nexus_crossings | Between a Rock and Not Caring About Metaphors

Current Mood: distressed
Current Location: The Viper Pit

Between a Rock and Not Caring About Metaphors

Once again Tielle found herself sitting at the bar in The Viper Pit, her usual haunt whenever life went sideways on her or she needed to clear her head. She was listlessly stirring her cherry martini, which by the deep shade of crimson was at this point about 9 parts blood and 1 part martini mix. She sighed, talking to no one in particular.

"Let's say your daughter and her partner were both kidnapped, by two different people... The man who has your daughter is your ex making a play for power since she's heir to your throne, the woman who has her partner has held a nearly two century long grudge against your family and wants nothing more but to see you suffer. You can only deal with one of them at a time..."

She shakes her head.

"I mean... her life isn't in danger but..." she shuddered just thinking about what she must be going through, knowing full well what her captor was capable of.

"...and that half-demon is a total wildcard..."

She downed her drink, slumping back in her chair.

"What the hell am I supposed to do?"

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Henry honestly doesn't drink much. However, he is trying to acclimate himself to everything in the Nexus and eating alone is kind of depressing. So, he's currently having pancakes at the bar, complete with lots of syrup. Pancakes make everything better.

The story this woman tells sounds like a tough situation, and he spends some time thinking before answering her. "If your daughter's partner is in danger...do you think she'd want you to go help them first? I might try that. But I don't know what the ex is capable of, so..." It would be a hard call, not going after your daughter immediately, he thinks.

"Valdier, my ex that is, he's..." She shuddered a bit, just thinking back on the two years she had spent practically imprisoned by him. "He considers himself a collector of sorts, fine art, historical relics, curios and oddities... people..."

She rubbed her brow a bit in frustration.

"He won't 'hurt' her, just... keep her locked up in a room admiring her like some art piece or exotic beast. Though thanks to the politics of it all he'll likely try to force her into a marriage as well..."

"As for her partner, she'd be crushed if anything happened to the boy, we both would at this point really. I think he might be alright... for now at least... If that demon were to do him any harm she'd be making a spectacle of it, making sure we knew exactly what she was up to."

Tielle grits her teeth a bit, shaking her head.

"I'm not going to let it happen again..."

Letting out a sigh, she glanced over at Henry as she tried to crack a bit of a smile.

"I swear I'm not always this depressing. You're just lucky enough to catch me at my worst."

Henry listens closely, unable to suppress the shudder when she describes how Valdier has her daughter 'locked up in a room'. Even after all these years, he still doesn't handle it well. That does make it a harder choice.

Her apology gets a shake of the head in response from Henry. "Don't worry about it. I don't mind...and it sounds like a tough situation." He sighs and leans back on his stool a bit as he thinks it over. "Do you have anyone you trust to help out? Anyone from here that might be able to get around the demon or Valdier, and you could focus on the other one?" Unlikely, but it's still worth asking.

She shakes her head.

"As many friends as I've made here over the years, I'd rather not get anyone involved. While Valdier would certainly be the more manageable of the two, if that half-demon found out about this place... lets just say the damage she can do isn't something the anti-violence field really protects against..."

She notices the shudder as she looks him over, giving a soft smile.

"You struggle with your own share of demons I take it... hopefully not so much in the literal sense like mine."

It's what he had figured- they're too dangerous for most. He nods, staring down at his pancakes. No wonder she was so worried.

His shoulders hunch as she calls him out on his uncomfortableness. He notices it, at least, and forces them to relax before he answers her. "Not demons, no. More like gods and frog monsters...and ghosts...I'm just a normal human, so I've been lucky to get as far as I have. You're not human yourself, are you...?"

It's a guess, but a pretty reasonable one, he thinks.

"You must at least have your wits about you to have survived all that, especially for a human. You're right though, I'm not a human... just wish that aspect could be more useful right about now."

She gently gnawed on her lower lip, her nerves getting to her a bit as a sharp fang poked and prodded at the skin. Letting out a sigh, she glanced over at him.

"Though, gods and demons are simply two sides of the same coin, a matter of perspective if you will."

Henry nods, very much in agreement about (most) gods and demons. "I was lucky, I think. To get as far as I did. I had a lot of help from people here in the Nexus, too...that's why I had to ask." But there don't seem to be nearly as many gods around anymore, no one with the level of power some of his rescuers had.

