nexus_crossings | Time for a big ol' Nexus Block party

Time for a big ol' Nexus Block party

On a sleepy summer morning a wonderful smell begins to waft throughout the Nexus. For those familiar with this place there can only be one explanation but for those new faces to the nexus this may be a strange thing: seeing so many people flocking toward the sweet and savory scents perfuming the Nexus.

There are a few tables set out this morning in the Plaza in front of a small cafe loaded with several carafes of coffee, a myriad of pastries from more than a few different worlds and cultures, and a large pan of eggs and sausage kept warm over a chafing dish. On either end of the table are disposable plates, cups, and cutlery as well as a few welcome pamphlets in a small container. Along the front of the tables is a hand made banner.

Meet and Greet

Manning the tables is Katsuya Suou, red apron on and a cup of coffee in hand. He looks far too cheerful for how early in the morning it is. It's always satisfying to put one of these on and see the throngs of different people stuck in line together to get their food and find a place to sit among the tables and couches nearby.

"Right then, is anyone hungry? I've got more than enough here for everyone so please mingle among yourselves or feel free to ask me anything you'd like."

((OOC: This thread is ALL ABOUT threadjacking and hopping. I encourage folks to tag on each other's comments and mingle rather than to reply only to me. This is a huge opportunity to have your characters interact with people they wouldn't have talked to before. Branch out! Meet new people! Scheme new schemes! Steal the last chocolate croissant!))

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"Nice to meet you Isidor." Hunter smiles at her. He arches an eyebrow at Zandros' compliment, enjoying how bold the other man is about their shared appearance.

"You do have me beat with the fashion choices." He chuckles.

It's got to be every kind of disconcerting to watch yourself having conversations with people: catching someone's meal when they trip over him, offering polite greetings and reserved 'this is expected of me' smiles to folks who stop by and greet him. Only once did anyone approaching earn a real reaction out of Steve--a bout of real worry and concern.

He's by himself when this new face (oh the irony) approaches. Steve's gaze flits up from his own cup of coffee. Nat warned him about this, as did Adia, and Ghost. He hasn't had the chance yet though to ask Jim Kirk how he dealt with these kinds of things though, so Steve's flying solo here as he breaks his doppelganger's gaze to flit it down to the empty chair across from him and nods ever so slightly.

What do you say to yourself??? Steve's frowning more than he means to while he thinks way too hard about what he's supposed to say or do here.

"Was kind of hoping you'd show up. Shoulda thought about how I'd handle it more though." It's not like he hadn't but how does one prepare for something like this?

These sorts of situations are always a little bit awkward for Steve.

No matter how many times it happens there's still a part of the Brooklyn native that wants to turn and look over his shoulder to see who someone could be giving those kinds of looks to. It might not be the best reaction but he ignores it best he can before gesturing to one of the baked goods on her plate.

"You're going to love the danish. I've already had two and I'm pretty sure I could eat the entire pile set out for how good they are."

"That's a thing? Wait, on second thought don't answer that. Of course it's a thing. Everything is a thing now."

Everything was a thing back then but you didn't talk about it so openly before. one of the greatest skills Steve has learned is what NOT to Google now. He ruined the fun of others when they tried this by keeping a remarkably stoic face and looking unimpressed or surprised when they tried, but man. The internet is definitely a double edged sword.

"Can't argue with that. What about you? Keeping busy?"

"Does she blame you for her sister's death? Why would she hurt you for trying to ask her for help?"

This is all sounding more and more suspect by the minute, but there's not a whole lot Steve can do to help against a magic user. Especially one unwilling to talk.

Zandros strains a laugh at Jim's commentary about his attire. "Overdressing for the weather, perhaps, but not the occasion. A man must dress well to make a good impression, after all. And besides, what else would I wear? Shorts and a brightly-colored summer shirt?" Oh, well that gives him a more sincere if still quiet laugh.

He moves to stand a little closer to Isidor then, and slightly between her and Jim. Just going to casually chill here.

Edited 2018-07-30 16:49 (UTC)

Disconcerting, yet familiar somehow. Steve has long been an avoider of parties, and since he's been on the run it's gotten a lot easier. Still, he remembers the days. It's not that he dislikes people or fun, but he's always been a little awkward. That, and lately he's waiting for Peggy to appear in blue and take his hand, champagne corks to pop violently, and then for the room to empty in the blink of an eye, leaving him alone.

You can't go home again, so they say.

He sits at the implied invitation, clasping both hands around his cup. And he smiles, although it's wary and strained. "Well, the PSA was...I don't wanna say a nice start, but definitely a useful heads-up."

And it's so tempting to make jokes about it, because they would be self-deprecating and that's his comfort zone, but, well, there's a second 'self' here, and he doesn't want to piss him off. "If there's a guidebook for this, I haven't seen it. We can wing it."

"I wanted to start by letting you know I'm not here to make trouble, and I'm not looking to be your evil twin or anything. I'm on the fence about whether we oughtta compare notes. If one of us knows something that might pop up in the other's future, that kind of thing. It might be safer not to know..."

There's a silent 'but' there. He knows he's not great at playing it safe. Seems likely other-Steve is the same.

"I do not even know if she realizes that she had a sister. Or that she has my magic." Hunter explains.

"Hermione helped to control the chaotic magic last time. But she is so busy these days with her campaign to be Minister of Magic. Caspar gave me the suggestion to maybe look for another magic user."

"Standing around doesn't suit me, but Suou deserves to have this go off without a hitch." Or at least, without a hitch getting very far. "He's put a lot of effort into welcoming all these people."

"Better and better." He glances at Blaze before whispering, "Mr. Stark is making progress."

Blaze doesn't look down from the crowd as she adds, "As soon as he's finished, Mercury. We'll find the Sunbreakers there."

"The...the PSA."

Steve's groan is quiet enough not to draw attention but every bit as mortified that someone who knows him actually saw that thing. Himself, even. So much for claiming the days of being a dancing monkey were behind him. "That wasn't my idea, by the way."

It feels important to point that out, even if it seems to be doing some genuine good around here. Steve doesn't have to like it. He sees that tempted look on your face, Rogers. Isn't really discouraging it either. Withe everything that's happened up till now Steve's a lot more somber than he used to be but he's not incapable of smiling or having fun.

"I doubt your history's the same as mine, pal." Steve gives a weak shrug and the barest hints of the beginning of a smile. "I was stuck here in the Nexus for years before...well. Before." Before they became something else, he means.

Really, Zandros, stepping in front of her to hog the attention? She didn't think you were that bad...

Still, when she sees Jim she smiles, and there's the faintest bit of relief still in her tone when she greets him. "Jim! It's good to see you." No, really, it is. Please save her.

She adjusts herself with a pulled smile so that she isn't getting blocked out of the conversation by her dear fiancé. It gives her a slightly better angle to defend an absent friend. "On the right person shorts and a brightly coloured shirt can work rather well, but I guess it's a brave style to go for."

"How have you been, Jim?" She happily focuses on the other man. "Have you had a chance to take advantage of the sunshine?"

And Harley is the worst person when it comes to not talking about such things so openly. She is an open book. A blunt open book.

But she does try to hold that double-edged tongue of hers around Steve. So the topic change is a welcome one.

"Trying to keep busy. I got my roller derby going now. And looking for ways to help others. Wherever I can." She might not walk the same kind of path that other heroes do, but she does have a talent for righting wrongs -- in her own chaotic way. And someday maybe she will get recognition for it.

"I ain't in Gotham anymore. So no where near Joker."

Zandros told her. Of course he told her. How could he not tell her about his doppelgänger? Seeing it, however, is another matter entirely.

Two Zandros'. Two. Two perfect while smiles and chiselled cheekbones. Isis help her.

She holds her public relations smile firmly in place, her eyebrows lifting as she takes in this bizarre situation. "Hunter. It's good to meet you."

"I'm sure you'll make a wonderful first impression up until you succumb to heatstroke. Practicality over vanity's a hard lesson to learn, though. You'll worry your dear fiancé."

Jim, first of all, you cannot talk about another man's vanity. Such hypocrisy coming out of his mouth right now! But it's an opportunity to dig at Zandros ever so slightly and Jim's taking it even as Isidor's moving to be more present in this conversation. Lines of tension are already filling the air and the awful part of Jim who enjoys getting under other peoples' skin is relishing every second of this. He doesn't like Zandros. Isidor doesn't like Zandros. Jim might not be on speaking terms with Harrowheart right now but hearing insults against the death knight's abhorrent fashion choices still has him simmering beneath his skin to hear a friend insulted like this.

One of the unintended useful things about diplomacy is being able to give backhanded compliments and smile while you lie through your teeth though. A skill Jim is leaning heavily on right now.

