[Nexus] Mallside I: You Do Not Know the Power of the Mallside

[Lady Serpentine]

[Aurora Fountain]

"Music is nice. And I guess I have enough money to be able to do that."

She indicates the briefcase.

[bladescape]

[Aurora Fountain]

"Well, since you have some freedom, it's all about what you want to do, isn't it?" Reis smiles gently, not trying to convince her to take any action but what she wants to do. "Do you want to listen to a song?"

Yep, Reis is at it again. Songs.

[Lady Serpentine]

[Aurora Fountain]

Talnissa smiles back at him, the expression accompanied by a slight whir of gears.

"I would, yes."

[bladescape]

[Aurora Fountain]

"Alright." Reis comments, rustling around in his pouch of notes for a moment before scanning one over.

After a few seconds he leaves it sitting on top of the pouch, strumming a few notes before beginning to sing.

"Shadowed sun, glowing moon, silver figures gone so soon
Just a little longer here, just to find the hidden seer
The path is colder now....
The trees like white courtiers bow...
Once again the road does bend,
Once again it does not mend....

The snow blows around my feet, Like a crowd here to greet.
The wind cuts through my bones, almost like a sack of stones.
The crunch of the road as onwards I tread....
Searching for food and one warm bed.....
Once again the road does bend,
Once again it does not mend.....

The light shines and welcomes me, it beckons through quite eagerly..
I pick up pace and hurry forth, grateful for the promise of warmth.
The inn appears out of the gloom....
I merely want an empty room.....
Once again the road does bend,
This time however it does me-nnd.......~"

(Note:I put the whole song into one post, as last time it stopped the RPing up a bit as I posted it bit by bit.)

[Lady Serpentine]

[Aurora Fountain]

Talnissa sits quietly as Reis plays.

When he finishes, she says "That was beautiful. Thank you."

She starts to open the briefcase, probably intending to pay him for his trouble.

[Murkus]

Magmart

Well if Adir picks up a card, he'll find it says:

The Mental Menagerie
Reading, Writing, Arithmatic

[MagMart]

Sakura gives his hand a squeeze before turning her attention to the newly acquired card. "What's that say?" She asks curiously.

"Uh... I think someone just offered to help you girls learn how to read." Adir says, looking around for Waldorf again.

[Slii Arhem]

Magmart

Well if his presence is required, Waldorf will be behind them again. Pay no mind to the fact that he was just stacking boxes back at the shop, do not question the plot powered wristwatch.

"Yess..." he wheezes out, confirming what Adir just said.

[Gullara]

[MagMart]

"Really? How though? Like, lessons?" If only the card had more info, or if she could read that info if it was there. Oh well, it does the job of drawing people in rather well. She looks at Waldorf curiously when she realizes he hasn't gotten too far.

[Slii Arhem]

Magmart

He stifles a racking cough before answering, "We haave a machine tha't cann give lit-erracy annd otherr thingz... It izz what we do." then he can't hold it in anymore and his coughing fit overtakes him, bending him over double.

[Murkus]

MagMart

"You don't look like you should be working, man." Adir says, stepping over to try and help him straighten up. He doesn't seem all that surprised about this literacy machine. They are still in the Nexus. Of course, he wasn't expecting something that convenient. "But, uh, where can we find it?"

[Slii Arhem]

Magmart

Rather suspiciously convenient isn't it...

"Jusst inside the dorrs, near the food courr't." he waves an arm vaguely in that direction, and wanders off.

[Gullara]

[MagMart]

Sakura looks at him with concern. That's a really nasty cough, but he seems to be dealing with it. A moment after he leaves she says. "So do you think we should check it out?"

And I really have to get that post for my other character there made. >.>

[Murkus]

[MagMart]

"I think so. At least for you. I dunno if I'd wanna use it on a baby." Adir says, looking at her seriously.

[Gullara]

[MagMart]

Sakura nods. "Yeah, I know what you mean. At least we can go and see before we decide anything." Sakura wouldn't think of using it on the baby. She's more curious than anything about it.

[bladescape]

[Aurora Fountain]

Talnissa sits quietly as Reis plays.

When he finishes, she says "That was beautiful. Thank you."

She starts to open the briefcase, probably intending to pay him for his trouble.

Now here was a dilemma for the young half-elf bard! He needed money, which is why he played, but didn't want to accept something for a song that he wasn't asked to play...

So he sat, merely saying "Thank you." And waiting to see what she was going to do....

