AN: Today, the 4th, is my birthday; and instead of asking for gifts this year, I'm giving them out. Which is included to my fanfic readers. So, I'm posting two new chapters early for you. Enjoy!
Chapter 5
Clothing, Currency, and Car Rides
"As we have broached such a subject already," Ivan began when Ria had finally stopped giggling, "I think one of the first things we should discuss that may come as a surprise when we are in town is the differences in races between our worlds."
"Are they all that dissimilar?" Raistlin questioned.
Ria nodded. "Humans are obviously the same, but otherwise…" She trailed off and her silvery-grey gaze shifted over to Ivan.
"Otherwise," Ivan said plainly, "you will not see any people of other races."
Raistlin's brows furrowed in confusion. "Does this country not allow other races to enter it?" If that was the case, the mage wondered how they managed to accomplish such with kender, as such was generally considered an impossible feat by all. "Or have those of different races naturally formed their own segregated countries?"
"No," Ivan clarified. "You will not see races other than humans here, as humans are the only race in this world."
Raistlin was struck quite silent by that pronouncement for several seconds. That wasn't a possibility that had even entered his consideration. He glanced over to Ria to see if perhaps Ivan was playing a joke on him, but she nodded agreement.
The novice mage finally managed to gather up his wits to ask, "None whatsoever?" Ria shook her head to the negative, her expression that conflicted one again. Raistlin asked in consternation, "What happened to the others?"
Ivan frowned. "As far as we have previously had cause to know, such races as kender, dwarves, gnomes, elves, goblins, minotaur, et cetera, were only myths and legends. Humans here have a range in appearance depending on where they are from, but they are all definitively human. On rare occasions, a human might have a hereditary defect that causes them to be born with a short stature like a dwarf or kender, and some countries have humans whose eyes are a little more slanted and builds are a bit more willowy like an elf's, but that is about the closest one could draw parallels to. There has never been any solid indication of other races, such as there are in your world, existing here."
"How is that possible?" Raistlin asked insistently. "While humans are the race supposedly created by the god of neutrality, elves are the creation of the god of light, and ogres by the queen of darkness. Dwarves were supposedly created not long after by Reorx. Those first three races are supposedly not allowed to exist without the others to keep balance among the gods' creations."
Ria shrugged, obviously having no real answer to that. "Perhaps that is true for Krynn, but here we only have humans." She added with an attempt at humor, "Maybe Gilean got tired of the constant arguments between races that epitomized good and evil and wanted a world with just neutral beings, so he made our world as an experiment?"
Raistlin wasn't amused. He was thoroughly baffled by this announcement and trying to accept such a thing could be so. The mage couldn't quite wrap his mind around such a seeming impossibility when he had known such beings lived and breathed since he was a small child. Kender like Tasslehoff were forever wandering through Solace, whether residents wanted them to or not. Flint had taken up permanent residence in Solace before Raistlin was even born. Tanis had been there almost as long. Hill dwarf tradesmen and Qualinesti rangers or artisans occasionally made their way through the crossroads towns. Raistlin had never seen goblins, hobgoblins, ogres, gnomes, or minotaur, but he knew they existed as surely as any other race.
"How would your world know of such races if they have never existed here?"
"Supposedly, they're just figments of people's imagination from a long time ago," Ria said. "Those stories of various other races have been circulating for millennia, and countless people have retold them or made new ones. Some people who first told those stories claimed they had visions of other worlds or planes of existence where such races lived, but that was obviously hard to prove. Others claimed to travel there themselves, or that such races could travel here and remain hidden from sight, but that's just as hard to prove. Like I told you last night, magic users here no longer think such world travel is possible. It certainly is beyond anything we know how to do. Some people believe perhaps those races once did exist and then went somewhere else, or they simply died off as humans expanded their own civilizations around the world. But no one has ever found any proof of those races actually existing."
"Just as my world and myself were supposedly figments of someone's imagination?" the deeply disturbed mage asked sharply. "Yet I was brought here against all seeming possibility? Clearly some people here, past or present, must have had contact with other worlds to somehow know such information."
Ria glanced over to Ivan for aid in explaining, expression worried.
Ivan frowned slightly and said calmly, "Raistlin, I can understand why such is difficult to accept as being true here, and it does not mean it is any less true where you are from. We honestly cannot tell you why there are such differences. Nor can we explain why there are stories of such races that do not exist in this world, yet do in your world. Nor can we explain how your world and yourself came to be known here. We do not have such knowledge.
"I can assure you, however, that one thing we shall indeed attempt to find out is just how those who wrote about your world came to have such knowledge. Though it has been generally considered impossible for such to happen as has happened, it is clear those writers did somehow come to have knowledge they theoretically should not have. Finding such information out may help us discover aspects of why you are here, how exactly you came to be here. It is also possible those writers may not even know they were writing something that was in fact true, but were under some sort of influence to be inspired to write such stories. Those writers do not live anywhere remotely close to where we are right now. Contacting them and trying to convince them to speak with us will take time. Until we can find opportunity to investigate that matter, all we can do, all of us, is accept that such is how it is in all aspects and try to work with what we do know to see to this more immediate matter of your presence here."
Raistlin sighed heavily, trying to reign in his feeling of disquiet. He said simply, not really sure what else to say in the circumstances, "I apologize for my outburst."
"It is understandable that you are upset with such differences," Ivan said patiently, "but things are as they are and there is not anything that we can do about such, except to accept that."
Raistlin nodded and then gave another sigh. "Are there any other things that I should be made aware of before leaving Ria's home?"
"There's a number of things, technology, that you'll see here that is not from your world," Ria said. "Like I mentioned before, we get around from place to place in things called cars, instead of walking, if there is any significant distance to travel. Cars are like carriages, except they run by machinery rather than horses pulling them. They're made of metal instead of wood, and they move a bit faster than horses. There will be all sorts of things that run on electricity, like my coffee maker, lights, and alarm clock do." She paused to think, then added, "And where we're going for shopping, the doors are also electronic, opening when you approach because they have little mechanical sensors that can tell when you come near them. Otherwise, I think most everything at the stores themselves will be fairly self-explanatory and easy to understand."
