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blackeyedprince) wrote in
abraxaslogs2023-09-23 11:07 pm
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[Open] Autumn Catch-all
Who: Kell Maresh and ... OTA
When: September, October
Where: Castle Thorne, Nocwich, Horizon, Borrel, Nott, all over the place
What: Kell needs to burn all the restless energy after too much fun fighting beasties
Warnings: None yet; Will clearly mark where applicable
When: September, October
Where: Castle Thorne, Nocwich, Horizon, Borrel, Nott, all over the place
What: Kell needs to burn all the restless energy after too much fun fighting beasties
Warnings: None yet; Will clearly mark where applicable
Let me show you around [Nocwich - Closed for Kelson]
He offered himself as Kelson's guide to the land of eternal night to make sure he gets the best experience. One that does Nocwich justice.]
You want to keep you pendant on yourself all the time. Only Summoned are allowed into Nocwich so it's both a key to portal and your means of identification. Once people know you, you still will need it to pass, but you won't need to keep it constantly visible.
[Kell fidgets with his own pendant as he explains as they walk to the portal. He rarely talks this much.]
I can show you a few places in the beginning, but you really need to see it form your own opinion what you want to see. You're limited to Oleuni Square at the start, but there's already a lot to do there.
<3
As for talking too much, Kelson would fill in the moments of silence while Kell recouped his sense of self. For an introvert, Kelson was actually a talker. Maybe it came from years of literally not having a choice. He put a hand on the pendent, making sure it was outside his shirt as much as it bothered him. This was by far the most minor cultural adherence he had to warm too. It wasn't like anyone was sticking people on pikes and watching them squirm.]
Why? Why the limitation to Oleuni Square? What's beyond? And thank you, for showing me around.
[Contrary to Kell, Kelson actually enjoyed the oppressive atmosphere of Castle Thorne. Reminded him of home. That was....a bit screwed up wasn't it?]
no subject
Well, Nocwich is a country of two people. There's Luna, home of the werewolves, and Ikorr, home of the vampires. They were pretty isolationist from what I know, and not really like each other too much. Why? I don't know. I was gently steered away from the topic that one time when I asked, and I like them too much to be an ass and push on something that's not really subject they like to talk about. And I found they have very few of those.
They opened for visitors last year, but only to Summoned. I mean, Luna did. You can't really go visit the vampires. Oleuni Square is neutral space set up by both for us to stay where there's not all dark all the time.
[Kell stops his explanation right before the portal. For him, it's just like a normal door. He's so used to crossing between places in unusual ways that he didn't even think to ask if Kelson has done something like that before. It spits them out a bit north to the Square proper. The lamps around the exit are dim, but they only make the darkness surrounding the path feel more absolute.
no subject
"Vampire and werewolves don't like each other. Oleni Square is considered neutral ground." Kelson repeated, to make sure he understood. Also saying it out loud made it more real. Vampires and werewolves weren't exactly a thing back home.
"I wonder how they made the square not dark all the time." Surely there was some magic in it. The mechanics must be fascinating though. He stops for a moment at the door, reaching out to feel the portals energy but it's nothing like what he's expecting, like the portals back home. So. He just goes through it. Which in itself was weird. Not having to do anything.
He got his surroundings and and his eyes adjusted to the dimness. He summoned handfire on instinct before he could stop himself, and crimson light appeared in his hand. Kelson flicked it ahead of them.
"That portal only goes to one place? How does the portal know where to go?" Kelson, was, a geek. " I didnt realize they could be fixed to one location."
no subject
The floating light gets even more of his approval. It's something he'd do without thinking too if his first steps into the darkness weren't still a little shaky. It's been months, and he's a lot better now. He can walk around the Square with no issue. He can even venture into Luna with company and assistance. But this first step of every visit is still hard. Kell wonders if he'll ever be completely fine with the dark again.
"Oh, that's pretty simple. They just have the lanterns and lamps installed there, and they don't anywhere else. It's only for our convenience. They don't need them."
Sometimes the explanation does not involve magic. Shocking, he knows.
"I didn't study portal magic here." Or anywhere else. Kell's own ability rested on the nature of his home world than something anyone could study. It is different here. Besides, it's not kind of magic that any ruler would give access to anyone, but their most trusted people. "From what I observed though, they all seem to operate on similar principles: connect two points, and once established ensure the movement is possible between them in both directions, but nowhere else."
