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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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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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