It ain't his first rodeo, at least

[adregem]

"The Nexus has a library, huh?"

Roland Crane, a tall and stately man with a face no older than twenty but a disposition that betrays his young visage, halts his step in front of The Grand Library. True to its name, the newcomer stares at its grandiose facade with awe in his eyes, marveling at the architecture which feels both new yet familiar. He crosses his arms across his chest and tilts his head back until his eyes meet the light in the sky, gaze following the zenith of each rooftop and awning.

"I wonder if Evan's planning on making something like this in Evermore, one day..." He says, to no one in particular. A few days in and his heartstrings tug at him, though he tries not to give the feeling much sway over his day to day. The facts of the matter are clear: he is not in Evermore, not anymore, and he is alone. No matter how much he misses his new king, his friends, Roland must move forward. There is no other way.

"So," He exhales steadily. "Has anyone actually found any real answers in this place, or am I just...wasting time and all this is just for show?" He starts his trek up the stairs, and his boots seem heavier than he remembers.

"People keep talking about this place being a second chance, but what if I've already gotten mine?" Roland pauses, his usual steely determination faltering for just a moment. "What if I don't have anything else to do, third-time around? What then?"

Comments

[chiaro_oscuro]

"I'll say this much for the Nexus." Ben is a regular visitor at the Grand Library, and when he's not at his shop or he can often he seen there with a book or two under one arm. "It's a good place to find the peace and quiet you might not have had in your home world. You can find yourself here. I can't say I've found all of the answers I'm looking for, and I might never have them all, but I'm making progress. And that's what matters the most."

He's older than Roland, considerably, but he's still a younger man. His eyes speak to his experience, giving him a dark, almost hollow expression that may make him seem older than he really is. The shadows under them suggest that he doesn't sleep well.

"I don't know your history back in your world - you don't have to tell me. I'm not open with mine, either. But I've found peace here to some extent. Even if you need a third chance, or a fourth chance, you can find it here, I think." He gives a polite nod. "Welcome to the Nexus, then. My name's Ben."

[adregem]

He turns to the nearest voice approaching him, hefty tomes nestled against the man's person. He cocks an eyebrow out of interest, as he discovers yet another Nexus resident who has made a new home out of the chaos. Roland places a hand against his hip, sharp eyes studying Ben with intrigue. He's familiar with this image; the distance of his gaze, the fatigue in his brood, a fire fighting to stay alive. He's seen it in others, and perhaps, he's experienced the same kind of tiredness born of sleepness nights. For Roland may look the way he does now, but his true self is much, much older, nearing his fifties, a father to a son, a President to a country, and now, a Consul to a Kingdom he is desperately trying to find again.

He relaxes his shoulders before replying. "I can respect that. Chances don't come easy, and they certainly don't come to everyone who wants one. I guess I really should just be counting my lucky stars, instead of questioning it." He nods back. "I'm Roland. Good to meet you."

He follows Ben's long gait towards the inner confines of the Library. "So what you're basically saying is that even though we've all technically been kidnapped by a foreign power...the Nexus is actually a really great vacationing spot." He chuckles under his breath. "Right. Roll with the punches. That I can do."

[chiaro_oscuro]

"Kidnapped is one way to put it. People come here different ways - sometimes they visit by choice, others find their way in by mistake. Some people are running away from problems in their home universes. The Nexus is a good place to catch a breather. I got here because I died in my world, so coming here wasn't really a choice for me. But it's something I can deal with, having a second chance. The Nexus is a peaceful place, most of the time. It's certainly done me some good."

Ben actually looks a little healthier than he did when he died, and not just because his wounds were healed. His skin's less pale, suggesting that he's gone outside more often, and there's an energy and even excitement that wasn't there before. Ben's genuinely happier here. But the weariness probably always will be there to some extent.

Ben opens the library door, holding it for Roland. "Have you seen the PSA from Captain Rogers or read the pamphlets? They'll explain most of the basics if you're planning to stay for any length of time. But if there's anything else you want to know, I'll do my best to explain."

