smartass_captain | A Very Nexus Reception

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A Very Nexus Reception

To all the friends of the happy grooms, PINpoint messages have already been sent weeks ago inviting them to expect quite the street party arranged in the commons of the Nexus. Guests have been invited to bring an appetite--both for food and for a social adventure. Nirnish weddings are public affairs, after all. While the ceremony has had to be somewhat sequestered for the sake of keeping the existence of Other Worlds a secret, neither Felix nor Jim would want to leave out their interdimensional friends entirely. Having a reception party arranged in the Nexus became the natural plan of action.

Overnight large sections of the Commons are transformed via diligent craftsmanship and quite a lot of magic from those who’ve volunteered. Lanterns representing the Divines are hung along every lamp post, bringing at least the idea of warmth even if the flames are too small to heat their surroundings alone. Bardic tunes carry in the air as readily as the scent of food and drink. Past banners of red and black, blue and white the people gather.

For both grooms this is nearly a continuation of the day before. They’ve had the chance to sleep off the nerves of their ceremony. Today is entirely for celebration--uninhibited celebration at that. No more minding what is said and isn’t. No more pretending to be anything other than who they are. Jim’s traded out his Nirnish finery for a suit and tie, garments he’s much more familiar with. Felix is staying with his native clothing; though he may have dressed down a little from his wedding clothes, the conjurer’s dressed in fitted breeches and his best fur-trimmed coat and boots, the soft hide dyed blue to match his tunic. By their side sits the conjurer’s spectral wolf familiar, ears pricked at the gathering.

As the guests find their ways over it will be easy to spot their friends amidst all the decor along with many other avenues with which to enjoy themselves….

Greetings
Food and Drink
Music and Dancing
Bonfire Entertainment
Party Games

((Links to all relevent wedding Prose can be found Here!))

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You can't spend time in the Nexus as long as Adia has and not run into non-humans now and then. Not just non-humans who look indistinguishable from humans, but beings of all manner of appearance. So when the blue-skinned man nearly bumps hands with her over the dessert table, she doesn't think twice about his appearance.

She does, however, blush slightly, embarrassed that she's been circling the banquet a little too intently, like someone holding up a buffet line while she makes her decisions. "Oh, no, please. You go ahead. I can wait. I've already had one of those, they're really good."

Already standing out of the way is Caspar, who is watching Adia fondly and keeping a neutral gaze upon the alien. He'd watch them pass by one another a few times already, it was only a matter of time before they'd go for the same plate of food.

Working in Starfleet desensitizes most races from an influx of humans in an otherwise diverse setting. This Andorian is nearly comfortable being one of the few obviously nonhumans in the room insofar as he ever looks comfortable with anything. He's quick to put a polite distance between himself and Adia though. More to do with his disdain for physical contact than for her heretofore unknown husband observing close by.

"...Are they? Felix wouldn't stop touting them so I figured they'd either be really good..." He trails off and glances around for the groom before sighing softly. "Or really bad and he'd get a laugh out of seeing me throw a pie at him."

Adia blinks at the man's frank assessment for Felix's style of hijinks before stifling a laugh. "Oh... well, that does sound like him, but I promise, they're very good."

Considering that the reception is open to anyone, she didn't want to assume that he knew either Jim or Felix, but it appears that he knows Felix, at least. "My name is Adia, by the way. Over there is my husband, Caspar."

Caspar gives Norn a polite nod. He noticed the way the alien put some polite distance between himself and Adia, and already likes him better for it.

"So," Adia continues. "How do you know the couple? I met Felix first, and then Jim. They were already a couple by then, but I'm so happy for them for finally getting married."

Without his Starfleet uniform to identify him as one of Kirk's crew, it really is anyone's guess how this non human is affiliated with either of the couple celebrating today. There's very little to pick up about him in appearance save for that he really must be quite comfortable with this weather considering he's wearing very light weight clothing more fit for summer despite preferring it in shades of greys and blacks.

The fact that this woman is in agreement about Felix's personality yet pleased does quite a bit in making him relax a bit more. He's come to realize that a lot of people have a very unrealistic image of the captain's new husband and he's never quite sure whether he should speak up or not about it. These...oh dear, there's two of them. Norn's completely neglected to notice Caspar was With Adia until she introduces him. They must be friends of Felix then, either way. To know him like they do.

"Oh. ....I'm sorry." Having an extra person to account for stalls his tongue a moment, but the Andorian swallows a sip of his drink before soldiering on. "Call me Norn. I serve on Kirk's ship but. I confess I've spent more time with Felix than I have the captain."

With his hands full of drink and food he can't fidget nervously like he usually would. It manifests in slightly longer than needed pauses instead between continuing the conversation.

"I found the Nexus by accident...while we were between ships and was in quite a lot of trouble until Felix found me and recognized where I must be from." He glances around at the mixture of familiar and strange rustic foods laid out for everyone to enjoy. "...Should we finish here and go sit down to...talk?"

He's not quite sure what the polite protocol is for Adia or her husband. Norn just doesn't want even more people to stumble across them while they're having a nice conversation. And hopefully trying more of these nice foods while they do so.

