|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2015 11:33 pm
It had been a few days since the initial conversation with Jurvik, and it was now time for the agreed upon get together at the Blue Moon cafe. Corben had been thinking about it quite a lot, mostly, what to talk about... Jurvik was a very interesting person, after all. So, when the day finally rolled around Corben had come up with a few things to talk about, though... admittedly they were mostly plant-themed or children-themed. Ah well.
Once he'd gotten Leif settled in with an after-school activity, he trotted on down to the corner cafe. Thankfully the walk really wasn't that far, but he was running a few minutes late. Traffic! And people in those horseless carriages didn't seem to care for pedestrians. How rude.
He pushed open the door to the cafe and looked around, perhaps Jurvik had been held up to?
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2015 10:00 pm
 It had been a few days since Jurvik had met a bright and cheerful Baphomet at the park. The conversation hadn't been long--about fifteen minutes--but he'd learned enough about Corben to guess that they had quite a bit in common. Both of them had attended the Academy in their youth, though Jurvik had attended for longer. Both of them had academic interests--botany or music and history. Both of them had a taste for Baphomet folk music, though that was understandable for Corben at least. And both of them had recently adopted children from orphanages--where they had been volunteering! And talking to Corben gave Jurvik a kind of energy that he hadn't had enough of lately. It wasn't that he was feeling particularly drained, per say--it was that he was a little out of contact with his friends, as each of them scrambled to their feet. He and his friends had so much accumulated history between them that arguments broke out and there were a few old feuds boiling away under the surface. But talking to Corben had had the same affect as talking to Xenophon: it awakened him, and energized him, and generally made him feel good.
He'd like to see more of Corben, and arranging a coffee date was just the beginning. Er, coffee. Coffee, yes. Not quite a date in the traditional sense, at least not that he could tell. He hadn't asked in the intention of a date, but...well, he was actually, if he was honest with himself, kind of interested on going on an actual date. Sure, they'd only just met, but dates were for getting to know people. And he was sure that the'yd clicked that day in the park. He might as well follow the lead!
Besides, wasn't it his duty as a parent to get to know his son's teachers? Or in this case, teacher? Xenophon himself was at a study session with his friends at school. He'd be ready to pick up later, by which time Jurvik expected to be done. Jurvik arrived early at the cafe, ordered a coffee, and waited. He didn't bother checking his watch--he didn't want to feel impatient or judging or worrying. Instead, he pulled out a book from his music class and read the chapter for tomorrow's quiz. He looked up from time to time to see if Corben had arrived. When the botanist's green hair and bright gold sweater appeared, he raised a hand and waved his new friend over. "Hullo!" he called out.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2015 10:15 pm
Scanning... scanning... aha! Corben spotted the wave, soon followed by the greeting. Immediately his expression broke into a wide smile - though that wasn't unusual for him - as he trotted on over to the table Jurvik at settled at. "Hello there! Let me just set this down and I'll go place an order. Won't be more than a moment!" He nodded, then pulled his messenger bag off of his shoulder and set it on the empty chair across from Jurvik. Freed from his... books? Seed collections? Who even knew... he then turned to go place his order quickly.
Once that was taken care of, he returned to the table and then moved the messenger back to the floor before sitting. "Ah~ I'm sorry I'm late. You know how those horseless carriage drivers are, not a care in the world for people using their own two hooves. OR... feet. Claws? Paws?" He blinked, shrugging as he briefly considered the differences among Nightmare feet...... "Ah! But enough about that, how are you?" He shook his head, waving a hand dismissively, presumably at himself.
While he hadn't quite realized that this was, in fact, a date, he was quite pleased to have been invited for a talk. Plus, since he had a son that was attending the academy he thought it would be a good idea to get to know him! It wasn't ever day that he actually got to speak with the parents of his students. Most of them didn't have any, after all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2015 12:20 pm
Jurvik was glad to see Corben, and nodded with an enthusiastic smile when Corben left his bag behind. He wondered what was inside--it was something relatively heavy, but not so totally heavy that it was putting strain on the seams. It was probably books, though he conceded that it could be very small, very robust seedlings, perhaps in plastic pots. He'd ask Corben when he got back--he was certain that the botanist would be eager to tell him. If it was something private, then he would apologize, but he sort of doubted that.
Jurvik slid the cup of sugar and sugar substitutes towards Corben. "It's quite alright! You aren't all that late." Honestly, he still hadn't looked at the clock, so he couldn't verify that. But it was a bit stranger to say "I didn't care if you were a little late," wasn't it? "Feet, paws, and hooves, yeah. Just no respect. Aren't we supposed to have right-of-way laws in Asphodel, anyway?" He shrugged. "I guess some jerks just never bother to follow the laws. I'm doing well, thank you! How are you, Corben? How are classes going? And whatcha got in your bag, if it isn't too forward to ask?" He crossed his arms on the table and leaned towards the other. He wanted to get to know him better. He just hoped he wasn't being...well, too forward.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2015 12:45 pm
He nodded a thank you and opened up some of the sugar (he did not really enjoy the substitute stuff, why go for fake when one can have the real thing?) to add to his coffee while he listened, then laughed a bit. "Yes, that's entirely true. It's like they think they're exempt or something!" He sighed and shrugged, stirring the sugar in before adding some cream as well. He tended to prefer his coffee a little more sweet, after all. "But good to know I'm not that late, haha! I have to admit I was jogging a little." He winked, then lifted the cup to his lips to take a sip. Ahhh, perfect.
"Oh! I'm doing well, and no, it's not too forward at all. Books, mostly. Some soil samples and a few packages of seeds I thought we were going to get around to today, but alas, we didn't." He sighed and shrugged, then set his cup down. "Oh the classes are doing very well. Lots of bright little minds! How about you, how are your classes?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2015 5:17 pm
"I think every driver thinks they're exempt from the law, then curses other drivers who don't follow it. Who also think they're exempt from the law. One of the many reasons I haven't bothered to learn how to drive a carriage yet. I prefer a bicycle or a scooter." Jurvik watched as Corben added sugar and cream to his coffee. Jurvik preferred the artificial sweeteners--he found they were a little more powerful than the real stuff, so he didn't have to use as many packets. He sipped his own coffee slowly, appreciating the taste. "Jogging's fine! Good exercise. Just something y'have to be worried about if you wear a skirt, like me." He grinned.
He peered over at the bag, glad he hadn't asked something too personal. The friendship was still too young to be asking personal questions, after all. "Soil samples, huh? That usually means manure, doesn't it? I don't do a lot of gardening, I confess. Our landlady grows some gorgeous roses, though, and her husband has several fruit trees. I'm sure if I tried to grow a plant I'd just kill it. Unless it was a succulent." He sipped the coffee again. "I'm glad your classes are going well, Corben. I'm trying to talk my son into taking your herbology class--I don't want him growing up with a black thumb like his old man." Never mind that Jurvik, by his own estimate, was only sixteen years older than his son...
"My classes?" he shrugged. "They're going well. I'm taking a couple GEs and a class on music theory and a class on music history. Sadly, it mostly emphasizes Demon music styles. There's a couple nods to Imp and Baphomet composers, but the emphasis is on the major periods of music in high Demon society. Disappointing, but also kind of interesting."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2015 8:48 pm
Corben nodded, giggling a bit at the mention of everyone thinking they were exempt while still holding others to laws. "Oh yes, definitely. In their carriages they are the ultimate authority on the law, clearly!" He snorted a little, amused by the mental image of having to be careful while jogging with a skirt on. "Oh I bet! I'm sure there are also benefits, though. Less friction." He nodded a little, then perked up at the mention of roses and fruit trees. It wasn't quite visible from his position, but his tail even wiggled a bit.
"Oh, do they? What kind of fruit trees? And I'm sure you'd do fine, you just need to know how to care for it! Some of them are quite difficult, haha." He nodded, then hummed thoughtfully, "though I suppose it isn't for everyone, and there certainly isn't anything wrong with that." He sipped at his coffee, keeping his gaze on Jurvik to let him know he was paying attention. That and why not? He wasn't bad to look at.
