Hidden Places and Hidden Hearts

[Lady]

((Avian ))

Kaylin found Scholar's District to be everything she had imagined Mentis, the holy land of the God of Thought, to be. Very bookish, with lots of people either talking, studying, or looking like death warmed over as they stared blankly at their books (or facsimile thereof.)

She hadn't been extremely interested in studying as she'd grown up, so she could sympathize more with the latter students she spotted, but that didn't mean she didn't like learning at all. She just preferred oratory methods. As she drifted towards a particular building and let herself in, she wondered what it'd be like to sit in on one of Osyris's lectures. Probably utterly enchanting. He had a way with words that made everything he said seem fascinating.

Of course she didn't want to bother him so although deep down in side she imagined sneaking into the back of a classroom and listening with rapt attention, the reality was she was hoping to catch him in a spare moment. She had with her a delicious treat packed away in a newly fashioned cloth napkin she wanted to surprise him with.

It had taken some time to reach this point; she was now familiar enough with Rune to find her own way around the Districts with no trouble, but from there she had stopped to ask numerous people about where to find Osyris until she was finally pointed in the right direction, and from there narrowed down to a classroom to seek--or, barring that, an office. She stopped by the classroom first and peeked inside, spotting him but also plenty of students. But a glance at the clock nearby showed it perilously close to the end of the hour. He was probably done soon. Grinning, she let herself in, moving quietly, and stood in the back of the room.

[Avian]

Osyris stood at the front of the room, leaning casually against a sturdy desk as he gesticulated with his hands to illuminate certain points of conversation. His hair was uncharacteristically combed into place and he wore a pair of dark-rimmed glasses Kaylin hadn't seen before, along with a tweed-patterned blazer with patches on the elbows. His students, a diverse mingling of various races and ages, were also in varying levels of engagement--some focused with rapt attention to the professor's words while others sketched away in notebooks or had simply ceased even trying to look involved and merely gazed off into the distance.

"...which coincided with the advent of the First Runic Year, and set the stage for countless advancements to follow. And that," --he concluded as he spotted Kaylin, with a flicker of a smile that caused some of the students to turn and look in her direction-- "brings us up to the end of the unit. If there are no questions, class is dismissed. Remember your research projects are due next week! I'll only accept the most inconceivably compelling excuses for late work, so please plan on punctuality. Have an excellent weekend!"

He turned to the desk and straightened up some papers while he waited for the students to file out, then approached Kaylin with a warm smile and open arms, offering a friendly hug.

"Miss Kaylin!" He enthused. "What brings you down to our hallowed halls of higher learning?"

[Lady]

Kaylin took that offer, hugging him warmly. She had stopped verbally protesting the 'Miss Kaylin' business but she did wrinkle her nose at him in silent protest for a moment.

"A gift!" she announced, offering the bundle with a flourish. The napkin was a pale cream color with a monogram for him in green stitching in the corner. She turned down one corner to reveal a stack of fresh baked cookies.

"I made the cookies," she added. "It was a lot easier than I thought it would be." She only burnt one batch before getting it right. "I figured you'd like a sweet snack while you were working."

She tilt her head and regarded him with a smile. "You look very nice like that. Very professional. But not exactly like yourself. I still like it though."

[Avian]

He glowed under her praise but smiled shyly and removed the glasses, tucking them into a pocket on the front of his jacket.

"It helps, somewhat," he explained, "to create a sort of distancing effect from the students. I'm comparatively young for a university professor and dressing the part helps to foster a greater respect. I've been mistaken for a TA or a graduate student on more than one occasion. But it's reassuring to know I wear it well. Maybe that bodes well for my aging process! It's incredible what you can do with good genetics and the right pair of spectacles. In other news, these--" he stated, taking the cookies from her, "--smell incredible. Will you share them with me? I have quite some time before my next class."

[Lady]

"I'd love to," Kaylin agreed, taking one as well and enjoying the fruits of her labor. "Do you look like your father, then?" she asked him. She was curious about his family. Really, about many things where he was concerned. With familiarity came creeping curiosity. It was the same with her home; as she began to explore Rune, she wanted to explore her friend as well.

"Or do you take after your mother?" She wondered about that herself. Having been brought by a proxy to Acoia meant that the priests couldn't tell her. But after getting James, and seeing him, she liked to think she took after her own mother, just as her son took after her strongly.

"Are they good?" she asked as well. She liked them but she only had her burnt ones to compare them by.

[Avian]

"They're excellent," he replied, already reaching for a second as he perched himself on a nearby desktop. "I can't help but wonder if there's anything your clever little hands can't manage." His thoughts went momentarily to the contents of his pocket, wondering if they remained undisturbed after the hug. Not that it mattered--all her searching fingers would have found were a piece of chalk and a few candies for which she had a particular fondness.

"As for familial resemblances..." he cocked his head as he considered the question, chewing thoughtfully on a mouthful of cookie. "I've been told that I tend more toward my father in appearances, although I can't tell you how many times I've heard that I have my mother's eyes. Her demeanor as well. My father is a brilliant and fair man, but sometimes almost cold in his devotion to reason. My mother, by contrast, is warm and curious to a fault. She lights up any room by standing in it. And yet, strangely enough, the two of them have lasted quite blissfully together all this time. They are a beautiful living testament to the power of love, if you'll forgive my waxing poetic. I think you'd rather like them."

