A Haven From The Cold

The Fernwood Pub is a warm, cozy place, especially in the winter months. Especially when the snow is savagely beating down outside, the fires are lit, and the drinks are flowing. There's food too, of course, hot stews and warm fresh bread, and with the Yule season arriving, a sense of... well, maybe not brotherhood, but at least companionship and good cheer.

The door is pushed open, admitting a rather dapper looking half-elf, dressed in a heavy leather and fur long coat and broad brimmed hat over tough, durable reinforced trousers and a wool tunic. He looks oddly bulky in the garb, like he's wrapped himself up more than normal, and as Telamon Lupecyll-Atlon doffs his hat to brush it off, he looks around with interest.

Seated at a table with a hefty book in front of her and a very large rodent at her feet is the dusk-skinned Fisy-le’athavara Bellatoriaterra sips at a warm cup of something-or-other. She's very engrossed in whatever she's reading, but not so engrossed as to neglect her dearest friend in the universe, her Xote.

Residents and regular customers are, by now, familiar with the sweet little capybara. Xoty is friendly and warm, with a kind nuzzle for anyone who might offer, as his newfound friend Pothy puts it, "Snacks!"

The new entrant garners a glance from Xote, even if not from Fizzy. He makes a little noise and nudges his witch. After a second or two, she attends to her familiar to see what's needed. Xote's gaze directs her own to the door. She isn't completely sure, but she thinks she recognizes her cousin. She hasn't seen him since Algar made the official introduction, of course. Either way, Fizzy offers a warm smile.

She's warmed up to city life, so to speak. Less reticent to make eye contact. It must be the acceptance and kindness of Alexandrites.

His eyes find Fizzy, and they light up. Smoothly, the half-sil glides between the tables, stepping over to where she's seated. Telamon smiles down at her, and inquires, "Good evening, Fizzy. Can we join you?" We? He sighs, and unfastens his coat, to reveal a kind of papoose-like arrangement.

Nestled in the papoose, poking his little head out, is an orange-scaled ... lizard? Maybe. Large, luminous eyes regard Fizzy with interest, and then the head peers up at Telamon. A slightly squeaky voice comes from it. "Is this your newest family member, Lord Lupecyll?"

Tel chuckles. "Indeed. Fizzy, meet Jyndei."

Identification confirmed! Fizzy's face lights up as she realizes that she is, indeed, speaking with her cousin. "Oh, I would be honored, Cousin. I'm so glad to see you again. I didn't know if it would be okay for me to come visit again, or if I even wanted to go out into the weather. It made me cranky, to be honest." She pauses to give some thought. "I think, though, that you're going to tell me that it would have been okay for me to come visit, and I shouldn't have been worried, and I'm always welcome, and to please do?"

Xote nuzzles at Tel's leg, and sniffs upward. If he's ever met a faerie dragon before, he doesn't tell anyone.

Fizzy, on the other hand, focuses now on Tel's companion with wide eyes and an expression that mixes among excitement, delight, and being impressed. "You.. How did I. Jyndei, I am delighted to meet you." And reaching down to her albino companion, "Don't worry, Xote, you'll be my first love now and forever."

Deftly, the half-elf slides into his seat before releasing the papoose, disgorging Jyndei from its confines. The orange little dragon shakes out his gorgeous butterfly wings, before folding them again. "Well, how shall I answer all these questions?" Telamon replies with a grin. "Yes, you are always welcome -- family always is. I will admit the weather is unpleasant, and I would urge you to be careful. I'd hate for you to wind out buried in a snowdrift!" He reaches over to catch Fizzy's hand, squeezing it. "Let go of your fears."

Jyndei pipes up merrily, "Indeed, the Lord Lupecyll is a warm and gracious host. I am welcome there as well! There is always good conversation and happiness."

Tel lightly pats Jyndei, and signals for a server who clearly has seen it all, as he doesn't even bat an eye at Jyndei. "Stew and hot cider, please. And a bowl of soup for my little friend as well." That done, Telamon regards Fizzy again with a grin, reaching out to let Xote inspect his fingertips. "It was tricky balancing things with Pothy. Jyndei here is more of a good friend, but Pothy is Lana's familiar, and the connection they share is different from the one Lana and I have."

Listening intently to Telamon, Fizzy first looks abashed at firing away a gajillion questions. But that seems to be her modus operandi. A diner nearby even smiled a little at Fizzy's flood of words. He's used to her by now; clearly she must do that to other folks, too.

