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For her fortune-telling class, Elda has decided perhaps to go with astrology. (There is such a thing as drinking too much tea- at least when you are drinking it only for getting tea leaves.) However, to read the future in the stars, one must be able to read the stars, and plot their courses-

So, Elda and Wellard are outside tonight, a little ways from the bar. They commandeered a table to hold a red-shaded lantern, a couple star charts, and Elda's notebooks and homework. There is also a telescope set up, but at the moment, the young midshipman is showing the griffin how to measure the angle of altitude on Altair in the Aquila constellation.

Two characters, two muns. Ping both together or separate, and feel free to ping others who are out to see what the two are doing!

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And they are being watched, too, by a girl with ... no, it's not a candle, it's a werelight.

She's just holding the fire in her palm, watching them do what they do.

As she can't, she doesn't speak, but seems to be working up the nerve to somehow interact.

The lantern is red-shielded as to not damage their night sight- so the werelight catches Wellard's eyes as soon as he turns to grab one of the books.

- Right. Magic. He blinks and nods, before raising his hand in a wave.

Poor magic, as the moment she moves to half-salute, finger to the forehead and then pointed outward, it burns out.

Random Dent pouts at her hand, and then steps cautiously closer.

"Oh, hello!" Elda looks up from the book she is leaning over and clacks her beak, in what is supposed to be a welcoming gesture.

"Isn't it lovely out tonight?"

She only smiles very rarely, and now they've managed to get Random to smile twice in a day, because that's a griffin, and she's seen pictures, but never a real one, and it's one of those girlish dreams, having always wanted to.

And so she smiles, and she nods, and she thinks as loudly as she can think, I can't -- can't speak, but am inclined to agree.

And hopefully at least one can hear her.

Magic sorts usually can.

Wellard is not a magic type- but he is good at picking up on things, and noticing actions. He smiles faintly, and motions her closer.

"If you'd like to take a look at things, I have the telescope set up, and I did also bring my spyglass out. Its not as good, but since you can hold it and look where ever you wish, its still quite serviciable."

Pushing her hair away from her face, there's a softly thought I would indeed, just in case, and she holds out her hand, nodding a bit less shyly.

She's getting better at communicating.

"She can have a turn at the telescope, of course! I'll use the spyglass for now, Henry. Even if my sight isn't terrific at night, it's still better than yours."

Her voice is teasing and fond. "I'm Elda. What's your name?"

Random, she thinks, focusing hard, Most people call me Random. Some don't.

Lyrae or Annabel or Azia, or most anything else she's used once tends to come up again. Tilting her head, she takes a peek at the skies, and smiles more, blindly shuffling through her bag to find tablet and pen.

I was born up there, she writes. Altair Four, if I remember correctly.

Wellard makes an amused face at Elda, before handing over the spyglass. "You're lucky to be part eagle."

He holds out a hand to escort Random to the telescope, then peers carefully at the note. And blinks, looking up to her.

"Altair Four? You're from... one of those places, where people are out by the stars?"

There is more looking, her lips forming a sort of quirky half-amused expression, followed by the quick motion of the pen.

I'm from here. We're in my world right now.

Which ... explains the relative oddness of the rest of her life.

"You're a traveler, then! It must be fascinating. In one of those flying ships in the stars, or magic? It's terribly complicated either way."

Elda tilts her head curiously.

She's about to complain about how they're always going, about how life is just about moving and sometimes she can't stand it, but ... at this moment, the angry part of her is being quiet.

That's rare.

So she won't encourage it.

The next piece of paper takes a little bit longer: My mother has a small ship named Fiamo. A single-level, with only two rooms and a large control bay. There's also the Heart of Gold, but we share it. And I can't fly it -- the Fiamo I can, sometimes.

"Magic or engines- both seem about equally complicated." Wellard nods at Elda.

He quickly reads the paper, then nods at Random. "This Fiamo would be smaller, then? Any sort of large ship you would need a crew to run, of course."

Smiling more thinly, she shakes her head.

The Fiamo is small, but the Heart of Gold runs itself, she scribbles rapidly.

"Wish we could manage that," Elda mutters to herself, which is more like a stage whisper to human ears. Griffins are loud.

"A friend of mine talks to elementals. Some friendly winds would come in handy, wouldn't they?"

Wellard just blinks. "How does it manage to run itself? Any sort of ship needs a crew to do things."

He nods at Elda. "Always, of course. Without wind, a ship is dead in the water- and woud be in the air."

Are you building something? asks her next note, as Random focuses intently on Aquila.

She hasn't been there in a while.

Because I would tell you, if I knew. Computers do something. Mother knows. I can steer. That's it.

"We plan to build a ship as well, but a bit different than ones like you have seen, I would think. No computers. And Henry knows how to steer, and hopefully a right bit more!"

If there's any help I could give, she offers, handwriting curling a bit more.

It's taken time to write that one, because she had to think first.

Dangerous, thinking.

"Just a little bit more, I would hope. There's more to a ship than just steering, and with this one there will be even more to that." Wellard nods at Elda, then smiles to Random.

"A flying ship, though not one of the sorts that goes between the stars. Just in the sky, with any luck. I've been working on getting the building area ready, and we'll soon start on the actual ship soon."

Interest officially piqued.

Like a boat kind - it's been a long time since I've even seen a boat.

"I think I've seen people sailing some on the lake. But with this project, I imagine you'll see your fill. We are going to be doing some testing with smaller models before just launching off into the air."

Not that Elda would ever consider something like that. Ahem.

"Mister Caspian has a sail boat here." Wellard nods to Elda, then he grins at them both.

"Well, a sailing ship for the air. And quite a lot of testing before we have it up for good. But its still rather going to be wonderful when we do."

Piqued, slowly and gradually, shifts more to involved, and she's looking more at them now than the skies.

I look forward to seeing that. All I'm good at's music, but if there's a need for anything entertaining in the background ...

She stares at her hand, holding its pen, and wonders when she became helpful.

And if it has anything at all to do with meeting Lue.

"It never hurts to have a bard around when you need one." Elda smiles. "My sister is one, and she has useful insights when she isn't being bossy."

"And I was an officer before this- hardly a ship builder." Wellard smiles faintly. "It doesn't matter what you can or cannot do- you are always quite welcome to be here."

Cora curiously wanders outside, intent to view it without the princess party in progress.

That it's night in outdoor Milliways surprised her, but not quite as much as the griffin with the young man.

She's fairly close by, and looking quite a bit like her icon.

That was about Wellard's expression the first time he met Elda as well- then she offered him a slice of orange. Now, he hardly thinks of it-

So when he turns to grab the star chart off the table, he gives Cora a friendly, unconcerned wave.

"Er, hello," Cora says, cautiously waving back. "Are the two of you star-gazing?"

She is going to assume Elda is sentient until proven wrong--she'd rather look silly than be rude, after all.

A very good idea. Elda tends to be rude in reply to people who assume she is not a person- and you don't want to see any griffin be rude.

"Yes!" she practically chirps. "I'm studying for a class, you see. And this is much better than staring into crystals or drinking tea- I do like tea but really. And there I go diving into conversations again. I'm Elda!"

"There is," Cora agrees with a smile bordering on delighted, "a point where it gets a bit absurd.

"I'm Cora--from Chipstede, in Narnia, if you've heard of it. It's good to meet the both of you. What sort of class?"

"I don't think I have- but it's still quite nice to meet you, Miss Cora." Wellard smiles, giving her a bow. "My name is Wellard, Henry Wellard, late of His Magesty's ship the Renown. ... Earth, 1802."

He does not always remember to add the last.

"A fortune telling class, at least for Miss Elda. I'm just helping her with the rather mundane parts of it, for reading where the stars are."

"I'm studying to become a wizard! Astrology seems the most sensible way, really. And how many times have I told you there's no 'miss'? My dad says that if I'm in trouble."

She nudges Wellard in the shoulder with her beak.

Cora grins.

"I shall endeavour to remember that, Elda--and I generally go by just Cora, too, Mr. Wellard, unless you do prefer formality.

"There are schools for becoming a wizard in your world?"

That sounds extremely practical, and thus mutually exclusive to what Cora's opinion of magic.

"I'll eventually remember." Wellard chuckles at Elda, reaching up to gently touch some feathers on her wing briefly. Then he nods at Cora.

"... Cora then. Or at least I'll do my best to remember."

"There is a school, a very good one, now. It's ever so interesting, and most of the learning is very useful. And I suppose what isn't yet may be in the future."

She sounds a bit dubious at the latter part, then pretends to try and groom Wellard's hair.

"I can't say I know any magic, but it seems like it would be handy." Cora agrees.

"And--well, it won't upset me if you forget, Henry, it's just that 'miss' makes me feel like I'm still at the school where I teach."

One moment of surprise, then he holds still while Elda fiddles with his hair. "There most likely will be more interesting things in the future- I would imagine for learning anything, you must learn the basics first." Wellard shrugs, then chuckles at Cora.

"As you would know, then, being a teacher?"

"I highly doubt the boys in my class appreciate the importance of what they're learning, but I think I'm honor-bound by my profession to agree." She says with a slight laugh.

"Are the two of you from the same world?"

"No, I'm not from Earth, though I know a bit about it. People...visited my home from there." She glosses over the former tourist industry.

"Perhaps people could visit from here. I hadn't thought of that before!"

Wellard gives Cora a sheepish smile, then looks at Elda curiously.

"You do go back and forth, like many of the others, yes?"

"...is it possible to go to other worlds?" Cora asks, equally curious.

"It was at home, but it took some powerful magic. But people here have talked about traveling to different places, after all. And yes-" she nods to Wellard.

"I have a door that stays."

Wellard nods quietly. "Other people have talked about visiting other places, different worlds and times. I'll be going off for a visit soon, but-"

He bites his lip, then shrugs. "A few things had to be arranged so I could do so." He smiles. "Though that he did- Well."

"That sounds like it would be extremely interesting," she says with a grin. "Most worlds seem very different from Narnia--I'd best be getting back there, though.

"It was very nice to speak to the two of you--good luck with your class, Elda."

"Thank you very much, Cora! Perhaps enough good luck wishes will help more than my studying, eventually." Her voice is impish.

"I'm sure we'll talk again."

"Quite nice to meet you as well, Mi- Cora." Wellard nods, smiling. "Next time we do have the telescope out, and everything else, do join us again if you wish?"

Then he grins at Elda. "It still won't hurt for you to keep up with your studies, good luck aside. Here-"

Wellard picks up the astrolabe and star chart.

"Now, that small constellation is a dolphin...."

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