[Gullara]

The Mental Menagerie

"Alright let's get a reading then shall we?" He waves his arms over the theramin tube and the whole things springs to life, whirling flipping and buzzing for several seconds until one of the hexagonal plates of chrome drops down in front of them and displays a wave grid, this one made up of various shades of green. Some numbers trail by along the bottom before it goes blank, and the screen shows a beautiful white sand beach, along with the number 95672 superimposed over it.

"Okay, nothing we don't have already, but it will add to our witch programming nonetheless. Looks like you got... a week and a half of fun in the sun out of that, so let's start her up. He waves a hand negligently and the machine springs to life again briefly, having already completed the preliminary transfer.

And suddenly, Genevieve Remembers.

Spoiler

Show

I arrived late at night to the bed and breakfast, but the owners were so kind about it even though I hated to keep them up. First thing in the morning I was out in the surf, my lord how I missed this. I haven't been to the beach in so long I was worried I had forgotten how to swim, but it was absolutely perfect. The water was warmer than I remembered it, there was no standing at the shoreline, shivering as it rinsed over my toes. I just dove in headfirst and let it envelope me in its cleansing embrace. Afterwards I sunbathed awhile, kneading my toes through sand so fine each grain was practically invisible. It felt like silk on my skin, and I luxuriated in it. The next two days were very much the same, rising with dawn and just Living for hours, without a care in the world. I came to know my hosts fairly well by that point, and on the fourth morning they said they had something special lined up for me, if I wanted to come along. There was a small island just off shore, and I had joked once that I felt like swimming to it. Well it turned out they had rented a boat tour, just for me, and we spent the day digging for clams and camped out under the stars on that tiny island. The next week was a comfortable blur, and every time I think back to it I can feel the sun on my face.

((Warning, massive block of text detected!))

Oh wow. That's just odd. Genevieve remembers the vacation in detail. A vacation she never took. It was rather mentally refreshing in any case. She never even knew how stressful her lessons had been. Then add having to adapt to the Nexus on top of that.

Now for Genevieve's memories...

Spoiler

Show

It was the middle of the night. The full moon hung in the sky and a cloying mist coiled around my ankles. Several other initiates my age stood on either side of me. We were just a bunch of scared fourteen year old girls. The only thing we had in common is that we were chosen.

I wasn't paying attention to that though. Instead my eyes were on the three older women before us. It was hard to make out any features in the darkness, but I knew who they were. Witches, practitioners of magic. One day I would be just like these mysterious women.

"Burchard, Genevieve." That was my name. I was first. I was finding it hard to breath, but I stepped forward regardless. Up close the witches were less intimidating. The light of the moon revealed a kindly face to me, wizened with age. She gave me a reassuring smile before presenting me with a wand.

A surge of energy coursed through my body as my fingers contacted the fine length of wood. I could feel the power, the potential hidden in this unassuming object. I took the wand in my hand. I could barely believe that it was mine.

For the rest of the night the other girls went through the same thing as me. They all received wands. They were all welcomed into the Order. The witches spoke a few words, but mostly it was silent.

---

The rest of her first week of lessons and training were what one might expect. The basics: learning minor spells, brewing potions, and most of all learning the importance of knowing one's limits and always practicing magic safely. The push to achieve excellence was ever present, as was the insistence for loyalty to the Order of the Full Moon. Genevieve was an eager student to say the very least.

[Slii Arhem]

The Mental Menagerie

Nate scans the charts as her week of training fast forwards over the screen. "Wonderful, I do believe you've added... three new potions to our beginners spell series simulation. And I hope everything lived up to your expectations. Over the next few weeks, your new/old trip to the beach will integrate with the rest of your memories, until you'll hardly be able to tell you weren't there yourself. Now I really must get going, but remember, next week is our two for one special, bring a friend and swap secrets at next to no-" As he's talking he starts to walk around the back of the now inert black and chrome cube, and just as he gets out of sight, his voice cuts out. When the machine begins to rise from the floor, there is no sign of him.

[Gullara]

[The Mental Menagerie -> Concourse]

"Thanks!" Genevieve calls after him. She stands and looks around, a somewhat glazed over look in her eyes. That was something else. She leaves the shop and starts heading back toward the fountain. Of course, she could encounter anyone in her walking. She has more time to burn after all.

[Murkus]

[MagMart]

Sakura nods. "Yeah, I know what you mean. At least we can go and see before we decide anything." Sakura wouldn't think of using it on the baby. She's more curious than anything about it.

"Well, you wanna get checked out and go see?" Adir asks, figuring his own plans for Erin's Emporium can wait a little.

