NEW ARRIVAL :: AN UNDERCOVER COP, NERD, AND ALL AROUND DISASTER

[super_cool]

Freddy’s pretty sure he’s dead. He’d like to believe everything – the heist, the getaway, the bloodbath back at the rendezvous – was just a fucked up dream. He’d like to. There’s no hole in his cheek, no bullets in his gut, but he’s still wearing the same clothes – black suit, white shirt, and black tie – and they’re still soaked with blood. There’s blood in his hair, splattered across his face, and coating his hands.

He’s sitting on the curb outside of something that resembles the type of cheap convenience store familiar to someone from Los Angeles during the late 20th century. Next to him is an open bag of Doritos, four empty bottles of shitty beer, plus two more unopened bottles of that same shitty brand... and also a welcoming pamphlet.

While he’s not exactly feeling any better than he was when he first woke up, the alcohol is at least helping him settle into a sort of numbness. He opens the pamphlet and reads. Most of it fails to register.

‘Do you have a question for the Nexus?’ the pamphlet says.

‘What the fuck?’ is all that comes to mind. He sighs and rubs his temple, before burying his face in his arms. It's been a long goddamn day. Thinking it over though, he does actually have a question:

“Does everyone who dies get sent here? Or is it just like”–his voice still sounds hoarse, so he coughs into his fist and clears his throat–“only certain ones?”

He tries to brush his hair back, but his bangs just flop back into his face. He opens another bottle. Don't worry, he’s not going to cry or whine about shit. He may be a hot fucking mess, but he’s still a tough guy, okay?

Comments

[conjuredskies]

It's safe to infer Felix wasn't giving a lot of thought to how Freddy would feel here at all. There's a brief, strange sensation, like something tugging very weakly at his whole body. And then it's just the mage peering at him with a sort of puzzled concern.

"Relax, you're fine." Felix blinks at him, then at his own hand before it drops again. Freddy's unexpectedly strong reaction seems to have snapped him out of whatever train of thought he was so fixed on. "I just- uh. Wanted to check. I thought you might be dead. Undead. But you aren't," he adds reassuringly. "You're perfectly... normal. A normal living soul, I think."

He's rather disappointed. Though he shouldn't be sorry about that, should he? That's good.

[super_cool]

“Yeah, asshole!” he snaps. “I may not have a degree in medicine, but I think that’s what having a pulse generally fucking means.”

A sigh. He wasn't actually so sure about being alive, and it is reassuring to hear someone confirm that he’s not a zombie. But still, Felix needs to know it's not okay to just suddenly spring magic on Earth people who aren't used to seeing shit like that.

[conjuredskies]

Felix stares at him with a sort of blank look for a second, then brightens up.

"Well, isn't that good news!" He lifts his bottle as if to toast, then realizes Freddy's got knocked over somehow. Oh dear. He frowns and presses the one he's holding on the other man. He's getting up. "Here, you'll need this."

[super_cool]

“What?” He’s taken aback by that reaction, suspecting that Felix may be fucking with him. Maybe he should yell at him some more, but instead, he just numbly accepts the bottle. He shakes his head, bewildered. “Wait, why? Are you leaving?”

What an asshole!

[conjuredskies]

Abandoning citizens in their time of need, good grief. What would all those knights he works with say?

"Shouldn't I?" Felix sounds puzzled again. He pats his armor, finds something of a pocket in it from which to fish out a couple of gold septims. Sure they're not Earth coin, but they're very good around here. "I'm in the middle of research, you know. Important work. I think it's all finally starting to make..."

Wait. Wait back up Felix your new friend looks unhappy. He's not used to that happening. "...Why, do you need something?"

[super_cool]

“Um,” he says. “No...”

He shakes his head again. He’s starting to think maybe Felix is just a little socially awkward, in addition to being from a totally different world. Which is fine. His one and only friend in middle school was hella awkward. He shrugs, dismissive. “Go ahead and leave if you've got shit to do. It’s cool.”

But he’s curious, so he’ll ask. “What are you working on? Are you allowed to talk about it?”

[conjuredskies]

Felix nods again. Yes, of course it's cool. He thought it would be. Why does he feel like something's just slightly off-kilter, here? Well, the man is new...

But he does smile at the invitation to explain his research. It's a smile that twists sadly after a moment, though. "You wouldn't like it. But really, I just want to know what I have to do to see my love protected. I want to know how a man walks into the realm of forbidden knowledge and walks out victorious. I want to know what the real difference is between binding an elemental and binding the dead. I want..."

He tilts his head down at Freddy. "To be of service. That's all."

Speaking of which... he looks down at the coins he's holding, bends over to offer them to Freddy. "You ought to go eat something, you know. Remind me to buy you a real drink, next time."

[super_cool]

“I understand.” He nods solemnly. That was so beautiful. Although he doesn’t know anything about forbidden knowledge, binding elementals, or binding dead people—the rest he understands completely, or believes he does. It sounds romantic. Noble. That annoying incident with the magic and the spilled beer is entirely forgiven and forgotten.

“Thank you,” he says. He's already had something to eat: Doritos. That chips don’t count as an actual meal never occurs to him. He still needs to find a motel for the evening though, and having a little extra money couldn’t hurt.

“Hey,” he says, making eye contact one more time before Felix is able to run off. It’s a little too intense, and he is almost overly sincere when he tells him, “Good luck on the research, dude. I hope you can figure it out.”

[conjuredskies]

Felix meets his eyes and smirks, Freddy's oddly sincere sentiment just seeming to encourage him. This man understands. This man sees the value of what he's doing. He'd surely understand even better if Felix could stop to explain it all.

"Thank you. I have no doubt I will." He makes a surprisingly graceful bow for a man who looks barely on his feet, and flashes Freddy a grin as he straightens. "And no doubt we'll meet again, my friend."

He turns to stroll off on his merry way- but he does call back after a few steps, "Oh, and if you do speak with the sheriff - tell him Felix sent you."

[super_cool]

Yeah, he understands alright. He can even see a bit of his younger self in Felix. That’s why he’s rooting for him! He hopes that another can succeed where he has spectacularly failed.

When Felix mentions the sheriff again, Freddy gives a stilted, awkward grin and a thumbs up. ‘Cause he’s a real cool guy, obviously.