A Very Nexus Reception

[smartass_captain]

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!))

Comments

[mr_enterprise]

Even in a place like the Nexus, the odds of running into one's double seems astronomical, let alone multiple. All the same, this multidimensional crossroads defies logic and statistics and all manner of reason, no matter what way you slice it. Were they still young men, they might devote their entire lives to studying the Nexus and still barely even scratch the surface of what it has to offer. So Kirk does not begrudge Felix a few minutes' disbelief, not at all.

"We like to keep a low profile these days," he answers easily, still absently scritching at Tiber's chin. It's not entirely how he would've chosen to live out retirement, but maybe it's better for him in the end; he hadn't enjoyed the last time he'd tried. Besides, with Spock, what more does he really need? Here, they can build a home, and live out what years they have left together.

[primelogic]

With so little information still about what the familiar is, the creature has attracted most of Spock's attention. Not all, of course. Nothing that would make him a rude guest. But Jim has the kneazle well under control and this? This is something new. The former first officer of the Enterprise in all her forms cannot help to have his interest piqued. It certainly doesn't dwindle his interest to see the spectral wolf showing just as much interest in the two of them. Spock is careful when removing his glove so he can offer out a wrinkled hand for the wolf to sniff and inspect.

Fearless, but definitely curious. A true explorer even at so advanced an age.

"It is gratifying to hear that young Jim still thinks fondly of us, even if he proves unwilling to forget about us as he should." Unwilling and moreso befriending the other alternate of himself he's run across. A dangerous game, that. But one Spock nearly expects of the human. "Would you speak some on how he is doing? How you both are faring?"

Spock looks up from where he's watching the familiar with softness in his dark eyes.

"Jim is a friend, you see. One I have sworn not to interfere with, but whom goes out of his way to look after us. Who put himself at risk to be sure we would be safe when trouble came to this place." He is not Spock's bond-mate. No one can replace the man seated next to him. But he is A Jim Kirk and in some respects Spock will always find himself worrying over the young captain. Both of them, even, though he knows the other less well.

[conjuredskies]

"Jim's not a man who forgets about anyone," Felix replies immediately, then colors a little bit. "Not that... either of you needs me to tell you." Leaping to assert the honor of his fiance- his husband - is a little more weird when another version of the man is right there, part of the conversation. When the other man he's talking with is also with a Jim Kirk, by the look of things.

He has a suspicion then, from what Spock is saying, but for the moment he tries to give Spock an honest answer. He knows what it's like to worry about Jim, and if the older one is (or was) anything like the man he's married, then the elder Spock knows excruciatingly well how good James T. Kirk is at finding trouble.

"He's great. Better, now that the wedding is done with and all the paperwork in his world is settled. Now we can finally just enjoy being together, exploring the galaxy." A word that makes him chuckle, the past few days having reminded him how little sense it makes from the perspective of his people. "It's not something I would have ever dreamed of before I met him, but he made it happen."

He gives the familiar leave to move, letting it get up to sniff Spock's hand curiously. Its tail is waving cautiously from side to side as it investigates the stranger, and then the other man who smells like Master's Best Friend and also has Tiny Bossy Friend with him.

[mr_enterprise]

Even the knowledge of what young Jim and his peers have had to face, the differences that drive a wedge between their histories, does not diminish the elder Kirk’s interest in what they’re choosing to make of their future. Quite the opposite, if anything. Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations has never been more true than it is in the Nexus; just being here is proof enough of that.

Young Jim deserves to find his happiness wherever he can find it, and this young man seems to have that same adventurous spirit, that call to explore and learn for the joy of learning. Gallivanting around the galaxy is a game for the young, he’d said once, and now he agrees with himself, content to sit back and live vicariously through the adventures of others.

“The hard part’s over,” he agrees with a chuckle. “Do your people do honeymoons? Duty will call before you know it; better to spend a little time together before it comes.” Because God knows, Starfleet will keep a man busy often enough.

Kirk has become used to cats, and likes them well enough, but at heart he’ll always be a dog person. It’s been ages since he’s had one, and offers the back of his hand for the familiar to sniff when it approaches. It’s fairly clear this is no ordinary dog - wolf? - but it seems to act like one. “Is this fellow going out there with you two?”

[primelogic]

"Would Jim even consider taking one?" Vulcans do not chuckle, yet somehow Spock's expression seems to just a bit even though he is quiet as ever. He sits back to pull his gloves back on once the familiar has moved on to inspecting Jim's hand and snuffling at Tiber, who will immediately hop onto the familiar's back as though it's his own personal steed to settle down into a loaf while watching everyone gathered here carefully. Still purring loud enough to wake the dead, all the while.

Spock glances Felix's way.

"It is more difficult than you might imagine to convince James Kirk to take a day off. A vacation? That might prove more challenging still." If there's a way for Jim to get absorbed in his work to the neglect of all else, he will find it. Spock's seen decades of proof toward that with his own headstrong human.

This young Jim does not seem like he has deviated far from that trait.

[conjuredskies]

Felix shoots the older Jim an interested look, ears perking up almost as visibly as his familiar's. What's caught his attention, he doesn't immediately voice, but he does cast half a smile at Spock.

"I've already learned that I'll need to exercise cunning to convince him to rest at all. But I am a conjurer. I have my ways. Though he intends us to go straight back to the voyage tomorrow, I must admit. Duty's already gotten its way on that." And he does need to spend some time squaring away his duties after all the time this wedding has taken up. "Fortunately, my familiar appears and vanishes at my will; wherever I go, he can." His polite smile turns mischievous then. "Which I'm sure his crew won't be expecting. I'm looking forward to that part."

...They get to make fun of his misadventures in IT. It's only fair.

However. While they're on the subject, he fixes Jim with an inquisitive look. "Pardon me, though- but what do you mean by 'honeymoons'?"

This is a new word, and it suggests he might be missing out on something. Time to investigate.

[mr_enterprise]

He chuckles, but doesn't deny Spock's very factual summary of James T. Kirk's typical view of rest and relaxation. He may have mellowed out in his old age - and has less duties to compel him to ignore his own needs in favor of his crew - but he hasn't forgotten that youthful stubbornness and determination. "You'll have your work cut out for you, definitely."

But it seems Felix has that well in hand already, though his methods are... different. What exactly does one conjure to convince one's husband to take a day off? The look that Kirk casts toward the young groom and his familiar is one of curiosity.

"A honeymoon is an old Earth tradition after a wedding where the happy couple take some time off, usually traveling somewhere new and relaxing. A kind of social bonding ritual, of sorts." Granted, it's more complex than that, and not everyone does it, but it sounds like it probably isn't a tradition Felix and his husband plan on performing. This is not a surprise.

[primelogic]

Stranger still. The familiar can appear and disappear at Felix's will? Spock would have surmised it was some form of hologram or projection with that being the explanation but while it may look insubstantial it's quite solid. Very nearly alive, even.

"No, I suspect they will get quite a startle from that. Though I advise exercising caution in who finds out about such abilities."

The elder Vulcan doubts greatly that the younger captain will have even countenanced such an activity on his own. With Felix left in the dark about what the term even means, Spock considers the matter all but settled in Jim's unintentional favor. Unless Felix is the sort to kick up a fuss about what he's being denied however accidentally.

"It is not surprising that young Jim has failed to mention this to you. I'd venture a guess that it hasn't crossed his mind in the slightest."