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Aisaak ([personal profile] ablacksun) wrote in [community profile] nexus_crossings2021-05-26 10:59 pm

The Post-Apocalyptic Doughnut Thief

Nothing in Antillioch is clean. Or tidy. Or not covered in a thick layer of desert. Which is why the appearance of a pristine white door that may well lead to some spiffed-up futuristic hospital ward is something of a shock to Zack. There follows a brief consultation with his brother, who doesn't seem to want anything to do with it, as it's so ..spotless, and white, and... ewww. For the two hellgods it's completely out of place and worse. They're so attuned to their hell dimension that anything this hygienic sits in the craw like a stuck fishbone.

Abe, casually examining his fingernails, suggests Zack tries the handle, just, you know, to see if it's locked. We don't want anything pleasant coming in. Stupidly, Zack's curiosity wins over and he does actually open the door a crack... Abe swiftly shoves him straight though it, and the Apocalyptic prince is sent sprawling. He literally faceplants into this new, uncomfortably pure environment.

He's ended up on the main plaza, and lifts his head, not liking anything he sees. But that's Zack all over. He doesn't like anything much. He even snarls at the few unfortunate people closest to him.

Nothing about the Nexus feels comfortable to Zack. Not until he smells something drifting across the plaza. He follows the scent until he comes to a doughnut stand.

Zack is the embodiment of the post-apocalyptic hellscape. He's on nodding terms with all four horsemen, and his own essence combines War, Famine, Pestilence and Death.. or more accurately the after-effects of such things. Away from his own dimension, he feels the hunger of famine, and Zack hasn't actually ingested anything for centuries.

Now he's in the realm of the living, these soft little dough things smell amazing.

He grabs one and tears into it, ignoring the stallholders protests about something like paying, or money, or something. When the stallholder tries to physically take his arm, Zack pulls away, swipes another of the sweet dough shapes, and wrenches himself away from the stand. Zack moves through the crowds away from the still-shouting stalholder, almost bumping into everyone - he's not used to crowds.

And he doesn't understand the concept of theft.

He almost sends some poor person tumbling as he tries to make his exit. But he can't find the infernal door and that stupid sweet-dough-thing person is still on his tail. Zack grabs the nearest passerby by the lapel, demanding... “What's his fucking problem? What the fuck's money? What does that even mean?”


[ooc: Cue argument between your muse, Zack, and the doughnut seller. Mun apologises for his language and behaviour. He's not housebroken yet...]
candysgirl: (Default)

[personal profile] candysgirl 2021-05-27 05:28 pm (UTC)(link)

She carefully brushes off her jacket and smooths the wrinkles before addressing Zack.

“That’s not a currency here” she says calmly “I’ll talk to the stall holder, and you can pay me directly. How does that sound?”

She so calming and friendly, and frail. Most mortals trust her, some protect her. But the darkness betrays her.

“Actually, I’ll buy a few of those donuts if you don’t mind? They are just what I’ve been craving.” She smiles at the stall holder

candysgirl: (Default)

[personal profile] candysgirl 2021-05-27 09:13 pm (UTC)(link)

“I’m sure we will come to an arrangement” she replies, calmly, as she removes a few crisp bills from her bag

“You’re so kind” Cassie smiles to the vendor “...The gentleman behind me is a bit... rough, isn’t he?”

She’s heard much worse language, but feigns shock at Zack’s words. “Oh! I... was going to offer to pay it forward, as a good deed, but now I’m concerned. Can I borrow your phone to call my brother to walk me home?”

It may or may not be deliberate that her pink phone is in view of Zack and not the vendor, showing him how she is manipulating the situation.

candysgirl: (Default)

[personal profile] candysgirl 2021-05-27 10:06 pm (UTC)(link)

She doesn’t want his soul. “It will be a very appropriate price”

Cassie takes a step closer to the vendor “You grabbed my jacket and yelled, and you were cursing- I didn’t know who you were threatening.”

The beautiful, frail woman with the big eyes carefully takes the phone “...I’m just going to text my brother. He’s working at a shelter- oh, I know how you can pay me back. Please send the next three poor ‘souls’ my way, and my brother will make sure you have some cash so this never happens again. I really just want to help people...”

This clearly is not the first time she’s asked this of someone.

“If you can’t... then. You owe me a favor”

candysgirl: (Default)

[personal profile] candysgirl 2021-05-27 10:33 pm (UTC)(link)

“At least a hundred dollars” she offers “Thats a lot, isn’t it?”

“Oh, I didn’t mean- I meant- my brother works at a shelter, he takes poor souls and gives them a place to sleep while they get on their feet- isn’t that what you meant? And as for a favor- it wouldn’t be any of the things you listed.”