/minor 4th wall break of sorts? Roland canonically is the President of a place that mirrors the U.S.

[adregem]

"Captain Rogers? Heh, sure. The whole thing was about as subtle as a punch in the face." Roland follows Ben inside the library, and though he's cracking sarcasm, the wonder of the interiors was not lost on him. Every turn, nook, and cranny contained books, novels, encyclopedias and trinkets of unimaginable detail. He manages a soft whoa under his breath before catching up to Ben once more.

"Say, is the good Captain from a country called America Aremica? I only ask because the red, white, and blue with the stripes and stars seem way too close to my home country's flag." He wasn't about to comment offhandedly about being the President once upon a time - especially when at the forefront of his mind, he's been thinking about Evermore and his duties as Evan's consul anyway - but the irony of the understatement always amuses him.

"He told me all I needed to know, and then some," he added, head turning side to side as he surveyed the shelves upon shelves of documents they were passing through. "Pamphlets filled me in on the rest. To be frank, my biggest concern is the arbitrary nature of this place. You can choose to come here, you can stumble into it by accident like I did..."

As soon as they settle down, with Roland allowing Ben to take the lead as he saw fit, he sighs with a sense of serene resignation. The more he thought about it, the less he understood the rhyme and reason. It's an interdimensional gateway in between a plethora of worlds, dimensions, and spaces across time. Guess that's that.

Roland chuckles sardonically. "Here's what I'm really trying to get at," he starts off, trying to sound too serious as part of the punchline. "Captain Rogers didn't tell me where the fun is. Big old center of all known and unknown worlds and they didn't think to build a tourist center with souvenirs? Come on. I feel scammed."

[chiaro_oscuro]

"I've never talked to the Captain, or saw him in the flesh. I don't know any of his personal history, but his colors are those of the United States of America. Earth country." Ben's not from Earth, something he might have just tipped Roland off to, but he's done enough research to know a bit about the planet and recognize the Captain's uniform colors. "Not Aremica, but that's close."

Ben doesn't know about Thanos or what happened in Captain Rogers' home universe, so as far as he knows Rogers just wandered off into a portal and hasn't come back yet. There are a lot of people in the Nexus he's heard about, but hasn't actually seen. It's inevitable in a place where the population's always shifting and changing. People come and go, with the exceptions of people like Ben who are stuck. He's not going anywhere.

"Fun, eh?" That has Ben's attention. "I can give you some pointers, if you like. Depending on what your definition of fun is. I'd certainly visit the Viper's Pit, Loki's place. Maybe skekSa's tavern in the downtown area. If you want something more relaxed" For someone so dour, Ben does know how to have fun, even if his sense of humor leans toward the darker, more acid side.

Ben's admittedly frustrated with the Nexus's anarchy. There's no organization, no structure, something he can see backfiring if there's ever a serious threat. And almost everyone here's strikingly trusting, even of a moody stranger with a laser sword and a bloody past in his wake. But he figures it comes with the territory of a place that's practically a grab bag of the multiverse, and he's glad to feel accepted even while guilt and shame gnaw at his heart.

"It's a good idea to be careful. Not everything that comes through is pleasant." He would count himself as one of those - while he has no intention of harming anyone, at least at this point in his personal history, he's fully aware that he's not a good person and doesn't think of himself as one. "But unless you go into the Wilds, the anti-violence field will protect you. Most of the time."

[adregem]

"United States of America, huh? That...sounds extremely close to my country. Can't be a coincidence." He'd do some digging on parallel worlds later on, when he's all settled and ready to explore more of what the Nexus had to offer. The Conductor said the same thing when they last saw the bunny-man in their dreams, after all - that other alternate universes do exist. Roland realizes this experience now, in the Nexus, was indisputable proof.

He files away this thought bubble for later, along with the mention of The Wilds, and resumes his chat with Ben. To busy his hands, he takes a couple of books that were not returned to their rightful shelves, quickly scanning their covers for anything he might find interesting or useful.