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"I've never seen a portal that was limited to only one location. Seems rather wasteful, don't you think? But perhaps their magic doesn't work any other way here. Back home you could go anywhere, as long as you knew the coordinates of another transfer portal. It was only limited by the knowledge and energy inherent in the creation of those portals."
Which was really quite a pain, and the reason he didn't have them all over the place back home. Because someone wouldn't teach him how to do it. "At least they seem welcoming here and don't shy away from teaching the curious." It was a bit of a sore spot really. More than a sore spot. Kelson was still and would be forever pissed.
He glanced at Kell, noting the brief moment of uncertainty. Maybe he imagined it. "Are you alright?" He beckoned the handfire closer to them.
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"It makes sense when you remember who is going to use your portal." Fascinated by non-magical things or not he can easily be lured into discussion about magic. "Those will be people of different levels of magical ability. Of those, some might not even have enough to pass unless all the work is done for them. There are people among us who come from worlds with no magic at all, and yet it will be unfair to leave them out. Especially, if you are interested in Summoned as a whole, as I believe both the Lunae and Ikkorians do."
He doesn't know for sure. Never asked. Even if the portals do interest him. Doubly so now that his own travel magic is restricted. But he can follow a reasoning. He can suspect and guess basing his explanation on what his assumptions would have been and how he would have solved this problem.
"What you don't want to do is need to maintain a spell so complicated it would need near constant upkeep. Also take into account you actually don't need it. You have a clear goal, to get certain people from one point to another point. Actually, from three to one, but that's details. You don't need a portal that can go anywhere. You just need to transport them here." He points at the gate now quite the distance behind them. "And you don't even need to transport large groups. Only a few people at a time."
Which is already more than he can now do, and that pisses him off. It might piss him off enough at some point to actually do something about it no matter how much he detests the way Thornean mages teach their magic.
"Oh, here? They will be more than happy to teach you. I mean in Thorne, not in Nocwich. Most of the mages back in the Castle would accept Summoned as apprentices, and we have free access to library. I guess with some limitations, but I've never had problems finding what I needed."
Kell, discovered at his moment of weakness, bites his lower lip, and looks away.
"I'm fine."
Conveniently, they're approaching the market now which gives him a perfect excuse to change the subject.
"Do you drink tea?"
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The possibility of the fairness and equity of magical use was one that again, he hadnt thought of. "Things are so different here. Or rather, the magic works differently, and society has changed as a result. This portal seems to...bend two places together permanently. Rather than have one place with multiple possible destinations. And I suppose this way, no one has to do the work. That's what the pendant is for. " Kelson was both getting used to magic doing everything here, and still hesitant. He was used to having to cover it up, especially to those who couldnt do magic. Giving everyone a pendent seemed, almost too simple.
"It was wonderful what could be accomplished when people weren't afraid of magic. So many portals back home were destroyed out of fear or hatred." And he had only half an idea of how to construct one. Maybe he could learn how these worked instead?
He noticed Kell's reaction to his question and let the inquiry die, at least for now. Let them get to know each other first. Trust. And then. Maybe.
"I do, when it's available. I assume there's a shop around the corner?" Way to change the subject Kell. He was on to you.
no subject
Kell makes a face as he says the word celebrates. There's nothing truly celebratory in the way Thorne treats its magic. With all the incessant emphasis on safety and reproducibility. Like it was a wild animal needed to be caged. An element needed to be restricted and bent to their will by careful application of force along with copious amount of strict protocol.
"Maybe celebrate is the wrong word. They accept it, encourage learning how to use it - of course, as long as you learn it their way, which they consider the only right way. But there's no denying they are very powerful."
They're in Nocwich, the only place were Kell allows himself to let his displeasure with Thornean ways show. While he talks they do indeed round a corner and the first stalls of the market start to show up. A few smaller buildings stand at the outskirts. Even from there, it shows that this place has not grown organically with its people expanding with the population, but was carefully planned and established.
The building closest to them has stone staircase leading straight to its upper floor. It's where Kell leads them, not to the front but to the side of it, where hidden under an awning there's another entrance. A few wooden steps leading up to a narrow wooden door. There's no sign above. No indication this is a shop and not someone's home, but Kell opens the door without hesitation, with certainty of man who visited this place many times. He did. He is a regular.
Inside, there are few tables, each with its own set of chairs. All of them currently empty. Ivory Bloom is hardly ever crowded. Behind, at the very back is the counter.
"Welcome to Ivory Bloom, the best tea shop in Oleuni Square, if not all of Nocwich" Kell declares stepping inside. He keeps the door open for Kelson "I have just made a grave mistake of taking you first here and not to my shop."
The man behind the counter, tall and broad werewolf with grey eyes and dark-brown hair, is not the owner. He's just a memeber of the staff, but Kell has met him several times already. Only the first time he made a mistake of showing surprise at how such big man can handle such delicate china.
"Flattery will get you everywhere, Master Kell," the werewolf comments with a wide grin.
The second mistake he made was to tell Mikko what the title he held back home meant. Kell just rolls his eyes. He turns to Kelson instead.
"Come, let's sit."
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"Celebrate is definitely the wrong word. Unless we have vastly different definitions of celebrate. I absolutely respect that Thorne encourages the use of magic. It's something I'm obviously not as familiar with, but....they do so in such a restrained manner." There was simply no creativity in it, no room for interpretation. He very much knew the consequences for uncontrolled magic. He just hated that this seemed to be the way so many fell back on.
He looked around the shop as Kell entered, and took the door he was holding to close it after. "Wait you have a shop here?" Kelson took a look to the werewolf and back to Kell, still getting used to everything. The entire shop was adorable. He really hadnt thought a shop could be adorable, it was. He also wondered how the werewolf got through such a tiny door.
"This is lovely. How did you find it?"
no subject
It was a wild shot. Acting on a pure impulse and assumption that given the status of Oleuni Market as a neutral ground for meeting with the Summoned, nobody really lives here.
"This is what I found... and they didn't kicked me out."
Kell lifts the menu from the table. It changes every month. The owners like to experiment, and their pastry chef - the werewolf behind counter - is even more unpredictable. He laughs at the assumption.
"No, I don't have a shop here. I don't even have one in Thorne. I just work there. It's a long story."
He just works there, but it's enough to get him a tiny bit of special treatment here. As a fellow tea specialist. Though, Saints, Ivory Bloom is still leagues above his level, and in contrary to his whole character, Kell is not even mad at them for it. It actually makes him want to come here more.
no subject
He had to ask. Maybe things were just different in Gwynedd but....that just didn't seem right. "Do you do things like that at home? Just...follow people into houses?" Or general, Kell. He was looking at you like you were a little nutty, and he was slightly worried about your sanity.
"Anyway, you'll have to tell me that long story some other time." He could take a hint. "What type of tea do you suggest?"
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"No, of course not," he replies. "I don't usually follow people anywhere like that, but it's my fault for leaving out some important context here. You'd need to know a bit about history of this place, to understand why I was able to do it here and nowhere else."
He's more than willing to provide that important bit of background, but they can as well do it over tea.
"It depends. What you prefer? Something stronger, floral, fruity or maybe more herbal?"
Kell doesn't recommend his current pick, smoked black. He discovered it on his last visit. It's weird, almost doesn't taste like tea, but he liked it instantly. Even if most of reactions he witnessed were quite the opposite. Nobody can tell he's not being original here.
no subject
"Perhaps something floral? Definitely not fruity. Herbal honestly just makes me think of sedatives." That was probably weird, was that weird? It was still a shame there were no other Deryni here. He couldn't very well put himself out, and hadn't yet asked for someone else too. Then again, the cure for his insomnia probably wasn't caffeine. Go figure.
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"Trust me, the herbal one they have here has nothing to do with sedatives. Not the best starter tea though. Floral then."
Kell needs only one look to know what to propose. He flips the menu around so Kelson can see. Contrary to how Mildred, Kell's boss likes to present her menu, there are no watercolor pictures of cute teacups and flowers. Just a simple list of names, with ingredients penned below each item in much smaller font.
"This one," he points to the line simply stating butterfly tea. "What tea would you usually drink back home?"
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"If you say. I'll trust you. But if you ever offer me an herbal tea and I end up sprawled on the floor, I shall say 'i told you so'." He eyed the tea Kell was pointing too, skimming over the ingredient list and nodding. "Straight is fine, although I'll acquiesce to your recommendations if you would suggest otherwise."
no subject
"I don't know what people drink in your home country, but it sounds pretty wild if it has such effects. There are alchemical potions in Thorne that could do that, but tea is just tea. It won't knock you down, if that's what you worry about."