"I think I'd probably still go help the partner, but..." He frowns a bit, not looking at Tielle. "This half-demon, does she have mind control abilities or something...? To be able to get around the anti-violence field..."

"Thankfully not, just a silver tongue and a knack for making people question themselves, and in regards to the Nexus more specifically, question each other. It's not some supernatural power or anything, just something she's very... very good at."

Tielle shook her head, letting out a sigh.

"Before my father originally sealed her away, she had managed to rally together an army, most of which under normal circumstances would be ready to kill each other."

Well, that's a little less scary than Henry had been thinking, but he's not exactly good at handling charismatic people like that, either. He sighs, as well.

"If you went to help your daughter first, then...maybe she could help you take on this half-demon. It sounds like numbers might be better against her, as long as they aren't charmed..." He rubs his chin, trying to think over the options.

"I'm not all that concerned about my family being fooled by her, but her physical prowess is a lot more dangerous without something like the Nexus's anti-violence field in play. That and considering she's more focused on making me suffer, they're more at risk than I am. I think you're right about focusing on my daughter first though. I'll need all the support I can get to deal with her."

She let out a sigh, rubbing her head.

"You mentioned facing all sorts of things in the past. Was anyone you were close with put in danger because of them? I swear the worst part of this is the gut-wrenching dread of what I'd do if anything bad were to happen to either of them..."

He frowns a bit as she describes more about this person who has such a grudge against her family. He obviously doesn't know much about the whole thing, but he hopes this new friend is able to get through it all right.

As the question is asked, though, he freezes in place. It seems like maybe he didn't hear her, at first. When he does speak, his voice is suddenly somewhat gravelly. "I was a sacrifice in someone's ritual, one that required I watch five other people die first. People in the Nexus somehow saved me afterwards. And then, because of the Nexus...I fought against that ritual two more times. Then I went to a universe to work for an organization fighting against gods, and...we weren't winning. And..."

He trails off, looking down at the bar. He can't add onto that, he feels like he'll break if he thinks too hard about it. Instead, he grimaces and closes his eyes. "Yes, I know how you feel. I don't want you...I don't want anyone to feel that way."

"So you... died then... and ended up here after..."

She shook her head apologetically.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to bring up such a hard topic for you... but thank you..."

He shook his head, too, putting a hand up in a vague and awkward way. Maybe he was trying to wave the apology off? "Don't be sorry. I've had a...long time to make my peace with it. And I've already had more time than..."

He trails off, unsure how exactly to finish that sentence. He certainly expected to be dead and gone ages ago. "But you understand why I feel so strongly, right? I have to believe- it's possible to save everyone."

"Considering what you've been though, I'd have the same mindset if I were you. I just hope you're right..."

She stretched a bit, getting a little more comfortable on the barstool.

"I've certainly had my fair share of demons to come to terms with as well, not necessarily just the literal one at the moment... though granted most of the metaphorical ones were ultimately her fault as well..."

Henry let out a sigh, releasing some of the tension in his body after talking about all that. He hadn't intended to get into his past. But if it helped her understand, it was worth it. He still wanted to offer to help out with the rescue, but he knew it was beyond him. Working with the BPRD had taught him how to not become a liability, at least.

"There's always someone that has to keep causing problems..." he noted, shaking his head. "What's her name? In case she does find her way here somehow."

She let out a sigh.

"Lillianus... and if she does find her way here... anti-violence field be damned I'm going to find a way to get rid of her for good."

Slumping down over the bar, she shook her head.

"I suppose I should get back home for a bit, hopefully sort all this out in a few days. Thanks..."

She paused for a moment, blushing a bit.

"How rude of me, I've been bemoaning about all of my problems to you and never even asked your name..."

Henry let out a small chuckle- he realized the same time she did that they hadn't exchanged names. Maybe they were just both the type to worry about threats far more than who they're actually talking to. Or maybe Henry had just been his usual forgetful self.

"Me, too. I'm Henry. Henry Sherman-Townshend. Good luck with all of this. I hope you all come out of it all right."

She bowed her head, nodding in acknowledgement.

"Tielle, and thank you, I hope so too..."

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Between a Rock and Not Caring About Metaphors

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