abraxaslogs | open. castle thorne

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open. castle thorne

Who: Kyle & anyone in Thorne (+ a meeting with an NPC)
When: Post-Epulum. Bicycle shenanigans start before the storms hit Thorne. Ambrose chat occurs after.
Where: Castle Thorne courtyard, and town streets
What: Thorne is introduced to bicycles
Warnings: None yet!

[ Although the dust from the murder mystery at the Epulum has barely settled and is still fresh on Kahlil's mind, it just so happens to coincide with the completion of a small project he started pushing forward on two months ago.

The castle courtyard is now home to (2) bicycles. Though their use is primarily for Summoned couriers, others who may want to try them out aren't strictly discouraged. One model is a step-through design, the other a step-over. For anyone familiar with modern bicycles, you might be surprised (or alarmed) to see that while the frame is metal, the wheels are a combination of wood and leather. Further inspection will reveal they've been spelled with enchantments similar to the carriage wheels seen in Thorne, allowing the ride to be more smooth than it naturally ought to be. It's easy enough to find out that Istredd was responsible for this part, although the plans and at least one bicycle were allegedly assembled by a Summoned in the Free Cities.

There are attachments available, the step-through model has pegs on the back wheel for a second rider to stand, both have baskets on the front for packages, and a luggage rack behind the seat. They have little bells for alerting unexpecting pedestrians.

There's even a pair of training wheels that can be attached for anyone that thinks they might need them...

Please don't run anyone over, and try not to scare the horses too badly.

If you're looking for a lesson, Kahlil can be approached at the end of the day as he's checking them over. ]

( OOC: The bikes are officially available to couriers, but y'all are free to assume Kyle will give pretty much anyone permission to ride them around the courtyard as long as you don't plan on damaging or destroying them. These are the only bicycles in Thorne so assume some confusion and attention to be gained when riding in town. Horses are not particularly fond of them yet and may spook. )

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( At the end of the day, along comes the castle's resident off-brand insomniac, looking almost as curious as the raccoon sticking up out of the back of his shirt collar, over his shoulder. In his hands are two cups, one of which he holds out to Kyle in silent offering, before standing back to appreciate the majesty that is an almost-modern bicycle here in the courtyard of Hogwarts. )

Neat.

( He comments, and though his tone always sounds faintly apathetic, Kyle knows him well enough by now to pick up on the fact that he means it. )

Viktor made them, right?

[ He takes the cup without questioning it, although he eyes Rita. There's been an egg smell that's been lingering in his room for a week now...

Kahlil nods to the question, pulling his gaze from the raccoon to the pair of bicycles. ]

He offered to help with blueprints, and put together this one - [ a nod toward the step-through version. Kahlil had rode it through the portal from Nocwich to the castle, and though it had been subject to inspection, no one stopped him otherwise. He'd not been entirely sober at the time, so that was good.

He cocks his head at Jack. ]

Did you want to ride one? [ People seem hesitant so far. ]

( Rita, sensing the accusation in Kyle's stare, startles and promptly ducks beneath the hem of Jack's shirt as though she means to use his body as a human meat shield. Jack is oblivious.

He sips his coffee as he considers, glancing between the bike to his leg and then back again. )

You know, I actually haven't tried to ride one since they chopped my leg off. I guess I could? It shouldn't be all that different from running, right?

( If nothing else, it wouldn't be a bad idea to find out. Just in case there's some weird sudden hot pursuit and he gets the bright idea to hop on a bike for a quicker exit, only to have his prosthetic explode or fall off or something. )

You wanna ride with me? Just in case I fuck up and snap the other one off somehow?

Edited 2024-03-08 01:16 (UTC)

[ Hmmm. He follows Jack's gaze to his prosthetic. Viktor had used some attachment for his brace - Kahlil even still has it. That wouldn't be helpful with this, though. He takes a sip of coffee and frowns slightly. Then gives a small shrug. ]

Try a circle around the courtyard first, just to be sure nothing falls off.

[ It'll give Kahlil a second to finish the coffee, assuming Jack doesn't explode. ]

Rita can sit in the basket.