Kell refrains from suggesting that maybe what Kelson has referred to as tea, was not tea, but simply an attempt at assassination. A clumsy one, if anyone wanted Kell's professional opinion. Or it's just a custom where Kelson is from to drink sedatives for recreation. Though, if so, Kell would consider it a very stupid custom.
no subject
"Usually the herbs go in something else, like wine, to hide their flavors. There are some herbs that you can drink straight though." He wasn't crazy about it. But Kelson also had been on the receiving end of those draughts and welcomed not having to think or feel for a bit thanks to them. It was less assassination attempts or recreation as much as it was very poor coping mechanisms.
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"Some herbal need an acquired taste." Kell is first to admit that what he plans to drink is not for the faint-hearted.
"Fortunately, what I'm proposing you is quite the opposite. Not too sweet, not to tart, not sour, and not bitter at all."
You've got the expert here with you Kelson, and he likes to brag a little about his expertise. Well, maybe not exactly a little.
"So? Any last minute change of plans or should I go and order for us?"
no subject
As for the tea, now he was curious. Not curious enough to change his drink order but, curious. Maybe when he got his confidence up, he'd have to have Kell show him some. " I trust you. No change to my order. I appreciate and bow to your experience. One day you'll have to show me some of those herbals though."
no subject
Kell doesn't dwell on it. He goes to make their order, and comes back with two steaming cups. Usually, the person behind the counter, be it Mikko or whoever is there that day, would bring their order to the table, but Kell is a regular, so he gets to chat with the werewolf as he prepares it and take the tray to his table. Kell doesn't do small talk, so the fact that he's there doing it is enough evidence how good he feels at this place.
The cup with deep dark blue infusion he puts before Kelson, and the black one, smelling of wood and smoke, on his place. He points to his cup.
"This one is herbal, but it's unique even for herbal teas."
There was one spicy, earthy, mushroomy drink Kell tried on a dare the first time he was in Nocwich. It was part of bling competition, and it got him hooked forever. He might even tell Kelson this story. It was when Nocwich first opened, so it's quite relevant to their earlier conversation.
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"It's nice. Not at all like what I was expecting." Of course, he had been expecting to be knocked on his ass, so that wasn't really surprising. And Kelson was ever so glad he wasn't drinking whatever Kell was.
He arched an eyebrow at his companions drink. "Alright....what is that?" Because honestly that one looked like it might knock him on his ass.
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"Most don't," he admits. "This one is special."
He takes a sip from his cup. It doesn't kick as much as the first one he tried, still the earthy spiciness is as warming as ever.
"When I came here for the first time, the Nocwich barely opened to outsiders. Oleuni Square has just been established as joined operation between the Luna and the Ikorr, specifically as a place for the Summoned to visit."
They went then because honestly, they didn't have a choice. So much in his own life and stay in Thorne, can be traced to that first visit. Kell would have trouble telling if he really likes the taste, or it's the memory it brings that's what he's seeing in it.
"We were invited to take part of celebrations. One of the events was a contest. The werewolves set up a tent with a blind tasting challenge. You went in with a partner, and you picked each other food and drink. Blind. You had to finish what your partner chose for you to win. Obviously, there was no regular food or drink there."
Kell lifts his cup in mock toast.
"This is very I first tried this. Though, it was a lot spicier then. I was quite sure it will burn a hole in my stomach."
no subject
"It's actually quite nice." Sorry Kell, he sounded rather surprised. "Although yours does not sound that much. I'm certainly glad you have taken a liking too it, I'm not sure your stomach would say the same. Did they change the recipe to suit the Summoned?"
He took another sip, because it really was quite good, and the nice blue color was such a novelty.
no subject
"Oh, no. This is actually normal recipe. The one I tried them was altered for the challenge. Normally it's not that spicy. This one" he points to his cup. "Is not spicy at all. They make the spicy one later in the winter." Which kind of makes sense. Warming up drinks are good choice for winter.
Kell swirls the cup, smiles before taking another sip. One of the things that fascinate him about it is that it tastes different depending on the season. His current version is more on the earthy, smoky side.
"It's always made the same, but I learned that it tastes different depending on when it was picked. What I drink right now is from summer harvest. The autumn is the spicy one."
There are many seemingly useless facts he knows about this place, about different teas both here and in Thorne, and yet Kell would insist he's not a scholar.
(no subject)
i think this is a good place to end (and hopefully start something new)