A matter of gods.

[ixis]

That ugly wizard is still in the Nexus, though he's not shouting near as much as he did upon arrival. He has about a half-dozen books on hand, stacked next to him on a sofa seat while he leafs through one. Seems he's got a lot of notes taken as well on whatever the subject is.

"Tell me..."

A page is turned and Ixis Naugus considers it briefly before continuing.

"What are the gods like where you come from? Do you have any at all? One? Many? Beings of wrath, omnipresent creatures, or hidden and impotent figments? Indulge my religious curiosity."

(no subject)

[mage_of_the_nest]

The rip in space had appeared above the tallest towers of the Ghastly Eyrie, beyond the highest clouds. Dragonus hadn't noticed it initially, too absorbed in his duties, his studies and his training for the constant war he found himself returning to. But others had brought it to the attention of the nest and, as the Court Mage, it was deemed right that he be the one to inspect it. His flying prowess also paid a part as he took to the skies, clad in his armour and wielding his staff. Many monsters had come from the cosmos above that had to be fought away from the Skywrath. Dragonus had served in the patrols against  those beasts but never alone. And to go into unexplored territory, it'd be outright foolish to go expecting peace outright.

In a flash of light and ozone, the rift swallowed him entirely. For several long moments he felt suspended in place. it was unlike anything he'd known before. Even when gliding or falling the wind swept under his wings and carried him aloft, or tore at his feathers and urged him to catch himself. He began to wonder if he should reach out with his magic when the light thrust him out the other side forcefully. His wings unfurled, easily catching their owner before the throw in gravity could drop him. He held his staff tightly in his talons, awaiting a sudden attack. None came. But he remained vigilant, taking in the place he'd arrived at. So this is where the rip leads. He had expected more plains or wilderness but this looked like a community centre or a park.

Hovering, he gazed around. There were creatures he recognised (such as the humans), others who looked like creatures he knew (something that short had to be a keen), and others he'd seen nothing like before. Had someone here created the tear in reality that had brought him here? Yet nobody seemed too intently interested in his arrival, unless summoning guests through such portals was common in this realm.
"Who has summoned me? Who requires guidance in gaining their revenge?"

Ready to subdue the Nexus with pictures of his family

[bestdadinamestris]

The Nexus didn't have much of a use for things like phone booths, but they could still be found intermittently throughout the place. It was from one of these that a tall man dressed in a navy blue military uniform with dark hair, rectangular glasses, and a rather scruffy beard appeared. With a sigh, he closed the door to the booth behind him.

Maes Hughes didn't normally place calls from a phone booth, but the call had been urgent enough to warrant stopping at the booth rather than making the few block trek back to his office to make it. Of course after stepping out into the Forum of the Nexus, Hughes wasn't so sure about that. He looked up and down the streets, noting the large number of sofas and tables sitting there. Immediately realizing he was definitely not in Amestris anymore, he whirled around and tried to pry open the door of the booth. But no matter what he tried, the damn thing wouldn't open.

After a few minutes of trying everything he could think of - short of using his standard issue sidearm, that is - he gave up. He stood back and regarded the booth, his shoulders slumping forward. "Just great," he muttered to himself. "How am I supposed to explain this one to Gracia when I get home? She was making my favorite dinner and everything." With another sigh, he righted himself and stepped further into the street.

He took the pamphlet off a table in front of the large, glowing sign and flipped through it quickly. Alternate realities, portals to places all over those realities, people with super powers... It made him feel small and insignificant, much like hanging around a group of alchemists did. He stuffed the brochure in his coat pocket and exchanged it for a small photograph. He smiled brightly at it before turning to the broad street with an almost mad grin on his face.

"Well," he said in the cheeriest tone imaginable, "if I'm gonna be stuck here for a while and I'm supposed to ask a question of anyone within earshot, there's only one that could possibly fit the bill." He flipped the photograph around and thrust it out in front of his chest proudly. "Who wants to see a picture of the two most beautiful angels in the world? I got 'em right here!"