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abraxaslogs2021-08-28 09:45 pm
abraxasmods) wrote in abraxaslogs2021-08-28 09:45 pm
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.
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.
no subject
I don't think you're saying you're better - only that you believe everyone else acts on the same level you do.
[Many nihilists seem to enjoy the idea that all things are equally terrible - that they are going to be the worst because there's no hope of being anything better. That honesty about that is somehow the greatest virtue. That's what he finds annoying.]
If I truly felt that you needed to be killed I wouldn't stage some ridiculous sparring match to conceal my intent. What I do want is to understand my capabilities - and your own. Especially when you insist upon making half-veiled threats.
[He lifts his shoulders.]
Which isn't to say my heart would bleed if you were to become harmed by our experiments if you knowingly accepted the risks. But that is a far cry from wanting you dead and orchestrating an alibi to excuse myself.
no subject
[ He shakes his head firmly from side-to-side. ]
People have their beliefs and convictions that they're willing to do die for just like me, but what I'm willing to die for is worthless and pointless. The world will eventually show them the same. Society and law will only do so much to let them hold onto their hopes. Eventually, others will fuck them over but not out of cruelty or viciousness or even the desire to see them suffer... they will because of their own convictions and loves.
[ There is no kindness and no mercy in the world. There are people that believe that it is possible and hold onto it all tight within their chest. It may save them when death comes, if the world hasn't shown them that everything they fought and loved for did not make the world better. ]
The things people love... the things people are willing to save... the things they are wanting to change... will amount to nothing. The world will shift back to how it always been with new societies and people will do the exact same shit that we're doing right now. [ He tilts his head a little bit. ]
That is what I believe. [ Nero has only explained his beliefs to one another person. That person accepted them as nonsense, and the elf still appreciates his dismissal. He smiles -- it's fond and warm; he likes that he was told he was full of shit, even though he believes he isn't. ]
You're trying to prepare yourself if I ever am going to kill you? I appreciate the honesty in it. [ He chuckles to himself. ] They aren't half-veiled threats. I think I've been pretty fucking clear. If you think they're only veiled because I didn't carry them out, well, that's unfortunate.
[ But he leans back in his stool, stare off at nothing. ] And I wouldn't say that alibi is to excuse yourself from others, but excuse yourself from yourself. Most people can only live with so much of who they are before they aren't able to live with it anymore.
[ Nero, however, likes himself and can live with himself. ]
no subject
I think they're half-veiled because you didn't actually say what you were intending to do about any of it - only letting me know that you'd be somehow unhappy with my conduct. A threat with only an implied consequence. Mayhap you're not as clear as you think you've been.
[As for the rest - Estinien takes a drink before continuing.]
You're the one that decided I wanted to kill you, and also that my sense of self would be somehow so fragile I'd need to fabricate a way to sleep at night. My lance has felled far too many beings for that to be what breaks my heart.
Truly, I think this tired nihilism of yours is its own cowardly balm. To declare that nothing is worth fighting for because everything is equally broken in the end: a convenient escape from trying to do better, from trying to make peace and happiness last while it can. Victories will fade and peace will end... but it makes the pursuit of them no less worthwhile.
no subject
Oh, I see. We're arguing with each other, huh?
[ Nero slaps his hand on his forehead like he's realizing something that he hadn't before. He didn't think the conversation was all an argument, but he's starting to believe that it is.
Then everything makes perfect sense.
What did he think it was? Not a casual argument between cousins. If he named what he thought it was, it wouldn't be anything good.
The tension in his body fades away as he chuckles and then laughs to himself. All of his anger feels silly to him. His eyes close as he lets his shoulders sink; he misunderstood and that's embarrassing for him. ]
I'm sorry for getting so mad at you. [ His apology sounds sincere as he stretches his arms above his head; he twists slightly in his seat and his eyes open. ]
Anyway, cousin, you do realize asking someone that you openly dislike if you can blast them with magic comes off as a death threat, right? [ Nero decides to clear up the misunderstanding. He does recall Estinien calling it a sparring match, but how's it a match when it's to test the elf's magical resistance? ]
Don't worry. I see now that you really didn't realize because you didn't consider my feelings, or how fucked up that is. [ He puts his hand to his face to pretend to cry before he starts to snicker and laugh. ]
no subject
He remains guarded, even as Nero seems to relax.]
There are degrees of magick lesser than lethal assassination attempts, you know. All I asked was for you to show me - and there was little room to explain in what capacity given your... intense reaction.
[He looks back to his drink with a turn of his shoulder, giving the impression that he'd rather be left alone now.]
If I sought to kill everyone I disliked I'd never have time to do anything else. But if you find the suggestion itself hurtful, you are welcome to forget my request.
no subject
[ Nero chuckles to himself, however. He is in good humor; the Elezen, he realizes, doesn't know how he comes off to people. The elf realizes that Estinien speaks honestly and without any flourish. However, because Estinien speaks so honestly that he doesn't comprehend what it sounds like he's saying.
He really is still a kid. He lightly paps his own cheek with his hand. I'm the adult here so I should be more understanding. ]
No, I don't. I'm fine with it. Fuck, I would be fine with it if you wanted to try to kill me, too. [ His shoulders lift and lower. ] I wouldn't even fight back. All I want is for you to accept ownership for your actions.
[ His tone shifts to patient, as he explains his stipulations. ] If I die, we're both to blame. Don't tell me that you're gonna view it only as my fault, like you aren't the one that lit the match.
If you can't do that, then, we'll forget the request. How's that sound, cousin?
no subject
To think any differently than what Nero is requesting seems foreign to him. He's taken ownership of every life he's ever taken, the ones that haunt him and the ones that don't.]
Why would I claim differently?
[It's an honest question. He doesn't know how he'd walk away from that thinking it was purely Nero's fault, or why he'd even need to.]
no subject
Even explaining it to his cousin, it didn't change anything and he wasn't even given an apology. Sure, Estinien may not like him and he accepts he himself is a shitty person, but he expects the barest minimum of manners. Hell, he even said sorry first.
He sighs, long and agonizing. The exhaustion weighs down heavily on his shoulders. ]
Because you don't seem like a person that would.
[ The elf pushes himself up to stand up from the stool. Another sigh comes out and it eases his exhaustion some.. He lightly pats the man's shoulder. ] You really gotta figure out how to talk to people better, cousin.
[ Nero gives him a pitying look. Emrys appears with a bowl of what appears to be borscht. The elf leans forward over the counter to ask for a drink, but the bowl is put down in front of Estinien instead and Nero is waved off. ]
Fine, fine. I get it. [ He's still tired and turns to leave. ] When you're able to ask me for a favor, I'll give my answer, then. [ It's the best answer that he can give as he saunters back to his table so that he can go back to lying half on it. ]
no subject
He doesn't know where Nero would get off demanding manners and respect from anyone, anyway, considering the way he acts. Even this barkeep doesn't want to serve him - though, through some mercy, he hasn't yet kicked him out of the establishment entirely. The things Nero said in their first meeting would warrant a duel in Ishgard, he's fairly certain.
It doesn't matter anyway, he decides. He'd wanted to see if Nero's boasts were true, to see if his own magic was just that much weaker Thorne's, but Nero's caution regarding the issue is its own kind of answer. As is all the latent nihilism that spilled out when agitated. He doesn't find it shocking or subversive, but it does give him an idea of what to expect from the man.
Both of the threats Nero has made thus far seem to be based on misunderstandings, but someday that may not be the case.
He stays at the counter, and only watches out of the corner of his eye as Nero heads back to his table. For the moment, all Estinien wants to do is eat his goddamn borscht and get out of here. ]