(no subject)

[hellburger]

Kazuhira Miller has made himself at home at a cozy Nexus seating group. He pores over a spread of newspapers and magazines covering a plethora of universes and alternate Earth timelines. To one side, a text book on theoretical physics is opened to a chapter on string theory and a cup of black coffee has formed a puckered ring over Donald Trump's leering face on an issue of Time Magazine.

He lays his current paper flat on the adjacent coffee table, leans forward to rest his elbows on his knees, and loosely clasp his palms. "What's the strangest news you've ever heard? Or, if you'd rather: what world event would you say has affected you the most?"

Miller's head turns and points to a four-inch stack of glossy flyers. He sighs. "And ... while we're at it, when did newspapers become seventy-percent ads?"

Comments

[ixis]

"Could I? Doubters and nonbelievers tend to wave away nothing short of the grandest or most striking demonstrations. Might as well drive the point home, hm? Besides, I don't take well to my magicks being called tricks or sleight of hand. I take my craft very seriously."

[hellburger]

"Sorry to offend you. I'm just a foolish overlander, after all," Miller says, using the term with obvious sarcasm. He drops papers back into a pile on the coffee table with a clap.

"Besides... I can't help it if your presentation is a downright vaudevillian."

[ixis]

"Yes, well. I'm learning to not hold that against you." He pats Kaz's shoulder consolingly, this time with his one normal hand. There, there, I know you're just a silly Overlander. We all do our best.

[hellburger]

Miller's eyes narrow at the touch and uses his tidying up as an excuse to shrug out of it. He pauses for a few beats mid-organization. "So ... what do you call yourself? In the event that someone might have a change of heart and actually want to enlist your invaluable and most impressive services?"

Always good to leave avenues open and stroke egos whenever possible.

[ixis]

Naugus hurries to stand up so he can do a flourished bow, complete with a twirled claw and deep dip at the waist.

"Ixis Naugus, friend! Sorcerer supreme and master of the elements. I'm quite easy to locate, all things told. I'm very well known around this zone."

He's hard to miss, one way or another.

[hellburger]

Kaz, a little conflicted about how to respond to that special introduction, opts to fall back on his Japanese roots and returns the bow.

"Kazuhira Miller," he offers without further elaboration. "Maybe we'll be in touch."