Backwater Nexus and various worlds. Various Nexus places, an Earth, some other worlds. Tourist!

[firra]

Kellen: *a bright flash lights up the mouth of an alley, and after a second a short, fat boy with golden skin and hair steps out, tucking a metal rod of some kind into his jacket pocket. He's carrying a mostly empty looking bag, and looking around the square with an excited expression* Ooh! *stands there, taking it in for a second*

square: *faced by the backs of brownstones on three sides, decorated with couches of various sorts, including a white one the size of a roadside mini mall. Fourth side holds a little A frame building marked "Visitor Center". Behind this building is what looks like a street, and then a park with grass, trees, and a few teletubbies*

Kellen: *nods to himself and sets off towards the Visitor Center, keeping his long tail close to his legs to prevent anyone from tripping over it*

brown haired young woman: *looks up from where she's flopped on a couch across from racks of souvenirs and information pamphlets, then goes back to brushing the silver hair of a little blue eyed girl in a long blue wool dress. Is wearing modern American garb decorate with gear from a fantasy type world herself*

desk: *at the back of the Center, which is much bigger inside than on the outside. Is being attended by a burly, dark green bot of a tech similar to what's called 'G1' on that poster on the back wall*

bot: *looks up as the bell over the door rings and grins at the newcomer* Can I help you?

Kellen: *notices the building is bigger on the inside and grins at it for a second, touching the wall by the door and generally carrying on like a tourist before he notices the bot behind him* Oh! *looks the bot up and down with a huge smile* Hello! Yes! Everything's working then, wonderful, wonderful. *looks back at the bot like he momentarily forgot it was there* Oh! Right! Yes! I just got here, where would you recommend I go? I'd like to do some shopping, maybe see some sights. *the end of his tail curls and wiggles excitedly around at ankle height*

bot: *as the little silver haired girl grabs a fuzzy orange kitten who just lunged for the newcomer's tail* First timer, huh? *voice deep and good natured* I'd grab some of those pamphlets there on that rack. Especially the 'Nexus 101'. The one next to it is the map of what we usually see around here, and the one above them is a short list of fun spots. If you want a better guide they're for sale over here. *points*

Kellen: *beams up at the bot* Thank you! *he boops the kitten's nose with his tail and waves at the girl before scampering over to the pamphlets and picking out the ones the bot told him about, reading each of them carefully*

little girl: *as the kitten flails gleefully in her arms* The guidebook has a compass on it that works in the Nexus. *has serious blue eyes that shine faintly with an eldritch light. She looks five or six, but seems older, and there is definitely a feeling of power from her*

Kellen: Ooh! *he picks out one of the guidebooks and looks at the compass* How does that work? Is it magic or something else?

little girl: Fae life. *lets the kitten go and watches the little thing attack the hem of her calf length dress* My name's Silver. What's yours?

Kellen: *blanches* As in, a dead one? That's... different. My name's Kellen, though.

Silver: *looks up with surprise* No. It's alive. Just alive enough to know which way is which.

Kellen: Hmm... *pokes the compass gently* That is interesting. You said it only works here?

Silver: Well, wherever it's allowed to. Not in worlds where everything's plain.

bot: The book looks like a guidebook for a local city in those realities.

Kellen: Oh clever! *he takes the book he's been poking at to the counter* I'd like this, please.

Silver: Hi, Keg!

Keg: Hey, Silver. You trying to distract me from Pika attacking my feet? *chuckles and looks at Kellen* Okay, what's your local currency?

Kellen: *digs into his bag and pulls out a collection of coins of different sizes. He puts a few in his palm and holds it up, offering a selection for viewing* I think these should work here.

Keg: We take all currencies except large stone rings and living sentient people. *grins and points out five of the coins* Those'll cover it.

Kellen: Oh good! *picks out those coins and puts them on the counter* *stops* Stone rings?

Keg: Yeah. In one world one people once used these massive stone rings to show wealth. *puts the coins in the till and then hands Kellen the receipt and a piece of cinnamon gum*

Kellen: How would you carry them? *puts the receipt, gum, and his book in his bag*

Keg: They probably had slaves move them around. Most the time they left them parked in their front yard.

Pika: *climbed a Keg!* *cute little mew*

Kellen: Huhn. *smiles at the kitten* Well, thank you for your help!

Keg: No problem. Silver, get outta there. *catches little hand going into a treat jar* You've already had six.

Silver: I have money. I want some more.

Keg: No. Too much sugar's not good for little dragons.

Silver: *pouts, but then perks up and reaches for the jerky nuggets* I'll buy these then.

Kellen: *somehow brightens even more* Oh! You too? *stops himself* Oh that was rude, I'm sorry. I'm a dragon, too. I didn't know you had dragons here! We're probably different though, right? Different realities? Different kinds of people?

Silver: *serious look from where she's standing on tippytoe to get goodies* I'm a Guardian Fae Dragon. The last one. I don't know what reality we came from though. My egg was already traveling in nexuses when I got old enough to know what was happening.

Keg: *just grinning and tipping the jerky nugget jar so Silver can reach*

Kellen: Oh! Oh, I'm sorry, I probably shouldn't have said anything.

Silver: Why not? You can't learn stuff without asking questions. *thinks* Or reading, I guess.

Kellen: That's true, but I hope I didn't hurt your feelings.

Silver: *shrugs* You didn't. Do you want a jerky nugget?

Kellen: Ok! *looks up at Keg* How much are they?

