either.

[innercactus]

[ His head tilts as there is mumbling, but he's not sure what or if there is anything to say to that so... No comment. ]

I have been hearing that a lot. Or at least, no one knows what a Sylvari is, so something very close.

[lord_wizard]

And yet you're wandering about with your disguise on. You're going to give some farmer a fit. [Kind of the way you almost did to him]

Tavern

[mysterzie]

[ It's of no surprise when someone hovers over Felix's shoulder to see what he's doing. It's interesting, and Aaron recognizes the face, so it's obviously someone that should be bothered posthaste. His fingers tremble where he holds them behind his back and his breathing is somewhat offbeat, but there's points for effort in hiding it. ]

What kind of deck is that?

[lord_wizard]

[He glances backwards at Aaron, expression flashing to annoyance for a moment before smoothing over to careful, calm neutrality.]

A diving deck. What you might call Tarot if you're from Earth. It's not exact, but it's not exactly like the version from my world either, so it's an adjustment either way.

[mysterzie]

What, like fortune telling?

[ Aaron leaves that up to the precogs and usually stays the fuck away from them. Having people read his destiny or past or whatever is just not his cup of tea. ]

Isn't this the kind that people say works for anyone? Even if you don't have the power?

[lord_wizard]

[He idly turns a page in the books and nods]

Yes, that's what they say. I don't know how truly accurate it is when no actual magic is involved. I suspect it's largely trickery and wishful thinking.

[mysterzie]

Then why'd you even buy it? That's useless. You could use your money for way better things around here.

[lord_wizard]

Because I'm going to use it to make money. Have you seen how many charlatan magicians there are running about around here for this festival?

[He pauses to take a sip of his drink]

Besides, I might be able to infuse it over time. I'm not a trained diviner by any stretch of the imagination, and it will likely never approach the accuracy of the Sibylline, but it's worth a try. Something to keep me occupied on the ship, in any case.

[mysterzie]

[ That gets Aaron's attention. His hands twitch behind his back, this close to reaching out and feeling for whatever power it is Felix possesses to take for his own. ]

You can put power into it?

[lord_wizard]

[He doesn't even notice Aaron's internal struggle, of course.]

I believe so. And very slowly over the course of time. Magic has a tendency to permeate any environment or object when subjected to it long enough. That, along with something to fix the symbols in place, might do the trick to make this actually useful. But I have to get more accustomed to the symbols this deck uses first. Thus the book.