A Very Nexus Reception

[smartass_captain]

To all the friends of the happy grooms, PINpoint messages have already been sent weeks ago inviting them to expect quite the street party arranged in the commons of the Nexus. Guests have been invited to bring an appetite--both for food and for a social adventure. Nirnish weddings are public affairs, after all. While the ceremony has had to be somewhat sequestered for the sake of keeping the existence of Other Worlds a secret, neither Felix nor Jim would want to leave out their interdimensional friends entirely. Having a reception party arranged in the Nexus became the natural plan of action.

Overnight large sections of the Commons are transformed via diligent craftsmanship and quite a lot of magic from those who’ve volunteered. Lanterns representing the Divines are hung along every lamp post, bringing at least the idea of warmth even if the flames are too small to heat their surroundings alone. Bardic tunes carry in the air as readily as the scent of food and drink. Past banners of red and black, blue and white the people gather.

For both grooms this is nearly a continuation of the day before. They’ve had the chance to sleep off the nerves of their ceremony. Today is entirely for celebration--uninhibited celebration at that. No more minding what is said and isn’t. No more pretending to be anything other than who they are. Jim’s traded out his Nirnish finery for a suit and tie, garments he’s much more familiar with. Felix is staying with his native clothing; though he may have dressed down a little from his wedding clothes, the conjurer’s dressed in fitted breeches and his best fur-trimmed coat and boots, the soft hide dyed blue to match his tunic. By their side sits the conjurer’s spectral wolf familiar, ears pricked at the gathering.

As the guests find their ways over it will be easy to spot their friends amidst all the decor along with many other avenues with which to enjoy themselves….

Greetings
Food and Drink
Music and Dancing
Bonfire Entertainment
Party Games

((Links to all relevent wedding Prose can be found Here!))

Comments

[smartass_captain]

You said it yourself, Rocket. Everyone's got dead people. Jaylah here doesn't feel the need to bring down everyone's party moods with hers is all. It's fair to say she wouldn't really know how to talk about them in a casual setting anyway. They're memories she keeps very close to her heart. Protected where no one can hurt them again, if only in memory.

The cadet sits up a bit straighter to hear mention of the music.

"It is Earth classical! Captain James-Tee showed me many more kinds. My house had some but not much. I have expanded my horizons since."

[smartass_captain]

The thing of it is, Han isn't wrong. There's Power in these magic wielders, more Power still in the supernatural beings that may as well be gods, angels, and demons roaming around the Nexus. This place is becoming full of potential threats. With very real danger. Keeping a sharp eye out and a wary gaze is not only good thinking but downright necessary for the mere mortals that also call this place their stomping grounds.

Jim never quite shook the urge to know Why and How it works though.

"Feels like there's always more of it every time I come back." Jim comments with a glance around them. "Starting to think 'Ordinary folks' are the minority in the multiverse." He's not sure he likes that thought, either. He glances over at the bonfire and decides thoroughly Against explaining who started it and how.

Smiles instead.

"It is. Too cold not to look after folks somehow, you know? Especially for an outdoor engagement. I bet we could find some stuff to roast over it if you wanted to." A conspiratorial eyebrow waggle never hurt anyone surely.

[conjuredskies]

Marcella's doing an excellent demonstration of the Disapproving Frown (TM) for his benefit: lips pursed, chin up, eyes steely, brows lifted just a little bit- and for a split second, she looks torn between Stern Imperial Disapproval and charging to the defence of her master's honor. There's a flash of fire in her glare-

And then a THUMP as Ushug slams her elbow down on the table. Cards and drinks are shunted aside with a sweep of her other hand, much to the grumbling of the other players.

"You leave now and I'm keeping the coin-"

"Shove it up your buddy's arse for all I care," she retorts, emphasizing it with a hand gesture that doesn't look polite. Ushug's not even looking: she's giving Harrow the kind of toothy grin you need two-inch tusks for. "All right, fly bait. You think prissy, pretty-faced runts are the only kind of elves there are? Come get a lesson."

[smartass_captain]

Jim's not sure whether he's more pleased that Isidor's on the same page as he is or that she's playing along. Most days he has to stop and ask himself how he ended up such close friends with Isidor Durant of everyone in the Nexus. But despite the baggage each of them carries for the other's choice of paramours Jim grins much brighter than he would to most anyone else.

