(2024-02-24) Alien Worlds

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Author:	OzmaAsimov
Summary:	After learning her brother, Parabolus, is still alive, Niksi rushes to Stormwind to find him and reunite. He is just as surprised to find her breathing.
Rating:	T for Teen

[Parabolus]: Does the seal feel tighter now?

Niksi rushes into the Blue Recluse, cheeks flushed. She hops up onto a bannister to get a good look around the tavern.

Angus Stern says: Mmm, I think so, yeah.

Niksi spots a shock of green hair and her heart skips a beat.

[Parabolus]: But they're not too tight?

Angus Stern says: Might have to wear 'em for a bit to be sure.

Niksi hops down and approaches Parabolus from behind, eyes widening with every step.

[Parabolus]: Just let me know; I can try other materials for the band if they’re not comfortable enough for long-term wear.
[Parabolus]: You really should have them on any time you're frying anything in oil.

[Niksi]: Rab…?

Angus Stern says: It was really just one freak acci- oh, hello, miss.

Parabolus boggles at Niksi.
[Parabolus]: Niksi??

Niksi gasps when she sees his face.
[Niksi]: RAB!!

Parabolus scrubs his hands over his face, looks at her again.

[Niksi]: You really are alive! Oh cogs, I didn't want to dare to hope, but…it's you!

[Parabolus]: I'm alive? You were the one presumed deceased! What happened?
Parabolus peers at Niksi searchingly.

[Niksi]: YOU disappeared through the Dark Portal and never came back!

[Parabolus]: I did come back. As soon as I could. Which… happened to be twenty years.
[Parabolus]: None of us were able to come back before then, or even communicate. But you were deceased when I left!

[Niksi]: I couldn't easily communicate, either. And…it was complicated.

[Parabolus]: Do you want to tell me about it? I've just finished my work here…

Niksi lets out a sign laden with both frustration and relief, and finally steps in to pull her brother into a tight hug. (Very tight. She's rather strong.)

Parabolus hugs her back, gently.

Niksi wipes her tears while over his shoulder. She's not crying, you're crying.
Niksi pulls back and nods.

Parabolus studies her face.
[Parabolus]: Here, sit.
Parabolus pulls out a chair.

Niksi climbs up into it.

[Parabolus]: Can I get you something to eat or drink?

[Niksi]: What? Oh…right, I heard you're a cook now. No…not just now.

[Parabolus]: Well… I'm not a cook anymore for work, but I still do it as a hobby.

[Niksi]: And…people like your cooking?

[Parabolus]: They do.
[Parabolus]: But I'm mostly doing simple engineering work to pay my way through mage classes.

[Niksi]: Engineering…and magic! Rab…are you sure you can handle all this?

Parabolus frowns.
[Parabolus]: I'm not doing it all full-time. Just enough engineering jobs to pay for a few classes here and there.

Niksi nods. "I see. Well…that's wonderful!" She puts on her most sincere-looking smile. "I'm glad you've found your path. Paths, even."

Parabolus frowns again.
[Parabolus]: Why did you come looking for me?

[Niksi]: Because you're my brother, of course! And I've spent 20 years assuming you were dead. You…aren't happy to see me?

[Parabolus]: I am! I was. I am!
[Parabolus]: I am definitely extremely glad that you aren't deceased as reported.

[Niksi]: I only found out you were alive because of Cobalt Company. Oh, I joined up, by the way.

[Parabolus]: Oh! That's wonderful! They're a wonderful organization.
[Parabolus]: I suppose they'll be sending you on all manner of heroic adventures, hm? Will you be flying for them?

[Niksi]: Yes, I've heard the tales, even out on the high seas.

[Parabolus]: Oh, you're a sailor now?

[Niksi]: I still fly sometimes. But yes. And no. I do sail, but I spend most of my time underwater.

[Parabolus]: A diver? How interesting. I assume you've made innovations in air compression technology?

[Niksi]: Of course. In my diving helmet I can go down for several hours if needed.

[Parabolus]: What sort of things do you look for under the sea?

[Niksi]: Mostly I study and catalogue marine life. I also map subaquatic topography. Recover the occasional sunken vessel. I also aid the Explorers' Society in studying submerged ruins.
[Niksi]: The ocean is every bit as wondrous as I imagined it…and more so!

