abraxaslogs | WELCOME TO SOLVUNN!

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WELCOME TO SOLVUNN!

WELCOME TO SOLVUNN!

Welcome to Solvunn! Bright suns and merriest of welcomes to you! The portal opens in a vast field on the western side of town surrounded by cattle, with a distant view of the bustling marketplace. The first impression of the settlement is one of idylic, country charm. There are no looming structures or crowded streets. Instead, there are cozier houses on wide streets and community buildings made of stone and wood. A gentle breeze rolls across the field and the sun is high in the sky.

There's not as much magic here as in other locations, but it's there. No one will be stopped from entering Solvunn, though suspicion will be cast upon new arrivals. Citizens will be friendly and welcoming, but curious about their new visitors. It isn't often that they welcome new folks- especially not so many at once!

With tensions between the other communities, Solvunn will not be keen on ratting out those who fled Thorne, but with the knowledge that sanctuary will not be given for free. Everyone does their part, whatever that part may be.

Asking questions will result in being told to find Rowan March, one of the council members, somewhere in the marketplace.

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Well, I guess you're right about --

[ Nero doesn't have a chance to finish what he's saying before a rock smacks the back of his head. It wasn't thrown hard enough to draw blood, but was thrown hard enough to let him know just what those kids' feelings are. ]

-- I don't really want to help them. [ He admits as he rubs the back of his head and dodges another rock. The children in question make a few faces at the elf before calling him "lame," and running away again. ]

I can't believe my first impression went so badly. [ A beat. ] Well, I can believe it, but I was attempting to be a good boy this time. [ He lets out a sigh. ] Oh, well, it seems like they got their favorite babysitter.

[ And he reaches out to pinch Martin's cheek -- the one on his face. ]

[When the rock hits Nero's head Martin jumps as well, but he's quick to turn his gaze on the kids and let out a surprisingly sharp yelp as he points sharply.]

Oi! I'm telling your father, Lysander!

[But then the kids have already run away, and Martin's left feeling like the kids don't particularly respect his threats too much either. Not that he gets much time to ruminate on it; suddenly Nero's pinching his cheek, and he feels himself blush as he pulls away, rubbing the spot immediately.]

I-I mean, hardly. I just-- let them get away with more than their parents do. But they like me enough to sit down and listen to stories, o-or practice their reading with me, so. I suppose it works out.

It works out. It means that you're settling in quite nicely here.

[ Nero lets out a sigh, rubbing the back of his head in the two spots that the rocks hit his head. ]

I do have a small bone to pick with you. Look at this idyllic lifestyle! [ His arms open to gesture to everywhere around them. ] Did you really have to choose here to be the place that we had to go?

Shit, I grew up in this nonsense.

[He can't help a quiet scoff.]

I hardly see how that's my fault, it's not like we got a docket on the place saying [in an overblown tour guide voice:] "Welcome to Solvunn, we've got goats and not much else". And even then I probably would have picked it anyway. After the last couple months I've had, it rather feels like a holiday.

[Even if he only truly picked it in as much as Jon didn't. But it's still comforting to be staying somewhere where no one's trying to kill him or set him up for failure.]

Nah, it's my fault, too. I didn't have to follow along, but I did. [ His tone is easy, no longer filled with any annoyance. As always, he accepts his lumps. ] It feels like a holiday, but is it all right to have it feel that way?

[ Nero pauses to look over his shoulder. ] You don't think that Thorne's just going to let this slight go, do you? [ The elf doesn't know anything; all he has is experience. But that experience comes from his own world and time. The Free Cities may be at odds with Thorne, but Solvunn is housing some of their escapees. Isn't that kind of taking a side against them? ]

Also, do you think they're gonna stop summoning people here?

[Martin purses his lips as he looks away, but there's a faint crease to his brow.]

Probably they might, since... well, I can't imagine most of us didn't go and run away from all that. And if they can, why wouldn't they? But if what people were saying about all the, um. Tense relations, between the different countries is real? I'm not sure they can chase us, not without technically starting a war, and I really doubt we're worth that.

[ Nero likes that -- he likes the way that Martin looks a little distressed and how it comes out in his voice.

He likes ruining the little vacation that the man is trying to give himself by reminding him that they're not really out of the fire; they're just sizzling in the corner of the pan.

Why does he like it? Because he's curious. He gets the impression that Martin would be fine if innocent people died so long as Jon survived and he's of the mind that Jon would rather die before the death of any innocent.

It's cute.

They're a cute duo, cute couple, whatever.

Wait, side-tracking from his curiosity in finding out if Martin will let innocent people die -- ]

Hey, where's Jon?

What?

[That's. Not the direction he thought this conversation would take, and he turns a distinct pink.]

O-oh, he's, uh. He's in th-the Free Cities. We split up-- um, we went to different locations, seemed like- like a bit of a better way to learn more about this place faster.

[ Nero lightly pats Martin's shoulder, giving it a small squeeze. ]

Keep changing colors like that and you might pass out. [ Is the extremely comforting thing that he says first. ] That so? Then, that means you two plan to meet in the Horizon to swap notes.

[ His eyes widen, eyebrows lift. ]

All private and secret, like. [ He gives a small nod, slow and appreciative. He understands. ]

[Amazingly, drawing attention to it only makes Martin's face more coloured. But it's the open act that Martin's doing something privately that makes him upgrade fully to red.]

It's not like Horizon is is that private, from the sounds of it. Just about anyone can walk into the piece of it you started fiddling with and change it for themselves.

[This is a much easier misinterpretation to focus on.]

[ Nero blinks. Slow.

He opens his mouth and adds: ]

Oh yeah, fiddling might change it to something big and imposing.

[ He smiles, eyes animated. ]

We wouldn't want that, huh, Martin? If someone shows up while it's all fiddled with, what would you two even do?

[Please don't threaten him like this, he is very small and has no money.]

I-I-- I'd imagine there's, um. Well, there's consequences for that sort of thing, right? If you change what someone else has made it's only fair to be able to change it back...?

[God that feels like the wrong thing to say to Nero.]

[ The elf pauses.

His eyebrows furrow as he leans in slightly to look at Martin's face. It's really hard to tell. He honestly can't. The skin is such a deep, embarrassed red; the tone of voice sounds sincerely flustered; everything says that the human's being absolutely genuine.

Yet Nero gives him a single look that says, "Are you fucking with me?"

It lasts for a moment then he asks: ]

You just want to talk dirty about Jon, huh? [ It's only with some people that Nero gets particularly vulgar with, anyway. Martin will be one of them -- how lucky for him.

He attempts to sling his arm over the man's shoulders. ]

No need to worry about fucking in the Horizon. I haven't done it yet but I'm sure it'll be fine. [ Nero hasn't even been there, but details. A lightbulb goes off and he adds: ] Hey, I already got plans get balls deep sometime in there, so I'll tell you if things get freaky while we're fiddling.

[ 'Cause, that's obviously what they're dancing around, right? ]

[Martin doesn't resist the hand being slung over his shoulders but he visibly cringes a little as Nero pulls him in, hands coming inwards to awkwardly hover over his chest. He will never really appreciate how touchy Nero is and he's well aware this way is him getting off lightly.

~~And probably Nero lightly getting off.~~

Still, Nero gets to enjoy a solid few seconds of blank incomprehension on Martin's face - until he abruptly burns entirely crimson.]

Oh my God!! [He's suddenly sputtering wildly as he all but throws Nero's arm off his shoulder.] This isn't a-a-- i-it's not a sex thing, it-- l-literally, you can change the place around, i-i-it's supposed to be weird like that- like a-- a dream or something!!

[ Whoop.

The elf steps back, not quite stumbling, as his arm is "removed" from Martin's shoulder. He blinks at the sputtering as his eyes roll to the side; his expression reads that he absolutely believes it is a "sex thing" but also that he isn't judging.

For a brief, horrifying second (for Martin only, of course), it looks like Nero is going to share some of his deviant desires so that the human feels "at ease." However, thankfully, Martin keeps talking and Nero listens. ]

Oh, is that what she meant? [ He murmurs. The elf recalls a little changeling explaining how the Horizon felt. As for the impression it left, he took it as something like a figurative well of power. Huh.

Yet again, not for the first time, Nero feels like he should have asked more questions. As for why he didn't, he just wasn't interested at the time. That was it; he just didn't feel like learning anything about the Horizon but he did want to learn about the people who seemed chatty.

It's his fault.

He just loves people too much sometimes.

Finally, he asks: ]

You've been there, then?

[ Also, wait, didn't he get side-tracked from something? He went on quite the mini-quest and forgot the main quest. Can he double back on to it? Nero fears that he won't be able to, and will have to leave the main quest for another time.

Sad. ]

No.

[Now he's all defensive and flustered and red, why is this happening to him specifically and personally, that seems uncalled for.]

You-- Jon told me about it, but w-we never went there, not back in the, um- the dungeon. Apparently you need someone to show you how to get there, a-and everyone else has been, they were all made to.

[ "Oh yeah, that's right." Martin can probably almost hear those words come out of Nero's mouth just from his expression alone. He remembers that being said, too. Whoops.

