i have this extremely dumb headcanon that norta is kind of like industrial hell but beautiful the way a crowded, light polluted, busy city is beautiful while the lakelands is not the most technologically advanced nor the most coveted place to be but it's beautiful the way farmland, lakefronts, and forests are beautiful
so imagine maveiris doing royal duties in industrial hell norta. it's the only home maven's ever known. the food is subpar and most likely greasy as fuck but he loves it. iris is tolerating it. maven's also well-adjusted to smog and cars and bright lights flashing in his face. he's used to all the noise, he might even find it comforting. but beside him, iris is overstimulated and hungry and praying to just go home
then imagine maveiris having to go to the lakelands together. royal business maybe. canonically, they did for iris's dad's funeral. it's much quieter out there. less in-your-face lights and hounding from courtiers. fresher food. maven's a greedy bully so he eats there too, but iris is equally satisfied with her meals here so they both win. but the serenity drives maven up a wall. he can hear elara's voice clearer out in the lakelands. he's not used to all the people pausing for prayer. he watches iris move through her religious rituals the same way a journalist would observe the subjects of a documentary. iris notices, of course, but it's easier to ignore maven when she's mostly surrounded by things that comfort her
