volurofthehearth | Meeting the fiancé's otherworldly friends

Meeting the fiancé's otherworldly friends

The invitation was very clear about the nature of the gathering. Or as clear as the upper class get about these things. He had needed to insist upon doing them himself as her eyes had brightened and she'd smiled wide at the mention of making them. Rather than the texts that are often favoured by Nexus residents, these are paper invitations delivered by couriers post-haste. They specify the time and date that each person is invited to come and meet his new fiancé. A simple chat over tea to make introductions.

Isidor, insisting she would only be a distraction, left Viatorus to handle things with Lyall guarding the door as per usual. If Viatorus were the suspicious type he might linger on the notion that she vanished purposefully to put himself and his wife-to-be to the test, but then that wouldn't be very nice of her.

Viatorus' office apartment is... different. The main room which everyone enters into feels warmer, closer, inviting. The chairs and couch face each other a little more, tables positioned perfectly to make sure everyone can see everyone with ease. There are vases of flowers here and there, pale and demure bundles with little bursts of colour. Above each of the doors are smaller bundles of dried plants that twist and intertwine so that once pinned up they appear as decorations that makes the apartment feel more like a natural space. The air smells ever so faintly of vanilla and cinnamon, the last gift Ingirun gives to Viatorus' Nexus home.

It is only because of his company that Viatorus has chosen to wear a relatively untouched blue-grey suit and even a blue tie to match his light blue shirt. Ingirun's impeccably pinned up hair makes her retro ensemble of a loose white silk shirt and long green skirt appear as the perfect combination of smart casual. With cakes, pastries, sandwiches and mini-tarts all prepared, now all they need to do is wait for the first visitor to arrive.

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It's a good thing Viatorus didn't take off the helmet, it gives him a way to hide his burning cheeks. He splutters, trying to formulate a response in the face of Ingirun's expression of tight-lipped diplomacy. "I-I-I-I don't," is the witty remark he comes back with.

"I think he was joking, Viatorus," Ingirun tells him helpfully, casting an eye to Harrowheart for some small confirmation and smiling again. "It does not matter. You will both smell of vanilla and cinnamon now!" She laughs, and Viatorus stops his fretting. Turning to Harrowheart, she asks, "Is it okay to have some fresh mint in your water? For flavour?"

Harrow gives Viatorus a one-armed side hug to remind him of their deep and abiding love, and, smiling, nods at Runa. It was a joke. Jokes are what he does. Especially when out of place.

"If it makes you happy, I'll have mint in my water," he tells her with an amiable nod. "I'll taste it, don't worry. Honestly, I wish I could try your little cakes, too, but I gotta avoid the bread right now. Got a sixty hour shift on guard after this and –" He stops abruptly and pulls a guilty face. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't talk about strange things like what happens when the undead eat bread. Mint water'll be fine. I'll even see if I can't sit down without tearin' up the furniture."

A process which starts with unchaining his unwieldy runeblades from his hips. They crave an opportunity to destroy all furniture and glow in protest when they're freed. Certainly that's the reason. When they're undone he sets them on the ground near the chair he's going to sit in and slips them slightly under, out of sight. The act of sitting in armor is easy, really. It's remembering to keep a proper posture and not allow his spiked pauldrons to poke the back of the chair that's the real talent. And when he's through he folds his hands neatly on the dark tabard which drapes over his lap. Dainty as a man can be in plate mail, really.

Runa gets one last smile to let her know this is fine, that he isn't inconvenienced, and then he looks to Viatorus. "You don't have to wear that, you know," he says with a gesture to the helmet. "That way we can see your smiling face when Runa comes back and tells us all about herself. Unless I'm here to tell her all about me?"

"It is okay, I have an aunt who is the same. When she eats bread it causes her such trouble." Ingirun laughs her sympathy, after making sure Harrowheart doesn't need her help with sitting down, heads to the kitchen.

Now that Ingirun has left, he's been reminded about the concept of humour, and his cheeks have cooled a bit more, Viatorus slowly takes off the helmet and sets it down on the table. "It's heavy. I prefer my hat." Sitting down he smiles at Harrowheart, relaxing a little. "Thank you for that, by the way. A-And the tunic. They were really nice."

