A Theatrical Reunion

Log Info

• Title: A Theatrical Reunion

• Characters: Patch, Ravenstongue, Schara, Slixvah, Telamon

• Place: Theatre District, Alexandria

• Summary: Back from their honeymoon, Telamon and Cor'lana run into good friends Slixvah and Patch, as well as their artificer friend Schara. Stories and wisdom are shared, as well as fashion tips for the discerning avian.

Theatre District, evening.

Cold rain pours gently from the grey-dark sky onto the colorful Theatre District, which is dressed and decorated for the autumn season. As per usual on any given evening in Ceinara's favored place, there's something going on at one of the theatres large or small, and the place is alive with artisans who brave the rain, huddled under umbrellas, tents, and more makeshift shelter.

Cor'lana Lupecyll-Atlon stands behind one such artisan, an elven woman with red hair who scribbles away at a drawing as she sits at an easel, drawing on a piece of parchment taped to a board. The sorceress is grinning at the subject of the portrait, who is sitting very politely on a pillow in a chair opposite the artisan...

Pothy. Who is wearing a very tiny top hat.

"All done," the artist declares, and she gently lifts the parchment to Cor'lana. "How does it look?"

"Oh gods, it's /adorable/," Cor'lana exclaims. "Thank you, Yarome, you're the best."

Telamon comes traipsing down the road, the rainy evening no match for a sorcerer, his unseen servant, and a gyroparasol at full extension. Though he does make a small concession to the weather, his usual boots swapped out for heavier canvas rain boots to protect his feet. Radiating good cheer, for the world is wonderful to him even with the weather gray and rainy. Stopping here and there to chat, before his eyes finally find Cor'lana, who's collecting a commission.

Coming up behind his wife, Tel comments, "Well now, that's a fetching image. Where did you get the top hat, though?" His eyes twinkle, his expression slightly impish.

Okay Slix. It's easy. Just... do what you normally do, and do the opposite. It simple, Fiadh explained everything needed. Instead of snippinga nd pull and twisting to better straits, just... run them into each other. Let it go haywire. It's the opposite, it should balance out...

"... Unmesi, look overmore," a tinny voice says on the egalrin woman's shoulder, her in a raincoat that covers her wings and ribbons. She's got a hand outstretched to a victim in the distance, but her focus is shifted. She blinks. "Oh my goodness! Oh my damn! she coos. "Pothy Poth! Ya lookin' dapper flapper! Fiadh! Why don't you we-"

"Absolutely not."

Slix giggles and hops on over. "Well well, hows the newwwwlyweds?"

The rain isn't something to slow Patch's day, her cloak of maroon shedding water as she quickly walks from the college. It's hurried, and measured pace, intent on her own day's plans. It's soon abandoned, eyes peering out from under the hood catching sight of not one, but three very familiar faces. A small smile, a shift in direction, and she's off again. Well, crossing towards where the others mingle, her path carrying her before the empty stage.

"Dapper is a good word. Debonair... dashing. A lot of D's do the trick." Patch muses, sweeping in with a wink at the three. "I saw the crowd forming, had to joining it. Just.... desire too strong." a whimsical tone used. "Hello, Sister. Prince-ling Telamon." she says to the newlyweds, turning then quickly to Slixvah. "Pothy really does look darling, Slix?"

Rain, and more rain, it wasn't something often faced when staying in the confines of the artificer's hall. At least they had their cloak back, now.

A bronze metal figure stomps through the streets of the theatre district with their cloak pulled close around them, for some time until they were through to near where everyone seemed to have gathered.

"People wearing way too many ribbons, some of them are men, birds wearing hats, I really don't understand the fashion sense of this city at all." The artificer sighs lowly to themself.

The parchment is handed back to the artist, who places it into a protective folder to keep the rain away from the precious drawing. Cor'lana hands the artist a palmful of gold pieces--which gets a bit of a blink from the artist, as she clearly didn't expect that much--and turns to Telamon with a grin and a kiss to his cheek. "Isn't it? We were given the top hat earlier," she says. "Someone here was selling their fibercrafts for dolls just a bit ago and thought that the top hat would fit Pothy... So he tried it on, and now he doesn't want to take it off. I bought it, of course."

"Dapper!" Pothy mimics, taking flight from his position of posing to strike another one on Cor'lana's shoulder. His tail wags happily as he sees both Slixvah and Patch. He offers, "Snacks?"

"In a bit, Pothy," Cor'lana says gently, before she flashes a grin at Slixvah and Patch. "We're doing wonderful, and yes, Pothy is a very handsome boy. Granted, it feels like the city's kind of gone crazy with Pothy fever... But that could just be the amount of children I see with Pothy toys."

... Unfortunately for the artificer trying to get home, Pothy decides they look like an interesting figure. Maybe he heard the comment about birds wearing hats? Either way, he takes flight and lands on cloaked metal--the closest thing approximating a shoulder. "Hats are nice," he says, imitating Cor'lana.

Telamon's eyes light up as his arms go around Cor'lana, once she's done paying the lady and putting her new artwork away. "That's the gods' own truth," he comments. "I mean, Pothy was kind of a regular in the trade district, but... it's like Alexandria's latched onto him as some kind of symbol. Which is..." He pauses, groping for the best word. "...unique?"

At Patch and Slixvah's greeting, he smiles broadly at them, waving them over. "It's good to see both of you," he says earnestly. "Married life is definitely an experience. But a good one. And while the honeymoon is over, the world goes on, and we face it together."

Tel tilts his head as Pothy soars towards the armored... person. "Oh boy. He hasn't done that in a while. Hope that they're a bird person."

Slix makes a snort sound in the back of her throat as she saddles up beside Patch, her giving the dawn elf a little hip bump. "Oh, totes! Dah-ling indeed! And I think Fiadh could take a lesson or three-"

"I am perfect as is."

"Of course you are, baby doll," Slix rolls her eyes. "Oh! Yeah! I been seein' Pothy dolls pop up all ova tha place! Kinda a hit! But a unique kinda hit. Maybe a fad? Who knows, fashion is weeeird."

Her attention shifts to Pothy flying over to... "Schara! Heya! How goes ya'self?

"Evening, Schara." A smile never faltering even at the armored figure. The hip bump of Slixvah causing a broader grin. "Well, I think fashion just takes a while to appreciate." some amusement clear from her words.

"Eh, admittedly? I bought one of the Pothy pins." Patch says of the merchandise, offering a shrug. "I mean, even I get caught up in the fun of it all. It's something to remember anyways." turning to cast Pothy a wink. "I'm just lucky I get to cuddle the original." a suddenly devious play of lips given. "That is, if I help in the pursuit of food." a tease to the bird.

Looks like Schara wasn't going to be able to keep going, as her comments to herself always seemed to manage. The bronze artificer freezes on the spot, turning to look at the raven. "Y-yes, hats are nice. Nice to meet you, please be very careful with those sharp talons of yours."

"Oh, hello Slixvah, It is good to see you again I think. I am alright. Do you know... Patch? Yes, Patch, not Apleasure. Well, I guess it is but I am trying not to make that mistake again. Those pins are, this bird here? I thought they were supposed to be for Navos or something." They admit, looking down to one of their pouches that had a little white raven pin on it.

Cor'lana does look a /bit/ concerned as Pothy flaps over to the artificer in the fur cloak, but Slixvah and Patch calling out to them seems to put her at ease. "Phew," she murmurs, coming closer to Telamon as he draws her into his orbit--err, wraps an arm around her.

"Hi." Pothy is very polite in both his voice and the way he carefully arranges his talons on Schera's shoulder. But it's their comment on Navos that makes him puff up all of his feathers in pride. "Navos," he intones.