She lying and is so good at it. “Are you alright... I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name. I’m Cassie. And a favor is fine, just remember it the next time we meet.”

The phone is returned to the vendor and Cassie has a fresh donut in her hand now. “I think everything’s going to be okay now. Isn’t it?”

candysgirl: (Default)

[personal profile] candysgirl 2021-05-27 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)

Cassie smiles and takes a bite of it “You really should work on your technique. You would not believe the messes I have gotten out of”

“How are you liking it here so far? What can you offer me as repayment?”

“My soul is already claimed, so you can’t steal that, if that’s what you were going to try”

candysgirl: (Default)

[personal profile] candysgirl 2021-05-27 11:23 pm (UTC)(link)

“I’m using the tools given to me. Sometimes it takes more to get what I need, most of the time it takes less”

Cassie nods, and looks around “Why didn’t you grab some of those? Not that I need them. What else can you offer?”

She listens, and chooses her next words carefully “Who is Abe? Not that I’ll meet them. I suspect I won’t even see you two more times”

She giggles a little at the donuts. “You’re smarter than I thought. And, I am claimed by someone powerful. I am certain you can sense it. So we should do this deal before it is too late for you”

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[personal profile] candysgirl 2021-05-28 12:09 am (UTC)(link)

“What do you think they were? This world is a sick joke, I don’t see why anyone would want to come here.”

“You are correct. We do have a bargain. What are your skills? I have all of the money I could ever want”

She really is a tiny and frail, partially human woman, who is technically mortal, on the cusp of death.

“Never mind” she sighs “I’ll take the prettiest rainbow gem that you have. I don’t want to leave a bargain unfulfilled. I’d never hear the end of it”

“I like rainbows. And puppies and kittens. Do you want to see my dog? Oh please see my dog, You’ll appreciate him. He’s gotten rather spoiled with all of the kids around and easy snacks”

Her dark mood brightens at showing off her pet.

candysgirl: (Default)

[personal profile] candysgirl 2021-05-28 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)

“He sounds very cautious. I think that I would have just gone through the door. I like taking chances”

She pulls out her phone to pull up a picture of an opal and offers the device to Zack. “Like that but... brighter, more colorful”

Shortly after handing over the sparkly pink phone, there’s a dog that just appears beside Cassie. He’s extremely large and- well, he’s a hell hound.

“I have two children, and one stepchild” she explains “The two that are left spoil Shadow, and he gets a lot of snacks hanging around a few of my businesses”

Shadow, the hound, is on guard, standing beside Cassie protectively, ready to pounce if anything goes wrong.

candysgirl: (Default)

[personal profile] candysgirl 2021-05-28 07:10 pm (UTC)(link)

“I suppose that a sibling thing? Should I be glad that Sunny isn’t growing up with her twin?”

Cassie really seems to like her glittery unicorn and rainbow sparkliness. It’s really out of place for the darkness surrounding her

“I got Shadow when I was a baby” she smiles to herself as she tucks her phone away. “I don’t really remember the pack, but have been told that we used to play.”

The hound relaxes after assessing Zack, and wags his tail excitedly.

“It’s nice to properly meet you, Zack. I use the name Cassie. I’m no demon, I’m just a doomed princess who frequently cheats death... and I am quite sorry if I manipulated your emotions without your consent.

Shadow, the hellhound, is my protector and my best friend.”

candysgirl: (Default)

[personal profile] candysgirl 2021-05-28 11:00 pm (UTC)(link)

“From what I know, some sort of sibling rivalry is expected.” Cassie shrugs

“Shadow likes you. That’s good, I’m glad you didn’t become one of his snacks. You’re not quite enough for a meal”

She watches Zack with Shadow for a moment “You are correct. Humans are very stupid, and even worse in groups. They’re also cruel, heartless. If they weren’t so hardy and persistent they’d all be dead. Except for me because I cannot seem to die.

Enough about me. What’s your hell like? Is it fire and brimstone, or something more realistic?”

candysgirl: (Default)

[personal profile] candysgirl 2021-05-31 01:56 am (UTC)(link)

“You’re right.” She nods “Your hell sounds... logical”

Cassie frowns to herself, remembering that she’s not supposed to say more than a few kind words to anyone, that her work here is probably done.

“I should go now. Here’s my card if you need anything else. If I’m not available then one of my people will assist you.”

Cassie reaches into her bag to get the money that she promised Zack earlier “This is more than we said, I was ripping you off a bit, and here’s my card. Tear it in half to summon me. Burn it to break our deal. Have fun playing with Shadow”

And with that, after handing over a bank wrapped stack of twenties, tied with a pink ribbon and an iridescent card that just reads ‘Cassandra’, she turns to leave. The hound seems to linger, used to Cassie taking off without it. He finds her when she needs him, but that’s rarely because she has become very good at defending herself.