Silver: *grins and grabs a fistful of the treats, then gives a small coin to Keg*

Keg: *rings it up, grinning. Pika is now on his shoulder*

Silver: *turns and offers Kellen two of the goodies* Where are you going to go now? *tilts head and her hair falls away from her ears, which have tiny little points*

Kellen: Oh, I dunno yet. I wanted to do some shopping... *he pulls out the guide and starts flipping through it*

woman from the couch: What kinda junk you after?

Kellen: *head pops up. He glances around before identifying the speaker and smiling at her* Oh, souvenirs mostly. I didn't have anything particular in mind.

woman: *brow quirk* You a tourist?

Silver: *curious head tilt as she watches them*

Kellen: *absolutely zero shame* Oh yes, definitely!

woman: *exchanges a glance with Silver*

Silver: *so serious* At least he has clothes on.

Keg: *chuckles*

Kellen: Is... that unusual? *glances around* Should I not be wearing clothes? Because I'd rather keep them on, but I suppose I don't have to.

Keg: We'd like it if you kept 'em on. Silver's just talking about all these human women who try to come here in outfits that are... not really outfits.

woman: *snorts* Dunno why they think livin' in a fantasy world makes you not need clothes.

Kellen: Oh, alright. I thought I was trodding on customs for a second there.

Silver: Some guys do it too. *wrinkles little nose*

Keg: Nah. You're good. Thanks for keeping the Nexus safe for work. *grin*

Kellen: *smiles brightly* Well you're welcome!

Silver: *offers him the two jerky treats again*

Kellen: Oh! Thank you. Are you sure it's alright?

Silver: Why wouldn't it be? *gives him one of those funny, "You're weird but I like you anyway" looks that some little girls are so good at*

Kellen: I just wanted to be sure. *he accepts the treats* You're very kind. *starts to nom on one of the nuggets*

Silver: I like dino jerky. *eats one of the ones she kept*

Kellen: It's good... what's a 'dino'?

Silver: *points to a picture of a small carnivorous dinosaur that's on the side of the treat jar* Like that. They make really good crispy skin too.

Keg: You mean Swindle co makes really good crispy rind treats from them.

Silver: *looks up at him, still nomming* That's what I said.

Kellen: *looks at the jar* *looks at the treat in his hand* *looks at the jar* Hmm. *...eats the other treat*

Silver: *big grin* They sell the crispy skin, and pieces of bigger dinosaurs, at the Black Dog.

Kellen: I should... probably not eat any of the bigger ones. But thank you.

Silver: Why not? *pushes her hair out of her eyes*

Kellen: I know someone who looks a little tiny bit like that. *points at the meat eater on the jar*

Silver: The bigger dinosaurs are pattysaurs.

Keg: *facepalms and chuckles, then picks up a plastic 'brontosaur' which says on its side, "I ate a dinosaur!"* Like this.

Kellen: *takes a bite of the second nugget and chews thoughtfully* That's not as bad, I suppose.

woman: Giant cows. *stretches and gets up* I'm headin' out. You wanna come with, Silver?

Silver: *looks over* I can't. I'm waiting for somebody to deliver a ducky I bought for the Waltzes.

woman: Ah. *looks at Kellen* ...You want to see some bits of other worlds?

Kellen: Yes!

woman: You good at stayin' close to the guide 'n not runnin' off 'n doin' somethin' stupid?

Keg: *soft snort as he shakes his head at her. Is busy laying out cards for solitaire now*

Kellen: *lays his finger aside of his cheek thoughfully* Evidence points to 'no'. But I'll do my very best to make sure not to get us killed!

woman: *snorts herself* I can take care of my *****. Just wanted ta know how hard I'll have ta kick yours ta keep it in line.

Kellen: *sparkle smile!* I'll be on my best behavior!

woman: Sheeah. I know what that means. See ya, Silver, Keg. *turns toward the door*

Keg: *intent on cards* *cheerfully* See ya, River.

Kellen: Goodbye everyone! Thank you for your help! *waves and follows the woman out* ...I'd rather you didn't, by the way. Kick me, I mean.

River: If it's what it takes. My boss gets on my ****** about fatalities.

Kellen: Oh! *he laughs* Is that all? You don't have to worry about me, then. I'm... durable.

River: *holds the door open for him. As she does so, Kellen might notice that even though she feels and walks big... River is not much over five foot high* Whatever.

Kellen: It's 'River', right? I heard them say your name inside.

River: Yeah. *glances at him, her dark eyes showing nothing behind walls of defences*

Kellen: *completely oblivious!* That's a pretty name.

River: *turns to walk away from the Visitors' Centre once he's out, but then visibly remembers something and looks back* Thanks.

Kellen: Did you forget something?

River: Not now. Did it. *considers* Might as well go to the more boring place first.

Kellen: If you like. I'm easy. *smile*

River: *sniggerfitting as she points to a spot next to her, indicating that Kellen should stand there*

Kellen: ...Oh, I did just say that... *snicker* *goes to where she's pointing*

River: *snorts at him, and then teleports them away. They arrive on the edge of a big field of what looks like tall purple sage. ...Or is it tall purple mint? It sure smells good*

Kellen: Ooh! *immediately scampers a few feet away to look at the plants*

River: *remembers he's a tourist* Hemp mint. They don't mind sharin', so chow down.

Kellen: *glances over his shoulder at her* I'm supposed to eat it?

River: *shrugs and keeps going* If you wanna.

