nexus_crossings | Opening Night

Current Mood: drunk

Opening Night

There's a new establishment located in one of the downtown area's darker corners. A wooden sign and an alien creature drawn in red paint identify it as The Scarlet Hooyim. There's a warm fire burning inside, the scent of fresh meat and pouring rum, and the sound of sea shanties. The lights are visible from outside, warm and inviting. Curved swords are displayed on the tavern's wall like trophies, and a tattered skull-and-crossbones hangs from the ceiling. There's a clear pirate theme going on. The aquarium in the far right corner is filled with strange, alien fish.

The proprietor is none other than skekSa the Mariner herself, who's built the tavern from a portion of her gathered resources as a thank-you to the Nexus and its people. She's a striking presence in her red longcoat and breeches, nine feet of feathers, scales, and taut muscle. This Skeksis isn't one of the lazy, hunched good-for-nothings at the Castle of the Crystal! The Skeksis captain is personally serving drinks and tutting over her customers, some faces familiar to her and some new. "Hello, my dears! Do come in from the cold and have a drink or two." She's carrying two mugs of foaming nectarwine, fresh from Thra, one in each primary hand. Rum, whiskey, and beer are all on offer. She's got plenty of beverages imported from other worlds, too.

Half-a-dozen specially chosen Sifan Gelflings from the Silver Sea coast help their Captain mind the tavern, busily keeping track of orders, waiting on tables, and collecting tips. skekSa needed some assistance for the times when she can't be there to run the place personally, and feels her clan is up to the task. She's given one of them the authority to be in charge whenever she's away on business - a first mate, of sorts.

The Skeksis pirate leans on one of the empty barrels that she uses for chairs, taking a long swig of nectarwine herself. It's opening night - no shame in drinking, least of all tonight, when they're all celebrating. She's made sure her stocks are filled for the occasion. Her voice booms through the tavern hall. "Welcome to The Scarlet Hooyim! Come in from the cold, darlings. Don't be shy. Tell us - what drinks would you like?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It had been a long time since Kane has abandoned his life as a pirate but he remembered the time, mostly with fond memories. There had been differences of ethics on the ship he served and eventually captained. Still, when he sees the pirate themed pub he has to stop in for a drink. Puritan he might be but he had abandoned pacifism and drinking when he took up swords to fight the darkness.

Kane is an odd figure, 6 foot tall and oddly thin, dressed head to toe in black except for a red sash around his waist. Despite the peace of the Nexus old habits die hard and he still carries his full compliment of weapons; rapier, short sword, two flint lock pistols, and an assortment of daggers and knives. In general, he's quiet and watchful but it is hard to avoid a slight smile from nostalgia as he approaches the bar.

The sight is an odd one. He's seen a lot of things in his time, so to see something so unusual is worth a raised brow. The Nexus has calmed his usual nervousness around things so strange. In his own realm something like the bartender would likely be demonic, here he was never sure. He takes to the bar stool closest to the wall and with the best vantage of the room.

When the bartender comes he considers his options and feels adventurous. After all, why not try the local fare? "What would you suggest from your own stocks?"

The first thing about skekSa is that she's enormous, even by Skeksis standards - at nine feet tall, she towers over human visitors in height and bulk. Unlike her siblings, she stands straight, probably the closest anyone will see to what the Skeksis looked like when they were young and vibrant, before decadence and obsession ruined them.

She's got a cutlass lashed to her side. In the inhabited areas, she's more lightly armed than she would be in the Wilds. The Mariner doesn't carry her thunder-eggs in buildings as a rule - they're powerful explosives, after all - but she carries her sword for appearances as much as necessity.

"We have nectarwine and rum from Thra," she tells Kane as she passes him a menu. "To begin with, I appreciate your bravery in trying a drink from our world rather than yours. There's no reason humans can't drink nectarwine, but most of them seem to prefer more Earth-based drinks." Not unexpected, but the Mariner respects the stranger's willingness to take a risk in trying something new.

Kane has seen monsters her size, larger sometimes. The height isn't too much of a problem though he has to take his hat off to properly look up at her.

He pauses and then smiles, adventurous to a fault. "I'll try both." What was the worst that would happen? A hangover or a trip to somewhere private if it didn't sit well in his stomach?

"A-ha! I think I like your style, dear." The Mariner gently pats the stranger's shoulder. "I am Captain skekSa. It's a pleasure, lad."

It's a habit she has with human visitors, as a being hundreds upon hundreds of trine old.

She quickly issues orders to the nearest Sifan server. "Some of our finest Thra nectarwine and Earth rum for this table, please. He's feeling adventurous. We ought to reward him."

Edited 2020-03-13 06:03 (UTC)

"Solomon Kane" He responds to the obvious introduction though he stiffens a little at the physical contact. Old warrior habits. "I was once Captain Kane."

Kane laughs at the order given and motions toward the chair, despite considering that it may be too small. He's trying to be friendly. "Join me for a drink?"

"Ah, a fellow mariner. Well, a former one at any rate." skekSa offers her hand for a shake, noticing that direct physical contact from her startled him.

She nods at the offer of a drink, a sly look in her red eyes. "You want to see if you can drink a Skeksis under the table, Solomon? I welcome the challenge."

"Once. I left the life of a pirate long ago." There were reasons, very good ones that had little to do with actual piracy. Not one to brood when there was new company to have he shakes her large hand firmly.

Motioning to the chair, he gives her huge form a look over. It's hard to get Kane to laugh but her comments get a modest one from him. "If you promise no harassment will come to me while I sleep off my failure in this corner."

"Some captains and some crews are better than others," the Mariner says, bowing her big head. "I assumed you had good reasons for leaving that lifestyle." She withdraws her hand.

She laughs, but not unkindly, when he motions to the chair. "You have my word, Mister Kane, that there will be no harassment. I respect you, and I'm sure so do the Sifa. You're the first of your people to challenge a Skeksis in drinking."

"They turned to slavers and humans as cargo." The disgust in Solomon's voice is venomous. "I continued on after, for a time, but eventually sought a vow of peace to atone for the time."

Kane leaned back in his chair and took off the broad-brimmed hat he wore, setting it on the other chair. "In my world, you are either bold or a slave, though I would see it different where I can be an influence."

"Humans enslave each other?" The Skeksis isn't surprised by this - the Castle Skeksis take slaves, though not of their own kind. But perhaps the others were also slaves of skekSo's will without realizing it. "My former Emperor takes slaves from our planet's species - Gruenaks, Podlings."

"That's a fine hat you wear." The Mariner shows Kane her own captain's hat. "My own freedom from him is why I turned to the coasts and the Silver Sea."

"Yes." Solomon sighed. "More and more of late, a sign of the demonic forces that have come to the Earth in my world." He nods sympathetic of the fact her world had slaves too. "If there were more than humans in our world, there'd be those who would make slaves of them."

It was a part of his universe that Kane despised and fought. He glances between his own hat and hers. "This identifies me as a Puritan, a religion I've embraced since leaving the sea."

"Many take to ships for the same reasons among humans." He'd known some of them, but depending on the captain a ship could be slavery too. Kane had been victim of that kind of captain before taking over the ship as his own.

"Demonic forces?" There's no such thing on Thra - the Skeksis, while unpleasant creatures on the whole, are not demonic in origin, though their origins were alien. They're still natural creatures, if long-lived, who follow natural laws. skekSa has met angels, but not a self-identified demon yet.

The Sifa listen to the conversation, curious. They let the Captain handle negotiations, but they are interested in learning about other worlds, even the darker ones.

"I've taken to the Nexus for the same reasons," the Mariner says as she pours out two glasses for him. "There is no Emperor here and no Skeksis Court. There's only skekGra, and he's harmless." It's interesting, seeing how the former Conqueror has changed since exile.

Kane isn't surprised, and is glad, that she doesn't know what he is talking about. It is for the better. "Evil from our land of the dead that kill and enslave without reason."

The human nods his agreement. "It is a good reprieve from the struggles, but I return home as often as I can."

There's a man that comes in with a child in his arms, a small boy who appears wide-eyed with awe at the decorations, who claps at the strains of the sea-shanties being sung, who reaches out toward the tank of peculiar fish with a squeal, like he wants to hug the animals through the glass.

Eindrid's family were fishermen, and he remembers the water and all that came with it. Loki isn't entirely sure a pirate's tavern is the best place for a toddler--and he's made a point of bringing the child in in the early evening, before, he hopes, anyone's actively intoxicated--but in the wake of his recent breakdown, it strikes him as important to spend time with each of the children and reassure them he's not going to abandon them.

