auspex_caelo | And the Stars Turned Back [for smartass

"He's always upset." Jim points out with a shrug, but then quieter and to the ground. "I don't wanna worry him over somethin' he can't fix. If we can't fix it soon, I'll tell him but..."

Jim's afraid they'll try to stop him from coming and going to the Nexus if he says anything.

"Anyone who's your guys's friend can't be bad. I'm sure I will." Nodding eagerly he squeezes Felix's hand and seems to get a second wind of energy to make it to their camp with no complaints.

Stratos peers at Jim's face, then nods. "Okay. We'll just have to get back to normal really soon, right?"

It seems the tribune's a little more flexible about propriety than he generally acts... or at least his teenage self is more understanding about dealing with adults. Seeing as Felix has Jim's hand, Stratos pulls away a bit and steps out of the cave entrance ahead of them. It's past noon in Skyrim, and the sky is bright despite the white clouds swirling overhead. They're above the trees that blocked Jim's view of the camp on their last visit, perched higher still on the slopes over that winding river valley. The camp itself is fairly sizable considering the cramped geography - at least two dozen low tents in heavy brown cloth and leather, marked with the red banner and black dragon of the Legion.

The three figures waiting for them are not, however, wearing Legion gear. Their armor is curved, gold-tinted and far more elegant than the solid, efficient plate Stratos wears. The two to the back wear red cloaks draped over it, but the woman in front has no such hindrance as she steps forward, sharp eyes flicking over the two children and landing on Felix, who shifts a little closer to Jim unthinkingly.

"Auxiliary." Her pale face is skeptical, her tone distinctly unimpressed beneath the High Rock accent. "I assume you have good reason for bringing children into a war camp. Assuming they are children..."

"Sir Yolande," Stratos says firmly, addressing his third-in-command with the authority of habit... even if it just makes her give him a surprised look right now. "He hasn't brought us here. I have. But you are right that we're not children- or at least we shouldn't be. I am your tribune - I'm just under a Nexus spell. And this is Captain James Kirk, one of our allies."

Personally, Felix is going to try and remember Yolande's face at this moment. One doesn't often get to see that perfect blend of alarm, incredulity and dumbfoundment. He's trying not to look too smug.

The last time Jim was here it was in the midst of winter in Skyrim and it was gorgeous then. It's gorgeous now, too, with more greenery visible along the steep slopes and the deciduous trees in full leaf to match the conifers and their year round deep emerald.

He's so busy craning his neck every which direction to take in the views that he doesn't notice the soldiers waiting for them at the entrance to the camp. Jim startles when the woman speaks, and Felix's shifting closer to him makes it easier for him to tighten his grip on the other's hand. Stranger danger is a very real thing in Skyrim. Jim has already had to learn that the hard way.

"Hi." He waves with his free hand to Yolande. "I'm not s'posed to be little neither. But they don't have magic where I'm from so I gotta get help from these guys. Also, you shouldn't talk down to Stratos an' Felix. Stratos is super important, duh. An' Felix is th'best..." Words are hard. Big boy words, Jim. "Th'best envoy form your world. Really helpful, always watching your door thing."

Nailed it.

Edited 2016-07-06 13:42 (UTC)

Yolande's green eyes widen under the concealing helm, her sharp gaze snapping between the little blond stranger and Stratos. Nonetheless, she inclines her head to Jim slightly on sheer reflex at the partial introduction, sparing a moment to eye Felix suspiciously. She's not used to him having adorable little kids to rally to his defense, and the good knight has no good way to respond. Yet.

She fixes her attention on the part she can deal with - her commander and his plight. The two knights behind her look about equally flabbergasted. "I- I apologize, sir. But- what-"

Stratos waves off all questions for now, shaking his head emphatically. Then he points to one of the two unnamed knights.

"Get C- Sir Celann to meet me in my tent, and don't speak of this to anyone until I allow it." Stratos is still perfectly capable of sounding like he knows what he's talking about, it seems. It's almost convincing coming from the boy. Certainly good enough for the knights: the one instructed hurries off on his errand while Stratos hastily leads the others over to slip into one of the bigger tents. Yolande walks alongside him as an escort, trying to ask questions - mostly trying to find out if he's hurt or if this was the result of an attack.

There aren't too many people in the middle of the camp right now - and the few present are busy sharpening swords or checking the feet of a pair of big sturdy chargers. For whatever reason, they all seem to be wearing plain clothes rather than Legion gear. Still holding Jim's hand and keeping a slower pace for the youngest person in the group, Felix takes the chance to lean down and murmur, "Thanks. I've never seen Yolande so flatfooted."

Good because Jim will defend Felix to his last no matter what size he is. And he supposes Stratos now too. Definitely Stratos now too for being an awesome big brother that he never really had.

"I thought magic was like common here." Jim pipes up, looking disappointed in the knights. "How hard is this to understand?" His arms craossed in a facsimile of his captain face and stance, but really lacking in any real authority when he's just so small and precious and saying stupid kid things.

Jim tugs at Felix's hand and nods toward the men as they move toward Stratos' tent. "Why's everyone dressed like their help? I thought the banners and pomp an' circumstance was like the Imperial's thing. Also, she should be nicer to you." HUFF.

"Magic like this isn't common at all, youngster," comments the remaining knight with them, shaking his head. The initial alarm is starting to wear off, but he still mislikes all of this. "And depending on where it comes from, some magic is much worse than other kinds..."

That warning delivered, he moves out of ready earshot as they head for the tent, and Felix is free to offer his own explanations. Jim has short legs, they have an excuse for lagging behind.

"Most of the troops here are knights," he says, "which always means they bring their servants and squires along with them. Our ones don't have many followers, actually - you see him? And her? They're knights too, they just don't wear their armor all the time. It's too heavy, and it spends most of the time being cleaned and polished anyway."

He chuckles. "As for Yolande, she's... never liked me very much."

"Oh, so some of them are the help." This makes a lot more sense to Jim, having chosen to ignore the remaining knight's warning as that of a guy who doesn't know anything because clearly magic laden Tamriel should know about magic and he's obviously wrong. You know, until Felix confirms this at some point in the future.

As for Yolande well, Jim actually clicks his tongue at that, seemingly in disbelief that there is anyone in any world who wouldn't like Felix. Were he his normal self he'd find it amusing and even sarcastically offer a 'i wonder why?' with an accompanying knowing grin. However, his childlike black and white loyalty doesn't allow for such humor. Which means he's affronted that someone could not like Felix for any reason other than them being objectively wrong or bad.

"You need to hang out with people who appreciate you more." Ideally people who appreciate Felix AND have something to eat or a place to sleep because man Jim is getting worn down.

Edited 2016-07-07 19:38 (UTC)

"Exactly." Felix laughs softly, not to attract attention. "Being a legionnaire is better, I think. Even if we sometimes get worse jobs, at least we're not here to hold someone else's cloak."

He's never really been what people call 'good with children', but as far as Felix is concerned, young!Jim is just as charming as his adult counterpart. Albeit in a very different way, obviously. Sure, he may never live it down if Yolande starts on his being defended by a little boy, but still. How could he not smile at that loyalty?

"I do," he points out. "Why do you think I spend so much time in the Nexus?" He nudges Jim's shoulder playfully, just before they head into the tent. The heavy flap is held aside by the remaining knight, who's apparently set to guard the door.

Inside are lots of dragon sigils, plus space for a big square table and furniture to spare, including a whole bunch of simple folding chairs. Felix will help Jim settle onto one and pull another closer so they can sit together. Yolande lights a taper from one of the two covered braziers and goes around lighting some lamps for them.

Stratos has gone to one of the chests near the back, looking through the officers' snacks until he finds a small bag of apples to go offer Jim. Sadly it's a bit dry - fresh fruit is harder to come by in this world.

Jim squeezes at Felix's hand, as if to reassure the other that he cares very much for Felix. Even if he's a runt right now and can't show Felix the kind of affection he's used to getting from the captain. It's for the best, considering the state they're in right now.

Inside the tent things look a lot more like Jim expects them to in an Imperial camp. Lots of sigils and important looking things. The small captain thanks Felix quietly for the assist rather than fussing about how he can do it himself. He would fuss if there weren't so many people around. He doesn't want to draw attention to himself. Plus Felix sits next to him and that makes Jim give a tiny shy smile.

"Oh!" Sparkling blue eyes regard Stratos with wonder and gratitude at the snack. "Thanks!" He hadn't wanted to complain but he was really getting hungry and...oh well his mouth is already full of apple now. Dry or not, he makes a pleased hum to be eating one of his favorite things.

Stratos smiles a little, genuinely pleased. Not to mention approving of Jim's good manners. "You're welcome. We'll figure out what else you can eat after... we sort stuff out."

No sooner has he said it than another knight pushes his way into the tent. His armor is even shinier than the others, with panels of what look like green crystal worked into the golden metal, but he's not wearing a helmet. He's as pale and fine-boned as the others, with light brown hair and a neatly trimmed mustache. True, there's a sword at his back about as long as Jim is tall, but he practically radiates friendly concern as he looks around.

"Yolande! Felix! What's going on? I've just heard the most..." His gaze falls on the two boys beside Felix, and his expression softens automatically. Then he frowns, and peers closer.

Stratos shrugs, smiling ruefully. "Yes, Celann, it's me. And Captain James Kirk. We were cursed in the Nexus, but no, we're not hurt otherwise. Jim, this is Sir Celann Lemond of Wayrest, my second in command. And Sir Yolande Hawkwood of Glenumbra, of course. I didn't want to start introducing everyone until we were all together."

"Oh." Celann's eyebrows are knitted with concern, but he smiles at Jim all the same and sweeps a bow to him. Yolande bows more gently from the other side of the tent. "I remember hearing about you, of course. It's a pleasure to finally meet you... er, captain. Circumstances aside, of course..."

Jim freezes in his seat, a small piece of apple still sticking out of his very full mouth and a fruit in each hand. A less intimidating creature does not exist in Tamriel at this moment.

"Muh?" His voice is incredibly muffled by the apple in his mouth. He looks between Yolande and Celann, more than a little confused at the bows being turned his way. Not quite sure what to do, he scoots to the edge of the chair with a few wiggles and noises of effort before dropping to his feet and giving a hasty bow back, hands and mouth still full of apple.

He looks back at the seat and makes a face before continuing eating. He has to finish at least one to get a free hand to climb back up into the seat.

"Hi." Muffled.

Celann looks from Jim, to Stratos, and Felix has to grin openly at his face. The conjurer speaks up as he lifts Jim back onto his seat. "Don't worry, we're keeping him."

Stratos rolls his eyes at that, but focuses on his second. "Look, we have to find a way to undo this, but first I need your help to make sure... things... keep running smoothly. I don't want everyone panicking or... word getting back to Solitude."

"Of course," Celann assures him. Jim may have been disappointed by the knights' ignorance of such magic, but apparently they're not going to lose their heads about it either. Actually, Celann's drawing himself up proudly and declaring, "You're still our sworn commander, no matter your size."

"And we can't show weakness," Yolande agrees darkly. "But I haven't heard of a curse like this that wasn't daedric- not in the last century." There's a pointed look at Felix, who shrugs innocently. "It's going to be difficult to break if we can't seek help freely..."

"Imma space cap'n." Jim declares proudly around his snack while in Felix's arms. Puffs his tiny chest out even. It is apparently an impressive thing to be. Then again, coming from a nine year old it could be as made up a profession as 'professional sweets tester'.

Om nom nom go the apples in his hands.

Jim's quiet for a moment, mostly because he's eating but also because he's listening to Celann and Yolande talk to Stratos about being alone if people find out and wait...

"What's their Dad hafta do with this?" No that's daedric Jim and..actually that means nothing to him either as a term.

Edited 2016-07-12 17:33 (UTC)

"Father?" Stratos looks blankly at him. "Nothing- oh, wait. We mean daedra."

"The Capricious Powers." Yolande's glancing at Felix again. "Would-be gods who toy with mortals from their realms in the Void. Aided and abetted by their followers - especially irresponsible conjurers who crave their power."

"This really wasn't my doing," Felix insists. "Or theirs. I'm almost entirely sure of it."

"So am I," Stratos agrees firmly, making Yolande wipe the skeptical expression from her face and incline her head.

Celann, on the other hand, looks a little disappointed. "Pity. It would make things much simpler if all we needed was a little appeasement."

"Ghost puppy didn't do this." Jim scowls at Yolande for being entirely full of Wrong yet again. And for giving Felix a look. Stop being mean to Felix you man-lady who gets called Sir.

"Dr. Hill did. I'm pretty sure." As though it's the most obvious thing in the world. "Duh. He's done like everything else around here that's weird an' people said they talked ot him before they got changed."

Obviously, Yolande. Hmph. Nine years old and still he has to do everything around here.

"...Ghost... puppy?" Yolande looks completely confused by that one, looking from Felix to Stratos for some kind of explanation. Felix chooses to be unhelpful for once and just smiles; Stratos is busy nodding at Jim's words.

"He might be a kind of daedra for all we know," Stratos says though. "I don't think that helps us really. This could just run its course and wear off like his other spells."

"Would it help, perhaps, if we went to parley with him?" Celann suggests hopefully. Stratos looks more alarmed than he means to.

"No! You'd probably just get changed too. I need someone loyal in charge. Anyway, time is Akatosh's domain, so I need you to see if he might break the curse. Akatosh is the chief of our gods," he adds for Jim's benefit.

"I'll parlay with him." Jim raises his hand, smile bright on his face. "Diplomacy's like half my job." His smile is radiant and bright, so excited at even the thought of being important and helpful even like this.

He's not exactly thinking this through though.

"I can parley with Oshkosh too." No Jim. That's a town in Wisconsin, not a god. "....Oh, the biggest god. He won the dick waving contest an' now he's in charge. I got it."

He must have lost his tact with his age. Or he'd be much more polite to a god's face. Either way, Jim kicks his legs against the edge of the chair and continues grinning huge.

Oh, Jim. Celann smiles so warmly when he volunteers to be the envoy. Sure, Felix looks worried, but even Yolande can't help smiling a little. He's just too cute.

...Although Stratos is quick to give him a stern look at the last part. "Jim. Be respectful. His name's Akatosh. He's the god of time, he made it possible for all the other gods to exist. That's why he's in charge."

"Not that you're wrong," Felix murmurs to Jim, "but considering all the dragons are his sons and he personally fist-fought a daedric prince to save us, being respectful is a good plan."

"Well, and besides we're rather fond of him," Celann adds. He'll look so sad and disappointed if you're mean about the gods, Jim. You don't want that.

"That's what I said?" Jim tilts his head to the side ad Stratos's chiding. Looks back to Felix with a small frown. Yeah exactly, he's not wrong. Why nitpick?

"I said I was good at diplomacy but outright bowing, scraping, and ass kissing is not my forte." Especially not to people and/or things that think they're better than people.

"Maybe I shouldn't. I don't even know what's considered polite here."

"It's not ass-kissing, it's reverence," Stratos scolds him. "You have to show proper respect to the Divines."

"Things work differently in Jim's realm," Felix reminds them both, shrugging at Jim although he gives the boy's shoulder a small squeeze. He knows Jim has enough irreverence to share, but this is one area where he does agree with his elder brother. He doesn't want Jim to get on the wrong side of the gods any more than he wants to do it himself.

"Well," Celann says carefully. "I'll see about appealing to them. But perhaps the captain and the tribune should speak to this 'doctor' directly. Is it likely he'll curse them twice, after all?"

Felix immediately tenses, giving Celann a look of betrayed upset. "Let's not test that, thanks."

"Then you should go," Yolande says, swooping on the chance. "Speaking with such beings is your chosen specialty, isn't it?"

"No I mean, I'm not tryin' to be rude." Jim looks between all of them, biting into his bottom lip and growing still. He has a point to make here, but phrasing it is a bit difficult for him in his tiny body and mind.

"I jus' don' understand how something so big an' powerful and whatever would care what I had t'think or say. I'm just one guy not even from this world. A kid even, now. If they're so powerful they made th whole world. The space even...like why do they care about any of us at all? It's like worrying about what an individual ant thinks. nothing you say or anyone says good or bad, should even matter."

He pauses. Kicks his legs a bit and shrugs.

"I guess I just don' get it is all. There's nothin' like that where I'm from." It all seems so pointless.

Stratos opens his mouth to try and deliver a lesson, but... it's kind of hard to come up with a good explanation right now. Not when he's back at that age where such things just are and he hasn't gained the perspective of the bigger picture yet. So he finds himself (like the others) looking to Celann. The knight glances around at all the looks he's getting and sighs a little.

"Well..." He pulls a chair over so he can sit down facing Jim. Better to make this a friendly conversation. It always works better that way. "It's not that they're going to strike you down for speaking ill of them. They're not like- well, they aren't that sort of being, I promise.

"Did Felix tell you how the gods made this realm? They each put a part of themselves into it, sacrificing a great deal so that our world, Nirn, would live. It is they who strive to keep this world a place that's good and safe for all of us mortals to live in. So you see, they care a great deal about our world- and they care about us. But they need our help, too. By honoring them and following their guidance, every one of us helps to make Nirn a better and a stronger place. Not to mention being happier and better ourselves." He gives Jim a sincere smile. "Even if you aren't from here, you still matter to them, and so do your actions."

"Sorta. They died an' made space. Somehow." He scratches at his wispy blonde head, looking as though he's trying really hard to think. It's so different from everything he understands about science and physics. Of matter and energy.

It sounds like a fairy tale. But then, Felix can do magic. Real magic. And if that exists, then certainly the rules of this realm are different than his own.

"That makes me real nervous." Does space stop existing if people don't believe in the gods anymore? It sends chills up Jim's spine. Where is Felix? He reaches for the other's hand.

Felix's hand closes around his, the Imperial shifting closer in what would normally be an offer for leaning-on and at this point is probably more an offer to snuggle.

"It's all right," he assures Jim. "There's nothing you have to be afraid of." Not directly, anyway. The Tamrielic folks can do the worrying. Either way it's an (old) easy lie to tell.

Celann nods earnestly. "The gods didn't die, they're simply... not able to act as freely as they used to. But they're still with us, watching over us. Doing what they can to protect us."

"Don't talk about gods' junk. Got it." A mumbled reply because Jim is climbing over the seat to sit with Felix instead. It's been a long time coming, hours of holding back emotional child outbursts and trying to be himself. Jim clings to Felix and buries his head into the Imperial's chest for a moment.

"I wanna be me 'gain."

And the Stars Turned Back [for smartass_captain ]

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