Time for a big ol' Nexus Block party

[sumarusfinest]

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!))

Comments

[smartass_captain]

"He seems eager to please up to a point. I was getting hella entitled vibes off the guy. He never mentioned another wife to me when we were talking either time. The first time it was sleeping habits and appearances and the second time it was pretty much just trying to get me to admit there was something going on between us that wasn't just we both think Zandros can go jump in a lake."

Jim shakes his head. He'll leave the doublespeak and political talk to those two but he can chip in with whatever it is he does know at least. However brief that might be. And make sure he vetoes anything outright dangerous. He won't have Felix get seriously hurt for this either.

"Won't catch me arguing about avoiding him. The way he was moaning at Harrowheart earlier I think he'll act like I'm the devil incarnate and avoid me like the plague after this. Or, if he's irritating, he'll seek me out specifically to make amends."

That thought Jim outright sulks at. He doesn't want to spend any time soothing poor Zandros' guilty conscience.

[heirtothearcane]

Hearing that wanting to help children wouldn't be a good reason to study law surprises Viatorus, and for a slit second he looks like he's about to protest. His mouth opens, but the breath he holds peters out instead of forming any words. It's not as if he has much experience with children outside of dreams, and he certainly has none with law. Best not stick his foot in it.

"So then, why law? You must be really dedicated to put all that time and effort in. What made you want to study it?"

[fictionings]

“I’ve studied other subjects as well. I’ve always wanted to learn as much as I can...” He can’t claim to be a scholar like Viatorus, having little formal education, but Johan has acquired desultory knowledge about a variety of subjects. Both from self-study and various tutors over the years.

“But when it came time to actually choose a career, I thought law would suit me best. It’s really as simple as that.” He likes to argue. To go over the evidence, and construct an argument with the intent to persuade. And he is very persuasive. In another life, he would have made an excellent lawyer. He lowers his eyes. Whereas before he had been speaking matter-of-factly, he now appears earnest. “I do hope to help kids, though. I plan to specialize in human rights law.”

[gorogorogoro_chan]

"Don't worry, pal. Fashion-wise, you're a lost cause. Ya look like you came outta the womb wearin' a stuffy suit." Majima balls up his apron and leaves it on the table.

"Gotta get in the community's good graces," he says as he turns on his heel and begins walking off. "Before long, there's gonna be a lot more of the Majima family 'round here."

[heirtothearcane]

Viatorus nods along with Sebastian's explanation. Sometimes it is just about doing what you're best at. Gods know that's how it is in his family.

"I don't know very much about law," he admits softly. "I'm glad that there are people like you who study it so thoroughly on the behalf of others. It's no easy feat, even I know that. Children especially need people like you."

[big_bad_sheriff]

Heh. "Might be right, there. This place takes all sorts. I've seen shops for shit I didn't even know existed. Better than freezing your tail off in the ass end of the planet."

[thecompanyman]

"Yeah, they're like... pictures made outta light, I guess." Rhys holds up his prosthetic right hand, palm-upward, and a cone of light projects from his palm, forming an image of a rotating alien world in varying shades of blue. "Like this."

[jarheadclan]

The Na'vi chuckles at the question. "Not sure I'd call it training, but yeah. Part of the adulthood rite-of-passage kinda thing. You gotta climb up to where they live, and wait 'til one of 'em tries to kill you. If you win the fight and make the bond, it's yours for life. Pandora doesn't make anything easy," he adds with a laugh. "Gotta work for everything."

[ottershawastronomer]

"Where I come from," Ogilvy says, "the animals we ride don't try to kill us." He wonders if the feeling that it's a test is on the banshees' side, too. The creatures, despite their aggression, must have the intelligence to work with riders. An animal that tried to kill you doesn't sound like the most reliable mount. Clearly Jake's people made it work, however. "They obey orders after you pass the test and, ah, bond?"

[ottershawastronomer]

Ogilvy's impressed. Film-making technology in his world was very young, and holograms are much more advanced than anything he's ever seen. "How do you make them?" he asks. "I assume some kind of projection or trick of the light."

time for science mishaps

[rekindledtitan]

With a flicker of blue light, Ghost sweeps a scan over Blaze. "Ready."

"All right, first set of co-ordinates." She steps clear of the others and holds up the PINpoint. There's a flash- and she reappears beneath the tree, apparently no worse for wear as she gives them a wave. Only... something seems a bit off. Are her antennae angling the wrong way...?

"Uh-oh." Ghost sounds dismayed, and he flies straight over to scan his Guardian again, check nothing more is out of place. "Do you feel all right?"

"Fine, why- uh." Blaze tilts her head, trying instinctively to see what's in her peripheral vision. She reaches up, fingers tracing along the flipped angles of her antennae, and realization dawns. "Ah, hell."

