❄ october catch-all

[glaciare]

Who: jill warrick & ANY
When: the month of october
Where: castle thorne + horizon
What: the usual day to day nonsense
Warnings: none atm, will be edited if anything comes up

if you'd like a more specific starter for any reason, please don't hesitate to hit me up on plurk or ping me on discord!

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❄ HORIZON

[glaciare]

( Jill's horizon is hardly fanciful, and includes no tricks to keep the curious out. One moment they're simply somewhere, and the next they're in a moonlit field of mountain flowers, the temperature just cold enough to bring to mind a late fall evening -- crisp and biting. The snow-capped mountains in the distance a clear illusion built upon the memories of Jill herself, and the moon portraying just a different enough face to be unfamiliar to all but those from her world, the bright red star next to it confirming that.

Jill can be found sitting in the field, enjoying the calmness with a book or with magic; casually indulging in forming small figures out of ice before waving them away into a flurry of snow. When not in plain sight, she's in the cabin itself -- the door open for any visitors that might have wanted to follow the warm glow of a fire. Inside, Jill is most likely perched on the edge of a bench, working on embroidery or attempting to recreate memories of half-remembered food. It's better to test here, she reasons, rather than potentially waste food in Thorne. )

[thedreamer]

[ Still new-ish here (an odd feeling for a being as old as the Doctor, but everyone has to start somewhere on occasion), the horizon areas take some bit of getting used to more than the other, more tangible areas this world contains. But he's enjoyed meeting others when he can and learning more about the spaces they inhabit.

Something about this place is slightly familiar, the snow-capped mountains not entirely unlike some he might have seen once on Gallifrey. That's so long ago now, though, and he pushes those thoughts aside to focus on the young woman reading a book.

With a little wave and a smile, he approaches her, though keeps a slight distance in an effort not to completely startle her. Sometimes he does remember his manners! ]

Oh, hello! I love what you've done with the place. [ He gestures to all around them now. ]

What are you reading there?

[glaciare]

Hello, ( Jill says, setting aside the book for the moment to greet the man, gesturing for him to take a seat in the field near her if he'd like. ) Thank you, truly.

( It means perhaps more than he might think; she'd made the view based on what she could remember of her home in the north of her world, long since fallen to the Blight that robbed it of every shred of color, of life. It's a way to keep it alive still, even if only in her memory. )

Nothing too exciting -- a novel back from my world. It has been an age since I read it, and I had someone who could remember it word for word recreate it here for me. ( She holds it out to him, the title clear: The Saint and the Sectary. It holds some semblance to the tales of Camelot from Earth, if he flips through it to read, only the wizard figure is the enemy rather than an ally. ) It was his favorite as a child.

[thedreamer]

[ He's more than happy to join her, sitting close to her once she's invited him. The Doctor has always loved books, as evidenced by the large library he'd kept filled to the brim on his TARDIS. He's never tired of stories, enjoying the chance to absorb those most beloved of other worlds he's traveled.

Taking the book, the Doctor holds it with a bit of reverence, running his fingers over the cover and then flipping through it gently, but perhaps with a bit more excitement and enthusiasm than most would. ]

Oh, you're underselling it, this is a good one! Bit familiar, too.

[ His brain works at a faster pace than that of humans, so as he flips the pages, he's actually reading them quickly. Not the whole book, but most of it. ]

What's your favorite? From your world.

[glaciare]

( Has he really-- he must have, and she pulls her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them as she considers his question. )

I've always had a preference the stories from the North. My homeland, though I was raised in a place called Rosaria. But there were tales about the Ice Queens of old, who lived in palaces carved from the stuff. I liked those the most.

( Shiva was always there to use her ice to protect, rather than harm. Even in Jill's darkest years, that thought remained. )

sorry for the delay with this!

[thedreamer]

Rosaria. [ He repeats, turning the word over for a moment, trying to assess if he's familiar with it, if he'd ever been there in his travels. But he doesn't recognize it, which only thrills him more. A chance to learn about a new place! ]

Did you have a chance to see the palaces yourself at all? Or were they just memories and stories when you were growing up?

no worries at all!

