It's a Beautiful Day in the Nexus, and You are a Horrible Coyote: Part 1

[becarefulwhatyouwish]

Perhaps you're browsing the open market, easing through a crowd of strangers of all shapes and sizes and colors, looking for a shiny new trinket or vital supplies to bring home. Perhaps you're taking a stroll through the park near the Plaza, following the walking path around the pond, enjoying the quiet sounds of nature or carrying a pocketful of bread crumbs for the turtleducks. Perhaps you're just after a cup of coffee and you don't plan to stay, or you're looking for work to keep busy, avoiding some task you really don't want to do. Whatever the case, everyone in the Nexus is here for a reason. For a purpose. Everyone is looking for something, whether it's a physical object, a friend, or maybe simple peace of mind.

Wherever you are, you're not alone.

You won't have seen him before he speaks, nor heard his approach. But there he is, as if he has come from nowhere. Perhaps he has. Coyote's suit is immaculately pressed, a pleasant smile pulling his lips back from his teeth. Wherever you are, so is he, looking to you in greeting.

"Hello, friend!" he says, ears perked forward attentively, his furred hands clasped in front of himself. "A question, if I may. What's the one thing you desire most right at this exact moment?"



[OOC: Please READ BEFORE REPLYING! This is part one of a mod-sanctioned event in which your character will have a wish temporarily granted. However, rather than granting the spirit of the wish as intended, Coyote will twist the wording into something your character finds genuinely distressing a la The Monkey's Paw. Please message me to arrange consequences for your character and (if needed) to set boundaries! While your character will not have fun, participating players absolutely should. For those who want to participate but don't want their character in distress, stay tuned for part two. You're also welcome to tag into threads after Coyote has worked his magic and left, though please ask the target player first.]

Comments

[rumormonger_nya]

When she sighs all the strength seems to leech out of her limbs with the action. She drops down into a squat closer to the ground, the heels of her boots raised off the dirt where she balances. An odd look for an Imperial Tribune, but much more comfortable for a feline.

"I know, right?" Her hands reach up to drag through dark curls in frustration. "Mostly, yeah. He can effectively be in two places at once then. I get orders through PINpoint an' carry them out on his behalf, he gets to go do whatever he don't want the brass to be lookin' too closely over his shoulder for." A particularly harsh gesture almost tips her forward into the dirt but she catches herself with her hands. Oh, the sword is mucking things up squatting down like this. As are the lack of tails and all this added weight!

"I thought he was here, so when I stopped being able to sense him and....all of this shit happened I came straight away."

[tryingitall]

"That's a very clever arrangement, actually. I rather approve. What do you get out of it?" 'Contract' sounds consensual on both ends. He does have to hope she doesn't own a human's soul or something, though. Not that that would be his business--nor could he criticize without being a complete hypocrite.

"Careful, humans don't balance well on their toes, and you said you'd stab me if I grab you, so if you fall over I'm not picking you back up."

"I would say it's a pretty safe bet your human is here somewhere. If you didn't talk to the Trickster responsible, he must have. The person I was talking to earlier said he spoke to a 'coyote creature' and made a wish. If you can think of what your human might have wished for that made this happen, you might be able to find him."

'Might' being the operative word. For all he knows, Stratos has turned into a mystical unicorn and faffed off to play amidst the rainbows.

[rumormonger_nya]

"Effective immortality? Free meals?" A realm to live in that isn't trying to murder her Every day. Though where she comes from, the being giving up their soul is usually on her end. Even in this case. Not now though! It's right where it should be all wrapped up in a nice neat bone cage package. Dreadfully human in variety though and that's not right at all.

Katsyne has to admit that this guy has the right of it after the second time she has to catch herself with her hands. She's still slow to push herself back up. Getting up means facing what's going on.

"I'd have thought him smarter than that." Katsyne replies with obvious disdain. Hard to argue though given everything that's been shared with her. She glances over to Balthazar again, a soft sigh escaping her that she's trying very hard not to think about (wet human lungs and fatty tissues and--) overmuch.

"Guess I'd better get to looking then. If you see anyone else wearing this face, do me a favor and point them to the Imperial station just over there, would you?" Katsyne hesitates before she extends a hand toward the angel. "I'll remember your face. When this is over I'll owe you one. Nothing's free, especially not information."

[tryingitall]

"Well, as long as it's a fair arrangement." He looks amused. If he were in his own world 'free meals' would be worrisome, but he really needs to mind his own business in the Nexus.

"It doesn't take much, sometimes," he says with a shrug. "Might not have even been a deliberate wish. Although, as you may have noticed, human intelligence can fluctuate situationally, or if they get tired, or hungry, or horny...I'm not sure if that's a bug or a feature."

"Mn?" He looks around to make sure he knows what station she means, and nods. And when she offers a handshake, he accepts without hesitation. "I appreciate that. I'll make myself easy to repay, then. I'm not in the business of holding favors over anyone's head at this point in my life. But my name is Balthazar, and I'm willing to do business should you seek me out again."