It's hard to fight alongside someone, stand side by side with them in their troubles, and accept a hand up from someone after they've wiped the floor with you and not either turn out to be very good friends or very close rivals.

"I remember meeting so many culturally diverse people at the Durant parties. It hadn't occurred to me that they wouldn't all be tied into your family in some way. And I suppose most of them were European in descent on both occasions." Those are fond memories. Jim's learned so very much from his limited time spent amid Isidor's family and not all of it he learned from the Durants.

"It'll be a welcome break from work and my own studies. I'm pretty sure the minute I get my nose into those gifts you left for us I'll be up to my elbows in magical theory observation with most of my spare time. It's taken a backseat for long enough."

[conjuredskies]

"Jim's not a man who forgets about anyone," Felix replies immediately, then colors a little bit. "Not that... either of you needs me to tell you." Leaping to assert the honor of his fiance- his husband - is a little more weird when another version of the man is right there, part of the conversation. When the other man he's talking with is also with a Jim Kirk, by the look of things.

He has a suspicion then, from what Spock is saying, but for the moment he tries to give Spock an honest answer. He knows what it's like to worry about Jim, and if the older one is (or was) anything like the man he's married, then the elder Spock knows excruciatingly well how good James T. Kirk is at finding trouble.

"He's great. Better, now that the wedding is done with and all the paperwork in his world is settled. Now we can finally just enjoy being together, exploring the galaxy." A word that makes him chuckle, the past few days having reminded him how little sense it makes from the perspective of his people. "It's not something I would have ever dreamed of before I met him, but he made it happen."

He gives the familiar leave to move, letting it get up to sniff Spock's hand curiously. Its tail is waving cautiously from side to side as it investigates the stranger, and then the other man who smells like Master's Best Friend and also has Tiny Bossy Friend with him.

[auspex_caelo]

From all that Stratos has learned over the years, getting around a truly powerful enchantment never is that easy. On the other hand, you don't want to be the one to design an elaborate water gathering spell when there's a bucket in the corner. Try the simplest solutions first, and you're less likely to trick yourself.

If the hammer's enchantment alters its weight based on who grips it, then countering with a feather spell might tip the scales (so to speak) in their favor. It doesn't sound as if anyone's tried that approach, so Stratos feels optimistic. He sips the drink before he leans forward, glancing at Thor for permission before he touches the grip himself, turning his senses to the magic forged into it. "If I may..."

It presses back immediately: the drone of potential, the steady rumble and roil of slumbering power. It's like pressing an ear to a window and hearing thunder roll on the other side. It feels like forever, but it's only a couple seconds before he yanks his hand away, looking startled. It's not what he was meant to be looking at, but to Stratos it was hard to notice anything else.

Which means he's missed some of what Jim was saying. Something about the table...? "Ah. Using telekinesis? I can certainly try. That would be even simpler than a feather spell..."

He steps back and passes his glass to Jim, hands curling into arcane gestures as he cups the air before him. Casting the spell doesn't require two hands, but this way he can charge it into a stronger version, and Stratos assumes he's going to need all the magical muscle he can leverage. A faint orange-red glow appears between his fingers, forming a pale haze before he opens his hands in the direction of Mjolnir. There's a flicker of the same light around the hammer... before it slips off and vanishes harmlessly. Not that easy you don't, kids.

Stratos gives a 'hmh' that doesn't sound at all surprised. "Very well, then..." He's going to try the table instead. This time, at least, the faint glow settles over the wood, limning it in will o' wisp light before the mage gestures, trying to drag it away...

[rekindledtitan]

Turnstone looks between the two of them, lets out a long sigh, and relents. Partly she's banking that Dia's more careful than Blaze, and partly she figures watching a Titan get knocked on her ass is something worth facilitating.

"All right. Got some light armor you can try on for size," she says to Dia. She jerks a thumb at the Ghost beside her with a gloved hand. "Tuulikki'll help if you need it. When you're kitted out you can take my Sparrow for a spin. Had to mod it to ride higher from the ground. Horses are kinda tall." She gestures to the bike sitting nearby.

"As for you-" Blaze is surprised to find Turnstone pointing a finger up at her. "You better dress down. You're an Exo, you don't need the protection, and all the extra mass you're packing will make you harder to knock off. That's not exactly fair."

"...Oh." Blaze looks as disconcerted as her face allows. She looks down at her plate, dismayed to be parted from it, but seeing the point. Having an extra fraction of a tonne in relic iron and inertial sinks worked into your armor is liable to tip the scales in both senses of the phrase. "Guess I'll find something, uh, lighter to wear." She gives the assassin a friendly nod before she pulls away. "See you on the field, Dia."

