Dying for a bit of change

[death_calling]

 

The Nexus has a weird way of dragging people into it, yet alone choosing weird people to introduce to it. Olivia was heading to lunch when this whole ‘magical dimensional portal’ appeared in the supply closet. This must be a common thing, because there seemed to be a lot of other confused people looking for their doors when she exited hers. Instead of making the situation worse, she’s going to live with it for now. 

It doesn’t take long for her to figure out basic locations in the Nexus, such as the Grand Library, but she’s sticking to the shopping district this time around. It’s impossible to keep track of time here and after spending money on interesting used books and having a surprisingly authentic bowl of Japanese ramen, she’s now doing what any responsible adult would do: taking it easy instead of trying to find a way home. 

In front of one of the shopping district's furniture stores, she’s laying on a clean display mattress, oddly positioned like a dead corpse. Hands over her chest, legs compacted together as if she’s trying to look ominous. Her choice of attire, a three piece suit pulled straight from Don Draper’s 1950’s closet, only adds to this creepy pose she’s decided is comfortable. Her hair is pulled back nice and neat, and occasionally she lowers her hand to make sure that the large assortment of shopping bags she’s been carrying around aren’t gone.  

It’s apparent that she’s either paid the owner to let her do this, or maybe vice versa in a strange twist of fate. What better way to advertise an excellent mattress for sleep than to make puns about sleeping peacefully like the dead. 

“Okay, the whole Multiverse concept is intriguing, but I have to wonder...how does time work here? Am I going to go back home and find I don’t have a job because an hour here is ten days in my world?” As if to emphasize her point, she pulls back one sleeve to reveal her watch has stopped working. “It’s strange because I’m able to use my credit card on interdimensional purchases without anyone giving me issues, but my phone clock and watch all bit the dust when I got here. Is that normal?”

There’s a tiny hint of concern in her voice, but the comforting mattress and relaxing nature of the Nexus makes being stressed nigh impossible. For now, at least.  

Comments

[chiaro_oscuro]

"I've never seen that happen before, but I'm not the kind of person who carries a watch. Maybe you could find a replacement here?"

Olivia is approached by a young man in black clothes and hair that matches it. There's a gloomy look to him, even though his expression isn't particularly dark. He thinks over her question, a free hand tousling that thick black hair.

"I can't answer completely, since it doesn't work the same way for everyone. I know people who come and go regularly - and they've told me that barely any time passes between when they come and when they go. They can spend a month here and when they come home barely any time's passed at all. It's very interesting, really. The Nexus is my home, but I've noticed that time passes differently in the worlds I have friends from."

[death_calling]

"It kinda caught me off-guard too. The phone is an older model so it wouldn't surprise me if age finally got to it, but the watch..." That has personal value to her and the thought of a 50-year-old timepiece no longer working is a bit disheartening. On instinct, she does pull back her sleeve again to stare at the triangular face, only to find that it still won't tick. "I can't replace this."

She realizes how rude it is to be laying down while someone is talking to her, so sitting up on the bed is the first course of action. The second is spent looking over this newcomer curiously, and thankfully she's unaware of any Star Wars lore at home because he just seems like a normal guy to her.

"Apologies if I came off as rude in any way. I didn't think anyone was around to hear my random thoughts." She extends one hand to him politely. "Olivia Moore. Nice to meet you, sir."

As for his statement about time, it's definitely reassuring to know her odds of going back to an upset boss are very unlikely. "Good information to file away, in the event I end back up here. Exciting as the place is, I couldn't live here, not when I have commitments back home to attend to."

[chiaro_oscuro]

"You might find something at the 13th Hour. There are older items for sale there, and it stocks a wide variety of things," Ben explains as he looks at the clock. "Wouldn't be surprised if there are some clocks and watches there. It's worth a look." Most of what Ben knows about Earth culture comes from the Nexus. It's as alien to him as he's sure things from his galaxy would be to Earth residents.

"I'm a permanent resident to the Nexus. Not by choice, but, well, it's an improvement over being dead back home." Ben laughs, with a hint of bitterness to it. He accepts the offered hand, trying to brighten a little. "Ben Solo. You can call me Ben. I spend most of my time in the downtown area, but I do go shopping sometimes."

Everyone needs to shop, even former darksiders. Ben's not as awkward in public as he was when he first came, thankfully, and he's grown used to the Nexus over time. It's a change that people here aren't scared of him. Granted, he's trying very hard to give them no reason to be.

"The Nexus isn't a bad place to live, but it's very, ah, exciting. And unpredictable. I've only been here for almost a year, and it's certainly something else. It sounds as if this is your first visit, Olivia."

[death_calling]

"I appreciate the offer, but I'm more in the market for a watch repair shop. Sentimental value and such." She's polite towards his offers, but there's clearly something important about the wristwatch beyond it being broken. Instead of focusing on that topic, she's ready to move on to other things.

