Nam Propter Irrumabo

[jessie]

The garden, as always, was like a reflection of heaven itself. Tranquil and misty, the smell of flowers made one drowsy. Sunlight glittered through the gaps in the leaves, and the shadow of the church was not an intimidating thing. These plants had heard many secrets, of course they had. They listen well, and they can't condemn. And if nothing weighs heavy on you, then it's at least a beautiful sight.

This picturesque image remained, day in, day out. Except for this day, as a portal ripped open in the midst of it all, spitting out a young man.

As soon as he touched down he turned heel and hurled himself back at it, but it closed in his face. "Futuere tu fragmen stercore!" He snarled, to nothing, utterly livid. Immediately, with no delay, his priorities fell in place as he began examining his surroundings. His quick movements were like that of a frightened squirrel, but his steel gaze betrayed he was completely present.

[Monolilith]

And... well...

Here comes a man carrying a slumbering baby, from out of the chapel. He seems to have been praying, given his solemn expression and down-turned features. He seems the worldweary type, face stubbly and jacket worn. But that doesn't make him immune to surprise - surprises such as other men tumbling from portals, swearing in Latin, and investigating an innocent church garden.

Uh?

He can't even say anything. He just stares at the newcomer with big, baby blue eyes as his brother yawns, waves a pudgy fist in said stranger's direction, and curls tighter against his chest.

[jessie]

The young man saw the duo, he definitely did, but his eyes skipped over them as if they were just another tree in this garden. Finally, he seemed to be satisfied with looking, resigning himself to just sigh and comb through his hair with his fingers.

He tapped his foot a couple times, thinking. Or maybe trying to remember. He reached down and pulled a pocketknife out of his boot, then nicked himself enough to draw blood. Dude, he doesn't care whatsoever about whoever's watching, holy crap.

[Monolilith]

Of course the bedraggled man squeaks in surprise, jerking back some - to his brother's irritation. "S-sir! What are you doing, and are you - entirely sure doing it on church grounds is wise?!"

The words are out before he can really control them, as per norm. They're said with due meekness and due respect, and certainly not without fear. But he does linger, that fear simmering to a somewhat unnerved fascination.

[jessie]

He would keep ignoring, but that was a bit too funny to not dignify response. "Yeah, alright, as if I have given a single crap about the church in my life." He shook his head, wryly smiling. Reluctant pause, smile fades. "Aaaactually, good point."

In an attempt to protect himself from the one who'd thrown him in here in the first place, he'd put some walls up. Momentarily forgetting he'd cut himself, he dismantled said walls and reached out.

Which was a mistake. Like, a really bad mistake. Good god, what was this place? It was, just, huge, too much, much too much. He put the walls back up as soon as possible, suddenly winded. He sunk down to his haunches and covered his head with his arms, as if that would help at all. He said something, but it was inaudible, and maybe it wasn't even words.

[Monolilith]

His eyes go big, and he squeaks, drawing back a bit. "Sir? Are you... Do you need help?"

He can't help but glance between the stranger and the baby, at this point Black hair, absurdly pale, what he... thinks are red eyes... and minor evidence of necrotic powers. It's a bit unnerving. The... uh, scent they give is similar, too... but buried deep. Is something...?

"... My name is Ysengrim."

[jessie]

He took a quick minute to recover, dragging his hands over his face. He rolled back onto his feet easily. Today was really sucking so far. He didn't feel as if his luck was going to turn any time soon, either.

"Yeah, 's real helpful and interesting information." Ysengrim was being quite polite, but he sure as hell wasn't gonna be. "Sure, you can help me. You could tell me where exactly," gestured to the everything with a sweep of his hand, "this, is." He held where he'd cut himself, tamping the bloodflow. New assessments told him that might be a bad move at this juncture.

[Monolilith]

He blinks. Then, much like a canine might, he tilts his head. Those innocent, confused eyes only build on the effect, making him seem like something between a puppy and an idiot. For anyone but this stranger, it'd probably be quite endearing... though it's rather out of place against his harrowed, exhausted appearance. Quite out of place.

