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

[adregem]

"Huh," Roland ponders quietly. "So it's a land of the lawless, eh? Are the blue banners supposed to mark territories? Is anyone in charge of the Nexus in case they start getting aggressive?" He can't help it, even though he knows the circumstance he's in. Political suggestions might all be a moot point really, but Roland is wired to think like a strategist. Policy-making is second-nature to him, born out of need as both the President of a superpower back home, and as the Chief Consul to Evan.

Guess it can't be helped. Old habits really do die hard...

He offers another smile to his two companions after he realizes he may have turned the conversation to something unnecessarily serious.

"Anyway, as for arts and crafts, I can't say I've tried it enough on my own to see if I like it as a hobby. Don't really know if I have the eye for it..." He drums his fingers against his arm. "Puppets and theater might be nice though." Roland looks skekGra and urGoh over with an air of fascination about him. "Maybe I can help you two out with planning some of your shows. I'm pretty good at the backstage stuff."

[skeksisheretic]

"We have a truce with them - we stay away, and they leave us alone. The Fallen leader put up the banners so we could stay off of her land." skekGra hasn't seen them himself, but he doesn't go too deep into the Wilds. "The Nexus doesn't have leaders, there are so many people and cultures here it would be impossible, but we have the Guardians. They've fought the Fallen before in their universe and hopefully their presence will keep them from getting any ideas."

"Some groups...have leaders." urGoh explains a little more. "The Asgardians...have a...royal family. The Fallen...have a...Baroness. But...no one...rules here."

Nevertheless, skekGra is relieved when the subject changes to theater, a topic he's more passionate about.

"We could use a patron," says skekGra. "Someone to help us improve our shows. Back in our home world, it was just me and urGoh creating our operas, so we're used to working alone. You're welcome to visit us any time you like. We live on the edge of the inhabited Nexus, on the border of the Wilds."

[adregem]

Roland is careful not to look too eager to absorb intel, but he does not miss a beat, filing away everything skekGra shares with him for future reference. It always helps to stay alert, he reckons, and he knows he's just wired to always be on the lookout. He nods in understanding before allowing the topic to pass (for now).

At the mention of a patron, however, Roland does perk up a bit. He recalls moments in his own presidency back in his original homeworld, long before serving Evan, and his passion for funding anything to do with protecting the rights of children from all walks of life. Perhaps children would also attend skekGra and urGoh's shows here in the Nexus?

However...

"Hey, that sounds like a great plan. I may not be an artist, but I can definitely help with producing, props, and logistics." Planning is as easy as they come, after all. Roland scratches his cheek before continuing. "But from experience, won't patronage need some sort of funding? Coffer's empty on my end, unfortunately."

[skeksisheretic]

"We aren't that interested in money! We'd be happy with some occasional help getting the show ready." Any money skekGra and urGoh get their hands on is used for food and supplies. Most of skekGra's food comes from the butcher and from the Wilds, since Skeksis are strictly carnivorous. Humans don't usually like bugs, he's learned.

Roland's instincts are right - a lot of the two's performances are for children. skekGra and urGoh have a soft spot for them. skekGra likes their enthusiasm, and he enjoys showing off for young people. So he thinks there could be a deal struck here.

"We would appreciate any help you could offer us." The Heretic reaches into his robes. "You'll find us at our house or at the urSkek Puppet Theater in the Plaza. We're hard to miss. Do you have a PINpoint, if we may ask?"

"Having one...is a good...idea," says urGoh. "Very...useful."

[adregem]

"Alright then, if you're sure. I'd hate to volunteer and just be dead weight, after all." Roland relaxes just a tad, feeling slightly more excited at doing something new, and maybe learning a few tricks of the trade he can take home to Evan. He can image puppet theatre in the Symposium, with Francie and Nereus heading the charge, Yu Kan helping teach the kids in Evermore how to act...

He offers a genuine smile. "Just tell me what to do and what you need to help spice up your shows, and I'll plan it out from backstage so you two can lead the charge up front."

Before he can add anything else to that, he's baffled at the mention of a PINpoint. He must have skimmed that over when he was collecting flyers. Roland shoots both skekGra and urGoh a slightly confused expression before responding.

"A PINpoint...?"

[skeksisheretic]

"I'm guessing you don't have one, then." skekGra steps up to explain. "They're handy devices that help you go places here in the Nexus - visiting other worlds, for example, or if there's a place you need to go in a hurry. They're easy to find. It's amazing that they're so cheap when you think about everything they do for us." It's curious, but skekGra doesn't really ask many questions about these small conveniences.

