abraxaslogs | • OPEN •

[out of the three days that nocwich is open for the month, wanda heads in on the second one. she has some business to conduct—straight to the point and no need to meander or stay longer than what she intends to. she meets with the men (—always business with them—) that she needs to, and then heads for the shops and stalls of the oleuni square's marketplace.

today, she is not shopping for jewelry.

there are some coins that she's taken from rocket's collection (he'll live) to make these purchases: herbs and flowers, elixirs, along with werewolf hair, vampire blood, buttons made from discarded teeth. she doesn't really ask any questions, and the vendors are more than happy to give her what she needs as long as she has the coin to spare.

there are some contraptions made of twigs and twine, along with doll-sized effigies that she takes with her. all this to go to the wagon yard, to find someone who'd be willing to help her create something specific. when another owner of a stall in the yard turns her away, wanda moves towards another, a frown on her brow.

—she'll bump into someone in the process, but—luckily—nothing spills, remaining in her bag.]

Sorry. Do you know where Virve is? He's the one usually in the pottery stand, but he's not — around today.

[which is a disappointment.]

[Abby had already decided to test her powers here. Not maliciously, but to figure out how much attention she drew from those with enhanced senses. Know her limits, know how well her powers worked.]

[In larger crowds her power worked better, but once it was only two or three people werewolves could sniff out someone was there, and less the more paranoid sort would demand she show herself. Which is when she spotted Wanda, she's curious how well a telepath could spot her. Especially given the network didn't actually function when Abby was stealthed up (her words were as inconsequential as the rest of her).]

[So Abby slipped into the crowd watching Wanda do her shopping. Not invisible, not soundless. But nothing worth seeing, sounds easily forgotten. Do all adults buy weird shit like this? Like- adults get into freaky things after enough time goes by but this seems excessive, especially after Halloween.]

[Abby isn't sure if 'thinking loudly' is an actual thing. But her head is full of repeating a few obvious things 'I'm Abby, and I'm following you.' And also the mission impossible theme, as if Abby was humming it in her head. Real loud (if thinking loudly is a thing).]

[it's a little unfair to abby, because while wanda has disclosed that she is a telepath, she hasn't quite been forthcoming about who, exactly, she is. as the scarlet witch, a being of unfathomable magic, to fumble into the minds of others is no difficult feat. it is something that she tries to actively keep quiet, but that's a little difficult when abby is—seemingly—intentionally throwing thoughts her way.

first, she hears the thoughts about the general take on adults buying weird shit and her own excessive purchase. okay, amusing enough. it's the repetition of her name and the clear point of being followed that clues wanda in on this being targeted.

right—hadn't abby said she wanted to try something out?]

I'll take half. [her attention returned to the vendor, who weighs some carved stones before putting them into a velvety bag.] And those feathers, too.

[wanda herself will disappear from the general radar abby's keeping her in, and the crowd seems to grow infinitely louder. but the teen will find, that amidst her mission impossible theme humming in her head, there's a quieter but intrusive chant—in a language that is not her own, with words she cannot understand.]

[There was a tiny, tiny second Abby thought maybe she just lost track of Wanda. Until the obvious telepath fucking with her began. Now, she's generally mostly, sorta sure Wanda doesn't mean her any harm.]

[But not completely sure. So some of that fear rising up in the back of her head. The fear she didn't get with the monster attacks? That's a problem. Cause someone in her head is far more terrifying than just being killed. Why Abby uses the network so minimally. So the best Abby could hope for, while her anxiety spikes at the sudden 'not remotely her' sounds in her head is to choose a magic that's annoying and not dangerous.]

[So when she dropped to the ground, a fog bank erupted around her, and the crowd of people. Before Abby bolts toward 'away from people.' While she tries to stop freaking out. Which leads to a small amount of pandemonium as Abby pushes through the crowd and chaos toward 'away from here.']

[almost immediately, wanda can tell that hackles are raised and certain vulnerabilities are triggered from her pushing into abby's mind. this is the kind of thing she was warned about, chastised for, back in the avengers compound, and maybe she's just gotten too comfortable with the idea that she can tackle whatever circumstance her telepathy leads to, especially now.

clearly, it's been a while since she was a teenager.

abby will feel hands on her shoulders, keeping her steady.]

Hey. Sorry.

[as soon as she noticed the rising anxiety, the panic, wanda tried to immediately fix it. a scenario paints itself in abby's mind of what she'd do, of how she'd escape the situation, but altogether, in the physical world, it allows wanda enough time to reach the girl. the press of her hands allow for a blanket of calm to pull over her, to quell down the rising panic.

thus pandemonium is avoided, but wanda will take any bruising words of irritation towards her. the world around them continues as normal, the crowd going about their business.]

I didn't— [hands pull back, slowly, from abby's shoulders. it wouldn't be surprising if she felt disoriented after wanda's interference.] I wasn't trying to hurt you.

[Once the confusion wears off of how she definitely just created a city block of clouds and ran, and that she didn't. At least the suppressed anxiety feels familiar. The tree from the Faewilds did that, Abby was pretty okay with not being a basketcase for however long it lasted. There's nothing but anxiety in this girl. Covering everything from her looks, the measure of her character. If she knows how to love, if she feels she can be loved. It's just all bad, all the way down.]

[And a lot of blaming herself for how this went down, because she feels like she deserved all that Wanda threw at her.]

I- the past two months haven't really been great for me. But I did want to know if my powers would hide me from telepaths.

[That's significantly underplaying that reaction, how deep her trauma goes. Although her head has been worse lately than it was anytime other than her arrival.]

Well, guess I know another thing that can find me.

[the odds were simply not in abby's favor, considering who wanda is. truth be told, though, the telepaths that have been summoned to this realm are powerful ones, so it's not fair, either way.

there's a small outside café nearby, and wanda motions for abby to join her there. the least she can do is get the girl some water.]

If I can offer you some feedback, you're going the wrong way about it. The louder you make yourself, the easier it is for a telepath to recognize you.

[—so, the opposite works, too.]

Completely silencing yourself will make you invisible, though.

[she pulls at a chair, waiting for abby to sit on it.]

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everybodysterrible - 2023-11-10 15:42 (UTC) - Expand

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carmesi - 2023-11-10 17:24 (UTC) - Expand

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carmesi - 2023-11-17 22:22 (UTC) - Expand

[ Wanda had asked to meet him in Nocwich, and Finn hadn't asked follow-up questions. He can absolutely guess as to why. Though, he isn't completely sure what's going on with Matt, he does believe that it's something that shouldn't be talked about unless he and Wanda are face-to-face, if they're going to really talk about it, at all.

To say that Finn's worried is an understatement. But he lives in the Free Cities, so he can only imagine how Wanda must feel.

He's waiting for her in a tavern, having taken a table near the door. It's against a wall, private enough to talk here or just leave, whatever she's more comfortable with. He's just starting to really dwell on some guilt about doing anything behind his friend's back, when he spots Wanda come in and perks up from where he's sitting. ]

[she appreciates that he doesn't ask too many questions, other than 'when' and 'where'. it feels a little strange, but this is what friendships are about, aren't they? even if she's familiar with some loyal friends since arriving to abraxas, it's these small gestures that makes her realize how precious they all are.

what finn might not expect, is to find wanda arriving with two baskets slung on her shoulders.]

Hey, Finn. [she sets one of the baskets down on the floor. one of them has a blue ribbon tied to its strap, while the other has a red one; the latter remains on her lap.] Thank you for meeting me.

[she offers him a small smile, fingers playing with the red ribbon.]

Do you want to order something to drink?

[she can't stay for too long, given that she has to meet some other people, but she can spare this much time with finn—enough for a drink or two.]

Of course. [ Finn responds to her thanks casually enough because meeting her isn't exactly a hardship, especially with everything else going on. Almost feels like the least he can do, but he tries to not show that. At least, not yet. ]

I'm okay. If you want something, we can order for the both of us, though. [ Literally up for whatever, this one.

Anyway, he nods to the baskets. ] Done some shopping while out here?

[wanda raises her hand, after finn says he'd be alright with ordering something, and gets the attention of the sole server. with a careful glance at finn, she guesses that an order of two pints of ale will do just fine. not a fan, personally, but she can drink some.

as the server scatters back towards the kitchens, she turns back to his question.]

No. I wouldn't be able to find what I wanted here. [setting her hands flat on top of the basket, her lips thin into a tight light momentarily. she's thinking about a lot of things, and her worry consumes her. with a light shake of her head, she continues.] These are for you and Matt.

[though she keeps the basket with the red ribbon on her lap, a glance down at the one on the floor has it raise itself onto the table—an action easily missed by those around them, but clear to finn.]

You can open it.

[the only thing that keeps it properly held fast is the latch on the belt, anyway. inside, he will find an assortment of glass jars and flasks, along with a neatly folded scarf—it's not heavy, and the linen is quite thin: definitely for wearing while out in such a dry and arid place like the desert.]

I'm sure you can get these just fine in the Cities. They're lotions and oils for your skin and hair and soaps. I make these with what I can find in Solvunn—and a small touch of magic. I heard it gets really hot in the Cities, and I can't imagine the amount of sand and dust there.

[ Finn pulls away from the table in slightly awed silence as the basket places itself down. Unclear if he's so surprised because of the easy use of her abilities or the fact that she got him something. Either way, with permission, he opens it up.

It's... very much the last thing he expects. A care package and not really the kind that Finn's used to, which includes a protein pack and a blaster. Soaps, lotions- Is that a scarf? ]

You made this?

[ Well, the oils and things, at least, but like- She made this? And is giving it to him? Did she even make this with him in mind? How-...

How extremely thoughtful. It's not like they know each other that well, and she certainly doesn't owe him for anything, not in Finn's mind. He has no idea how to thank her... ]

I-... Thank you.

[wanda, despite having been thrown into some kind of position that others look up to while here, has a hard time making friends. she's not everyone's cup of tea, and she's not the friendliest, either. her gestures of kinship come with giving to others, hardly locked in with words.

it pleases her to see how finn reacts to the care package, a small smile pulling at her lips; she can tell what he is thinking, that she doesn't owe him anything.]

You're Matt's friend. That is enough for me. [she tilts her head] I'd like to think we're on similar standing, you and I.

[as friends, too.]

I can make more in case you run out. Or if there's anything in particular you'd like that you can't find in the markets, too.

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hatejakku - 2023-11-09 21:21 (UTC) - Expand

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carmesi - 2023-11-10 14:11 (UTC) - Expand

[ Istredd usually only goes to Nocwich when Lucifer wants to hunt but sometimes it's good to clear his head and step outside of Thorne for a break. It can be oppressive no matter what town he ends up in, and Nocwich is a breath of fresh air in comparison to that. He doesn't plan on doing much more than wander, maybe see people, maybe have a snack and watch a play. Something very casual and distracting.

He senses Wanda nearby and follows the feeling of her through the marketplace. They've known each other long enough he assumes she doesn't mind, or if she does, she'll tell him so. They're not the type of friends to quibble over details like 'I'm busy' or 'I need quiet.' Still he does touch her mind to warn her he's around, and he spots her shopping. She's a few purchases in by the time he catches up to her. ]

What are you brewing up here?

[ They've both been quiet since they hosted the Summoned meeting together although he did see her in the Nether. He was just so focused on the cure he barely made time to eat and sleep let alone talk to people. He's glad to see her, as he always is. ]

A witch can keep to her secrets.

[there's nothing wrong with istredd prodding at her mind, and wanda certainly doesn't mind it. it's a presence, there, at times, when they're near each other, and at times it's just another source of comfort to know that she isn't entirely alone in a sea of strangers. they both know how much to push and pull from each other, mentally, in any case.

wanda reaches out with her hand to grab at the herbs in exchange for her coins, stepping away from the stand as she puts them inside her basket.]

Are you really interested to know?

And I would never say otherwise.

[ Istredd says with a smile. She can keep her secrets if she wants. He and Wanda had that instantaneous connection due to their similar abilities but their temperaments also synced up very well too. That trust built on what they learned right away about each other and there's harmony in it. She knows he would never push past the boundaries that make her comfortable. ]

I'm always interested, my dear friend.

[ Istredd's curiosity will never stop and there are few things he isn't interested in. He does not get bored easily. He has read and studied things most other people think are boring instead. But it's Wanda. Nothing she does is boring. He says dear friend because he means it. She reminds him sometimes of Triss, and there is no better person to be compared to. He wishes they could meet each other. ]

[wanda’s general suspicions and wish to defer the conversation entirely kind of wafts by with istredd’s genial personality. as much stress as she holds in chest, an accommodating expression does sit on her face, eventually, a smile peeking through.

she steps a bit aways from the stand so they’re not in the way of any other business the vendor might have.]

I’m considering a new configuration for spells by boosting them with potions. I’m also working on different scents for soaps and different calming effects with lotions.

[a little bit of witchery, a little bit of just wanting to look after her skin.]

