Family Makes the Ride Worthwhile

[weathering_it]

Certain things have changed on Naugus’ grounds since the last time Viatorus paid the Ixis a visit. A few structures have been built in the chao garden to give them refuge from the cold during the winter, wooden lean-tos and tiny mock homes complete with mini doors and chao-height windows with tiny shutters to close them. The largest body of water has been made safer with a low bridge to cross it. And now that spring is arriving and the ground is warming slightly it seems that a few furrows of ground have been prepared for later planting. In fact, all around the castle the ground has been disturbed or cordoned off with low fences to mark future sites of gardens to be.

And of course the greatest change of all must be the dozen Overlanders taking up residence on the grounds. Each of them is busy, not paying mind to the time or to the inevitability of guests arriving but working on their future gardens or mending clothes or ensuring the stability of the chao homes. Each of them is dressed in plain beiges, browns, and reds, and they all look like they’ve stepped directly out of the 1930s with their suspenders and cabbie hats, though their overly-thick gloves and heavy boots should be familiar to Isidor as Azerothian vogue. Evidently they live inside the tower, as no human structures have been built for them to stay, though they have added a few comforts for themselves. The most obvious is a massive, U-shaped outdoor benched table designed to comfortably sit the entire family and potential friends. And right now, that table has been set for a meal.

It seems all the dishes and utensils are made of the green crystals Naugus is known to conjure, which makes the whole affair of eating at an oversized park bench uncharacteristically classy. No food is set out yet, but someone is already sitting at the table. Someone perhaps not quite human. She can’t be more than three feet tall, though her seat on the bench has been specially designed to rise her up to a comfortable level. Her arms are long, her legs short, and her head, with its pixie cut, naturally pink hair, is disproportionally large compared to her body. Frankly, she’s got the proportions of a human baby with the face of a woman in her thirties. Isidor might recognize her as a gnome, and like any good gnome she’s busying herself with a stack of schematics and calculations spread across her plate (and the neighboring ones as well.) Now and then she looks up from her writing to check the path to the tower in hopes of catching sight of the promised guests.

When she finally sees them she hurries to weigh her papers down with her plate. She leaves the bench in a hurry and scuttles over to them before they get too far onto the property. Rather than extend a hand for a shake or even bother to greet them she puts one hand on her hip and holds the other palm up to stop them.

“Before you two sit down, listen: Harrowheart isn’t going to be here. He stopped by earlier to say they’re extending his shift in Acherus, so he’s out there…” she waves her hand and flippantly guesses, “Eating souls? I thought it was only right to tell you before they noticed you, in the event you wanted to leave. Which I hope you don’t, if I might be so bold? Some of them really want to meet you. Especially Odilia, and I hate disappointing her.”

Comments

[heirtothearcane]

Isidor and Viatorus share a look of confusion, but Isidor soon smiles apologetically at Odilia. "We don't know how to conjure food."

"Runa, m-my fiancée, made them," Viatorus explains after thanking Anna for the roll. "She likes to bake and she insisted. Um, she thought you'd like it better than if it was bought from a store." He lifts a half curled hand to preemptively placate any issues. "B-B-But don't think you have to eat it if you don't like it."

Really, it's not bad dessert, but he can't help but worry. After trying enough of her baking maybe he'll learn to have more faith.

[weathering_it]

Don't have to eat it? Don't like it? Viatorus, you're already way behind. The Weatherhills hardly wait for the food to be passed out before they're digging in and very openly enjoying themselves. Nobody wants to talk around full mouths, but Anna is willing to pause in her eating to speak – if only for a moment.

"I've never heard of mages who don't conjure food! That's what they're most famous for on Azeroth. Fire, ice, arcane... And sweet rolls." She laughs and shrugs playfully. "I'm sure even Khadgar gets asked to conjure cakes. And I'm sure they're sublime! If either of you ever go to Azeroth you're going to have to learn the spells for sure."

Mrs. Weatherhill adds, "And Ms. Runa will certainly have to come over to bake with us some day! Being able to buy anything we want is so convenient, but I miss baking shortbreads and pies. You know, when Peter was growing up he loved to be in the kitchen with me no matter what I was making, but especially if I was baking. I think at first it was his excuse to eat the dough, but he really learned to love to cook. In fact, he made us all something very interesting the other day! What was it called?"

She looks to her husband, who, after thinking for a moment or two, calls it, "Pizza. A piece of bread with tomato stew on the top, and cheese baked over that, and vegetables and meat to top it all off. He said it was an Earth food. Sharing it with us was part of his adventure in teaching us about your world. He really seems to like it. Says more than anything he'd like to go back." A little smile crosses his features as he says, "He's joked a few times that he might try to replace one of the cooks in your kitchen."

"Or become Isidor's butler," Anna says with a laugh.

[heirtothedragonsfire]

"Viatorus able to conjure his own food, now that would be the day," Isidor says with a playful smirk. "He nearly burned his apartment down making toast once."

Viatorus wrinkles his nose up at his sister's joke and focuses instead on Odilia. "I think she'd love that. Runa, I mean. Coming over to cook. Not Isidor having Harrowheart as a butler- Not that she wouldn't like him as a butler. I-I-I'm sure he'd be a great butler. Not that I mean to say h-he's like a servant-."

"V? Breathe." Isidor's mouth is still quirked into a smile but she speaks softly to interrupt her brother. Then she looks back to Odilia. "He mentioned cooking before, but I admit I'm impressed to hear he made pizza. I don't think that's easy to home cook without the right oven."

[weathering_it]

Jokes about burning houses down go over... Quietly. Matt laughs awkwardly, but he's the only one who does.

Somehow Viatorus' scrambling and stuttering is what saves the conversation this time. Sure, some people's lips tighten at the use of the wrong name for their son and brother, but the disapproval is there and gone again in a flash.

"I knew what you meant, dear," Odilia says softly in an effort to comfort him. "We'll all be looking forward to the day we get to meet your fiancée. And of course you know the two of you are welcome back any time you'd like and for any reason, whether Peter is here or not. I've always found that when life gets tough working in the garden has a powerful way of clearing my mind. We've always got an extra pair of gloves waiting for someone who needs them."

[heirtothearcane]

"Thank you." Viatorus smiles meekly at Odilia's reassurance, glad that he managed to avoid offending anyone and avoid any more raised voices.

His sister, having figured out why the table went quiet as the grave at her small jab, is eager to encourage the return to easy conversation. She looks around with a smile. "You've done a wonderful job here. It looks very well organised and very well kept."

[weathering_it]

Hardtman especially is proud to hear Isidor compliment the work they've done on the grounds, though everyone accepts it with humble smiles or gracious nods.

"You're both quite kind, aren't you?" he says, still smiling. "You've been such good guests tonight. It's been a real pleasure having you both. I'd say you ought to stay a while and sing some songs with us, but maybe tonight isn't the night. Another time, I think. A good excuse to return."

He isn't going to outright tell his guests to leave, but the sun is low and darkness is setting in. The dishes need to be done and the family needs to sleep before another long day of work.

[heirtothearcane]

"You've been exceptionally gracious hosts," Isidor returns with a dip of her head. She rises to her feet and Viatorus follows suit with a smile and a more enthusiastic nod. "We all have work in the morning, so we won't keep you from your beds."

"I hope we meet again soon," Viatorus adds. Though preferably with a Harrowheart to keep everything running smoothly.

Once they've untangled themselves from the table and their seats, Isidor smiles and offers Hardtman a hand to shake. "It's been very good to meet you."

[weathering_it]

Hardtman moves as if to take Isidor's hand but instead pushes himself up from the table. He stands for a moment, smiling at her, and then he spreads his arms. He hugs her gently, a friendly embrace with no more intimacy than a new acquaintance would be comfortable with, though it might be a very personal gesture for a Durant.

"I warned you that might happen," he says, smiling warmly as he pulls away. He pats her shoulder and gives her one last thoughtful look before his final nod of both approval and goodbye.