ABRAXAS MODS (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
abraxasmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
abraxaslogs2021-08-28 09:47 pm
abraxasmods) wrote in abraxaslogs2021-08-28 09:47 pm
WELCOME TO NOTT!
WELCOME TO NOTT!
Welcome to Nott! A blend of old world Thorne and new world industrialism, densely packed wooden buildings surround a section of ancient stone architecture at the lake’s edge. The city rises up against the horizon and is easily seen from a distance, lacking any farmland or outposts around it to distract the eye.
The city gates are wide open. Whatever may be happening back at the Thornean capitol, there’s no obvious hint of it here. Busy citizens are going about their day, guards in local uniform patrol the streets with little urgency, and no alarm bells or horns are sounding. It appears,at least on the surface, as though no one is concerned about escaped prisoners here.
But it certainly is a bustling place! Sounds and smells assault the senses right from the gate. The streets are filled with vendors and panhandlers and criers shouting out deals and directions and soliciting money, hawking food and services and shops. There seems to be a tavern or a public house on almost every corner. A cool wind comes off the lake and the scent of the fish market carries through the city. People are everywhere and no one seems to notice or care that much about strangers - aside from wanting their coin.
It’s the perfect place to hide out from Thorne while staying within Thorne’s borders.
Within a few hours of arrival a city guard will approach each escapee from Thorne - regardless of what their standing was back at the castle - to politely inform them that Lord of Representatives Lyle Vela would be happy to receive them at the House of the Lords at any time today. Each character will be given a handwritten invitation marked with an official seal that gives directions to the House of the Lords, a sprawling Old Nott building on the lake that overlooks the city. The invitation is of course optional and there are no repercussions for declining.
The city gates are wide open. Whatever may be happening back at the Thornean capitol, there’s no obvious hint of it here. Busy citizens are going about their day, guards in local uniform patrol the streets with little urgency, and no alarm bells or horns are sounding. It appears,at least on the surface, as though no one is concerned about escaped prisoners here.
But it certainly is a bustling place! Sounds and smells assault the senses right from the gate. The streets are filled with vendors and panhandlers and criers shouting out deals and directions and soliciting money, hawking food and services and shops. There seems to be a tavern or a public house on almost every corner. A cool wind comes off the lake and the scent of the fish market carries through the city. People are everywhere and no one seems to notice or care that much about strangers - aside from wanting their coin.
It’s the perfect place to hide out from Thorne while staying within Thorne’s borders.
Within a few hours of arrival a city guard will approach each escapee from Thorne - regardless of what their standing was back at the castle - to politely inform them that Lord of Representatives Lyle Vela would be happy to receive them at the House of the Lords at any time today. Each character will be given a handwritten invitation marked with an official seal that gives directions to the House of the Lords, a sprawling Old Nott building on the lake that overlooks the city. The invitation is of course optional and there are no repercussions for declining.
no subject
[But it's Julie's words that come next that shut Eponine up. She comes closer. She shakes her head, unsure at first, but then defiantly.]
No. No, she wouldn't. She wouldn't forget me. She wouldn't kill me. She is an angel, a good person, and I shan't have you speaking ill of her.You are a lying bitch if you think so. And worse if you say so.
[All the while, Eponine's been coming closer to Julie. She bends to pick up a handful of sand, her only defence, and throws it hard at Julie.]
You ought to be caned for all you have done, you know? Not sand in your eyes.
no subject
[ Julie's smile is mean, so mean and so sadistic, and she shrugs. ] Like I said, ask her 'bout Boulder. She puts on a real nice show, but she ain't no better than the rest of us. Worse, probably -- I know I never blew up a buncha people.
[ The sand comes at her and she dodges it easily, jumping to the side, but her face immediately gets hard again when she looks back at Eponine. Her voice lowers to a dangerous silky smooth, like a tiger coiling its muscles to pounce. ]
I already fucked you up once, whore. There ain't any guards here to save your ass this time.
no subject
[Eponine shakes her head.]
You're lying. She wouldn't. She couldn't. Why would she? That is a stupid lie to tell and you're an idiot for saying it. My Nadine shouldn't do something so wicked and you know it.
[The sand hadn't worked as well as Eponine had hoped. She takes a step back, out of Julie's reach.]
Call me a whore if you will, Miss. At least it were an honest living. At least they wanted me. Who should want you, with such a ratty wig as yours, and such a big nose? Perhaps that is it? You are so mad with me because you are cross for my good looks to your party ones?
no subject
[ Julie starts to walk toward Eponine with the cool confidence of someone who has already beaten the hell out of her and is willing to do it again. She's not insecure about her looks, so it's easy for her to ignore the childish insults. Especially now that Eponine's own nose is crooked and ugly. ]
Men'll fuck anything with a hole, don't let it go to your head. I got a man, and I can get a new one tomorrow if I want. You have to get on your back for any toothless bum that waves a dollar at you. We ain't the same, honey.