Harrowheart laughs strangely at Runa's joke. He wants to find humor in it, but his mind is consumed with the implications. What could the consequences of a breather eating bread be? Maybe her aunt isn't a breather after all? Is this a subtle implication? Or perhaps a consequence of Earth anatomy... Maybe this is what makes humans there different from the ones on Azeroth? When he catches himself staring distantly at the table Harrowheart realizes this is possibly the most in-depth he's considered any one remark in a very long time.

Thank the Light for Viatorus and his sweet little voice. Harrow turns with eyebrows raised to listen and quickly finds himself smiling again. His hands busy themselves with undoing an unseen locking mechanism on his gauntlets that kept his hands anchored in place. When one of them is free it floats over and pats Viatorus on the knee.

"I'm just glad you liked it all," he says with a mannerly nod. "I wanted to ask, but didn't wanna mention it around Runa. I feel rude now, not gettin' her anything. I thought about it? But I didn't know what she was like. I didn't wanna get the wrong thing and offend her."

Then he leans in closer to Viatorus and whispers conspiratorially, "So, did you wind up sneakin' by her place to pay her a secret visit? Or did your folks get to y'all first?"

Viatorus nods his sympathy for Harrowheart's present-choosing dilemmas. Gifts and the politics around them are some of the most difficult things to navigate. To Harrowheart's question he shakes his head quickly.

"I-I-I didn't get the time. Isidor and I were... w-w-we were sent somewhere to... to do consultation work." He hesitates to call it that, but officially that's what it was. Moving quickly over his discomfort he continues. "I-It didn't leave me a lot of time for anything before meeting her."

The explanation is enough time for Runa to reappear with a tray, a jug and glasses atop it. "Here we go." She carefully moves everything onto the table, drops the tray back into the kitchen and begins pouring the water.

Harrowheart listens patiently as Viatorus stammers his way through his words. It ought to catch his attention, but Viatorus has a way of getting caught up in the relatively ordinary. He starts to say something – to make a joke judging by his slight grin – but Runa returns and he decides whatever he was going to say isn't fit for a conversation with a lady around. He smiles gratefully when she pours the drinks and inclines his head respectfully.

"So, Runa!" he says, leaving Viatorus and his memories of consultations gone wrong in the past. "What sorta magic do you do? And who's your god or goddess? That ain't rude to ask, right?"

Once everything is poured she sits, close to Viatorus but turned towards Harrowheart, sitting as if to attention when he says her name. The question is met with a laugh and she throws a smile to Viatorus. "He is like your sister." Turning back to Harrowheart she explains, "That was what she asked about first too."

"I do the magic of my ancestors, the völur. We do a lot of divination and protection spells." She touches her collarbone briefly. "I like to work with the home, to bring luck, fortune, and safety, of course." With a small nod she adds, "And I follow the Norse pantheon. I mostly work with Frigg."

"Mother goddess of wisdom, beauty, foresight… and marriage," Viatorus explains on impulse, though he slows and fidgets at that last part.

"All true," Ingirun confirms with a smile.

Edited 2017-01-11 14:21 (UTC)

Harrowheart fans himself with a floating hand and tries to force away a smug smile when compared to Isidor. A high compliment like that is liable to give him the vapors. He stops his games when Runa goes on to explain herself and patiently sips his water as he listens.

Marriage. Okay, that gets him smiling again. He tips his glass to her in cheers before he takes another sip.

"Sounds like this is the perfect match. I got it on good authority that Viatorus could use all the luck and protection folks are willin' to give him. Buuuut, I also heard that he's a 'real cool dude' who has been known to 'kick major ass.'" A terrible rumor that may never be dispelled at this rate. He winks at Viatorus before his attention returns to Runa.

"I heard you come from a big family, Runa. I do, too. I got seven brothers and sisters – all still alive, of course. I'm the only one like me in the family. Are you the youngest sister? What're the others like? How about their spouses?"