Kellen: Not really, no. So where is this? *jogs back to her*

River: *shrugs a shoulder* They jes' call it the New World. *voice shows that she's rather contemptuous of the creativity of the name*

Kellen: What was the Old World?

River: There was more than one. Most've this lot're Exiles. *boots a rock out of her way*

Kellen: Of where?

River: *snort* Different places.

Kellen: ...Like a Pirate Island?

man: *stands in the tall hemp mint and then ducks River's reflexive punch at his solar plexus* No. Like a place of sanctuary.

River: ****** it, Raiden, don't *****ing do that!

Raiden: *slight grin, then turns his glowing white eyes toward Kellen*

Kellen: *he blinks and flinches back an inch in surprise* Oh, hello! *glances between the two of them* Friend of yours?

River: No. Liu Kang, I see you over there.

laugh: *comes from the hemp mint* So? The children are here too.

River: *face drops* Kids. Great.

Asian guy: *wearing the same simple purple clothes as Raiden, straightens up and grins at River* We're studying ants. *looks at Kellen* I'm Liu Kang. That's Raiden, former God of Thunder.

Raiden: *winces slightly at the intro*

Kellen: *at the 'not a friend' comment* Oh. *stage whisper* Are we getting into trouble already?

Raiden: *wince gone and smiling again* No, you're not. River isn't friends with anyone.

River: *******A

Liu Kang: Not around the children, alright? *glances down toward a murmur of young voices in the tall plants*

Kellen: Oh, I see, of course. Definitely not around the children, of course. We were sort of talking about that earlier, the getting into trouble thing. Sorry, anyway then, I'm Kellen! *sticks his hand out* I've never met a God before, I think. *absently* Wait. ...Maybe.

Raiden: *grip is firm and calloused* *kindly* You aren't meeting one now. I'm only a Guardian.

River: Only. *snort*

Kellen: Now, River. *smiles at him* I don't think I've met an ex-God either, really. Do you guard the children? *glances between him and the other man* Are they your children?

Raiden: *quiet smile* Some of them are my children by adoption. But Liu Kang and his wife Kitana haven't yet been claimed by any. And yes, I protect them, and our village.

Kellen: I see! How nice!

furry face: *pokes through the hemp mint and makes an interested sound at Kellen. Is a furry little six limbed dragon-type being with curious eyes*

Raiden: *looks down* Goro, no pouncing.

River: *whisper* He's a squeeeky toy, Goro!

Kellen: *looks down at it* Oh hello there! Goro, is it? I am certainly not a squeaky toy, but it's nice to meet you! *he's sort of starting to wag the tip of his tail like an interested cat*

mouth: *closes over the tip of that twitchy tail and noms it gently*

Raiden: *straightens from taking a hemp mint leaf from a human toddler who is sitting on the hip of a four armed girl with small spikes on either side of her mohawk* Kintaro, no!

Liu Kang: *facepalm* Shokan kittens...

River: *very amused, though not laughing*

Kellen: *squeak!!* *turns to the little critter* Don't bite people! That's very rude! *he snags his tail in his hands, holding the tip to his chest for protection*

Goro: *delighted* Squeak! Squeaky toy! *looks up at the girl* Sheeva, squeak!

Sheeva: *shakes her head and rolls her eyes with twelve year old grace* No.

Goro: :(

Kellen: I- I'm not- *he has no idea what the polite thing to do it. He looks at River for heeeeelp*

Raiden: *sees the look even as he gathers the tiger striped Kintaro into his arms despite the youngster's size* *gently* They're babies, Kellen. Just stand your ground and assert yourself.

Kintaro: *has loves! Happy big brawny fuzzy baby*

Kellen: *calms down somewhat* Oh! Alright, thank you... I can't tell, actually. *he smiles again*

Raiden: *nods* *then looks at Kellen with a bit of curiosity himself* I think I know why they like you so much though.

River: Yeah, he's a dragon. Is Isha around?

Kellen: Yes, I am. *looks at Kintaro* I'm sorry I was upset. Do you like dragons?

Sheeva: *proudly* Shokan are half dragon.

Kintaro: *too busy doing cute to reply*

Kellen: I see! How clever! *tickles Kintaro's chin with his tail*

Kintaro: *wrinkles nose and tries to get the tail while moving as little as possible, then makes Raiden grunt by bumping his big head against the man's in a cuddle*

River: *okay, she has to admit that's cute, for something a kid did*

Kellen: *very carefully not letting the little guy actually bite him, much like teasing a kitten with a fingertip* *he smiles at River* Who is 'Isha'?

River: *jerks a thumb at Raiden* His ol' lady.

Raiden: *reproving look for the term*

Kellen: *suddenly interested* Ooooooh~

Raiden: *turns back to Kellen* She is my wife. The original Guardian of this world. River has something for her. *glances back to River and lifts a brow*

River: *snorts* Yeah, I got it. Lotta trouble for stupid flower seeds.

Raiden: Flower seeds are never stupid. *smiling again as he baby dances slightly with Kintaro*

Kellen: *to River* Is that what you didn't forget earlier? That's so nice of you!

River: I'm gettin' paid for the delivery. *expression says that "nice" is not something she pleads for herself*

Raiden: *amused by River's expression, and it shows as he grins at her*

Kellen: Well, I think it's nice. *smile*

River: *grouchy* Whatever. *scowls at a little green eyed kid with coffee and cream skin*

kid: *scowls back cheerfully*

Kellen: *pokes Kintaro one last time* It was nice to meet you all.

Raiden: *staggers back as the baby Shokan jumps out of his arms* Thank you for visiting, Kellen. *looks toward the field, but Liu Kang and the other children have disappeared*

Kellen: Oh my, they've left without you.

Raiden: *as Kintaro bounds away through the rustling plants* No, they just went back to study, and Liu Kang followed them. *glances toward River* However, you guide is leaving without you.

River: *heading off along the edge of the field*

Kellen: Oh dear! Thank you! ...She does that, I think. Warned me not to run off and then this, you know. *he laughs and turns to jog after her* Goodbye, Raiden! *waves*

Raiden: *slight bow as he smiles. The last thing Kellen will hear of him is a slight yelp as one of the Shokan babies attacks his butt*

green eyed kid: *going to go along with you, Kellen*

Kellen: *glances back at the kid* Um, hello.

kid: I'm going home for a drink. We're just going the same way. *can't be more than three, but what an attitude*

Kellen: Well alright then. I'm just catching up to River. *he calls out* River! Wait for me! I'm really not made for all this jogging.

River: *pauses and looks over her shoulder. Then sees the kid and scowls at him again*

kid: *scowls back!*

River: Buzz off.

kid: Don't haveta.

Kellen: *catches up and proceeds to catch his breath*

River: *points to the kid* Jack Briggs.

Jack: *mouth open to sass back, realizes that wasn't a sass and looks confused* *looks at Kellen* Hi.

Kellen: Hello. Kellen. You know River. *smile*

Jack: *glances at River and snorts* My dad says she's bad*****. I think she's too little.

River: *looks at Kellen* Got your wind?

Kellen: *to River* Yes, thank you. Lots of jogging, you know. *looks back at the boy* She's not too small. You're awfully little, too, you know.

Jack: *satisfaction* My mom 'n dad're six foot tall.

River: *starts out again, is just walking this time*

Kellen: *follows* Well you're all little to me. But that's alright. You're not too little to do things, I imagine. I'm sure River is just as... whatever you said your father said.

Jack: *considering frown up at the pudgy little golden guy as he trots along beside. But then understanding dawns* Zat an avatar? *points to Kellen*

Kellen: Avawhatnow?

Jack: Guess not. *more considering. Perk* Shapeshifter?

Kellen: *realization dawns* Oh! I see! Yes. Sort of. It's easier to be more... compact. *he holds his hands like he's squishing something* When things aren't built for my size, at least.

Jack: Uh huh. *grabs a daisy as he passes it, then stuffs the flower into his mouth and munches*

River: *reaches the corner of the hemp mint field, and then turns and waits for Kellen*

tall woman: *looks over from where she's working in a smaller field, absently tossing a black ponytail back from her face. Is dressed just like the men, in a simple purple shirt and pants, though she's got her pants rolled up to the knee* Hello, River.

River: Hey, Kitana.

Kellen: *looks up at the woman as he reaches the field* Hello!

Kitana: Hello. Welcome to Thunder village. *grins*

Kellen: Thank you! *glances at River* Though I think we were just leaving.

River: *points to the very large building that just came into sight as the two passed the corner of the hemp mint field* Not yet. Isha's in there.

Jack: *heading for there at a short legged run*

Kellen: Oh of course, I'm sorry. *smiles at Kitana* I'm Kellen, it's nice to meet you.

Kitana: *nods* Are you a friend of River's? *tosses that worthy young woman a lovely golden tomato as she speaks*

River: *catch. Nom*

Kellen: I like to think we will be.

Kitana: *studies him for a moment, then smiles* You might have what it takes. *bats away a tossed bite of tomato without even looking toward it*

Kellen: *grins broadly* Why, thank you.

River: *finishes tomato and throws the stem at Kitana, who bats it away too* So where's Isha?

Kitana: In the kitchen with Mileena and Baraka.

River: *nod* Okay. C'mon, Kellen. *turns toward the fortress*

Kellen: It was nice to meet you! *waves at Kitana and follows after River* Your... um, acquaintances? Are nice.

River: *shrug* I guess. *glances over to where two young men are setting up a lightning rod in a newly ploughed field. Snerks as the one ices the pole and his friend, leaking smoke, kicks him on the butt for it*

Kellen: *smiles* And I'm having a lot of fun.

River: *watches lightning hit the pole out of a clear sky and both young men hit the dirt with identical yelps* *sniggerfitdie*

Kellen: *chuckles at the scene* ...And it's nice of you to do errands for people like this.

River: *snort and more snigger before she replies* I get paid for it.

Kellen: Of course, of course. *grins*

River: *turns toward the fortress, visibly reminding herself not to go above a walk*

man with a hat: *over there having a heated kung fu battle against a small woman with a long black braid who is going at him with bone blades that protrude from between the knuckles of her hands*

Kellen: Oooh! *taps River's arm* More acquaintances of yours?

River: *looks over and snorts again* Kung Lao n' his wife. They're mom 'n pop to those shokan goobers. *pauses to watch the fight, which is fast and furious*

Kellen: Oh, that's sweet! And they spar together? How fun!

River: *gives him a slightly funny look* Sure, why not?

Kellen: Well I don't know if everyone likes that kind of thing. *shrugs, then suddenly grins* ...Do you spar with a partner, River?

River: *snorts and starts walking toward the fort again* Nope.

