abraxaslogs | Open Catchall

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Open Catchall

Who: Mat Cauthon and OPEN
When: November
Where: Thorne
What: Messing about with magic and busking in town, closed starters in comments
Warnings: Will add if needed

Thorne Castle Gardens

Mat can only mope for so long. It's just not in his nature. He grows restless and bored too easily. It always happens, and it's happened once more.

Full of undirected energy and uncomfortable feelings, he wanders about the castle with nothing specific in mind. Something will come to him. It always does. Inspiration will strike and he'll distract himself just fine. There's all sorts of things to do and get up to, particularly for a clever and creative lad like him.

Eventually he comes to the gardens, still wandering aimlessly and unsettled. Ah, the gardens. He's spent many an afternoon among them, fucking about or practicing his instruments or magic. He stops by one of his favorite fountains, contemplating it.

He's messed around with his magic here before. A while ago. Long before he'd gotten through his block. Little stretches of ice, freezing the water in its place, that sort of thing. Now he can do much more than just little things.

"Well now..."

Looking about to make sure he won't disturb anyone, so to speak - get told to knock it off - he approaches the fountain.

Reaching out with his power, Mat begins coaxing the water out of the fountain in a graceful arc, looping and twisting it in a continuous long line. He bites his lower lip in concentration, wrapping band after band of water around the round section of garden.

Then he begins to freeze it.

Thorne Town

Despite having a standing spot at The Lucky Lamb, Mat still busks on corners. No reason not to. And he can then direct people who stop to listen to him to The Lucky Lamb. Which in turn inclines the owners even more to him. It all works out for everyone.

And this way more people hear him. Now that he's a proper apprentice Gleeman - or bard, if one prefers - and has proper training, he quite enjoys the craft. The attention. Making people smile or laugh. Few things feel quite like that. It's a rush. It makes him feel something like good about himself.

He's in a bit of a rougher part of town - as rough as Thorne ever gets, he supposes - and it's evening, so his songs have run a bit more to the bawdy and humorous. Those are some of his favorites. But his fingers are starting to ache, and his hat has a decent layer of coins in it.

"So here's to the birds, let us sing loud their praise
their plumage, their habits, their natural ways
we're grateful for birds flying up in the sky
just think of the fallout, if horses could fly!"

He finishes his song with a flourish on his lute - no theorbo on street corners, it's too big - and takes a bow.

"Oi! Anyone feel like buying the bard a drink?"

It never hurts to ask.

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Mat, despite being very enamored with the idea of privacy and his own room, does not do well alone. Suddenly not having Anakin in their shared room has not been easy. It's not like when the other fellow would just spend a night elsewhere. There's a black empty space there now, one that makes Mat uncomfortable. There's something hollow about the room. Quite unfortunate, as he's grown very fond of the space.

Luckily, as the room is set up for just two - they'd been here long enough to be allowed to customize their furnishings and all that - it hadn't been too difficult to sell Jon on the idea of moving in. It was, he though, perfect. Jon was one of his best friends, and had no reason not to switch his room. Why not share? They still have their own privacy, but a shared space.

And Mat's room is very nice. It's divided neatly in two, with a writing desk on either side and a high backed plush chair at the window on Mat's side. His bookshelf is full, and there's an assortment of instruments in a rack on the wall. Little knickknacks decorate his windowsill and desktop. Carved figures from Nocwich, gifts from Jesper, that sort of thing.

The other side is a different view than the one he's grown accustomed to. It happens. Things change. People come and go.

That's the way of the fucking world.

At least he's not alone. He sits on his bed, curtains open, hands clasped between his knees. It feels good to have someone else in here again.

Jon had never spoken with Anakin, had found the man somewhat elusive, but he can understand the dismay of losing a friendship forged here. He experienced it himself recently, with Elrond -- at least he can assume that the elven lord had returned to living his own near-unending life. Not like another friend he had lost here, a woman who he knows will return only to misery, albeit somewhat of her own making.

So it wasn't hard to agree to move in with Mat. The room itself is better: he's had the room he shared with Rey to himself for a year, but that might change at any time, and a room meant for four and used by only one does not feel like a home. Does this place -- Thorne, this world -- feel like a home? Not quite like that, either. But the room has a coziness that his dwellings have long lacked, and the offer was welcome.

