A Crossroads Between Realities

*He tries to think. What was it like before the cave, again? What was his grandmother's house like, that day he went fishing with Deagol?* . . . cozy. Wood and stone. Pond. Tree. Hillssside, yes.

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[the employee seems a little surprised, but gamely considers the question and Smeagol's list] I know there's some apartment blocks not too far from here. . .though it doesn't sound like that's quite what you're looking for. But it would be a good place to start. The Nexus being what it is, there's a lot of random architecture down by that way, so there might be something more like what you would want nearby -- and I know there's a lake.

[Victor smiles] Oh good! Yes, that does sound like where we should start looking. Thank you very much!

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Lake? I, I think Smeagol would like a lake. If there are houses by a lake we will take one.

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[Victor, nodding] It does sound nice, doesn't it? Where is the lake?

[the employee] A little south of here, going, about -- thataway? [he points in the general direction they need to go] It's hard to tell distances with the Nexus -- stuff kind of just pops up if you walk toward it expecting it to be there.

[Alice, smirking] A phenomenon I know well. At least that guarantees we'll get there.

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Can nice Men carry ssso much? I can't, we're small.

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[Victor, blinking] Carry -- ah, yes, we came here for furniture. . .

[the employee, trying to hide a smile] You started looking at furniture before finding a house?

[Alice, turning pink] In our defense, he mentioned the chair first. Don't worry, he had no intentions of trying to live in your store.

[the employee, still amused] Well, we do deliver, if you want to find the house and then finalize your furniture choices.

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Very kind he isss. Beach now?

*He may be 600, but the amount of time he spent alone has really degraded his ability to adult properly.*

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[Victor nods to him] We can certainly seek out the nearest beach.

[Alice, to the employee] Thanks for your patience. I'm sure we'll be figuring out our order soon enough.

[the employee] It's fine -- you guys aren't nearly the weirdest thing I've seen today. Or in a long time, honestly.

[Alice chuckles] Oh, I'm sure.

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*Happily, there appear to be a couple of small cabins by the side of this unlikely beach. Smeagol goes with the left one at random.* Mine now? *Without waiting for an answer he climbs in through a window. Apparently it is indeed his now, because good luck trying to budge him.*

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[Well, that's the Nexus for you -- unlikely doesn't have much meaning in this world. Though even Victor and Alice would say this is pretty convenient. But the Nexus is often that too.]

[Smeagol just climbing in through the cabin window startles them -- fortunately, it isn't answered by someone shouting and trying to throw him out. Victor tries the door, and finds it opens into a slightly dusty and very empty room] Doesn't look like it's been claimed. . .

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*It's delightfully convenient, isn't it?*

All dussst, yes. *Although if it had been claimed he might have tried to take it anyway. He can be a greedy little wretch when it suits him, and right now this place suits him very well.* Wonder where the people went, we does.

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[Extremely -- except when it isn't. Because -- well, Nexus.]

[Victor pokes around a bit, running his fingers through the dust] I'm not sure. Perhaps they just didn't like lake living?

[Alice, frowning] Honestly, given the state of the place, I think the house has been empty for quite a while. Maybe nobody claimed it at all when it first appeared.

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*The Nexus is odd like that, yes.*

Is ours now, my love. *And so it will stay, since things that were once his belonging to other people is somewhere between traumatic and outside his worldview at this point.*

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[Victor nods, looking around] It certainly looks like it'll suit.

[Alice hums in agreement] It's cozy. Though it'll be cozier once it has a few more things in it.

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More things, yesss. Go to get things now, will we?

Edited Date: 2020-01-26 05:51 am (UTC)

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[Alice, ticking things off on her fingers] Well, you seem to have found a bed and a chair you like. . .and this house should already have a toilet and a way to bathe. . . [though it might behoove them to check, just in case]

[Victor] What about the kitchen?

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Sssee if it has an oven, my love?

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[Victor will go check while Alice goes to make sure there's a bathroom] Looks like it! There's a fridge here too. [he pokes a hand in] Working, good. . . [not that he knows how this place has electricity, but -- he won't question it]

[Alice returns from her trip through a nearby door] Toilet, sink, and bathtub in there, so that's sorted.

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*Arda is still a strange mix of iron age, middle ages and early 1800s, so this is rather going over his head.* Time to get our bed? Smeagol's tired, oh yes. We'll be some time recovering yet, yes we will.

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[Alice looks at Victor] I think so. The bed and chair do seem to be the only other big things he needs. Well, along with food, but. . . [she looks at the pond, then at Smeagol] Still planning on catching your own?

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Unless you is bringing it for us?

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[Alice smirks slightly] I don't think we'll always be around when you're hungry, unfortunately.

[Victor] But we can at least help you get the bed and the chair moved in.

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We didn't think ssso.

Bed, yes. Smeagol thinks that he likes bedses.

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