Daddy Denial - RPLOG
Participants
Date
12/10/479
Log
Fenris stands outside the Lighthouse on the catwalk and looks out over the ocean. It's not often he is called out to the island for anything and it is kind of refreshing to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The short ride out here stirs the wanderer blood in the tiger.
Meanwhile, Flora is... She's carrying a slim camera, a little smaller than the usual model used at LongTech Industries, although with a much larger, semi-cylindrical protusion at the front. Carefuly, step by step, she ascends the stairs, making sure the camera is alright. Soon enough, she's busy setting up the device, pointing out over the ocean, as she fiddles something with the large cylindrical shape.
Fenris looks around when he hears the creak of the stairs. "Well," he says with a smile, "This is a little far from home for you! What brings you all the way out here?" The tiger does not come inside, staying on the catwalk to enjoy the breeze in the warm afternoon air.
"New test. New results, yes," Flora notes, as she gestures for Fenris to take a peek through the little glass window at the top that she uses to see -what- she's taking a picture of. "Careful. Don't change the angle," she notes, as she steps back.
The whole seems to offer an almost-spyglass like quality, offering a good view of a military vessel of Sweetwater origin, albeit quite up-close. In fact, the magnification is better than many a spyglass would offer, and the image is crystal-clear in addition to that.
"Flora is working on magnification. Making it better. Flora things Flora's cracked some of the math, maybe. Not quite sure on how or why, but the math makes sense for each lens."
Fenris peers through the lens and whistles appreciatively. "That is good work," he says, "Better than Uncle Able's old spyglass by a long shot." He steps back and lets Flora go back to her work. "Why not just use the view from the manor?" he asks.
"No good directions from the manor. And the rock in the background offers a point of reference, yes," she notes, pointing in the direction of the ship, which is barely even visible to begin with. The rock behind it, when viewed through the camera, does have a very particular shape.
"And people can't claim Flora put the camera too close. Nothing nearby to put it on, just water," she adds with a small smile, a flick of her ears as she readies a slide and sets the device to run.
"Flora has a question, yes."
"Makes sense," Fenris says with a smile, leaning on the railing and looking out over the water. His ears perk up and his tail sways slowly when Flora says she has a question. "Of course," he says, "What is it?"
Flora nods and smiles lightly, as she continues working with her camera, before looking up at Fenris. "What is Flora to Fenris?" she asks, head canted lightly, tails flicking behind her as she moves to grab another slide. "Flora will take some pictures of Firmament too, but with the other camera. Still downstairs," she notes, shrugging lightly, before turning back to Fenris and waiting for her answer.
Fenris blinks in confusion for a moment, trying to line up the question and the quick shift back to the business at hand. "A friend?" he says, "Why do you ask? I mean, I am not planning to court you, if that's what you are asking. I can't tell you anything about Matthews, but I am not looking to take his place."
"Well, no. That's not what Flora was thinking. Fenris is... Old, yes?" the she-cat questions, her ears flicking lightly, brow raised. "And Fenris is a tiger," she concludes, shrugging lightly. "And Fenris seems... Concerned with the men that are interested in Flora?" she offers, although there's a light shrug following that statement.
"Yes?" Fenris says, eyebrow rising, "And yes? I am a tiger and I am. . . older than I look." He looks thoughtfully at Flora. "And I don't know. I guess I feel responsible for you. I don't know why. Ever since I let you use that loft, I have felt like I should keep an eye out for you. As far as your current suitors? I am your children's godfather. I just want to make sure you are taken care of. That's all."
"Then that settles it, yes," Flora concludes, tail flicking behind her. "Fenris is dad then, yes," she opts... Although she seems rather pragmatic under her 'revelation' of just now... Normally, one'd move to hug their estranged father, after all.
Fenris stares at Flora for nearly a full minute in silence. "What?" he finally asks. It is not often that the well seasoned tiger is caught completely off guard, but this is one of those rare, exquisite times. "You think I'm. . ." he trails off, "You think that I am your father? How do you figure that?"
"Fenris acts all fatherly for one, yes. And Fenris is the right species. And old enough, yes. And Flora is... Flora is quite sure Flora is quite different from Flora's sister, yes. Must be a reason for that. Nurture, yes, but also nature," the she-cat explains.
"Flora is... What's the word... Eccentric, yes? Flora thinks Flora would've heard if another eccentric cat were around Sweetwater, yes. Or the same type of eccentric."
The big tiger leans on the railing of the catwalk, searching for words to talk about this. "I don't even know how to start," he says, "No, wait, yes I do. Flora, I am not your father. We will start with that." Fenris rubs a hand across his face, his brain finally catching up after the shock. "Second, no. I am not your father," he says, "And if my experience means anything, I would say that while you may be. . . eccentric, your sister is mad. Believe me, we have met on more than one unpleasant occasion." Maybe he should not admit to that, but he is still a little rattled.
Fenris takes a deep breath and finally relaxes. "I am sorry if you were hoping for something else," he says, "But it is the truth. I have no children. I have never had any children. And I can tell you with absolute certainty that I was nowhere near Shralesta when you were born."