"Depending on where we go for clothing shopping," Ivan added, "there may also be elevators or escalators. They are common machines in this world that have become standard to be installed in certain buildings, especially in business establishments with multiple floors, to help people with mobility issues move about. The first, elevators, are a mechanical pulley system that bring an enclosed box up and down from one level of a building to another. The second, escalators, are just like stairs, except they are on a different sort of mechanical system that cause them to move up or down to transport people from floor to floor. You'll realize what either are by sight when you see them."
Raistlin nodded. He was more than a little puzzled by the concept of an 'elevator' or 'escalator', not certain what they actually looked like or how they would operate. But as neither Ivan or Ria seemed concerned by them, he decided to simply accept that they were machines that operated like any others in this world.
"What sort of clothes do you think we should buy him?" Ria asked Ivan. "I was thinking it would be fine to start with a week or so's worth of clothing, and then go from there if it seems like Raistlin is going to be here for an extended time."
Ivan nodded. "That would be the sensible approach. We will pick him up outfits appropriate for being in the office. Some outfits for daily wear such as people your age wear and sleep wear. And as you are all going to the club tomorrow night, I suppose we should find something that will be comfortable but appropriate for such as well."
Ria glanced over to Raistlin, expression one of considering a matter.
Raistlin asked, "Yes, Ria?"
"Oh, I'm just trying to think of what sort of style we should go with for your daily clothes and for the club tomorrow night," Ria explained. "Work clothes are easy and Ivan knows all that stuff best, but there's a number of fashions for the other stuff."'
"I would say we keep such things simple, little Ria," Ivan said with a small roll of his eyes. "I am certain Raistlin would be more comfortable in such."
"I'm not saying we get him some chain-strapped goth outfits," Ria said indignantly. "Nor some extreme theme in some other direction that might get people wanting to talk to him, then put us in a pinch cuz he doesn't know what they're talking about. But there's different looks one can go with besides straight-up slacks or jeans and a polo."
"What would be terribly wrong with that?" Ivan asked. "I was thinking that perhaps we might stop into Abercrombie, or one of those such stores, for his every day wear."
"Absolutely not!" Ria said immediately, expression one of extreme distaste.
"Why not?" Ivan asked, expression almost as confused as Raistlin's to her vehement reaction.
"Garrison wears mostly Abercrombie," Ria answered bluntly. "We are not dressing Raistlin in anything he wears."
Raistlin had no idea who the person in question was, but Ivan's expression became one of understanding and he gave a simple nod as he said, "Fair enough, little Ria."
"Who is Garrison?" Raistlin asked, wondering at Ria's sudden temperament shift.
"A spoiled reprobate who deserves to be tied up to a chair and gagged so he can be subjected to the prattle of a room full of kender for a week straight," Ria said sharply. "Or just tied up and tossed into the mountains where wolves could tear him apart. Though, such would be a cruelty to the poor wolves as his rot would probably give them indigestion, so maybe just having 'Geny toss him in the Atlantic would work better. I've heard drowning is a rather unpleasant way to die."
Raistlin raised an eyebrow to that, surprised further at such an assessment. Even when Ria had thought him an intruder to her home and suggested he jump into a pit of the Abyss, she hadn't sounded nearly so furious.
"Ria…" Ivan interjected in what seemed a half-hearted reprimand. "While he is certainly not a person worth associating with, such is ill becoming to say. You should know that eventually he will reap what he sows by his own doing. Therefore it is senseless to cause yourself upset with such thoughts."
Ria gave a huff of frustration, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Doesn't mean he doesn't deserve it, and you know it, Ivan. It's not like I would actually do it, or ask big brother to, so contemplating it just to relieve some anger doesn't hurt anything."
Ivan shrugged. "I do not argue whether he deserves it or not. I simply point out that his own behavior will eventually cause him personal discord, and allowing him to upset us when he is not even present causes harm to ourselves, not him. There are healthier ways to relieve your anger than such contemplations."
"Fine," Ria conceded with a heavy sigh and a frown.
Raistlin filed the incident away in his mind as something to inquire about when there was an appropriate time. Clearly there was something involving this 'Garrison' that was upsetting to Ria, and apparently not well liked by Ivan either. Raistlin reasoned, however, that it wasn't going to be productively inquired about right now, as Ivan clearly was trying to deter Ria's train of thought from it because it was upsetting her.
"Anyway, no Abercrombie preppy styles," Ria continued after a few deep measured breaths, her annoyance seeming to abate marginally. "There's plenty of other styles that Raistlin could pull off. Vic has a GQ dress-causal style that has a hint of athletics. Brian has the skater-punk meets techie geek edge. Evan likes the retro stuff or brands imported from the UK. And they all still wear fairly simple clothes, that aren't generic preppy, but in styles that reflect their personality."
Ivan sighed and then shook his head as he muttered, "And this is partially why I am glad that I am no longer a twenty-something anymore..." He asked his surrogate daughter, "So what would you suggest we aim for with Raistlin?"
Ria shrugged. "Still trying to think that one out… He's not familiar with the stuff from our world, so not sure where his interests would lay and be reflected. And I did, as mentioned, consider that we can't go for anything too specific as people with like interests might want to chat and then he'd be questioned for not knowing anything about whatever it is. Probably a clean cut but stylish everyday look, like fitted cut bootlegs and dress shirts, with a hint of artist and rocker cuz Raistlin has the right sort of attitude when he's being himself. Would also work with his features and long hair. And maybe something along the lines of what 'Geny wears to the office for the club?"
Ivan considered that, glancing over at Raistlin as well now.