That gets Cor'lana to giggle. "Aww, look at him. So happy," she says. "Well, any friend of Slixvah and my sister's is a friend of mine. That's Pothy. He's my familiar and apparently the talk of the town and the market. You can call me Cor'lana."

"Thanks for the support," Pothy says in the voice of a young lady, before he flaps over to Patch's shoulder and nuzzles against her. "Snaaaaaacks," he stage-whispers into her ear. It appears Patch is entirely correct.

Telamon chuckles softly as Pothy turns on the charm, and beckons to Schara, inviting her into the circle of friends. "Come closer. You can call me Telamon. Patch and Slixvah are friends, and so you've found yourself in good company." His dark eyes sparkle merrily, even with the rain pattering down.

Tel flicks his eyes to Patch and Slix, and his expression becomes faintly mischievous. A remnant of the little boy he was, years ago. "Just the pin, eh? I saw this and by the gods, I'll find an outfit to go with it if I have to pay off Aryia and Jovani." He reaches into his haversack, and...

He produces a person-sized, black bow tie, with tiny cartoon Pothys embroidered into it. "As a memento, I think it's quite the find, don't you agree?"

Slixvah can't but crinkle her eyes in a bit of a smile. "Fo' sho'," she agrees with patch on the topic of fashion. "Yeah, I gots one back in m'locker at the coffee shop, lil plush of 'im." She leans back a bit to make room for Pothy coming in, thought Fiadh hops into the egalrin's robes to escape, well, everything.

A little giggle leaves her. "'course I know Patch, Scha-Scha. She is /certainly/ a pleasure," she chirps in a happy trill, elbowing the elf.

She does, however, turn slightly towards Telamon. She blinks. Then busts out laughing. "O-Oh! Oh my-! Telly c-can I see it? Please?" Slix holds out a hand for the tie as one hand hovers over a recently disturbed pocket.

"I am trying to think of what is more ludicrous. That you think....." Patch's words suddenly dead on arrival as Slixvah's reaction to the bow tie has her raising a hand to stifle a laugh. Now, more a giggle. "Couldn't even finish the joke. It's cute." Pothy's landing and request seemingly honored, a peanut produced by Patch's free hand, offering it to the bird.

"I do like to think I can be. I try." Patch says to Slixvah, smirking at the Egalrin's play, the light teasing and elbow met with a wiggle of brow and a smirk. "But, I can overstep it a bit with the questions."

"You are Navos? I will admit, even I find that hard to believe, but if it is true, then it is an honor to meet you. I believe they said your name was Pothy, however." The artificer notes, reaching to pat the bird on the head before they depart.

"That is certainly an interesting bowtie, by the looks of it." They admit slowly, turning back to Patch and Slixvah. "What is everyone's fascination with physically poking or smacking Patch? First it was Aelwyn with his tail, and now you. I do not get it." They note. "Yes, less questions of me and where I am from and what is under the helmet, please."

Telamon produces the bow-tie, and Cor'lana blinks... and then she grins. "You and Pothy can match now," she says, the enthusiasm brimming in her violet eyes. "Oh my goodness. That's /adorable/, Tel!"

Pothy takes the peanut from Patch and... stops. He stares at Telamon. For a second, those blue eyes of his hold some inscrutable emotion... No, there is one. He makes whimpering raven noises. "Brother-in-law," he croaks, mimicking some man. It appears he's interpreted this as a heartfelt gesture and is emotionally overwhelmed.

The Navos comment gets a small laugh from Cor'lana. "No, no, he just is reverent to Navos," she explains. "Pothy is a bearer of knowledge. Mostly food knowledge, but knowledge nonetheless."

"So, so much food knowledge," Telamon adds with a laugh. He holds the bowtie up to his neck for a moment, modeling it for the others, before carefully handing it to Slixvah. "Honestly... at first I wanted to laugh at it, but then it felt right. Because Pothy's a part of my life, just as much as Lana is." He grins at the white raven. "Yes, Pothy. Brother-in-law."