Parabolus smiles. "I'm very glad. Very very glad indeed that you are still in this world doing marvelous things."

[Niksi]: Believe it or not, it was thanks to pirates and a sea turtle that I'm still around.

[Parabolus]: Somehow this doesn't surprise me.
[Parabolus]: Whatever happened to the sea turtle?

[Niksi]: Flotsam is still around with me. Do you remember the little turtle I found caught in a net on our trip to the beach? Well…he grew up. And remembered me! He found me in the wreckage of my plane and kept me afloat until the pirates saved me.

[Parabolus]: Astonishing! This tells us a great deal about the memory capacity of testudines in general.

[Niksi]: It does! Not to mention their capacity for compassion for other species.

[Parabolus]: I wonder if it serves a survival purpose in the species - if perhaps they require group cooperation to survive?

[Niksi]: From what I have observed, they can be quite resourceful, both when solitary and when traveling in flotillas.

Parabolus nods, attentive and interested.
[Parabolus]: How much time do you spend out on the sea, as compared to the time you spend on land, these days?

[Niksi]: Hmm…I'd say it's about sixty-forty. Sixty percent of my time at sea, of course.

[Parabolus]: That seems reasonably healthy. Enough to keep you from feeling completely out of place in everyday life, hm?

Niksi smiles softly, feeling seen. "Precisely. But that's enough about me. You survived Outland! You must have some amazing stories to tell."

[Parabolus]: Mm, I must! *He spots a barmaid and waves to her* Excuse me miss, would you mind bringing me some ale, in the smallest container you have? Thank you."

[Niksi]: Well…tell me. How did you survive?

Parabolus watches the barmaid as she pours his ale into what must be a human child's cup.
[Parabolus]: Well I was with a whole group, you know. The sons of Lothar. Soldiers, mages, priests, and whatnot. *He tracks the barmaid as she returns to him* Ah, thank you, miss, that's perfect. *He hands her a few coins.*

[Niksi]: Yes…how exactly did you end up with the Sons of Lothar?

[Parabolus]: They were hiring cooks and engineers. I had adequate skills at both, and did not take up a great deal of space, so I was an ideal support person.

Parabolus doesn't take up much space indeed, either literally or metaphorically.

[Niksi]: I imagine there weren't many gnomes among you.

[Parabolus]: Very few. So of course those that there were stuck together. What about you? Do you meet many other gnome divers?

[Niksi]: I don't meet many divers at all. But many are gnomes. After all, we couldn't reach the depths we do now without our technology.

[Parabolus]: I imagine the larger races may have more difficulty with it, as well.

[Niksi]: You would think they would be more aquadynamic with those long legs. So far, I have found night elf druids to be very useful sources for tips and information about underwater phenomena.
[Niksi]: They seem the most inclined to just swim about and explore.

[Parabolus]: Hm, and I imagine they have a lower metabolic rate as well, which would help them conserve oxygen… why do larger races so seldom dive?

[Niksi]: Lack of curiosity, perhaps. And a lot of people are afraid of the ocean. It's an entirely alien world down there.

[Parabolus]: Though it must seem quite familiar to you, by now.
[Parabolus]: Alien is relative.

[Niksi]: Somewhat. Even if you collected all the data from every diver on Azeroth, we have only explored an estimated three percent of the ocean.
[Niksi]: Speaking of alien worlds….
Niksi peers at Rab.

[Parabolus]: Mm, hold that thought, I have a class starting in fourteen minutes.
[Parabolus]: But we should do this again!

Niksi sighs. "Fine…but I want to hear about it, 'Bonk'. Oh yes, and it's Bonkladle now?"
Niksi hops down from her chair.

[Parabolus]: Ah yes, I will tell you that story next time.
[Parabolus]: It's not long.
Parabolus gives her a gentle hug and a kiss on the cheek.

[Niksi]: I can't wait. Incidentally, I'm Knockfathom now.
Niksi hugs him warmly.

[Parabolus]: Oh, how melodious!
[Parabolus]: Take care of yourself until we meet again, Nix.

[Niksi]: Meet me back here after your class so we can talk more and stay in touch!

[Parabolus]: Mm hm, mm hm… *he checks his pocket watch and hurries off.*