"I don't kick anything," Viatorus protests, flustered, but he's more embarrassed than annoyed. Especially when Ingirun has to do such a job to keep from laughing. As if it might be taken as a rebuke and not a compliment he says, "You really are like Isidor."

Through a giggle, Ingirun answers, "I'm the youngest of five. My sisters are all beautiful, and lovely. They all doted on my father and I, and we dote on their children..." She turns to Viatorus, "We should have a big party one night. All your friends and family can meet my family." Beaming, she turns back to Harrowheart. "Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

"Oh, um... I... I guess that would be nice." Viatorus blinks, looking between his friend and fiancée, caught off guard by the idea, before settling on Harrowheart. "You could bring Anna."

Pleased with her suggestion Harrow sits back in his chair until he feels his spiked shoulder pads brushing against the back rest and hastily sits straight again. He nods quickly to distract from his sudden jolt and says, "A party sounds nice! Anna – my closest sister – she'd love to come to a party and meet new folks. Especially ladies. She never really got a chance to do that back where we came from. Spent most her time indoors, couldn't really go out much 'cause of her condition. And I gotta say, I'd jump at a chance to go see Earth again myself. Runa, you got the best ideas." He toasts her again with his drink before taking a small sip.

"So, you like bein' an auntie? I'm an uncle myself and I just love it. My oldest niece, Kenny, is... Shoot, eight? I think? I really oughta know, but she keeps gettin' older! She's obsessed with monsters and she loves when I do magic for her. As of a couple'a weeks ago she's got a new baby brother, and I'm real excited to be around for that 'cause I missed Kenny bein' born. I'm still a little scared to hold the baby, though, y'know? He's so little and delicate... It's so much pressure. But I love hearin' him laugh, and he's got these big fat cheeks that you just wanna –" One of his floating hands grabs his own cheek and pinches, and he laughs at the thought of doing it to his nephew.

Runa, look what you've gone and done. You've made him all domestic.

"She is more than welcome to come. All your sisters could come early to get ready." She sways closer with a wide smile, "Have some girl time before everyone arrives."

Between mentions of girl talk and then baby talk, Viatorus has gone from being awkward to plain old confused. This is all way beyond him. He looks between his friend and his fiancée like an academic trying to figure out the pattern and protocol.

Runa is perfectly happy with this line of conversation. She laughs at Harrowheart's cheek pinching. "Oh, congratulations! They grow up so fast. Too fast! And they look so happy when they smile. I love being an aunt, but I'll-" She stops, goes red, and ducks her head, glancing at Viatorus and then flattening her skirt before she looks back at Harrowheart. "I am very excited to be a mother too." Confidence strengthens her delight again and she gives a now blushing Viatorus another glace. "From what I hear there is no friend Viatorus would feel most confident with holding his child."

Harrow looks between Runa and Viatorus after that last comment. He sees a confident girl looking forward to her marriage, already discussing the future probability of having children to hold... And he sees Viatorus.

"Viatorus is already havin' talks about who'll hold his future babies? Runa, sounds like you've made quite the impression on him." He shares with her a smile that suggests he knows Runa has taken a leap of logic there.

"What else have you two confided in each other? Do you two know you got anything in common yet? Hobbies or interests? Places you wanna go, things you wanna learn?"

As seems to be the trend, Runa giggles while Viatorus blushes. But this time when Harrowheart asks his question, she turns to Viatorus to take point. He shifts uncomfortably in the limelight.

Clearing his throat, he starts quietly. "Well... We both come from magical families, and we both journal..." He flounders a little.

"And we both paint," Ingirun continues. "Though he's much better than I am. I like lots of hobbies, but he's good at his."

Viatorus' awkward answers get a sympathetic, uncomfortable smile from Harrowheart. He knows it isn't easy for his friend to find common ground with others, but it can't be that hard, can it?

He's relieved to say, a little too loudly, "You paint! I'll have to see some of your work some day, Runa. Maybe you'll find some nice things to paint here in the Nexus. Or, y'know, some day you might come to my world..."