"Oh! You're Norn," Adia says, before catching herself and adding quickly, "Jim mentioned you when he was talking about which members of his crew were here. It's nice to meet you."

Now she understands why Jim assumed they'd get along. And also perhaps why Caspar might be intimidating to someone of Norn's temperament. She glances over at him briefly, a telepathic-like message of be nice that spouses get very good at sending one another.

Her attention returns to Norn at his suggestion to sit down somewhere. "Good idea," she agrees, for much the same reasons. The last thing she wants to do is block buffet traffic. "I think I have enough on my plate, I'll find us a table."

There's one not too far away. Caspar claims it, setting down his drink. He long since got rid of his plate, as he's already sampled just about all he cares to eat. Adia waits for Norn to join them before picking up their conversation.

"Felix was one of the first people I talked to in the Nexus," she tells him. "Well, the second time around, anyway. It's complicated. I'm glad he helped you get back to your world. People can get really lost here. You have a PINpoint now, right?" He must. She doesn't think there are any more active portals to Jim's universe, but maybe something else has popped up since the one on the Enterprise was destroyed.

The Andorian is a lot less bothered about other people having to wait a minute to stuff their faces than he is having more people approaching him to engage in any kind of social interaction. Two new people is more than enough for this introvert for the moment. Friends of the captain's as well as Felix by Adia's remarks. Caspar doesn't seem like much of a talker, and that suits this Andorian more than fine. (Nor much of an Eater. That is much more vexing. If he's not interested in finding a common point in food this is going to be harder. Keep it in mind, Kav.)

He lingers at the buffet a bit longer to finish plating up a shredded and sauteed root vegetable dish onto the last free corner of his dish before moving to join Adia and her husband at the table.

"He's good at that. Finding new people, I mean." Though people who aren't familiar with the Nexus must stick out like sore thumbs Norn supposes. It's quite a bit of a shock to anyone's cultural system given what this place is. "Though I didn't know he was...that magic was a thing when I got here. Is that something your world has at all?" He's going to be nibbling at his selections while he listens to them. All of this food is certainly not about to go to waste.

"PINpoints have been a blessing. I can go any direction I want now and always go back to the same starting point if I get too lost."

"No, the only magic our world has is what Caspar and I have brought from here," Adia replies, although her expression suggests that it's a little more complicated than that. "It's one of the things Jim and I have in common. That and faster-than-light space travel."

Speaking of magic brought from another world: something meows at the foot of Caspar's chair. He bends down and retrieves Anastasia, who has finished playing with her sibling and is looking for some cuddles. "Hey, girl," he says with a genuine smile. He sets her in his lap and begins scratching her behind the ears.

"We have religion, and stories about magic, but no real evidence of anything," Adia adds after a few bites of food. "Do your people have any stories like that, Norn? Um... I hope this isn't a rude question, but what species are you?" Definitely not a Tellarite, there's nothing pig-like or argumentative about him.

Oh. Recognition flits across the Andorian's eyes and with it comes a well of relief. Adia and her husband are from a space faring realm, one that would be more than acceptable for him to interact with even if the Prime Directive was enforced here. It's not, but it's difficult for Kav to ignore all the same. So much of his education and training has been wrapped up in it and its rules.

They both look human, but Norn knows better than to assume based on simply that. He nods slowly.

"Civilizations that are comfortable with FTL travel do seem a rare find in this place. Rarer even than magic, from everything I've observed." It's not a terribly comforting thought, but then, maybe there are more than he knows and they're keeping quiet about it. A possibility, to be sure. He's thrown a bit off his train of thought by the sudden appearance of their cat at the table where they're eating. Norn pauses, but only for a moment. It's keeping to Caspar's space and not making a mess. His gaze lingers on the feline a moment before dragging itself back to his conversation partners.

"I'm Andorian. One of the founding federation species." He sucks in a short breath. "....Although I'm not too surprised you've not met one before. My kind aren't the Most socially integrated."

"Most of the people I've met from Earth don't have faster than light space travel." Adia has noticed it, too, although she has made enough friends with fellow space farers that she doesn't find it too disconcerting. "Their people usually haven't gotten past the moon."

"You can't throw a rock in the Plaza without hitting something magical," Caspar adds, his tone just dry enough to show that he doesn't mean it literally. He catches the look that Norn gives the cat and reflexively gives her another scratch behind the ears. "This is Anastasia. You ever see Jim's cat? They're siblings."

There is no food in front of Caspar, so there's nothing for Anastasia to mess with. She seems content to sit in the Cylon's lap and purr.

"Why not?" Adia says curiously, once Norn identifies his species. It's surprising to her that they wouldn't be more integrated if they are a founding member of the Federation.

"If they have any kind of space faring capabilities at all." The lack of commonality begs the question 'why?' to Norn but given everything he's seen since his entrance into Starfleet there are so many factors that could influence a species' ability to develop this kind of technology. Space is a dangerous terrain to try and conquer. Perhaps their universes are the lucky exceptions to the rule of civilizations.