[Gullara]

[MagMart]

"Yeah, let's go and see." And presumably they'll head that way. There's probably a fair bit of wandering. A mall is a confusing place for two fey. Sakura looks around at all the stores curiously. There's a lot, and all the people!

[Murkus]

MagMart

Well, they might have to pay for their stuff first. >.>

But if that can be handwaved...

[Gullara]

[MagMart]

What? Pay? In a store? The very idea is absurd. >.>

But I'm willing to put money on us being able to havewave it. <.<

[Slii Arhem]

The Mental Menagerie

Well if they ever manage to sort out their purchases well enough to make it here, they'll find a rather demure young lady standing at the door.

[Murkus]

The Mental Menagerie

Adir rolls his shopping cart into the store, smiling at the secretary. "Uh, hey. We were told you guys have some kind of 'literacy machine'?"

[Slii Arhem]

The Mental Menagerie

The door girl stands at 5'8", and her hair is a mane of bouncy, sandy blonde curls.

"Hi there! Waldorf said you might be coming, well not in so many words, but he's rather... anyway.I'm Celena, and I'll be your consultant today. You're here for our couples package?" The woman stands at 5'8", and her hair is a mane of bouncy, sandy blonde curls.

((To save time, I'm handwaving the explanation of how the machine works here))

"So with the couples package we take a copy of a memory from one of you, which is used as the payment to have it transplanted into their partner. It's supposed to foster understanding between loved ones, break down walls of secrets and all that."

[Gullara]

[The Mental Menagerie]

Sakura looks like my avi, except less like a pirate and more pregnant.

Sakura listens with interest when the couple's package is explained. She glances at Adir, a little smile on her face. "We're actually here about teaching me how to read, but we might try the couples package too. If you want to." The last bit is directed at Adir. She already has an idea of what she'd show him.

[Rebonack]

[Concourse]

"I see. As much as things change, they stay the same." Cierra scratches the back of her neck. "Let's see, who else... oh. Is Watchtower still there and still grumpy? And is there anyone else I should know about?"

"That's often times how it works with the Nexus," Amil replies with a slight laugh. "I guess that's how it is with everything, though. As much as things change there are always some constants you can hang onto. Even if the constants are the zaniness of the Nexus itself."

And the Nexus certainly has zaniness in spades.

"Grumpy?" she replies in respect to Watch. "I don't know about grumpy... Though I think several of their people helped with the last apocalypse the Nexus faced..."

She rubs the back of her neck thoughtfully. "I suppose that would be worth mentioning. That whole Stars Are Right thing happened. And I was stuck avoiding Shoggoths at the office..."

Nearly got nommed.

"Zee, that weird bar-tender from Trog's? She turned into this mountain sized monster and she was giving out quests to the PCs to try to stop her relatives from waking up. I guess everyone succeeded in the end since we're still here. Then Zee toppled over. Away from the City, thankfully. She's been asleep or dead or something since then."

[Neon Knight]

[Concourse]

"The Stars Were Right? Huh, that's odd. Maybe that's why my horoscopes kept turning out screw." It was either that or the deadtime.

"And Zee is... asleep?" If Cierra knew her, it was as the most passing and fleeting of acquaintances. But it was still odd that someone so well known was just gone like that. "Does anyone know why that happened?"

[Slii Arhem]

The Mental Menagerie

Celena quirks her head, then she understands what Sakura is saying, "Oh no, we don't just transfer memories, I mean we could, but where would the fun in that be? From what I understood of Waldorf stupid recalcitrant old man was that one of you was going to teach the other to read. In that case we could just transfer person A's ability into person B. But if you wanted to show a couple of memories in the process, then we can do that in the same session, just remember that they get logged in our memory banks for future customers."

Ooh, seems like Waldorf was eavesdropping on their conversation... or was he?

[Rebonack]

[Concourse]

Gene might encounter Amil on her walk back.

Who knows!

And yeah, dead time could probably louse up horoscopes pretty well.

"Or dead," Amil adds. "I didn't know her that well, honestly. She did a lot of work with the under-privileged and I've managed to stay pretty well off during my stay in the Nexus. So... the only time I've ever run into her was at Trog's."

And going to Trog's is dangerous!

"No one's really sure exactly what happened to her. I'm guessing it had something to do with the apocalypse ending," she squints one eye slightly. "Though... I guess if she knew it was going to happen she probably would have laid down first or something... I'm pretty sure some people got crushed when she fell over."