Then he takes a moment to watch her and to think. It's a very long time before he remembers that he ought to keep up appearances and blink. He takes a sip of water for a hint of normalcy before he asks, "Have you ever been off Earth? Or away from your homeland? How do you feel about it? About bein' away?"

The more the conversation progresses the more Ingirun reveals her penchant for smoothing over uncomfortable silences with conversation and notes of noise. Harrowheart's enthusiasm is received with a demure little laugh. "Everything, and everyone, here is so inspiring. I will be painting and crafting without stopping!"

Even with her help carrying the discussion along she is also relieved when Harrowheart breaks the stare and starts to talk again. "This is the first time I have physically been off of Earth, but I have travelled to other countries before. This is... not the same. It's exciting, though! Viatorus has promised to show me around better after I have met a few of his friends."

When she turns to smile at the dreamwalker, he manages a smile back, even though he does start fidgeting again. "I... I wanted her to know a few people first. To introduce her before I showed her everything."

"I must explore the library fully," Ingirun tells them both. "I suspect I will find Viatorus there a lot."

Harrow nods along with mentions of the library. "I went a few times. It's easy to get lost there -- either lookin' for the books you want or readin' 'em." Then he fishes around in the lining of his cape until he finds his phone.

"I prefer the Internet. I can read anything I want any time I want, and I don't have to return it. If I don't know a word I can ask what it means, and my phone spells for me and everything. Shoot, I feel like I've learned more in a year since I got this than I did in my whole life and death before it. Almost everything I know about Earth I learned on the Internet. Look..."

He taps the activation button and instructs it to find, "Sweden." A robotic voice begins to explain what and where Sweden is, but he cuts it off quickly by navigating to a page full of images. He turns the screen often so that the mages can see what he's found: Annotated maps, images of the flag, and many landscape shots. One that catches his attention and comes under closer inspection is a sunset scene of a river winding through a tundra steppe in the summer, shadowed on both sides by steep cliffs dotted with pine trees. Wildflowers sprout in the foreground, and dim light tints the whole scene a colorful purple.

"Shoot... This looks just like a place on my world! Howling Fjord. You remember I told you about that, Viatorus? The place my ship landed when I first arrived on Northrend! There were stone giants there, and eagles with wings as wide as this apartment, and dryad women who danced through the forest with icicles on their ears. If Sweden's anything like that I figure it's gotta be a good --"

He's cut off abruptly by a repetitive beeping, shrill and obnoxious. A timer has gone off on his phone and he scrambled to shut it off.

"Sh-shit -- shoot! Sorry, not... I gotta get back to my station soon. I feel like I just sat down..." He stows his phone away again and looks between his glass and Runa.

"Say..." he begins, his tone one of a man with a crafty sort of plan in mind. "It wouldn't be fair of me to leave dirty dishes in someone else's home. My mother didn't raise me like that. How about I go wash this glass out in the sink? Runa, I'll do all the dishes if you want. And since you're the lady of the house you can oversee it all while Viatorus stays here and relaxes? How's that sound?"

For the first few images Viatorus leans in, hesitant about coming too close to his fiancée, more out of politeness than anything. But, naturally, when Harrowheart starts comparing it to one of the most entrancing descriptions he's ever heard, he starts to pay more attention. Beside him, Runa's smile reaches her eyes at the topic of giants and nymphs. She's just opening her mouth to comment when the alarm goes off, startling Viatorus nearly out of his seat.

"I will help you," Runa corrects and chirps,"You can wash and I can dry!"

Viatorus sits straight again, suddenly looking uncomfortable. "Oh, I… I should help too…"

"There is really not much to do," Runa tells him and gently pats his arm. "You did say you wanted to do some reading today. We can take care of the cleaning." Before he can properly protest, she stands and turns her full attention to Harrowheart as she leads him to the kitchen. It takes a minute and then she laughs at herself, smiling at Harrowheart. "You must know your way better than me."

Runa is a smooth operator, this much cannot be denied. Harrowheart is content to grab as many dishes as he can and follow her lead. He laughs at her sudden revelation. "Would you believe I don't come here often? I always ask to meet Viatorus outside. There's too much to see around the Nexus to be cooped up indoors."