[glaciare]

( The Northern Territories isn't a sore spot for Jill, but rather a distant memory -- she can barely recall the stories, let alone her own memories and images growing up. )

No, I don't think I did. I was six when I was taken as a ward, and by the time I was able to return, the North had fallen to a thing we refer to as the Blight. This-- ( She gestures to her domain, the snowcapped mountains in the distance. ) Is all I remember. No ice palaces, no queens.

[theidlemaiden]

[ Sometimes a walk through the fields is just what the mind needed. Instead of departing that day from Garreg Mach however, Hilda's eyes flutter open to reveal the picturesque meadow of her own domain. Faintly she wonders if the homesickness for Goneril would ever leave or if she'd ever return home to the idyllic town nestled in the distance, purposefully just always out of reach.

Instead she turns in the other direction by foot instead astride Waffle's back or with Mogwry who has been relegated mostly to cottage guarding duties after his little outburst towards Rocket. By the time she wanders far enough, she barely realizes that the mountains in the distance have turned snowcapped and don't resemble those of Fodlan's Throat anymore.

She wanders further down gentle slopes until she spots the cabin. The warm light from inside beckons to her but it's ultimately the smell wafting the ajar door that tempts her the most. A soft knock is given all the same to announce her presence and Hilda tentatively pokes her head in, cheeks pink from the crisp air until she spots the source of the smell and the woman cooking it. ]

Sorry to bother you. Whatever you're cooking smells amazing I just couldn't help myself.

[glaciare]

( The woman takes Jill by surprise -- a flash of it crossing her face before it fades away almost as quickly as it game, and she gestures for the other woman to come in and to take a seat. She may not have the warmest expression, but there is still a gentle kindness to her that indicates that Hilda isn't unwelcome -- quite the opposite. )

You're not a bother at all. Please, come in. ( Jill sets aside her notes and knife, grabbing a towel to wipe away the flower on her hands for the moment. ) I've been attempting to recreate some recipes I barely remember, with variations of success.

[theidlemaiden]

[ Gentle kindness that isn't clearly put on for the sake of being polite is all the invitation Hilda requires. Besides, she reasons, if the woman didn't want her there she would have told her to leave politely. She steps into the room quickly shutting the door behind her so that too much of the warmth built up in the space escapes. ]
 
I'd offer my help but I'm not sure my skills go beyond being an excellent taste tester. That and I'm not sure I'd be familiar with the dishes from your world. 

[ She can cook if she follows a recipe. But she'd have to have enough energy to do that first and no one else is willing to cook for her. ] 

Oh - I'm Hilda, by the way. Where are my manners? 

[glaciare]

Just that it tastes alright would be an accomplishment. ( Jill admits with a small twitch of her lips upwards. ) I've never been one for cooking. It was never covered by my governess when I was a young girl.

( And then, well. She was fed. Or starved, depending on the mood of her captors and her willingness to do as she was told. That she has the freedom to try at all is a gift she's not willing to overlook now that she's in this place, her domain or not. )

Jill Warrick. It's a pleasure.

[theidlemaiden]

Taste first aesthetics later, right? At least I think that's the saying. Unless it's a friend of mine from home in which case I don't think the appearance of the food would ever matter. 

[ The thought of Raphael and his insatiable appetite brings a fond smile to her face followed by a feeling of homesickness. ] 

I had no idea how to growing up either - the chefs did all of that for us. [ She had learned a little here and there from simply watching but she'd never count absorption of a skill via watching remotely the same thing as actually doing it. ] What are you trying to make now? 

[glaciare]

I can't think of a meal that would look so bad that its taste would not more than make up for it.

( She agrees, turning her attention to the dough before her. What is she trying to make-- Jill frowns, though not at the question itself, but because she is trying to remember. When nothing comes, she sighs, and shakes her head. The look she gives Hilda can only be described as sheepish. )

I'm afraid I don't know the name. I was six when I was taken as a ward, so I remember the taste more than anything. But it is a pastry -- but not a flaky pastry -- with a hot, savory filling.