"Would you prefer to be called Ben or Mr. Solo?" There's nothing scary about him, and lord knows she's seen much more alarming things on a daily basis. Although hearing the specific sentence 'better than being dead' has caught her attention. "Are you implying that this place defies death? That's illogical unless there's some sort of supernatural effect that essentially 'cheats death'."

She does seem alert to her surroundings, mainly towards other people, as despite this so-called anti-violence field existing, there are probably other ways to inflict harm. "You would be correct with that assessment. I was at work and when I opened the supply closet, I was brought here."

[chiaro_oscuro]

"I see. It is a beautiful watch." Ben nods, dropping the topic. He's not usually a sentimental man with objects, but there are things he values for sentimental reasons as much as practical. "I'm not particularly fussy, but you can call me Ben." He's not picky either way, but he's grown used to the sound of his real first name the longer he's lived here. It feels good, and it's something he's grown used to. It's been years since he was regularly called by his real name by strangers.

It's awkward, being dead, though Ben's not the only person here who died in his world. It's happened to a few people. He has a few theories about his own particular case - maybe the Force decided to give him a second chance, maybe the fact that Rey was still alive and their bond still existed tethered him to existence - but he can't confirm any of them.

"Not...exactly. People have died in their home worlds and come back here. I'm one of them. No one knows how it works, but this isn't any kind of afterlife, since other people can come and leave freely. All I know is that when I died in my home world, next thing I know I'm flat on my back in the Wilds, injuries healed."

[death_calling]

"Indeed it is." Quickly, she slips her sleeve back over the timepiece, not saying anymore about it. Her attention is affixed to this discussion regarding life and death, a very personal topic near and dear to Olivia's heart.

"This goes beyond my area of expertise then. I've studied death for years now, established my career around it, and within seconds the Nexus challenges my line of thinking." She's not mad, just confused at not having a direct way to explain the process. Seems like a lot of time will be spent at the Grand Library researching this.

"I suppose many people ask how to get home as well?"

[chiaro_oscuro]

"You'd be right, especially on their first visit. Usually it's a matter of finding the way you came in - people often pack up a PINpoint to come and go more easily. Even though I can't return to my home universe, I have friends and contacts who live in other worlds, so they still have their uses."

Ben finds himself drawn into the conversation, too.

"You study death, then? It's certainly one of life's great mysteries, and one that everyone's been touched by. I would have said it's one of the things that everyone and everything who's ever lived has had in common, but there are immortals here." Ben's familiar with death, both as a dealer of it and as someone who's died. "That rule doesn't apply to them for obvious reasons."

[death_calling]

"PINpoint? I think I did get one of those earlier, some vendor was selling a new model for a cheap price." She checks her pockets until a cell-phone like device is pulled out. PINpoints must be like any electronic device, a new one comes out and the old one gets retired. "Other worlds? I don't think I'm ready for that. Getting back to Kansas City should be my first goal, then I can try to wrap my brain around this place."

There's a sense of pride around Olivia as she talks about death, as this subject is also something values greatly.

"I'm a mortician, so my role is to ensure burial procedures are respected and the griefing are treated with care." Immortals, huh? Well, that's another thing she needs to get used to in due time. "This place doesn't seem like it'll bore me for a long time, which I approve of. What other interesting things can I find in the Nexus?"

[chiaro_oscuro]

"A worthy thing to do. I don't travel often, but there are some worlds I find myself in to help some of my friends. In the Nexus and out of it. There are angels and gods proper, living here. The Guardians of the Last City can come back from death so long as their Ghosts are still intact."

Ben nimbly reaches into his robes and pulls out his own, showing it to . It's a slightly older model, and he's had no need to replace it.

"The Nexus is anything but boring. There's a lot of businesses here that offer services to visitors and residents - mechanics, hospitals, restaurants, lodging. There's a villa where the fallen angels live. You'll probably bump into them eventually. There's also the Wilds, which is good for sightseeing, but you have to be more careful there. The anti-violence field isn't so strong, and there's dangerous wildlife."

[death_calling]

"You really think so? Okay, now I know the Nexus is more accepting than my own world. Then again if angels, devils, and other non-humans are here, I should probably expect more people to be understanding towards death."

Ah, that must be it! She nods to herself, comparing the two devices before tucking hers away in a pocket once more. Good to know that she has an essential tool for navigating this place.

"Good, then maybe I'll find the answers I'm looking for here. The Grand Library seems like a nice place where I can spend hours on end." She has no unique superpowers or abilities, so staying close to civilization is probably her best bet. "Makes you wonder which is worse, the monsters living in the woods or the ones inside of us."

[chiaro_oscuro]

"The Nexus probably is more accepting. It has to be, and not just towards death. Many different species and cultures are represented here, and somehow we make it work. I'm impressed, honestly."

Not that there haven't been bumps, and obviously not everyone gets along, but the whole system comes together more smoothly than expected. It's in everyone's interest, mostly, for the society here to work.

"That's a good question. Sometimes people are called monsters because that's what they look like. The Nexus has plenty of those. And other times monsters are what people become, and those are both more dangerous and harder to spot." Ben still considers himself a monster, but one that's trying to be less monstrous. "The Grand Library's a good place to visit. I go there often, and you have a good chance of finding what you're looking for."

[chiron_survivor]

The young woman passing by the furniture store startles a little when she hears the question. Perhaps Olivia had been too good at lying still on the mattress. Adia turns to look at her and smiles tentatively.

"Um... it's been a long time since I came here via portal and not PINpoint, but I've found it's usually the other way around, that time here passes faster relative to your world. But you probably shouldn't stay here for too long, as portals disappear sometimes."

She doesn't want to scare Olivia, who seems to be handling her first trip to the Nexus with aplomb, but she'd hate for her to get stuck, either.

[death_calling]

There's a hint of regret at startling yet another Nexus visitor, either by her sudden question or the resting position she's chosen. Certainly, the latter as she turns her head to face Adia calmly, before sitting up once more. Naps on sorta-company time can wait, as the offered advice is acknowledged properly.

"Apologies if I startled you." She takes a moment to adjust the tie around her neck, nodding in agreement to Adia.

"That's probably for the best, but I'll need to figure out which door or portal ties back to my world. There has to be a logical way to discern which one is my own." She's a woman who tries to use science first, but the Nexus is pretty good at challenging those ideals.

"You mentioned being here a long time...Would it be alright if I ask a few questions regarding the Nexus?"

[chiron_survivor]

"Oh, it's fine," Adia says quickly, waving a hand. She's gotten used to all sorts of things due to her years visiting the Nexus, but none of that experience has made a dent in her startle reflex.

Her brows draw together a little in concern over the fact that Olivia needs to find her portal. "Well, um... I can help with that, if you'd like. You know, when you're ready to go back. I've helped a couple people find their portals before." Adia wouldn't go so far as to say she's an expert or anything, but she'd feel bad if she didn't at least offer. "Sure, ask away."

[death_calling]

That's one less thing to worry about, if Adia isn't upset then she has no reason to apologize further. It feels awkward just sitting here, so she stands up and calmly brushes off her clothes, making sure her hair is neatly pulled back behind both ears.

"Seems like you're reading my mind, as I was going to ask if you have any advice for locating certain portals. If it won't be an inconvenience, then may I politely ask for your assistance? I will be certain to offer compensation for your time and your knowledge." She extends one hand calmly to Adia next. "Olivia Moore. A pleasure to meet you, ma'am."

While she does have other questions, they can wait for now.

[chiron_survivor]

Adia looks a little relieved that Olivia decided to stand up, because the other option was for Adia to take a seat on the mattress. Her initial impression of Olivia is that the woman is incredibly put-together. Adia's glad that her days of dirt-stained clothes from life on New Caprica are long behind her.

"Adia Costas," she replies, shaking Olivia's hand. "It's nice to meet you, Olivia. Just Adia is fine." Despite now being over thirty, Adia is unused to being referred to as ma'am, and there's no need to be so formal in the Nexus, anyway. "And honestly, I'm more than happy to help you find your portal, you don't need to compensate me for anything."

[death_calling]

Appearances simply come with her job and Olivia's seen enough corpses to not be disturbed if Adia was wearing anything dirty. It's a common mistake to judge at first glance, after all. "Thank you again for everything, Adia. I know you said not to worry about repayment, but that would be rude of me to simply take your help without equal compensation."

Taking up her bags in one hand, Olivia gestures for Adia to lead the way. "The Nexus seems like a nice place to visit in passing...It reminds me of old trading posts and bazaars from different countries."

[chiron_survivor]

"You can get me a hot chocolate," Adia suggests, because she doesn't want to be rude, either, and refusing someone else's generosity more than once veers into that territory. But keeping it to a token compensation makes Adia feel better about the entire exchange.

The direction Adia takes is towards the Plaza, as that seems a good place to start their search. "It reminds me of that, too. I guess with people from so many different realities interacting, it's kind of inevitable. What's your world like? Are you from Earth?"

She's curious what Olivia does for a living, too. The woman is dressed so well and speaks so formally that she must be some sort of professional.

[death_calling]

"Sounds like a fair deal to me. Once we find this portal, a hot cup of chocolate would be a good way to end the day." She nods, easily balancing her purchased with both hands as they enter the Plaza. "Do you have a preferred location in mind?"

In comparison to the shopping district, there's certainly a higher traffic volume of people walking around, most stopping to chat along the way. Reminiscent of New York's Grand Central Station, Olivia makes sure to keep an eye on her belongings, in case someone or something tries to steal from her.