"So I've noticed. Some of it seems to just be a miscommunication based on a lack of understanding but so much of it..." Like Felix's familiar. Like the Nexus itself. "I cannot wrap my head around."

Ah. Come to think of it, Felix has complained to Norn extensively about Tiber's habit of causing mischief even back when they were living in Yorktown. He's never met the creature personally but this checks out. "I haven't, but Felix describes him as a small natural disaster he has to plan around to do his work." Anastasia appears on the surface to be better behaved.

At the last, Norn flinches ever so slightly though he tries very hard to hide it. His antennae droop as he prods at a bit of the shredded vegetables on his plate.

"Pride, mostly. A people can be politically peaceful yet socially closed off. I was born on a colony so I grew up around many different Federation species. Most of my people...don't have that opportunity." Or choose to avoid it. "So much of our culture revolves around finding a compatible set of partners to contract with. Distractions from that aren't often seen as acceptable life choices."

Like Starfleet, for example. Having a life that doesn't revolve around one's partners and household.

"Yeah," Caspar says to Norn's comment about magic, before adding a touch earnestly, "Yeah. I've learned of a few styles of magic that have their own sets of rules that make sense, but a lot of it? It's ridiculous. And the Nexus? Forget it." Arbitrary systems grate on Caspar's silicon-wired nerves, although the chance to complain about it with someone else is not a bad consolation prize.

Adia laughs a little at the description of Tiber. "Anastasia is not one to get underfoot, although she has a bad habit of squeezing herself into places she isn't supposed to be."

"And then falling asleep and leaving us to frantically search our entire property for her," Caspar mutters, although the gentle way he scratches behind the cat's ears suggest that she's easily forgiven.

Adia eats a bit of her food while Norn answers her question. She doesn't miss the drooping antennae or downcast expression, but tries not to draw attention to it, not wanting to damper his mood further. "Compatible set of partners to contract with?" she repeats, making sure she heard him correctly. "Do you mean marriage?"

"Have you? Has...any of it routed back to a science of some variation one just didn't have the words for?" It must, surely. Discrepancies in the levels of technology between worlds are endless here. "The only bits I've seen make no sense to me whatsoever." Comforting to know that he's not the only one to be unnerved by the entire thing. Taking for granted or messing with things one doesn't understand is often a recipe for disaster eventually.

The Andorian takes a moment to collect himself as he rummages for the best explanation he can give of his culture without touching too close on his own shortcomings.

"Not, not quite. Similar yes. To ah...to simplify, for every Andorian child there are two 'mothers' and two 'fathers' in human terms. Each is biologically necessary for procreation. Now consider the distress so many people have in finding one compatible person to be with. To be compatible with three other individuals is...it's exceptionally stressful and time consuming. Families take it quite seriously and romance is often only developed after contracts have been made if at all."

He's heard humans refer to it as more of a business affair than a relationship. And Norn has quite happily removed himself from it altogether. Not entirely by choice, but he tells himself it is.

"That's why most of my people remain on their home world and participate in their local military academies and service. Choosing any other path makes finding a household pact difficult if not impossible."

"Well... arithmancy has a logical set of rules, but you have to accept the premise that letters in any language have an inherent value." He frowns contemplatively while continuing to pet Anastasia, her purrs filling the brief silence. "Otherwise... no, not really. I mean, I feel like I have a pretty good handle on the difference between science that I personally can't explain and magic, and there's far more of the latter than the former around here."

As Norn explains the biological necessity of his people, Adia's eyebrows rise up in surprise. "Four parents?" she repeats, forgetting briefly the whole reason that this topic of conversation came up in the first place. "Do you mean each contributes genetic material? Who is actually pregnant, or is there another method of --"

Caspar coughs, interrupting her, and gives her a pointed look. Adia immediately blushes, hands rising and falling out of embarrassment. "Ah, sorry! That's -- you don't have to answer that. Just... caught me off guard. All life on Atlantis is either asexual reproduction or two biological parents... but, um. Yeah, that sounds like a lot of work if you want to have children."

"Some humans take that kind of thing very seriously, too," Caspar notes, and Adia nods emphatically.

"Yeah, arranged marriages used to be standard, although that was ages ago. Now it's up to each person to find a partner on their own. Or multiple partners, although that's not as common. At least not to the point of all entering into a marriage together."

This part, at least, Norn is accustomed to. He'd gotten that reaction quite a bit back at the Academy whenever the subject of xenobiology came up. It wasn't always one sided, either. There's plenty of differences between humans and Andorians that have made him shocked and a little bit uncomfortable too.

"Because of how much effort goes into forming pacts, any deviation in preference or undesirable trait possible in an offspring will be grounds for social isolation. That is not to say that the only Andorians who leave are abnormal in the eyes of our own people but it is often the first assumption strangers back home will make about those who do. Of course, to the rest of the Federation, we're seen as the more social of our people."

An irony really where Kav is concerned.

"...That being said, if you ever grow tired of the emotional drama of human media, I'd recommend a holovid from Andoria." If anyone's got a corner on the Federation's market for love stories and drama it's gotta be the race with mandatory four way relationships for the standard partnership.

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A Very Nexus Reception

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