"Do you have anything appropriate for a very young child?" he asks the skeksis, without batting an eye at her size and appearance. "Plain fruit juice, or cow or goat's milk, perhaps? We won't stay long, but he wanted to see the fish."

"Don't worry! We have something for the little dear." skekSa bends and smiles at the boy - she's dealt with Gelfling children, but she's not quite sure how different species' children are. "I haven't met you before. Captain skekSa, at your service."

The Mariner quickly talks to one of the Sifa, who disappears into the back and returns with a children's menu - there are juices on offer, as well as the milks asked for. She offers it to Loki. skekSa hadn't exactly anticipated child customers, but she has an idea. She rummages in her robes, taking out a blue pendant. Sooner or later she'll offer proper handcrafted toys, but this will do for her first child customer. And one with a sailor's spirit at that!

"It's a protective amulet from Thra. We wear it as a charm for good luck during sea travel - consider it a gift from me and the Sifa clan. Your boy has a mariner's spirit in him. Foster it, and help it grow."

Edited 2020-03-04 09:16 (UTC)

Loki smiles a little, pleased by the friendly reception. Bars in general are not places for tiny children, but he's glad this one is willing to adapt a little bit.

Eindrid stares at her for a moment, as if he's slightly intimidated by an immense birdlike face, but slowly he grins and points at the tank nearby, saying declaratively: "Bee fiss!!"

"Big fish!" Loki translates with a faint chuckle. "Yes, those are big fish. They do get bigger, though."

They drift toward a table near the tank, and Loki is about to set the child down when skekSa offers him the amulet. There is something both touching and ironic in a stranger offering a good luck charm to the child of a god, and it makes Loki smile. "If I did not foster that spirit, it would break out on its own and knock me off my feet," he tells her, bows slightly, and accepts the charm, putting it gently around the boy's neck. "Can you say thank you to the Captain, Ein?"

"Tankoo!" He curls chubby baby fingers around the amulet and smiles.

"His name is Eindrid," Loki adds to the skeksis. "And I am Loki."

"Yes, they are big, aren't they? But Master Loki's right - they'll get bigger."

skekSa's a savvy businesswoman. Children are a potential market, so she doesn't want them to be completely unwelcome. The children's menu is labelled "For Bitty Buccaneers".

"You're welcome, lad." The Mariner smiles when Eindrid seems to appreciate the amulet. "Eindrid, eh? He seems a good boy. I'm sure he'll be a fine sailor when he grows up, if that's the path he chooses in his life." skekSa gently pats the child's head with a clawed hand, restrained in her strength. She feels fond of him already, but she's not his guardian.

Some of the Sifa approach, curious. It's rare for the Mariner to give favors to outsiders, but it certainly isn't unheard of. The Sifa, after all, accept members of other Gelfling clans into their own.

"We'll have Sifa-made toys to give children in the future. But your boy Eindrid is the first child to come here, so I chose to give him something special. He seems to appreciate the fish. Those particular ones are native to Thra, my home planet."

It was night time and Sonic was exploring around town when he came across the pirate themed bar. Curious, and wanting to get out of the winter cold, the speedster entered the establishment, looking around with wide green eyes. "Woaaahh!!!" He hopped a little on his feet as he turned around in a circle, taking in the decor, music and ambiance. "This place is cooool." It totally reminded him of Pirates of the Caribbean. He had seen that movie through the window at Tom and Maddie's once.

He didn't know what was cooler, this bar or the biker bar he had already experienced. He wasn't intimidated by the fact this was in a darker side of town, nor was he bothered that some of the patrons looked pretty bad ass (plus -everyone- save for some of the small child sized servers, were bigger than him). He was sure that everyone there could fold him like a pretzel, but he was confident he was faster than anything here. They would have to catch him first!

The teenager zipped around the place ooo'ing and aaah'ing at everything - stopping a moment to admire the large aquarium with exotic fish. He pressed face and hands to the glass, impressed. There was fish that he had the feeling weren't native to Earth.

"Wow, this place is awesome."

Edited 2020-03-04 07:41 (UTC)

"Welcome, dearie!" Sonic is approached by a nine-foot bird-creature, carrying a mug of nectarwine. "What brings you to the Scarlet Hooyim, hmm? Want a drink?"

