nexus_sages | Interdimensional Cable

Interdimensional Cable

Today in the forum, someone has set up a techno-pile of video gadgetry. At the heart of it is a television, and an old one at that. The screen is large enough, but it sits in a retro wooden fixture that gives it the appearance more of furniture than of an entertainment system. All the better for it to hold the weight of a number of video-playing devices from across the ages and dimensions.

On either side of the pile of plastic boxes and tangled wires stacked on top are a set of outdoor lounge chairs. One, sat up like a chair, is empty. The other, fully reclined, is full of a whole lotta dead dude. It’s Harrowheart, who can’t possibly understand the vast majority of what he’s lying next to, a lit cigarette between his lips and his arms dangling off the chair and onto the grass. His floating hands are hard at work twisting knobs and pounding on the top of the television. Now and then the screen flickers with a hint of a signal.

Without spending the energy to lift his head, Harrow calls out to any passers-by, “Hey! What’s your favorite movie? People keep tellin’ me about ‘em, but I ain't ever seen one. I wanna find a good one and invite everyone over to watch it. Help me pick one out, will ya? And if y’ain’t ever seen a movie either… I dunno, weigh in on someone else’s recommendation?”

(( OOC Info: I want to stream a movie in-character! I love streaming movies, usually it’s a really good time for everyone involved. I’ve never done one IC, but I think this is a great opportunity to start. I’ll take any and all IC movie recommendations (real movies only!) and by next Wednesday I’ll try to decide which one we watch. The better your character talks it up, the better its chance! I’m shooting for next Saturday the 21st at around 8 or 9pm Eastern for a start time, but I’m going to be flexible if people know they can’t make it. I want as many people to be able to enjoy this as possible! If you’re interested in the idea or have any questions shoot me a PM and I’ll PM you back with answers and details and remember to get back to you when the movie and time are decided. ))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Verity's response is neutral and kind enough that Harrow pushes no issues. She said she'll try, so if she doesn't show, well. He'll go ahead and assume she made the effort.

"Speakin' of lookin' at you." Oh boy, can this end well? "Your tattoos, they're real lovely. They go with your hair real well. I was wonderin' if they had any special meanin'? Usually on my world tattoos do, but..." But they aren't on his world, and it's probably a good thing, too.

Verity grew up in a tourist destination, then got tattoos and dyed her hair pink. It's not like she isn't used to the looking. "Thank you. Mostly they mean I really like flowers. I'm not artistic, but I can appreciate it. Why hang it on a wall when I can take it with me, right?"

She'd have to know him better before admitting to the rest. There's a secret romantic buried behind all that cynicism but damned if she's going to let just anyone see that.

"Flowers! Verity, do you grow flowers? I love flowers! Plants are so wonderful. I'm always so proud of 'em when they finally bloom, or when they bounce back from gettin' sick, and I love how they turn toward the sun all hopeful-like. I oughta bring you some flowers from Azeroth! What's your favorite colors? I'll get you some seeds to grow next time I head back home!"

You've opened the portal to the flower nerd dimension, Verity. As beautiful as it is deadly.

She'll get him back when she starts explaining why she needs seven kinds of salt.

"I don't right now. I... I moved here too late in the year to start a garden. Maybe in the spring." Even if there aren't really seasons in the parklands, she's not ready for that kind of project right now. "I'd like to try gardening. We had a garden when I was little..."

Wait, he asked a question. Don't be rude, Ver. "Purple's my favorite, and pink and blue." So purple and colors that make purple. "That'd be really nice of you, thank you."

"Purple, pink, and blue," he repeats. "I think you're gonna like what I bring. The nice part is you don't even gotta worry about every plant's secret special meanin'. The prettiest flowers on my world all got these sad meanings. Everything's got a sad meaning on Azeroth, come to think of it..."

Oops, oops, sad subjects, delicate Verity. Harrow steers the conversation elsewhere as quickly as he can.

"You think the Chao would wear clothes? 'Cause speakin' of plants I found this really funny baby shirt the other day. Here..."

His hands root around in the satchel under his recliner. They come back with a little white baby shirt, which they unfold to reveal...

Oh no. Harrowheart, don't smile. That's a giant marijuana leaf on that shirt.

"I'm gonna give it to the Chao I had at the party! He's my little bud."

She's happy enough to have the conversation steered away from sad flower meanings, but... Oh. Oh, Harrowheart. No, sweetie. Verity's facepalming, but she's also trying not to laugh.

"No, that would be inappropriate. That's... that's a drug that some people use recreationally."

Harrow turns the shirt so he can see it and starts to laugh. "Yeah, man! It's weed! Weed is good! But it's funny 'cause it's on a baby shirt, right? Who does that? I mean, come on. And it's not like the Chao know what it is! It'll be funny to uuuuus, like a parent joke that goes over kids' heads!"

