Our First Time [Lucca]

[The Jenn]

So he was willing to answer? Excellent. Vanja felt very grateful that his elders had assigned him to this task. He could write of this encounter in the journal he'd been assigned, as well. Doubtless there would be plenty to reflect upon.

"That is a very interesting perspective to me," he admitted with a small shift, not wanting to appear too intensely focused on the conversation. That would just be awkward. He was interested, however! "Here in the Fjords, we would describe the free will that you just expressed as a gift of the gods, who granted us the ability to choose our own path in life. They made you, and me, but they do not make our choices for us. They merely judge them. That is what our split tails symbolize, if you were not already aware. Many are not. But the duality of light and dark, they gain meaning when we obey or defy the gods."

He was no more knowledgeable with regards to the Highland religion after the man's brief explanation, but he had already become far more aware of the thought processes of someone who did not, in fact, prescribe to his realm's religion. So this was the sort of resistance he was likely to encounter when he left the region, among others? It fascinated him.

[Lucca]

Graeme was actually very interested in this conversation, as well. He hadn't met too many highly spiritual Cards in his life (unless you counted the Torquehelms that were focused on their curse to an extent far above and beyond their brethren) and his parents had been a bit casual with their faith. His late Father had gone to church mostly because his Mother liked to, Graeme had always suspected, though of course didn't know for sure.

There was something subtly strong about the faith of this man, Graeme suspected. Oh, he wasn't going to start believing in God or anything just because of that, of course not, but the confidence which with the other man spoke of his beliefs was...interesting to the somewhat jaded Duck. He glanced at Vanja's tails. "Ah, nae, ah'd not known about th'tails," he admitted, a curious tone to his voice. "Ah've never met anyone from the Fjords before." He was tempted to ask how Vanja knew free will was a gift of the gods, when it could just as easily exist apart from them. Or so the Duck thought. But he didn't want to see rude, nor did he particularly want an overly long discussion about religion. He had a feeling that even without his encouragement, it was most of what the other man would want to talk about.

[The Jenn]

"Many from the Fjords choose not to leave home," Vanja agreed equably, tucking himself comfortably into the seat furthest from the fire. His extremities complained of the distance while his torso relaxed and he ignored them both. "From all that I have read, we have a very different way of life from many others and we treasure our culture and our gods."

The kettle began to whistle a low, telling note that signaled near-boiling and the rat stood once more with a nearly imperceptible sigh. He should have thought before sitting down. With a careful motion to push back the worst of his encumbrance, he reached for a mit and the handle. Then he carefully poured a measure of scalding liquid into each of their cups, watching as the bundles of tea began to unfurl. There were strainers in the bottom that would be raised and taken out before they drank. It was a very warming blend, one from another realm - he shamefully did not know which - and it would serve them well on the trek ahead.

[Lucca]

Graeme nodded. "It's a fact of life tha' yer often more comfortable among yer own," he said thoughtfully, idly kicking off one of the boots he'd worn for this journey. He wasn't used to wearing such restrictive footwear, but it was necessary in a place like this if he didn't want to risk freezing his webbed toes off. The other boot went next. This close to the fire and in the well-heated lounge, he'd be plenty warm without them. Of course, he'd need to put them back on in a moment.

"Ah've seen a good many Realms before, and have traveled to just about every one on business, and it's something I enjoy doing. But there's always somethin' nice about being home again. It always has a special place in yer heart." Graeme didn't feel bad about indulging in a bit of sentimentality, and he gave a slight sigh, thinking of his home in the Highlands, where the weather was balmy and he had all afternoon free to count the money in his money bin and swim around in it. But staying too long at home made him go a bit stir-crazy, hence why he was here.

Graeme carefully accepted the cup of tea he was offered, not sipping from it just yet. He didn't fancy a burned tongue. "Thank you," he told Vanja. That incense burner was still very interesting. It seemed to be a little bit difficult for the Rat to work around it, at times. And, before he thought better of it, he asked. "Vanja...if ye don't mind me asking, why d'ye wear that on your head?"

[The Jenn]

The duck's words spoke to Vanja, who had no doubt that he would be facing similar nostalgia in several years' time. True, he was eager to explore at the present. But how long would it take him to miss the Fjords enough to reflect on them so fondly? Probably not long.

He picked up his cup carefully with the tips of his claws, enjoying the heat as it spread towards his palms without burning. He wouldn't drink for several moments yet, but he'd always liked the sensation.

McDuck's question gave him a moment's pause, however, and he glanced back at the man with a startled expression. His head...? Surely the man wasn't referring to his hat. A second later, he felt vaguely foolish and glad that he hadn't voiced the question. "I will assume that you speak of the burner?" he asked, waiting for a sign of agreement before continuing. "It is an item of faith. The incense that it burns encourages a revitalization of spirit and a purity of faith. It assists me in clear thinking during times of stress or doubt. I was chosen to wear this because of my natural aptitudes. When it burns, the smoke allows me to feel more in tune with the wishes of the gods."

