nexus_sages | enter a lost prince

Jalan had been through Hel. No literally. He'd walked through actual Hel and it honestly was one of the worst experiences of his life. Far less fire and brimstone then he thought though. It was mostly just a vast endless gray desert. Filled with, of course, countless abominations that wouldn't be out of place in the deepest dankest of nightmares. Which was why he was so very incredibly thrilled to discover there was actually an Exit. An exit that would take you anywhere you thought of when you opened it. Unless you weren't thinking of a 'where'. Then it just dumped you kinda... wherever. And Jalan wasn't really thinking about anything besides outrunning the terrifying lady demon who seemed rather keen on tearing off his delicate bits.

So he really didn't care very much where he ended up as he tumbled through the door. He spun around to slam the door shut, a magical black key clutched in his hand ready to lock it up tight so Little Miss Hellspawn couldn't eat his soul... only to discover there was no door. He looked around in confusion but ended up breathing a sigh of relief. His key was on a chain so he slipped it back around his neck as he got a good look around.

Didn't recognize anything one bit. But he wasn't really concerned. Honestly he was just grateful that he was alive and not in Hel, and there were no undead monstrosities looking at him with hungry eyes.

He was a little concerned when he read the brochure. The food wasn't safe? What about the water? He hadn't had a sip since he started traipsing about the Afterlife and he was beyond thirsty. And starving. Honestly he was just a complete mess right now. Even his garb, which normally might make a Lord of the Rings cosplayer green with envy, was covered in dust, dried blood, and torn beyond repair.

"Pardon me," Lost, alone, and on the verge of dehydration, the prince put on his best, most charming of smiles and waved to the closest person, "I've read the food and drink here could be dangerous. Any chance you can lead me to something safe? A change of clothes too... these have. Had it I think."

Plus he felt as if he was sticking out like a sore thumb. Most of the people here... well they weren't dressed like him really. In fact a lot of them reminded him of the little he'd seen of the ancient Builder's culture. Weird.

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*She gives a slight nod, accepting his answer, and turns to start off through the Nexus. Out of consideration for his state, she limits her pace somewhat, but she still sets as brisk a pace as he can keep up with.*

This way, then. The Stellar Harp tends to be safe, and if you can't handle it there, you aren't ready for the Nexus. Better to know that at the start. Samus Aran.

[ Now if he was with his friends he'd be complaining the entire way. However he's at least smart enough not to raise complaint with helpful strangers. ]

The Stellar Harp sounds absolutely lovely.

[ It takes him a moment to realize she's given him her name and he's quick to respond with his own. ]

Prince Jalan Kendeth.

*He's wise not to complain--his guide has only a limited patience for such things, and no compunctions about abandoning an ungrateful traveler to the vagaries of the Nexus. A casual eye finds only a single weapon on her, a small device in a holster at the small of her back, hidden from the front and arranged for a right-hand draw. At his title, she quirks a momentary brow, but answers the name with a slight nod--it's as close to a bow as he's going to get.*

Welcome to the Nexus, Jalan. There've been worse arrivals.

*Up ahead, a cafe with tables that spill out onto the sidewalk is marked by a sign: a harp, with stars caught in its strings like dewdrops on a spider's web. Horned waitstaff move among the tables, their cloven hooves tick-tick-ticking on the patio. The woman in blue flows into a seat at one of those outdoor tables, with a topiary at her back, and nods for him to do the same. On the table sit neatly-folded menus, translated by the convenient nature of the Nexus.*

[ As soon as she turns he frowns just a touch. His title is supposed to be more impressive then that! Of course he was expecting dramatic bows but usually people are surprised! Flattered! Or want him dead. He supposes it's a good thing it's not the third option at the very least.

He sits down smoothly into the chair and leans forward, eyes darting around the place. His speaks in a harsh whisper. ]

Um. The waiters are demons?!

[ He just escaped from a place full of demons and other miscellaneous undead unpleasantries. Ones that wanted to nipple on his SOUL. ]

*Sorry, Jalan, she just isn't moved by feudal titles. His question about the waitstaff doesn't score him any points, either. She gives him a decidedly unamused look along with her answer.*

The waiters are satyrs. If you're going to insult them, you can go buy your own lunch.

*The edge in her voice softens just a little as she continues.*

I suppose you're from somewhere without much variety of body type. Fine. Look past what they are, for a moment, and focus on what they're doing.

I'm not insulting them!

[ He busies himself with looking at his menu. ]

I spent what felt like an eternity running and hiding from folks that looked like that. In Hel. They wanted to eat my soul and use my dead carcass as a conduit to revive the spirit of my dead unborn little sister and turn her into a monster to wreak havoc upon the world. I just finished running away from the most terrifying of which minutes before I met you.

[ His voice raises a pitch by the end. He's been through an incredibly stressful ordeal and it's very hard to remain completely calm. ]

You will have to forgive me if I find it a touch distressing to see some people that look alarming like them around here.

*Her tone and expression soften incrementally. He hasn't bought forgiveness with that outburst, but perhaps another dram of tolerance.*

That does sound like a difficult day. Well, nothing can hurt you here unless you let it, so relax and try not to offend anyone.

*Reaching across the table, she taps the menu.*

Given any thought to what you're going to want?

You don't know the half of it...

[ He sighs and flips open the menu. And the menu itself just gives him a look of befuddlement. He flips to another page and his frown deepens. Finally he snaps it closed, places it on the table, and smiles. ]

I think I'll just have whatever you're having. There are so many things to choose from I just can't decide.

[ It's not because he doesn't know what most of the things on the menu are. ]

((Sorry, I could swear I replied to this last night, but it doesn't seem to be there.))

*She quirks a brow, bemused. She lets him know with a look that she sees through his ruse, but she'll indulge him--if only because leaving someone hungry when they're within smelling-distance of the Harp's food is cruel to a degree even she wouldn't practice on a stranger.*

Following my lead? You're braver than I thought. Alright.

*She never took up her own menu, never needed to. She's apparently enough of a regular to bring one of the waitstaff over with a discreet signal.*

Start him with the onion soup, and I'll have the snails in Saerloonian Topaz. We'll each have a sautéed filet of beef with green pepper, the grilled asparagus and slithercress. I'll have an akh, and plenty of water for him.

*The waiter bobs in confirmation and moves off, leaving Samus' attention free to return to the young prince.*

So. Now that your meal's on the way, I hope you're ready to sing for it.

enter a lost prince

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