"It's good to see you Isidor, it's been too long." Some of the tension eases at talking to someone he actually enjoys the company of most of the time. "Sunshine that isn't artificial is pretty nice. Downright a luxury considering where I'm stationed right now. I got to see Viatorus earlier this morning. He seems to be doing well. I don't get the opportunity to see either of you often enough. And now you're engaged all of a sudden, talk about a surprise." Not a good topic of conversation though.

"I'll have to fill you in on the latest Nexus-news when you're not quite so busy. I've been mingling and catching up with a lot of people this morning. Not many of our mutual friends though, which is a pity." No, Harrowheart hasn't been around yet, Jim means. nor does he really know where the death knight has been of late. Can't exactly ask his family after talking with Lawrence.

Oh, the Captain's disrespect is flagrant. Zandros' cheeks twitch as he tries to smile despite Jim's insults. And then Jim does the worst thing he could possibly go and do, which is to cut Zandros from the conversation entirely!

Zandros clears his throat and when Jim is through speaking quickly says, "I should see no reason why news could not be shared here, among friends. Neither of us are currently so busy that we could not hear what is currently on your mind. Are we, Isidor?"

"It is good to meet you Isidor. Shame we haven't had the pleasure before." Hunter smiles again.

Hunter can't help but think about how different his meeting of Zandros would have gone, if he still had his magic, and tattoos and piercings covered his skin. He knows he will have to address the fact someday -- hopefully before he finds a way to get his magic back.

Talk of real sunlight gets a smirk from her. Yes, Jim, real sun and earth will always be better than that artificial stuff you hang around all the time. And that warming sun seems unusually cool when he mentions the sudden engagement. Isidor holds her smile in place and makes a small 'Mmhm' in acknowledgement.

"I'm sure you'd rather meet people than hear about them," she says as she turns her pinned smile to the paladin. "It's not fair to make you sit through stories you won't have any context for."

"Michi Clarkenstein, thought Michi Saitou works, too. Dragons aren't common from where I'm from, either- I just learned I was able to become one recently." Which is something that Michi probably isn't ready to talk about just yet.

"Well, don't think of it as standing around then."

Steve leans over and bumps into Blaze's shoulder none too gently. The Exo can more than handle his bulk and Steve knows it. Cheer up, Guardian. You'll make your Ghost sad at this rate.

"Natasha's been keeping me up to date. Glad to hear it's going well. I reached out to Sam about...well, the other side of it. He sent me some things you might want to look at." Steve's talking to Ghost now more than Blaze, but he looks back at her then. "Both of you."

Must feel good for Blaze to have a goal in mind and at least more or less the steps needed to see it through. Must also be frustrating though. She hasn't ever been all that patient.

Ah, there is a smirk Jim knows. Good to know there's still plenty of fire in Isidor's spirit despite current events. Events she's none too happy with, which only make Jim feel more at ease with his determination to make Zandros feel exactly as offended as Jim does at the noble assuming he's sleeping with Isidor. Because Jim's pretty sure that's what Zandros thinks and the idea is so outside the realm of possibility it's laughable.

For one, she'd never be able to handle being on his ship and for two, she'd have already kicked his ass the second he teased her about that fact. Thoroughly. Jim knows how hard she can hit. Bones laughed the entire time he was fixing the captain up.

"I can point out a few folks if you'd like to make some acquaintances with friends of ours." If it gets Isidor a minute's peace alone, Jim will inflict the man on anyone they know. Pity he hasn't seen Felix here yet. The conjurer loves these kinds of social games.

"He is. Not all cats are as bold as him. I'm glad he's able to feel comfortable around a stranger." Viatorus strokes the kitten a little more. "Sometimes my cat like to watch people for a while before she makes her decision."

"I make my own schedule, really. That's the benefit of being a full time Scholar, part time consultant." Viatorus rocks to the side a little as he explains, only to pause thoughtfully at Jim's warning. "Will I have to wear a suit? Like an astronaut suit?"

"He does hang around the Gryffindor common rooms, 'where dwell the brave at heart'," Hermione takes a seat near Viatorus. Her familiar is content right now, so there is no point in disturbing him from the cat nap, or the pets.

"I'm Hermione Jean Granger. And the little fuzz ball is CJ. I don't believe we have met before." She smiles.

"If I have to choose, it would probably be A Night At The Opera because it was the first Queen album I heard, on original vinyl." He chuckles a bit. "You can't give a kid a better first impression of Queen than that, especially when the first song is Death on Two Legs."

Iphigenia grins, happy to have made Hermione's acquaintance.

"Oh, good! I'm glad to have met you under better circumstances this time around, then."

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Time for a big ol' Nexus Block party

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