nexus_crossings | 1st Annual Halloween Block Party!

Current Mood: Festive
Current Location: The Plaza

1st Annual Halloween Block Party!

Perhaps it's the leaves of fiery golds and oranges drifting on the breeze, or the sight of various hard squash being mangled into festive ornaments, or even still the bowls of candy left out simply everywhere in the Nexus that signifies the import of today. Regardless of when you take heed, Halloween has come to the Nexus.

Neat little handmade signs and fliers of all kinds lead to a particularly festive sectioned off block with the Crossroads Cafe at the center. The brick building has more than its fair share of decorations hung from every available windowsill and door. Hanging skeletons, jolly Jack-O-Lanterns, orange and black streamers cascading down and blowing to and fro in the crisp breeze.

The doors are propped open just waiting to beckon you inside. What are you waiting for?

((See the OOC post if you have any questions! Backtagging and threadhopping are fine. Come on in and have a blast :D ))

Coats and Costumes
The Cafe
Bonfire
Dance Floor
Haunted House
Side Halls and Storage

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Adia sinks into the cushioned seat with a small sigh of contentment. She had been on her feet for most of the party -- even dancing, which had never been on her agenda -- and could use a little rest. The warmth of the bonfire sinks into her skin as she stretches out her legs a bit, getting comfortable.

"A few people have mentioned it," Adia confirms. "It's what made me realize that this really isn't the same Nexus I remember. The invasion happened a year ago, but I was visiting the Nexus a year ago, too, and I never saw any sign of it." This is the first she's heard of the other fight, however, and she sits up straighter with interest. "Winter spirit?"

"Oh, no... the stables were owned by a neighbor. I didn't get lessons from Nana." She laughs softly at the mental image it brings. "Nana knew how to ride, but she didn't much care for it. She told me she wasn't interested in a form of transportation that had its own ideas about where to go."

"Hmm, yeah. Would've been hard to miss. Most of the demons weren't even good opponents - they were more interested in tearing into the civilians and wreaking destruction than putting up a solid offense." There's the rumble of hard disgust in her voice, though she lets out a lighter 'heh' at Adia's question.

"Right. Reynard. The guy who tried to lock the Nexus in eternal winter months ago. We knew something was wrong the way the climate kept swinging back and forth - hell, we had a blizzard come right out of nothing and hit the plaza. Nearly froze a few people to death." Which isn't hyperbole, not by her tone. "We found out what was happening when he came out and declared his intentions to the Nexus. And then- ah, it's too bad you weren't there, Adia. Half the Nexus banded together to fight him and his minions, to unravel Winter's grip. Steve was out there painting flowers, Jesse and his crew were warming people up with music, sowing spring every place we could. Fighting him on every front until we flushed him out of hiding. And then it was up to us warriors to do our part. Now that was a pretty good battle."

She's a little disappointed her mental image was wrong, but it's still a nice story. "Guess that would be pretty strange. Ancient ships used to have their own minds, but that's kinda different. It's like Jesse said, riding a horse is like having a partner. That has to be what you want."

That's not particularly reassuring: Adia is a civilian, after all. But it sounds like Blaze and the other Nexus regulars got it under control quickly, so she tries not to stress about it.

She looks stunned, for lack of a better word. First at Reynard's name, then the talk of the danger he put the Nexus through. She tries to wrap herself in denial -- maybe this spirit isn't the same man she considers her friend, but... no. No, it makes perfect sense; the hints at his true age, his love of winter, the playful banter that speaks of a certain carelessness...

In a voice so small that even Blaze might struggle to hear it, she asks, "But... nobody died? And Winter ended?"

Blaze is taken rather off-guard by that reaction, the enthusiasm of her retelling checked somewhat. Perhaps Adia's more sensitive to war stories right now than the Exo assumed?

So she nods- and then pulls off her grinning jackolyte helm so she can set it aside and look Adia in the eyes. "That was one good thing - the battle was a hell of a lot lighter on civilian casualties than the demon incident. Ghost reckons the weather was so bad before that most of the vulnerable were already holed up in shelter." The little bot bobs agreement, drifting closer to peer at Adia in concern.

"And thanks to all the people who acted fast, we heard no report of any deaths. Some of us went toe-to-toe with Reynard - Officer Suou, a couple of warlock-types - I hear even Hughes had a tussle with him." Plus there was that sniper she never got an ID on... "We brought him down, between us. Winter broke, Reynard fled. I don't know if his power will return in time, but he ought to have learned his lesson."

"Either way, we'll be ready this time," Ghost adds, hoping to reassure their friend.

Rather than reassure her, the words only make her feel worse. This was the Nexus. People were supposed to get along. There wasn't supposed to be violence, or fighting among people she considered friends. It was supposed to be better than her world.

The only silver lining is that nobody died. But... how could Reynard have done this? He may have been Winter but Winter didn't have to be cruel.