[ The two of them have a pleasant balance that works well for their personalities and general interests, and he is genuinely curious about what she's working on. Wanda's a very interesting person, he's always known that, but they haven't had much of a chance to chat since the Summoned meeting was put together. Saving the dragons came very fast as a priority. It's nice to be around her. And he thinks that if she needed to bounce anything off him idea-wise, she could. ]

Boosting the potions by taking the potions and then doing the spells, or doing the spell and then using potions to amplify them?

[ It's two separate but similar ideas, one by strengthening her, the other by strengthening a spell. They only recently had to work with a lot of potions with the dragons, whether it was to sustain them while the rest was figured out, or when a cure was finally found for them. ]

You should talk to Yenna when it comes to potions, she's an expert alchemist.

[ It's not that he thinks Wanda is any less of a talented witch, it's more that Yennefer has been doing it for 60+ years and it's one of her strongest suits. Plus it's good for Yennefer to have someone to talk to about these things. They talk about many subjects, but not everything. ]

You should look into getting a stall here some day, sell your wares.

[wanda scrunches her nose at that.]

It’s a bit of High Magic. [the use of the more ritualistic aspects of magicks in order to use said magic. she is by no means an expert, though she’s been dabbling a little, here and there.] I’ll see what works best.

[but the idea of getting to talk to yennefer about potions is not one she had considered, and it might in fact be a good thing to do. she will keep it in mind.

at the mention of getting a stall, wanda can’t help but make a face—panicked—for a moment, before waving her free hand about, as if to dismiss the idea.]

I don’t know if I want that kind of attention. I don’t really need the coins for anything, either.

[have a proper job? what is that?]

What has you coming around here?

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magicalarchaeologist - 2023-12-09 01:24 (UTC) - Expand

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carmesi - 2023-12-31 15:35 (UTC) - Expand

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magicalarchaeologist - 2024-01-02 01:46 (UTC) - Expand

( it's her second time through the portal and even though her stomach tenses at the thought it's not quite as terrible this time as it had been before.

this time adrienne enjoys the marker a little more, though she's still more looking than buying, working slowly on getting coin (the soldiers help) and wanting to make sure there's something there if she needs it.

mostly food, that's something she'll buy here, making sure she's fed and... trying to enjoy the day.

which is why, even though wanda bumps into her, there's a fond smile for the woman. and then a confused look at the question )

Who? I didn't even know there was a pottery stand.

( not yet made it that far )

[wanda ought to raise her head before asking questions, looks like, considering that she’s asked a relative newcomer about something that isn’t quite a staple of knowledge, even for those who have been here a while.

with a light shake of her head, wanda tries to dispel the frustration she feels at not being able to do her errands as seamlessly as possible.]

Virve. [a light motion to the yard around them.] He’s usually here with his kiln, but I guess he’s not in today.

[which isn’t exactly what she had been hoping for.]

First time in the Yard?

First time with eyes open?

( which sounds like a strange sentence bur adrienne does at least add context )

The first time I came to Nocwich everything was just... too much. So this time I'm trying to actually look around.

( though there's still a lot, more in that there's a lot to remember rather than her being overwhelmed this time )

[wanda tilts her head, eyes narrowing a little at that phrase. what does that mean…? sometimes, when talking to americans, some things go over her head.

the added context at least answers her doubts.]

The vampires and werewolves always throws people off.

[she adds, helpfully, then motions around them.]

This courtyard is where a lot of different artisans come to to sell their wares or to work on collaborative projects. I only knew it existed a few months ago because someone brought me here.

[that’s how big nocwich feels, at times.]

( shockingly she hadn't even realised the vampire part until someone had pointed it out. being in another world (again) had been enough to throw her off )

I guess it's nice that there's something for pretty much everything.

( everything that seems pretty normal, in her eyes )

I saw some of the food and some stalls last time... now I'm actually seeing them, I found the hot springs... I'll probably run into something else before I go back.

It’s not so bad, though, is it?

[to run into something new, while in nocwich? wanda does enjoy the opportunity to explore this town, but that’s probably because of how little variety there seems to be found in solvunn, despite its own mysteries.

wanda tries to think of something particular about nocwich that she might not be aware of… but nothing comes to mind, currently.]

Were you able to have someone take you to the Horizon yet?

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pathologise - 2023-12-06 22:46 (UTC) - Expand

• OPEN •

—NOCWICH • OTA • NOVEMBER

Wildcarding a little. Up to you how fast Wanda spots her.

they're going to play hide and seek

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lmk if this amount of mind-play is okay!

Perfectly fine.

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also bit of a wildcard

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Wildcard-based on this. - surprise it's me

✨

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