nexus_sages | (no subject)

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.

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His lips draw back in a grin. "My reputation precedes me," he purrs, taking a little bow. "And surely, men of learning such as ourselves cannot be faulted for appreciating a certain precision of speech, hmm?"

"Oh, certainly not. If nothing else, it will make me think all the more carefully of my own selection in words." At least until he's having tantrums again. They're usually inevitable with him.

"She said you managed to locate a way back to her home; is this a guaranteed outcome were your services requested? Or purchased, I imagine."

"Oh, no doubt," he agrees, holding back the wry edge that wants to creep into his voice. He has every confidence that more tantrums are coming.

"My methods are very reliable, and my reputation sterling: you will always receive what you ask for."

"I can't imagine the price is frugal, however. Truths are cheap when one considers the previous point of precise language, after all.

"Perhaps I will return to this after I've mounted my own investigation of a way home. You may state your terms regardless, of course."

"Your purchase habits are at your own discretion, of course," Schön replies. "I would require some focus for the spell. Say, a hair from your beard, perhaps. As for payment, I do not suppose you've devised any method for storing away some of your magic? Some trinket or tool you'd be willing to part with for the promise of a path home?"

He snorts. "Once again, you mistake me for the worst sort of amateur magician!"

Despite his talk of not rendering payment due just yet for lack of buyer's confidence, the mage gestures with a claw. The tile underfoot cracks and rattles once more, a large chunk breaking free and hovering close at hand. A click of the claw and the stone erodes and crumbles immediately to sand, still suspended in the air. Naugus huffs a laugh when he next waves his claw, a sudden gout of flame washing over the gathered sand and enveloping it. When he finally gives one last wave, the fire snuffs out, leaving a floating glass sphere, shiny though pitted and foggy in places for the literal flashfire method of it being rendered. Inside of it, a little red flame glows and trembles.

"Child's play."

"Very impressive," the thin man murmurs, speaking sincerely. "What does it do?"

"You asked for a means to store a fragment of my magic, so here it is. Fire sealed by fire. While I would encourage those who would receive this to have at least SOME knowledge of Ixian magicks, I'm sure this would give a man a taste of controlling fire..."

And then just like that, the glass turns brittle, black and opaque, and then crumbles into grainy, dark sand. The flame hovers for a few moments longer before it wicks out.

"Of course, as I said, I don't think your services will be required JUST yet. I must fully exhaust my own incredible powers and methods first, and THAT is unlikely, quite unlikely."

A brow climbs at the description of the orb, and sinks again at its destruction. But if Ixis was hoping to bait some outrage out of the thin man, he will be disappointed (though he certainly isn't buying himself any good will, with such games). "As you like. When you tire of sifting infinity and yearn for a swift and certain path, I shall not be difficult to find."

"I trust you are easy to find? I imagine one would just have to enter this zone and request audience. Politely, I assure you." He won't make the same screaming demands as he did when he arrived. Well, maybe.

"I keep an ear cocked for those in want of a bargain," he admits, sweeping his hat from his cane and returning it to his head in a single smooth motion. "Be assured, such a request would be swiftly answered."

"Excellent! Always a pleasure to do business." Even if the mage is completely confident he'll resolve this matter of portals home entirely on his own. He pushes himself up to a standing position, the stone he'd summoned upward and settled on cracking and lowering to be level with the floor once more.

"I assure you, the same can be said of myself. There are a wide variety of ways to reach me."

"A pleasure, indeed," the thin man agrees. Ixis' declaration piques his interest, however. "Oh? Are there any offers that you would like brought to your attention, should the opportunity arise?"

He thinks for a moment.

"...Do let me know should you see any others from Mobius arrive in this zone. I would appreciate," fair warning, "notification. Otherwise, should you think of something you'd require from me as well, knowing my talents, I would be delighted to hear from you."

He inclines his head in a gracious nod. "But of course." Of course, not selling the information that Ixis was there and concerned about the arrival of other Mobians to those other Mobians wasn't part of the request.

Naugus clearly did not think this through. Or just thought he appeared guileless enough that asking such a thing would be a perfectly reasonable, innocent request! Who would ever suspect him of malicious intentions?! Look at that angelic face.

"Until next time, Schön." One last bow is given before he turns and stalks off, cape swirling behind him.