nexus_crossings | +1 Cylon to the Nexus

+1 Cylon to the Nexus

There is a man standing near the vending machines in the Plaza, dressed in a well-tailored, peacock blue suit. He looks like he could get you an excellent rate on your second mortgage, but you'd be wise to double-check the fine print before you sign anything. As he fixes himself a cup of coffee, he glances periodically at the people who pass by, his expression perfectly neutral. Although the more astute might pick up on the way he tugs at the cuffs of his sleeves impatiently, as if wishing he were somewhere else.

Finally, he sighs. "Okay. Listen up. Adia asked me to come here because she thought it'd be good for me to make some friends, so if you see her, you can tell her that we chatted and save yourself the actual trouble. All right? I'm sure we're all very busy people."

He takes a sip from his to-go cup and grimaces. "On second thought, can anyone tell me where I can get a decent coffee around here? I can't believe she's been drinking this stuff for the past three years.."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Amelia wasn't expecting company, but as she honestly wants to get to know Caspar better, this is a great opportunity. "I'll buy her coffee when you're getting ready to leave," she agrees with a smile. Until then, they can get a little closer and she can find out what he's like first hand.

As she takes her place at one of the little standing tables, she helps herself to another sip of her mocha. They're really good here. Something about the chocolate, she thinks, but she can't be sure. "So, how are you enjoying the Nexus so far? Anything standing out as a favorite part yet? Aside from the coffee we're having now, of course."

Likewise, Caspar wasn't expecting to spend time with anyone longer than to find out where to get a decent cup of coffee, but Amelia has proven herself not to be insufferable. "Sounds like a plan." His mouth quirks into a brief smile. "Get her whipped cream instead of foam. She never lets me get her the whipped cream even though I know she likes it better."

Conspiring is in his Cylon blood. It feels good to use it towards bringing some sweetness into his girl's life.

He settles opposite Amelia, taking another sip of his beverage while she asks her question. "I like the Shopping District," he replies. "There's some quality stuff there. But overall I'm not thrilled. This place is dangerous. I don't like how things can change on a moment's notice. I'm very proud of Adia for taking it all in stride, but it makes me worry about her safety."

It's the people he trusts the least, but he keeps that to himself. No need to completely bash the Nexus, they've only just met.

This is becoming a better and better plan by the minute. "I think I can manage chocolate whipped cream, if you'd like," she says, her smile pulling into a grin. "If she's never tried it, then it's all the more reason for me to buy it so she can." Because while fresh whipped cream is good, freshly whipped chocolate cream is better.

"That's part of the attraction of the Nexus," she counters. "So much change at once can be hard, but the small, near-constant changes aren't terrible. If anything, it's when people change things about the Nexus that things really go wrong." Like dropping random mirrors in the Plaza or opening a portal to a world overrun by demons. Those are bad. A new, if very odd sculpted, fountain in the courtyard by the library? Manageable.

Now this is a plan. Caspar leans in a little, his smile positively Cheshire. "You do that. Let her know it's a speciality here." All the better to encourage a repeat visit.

No, nope. He shakes his head to the idea that any sort of small, random change is somehow appealing. "It means that this place is unstable on a fundamental level. It's hard enough dealing with magic. That's not real where I'm from. Advanced technology... okay, fine. But things happening that have no explanation?" He snorts and raises his cup for another sip. "That's a hard pass for me."

A bright, silvery laugh falls from her lips. "You're going to let me be the one to give it to her?" she teases. "And here I was thinking I'd send it back with you and let you convince her it really came from me." To make it clear she's playing with him, she follows that statement with a wink. Of course she'll bring the coffee to Adia if he wants that. She'd enjoy seeing her friend again.

"From what I've heard people say around here, stability is relative." As is time, size, being alien compared to someone else... The list is quite long. "As for magic, well..." Her shoulders rise and fall in a half-hearted shrug. "It's something you get used to with time. Facing it head on seems to be the best way to deal with it and if you ask anyone who has magic, they'll tell you it has to come from somewhere. Whether its energy from the body or something else doesn't matter - you always have to put something in to get something out."

He smile remains fixed in place while he considers her words. It's true, he'd like to take the credit for himself, but would that be as effective as convincing Adia to lay off the vending machine coffee? "Nah," he replies, casually shrugging a shoulder. "I'll let you take the credit this time. Then I'll simply have to take her here, too."

"Stability is always relative, but I'm a big fan of the laws of physics, too." He takes a sip of his drink while Amelia talks about magic. It's not as bad as reality turning into somebody's idea of a joke, but it's something that he doesn't understand, which automatically makes him uneasy. "At least that means there are rules. Trust me, I'm trying to get a grip on it." His lips turn down in a brief show of worry -- not for himself, but for his girlfriend. "What's the fastest way around here to find out how it works?"

"But of course. Your lover deserves quality coffee whenever she wants it." And will let him buy it for her, but that's beside the point. "It'll be nice for me to see her reaction as well. It'll make it easier to decide on coffee for future library study sessions."

