nexus_sages | A question of safety

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A question of safety

This Winter has been a harsh one, and the Nexus' resident rogue shows signs of it. Where before Amelia had been comfortable enough to walk about the Nexus with relatively few weapons on her person, she now carries her full armory every time she steps out of the inn she currently calls home. For weeks she's been pondering how to tackle a problem on her own. Now she's come to the Forum to seek advice, as anyone who's been here long enough usually does.

"I've had many thoughts and worries relating to the safety of myself and others after certain events in the last several weeks." Her lips draw into a thin line and she crosses her arm in front of her chest. That's enough context for everyone who might answer, surely. "What do you do to feel safe? Or, rather, when your safety is threatened, how do you respond?"

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Her hands curl into loose fists at the mention of the doctor. "If I ever get my hands on that smug bastard without that anti-violence field in the way..." Her voice is a low growl. Seems she's just as unhappy with the doctor as Miller is.

"A small, almost Renaissance style world called Kairn. Safety while there isn't really a concern, it's the safety of my world that is. They won't understand much of what might come from this place, nor would they try to before they did something incredibly stupid." She sighs and crosses her arms in front of her chest. "I want to make sure that can't happen."

Miller rubs his chin and files that bit of information away for future reference. He'll have allies in any crusade against the tricksy therapist.

Well, that explains the clothing and choice of weapons. "Did you hire anyone to make a portal? If you avoid that, it should curb any bleed over of 'magic' or technology into your world, right? But ... then again, that comes at the expense of getting back to it yourself."

The question of portals brings a somber expression to her face. Her arms instinctively wrap around herself and her gaze falls to the ground. "I tried. I asked several people for help. None of them have found a way back to my world yet."

She hesitates for a moment before quietly adding, "I'm starting to wonder what would happen if I did go back, if it would be safe for my world. That, maybe, it's safer for it not to be found at all."

"Huh. The one guy I talked to seemed pretty damn confident in his skills. Naugus? The wizard with the claw?" God, it's still so weird to say some of this stuff out loud.

He shrugs and scuffs his boot against the ground. "Hmmm ... If you made it back, you could arrange to have the thing closed behind you. Just go on about your business like nothing ever happened."

Miller's eyes scan the surrounding forum. "Seems like kind of a waste, though. As weird and possibly dangerous as this place is, it's a great resource."

"Yes, I've spoken with him - and he can fuck right off. The pompous ass." She's never asking Naugus for help. Ever. Not if she can help it, anyway.

Now that the thought is out there, it's time to follow it through. This is a topic she's been dancing around for weeks. "But how can I guarantee someone closes it on this side? How can I be assured that someone won't come gallivanting through when they feel like it? If anyone from my world saw something that was advanced or magical from this place..."

She hugs herself tightly and shakes her head. "If I ever find a way home, it may be best if I don't take it. I can't watch a portal on my world nonstop, but here? Here I can hold whoever closes the portal responsible if it ever opens again. I can make sure nothing gets to my world." A pause, and her voice lowers significantly. "I can make sure they stay safe."

That reaction to Naugus gets a solid laugh. "Took the words right out of my mouth, Miss."

He maintains a light, optimistic tone. Maybe chip away at her distress a little.

"Resign yourself to be a gatekeeper for life? Sounds like a drag! Have you looked into any non-'magical' options? Things you can control? Maybe get one of those PINpoints and try to calculate your coordinates, uh... somehow?" He knows how crazy that proposition is; he's grasping at straws at this point.

"He's a dick, and I wish the anti-violence field would let me punch him square in the face." She huffs indignantly. Fuck that guy, indeed.

"And what happens when someone sees me open or close a portal with a PINpoint? Sees someone else appear or disappear randomly throughout the world?" She shakes her head. "Even non-magical options require technology far beyond my world's understanding. Its people would simply call it magic for lack of understanding, which would end badly for everyone. No, it... it would be best if no one could get there, if I can't protect it from every possible incursion."

She's been a guardian for most of her life. Doing it from afar would hurt like hell, but it would kill her inside if anything were to happen to her world because she didn't stop something from getting to her world before it was too late.

Miller takes a few, pacing steps while he listens.

"Walk me through this issue with technology. I'm not saying it's not valid, just curious. Would the very concept of magic-like things be considered evil? Heresy? That kind of thing?"

The pacing doesn't help, but she doesn't try and stop him either. It's a coping mechanism she understands very well.

She shakes her head. "Magic isn't inherently evil, but according to old legends, kings tried to use wizards as pawns in their political games. Eventually, the wizards grew tired of it and after one terrifying act of defiance went into hiding. Magic is feared because of the power it holds - and the fact that no one knows anything about how or why it works."

The technology bit requires more explanation and she crosses her arms slowly to give herself a few extra seconds. "Advanced technology is like magic in that respect - it's powerful in ways that aren't understood. Explaining things to one person slowly would be fine, but how do you explain even the most rudimentary of topics - like phones - to a group of people who have no means of communication besides letters or speaking face-to-face?" It's not a thing most people think about, but Amelia's done days of research trying to figure all of this out.

"Okay. That makes more sense." He hums thoughtfully.

"Isn't there a strong temptation to ... say, cherry pick a few technologies? Life-saving stuff, maybe? Do you have the same embargo on knowledge?"

He rubs his palms together, then brings them up to his lips. "It's not exactly equivalent, but damn, if someone here has a cure for cancer? I'm bringing that back with me in a heartbeat."

"I'm not averse to using things to my advantage back home, but I would never disseminate the information. If it falls on the wrong ears, it could start a chain reaction that could hurt the person I trusted." She shakes her head slowly. "I don't want that. I couldn't live with myself knowing I'd caused someone harm for something like that." And considering it would be her closest friends back home, well... that just makes it worse.

"There's nothing here that I believe in so much to bring with me. There are certainly luxuries that I've grown accustomed to, but I don't need them. I see no point in fighting to bring them back with me." Showers are amazing, but a bath does the same trick and won't cause issues back home.

"Sounds like you've put a lot of thought into this -- probably a lot more than most people here. Plus you've got resolve. I think your world is in good hands, however you choose to handle the situation."

Miller gives a supportive smile. "Don't worry yourself sick about this. Don't let yourself get spun-up about things that may or may not happen."

"Resolve doesn't make it any easier," she notes with a sad smile. "But thanks. I guess all I can do now is hope what I'm doing is enough."

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A question of safety

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