( In other words: pirog, though the name would mean nothing to Jill. )

❄ CASTLE THORNE

[glaciare]

( The routine that Jill has established is simple enough -- in the mornings she takes magic lessons with whoever is available, after being ushered to the learning hall by Clive. Lunch is spent in the gardens with whoever is willing to take it with her, and in the evenings she can be found in all manner of places: the library or in town -- wandering and doing a fair bit of window shopping without indulging in any purchasing herself.

She can also be found in small, more private alcoves with a good view of the city below, working on embroidery. )

[youmiscalculated]

[ Since Istredd took her to the gardens a few days ago, Adora's find a sort of solace in them, in sitting in the quiet when she isn't in the Horizon. She didn't realize Jill might've had the same idea, so it's by coincidence that she runs into the other woman heading in the same direction.

Once they're settled, it's a bit more obvious that Adora is somewhat subdued, but she definitely tries to have a nice, normal lunch with a friend. She even smiles a little, which is progress. ]

I guess whenever we meet, food has to be a part of things.

[glaciare]

( Jill isn't one to pry unnecessarily, but even she can tell that not all is right with Adora and has no practice at how to politely inquire about such things. No, that's not exactly true -- she's simply out of practice, having left what courtly manners were drilled into her by her governess in Rosaria.

But she can offer a lunch with a friend, and nods at the other woman's observation. )

I cannot say I mind. Good food should be spent with good company.

[youmiscalculated]

[ Adora smiles, just a small one, then looks dw at her plate of food, voicing a thought once she finally picks up a utensil. ]

I never knew it was so easy to make friends. I mean, maybe I did. I'm just glad I already know a lot of people.

[ Because she never thought she'd feel so alone after being so happy. But friends have kept her grounded and now she's actually out of her room. That's progress. ]

[glaciare]

( It's a feeling Jill understands well, and gives her another encouraging look. )

Before I... managed to be reunited with Clive, I hadn't had a friend for over ten years. ( Not that she was allowed to have any, and even if she had -- they would have been hurt to make her obey, and Jill would have caved rather than see anyone brought to harm because of her. ) But I have found it's easier to survive from day to day with them. No matter what hurts may plague you.

I AM HERE

[magicalarchaeologist]

Istredd teaches regular beginner classes and hits a variety of disciplines while doing so. The Summoned tend to be his priority so they can adjust to Academic Magic, but he does have a few young Thornean mages who volunteered for a little extra training. As a teacher, he is similar to his general state of being in terms of being calm, measured, and easy to follow. He's done this long enough now that it's comfortable, finally.

He's always glad to have a new Summoned show up and today was basic illusion work. Istredd likes to focus on mental magic first, not only because of his own leaning, but because it is the fastest way to fortifying a mind before it takes on more serious magic. Afterward the other disperse but he smiles at Jill as they both linger a moment.

"How are things going for you?"

I AM HERE ALSO, FASHIONABLY LATE

[glaciare]

Illusion magic is unlike anything Jill's ever done before, and now that she's more comfortable with Thorne's favored magic she finds herself falling back on her own ability to call forth ice accidentally less and less. But it is still new, and learning magic at all is still such a unique concept overall that her successes still delight her.

This class she'd finally managed to cast an illusion that did not splutter and fade, and was not accompanied by a burst of cold. A better option for her, Jill thinks, to distract an enemy or anyone else than simply freezing their feet to the ground. It's a good start, at least, and thinking of potential uses has Jill distracted at the end of class until Istredd's voice cuts through her musings.

At Istredd's question, she smiles. "Well enough, I think. I can't say that illusion magic is common on my world, if it exists at all." A pause, as she considers. "The most similar would be to call forth something called an 'egi', but they act as a summoned creature bent to their master's will."

And she has never done so. It wouldn't be beyond her, Jill thinks, but that was one part of being a Dominant she'd never been forced to use, or knew that she could while in the Iron Kingdom. Likely because no one wished for the Dominant they kept chained to be able to create something they could not control.