The Mariner's eying Sonic curiously. She's familiar with humans, if only through the Nexus. She's talked to angels. However, she's never met a creature like him before, so she's intrigued. Her tail is snaking behind her as she observes. So many strange creatures here, so far from home. What manner of world was this odd little creature from? Sonic barely reached the Skeksis's knee, but she's remarkably unafraid of her and the other patrons.

"And who might you be?"

There isn't any harm in asking, she figures, and maybe she can learn something about the kind of world this little stranger came from. At nine feet tall, she's easily taller and more physically powerful than Sonic is. The difference in size between the hedgehog and the alien is striking. She's already observed his impressive speed and reflexes in her tavern.

Wow that was a pretty big bird lady alien. Sonic had turned around at the voice and almost fell on his butt as he looked up...and up some more. "Hi there!" He waved. "I'm Sonic the Hedgehog." He introduced himself at the question - figuring that he'd throw in 'hedgehog' in there since most people couldn't guess for some reason.

"Wow." He grinned up at her. "You are the biggest pirate I've ever seen!" He didn't mention the fact that she was the only pirate he'd ever seen that wasn't on a t.v. screen. Always full of boundless energy, the hedgehog zipped around her a few times to get a good look - hopping over her tail as he did so and miraculously not smacking into furniture, servers or patrons. "I love your coat! Are you a real pirate or just dressed like one?" He couldn't help but ask.

skekSa looks down at the small fluffy creature as soon as she can get a clear glimpse of him - Sonic the Hedgehog. So, he's a hedgehog, a species she doesn't know. Clearly non-native to Thra. The Mariner looks at him through red eyes. "Why, I'm the real thing, of course! Everything in this bar is real. The flag, the swords, the barrels..." It's hard to follow him with the eye, given his speed, but she tries anyway. It's a good thing he doesn't step on her tail.

"But thank you, dearie. It is a fine coat, isn't it?" skekSa has some of the typical Skeksis vanity, despite her distance from her kind, and gratefully accepts Sonic's compliment for her clothes. "You may call me Captain skekSa, Sonic the Hedgehog." She offers him a claw. The Mariner guesses that Sonic's relatively new to this place, like she is.

Sonic's blurred form came to a complete stop on top of an unoccupied table, which rocked slightly for a moment under his feet as he stood still, looking up at skekSa when she introduced herself. Wow, even when he was perched up on a table, she was still huge. His big green eyes lowered to see her extended clawed hand, and back up again to see the odd beaked face before he beamed a huge grin.

"Aye aye Cap'n!" He quipped with a lazy salute before clapping his white gloved hand into hers. He gave it a hearty shake in pure delight. He always got a little excited when he got to shake hands with people. "Oh, you can call me Sonic! I just added the hedgehog part because people never seem to know what I am. Maybe it's 'cause I'm blue." He said with a shrug.

Letting go of skekSa's hand, Sonic looked around a little from this new vantage point. She had said all of this was real? Even the swords? Cool.

"So does this mean you have a real pirate ship and you go on awesome adventures on the ocean? Woah do you even have treasure? How big is your crew?" He asked in his usual rapid fire style, green eyes bright with curiosity.

"I've never seen a creature like you before, here or in the Nexus."

skekSa's never heard of a hedgehog, either, so she looks over Sonic curiously, a thrumming noise in her throat as she does. Some of the Gelflings come, curious.

"I sail a living vessel, Vassa. And yes, we do have treasure. I usually travel alone, but I suppose you could say that the Sifan Gelfling clan is my crew. I chose several of them to accompany me here - I can't be here all the time, between exploration in the Wilds and my duties in Thra - so I needed their help."

She brings most of the treasure gathered back to Thra, but keeps some for herself, to decorate Vassa or now the tavern. The real hunt will begin once winter ends and the ice thaws. Then the Mariner, who isn't fond of the cold or being landlocked, will be able to travel more freely.

Sonic plants his hands on his hips and (maybe) puffs up a little at the attention. Especially when some of the smaller servers came over to curiously check him out. He had been so used to trying his best to be invisible that this was a nice change.

"No one has ever seen anything like me!" He boasts, though despite the words - he didn't really come across as truly arrogant. "I'm the only one I know that can go as fast as I can." He grinned, simply stating fact.

