WELCOME TO SOLVUNN!

[abraxasmods]

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.

Comments

[extremethirst]

Wow, you're really heartless!

[ Nero sounds almost impressed by how cold Amos is. Sure, he thinks that sacrificing everything for someone else is absolutely worthless. One wanted to dedicate his entire life to someone else -- someone that was already dead. Why? Would that person even see what he's doing? Would they cheer for it? Would they understand it? His friend was creating a narrative all on his own, but then again, so does every martyr.

Every martyr creates a narrative of how their actions would benefit the many, of how it would make the world better, of something would come from what they did. It forced a story onto others -- and those other people might never know the tale they were supposed to be the characters for, too.

Really funny shit. ]

There is really only one person I get along with, but they're not here. [ He tilts his head to the side. ] Sad. [ Lifting his hand, he puts his index finger underneath one eye and drags it down his face to indicate a tear falling. ]

Everyone else tolerates me. [ Which is the bare minimum that he asks for, but also more than what he deserves. ]

You think that way, huh? About killing? You don't lament at all about how many you've cut down? Or how much blood is on your hands? [ As he says the word 'blood,' Nero lifts his hands up in the air dramatically like his hands are indeed stained red. ]

I knew there was a reason I liked you.

[baltimores]

[ He doesn't really have a reaction to the comment that he's heartless because, well, yeah. Tell him something he doesn't know. He can try to care about other people, their actions, but it just doesn't come naturally, will always slip his mind if somebody isn't there to remind him he should give a fuck. And out here, in the Tertiary Settlement, that's... probably not going to be an option.

Doesn't know what it means for Nero to sound almost impressed by it. Amos knows it's not a good thing he's like this; he just is. But he might even agree with Nero's assessment of martyrdom if he knew — not that it's funny, more that there are a lot of assumptions made there, and they aren't always correct.

Then again, if it was someone he liked trying to be a martyr... he doesn't understand when Holden goes for it. Maybe appreciates it, though. Just one of the ways in which Holden's a good person.

Shit, he doesn't know what he's supposed to do with that. It's just easier to ignore everyone he doesn't know, doesn't like, so he'll keep doing that instead. Because, you know. He's heartless.

It almost is surprising that Nero does have a buddy somewhere out there. Of course he'd express it that way, too. Amos is more of the silently stew on it, let it all explode later type. He was months separated from his people before he even arrived here; months more yet after spending all that time in Thorne's dungeons.

He swallows, thick, as though that'll clear his head. It won't. ]

Tolerating's about as good as any of us can hope for. [ Is he talking about Nero? Is he talking about himself? Both? Shit. He's not ordering another drink, that's for sure; isn't keen on giving the impression that he wants to extend the conversation... even as he continues to not get up and leave.

Though I knew there was a reason I liked you deepens Amos' frown; maybe worries him slightly. A reminder that he should give a shit but. He just. Isn't capable of it. ]

Don't get any ideas. [ The almost-admiration, the open declaration, however sincere it may or may not actually be. His voice is flat, without inflection; just a statement. ] I don't regret shit. Can't undo anything. Doesn't mean it's a good thing. Doesn't mean we're gonna get along, or tolerate each other. [ He sits back up straighter, not really going out of his way to try to properly engage Nero anymore. And yet, still not getting up, either. He's still the one who actively chose to be at this table, despite who was on it. ] Just means we're both dangerous, and a lot of people here probably don't deserve that.

[extremethirst]

Right?

[ He shoves his index finger into his ear, scratching the inside. The tone that he replies to Amos indicates that he also believes that's the most anyone can hope from the elf, too. Just because they're pleasant individuals with no psychological malfunctions doesn't mean that Nero has to get along with them, after all.

The elf just chooses to be relatively chill with the majority of the people he interacts with, because he doesn't see any reason not to be. Hate comes and goes easily for him; anger is difficult to built; he doesn't see much reason to hang onto either one of those emotions because life is so, so long to have someone feel like shit. ]

Hey, hey. I just like you. You don't have to like me, pal. [ He pulls his finger out of his nose, and blows the ear wax he collected off the nail. ] This is a one-sided street. [ The tone that he uses is one that is almost offended that Amos would like him back. Honestly, the man was able to see the kind of monster that Nero is and so Nero would be a little concerned if he was liked. ]

[baltimores]

[ It's unfortunate, that they would have that in common — why direct any emotions towards someone you've just met? If they've done something to deserve it, something so objectively terrible that even someone as disconnected as Amos could recognize it, then yeah, sure. Get pissed. Kill them, maybe. Anyone, anything else? Nothing's really gonna inspire Amos to react.

