Open Log + Closed Prompt

[a_better_man]

Who: Mat Cauthon, Jaskier, & Open
When: January
Where: Caste Thorne, Horizon
What: Late January catch-all with open and closed prompts
Warnings: Will add where needed



[OOC: Specific prompts in comments below! If you want to do something else, hit me up and I can throw up a starter! Or just toss one at me.]

Comments

[thedevilwhorose]

"I'm trying to get in with the guards through offering training, though that likely will take time." It's fatalistic maybe to think that it'll take more time than he thinks they have. "At the moment I believe the heat for any suspicious actions, regardless of what they are, will come down on Istredd's or my head. Always blame the figureheads."

The amount of things that have changed since the last time him and Mat talked, before the negotiations.

He picks up one of the bows, playing around with the weight of it in his grip. He's always preferred blades.

For as much as Lucifer would protect Kell over Mat, they're in the thick of it now. Whatever happens from their meeting, whatever thread they lose control of, and Istredd takes the brunt. Lucifer's just refused to let him do it alone. Which. Is really just. Really grating.

[a_better_man]

"Mmm, somewhat reassuring but I'm not hearing any ideas about how I'm to gather materials and make in secret a number of deadly weapons and their ammunition. So I assume that bit will be left to me to figure out?"

Well, not impossible, Mat's clever and he's certainly done things in secret before.

"Because while the brunt may come down on you or my magic tutor, that doesn't mean it won't come down on us all in some way." He's seen how Thorne responds to threats. It's not in what he'd call a rational way.

"How many bows were you seeing me craft?"

Blood and ashes, there's so many things to think about, if he commits to doing it. Maybe he's being an idiot, maybe he ought to forget about the whole thing. What would he even be risking his hide for?

[thedevilwhorose]

"I can gather the materials from one of the hunting grounds; whether it be Thorne's or Nocwich, but Nocwich may actually be easier. You'd know more than I would how closely they watch the trails, but who knows how much they'd care if you're 'making instruments.'" The problem is how much could they reasonably bring in to actually make a handful of bows and also make some kind of instrument to fuel the lie.

"If you have a reason to visit people's rooms for however long it takes to make a bow, you could just leave it safely there. They haven't searched rooms yet, far as I know. And if it's only a couple," at least at first, "I think we could get away with it. Right under their noses."

He tilts his head. "The real question is, what do you want for this endeavor?"

[a_better_man]

"It's no secret I like to sleep around." Mat shrugs. "It's not unusual for me to spend a few hours behind a closed door in someone else's room. Wouldn't be suspicious."

He's presented himself a certain way, a rather foolish young man mostly concerned with having a good time. He likes to be seen that way. Always good to be underestimated, then no one's paying as close attention as they ought. Like now.

Of course he just assumes they aren't watching him that closely. He's done all he can to give them no reason to.

"And I'd say a reasonable expectation of safety, but I'm not an idiot. It's fine, I don't want anything from you." He shakes his head and lifts a hand. Things are different now, even though it's only been a month or so since Lucifer first brought up the idea.

Still.

Things are different now.

[thedevilwhorose]

"Ah."

Lucifer was not actually aware of Mat's... habits. Involving other people.

He hardly pays attention to rumors involving himself, which are incorrect, let alone that of the other Summoned. How much stock could he put into it, really, if everyone thought him and Istredd were sleeping together?

"Well," he's going to just try and skip by his open surprise, "that's as good a cover as anything."

He did expect there to be something Mat wanted though. Maybe the time on the boat, or even the meeting Istredd had organized, had changed some things, as they hoped it would.

[a_better_man]

"There's no shame in it. I enjoy my fun!" Mat simply smiles, as shameless as he claims to be. He likes to fuck, and he has ample opportunity to. It's nothing he's made any attempt to hide.

"And it is a good cover, that explains lengthy stays and any odd noises and me coming out of it sweating and tired." Bow making isn't exactly easy work, it's hard labor.

Mat's cautious agreement stems from one thing, really. If he's not in a position to defend and help himself, he's entirely certain Jesper really will try and storm the castle to rescue him one of these days. Though the meeting they'd all had... it had opened his eyes to the fact that despite his low profile, he likely was in some form of danger. He'd already offered archery classes there, may as well jump in with both feet.

He rather feels as though he's going to get fucked either way, might as well try and do the right thing for once.

[thedevilwhorose]

You do you, man.

"It's more safety than I could provide you." Mat may have the best chance at having cover than any of them would. "So, you get the cut wood beforehand. That's the biggest time drawback. You said otherwise it wouldn't take you many days... but it's something to spread out over time to keep the suspicion down. Ideally a few for those that aren't strong in magic or physical combat. Something to give maybe some advantage."

He taps the bow against his hip. "Can the wood get 'too dry'? Or rather, does it have to be used at a certain point, or can it just be collected, worked on, and ready until needed?"

[a_better_man]

"Leave it out long enough, yeah, but it takes well over a year so I don't imagine we need to worry about it. If it stiffens up you just wet it some and rework it." Mat shrugs one shoulder. He's clearly not concerned about that.

"It'd just be the getting it into the castle in the amount we'd need. Could start with just one, and see how it goes. Don't need too much wood for one bow."

And one weapon is likely a lesser offence than say five weapons. One is a project. Five is the start of a stockpile.