"In the...Plaza. There's a...vending machine...with PINpoints. Very...cheap." urGoh gives a little more detail. "Might want to...get one...if you're...staying."

The Heretic gives a jerky, birdlike nod. "It's a must-have here. No one knows who invented them or where they came from, but they're useful things. We can point you in the right direction if you didn't see the vending machine."

this response assumes Roland is finished with his little adventure with Anemone in another thread!

[adregem]

He blinks at them both in quick succession, before suddenly exclaiming a bit too loudly for a place like the Library -

"So there are Trip Doors around here!"

Or, at the very least, a version of them.

[skeksisheretic]

"Shhh," says urGoh, but he's goofing around, mostly. They are in a library.

"What are Trip Doors?" skekGra is curious. "From your world?"

He's visibly excited at the chance to learn more about Roland's home.

[adregem]

Roland chuckles at urGoh. "Right, sorry." He relaxes somewhat, now intrigued at the inner workings of the Nexus.

The brunette turns to skekGra, one arm on his hip. "You got it. The easiest explanation is that they're teleportation portals. You activate a Trip Door next to a town square, a gate, or even the entrance to a cave or sewer, so the next time you wanna go back, you don't have to walk. Just use the Trip Door." He nods. "Sounds like the same concept with PINpoints to me, except that Trip Doors are, as crazy as it sounds, made of magic."

[skeksisheretic]

urGoh isn't easy to upset. The Mystic only smiles when he hears Roland laugh.

skekGra is listening to the explanation of Trip Doors with curiosity. They do sound a little like the more familiar Nexus portals. "Yes, they work a bit like that. They make travel within the Nexus and to different parts of the multiverse much easier. They also allow you to message people even if the two of you are in different universes."

[adregem]

"Different...universes? Even the universe where I just came from?" Roland's eyes grow wide for a moment, before he tries to reconcile the breadth of magic he just can't seem to understand no matter how long he's been in another world. I gotta get a PINpoint ASAP.

[skeksisheretic]

"Yes! They're wonderful things. urGoh and I can show you where to find one, if you like. It isn't difficult, but you're new here." skekGra pulls out his own device to show Roland. "There's a vending machine in the Plaza! It takes most of the currencies people bring here."

[adregem]

Roland smiles a little wider, happy to know that most of his fears have been allayed. If I want to go back home, I'll just go through my door. I'll find it. If I can't, I'll message Evan from here-

He hums in thought.

"Say, the PINpoint sounds handy and all, but how will the people from the receiving end get my message if the device I'm sending it from only exists here?"

[skeksisheretic]

"It's easy! You can pick more than one PINpoint up. If you do, you can give it to your friend once you make it home." skekGra hasn't had to do this, but it's something he's considering as a way to stay in touch with allies of the rebellion in Thra.

The Heretic has to admit it takes some getting used to.

"But it's a good idea to find your door first. After you do that, travel will be much easier for you, and you'll be able to come and go from the Nexus as you wish."

[adregem]

If Roland had his doubts before, he certainly is seeing the Nexus in a new light now. He hums, a finger under his chin as his other arm remains crossed against his chest. So, two things: find my door, then make sure Evermore gets a PINpoint.

An amusing thought crosses his mind. If only the Nexus could sign the Declaration of Interdependence. We could share a lot of tech between our two kingdoms.

"Thanks for the all the help, you two." He eventually says, turning to them with a lighter mood than when he came into the library. "I guess we'd better get a PINpoint, huh? I can't miss your first day at rehearsal!"

[skeksisheretic]

"Yes! Once you get one, we'll be happy to exchange numbers. We'll have to keep in touch. It's wonderful to meet new people in a place like this, isn't it?"

skekGra's clearly excited. He likes the Nexus, since it's given him a place to rest and a place to experience the world outside Thra.

"We're gad to help you. We can point you in the direction of the vending machine, if you wish. It's not hard to find - it's near the center of the Plaza. We'll five you some coins so you can buy one."

[adregem]

"Heh, that is one silver lining of a place like this. Wish I could bring you guys over to Evermore - our kingdom. There are plenty of kids there that would love to see your shows." Roland hasn't seen them perform yet, but he can already tell it's something enjoyable for all. And while he won't admit it out loud, skekGra's enthusiasm for the craft is contagious. He's fond of movies and shows himself, after all.

"Sure, that sounds like a plan. Especially since I've got no coins on me. I'll...work on that." he grimaces slightly as he sets down some of the books his hands had been busying with during their talk.

"Lead the way. I'm gonna have to come back here to do some hard research on how to produce a proper theater show, though. The last thing I want to do is embarrass my new partners."