A Crossroads Between Realities

[Victor and Alice both shudder, with Victor saying] I wouldn't want to meet whoever was worse than her either. I don't mind spiders if they're small, but. . .

[Alice, shaking her head] I think Shelob was a spider to be minded. And avoided. You're lucky she didn't consider you a decent meal. . .

[she frowns as he continues] You know, you'd think he'd realize calling you names while you were leading them somewhere probably wouldn't be the wisest course of action.

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But She was anything but sssmall, yesss.

Stupid little hobbitses, they never learn anything. That one leassst of all.

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[Victor, making a weak joke] Rather more than cat-sized too, I'm imagining.

[Alice, shaking her head] Honestly, a cat-sized spider would have been bad enough. . .and it doesn't sound like he had much in the way of brain. Always be polite to the person who knows the area better than you do.

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Far more.

Ssshould have left that one in the Dead Marshes, yes. What's one more body on an old battlefield? Smeagol isss too nice.

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[Alice shrugs] Well, nothing to do about it now. You're here, and he's there. At least you shan't see him again.

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Better if we never meet again, yesss. True of everyone from home, that, even nice Frodo. He meant well, but it still ended bad.

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[Alice, thoughtfully] Road to hell paved with good intentions and all that. . .but if he was nice, he shouldn't begrudge you a fresh start.

[Victor nods] The past is prologue, as Dad might say. Time to look toward the future.

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He was the only one who wouldn't. People are good at grudges, my love. Gollum deserveses worse, he doesss! But not poor Smeagol.

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[Alice, frowning] Oh, you don't need to tell us that people are good at grudges. I still hold one against those two bloody orderlies in Rutledge who tormented me so, even now that they're past the point where they can ever do so again.

[Victor] And on the other side, I don't think Barbara Porter ever forgave me for what she thought was a clumsy attempt at a pass. . . [shakes his head] Again, you're away from all that. Let's see if we can get those sunglasses.

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*Sunglasses is definitely a better topic, so off they go.*

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[A little walking brings them to a section dedicated to accessories -- and there's a whole rotating rack of sunglasses standing among all the rest. The styles are -- varied, to say the least. Alice gives it a little spin, looking at what's on display] Something for just about everyone!

[Victor, with a glance at Smeagol] Probably just plain black would do best in this case.

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*There is absolutely nothing that can make sunglasses look good on Smeagol, and he's at least somewhat aware of that fact, so he'll let them choose.*

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[He's certainly not going to look good in the classic solid black shades. . .or aviators. . .Victor finds a rather nice pair with smoky black lenses in a plain metal frame and offers them to Smeagol to try on]

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*Probably about the best they're going to get.* That is much more easy on our poor eyeses, my love. No more nasssty brightness.

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[Victor smiles] Good, I'm glad! Most everything is probably too bright when you've spent so much time in caves and darkness.

[Alice ticks things off on her fingers] All right, sunglasses, clothes. . .now for the chair, I think.

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Chair, yesss! But where will Smeagol put it? Home cannot be reached any longer.

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[Alice blinks] That's -- a good point. But I'm pretty sure I've heard of places to live in the Nexus. . .of course, we'd have to find one that allows people to stay for free.

[Victor looks around, making a joke] Honestly, with how big this place is, you could probably live in here if you were careful about it.

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Too many people here. *Said with all seriousness, since for all he knows people live here already. The Nexus is more than odd enough for that.*

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[Victor is willing to take it seriously, though for a different reason] That's true -- who knows how busy this store can get. And that's not even counting the employees, who might object to someone living in their store. . .

[Alice, thinking] Maybe there's an unclaimed spot where you could set up a home of sorts? Not in here, but in the Nexus in general. It has a little of everything, after all. . .

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We will look, once this isss done.

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[Victor nods] All right then. . .I should check my little welcome kit too. It's from ages ago, but -- maybe there's still some relevant information.

[Alice is thinking more practically] Perhaps we should see about a tent? It's sort of a house on the go -- at the very least, you'd have something over your head until you found a more permanent dwelling.

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Tentses? We don't know about those. *Which goes to show just how miserable his life must have been, not to mention how uncomfortable the Quest was for everyone.*

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[Alice, a little startled] Really? Not even when you were being pulled along on the quest with the two hobbits? Huh. . . Well, it's basically a big cloth over a frame that you put up, and it gives you some shelter from the elements. Not as sturdy as a cave, admittedly, but it's good if you're on the go.

[Victor] Plus this is the Nexus. There might be magical tents that won't move in the strongest gale, or have multiple rooms inside them, or things like that. I've learned to expect just about anything from this place.

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We had no frames. Cloth, a bit, but nothing to put it on. Hobbitses slept on their cloakses while Smeagol went sssneaking.

Odd place it isss, yes.

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