For his part, he brings little. A few trinkets won or purchased, some clothing he's acquired. Northmen, even nobles, are not usually much for luxury, and Jon is the same: he likes soft wool and smooth linen, but past that, he's not a man for silks or velvets or jewels. His side of the room is notable only for its neatness and simplicity.

He, himself, has been notable these last days mainly for his distraction. Since they visited the dragons, he's been quieter than usual... and he is already a taciturn man.

But sitting in the room he now shares with his friend, he feels more willing to talk than he has been lately... eager, almost. He reclines on the bed with his arms folded and crossed behind his head.

"Haven't shared a room with anyone since Rey went. She is back, you know, but the Free Cities have her now." It isn't really what he means to talk about.

"Funny how that can happen. Didn't know her well, when she was in the castle." Maybe she likes it better in the Free Cities. Jesper speaks so highly of it there. Certainly those Summoned enjoy more freedoms than they do here.

And maybe that has something to do with Jon's low mood of late. Not that the other man is the life of the party on a good day, but he's seemed a bit more pensive and in his own head than usual. Mat's not wanted to prod, Jon's not someone who opens up easily just because he's been prodded to.

But clearly something has in caught in his own thoughts, and they strike Mat as unhappy thoughts. Jon just has that air about him.

"That what's got you down?"

"Can't say I knew her well either, but she seemed a sweet girl." It would not have been right to know her much better than that, when sharing a room with her.

It's when the question comes that he tips his head to the side, demurring, for all that he's lying nearly flat on his back.

"Down? No." He doesn't elaborate for a moment. "I never asked you what kind of time you had with the dragons." Because Jon himself had been relatively scarce -- and the reason ties into his mood now.

Mat frowns, puzzled.

"In the Nether? I had fun, mostly. Didn't spend much time with the dragons, just the babies a few times. They don't look like pictures of dragons from home. I thought dragons were just big lion-ish lizards."

That's what the standard bearing it looked like, anyhow. A lion and a big lizard crossed together. Of course he also didn't think they were a real creature, just a made up legend some man had chosen for his symbol and cemented it in legend for ages to come. But what the hell does he know?

"Anyhow...there were no restrictions on rooms, so Jesper and I claimed one together and to be very honest I spent a good deal of time in there with him. Or out in the dead lands. I was very good at bringing them back for a time."

Had something happened to Jon, then? Some unpleasantness in the land of the Draconae?

Jon nods. He had assumed that Mat would be spending a lot of time with Jesper, probably hidden away... with one belonging to the Free Cities and the other to Thorne, they don't see each other much, and what they do when they see each other... well, that's between them. They seem contented enough, at any rate.

He doesn't wish, just now, to tell Mat about his conversation with Eddie, any more than he had wished to tell Eddie to begin with... but in that, he had felt more and less alone. It had led him to wonder again why he had been given a second chance at life when a good lad like Eddie had not.

It's the other thing that he wishes to speak on, and he says the words carefully.

"I saw a man there, spoke with him. A man from home. I told you that my father is dead, my brothers, one of my sisters. All gone in the wars and I could do nothing for them.

"This man, he's rough, but... I heard he had helped both of my sisters at a time when no one else would. A time when he might have been killed for it, if someone could have caught him and bested him. And he thinks Arya -- the little one, the one I haven't seen since I joined the Night's Watch -- he thinks she's probably alive."

Mat tilts his head as he listens, letting Jon speak without interruption or urging. Jon's not a fellow to be rushed. And clearly he has important things to say.

"That's a good thing, yeah?"

Light knows how he'd feel in that situation. The thought of losing either of his sisters is like a lance straight through him. To be given hope...well, he'd be overjoyed. Jon, however, seems deeply contemplative.

Of course, he often seems deeply contemplative regardless. That's just who he is, a man who thinks long and deep.

He is silent for a long moment.

"Aye. It's good to know she might still live. But it's been two years, thereabouts, since he saw her. So where is she? She didn't have a home to go to, not until recently. If she hears they made me k--" (He pauses here, corrects himself,) "If she hears we have it again, might be she'll try to come back. But how can such a young girl survive on her own? He said she's tough, that she kills. I wouldn't have wanted that for her, but I'd rather she was a killer than dead. Only I don't know that it's enough to keep her alive."