Tel studies Schara with a careful eye, and there's something in his gaze -- not so much judgemental as perceptive. Studying them. "When did you come to Alexandria, Schara? Or are you a native? I've only been here a little more than a year, so I still consider myself something of a newcomer. To say nothing of the traveling."

Slix gives a little shrug to Patch. "Eh, don't worr' Patty, I'm aight wit' 'em," she hums warmly, patting the bard's shoulder before she turns to look at Schara. A snort escapes her at the artificer thinking Pothy is mixed up, but her eyes gleam happily. "Patch and I are close," she explains simply, giggling before taking the ribbon and pulling out Fiadh.

"I am sleepi-" the tiny thrush bird says before-

One deft motion. The person sized Pothy-bowtie is donned on Fiadh, it completely encircling their tiny body. The golden eyed bird blinks. "... you... will regret this Unmesi."

Said egalrin is cackling with laughter as Fiadh... pouting. Yes, they're pouting.

"And Aelwyn is a good friend too. Dancing, some jokes, and some work we share at the TarRaCe." Patch says, adding her words to Slix's. A smile flashed again to Schara. "A bard tends to know many a folk, but really you just stumbled upon a pocket of people close to me."

"What..." Patch says in confusion to Telamon, eyes blinking in surprise. "I have been in the city a good couple of years. I had thought most were here longer than I." though a small grin again tugs at her features. "I did use to be a recluse."

"Oh, I didn't know birds had gods. I guess that sort of makes sense, though." Schara notes, nodding their helmet once as if to confirm it. "And they are a bearer of knowledge? Do they do any cooking? Can they cook?"

"Ah, well, I am uncomfortable sharing such tales or, no, such information with strangers." Schara states to Telamon. "I seem to have, as I have met most of the egalrin in the city apparently. how is mister Truefeather doing Slixvah? I should seek him out some time, if I were to need a lawyer."

"That is, a very big bowtie for Fiadh though, Slixvah." Schara states as the obvious. "You should get rid of it, especially if they are threatening future woe for it."

"Then we won't pry," Cor'lana says with a small smile to Schara. "Telamon has a rather tenacious way of becoming a friend very quickly. I should know. We met and became friends within the span of one conversation--and then lovers in the span of two months. Now married." She leans in and kisses Telamon on the cheek.

Pothy looks... self-conscious? at the mention of cooking. No, that's a little bit of panic in his eyes. His one weakness. "Hahahahahaha, Fiadh," Pothy says, laughing his funny little nobleman's laugh and then mimicking Slixvah's voice. He's trying to divert attention to the other bird.

Cor'lana can't help but grin. "Such a tiny little gentlebird," she says at Fiadh with the bowtie.

"I have a knack for fitting in, Patch." Telamon smiles slightly. "A kind word can smooth the way where even magic can't carry you. Sometimes, what the lucht called the 'gift of gab' has stood me in good stead." At Lana's kiss, he actually blushes a touch, and gives her hand a squeeze in return.

Tel's eyes move back to Schara. "Fair enough. There are more than a few here who come to find a fresh start. Far be it from me to interfere." He leaves it at that, instead snorting at the sight of Fiadh 'tied up' in the bow-tie. "If it helps, Fiadh, you do look cute. And I'm sure you can leverage this situation to get something out of Slix later on."

He taps the side of his nose. "Which reminds me, Slix, I have a question about your magical talents. Do they draw from mana, or from devotion to the gods? I've always been a bit fuzzy about the differences between sorcerers and witches."

Slixvah giggles, her smooshing her face against the little bird and nuzzling them to no end. "Pssh, naw, Fiadh just blowin' hot air, they ain't gonna do anything 'bout it."

Fiadh glowers. But is soon released of the bowtie hell as it's handed back to Telamon. The little familiar still snipes out, "Regale the teaching of culinary arts, Apotheosis. Lest you remain... undercooked."