Now hold still if you wanna die quick.
no subject
[But there's something niggling in Eponine's mind. If Nadine, if Flagg, were so good, why would they want her? Nobody good would actually want her... so maybe? Maybe they really were bad?
Her little world, the narrative that she'd built in her head, of Nadine and Flagg, doting parents, and herself their daughter, clever and quick, starts to crumble. They've brought her here to thieve for them, and when they're sick of her, they'll kill her. Duh.
Eponine wipes her rough sleeve over her eyes fiercely, determined not to let Julie see her cry.
She keeps moving backwards though, up, away from the water, trying to keep the distance between them the same. At Julie's insults though, she laughs.]
Miss, I have had the grandest men in Paris in my hole. I have had their beds. And you have a man what looks like he lost a fight with a cat. At least my 'Parnasse were the most handsome in all of Paris. And M'sieur Marius, he were the other. Your mangy dog shouldn't hold a candle to either of my loves. So yes, yes you are right. We ain't the same. I spread my legs for beauty and money. And you? You give yourself for free to whatever will take such a disgusting animal as you.
no subject
[ Julie seems to be delighting in how upset Eponine is getting, sneers at her tears. How stupid she must be, Julie thinks, to think that just because someone's nice, they're incapable of doing bad things. "Nice" people are often the worst people, using all that kindness as a cover for their horrible deeds.
There's no pause in Julie's step -- she continues to push Eponine back, away from the waves. ]
Oh, that's what you wanna talk about, callin' Flagg's right hand man ugly? The man who's been takin' care of Nadine all this time, that's who you wanna insult? You look like a skeleton. Your teeth are 'bout rotted right outta your head. Your hair is disgusting, it's so ratted up and dirty. You smell like fuckin' garbage. You're a liar, and you're dumb as a sack of hair. You had Nadine bringin' you food in the dungeon and you still tried to fuck the guards for more because you're so low. So let me do the world a favor and put you down.
[ And then she starts to run at Eponine, leaving her shoes on the sand. ]
no subject
She glares at Julie, hatred in her eyes. The insults sting, but worse is the rumour. She's heard people whispering about her, of course, but it's not nice to have it thrown at her.
"Come any closer, Julie, and I shall run my knife through you. I swear. Leave me alone!"
no subject
You gon' listen next time I tell you to fuck off?
no subject
[It's a good thing that Julie believes Eponine has a knife. She doesn't - but maybe stealing a little dagger would be a good investment. She cocks her head to one side.]
You know a man what visited me in prison? He has paid me to kill you, you know? You are not so well liked as you think. And me, not so bad, for here you are, still breathing such rancid breath to the air.
no subject
[ Julie rolls her eyes in such an exaggerated way that it actually makes her head shift a little, as if to follow her pupils. ]
I don't know what you're talkin' about. I only met one person I didn't already know outside of the dungeons, and he and I get along real good. In fact, I just saw him before we left Thorne. So whoever you met don't know me.
no subject
[She scowls. Of course Nadine told her what she wanted to hear. Eponine really is a dumbass.]
Well then, you are stupid. Monsieur Nero, he finds me there. He said I'm the prettiest girl he has ever seen. He says how ugly you are, how you deserve to die - how I ought to kill you for what you're doing to me. And he gives me a dress for your blood and for my - well. You know the deals I make well enough, don't you, Miss?
[Her voice has hardened to a sulk.]
no subject
[ Her finger points sharply through the air, as if lecturing a child. She scoffs at the mention of this new person. ]
I don't know any "Nero". Never met anyone with that name. He lied to you. That's what men do, and any woman who fucks 'em should know that. Hope the dress was worth the sex, 'cause we both know you ain't gonna kill me.
And by the way, you should be afraid of Flagg. [ All the antagonistic edge has disappeared from her voice. This is something she is deathly serious about. ] He's the greatest man the world has ever known, but you don't wanna cross him.
no subject
no subject
[ She shrugs. ] When he rips your fuckin' heart out and eats it, don't cry to me.
no subject
[Her sulk deepens] He shan't have the chance. I'm going. I know where I ain't wanted, and you might explain to Nadine the lies you have told me and see what she says then? Feed you to Flagg if he is so bad, I should imagine.
no subject
[ She gestures back toward the boardwalk, away from the sea. ] Git on, then. I'm givin' you a chance, you should take it while you can.
no subject
You haven't won, you know?
[But she steps carefully back, back and back, until her bare heels hit the wood of the boardwalk.]
Don't come for me, or I really will murder you, Julie.
no subject
[ There's only one of them left standing on the beach, and it ain't Eponine. ]
no subject
Nott's not huge, but she's already getting to know the back alleys and the rougher crows that thrums their beat through the underworld. Like calls to like, and scum to scum. She can make her life here, same as Paris. Screw the lot of them.
She's going to rob their rooms blind first though.]
no subject