"... This is Nexus Island. Wherever you came from, you... won't have a good time getting back to it, if it's even possible to. I don't think it is. People get yanked in from all over... Uh, you're in the capital. Void City. It's really, really big. Excessively big."

[jessie]

The look jilts him, he takes it as an insult. Is this guy, this Ysengrim, making fun of him? Really? And then he has to process the information, and good god, if looks could kill.

"Oh, that's great! That's real great, good timing on that one. Literally! In the middle of a case. Nah, f- screw it. Gotten out of worst straits! Got through that stuff, I can get off this crappy island." He hates that he still stops himself from cussing in front of kids. Mental blocks.

[Monolilith]

A long, frightful beat. And... Ysen shakes his head.

"No, sir. I've heard of dimensional entities with power beyond comprehension trying to get off - it - it's impossible. They just, caused a temporary power swap across the island. It was havoc. I arrived right when it started... the point is, you... you're stuck here, I think."

He takes a preemptive step back.

[jessie]

"Listen, kid," this Ysengrim is visibly years older than him, and would still be even if he looked his age, but okay call him kid why don't you. "Impossible just isn't in my vocabulary. There's been lots of stuff that was said couldn't be done, and then ended up being done. They said you couldn't sink the Titanic, they said the Earth couldn't revolve around the sun, they said Loops were immortal. Well hey, guess what."

He doesn't stop moving as he talks, not even for a second, not even for emphasis. He paces or he gesticulates, seeming antsy. "I have gotten out of worse situations, like take my word for it. If anyone can find a way out of here, it's me. I haven't read up on gravitational anchors or rift theory or uh, dimensional, whatever, in a while, but it'll come back to me. This might be the same principle as mirror magistry..." And now the gears are turning.

[Monolilith]

"... 'kay."

That's all he says. Just... 'kay. And he stands there, shifting for a while. Looking around. For no clear reason, the baby in his arms punches his sternum, then falls asleep. And he blinks with an idea shortly after.

"I mean, you... don't seem the type to want help, but, my, dad knows a thing or two. About the island. He's a reputable source. You're kind of an ass, so he won't, help-help you? But you could... i dunno... threaten information out of him." He swallows, hard.

[jessie]

He laughs at that, more lighthearted now that he knows he can get out of this as he's weaseled his way out previous problems. "Me, an ass? No way! I've never heard that particular interpretation of myself, I had no idea I came off as an ass. This is changing my whole worldview, right now."

His fingertips are stained with his own blood, the wound having stopped flowing. He rakes those same fingers through his hair, curls bouncing back into place. "Threatening isn't generally my style, but it would probably be wise to go see this dad of yours anyways. I mean, it's not like I have any other leads! And..."

He's gonna kick himself for saying this. "And, if, when, I make my way out, I'd be willing to let you tag along. If you're up for it...?" Eyes flick over the slumbering baby.

[Monolilith]

He blinks. Abruptly, he seems... less threatened. Less afraid. Like a goal is all it takes. His voice goes back down to a normal range (deep and scratchy), even.

"Of course I would be. That's MY dad. You could never find him alone, anyway -"

He shifts the baby to one arm, and pulls from inside his jacket... a business card.

"Takes his confidance."

[jessie]

"Confidance, huh?" Taking the card, he looks over the inscription, then flips it over to make sure there's nothing on the back.

And now he's torn between, being irritated with what looks like some burgeoning cryptic nonsense, or being real excited about it. Cause oh boy, did he love himself some cryptic nonsense, but did he even have the energy for that shit right now?

Yeah, okay, yes, he did. He definitely did.

He flicks the card between his thumb and index. "So, is there like- how's this work, exactly? Do I need to say anything special, or?" He's grinning, just joking. Just keeping tabs, but, he still hasn't even told Ysengrim his name yet.