Set my sights on the setting sun

[thedevilwhorose]

Who: Lucifer
When: July and August
Where: Thorne, Horizon
What: Catch-all
Warnings: me apparently not being able to label prompts correctly alphabetical




Heaven talks, but not to me
'Cause Heaven knows that nothing good comes free ♫
[Will match style.]

Comments

Yennefer / Thorne

[thedevilwhorose]

[He has not interacted directly with Yennefer since preparing potions in Nocwich.

He has not talked to Yennefer, spoken or Horizon Text, since....... well.

Yeah.

Not one of his finest moments but he still stands by it needing to be done, just not to anyone else's faces.

So to say that he's been avoiding Yennefer? Extremely Accurate.

There's no quite saying 'sorry I was a moron' to Yennefer. She'd likely accept the moron part but scoff at the apology. Words were meaningless, actions had staying power, yada, yada, yada it all somehow still connects back to Wilhelm eventually, doesn't it? Learning how-to people in a way that wasn't just to manipulate.

He doesn't say anything as he comes into her workspace, just approaches her table holding a rather hefty bag, and depositing it on an empty space. Thankfully, the bag only moves because of the shifting of its contents to a new surface. Also thankfully it doesn't ooze; although that would have been mildly satisfying for Lucifer, she'd ruin him for that alone.

He knows better than to mess with any workspace.] Alchemical ingredients from Nocwich's Hunting Grounds. Some fauna, some flora. All labeled, separately packaged. Minor enchantments to keep some of it 'fresh' so I would move it to a proper containment sooner rather than later.

[vixening]

[ truthfully, if there was anyone that lufcier could have continued to attempt to manipulate who wouldn't really fault him for it, it would be yennefer. so much of her life had been learning to be and move pawns across the board that is the continent, knowing that every single exchange, every word, every look was just someone else trying to move forward. and really, if she was feeling cynical, there could be something to say about how that's all anyone really does - say things, do things, accomplish things, to meet an end they desire.

all this to say, yennefer hasn't really noticed; or rather, she has noticed and hasn't really cared, that lucifer has been avoiding her. she knows she has istredd whenever she needs him, regardless of lucifer's position in the matter, and that's all she really needs. their last conversation had been...well, with some distance, it was mildly entertaining. a laugh at istredd's expense. but she didn't really need anything else as far as her and lucifer's interactions were concerned.

which is why, as he enters into her workroom, she barely glances up from what she's working on. ] Classes aren't until fourth bell. [ she says, dismissive - except that she should know it wouldn't work, and as he drops it onto her desk. it does grab her attention, so in that way it does work, and yennefer sits back from her notes - eyes moving from the bag, to lucifer, a what the fuck is this supposed to be? hanging in the air as he answers her without the question even being asked.

alchemic ingredients he says, and yennefer can't quite help the way her interest piques. she sits up a bit in her chair, looking through everything she can see from where she sits, before her eyes shoot back to him. ]

How very...charitable. [ there is obvious suspicion in her voice, but even that can't overwhelm her curiosity.

(though, that does beg the question - if he'd been in the woods when she and geralt had has their 'talk'. she isn't about to ask as much, so that will have to be a question unasked, and unanswered.)] What is it you want in exchange, then?

[thedevilwhorose]

You don't teach my lessons. [Which is a good thing because he's hit his trickster phase and is currently irritating one of his usual classes.

He'd say he wanted nothing from her but that would only likely get him a derisive scoff, so he opts against it. But it's still not anything big he's asking for. Simple transaction in the form of peace offering.] Did you have the misfortune of being bestowed those butterfly pins on you from the Feywilds? I'm interested in using them as spell anchors.

[vixening]

You haven't asked.

[ her brows are up with that, turning what she's pretty sure had been something of a casual brush off into more of a challenge. how would he know if she couldn't teach him whatever magic he was looking to learn? this academic magic wasn't all that difficult to grasp.

granted, he's also sleeping with someone who would know it far better than even she would, but. details.

he's quite right, though - she didn't do favor, and she was fairly positive he wasn't the gift bestowing type. as much as she would have liked to take anything and everything from him and give nothing in return, lucifer has never struck her as someone who lets that sort of thing slide. ]

A pin. [ she says, a bit flatly, like she doesn't quite understand what he's asking for. but, once she's had another moment's consideration, she sits back in her chair and reaches for one of her desk drawers - rifling inside before she pulls out one of the pins and tosses it to him. she doesn't feel it necessary to mention that the butterfly had been her own - considering no one but others from the continent had been able to figure out who she had been. ] For what sort of spell?

[thedevilwhorose]

No offense, but I'm on a shaky ground as is, so asking another Summoned for teaching isn't really on my to-do list. [It's similarly to why he isn't simply learning with Istredd all the time. He's got some, here and there. But his projects and experiments are his own.] While you, by all means, would be preferable [he rolls his eyes] I'll get more 'extra' mileage with the castle mages. [It won't get Ambrose to chill tf out but maybe his effort in magic will both help himself and potentially earn some respect from the High Mage. He doesn't want it, but he needs some level of balance.

He spreads his arms to shift his upper tunic, revealing several of the same pins down his left side attached to the under tunic. There is a singular pin tucked up to the right of his tunic, beneath his collarbone.

Don't ask about that one there's zero importance there.

He catches the offered one and adds it to his collection, taking out one of the leftside pins.] This is just a bit of fun, really. [A flick to the air and it hovers a few moments before popping like a firecracker.

He definitely hasn't done that at all in his classes. He smirks, catches the pin, and returns it to his side.] I know a pin seems of little importance. [He leans his elbows down on her workbench.] But components for components seem like a better trade off than, I don't know, picking your brain about particularly useless Court pets [that might be too subtle] that are easily replaceable [that should indicate 'Mace Hemmet' a bit more clearly.

But.

They're talking spells.] Enchantments. That's the focus I've gone for. While the classes provide some anchors to use for lessons, dabbling makes anchors a little less plentiful. And I'm not using rocks. [In case she felt like suggesting such pitiful options. He holds up a hand, his expression insincere to the convincing tone of his voice.] Only for defensive magics, of course.

[vixening]

Shaky ground? Still? [ it's a throwaway line, a kind of insult in tone alone. yennefer of course means something along the lines how lucifer is still in bad ways with the court, and how he apparently can't even learn magic from anyone other than the hack mages of the court.

but then again, she's not here to help guide lucifer's life, no matter how tied up with luficer he might be. so at the mention of mileage, she just sort of shrugs. ] Depends on just how far you want to go. We were brought here because the mages have hit their limit, but a foundation is worth having.

[ he spreads his arms and she notices the collection, the one that is very distinctively different from the others. she eyes it, tries to gather anything she can without hesitating any more than normal over it. interesting, and doubly interesting is that pop.

useless court pets has her smirking every so slightly, sitting herself back up behind her desk, looking all the part like she's trying to return to what she was doing before lucifer showed up - the trade is over, what more could he want? she doesn't expect him to actually answer her, so when he continues, her brow arches once more. ]

And you're not making your own anchors? [ only for defensive magics, of course. she gives him another look, because they both know that isn't true. defensive magics only last so far.

she stands, then, and starts to go through the package - picking out the various ingredients, looking them over, and then setting them aside. if he's not going to leave quite yet, she might as well start organizing. ]

[thedevilwhorose]

[His expression is a bit sour.] I am not apologizing to Ambrose. [Yes, Yennefer, still! THANKS. There might come a breaking point eventually, but come on. He doesn't want to. He's still mad. No one even likes Ambrose he's not doing it!!

He's only groveling when he has no other choice (or if, by being associated with Lucifer, Istredd takes a hit).

Ugh.

UGH.

Sore subject, Yennefer.

He draws in a deep breath.

(He could leave. She's the one that keeps asking him things.)

He waggles his brows at her look, but doesn't give her that particular answer. Won't risk it, and as it is, only two people know his most concrete goals. Istredd is, surprisingly, not one of them. He hums. She likely wasn't giving him a compliment but he'll play with the words that way.] It's lovely to hear that you think I'm so capable of many things, but I'm not a craftsman. [... Mat though... hm.] But I like a bit of flair. [He picks free one of the pins and spins it, enjoying the simple glint.] And why waste my time making something that isn't going to be what I want when I can simply just pool the resources?

[vixening]

There are other ways to firm up your footing that aren't apologizing.