The brunette makes a face at mention of a Viper's Pit. "Well ain't that a promise of fun to come," he quips. "But maybe a little too out of my comfort zone. The local watering hole sounds like it's worth a trip, though. Thanks for the tips." He skims through the first few pages of a very strange cookbook. "What about you, though? Any personal recommendations?"

And if it ever comes up in conversation, Ben will find a kindred soul in Roland, who has lived his entire life with the promise and safety of structure and order. If the man's natural stoicism didn't stop him, he would have already demanded to know who in the world was in charge of such a crazy place like the Nexus, and how did they get any work done without a form of central authority.

[skeksisheretic]

"Oh! Hello there! You look new. Welcome, welcome!"

An old bird-creature approaches Roland, carrying a heavy staff. A second creature shuffles along behind. Both of them look at Roland quizzically. They're familiar with humans by now, but this one sounds troubled. skekGra and urGoh decide to help as best they can, though skekGra in particular isn't ex.

"You wouldn't be the first person who had trouble settling in, but you've come to the right place. Visiting the library's a good idea. It's a fine place if you want to rest." The Heretic comes forward.

"Who...are you?" urGoh asks, curious. "You're...new. Welcome."

[adregem]

Roland is only taken aback by their sudden appearance for a fraction of a second. Once you've fought ghoulish slime monsters on legs, Porc ogre monsters, and fire-breathing wrym's that can talk, nothing can really faze you.

Instead, he nods to them as politely as possible, one hand in his pocket. "Uh, hey. Thanks. Seems like I've really been sticking out as the new guy with all my snooping around the Nexus. The name's Roland. Any names I can call you two by?"

[skeksisheretic]

"I...am urGoh...the Wanderer," urGoh explains to Roland, his long tail draping on the ground as he moves. "Welcome to...the Nexus. Nothing...to fear...from us."

"And I am skekGra the Heretic," says skekGra with a broad, tooth-filled smile. "I am a Skeksis. urGoh there is a Mystic. Hello, Roland. And yes, it's quite obvious that you're new. No problem - everybody here was new once."

[adregem]

Roland nods in acknowledgment. "urGoh and skekGra. Got it." He smirks with some hint of playfulness. "Rolls right off the tongue."

He starts walking closer to a giant archway, welcoming the trio deeper into the Library. Some areas begin to look familiar, books arranged in a decimal system that seem to mimic what Roland inherently knows, growing up and going to school just like every other aspiring lawyer-politician of his caliber. Other areas of the Library border on fantastical, foreign, alien and mystical - even for someone who was whisked away into an Other World with cat-human hybrids and talking mouse demons that could clobber him if he wasn't careful. Needless to say, Roland is fascinated.

"So, any popular novels you'd like to recommend? Something to get someone green up to speed with Nexus affairs, maybe?" He turns to the two with an air of curiosity. He's more or less accepted his situation, so now's the time to figure out what to do with all the freedom he's gotten in excess.

[skeksisheretic]

"We figure you already read the pamphlets. Not much in the way of rules here - just be careful where you step when you're out in the Wilds and you'll be fine!" skekGra lives out there, and he's not naive that the Wilds are harmless.

"What...kind of...books do...you like?" urGoh's curious, looking up and down at Roland's style of clothes.

"There's all kinds of novels here. Adventure, science fiction, fantasy...and, well, history, depending on which universe you're from."

I said I'd tag (same mun as Anemone :D )

[totallygonnaconquerasgard]

"Second chance? Oh, please. This place is only designed to confuse you. And irritate you."

So says a man in a horned helmet, who was reading something, but now throws the book away carelessly.

Hi hi hi! <3 Is this Loki? Boy oh boy <3

[adregem]

[ Roland turns his head to the side, following the voice coming from the farthest corner of the Library's foyer and entry hall. His expression does not betray his lack of amusement. ]

Right. I can understand why the Nexus can irritate and confuse you. Especially when you stop to consider nobody really consented to come here.

[ ...sorry, stranger. The dad in him can't help it. ]

You shouldn't throw books like that, you know. Treat 'em with a bit of respect.