Her eyes are bright, though, warm and clear. "I will remember that. But if--and when--I ever show up at an inconvenient or inopportune time, please let me know. It's guaranteed I will be embarrassed, but it won't hurt my feelings." She pauses, takes a swallow from her mug, and smiles at her cousin again. "What brings you to the inn. Err, the Fernwood? I'm pleasantly surprised. So glad to see you. And where is Lana?"

Telamon seems unfazed by the barrage of questions. Meanwhile, Jyndei struts across the table, and peers down to inspect Xote, studying him intently. Tel raises his eyebrows. "Well, I did want to make sure you were doing all right. I wouldn't want my newest cousin to be at loose ends or worse. So... I'm happy you're feeling a little more sure of yourself."

Tel continues, "Lana is spending a little time with her grandfather. Er... I should probably tell you about him, so you don't get blindsided. He's, uh... well, he's not exactly her -grandfather-. He's her ancestor -- a fey lord of considerable power. He means well, and thankfully he's not as pushy as he used to be. Nowadays he just makes unsubtle hints about how much he's looking forward to spoiling our kids."

Fizzy takes in what you're saying, and as you finish, her eyes widen again. "Wait.. Are you and Lana, um, expecting?" She searches your face for your feelings on the subject. Whether or not she can interpret whatever facial expression might express those feelings is an entirely different question.

It's *almost* unconscious the way she reaches out to offer a tidbit of meat to Jyndei, And then some food to her own Xote. And once both have nibbled, she offers a little fingerpet to the tiny dragon. Eyes on Tel, she waits for his response--which requires a great deal of restraint on her part, as anyone who's met her can attest.

Telamon blinks. "Oh! Oh, no, not yet. Both Lana and I want to spend time adventuring, exploring our magical talents, and traveling. We know where we'll probably wind up, once our footloose days are done -- the Mythwood, where the family lives." His food and drink arrives, and he takes a sip from his mug. "Because once Lana is expecting... my adventuring days are done. I will -not- go gallivanting off while she's at home."

He stares at his food, unseeing. "She had a rough start. Compared to me, she's been through a lot more. She deserves a family, and that includes a husband who'll be there with her every step of the way." He smiles, and looks up at Fizzy suddenly. "There will be children, in time. Just not yet."

Mikilos has arrived.

Fizzy listens intently to her cousin, smiling in appreciation of his thoughts and feelings. "That's admirable. I've heard that a lot of people don't have that devotion for their families." A short pause and the little elf adds, "Please know I am one-hundred percent sure that if my father had known I existed, he would have done the same. He's one of my favorite people ever!"

She passes more little nuggets to both Jyndei and Xote, giving each a fond petting. "ANd with that said, I do feel sad that I never knew him until recently."

Mikilos blows in with a gust of wind, barely keeping the door from banging against the wall. A brief struggle to close it behind him, and the wizard moves further into the room, peering at the evening's occupants as he brushes off a bit of snow.

Telamon nods to Fizzy. "Well, he's not exactly old for a sil. You'll have plenty of time to get to know him. And my family as well. You're going to be fine." He shakes his head. "It's just... it feels -normal- to be this devoted to Lana. Like it's how it should be, and all is right with the world." He reaches over to scritch Jyndei's back as well, as the little faerie dragon scarpers over to start lapping at the chicken soup noisily.

As someone else staggers into the Fernwood, Tel's eyebrows go up. "Huh. That's Archmage Mikilos -- haven't seen him in a while." He raises a hand in greeting to the elf, offering a smile.

Warm, curious eyes regard the archmage, less guarded than they might have been once. Fizzy smiles a little, glancing from the newcomer back to her cousin. She doesn't speak up just yet, but she holds onto her inquisitiveness. Another sip of her drink, hot cocoa, if anyone bothered to be curious, and Fizzy fishes a carrot from her bowl and feeds it to Xote beneath the table.

And having that little bite, the donkey rat trots over to acquaint himself of the Dawn Elf. He's as interested as Fizzy, but far bolder, and noses at Mikilos's knee.

Mikilos smiles and returns the way, kneeling down as his knee is sniffed to offer a petting hand to Xote. "Hello Telamon, good to see you. Who are your companions?" he inquires, glancing to Fizzy.