His question gets a thorough internal debate as she sips at her mocha. She could easily send him to the library to ask for books about magic there - being part robot means he can read books extra fast, right? - but that also wouldn't give the kind of insight she's talking about. "You need to talk to mages directly. They have all of the knowledge you're looking for." A beat, and then she adds, "And you need to talk to multiple mages from different worlds. Each of them is going to have a different point of view about magic and how it works, because it works differently depending on where the mage is from."

...well, that's probably not going to improve his opinion on magic is it? Nothing to do but accept that, though, seeing as he should have the truth of the matter.

Her reference to Adia as his lover gets that conspiratorial grin to crack, a faint blush appearing on his otherwise unchanged expression. Not out of any sense of modesty, but merely as a reminder of what they've been up to in the privacy of their cabin. (And a few secluded spots around the island.) "Yep." Wait, what were they talking about? He clears his threat. "She mentioned those study sessions to me. Thanks for keeping her company."

It's too bad she didn't suggest heading to the library and looking up the information on his own. He would have vastly preferred that avenue of research. "I figured you might say that," he grouses. Another reason to distrust magic, if it works differently in every world. "Anyone you recommend I talk to?"

The concept of "boyfriend and girlfriend" is one Amelia struggles with. Caspar and Adia are involved with one another and live together; Lover is the best term she understands that applies to them, so there seems little need to try and find another. It is endearing to see the Cylon blush at Amelia's use of the term, though. Not as unflappable as he might have seemed at first, apparently.

"Of course. She kept me company as well and was invaluable in working through some topics that came up while we were studying." Most of them were completely unrelated to what they were researching, but that makes no difference to Amelia. Adia was helpful when she needed it the most. How is that anything but good?

"There's several families with magic in their blood running around, and Adia could direct you to any of them at your leisure. There's also a man named Harrowheart, who uses a very different type of magic, that would be good to speak to. He's... colorful at times, but he knows his magic very well. As does a young witch named Hermione. I've seen her magic firsthand and she's both powerful and intelligent." Her lips draw into a thin line and she shrugs. "There are others who specialize in magic only during certain conditions as well, but they're far too numerous to list out."

A beat, and then she quickly adds, "Avoid Ixis Naugus. The gremlin is a brute who thinks himself above all others and will talk down to you, despite his short stature, for hours on end if you get him started."

She takes a pause to sip at her mocha before continuing. "Once you have an idea of what you can learn from each of these people, some might suggest books that would be useful to read. Each of them will suggest something very different, though, so be ready for that."

The term 'boyfriend' does seem inadequate considering how close the two of them are. Caspar would love to make it official, but even he knows that he ought to wait a few months, at least, before making any proposals. For now, it's enough that they more or less act like a couple on their honeymoon. Who knew that he would enjoy being so blissfully domestic?

"She's good like that," he says with a soft smile. How different he seems while thinking about her. That blush lingers, though by the time he's had another sip of coffee, he's back to his usual self.

"I've heard of Harrowheart. He's a good friend of Adia's." He didn't know that he could do magic, but then again, he's undead. Anything's possible. "I've met Hermione, too." There's no unpleasant look or sarcastic quip that follows, so it must have gone well. Honestly, if he had to talk to anyone about magic, it'd be her -- she's just as Amelia describes, with the added benefit of having a clever cat for a companion. But it sounds like he'll have to ask around if he's going to get a decent enough perspective. Something he is not looking forward to.

He raises an eyebrow at the unfavorable description of Naugus. "Haven't heard of him," he replies, vaguely amused by Amelia's colorful insults. That amusement quickly turns to concern as an unpleasant thought occurs to him. "Adia isn't friends with him, is she?" He's already had to deal with one short-statured blowhard, he doesn't not want to have to make nice with another.

Edited 2018-01-07 02:13 (UTC)

"Dreams I hope not. He's an arrogant prick who is so full of himself he can't see the failures that literally slap him in the face." Amelia, bitter about Naugus and their previous interactions? Never. "Stay away from him, if you can, and keep Adia away, too. Nothing good comes from him."

But enough about Naugus. He leaves a sour taste in the rogue's mouth that can't be washed away with coffee.

"I'm sure there are others around the Nexus who can help you as well. Adia knows a lot of people here and can point you in the right direction." A beat, and she smiles wryly at him. "Come back to me in a few years and I might have some answers for you, too. For now, all I can offer is the people who already know how to use their magic and a few books that can explain the basics of elemental and defensive magics." Someday she'll get the hang of this magic thing, really. For now, though, she has her books and a desire to get it right.

"Okay, I get it." He's not paying lip service, either. Naugus sounds terrible. (Honestly, he sounds like his brother, which only cements the bad impression.) The only trouble is, that doesn't reassure his nagging worry that Adia might have already befriended him. But he can always bring that up later with her. No need to press Amelia on the subject.

Her wry comment gets another eyebrow raise. "You're been pretty helpful so far. I'll ask Adia, too. She's a little biased, though. She thinks magic is amazing. And it is, I suppose, but it can be as dangerous as anything else. I'd at least like to understand the fundamentals." All the better to prepare against it.

She sighs heavily. "Sorry. He and I have a very unfortunate history." To put it mildly. "You'll be fine so long as you ignore him."

Now doesn't that sound familiar? For all that he's his own person, Amelia could swear she was talking to herself when she first came to the Nexus. How strange it feels, and yet how incredibly useful it is as well.

"I can offer some book suggestions as well, if you'd like. I can't guarantee they'll help you understand everything, but they'll help in starting conversations with other mages."

"Sounds like it," he replies without judgement. He knows a thing or two about unfortunate history. Her advice makes him smile wryly. "I'm sure I'll be fine, then. I am very good at ignoring others." Despite his standoffish attitude, there are only a few things that truly push his buttons. The rest rolls off the back of his well-tailored suit.

He shrugs casually after taking another sip of mocha. Getting down to the dregs, but that's all right. "Sure, I'll take any suggestions you have. Are these books available in the Nexus library." A pause. "Are they electronic, by any chance?"

"All the better, then," she agrees with a little smirk.

Ahh electronic copies of books. She'd forgotten those were a thing. After the catastrophe that followed someone suggesting she get a tablet, she's avoided such things as much as possible. "I'm not certain, but I could ask the librarians. Do you have a device to store them on? A number I could contact when I find out for certain?" A beat as she thinks about the forwardness of that statement. "I could always reach out to Adia instead, if you don't want me to be able to contact you directly." Best not to annoy him by overstepping boundaries if she can avoid it.

Her request for contact information doesn't trouble him, although he does smile a little when she amends her offer if he's not comfortable with it. "No, it's fine." He pulls a sleek black PINpoint out of his pocket and holds it out to her so she can jot down his number. "Might as well use this thing for something other than teleporting and texting Adia."

As for a device to store them on, he smirks and taps his head. "You get me a link to them on the library's database and I'll be able to access them just fine."

She's halfway through putting in his contact information when he speaks cryptically about only needing a link. For a moment, she stares at him with an eyebrow raised in question. "How would that--"

Computer, Amelia. He's partially a computer. Of sorts. ...right.

Turning her attention back to her phone so she can avoid showcasing the awkward blush that follows, she nods. "I'll see what I can do and get you a link as soon as I can." Not awkward at all, really. That could've been so much worse!

...okay not really, but she's trying okay?

At least it amuses, rather than offends, based on the soft chuckle her reaction pulls out of him. "Thanks." He's already been to the Grand Library a couple times. Their technology is a step below Cylon interfacing, but with a little finessing he should be able to get what he needs without too much trouble.

So long as he has a good link to start with.

When she's done jotting down his number, he'll tuck his PINpoint away, then take one last sip of his coffee. "I think I'm ready to get going. Unless you wanted to ask me anything else?" He's fairly confident they've established a good rapport, but he'd prefer not to leave any threads hanging.

She shakes her head as she stows her phone in one of her many pouches. "Not right now. But I do owe Adia a mocha with chocolate whipped cream." She grins and starts off toward the counter. "I'll be right back."

Farel seems confused to see the rogue come back up to the counter, but the slight change in order - and the note about the coffee not being for her - has him nodding and starting on it right away. Caspar gets a quick flash of the elven man's eyes, but his attention is always on the job at hand. Coffee is his business and he's going to make it to the best of his ability every time.

When the mocha is ready to go, Amelia makes her way back over the Cylon and offers him the cup with a smile. "For Adia, with my thanks. We both know she deserves more than this, but I hope she'll accept this little gesture nonetheless."

He nods and watches her head to the counter. He would have reminded her of the coffee she promised Adia, but the fact that she stays true to her word without prompting is another point in her favor. He's glad that Adia has a friend like her.

It's a little harder to see Farel's work with the espresso machine from this angle, but he keeps his gaze there anyway, until Amelia returns to him with the third mocha. "Thanks." He tosses he empty to-go cup into the bin, then heads for the door. "Yeah, she deserves a hell of a lot more, but I have a feeling she won't turn down this gesture from you."

He doesn't offer a goodbye just yet, anticipating that the rogue will follow him out the door. He's not sure yet what the etiquette is on teleporting around here, but he tries to avoid doing it inside places of business. It feels inappropriate.

Amelia follows Caspar outside after tossing her own empty coffee cup, offering him a smile as the pause just out of the way of the entryway. Best to give him a proper farewell before she lets him be on his way back to Adia so he doesn't think she has improper manners.

"I'm glad we got the chance to meet, Caspar," she says with a small bow of her shoulders. "Give Adia my best and I'll send you the link to the books as soon as I have it ready. Safe travels." Her smile widens for a moment and then she turns to head off down the street toward the library. Now is as good a time as any to get started on her promise to him while the request is fresh in her mind - and it'll mean he gets what he's looking for that much faster.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

+1 Cylon to the Nexus

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject