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

[brother_alone]

The young man shakes his head back and forth and it starts to dislodge his hoodie letting more of those disheveled curls free. He's in no state to give a calm and rational explanation of the weather let alone everything that's happened in the last--year?

Fuck.

"I don't know, it was supposed to be for a tv show. Wwwas supposed t'be just for fun. I thought--doesn't..matter. It d-doesn't matter because I did it. His name wasn't David. Wasnnnnn't just for fun. It was Real to them. And then they died." His voice cracks into an ugly sob. He should lie. He should try to salvage what he has with Isidor here. He can't though. Josh is too far gone to process this any other way than what he considers to be the truth.

"It was Jeff th'whole time. I wwwas helping th'stalker." What an ugly truth.

[heirtothedragonsfire]

Even with all his answers, Isidor feels like she understands less and less about what has happened to Josh. Her eyes flit across his face, searching for clarity and coming up short.

The hand on Josh's arm squeezes firmly. "Slow down. Take a deep breath. Let it out slowly." She demonstrates, giving him a pause to follow suit.

"Now, tell me. You said David is actually called Jeff, and Jeff is a stalker, am I understanding this right?"

[brother_alone]

The firm grip on his arm and gesture on how to properly breathe has Joshua falling quiet and watching her face carefully with wide green eyes. He nods, little disjointed jerks of his head as he takes a deep breath along with Isidor. Another. Slowly exhales while he's lead somewhere to sit down.

"Not a stalker. The sssstalker. The one I was trying to keep an eye out for when Caspar finally t-told me about him." He's still shaking even sitting down, but having to be sill is keeping him from clawing at his own skin while he walks. He's trying to take deep breaths.

Everything feels fragmented and inflamed. Too ginger to touch too hard.

"H-he was right in front of me th'whole time and I...I built him props and sets to torture folks thinking it w-was just some dumb reality tv thing. They all died. They didn't knowwwww it wasn't real."

[heirtothedragonsfire]

Isidor's eyes go wide and her brow shoots up as everything falls into place. "Adia's stalker?"

When Caspar told her about him she had remained calm, and that had been easy for her. It wasn't her problem. It was something she advised him on and, as far as she'd known, he was working on a plan for. But this? Bringing Josh in to work for him? That changed things.

"How did you find out?" This time there's a little less compassion in her voice and an uncompromising sternness in her body language. "Do you know where he is? How to contact him? Do you know what he looks like?"

[brother_alone]

Josh nods.

"He hired me on forever ago. Making special effects and propsss for his...his t-tv show. Told me his name was David. I thought he was my friend." He was so unremarkable looking, so average. Even when Caspar described his looks to Josh he hadn't caught on that his own employer and drinking buddy was the guy he'd been talking about. Roughly half of the men in the Nexus fit his description.

"I s-saw him at the Spring festival. Told me everything. Tried--" Josh dry heaves ever so slightly even remembering the offer. "Tried to get me to join him. I w-wouldn't ever. I swear I wouldn't. I didn't know."

His emotions boil over again and Josh tries to tamp it down but it leaves him crying ugly tears and sniffling while he tries to get himself together. Shaking hands pull out a dead smartphone and hand it over to Isidor.

"Got pictures." Selfies even, of them together out drinking that time in Vegas.

[heirtothedragonsfire]

Josh hands over the smart phone and Isidor's gaze becomes fixed on it even as she accepts it. This... This is the key to finding the serial killer, the threat roaming through the Nexus. All she needs to do is see his face and she will get him. He made a mistake involving Josh: He got on her radar.

It takes her a minute, but she remembers the broken man in front of her and brings her focus back to him. She puts her hand on his shoulder and looks him in the eye. "I believe you, Josh. Men like that... they're manipulative, cowardly monsters. You made the right decision in telling me."

[brother_alone]

"I'm sorry. I'm so ssssorry."

Joshua needs to sit down. Get some food and drink in him if he can hold it down. Isidor won't have any trouble putting him somewhere out of the way so she can focus on what he's told her and given her instead. Heck, it might even help her scry for the man later when she realizes he's wandered off once more later.