His head bobs slowly. ]

Right, right. Ambrose decided to figuratively throw everyone into the Singularity and see if anyone stuck. Everyone stuck. But it just ended up being a risky for him and now with us all scattered about... a huge liability against Thorne.

[ He turns his head toward the general direction of Thorne. I wonder if they've killed him. He certainly fucked up so unless he produces some serious results... I wonder if they're gonna stick his head on a pike.

Nero hopes so. Please don't tell me they all do weak-ass executions.

Yes, that's what he's concerned about -- how Ambrose will be killed if he is tried as a "major fuck-up," and if it will be something grotesque and violent.

Nero returns his gaze to Martin. "Hi." The word, again, flashes across his face. ]

It's a shame that you didn't get a chance to go there. [ A beat. ] Actually why didn't you go there with Jon? [ His head gives a small tilt. ] Wanting it to be really special when you show each other your dream worlds?

[Martin tries to scowl, but with all the redness its really almost more of a pout.] You're incorrigible.

[He makes a fuss out of straightening up his clothes - the tunic and coat Nero got him, in fact, which just makes him feel even more awkward that it's his everyday wear - so he doesn't have to look at Nero anymore.]

Anyway, it wasn't for lack of-- o-of trying. We, um. Well, now that I know he was stressing about dying it explains why he couldn't relax-- the, uh, the easiest way to get there is by- by meditating with someone else who has been. The idea was he'd show me and walk me through it, since.

[He tugs his belt straight and fidgets with its ends.]

Well, apparently, you don't exactly remember yourself the first time you go there.

Why can't you people just jerk each other off like normal folk?

[ Nero wonders aloud. But he gets it; fucking in a dungeon isn't exactly the most luxurious of experiences. If a person isn't able to make their minds go blank, they start thinking about the filth and shit that they're humping each other against. That sort of thing can really ruin the mood.

And if a person looks down and see their dick is being stroked with a dirt covered hand, well, that's enough to make anyone go a little limp. ]

No worries. Not everyone can let the minds settle in a dungeon.

[ His arms cross over his chest; he then uncrosses them and reaches out to help adjust Martin's tunic. Why not? If the man's gonna fidget, he'll help him fidget more. ]

So, who you gonna mediate with now? [ And his eyes narrow slightly. He'll forget who he is when he goes in? Well, obviously, they remember who they are when they go back. But Nero lifts his gaze to stare into Martin's eyes. ]

I dunno how safe it'd be to travel with me. So, I guess I can't piggyback off whoever shows you the way. Oh, well, sloppy seconds is really only for close personal friends, anyway. We're not there yet. [ Another soft pat as he adjusts the tunic, again. ]

[And now the redness extends down under his tunic, making his hair look particularly pale, and there's a few more notes of undignified sputtering as Nero leans in to help with his outfit. Those lithe hands so close to his neck make him uncommonly nervous.]

I-I-I, uhhm, I don't know? Y-yet? I, um, p-probably I should- I-I should ask, it- it's only people like us, th-that got summoned here that can go there at all...

[But when Nero goes to pat his shirt, Martin actually catches his hand by the wrist. Partly to his own surprise as well, judging by the quick flick of his eyes down to their hands and back up to Nero's before he quickly releases.]

W-with all due, uh, respect, Nero, u-uhm. You're... not... my type.

Which is a real kick in the nuts if you ask me!

[ Think of it? Being unable to access something that is right fucking there in their own world? Having to rely on people who they don't know to access it? It's a nice pot of suspicion, weariness, and eventual violence upon those summoned.

He smiles, pleased with it all. ]

Huh. [ His smile doesn't fade as much weaken slightly when his wrist is taken. He gives him a look and bats his eyes comically at him. ] Oh, Martin. [ But the moment passes quickly to lead to something else entirely! ]

Not your type? Is it because I'm too fit? My abs intimidate you? [ Insert sad face here. ]

[Nero is doing a good job of making Martin try to turn even darker but it won't work; and only partly because he's hit his upper bashful limit. Instead Martin tries to keep his voice lofty and dismissive, giving his overcoat one last tug into place.]

I am not... attracted to-- to sociopaths. I can't imagine what you think bringing fancy dress for people to change into for a hanging is, b-but it's not charming.

[ Crossing his arms, he listens to what Martin has to say. His eyebrows lift as he offers a few small nods. ]

Oh, it's my personality.

[ He lifts his hand up to wipe away imaginary sweat. ]

Whew. Had me worried there for a second, Martin.

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WELCOME TO SOLVUNN!

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