She can feel Blaze's gaze upon her, more keenly without the pumpkin helm. Ghost's, too. They're her friends, and they're concerned. She owes them some sort of explanation. A small part of her even wants to defend Reynard. But do they know that he's back? Would Blaze go storming after him, right here at the party, if she knew?

In the end, she decides to tell the truth. Reynard would have stayed hidden if that's what he really wanted. "Um... he... Reynard. He befriended me, when I first came here. He's been very kind. A good friend."

Why hadn't he told her what he really was? Even Oceanglide didn't wait that long, and he had much better reason to stall. She curls up on her chair like a wounded animal, unable to look at her friends, feeling hurt and betrayed. How could she have been such a fool.

Blaze straightens up, optic lights burning brighter at that. There's the faint prickle of static in the air as she searches Adia's face. "You've met him?"

She sounds alert, serious- but not exactly angry. She exchanges a look with Ghost. "And does he seem like he's up to anything? Has he spoken about his plans?"

Experience in the Nexus - and the strange nature of the spirit - mean she's not immediately decided on how to respond. Not entirely, anyway. Her first priority is clear - Reynard is dangerous, a potentially serious threat. She needs to determine how immediate that threat is... and whether any of it is directed at Adia.

Her questions remind Adia too much of when Caspar killed himself, when Lieutenant Ridley sat with her in the Chiron's conference room aftewards. How well did you know Mr. Millen? Did you notice anything out of the ordinary? Did he tell you his plans?

When did you find out he was a Cylon?

"No," she says finally, not meeting Blaze's gaze. "We talked about what kind of music we liked. He gave me advice. I didn't..." Her expression grows a touch defensive. "I didn't know he was a Winter spirit. He never spoke about that. He offered to make me pumpkin bisque."

She almost talks about how gentle he was dancing with her, how careful he was with each spin, how he gutted a pumpkin for her and told her she was beautiful and strong and brave. But then Blaze would know that he was here at the party, and she's already had enough fighting to last her a lifetime.

Edited 2016-11-13 21:58 (UTC)

"Hmm." Her gaze flicks down, thinking a moment, then back to Adia. "That's good, then. If he's not threatening anyone." But Adia looks hurt all the same, and Blaze can guess why. How would she feel, after all? She places trust in her friends without hesitation or qualification - what if she found one of them had deceived her?

"I'm sorry you found out this way," she says honestly, leaning toward Adia. "You meet some strange people here - most of them good people, but others are- hnh. Dangerous."

Ghost stirs, turning his bright gaze up toward the Titan. Reminding her: "He's not of the Darkness."

"True." She looks back down at her partner - her guide, and nods a little. "He's not the enemy I was raised to fight. But I don't know exactly what he is, or how to read him."

She looks at Blaze again. The hurt is still there, but she tries not to let it overwhelm her. "It's okay. If he really caused that much trouble, I was bound to hear it from someone. I'm glad it was you two." She means it, too. Better another friend, one who cares about her well-being, someone who has been honest with her from the beginning.

"I was hoping that... that I had gotten a little better at reading people, since coming here." She sighs bitterly. But she's willing to cut Blaze more slack than herself. "He's very mysterious. I'm sure he acts that way on purpose... to be more dramatic, or something." Or to keep gullible humans like Adia in the dark.

"It's hard to figure people out, especially here. Everyone's got secrets. But you should be able to trust your friends, of all people. If he breaks that trust, that's on him." Blaze is utterly clear on that. "It's hard enough starting out new without worrying if you can trust your guides."

She drags her seat around to sit closer to Adia. "Hey. Do you want a hug?"

Adia's gaze falls into the middle distance. Blaze's words have a way of cutting to the heart of the matter, but she can't think of anything to say in return. The situation is opening too many old wounds, reminding her of things that she had never truly recovered from.

"All this has happened before, and all this will happen again," she murmurs to herself. She never thought a proverb from the Sacred Scrolls would ever apply to her so personally.

She surprised initially by the Guardian's question. Then she nods mutely, lips pressed together so she doesn't cry.

"That's experience for you." She sounds older saying that, though not weary. Age is a funny thing for a Guardian - doubly so for an Exo. In a moment like this she feels it, though, the echo of all those forgotten lives behind her.

She handles that as she always does: ignoring it and taking action. She slings an arm around Adia's shoulders, protective and careful and a little bit warm. Her strength is measured, but there's something inexorable about it when she draws Adia into the hug. Her human friend will probably get a little bit of a jolt on the way - the concern and uncertainty crawling in her circuits is reflected in the static that gathers on her plating. Small hazards of being an Arc-based Guardian. Ghost hovers close, unable to join in exactly but offering... comfort through proximity.

"If he gives you any trouble, you can always call on us," Blaze reminds her.

"And maybe he's learned his lesson now," Ghost points out.

Adia leans into the hug, although her hands stay folded in her lap, her posture slouched like a reprimanded child. At least until the static gives her a small shock and she seems to come back to herself, out of her painful memories and into the present.