"A living vessel?" He echoed at the pirate's words, curious. Sonic had a notoriously vivid imagination, so now he was picturing a pirate ship with eyes that could talk. Wouldn't that be something? "Sounds amazing! Why do you travel alone?" He asked suddenly. Don't pirates have crews? He'd never heard of one that worked alone before. "Oh...so are you guys all gelflings then?" He addressed the group of servers looking up at him.

"You said Thra..is that the name of your planet? What's it like?" Sonic didn't even know the name of his own planet. He only knew the island where he lived before he had to escape to Earth.

"It's safer for me to travel alone." It's partly for her own image, but she also wants to keep the Sifa out of danger if she can. She'll take some with her occasionally, and when it came to divvying up treasure everyone was welcome.

As the Mariner talks, the Gelflings nod in response to Sonic's question. Some of them come even closer, curious. Nothing like this "hedgehog" existed on Thra, so they're instinctively intrigued and share their patron's curiosity..

"Thra is a beautiful planet. I spend most of my time on the Silver Sea, but I also visit the If you like, I can take you with me sometime." She looks at him, red eyes twinkling. "Tell me, Sonic...though I know very little about you or your kind, you look young. Do you have a place to live here in the Nexus?"

Something about Sonic is giving her mother-hen feelings. She's considering something very special, something that she hasn't done in the Nexus yet - inducting a Nexus citizen, a non-Gelfling, into the clan.

"Hey nice to meet you all!" Sonic grinned at the gelflings and waving a little.

He tilted his head slightly at skekSa's answer - finding that it resonated it with him. He had spent years alone because it was safer. Now that he had friends (and dare he even think it), a family - he still wondered if it was okay. Wondering if he would bring danger to them even after the main danger had passed. Just because Robotnik got thrown through a ring portal didn't mean that there weren't other dangers that could happen. There could be others that could be trying to hunt him down.

Shaking himself from his thoughts, Sonic lowered to sit on the edge of the table; legs dangling over the side in idle kicking motions. "Wow, the Silver Sea. Is it really silver?" Sonic asked in wonder. He couldn't imagine such a thing. His eyes brightened considerably though as she said she might take him with her to see it sometime. In answer to the pirate's question, Sonic shook his head. He dodged the mention of his age. To Maddie and Tom he was just a kid. But at 14 or 15 years of age, Sonic didn't agree. Considering he had been forced to strike out on his own at 4 years old he felt he was grown up enough!

"I'm still really new here. I haven't found a place or a cave to hide out in yet." He admitted. "I did find a PINpoint though, and I have my bag of rings as back up so I can go home if I need to and come back here!" He reassured.

The gelflings seem cautious at first, but a couple, including skekSa's first mate at the tavern, approach.

"The Silver Sea is located to the north of Thra. There is ice there - it's Sifa territory, along with the coasts. I sail there. The Silver Sea and Vassa are the closest things I have to a home myself. I Most Skeksis are settled, ruling Thra from the Castle the Emperor rules from. I prefer a different lifestyle. I do not want to lurk and feast in poisoned stone and gather dust like the rest of them."

The Mariner travels regularly in her line of work, and disdains the usual Skeksis decadence. She had more in common with the Conqueror and the Hunter in that respect, all active Skeksis who spent relatively little time in the Castle of the Crystal.

"I was going to offer you a place to stay with the Sifa and I. I noticed your speed, lad, and I think you could have a place among us. How would you like to live with me here in the Nexus? I would see to it that you had a place to stay, along with food and other necessities. We would also teach you about this place."

Sonic's feet swayed slightly in an idle motion over the side of the table as Sonic hung onto skekSa's every word. "Wow." He murmured, intrigued. A small smile touched his mouth at the similarities they shared. They both tended to not like being cooped up in one place for long. Always on the move, on their own, playing by their own rules. Sonic liked that, and felt a surprising sense of connection with the large pirate; even after just meeting her.

At the Captain's gracious offer, all movement stilled and Sonic simply stared in open shock. He was still somewhat new to random acts of kindness. He still treasured the white and red shoes given to him by Tom's little niece; the first gift he had ever received. Then Tom and Maddie surprised him by allowing him to live with them. Now this.

"I...I..." He uttered, speechless (which was a rare thing indeed!). Clearly he was moved and excited at the idea despite his almost sudden shy hesitance. "R-really??" He finally asked, stammering a little in surprise. "Why? I-I mean...I just met you!" He was leaning so far forward as he perched on the edge of the table it looked like he was going to fall off.

It had been several months since Shadow had been in the Nexus. So as he wandered through the shadier parts of town, the new pirate themed bar caught his notice right off. Warm light came from inside as if in invitation to get out of the cold and snow. When he pushed a hand against the door to open it, the sound of sea shanties met his ear as he strode inside. Crimson eyes eyed the place and various patrons sitting around the space as he made his way to the far side so that he could find a suitable dark corner to sit in and blend in with the shadows.

Once he situated himself at a table with his back to the wall so that he could observe the space - he got a menu and a glass of water from one of the small humanoid servers. They were no bigger than he was, but it was clear they weren't children nor were they human. Not that he cared overly much. As long as the place had good food and drink that was all that mattered. Shadow didn't indulge in drinking alcohol that often, but depending on what they had here he might make an exception for one night.

Before he could decide on what to get, the booming voice caught Shadow's attention. Crimson eyes darted towards the source: A huge reptilian bird woman of some kind. Shit she was huge. Intrigued but not intimidated in the slightest, Shadow smirked.

"What's the strongest stuff you got?" It was incredibly hard for Shadow to actually get drunk - so he was up for a challenge.

Edited 2020-03-04 10:02 (UTC)

skekSa had noticed the black-furred stranger not too long after he cones in. There's some black on her own mane, of a similar color to Shadow's fur. That, and the stranger's very brave for someone considerably smaller than skekSa - he seems completely unafraid of her.

She smirks slightly. Bravery is an admirable trait when she sees it in others.

"Welcome to the Scarlet Hooyim, dearie!" The Sifa server steps aside as skekSa comes in to take the customer's order personally. She likes greeting new customers herself when she can, and the gruff-looking hedgehog is no exception to that. Surly customers aren't an unusual sight at a bar as rowdy as skekSa's. The fact he's some unidentified creature is more interesting to her than his gruff attitude.

"Ah! Feeling adventurous, are we?" The Mariner's voice changes to a musical trill. "I've got some fresh hooch for you. I haven't been told much about the world it's from, but the smuggler who I traded it from gave me his word it's strong. How would you like some, lad?"

Dearie? Shadow had been called many things - but that one was a first. He looked up at the large bird woman as she approached. Well, he guessed she was a woman at least. At seeing the smirk, he returned it, crimson eyes glinting.

"Sure, I'll give it a shot." He nodded at the offer, amused that she called him 'lad'. He was actually a lot older than he looked.

"And what is your name, darling? You may call me Captain skekSa." Most people are young compared to Skeksis, and the Mariner is used to dealing with Gelfling. They live longer than humans, but shorter than her people. She's seen many generations on the Silver Sea's shores.

The Skeksis gives a warm trill, calling for one of the Sifa servers. "A fresh mug of Venomblast hooch, please."

Darling? He supposed all the endearments was just how she talked. He was more interested in the fact that she called herself Captain. He wondered if it was just an act to go with the bar theme, or if she really was a pirate. He had learned to expect the unexpected in the Nexus.

"Shadow." He responded in his usual soft spoken fashion as she asked him for his name. This 'hooch' stuff sounded like it would be interesting considering it was called 'Venomblast'. He might even get a buzz from it, who knows?

"What are you, exactly?" He asked after a moment of intense scrutiny. This fellow apparently didn't beat around the bush either.

"Greetings, Shadow!" The Mariner stoops to reach Shadow's eye level. There are disadvantages to being her size. "I am captain skekSa, and I am a Skeksis. There's one other of our kind here, but we aren't one of the more common creatures."

Even though she's sure skekGra is working against the Emperor, she hardly blames him after what skekSo did to him. If she knew skekSil had been here she'd be more uneasy. She despises the wheedler and his whimpering lies, but she also knows skekSil has the Emperor's ear, so she daren't lay a claw on him.

She's not especially proud of being Skeksis, and she's hardly on good terms with most of the others, but it's what she is. "And what are you, if I may ask?"

Shadow had never heard of a 'skeksis' but in this place there was lots of things he'd never heard of. Kept things interesting. The pirate had hunkered down so he didn't have to look up as much. She was still pretty large though. Her question had a hint of a smirk touch his features again.

"A hedgehog." He didn't get into the whole thing about being a genetic hybrid between a hedgehog and malevolent alien life form. Eh, details. "I guess you could say I come from a world that's similar to Earth."