[rekindledtitan]

It doesn't appear to be a sport that allows much in the way of agility, for sure. Just line the combatants up and crash them into each other as fast as you can. That said, once she's on the Sparrow Dia can feel how nimbly the bike moves, and how much balance is required to handle it with that sodding great lance under one arm. How much will be needed to take even a glancing blow without falling off. Her assassin's reflexes will stand her in good stead here.

Blaze pulls her own Sparrow up at the other end of the field, on the other side of the wooden divider. Her bike's a bit more solid-looking than the one Dia rides, and to compensate she's changed into an older, lighter set of her armor, wearing just the chestpiece, gauntlets and helm, and detaching the right shoulder guard.

The Titan doesn't seem nervous, perhaps because she's not taking this too seriously. Her face is hidden behind her faceplate, much like Dia's, but the Exo lifts her lance in a jaunty salute to the waiting assassin. She has to keep a steady hand on her bike when she does: this balancing act is a harder than it looks. The Titan has strength on her side: it's easier for her to handle the length of wood she's wielding. Aim and precision are more like to be her problem.

And easy-going fun or not, the most laid-back Guardian in existence has a competitive streak. Once the trumpet sounds for them to get ready, Blaze settles down, adjusting the weight of the lance in her arm and focusing on her opponent. When the starting banner falls, she's riding to win.

[sohoangel]

"Oh!" Aziraphale isn't offended so much as incredibly surprised to hear that a world exists with no gods. Not even god with a capital G, whose presence he takes for granted, even in the Nexus. "Well, that's... goodness. Hmm. And he's certain about that?"

It's one thing to be an atheist. Humans can get by perfectly well without religion or a belief in the spiritual. But the same isn't true for an angel. In a world without God, where would that leave him? Maybe he should rethink that vacation to Alpha Centauri...

Crowley's joke earns a weak smile from Aziraphale, who is actively trying to shake off his bout of existential awkwardness. "'Vintage' is not a word you ought to apply to stew, Crowley. I'm sure it's been made fresh. Certainly, we can try things in that order."

[pirateangelbaby]

Though Thor is attempting to act casual, he can't quite hide the nervous frown as he watches Stratos from behind his mug. Still, he's quick to smile and nod permission for the battlemage to work his magics.

The look on the man's face when he jerks away from the hammer, stunned as a man who's been slapped across the face, provokes a smug bark of laughter out of Thor. He smothers it quickly, of course, but he grins proudly at his old weapon, sitting placidly on the table as though it were nothing more noteworthy than a paperweight.

Everyone at this table knows better than that, of course.

Thor takes a long, seemingly uncaring swig as he watches the mage puzzle through this conundrum. The magic he uses doesn't seem that different from the seidr that the Asgardian knows, nor does the look of determined concentration setting into his brow seem terribly different from Loki tackling some mystical mystery in Asgard's libraries. It's a nostalgic pang that strikes him now, a faraway look seeping into his good eye, coming back to himself only when the table itself begins to shimmer... and goes precisely nowhere, Mjolnir's perch pinning it to the floor as securely as if it was nailed in place there.

And oh, what a relief that is to see. Thor hadn't truly thought that the Allfather's spell could be so easily hoodwinked. But he couldn't help but worry that it would, irrational though it might be.

[coldsong]

"Saving the world is out of everybody's league, that's the problem," there's no hesitation in his voice this time, nothing coy, just something dark and slightly acerbic.

His lips press into a thin line, discomfort tangible. Crows. He'd almost forgotten. Almost, but not quite. He's had puzzle pieces in his brain all year, linked together but forming no particular picture even when connected. "I don't know," he says. "What changed?"

That's a question for Felix, but his gaze is quick to swivel to Jim next, and if either of them was hoping he'd gloss over that namedrop, be confused or miss that Nocturnal clearly refers to a person and not a time of day, they can banish that hope at once.

His eyebrows go up. "Well. I suppose I'd better be looking into it now, hadn't I, if you're ready to drop the information at last. I wasn't aware that marriage loosened tongues so."

[attackpatternbattista]

A mere dash of mischief, from our dear Delia Battista? Oh, she plans for much more than a dash. She takes Jim's arm with a pleased little sound, "Lead the way, dear Jim~" She says, grinning as well with clear amusement over this entire situation.

