It's been a long time.

[name_of_thorn]

Walking quietly about the Nexus this evening is a figure that appears to be some sort of elven king, if one were to judge by his elegantly medieval dress, the circlet upon his brow, and his fae grace. Deep blue, runic tattoos cover every inch of skin that shows, from face to neck to hands. Unlike most elves, however, his ears are relatively rounded

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[sarah_branigan]

There's a little girl who is old enough to know better than to gawk at the tattooed man, but stares anyway. He looks like someone from one of her storybooks.

She walks towards him a little, hands tucked into her overall pockets. She shouldn't talk to strangers, but everyone here is a stranger, so...

"You mean how much should you have to give up to help people? I kind of want to be a nurse when I grow up, but my mom says I won't have as much time for my family. I think it's worth it, though." She smiles at the second question. "Is that what this place is? I just got here, so I don't have any memories of it, yet."

[name_of_thorn]

She's only a child, and he smiles slightly and gives her a nod. "Ye have it right. Being a nurse sounds like a noble career. Never been much for any kind of doctoring, myself. This is the Nexus, and as long as ye stay in this area no one can harm ye, but only take food and drink from the kitchen over there." He points it out through the shifting crowds.

[sarah_branigan]

"I want to help people. And you get to see blood and guts. That's pretty neat." This guy seems all right, even though he talks a little funny. She looks in the direction he points. "What happens if you eat food or drink something that doesn't come from there?"

[name_of_thorn]

He looks mildly skeptical over her enthusiasm for gore, but continues to smile weakly. "Strange things can 'appen, like being turned into an animal or another gender or changing your mood. It doesn't always, but it can."

[sarah_branigan]

"I'm not a crybaby," she says defiantly, recognizing that look. It's the same one most adults give her when she talks about blood and guts. Her eyes widen at his explanation. "Really?!" She takes another look around. "Is this place fairyland or something?"

[name_of_thorn]

"Din't say ye were." The poor man looks apologetic and just a little taken aback. "It's not the faery realms, but it's got some things in common with it."

[sarah_branigan]

"Oh. Um. Sorry, Sir," she replies, mollified.

"Wow..." She looks a little anxious, but she just said she wasn't a crybaby, so she tries to hide it. "I asked because in my books, it says you aren't supposed to eat things you find in fairyland. And, well, you sorta look like a fairy prince."

[name_of_thorn]

"It's orright, but I've seen real blood and guts, and just because ye aren't squeamish doesn't mean ye should be excited about it, neither." His tone is very gentle, as he's unsure how to speak to a child about such matters. His own childhood was, after all, a rather swift and ugly education in the cruelty of the world.
Her comment makes him blush faintly. "I am, in a way, but I don't live here anymore, and I wasn't born here."

[sarah_branigan]

"Oh... I don't want people to get hurt," she explains. "I just... I dunno. I think it's interesting." She's not surprised he's seen real blood and guts -- he's probably had to fight dragons and evil wizards.

"Where were you born? Is that why you were asking about people's memories about this place?"

[name_of_thorn]

Thorn has never fought dragons or evil wizards, although he's been friends with some lovely witches. He has seen stonings and the black death, however, and numerous other unpleasant events besides. "Well it's a good thing, wanting to heal people, and I'm glad to hear ye've got the stomach for it."

"I was born in a little kingdom by the sea, in a world ye can reach from 'ere, but I found this place when I was a young man and it saved my life. This is a crossing place of worlds, ye can get to lots of times and places from here. I know plenty about modern things, even though my world doesn't."

[sarah_branigan]

She smiles, appreciating his approval. Maybe the next time an adult tells her being a nurse is a bad idea, she can say that a fairy prince thinks she can do it.

Considering the variety of sentient beings walking around, it's easy for her to believe him. "How did it save your life, to end up here? Are you from a long time ago?"

[name_of_thorn]

He would be amused, to say the least, that he's inspiring such confidence.

"I am, a really long time ago, for you." He has noted the style of her clothing, and is familiar enough with earth history to make a safe guess. "You're probably from what ye call the twentieth century, and I was born in what ye'd call the medieval period. Only it wasn't... as pretty as people in your time sometimes think. I 'ad a really rough time, and I started going down a bad road, not trusting anybody and living by stealing. When I came 'ere I learned there were people who'd be nice just to be nice, and I learned all kinds of things. I wouldn't be the same person at all if I 'adn't found this place."

That, perhaps, is an alternate for another LOL.

[sarah_branigan]

"I am," she confirms. "It seems like a lot of fairies are from the Middle Ages. Or maybe you don't want us to see you anymore." She looks sympathetic as he tells his story, even though she can't relate. Her childhood (or rather, fake memories) is idyllic. "I'm real sorry it was so rough for you."

This is probably the most that she and this Thorn have spoken, weirdly enough.

[name_of_thorn]

The younger Thorn lacks the confidence and vocabulary for this sort of lengthy conversation. "I came out all right, but yes..." A hint of sorrow creeps into his expression. "In my world, at least, the faery and human realms are drawing apart from each other, sealing off the gates, gradually. I live with humans, though, and probably always will."

[sarah_branigan]

That seems to sadden Sarah. "How come? And if you live with humans, does that mean you can't go back to where the fairies live?"

[name_of_thorn]

"Have ye ever heard of a changeling? I'm... sort of one of those. I've always lived around humans, and never really been welcome in the fae realm. I can guess at a lot of reasons the worlds are separating, but I don't know for sure. I only know the real reason in me own kingdom, and it's my fault there." He has been resisting the urge to bend down to her level, but he tires of standing looking down, and drops easily to a crouch, so that his own head level is slightly below hers.