[jarheadclan]

"Oh yeah, no prob. That's what the bond's for. It's kinda like plugging your brains into each other, like jacking into a computer." Oh, wait, this dude hasn't heard of airplanes yet? Bad analogy. They had electricity back then, right? He sure hopes so. "Or, uh, hooking up to electrical power. Direct control only works when we're ridin', but it's more like having an extension of your body than just telling them where to go."

[thecompanyman]

"It's both, actually. I'm not sure on the specifics but it's all based on light, but you can interact with it." Rhys uses his flesh hand to poke at the globe, setting it spinning faster. "I've got all my cybernetics hooked up together so I can control it by eye if I've gotta."

His left eye, the yellow one, lights up with a soft glow as he looks at the other man. The hologram in his palm dissipates, replaced by a deceptively flat-looking screen border, and in the center is a live feed of what he's seeing. Say hello to yourself, Ogilvy.

[websnextdoor]

Uh oh indeed.

Peter doesn't notice at first until Ghost hovers about at the Exo's eye level, his eyes widening when he sees what's happened. If that was someone's fleshy organic body would their ears be backward right now? Something even more vital??? He feels his stomach drop slightly.

"Can...I mean, is it something you can fix?" He's reaching up for the PINpoint in her hand quickly. "Oh jeez, I...I can fix the PINpoint I think. Must be something off in the calibrations. Oh man..."

[smartass_captain]

"Yeah, in 2063 was our First Contact with another species. Pretty much everything changed after that. The Federation's grown since the beginning but it's an allegiance of planets working together for a common goal. Trying to keep the peace as best as we can."

Even though the first contact day is way off from Ogilvy's time in 1900 Jim doesn't want to get too specific with details. There's no guarantee this guy's world will have that event happen or at the same time. Better to not drop too many details.

[red_room]

"Cheers. The name's Natasha, by the way."

Nat tips her bottle toward the man in a gesture of thanks before taking a sip with a pleased hum. Day drinking always feels a bit naughty even if she's not out to get drunk. A new face in the Nexus is more than reason enough to be curious anyhow.

"Are you a writer?"

[turningcolors]

"I thought about painting her something. A fireworks scene. She's rather fond of them." Well she's fond of explosions regardless of scale, color, or size, but these are at least more appropriate to have hanging in a child's bedroom.

Hazel gives a small chuckle and shake of her head.

"I've been watching tutorials online but all I was ever taught how to paint were still life watercolors. Making fireworks has proven to be a bit of a challenge."

[readvondaniken]

Palmer nods - he's happy to find a new place to live, especially since there is no way he's going back to Antarctica. Too cold, and the Nexus seems like a good place. "The people here might need a mechanic, after all."

[ottershawastronomer]

"Cybernetics?" Clearly medical treatment had improved since Ogilvy's day if someone can wear mechanical parts where wood would have been in the past, and without any signs of discomfort or threat of illness. Wherever the stranger came from must have been a remarkable place.

He found himself looking into what he assumed was a hologram of his own face, and jumped back a little. "I-I'm impressed. We don't have technology anywhere near this level where I'm from."

[ottershawastronomer]

"Don't worry, I know what computers are. Big clunking things - a man from my planet, Charles Babbage, invented them. He called it the Analytical Engine." Ogilvy is still confused about the banshees. In his world, people rode horses without "jacking" into them, and there was no risk of your horse trying to kill you, at least not on purpose. "What other creatures live on your planet?"

[ottershawastronomer]

"It wasn't the Martians, was it? We had first contact in my time, but it didn't end well. They attacked us when we tried to communicate and people were killed. I have no idea what we did wrong. I'm glad it went over more smoothly where you're from."

A peaceful future where humans and aliens worked together is what Ogilvy had dreamed of. He was happy that somewhere it came to pass, and that world was a happier place for it. If only the Martians had understood that...

[jarheadclan]

"Oh man, all sorts of stuff. We'll be here all day if I gotta list 'em all," Jake says with a chuckle. "I'm still seeing critters I didn't know existed, and I've been on Pandora for years now."

[ottershawastronomer]

"For years now?" Ogilvy's been wondering something for a while now, but he hasn't felt ready to ask it. "...You aren't from this Pandora place yourself, are you? Not originally." That would explain Jake's name, and his knowledge of Earth species and concepts.

[jarheadclan]

"Nah. Human, born and raised. Got a permanent upgrade when I decided staying with the Na'vi was better," he says, thumping himself on the chest. "Long story."

[smartass_captain]

"I mean, we've got a colony on Mars but no native species knocking down the doors. Guess we're not from the same worlds after all."

Hostile life on Mars is a new one for Captain Kirk. It sounds like one of those old scare stories people used to tell before they embraced space travel and the Galaxy at large. Peoples' worlds were so much smaller back then. It's kind of sad to think their first contact went so poorly.

"No, it was a race called the Vulcans. They're our closest allies now."