steepwithdead | Folkmore

Yeah? I'll trust your judgement there then.

[To be fair, chocolate anything is hard to get wrong.

Whatever the case, Fjord is just gonna help set up- looks like some stuff can be eaten with fingers, like the little leaf-wrapped bundles, and there's some flatbreads that look about ideal for scooping up bites, but who's gonna judge them for forks?]

Some of it apparently just swaps the meat out for mushroom, or some sorta I think he called it chickpeas?. And some of it's just designed to be veg only anyways.

[Well, alright then. He'll make some hot cocoa. The kettle's boiling either way so it hardly matters to him.]

All of that sounds just perfect. I love a good mushroom. [he sits down at the table, unwrapping one of the flatbread wraps, lifting it right up for a bite, since it looks sturdy enough to eat without utensils.] ...Mmm. Oh, that's real good. That's a keeper.

[This was... strangely domestic. Not a thing Fjord was overly used to really, but at the same time there was something comfortable about it. Nice. No matter how weird the overall situation was, sitting down for a nice little impromptu lunch with Caduceus was strangely soothing. The firbolg would likely notice some of the tension that his companion always carried easing from his shoulders and the set of his ears as they settled in.

Granted that seemed to be the cleric's vibe in general, but it was still more enjoyable than the half-orc would have guessed. Unable to help but let out a pleased sound as he tried one of the stuffed grape leaves, full of some sort of savory mushroom and minced onion, using his free hand to nudge the container invitingly in Caduceus' direction.]

These are pretty dang good too-

[Meanwhile Caduceus is living. A meal shared with friends is his literal and figurative bread and butter, he thrives in this sort of menial interaction. He obliges at the offer, giving the grape leaf variant a try. Also very delicious. Pardon him while he chews quietly for a moment, the soft crinkle of the kettle starting to heat up in the background.

He swallows. He has noticed the slow decrease of tension, which is perhaps why he feels bold enough to edge into a different manner of small talk.]

It's been a while. How have you been settling in?

[Caduceus is a strange element to Fjord still. He's not done anything wrong, but something about just how laid-back and companionable he is to the half-orc just confuses him a bit. But he's starting to get the idea that maybe the firbolg isn't doing it for some future gain, but that's just how he is normally. Which is a whole new level of unfamiliar.

But it is nice.]

It's ah... well it's a lot. [A wry smile, as if he's well aware that is an understatement.] Both in just learnin' about things that everyone else here seems to take for granted, and... well it's just as weird stayin' in one place for any real length of time. Haven't done that since I was a kid.

[Being on a ship wasn't the same- the ship might not change, but the place did. Always moving, always somewhere new, somewhere to be. He's not quite sure how to just exist in one place anymore, honestly.]

[So laid back and companionable he doesn't even consider Fjord is thinking he might have an angle. ...And actually, he does have an angle, it just happens to be wholesome like "befriend Fjord again", and maybe with a slice of "guide Fjord off the path of the bad and scary tentacle eye beast", as a treat. He never thought he'd end up repeating all of that, but here they are.

(Fjord is worth it, though. He'd do it again.)]

I spent my whole life in one place, until meeting you all. I suppose it's helped me settle in better than some, but this isn't my place. [He stands as the kettle finishes boiling, going to fetch the cocoa.] Is that why you became an adventurer? To travel?

[That sort of angle is just so very foreign to him- he'd weirdly feel better if Caduceus was somehow out to get him, at least that would be a more familiar sort of thing. Even if he'd hate it at the same time, because even in the short time he's known the firbolg, he's come to like him, even if he's still sorting what to do about him.]

The adventurin' was more by accident than design, [Admitted with a wry chuckle and a shake of his head.] Was leaving Nicodranas when I ran into Jester. She suggested we travel together, and since I didn't have a proper headin' just yet I figured it wouldn't hurt anything...

[Too bad, Fjord, either your insight sucks or this guy has infinite sincerity on his side. He means every word.]

