[Dining]
Malo gave a satisfied nod and said, "ah, that's... well, a wonderful change from most of the places I travel." She tapped a nearby maid. "I suppose you're as eager to give away food as beer?"
"Too easy," Frank muttered.
Malo replied, "you worry too much. They obviously have an agenda, but it need not be malevolent. Before it was eaten, the Solar Xau often invited mortals to his Garden of Plenty simply to see what they did. Perhaps the owners of this place seek to do the same?"
Frank said, "mm-hmm. So we're lab rats?"
"They're giving us free food and beer and leaving us alone. A better deal than I've ever gotten before." Malo then made her order for a mushroom-heavy salad. Frank added his own request for bacon, eggs, and a glass of milk.
[Dining]
"Yes," Qrlil said, "the food and beverages here are quite nice. They also seem able to bypass the normal rules of biochemistry, so you might be able to try things that normally would not be safe."
She mashed a bit of fruit, then added, "Vincent is right, though. I advise staying away from certain of the alcoholic drinks, particularly one referred to as the Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster."
Although in a way I suppose it turned out it was a good thing that I drank it back then. Hmm.
[Beach]
"Hmm," Alex said. This particular area wasn't really one of his fields of expertise, and it frankly wasn't that interesting. Nothing Xavier had done so far, in fact, had seemed all that unusual.
Which meant...
"I suppose we might have to talk theory after all," he said. "Why exactly was that so tiring?"
[Beach]
Havlak nodded. "No offense taken," he said. "My species did evolve from something not too dissimilar to your raptor."
He considered her offer for a few moments; it could not hurt to ask a few questions. "You are not the first person with that hair color I have seen here," he said. "Is this some sort of style where you come from - I assume that's not my reality - or is it natural?"
[Beach]
Avea and Julia considered the question before Julia said, "uh... well, it depends who you ask. It's natural in that this is how we're born, no dye or anything. But the only guy who really studied is Dr. Rose, and he's... not the easiest person to talk to." She frowned slightly, then said, "but I got something about 'amateur-hour genetic engineering', cephola... cepalo..." she shook her head and gave up on recalling the word. "Er, squid and octopus DNA, and the hair being linked to a high chance of bone cancer. So, on the whole, let's go with 'natural enough'."
Avea added, "we never really thought about it." The origin of the hair tended to horrify other cultures, so she decided not to tell that story, instead saying, "our own world doesn't have orange hair, though. Is blue really any weirder than orange?" She recalled the last time she'd asked that question, Dr. Rose had rambled on for far too long about something called "melanin", but hopefully, she'd not regret asking here.
[Dining]
Frank showed the first evidence of surprise so far as he muttered, "I'll be damned. The Pan-Galactic Gargle Blaster? I think I'll be staying away from that."
edited 25th Mar '12 2:35:47 PM by KillerClowns
[Beach]
"Well, um," said Xavier, "it's kind of hard to explain, but here goes." He took a deep breath. "Rock is, obviously, hard. It stays in its shape or shatters, there really isn't any other option. When I'm making the statue move, I'm working against the hardness of the rock. Basically, I'm constantly reshaping the rock and getting it to look natural. It's like..." He paused and bit his lip, thinking. "It's kind of like trying to draw a picture when the paper keeps moving around randomly. You can get something coherent, but you'll really have to work for it."
He paused and thought again. "Or, or like driving a car where the steering wheel always resists you. Same basic deal. Um... does that make sense to you?" Xavier half-grinned hopefully and awkwardly.
[Dining]
Vincent nodded. "Yes, the Gargle Blaster. Of course, people tend to forget that it's also described as the best drink in the universe. If it didn't have the side effects, I'd agree pretty quickly, but..." He grimaced and chuckled simultaneously. "The description of getting your brains smashed out with a lemon wrapped around a gold brick is both weirdly specific and surprisingly accurate. That kind of puts a damper on any possible addiction."
[Beach]
Alex did his best to feign interest, but he had been quite honest: this was just not the kind of thing he found remotely interesting. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. He lifted his walking stick and traced it through the air a few times, concentrating. A glowing red "door" like the one he'd created earlier appeared out of the air.
"Not that this isn't fascinating," he told Xavier, "but I've just remembered that I've got a... thing, to do."
He stepped into the portal and it closed behind him.
Sorry about leaving Xavier in the lurch, but I've come to the conclusion that three characters is one too many, and Alex is the one I'm least interested in exploring here.
[Beach]
"I prefer orange," Havlak said. "It is considered a holy color. To answer your question, though... no. I really do not know much about hair, not having any myself. It's just that I've already met one person with your hair color here, and I was wondering if it was..." he searched for the right phrase... "a 'thing'."
[Dining]
"I am inclined to agree," Qrlil said, taking a sip of her (entirely-normal) water.