[ she would know - she's the queen of them. and the gods know she would never apologize to ambrose for anything. instead, she finds ways for him to apologize to her, and even then it's not enough. annoying, how she and lucifer keep ending up in situations where they agree.

the waggled eyebrows and taken compliment have her rolling her eyes - because no, it wasn't meant to be one. but she knows as well as he does that explaining how creation, how crafting anchors themselves, should be easier. would be easy, if she had her own chaos. but the explanation would be an admission to him and she's not really in the mood to do that. ]

No, apparently not. [ she doesn't even look up at him as she says it, and yes, she could also offer mat's services. could mention him as someone to go to. but again, she's not here to help lucifer, so she just lets him tattle on. ]

Somehow I'm not in the least bit surprised that you're the flashy type. [ which, again: pot calling the kettle black. yennefer has spared no expense for her own wardrobe. but they're not talking about her right now (somehow). ] Are you trying to draw attention to them, then? The court already knows Summoned are the only ones with those broaches. [ does she have to explain how that, in and of itself, turns into a target? how all it takes is a single mage with something to prove before that defensive enchantment is tested?

she pulls out something that is particularly wet, a package that probably either burst or broke open. yennefer takes it out and sets it on her desk, flicking her wrist to prestidigitation her fingers clean before she starts poking and prodding at it again. ]

[thedevilwhorose]

[The funny thing is he'd end up being a dutiful student in that regard. He's never had to rely on magic. Getting into the finicky details is something he hasn't had to take into consideration. That he's been this invested in learning as it is, for him, is impressive. It feels like a crutch. Like he isn't strong enough without the use of Abraxan magic.

But that would mean he'd be reliant on her and while he boasted her not being the teacher he needs, he also just doesn't want to put that power in her hands.

Funny, he thinks when he arrived here she was the one he wanted to be on even ground with. But after Wilhelm's tarot-card fiasco, and every domino since until it hit its crescendo, he's been withdrawn from her.

That constant problem of thinking someone isn't better than him. The difference between her and Istredd is that she would, very likely, push that she was.

He doesn't need that.

Because she isn't looking at him, she can't see him mouthing an echo of the words in a mimicked annoyance. She's still the most valuable asset in Thorne because of her closeness with the queen and the best Lucifer can do with her now is avoid pissing her off to the point she tries to get rid of him.

He does see Yennefer's point, to be fair. However, these are in fact only for defensive magic. Mat will likely, still, be in his planning for the offensive spells--as he's aiming for projectiles--though it's been awhile since they're really spoken about it. But the shields? Who cares. He'd give them to his interested soldier trainees if they thought his work was anything more to value from their own mages, but that was unlikely.

He grins.] Of course I'm trying to draw attention to them, they are defensive, useful magicks after all. [He pulls another butterfly and activates the brief lightning shield, not anything to show off about but to prove that it really was just that. He smirks. Because yes. He does want to draw attention to what he can do. What he's openly working on.

What Thorne sees.

All illusion.

Is it making working on everything else take longer? Yes. Does he think it's worth it? Yes.]

wrapping? c:

[vixening]

[ no, that much does make sense. if the situations were flipped, yennefer would be fairly adamant about not learning anything from him, either. it gives the teacher too much power, and they're both aware of how even the slightest shift in whatever arrangement they have could tip the scales.

and the thing is - no, she's not looking at him. she can't see him mocking her in that way, exactly. but she has all been teaching what amounts to children, and grew up in a school full of teenage and slightly older girls - she doesn't need to see anything to feel it in the air, to know exactly what he's doing. that doesn't mean she'll care enough to acknowledge it.

even at his answer, she only gives a hum in acknowledgment. if that's how he wants to play this, then fine. it's not a smart idea as far as she's concerned, but it also isn't her problem. at least not right now. it's when he pulls out the other butterfly that she actually does glance up, watches the whole show, and... well. at least it works.

yennefer lets her attention return to her organizing, letting another moment or so pass before her eyes flicker up to him - impatient, somehow. ]

Was there anything else you needed? Or are we done here?

[ aka, she's done here. you can leave. ]

gotta get the last word

[thedevilwhorose]

[He's already turning away from her even as she speaks. He didn't intend to be here long, gets an itch throughout his vessel anytime he's in her scope. It's a problem he made worse, sure, but it's a problem he should do something about, someday.

But he's not certain he'll be able to.

He tosses a hand up in a wave as he exits.] Naaah. Enjoy your goodie bag.