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[ixis]

There's a distinct smell of ozone gathering several feet in the air over the Nexus forum. When a low rumbling starts, that smell grows sharper, more electric. Something grinding, tearing, burning...

A sudden, massive white flash appears, along with it an unnerving and immediate lack of sound. Where one would normally expect something a little more thunderous- a bang, a pop, possibly a crack -there is just white noise that leaves anyone for several yards around with ringing ears. (Assuming they are in possession of ears, of course.) And as immediate as it had been there, the flash it gone, snapping shut like a hastily done-up zipper.

Left suspended in the air by this event is a bizarre, bearded gargoyle-like figure who is now left to gravity's devices. He plummets, clearly startled, but gathers his wits quick enough to avoid an undignified landing. There is a cold swirl of wind, his cape snaps outward into the distinct shape of bat wings, and allows him to settle gently onto his feet.

The man (person? creature?) jerkily looks about, taking brief stock of his surroundings; upon finding them unfamiliar, he wastes no time pointing his gem-tipped staff menacingly at any general gathering nearby, sharp teeth gritted.

"Who is the master of this realm? Speak, fools!" He looks around again, increasingly agitated, adjusting his grip on his staff, before shaking it again and additionally snapping, "Where is the Doctor? The Quickster!? Why did he contain all of YOU to this realm as well as me?! SPEAK!!"

Ixis Naugus has arrived and he demands to speak to a manager.

Comments

[ixis]

"Ohhhh! I see." He looks suddenly interested, leaning towards Verity with a keen expression. "And what manner of artifact do you safeguard? What might its purpose and power be?" This is content he can get behind.

[brave_heart_verity]

Shrug. "I have no idea. My father never told me." She's such a disappointment. However will he endure?

[ixis]

His ears drop. Annoyance.

"...How can you guard something for generations and not know what it is. That is completely stupid."

[brave_heart_verity]

"I'm pretty sure my dad knows. He just hasn't told me yet because it's not my job yet. Please keep in mind I think my father's a jerk, so, I'm not the best judge of his motives. But I think he thinks he's 'protecting me'." She enunciates air quotes very well.

[ixis]

"Were I you, I'd take that role posthaste. Perhaps by force. No love lost, after all. And then procure the item." He doesn't GET people who aren't immediately thirsty for powerful artifacts once they hear of them. Come on! Nothing can go wrong with this plan! Naugus nods, stroking his beard.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Why would I want to do that? He can keep the damn thing forever since it's so important to him."

She doesn't have daddy issues or anything. Nope, not her.

[ixis]

"Why would-"

It's like she suddenly started speaking in tongues for how he looks at her, not comprehending her words.

"Really now."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Really. If it's more important to him than his family, I don't want it." She is a stubborn woman.

[ixis]

It takes him a moment to collect himself. Why would someone NOT want mysterious objects of potential great power? This poor girl has her priorities all wrong!

"Well...Consider if it's so important to your father to keep it hidden and subdued, what better way to vex him than steal it from under him and unleash it? Quite the spit in the eye."

Yes, let's unleash the Fimbulwinter, that's a GREAT idea!

[brave_heart_verity]

Now she's just looking at him like he's crazy.

"Yeah, no. My grandfather died to protect the damn thing. And since I don't know what it is, I don't know how to stop it. Plus I don't know where my dad is."

Naugus will make a kickstarter for it!

[ixis]

And he's looking at her like she's speaking completely nonsense again.

"...And the problem is-...? Aside from the device's unknown location, I mean."

How did they even get on this subject. What is going on anymore.

Start doing it or he'll kick her?

[brave_heart_verity]

She's not really sure how they got on this subject either. Why is she even telling him these things?

"I prefer to know how things work before I use them. It seems safer that way."

PROJECTED GOAL: $RAGNAROK

[ixis]

He heaves a massive sigh from the depths of his wide chest.

"HHHHhhhhh...I SUPpose. Still. An intriguing matter. Were you ever in need of an accomplice to investigate it..." He gestures at himself, all smiles.

"Assuming, of course, you have, er. Passage back to the zone you came from." Unlike some people. He seriously has no idea where to start in his case. Maybe once he's done bothering Nexus inhabitants, he'll sniff around for a way back.

Because that ALWAYS goes well.

[brave_heart_verity]

"I do. Schön helped me find it. He might be able to help you, come to think of it. Look for a skinny guy in a hat."

Don't ask how she paid for the help.

[ixis]

"That's a remarkably vague description, but I'll keep it in mind."

A pause, his tail lazily curling around the base of his staff, perhaps idly.

"...Offer still stands were you to want some professional, magical help on this matter of finding whatever this item is."

Just sayin'.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Well I could tell you he looks like David Bowie but that wouldn't help now would it?"

And she thought she was out of touch with pop culture.

"Thank you. I will keep that in mind."

[ixis]

"Nnnnn...o. Not in the least. I'll at least assume he's an Overlander as well?"

Although him not being blown off entirely or told to get lost re: his offers to track down world-shattering secret artifacts makes him glad! He even got thanked! He grins happily. Should this ever come to pass, it's gonna be a good damn time.

[brave_heart_verity]

"If you mean human, yes."

It is so never going to happen. If she's going to team up with anyone to find it it'll be Malekith. He's got better hair. But Naugus has stopped yelling, so that's good.

[ixis]

"Hewmin? I suppose. Where I come from, your sort have always been Overlanders." And he's always had a raging distrust in them, to put it mildly, but it's like they always say about desperate times, desperate measures.

He's gonna still keep this conversation in mind. Forever. Any chance at artifacts of grand power and mystery? Sign him the heck up!

[brave_heart_verity]

"Well, we call ourselves human. What are your people called?" This is a subject she takes seriously, so she'll be polite about it.

[ixis]

"Mobians. On account of our world being Mobius. Granted, there are a great many races under that identity. Echidnas, foxes...eugh, hedgehogs. You get the idea. Many species, all of us Mobians."

That includes...whatever the hell he is. It's the easy answer, anyway.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Oh. Then I guess I'd be an Earthling? There are non-human people who live on Earth." She's going to have to think about this. "Would it be rude to ask what race you are?"

[ixis]

"Ah, yes. I supposed that would be comparable. Although we don't call Overlanders Mobians? Only the other assorted races. Curious, that." Now he wonders how that shook out. Because by her logic, yeah, they ARE all Mobians! Weird. Who made this executive decision on racial identity back home?

Naugus' expression sours when asked about his own race, however.

"I'm complicated."

Guess it was rude.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Sorry." She really is. "My curiosity gets the better of me sometimes. I didn't mean to offend you." About this.

[ixis]

"...Apology accepted." He says it gruffly after a moment of working his jaw one way and the other. He should be used to these questions; he gets them at home too. Touchy subject all around!

"How long have you been in this place?" Let's change the subject!