Oh, is that how you met? I never actually heard the story. That does sound exactly like something she'd do, though.

[Just casually going up to someone and asking them to be a travel companion... what a lucky happenstance.]

(ooc: Port Damali was where it was I am an idiot pay me no mind)

[Why not both? That -2 to insight working overtime!]

I mean... I'd seen her around before a couple times. She'd shown up in town before, askin' around and playin' pranks. Suppose I was hopin' she could offer some insight into my whole [A waggle of fingers on his free hand illustratively.] Thing, but there wasn't much she could tell me. And travelin' alone's not great, so it worked out.

[Caduceus smiles, amused, and pleased to get the tale. He'd missed the backstory as their introductions had been a little unorthodox.]

It sure did work out, for all of us. What started with just the two of you became quite the crew.

Seems kinda wild, that everyone comin' together hinged on a chance meetin' like that...

[Was it a good thing though? The others worked together well, they were doing good, but at the same time with what had happened to Molly because of it...]

Fate, or destiny... whatever one wants to call it, I believe we were brought together for a reason. Many reasons, in fact. All of you are made for something special.

[It's a conversation they've had before, but he still strongly believes in it.]

Weirder things have happened, yeah?

[The others? He could easily believe the others were meant for bigger things. He's still not seeing how that jives with him being there, but he also doesn't want to spoil the visit by arguing over that with Caduceus. Again.]

They have indeed! Both in our world and in this one, I'd imagine.

[Lots of weird stuff happening on a regular basis no matter where they go.]

From what I hear this place is just a magnet for weird stuff goin' on.

[Probably mostly Thirteen's fault, but the folk that he's noticed wind up here all seem to be pretty singular in some way or another regardless. Or maybe people just are like that everywhere and he's never really reached out deliberately to discover it one way or the other before.]

Oh, absolutely. Best get used to it now. Although I suppose you've had a taste from the start, considering.

[He gestures towards the ears. Didn't have those back home.]

[Fjord can't help but chuckle a bit, a hand running almost absently over his hair and one of the ears in response. He'd gotten... not used to them perse, but at least accustomed to having them. It helped that he wasn't the only one dealing with that sort of quirk, and that in general, it wasn't a thing that most commented on.]

Clearly on some level I decided I needed to just dive in head first or somethin' like that.

[There are plenty of days where Caduceus feels as if he got off easy. His floral halo mostly just gets in the way when he tries to brush his hair, but with the wings only out when he wants them to be, most of the changes are quite easy to ignore.]

What would you consider 'diving in'?

Well... not doin' anything too wild I suppose. 'Specially not in the grand scheme of this place either.

[A light shrug, the half-orc feeling a bit silly about it. Not in any bad way at least.]

Been practicin' with my familiar shape. And explorin' some, haven't gotten hauled into too much trouble with that so far, but meetin' people here and there in the process.

Gettin' a better handle on the whole 'four legs' thing, thankfully for my pride.

You didn't start out too badly, really. I'm sure with all your practice it's no trouble anymore. I could take a page out of your book, if I'm being honest.

[He's had those wings for months and has yet to do much more than a cursory lift off the ground.]

It got real interestin' tryin' to manage the whole thing with obstacles. Ate my fair share of dirt over roots and the like.

[Caduceus was such an intensely chill, nonjudgmental vibe of a firbolg, that Fjord didn't even think about how dumb the mental image he was offering there was, if the easy chuckle to his tone was any hint.]

Oh you mean the wings? [Fjord hummed thoughtfully at that, nodding.] Can't say I blame you there... if it wasn't somethin' familiar enough like walking and the like, I can't say I'd be as on top of doin' much with it. Are you just not a fan of the heights part of things?

No, I don't mind heights. At least not any more than most people used to being on solid ground.

[Heights are a lot less scary when you're used to being carried around by giant birds or travel with people who know Slow Fall.]

I mean, I ought to be practicing more. These wings are like an insect's, gotta flap them fast to get anywhere. Not used to that, so it's hard to get off the ground.

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