Yup, a Loki. One of maaany Lokis, nexus is apparently a Loki magnet. I play this Loki and this Loki

[totallygonnaconquerasgard]

[from the past (teenage, you'll see him around, and I play a few other Lokis, but there are, besides, many other Lokis, not mine, so - yes :D /ooc]


[Loki looks at the young (?) human. What impertinence.]

[But...]

I do treat books with utmost respect whenever I find something of value in them. This one proved worthless. And I should warn you, books aren't the only thing I treat this way.

And you seemed just as irritated by the Nexus. Besides, for me, it's personal. This place - it haunted me for ages! Ever since I was still young, and was first pulled here. Hm, speaking of me back then, I'm probably still here, and so is he, and she.

You couldn't possibly understand.

Nice nice nice NICE, I love me some Loki. Any Loki. Loki for days!

[adregem]

[ Was this guy threatening Roland? Cute. But also, no. So, Roland just shakes his head at him. ]

Uh..huh. You know, I really don't. Nexus newbie, still pretty green. That's me. [ He almost sounds playful. ]

[ He hums to himself though, as if he can't help but think out loud this time around. ] This place pulled him in when he was young...Interesting. So you can come in here whenever you want a break, or you can just randomly walk in, like I did...

aww <3

[totallygonnaconquerasgard]

I see. That explains your pitiful attitude. You shall learn.

[No comment on Roland's whispers for now, though some attempted smiting might occur, 'accidentally', if those whispers about Loki continue. fyi.]

[sumarusfinest]

"Some people view it as little more than a stopping-over point. A nice day out, before returning home."

The man replying to Roland's question is tall and thin, balancing a couple grocery bags piled high with vegetables in his arms as he heads back toward the more bustling areas of the Nexus. He has to turn and shift some of the wight of the bags onto one hip as he regards the newcomer.

"Are you unable to leave? Do you remember how you came in?"

[adregem]

"Huh. And here I thought this was the world's most comfortable kidnapping attempt." Roland smirks sardonically. "Can't help but feel like this is taking the saying you need a vacation way, way too seriously."

And it's not like Evermore's Chief Consul doesn't need one. He's probably more tired than he tells people, but that's all part of the job, no matter what your position in governance and office. Alas, his thoughts digress. He snaps back to attention, watching the man with a keen gaze.

"I walked into King Evan of Evermore's throne room like I usually do, and then, well. Here I am. Here we are." Roland approaches him carefully, with every intention of offering aid as he speaks. "Hey, need a hand there? Would be a shame if those vegetables bruise."

[sumarusfinest]

"I'm sure someone over the years has been kidnapped to this place to remove them from their world for either protection or nefarious purposes by a statistics standpoint, but those odds seem mighty slim indeed."

Not to mention it's a crime in quite a few worlds, though Katsuya supposes that little fact probably doesn't matter much to someone that desperate to hide someone away in the Nexus. For good or ill. He nods along with Roland's description of how he ended up here. Seems like that's not an uncommon way to find this place.

"Like you, many people simply get lost here on accident. I was no different although it has been a long time since I arrived here first. I lost access to this place for a long time before eventually finding my way back."

A hint of a smile flickers across his overly serious resting face.

"A civil servant or just a kind passer by?" Like recognizes like, and all that. Katsuya shifts again before offering one of the smaller bags out for Roland to carry. "That's kind of you either way. My name is Katsuya. It's nice to meet you."

[adregem]

"Well, that's a pleasant thought." Roland answers, dryly. "The Nexus is everything you need it to be and more, right...? That's what the packaging says, anyway. I'm not in any position to doubt it. This place is more chaotic and messy than I'm used to, but I guess that's the charm."

Roland briefly plays with the idea of returning to his so-called door, the one leading back to Evermore. Should he go and look for it, somewhere in this moving place with its bobs, bits, and pieces? He shuts that train of thought immediately. Naturally, Roland doubts the nature of it all - and such behavior comes with the territory of being both President and Consul to a king, no older than his son - but he is also one to accept situations for what they are. Regardless of consequence, Roland is confident he can deal with repurcussions. He's trained in the fine art of contingency, after all.

