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Nevermore has offered Dandy an evening out. They just came into a little windfall, they say, and wanted to thank Dandy for everything she's done for them, so far.
Dandy shows up to meet Nevermore in a long sanguine red dress with a black jacket--she's done up her makeup and is wearing jewelry, and there's something that almost sits on the edge of goth about her appearance tonight. Not full proper Eldergoth Apparel, but approaching it, for them.
Nevy's not quite Full PirateGoth, but is a step or two down. Nice slacks, vest over a buttoned shirt, and their everpresent coat. They grin at Dandy's look. "Well, well. We'll have you in white foundation and black lipstick yet, Auntie." They hug her.
She hugs back nice and tight. "Plum, perhaps, if it's not a matte. Black makes my lips look very small. But what are we doing tonight?"
"Dinner, to start with. After that I figured we can see. Anything you're particularly in the mood for?" They wave at the host at the Green Room's front desk.
"Oh, anything. I'm not particularly picky, dear. Though I should avoid too many sweets, but if you want to go for ice cream, I can just have a kids' scoop." She smiles indulgently before glancing around at the room. "I've learned how to work around limitations like that."
Nevy grins. "Well, we'll see. I do like ice cream." They mutter in the host's ear, and the pair are led to a table off to one side of the main room. "Have you ever eaten at the Green Room before?"
"No, I don't think I have. It's an adorable little cafe, though." She laughs as she sits.
Nevy nods. "I spent fifteen minutes after dinner last week just looking at all the paintings they've got hanging. I'm thinking of buying that one picture of the full moon he's got by the entrance. I've got space for it in my living room." If they squeeze, at least.
She glances up at the art on the walls. "That is a good way to support local artists."
Dandelion stands, walking over to that drawing, The Sage, and stares quietly at it for a long moment.
She seems not to know how to feel yet. She's stunned, in a good way.
Nevy grins and walks up behind her. "Look like anyone you know?"
"Is this how you see me, Nevermore?" Her voice is soft and thoughtful.
Nevy nods, putting a hand on Dandelion's arm. "It is. You're damned impressive, Auntie."
Then they blep. "Plus, you know. I couldn't resist making you a Jedi master."
"Are you aware of what a Watchtower is, to us? To them, really, for you and I it's not something we've gotten to experience, and it's unlikely I ever will at this point." She rests one of her hands over Nevy's. It's shaking slightly.
Nevy blinks. "A Watchtower? Not yet. I was just thinking... you know. Wizards' sanctums, and all that."
They put their other hand over Dandy's and rub slightly, offering support if needed. "And honestly, you're more impressive than, like, three quarters of them that I've met."
"Oh, my dear. You haven't seen them at their finest, when they're being proper wizards themselves. But. This is lovely." She sighs, leaning into Nevermore.
Nevy hugs. "I had a flash of inspiration. Would you like a print of it? I made sure to get extras."
"I would very much love a print of it." She moves to look at the defeated rat king. "And this one, if you don't mind."
Nevy grins. "I thought you'd like that one, too. I've got the prints out in my car. I'll grab them for you after dinner." They hug again, then glance around. Nobody in direct earshot. "So, what's a Watchtower?"
"They'll answer that question differently, almost on an individual basis." She chuckles. "But it's the accepted metaphor for how they become them. They engage one of the five Watchtowers and their souls catalyze and they become what they are."
Nevy blinks at that, then looks up at The Sage and snickers. "You know? I stand by it."
The laughter grows from a polite chuckle to a rich laughing fit complete with snorts.
Nevy grins. "Hey, don't mock my artistic vision!"
"I'm not--I'm...Christ almighty." It takes a moment for her to pull herself together sufficiently to get actual words to happen. "I'm not mocking it. I just need to hear things like that sometimes. Especially from someone who does understand."
Nevy chuckles. "Honestly, the worst part is, they don't even realize they're doing it sometimes?"
"Right? It's awful, they think they're being so kind by including us in their conversations, but the condensation is completely unconscious for many of them." She shakes her head. "I would say 'you get used to it', but they'll find new ways to surprise you regularly."
They blink. "Condensation?"
"Condescending remarks that they don't even recognize they're making. Assumptions about our capacities. Of course, believe it or not, this city is a lot better than many around. The Children of the Tree being part of the Assembly helps greatly, because for them, it's about family at the core, in truth. They let their children come to events at the lodgehouse, and do truly work to include everyone and foster consensus. But you get talking to some of the Silver Ladder or the Mysterium and hoooom..."
"Oh, condescension!" Nevy snorts. "A man named Adam stopped by to try to recruit me to the Mysterium, a few days back. He didn't even realize how condescending he was being. Talking about how it was like a college, and how I could even one day rise to the lofty height of Teacher's assistant."
She sighs heavily. "The fact of the matter is, the Mysterium does function a little like a college, and a little like a museum, and a little like...Indiana Jones. And there are some who are lovely, passionate about a specific topic, great to talk to about their studies, certainly. I've always enjoyed talking to the current Yaroslav, she's a delight, and has gone out of her way to show me respect. But. Yeah, no."
Nevy nods. "I get plenty of the whole 'people talking down to me like I was brainless" from the guys at the conventions I go to."
"Now, if you ever want a long talk about the Adamantine Arrow from someone who isn't a meathead, I'd give it to you. But it wouldn't be in the form of a recruitment speech. I'm relatively certain you'd be miserable among the Quiver."
Nevy lifts their eyebrow. "Honestly? I'd be interested. I'm kind of sick of recruitment speeches in general. I feel like all of them just want 'the new Sleepwalker in town,' and don't really care a whit about Nevermore Usher, the inconsequential sack of flesh that happens to stand in the same space."