They hop into a pocket. Slix's brow crest pops up. "TARIEN'S WIT, A JOKE!?" she exclaims in surprise, rifling around in her pockets for the bird but unable to find them. "Oh you little shi-..."

She adds in after thought. "Yeah I've only been here like a few months and some change. Mayb's half a yeaaaaa- yo what's up?" she twirls to Telamon, tilting her head to the side. She perks. "Oh! Draw from mana! I'm like a hacky wizard! Sorta. Actually, I draw mo' on like, latent mana of stuff. Some of the stuff I kno' is sorta like... kinda untested grounds. Spooky stuff. Harmless! Sometimes. But people get spooked 'cause it ain't straight forward, ya dig?"

"The diplomat's tongue. Yes." Patch muses. "I do recall how it can slice, and rise in fury." a nod to Telamon as she lets the others talk and mingle, her eyes just watching from under her hood.

"Oh yes, spooky harmless stuff." Patch echoes Slixvah with a roll of her eyes. "I always adore listening to you explain magics and theorem." a warmth and teases. "It's a realm of magic beyond me."

"I /so/ dislike such musings." Patch says of Fidah's remark, a small grumble in protest. "The culmination and climax of food is not in the cooking, but in the eating." a wider grin. "Though some of Vaire's followers would begrudge me saying so, as hospitality and cooking are as creative and complex as any magics."

"Yes, I would rather not talk about that if I do not have to, thank you. And that likely will not change with offers of drinks or bending things."

"So, he can cook?" The artificer asks of Slixvah's pocket. "That is interesting, it must be difficult to cook with a beak and claws only. I would like to hear more about it."

"I don't know many witches, other than Slixvah, somewhat. I know even less about witches in general."

Pothy returns to Cor'lana's shoulder, apparently eager to get away from the question of birds cooking. He shakes out his wings and murmurs, "Snacks," into Cor'lana's ear, like he's trying to prepare her to take flight away from more inconvenient questions.

Cor'lana seems to ignore it. "I am also curious about witches," she admits. "Slixvah is the only one that I know."

"I'm tackling some academic work about magical skills. Someone's come up with yet another concept for a 'unified magic theory'." Telamon rolls his eyes. "Again. Because the last two panned out so well. So at some point, Slix, I'd like to do some comparative spellcasting."

He chuckles at the whole 'spooky magic' complaint. "Oh, as if witches have a monopoly on that sort of thing. Sorcery, the talent, takes a lot of forms and they're not all nice and neat and fit into a box. Why should witches be any different? No, what matters is what ends you put those skills to work on."

"To be fair, Patch, there is some art to be found in the cooking. I believe there's an old Tsuran technique that involves literally cooking the food in front of the diners. I swear I remember the term..." He scratches behind his ear. "Habazhi? Was that how it's pronounced?"

Slixvah smooths her feathers back on her face as she gives Patch a playful elbow. "I could keep goin', there's a /ton/ ta thi' stuff. Like- did ya know that sentimental value correlates increasingly with some more esoteric spells?" she happily trivia blurbs. "And totally not harmful. Totally." She winks to the group.

"I wouldn't read inta Fifi too much, they's just heckling Pothy." A little chuckle leaves her. "Blue's good, f'the most part. Got his wings busy wit' some biz that I'm helpin' with on the side. But yeah, 'course ya don't know. Not many know at all! I'ma gonna change dat."

Focus is turning to Slix and her methods. There it is. She feels that tick. "So, you, wanna know mo' 'bout witches. It's not somethin' tha' brings in riches. Most end up in ditches despite all the pitches, but what I do best is mend all the stitches."

A breath in. "I, do, fill some niches that otherwise are empty britches. Fiadh lets me implement some switches if the sitches come up with hitches. I got the fun, the run, of assorted itches that get twisted into whisted, dealin' out cards that you know the gist've."

She clears her throat, grins, then finger guns towards Telamon. "Yeah, I'd love ta do that, hit me up whenever."