Flora raises a brow, her tails flicking behind her lightly. "Fenris has met Flora's sister and -not- told Flora? Mad and Eccentric are the same thing, yes. Eccentric is just mad, told in a nicer way," she notes, apparently completely ignoring the suggestion that Fenris isn't her father. "Flora is quite sure there's nine months between the part that involves the father, and the part where Flora would be born, yes. Flora should know. Flora's been pregnant, yes," she concludes, shrugging her shoulders lightly.
"Flora asked Mister Sirus for the records on Flora's parents, or suspected records, at least. According to them, they were in the... Jadelands, yes. Flora believes that's where Fenris was too, during that time?" she questions. "If the spyguard didn't give Flora false information, of course."
Sirus should not know that information. And he definitely should not be handing it out to anyone less than the king. Fenris frowns. "I was," he says, "But to have a child I would have to. . . " he hesitates a moment, then remembers who he is talking to, "I would have to have had sex with a woman. And that never happened. For three years I was a student with the Yamauchi clan and for the two before that I was a student of the Windmantle family. Creators! The reason I left was because I wouldn't accept the advances of a woman!" He conveniently does not mention the sister again.
Flora squints lightly, before shrugging. "Fenris is still dad. Maybe not really, but Fenris is still very... Dadly, yes," she concludes, shrugging lightly. "Is Fenris sure? It was more than twenty years ago, yes," Flora notes, before shrugging again.
"So, about Flora's sister then, yes?" she notes, brow raised. She's not about to forget any important details.
"But I'm not. . ." the tiger sighs, "Fine. Whatever you like, but I would definitely remember something like that." Fenris shakes his head and finally leans away from the rail. "And yes," he says, "I have met your sister. I have had several. . . invitations from the less savory part of your family."
Flora shrugs a little, her tails flicking behind her. "Not real dad. Surrogate dad. Like how Flora's dad wasn't really Flora's dad because he was a wolf and not actually Flora's dad, but took the role anyways, yes. But not quite the same way, no. But if Flora finds out Fenris is Flora's real dad," she notes, brow raised lightly, before shrugging again.
"Tell Flora about Flora's sister, then, yes. What is Flora's sister like?" she asks, a brow raised. Sure, her sister may've been a thorn in her side up until this point, and even tried to kill her indirectly during childhood, but that doesn't mean Flora isn't at least a little curious about her direct relatives.
Fenris relaxes and gives Flora a little, lopsided smile. "I am alright with being a father figure," he says, "As long as we all know that I am not your actual parent." The tiger runs a hand through his thick, wavy hair. "Your sister is. . . dark," he says, trying to decide on the best way to go about this. It would not be a good choice to reveal everything he had learned about the Lady as her followers called her, nor his deep suspicions that Katrina Silkenfur and the Lady were one and the same. There was no evidence for that except for the testimony of a "dead" Longtail agent. "I did not speak with her long, understand," he explains, "And I was tied to a chair and force fed drugged food at the time. She is commanding and absolutely certain that everything she does is right."
"Flora is... not commanding. But Flora is pretty sure Flora is doing the right thing, yes," the she-cat conlcudes, her ears flicking lightly, although she raises a brow at the mention of drugs and being tied to a chair. "That sounds... Like she's a bad host, yes," she notes, completely missing the point as usual.
Fenris snorts. "I don't think that she could be convinced of that," he says, "I think she thought herself quite the gracious hostess." The tiger grins, "Besides, I don't think you have ever invited me to dinner. I admit, her methods leave something to be desired, but she did lay out a pretty amazing table." He shakes his head. "I wouldn't try to compare yourself to her, though. The best thing you can do is leave her to others to worry about. You do what you can for your house."
Flora nods, a small shrug. "Flora has to keep her House afloat, yes. Flora also has to make sure LongTech works properly, so Flora has very little time to invite people for dinner, much less fancy ones... Flora wouldn't even know -where- to host the dinner. Can't stop LongTech's operations, no. That'd mean a loss that day, and the next day because things have to be cleaned up. Maybe outside, like the Thera'Dorian party, yes," she concludes.
"Like Flora's said before, though... Everything can be explained, can be predicted. Just need enough data, enough information. Even people can be predicted, yes. With enough information."
Fenris sighs and looks over at Flora. "I know that you neither need nor want my advice," he says, "But you really do need to set up at least PART of the old manor for entertaining. I know the nobility don't make sense to you, but if you want their support, you are going to make a show of being part of their world." He smirks a little. "Think of it as a different kind of math."
"It has nothing to do with math. And Flora has the garden. Remember the party for the Thera'Dorians? That was nice, yes? A nice, open air party," Flora concludes, nodding to herself, although she does look to Fenris for confirmation. "Flora actually made sure that part of the garden looks extra nice, yes," she adds after a while, shrugging lightly. "Flora could use the mess-hall, but the foyer has a lot of beings there. And if Flora gathers everyone there, people might try to slip into the factory-floor, yes," she mumbles, trying to work things out in her head.
"The garden was very nice," Fenris agrees, "I am just recommending that you create a space where the nobility can feel comfortable. There is an old parlor in the family wing that would work," he says, remembering the blueprints and schematics of the building he has seen, "Or the trophy room. Just clean it out and move in a table and some tapestries. It even has a door to the gardens. You could bring visitors in there and seal off the inside door. If you want the support of the other nobles, you have to at least APPEAR to play by their rules." This is, unfortunately, one place where Flora could learn a thing or two from her mad sister.
"Trophy... Room?" the she-cat questions, scratching the back of her head in confusion. She genuinely seem to not be a clue what room Fenris is referring to. "Flora supposes there's a free room on the first floor. Although Flora was planning on using that for other things, yes."
Fenris smiles a little and shakes his head. "Like I said, it is just advice. You don't have to do anything I say," he says, "Use your House's resources as you see fit." The tiger leans back on the railing, looking out to sea. He stands in silence for a few minutes. "Have you ever been to the Jadelands?" he asks in a sudden shift of topic.
"No, no. It makes sense, yes. Flora will think about it, yes. Would a big clock be a good trophy?" Flora asks after a moment of pause. "All open and showing the gears?"
"Flora's never been there, no... Flora still has to organize a trip to Cliffside too, yes. Jadelands might come after, yes."
Fenris hesitates, lining up his thoughts and putting them through the Flora filter. "If artfully done," he admits, "An open clock might be interesting. I am just recommending that you make a less utilitarian place for meeting with other members of the peerage." He looks back over the water. "I have been thinking of traveling there again," he says, "I don't expect that any of my old teachers are there any more, but I found a special kind of peace there, a long time ago."
"Yes. If Fenris is as old as the file suggests, that is a safe bet, yes."
"Flora will thing about making a big clock. Would have to be decorated, yes? Can't just be a clock," she mumbles, momentarily lost in thought...
"Flora doesn't suppose Fenris has thoughts on how to move time?"
Fenris sighs, so much for talking about travel. "No," he answers, "With all my experience, I can only move time very slowly in one direction. Just like everyone else." The tiger looks at the sun, moving slowly across the sky. "And speaking of time," he says, "It looks like it has moved on without us. I had only meant to come up here for a few minutes, but I am glad that I was lucky enough to run into you." He nods at the camera. "That thing nearly finished?"
"No, no... Not moving through time. Moving time. Flora will explain," the feline notes as she pulls out a slip of paper, and draws a line with two markings at the edges. "If Flora wants to transport a distance..." she notes, as she elongates the markings, draws another line, and tears the piece of paper. "Flora can give a copy to Fenris, and Fenris can bring it to where it needs to be... That works for everything. Except time, yes. Because it takes time to bring it. Flora needs a solution for that."
"That one is done. Flora is waiting for the right moment to take a picture of the city, yes," she notes, even as she gestures for someone downstairs to bring up her other camera...
Fenris tries, he really does, but he can't really make heads nor tails of what Flora is saying. "No," he says, "You have completely lost me. You want to move time around? I think that everyone gets their own, specific, limited supply."
"Does Fenris understand what Flora means with the distances? Flora can make a physical thing of that length, yes, and give it to another, who can use it, too... But say that people say that something happens at twelve in the afternoon... How does Flora know that their twelve is also Flora's twelve?" she asks, scratching her head lightly.
"Cliffside is a few hours different from Sweetwater, yes? Because it's in a different place in promise. But if something happens between cliffside and sweetwater, that can be seen from both sides, how do you know both places see it at the same time? Flora needs a way to say 'this is what time it is in Cliffside', but it has to be corrected for the time it takes to say that, yes."
Fenris is again caught off guard and tries to line all of that up into something that makes sense. "You mean something to measure time everywhere, all at once?" he tries, "No idea. I can honestly say I have never thought about it. I just go by the sun and the big clock in the middle of whatever town I happen to be in. I imagine the Creators have something like that, since they don't always have a sun to go off of." It is a question he might have asked Sylvia, his machine spirit friend, but she had not answered his summons in months.
"Sure, yes... Doesn't need to measure, necessarily, but it does need to be the same as measuring at the same time in the original place, yes... Like when moving a clock. But the problem with moving a clock is that it doesn't work right. Clocks aren't perfect, start running differently. The creators must have something like that... Flora is thinking. Hrmm. Flora isn't quite sure how to do it yet... Flora will have to think. Flora still has a few months to fix the problem, yes."
"Again," Fenris says, "Good luck. I wish I could help you." The tiger barely understands what Flora is trying to do, and certainly doesn't understand the purpose. He waits while Flora's assitants carry her things up the narrow stairs then smiles to Flora. "I really should be going," he says, "I have more work to do today. I'm glad to get to see you, though." The tiger gives a lazy salute and starts off down the stairs.
"Flora may try to show Fenris later, yes. Flora thinks Flora knows how to show it... Flora'd just need to get two clocks, yes... Do some measurements. Flora will show Fenris the problem," she concludes, smiling lightly as she waits for her second camera, setting it up to take some pictures of the city as seen from Aurumrock.