Edited 2023-12-23 07:24 (UTC)

Mat's quiet a bit, but he nods.

"You know I've seen a lot. You know I've had a hard life and a dangerous one. One thing I can tell you, with absolute conviction, is that age and youth don't matter. Someone wants to survive bad enough, they'll often manage it. And it sounds like your sister's the sort who can manage it."

The stubborn and determined are harder to kill than one would imagine. He should know, he's one of them.

"But may the Light keep her safe, all the same. Or whatever it is you lot have got over in your world."

"The Old Gods." He sighs, then adds, "Don't know much about them keeping anyone safe. Her mother raised her to follow the Seven. Her mother is dead, but those who follow the new gods would say that the Mother might protect her, or have mercy."

A pause.

"He says she still has the sword I gave her. Maybe that has helped her as much as anything."

Kelson could give Mat lessons on moping, he was an expert. He could mope forever. It was a skill. If Mat wanted to learn how to continue moping, he would be happy to give him lessons. He had gone wandering in the gardens, besides the libraries it was one of his favorite places, and he was still getting used to actually leaving the castle. Yes, it had been months.

He wandered around, his own nervous energy getting to him as well. All thought of such things however went totally out of his mind as he saw someone work the water in the fountain into arcs and curves and then freeze it. He stood still, not wanting to disturb him. At least where Kelson came from, such things required concentration. And he himself had an affinity for fire. He'd only seen water worked like that once before, and hadn't exactly been able to observe it in the middle of battle.

He waited until he was sure it was alright and then spoke. "That's amazing, how did you do that?"

Edited 2023-11-15 02:45 (UTC)

"Magic!" Mat says with a cheeky grin as he turns. Oh, hello now.

"Ice is something of my specialty. Don't know why, just had a knack for it since I started channeling." It had always come easiest, and still does. He can work with other elements, and do more than just elemental things, but ice - and by extension water - remain his comfortable go-to.

"But I've been at it for almost two years now. I take lessons." With two different teachers, both of whom understand how his powers manifest themselves.

Kelson gave him a look that probably said 'duh' but realized it was also probably a stupid question. Ask a dumb question, get a dumb answer. He approached further, now that he was sure that the man 1. was safe and 2. Kelson wasn't going to interrupt his workings.

"I've never really worked with ice. Water a bit, but fire tends to be easier. What do you mean channeling?" Kelson wondered if it was just terminology he was confused about or if there were actual workings involved that were different.

"Do you take lessons here, or do you mean back home?" Either way he was impressed. "There aren't a lot of teachers where I come from." Probably because most of the population had been wiped out. Funny how that happens.

"I can use fire, but I confess, I am not its biggest fan." Seeing your village burning will do that to a person.

"Channeling. Spell casting. Using magic, whatever you want to call it. That's just what we call it back home, as you're channeling the energy through you to control it." At least that's the intent. Mat knows full well that control is not an easy thing.

"But I did not manifest my talent back home. That happened a few months after I got here. It tends to pop up around that age. I take lessons with Lady Yennefer and Master Istredd, their magic's a lot like mine. I'm not so good with the Academic magic that is all the rage here." Despite many castle mages trying to urge an interest. Why bother memorizing words and hand motions when he can just will it?

While using hand motions.

"I'm Mat. Pleasure to meet you."

"Kelson, a pleasure. I likewise can use water but....I don't have as much practice at it." It was odd wasn't it? Kelson had an affinity for fire magic, but, he had almost watched a very dear friend burn to death. It was a sight that would never leave him, and fire, was terrifying. But he wielded it. Perhaps it was the control aspect of the situation?

"Channeling makes sense then. I've just never heard of that terminology before. My own magic tends to straddle both types honestly. I've seen and worked a kind of ritual magic that is similar enough to the Academic magic here, but most of the spells I use in every day life aren't bound by such constraints. Do you find them good teachers?"

"That's normal. I've been assured most folks have a favored element or spell, or one they've a specific affinity for."

