nexus_crossings | Happy Naberus! [Party post]

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Happy Naberus! [Party post]

There's a chill in the air and a distant howl, and the sun is nowhere to be seen. On the outskirts of the Plaza, grinning faces carved into squashes tempt passersby to follow their lighted path, leading visitors down twists and turns through darkened streets, fog swirling around their feet. Did you already pass this way before? Are you going in circles, lost forever? Doubling back on yourself will lead to much the same result. And you don't remember when or how, but your clothes have somehow become a costume - whether funny, horrific, or downright bizarre.

Eventually, you find yourself in a small street carnival, tucked away far beyond the beaten path. Lights and lanterns run the length of a darkened street, the smells of fried and baked treats in the air, a light haze of smoke gathering under the awnings of food stalls. Beyond the food stalls, a haunted house beckons the brave to venture into its dark, cramped corridors, the sounds of distant screams coming from deep within. To the other side, a mountain of pumpkins waits to be carved, scoops and wicked-looking knives laid out on a tall table. Further still, wooden washtubs full of dark red wine host a small flotilla of apples to be bobbed, leaving all participants with deep red stains running down their necks from trying.

But before you can investigate the many wonders this strange little celebration has to offer, you must first be confronted by the host.

What looks for all the world like a fleshy flower writhes in the entryway to the festival, already towering over most visitors at fifteen feet high. But then that flower opens, unfolding into the form of an even larger young woman, bloody handprints painted on her exposed skin and shards of glass seemingly jammed directly into her head, and papercraft severed limbs hang in a necklace around her throat. She grins at you with unrestrained glee. "Couldn't resist, right? This is the happiest time of the entire year! Happy Naberus! You do know what that is? The Orokin festival of death, darkness, and deviance." She peers down at those in her presence. "We're all equal on Naberus night now, under our masks. Who's to know who's powerful and who isn't?"

She straightens up and laughs, waving her arms towards the carnival behind her. "Don't say I didn't warn you!"

[ooc: Happy Naberus, Nexus-goers! This is a party post, so feel free to tag around under the activity tags or just with each other! And remember, everyone must have a costume to participate! You can make it as mundane or as terrifying as you like. If you are open to spooky and/or horrifying events happening to your character, please also contact me through DMs here or to Ael on Discord so we can plan it together beforehand. The horror side of this event is opt-in, and threads containing such content should be tagged in the subject line.]

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One of the other festival-goers nearby turns their head a little, nodding masked eyes towards the sweets. "The lotus seed paste cakes are my favorite."

Their costume is somewhat reminiscent of a samurai, metal armor and cloth covering most of their body, save for the lower half of their face. Their voice is young, perhaps not even out of childhood, and their cheek sports a deep purple scar peeking out from under the helmet.

Most would not notice, but there's something not quite Right about their life energies. An absence of sorts, their soul displaced like a double exposed photograph, a phantom afterimage.

Death stares for a moment. Most would think she is admiring the costume, as it is very eye-catching. But it is the absence of life energies that has caught her attention.

She blushes and laughs when she realizes she is being rude.

"Lotus seed paste cakes? That sounds lovely."

"You look very pretty tonight."

They nod, and turn their head toward the vendor. "One for each of us, please."

The mooncakes have different patterns baked into them to distinguish the fillings apart from each other. Death receives the one she'd asked for, as well as one with a blossom shape on it. Her new friend also receives one, and bites into it with undisguised pleasure.

What little can be seen of their cheeks flushes slightly pink at the compliment, uncertain what to say. "Oh... thank you," they mumble through a mouthful of mooncake. Chew, swallow, take a sip from a little flask tucked into the front of their armor. "I'm a Dax today. They were elite warriors, once upon a time."

"A Dax. I don't believe I have heard of them." Death answers with a smile.

Death looks down to her white dress, and then over her shoulder to the wings behind her. And smiles at the irony.

"Looks like I am an Angel." She laughs.

"Most of them are gone now. I haven't seen any here either." They shake their head a little, taking another nibble from the mooncake. "Relics of a fallen empire."

Their head turns to look at Death's costume, a small smile on their lips. "You look pretty too. I've heard of angels, but I didn't think they looked like that. More... scary."

"Some Angels can be scary. Depending on what they represent. But I think today the Nexus has decided that I should be an Angel of Love."

"Hopefully that is not too scary for anyone here."

"Well, Naberus is a little bit about fantastic, unrealistic things," they muse out loud, giving her a small nod. "I guess it's in the spirit of the holiday."