She settles back down into her seat at the table. "Nevermore Usher, who is scared, but steps up anyway. Nevermore Usher, who is driven to help. Nevermore Usher, who wants to show people exactly what they see in the world, and does so through art and poetry. You are amazing, Nevy. Even if they're sometimes dolts."
Nevy blushes at that, glancing down. "Nevermore Usher, who ran in without thinking about how they don't actually have any way from keeping a giant rat from biting their head off."
"Yes, well, that's the part we're working on, dear." She grins. "Learning more. Understanding more."
Nevy nods, giving a crooked smile. "We already have' Nevermore usher, who wants to help.' We're just going to need to work on 'Nevermore Usher, who has an ounce of common sense.'" They chuckle. "I'll get there."
"Common sense isn't something people just have. It comes from experience. You rushed in to find yourself underprepared. You'll think before doing that next time. That's how this works, dear. You learn, you grow, you survive, and move forward." Dandelion's gaze is soft. "And someday, you'll be the one explaining it all to the new kid."
Nevy chuckles. "I'll definitely have some stories to tell."
"Many, many stories. You're going to be part of this community for ages, and someday you'll look in front of your nose and see someone new who feels familiar in their enthusiasm and determination." She nods. "Cherish that, when you do."
Nevy chuckles. "I know you said, before, that I shouldn't want to be you when I grow up. But heck do I want to be very much like you when I grow up."
"You'll be yourself, even if you take on lessons I offer. Though, I suppose there are worse role models, you could want to be Jinx when you grow up, and that'd be awful."
"Jinx?" Nevy leans forward. "I don't think I know the name."
"He is affiliated with the Mysterium as a Sleepwalker. You'll also hear him referred to as Simon. He's a dangerous, ruthless, cunning man who will go to any lengths to achieve his goals. He's not a friend, but he is an ally of mine. Don't expect any leeway, if you meet with him; his soul does not know mercy or rest."
Nevy blinks. "That's... a little scary. Okay. Be careful with Simon Jinx. Got it."
She nods. "But he's the other 'walker who has been around enough to be setting an example for you, in theory."
Nevy nods. "Well. I haven't run into him yet, I don't think. Besides..." They hesitate. "I... don't think that sounds like the kind of person I'd... be comfortable reaching out to, anyway."
"And that's probably a good thing, at this point." She nods sagely. "Anyone else you care to gossip about?"
They think. "Um.... There's a little stuff happening on the, uh, iron side of things, but I don't know how much you want to hear about that." ((because your other character is already involved)). "Other than that... I haven't really heard too much to gossip over. Speaking of gossip, I've been trying to clean up one of the back rooms at my job. Make it, you know, a good place to do that."
"Ah, that's a wise idea." She nods. "I used to do the same with the back room of a local bar, when I was younger. My cadremate owned it."
Nevy nods. "Actually, as I'm thinking about it... you know Kay, right?"
She nods slightly. "She's with the Soulwardens, yes?"
"I think so? She's been wanting to give me a lookover with, you know." They waggle their fingers mystically. "I was just wondering if you have any opinions on her."
"Oh, the full care-bear stare? Well. This is a matter of your comfort level. But if she's pushy about it and you're not okay? Say no. You are always allowed to say no. You're not someone else's Mystery to unravel, Nevermore. You're a person and should always be treated like one."
Nevy nods. "I know. And she was careful to say that, too - which is why I'm considering it. I was just wondering if you had opinions about her."
"I'm very fond of all the Soulwardens. They're good kids, and they try not to step on anyone's toes. If there's one cadre outside my own I would trust to handle you with care--perhaps even beyond my own cadre, River's abrasive and Quinn...can be awkward. And Liezel's still caught up in figuring out if she can stand to be in a position of authority after what authority has done to her. So yes, my opinion is that you can trust her."
Nevy nods. "Okay. Cool." They give a little smile. "I'm trying not to kneejerk about anything. I figured, hearing your opinions could be helpful. Thank you."
"The full stare can be awfully disconcerting, though. They go quiet and just look at you, and you feel like a specimen. Be ready for that."
Nevy nods. "She... mentioned wondering about where my, uh, talent came from. I honestly hadn't ever thought to consider that before. Is that weird?"
"Is that a question that you actually want an answer to?" Dandelion's head tilts slightly to one side.
They eye her. “Now that you’ve said that? Kind of, yeah.”
"Then Kay's probably the best person to discover the answer and share it with you. Personally, I've avoided asking. I think I'm afraid of centipede's dilemma."
They blink and laugh. “Oh - I thought you meant meant ‘do I want an answer to ‘is it weird.’’”
"Ah, Nevermore, 'weird' is such a moving target for me. There's no toilet monsters involved, nothing green is dripping from the ceiling, no one's face is on backwards, there's no internal organs, nothing's coming out of the shadows, nothing is cursed. No, this is normal as normal can be."
They blink. “‘Toilet monster?’ Okay, I have to hear that one.”
"There used to be a sandwich shop in town that was an epicenter of several Really Weird Incidents. They tore it down in 2009, but I was there when a sewage monster crawled out of the bathroom, once. Luckily, it wasn't very substantial. The girl running the place beat it up with a cleaver."
“...That does not sound hygienic.”
"No, the shop was closed for a whole week after that, for deep cleaning. I think that was about a month before the flock of crows tried burst in the front window of the shop trying to get at another one of the employees. They were being ridden by a spirit of, well. Take a guess."
They frown thoughtfully. “Sandwiches?”
"Murder, dear. A group of crows is a murder."
Nevy bleps. “How foolish of me.”
She grins. "But the bottom line is, I am not someone who can offer you a useful answer to 'is this weird', I'm afraid."
They grin. "You know, that's fair. Honestly, I like your weird better, anyway."
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