Kellen: Aah. *follows after her, grinning*

River: *soon plunges into a side door of the fort, which is made of wood, and seems to be covered with living bark and shingled with massive leaves here and there on the outside. Passage from the door is dim and cool, with a friendly green smell to it*

Kellen: *idly touches the bark as they go by*

bark: *seems to rasp gently at his fingers*

Kellen: *looks around at the passageway, his narrow pupils rounding out and filling his red eyes* River, is this place... alive? It smells alive.

River: *glances at him* Yup. It's a tree.

Kellen: Ooh, I see. *he curls his fingers, shielding the wall from his fingernails as he runs his hand along the wall*

River: *sees what he's doing* She taste ya?

Kellen: Excuse me?

River: *stops and touches the wall, and the movement of the bark is visible now* It's how she finds out if she knows us're not.

Kellen: *there's a small explosion of surprise over his entire face* Oh. *removes his hand from the wall*

River: *quirks a brow* You squeamish?

Kellen: I don't think I am. But, a tree. A tree is tasting me. That isn't strange to you?

River: *shrugs* It's what she does. She keeps her bunch clean too.

Kellen: Well that's good, I suppose. I... I'm sorry, should I be addressing her? We're talking about her as though she isn't in the room.

River: Nah. They're the natives around here, but they're too different ta talk to. Lettin' her taste ya was "yo" enough.

Kellen: Oh. *slowly puts his hand back on the wall and whispers:* Hello, I'm Kellen.

wall: *taste taste, like the tongue of a cat*

Kellen: *whispering* You know, most people would ask permission before tasting someone. But I understand.

wall: *taste taste taste*

River: *quiet snerk, then takes her own hand away from the wall* C'mon.

Kellen: Coming! *turns back to the wall as though there is nothing weird about talking to it* Goodbye, then. It was nice to meet you. *follows River*

River: *follows the passage to the end, where it opens up to a large, bright kitchen*

kitchen: *over against the far wall sits a huge ugly bald man with teeth like Wolverine's. He's holding three newborn babies in his brawny arms as he works a foot treadle to turn the spits over the fire. Is also being snuggled against by a woman who could be Kitana all over again except for the expression of mischief on her face as she tries to feed him some of the cookie dough she's mixing*

River: Mileena, you pickin' on Baraka again? *smirk*

Mileena: *looks over with an impish grin* I never stopped.

Kellen: *nibbles his lip, clearly on the verge of 'squee'ing*

River: *snorts. Then nods to the bundles in the big man's arms* New ones?

Mileena: *nods, her grin softening as she leans over to peek at the little faces* All three arrived this morning.

River: *presses lips together, then mutters something unprintable*

Kellen: *makes a very small, very high pitched noise in his throat*

Mileena: *glances at Kellen quizzically*

Kellen: I'm sorry! It's just, you're both, I mean... this is adorable.

Mileena: *laughing now as she hugs Baraka's arm* Tell that to Raiden, he's always tellin' us to get a room.

Kellen: I might have to if I see him! Oh, and I'm Kellen, River's showing me around.

River: You already saw Raiden. He had a Shokan kid bouncing off his butt.

Mileena: *will now laugh very very hard at that*

Baraka: *watches her laugh*

Kellen: Well if I see him again, I'll have to remember to tell him. *grin* Don't you think this is adorable?

River: *shrug* I don't do adorable.

Mileena: *will laugh at River too*

Kellen: Some time you'll have to show me what you do, River.

River: Kill stuff. *walks over to the fire and hunkers down slightly* Isha, I got your stupid seeds.

voice from the fire: Thank you, dear. Will you put them on the table?

Kellen: *slightly crestfallen* Oh. *and then immediately distracted by the fire!*

River: Sure. *turns and sets two little paper packets on the table, which is a big block of dead wood sitting not far from Mileena and Baraka*

fire: Thank you, River. Who is your friend?

River: Kellen. He's a tourist.

fire: Oh. *chuckle* We don't get many of those.

Kellen: *to the fire* I can't imagine why - it's beautiful here, and everyone has been so friendly!

fire: Thank you, Kellen. We don't get many tourists because not much happens here, and the Guardians don't want the world damaged by too much traffic.

Kellen: Oh! Oh, I see, like a park where you shouldn't leave the paths.

fire: Well, not quite. But it's a world that never produced much animal life, so it's not sturdy enough to support very much traffic.

Kellen: *nods* I think I understand.

fire: Would you like some ginger biscuit?

River: *perks*

Kellen: Yes, please! *notices River* I think River would like one too?

fire: *chuckles, and then flares up briefly before a grey haired woman with a lean and patient face steps out of it* Yes. I think it's one of the few sweets you like, isn't it, River?

River: *snort* Just gimme. Please.

Kellen: *grins knowingly at River*

Isha: *goes over to some shelves against the wall, which look like branches or roots trained for the purpose, and takes down a big wooden box, which she opens. And even from across the room the smell of good hard gingerbread is palpable* Would you like a large piece, or a cookie, Kellen?

Kellen: *trying not to drool* I would like a cookie, please.

Isha: *looks in the box* Horse, duck, or pig?