It seems that Skeksis aren't a well-known species in the Nexus, which is just as well. skekSa identifies as one, but she's adapted to Gelfling ways more than most.

"A hedgehog?" The Mariner nods slightly, thinking of Sonic when she hears the word. "Not the first of your kind I've encountered in the Nexus, though that one was blue. Friendly. Very excitable." Shadow seems more stoic. skekSa takes note of the strikingly different personalities between the blue hedgehog and the black one.

At the mention of a blue hedgehog, Shadow blinked at the description. "Yeah, I know him." Though he didn't seem overly enthusiastic about it. He also didn't consider at that moment, that the pirate was speaking of a different Sonic than he knew. In any case, all versions were kind of a pain in the ass.

"So, what kind of food do you serve here?" He figured he might as well ask. If there was anything interesting he might have a meal to go with the drink.

"He's quite the character." skekSa's grown fond of Sonic in the short time they knew each other. The blue hedgehog is more energetic than a Gelfling, and faster, too. The two must be from the same world. "So are you. We don't often get people who ask right for our strongest drink on offer."

"We serve seafood, and some meat dishes. Is that all right by you, Shadow?" skekSa doesn't really know what hedgehogs eat. Most of her customers are relatively carnivorous so far.

Shadow smirked a little at that. "It's actually really difficult for me to get drunk. So it's probably nothing I can't handle." He said matter-of-factly. It's not like he drank alcohol that often or tried to get drunk in the first place. Most people just assumed that due to his size and the fact he didn't drink often - that he'd get hosed with one sip. It was sometimes entertaining to prove otherwise.

Shadow thought for a moment or two at the mention of seafood and meat dishes before nodding. "That's fine. I'm accustomed to being around humans, so I eat the same things they do."

"Well, that should be interesting, since you ordered the strongest drink we have right now. We may have something even stronger in the future. We're always bringing in new supplies from other universes." skekSa can handle a lot of alcohol herself, between her sheer size and her nature as a Skeksis. They aren't immortal like the Emperor wants to be, and they certainly aren't invulnerable to poisoning or other forms of injury, but they are hardy creatures.

"Ah, you're adaptable. That's always a good thing, especially in a place like this." skekSa rests a clawed hand on the table, slipping Shadow a menu with the other. "So...is there anything you're especially interested in?"

Supplies from other universes? Huh. Interesting.

Shadow perused the menu with a slight frown before putting it down. "Stew sounds fine. Something to help thaw out from the cold." He said finally with a small nod. Despite not wearing clothes, he wasn't affected by the cold too badly, but it would be nice to warm up with something hot to eat nonetheless.

"Stew it is, dear. Any particular kind?" skekSa uses her secondary arms to grab a notebook and scribble Shadow's order on it. Sometimes it's useful to have an extra set of limbs, especially ones that are still usable. There are only two Skeksis where that's the case.

She has supplies from many of the other worlds she has contacts in - it's useful to have eyes everywhere, and good business besides.

When a new somewhat business acquaintance opens a, well, a new business. Well a good mech goes and pays that fine establishment a visit! And being a thirty foot tall robot he opts for the logical use of his holoav while his actual body cruises aimlessly around in jet mode in the skies above.

He's got a large sack hefted over his shoulder and he intends to waltz strait on in but.. the sign.

Hooyim? WHO?yim. Hooooyim. Min. Man. Human? Did humans come in scarlet? Ah look getting distracted again. He'll probably collect stares if he loiters about contemplating a sign for much longer. So he does his busting in thing.

"Huh? What? Nah mate you don't have what I can drink, no worries. But hey, get over here got ya a bar warming present!" he grins triumphantly and heaves the bag onto a empty table, "Primus, Cap' didn't realize you were that tall."

It doesn't occur to him that he probably never mentioned his holoav thing to her. Or that he'd be visiting. His voice and eccentricity might be recognizable at the very least.

It's Misfire. That gaudy color scheme is obvious. skekSa's feathers stand on end instinctively with irritation she has yet to feel, but which also won't take long. The Sifa take notice of his odd hair and dress.

"So...this is a thing your kind can do. Transform yourselves into humans?"

Hard light is not a thing that exists on Thra, so the Mariner can't help but be confused. Skeksis can't do this. Gelflings can't do this. The urSkeks were beings of light and energy, but not shapeshifters.

