:Oh right. Probably: 

:Then I will. He has a communication artifact, we talk a few times a week:

Nod. :Thank you: 

After their exams it's time to get ready to go. Aza's planning to Gate it, it's a long annoying journey elsewise. She packs clothes and books but not much else since her dad has things.

They both do very well on their exams, as per usual. 

Ma'ar checks if Aala wants to come. (She doesn't; she has break plans. She also announces that she wants to ask the hertasi to move out of their shared room and into a dorm with her best friend.) 

He packs fairly lightly as well, more because he doesn't have that many possessions than because Azabel's dad does. By count if not by weight or volume, most of what's in his travel bag is magic artifacts. He also has the booklet of classes available next session at their level, to peruse and pick his choices while they're on the trip. 

He joins Azabel for the Gate, looking a bit nervous but also curious and excited. 

And she Gates them straight to her father's front doorstep. "Welcome to Riverfork!"

Ma'ar turns and glances curiously around at the neighbourhood. 

It's a small, unremarkable village, with houses and gardens and a tavern and a little Guard office; the house looks out on the forking river in question at a distance of some tens of meters, and there's a bridge over a narrow bit, and more houses over on that side. A boat squeezes under the bridge and stops off at a pier to collect vegetables from somebody who comes out to meet it.

Aza takes the gate down and turns to open the door and is greeted by her father, who hugs her tight.

It's nice. It feels...peaceful. Not dangerous. Ma'ar isn't sure if he trusts this impression, but he is noticing it. 

...It still feels a bit weird and awkward, watching people be physically affectionate with their family members. He stands back, smiling politely, and waits for Azabel to take the lead in introducing him. 

"Dad, this is Ma'ar. Ma'ar, this is my dad Charl."

"Good to meet you," says Charl.

"It's good to meet you too," Ma'ar says, nodding to him and trying not to be visibly tense. "Thank you for hosting me." 

"Aza talks about you a fair bit," Charl remarks.

"Oh?" Ma'ar blinks, suddenly wishing he had thought to discuss with Aza what sorts of pleasantries her father would try to engage in so he could practice his responses. "We, uh, do have a lot of classes together." 

"Mm-hm. Come on in."

The house is a touch roomier than Ranara's but less decorated. It looks like the last time Aza was here she made a magic freezer for the kitchen.

Ma'ar looks around and tries to spot something to compliment Charl on, other than the fridge which is Aza's work; he's pretty sure that compliments on the host's house are a normal social interaction. 

The kitchen has been painted a cheerful yellow. He has a knitted throw blanket in several colors flung over the couch in the living room. It's not a very interesting house. Aza tromps through to deposit her belongings in her room.

Ma'ar continues standing and holding his travel-bag, waiting for an indication from Aza of where he should put it; he does have the tentifact packed, along with many other artifacts, but it feels presumptuous to just march out to the backyard and set up.

With his best manners, he praises the wall colour choice. "How long have you lived here?" 

"Oh - Ranara did that," Charl says of the wall. "Coming up on twenty years, I guess."

"Wow, that's a long time! I guess maybe it feels less long to you...." 

:Aza, should I ask him about where to put my tentifact?: 

:I'll be out in a sec and I can show you the yard: She pops out of her room a moment later. "Ma'ar, back door's this way."

"Thank you, Aza!" He follows her out. 

She shows him a good spot to put his tentifact. The chickens, of whom Charl has several, have picked over the area pretty thoroughly and won't miss it for a little while.

Ma'ar, who has shared an outdoor sleeping-area with chickens more than once before in his life, glances around and then sets out his tentifact and puts his bags inside the barrier. 

:- Should be set for now. I, er, feel like maybe I should've asked for advice before on - how to make a good impression with your dad...?:

:...I'm not actually sure, I've known him my entire life and am his daughter. He's very quiet, you don't actually have to say much and he won't either now that the introductions are out of the way. I guess unless he intends to ask you if we're having sex, which I have told him we're not but it's possible he'd want it corroborated:

....That seems like a moderately uncomfortable question, but if Charl does ask then Ma'ar can just give the true answer which is 'no.'

:Do you think I actually need to make a good impression in order for him to agree to come to Predain with us? Or will he say yes just because you're his daughter?: