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

Swamp Thing

[houmaprotector]

Alec does not want to go.

He doesn't. Really. He's worried. The green vibrates, it worms around him, it wants him to stay back and away but this is one of the few places he can go to these sorts of things. There's nothing in danger - and any plant that whines gets an angry glare. The green of the Nexus is far more encouraging and other greens of other worlds are also - reasonable. It's only his world and that gives him pause. He may not be a scientist (anymore.) but he's not stupid. Why try and divide him from his humanity?

It's his humanity that keeps him a safe avatar, a careful arbitrator of the machinations of a wild and unwieldy kingdom.

He needs it even if it feels so far away.

So there's a rumble, then another, then another, and there's a swamp thing amid the party guests. A few people stare in his direction, and even when everyone backs up he pauses, waits for them to do so, before he reveals a wooden plate piled high with fruits and vegetables.

There's dragon fruit and cherries, strawberries and pumpkins and tomatoes. He's even got a few bananas piled high. Pretty much if you're looking for a fruit or veggie he's got it.

"I hope...nobody minds." talking. Talking is hard.

"My mother always said "when you go to a party, bring something.""

[primelogic]

"Ah. This is rather thoughtful of you."

As much as Spock is fascinated by this being (and it is quite a lot) he does have manners borne from decades of interaction between other species. It would be more diplomatic to thank the person (man?) for the gifts brought here.

And what gifts they are! The Vulcan gestures slowly to the platter.

"Did you grow these yourself?"

[houmaprotector]

Alec is rather proud. This is good. Nobody's tried to run him off from the party so far. He cuts a very imposing figure and with the fruit in his hands.

"I did. Dragon fruit was one of my favorite fruits. I haven't seen...many trees so I thought I'd share it. I tried to think of as many fresh fruits and vegetables as I could but if there's something you'd like...I can...grow it for you now."

"I made the plate too." It's a big plate, "I'm getting better with constructs like that. It's not edible though. Oak makes a good serving dish."

[primelogic]

"That is a useful skill to have, though I doubt judging by these Earth-plants you would be familiar with the sort of fruit and vegetable I am accustomed to."

That isn't to say Spock will not enjoy the offering for the party. Truthfully, as a vegan and a non human to boot it is sometimes difficult for him to find much in the way of food he can eat. This is a welcome sight.

"Thank you for bringing these. Though if you have an apple I would like one for my Bondmate to enjoy."

[houmaprotector]

"Of course."

There's a pause and a slim sapling breaks ground a few feet away. A person standing nearby makes a break for it, catching their drink as the tree blossoms and grows. It's slim and small but the white blossoms and the scent of apples are unmistakable.

He likes this. He likes bringing people food, growing things, managing the seasons.

"I hope this helps you both."

[big_bad_sheriff]

That sure doesn't look like a mundy, and Bigby is immediately intrigued. He cuts an intimidating figure above much of the crowd himself, padding closer to investigate, the smell of fresh fruit easily reaching his highly sensitive nose.

"Wise lady," the massive wolf says, looking over the spread the green man's carrying. He's not much of a fruit or veggies guy, himself, so he doesn't take anything. "Manners're what keeps people from doing some pretty stupid shit."

[houmaprotector]

It's a talking wolf. For one moment Alec thinks Buddy? but of course not. He'd sense the Red's avatar. This is no avatar of the red but a part of it all the same.

Hmm.

When he mentions Manners There's a bright sense of shame and the grass under his feet yellows slightly. Manners like not breaking a man into bits? This guy wasn't there. He couldn't have been talking about that. Unless he was the guy in the red and blue?

"People like me have to watch...ourselves." He shrugged his massive green shoulders, "Step wrong and people will...be scared. Rightfully so."

He hesitates before nodding, "I'd offer a hand but I don't know how that might work. I'm Alec Holland."

