abraxaslogs | april catch all

Really? They dumped all of it just to send a message?

[ He'd meant to comment on tea varieties first, but hearing this gets a laugh from him as he tries to picture this happening in Derdriu and the seas abruptly turning into tea or something equally fanciful that brief description brings to mind. ]

I'm happy to report my feelings on any particular tea nor any other country are quite so strong as to demand that, interesting as it sounds. My tastes have always leaned a little more towards the herbal side, I suppose, considering my other favorite tea is chamomile. If she's not already told you, Hilda likes both floral and fruit teas, though.

[ Hopefully a helpful tip for the next time the two women get together, anyway. Claude looks back at his own tea cup then curiously as he remembers the ingredients. ]

This one you've made, however, is quite nice. Should you ever make it in person, I'd love to pick up some you've made on one of the weekends Nocwich is open to us all, and I'm happy to pay for it too since

[ Claire laughs, not at him but because yes, it's absolutely ridiculous. Nodding, she finishes her tea and sits back comfortably still smiling. ]

There's quite a lot more that went into it, one country trying to move out from under the thumb of another. And eventually, another war I'll see.

[ She still smiles, but it's a sort of resigned one, tired around the edges and laced with frustration. Now that John's arrived she knows: another war Jamie will have to fight, for nearly identical reasons he fought against the Redcoats before. Except this time he'll have to fight with them, if they want to keep their land. What a fucking mess; it's easier to talk about tea in the harbor. ]

I believe herbal teas are certainly the most calming and what I drink the most. They're easy to administer medicine through, especially with enough honey if someone needs it. Plus, the honey is helpful in bringing down inflammation, so it doubles as a good thing.

[ His compliment is more appreciated than he thinks; she doesn't always need to make rounds for medical things, and it's how she's used to helping. If she can create something else that others enjoy then it might feel even more like home, here. She doesn't pause to think about whether or not she should be inviting that feeling. Claire does wave him off about paying, though. ]

You'll keep your money and anything worth trading, and I'll be sure to have something for you when Nocwich opens. We can meet and perhaps try someone else's tea-making abilities at one of the cafes.

[ The mention of another war sobers him a little, if only because it brings to mind what Louis said about multiple wars consuming his world and echoes Fodlan within it, too. Hopefully what she's bound to experience - since he'd caught that implication - is nothing quite like either.

Tea's distracting enough and likely a better conversation topic to focus on all around, even if Claire says not to pay for it. That gets a light smile from him, even as he's considering what to bring from Cadens to share regardless as he's done with Wanda on each of those visits. ]

You're in luck when it comes to the cafes in Nocwich's square. There's several good blends I haven't seen around Cadens and the cafes are rather nice themselves. I'm sure that'll be the case even more so now that the place won't be set up as an infirmary for all of us.

[ That's said as lightly as ever to gloss right on over recent events much like he's been doing consistently here and there, what with a mention and not much else to follow. No need to stress others out over something they'd all rather not think about, or so it goes in his logic even if it might be on the faulty side. The mention of medicine gets another grin from him before he finishes the remaining tea in his cup. ]

I wouldn't mind learning more about what all can be done with the teas here on the medicine side of things if that would be a better trade to make. Botany's become a recent interest of mine when it comes to the healing part of it, and I could bring some of my notes on what's available where I am if you'd like them for your use, too.

I didn't get much of an opportunity to see what's available, and unfortunately, my first time in Nocwich when I arrived, I was still in shock and I'm not sure I processed much. It will be nice to see it as it should be, and without being worried about anything else.

[ Claire's very good with glossing over, and so she does and keeps moving along with him. Especially when he says he'd like to learn. ]

Oh, I would very much enjoy teaching you, if you really would like to learn.

[ Grinning like a nerd, because yes to plants, she can't help but nod at wanting to see his notes. ]

In the time I was living, this was the only way healers could reliably keep track of what worked and what didn't: sharing notes with one another. I learn new things every day from the most unlikely places or people. You never know what might come in useful. Did you know you can use spider webs to pack wounds because they're naturally antiseptic and antifungal, for instance? Because I certainly hadn't until I read through someone else's notes.

That's fair, [ is what he murmurs first in response to being in shock in Nocwich. There'd been much to take in - even before not long ago the square had looked like something else entirely on top of everything about arriving in Abraxas. No need to say as much aloud in his mind since they both know it well, so it's easy to brighten again at her confirmation about teaching.

The same goes for the offer to share notes too, complete with a preview of some information to come that gets a wider grin from him. ]

I hadn't the slightest, no. That's the sort of thing that would've been useful to know on a battlefield when a mage wasn't nearby or while camping, given that spiderwebs can be found just about everywhere. My own healing magic leaves much to be desired, so anything you can teach me to supplement that I'd be grateful for knowing and I'd be happy to trade what I know for it.

[ Which, on another note, also reminds him of something else. ]

Speaking of magic, I'm supposed to be teaching someone I know in Thorne a spell from home on the next weekend in Nocwich. It's the first time of teaching someone not from Fodlan so if we're able to get it to work, I'd be happy to teach it to you, too. We have some textbooks in the monastery that can give you the basics before the practicing part comes into play.

[ Claire has been genuinely enjoying their conversation, but she absolutely lights up at the idea of being taught. ]

You've no idea how eager I am to explore magic more thoroughly now that I have a touch of my own. I feel a bit like a rebel, seeing as how my own world would never believe in the majority of things happening here.

[ Already, she's making a mental list of everything that would be helpful in the event there's ever a surge of injured again. ]

Using modern, herbal, and magical healing should be a trifecta that gets us through most things, I would hope. By all of our abilities combined, perhaps we'll finally have some sort of leg up on disaster.

A touch of your own, meaning something you... have now but you didn't before? [ That's the best way he knows how to summarize those abilities some of them seem to have been granted, himself included with something that feels like it should be adjacent to magic from home but isn't. ] I've heard of others who've had the same happen though I can't say I know much about what or how in particular they seem to be... well, bestowed, for lack of a better word. My only theory is something with the Singularity but that's not much to go on.

[ Which is to say: the theory starts and stops there, but maybe others know more. Maybe Solvunn knows more after all of their deeper ties to the gods of Abraxas have come to light recently. It's something worth looking into, Claude thinks, even if he doesn't quite know where to start.

The mention of using all of those abilities - from home or otherwise - gets another smile from him. It's the sort of enthusiasm (and planning) he appreciates, and that makes it all the easier to nod in agreement. ]

I would say I hope nothing like this happens again, but I've lived through too many strange events even before coming here to have much faith in that. The best we can do is be prepared the best ways we know how and continue working together. Fortunately, it does seem the Summoned all agree on that last point. I'm happy to also share what few spells I can, though if you'd like to learn more in depth ones it'd be worth seeking Sylvain - tall red headed guy usually on a horse if he's roaming around the Horizon - out. He's far more adept at the healing ones than I am.

[ Claire nods and rises even as she's listening to him, and grabs a small starter pot of dirt and a package of seeds. As she's returning, she replies. ]

I don't understand it, or even know quite when it happened. I agree with your theory, though, from what little I know and understand. The Singularity seems to be the one main thing no one seems to be able to tell me anything about.

[ Pushing seeds into the dirt, Claire sets the pot on the table between them, beside her teacup. ] I was outside working in the garden and put my hand down to balance myself as I reached for something. When I looked back, the seed had already sprouted. [ Pressing her fingertips to the soil, it takes about five seconds, but slowly a tiny bud emerges and two leaves pop out with a flourish. ] It stops there, but others seem to think with practice I might be able to do more.

[ She looks excited at the prospect and brushes her fingers off, finding herself yet again nodding to Claude's words. ]

I understand. It unfortunately took my seeing what those events can be to realize magic is an incredible tool. I didn't think it was something teachable, honestly.

[ He means to watch closely as Claire works with the seeds as curiosity gets the better of him - what better than a demonstration? - though he looks up at her occasionally. ]

I think that's partially because no one can agree what the Singularity is. Hell, even the nations can't. I don't agree with the Free Cities' stance on destroying it since that seems like it'd disrupt too much, but maybe they know something we don't. Or maybe the Acolytes know something we don't.

[ Claude's happier not knowing anything about them, specifically, or wherever they're jailed. What's yet to come with the execution being murmured about will only solidify that in his mind, but for now, and where he doesn't know any of that, he leans forward again to watch as the seeds abruptly turn into seedlings. ]

That's fascinating. [ Her excitement is catching, and Claude reaches out to brush one of the leaves with a fingertip tentatively to not damage it accidentally. There's so many possibilities there, and he nods at the mention of practice. ] How you found your ability sounds a lot like how I found mine: by accident. It's not the same but practice did help me refine it after a while, so I'd say this could certainly be the same. You might be able to grow a garden before too long.

[ A grin crosses his face since he's fully teasing, but: ] Unfortunately I can't promise anything quite so thrilling in the way of magic there, but I might also be able to teach you wind spells. They're mostly meant to damage but they could also come in handy on a day when there's warm weather.

[ There's the creeping feeling that if the Singularity is destroyed, they might all be destroyed along with it, or at least the magic will fail and then what? It's better not to think about it now. Instead, she's happy to focus on the magic. ]

Wouldn't that be something? To be able to grow things without worrying over harsh winters or droughts?

[ Her thoughts creep back to the discord among the factions and thinks if there's ever a crisis and food is cut off, this will come in very useful. 'Wind spells' pulls her thought back and she laughs with delight. ]

I'll use that one when I'm toiling away outside on the things I can't make go a bit faster just yet. With the right amount though, that wind could become a tornado, so I see where it might be useful defensively. Honestly, nothing to sneeze at.

[ Her tone is light, too delighted with the turn in their conversation. ]

The things I know aren't magical, but I'm always happy to pass on medical or plant knowledge.

It would. It's difficult not to only think of the hot and dry climate of Cadens and what seems like the rest of the Free Cities, but also where I came from. Being able to stabilize the output from fields in the form of guaranteed crops would make such a difference.

[ Something to consider in terms of his own gardening projects here in Abraxas that'd been placed on hold when it came to the larger, broader goals - though to be able to do it with such ease as Claire's demonstrated seems unlikely without several years of study at an academy... and one likely outside of the Free Cities which seems even less likely. Better to focus on controlling the wind since her enthusiasm is contagious once again. ]

One of the spells I know involves conjuring several small or one large wind blade and I'd imagine it makes a good substitute for harvesting crops without a scythe. Of course, I also used it to help someone jump across a gap in the floor in a collapsing building here, so in the spirit of experimenting there's probably even more yet to use it for.

[ And since she was kind enough to provide a demonstration, it's easy to do the same as Claude lifts a hand for the lesser spell. With the sigils called to mind a light breeze is called forth with only enough strength to lightly rustle the plant's leaves. ]

I didn't know any magic until I attended the academy. I'm not sure I would've ever known it otherwise, and I've heard others say the same about the magic here. That's all the more reason to take advantage of what we can learn from each other since medicine isn't something I would've known without meeting you or Nadine. [ And with a half smile as he lets the spell go to fade into stillness again, ] I think that's a good trade for all of us.

In many parts of the world for me, as well. During and after war typically comes famine. At least up to a certain point in history so far, and even then, still in certain places.

[ Money, gender, location in the world, and more all walk (an unfortunate, awful) a fine line between the haves and havenots.

His creative use of magic makes her chuckle under her breath. ] I won't be leaping across large gaps anytime soon—I should hope—and my joints will thank me for it.

[ Then she pays rapt attention to the use of his magic. Every person she's watched demonstrate their ability has captured her attention, because it's absolutely incredible to her. And the fact that she can learn with focus and study is even more astounding. Magic isn't all about human sacrifice after all. Take that, Geillis Duncan. ]

You certainly give me hope for learning more, then. Even if it's slow going, it's something to work toward. Thank you for showing me some of what you're capable of, I can see with power behind it, that would be a time and energy saver.

[ Claire smiles at the mention of Nadine, and then she's smiling at Claude's words. ]

I agree. It may sound very school-teacher of me, but knowledge is power, truly. Trust someone who traveled back in time and lost two-hundred years' worth of discoveries based on knowledge.

War does terrible things no matter where it lands, and whether one's on the 'winning' side or those who lost even more.

[ Graveness seeps into his tone there since he's in full agreement: what havoc war wreaks upon the lands where it takes place is terrible with so few - if any - exceptions. This isn't lost on him despite being on the victorious side of the one he'd lived through considering there's so much to be done and the former Empire and Kingdom have much rebuilding to do.

It's not something either of them would prefer to dwell on, he's sure, so it's easy enough to shift back to magic and the matter of knowledge. ]

Truthfully, I don't think I want to use magic to jump across anything any time soon either. I'm just glad Steve was up for it since I was happier crawling around the exterior of the building to find a way over and in to where he was.

[ That's another tangent, so with a slight wave of his had as though to brush the thought away he adds, ] And of course. Hilda and Sylvain - someone else from Fodlan - both know other spells that I'm sure they'd be happy to show you, too. None of us were proper mages, or at least I know I wasn't, but whatever we can pass on that'll be useful to someone else is something I feel secure in volunteering them to do. From what I've heard from others who've also traveled back in time in coming here, relatively speaking, it can't replace having what you're familiar with, but hopefully it'll serve as something to help nonetheless.

Any sort of reference point is helpful. I don't know what I thought time travel was, but I have to admit magic didn't cross my mind. Or it did, but it wasn't the word 'magic' that I thought of, then.

[ She shakes her head as if that will make her words more clear. ]

I'm rambling now. I've picked Hilda's brain a bit, and others have been quite gracious with sharing knowledge. Hopefully, by the next time we speak, I'll have a little more confidence surrounding...well. Everything.

[ Claire gives him a warm smile, finishing up her tea and tipping the cup back as she does. ]

To be fair, time travel's still such a strange concept to me I'm not sure I would've called it magic either. The same can be said about the Summoning ritual and how it's managed to bring us all here, but that might be getting a little too far away from the topic.

[ Tangent or not, they have a good start here. A very good one, really, and that's all the more exciting for what's yet to come between everything discussed yet and what he's sure will happen again when they do get into possible magic lessons or the comparison of what else they know from both home and here.

Even with time in the Horizon passing differently - to him, at least - it's been a while for someone who almost literally stumbled in to somewhere he didn't know and made himself at home. Claude finishes the rest of his tea as well and sets the cup back down. ]

I've taken up enough of your time for today, I think, but I have to thank you both for the hospitality and the tea. It's been a pleasure, and I'll be back sometime soon to bring the books by as promised. The confidence will come in time, I promise.

[ A smile goes with that last part since - he means it, whether it's with magic, adjusting to suddenly being in Abraxas, or anything in between. After a moment's debate he holds out a hand for a handshake, and then he's on his way. ]

april catch all

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some of my tags apparently wound up in an au inbox somewhere i'm sorry!

no worries at all!! also i'm so sorry about the unfinished sentence IDK I EVEN DID THERE

fkaljfdlf IT HAPPENS!

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a wrap up soon, perhaps?

absolutely, it's a wrap!