As they pass someone serving drinks, she plucks a glass for herself and takes a nice sip.

[pathfromdarknesstogray]

Admittedly, it does show that the weapon is a little unfamiliar at first, between balancing it and handing the nible speeder's controls. It's a lot like her own speeder, a little bit on the more sensitive side, due to Dia's having a much wider profile than the one she's borrowing.

However, once she's got it down, it's easy enough.

Dia mimics the salute with her lance, waiting for the trumpet sounds she kicks it into high gear.

She may not have Blaze's size or strength, but Dia's certainly smaller than Blaze, and will likely be much more difficult to hit.

She's riding to win this. An Assassin she may be. Dia's certainly trying to find a more... balanced lifestyle, rather than a Dark one.

But there's something to be said about winning.

[pathfromdarknesstogray]

Dia remembers Harley. To be fair, the blonde woman is .... difficult to forget. Having done this once before already with Blaze, this time, Dia's prepared once more, with a new lance in hand on a hovering speeder bike.

The ex-Sith nods to her opponent as she hauls herself onto the speeder and gets nice and settled on it, hoisting her lance up and raising it in a salute.

[chiron_survivor]

You can't spend time in the Nexus as long as Adia has and not run into non-humans now and then. Not just non-humans who look indistinguishable from humans, but beings of all manner of appearance. So when the blue-skinned man nearly bumps hands with her over the dessert table, she doesn't think twice about his appearance.

She does, however, blush slightly, embarrassed that she's been circling the banquet a little too intently, like someone holding up a buffet line while she makes her decisions. "Oh, no, please. You go ahead. I can wait. I've already had one of those, they're really good."

Already standing out of the way is Caspar, who is watching Adia fondly and keeping a neutral gaze upon the alien. He'd watch them pass by one another a few times already, it was only a matter of time before they'd go for the same plate of food.

[rogueinladysclothing]

She frowns softly as she listens to the couple go back and forth. It's the sort of thing she understands very well, even as she doesn't have access to her world anymore. Dreams, it's the very reason she chose to cut off her world from the Nexus entirely. Adia's worries get a solemn nod, because she will always choose the path of avoidance in this case.

"You could probably find a new variety of seeds if something goes wrong," she comments, hoping to ease the gap between the two sides. "It would still take a few years to resow everything and might not take if the soil is the issue, but it would be worth a try."

As she thinks about it a little longer, though, an idea comes to her. "Or maybe you could send someone stealthy over at night to grab seeds from the local trees? If they're thriving elsewhere, starting with seeds from those trees could be what you need to get the trees growing properly."

[pirateangelbaby]

Once, he would've laughed off compliments such as that, unneeded to bolster his overinflated ego and telling him nothing he didn't already assume about himself. These days, that sort of reassurance is a soothing balm to anxious aches that refuse to fully fade, propping up his confidence if he begins to falter. He smiles at her as he leads her through the next steps, a glimpse of his old boldness shining through for a moment.

"Oh there will be. Not sure where we'll do it, but Yule's not Yule without dancing by the fire." There's a lot of work ahead of him to finish the preparations for the holiday, and the thought of it makes him recoil from the responsibility. But he is the king, and it will be good for the people to celebrate the first turning of the Wheel in their new home, sharing their good fortune with their new neighbors. It will be worth it, he tells himself.

"I can show you some now, if you like," he says instead, forcing himself not to give in to the melancholy that's creeping up on him. It's easier these days, Eir's potion fighting back the worst of it for him.

[ididntasktogetmade]

Classical, huh? Sounds legit to Rocket. Half their genre names don’t make any sense anyway - where’s the rocks in rock, or the metal in metal? And why are there like eight thousand types of metal when they all sound the same? It’s nonsense. Rocket just knows what he likes, and what he likes are ballads and banging jams.

“You and I gotta compare playlists sometime. I got a whole buncha new stuff over the past year. Can’t work without it, right?”

[heirtothearcane]

The moment Rocket mentions prison, Viatorus' eyes go wide and swivel towards his new friend in an effort to be somewhat polite in his shock. He wouldn't have expected he was talking to a criminal. One whose story gets stranger and stranger despite skipping over any detail. It takes Viatorus a second to avert his eyes and another minute to think of something to say.

"Mm, well nobody's heard of my family here either, so I know what you mean." He trails into an awkward mutter, adding, "It drives my sister up the wall..."

