nexus_crossings | (no subject)

"I have to suppose it depends on what you find strange. Strange for one is not the same as strange for another." Researching 101 uses of Manticore parts is one man's strange, and another man's normal.

Sinking down into a chair, Paladin tries to find a somewhat dry part of her cloak in order to wipe her filthy face off. It is an absolutely pointless search.

"Knowledge, for what it's worth is always worth the time."

"I don't know, try me and I'll let you know if it's strange," says Sam, who might be one of those people who might find Manticore parts to be not weird but who knows. Then again he might find the whole idea of Manticores to be fascinating.

"But you're right, knowledge is always worth the time." Sam nods his head towards the powered down laptop. "That's why I find myself up late half of the time doing research." He scrunches his face, and he laughs. "Research on banshees, vampires, shapeshifters, or where Big Foot was last seen."

"Most recently it's been about Manticore parts, before that, a demon and a sword I saw in a vision when I took my vow." It seems like such a long time ago, Paladin forgets about it, the vision was so vague and the needs of the here and now are great and require more attention. When the Tiefling remembers it's a memory that comes with surprise.

Napkins from the older on the table are utilized to do a bit of face dabbing but are ultimately ineffective.

The screen catches a blue eye and Paladin leans over to study the compact object, it glows like an enchantment. "Vampires are awful, what miserable things to deal with. What..." she pauses, not wanting to be rude. "What is that?" A gesture at the laptop, not necessarily Big Foot.

"Manticore parts? I don't suppose I can find an actual Manticore here in The Nexus. Not that is a good thing." Sam isn't looking to go face-to-face with a dangerous beast, or is he. Or perhaps Sam simply wants to get a close look at a real one instead of the pictures he has seen in books. But he is indeed interested in the Tiefling who's here to keep him company.

He follows her gaze towards his laptop, and Sam clears his throat. "A big hairy ape that is rumored to be found in parts of North America. Many people have claimed to have seen one, but nobody has brought up any solid proof as of yet." He then looks back to the laptop, and he ohs. "You mean that, that is something called a laptop." Sam leans over, he grabs the thin computer, he opens the screen up, and he turns it on.

"It's a device that I use to allow me to access all sorts of information."

"That, I am not sure of, in my world yes, but..." androgynous features with one blue stripe horizontal across her face over the bridge of the nose, turn toward him, bright blue eyes sly with humor. "For the right price I could get you pieces of one." What are you going to do with a full Manticore mane? The spikes make a killer fashion accessory but tend to not be well received in mixed company.

So slim! So compact! It looks relatively plain and boring, until he reveals the screen and turns it on. The glow is almost instantly hypothesizing, and it takes a shake of the head to pull back and disengage.

"Remarkable! Any information at what cost? This must be run by powerful magic." Reclaimer would be all over this.

"I suppose anything out here is possible. So maybe somewhere in the wilds of The Nexus there are Manticores. "And it depends on the price, and how much Manticore venom goes for." He isn't looking for a mane, but he is more interested in internal organs or parts that can be used for spell craft. And he is sure he saw something in a spell book back home calling for Manticore venom.

The laptop finishes powering up and Sam has a plain green background, and he then goes to fire up a web browser.

"It runs on some very powerful magic, and I haven't met the wizards who make it work. But there are some markets here in The Nexus that might be able to sell you one. As for the information, it is free, but not all of it is good information."

"That is perhaps true, I too have heard that anything is possible in this place. I actually just got caught in a downpour," which reminds her: no dripping all over the place. Pulling back the Tiefling tries to conduct business while unclasping the soaked hooded cloak. "I have harvested spines from a Manticore, how many would you need?" As for the price? Paladin will think about it, from the looks of him, even with his magic item he probably doesn't have gold.

The soaking cloak gets draped over the back of the same chair Paladin sinks into before leaning forward to look at the laptop.

"Hmmmm, currently my information is not free but so far it has been all good. I have a friend who I think would like something like that, he gathers all types of information. What are you searching for?"

"I've heard that also, and from what I saw at a recent party, this place is..." Sam looks her over. "...Something special." And the fact it is pissing rain outside is a good enough reason for Sam to hang out in the plaza. And even a bigger reason to do a little research or to just screw around on the internet. "How many do you have? But seeing I don't have much money on me, perhaps one will do just fine." Sam doesn't have gold on him, and he is sure she doesn't want paper money nor will a credit card do. And this means his eyes drift towards the gold plated watch on his wrist.

And he then looks back to his laptop and the blinking cursor. "I was doing some research on angels." Time in the Nexus has left Sam with a little more free time than normal. But he still wants to find out what or who got him and his brother stuck here.