"Mmm I look forward to seeing him there! I'm sure he'll have a lot of fun, I have some nice activities planned for the rest of the year." He nodded again, then set his cup down. "Ah, that is generally how it goes... When I went for my degree it was a struggle to find any classes that extensively covered plants outside of Euros." He rolled his eyes a bit, but maintained the smile. "Hopefully they'll offer something more broad later!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2015 6:27 pm
Jurvik's cheeks flushed a pinkish-orange color. "Yes, less friction," he said. "It's very comfortable in the summer--but I wear kilts just as much as a fashion statement as for the fact that they're just so comfortable, y'know?" He sipped his coffee. It was a little...odd to be describing why he wore the clothing he did. At least in a public space like this. A lot of opportunity for innuendo in a place like this. Er, in a conversational topic like this! Right.
Fruit trees were a much simpler thing to talk about. "Oh, I'd say all of them, but I'd be exaggerating! But they've got an orange tree, a lemon tree, a pomegranate, an apple, a cherry, a pear, a plum--they don't have peach trees, though. They do have blackberries--I earned a little money and a little favor tying them back this summer. I swear I'm still picking prickles out of my hands!" He held up his beringed hands as if to show them off. "I'd rather start out small on a plant. Something hardy and distraction-resistant to start out with. I hear radishes are easy. But maybe I should go with a succulent. What do you think, Corben?" He curled his fingers around his coffee cup.
"I'd like Xeno to have fun in school. I know I did, but I had a lot of friends who just hated school. I don't want him going through that. I'm sure your class at least will be lots of fun." He smiled at Corben. He was being honest about that, too, not just flattering. Corben seemed like a very bright and enthusiastic individual, just the sort of person to get other people interested in his hobbies.
"I certainly hope they do. I'm tempted to start campaigning to the school board, offer up something a little more multi-cultural. Until then, I've just got to rely on books--and the local music shop." He sipped his coffee. "So did you have to hit the books to find non-Eurosian plants, or was your family from another continent?" His brain politely told his tongue what he'd just said, and he chuckled. "Uh, I could probably have phrased that more elegantly. Uh, you said you weren't a cache child. Where do your folks live, then? Sorta what I meant there."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2015 9:05 pm
He nodded along with his explanation, all of it sounded very reasonable... Perhaps he would try that out in the future... or at least a skirt. Or maybe a sundress...? He'd heard those were quite light... Hmm... "Ooh, is that so? It is a unique look! I don't see it around here that often, honestly." He nodded again, sipping some more at his coffee. Hmmm yes, he'd definitely have to try alternate bottom clothing articles...
"Oh, really?? That's wonderful! Such a variety. Do any of them intermix? Oh, I s'pose you wouldn't really be able to tell, ahaha. But ohh goodness, blackberries are quite aggressive." He sighed, then shrugged. "But kidden will take care of that! No need to p***k your hands so badly! As far as easy plants gooo.... Succulents are definitely low maintenance, and they're so pretty! But if you're looking for something you could eat later, definitely go with the radishes. But there are a lot of easy-to-grow herbs or other vegetables, leafy greens are good for low maintenance, too." He set his cup down, then adjusted himself on his seat a bit. "Plus you can use them in sandwiches!" Which was clearly an added bonus.
"Mmm yes I feel you there, defintiely." Children's happiness in school was definitely something he cared about, especially in his class. "I'd like the same for Leif, he seems to be adjusting alright but he's a shy kid. That's why in my class I try to do a lot of interactive activities with plenty of moving around."
"I hope they listen, I'm sure if you take the effort out to petition them they'll have to pay it some mind, at least. They can't very well consider themselves the best universities around if they ignore other cultures." He snorted, then shrugged, "Hahah you're fine! No I'm originally from this little middle-of-nowhere village between Alcyone and Bramblewood! So I grew up with the plants over there, already knew a fair deal for a kid buuut yes, I did have to hit the books for a while... But enough whining got me access to some others over the years." He snorted and rolled his eyes, "so I have faith your plea for more music variety will go through!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