Who knows why? Mat could make all sorts of jokes about a cold heart, but that's just self deprecating humor. It's probably something to do with his mild aversion of fire. Or it's just how his magic presents.

"And I have found them to be quite good teachers! Not to mention pleasing to the eyes, though...." a beat and a pointed grin. "Perhaps not as pleasing as some."

Look, this fellow is extremely pretty and it would be against all of his nature not to comment on it. He just couldn't live with himself.

"But they've done wonders for me, really. I was miserable at controlling it at first."

"Really? I didn't know that."

Okay, there were quite a lot of things about magic he didn't know, so this wasn't that surprising. Still, it was interesting to learn. He wondered if he should reach out to Yennifer or Istredd. Maybe he should at least take advantage of the those who obviously new more about magic than himself while he was here and had the opportunity.

Kelson blushed at the compliment. Thankfully, he could deal with people calling him pretty. This person at least didn't seem to have any ulterior motive behind it.

"Thank you for your...kind words. Maybe I should reach out to them? There aren't many teachers back home and...well, it's not like I have anything terribly better to do?"

Mat grins at the blush but leaves it there. He is a polite flirt, or tries to be. The blush, the pause in speaking, he can tell when someone isn't interested in flirtation. No reason to make the fellow uncomfortable.

"They both offer classes. And light knows it makes the mages here happy to see us pursuing magic. Istredd is the more approachable of them. They're both nice people, but Lady Yennefer is...quite professional, let us say."

Intimidating. The woman is terribly intimidating. Strictly business in the classroom.

And sometimes out.

Kelson was unused to such things. Or rather, he was quite good at avoiding the conversations and then blushing when he couldn't. Practice would be good for him. If anyone could get him to stop blushing and running away. But, repeated trauma will do that. There comes a point when someone, especially someone as young as Kelson was, just didn't want to put themselves out there again.

"And professional here is another word for.....?" Kelson inquired, because, honestly, he hadn't really had a teacher before. Well, a teacher who was actually trained and wanted to help. He wasn't sure which he'd gravitate toward. " I suppose I could reach out to both of them and see who is interested." Or who scared him less.

"Intimidating and all about business." Mat's not going to be rude about it, but Lady Yennefer is both of those things. She just has this air about her.

"But damned good at what she does. Both of'em are, you should have seen me when I first started. Awful. Random bursts of magic I couldn't direct. Kept freezing things all over, people slipped and fell, I was a menace."

A far cry from what he's done just now. Of course he'd had special factors causing him problems, but no need to get into all of that with a fellow he's just met.

"Well there's nothing wrong with being professional." Kelson thought he might like her. Or she might be a little too much and rub him the wrong way. Thinking about it, he wondered if she might remind him a bit too much of the Council. They were awfully obnoxious. And of course, also damn good at what they did. He hated it.

"Really? That sounds. Rather dangerous. I'm glad you were able to get help and control it. You've certainly come a long way."

"Uncontrolled magic is very dangerous."

Mat may take a rather careless attitude toward a great many things, but not channeling. He knows full well how dangerous that sort of thing can be unchecked. It's why he stays here in Thorne, despite knowing full well they aren't to be trusted. They may want to use him, but there are people here who can control and help him with his own powers.

He can't be guaranteed of that anywhere else.

"But thanks. Been at it almost two years now. They'll make a mage out of me yet! Though if anyone's expecting me to do anything impressive with it, they will be sorely disappointed. I mostly use it for performance - I'm a gleeman. Ah, a bard."

He's found that's a more common term for it.

Although Kelson was adjusting to magic being so common place and accepted here, he was still a little edgy. Or rather, maybe he just couldn't get used to the idea that there wasn't someone lurking behind the corner waiting to burn him at the stake.

Still, this was a marvelous opportunity. Magic was accepted. He was accepted. It would be a shame to waste that. "Two years? You've been here for two years? And studying here? What I saw you accomplish was truly impressive. And I'm sure is not just simply for entertainment."

The idea that Mat had been here for two years was.....terrifying. But, Kelson pushed through that, compartmentalizing it for later.

"I'm not sure what they could teach me, but I'd certainly like to try. I don't know what I don't know, if that makes sense."

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Open Catchall

Closed to Jon

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Thorne Gardens

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