Raistlin returned the look, feeling a mix of confusion as to their references and curiosity to exactly what he'd be wearing. Thus far, while differently made and styled, Ivan and 'Geny's clothing were not that unfamiliar from what he was used to seeing, yet very different in style from the other's. Ria just mentioned other styles from other people they knew, presumably her friends, that were apparently likewise differently implicative. Raistlin didn't have much care in clothing styles, especially as mages really didn't need worry about such as they all wore robes, but he was curious to discover something new from this world and be certain that he properly blended in with those who lived here.
"May I ask, Ria," Raistlin asked, "what you meant by 'Rocker', and it being appropriate for my personality and appearance?"
"Oh, um…" Ria blushed a little. "Well, a lot of guys keep their hair cut short, and it's considered to be a 'professional' look, but musicians, artists and other entertainers are a major exception to that. They can dress just about any way they want and no one gives it a second thought. Given that you're a mage, even if we can't say such, which is most definitely an art in its own rights, and you're going to be working for Ivan, which is kind of a section of art with all the stuff he sells, it seems appropriate. Rock is one of those types of music I mentioned to you earlier that you'll be hearing a lot, and people who like that music, or those artists themselves, tend to have pragmatic and sharp-witted viewpoints because they analyze things so astutely, and can still be really funny when they're making comments on what they notice."
Raistlin nodded once, and said contemplatively, "I see."
"Our world has a lot of fashions, even if there is the same base for the differences to be built off of," Ria explained further. "Whatever you wear, you'll still look like someone from here, but some outfits might seem contradictory to you." She pointed to Ivan, "Like when people see Ivan, they can tell he's got a more sophisticated and business sense of personality, but can be more casual like today. Depending on big brother's mood when he wakes up and what he's going to be doing, he wears things that reflect a business outlook, or the more dynamic artist, or something with a clear message of being a scoundrel." Ria gave a small laugh to Raistlin's raised eyebrow. "And that's all fairly normal styles here, though some I don't think are so appropriate for everyone. It just sets a tone for what to expect once you start talking to someone. Just as in your world, if you saw a man with a long mustache and ceremonial armor, you'd think a Knight of Solamnia who is bound to be caught up in the Oath and Measure. A guy in robes like yours, you know a mage, and the color of his robes tells you which order, which would generally give you clues to his likely morality and skills. A guy in a leather smock with a tool belt full of smithing tools, you know he's a blacksmith. A bald guy in brown robes, likely pale and nervous, you think acolyte of the Great Library of Palanthas. Though, with that last one, you'd be wondering why he isn't running about the library."
Raistlin nodded. "Understandable."
"I think that such a style as Ria did suggest would probably work just fine for you," Ivan said. "As we are not certain how long you will be here for, nor the means by which you will return to your own world, we may not want to make any drastic changes to things such as your hair style or other things that would be difficult to explain when you return home. We can create our cover for your presence here around that basis."
"I really don't see that I can judge otherwise and will trust your assessment," Raistlin said.
"We won't make you look like a mismatched kender, don't worry," Ria said in good humor.
"I would appreciate that," Raistlin said, smirk returning as he shook his head. If nothing else, this looked to be a rather educational day on this strange world he found himself in. "As for the plans for this weekend?"
"Once we have completed the shopping, we will return to drop everything off here," Ivan said. "When it is nearing the time for Darlene and Lexi to arrive, we shall leave Argyria to her evening out with her friends and return to my own house. We will spend the evening and tomorrow morning discussing things necessary for you to know while in our world, common knowledge things that you may encounter, so that you have an easier time blending in…"
"Might want to have him listen to music as well," Ria added. "This way he won't be the only one in the club who doesn't know a single song being played."
"Indeed," Ivan said with a nod. His dark eyed gaze when back to Raistlin. "We will do that as well, and give you a tour tomorrow of the office and the warehouse where a great deal of our stock is, this way you will be familiar with where you will be working during the day, starting this Monday."
"That's Luindai," Ria added when Raistlin gave her a questioning look. "We should probably write up a list of months and days and the corresponding names for our world for you to study."
Ivan nodded again. "That would be a good idea as well."
"For starters of things he should learn," Ria said, "I was thinking currency, things like the different names our worlds use, a crash course on American lingo and pop culture, and some basic history of America and current events in the world. We can work our way into more in depth history if needed, but that would at least help Raistlin know what is going on when people are chatting all around him and help make certain he doesn't accidentally give his Krynn-roots away."
"That also sounds like an appropriate base to start with," Ivan agreed. "We may want to add some basics of England's history as Yevgeny has proposed we include that as part of his cover story, along with basic laws here that may differ from his world so that he does not accidentally break one if we are not with him at some point."
"I already covered the law about drinking under 21," Ria said, "along with how the clubs work due to age restriction, because of our plans this weekend. Haven't really been able to get into many more. I don't think there's too many things that aren't common sense though, so that should be a short lesson. Especially as he doesn't drive. We won't need to worry about teaching him an entire driver's manual."
"We will discuss any others that may be possible to come across just to be safe," Ivan said. "While Yevgeny's connections are very good at what they do, we still do not want to invite additional prying by making such errors needlessly."
"Certainly true," Ria agreed soberly.
"As we are waiting for Yevgeny to return anyway," Raistlin said, "perhaps some of these lessons on differences between our worlds could start now? As we are going out shopping, things like the differences in currency and perhaps related means of reference would be beneficial to know beforehand."
"That's also a good point," Ria said, standing up. "Seen as where 'Geny swiped Ivan's wallet, let me go get my purse and we can give you a brief run down on how money works here, as we have a few different forms of currency that all get used interchangeably."
Raistlin nodded to Ria and then looked over to Ivan as she left. "Just how many forms of currency are there here? And how different are they from my world?"
"There are three main types of currency," Ivan replied. "Cash, which can be coins or paper bills, checks, or cards."
"And I have examples of all three!" Ria called from the living room. "Plus what things like transit passes and ID look like."
"Coins are used for much smaller amounts than the paper bills," Ivan continued. "It takes 100 cents, or pennies, which are the smallest value coins, to equal one dollar, which is the smallest paper bill." He leaned over and pulled a book off the nearest shelf, turned it to the back and handed it to Raistlin, pointing to a number on the back. "Such as here, where the price listed after the dollar symbol to buy this book was fourteen-ninety nine. That is, 14 dollars and 99 cents."
Ria came back in the room, holding a small woven purse. She pulled out a small leather folder and a smaller bag. She picked up on Ivan's lesson, saying, "So if I wanted to buy the book from Ivan, one way to do it would be simply handing him fifteen dollars, such as these." She removed a small pile of bills from the leather folder and fanned them out to show the otherworld mage them. "They're easy to tell apart as they have different designs on them, and the numbers in the corners obviously tell you how much each bill is worth. This one is worth 20 dollars, these two are worth 10 dollars, these three are worth 5 dollars, and these ones are worth 1 dollar."
"Whose faces are depicted on these bills?" Raistlin asked. "Leaders of this country?"
"Some of the first leaders of our country, called presidents," Ria answered with a smile. "Our current president doesn't have his picture on the currency like some countries in your world have."
Raistlin nodded. "So these would be given for the book as coins are in my world, in whatever currency equates to the 15 dollars mentioned."
"Yep," Ria said. "And as it was actually 14.99 for the book, giving 15 dollars would get you a penny back, which is one of these copper little guys." Ria held up an example of a penny. "They don't really buy anything on their own any more, but they eventually add up. They're also the only coin that is made of copper, the others are made of different mixes of silvery-colored metals."
Ria rummaged in her purse and pulled out a handful of coins, then selected three from those and dumped the rest back. She handed each to Raistlin, who was concentrating on the information being given, as she explained them. "This big one is a quarter, called thus because it is worth 25 pennies and it takes four quarters to equal a dollar." A coin smaller than the penny was then handed, "This is called a dime and it is worth 10 pennies, so it takes 10 of them to equal a dollar." A slightly larger coin, "And that's a nickel, called because that is the primary metal it was originally made from, and it's worth five pennies, or 20 of those to equal one dollar."
Raistlin pointed to each, "Copper penny, worth one cent. Nickel, worth five pennies. Dime, worth 2 nickels or ten pennies. Quarter, worth 25 pennies, five nickels, or two dimes and a nickel. And any combination of such that equals one hundred pennies makes 1 dollar."
"Precisely!" Ria said cheerfully. "Another perfect score for our brilliant mage!"
Raistlin smirked and shook his head slightly at her optimism. Perhaps his brother might have had difficulty with such basic math, but that hadn't been a challenge for himself except to remind himself what the specific coins were called. He asked curiously, "And what makes these paper bills worth more than the metal coins?"
Ria glanced over to her mentor, "Want to field that one, Ivan?"
"The simplest answer is the paper bills themselves are not worth much in and of themselves as they are simply that," Ivan answered. "But they each represent a certain amount of actual funds in the national treasury or one's own personal account, held in places called banks. Such is far easier and more manageable to carry around then great sacks of coins or gems or bars of precious metals to pay for items."
Raistlin nodded once. "So they are like promissory notes?"
"Indeed, quite similar," Ivan agreed. "Except they are created by the government, not a single person, and therefore considered to be the same as the actual valuable goods they represent. And they are obviously only worth the value they are made as, whereas promissory notes are able to written for however much you would like them to be worth. Checks, the second form of currency, is our form of a promissory note."
Ria pulled out a small black-bound folder that contained a stack of papers held together. "These are checks. They are given to a person by their bank, the institutions that hold one's money. You write down the amount you wish to pay for something on them, to whom the money is going to, the date, and sign here, and the person then brings them to their banks to have them cashed, or that is, have the money transferred to their own accounts. Checks don't get used as often as they used to, as some people would write them out for amounts they didn't have, much like debtors in your world with promissory notes."
She pulled out a small rectangular card of sorts, showing it to the mage. "This is a bank card, which is a faster bit of technology that relies on a machine and electricity to use, that allows you to pay for something if you don't have enough cash on hand for something you want to purchase. Using the card sends a message to the bank to automatically deduct the funds from your account when you make the purchase, assuring the person you're paying that they are in fact being paid."
Raistlin held out a hand to inspect the card and Ria handed it to him. He looked the small card over and asked, "What is this card made of?"
"Something called plastic," Ria replied. "You'll see a lot of plastic in this world and it comes in many shapes, sizes and colors. It's a synthetic material, one which is created from other things, not a natural one like metal or cloth or paper."
And thus the next 45 minutes passed- Ivan and Ria giving the otherworld mage a lesson on such matters, answering questions Raistlin had for them in regards to the things being taught, and the mage reciting back the information periodically to make certain he was remembering everything being taught…
.
.
.
Yevgeny returned a little over an hour after he had left, letting himself into Ria's apartment with the spare key he had. Raistlin had just been given a brief lesson on the names of the presidents shown on the various currency, alternate names currency was referred to as, and given a couple practice questions similar to the book example to show he understood which currency was used for what and what he should expect for change when using cash.
"I return with clothes!" 'Geny called as he closed the door. "How goes making mage ready for outing?"
"Fairly well," Ivan called back. "What did you charge to my cards?"
"I need not charge anything yet," Yevgeny answered, coming to the bedroom with a bag tossed over one shoulder.
"Then why did you take my wallet?"
"I think I may need it," 'Geny said blithely, tossing the mentioned wallet to his twin. "Account of yours has more than mine."
"And what did you need to buy that was important enough to swipe my wallet without asking?" Ivan prodded, putting his wallet back in his pocket.
"Payment for ID of Race," Yevgeny said. "Contact give good price as is relative easy work, so took funds from own account instead. We have appointment this evening to get picture taken for ID and have certain information fill in."
"That was arranged quicker than expected. What time?" Ivan asked.
"Six," Yevgeny said. "I say that we want ID by tomorrow, and pay well for such is correct in making, so appointment is tonight. We go straight there after leaving mladshaya syestra for birthday celebrations. Non-driver ID ready tonight. Birth certificate tomorrow or Monday morning. Passport, social security card, basic education and medical records ready by Wednesday."
"Passport?" Ria asked in clear confusion. "Why does he need a passport? I don't even have a passport."
"Never hurt to have extra ID when such is fabricate for proving Race is who we say," 'Geny said with a shrug. "Passport is not extra charge with all other paperwork being create, so not hurt any to have."
"You're getting a buy three get one free discount?" Ria asked with a raised eyebrow.
Yevgeny smirked. "We do business plenty, so get such courtesies."
Ria shook her head and looked to Ivan, "Just how well made are these IDs?"
"Very well made," Ivan said with a more reassuring smile. "They will pass a basic police background check. It would take much more digging to discover they are false."
Ria nodded. "Alright…"
"See such little faith I am getting?" 'Geny pointed to Ria as he made the jesting comment to Raistlin. "One thinks I must only start such things last week with way I get check on by mladshaya syestra."
Ria rolled her eyes. "If you'd tell me how you go about these things, maybe I'd have a little more confidence."
"Ah, no," Yevgeny said immediately, smirk growing. "Nice try, my little Ria."
"Was worth the try," Ria said with a pout.
Yevgeny unslung the bag from his shoulder and held it out to Raistlin. "These are clothes for you, Race. You can change in bathroom. Then we go buy you own clothes and let little Ria do own shopping."
Raistlin nodded and took the bag. He went to the bathroom, closed the door and then went to open the bag 'Geny had handed him… Except that there were no ties, only strange metal seams where the bag was meant to open. There was a little metal toggle to one side of each metal seam, and Raistlin did the logical thing of pulling that. Which did in fact cause the bag to open.
Raistlin shook his head, not sure what to think of the strange way to secure a bag close. He had decided, after the incident with Argyria's alarm clock this morning, that his best bet was to know how things function for his own uses, but not try to question too deeply why they were designed that way or how the more complex objects were operating as they did. Otherwise, he was likely going to be constantly distracted or confused, and that was not helpful on any important level. Reminding himself of that outlook, he then began pulling out the clothing and saw a black cloth shirt, a pair of thick black cloth pants similar to those 'Geny was wearing, socks, a leather belt, boots… and a pair of cloth shorts?
After a few seconds of thought, Raistlin realized with embarrassment that those must be this world's form of undergarments. The idea of wearing someone else's undergarments, even laundered, seemed a bit overly personal and made Raistlin feel extremely uncomfortable. But then, it would be even more uncomfortable to wear someone else's pants without them, and probably considered rather rude.
Raistlin hung his head with a sigh. At least it would only be for a few hours until he had clothing from this world of his own to wear. It wouldn't be the first time he had worn clothes someone else had owned first, having often worn clothing Caramon had outgrown when they were younger. Though, he had never had to wear hand-me-down undergarments before…
'It's just for a few hours, and I'll try to count this as a lesson in being grateful for not having had to suffer that as a child, on top of everything else,' Raistlin thought sarcastically.
Raistlin undressed and got changed into the clothing that Yevgeny had packed for him. The pants were a little long, and rather big in the waist for his slender frame. The shirt wasn't so large on him as the pants. Raistlin had a feeling it was likely one of the smaller ones that Yevgeny owned, probably one he had outgrown. He tucked the shirt into the pants to help make up for some of the extra space, and then secured the pants with the belt, having to use the smallest setting on the belt. The boots were only a little too big, and once they were on they kept the bottom hems of the pants from dragging on the ground.
Raistlin took the bag of rose petals out of his robes, tucking them down the side of one of the boots after a few seconds thought on where to store them discreetly, and then placed his own clothing in the bag 'Geny's clothing had been in. He glanced down at himself with a small sigh, feeling a bit ridiculous in the oversized clothing. At least Ria's mentors weren't nearly so large in the shoulders and waist as Caramon.
When Raistlin came out of the bathroom, all three of his companions glanced over to him. A faint blush rose to his cheeks at the attention, the mentors' looking contemplative, Ria looking surprised.
"Well now," Ria said in good humor. "What a difference a change of clothes makes! You actually look like a guy from our world."
"Thank you, Ria," Raistlin said with a shake of his head, glancing down at the outfit his was wearing.
"Indeed," Yevgeny said, walking over and glancing over the clothing. "But if I was you, I not tuck shirt in pants. Will help hide tight cinch belt. Just because clothing is borrow, no need for making such so obvious."
"Fair enough," Raistlin agreed, doing as directed and frowning a bit as the pants now felt even looser on his hips. The shirt hanging loose did help hide that though.
Yevgeny glanced Raistlin over again, then turned and grabbed a small circular band from Ria's bookshelf, along with the hair brush. He walked behind Raistlin and proceeded to start pulling the mage's hair back from his face.
"What…"
"Hair of yours is very long," 'Geny interrupted the protest matter-of-factly. "Look more like our styles if we pull back into tail such as Ivan has."
Raistlin sighed and tried not to wince as his hair was quickly pulled into place. "Very well."
The mage could feel his hair getting twisted and assumed that the band was being used to hold it back, then the tail of hair fell across his back.
Yevgeny walked back in front of him, giving another cursory glance at Raistlin. "That is better?" he asked, glancing over to Ivan.
"Da, that should work for the time being," Ivan agreed, giving a nod of approval.
"So now we're off?" Ria asked.
"Indeed," Ivan replied. "Do not forget your grocery list, little Ria."
"Oops, yep," Ria said, grabbing the book Ivan had been looking through and ripping out a page. Stuffing that into her purse, she said, "Okay, now we're good!"
Raistlin followed the twins out of the apartment, and Ria locked up the door behind them. The mage from Krynn let the mentors start leading the way down the stairs, Yevgeny informing Ivan that he had called Maggie while out and she would be meeting them after going shopping, and then glanced over to Ria. He whispered the nervous question, "Be honest, Ria, how ridiculous do I look right now in these clothes from your world?"
"Not at all," Ria whispered cheerfully, silvery-grey gaze meeting his. "They look a little big, but it's not that noticeable with you being almost as tall as big brother. I think those are clothes he's had a few years ago, before he started working out more and putting on muscle mass. At worst, someone might think you've recently lost a fair bit of weight, which would be why you're buying a whole new wardrobe. Otherwise, like I said, you look like any other guy here, which is what we're aiming for. And your hair actually looks good like that, as it's not hiding your face and eyes."
Raistlin couldn't help the surprised expression that crossed his face and he saw a blush creep on Ria's cheeks. She looped an arm around Raistlin's and started pulling towards the stairs, "Anyways, come on. We'll go get you some clothes of your own and you'll be completely fitting in."
Raistlin let Ria pull him towards the stairs, surprised again by her behavior but not minding the contact with the friendly young woman so much. And he wasn't so cruel as to ignore her obvious attempt to change the subject by pressing the matter further. As they went down the stairs, the mage instead asked, "Both you and Yevgeny have mentioned the 'cars' here, and that they apparently go a significant speed. Just how fast do these 'cars' move?"
"Faster than you're used to moving," Ria stated. "But they're as safe as anything for travel. And Yevgeny and Ivan have been driving for decades, so I wouldn't worry about it."
"Do you drive as well?" Raistlin asked.
Ria shook her head. "I know how to drive well enough, but I don't have a license, which is a piece of paper that says I passed a test and am allowed to drive my own car. I don't really have the money to buy a car and pay all the yearly taxes and fees to drive it, and they can get expensive to have fixed if something breaks. The buses here are efficient enough to get around with, and my friends all drive, so I haven't bothered yet. I have enough bills with my apartment and school and such."
Raistlin nodded. "That seems understandable."
They reached the bottom floor and followed the mentors out of the building. Raistlin saw a few metal contraptions with glass windows and strange black wheels that he could only assume were these mentioned 'cars'. And while they could be noticed as being vaguely similar to a carriage, as Ria had said, there was no horses around to pull them. Ivan led them to a black car that was parked next to a street. A street that was not dirt or cobbled, but covered in a strange faded black substance that was cracked in some places.
"What is this street made of?" the mage asked, glancing up and down the street and seeing that the entire thing was made in such fashion.
Ria giggled from where she was standing next to him. "It's called pavement, which is made from basically rocks ground down to powder, mixed with other stuff, and then super-heated and spread out by machines. At least, I think that's how it basically works. Paved streets are a lot smoother to drive over than cobblestones, even if back streets like this one are allowed to get a little run down."
Raistlin nodded, then looked back over to the car that Ria's mentors were waiting for them at. He muttered, again trying not to sound too nervous, "And you're certain those things are safe?"
Ria was clearly holding back more giggles and nodded. "As safe as anything, especially with Ivan driving. He's a very good driver. And there are no gnomes around to have to worry about them having tinkered with the mechanics."
Raistlin gave a short self-reproving laugh and let Ria pull him to the car. "You are not going to allow me to forget my initial reaction to the coffee maker, are you?"
"Not any time soon," Ria agreed blithely. "It was adorable."
Raistlin felt another blush flare across his cheeks.
"We are done with questions of cars and streets enough to drive now?" Yevgeny asked with a smirk.
"Oh, leave him alone," Ria said in good humor while Raistlin coughed in embarrassment. "He's bound to have questions and he's doing fairly well, all things considered. It's not like he's having some panic attack by all the things he's seeing that are foreign to him."
'Geny rolled his eyes. "No, only seem as tourist from third world country. In car, you two. Race can ask questions while we drive. And you be sure, mladshaya syestra, to remember his name while we are out. Get in habit of using so he can get in habit of hearing and answering to it."
"Sure thing," Ria said with a nod. She opened a door in the car and nodded to Raistlin. "In ya go, Race. Time to go for your first car ride and shopping."
Raistlin glanced inside the car and saw an odd sort of benched seating. Ivan was already in a padded chair in the front part of the car and Yevgeny was pulling open a door to sit in the front with his twin. Raistlin glanced over his shoulder a moment to the house they had just exited, and then sat inside the car as well. Ria closed the door once he was seated and then went to the other side of the car and got in, sitting next to him and behind Ivan. She gave the mage a sunny smile, which Raistlin returned nervously.
"Seatbelts," Ivan said from the front seat.
Ria groaned, bright smile disappearing. "It's not mandatory over the age of 18 and I'm celebrating said birthday today! I no longer have to wear it."
"It is still safer to wear your seatbelt, Ria," Ivan replied firmly.
"Says who?" Ria asked. "Vic was saved by not wearing his seatbelt in his accident. And if you get in an accident over 35, you're guaranteed a cracked collar bone."
"Vic's case was a very rare example of such. There's thousands of others over the years where people's lives were saved for every one example to the contrary. And better a cracked collar bone that will heal in a few months than death."
"This is the 'Live Free or Die' state," Ria said cheekily. "Check the license plates if you've forgotten. I'm exercising my adult privilege of not wearing a seatbelt, like 'Geny is."
"Argyria, I am not turning this car on until you show Raistlin how to use a seatbelt and put your own on," Ivan said implacably. "As the driver of the car who is responsible for the safety of my passengers, I still have the right to ask you to wear your seatbelt. I am not arguing with my own twin on the matter as he will do as he likes regardless, but you are not Yevgeny and you are to wear your seatbelt."
Ria sighed heavily and said sarcastically, "Glad to see some things really aren't changing with my birthday."
"I would prefer to make certain you have many more birthdays to celebrate, little Ria," Ivan said, unmoved by the young woman's comment. "You should know by now that just because a person is allowed to do something, does not mean they should. Now, seatbelts on."
"Yes, Ivan," Ria said with resignation.
Despite Ria's expressed confidence in how well he was adjusting to everything in her world, Raistlin was feeling more than a little uneasy being in this strange contraption. A feeling that increased exponentially with that conversation just taking place. He asked again, "Just how safe are these 'cars'?"
"Quite safe," Ivan immediately replied. "As with anything, however, there is always a chance of an accident. In your world, for example, there is a chance of being thrown from a horse and cracking open one's head, or breaking one's back. I keep my car in good working order, but there is always a small chance something could cause it to break down and we could hit something else, or someone in another car could have some incident that could cause them to hit us. Hence my insistence that seatbelts are worn to help prevent injury in case of such an accident."
Raistlin nodded, then said, "Understandable enough." He glanced over to Ria, "So where is this 'seatbelt' and how does it operate?"
Ria leaned over him, pulling on a length of fabric with a small metal piece attached to it. Raistlin discreetly turned his gaze to one side to glance out the window, as he otherwise would have been staring at her chest while she was leaning over him and fiddling with the seat belt.
"This is the seatbelt," Ria was explaining as she did so. "And it attaches to the car like so." There was a 'click' as Ria inserted one end of the metal piece into another piece to one side of where Raistlin was sitting. Raistlin turned his gaze back when it was safe to do so. "You push that button when you want the seatbelt to be released."
"And this is supposed to make a difference in case of an accident?" Raistlin asked doubtfully.
Ria nodded. "The straps are sturdier than they appear. They will lock their position on you if the car suddenly goes screeching to a stop, keeping you from going out of your seat and impacting elsewhere."
Raistlin nodded and glanced over the seatbelt and how it was attached by the metal pieces.
Ria went back to her own seat and put her own seatbelt on. "We're buckled in, Ivan."
"Thank you, dear Ria," Ivan said in better humored tones. He was handed keys by Yevgeny and placed them in a part of the car. The turning of the key caused the entire machine to give a small shiver and a noise began at the front of the car.
"Just the engine starting," Ria explained, watching Raistlin's reaction carefully. "It's supposed to sound like that."
Raistlin nodded, gaze staying warily towards the front of the car where the noise was continuing. He watched Ivan move a lever to one side, turning the wheel in front of him a fraction with the other hand, and then the car started moving forward. Raistlin tensed as the car began moving faster down the 'paved' street, quickly out pacing even a horse.
"Raistlin, you alright?" Ria asked.
"I'm fine," was the clipped response he gave.
"You're gripping the seat like you're about to be flipped upside down from a cliff and it's a safety rope."
Raistlin glanced down and saw that he was in fact doing so. He released his grip and placed his hands in his lap.
A chuckle came from 'Geny in front of Raistlin. "Ivan is good driver and we are not going so fast yet. We go faster once on highway, so try to get used to speed. If you relax not, Race, we may need think of new name for you."
Ivan snorted back a laugh and shook his head. "Not everyone innately likes to be jetting down a street at a hundred miles per hour like you do, Yevgeny. Give the young man not of our world a chance to adjust before you continue the teasing."
"One hundred miles an hour?" Raistlin asked in surprise. "These contraptions can move so fast?"
"And faster," 'Geny said in clear enjoyment of the fact. "My bike easily reaches one hundred-fifty miles."
"And if you ever crashed at that speed, you'd be road kill," Ria said with a frown.
"Eh, there is worse ways to die," Yevgeny said dismissively. "I know how to drive proper and not crash yet."
"How fast are we moving right now?" Raistlin asked, watching other cars pass them as they drove onto a more populated street.
"Approximately 35 miles an hour," Ivan replied. "When we reach the highway, the speed increases to 55 miles an hour, though most drive around 60 to 65. Highways are meant to be continuous driving across long distances, so the speed is allowed to increase on such roads. City streets, with their various cross streets, people coming and going off them, require slower driving to avoid accidents."
Raistlin contemplated that silently, letting the quick calculations take his mind off the scenery speeding past them. These cars, even at their slower speeds, allowed one to travel almost an entire day's walking distance in a single hour. Two days' worth of walking at their higher normal speeds on these 'highways'. That was indeed rather efficient.
"What was that thing?" Raistlin asked, attention draw to a massive metal contraption that had just passed them.
"That was one of the buses I mentioned," Ria said. "They are driven along specific routes through the city, allowing people without cars to get picked up and brought where they need to go if they don't have cars."
"And you ride in one of those 'buses' regularly?"
Ria nodded. "Just about every day, to get to work or school and back. And whenever I need to run errands. Makes getting into the main parts of the city a lot easier."
"And there's never been one of the accidents as was mentioned?" Raistlin asked.
"Not like those," Ria said. "Those aren't so likely to happen. Usually when a car starts having trouble working, you'll have some sign of it and can take it to a mechanic, who repairs the car. Or if it's something that happens fairly suddenly, the car simply stops working and you have to find another way home and around the city until your car is repaired. That's happened with the bus once, and the bus company sent another bus to pick the passengers up and continue the route. Usually accidents that can be life-threatening happen when a driver is driving their car recklessly and do something to cause an accident. Which is why there's a test to be allowed to drive, and all sorts of rules about driving. If you get caught breaking one of those rules, you can be charged a sizeable monetary fine, or lose your permission to drive."
"So it is fairly safe to be in a car?"
"Fairly safe, yep," Ria said with a reassuring smile. She pointed towards the window next to Raistlin, "And if you look up in the sky, you'll see another common transportation vehicle in this world, called an airplane."
Raistlin looked out his window and after several seconds, saw the object in mention, a seemingly small contraption soaring in the sky. "What in the…"
"Airplanes are more mechanics, but they carry people inside of them across long distances, even across oceans," Ria explained to the stunned mage. "We have a small airport, the places where the airplanes land and take off from, in the city, so you'll see those above from time to time. They go even faster than cars do. They're faster than even motorcycles like 'Geny's. Which makes really long distance traveling far easier as we don't have magic here that can teleport us about."
Raistlin continued looking out his window until the airplane was no longer visible, having flown away in the opposite direction they were traveling and been obscured by buildings. "…Your world has certainly found ways to make up for that lack of magic in some respects."
"Indeed, in some ways," Ria agreed ambivalently.
"How many people can airplanes transport?" Raistlin asked, finally turning his gaze back to Ria.
"Depends on the airplane," Ria said. "Some are only big enough to carry a couple people, as Ivan's car is. Those are private airplanes. And some are big enough to carry several dozen people, even more than a hundred, like the buses do, though they're way bigger than a bus. Those are the commercial flights."
"And you really weren't joking last night when you said that your world has been able to send people traveling to the moon in machines," Raistlin said, remembering that comment of Ria's and now finding it not so ludicrous as before.
"Nope, wasn't joking," Ria agreed. "In machines not so very different than airplanes, but in the same respect very different. And before you ask me how space ships work, I'll let you know I have no idea beyond the very basics. I'm an artist and writer, not an engineer. Which is someone who works with things that have engines, like cars and planes and rockets, which are another term for space ships because they use rocket engine to propel themselves."
Raistlin leaned back in his seat, contemplating that thought.
"And what just pulled in front of us," Ria said, interrupting the mage's thoughts before he could actually get too deeply into them, "is big brother's favorite mode of transportation- a motorcycle. Also known as a 'bike'. Though there are also bikes that don't have engines and are propelled by a person pedaling them about."
Raistlin leaned over to look at where Ria was pointing, and saw a strange two-wheeled machine in front of them, with a person sitting across it like it was a horse. Unlike the car or bus, it had no metal surrounding the person, only a small frameless window in front of it.
"Such bike is call Harley," 'Geny picked up the lesson from the front seat. "They are for slower speeds than racing bike and more heavy than racing bike. Some say they are more comfortable during long rides, but I never have such issue with my Ducati."
Ria added, "In case you can't tell Raistlin…"
"Race!" Yevgeny interjected.
"Sorry, Race," Ria corrected herself. "As you can probably tell, Race, from big brother's comments, there tends to be good natured competition and arguments between people who drive different sorts of motorcycles over what sorts are best. There are similar arguments for those who like fast cars, or just about anything that guys can find excuses to argue the superiority over."
Yevgeny groaned from the front seat. "That does it, mladshaya syestra! Next time I see Darlene, she and I having talk. There are plenty female racers and some just as good as men! And while we men enjoy our fast toys, you women enjoy arguing over shoes and cell phones and makeup brands and other such things, so is not trait limit to us."
"Why do you always assume that Darlene is the root of all my comments to such effects?" Ria asked in indignation.
"You never use to speak such," Yevgeny said confidently. "Darlene have more free time to see you, and have more involvement with friends of hers, and now you speak more of such. Is not coincidence I am thinking."
"And since when have you heard me arguing with Darlene and Lexi over such things?" Ria asked.
"Fair point, mladshaya syestra. More them arguing over such," 'Geny conceded. "You still join in on occasion when subject is clothing."
"Excuse me for having a girly side?" Ria said with a raised eyebrow.
"No excuse need for such," Yevgeny replied with a chuckle. "Only pointing out we are not only with prideful subjects we enjoy discussing."
"Fair point, big brother," Ria conceded. "But at least women don't frequently end up in fist fights when someone disagrees whose dress is better."
Ivan let out a laugh. "She has you there, Yevgeny."
"Hey, last time not my fault!" 'Geny protested immediately and with great indignation. "Dumb Brit say my Ducati is pansy Italian bike that cannot compete with Star of his. I prove him wrong and he take swing at me. I floor him in defense of self and leave him to eat pavement while I go back in bar for drink. Not my fault he not accept defeat with style instead of getting upset. Or not buy such inferior bike, then try to say is better than my bike."
Ria shook her head with a sigh. "And you just had to prove him wrong, instead of leaving it alone…"
"Of course," Yevgeny said frankly. "Ducati is damn amazing motorcycle and I am putting lot of work into it over years. I not letting some loudmouth Limey make with trash talk of my baby."
"You're incorrigible, big brother," Ria said with an exasperated smile.
"And always will be," was 'Geny assured response. "Is part of my charm."
Ivan held back his laugh and said dryly, "It is a trait we tolerate because of your otherwise charming personality."
Yevgeny made a dismissive noise, "You say such as you are having to keep up appearances of business man. I remember days when you have bike. You love bike of yours almost as much I love my Ducati."
"Ivan, you had a motorcycle?" Ria asked in surprise, leaning forward and to one side to look at her paternal mentor.
"Many years ago, little Ria," Ivan conceded, tone almost embarrassed.
"How many years ago?" Ria persisted.
"About two decades ago," Ivan replied. "I bought it shortly after moving to this country. I found it for a very affordable price and the better gas mileage was desired for travel to work. I had it for a few years before buying a car. Now please sit back in your seat."
Ria did as requested and asked, "Why did you get rid of the bike?"
"I started traveling more for my acquisitions and needed a vehicle that could safely transport such."
Raistlin saw Ria raise an eyebrow and look about to say something, but a glance over at 'Geny caused her to pause. Her expression became almost sad, and definitely realizing something, but she said in a pleasant tone, "Oh, I suppose that makes sense."
Raistlin gave Ria an inquiring glance as Yevgeny said, "As I say, Ivan make such decisions as clothes and cars as business man."
Ria shook her head slightly and mouthed, 'I'll tell you later.'
Raistlin gave a confused nod.
"One of us needs to do so," Ivan answered his twin wryly.
"I am not making with straight-lace appearance, but I still am business man and such is know where is needing to know," Yevgeny replied in good humor. "But is good having such face as yours for stiff-back mainstream clients."
"Indeed."
"So where are we shopping for Race?" 'Geny asked.
"We are starting at the mall," Ivan said. "There is the Market Basket across the street to pick up groceries afterwards."
"Sound like good start," Yevgeny said. "At least I can have smoke before we go in."
Ivan sighed and shook his head. "Those things will be the death of you."
"I think not," 'Geny said dismissively. "And as I not shove cigarettes down your throat, we continue agreeing to disagree."