"And how I ended up here." Sam looks at the special search engine that is geared towards the supernatural occult. "And maybe away to go back home."

"Special is a good word for it," out of this world is another one. Despite the fact that there are parts of the Nexus that look very much like home it is still completely foreign to the Tiefling. Which serves as a reminder: "my name is Paladin," a dark, hand is extended in greeting. "I am a Tiefling," since that doesn't seem to trigger the same reaction here as it does in other places.

"Currently I have a dozen, one would be easy enough to part with. Perhaps, in return, you could show me more of your magical laptop." A fair enough trade one imagines but haggling is always acceptable.

"You've been visited by a celestial? Usually that bodes well, unless you're evil and unless you're in the shit," but by that time you'd want that power to get you out of that shit. The last part? That's troubling. "You can't get back to your world? Your portal is closed?"

"I don't think I ever met a Tiefling before, Paladin. And I'm just a regular human who goes by the name, Sam." He offers out his hand to Paladin to shake, even if he doesn't seem sure, if she knows of any human customs. And he is use to working and meeting different beings that aren't human, so it makes it a lot easier for him to deal with meeting non-humans. And Sam being Sam, he loves the diversity that the Nexus has to offer.

And his eyes drift back towards his laptop, and back to Paladin. "I think we can do that." Sam goes to bring up a music-streaming program, and he mmms. And he turns the laptop around so Paladin can get a closer look. Sam opts for some classical music. "This magic box can do a lot more than let me research celestials."

He knows what she meant by it, and what might be one religious deity is no different from any other being that inhabits the Nexus or other realms.

"Yes, that is what I am finding in the Nexus. I am the first of my kind here." Nope, Paladin gets the gesture and a slender hand takes his in a warm shake of greeting. "It is very nice to meet you, Sam." Maybe that's why Paladin enjoys the Nexus so much, there is that friendly diversity, even she has met people that surprise her. Those same people are generally not familiar with her kind, a nice change.

Leaning forward, arms on thighs, Paladin watches with interest the mouse movements and what he's doing. "I am familiar somewhat with the internet, my friend Adia explained it to me." And the first thing the Tiefling did was Google themselves. Which was mildly amusing.

The music is startling though and it's probably good that he started with classical, it's familiar, not so jarring. "Ahhh, that is a beautiful sound!"

Edited 2016-12-09 18:26 (UTC)

Smiling, Sam lets go of Paladin's hand. "There seems to be plenty of humans here. Or at least beings who look like they are human here. But how are you handling being the only one of your kind here?" He seems curious, and Sam leans over to look at computer screen. He is never heard of a Tiefling before, so he goes to take advantage of finding out what exactly one is when Paladin Googles herself.

"Ah, that's good, being somewhat familiar with the internet that is." Sam continues to read the screen, and he mmms. And he soft music is a bit of a break for Sam, and while it isn't something he normally listens to, it is a nice touch. "I'm not sure who it is, but it isn't bad. And there's another thing you can do with this magic box."

Sam moves the mouse over towards an icon that resembles a box of cards, and the load screen has a little Western sounding jingle. And in big bold letters, Texas Hold'em and other card games pops up. "I can play games on it."

"The same way I handle being the only one of my kind where I currently live: well enough. In Rensford and the surrounding area I am the only one of my kind. In the city in which I grew up we had a ghetto." Now that's interesting, Paladin didn't think to google 'Tiefling.' Without realizing it she holds her breath and watches him intently.

"Well," a slight clearing of the throat. "That's certainly one description of a Tiefling," not an entirely incorrect description of a Tiefling either. Though she doesn't know what the fuck Golarion is.

But it's hard for the Tiefling to ignore the look of cards and without doing much thinking she sits down next to him and leans forward, a very calculating, intent look on those dark features. "Do you play much cards? I enjoy a game every now and then." Liar.

"Does that description fit you?" Sam asks, as he looks up to her and he points to his head. "And I can tell you one thing, I've never seen a demon with horns before."

He moves over a little bit to make room for her on the couch, and he goes to start the game and he goes to pick a stereotypical looking cowboy in a big hat. And he moves the computer over towards Paladin. "A little bit. My brother is the one who tends to kick my ass when it comes to playing cards." Sam is a little bit too honest sometimes.

A mouth opens and shuts, and then opens again before reconsidering the response all over again. Finally there is just a helpless sigh and a shrug. "I can tell you that I encounter fear and distrust where I go because of how I look. I can also tell you that I was born to human parents who wanted a child very badly and made a pact with the wrong being." Her hand absently move to one of her slick backed horns and the band of silver studded with moonstones at the base. "You haven't? Horns are relatively common among my kind and the outer planner demons and monsters of my world."

