Page 3 of Culture and Curiosities (Blue Ridge Charm #1)

Toman

“I don’t care what their celebration entails. I will not go.” Klynn looked a bit like a dragonling that was getting ready to pitch a fit as those that spoke the human language English would say. “You cannot make me.”

I was beginning to understand what the local population meant when they said some dragons were very dramatic.

Before we’d come to Earth, I would have said he was even-tempered and what humans would call boring.

I would have been wrong.

“Thank you for practicing your English.” It’d only taken him two weeks to give in on that one, so we were making progress. “It has improved greatly.”

Praise was not helping the situation.

Somehow, it seemed to be making him angrier but that expression was fleeting.

“One of us needs to stay at the portal.” He frowned and shrugged as he gestured in the direction of the portal we’d used to come to the world of Earth. “You may deal with understanding their social rituals.”

Social rituals were an important part of getting to know any community, and it was especially important when it came to understanding the dragons and mages who’d been trapped on the Earth side of the portal.

Several hundred years had changed our people in interesting ways.

“I agree that guarding it is important until we establish formal communication, however, we have put up a barrier to prevent aggressive creatures from coming to this area, so I believe it will be safe for a few hours.” That wasn’t going to be enough to get him to go back into town, but it felt necessary to push back against the unreasonable behavior.

“No.” One of the only things Klynn seemed to have learned from the humans was a statement that no was a complete sentence.

It was an unfortunate lesson.

Others had been harder to assimilate but he’d found that one to be frighteningly easy.

“Fine.” Refusing to perform the human mannerism of sighing, I stood from the overturned tree I had been using as a seat and did the shrug movement. “I will go.”

I’ll go.

The human language English was fascinating, but somehow we had not absorbed it correctly.

“Enjoy viewing the mates celebrate their union.” Klynn turned back to the reading device he’d traded gems for. “I will guard the gate and practice reading English.”

For an unknown reason, he preferred the visual language over the verbal one.

I was not sure why historical information and what the humans called poetry was so interesting but it was to him.

I had always found reading to be necessary but tedious, however, I was starting to have questions about what he was learning.

“I will return with human food later.” I wasn’t sure what would be offered but we’d quickly learned that any and all social events would provide options for food, and if someone performed the act of looking hungry they would be provided with extra.

Our people had integrated with the locals so thoroughly that they had picked up a variety of extensive nonverbal cues.

“Thank you.” His manners had greatly improved after earning his path.

No.

Getting his way.

“You are welcome.” As I left the clearing where we’d made our camp and used a simple transportation spell to take me to the edge of town, I reviewed the conversation and tried to understand where our problems could be fixed.

His intolerance of the locals bordered on unreasonable, however, their actions were confusing. They were happy to see strangers and were highly generous, but they discussed confusing sexual topics and their conversations were difficult to grasp.

What was a Team Binkie ?

Why were they insistent that Klynn was a member?

We were told by our experts that absorbing the language of anyone who spoke it as a native would be enough to make sure we understood conversations around us but that was not correct. Incorrect.

That was incorrect.

The older woman we had initially used the language spell with did not have the right vocabulary to make the men at the diner understandable.

Advanced age had not given her the broader vocabulary we were told to expect. It seemed like our peoples in the new world had absorbed many traditionally human characteristics in ways we had not anticipated.

They were…unique.

But unlike Klynn, I found them to be interesting and I was drawn to their curious conversation and strange ways.

Especially their social openness and helpful assumptions.

Even as I walked toward the main entertainment hall to experience the party to celebrate a mating, I was waved at and included in greetings as I walked past strangers. The ones who had been previously introduced were even more pleased to include me in their conversations.

“Look who made it.” An older man from the diner smiled and waved me toward what I knew to be a community social building that was not associated with a traditional business.

It held a variety of parties and events and included something called playdates which were confusing.

The meaning was not what we had expected from our initial language acquisition.

Klynn had been tasked with researching the topic due to his specialties, but he was adamant their information network had not provided helpful information to deal with the curious locals.

“Don’t forget.” The diner man smiled but did not seem to trust my memory of the social rules. “You have to say congratulations and then you’re allowed to point out how rude it was to get married without us.”

I did not understand how I became us so easily but I nodded. “I remember.”

“Where’s your friend?” We’d stayed hidden until there were enough new individuals for us to blend in with, but that meant the locals had decided we were part of one of the visiting councils. They had also decided we were from what they were terming a small town .

It seemed to have negative feelings associated with the term, but I may have been reading their facial expressions and exchanged looks incorrectly. I thought we were currently in a small town based on its size, so I knew context was missing.

“He is unable to attend but sends his regards.” I needed to learn the polite way to explain he was being frustrating, but my vocabulary was not that extensive nor were my social manners.

It seemed like some humans were too polite and I didn’t have the correct way to explain Klynn. Some humans were also very curious and I did not have a way to explain it to them either. But pleasant conversation and looking confused helped smooth over many issues, unlike home.

“We’ll make sure you get cake to take back to him.” Several of the men patted my arms and frowned but it was another man who sighed and continued to plan for my departure. “Sometimes they’re emotional. Don’t worry. You don’t want him being naughty in public, so it was probably a good idea.”

Oh.

Nodding without giving a verbal response got me past the confusing moment but I had no idea what he thought Klynn was doing.

Naughty?

My only association with that word was based on small children misbehaving, and while that did seem to go along with Klynn’s behavior, that could not be what the men meant.

I was saved from having to answer any questions, however, by the rushed announcement that the guests were quickly incoming and we were all hurried into the social building. Which was filled with dragons, mages, humans and…humans in costumes…

It was best that I had not brought Klynn.

He would not have been able to keep his thoughts to himself and I could not predict if he would find the costumed humans frightening or pleasant.

I wasn’t sure how I found the costumed humans even after much mental debate, so staying well away from the all-white individuals who were throwing balls and performing some kinds of rituals seemed intelligent.

No.

Smart.

It seemed smart.

However, I was not the only one who found them confusing based on the expressions that were being shown and the way many in the room avoided the actors or possibly religious observers.

Yes, actors seemed to be the right word, although humans had many words for dramatic individuals who performed curious behaviors that could be religious.

How they decided which to praise and which to condemn was not immediately understandable, unfortunately.

My position beside what might be termed a toy shelf provided me with a good view and I was able to perform a small spell to isolate conversations without it being overwhelming.

No, I’m pretty sure someone fucked up with the clowns. I don’t know what they were thinking but this can’t be normal even for the locals.

Curious.

Oh wow, he’s hot.

Was someone of extensive temperature? Was that safe?

You need to figure out if this is a birthday, wedding celebration, or birth announcement because they’re two men and I didn’t think we could do that with humans.

Oh.

Could we do that with humans?

Mate or just bad decision hottie?

How were those options for the same person?

Just remember that sentiment when the men at the diner are asking you if you’re Team Pony or Team Binkie.

Finally, someone helpful.

The two men were engaged in a quiet conversation with an excited tone, and continually looked around as if searching for someone or something.

They’re very curious. They didn’t like being told it was none of their business either. They need a more productive hobby than guessing everyone’s kinks. They also don’t hear the word no nearly often enough.

I had to agree with the firm-looking dragon, even though I did not have enough context for much of what he was saying.

His smiling…mate possibly…seemed very pleased with the conversation.

Um. That’s because they weren’t taught to stop with the word no.

No did not stop a conversation?

How was it a complete sentence then?

Do not tell me the town’s busybodies have a safeword. I refuse to hear it.

The frowning dragon may not have wanted to hear it, but I needed more information if a safeword was related to being Team Binkie or what the men in the diner were talking about.