Baraka: *grunts behind River and Kellen*

Mileena: *soft laughter*

Kellen: Duck! *did he choose 'duck', or in he just that excited about the possibility of ducks?* *glances back at Baracka and Mileena*

Baraka: *leaning carefully over the babies in his arms to listen to the soft chatter of five little girl children who can't be over two years old*

Mileena: *talking for the toddlers and being agreed with eagerly*

Isha: *takes out a large duck shaped cookie and passes it to the diminutive dragon, then takes out what looks like the wall of a gingerbread barn and gives it to River before pulling out more animal cookies for the toddlers by Baraka and Mileena and the slightly older tots who are peeking through the door. And every one of these children, other than little Mr. Jackson, is a girl*

River: Thanks. *eat!*

Kellen: Thank you! *accepts cookie, noms cookie happily*

cookie: *spicy! Hard, but not crumbly. Utterly delicious and not very sweet*

Kellen: *tail wriggles around happily* This is delicious!

River: *her reply wasn't very coherent*

kids: *happily sitting on a branch/bench now by the door and eating their cookies*

Kellen: *to River* Your acquaintances are so nice!

River: *gives him a look as though wondering what he's on*

Isha: *turns from replacing the gingerbread box* Thank you, Kellen.

Jack: *just got smacked upside the head for trying to kiss the little girl to his right. Is unfazed*

River: *finishes wolfing gingerbread, then burps and wipes her mouth on her sleeve*

Isha: Nice. *offers her a stoneware bottle, and one to Kellen as well*

Kellen: *tosses an affectionate 'really?' look at River* *notices bottle* Thank you! Um, what is it?

River: Lemonweed tea stuff. *takes her bottle with a thank you and knocks it back* *and then burps again*

Jack and co: *amusement expressed freely*

Kellen: Oh! Thank you! *glances at River* Everyone you know is so generous! *he carefully slips the bottle into his bag*

River: Uh huh. That's why you gotta pay for the bottle if you're takin' it.

Kellen: Of course, of course. *remembering the visitor center* What sort of currency do you take here?

Isha: A couple ounces of silver should buy a new one. *glances at the kids with a slight smile as they get rowdy*

Kellen: *pulls out a few coins, picking out the silver ones* Will this do?

Isha: *takes one of the coins and weighs it thoughtfully, and then there's a soft silver and gold twinkling and the coin is a melted puddle in her hand*

Kellen: *makes a quiet impressed noise and watches with interest*

Isha: *carefully moves her other hand, still surrounded by twinkles, and causes some of the silver to separate. All silver then hardens, and she lets the twinkles die down and offers Kellen back the extra silver along with a smile*

Kellen: *applauds* Very nice! *accepts the returned silver and puts the extra coinage back in his bag* I feel as though I should have you keep the extra as thanks for your hospitality.

Isha: *amused* What else are we supposed to do?

River: *snort* *and then sniggers as the sound of lightning and a yelp sound very faintly from outside*

Kellen: It doesn't matter, I think, what you were supposed to do. You were very kind to me, so I thank you. *smiles brightly* What else am I 'supposed to do'?

Isha: *laughs* Well said, young man. I hope you enjoy the rest of your journey. Jack, if you want more gingerbread then ask for it. Don't try to take Mira's.

Jack: o.o *sits pretty*

Kellen: *chuckles at the children's antics, then back to Isha * Thank you. *looks at River* I'm sure we're going to have a lot of fun.

River: *that might or might not have been a dirty rotten mean chuckle. It was too soft to tell* Yeah. Let's go. *nods to Isha and heads for the door, absently waving a hand as Mileena calls a farewell from her bench by the fire*

Kellen: *waves* Goodbye everyone! Thank you again! *follows River* Goodness, I am having a good time today! Where to next?

River: *as she leads down the dim corridor toward the outside* Murky buggy jungle.

Kellen: Okay! *giant smile*

River: *steps out into the soft sunshine and look around* *snerks as she spots a young ninja with a face covered in mud*

Kellen: *smiles with what seems to be genuine affection* This place is so lively.

River: *to the ninja* What'd you do?

ninja: *sheepishly* I was eating the clay instead of bringing some to the kitchen.

River: *sniggerfitdie as the young man slips past them into the corridor*

Kellen: *hushed whisper* Is... is it edible?

River: You jes' ate some. *amused*

Kellen: The gingerbread?

River: Yup.

Kellen: *his face breaks into a huge smile* Oh that's clever!

River: *nods toward the hemp mint field* It drops a lotta crap inta the dirt, so they wind up with clay that's sweet 'n supposedly good fer ya.

Kellen: Is it really? Or do they just say that?

River: *shrugs* Who gives a ****? It tastes good.

Kellen: *laughs* How true!

River: Dirt, tree sap, 'n spices. *heads toward a spot a little ways from the tree, acknowledging Kitana's wave with a snort as she does*

Kellen: I can appreciate a world that's naturally edible. *stretches his arms up lazily*

River: *snort* Boring. *hand on his shoulder and brings him somewhere else*

Kellen: Oh I don't thi- *suddenly, they're in a deep jungle, surrounded by large leafy undergrowth* ...Oh! Oh you did the thing! *claps* Where are we now?

River: *words to the effect that they're on a pimple on the butt of the galaxy as she looks around for her landmark*

Kellen: *blink* ...Are we really, or are you being funny?

River: *gives him a look that plainly asks if he really just asked that*

Kellen: The universe is a very interesting place, it's a legitimate question!

River: Galaxies don't got skin. *soft aha, and motions to Kellen to follow her*

Kellen: Oh, alright. Then that was very funny. *follows*

River: *leading him along what doesn't look at all like a path, though she's obviously following something* Funny this. *tosses him a fuzzy little baby blue banana*

Kellen: *catches it and gasps in delight!* Oh it's adorable! I think you know the most adorable parts of the multiverse, you know.

