nexus_crossings | Busking at the Fountain

Visitors to the fountain might see a somewhat unusual sight this day. Mantis is having a glorious sit next to the mist coming off of the water and has a leash wrapped around his wrist. On the other end of the leash is a catwing in a harness. It’s a happy little calico flapping his wings and batting at the water as Mantis watches. There’s a basket with long straps sitting by Mantis’ feet and from it he pulls out a bottle of water to drink from. The weather has been simply too hot for his liking, but Yaga needs his exercise.

Mantis sighs and wipes at the sweat pooling at the back of his neck. He’s dressed in the lightest cotton tank he could find and the most breathable linen pants, and still he’s overheating marvelously. The swimming heat does give him an idea, though, and he looks around him briefly before nodding. There were people in the Nexus who knew when their minds were being read. Surface thoughts that were easy enough to get through, but he’s also met those who have a profound level of influence and control.

So why not see where they are? One psychic to another. Mantis begins to hum quietly to himself, but sensitive ears and minds might be able to hear his hymn. It’s a mournful little melody born out of the remnants of childhood memories and he’s used it to amplify his powers for years. It was always meant to sink deep into a part of the brain that was easier to read, easier to control, but he’s not looking to make a puppet or even mess around all that much.

A question echoes and repeats along the notes of the music as it cycles back and forth along the vicinity around the fountain and perhaps even further: “Can you hear me? Do you know where I am? How alone are we in a place like this?”

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Don't be so quick to say that. One bad mental snap sent me on the path of causing people to become mentally destroyed. It became a real career after a while, but it ultimately led me back to an old friend of mine. We got involved in a team and that ultimately led to ruin for all of us."

The words flow out calmly, if a bit quietly. He shrugs his shoulders, rocking Yaga in the basket a little. "Redemption is impossible for me, but maybe one day, I can pass for a decent human being."

Shiro's clone was probably going to pet Yaga again, when Mantis talked. And then he stopped in his tracks, listening carefully.

Hiroki only has one arm, but it's enough for this.

He puts his arm on Mantis's soldiers.

"Powers are this... are a terrible burden to have. My team member and friend, Allura, she's never used them to hurt another, but apart from her, I don't know if I know anyone who hasn't."

"If you ever try to enslave or hurt anyone here - and I'm not talking about defending, but about aggression - if you ever do, I'll have to stop you."

Hiroki takes a deep breath.

"But I don't believe that, as you are now, you'd hurt anyone innocent. I know you won't."

"And that means you're not an evil person. So don't say you don't deserve... don't say that. People...no... real people always deserve more than they think they do, and they sell themselves short."

Mantis buckles just slightly under the weight of Hiroki's arm. It's an odd kind of talk to be getting from anyone. He's far more used to being called a monster and a murderer that the words almost seem unreal. Sure, he doesn't do the worst possible things, but that's not the same as being good...

"I don't have the fight in me anymore to be the kind of bastard who needs to be stopped, but that person is still a part of who I am. Without motivation, there's no point."

He sighs heavily.

"Maybe it's something you only really see when you've been on the other side of it like I was. If you saw who I was before I died, you'd never believe it was me."

"Maybe so, but this is the you I know. And unless you plan on becoming the old bastard again, I can tell you for sure that the Mantis I know is a good man."

Mantis is quiet for a few seconds before shaking his head. "He died on the floor of an office after getting shot. This new version of me still enjoys feeling alive."

"That's something you and I share, I guess."

He laughs a little.

"Being dead had a way of muting everything. You don't eat or sleep or feel or smell. All that's left is memories of what used to be and finding another soul that you knew when you were still alive. I got lucky that I ended up on the other side in the company of someone I care about."

Hiroki nods.

"That's good. That you weren't alone."

"I'm not the first, though. The Sorrow waited for decades for his wife to come back to him and I never see the two of them far from each other." As soon as he says the word 'wife', his whole body tenses up in a kind of roll before relaxing just as quickly. "Voyevoda is an old beast in the family. She's perfectly kind and fair, but pity anyone she loses her patience with."

Hiroki suddenly all around quietens for a moment, even internally, then says, "I was wondering - if it'd be okay - to invite you to my wedding... sometime next year, hopefully?? If my Beloved says yes, that is."

"I consider you a good friend."

"Voyevoda, huh? Sounds like a stern lady."

"I'd be honored to attend. I never got to see many weddings when I was still alive."

And really, Hiroki, such a serious expression for such a happy kind of subject! Mantis shakes his head a little, but he understands how someone like Hiroki would take that kind of prospect a little more seriously.

"Extremely so. She could beat anyone in a fight, she was a sharpshooter like no other, and quite legendarily gave birth in the middle of a famous battle in World War Two and still won the damn battle."

Hiroki wants to protest, for half a tick... for half a second... instinctively, but, well, this would be Ziggy's wedding if that happens, ever, so, Mantis should well feel honoured, there. Ziggy was a very special person. Objectively!!

So Hiroki nods cheerfully.

"Hm? Wow. Meeting her would be something. I'd probably feel the way I-- he-- felt the first time I--- the first time meeting Princess Allura."

He being Shiro. But what Shiro remembers from back then is what Hiroki, too, remembers from back then, or maybe Hiroki remembers even in more detail. Even though Hiroki hasn't been there, then. Well. Normal clone memory stuff, as Hiroki tries to joke in his own mind sometimes.

"Well. I'd bet she was fighting for her baby then, too. It only makes sense she's won."

It would be an opportunity to dress a little more...colorfully. Black would be easy enough to pull off, but surely a little color was called for in the case of a wedding?

"She's a perfectly kind and polite woman, but she's intense. So much of history on my Earth was shaped by her actions and how her team responded to the call to duty. No one, and I truly mean absolutely no one had the gall to try and betray her unless they were utterly convinced it would work."

It's a massive reason why he's utterly terrified of getting on her bad side. Alive or dead, you give The Boss a wide berth.

"Not even just her baby. She rolled into that battle on the cusp of having a child, but her first goal was making sure they won. It's impressive, I'll give her that, but her son ended up being the reason I ultimately died when and where I did."

Busking at the Fountain

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