Gull hits the books

[Gull]

Gull sits in the inn, his songbook open to his right, a scroll unfurled to his left. He's placed his mug at the top of the scroll and his pitch pipe at the bottom to keep it from rolling up. As he reads the scroll, he takes notes in his book, pausing every so often to pick at scabbed-over scratch on the back of his hand. He's tense, hunched over his work with his head dipped low.

[Drixar]

Drixar approaches the table where gull is studying, a book tucked under his arm and a plate in each hand. “You know” he starts, setting one plate in front of gull, revealing a fresh apple crisp. “Studying is extra boring if you don’t have a snack”

[Gull]

Gull startles when Drix addresses him and puts a hand over the scroll as though to conceal it. It's only very briefly; he blinks and pulls his hand away, shifting deliberately into a more relaxed posture. He notices the dessert Drix is holding and smiles broadly. “Oh, now that would hit the spot indeed.” He takes the plate from Drix’s hands then pulls out the chair to his left so that his friend can join him. “To which chef shall I send my compliments?”

[Drixar]

Drix sits down and places both the book and the other plate in front of himself. “You can thank junior chef Drixar of course, and the recipe page I found that I think I could recite from memory now.” He laughs, cracking open the book of stars to pull out a recipe that.. has seen better days

[Gull]

Gull laughs affectionately and shakes his head as Drix shows him the crumpled recipe. “Well, if it tastes half as good as it smells, it'll be delicious.” He pops a spoonful into his mouth and closes his eyes blissfully. “Mmm. Oh. Twice as good,” he mumbles around his food. After swallowing, he opens his eyes and points at Drix's book with his spoon. “More recipes, junior chef?”

[Drixar]

“Hm? Oh!” He grabs at some of the pages that are still tucked into the book. “Yes and no, some of these are recipes, some are sketches… uh this one just has numbers? I forget what that’s about. But really it’s just a pile of whatever my brain latches onto.” He takes a bite of the dessert himself. “And right now, baking is the call”

[Gull]

"Baking's good. Stick with baking." Gull leans over and squints at one of the loose papers. "Ooh, shortcake? Y'know, I could get used to Baker Drixar." He eats another bite of apple crisp and picks up his pen, doodling a steaming pie in the margins of his notes.

[Drixar]

Drix laughs at the compliment from his friend. “Ooh and what are you working on here? I won’t snoop if you don’t want me knowing of course”

[Gull]

Gull's relaxed smile crystallizes, suddenly bright and brittle. "No, of course! It's, uh..." He swallows as though steeling himself. "Scripture. NOSian scripture." His tone is nonchalant but his eyes are fixed on his notes. The tips of his fingers whiten as his grip tightens on his pen.

[Drixar]

Drix raises an eyebrow. “NOSian scripture? I didn’t take you for one to study religious text.” Noticing his friends tense posture he switches gears. “But you never know what you could learn! Or if you discover it’s crazed writing from someone unaffiliated you get to make fun of it”

[Gull]

Gull relaxes slightly, very slightly, and shakes his head. “I'm not,” he replies automatically, then pauses. “Or rather, I wasn't. I suppose I am now.” His tone is odd, the emotion in it hard to pin down. For a moment, he stares at something past the page and says nothing.

The moment passes. Gull shrugs. “This is the real deal: the words of Paravox Olt as taken down by his acolytes. Francis assigned it to me to study. He intends to ask me questions on it later.” He smiles sheepishly. “I more or less agreed to be Francis's student and that involves less mysticism and more academics than I expected.” Gull speaks in a lowered voice that's unusual for him. That, plus his darting eyes, the way he squirms, his newly invigorated picking at the scratch on his hand, gives the distinct impression that Gull is feeling embarrassed.