Anger's all he really knows. (That's not true. It's merely all he thinks he knows. The rest of it is unrecognizable to him. There all the same, but there's only so much one can do with that.) Push the right buttons, it comes out easily. Don't push those buttons at all, and it doesn't.

Nero isn't pushing those buttons right now, but Amos can tell he has the potential to. He's got his attention again, at least. Amos ignores whatever it is he's doing with his finger — he doesn't have his attention in that way — but angles his head just enough to catch his face. He does not get this guy at all. ]

Guessing I shouldn't take that as a compliment that you like me. [ There's no offence in his tone. More just like, well, of course someone like you would like someone like me. That's just great. ] But as long as we're clear.

[ And it sure seems like they are. Amos glances up at the roof, glances up at nothing. He inhales, sighs, looks back down. ]

This where you gonna call home, then? Out here in the middle of nowhere? [ It's an easy enough question, casually asked; it's what Amos is planning. Where they'll probably have the chance to run into each other more often than not, though, which was definitely not part of his plans, so... yay. ]

[extremethirst]

I dunno.

[ It is his quick response about if it isn't a compliment to be liked by him. He scratches the side of his face as he tries to think of something -- his face contorts as he feels like saying something comforting. But his mind immediately gives up on the thought, as it is just bullshit and Amos would recognize it as bullshit. ]

It's a bad thing to be liked by me, but it isn't an insult. [ His shoulders give as much of a shrug as they can give with how he's lying on the table. That's the most he can say about it. ]

Pfft, are you kidding me? [ Nero turns his head to blow a loud raspberry. ] Yes. [ His contradictory answers probably irritate more than they entertain. ] I'm going to stay here until I can see what these people are really about, Amos. It'll take awhile but I wanna see what they're made of before I vanish out to [ A laugh. ] greener pastures.

Of course, some interesting people are here... and I'd rather not leave them. I might be here to stay which is depressing, but what can you do? [ What a roundabout answer. ] How about you, pal?

[baltimores]

[ Amos' expression turns a little pensive — deepens slightly, eyebrows almost knitting together, thoughtful frown that little much more prominent — before he reverts to something neutral, empty. It's a bad thing for Nero to like him, but it's not an insult. Sure. In its own way, it makes sense. And he's going to have to live with it anyway, so no point in fighting it.

At least it means Nero's unlikely to be a threat to him. And if he's a threat to almost anyone else here, Amos probably isn't going to do anything about it. So... alright. If it's not like Murtry, if they're not two sharks circling each other. Sure. He can live with that for now.

Definitely was not expecting him to say yes after that raspberry, though, and the surprise splays itself on his face for a second before taking in Nero's full answer. Can't help but wonder if he might be one of those interesting people. Maybe it's better for everyone else if he is. ​]

So long as you aren't trying to bring about the end of their civilization before finding somewhere greener. [ His voice is dry; he's being sarcastic, but also is pretty sure Nero has that in him. And as much as Amos doesn't really care about anyone else, even he knows enough to know that razing this place to the ground wouldn't do anyone any good.

Shrugs, that this place is depressing (well, yeah), at the question turned back on him. ] Don't really see anywhere else fit for me to be. I'm here till I'm not, I guess.

[ Never say Amos doesn't have his own talent for totally helpful answers everyone else can totally make sense of. ]

[extremethirst]

Meh. [ Nero lifts his hand into the air, waving it side to side like he's brushing away a disgusting smell. ] Their civilization will meet its end one way or another. I don't need to hurry it along unless asked.

[ Rolling onto his side, he props his head up with his hand. ] 'Course, you know, I don't like people that want to just destroy shit. [ The two of them went through a conversation about that, but it's good to remind. ] What's the point in that? Spreading chaos and pain and suffering for no reason other than to spread chaos, pain, and suffering?

[ His hand drops away so that he can roll onto his back. ] How boring. How idiotic. How suicidal. I'll kill them with my own hands first!

[ He lets out another pah. The destruction of everything is a heavily cherished idea of his, and he likes Amos enough to explain his feelings about absolute destruction. ] Here til you're not, huh? Well, I'd ask you to give me a goodbye, but our friendship is one-sided.

So, I'll just be sad when we can't chat no more.