nexus_crossings | Young Dogs, New Tricks

Ben's in the Plaza this time - still wearing all black, even now that it's summer. He doesn't seem too bothered by the heat, though he brushes sweat off his brow and occasionally takes a drink of cool water from the flask at his side. In this weather, it doesn't pay to take chances with the heat.

But even though his appearance is dark, in other ways he's uncharacteristically cheery. There's a grin on his features as he stands beside a pile of home-drawn sketches, of landscapes and creatures he observed in the Wilds. Even his voice sounds more excited than usual. Ben Solo is visibly happy. And smiling. There's a brightness in his hazel eyes that wasn't there before now.

He won't say what it is to a stranger, but something happened recently involving two people close to him and a "borrowed" PINpoint that put him in a very good mood. He's here for business as well as pleasure, though. Prices are listed beside the samples - he's here to hawk art as well as chat. While most of his earnings come from his repair business, his sketches don't do badly. It took practice, but he reapplied his knowledge of calligraphy and an eye for detail. Art's the quiet, restful hobby he's been looking for.

After he's finished setting up his stall and equipment, he stands beside it with his arms folded, watching the crowd. When someone approaches him, he poses a question.

"What hobbies do you have in the Nexus, or things that help you relax?" He's taking notes from any answers he receives. No harm in trying something new. "Anything you've learned to do here that you couldn't try back home?"

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"I figured. There are a lot of powerful people here in the Nexus, and they're probably the most powerful of all. It's a good thing the angels, especially his group, are well-meaning for the most part." There are still angels Ben is cautious around, just for safety's sake, but they seem to have moved in well enough. "The ones I've met are friendly enough, but you're the first angel I've met who isn't a fallen one."

"All right. All I need is for you to place a small object on the table and keep a close eye on it. I'll show you what I can do." Ben figures there are minds it's better not to read for a variety of reasons, either sheer power or some other kind of risk to the reader.

"I dare say you might be right. I've met other gods in the Nexus, but Lucifer is significantly older than all of them." It's nice of Ben to acknowledge that Aziraphale is not fallen, and he wiggles his shoulders a little in response. "It's just me and one other in the Nexus, so far as I know."

The only humans with paranormal powers on Aziraphale's world are witches, and so far as he's aware, none of them are capable of telekinesis, so he's eager to see Ben demonstrate. He pulls out a deck of cards that he keeps with him in case he gets the opportunity to perform a magic trick, and places it on the table.

"I've heard him mentioned, though I never actually met him. He's the one Lucifer's in a relationship with, just like Beelzebub and my friend Galahad are in love. Romance is in the air this summer, presumably." Coming from the man who's still in an uncharacteristically good mood because he recently kissed his dyad partner.

Ben can't resist showing off a little, now Aziraphale is giving him the opportunity to demonstrate. He waves a hand, drawing the top card of the deck and placing it in front of him without touching it. He leans back, arms folded. "Hmm. Three of spades."

"Yes, that's Balthazar. He's a good friend of mine -- I have more in common with him than I do with the angels on my respective worlds."

Ben's comment on romance gets a confused look. "Both of those couples have been together longer than this summer," he notes with a furrowed brow. "Although it's true that Beelzebub has taken some time to realize his own feelings..." Not that he can fault him for that, it took Aziraphale several centuries (and a karaoke night in the Nexus) to realize that his feelings for Crowley were much more than platonic.

The angel jumps a little at the telekinesis. "My goodness! And you did that using the Force?"

"Most of what I know comes from talking with the angels themselves. I've never met Balthazar, but I imagine since I'm living here our bumping into one another is inevitable eventually." Ben's met many of the Nexus angels, but far from all. "I'm not surprised that they've been together before summer."

Aziraphale and most of the angels Ben's actually met have been friendly. Beelzebub has an intimidating side but he's been helpful. "Moloch seems to be the only really dangerous angel, as far as I know. All the others have been pleasant, Beelzebub included, though I was warned he can be a bit on the possessive side."

"Yes." Ben explains a little more. "That was the Force - one of my more mundane uses for it, true, but you can see now what my abilities are like."

"That's probably for the best. There has been a lot written about angels over the millennia, but much of it is hearsay. At least in my universe, our direct interactions with humans are very limited."

Aziraphale considers this assessment of Beelzebub. It's not a side he's seen, although he has yet to be introduced to Galahad, so that's probably part of it. "I haven't witnessed that myself, but I don't think you have anything to worry about." Ben does not strike him as the flirty type.

"Indeed. Quite remarkable, Ben. Even the witches on my world are not capable of telekinesis." He picks up his deck of cards, absently shuffling them before returning them to his pocket. "And how does one tap into the Force? Are you born with the ability, or can anyone learn to do so if given the proper training?"

"I'm under the impression that, since I'm not any competition - Galahad and I are simply friends - Beelzebub doesn't see me as a threat. So he's warmed to me, and my training under him as a student almost certainly helped. I will say I'm glad to be on his good side. He's Lucifer's warlord for a reason."

Ben isn't the flirty type. While he isn't sure whether he and Rey are officially in a relationship, he's loyal to her. So Beelzebub, he figures, had no reason to see Ben as a rival for Galahad's affections as they all got to know one another better.

"It's something certain people in my world are born with, but you can train to have better control of it. There are others here who are as strong or stronger than me - I mentioned Rey, and there are a few others. But I'm training to become stronger."

"Beelzebub does not take friendships lightly. Especially if he's taken you on as a student. Have you met his second-in-command, Abigor? It might be worth getting to know them, too."

Aziraphale listens thoughtfully to Ben's reply. "A natural ability that one must train. I see. That's very interesting, Ben, I'll have to keep an eye out for other Force-users. There are so many humans with extraordinary abilities here, it's a little hard to keep track."

He drains the very last of his bubble tea, then miracles away the empty cup and straw, presumably to the nearest trashcan. "Well, I'd best be off, I'll need to dig out that blueberry muffin recipe and pick up the ingredients. A pleasure talking to you, Ben. I'll text you before I pop over tomorrow morning for the exchange?"

"We're rare, but there are a few of us, and our numbers are growing. Some of us are permanent residents - like myself - and others come and go. But you're right that there are people with powers similar to mine who aren't Force users. What I showed you was simply a party trick."

Ben hasn't heard of Abigor, but assumes he's another one of the fallen angels. "No, I haven't. I imagine I will, eventually, if you consider the people I associate with. For a while I found the fallen angels imposing, with how powerful they are." It's interesting, being a smaller fish in a larger pond. It's given Ben a dose of humility.

He nods and smiles back when Aziraphale finalizes the deal. "Yes, T think that would work very well. I'll be hearing from you soon, then. Thank you. And I hope you enjoy that piece of artwork."

Young Dogs, New Tricks

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