"Oh, I know. That's also very much Vaire's domain of creativity." Patch relents, and agrees with Telamon. That elbow from Slixvah earning a side-eye and grin. "I just rather like the eating." a huffed laugh and a look skyward. "I think the rain makes me hungry. All this talk of food."

"Poor Pothy. I... that why I was trying to jest in a new direction." Patch admits, offering a casual shrug to Slixvah. To the egalrin's rhyme and play, Patch grins broadly, rolling her eyes. "And she says I am the one with words? Not, not by far." stepping to hip bump the egalrin in mild-play. An affection-assault. "Good job, You."

"Anyhow, I can only academic it up for so long. I need to find a supper. All this talk of food and snack... and the rain. Stew, and maybe hot bread." a wistful tone as she steps away from the crowd. "I think I will go find myself a bite."

"Comparative spellcasting? Not a bad idea, but you'll need to be thorough in your note taking. Not to mention being capable of measuring what is actually happening. Though the cooking does not sound odd. Is that not how cooking normally is? What with the stove usually being in the kitchen where you're eating anyways." Schara notes, and shrugs, though her right shoulder remains shrugged. The artificer sighs, raises the shoulder a bit higher, and brings it back down. "Oh, right, that business. Not the legal business, but I don't know if they have time for that with the side stuff." Schara nods, before listening to Slixvah's explanation. They are silent for some time. "I have no idea what you are talking about."

Pothy... has tired of all of this. Nobody's offering him snacks. Patch is abandoning him to find food. That sounds like a great idea, actually, finding food.

"Snacks!" he declares, and he takes flight into the air... where he will either find adoring admirers that will feed him, or he will find his way back home.

Cor'lana blinks a couple of times. "It looks like Pothy agrees with you, Patch," she says. "It /is/ dinnertime, so..."

She looks to Telamon and smiles warmly. "Not to pry you from a riveting conversation on magic, but shall we find a meal together, my beloved consort?" Oh no. She's escalating the nicknames.

Telamon smiles back at Lana, eyes full of warmth. "I am at your command, queen of my heart," he replies in Sylvan. Looking to the others, he offers a bow. "I'm afraid we must take our leave, but Slixvah, I'll try to call on you soon enough. If nothing else, you really need to teach me how you rhyme off the cuff like that -- that would be -amazing- for the poetry recitals..."

His hand slips into Cor'lana's, and he waves to Patch, Schara, and Slixvah, before the couple walk off, the parasol still hovering over the heads, their own personal canopy from the rain.

Slixvah coos happily at the praise and the bump. "Thanks! I try! Oi! Hey! I'll go witcha!"

A step with Patch is taken, but she grabs the tail end of conversations. Which ends with a hooting laugh towards Schara. "Sugar. You. Are. A. Gem. You know what? I need to borrow you for like, an evening. Sound good? Sounds good. We'll run into each other," she grins, delivering that like a soothsayer. "We can chat about that not-legalease biz later."

To Telamon, Slix snorts. "Sure sure, I can give ya some lessons. It's easy once ya get the hang of it." She blinks at the two newly weds before giving them a wave. "Careful not to trip on the molasses on the way home!" she teases, apparently having heard everything they said.

She slowly finger guns 'pew pew pew' everyone, walking backwards before giving one last thing to Schara, "I'll see you later, Scha-Scha!"

Oh no.

"Consorts? Queens? What is, perhaps I am better off knowing." The artificer sighs before the pair are gone. "I don't want to get in trouble with royalty for overstepping my boundaries."

"I'm not a gem though, I'm not some form of golem who functions based on crystalline structures, you know this, Slixvah." Schara reiterates. "Again, please don't run into me, either. I guess I will see you later at some point maybe. That was directed at me, right?" She asks before the egalrin is on her way.

They stop to readjust their cloak, wiping at their shoulder once. A few drops of dark red oil fall to the ground, causing a small circle of red to bloom in one of the many puddles from the rain. "Need to get that fixed at some point." They note to themselves, before continuing on their way.