You're parents with this guy now, apparently, Verity.

"Actually, I know you weren't so hot on the cigs earlier, but... Do you want some? Some weed, I mean? It might chill you out a little. N-not that you're not chill! I'm just saying. It's not any different than drinking lavender tea to calm down."

He's not going to give her the opportunity to protest. He reaches into his shirt pocket, where apparently he stores a lot of strange things, and comes back with a hand-rolled 'cigarette.' He places it on Verity's lap for her to do with (or not do with) as she pleases.

Wait. When did he go from asking permission to visit the chao to making parent jokes with them? She's not sure she approves of this sort of thing.

And then there's that to deal with. "No, thank you. I know that when it comes to chill, I'm the Equator, but I don't enjoy it." She picks up the 'cigarette' and offers it back to him.

Harrow shrugs non-committally and takes back his weed. He offered, she refused, she knows where to come if she ever changes her mind.

"Okay, okay. I'll find him a better shirt. There's a whole cool market I found here, I'm sure I can get him somethin' nice. Maybe get 'em all somethin' nice. Sheesh, I'm gonna have to get a job around here before I know it. Watchin' the Chao is your job, right? You get paid for that?"

"Finding cute baby clothes is never hard," she agrees. "But they don't need clothes. They're quite happy with their garden and the occasional visitor." Says the woman who buys them cat toys and plastic dolly tea sets.

"No, I don't get paid for it. I do it because I love them. And 'cause my roommate's the one who brought them here, so now they live in our backyard."

"Roommate? You got a roomie here? You gotta introduce me! What's she like, Verity? She cool?"

What's her crab claw situation? How does she look when she comes downstairs shirtless when you're trying to enjoy your morning? Is she a goblin: Confirm/Deny.

She thinks about that for a minute before giving a little shrug. "He gives me my space and likes my cooking. I think it's working out splendidly. We can almost entirely avoid each other when we're not feeling personable."

There's a claw, that's not being discussed, stop being rude. Geez. Stop making Naugus look sympathetic.

"He's a dude! Well, cool to hear you two make that work. Just be careful not to fall in love with him." He winks. Why does he wink. Does he know? No, he can't know.

But seriously, Verity, don't fall in love with Naugus.

Verity just stares at him.

Staaaaaares.

"You've... met Naugus... right?"

"Nau – Naugus?! Is your roommate? That's..." He turns away thoughtfully. When he turns back around he's absolutely grinning.

"SUPER COOL! Naugus is awesome, Verity! You're super lucky to live with such a powerful caster! Why ain't he taught you any magic yet? Oh, man, he's gonna be so excited if you learn to conjure ice magic!"

Harrowheart's boundless energy and enthusiasm may never cease to amaze Verity. She's rarely been this excited by anything in her life.

"He's been busy with his research. We did talk about it some, but... well, it'll wait until there's time for it." And until she's sure she knows what she's getting into. Her fondness for the old grump doesn't blind her to the fact he can be dangerous. "Yes, I expect he'll be very surprised."

"So, wait. If you live with Naugus, and the chao live with you... Does that mean he likes the chao? Master Magus Ixis Naugus likes cute little critters, doesn't he?"

In fairness, don't we all?

"He feels responsible for them because they came here through a portal he made," she corrects carefully. "He's made them a safe place to live and provided for their needs to sort of apologize for the inconvenience."

Technically she's said exactly what Naugus would want her to say (she thinks). But that grin.

Harrow tries to contain his slight smile, but it's no use. The whole situation is extremely adorable, and the roundabout way Verity described it all is the icing on the cutecake.

He pats his thighs until the charm of it all subsides just slightly. "Heh. Shoot, Verity. I can't believe how much we talked here. I don't talk this much with... Anyone, really. Not on my world, anyway. I bet you wouldn't believe me if I said I'm real quiet back home." Or maybe she would. Truth-telling powers, and all.

"I feel like I oughta get you outta here before I run outta words." He laughs quietly, smiles softly. "I appreciate it all, though. Your patience and... Everything. Honest."

Naugus is secretly adorable. The Nexus may never know. Or maybe people just need to feed him pancakes more often.

"People talk more here." She gives a half-shrug and a smile. She doesn't understand it, but she knows it happened to her, too. "Thank you too. I'll see you soon for those lessons, yeah?" Before she climbs to her feet she lays out the cables she's made some progress on. How long until they tie themselves into new and more interesting knots is anyone's guess.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Interdimensional Cable

no subject

no subject

Verity should have gone to the ball as Poison Ivy. I mean come on.

She's got no cultural reference for that. But yes, that would be perfect.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Chao in a bunch of bad knockoff shirts like http://tinyurl.com/AVeryGoodShirt

Aww. That would be cute. :)

no subject

Is everybody creeping that thread now?

I blame Del 150%

Del makes things 150% more awesome, so that's fair.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject