nexus_crossings | 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!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"...I helped kill people."

He sounds so distant when the words drip out of his mouth. Small and tiny and with the same frequency as blood spatters on the pavement.

"I did it. I don't even know how many."

She squeezes his hand. She understands his state of mind right now better than some. And wishes she knew how to help him.

"Me too."

"But I am guessing you mean recently?" Harley speaks softly.

Tears slip down Joshua's face unimpeded. They roll down gaunt cheeks and drip down one at a time. Maybe he doesn't even realize he's crying anymore.

"I didn't mean to--I d-didn't know. But I did it. I did it for over a year. All this time...I thought I was doinnnnnnng good."

He had never asked David the right questions. He thought the man was his friend. But his name wasn't even David. Or Josh, like he'd claimed. 'David' was just another name for Jeff, the serial killer who had been running loose in the Nexus.

And Joshua helped him, unwittingly.

Harley moves to gently place his head on her shoulder, where he can cry as much as he wants. She won't tell anyone.

"I am sure you didn't Josh." It sounds to her that he had been lied to in some way. "I am sure you didn't know …."

He is not like her. Who hurt people on purpose, to help Joker -- willingly.

"You can tell me about it. All of it."

"I did. They didn't know it wasn't real. All th'props, the scares."

Psychological torture before Jeff finished them in whatever way he saw fit. How many Josh doesn't know. Whole groups of people--newlyweds even. Probably children, too. Josh shakes and digs hatefully at his own forearms with his nails.

"It was real to them..."

"Hey... it ain't your fault for how your props were used." Harley softly tells him. "You had better intentions for them."

She grabs his hand before he can dig too deep into his own skin.

"You did not know."

"It doesn't matter if I knew or not!"

Joshua's sudden outburst isn't likely to scare Harley off. She's seen worse, and frankly, what could this malnourished guy do to hurt anyone right now? A few people turn their heads at Josh's shouting and it only takes a few stares before he calms down and pulls his hood as far over his face as he can get it to go.

"I-I still did it. I hurt morrrre people. Thought I was doing good."

"Sure it does. When you hurt people and know that you are hurting them, it is different than hurting people without knowing that you hurt them. The big difference is intent." Harley frowns at him. She is not scared off.

"You did not intend to hurt those people."

"T-tell that to their families."

What few of them are still alive, that is. Joshua doesn't know the scale of Jeff's crimes. How many people died from the time he started working for the serial killer o the time everything came crashing down. Hell, the guy might still be out there doing his dirty work for all Josh knows.

"I j-just wanted to be better. To do...better."

"Maybe there is something we can do for their families."

Harley reaches out to gently grasp his shoulder. "The important thing to focus on is that you want to make this right. The fact that you wanted to do better is important. If you didn't care... about them or their families... then we would have a bigger problem."

"Josh... I used to be one of those people who didn't care who they hurt. There is so much blood on my hands. The thought of it is a sorrow that will never go away." Harley admitted softly. "But day-by-day I am trying to do better. It is possible to do better."

"You and I can do this Josh. I am here for you."

"They're in other worlds. I don't..."

He still has the coordinates to Jeff's version of Las Vegas but who even knows if that world was Jeff's original one? He was a pretty prolific timespace hopper. It could have been any world. The sheer scope of the endeavor has Joshua shaking in anguish and guilt.

"It's all the same. It jusssst keeps repeating. They're right. They're always right. No matter what I do I can't change what I am." He leans on Harley, hating himself for being weak enough to do so. He should be pulling away from her. Running away. But he's tired. He's so very tired and weak.

"Who is right?" Harley wraps her arms around him. Letting him lean on her. "Are your sisters talking to you again?"

"Yeah....have been ever since. Isssss so loud. Can't shake it. Can' get a moment's peace."

They say he doesn't deserve it. Josh doesn't fight Harley. He's too tired to fight.

"Why don't you stay with me for a little while?" Harley wants him safe.

Time for a big ol' Nexus Block party

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