[big_bad_sheriff]

The green giant's scent carries the guilt as clearly as the strange withering of the grass beneath him, something that has the sheriff's attention immediately. Interesting response to a relatively neutral comment. Maybe he ain't usually so well-mannered. Maybe he's making up for some fuckup. This bears closer investigation.

"Rightfully so," Bigby echoes, not disagreeing. There was a time when he was one of the most feared Fables in the Homelands. Still is, as far as the animal Fables are concerned, and for good reason. "And stepping wrong ain't that hard either."

Good thing Alec didn't offer to shake. Bigby gets enough derogatory dog jokes in his day job that he'd rather not start off on the wrong paw here too. "Bigby Wolf," he says, returning the nod. "Don't think I've seen you around before."

[houmaprotector]

"Alec Holland. Some call me the Swamp Thing." He can't eat but his toes do extend slightly, unseen, to root in the sunshine. Watching the meat makes stare passively. The one thing he doesn't miss is steak. A good juicy steak...

He shakes his great green head, "I tend to keep to the forests...out of town. Apologies in advance. They've become swamps at this point."

[jarheadclan]

Hey, two of Jake's favorite things in one place. "Hey, Alec," the Na'vi greets him with a broad grin, snagging one of the dragonfruit on offer, not that he has any real idea how you're supposed to eat it. "Wow, that's a hell of a spread. You throw this together last minute?"

[houmaprotector]

"Jake." This guy gets it. The words of that girl echo in his mind. There are people who get it. This man is potentially one of them. He knows the shock of being thrown into another place, finding a place in that other place.

Several people around the party pause and gasp in wonder as the grass brightens and Alec looks abashed, "...Is it a party foul if sudden plants pop up? Never something I had to worry about."

You know. Before.

"I did. I tried to think of as many fruits as I could and paired that down by...a lot to stuff most human beings and living creatures eat. Want me to open that for you?"

Most of the time fruit wants to be eaten. Vegetables too. While trees and other plants have grand notions of themselves and their place in the green, the things that human beings grow and consume accepted ages ago their role in the circle of life and were even proud of it.

[jarheadclan]

Jake chuckles, flashing sharp teeth. "Y'know, I never thought about it before, but I'd say no. S'long as they aren't the poisonous kind anyway."

The offer to open up the dragonfruit is fine by Jake, and he gladly hands it over. "Sure, thanks. I haven't seen one of these things before. Kinda looks like utumauti, just smaller." He gets a thoughtful look while he watches Alex open that baby up. "Can you just do Earth stuff, or can you learn how to grow other plants?"

[houmaprotector]

All Alec has to do is ask and the fruit cracks open, exposing sweet white skin before he hands it back, "I can learn. If I can learn it's language, learn about it's green, I can grow anything anyone needs. Did you have something you wanted?"

[thewiselion]

Aslan sniffs at the air. The scent is familiar. And there is a sensation of knowing... just like he had before, when he met the Autumn guardian.

He approaches, watching the green vibrate around the Summer guardian. He knows many of the buds that are now full-grown plants protecting Alec.

He sniffs at the fruits and vegetables.

"You are not the host then?" Aslan paces slightly.

[houmaprotector]

"No." The green shifts around him. Ah. Multiple greens across multiple worlds and this is what happened when they met each other.

This new figure, seemingly of the red and green again, has him nod his head in greeting, "I'm sure I can find them if you need. Sire."

[thewiselion]

"I need not to see them." Aslan reassures the Summer guardian. "It is good that you brought gifts for those hosting an event, during this time of year."

[houmaprotector]

"My mother was a good hostess." She took to being a southern hostess well, "Years ago, but I still remember. I was hoping to make things...

I was hoping to make a positive impression."

[alittlehinky]

Cricket is automatically drawn to fresh fruits and vegetables. He was raised in an Appalachian community, and farming and gardening--and orchards, so many orchards--were just what you did. Blackberries are his favorite, and he's already found some kind of tart containing them, but if Alec has fresh ones, he'll eat those, too. And he never says no to strawberries, either.

Admittedly, giant green person is intimidating, but he's had good luck with literally everyone he's met in the Nexus so far, so he swallows his nerves and approaches.

"That's awful kind of you, sir," he says. "Seems like no one has to go hungry in this place. It's nice."

He's a little shy about helping himself, but he tentatively takes a couple berries, watching the green face towering above him as if triple-checking it's okay to do so.

[houmaprotector]

Of course Alec has blackberries. Alec doesn't smile but he does nod, "Please. Help yourself. If you're looking for something...I can probably help you find that as well."

He's officially taking over the table. Vines are creeping over it and turning themselves into bursts of flowers. The grass is getting thicker beneath the boy's feet.

"The soil here is very...willing."

[alittlehinky]

"Nah, I'll eat pretty much anything," he says, and the giant, stern wall of a person reminds him of Forrest Bondurant. Which compels him to be on his best behavior, because Forrest was no one to be trifled with. "I mean, blackberries are my favorite since I was a kid, sir, so I always go for 'em when I can get them. But there's nothin' much I don't like."

He'll just...add a few more berries to his plate, then, since there seems to be a generous supply. And then he stands where he is, watching things spring up and get greener with quiet awe.

"My granny used to tell me about the Apple Tree Man when I was a kid, before her mind started to go," he says. "That ain't you, is it? 'Cause I don't have no cider to give you, but I could make some."

[houmaprotector]

Apple tree man? That conjures to mind images of Johnny Apple seed and Alec blinks. Was he real? A Swamp Thing like me? He'd always kind of loved the story as a kid. If he was a Swamp Thing that's why. He was my...magical ancestor somehow.

"I'm not familiar." He pauses, "I can't drink cider or anything but water. I'm grateful though." He considers this, "There might be an Apple Tree Man in the green. I'd have to ask. What's his story?"

He's grateful no Apple Trees are sprouting up in the middle of the party.

[bookbrawler]

Jacob's got a backpack full of scrolls and his laptop, but he spies a familiar green visage in the distance, and makes his way over, digging a book out of his bag and holds it out, clearing his throat to garner his attention.

"Hey, pal. I found this while cleaning up yesterday. It's a first edition. Thought you might be interested. It's no Tom Clancy, but it's definitely a classic."

It's the The Art of Botanical Illustration by Wilfrid Blunt, slightly aged, but in otherwise excellent condition.

[houmaprotector]

"Jacob!-" Alec raises a hand and picks up a plate with a spare vine from his back stacked with fruit. He makes his way over just in time to see the book - and he nearly drops the plate of fruits and vegetables.

First edition? Alec's big red eyes are wide, "...I-"

He'd poured over second and third editions in school but he'd learned the most from his dad's copy.

"...I haven't seen one of those in years." Finding his voice again, the monster twists the vine around, "Here. Fresh fruits and vegetables if you'd like. They seem to be popular. A first edition? Where did you find one?"

he paused, "My father was a florist. He poured over it. I used to sit on his bench and watch him arrange things and read it."

[bookbrawler]

"I work in a library, man." A grin, but it's a slightly teasing tone. "Nah, but seriously, we were on a mission and one of the guys we took down had this huge collection of rare books. We were just going to donate the rest of the non-magical ones, but I figured this might find a better home here, with you."

He takes an apple and a couple of carrots from the plate. "Thanks! Oh yeah, your old man, huh? That's cool, sounds like you had a good time with him back then." Considering his own history with his dad, he knows how important it is to treasure the good memories.

[houmaprotector]

"He and I were close." Alec murmured, "Both my father and my step-father. My stepfather was the one who taught me about flowers."

He doesn't want to think about what Arthur Holland would think of his predicament. It's bad enough his biological father knows what he had become.

Pausing, Alec shakes off the sad memories, "What's your favorite book? If you could pick one?"