What the hell is that being? "I like the hat," she does like the hat actually, it is so absurd that she has to like it. "It's all about being able to read people, cards, and there is a small amount of luck involved." A look over at Sam comes with a broad, grin, flashing slightly elongated canine teeth. "We should play, or you should show me how this game works."

"Most people back home have no idea about half of the other beings that share the Earth with them. And the demons, perhaps they do have horns and look like a traditional demon but I only see them wearing a meatsuit." He points a finger in his own direction when he says meatsuit. "Or in better words. They look human while they're on Earth." Sam looks down at the game and back to Paladin. "It has to do with their inability to survive outside of the celestial plane in their natural form.

He then looks back to the game, a smile on his face. "If I ever visit Earth, or an Earth, I'll see about getting you a hat like that one." A smile is on his face, and he just leaves the game be and eventually the demo starts up. And he can't help but to laugh. "That's what he tells me, and I tend to get my ass handed to me each time we play each other. Or if I happen to play someone else. So, I leave any important card games to my brother."

Sam then looks back to the computer and he mmms. "Do you happen to have a deck of cards anywhere?"

Demons that look like humans. "Indeed? Well that is mildly troubling for you. How do you know what is a demon if they all look human? I believe that is not the case in my world. In my world the danger looks rather obviously like danger."

As for the hat she gives him a rather amused look and then laughs. "I don't know if I would be able to wear it but that is very kind of you to offer. I will have to find you something from my words as a token of appreciation. Outside of the manticore spike." Surely that wouldn't be too hard to do.

As she reaches into an inner pocket of her coat and withdraws a deck of cards that she shuffles with ease. That satisfying ripple is like music to her ears. "Is your brother younger or older than you? Are you two close?"

"There's a bit of a tinge to sulfur in the air, but no, we don't know unless the demon has decided to go on a killing spree. And trust me; some of them are a lot better at staying under the radar than others." And it is hard to tell if Sam is either annoyed or relieved. "And then there are some who rebel for the better good."

His attention remains on the game, and he looks at the buxom wench next to the big-hatted Texan. "My brother is older than I am. And yeah, we're pretty close to one another." Sam leaves out exactly how close he is to his brother and the amount of trouble the two causes for the sake of one another. "Very close. He pretty much raised me when I was a kid."

And he watches Paladin pull out a deck of cards, and he laughs. "Are you any good?" Sam asks about her card playing abilities.

"Well that's a change," the Tiefling remarks. "Those turning against their nature for the better good. I suppose there are some in my world who are sentient enough to do the same." The evil creatures, the undead, the demons, tend to remain so - Paladin has never heard of the undead turning back. It's different with people, where there is more free will.

"Ahhhh," being raised by a sibling isn't something Paladin is familiar with but it paints an interesting picture of how home life must have been for Sam. "Is your brother here with you in The Nexus?"

Another satisfying ripple of cards goes along with a modest shrug. "I used to be much better I am sure, it was my living for awhile. Now I find myself busy with village tasks for such things."

"The best way to keep pig organs fresh without them rotting."

Hey, this guy asked a question. Josh is just answering it. While sipping his iced coffee as though this was the most casual conversation topic in the world. Yes, even though it's cold out. Josh loves Winter and he loves iced coffee.

"There's plenty of couches in the Plaza if you need to crash. I'm sure we could find one next to a fire pit."

"What did you need pig organs for?" Sam doesn't look weirded out by the idea. And he is trying to think if there was ever a need for fresh pig organs on one of their hunts. And he reaches his hand up for his chin, and he rubs it in thought.

Sam still looks as if he can use more coffee, he yawns again. "Thanks. I might just do that, or maybe I'll look to see if there's a motel." He then looks at his couch, and he is sure the one he is sitting isn't exactly comfortable for one of his stature. "Or if you can find me a couch that's long enough to sleep on, and I'll take you up on that offer."

"I needed a realistic analog for the human body. I had to fake my death."

It didn't come cheap, and it took a lot of work, but it had produced results in the end. Believable ones, too. guess all those years studying under his father wasn't for waste after all. Even though....everything that happened after that was a mess.

Even during, really.

But Josh can't help but be a little bit proud of the work he'd done.

"Yeah, it was winter when I ended up here too. I ended up hobo-ing in a shack for the better part of the year until I got a place to stay for good."

"Sounds like you were going for a pretty gory death if you wanted to have pig organs all over the place." Sam squints his eyes, and he puts a hand to his chin as he tries to imagine what and why anyone would have to go through such extremes to fake their death. And he gets ready to unleash a barrage of questions on Josh. "Sooooo, mind coughing out some deets."

He knows all about going to extremes, his entire adult life and some of his childhood revolved around extremes. He was the only kid in his class who had a father who would literally hunt down the boogieman.

