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

[super_cool]

Since Angel has demonstrated only a desire to help, her emotionless monotone doesn’t really bother him. It actually makes her seem interesting and cool, like she’s real deep. He respects that. He takes a moment to think about her question, but doesn’t have an answer.

“I don’t know.” He’s ill-prepared for such a conversation, having not had enough time to fully process everything. Although he obviously has thought about it some before, he never reached any definite conclusions, and at the time, he was unreflective in a way that seems shocking to him now. “Guess I wasn’t really thinking...”

That, of course, seems to contradict what he said earlier about knowing it was wrong. Humans can be such frustrating transmitters of data when it comes to their own psychologies. He looks away, taking a drag from his cigarette, and mumbling something about being unprofessional.

[magnetite_plz]

She inclines her head slightly. Freddy seems distraught and confused about his own actions. Angel has seen the chaotic and sometimes contradictory hearts of Man before. But as an arbiter under the arcana of Justice Angel has some beliefs of her own.

Especially after seeing the camaraderie of Man here in this place.

"You were in pain. You were dying. I should think...having to live through what is ordinarily a permanent end to Man's fates...would be punishment enough. I have no way of knowing the Sins you may have done in life. But you do not seem like a cruel hearted man. Misguided, perhaps. Lost. "

[super_cool]

Seeing camaraderie of Man in the Nexus may have changed Angel’s beliefs, but in twentieth century LA pretty much everyone is terrible – cops and robbers alike, Freddy included, though she’s right he’s not actually malicious.

“I always had good intentions.” Although he’s certain some of his actions actually are inexcusable, she’s right. She has no way of knowing.

He’s still a little disoriented, unclear whether she’s actually a superior being or just a person who happens to have wings and special powers. He shifts, unsure of what to say. So he just says, “Sorry, I don’t mean to keep you if you’ve got stuff to do. I’ll be alright.”

[magnetite_plz]

"My actions are not dictated for me at this time. But you need to rest and regain your strength. Welcome to the Nexus, Freddy Newendyke. May your time here be better than your past."

Angel is careful when she gets up off of the nonexistent ground she'd been sitting on and stretches her wings again. There are many in the Nexus coming and going who are Lost and in pain.

Plenty to keep a demon of justice busy, that is to say.

"Though we are not bound by contract, if you call for me, I will come if I am able."