An angel of love. Sounds wild and amazing.

"What's your name?" they ask, wiping crumbs from their lips. "Mine's Ayatan."

"Sounds like the Nexus on a regular day. Fantastic, unrealistic things all coming together to one place. And finding out that there is more out there, then they had realized." She smiles.

With a small pause, she answers the question. "I am Death."

"Although I go by different names, depending on the culture, or the people."

"Yeah, I guess it is."

Their attention sharpens at the sound of Death's name, though there's little fear in their body language. They're clearly interested, the half-eaten mooncake momentarily forgotten as they turn fully to face her. If she could see their eyes, this would definitely be considered staring. "Are you from the Void?"

"One might describe it as a Void. No time passes. I am considered an Endless, in my world." Death answers honestly.

"I guide souls from one end, to another beginning."

Yeah, that sure sounds like the Void. Behind their mask, Ayatan's eyes go a little wider. There's only one entity that's ever been known to come from the Void, and she clearly isn't Him. He would never be this kind or gentle.

"An Endless... is the Man in the Wall one of yours, then?"

"I do not know of anyone who goes by that name. The others, like me, are ones like Dream, Destiny, Night, Time, Destruction, Desire, Despair, Delirium...."

They shake their head, as much in lack of recognition as it is amazement. "I don't know His real name, if He even has one. I didn't know there were... so many of you."

Their body language still doesn't show any fear, despite fully recognizing what Death is. Maybe that's foolish of them. But even if it wasn't Naberus, Ayatan's not sure they'd see reason to be afraid.

"Many of us really don't have a real name. Or it is so old and foreign to us, that we prefer to go by our... occupations as it were."

"As Death, I am there for those who pass. To take them to their next step. A new beginning. An end. Whatever they need."

"It is a little ironic because I am an Angel of Love today." She shares her amusement with Ayatan.

"A new beginning... you mean reincarnation." A familiar concept, though not one Ayatan was sure they believed in. Not fully anyway. The Nexus is a place of wonders indeed.

"Do they get to choose? In the end, I mean."

"Yes." Death smiles.

She pauses at the net question. "Yes. In a way. By the choices they make in life, and what they believe is next for them. I help them reach what they believe is next for them, whatever that may be. It may even be Heaven or Nirvana. Or something else."

"I like having conversations with the people I greet. And be their friend."

"Everyone needs a friend when it is their time to face that transition."

Ayatan is tempted to ask what happens if a soul believes in punishment, rather than rest. But maybe that's a question better left unasked. Instead they nod slowly, the exposed portion of their face thoughtful. "That sounds... nice. Maybe even lonely," they venture. "Since you have to say goodbye so soon."

"That is part of who I am. I was the first. And I will be last."

Death smiles. "I always tell people who ask, that I will make sure all the chairs are put away, and that the room is swept, before I turn out the lights.

"I guess there's never any shortage of work," they say after a few moments, a hint of grim certainty in their voice. This is someone who's lived a hard life, touched by death in more ways than one, despite their very young age. "I'm sure your job will never be done. Especially if people come back around again."

"I know it is hard... to loose those ties of those close to you. But if there is someone near to you, that might have held my hand once... I might be able to pass on a message?" Death knows that usually the living worries about those who have walked down her path.

What can they even say to such an offer? They've lost friends and family, so long ago that some of them are only faintly remembered, like in a dream. But their thoughts go to someone else... not their loved one. But someone who did not deserve to be cut down so brutally, a pawn in someone else's game.

"His name is Isaah," they say after a long moment's thought. "Tell him that his father still loves him very much."

Death reaches out a hand, gently pulls on the invisible thread of memory that is there when the name is spoken. (after all, it is very true that names hold power, and once Death has your name there is much to that).

The Ankh on her neck glows slightly. And she smiles.

"Done."

"Now is there any goodies I can buy you?"

That simple...? Ayatan simply nods, looking thoughtful. There's little way for them to tell if Isaah really has been reached or not, but what does it harm them to believe in it? The dead are dead, and if some comfort can be given to the poor boy's shade, then it's worth doing.

Not to mention for his father's sake.

For as old as they act, there's a certain childish interest that perks them up when Death offers to treat them to more snacks. "Have you ever had mochi? It's pretty good."

"I like trying new things. Mortals are amazing at creating such interesting things. Show me?" Death smiles.

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Happy Naberus! [Party post]

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