"But really, I'm good, my brother and I were able to find a shitty hotel somewhere between here and the Wild."

"You...could say that."

Josh bites at his lower lip and averts his gaze to the ground, less excited to discuss it the more he thinks about it. Not so much the how, but. "I don't mind talkin' shop about how I did it. But...I'd rather not talk about why. The short version was a very thorough suicide note. The long version....is something I'm even less proud of."

He knows now, that it was a bad idea. Unfair. Cruel, even. He hadn't wanted to hurt anyone. Just prove a point. Just to show them what they'd done to his sisters. He'd gone overboard. He regrets a lot of things, from that night.

"Glad to hear it. I probably could have found someplace like that when I got here, but....I wasn't in the best of ways when I got here. Had a hard time trusting other people, at first."

"Talk shop then, and just leave out the rest of the details if you want." Sam sounds understanding, and if anyone knows and understands not wanting to go into depth about things, he has dealt with. And more so with the deeper issues concerning him and his brother. Clasping his hands together, Sam leans forward in his seat and he looks up to Josh. "Ouch. But I get where you're coming from on wanting to keep the long version of things from the public."

Sam nods his head again. "All my brother and I know is we can't get back home. So until then, we are looking to make the best of things. I mean we do have our angel friend here, but he is not exactly in the best of shape.

But until we find somewhere, I think we might just keep the roads of the Nexus." Sam can't help but smile at the thought of going back to the old ways of literally living on the road. "But I think the roads seem to lead to other worlds."

"My dad's a huge special effects kinda guy. Hollywood type. And pigs are pretty standard as analogues for the human body. React pretty similarly under trauma and our insides look more or less the same. It took some trial and error to get a decent facsimile, but I was able to refer to a lot of his notes on it."

Talking Hollywood special effects was something Josh could do all day long. He's clearly got an interest in the subject. Though he trails off when Sam admits he can't go back to his own world.

"I can't either. Rather, if I could, the place it would send me back to would be a one way trip to death."

"Yeah, I know all about pig organs being a good fill in for the human body." And Sam's eyes do light up knowing the kid has a background in special effects. "So you're taking after your dad in the special effects business, nice."

It seems to be a lot better than taking after his father in the monster hunting business. And Sam doesn't seem like he would stop Josh from chewing his ear off about the special effects business. "I take it you're following in your dad's footsteps, or were trying to until..." Sam motions his hand in the direction of the plaza. "...You came here. That's unless you're using your craft to help pay for rent."

Sam has been wondering about how both he and Dean will make a living here. He gave thought to signing them both up to help with the police, but he has since decided against it. "And to be fair, I don't know what's waiting for my brother and I if we would go back either. It could be death, literal death, or something equally unpleasant."

"...Nnnot exactly."

He was trying to take after his father, not that Bob Washington ever gave a shit about what Josh did. Unless he was having a breakdown in public, tarnishing their name. He was more concerned with Josh not embarrassing them than he was interested in the work his only son could do. His parents barely looked at him after his sisters died.

"I mean, sorta. That's where I got the interest...you know. In movies and stuff."

Josh rubs at the back of his neck trying to brush off whatever it is he seemed so reluctant to talk about before.

"Like monsters, right?" His gaze is steady and so is his voice. Joshua has seen monsters. Real ones. "I didn't think those were real, but that's what's waiting back home. Wendigo."

Sam nods his head. "Like monsters. Like your Wendigo. And my brother and I ran across one years ago. Just after I got back into the hunting business." He recalls the job as if it was almost yesterday, even if it was what seems to be many years ago. "But I can see how staying here is waay better than going to deal with a creature with superhuman powers."

And he swallows a little. "And with a taste for human flesh. But if you want to know, how we killed it. My brother used a flare gun." He really wonders if the fabled creature isn't much different where Josh comes from. "Still it sucks to be the target of one." He thinks the idea of being kept alive just to end up being devoured by a former human that got its start by devouring other humans.

Sam visibly shudders, and he looks to Josh. And he wonders if he is being a bit insensitive, and as much as he wants to shift the topic back to something more positive, Sam looks worried. "Has anyone tried to help you defeat it?" Is he offering his services as a hunter? Maybe.

Josh listens to Sam retell the tale. Looks like he does understand what they are. Josh had never believed in such things, even though his dad was huge into Native American lore and culture. Nothing out of the ordinary ever happened. Until...

Until the night his sisters vanished.

Still, he averts his gaze when Sam gives the offer. He doesn't know about the lodge blowing up or how the Wendigo inside were killed. But he does know one thing.

"...One of 'em. Is my sister. I can't...I could never..."