River: *glances at him, clearly considering taking him to some places she knows, but then shrugs the thought off and throws another banana at him*

Kellen: *fumbles this one, following it down into the leaves with a squeak*

fuzzy bug the size of his hand: *snaps pincers at him!*

Kellen: *to the bug* Oh! Oh hello, I'm sorry, I dropped my... fuzzy fruit thing. I'll just get it, if you don't mind... *reaches for the banana*

bug: *makes the world smell like vinegar as it turns and runs away*

River: *has stopped and is looking down at the rustling leaves with wide eyes* Kellen? What the **** did you just get inta?

Kellen: *squeaks unhappily and flops back onto his butt, wiping tears from his eyes* Oh goodness why, ah! Ow! Why did it do that? Was it saying hello? Oh, oww...

River: *goes back to haul him to his feet by one arm and give him the dropped fruit* No. It fraggin' thought you were gonna eat it.

Kellen: *steadies himself, then looks at her with red, wet eyes* Why would it think that? *said the dragon...*

River: *shrugs* Hardwired. *takes a bottle off her belt and tips his face back, then pours water over his eyes*

Kellen: I just assum-pllbh! *shuts his mouth as the water splashes over his face and hands* *blinks at her, looking wounded* I just assumed it was, you know, a person... it was an animal, wasn't it...? *he weakly wipes water off of his face. Strands of his golden hair are plastered to his skin, and his jacketfront is all wet*

River: *wipes her sleeve across his face* It's a bug.

Kellen: *closes his eyes as she wipes his face* Well I knew that, but it's an animal bug, not a person bug. I can't, you know, tell. They don't look... I mean, where I... *he bites his lip* I can't tell.

River: *uses his own sleeve, and arm, to wipe at his front* *gruffly* Well, around here people talk ta ya. 'N never shut up sometimes.

Kellen: Everything talks. But the spell only works on sapiants. I... *he pulls his arm back* River, you don't have to do that, thank you. *he unbuttons his jacket and peels it off - underneath is a thinner shirt* It's hard to tell what isn't talking back because it's an animal and what isn't talking back because it doesn't know you yet. *folds up his jacket and puts it away* And, you know, it's a big universe. Anything can be a person, even if it doesn't look like it. And I have to be polite.

River: *quiet snerk* You don't gotta tell me that. I've been to a lotta places in the Mutliverse. *looks up then as a soft croon sounds overhead* *quick tap of something on her collar* Hey, Bob.

Kellen: I know you must have, but... I just can't tell. And I wanted you to know. *looks up at where River is looking*

River: *from the corner of her mouth* Don't say anythin' about cute. This guy's a bad**** here. Just be polite.

Kellen: Yes ma'am.

River: *looks up again just as a small, furry being who looks like an eight limbed cross between a spider monkey and a ferret comes scootching down a nearby tree trunk head first*

Kellen: *brightly* Hello!

Bob: *scoots closer and murmurs softly, then looks toward River as the thing on her collar speaks with a human male voice* Hello, River friend.

River: *snort*

Bob: *lifts up the front half of his body so that he now has four arms and four legs* *grins at her teasingly*

Kellen: *grins at them both* My name is Kellen, it's nice to meet you, ah, Bob, was it?

Bob: *lifts all four hands in a shrug* That's what River calls me. It'll do.

Kellen: Oh! Would you like me to call you something else?

Bob: It's all good. *pauses and sniffs*

River: *points with thumb to Kellen* Stink bug.

Bob: *hides his face and turns away slightly as he tries not to laugh at Kellen*

Kellen: *frowns sadly* I thought it was a person sort of bug. I tried to talk to it.

Bob: *manages to swallow his amusement. Turns back* Well, some of the cynogany who keep those things as pets treat them just like people.

Kellen: *sighs* I'm just not very good at telling people and animals apart, I'm afraid.

River: Don't sweat it. Most people ain't.

Bob: Yeah. Not everyone has River's freaky stuff.

River: *stink eyes Bob*

Bob: Oops. Well I didn't know you didn't tell him! *all four hands out in protest of innocence*

Kellen: *head tilt* Didn't tell me what?

River: *to Bob* Next time we wind up at the 'Dog yer buyin'.

Bob: What? No way. It's not my fraggin' turn!

River: Is now, blabbermouth. *glances at Kellen and shrugs* Why I never touch anybody skin ta skin. I see stuff.

Kellen: Oh. ...Oh! You're right, you don't! Oh, goodness. Is... do you not like it? Is that why you didn't want me to know?

River: *shrugs again* Some people get all freaky about it.

Kellen: *smiles* Did you think I would, too? What sort of things do you see?

River: *shrugs* Stuff. 'N I got enough 'a my own stuff 'n other stuff in my head without addin' any more.

Kellen: Ahh, I see. Well, if you ever want to see me, I don't mind, alright? *smiles*

River: *snorts* Eat yer bananas. *then looks up at Bob* You gonna take this slag so I don't gotta wade through the weeds all the way there?

Bob: Not my fault you didn't remember the village coordinates. *cheeky grin*

River: *unimpressed look*

Kellen: *headtilt?*

River: If you weren't a fraggin' illiterate 'n could tell me the coordinates...

Bob: :D I love you, River.

River: *beans him with a thrown banana*

Bob: *soft, musical warble of laughter*

Kellen: *laughs cheerily*

River: *flips Kellen's hair over his eyes, then pulls a bundle out of her bag that has no business actually coming out of a bag that size* Here's your crap.