[Drixar]

“Well” Drix starts, shifting so that his body language is fully to his friend. “I think that’s pretty cool, personally. Not often do you get to study scriptures from direct acolytes of a god.” He drums his hands on the table, trying to think of something before landing on it. “And! You get the best of both worlds, you get to study cool texts and bully your teacher without consequences!” He gives gull a playful elbow as he laughs.

[Gull]

Gull meets Drixar's eyes and smiles. Most of the tension in his body melts away as he laughs. "Ah, Drixar, I have terrible news." He hangs his head in mock despair. "I have been given the impossible challenge of taking these lessons seriously." He drops the act with a wink and gestures at the scroll. "Truthfully, it is interesting. Mostly, anyway. Though I'm not sure I'm doing it right." He wrinkles his nose. "An old choirmaster once told me that I have a mind like a river; if you put something in its way, all it does is push against it and search for holes. Two decades later, I haven't changed. I’m built for debate, not discipleship. It's… an adjustment.” He shakes his head with a light chuckle. “I'll be relying on Francis’s patience for some time yet.”

[Drixar]

Drix gives a fake pout at the terrible news. “Ugh the worst! Where’s the fun in that.” He giggles as he speaks. “It does seem pretty good, and so far you’re doing miles better than I ever could, forced studying is not my forte.” He eases back into the chair, folding his arms and looking at his friend. “I’m glad you got someone to lean back on though, and someone who I think can handle ten people whining at once at that!”

[Gull]

Gull laughs and shakes his head. "I was not at my best when I met Francis. If he could put up with me then, this should be a walk in the park." He looks at Drixar, face open and sincere. "Thank you, by the way. For listening. I'm, uh..." He runs a hand through his hair, blushing. "Well, this is all very new. And I suppose I'm a bit shy?" He considers, then throws his hands up. "Alright, defensive. I'm defensive. I made vows to follow NOS openly and to be very public about my devotion and I don't expect it to go over terribly well with the rest of town. And I'm not secure in it myself, and there's so much I can't get into, and..." Gull shrugs and looks back to Drix with a smile. "What I'm trying to say is 'thank you.' For not curling your lip at all this."

[Drixar]

Drix smiles at his friend, pulling him in for a hug, careful not to jab him in the cheek with a horn. “Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me about it, I can tell it’s an odd topic.” He moves to look at him again. “Besides, when I first nosedived into my devotion for Faerie, despite not liking them you still supported me, why would I turn my nose to you worshipping the divine?”

[Gull]

Gull returns the hug and smiles sheepishly. “I suppose. I just… I mean, worship and… It just… isn't like me. I feel like a hypocrite.” His eyes become distant as he scratches at the scab on the back of his hand. “...No. Not just that.” Gull drops his voice. “I mean, I do feel like a hypocrite but more than that, I feel… changed.” He shivers and looks at Drix, tears in his eyes. “Nothing is different but everything has changed. And… there are things I'm not ready to say.”

[Drixar]

“Oh gull..” Drix takes the time to carefully move all his distractions, then takes Gull’s hands into his own. “For starters, you don’t have to say anything at all if you don’t want to. Things change all the time here but sometimes they’re more than we expect, and you’re allowed to be scared to the bone about it.” He pauses, giving Gull the chance to wipe tears.

“It’s going to be scary for a long time.” Drix starts again, taking a deep breath. “But there’s also peace in worship, you don’t have to focus on the scary bits or the things not ready to be said. Start small, take it as if you’re learning how to walk all over again, and if you want me, I’ll be there every step that you take.”

[Gull]

"Thank you, Drixar." Gull smiles, sniffs. "You're a welcome companion on any journey, and this one is no exception. And you'll have me on any journey of yours, simply say the word. There's no love lost between me and Faerie, to be sure, but your worship becomes you. Any path that leads you to joy is one I'll support."

Gull presses a soft kiss to Drixar's brow then leans back. He rubs his palms against his eyes and blinks, clearing away tears. "By the Aspects, there's so much I want to tell you. If only it were the right time! But I'm not exactly working on my own schedule anymore."

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