I AM ALSO FASHIONABLY LATE AGAIN LOL

[magicalarchaeologist]

Istredd's illusion teaching definitely underlines how they can be used in combat and distractionary tactics. It is part of how he fought the rift monsters, having them get confused by who they were fighting and where, and it saved lives. Sometimes it's not about fighting hard, it's about fighting smart.

"It can be hard because it requires focus and imagination. Not something you have to worry about." Istredd thinks she's got a lot of promise as a mage, given time and more experience. "I like to start with mental magics because it teaches people how to fortify their mind. It ends up impacting how you use everything else." The brain controls the magic; what spell to use, how strong, when to use it. Obvious, right? Except not everyone thinks that way.

"Did you learn how to use your ice magic or is it mostly instinctive?" He's noticed when it goes out of control so he thinks he knows the answer, but he has to at least ask first. Mat had the same problem.

GRIPS YOUR HANDS

[glaciare]

His praise has her ducking her head, redness faint high on her cheeks -- she's unused to it; even before being taken by the Ironmen, it was a rare thing to come by in Anabella's household. No kind words for the savage she so disliked, and the other women of the Rosarian Court followed her lead.

Istredd's question is at least easy to answer. "Instinctive. Once the, ah, ability to use it awoke within me, everything involved became second nature." Jill wavers slightly, wondering how much to divulge, before deciding to trust Istredd. He has never given her a reason to doubt him, and he deserves to have that trust returned. "The power I have comes from what we call an 'eikon', an embodiment of a certain type of elemental energy. There are only nine of them in my world, though one is... unique." It's the best way to describe Ifrit that simply isn't exposing Clive to unnecessary questions and danger, given Thorne's eagerness to gain the upper hand. "They are magical beings, powerful enough to destroy armies and cities alike; each resides within a human host. Mine was Shiva, warden of ice."

Was; though she can still feel the eikon within her, knows that she would answer if Jill called upon her. But that would come at too great a cost, and even then... Jill is not so certain she could control Shiva.

[magicalarchaeologist]

Istredd listens to her without interrupting, always interested to hear where people are coming from. When they're out of control magic wise, like she is, there usually is a reason, whether it's new powers or simply no one to teach them.

"Is it like a possession? Does Shiva take you over or do you still have control over it? Or both?" It matters. If she can't control what Shiva does, that's dangerous to her and others, but if it's a mix where Shiva is more like a parasite and shares her body, it makes a difference. He feels for her, it sounds very confusing either way.

"I have no doubt that we can practice and help you get control over them, Jill." Wild magic, not the official kind here but in general, can make a person feel more like an out of control beast than a person who can find power in what they are. Istredd loves magic, he thinks that affection can be fought for but everyone can find it in them. "Everyone starts from somewhere."

[glaciare]

Possession? Jill has never considered it as much; Shiva is simply a part of her, as much as she exists separate and will be a constant presence even after Jill dies, being reborn in a new child. Or would, had Clive not taken her into him. Had he not planned to rid their world of magic entirely, and free all of them from the chains of it.

She's silent, not because she doesn't want to answer, but because she is considering how to explain it. "I have control over it, though that may not always be the case. She is as much a part of me as my heart," to say nothing of what Clive is capable of, but that is something -- as much as she likes Istredd -- that she would not dare tell. "But it is the only magic I have ever known, and it is what comes when I call."

❄ CASTLE THORNE; new magic

[glaciare]

( Discovering it is an accident: she'd made to grab for a fork and suddenly found the metal flowing out of her fingers as if it were the same liquid that had made up the slime she'd dispatched with Thancred's help. The shock was nearly enough to make her fall off her chair -- had she done that?

But experimentation had determined that yes, she had. And further had indicated that while she could only truly make a cup's worth of metallic liquid, it could do anything she desired of it. She's sitting in one of the many indoor gardens, away from the hustle and bustle of the castle, practicing -- the metallic liquid flashing between her fingers as she weaves it in and out of them before it clatters to the ground as a simple metal rod before melting again and floating in small orbs back up to her fingers before she repeats the process over again.

Should she notice anyone else enter the garden, she gives them a small but welcoming smile. )

I don't suppose you have heard of Summoned like myself developing strange new magic?