A small, dry cough doesn't quite shift his discomfort so, voice low, he asks, "C-Can I ask why you were in prison?"

[mr_enterprise]

Even the knowledge of what young Jim and his peers have had to face, the differences that drive a wedge between their histories, does not diminish the elder Kirk’s interest in what they’re choosing to make of their future. Quite the opposite, if anything. Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations has never been more true than it is in the Nexus; just being here is proof enough of that.

Young Jim deserves to find his happiness wherever he can find it, and this young man seems to have that same adventurous spirit, that call to explore and learn for the joy of learning. Gallivanting around the galaxy is a game for the young, he’d said once, and now he agrees with himself, content to sit back and live vicariously through the adventures of others.

“The hard part’s over,” he agrees with a chuckle. “Do your people do honeymoons? Duty will call before you know it; better to spend a little time together before it comes.” Because God knows, Starfleet will keep a man busy often enough.

Kirk has become used to cats, and likes them well enough, but at heart he’ll always be a dog person. It’s been ages since he’s had one, and offers the back of his hand for the familiar to sniff when it approaches. It’s fairly clear this is no ordinary dog - wolf? - but it seems to act like one. “Is this fellow going out there with you two?”

[ididntasktogetmade]

Skipping details to watch people squirm is something Rocket enjoys quite a bit. He’s got to get his entertainment somewhere, right? He tries not to chuckle too obviously at the look on his new acquaintance’s face though.

“You can ask,” he says, and leaves a pause just long enough to make it seem like he’s not gonna answer before he cracks a smile. “Petty theft, mercenary activity. Got busted trying to live capture a bounty and now he’s one of the family.” Also arson and fourteen prior escapes from incarceration, but if Rocket says that, this guy might just run off screaming. Which would be funny, but then his wife would probably go after him, and Groot’s having too much fun to break it up so soon.

[heirtothearcane]

When Rocket gives him permission to ask, Viatorus' stomach drops. For the uncomfortably long amount of time Rocket stays quiet, the mage thinks that he's about to find himself in trouble. So hearing him answer gets a breath of relief. Especially to hear that there's no murder involved.

That doesn't stop him from subconsciously touching his jacket, reminding himself of his precious compass in his inside pocket.

"That, um... That sounds like... Like a very strange story." He clears his throat to buy him time while he wraps his head around this. "You know, I don't think I've met someone who's been in prison before. Not even here. There are so many different people here and I've never met one who went to jail."

[betashiftblues]

Working in Starfleet desensitizes most races from an influx of humans in an otherwise diverse setting. This Andorian is nearly comfortable being one of the few obviously nonhumans in the room insofar as he ever looks comfortable with anything. He's quick to put a polite distance between himself and Adia though. More to do with his disdain for physical contact than for her heretofore unknown husband observing close by.

"...Are they? Felix wouldn't stop touting them so I figured they'd either be really good..." He trails off and glances around for the groom before sighing softly. "Or really bad and he'd get a laugh out of seeing me throw a pie at him."

[notasnake]

Hate is all well and good for a demon, so he takes Thor at his word when the god says he hates the way he once was. It's in the nature of mortals to change over time, so why not those with longer lifespans? Crowley certainly isn't the demon he was at the Garden, after all - even if he might like to claim otherwise from time to time. He shrugs at the notion that he would've hated Thor, though. "Unless you were trying to kill me? I think we'd have gotten on alright."

This is a conversation and idea the couple tossed around so many times over the last few thousand years that Crowley simply kisses the angel on the cheek when his face takes on that panicked look. "If She knew, She obviously wasn't mad. She never tried to smite you or me and never got angry at the humans for having created the riders in the first place. I'd say that's reason to believe She's as all loving and forgiving as your former lot liked to go on about."

[notasnake]

It's shock all around at that particular information drop. No God around would be a bit weird for the people of their world, but it seems the people of Jim's are totally okay with this? How odd. "If there's no gods at all, who's in charge of the universe? Did it really just... start with a bang?"

God, where they come from, lets everyone believe that because She's doing whatever She pleases, but a place with absolutely no gods? Crowley finds it hard to believe a universe could simply come into existence without any provocation.

Aziraphale gets an eye roll for that behind Crowley's dark glasses. "You know what I meant, angel." Don't call him out on his word choices in front of other people! It makes things awkward. "I'm sure it'll all be good and fresh at a celebration like this."