Kellen: *squeak!* *shakes out his hair*

Bob: *scoots down the tree trunk, eyeing River warily. Isn't fast enough!*

River: *drops the parcel and grabs Bob even as he's dodging. Pins the little guy against her side and gives him a massive noogie*

Bob: *such language!*

Kellen: *gets his hair out of his face just in time to see* *gasps delightedly!* Good catch!

River: *bit of a choke hold, and then lets go of Bob, who scoots around and clings to her back as he smooths his fur with his hands and grumbles* *wide, rotten grin as she pulls off the glove she'd slipped on over her noogie hand* Thanks.

Kellen: You're welcome! *grins*

Bob: *peeks around at Kellen, and then one small hand flashes toward River's waist band*

River: *you thought Bob could cuss?)*

Kellen: *gasps again! Clearly at least one of them is having a grand ol' time*

River: *grabs Bob's tail and jerks him back into reach as he yelps and warbles. Cuffs him in the head a few times, and then urks as his tail grabs her wrist and one hand pokes her in the belly*

Bob: *still warbling despite another yelp at being cuffed, but is giving as good as he's getting, tickle for cuff*

Kellen: Oh, well done! *gets out a banana and starts nomming*

River: *will crank the tail!*

Bob: *grabs River on the sides to hold on!*

River: Ack! *CURSE!*

Kellen: *gasp!* Oh no!

River and Bob: *pause to look at him quizzically*

Kellen: Don't mind me! *smile*

River: *snorts and gives Kellen a slight stink eye*

Bob: *hops down to get the parcel that River dropped. Vanishes into the big leaves as he does so*

Kellen: Oh, it's over?

River: *tells him he's a doofus, and then yanks down another banana and offers it* *offers it by means of chucking it at him lightly*

Kellen: Oh! *fumbles the banana again, but manages to catch this one* *grins at it, then at proudly* What shall we do now?

River: *shrugs* Nothin' else ta do here. We wouldn't fit in Funky City.

Bob: *up the tree with his tail wrapped in the string on the parcel* Don't call us that.

River: Whaddyou gonna do about it, chump?

Bob: *snorts. Waves to Kellen and then runs up the seemingly smooth bark of the giant tree, heading for the far off crown*

Kellen: *waves cheerily* Goodbye, Bob!

Bob: *chitters back and waves with one hand/foot*

River: Grab those little green fruit things yer standin' by. *picking more bananas and putting them into her bag, which doesn't seem big enough for that many bananas*

Kellen: *looks around at the jungle and mumbles* ...Everything is green, though... *looks around the bushes, brushing aside leaves and such until he figures out which fruit things she wants and starts picking them cautiously* Um, River, is another of those bugs going to be in here? *nibbles his lip*

Bug!: *chitters in the bush*

Kellen: *makes a shrill scared noise and ducks behind River* Oh-goodness-yes-like-that-one!

River: Oh for the... Fine! You pick these 'n I'll get the green things.

Kellen: *sweetly* Thank you River! *happily goes about picking the bananas*

River: Somethin' your size has no business bein' scared'a bugs this size. *waves the stink bug at him*

Kellen: *big eyed innocent look* But it hurt when it sprayed me!

River: *pitches the bug over her shoulder* Doofus.

Kellen: Well it did!

River: Don't squish those bananas, they're worth five bucks apiece.

Kellen: Really? I thought you were just gathering snacks. *rearranges the bananas in his bag, carefully nestling them away from anything hard*

River: *snort* I don't eat sweet junk. *putting the little green fruits carefully into her bag*

Kellen: You don't like anything sweet, do you?

River: Nope. *finishes gathering the fruits, and then examines some leaves down at ground level*

Kellen: *smile* What sort of things do you like?

River: *shrugs and digs up the little plant that she found*

Kellen: Surely you like something?

River: *wraps the little plant's roots in a big leaf* Guess my dog's alright.

Kellen: *suddenly excited* You have a dog? That's the sort of barking thing, yes?

River: She don't bark. Makes these ghosty sounds. *tucks little plant into her bag*

Kellen: *tries to make sense of this* Oh. *brightens* But she's a sort of pet? You have a pet?

River: She's my backup. Some monster gets its head in her jaws and it don't get it back.

Kellen: So she's a partner? Oh, is she a person sort of dog?

River: She ain't a person.

Kellen: Ok then, so, a partner, but an animal. I see.

River: *looks around and considers, then rips a big leaf off a nearby plant. Leaf is patterned with silver and gold markings* You got the bananas?

Kellen: Yes, I have... *counts* Seven? No, nine. Nine.

River: *looks over at the bunch* That's all that's ripe. Let's go.

Kellen: *obviously quite pleased with himself* Oh, good. ...What is the leaf for?

River: *gives him a, "Did you just ask that?" look* Ta sell.

Kellen: Aah. I should have guessed. Where do you sell these things?

River: This stuff'll all go at the Nexus mall n' Black Dog.

Kellen: Is that where we're going next, or did you have another errand?

River: Should stop ta sell this leaf 'n plant.

Kellen: Alright! ...Will it be less hot?

River: Huh? *frown*

Kellen: Will it be less hot there?

River: Uh. I guess so? *has no idea what you're talking about, Kellen* Les' go.

Kellen: *gives her a weary smile* Ready when you are.

((Co-written with random_xtras))
((Continued in Part 2.))