Oh, skekSa knows the voice and the mannerisms, though. That clodhopper. But it sounds like Misfire's brought something for her at least, and at a more manageable size he won't be knocking over anything in her tavern. Hopefully.

She comes over to the table, reaching for the bag. "What's inside, if you don't mind? Or is it a surprise?" There's a note of skepticism. The Mariner hasn't quite let what happened the last time the two of them met go, though she's not going to make a fuss in front of her customers.

At least he's not wearing a dress. That would probably cause even more stares. Like many of his race he only has a rather vague grasp on the organic concepts of gender. Why up until a couple of years ago he'd never even met a female Transformer! His opinion? Girls are scary.

"Huh? Oh right. It's a holoav! It's hmm..." he rubs his chin thoughtfully, "It's kind of like a puppet I can make that I can control from afar. My real self is flying around up yonder," he points towards the ceiling.

"Anyways, present time! Open, open, " he grins and gestures to the bag dramatically, "It's something that's been kicking around my own collection for a while and honestly I'm surprised I haven't lost it because it's pretty small for me. It's not especially valuable, but I feel like it's your aesthetic. I promise it won't explode."

Inside is the metallic skull of some alien beast about twice the size of a basketball. It's got sharp fangs and several horns and inlaid in one of it's four empty eye sockets is a chunk of smoky black glass cut to resemble a gem.

skekSa still isn't especially impressed by Misfire or his manners just yet. They had gotten off on the wrong foot, and part of her remembers the supplies she's still restocking because of his clumsiness.

"What did this come from?" The Mariner holds up the skull to examine it more closely. Some kind of meat-eater, but it's not a kind she's familiar with. She doesn't usually collect animal parts - she's not skekMal the Hunter - but the glass gets her attention. That is pretty. "Some sort of...metal animal?"

She's never seen a Garthim. In her time in Thra, they don't exist yet, so she's unfamiliar with artificial forms of life. Perhaps this is a mechanical creature, like Misfire himself is. The biologist in her wishes she had a complete skeleton to examine.

In many ways the knowledge gained from examining this creature would be more valuable than any jewelry. But she'll take it as a present anyway and add it to her collection. It's the thought that counts.

"Don't know what she was originally," he looks at the metal skull fondly... and then grimaces a bit. In this tiny holoav this thing sure does look a whole lot bigger and creepier! Creepy creep creeper. Wait was it a chrome-creeper? No no those were a lot bigger. Never mind.

"Could be some extinct technorganic, could have been manufactured. Important part is it has a story. See apparently some old snake was conning a bunch of natives on some backwater planet. Made himself a nice little cult. Used Miss Menacing here to keep 'em in line, said it was the skull of a god or somesuch. Anyways, has a little talky-boxy installed inside," he grins and raps on the top with his knuckles... oooh nope. Too hard, physical feedback from his avatar could get a little wonky sometimes, that wasn't fun. "It's got a few fun sentences in it that are programmed to respond to certain key phrases. I can't change what she says but I fiddled around with it so she responds to certain key phrases..."

He trails off, frowns. That might be a little too technotalky. This thing might be little more then a fun toy from his viewpoint but he's pretty sure they don't even have radios in skekSa's world.

"Actually, let me just demonstrate," he leans close to the skull and says quietly, "Hey let's skip out on the bill."

The glass eye lights up and the skeletal jaw clacks open, and a menacing hoarse voice moans "Cursed... those who run shall be cursed... endless misfortune..."

skekSa can follow the basic narrative easily enough. It was a tool in some sort of scam, used to trick inhabitants of Misfire's home universe by a cult leader. She assumes it was taken from him at some point, and made its way to Misfire and finally her.

A false artifact, used to manipulate and control. It's the sort of thing skekZok the Ritual-Master does. Exploiting a belief or making one up in order to get people to do what he wants, though most of the other Skeksis were on to skekZok's tricks some time ago, herself included. She associated with him for protection on Thra because he was powerful and useful, and because he had a few sparse standards, not because he was especially trustworthy.

But its responding to Misfire's words, well, that gets her attention. She'll find a nice spot for it somewhere in the tavern. Maybe in her quarters, or in a place where customers could inadvertently set it off and give the other patrons some entertainment.

She places a clawed hand on the "cursed" animal skull, her red eyes locking into its sockets. "What other phrases does it respond to? That is a useful party trick. I sincerely thank you."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Opening Night

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject