Just a Scratch [TW: Blood]

[ixis]

We've all seen it before. Someone shows up to the Nexus, fresh from some assault or battle, all beaten and bruised. It's just one of those things that happens in this place.

But it's usually newcomers, not well-established residents.

Ixis Naugus has hobbled his way to the Forum, leaning heavily on his staff and looking like hell. His face is covered in blood, in equal parts from his nose and a long diagonal cut slashed across his face. He's been bleeding from it long enough that it's streaked down his beard and stained a good portion of it red. The wizard is also sporting a gouge in his left side; a grievous puncture wound from the looks of it. That's got the whole of that side darkened with blood as well.

Naugus finds himself a chair and drops himself heavily into it, panting for breath. Adjusting both hand and claw on his staff, he looks about before managing a weary, possibly sarcastic, smile.

"How are you today? I'm fine."

Comments

[ixis]

"I just said it was silly. It was silly she was going to go off and seal her world because the confederacy of dunces that populated it are afraid of magic. Said they'd riot and kill if they saw it. What rot. What absolute-...It's stupid. She's stupid. They're stupid."

You said it, man!

[icebearforpresident]

[The thought of getting a world invaded doesn't really bother Ice Bear at all, that is until he recalls the demon invasion. How the creatures ripped and tore through the Nexus without mercy and that the possibility of that happening elsewhere causes the bear to shudder.

That's why he hasn't told his family about the Nexus. He doesn't want them getting hurt.]

"Does that make Ice Bear stupid then?" [He's giving Ixis a very serious look now. Better think about the answer long and hard, good sir.]

[ixis]

"...What? No. You appreciate magic, don't you? It's useful! It's incredible! It's my life, my profession, my-..." He trails off. What else is it? He's sure it's a lot of things. All of them good! But he's drawn a blank now. "It's good," he concludes instead with a short nod.

"Meanwhile, she's afraid if these plebes see a magic spark or a phone, they'd immediately fly to violence and kill everyone. I can't respect that."

[icebearforpresident]

[The bear has to think about this for a moment, because yes, he has a frost fairy buddy who's a common practitioner of magic. On the flip side of the coin, the demons who invaded the Nexus possessed fearsome magic as well. Finally, he comes up with the best thing to say to the situation.]

"Ixis is looking at the wrong thing. Ice Bear isn't talking about magic. Ice Bear is talking about protecting his home from the Nexus."

[Both paws cross over Ice's fluffy chest, and if one looks carefully, the concern is there in his eyes.] "So, Ice Bear asks again...Is Ice Bear stupid for wanting to protect his world from danger?"

[ixis]

"Nnnngh." He frowns, deeply confused by this quandary. "...Nnnnooo, I suppose not. But she made it sound like she was afraid of any advances in magic or technology (which I don't blame her for, tech ruins everything) getting through and making the people think a devil was among them. At that point, it's not protecting them from the Nexus, it's protecting them from themselves."

[icebearforpresident]

"...Ice Bear is afraid. Ice Bear has seen the terrors of the Nexus."

[A rare moment indeed that the bear openly admits he has a weakness, let alone one so vast. He just walks over to Ixis and pats him lightly on the shoulder. Perhaps the bear's temper has dwindled a bit.]

"Ixis should try harder. To be understanding. To not fight unless necessary."

[ixis]

"Understanding? I understand fine! And I certainly know how to pick my battles. I'm a very patient man. I know when to bide and when to strike!" Because that's clearly what Ice Bear meant, Naugus.

"Besides, she started it."