Telamon nods with a smile, and gestures to Fizzy. "May I present Fisy-le'athavara Bellatoriaterra? She is my cousin, and has only recently arrived in the city, seeking knowledge, fortune, and good companionship. Her friend," he grins, looking at the capybara, "is known as Xote. And you've met Jyndei already, of course."

He then turns to Fizzy, clears his throat, and says, sotto voce first, "I decided to look him up in the peerage lists," before continuing in a normal tone, "Fizzy, this is Mikilostravia Abrioudelanarchie Mithralla, Lord of Estranillia." He glances at Mikilos apologetically. "I know you've got a few other titles but I was trying to memorize your name primarily."

The Shadow Elf smiles tentatively at the Archmage, with a nod as Telamon continues introductions. She's not quite sure what she heard her cousin whisper at first, but her eyes sparkle a smidge brighter when it registers and she conceals amusement by dabbing at her lip with her napkin. "Xote, please be nice to him, whether he has treats for you or not."

Fizzy looks up into the face of that grey-clad figure. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. Please feel free to call me Fizzy. It rolls off the tongue much easier," She greets with a smile, taking in the appearance of the lord with a name as formidable as her own, from cloak to eyes.

Mikilos snorts and grins to Telamon. "Oh Fates, even I don't bother with all the titles I could lay claim to, most people don't get the full name right. Well done, by the way." He glances to Fizzy. "Just Mikilos is fine, to be clear. A pleasure to meet you, Fizzy. And Xote." He glances to the bar proper and back to the table. "Mind if I join you?"

Telamon nods, gesturing to the empty seat. "Please do, sir." He shifts around a bit, and Jyndei, having gorged himself on chicken soup, alights on Tel's shoulder and curls up quite companionably, watching the others. "Names are important. That's why you should always be careful with them." His eyes glint merrily. "Chalk that lesson up to my experiences with the fey."

A glance at Fizzy, and Tel turns his eyes back to Mikilos. "What brings you out in this weather? It's definitely going to be a heavy, snow-filled Yule this year."

Fizzy keeps her eyes on all the conversation's participants, as well as the quieter companions at the table. Under it, she pets Xote a moment before bring her hand back up to wrap around her cooling mug of chocolate. Her eyes brighten and she asks wistfully, "What are Yule traditions here? My family never observed them. There were, um, other things keeping us all busy."

Mikilos waves vaugely. "Shipman's guild had an issue, wanted an outside opinion. That, and a mulled wine sounded good. Is still possible the weather will clear, but I agree, snow is likely." Turning focus to Fizzy, he shrugs. "Pretty multi-cultural, what with folks being from all over. Evergreen branches and red ribbons are common decoration, and gift giving is generally accepted though not required. Most traditions stress the importance of family, the friends you've made if not blood relations."

Telamon nods in agreement with Mikilos. "Since Alexandria is pretty... hmm. Like a fruitcake, with various fruits and nuts? Not sure that's a great comparison but... you get the idea. Cosmopolitan, that's the best word. So you'll get oruch fire-drumming to salute the year that was and call forth the new, the gift-giving that's pretty common among sil and humans, the traditional khazadi holiday mead draughts... there's something for everyone." He offers Fizzy a smile. "But what matters is family, and being thankful for it."

The little Shadow Elf listens attentively first to Mikilos and then to her cousin. "Those, all of those things sound lovely. So very lovely, as is family. Ha--" She cuts herself off and the color of her cheeks deepens for a few seconds as she takes a couple of deep breaths, then fades. "I look forward to experiencing all of them, or as much as I can manage, given time constraints."

Fizzy pauses and adds, "I've gotten to know some of the people who come in here more frequently, but I still don't know much about the city. Despite venturing out into the cold a few times, I didn't really get to see enough to get to know Alexandria at all. What would you like to share, either, both of you?"

Mikilos ponders a few moments, considering. "The Memorial Gardens are nice, sheltered from the weather, south part of the city. Just north of there is the Temple District, each temple a marvel unto itself, even if you're not one of the faithful. The College of Magic is a good stop, whichever path it is you follow." Educated guess, there. "The markets are worth visiting, though worth waiting for decent weather. There's a couple quality playhouses if you have the time. And I can't forget my own shop, north east up the mountain road, under the giant sword."

Telamon chuckles. "Lana would have my ears if I didn't toss in the Theatre District -- there are some surprisingly talented musicians and poets there. I recommend caution as you get closer to the docks -- sometimes you get rougher elements there. I definitely do -not- recommend the Ox-Strength Tavern. I believe the correct parlance for that is a 'dive' and a very nasty one at that." He hmms. "Can definitely second the Memorial Gardens. I visit there now and then when the relentless cold gets on my nerves and I want to see something growing."

A nearby diner who recently finished his meal, picks up the possessions he'd had nearby while eating. The gentleman, who is clearly a traveler or adventurer of some kind, pauses as he walks past the table and pats Fizzy's shoulder. She brightens and reaches up to give his hand a gentle squeeze, "It's good to see you, Farran, thank you for stopping. Have a good night and I look forward to more conversations tomorrow." As if to echo Fizzy's sentiments, Xote noses Farran's knee as he heads toward the sleeping rooms.

Fizzy returns to drinking in the information about Alexandria that's being shared. "Your shop, Mikilos? Under a sword? Color me confused, I think Tel said you're the Archmage?" It is with blatantly obvious effort that she doesn't continue peppering her companions with questions about the sights of the city.

Mikilos frowns mildly. "So far as dives go, the Ox is a nice one... but it is a rough dive. Good for a beer, a stout drink, or a fist fight, not so great for intellectual conversation. Usually good stew. Myrana did wonders for the place, but she hasn't been around recently." He smiles to Fizzy. "I specialize in the creation of magical items, swords in particular. I have a twenty foot longsword embeded in the courtyard outside my shop. It's fully functional, should a giant ever stop by to weild it, but is mostly a gimmick to grab attention."

Telamon nods. "I was wondering if it was more than just an ornament when I bought those scrolls. Though honestly, if someone wanted to pick that thing up and use it, I'd just let them. They're probably a bit bigger than I'd want to mess with." He grins almost boyishly. "It's like the old joke about 'where does an ancient dragon sleep? Anywhere he wants!'." He scritches Jyndei's head, before tilting his head at Fizzy with a grin. "Making friends already. I knew you'd fit in here."

Fizzy ponders, "I guess I've never actually met someone who makes magical weapons. Or any other magic items, come to think of it. Only Mom-M uses weapons. Come to think of it, I don't even know if she used anything magical." She pauses while Xote nuzzles her knee, so she gives him a little ear-scritching.

She laughs a little. "Well, I've been here a few days and so has Farran. Seeing each other at nearby tables makes you curious about the other person, you know?" She cocks her head to the right. "You said something about Memorial Gardens? Do they use magic to keep things growing, even in this weather?"

Mikilos nods. "Not certain the enchantment, but is always mild in the Gardens. Peaceful, if sometimes a bit sad. Lot of names listed on the many memorials, some before my time, some people I worked with."

"A garden full of growing things, though, is a pretty good memorial to the fallen." Telamon's starry eyes glint. "A symbol of life, even in the depths of winter. I've seen the enchantments worked on a smaller scale, used in some greenhouses to grow small quantities of plants that aren't native to Alexandros or can't abide the normal weather. Clever stuff, really." He leans back in his chair, idly turning his empty mug. "I think they're rebuilding the wards for the Proving Grounds over the winter, but once the weather lets up I'm sure there'll be magicians lining up to test out their latest spells -- and plenty of people to watch it."

A sober nod is Fizzy's response to that information. "If it ever warms up enough, even if it stops snowing and blowing, I would love to explore to find it. It sounds really nice. When we were traveling--ok, throughout our constant travels--some of my favorite places were the cemeteries and graveyards. So still and peaceful. I never knew anything of the lives of those buried there, but I liked to imagine that they traveled a lot, too, and were finally able to find a place to be still." She pauses reflectively, and sensing that his companion needs a moment, Xote noses at Telamon then Mikilos, as if to say, "Take care of her with the words I don't have."

Mikilos nods. "The Mountain Temple isn't a common tourist spot, but the Vardamen make the place as restful and respectful as can be reasonably asked. I've visited much of the world, but Alexandros is where I've chosen to make my home."

Telamon seems quite pleased with the state of affairs. "That's ultimately what I think we're all looking for, at some point -- a place to call home. Speaking of which, I need to be moving along myself. Fizzy..." He looks at his cousin with a grin. "Don't be a stranger, hm?" He offers Mikilos a polite nod as well, before laying coins on the table for the server. "Stay in Her light, friends."

OOC

(after Tel made the introductions)

<OOC> Telamon will have you BOTH know I cut-and-pasted BOTH your damned names into those poses :D

<OOC> Fizzy laughs!

<OOC> Mikilos snerks