"Yes, I'm from Earth, specifically North America. From there, I live in the United States in a small Midwestern state known as Missouri." As for what her world is like, Olivia simply tells it as she sees it. "It's laid back, full of normal people. The geographical area is a lot of flatlands where livestock, farming, and dairy are the common product for trade."

[chiron_survivor]

"There are a lot of places I like," Adia replies thoughtfully. Once she was able to afford something other than the vending machine drinks in the Plaza, she made it a point to try all the various cafés that she could. "Crossroads Café is right in the Plaza, though, which makes it the most convenient."

Adia does not seem as concerned about theft, the cross-strap of her messenger bag leaving her hands free. As they pass the vending machines, she points them out and says, "If you want to visit the Nexus again and don't want to rely on a portal, I'd recommend getting a PINpoint. It's a little teleportation device so you can travel between universes."

Olivia's description of her home state might be considered a little too cut and dry for some, but it makes Adia smile with something akin to nostalgia. "You know, when I first came to the Nexus, I did a lot of research on Earth. I was fascinated by how so many cultures and environments could exist on just one planet. When I read about the Midwest in the United States, it reminded me a lot of my home... I don't remember reading about Missouri specifically, but what you just described sounds an awful lot like Leonis."

[death_calling]

"Crossroads Cafe, huh? I think I walked past it on my initial entry into the Nexus, but there was a long line of people trying to get in. Hopefully, it won't be too busy later." Adia's mention of the PINpoint does get a nod from Olivia as she reaches into her pocket carefully. "Oh, yes...one of the stores I visited insisted on me getting one, so I picked up a standard cell phone model. Doesn't need to be anything fancy."

Adia's reaction certainly is intriguing, most people would be bored with her direct ways of holding a conversation. It gets a small smile out of Olivia, but she retrains herself from going on another long-winded chat. "Where is Leonis? That location is unfamiliar to me. As for other worlds, it's still taking me a bit to wrap my brain around other dimensions existing."

[eumenis]

The woman passing by barely spares a second glance at the figure lounging on the mattress, at least until she stirs and speaks. Other people might find a corpse relaxing in the Nexus odd or startling, but Furiosa has seen plenty less tranquil ones in her own world, and she's perfectly willing to assume that if the stranger is a dead body, she belongs and is quite all right where she lies.

She does pause when spoken to, though, and gives her a curious look. It's hard to imagine more of a contrast in dress style between the two of them. Furiosa is dust-worn and sun-brown, in stained and patched clothing, with a left-arm prosthesis that's nothing short of a dieselpunk monstrosity.

"I don't think there's any solid formula. Time in my own world runs about the same as here, but a lot of other people I've run into find it's faster here, and I've known at least one or two who have time in their own world stand still while they visit this place. You may not know until you go back and return again."

[death_calling]

It wouldn't be the first time someone assumes Olivia is dead, on the outside or inside, so she's casually accepted her morbid, mortician ways. As for attire, she's seen people in their last moments and has learned that appearances should be respected.

"I should've assumed that time has very little meaning in a place like this, but eventually I'll try to find the way back home." She's gotten used to her idle question being addressed by everyone, as like many others, Olivia is off the bed once more.

"You seem to know a lot about this place. Do you have any good words of wisdom for a newcomer like myself?"

[eumenis]

She's so polite! You'd think that would be a given in a place where people are generally here to make connections--at least that's Furiosa's perspective on why visitors come to the Nexus--but surprisingly, it isn't. And she is hardly easily offended, herself, but there's something charming about the neat, black outfit and the manners of the woman it's attached to. A glimmer of what the old world was like before the wars and the nukes, maybe.

"Time seems to move forward in a linear fashion for nearly everyone," she says wryly. "But aside from that, I wouldn't count on anything."

"I've been coming here for trade for several years." She looks thoughtful. "Probably the best advice I could give is don't take anything for granted. Not people, not the place itself. It looks calm and orderly right now, but it can turn into something else in the blink of an eye."

"And with people, you never know if you're talking to a human or a six-billion-year-old god from a galaxy you've never heard of. That's always a fun surprise." She rolls her left shoulder in a shrug. "I'm getting tea; if you want to come with and talk, I'm game."

[death_calling]

To Olivia, she could be dealing with worse people right now, like her sexist boss or equally annoying gossiping coworker. It'll be hard-pressed for the Nexus to throw someone her way that she can't handle.

"The vibe around this place seems to exude caution, despite an anti-violence field being present. Then again, there's probably a ton of different ways to circumvent that with ease." She'll just have to play her cards very carefully in such a place. "Gods, demons, and humans alike...this place truly is a multiverse of cultures."

"Tea sounds wonderful. I won't turn down the offer to chat with you more."