Which leads him to the now; he takes his cue and swiftly lifts the offered bag with practiced and careful ease. He smirks, as if telling his new companion an inside joke. "A little bit of both. I guess you could say I'm used to putting a citizen's needs before my own." And that's definitely putting it mildly.

"Hey. It's Roland. Where we taking these bags to, Katsuya?"

[sumarusfinest]

"And that is something we have in common then, Roland." Equally amused as the newcomer is at being let in on this 'secret'. Perhaps more in common than either man realizes. There will be time for making acquaintances though. In the immediate Katsuya nods off toward the main drag of the Plaza.

"I run a small cafe and bakery these days in the Nexus. My part timer had to be gone today and the weather was nice, so I went to pick up some local produce myself this morning."

He gives a sidelong glance toward Roland as they start walking in that direction.

"I'll whip something up once we're back. No one should start an adventure or a day's work on an empty stomach."

[debonairsharpshooter]

Now normally Misfire is a thirty foot tall alien mech who can turn into a jet. However, thirty foot tall aliens don't exactly fit into human sized libraries. So he's investigating the place using his handy dandy hard light holographic avatar. Very convenient for exploring human sized establishments such as this! Of course with the bright pink mohawk-mullet he still stands out just as much.

He's turning a corner, walking while reading the ominously titled 'Humans for Dummies!' and happens to catch the last bit of probably rhetorical questions.

"Mate, you're in a brand new universe, endless possibilities for adventure and discovery," he looks up, an obnoxiously pink eyebrow arched, "And you're thinking you got nothing to do here?"

[adregem]

Roland quirks an eyebrow at the stranger who he almost bumped into. He steadies himself before shrugging. "Good point. I'm just a little more used to structure and order, that's all." At the very least, Roland is glad to know no one he's met yet proved antagonistic.

"Maybe that's why my feet took me to the Library first. Try and read up on things, get some recon. Figure things out, one step at a time." He chuckles, repeating the pink-haired man's words over and over in his head. Roland rarely allowed things to get to him, so it wasn't unheard of that the more time he spent pondering his new situation, the more he's gotten used to being in the Nexus for the foreseeable future.

"But you're right," he adds. "If I'm called to go adventuring, then who am I to tell this place no? Might as well make the most out of the free time, who knows when I'll have it again." He hasn't noticed the book Misfire is holding yet, but he will soon. For now, Roland just offers a hand to shake. "Roland. You are?"

[debonairsharpshooter]

"That's the spirit, Ro! Who doesn't love a little adventure?" He grins and snaps his book shut as he reaches out to shake his new friend's hand, "Throw that order out the window! Get a weird paintjob, flip a table, get super overcharged at someone's cojunx ceremony and make a scene..."

He trails off and frowns. Wait no, the kid's not going understand that reference. He was just reading the chapter about that... what was it called?

"...And by that I mean get super drunk at someone's welding ceremony. I never knew welding was a big symbol of love. I mean I guess it makes sense since you're connecting two things forever..." he he looks thoughtful. It still sounds off. Welding? Wedding maybe? What the pit was a wed? "Anyways, name's Misfire."

[adregem]

As he draws his arm back, Roland tries his best not to make a face at those suggestions. "Yeah...All charming ideas, thanks. Might pass on the public unrest and vandalism, but I'll check out the rest."

He watches the pink-haired man with a glint of amusement in his eye. Roland isn't really sure what to make of his ramblings, until he starts connecting a few things that caught his attention: the title of his book, mispronouncing wedding, and -

- "Misfire?" Roland blinks, but he can't help himself from his usual dry and playful sarcasm. "That's unfortuante." He shakes his head and crosses his arms against his chest. "But you might be referring to a wedding. It's a wedding ceremony. You..." he trails off, remembering that Misfire was reading a book about humanfolk. Roland's met Grimalkins, Dogfolk, Porcs, Merfolk...but Misfire looked human?

He decides it isn't worth investigating further in a place that quite literally, defied every expectation.

"...Nevermind. Misfire. It's a wedding."