(no subject)

[nita_callahan]

Okay, okay, the start of the Christmas shopping season is a few days away yet, but there's no reason Nita can't start thinking about gifts now.

She has a catalog from the Crossings, a notebook, and -- most importantly -- a glass of white wine for fortification. Her sleeves are rolled up, exposing the pale scars on her arms, and her chin is on her hand as she tries to decide between gadgets for Dairine.

Comments

[ambriel]

A table or two away, Ambriel looks up, attention attracted by the energy around Nita. In herself, and in the charm bracelet around her wrist.

She gets a long, considering stare. But the angel waits to say anything, until Nita takes a break, or at least looks away from whatever she is doing.

[nita_callahan]

The thing about Milliways, of course, is that you're probably being watched at any given moment. You get a sense for it.

Nita glances up from her catalog and looks around for who's staring. When she meets Ambriel's gaze, she gives the angel a polite smile.

[ambriel]

"Hello," Ambriel says. "Your bracelet is an excellent piece of spellwork. You must have worked on it for a long time."

[nita_callahan]

"Oh -- yeah, thank you, I did. It comes in handy." She tilts her head, studying Ambriel. "Most people don't notice."

[ambriel]

"Noticing things is one of my purposes," Ambriel says. "And a very useful skill as well. My name is Ambriel. What is yours?"

[nita_callahan]

Nita blinks.

"Nita Callahan. Dai'stiho. Uh, Ambriel sounds like an angelic name."

[ambriel]

Ambriel says a word that rings like the clear tone of a bell, and that the bar's translation seems to have some trouble with. It comes across as something like joyinthemeeting/salutations/mygreetingstoyou/mayyougowell. Probably sounds a lot like 'dai'stiho' to her. A respectful greeting to someone you are pretty sure is on your side. And then-

"I am pleased to meet you, Nita. My name sounds like an angelic one because it is."

[nita_callahan]

The sense of power behind that word -- the clarity of it, the age -- make Nita sit up a little straighter, automatically.

She grins. "Oh -- well, that would explain it."

[ambriel]

"It usually does. Of course, even here there are those who do not know angels. A very nice young dragon I met a short while ago, for instance."

Skysong was polite, but confused.

[nita_callahan]

"Well, it's not necessarily a common concept on all worlds, right? Although I don't think I've come across a world where they don't have at least some cultural concept of beings that serve higher powers."

[ambriel]

"She did suggest a nature god, but ended up settling on a comparison to some sort of wandering knight." Not entirely incorrect, really.

"If there is such a world, I am sure someone from it has traveled here to Milliways," Ambriel says with some amusement.

[nita_callahan]

Nita grins. "An angel errant?"

[ambriel]

Ambriel's head tilts, pretty obviously trying to attach this term to a meaningful definition. Then a lightbulb goes off.

"Similar, though I lack a lady fair to dedicate my quest and valiant deeds to." The angel's tone is dry but amused.

[puckishly]

Puck flops onto her table.

He is dressed with surprising formality (shoes, for example), and looks unsurprisingly miserable about it.

"Nita Callahan, you must save me."

[nita_callahan]

Nita blinks.

". . . From?"

She totally will if she can! Just. What?

[puckishly]

From? From?

Puck looks up at her, blue eyes wide and full of horror.

He sputters, "Luncheons."

[nita_callahan]

Nita reaches out and pats his hand.

"I'm so sorry," she says solemnly, "but even I have limits."

[puckishly]

Puck makes a miserable mraow sound.

"That's it, then. There is no hope left to me."

[nita_callahan]

"Sorry. Are they really that bad?" she asks sympathetically. "Who are they with?"

[puckishly]

"I have been," he sighs, "sometime on Havelock's Disc. We have become entangled in some manner of house party."

[nita_callahan]

". . . Oh God."

GENUINE HORROR.

[puckishly]

Puck is just going to ... read this as sympathy.

"Apparently he stands to learn aught of use to him, or else has already. One can so seldom tell."

Due to, you know, his single facial expression.

[nita_callahan]

"At least someone's getting something out of it, then." She props her chin on her hand. "Why are you along? I mean, do you have to be there?"

[puckishly]

He blinks.

"Well, no, I suppose."

And honestly from a tactical standpoint, it's not the greatest idea.

[nita_callahan]

"So what are you doing there? Besides suffering through luncheons."