nexus_crossings | Enter a lost advisor

Well now, here's a young man who has his thoughts in order. Everything about him from his demeanor to the way he dresses has Officer Suou relaxed and quite willing to offer up what advice he can.

"My experiences aren't very applicable to most other worlds, but I will try. In summation you could say refusing to let the future change adversely is the first step to changing it how you'd like. Who controls the way the future heads in your world?"

"Good question. I'm not sure of the answer, as much as I'd like to claim it."

The idea of claiming a sort of future is beyond stupid. He really cannot claim any sort of worldly knowledge.

"Anybody who'd claim a direct tract to the future, I'd immediately suspect their motives. The future in my world seems to be under the stranglehold of a right bastard, to be quite honest."

"At least a bastard is a man. Men can be handled."

It's no always easy but it's significantly less difficult than other obstacles in the way. Katsuya folds his arms across his chest and gives a thoughtful nod toward the newcomer.

"When my world was in jeopardy years ago, it was orchestrated not by a man but by a god. I never assumed to take the phrase 'if you meet the Buddha on the road kill him' so literally until then. But that is what we did, in a fashion. Weakened him enough to drive him out of our world. The men under his rule were powerful and difficult to stop, but they were much easier to deal with than Nyarlathotep himself."

"Hm. I see."

He's absolutely taking that on board, thinking hard on it. This man had apparently walked a similar path at some point. Interesting. Perhaps this Nexus wasn't as horrible as he first thought.

...Wait.

"Nyarla-what now? That's...I've never heard of that particular god before."

"The Crawling Chaos. Nyarlathotep is an Old God, but not one originating from my world. Plane. Dimension? It's difficult to explain. He was not a god I had heard of either until his machinations came to light."

Katsuya holds out his hand for Ignis to see and traces the shape of a swirling curved mark into his hand. Even the action has the officer slightly unsettled. He wipes his hands as though he'd dirtied them afterwards.

"That's one of his symbols. If you ever see that marking I would be suspicious of whomever marches under that banner."

"I see."

That's definitely disturbing. Astrals are bad enough, but this thing seemed to be exponentially worse. Gods, he really did hope he hadn't opened a giant can of worms by opening a random door.

"I'm beginning to get the idea that this Nexus place is rather...disturbing in its implications, to be quite honest."

"Do not worry. I've had my world's door enchanted so that nothing gets out without my knowledge of it. Though I cannot say for other Nexus goers whether they've taken the same precautions with their own worlds."

It's part of why the officer does his best to spend a lot of his free time here. Making sure this place remains safe is very important to him. After the years he's spent frequenting it, it's become something of a second home to him.

"Tell me more about your world. How do you intend to change fate? Are you a fighter? A politician? A researcher?"

"That is a remarkably good idea, and I may ask your assistance in doing so to my door. If you don't mind, of course."

Because Astrals knew that Eos was already dealing with too many potentially world-ending nightmare scenarios. Another deep-seated mythology sinking its hooks in would be very bad indeed.

"As for my world, well I have no basis for comparison to others. To me, it's entirely normal. But it's all relative. I'm an advisor and bodyguard to royalty. We call ourselves the Crownsguard."

Even if it was just officially him, Gladio and Cor as the only ones left.

"I'd be happy to introduce you to the...sorcerer? Wizard? It is difficult to define Ixis Naugus, but portals and their upkeep are something of a specialty of his. He does not do his work for free, obviously, but what tradesman does?"

It makes a man wonder just what kinds of dangers this newcomer feels he needs to keep inside his own world, but then Katsuya's hardly one to judge. Creatures from his world have caused quite a calamity in the Nexus before now.

"Royalty? That's a bit odd. I don't normally see chivalry and modern clothing or technology mingling. Yours must be an interesting world indeed."

"That's putting it lightly. But then again, I am starting to come to the realization that all worlds are interesting in their own ways."

He wonders if this Ixis Naugus will accept gil. He has a feeling there's no exchange rate, so the ultimate answer will be 'no.' He'll have to come up with something far dearer than filthy lucre.

"Although I find it hard to believe that so many other worlds have no examples of royalty. Certainly, a government of lineage has its own pros and cons, but Lucis cannot be a total outlier. Does your world not have a single royal family?"

"They exist in a fashion, but I don't know of many that hold any substantial political power these days. They hold some, obviously, but are more like figureheads or mascots of a nation more than actual heads of countries. Most decisions are made by a governing body of a group of people that are elected in some manner or another. The exact process differs from nation to nation in the world I'm from."

Still, it's a comfort to see another world where magic is common that isn't thrust decidedly into the medieval ages as well. And with manners, too!

"It's an honor to meet a retainer of such royalty, though. I imagine that is a rather exclusive responsibility that you bear."

This is a question right up the Doctor's experiences. Renegade Time Lord, Time Traveller, some would call him a meddler in time. So he has a thing or two to say on the subject.

"That's not a very good question. What do you mean by 'change the future'? Change it how? Have you already been to the future and now you're coming to the past so you can change it?"

Hello, this is the Doctor criticising questions rather than answering them.

Thank you, Doctor, you're so helpful.

"Alright, a bit of clarification. How do I save somebody from a fate that I've been given a glimpse of? A...prophesy, if you will. It's not my future I'm wanting to change. It's his."

Ah. That. He should have known.

"Messing with Time is a dangerous thing. So, this person dies, I presume? And you want to save him. Have you thought about the others around him who might die if he doesn't?"

"Yes."

That's a very simple answer for a very difficult topic. So clearly, he's thought this through. Totally and completely.

"If the exchange is my life for his, so be it."

The Doctor is just blank-face for a moment. Why do all the pudding-brains think it's so simple? Well, there it is: they're pudding-brains.

"That isn't really how time works. Usually where death is involved, it's best to leave things alone. I once tried to meddle with it and now I can't even remember the person I cared enough to try to save."

Ignis would be thoroughly offended to be called a pudding-brain, Doctor.

Although that last bit is enough to give him pause. Which would be worse? To keep the future unchanged and lose...everything? Or forget everything and be without even his memories to hold him together?

"That's...not the answer I wanted to hear," he says quietly. Resigning himself to the facts and hating them.

Most people are, but when you're as old and experienced as the Doctor, when you can hear and understand what everyone in the universe sounds like - they all sound like children.

"It's not the answer I want to give." He gives a small shrug. "The universe is a demanding mistress."

He tilts his head. "So what is your story? Why is such a drastic change the only solution?"

Edited 2018-01-21 19:38 (UTC)

"So I'm beginning to discover."

He rubs his mouth with the flat of his palm, contemplating how much he should tell to a perfect stranger. Granted, he did ask for advice, but still.

"I'm a man who is trying to save his friend, at the heart of it. It's...a rather detailed and long story. Needless to say, I can only hope I'm not stranded here."

"And I'm a super-intelligent, alien being who flies in time and space. Now that introductions have been made, tell me your story."

Because who needs names? He gestures to a nearby bench, no reason to stay standing if it's a long and detailed story.

"...I beg your pardon?"

He's heard some strange things in his life, but that sort of takes the taco. Bemusedly, he follows the Doctor's gesture and sits down, blinking up at him because what. He recovers just enough to give a basic outline. To an alien who flies around time and space what.

"I'm, erm. An advisor and bodyguard to a prince. His name is Noctis. He's had his entire kingdom stolen from him, and we're trying to get it back. There's an evil empire involved, it's all rather cliche if one thinks about it too hard."

Edited 2018-01-21 20:03 (UTC)

He sits down after Ignis does.

"Most things are cliche in my life. But, well, I've experienced a lot. Seen a lot of planets and times and even universes."

It's almost boring if he thinks about it too hard. That's partly what he needs companions for - to remind him why he does everything.

"And this prince is the friend who you think might die? So do you want to save him because he's your friend, it's your job, or he's the prince?"

"All three?"

He says it as a question, but it's definitely wry and world-weary.

"But mainly the first one. We've been friends since we were small children, and I can't see a future without him in it. As oddly egotistical as that sounds. ...Are you seriously an alien?"

He's not over it, clearly.

The Doctor nods. He understands enough to be able to ask the question like that. He understands the answer as well. But he'll deal with the last question first.

"We're all aliens here. I mean, this isn't my original world, is it yours?"

Because saying 'yes I'm an alien' is too easy.

"You said you had sort of a premonition. So follow it through. Say you save the prince. What then?"

He opens his mouth to answer, and then thinks about it. Closes his mouth. And shrugs his shoulders.

"A valid point. Very well."

As for the rest of it, that's where it gets harder. Mainly because the prophecy is incredibly vague...but his glimpse into the heart of it was enough to show him the real stakes.

"That...is why I'm asking for advice. Because if it doesn't happen, I'm afraid the consequences will be...world-ending."

Literally.

He knows it's valid. Hence why he said it. Unusually makes things easier in the long run.

"So you don't save him and your planet is destroyed. And if you do? Where do the ripples go? Do they turn into tidal waves until the whole of everything is destroyed?"

He's getting a solid dose of reality, but he still doesn't like it very much.

"I don't know. I would hope not. I've always been of the thought that there's always more than one solution to any problem, but this one...I don't know."

And he really hates not knowing.

The Doctor might hand out membership cards to the 'hates not knowing' club later.

"Sadly, I don't think you're from my universe, or we'd pop inside the TARDIS and take a peek. Some decisions simply have to be made. Whether or not you know the answer or the future."

He sighs.

"All you can do is make the best decision with the information you have."

"...No, you're definitely not from my universe. I think we would have heard tales of an alien that can travel through time and space."

That actually gets a little smile out of him, there and gone a moment later.

"But I suppose you're right. That's all any of us can do, when it comes right down to it."

"Not necessarily. Humans can be very unobservant when they want to be."

Or they invent their own histories or they simply ignore things because it doesn't make sense.

"It's a touch job, but we all have got to do it."

This newcomer's definitely getting an appraising look from a one-eyed man in a tux. This guy is dressed a little too nice for Majima's tastes.

"That's literally fucking impossible. Nobody knows the future, so ya can't even know what there is to change."

"At least, that's how it should work. I just found out there's this whole fuckin'..." He gestures dismissively to the Nexus at large. "... thing in the past month so I don't even know anymore."

Don't hate the player, hate the game. His coeurl-print shirt is amazing.

Ignis laughs a little, a very genteel sort of chuckle, and shrugs his shoulders a bit.

"Yes, well, I can understand your...emphatic confusion about the nature of this place. I simply opened the wrong door and found myself here. Whether or not I can get back remains to be seen.

"Anyway. What if somebody did know the future, though? What if somebody had been given the barest glimpse, and it was an appalling sort of fate? What then?"

No, no. Majima's definitely all about animal print everything when he's not pretending to be half-way respectable. Ignis gets points on that count.

Majima waves a hand dismissively and pulls a small device out of his jacket pocket. "You'll find yer way back, pal. Nab yerself one of these little PINpoint thingies ASAP. Helps a ton for trackin' down portals."

"So hypothetically knowin' the future ...? You also sayin' ya know all the steps that send ya up shit creek in the first place? That part's important. Ain't no way to change the future if ya don't know the stupid mistakes that gotcha there in the first place."

He snorts at that. Because gods above and below, that's the whole reason things are so messed up.

"Yes, well, I believe that would require me to go back an approximate 2000 years or so. That's when the problems truly started. Prophecies and gods and ancient wars got us into the mess we're in today, and I'll admit I'm getting rather sick of it. Now...what was that you were saying about a...pinpoint? What's that?"

"Whoa, that's some real shit. I wouldn't fuck around with that if I were you, man.

"But yeah, yeah. PINpoints. Handy-dandy little teleport things. Getcha back and forth to anyplace ya got coordinates for." He hefts his own smartphone-sized device in his hand. "There's lotsa different models. Some people have old-ass janky ones 'cause they think they're 'retro' or whatever. Only 'port you around. This one I got has lotsa extra features. Battery life sucks, though."

He's momentarily distracted by a push notification on the screen before he glances back up at Ignis. "I was almost a sucker and bought mine. It's a scam. Don't do that. You can find 'em for free if you look around."

The notion that there's a cell phone that would make him able to move between worlds strains his credulity to the limit. Then again, he's in a Nexus of all realities, so perhaps it's not that surprising.

"Hence why I'm not bothering with changing the past. But thank you for the advice on the PINpoint. I'll be sure to look for one."

Maybe that's all he needs to do. Get himself home with this PINpoint, and then he can get Noctis, Prompto and Gladio to safety. Hmm. A tempting thought.

"Word to the wise: there's these special little programs for dating and hookups and shit? Go in prepared for some real freaky stuff. I'm talkin' space aliens, robots, demons..."

Majima pulls up said app and swipes through some potential dates. He holds up one picture for Ignis' examination. It looks like a hovering ball of energy? "I don't even know how I'm suppose'ta get busy with a being made of 'pure light'."

Edited (words is hard) 2018-01-21 20:57 (UTC)

He was about to make a comment on the 'daemons' part of this whole...whatever was going on here. But then he's got a picture of a glowing ball of light in his face, everything about this encounter is now officially bizarre.

Ignis just sort of blinks at this photographic evidence, and then nods slowly.

"Ah...duly noted. I'm rather not in the market for any sort of relationship, in any event. I'll steer clear."

Majima shrugs and takes a moment to swipe left on the energy being. "Guess not, huh? Tough to get in the mood when yer thinkin' 'bout gods and holy wars or whatever."

The PINpoint goes back in his pocket, swapped for a pack of smokes and a lighter. He taps a cigarette half-way out and offers it to Ignis. "Anyway, what's yer deal, buddy? Whaddaya do back home? Wherever home is?"

He waves off the proffered cigarette with one hand. He's definitely not one to partake in such a habit.

"Ah. Well, I'm an advisor and bodyguard to royalty. It's...currently rather challenging."

There's an understatement.

"What about you? What's your...deal?"

Might as well be polite, since this strange man did take time out of his day to offer some advice. Rather crudely-worded advice, but still.

He plucks the cigarette out of the pack with his mouth and lights it up with the effortlessness that comes with a long-standing habit.

"Royalty, huh? Are they the legit powerful kind, or just one'a those vestigial figurehead types that hangs out while parliament or whatever handles the real government?"

Majima takes a drag off of his cigarette. "My work ain't half as glamorous. I manage a couple'a cabaret joints. The only person I gotta treat like royalty is my customer."

"The former."

Noctis is definitely in the 'legit' category, especially if all the legends about the Chosen King are true. And Ignis had no reason to believe otherwise. Although the bit about what Majima did...

"That sounds interesting. I suppose that's why you're dressed so formally?"

Like Ignis has any room to talk.

"Interesting? Pfft," he rolls his eye and teeters his cigarette back and forth between his fingers. "Trust me, it gets old fast: guests arguin' about their bills, drunk old leches feelin' up the hostesses, negotiatin' with upper management, tryin' to keep a straight face through all of it ..."

He gestures to Ignis. "But hey, prolly peanuts compared to dealin' with royalty. 'Challenging,' huh?"

"Oh, I don't know. I've sat in on a few council meetings that had quite a bit in common with a cabaret."

Especially the 'keeping the straight face' part.

"Challenging, yes. Prince Noctis is technically the king now, although he has no kingdom. We're entirely cut off from any sort of supply lines or support. Thank god we have a good car, that's one small mercy."

"What's the deal? Does this gotta do with what you were talkin' about earlier? Changin' history or whatever so yer king's got more to rule than a nice set of wheels?"

He tilts his head away and blows out a long breath of smoke. "Just kinda blows me away to see some modern-ass-lookin' dude like you goin' on about kings and shit. Where I'm from, royal families are an anachronism."

"Mm. Something rather a bit more complicated than that, I'm afraid."

He ponders for a second, without doing that annoying non-smoker thing of waving the smoke away. He's polite like that.

"No offense intended, but I'm rather reluctant to spread too many actionable details about my world - or my prince - to a stranger. Even here in a Nexus. It's nothing personal."

"That's not exactly a question, sir."

A subtly sarcastic remark from a smirking mad scientist type. He seems to be in a better mood at the moment...

"Now, allow me to ask you a question in turn: why do you want to change the future? Did you have a bad dream about it?"

Ignis cocks an eyebrow at the man, and shrugs a little. He knows when he's being made fun of, and won't deign to stoop so low in return.

"Perhaps. I wish I could simply dismiss it as a bad dream. I believe I've been given a vision of what's to come, and I'm not certain how to handle it."

"Oooooh, a vision ya say?" There's still a tone of playful mocking in his voice, but now the man's curious.

"I betcha we could figure out what we could do with that knowledge if we analyze it... But how did you get the vision in the first place? Tarot cards? Palm reading?"

Enter a lost advisor

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Do I need a spoiler alert for a game from 1999? Spoilers anyway!

Yeeeeeeah this whole thing is one big spoiler for Episode Ignis so

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