He turns on the sink water for some cover sound, but washing dishes won't do with these gauntlets on. He doesn't rush in prying the gloves from his floating hands. The more time he wastes the more he has to talk, after all.

"You seem real nice," he says, distant yet certain. He only steals small glances at her now and then and otherwise watches his hands peel off his gloves and begin their work with the dishes. "You're exactly the kinda girl I'd hoped they'd find to be with him. Once he gets used to you -- gets used to havin' a lady friend at all -- I'm sure you two are gonna have a nice, quiet life together."

He watches her then as his hands pour soap into the sink and work it up into a froth. "Is that what you want? A quiet life? Stayin' in, readin', maybe goin' to a park every now and then? Or do you want adventure? 'Cause I don't know if he's the man for that."

His attention turns to the dishes again and he begins to scrub his own glass before he's struck with a thought that brings a scoff-laugh from his chest. He turns to her with an amused grin and assures her, "You can tell me the truth. I don't live y'all's life. Rich people's ways, y'know, they're lost on me. I ain't tryin' to trick you or anything like that. Getcha caught in somethin' you'll regret. I just wanna know if you think you're gonna be happy with all this. He's a nice boy, and like I said, I'm sure you're a nice girl, and I think it'd be real sad if you two wound up unhappy when it coulda been avoided."

"That is very wise of you," she tells him with a slow nod of approval. Just like Harrowheart, she takes her time in making sure her hair is all pulled out of the way, her apron lifted from the back of a chair and put on properly before she even looks at the dishes.

The first thing she does is smile at him knowingly. "You talk like you're his older brother." She lifts a towel and looks at him again with a more genuine appreciation. "I'm glad he has people who care so much about him."

Her eyes slide off to the distance and her lips pull back in a wide smile as her gaze glazes over. "I'm looking forward to it." Focusing on him again she nods. "I am. My sisters have all gone and started their own families and without them... I feel... lost. I am ready to start my own with someone kind and caring." Leaning closer she adds, "And we know children are an adventure all of their own."

Harrow is charmed by her comments on brotherliness. He tilts his head and looks away, humbled and momentarily quiet. He listens as she says what she needs to say, and he finds his smile returning. Looking at her once again he asks, "Are you really this sweet, or does someone pay you?"

He hands her the first clean glass to dry and starts in on the next dish. "Kind and caring... I think he can be those things. I know he's a gentle soul. He worries about folks. But there's more to caring than worryin'. I think he needs someone to teach him that it's okay to open up with folks who love you. I don't know if he has much of that in his life. I ain't gonna lie, you're gonna have to teach him a lot about movin' out of his comfort zone. I mean, I try, but I'm not exactly his fiance." He chuckles, but wastes no more time in continuing.

"I've known him... Shoot... It's only been a year and a half, but it feels like a lot longer. And all that time, I don't think he's ever hugged me. He lets me hug him, sure, but it's kinda like holdin' a cat. When you let it go, it's ready to get gone. He lets me tell him about myself, but I think he's scared to tell folks about himself. Maybe he feels judged, or... Maybe he's afraid of the consequences. Haven't quite figured that out for myself."

Considering Runa once more he says quietly, "What I mean to say is: Don't feel like he doesn't like you if he seems a little distant sometimes... Or all the time. Just be patient, and be open. I guarantee he's gonna remember everything you tell him, so don't be scared to share. You think you're ready for that?"

His friendly complimentary question gets a small giggle from her, but she focuses on drying the glass and his next words. She's attentive to her task, but she looks over to him every so often to better appreciate his meaning and to watch him at key points.

"His family is very different from mine. We are very different from each other... but in a good way." She tilts her head as she sets the glass down again and then turns thoughtfully to Harrowheart. "I am a woman and he is a man, but I am also just a girl and he is just a boy. We have a lot to learn, but we can learn them together."