She returns the hug tightly, arms unfolding and slung around Blaze's middle like a lifeline. Unshed tears catch bits of green and silver glitter in the corners of her eyes, but don't fall. "Thanks," she whispers thickly.

She doesn't want to believe that Reynard would hurt her, even after finding about his dangerous exploits. And anyway, the kind of pain that he could inflict isn't the type that's stopped by physical strength and firepower. But she appreciates Blaze's words.

Ghost's, too. "If... if he's in the Nexus and making friends, then he can't be planning to start trouble again..." She hopes. If he hurts someone that she cares about now, or an innocent bystander, then there's no way she could forgive him.

When's the last time anyone hugged her like this? She almost wonders. But here and now, she wraps her arms around Adia and gives her a solid embrace. It seems the natural thing to do. "Any time, my friend. We'll have your back."

She doesn't want to disagree with Adia - it would be good, to believe the best of everyone, in the spirit's case even she isn't sure. "I hope you're right. Never spoke to him off the battlefield-" given that fight, she doubts he'd want her to, "so I can't say if that was typical. What I've seen I don't like, but it's nothing we can't handle again. If we have to."

She doesn't doubt it, that Blaze would stand by her in a time of need. She's a good friend -- a good person -- which makes her assessment of Reynard doubly damning. He clearly had to work hard to get Blaze's bad side.

Slowly disentangling herself from the hug, she wipes at the corner of her eyes before remembering that she's wearing make-up. Hastily, she puts her hands in her lap. "I haven't seen that side of him," she admits quietly. "We've never fought, obviously."

Blaze can't call that deceptive, really - how many people here have seen her when she genuinely goes to work? She lets out a low 'hnnn', still hunched over a little, resting her arms on her knees now that Adia's pulled away.

It hurts, to see Adia sitting so stiffly. So determined to keep control of herself even though there's surely no need. Even when she's curled over her own reopened wounds.

"The Nexus is a different kind of place," she says slowly, turning her gaze toward the fire for a minute. "A strange set of circumstances. It brings out different aspects in people, I think. Maybe unusual ones. I don't think that makes them less real, but- perhaps they're not more true, either."

On top of everything else, Adia is disappointed in herself for letting some bad news ruin her time at the party. It's what keeps her from crying on Blaze's shoulder and drawing unwanted attention to herself. She hopes that no one else sees her like this.

"The Nexus is a lot more complicated than I first thought." She smiles weakly, fighting through her bad feelings. "I was... maybe naively hoping that people felt more comfortable being honest in the Nexus. That no one had anything to gain by lying about themselves."

"I don't know about lying," Blaze says. "But- I met a man here who seemed to carry darkness with him. I wouldn't trust him outside the Nexus - not sure I trust him in here, still. But he said to me that he likes the Nexus because he doesn't have to be the same person here. He can be a different kind of guy for a while. I don't understand exactly what he meant. But I know my role here is a long way from the one I serve back home. That's not because I hide any of it."

"It's probably a burden, to carry that darkness within you," Adia muses softly. "I come here when I need a break from the harshness of my world. Maybe he needed a break from himself."

She sighs and has to stop herself from rubbing her eyes -- not because of tears this time, but out of frustration. "I've known people, too, with questionable morals. I don't expect people to share their secrets. But... he didn't even tell me he was a winter spirit." A lie of omission is still a lie. "What does that matter, in the Nexus? We're all from different worlds."

"Perhaps he... um, didn't want you to hear about this so easily." Which doesn't exactly make Reynard look better, and Ghost knows it. That's why it's offered tentatively, and then because Adia wants an explanation. Ghosts are literally programmed to supply those, after all...

"The only way to find out is to ask him," Blaze says. Not scolding Adia, not even trying to push her in any way. It's just the simple answer, in her view, and no way around it. Not if Adia decides it's worth her while to know.

Adia looks up at Ghost and offers him a small, tired smile. "Yeah. Probably not..." And that's the crux of it, really. Whether he was worried that Adia would stop being his friend or was taking some sort of perverse delight in fooling her remains to be seen.

She really hopes it's the former.

She unconsciously looks towards the bonfire, at Blaze's suggestion. But there's no way she'd try to find him and confront him over this tonight, even if she wasn't naturally averse to conflict. She needs time to process this information. "I think maybe I should go home. It's getting close to when I'm due back, anyway."

Blaze nods, a little regretful. "Need some time, huh? Well, we can swap stories another time." She rubs an antenna. "...Will you be all right? I didn't mean to spoil your evening. Better you know, still."

"I'll be okay," Adia says quietly. She's not lying, not exactly. She'll move past this eventually. But it's going to take some time. "I'm not sorry that you told me. I just wish that there hadn't been anything to tell."

She stands up and lightly dusts off her dress. "I have to go get my coat." And return her wig. "I'll, um... I'll let you know how it goes. Thank you for the candy. We'll share stories soon."

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1st Annual Halloween Block Party!

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