Sign Nexus. Sign Area. I Roam Around Around Around

[misslucysleeches]

There's a newcomer to the Nexus today -- a woman in her very early thirties, with bright red hair and a forest-green sweater, sitting on one of the provided couches and looking at travel brochures. She wandered in earlier, and after the obligatory "?!?/can I get back" moment, has decided that she might as well do as the sign asks and ask a question. She spreads out her brochures on a table in front of her and looks up.

"So, random strangers! I'm a wanderer, and I've wandered almost all of the United States. So I think it's time I broke into international travel. Since it's my first time in this regard, I figured I'd at least start out by going to one of the more well-known cities, and see where adventure leads me from there."

She holds up three brochures.

"The question of the day is, then: London, Paris, or Rome?"

Comments

[misslucysleeches]

Lucy's not sure she wants to look, but does anyway. "Yiii. . . So I'm guessing you're a reporter?" she adds. Makes sense with the Spider-Man reference.

[southboundflame]

The printed out pictures show a darkly veiled figure, which looks very small compared to the men who are surrounding her, begging for mercy with uplifted hands before being crushed to earth by a rock, then a taller figure veiled in grey appearing beside her before both vanish.

"Freelance photojournalist," says the blonde. "And she's going to be alright, though she'll never be able to go back to that reality again."

[misslucysleeches]

It's all pretty dark and disturbing stuff. Lucy shivers a little as she looks at it. Poor girl. . .

She nods, then arches an eyebrow. "I'm glad she's going to be all right, but -- reality?" This just took an interesting turn.

[southboundflame]

The blonde groans softly. "You mean you didn't realize this isn't Earth?"

[misslucysleeches]

"I'm new here," is the only defense Lucy can offer. "I guessed this place was 'off the beaten track,' as you might put it, but I'm still getting used to how it works. And you seemed just like me, so I assumed. . ." She shrugs.

[southboundflame]

"Look up," says the blonde gently, knowing that the whales are up there in the sky right now.

[misslucysleeches]

Lucy does so.

And stares for a good minute. "Ooookay then," she says finally, eyes still fixed on the sky. "That's new and different."

[southboundflame]

"And if you look carefully at the sign, you'll notice the green Andalite sitting on it."

[misslucysleeches]

Lucy isn't sure what exactly an Andalite is, besides not of her world, but dutifully looks in that direction anyway. "Wild," she murmurs. "I just paid attention mostly to the fact that a) this was clearly not quite Earth, but there were human/humanish people around and b) the big honking sign stating you should ask a question."

[southboundflame]

"It's a nexus between realities." The blonde lets her slight smile fade as it causes her bruise to ache. "You've stepped into Fairyland."

[misslucysleeches]

"So basically anyone from anywhere can end up here?" Lucy says. "Certainly opens up the travel options. . . Though now I've got to ask if you're from Earth. At least, the sort of Earth I would know."

[southboundflame]

"Anywhere, anywhen, anywhat. I even know of a few clubs made up of alternates of one person. And I've talked to people from books I read as a kid." The blonde nods as she gathers up the rest of her papers and counts them. "I'm from a totally base-line Earth. It doesn't even have any fae or people with unexplainable gifts."

She looks up. "McCrennin Reese. Hi."

[misslucysleeches]

"Seriously? I wonder if I'll see any alternate mes." Lucy looks quite weirded out by the possibility. "Not that I'd mind meeting some of my favorite book or movie characters. . ."

Lucy smiles. "Lucy Leech. I'm from -- well, I guess it's not a base-line Earth, but I would think it's pretty close. . ."

[southboundflame]

"Maybe. We don't all have alternates, and if you stick around here long enough you probably will meet some of those guys." McCrennin rolls her shoulders wearily. "Is it an X-gene positive one?"

[misslucysleeches]

"I guess I'll see." Lucy frowns. "I -- I don't think so. I'd guess it's more something to do with magic. . . Here, let me explain. I've got an unusual gift, but I've yet to meet anyone else who does. At least, anyone who's told me. It's quite possible they're keeping their mouths shut, and given what happened to me when I tried to tell my parents about me, I don't blame them."

[southboundflame]

McCrennin actually chuckles a bit. "Like Gandalf said when I was here last. Anything that someone doesn't understand is magic to them."

[misslucysleeches]

"Or insanity," Lucy says frankly. "My power's not the flashy kind, so I couldn't pull up a decent proof. My attempt at doing so got me committed, in fact."

[southboundflame]

McCrennin winces. "Good thing you're North American."

[misslucysleeches]

"Yeah, but it still wasn't fun," Lucy says, biting her lip as the memories come back. "Especially after they stuck me in solitary and. . .my power got out of my control. . ."

[southboundflame]

More wincing. "Bad stuff?"

[misslucysleeches]

"Really bad," Lucy says, looking at her hands. "I -- my power is to inspire people. You know, like a muse. I snap my fingers or touch somebody, and suddenly they get a brilliant idea of some sort. Problem is, I can't control what they come up with. . .and if I don't use it at least once a day, it starts building up inside of me. When they put me in solitary, I got a massive build-up of energy. So big, in fact, that when they finally let me back out, it all pretty much exploded out of me."

She swallows. "One of the guys I inspired was a recovering pyromaniac."

[southboundflame]

McCrennin's chin trembles as she remembers fires she's seen and been in and thinks what it must feel like to have caused something like that.

"Someone here might be able to help you with that," she says very quietly. "Control, I mean."

[misslucysleeches]

Oh, it was bad. Lucy actually ran away for a few days, terrified of going back to her family in the wake of the disaster. "I'm just glad they were able to get the majority of the people out," she mumbles. "When I think of how bad it COULD have been. . ." Yeah.

"I think I've got it -- I don't let a day go by without giving someone a jolt," she says. "But if somebody's got any tips for me, I'm not going to say no. I'd really prefer to avoid a repeat of that situation."

[southboundflame]

McCrennin's hand goes to a pocket, and then her face lengthens. "This is a situation requiring English mints. And I don't have any more."

[misslucysleeches]

Lucy can't help it -- she laughs. "The offer is appreciated, at any rate."