All true without going into detail. Hopefully an outsider would take such an answer with grace. When the time was right, he delicately removed the tea leaves from the cup and took a very small sip.

[Lucca]

Graeme nodded, turning the cup over in his hands. The Rat looked surprised at the question, and Graeme indulged in private amusement. Such headgear must be quite common in the man's homeland, but outside it he was probably going to get asked the same question a lot. And, in fact, a lot less politely. But the Duck would prefer to not be the one to give the poor Rat that revelation. Vanja would find out on his own how upsetting the outside world could sometimes be, and he'd learn to roll with the punches eventually.

"Ah see," Graeme said, nodding slowly as he mulled the answer over. So the incense was a sort of calming influence, helping Vanja to think about what the gods might want of him. As much as Graeme had little use for religion, it made sense on some level. "Thank ye for answering th'question." He sipped at his tea, allowing the warmth of it to flood through him. He'd certainly need that feeling when they went back outside. The tea, he was interested to note, always did for him something like Vanja's incense burner might. It allowed him to clear his head and calm down. So did counting money, but that was something he could really only feel safe doing alone.

[The Jenn]

"Of course," Vanja agreed equably, trying not to burn his mouth as he took another sip. He never could wait long enough after it steeped... either he drank it scalding or frozen. "You are a guest of the priesthood and we welcome you. I would be remiss in my duties as guide if I did not assist you in feeling comfortable here. I am happy to answer any questions that you might pose to me, within reason."

Though he tried to keep the contents of his cup for as long as he could, the tea slowly dwindled down to little more than dregs. His mouth would not thank him in several hours.

He fielded further questions, the conversation exceedingly polite, until the Highland gentleman felt warmed enough by the fire and tea to feel comfortable with travel. They wouldn't be able to make it overly far that day across the bitterness of the Calloo landscape, but there were various checkpoints along the route to the fjords and they could stop to rest in one of the nearest before night fell.

[Lucca]

Graeme found that he was enjoying Vanja's company immensely. The man was polite, composed, and calm, but underneath that was burning with passion for his faith. It was a curious thing, and Graeme actually rather admired it. He hoped the Rat could keep that conviction once he got a taste of the world outside. Of course, he was rather ignorant on many of the darker aspects of the Calloo religion, so it was difficult to say how he might feel if he knew, for example, how Vanja felt about Corvies.

As much as part of him was reluctant to leave the warmth of the fire, Graeme was eager to travel and see more of this region he'd never set webbed foot in before. After bundling up and finishing up the second cup of tea he'd been nursing, Graeme grabbed his cane and prepared for a walk. Vanja would find the Duck quite fit for his apparent age and status, and well up to traversing the mountainous terrain. Of course, the wind slowed him down slightly, but his fur-lined coat had served him well even the time he'd visited the Glacier, and it held up well here as well.

"Now this is what Ah call a challenge!" he laughed over the sound of the wind, holding his hat tightly to his head so it didn't fly off. "Bit o'chill in th'air is certainly bracing, eh lad?"

[The Jenn]

Vanja couldn't help but find himself impressed at the Highlander's endurance. Listening to the older priests talk, it seemed that many visitors weren't prepared for the challenge presented by their realm's landscape despite numerous precautions. The age of this guest had initially suggested the same. But no, he seemed quite capable of handling himself on a hike, even in such brisk conditions.

"Bracing is one word that could describe this weather, certainly!" he called back, hunched into the coat over his robes and as glad for his swaddled clothing as he'd been aggravated with it before. "We are making very good progress, even with the winds fighting us. When we reach the fjords proper, then you will feel the full brunt of the wind off the water and be very grateful for shelter nearby. Many fools have fallen to their deaths off the cliffs by taking the winds too lightly."

The rest of the day followed them in good stead, interspersed with banter and small stops for drink or relief. They would reach the shelter well before nightfall, which had been his goal, and there they could pass the night in peace for an early start the next day.

[Lucca]

Despite being so high in the world, Graeme had always had a bit of wanderlust, and it had helped him to stay fit all his years. His wings stayed pressed tightly to his back so as not to catch the wind and throw him off, and if a particularly rough blast came along, he'd simply set his cane firmly on the rock and wait it out. The Duck was clearly no stranger to hiking and mountainous terrain, though he would certainly concede these conditions were some of the more difficult he'd ever traversed, and without a guide he'd definitely be in trouble.

Graeme laughed again. "Well, then it's a good thing Ah'm nae fool!" he replied, bracing himself a bit against the next blast. "If Ah were, Ah'd've been parted from me money years ago." He chuckled slightly at his own joke and continued walking, enjoying the trip immensely despite the fact that his beak and other extremities were aching with the cold. When they finally reached the shelter, Graeme almost collapsed with relief onto the nearest soft surface. He certainly hoped there was a fire handy to make some tea over, because he could think of little better right at the moment to chase off the bone deep chill.