smartass_captain | A Very Nexus Reception

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!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Although most of the gaming tables are hubs of revelry and vice, not everyone is using them that way. Some are taking the chance to engage in a more cerebral sort of challenge. To explore new experiences and diplomatic avenues. Plus, when you see an alien setting up a sweet three-dimensional chessboard, who wouldn’t ask to play?

Not Ulysses-10, that’s for sure. The Warlock’s seated at the table in his blue and green robes, the shimmering tendrils from the back curling in the air behind him. The bronze plates of his face are angled into an interested expression, glowing green eyes tracking his opponent’s hands as the expressionless man brings a piece down to take one of his bishops.

“Aha>,” he says softly, then laughs. Hovering over the board, his Ghost twitches her shell thoughtfully. “Nicely played. Clearly I must re-evaluate how I guard myself.”

You'd really think more people would ask. It at least earned Ulysses an uncontested spot across from the man with the faintly green flush to his cheeks from where the chill nips at his skin even despite his quite warm suit, coat and fitted gloves he wears. The Exo is hardly the only one intrigued by this development. Indeed, the Enterprise-A's first officer has been watching his new companion quite carefully since the warlock took his seat.

"I did not expect you to pick up on this as quickly as you have. Rest assured, this match was to be a learning exercise. Nothing more."

Spoken truly like a man who is quite used to winning these games. Spoken then, like a true warlock, despite their gap in realms.

"Most of the individuals I have taught have found the additional rules from traditional chess to be esoteric and difficult to grasp. It is gratifying to see you take to this so well. Perhaps I am not as poor a teacher as I had begun to surmise."

"Every game is a learning exercise, if you're playing well." The Warlock's gaze is locked on the board, though for a minute or two his gaze softens, seems to unfocus as he concentrates on what the layout could be. He doesn't - can't, really - smile at the compliment, but there's a gentle inclination of his head to the other man.

"It's a pleasure to meet someone who's mastered something so complex- and novel, to me." He plucks a knight and angles it down into a threatening position on the lower board, curious to see how this will rearrange things.

"You explained it very clearly, but I see the difficulty it poses. Playing multidimensionally requires a different mindset." Ulysses chuckles, his mouth flashing in time with the sound. "I have an advantage, when it comes to that."

An unspoken degree of privacy has been offered despite how curiously each man regards the other. Spock would take great satisfaction to hear about how this inorganic life form flourishes so readily. He suspects that Ulysses feels a similar desire when it comes to the half Vulcan. But the game is their point of mutual focus and so the queries remain unasked, lingering just out of reach while each observes the board.

"One of the benefits to a multiversal nexus one would surmise is that there should be no shortage of such individuals to observe." Spock says nothing about the move his robed opponent has made, but his gloved fingers still a moment. Take refuge in the steaming mug of tea to offer them warmth while he considers his options.

"Those working in space do have something of an advantage in learning this version." The Vulcan admits with a slow nod. "Even the simplest problems grow exponentially complicated when needing to be performed outside a stable gravity environment." Spock does not play a hasty nor overly aggressive game. He would rather maneuver safely around Ulysses to rework his gambit than to risk the pieces he needs to finish orchestrating his trap. His bishop retreats to a more secure position down onto the main board between them.

"A sort of fly trap for sharp minds and inquisitive natures, you might say. In theory, at least. I haven't adequately sampled the effect in practice- but it does raise questions about the nature of Nexus, don't you think?"

An oblique first foray into the thoughts of his opponent. Ulysses does have all manner of questions in mind- the art is often in choosing how to frame them. Which to ask first.

"You work aboard a ship yourself, don't you? My field of expertise is a little more... esoteric, you might say, but it poses some of the same challenges." He's getting a feel for the man's patience as he maneuvers his pieces. Ulysses isn't quite at the stage of understanding the stratagems in play here, but he already suspects Spock will not be an easy man to bait or distract.

"So one might be lead to surmise. However advanced technological capabilities do not seem to lend one any favor in finding such a place. Much of the amenities seem to be geared toward quite ancient culture by my understanding." There are ever more unanswerable questions about the Nexus and the denizens who frequent it than there are explanations for anything in Jim's reports.

But then, Spock does not have the benefit of Paracausal powers working in his favor. Magic and science are wholly seperate things in Starfleet's universe.

"A research and exploratory vessel, that is correct. I serve as chief science officer aboard the Enterprise-A." And indeed there has been no hesitation in the half-Vulcan's play while they carry on their conversation. Spock moves his pawns into a more favorable arrangement with a steady hand. His gaze stays on the board more than it does his conversation partner.

"I had surmised you were something of a scholar though as to what field of study, I'm afraid I wouldn't know where to begin forming even an educated guess. All I've seen of your people have been your small assistant machines and the vehicles you were using during the jousts."

A Very Nexus Reception

Machine v. Logic

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