[Lady]

"I think I would, although your father sounds very intimidating," Kaylin admitted. Not that she wasn't used to dealing with that sort of person. "If I may say though, I think it sounds like you definitely got your mother's temperament." She smiled brightly at him as she moved to sit next to him. "I know that I always feel like the sun's shining a little brighter when I get to spend time with you." She giggled a little. "Even indoors, like this!"

She smiled softly in thought. "You and my son are a lot alike, like that. He has that same quality. It makes you both very special people."

[Avian]

Osyris happily slid over to allow her room next to him on the desk and chuckled softly at her compliments.

"You really are too kind," he insisted, although he didn't seem to be objecting too strongly. "But I am honored to be ranked in the same category as James. I don't think I've ever heard you speak of someone with as much fondness as your son."

His tone was light and playfully teasing, but the sentiment was genuine. That Kaylin would consider him to be as special or important to her as James was high praise indeed, and it didn't go unnoticed.

"Actually," he added suddenly, "you could meet them. If you'd like. The holidays are coming up and I'll be spending plenty of time with my family once classes aren't in session. I'd love for you to come along with me if you're interested. James would be welcome too, of course."

[Lady]

"I'd love to," Kaylin said, surprised but quick to accept. "If it wouldn't be a bother of course." She could feel tendrils of nervousness twining tightly within her at the thought, but she couldn't quite explain why. They sounded like nice people. Maybe it was just fear that she would embarrass Osyris...

"I wish I could extend the same courtesy, but well." She smiled in faint self-deprecation. "Actually what I really wish was that I could show you my home." But... Well, she could do the next best thing. She grinned slowly with growing excitement as an idea formed. "Have dinner with me tonight?" she asked Osyris. "I have a surprise I want to show you. It'd have to be a late dinner though. Hmm... I guess more of a midnight snack, if that isn't too late for you."

[Avian]

"Of course!" Osyris was pleasantly taken aback by the sudden invitation. Not that it was unusual--they'd been spending a fair amount of time together recently, and more as the days went on, but a surprise midnight rendezvous was somewhat of a bold gesture. Though he didn't have to think twice about accepting it, he did already find himself second-guessing at the implications. Whatever could she possibly have to show him?

"That isn't too late at all. I teach an evening class tonight which should finish up shortly after sundown, and then I was planning on finishing up a few lecture notes in my office. After that, I can meet you wherever you like. Should i plan on bringing anything?"

[Lady]

"Just yourself is all that's necessary," Kaylin told him with a secretive smile. Ooh she loved surprises, especially springing them on other people. "Although if you want to bring a dessert or something to drink you certainly may."

She had an impish smile and for a brief and completely unconcerned moment she felt... Like her old self. Before everything had gone the way it had. Before the fairies. She had him to thank for that. Her smile softened to something else for a moment before she decided to change the subject.

"Of course there's plenty of time between now and then, and although I will need to sneak away for preparing things later, would you like to go for a walk?" There were things she needed to figure out, to prize out of him carefully, like delicately picking a pocket. Hopefully she'd have more finesse at it verbally than she sometimes did physically.

[Avian]

Osyris consulted his pocketwatch, though he already knew what the answer would be.

"Sure," he agreed. "I have about an hour before my next class, and nothing pressing until then. Unless you had somewhere in mind, may I suggest the university gardens? They're exceedingly lovely. Flora from all sorts of different homeworlds, and no shortage of fascinating information. The aesthetic choices in the landscaping are exquisite as well, it..." he trailed off, shaking his head slightly as he reprimanded himself for getting carried away. "Apologies. We can go wherever, and whenever, you like." He slid off the desk and smoothed the creases on his jacket absentmindedly, a habit which did very little to help his perpetually ruffled appearance.

[Lady]

Gardens?

"Sold!" Kaylin said quickly, hopping off the desk. "Please, lead the way. I adore gardens!" Maybe she'd see some flowers that were familiar to her. "Do you have a favorite flower she asked?"

Oh yes. What a smooth criminal she was. The most elegant prying.

[Avian]

Osyris gestured for her to leave the classroom first and then closed the door behind them as he considered her question.

"Hmm....calla lilies. No! Orchids. Or paperwhites. Final answer," he offered with a half-apologetic smile. "But to be fair, that's a deceptively hard question."

He guided her down the hallway and out a large set of French doors that led into a courtyard as they conversed.

"Asking someone's favorite flower means picking your favorite out of a nearly infinite set of already lovely things. It's the sort of thing that seems terribly easy, until you actually have to do it. What's yours, then?"

[Lady]

In truth, she agreed with that answer. It WAS hard. But now she felt compelled to be smart and answer him succinctly. "Morning glories," she answered. And lilacs. And moonflowers. And roses. But she did really like morning glories. "I like how they look when you first get up, all covered in dew, and looking almost unreal or like they'd tinkle if you shook them."

"Acoia had gorgeous gardens," Kaylin reminisced. "And I loved how the morning glories were the least 'tamed' of the flowers. At least at a glance. While others were kept in their carefully maintained beds, they'd be growing up the walls and pillars."

Well that was one down. She tried to be a little more clever with her next question. "I think there's nothing finer than sitting in a garden, listening to some sweet music, enjoying some tea or something similar. I'm quite partial to the violin and the harp myself. Especially adventure ballads." She'd been sad to find it harder to come across her old favorite styles of music, although she did stumble upon an honest-to-goodness bard a few days ago and just about emptied her pockets in delight. "Although I must admit the orchestral music that you can listen to through the, uh." She resisted the urge to call them magic, even though it was enormously magical to her. "The box that plays the music? Not a musicbox. The electric one. I like that too."