"I know he's nervous. I think he's a little scared of me." She flashes a small, encouraging smile lest Harrowheart look at all sad. "But I will show him he doesn't need to be." Once again she perks up and adds, "You and I, Isidor and all his friends, he will see he doesn't need to worry. Ah! I am excited about it! All of these amazing things around us, and all these amazing new people I'm meeting." She tips her head pointedly to him. "We will make a fantastic family with so many friends!"

Harrow clears his throat to hide the laugh he nearly makes when Runa suggests Viatorus might be scared of her. What a crazy notion!

But he can't laugh at what she says next. It's legitimately sweet, heartfelt... The sort of thing a hopeful young person thinks in all earnestness. She catches himself watching her, smiling softly, and shakes his head before looking back to the dishes. He hadn't realized how much his hands did while his attention was elsewhere and finds he has very little left to do. Better give that piece a second go...

"It's gonna be good," he says quietly but sincerely. "Everyone's gonna make sure you two are as happy as you can be. I know we're all his friends, but we're gonna be your friends too. Which means we're on your side, okay?"

He pauses his work and looks at her to be sure she's listening and taking him seriously. "If anything ever goes wrong and you need help, you can ask any of his friends here in the Nexus. Steve has an apartment here, and I'm positive he'd let you stay if you ever needed a place. I don't have much, but I'll kick anyone's ass if they bother you. That's mostly all I'm good for. Kickin' ass and givin' life advice."

He gathers up a handful of suds and flicks them playfully at her. "Which means you can get advice too! About anything. Growin' up, bein' wrong, romance... After all, I've dated a few folks in my day and maybe even had... Carnal relations."

He goes back to his dish washing with brief glances at Runa. Nonchalantly he says, "I do know one thing you might be interested in: I get the notion Viatorus really likes romance. He likes the idea of fallin' in love with someone, feelin' a spark. You oughta surprise him some day with some courtship. Pretend you're not destined to be together and really work for it. Hopefully he'll find the courage to do the same."

Glasses and plates are dried carefully, her slow, attentive motions a sign of how closely she listens as Harrowheart talks. She smiles at his kind words, her expression soft, grateful for this offer of friendship. The bubbles suddenly getting blown her way get a giggle and she very lightly flaps the towel at his hand in retaliation.

But at his last piece of advice she turns thoughtful and nods slowly as he speaks. She's quiet for a minute as she thinks it over and then smiles brightly at him. "Thank you, Harrowheart. That is very good to know, and a very good idea. I will think of something."

"And I have a feeling Viatorus will need your advice on 'carnal relations' more than me," she tells him with a laugh. "All my sisters are married, and they all have opinions they love to share."

Her hands drop onto the counter as she turns fully to look at Harrowheart. "I am glad I met you, Harrowheart. You have been so kind and welcoming. You're not like I imagined at all! Not even a little!"

Harrowheart leans his armored hip against the sink and laughs in embarrassment at her comments of carnal relations and discussions thereof with Viatorus Atlas Durant. Have his cheeks and nose turned a slightly darker blue? He's much better at dishing out awkward comments than taking them, it seems. He runs his wrist across his forehead as his chuckling dies down. "All sisters must be the same," he says, but quickly thinks better of it. "Or maybe only ours are. I can't see Isidor sharin' any opinions like that, if she'd even partake in the first place."

He can't help but stay amused as Runa moves onto subjects of preconceived notions. Half-grinning once more he says, "Now I wanna know how my brother from another mother described me to make your imagination run wild."

The obvious awkwardness is allowed to pass without comment and she smiles, turning to her work when he brings up Isidor. She has her thoughts on the patron, but there will be a time and a place to sound them out, that's not here or now.

A nervous laugh escapes her and she echoes the amusing phrase, "Brother from another mother..." Returning to the topic, she shrugs a shoulder shyly. "Oh, he described you kindly. He said you were the best friend he'd ever known, and wise. But when he said you were undead, and from another world..." She sighs and lifts her face to reveal her apologetic expression. "All the undead I have heard of are violent, angry beings. They are vicious and horrible to look at. I... worried you might be like that, like a draugr."

Meeting the fiancé's otherworldly friends

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