Voicing her thoughts from earlier, she added "Although it is worth noting that my earlier... experience helped me admit some things I was not very inclined to admit, and I am a good deal happier for it. But there are undoubtedly less painful ways of self-discovery out there."
[Beach]
Avea said, "ah. Okay, makes sense." She looked back out at the beach.
But Julia turned to Havlak and said, "wait... orange is sacred? Uh... can I ask why? Something to do with sunsets or sunrises, or am I just babbling?"
[Dining]
Malo gave a sardonic laugh. "Yeah," she said, "there really are." She grinned fondly. "You can ask my daughter about that some time, if she trusts you enough to tell the story."
Frank added, "yup. So, is this one of those things you don't talk to strangers about? Sorry for digging, but I don't think you're particularly interested in the fine details of labor law or freshwater fishing."
Malo rolled her eyes and said, "oh, come on Frank, give yourself some credit! You know about more than just that stuff from that village of yours!"
Frank considered this in silence.
[Beach —> dining]
"That was your idea, remember!" Xavier yelled fruitlessly after the closed portal. He stood there in silence for a moment, stewing. Eventually, he tapped the statue, disintegrating it back into sand and headed into the dining hall.
He plonked himself down next to the girl that had arrived yesterday. Her name was... Lyra, right? Yeah, Lyra. "Hey," he said to her. "I'm Xavier."
[Dining]
Vincent, almost out of habit, opened his mouth to talk about Qrlil's experience with the Gargle Blaster, and realized that it would probably be a mistake. He didn't want to go around talking about her embarrassing stuff if he could help it. It wouldn't be right.
Especially not with her and Xavier together. Xavier wouldn't let him hear the end of it.
[Beach]
"Orange is a color found throughout my homeworld," Havlak explained. "The sands, the scales of some racial groups, and yes, the sunrise and sunset. We find it a symbolically fitting color to represent the gluvpaki people, similar to how some human groups in my reality's version of Earth use green and blue."
[Dining]
Qrlil blinked, not entirely sure what to say to that conversation, and went back to eating fruit.
Julia considered this. "Or how the Uelane use purple and blue," she said. "I see. I think."
Avea added, "never been much for religion myself. Keep the xau happy, they'll keep you happy. Not much else to say." She leaned back, running the warm sand through her fingers. "You've got lots of sand where you come from, Havlak? I know we do."
Frank perked up ever so slightly. "Spirituality, huh? I s'pose you're one of those new-agey 'spiritual-but-not-religious' types. Drove my poor wife up the wall, back when she was still with us." He sighed. "Don't worry, I ain't gonna go on a tangent like she would. Or burst into tears remembering her. She'd not want that." The food for him and Malo arrived, and Frank started on the bacon. "My daughter works fast food herself, sorta. Redd's Place, not one of them national chains. Cooks for 'em. Teaches her responsibility. But I can't imagine that's really where you're planning to go with your life."
edited 26th Mar '12 4:48:41 AM by KillerClowns
[dining hall]
"Well yeah, I guess I'm not religious or anything. But I've seen other planes with my own eyes, so it's pretty normal to me," she said, still poking at her food. Normally she'd be finished with the whole plate by now. "I live with my friend Russell because I didn't really have anywhere else to go, and he let me move into his apartment since he was behind on the rent. Though I... didn't really wanna have to get a job. But that's life, I guess."
[Dining]
Dah. Let's just say Frank overheard?.
Frank left his table and sat with Lyra and Xavier. "Mind if a join you?" This was going to be an interesting conversation, he suspected, and Malo could take care of herself.
He calmly said to Lyra, "you've seen other planes of existence, and you're working at a fast food restaurant and scrabbling up rent?" Realizing how that sounded, he quickly added, "don't take that the wrong way... it just goes to show how life goes on." He shrugged. "I mean, my adopted daughter found out she was a damn princess — literally — and all that meant was a change in her planned major. From psychology to public policy, actually." He shrugged. "Things have a way of getting back to normal eventually, don't they?"
[Beach]
Julia said, "Great Devastation? That sounds bad."
Avea gently jabbed her in the ribs and said, "I would have never guessed."
Then Julia shrugged and said, "eh, deserts are boring." She didn't notice Avea's irritated glare, and continued, "people are interesting. So, Havlak, how's this place been treating you so far? I see you suffered a discussion on religion with Asayu." She grinned. "That makes you the second person outside her wacky cult to do it, actually. Surprised she didn't try to have sex with you afterwards. Or did I just miss that? I don't need details."
[Dining]
Vincent glanced after Frank. That was kind of abrupt. But it'd be hypocritical if he was annoyed by it, so he let it slide.
He turned to Malo. "Just out of curiosity, how'd you meet him? I mean, two different worlds and cultures and all that, it must've been big for you. Unless he wound up on your planet first."
He paused. "But if you'd rather not say for whatever reason, that's fine. I can understand that."
[Dining]
Xavier quietly left Lyra and Frank to it, the conversation having suddenly shifted away from him. He noticed Qrlil at a table and sat down next to her.
"Morning," he said quietly to her. "Did you sleep well?"
[Dining]
"You may not have guessed," Malo said, "but Julia isn't exactly Frank's genetic daughter." She sighed. "Okay. Short version? My sister happened. No, she didn't have sex with him — she kind of disgusts him, thank the xau." She gave an apologetic grin, and added, "Sorry, everyone asks that. But short version, she had to hide out at her place. After that fell apart, we ended up hiding at theirs." She took an alarming swig of her beer. "I preferred my world."
[dining hall]
"Most people probably wouldn't really believe me if I mentioned anything about higher planes. It's... not something most people are into unless they're, like, hippies or something, apparently." She took a bite out of her meal, continuing with her mouth full. "But me and Russell, we've seen it for ourselves. He's even traveled to the plane directly above the physical world quite a few times! With help from yours truly, of course."
[Dining]
Frank looked at Lyra with interest. "Well, ain't that something. All I got is a scorching hot planet with people and animals trying to eat me." Then he considered this. "Though I suppose it can't all be shiny and happy. I'm kinda imagining fluffy white clouds and stuff, but it's probably more, uh... complex than that." He sighed. "Y'know what, lemme make a guess from my own experience. God is asleep or something, and the devil's running wild. Slap me if I'm wrong, but that seems to be a common theme."
[dining hall]
"I dunno if there even is a god, actually. I can only see up a single layer. Into this dimension we call the Edge. It's pretty much a carbon copy of the real world, only everything's really... gray. Boring. And gray. It's the plane where the astral bodies of the living are found, and it's also populated by monsters. But they're mostly harmless. To the living, I mean." She finished her food, gesturing to a nearby waitress for seconds. "I do know that there's an even higher plane where the departed exist."
edited 26th Mar '12 7:51:01 PM by AXavierB
[Beach]
Havlak gave a little mental groan. Clearly, tact was just one of those things that humans lacked, whether they were from his dimension or any other.
"You are referring to Asayu ul'Valmoth?" he asked. "She certainly did not make any such proposition - from what I understand, the religious orders of your species tend to be opposed to such things."
[Dining]
Qrlil looked up from her fruit and smiled at Xavier, perking up slightly.
"Well, yes," she said. "And you?"
She glanced at the others at the table, wondering if introductions were in order.
[Beach]
Avea seemed genuinely surprised. "She didn't? Wow. I can't believe she'd pass up an opportunity like that."
Julia looked over at Havlak and said, "you're right about most human religions. Asayu worships a goddess of... well, sex, and some other stuff as well. Love is... pointedly not one of them." Regretting the topic, she said, "I'm guessing your own religion is less, uh... focused?"
[Dining]
Malo gave Xavier a polite nod, but waited for someone else to offer introductions as she picked at her salad.
[Dining]
"Pleasant," Frank muttered. "But could be worse. All I know exist for sure is the world of the living and Hell. Might be a Heaven. Even something like a generic grey world of the dead would be nice." He shrugged. "Y'know, you'd think it'd be easier to keep faith when there's demons roaming around. I sort of assumed that'd be the case. But while I keep telling myself there's gotta be something balancing off all that wrongness..."
He shook his head. "Well. There's hope. I guess even if we're just one candle in the darkness, as the old saying goes, it's better than nothing."
[dining]
"I'm sure there's a heaven out there for you. Or at least, something resembling one. I don't really know what the next life is like where I'm from except that all the baggage and drama people carry around in life doesn't really matter anymore. Makes things a lot less bleak. Although, the monsters from that plane do feed on lost souls, but even those can find peace. It's never too late for things to improve, as I always say."
[Beach]
Havlak nodded. "Indeed," he said again. "I found the... fragmented nature of Asayu's notion of Divinity to be most curious. Leaving aside the anthropomorphic aspects, it mystifies me why one would choose to view the concept of Divinity through a lens of myriad different 'Gods' instead of as one entity, regardless of its nature. How can a God whose sole role is overseeing - say, windstorms - be a truly omnipotent being?"

[Beach]
"Yeah," said Xavier. "I'm not particularly powerful, and I can't make it actually animate; I can only control it, like a puppet, so with something like stone, that takes a lot of effort." He reached out and his fingers began twitching again. The wolf statue started moving again, walking a circle around Alex and looking up at him. Xavier lowered his hand, and the wolf froze again.
Xavier frowned. "I suppose I shouldn't've jumped from simple to complicated so quickly." He shrugged. "Oh well."
[Dining]
"They can make anything and everything here," said Vincent. "If it exists, they serve it. If it doesn't exist, they make it exist and serve it. Some of the drinks here are..." He coughed. "...reeeeeaaaaaally strong, to put it lightly."
He glanced towards the service door. "So I wouldn't worry about what you can and can't have. If you want, they'll probably even make it to your specifications."