[ The one at the front. Might be better than letting her cling to the inside of his shirt, in case he does fall. ]

Good call.

( He agrees pleasantly enough, stepping up to the bike. Rita, whether she can understand English or is just connected to Jack's brain in some weird, indescribable way, doesn't actually need to be told what to do. As soon as he sets his hands on the handlebars, she scampers out of his shirt and down one of his arms, to sit up like a little person in the front basket, her little bandit hands clinging to the rim, staring out wide-eyed and alert like a scout. )

If I fall, try to contain your laughter to like a two on a scale of one to ten. Just, you know, for my pride.

( Not that he has much left.

He foists his own coffee off on Kyle, and then — very hesitantly — kicks off. It's a little weird, a little stiff to pedal on the one side, but ultimately? Not that bad. Not to overuse the saying, but it is literally exactly like riding a bike. )

[ Istredd is one of the first people in Thorne who got to see the bikes because he helped enchant them to work better. He doesn't fully understand the technology of what 'rubber' would do, but he managed a magical equivalent to the idea. He attempted to ride one enough to get the idea down but to say he's wobbly would be an understatement.

Jack is already making him seem bad in comparison, a thought he has with some amusement as he walks into the courtyard.]

Looking good, Jack.

[ He's on his way to class but he has a few minutes so he stops next to Kyle, watching. ]

Did you hear that thanks to the little creature, I was able to throw a whole glob of some kind of goop in Lucifer and Geralt's faces? It was very cathartic.

[ Thanks to Rita for the distraction! ]

I'll try my best.

[ He makes that solemn promise while already struggling to keep the corners of his lips from twitching into a grin. Rita can be cute when she's not making a nest out of his shredded socks.

Kahlil remains standing off to the side supervising with both coffee cups, drinking from one when Istredd approaches from behind. His brow furrows - ]

She helped you do what now?

[ He glances toward Jack, whether he can hear them or not, then back to Istredd. He's definitely missing something. ]

( One or two circuits around the courtyard prove that his leg doesn't seem likely to spontaneously combust from pedaling. He deems that a good enough proof of concept, and slows to a stop in front of Kyle and Istredd, still perched on the seat, though now leaning slightly on his good leg to keep it from rolling. )

Wait, what happened?

( Jack, oblivious by nature, had missed the entire thing.

Rita seems to recognize Istredd, because she lifts one little furry arm at his direction and does a grabby hand finger flex at him. It is not a wave, exactly, but it's also not... not a wave? )

[ Istredd waves back to Rita politely. At least he thinks that's what she's doing. Now that the experience is over, Istredd can look back on it with some amount of humor. Himeka's safe and everyone got out fine, which means that he can feel like they got justly punished in the moment for their apathy.]

Himeka used the rune I gave her and it backfired and trapped her in ... some kind of substance that turned out to luckily be edible. She managed to eat around her face so she could breathe until I got there. Lucifer and Geralt thought it would be funny to watch me attempt to get her safely out rather than help. We ended up covered in it for some time.

[ Istredd managed to wipe off as much as he could, and he didn't taste any of it himself, but it was gooey and also made his clothes wet and uncomfortable. At the time, he never thought that Himeka would use the rune in a ward or High Magic attempt herself, he only wanted to know if she'd recognized it. In hindsight, he should have been more prepared. Too many people here are reckless when it comes to magic and the gods. ]

Your little creature there distracted Geralt and Lucifer as you walked by so I was able to punish them by throwing some of the substance I was scooping up at them. It was highly satisfying.

[ Kahlil passes Jack's coffee over Rita's furry head and back to him. Then he squints at Istredd. ]

Right. I remember you mentioning something about that...

[ He'd been digging around in a pile of maggots with Wilhelm, which - while the much less dangerous scenario, had still been mildly nauseating.

At least no one succumbed to anything close Marcellus' fate. He agrees with the others who notice that whatever force was active at the time seemed to be having a laugh at them as they scurried around the carnival seeking answers.

For this moment it's behind them, though, and he gives a short laugh at the Istredd lobbing goo like snowballs at the others. ]

Good work, Rita. [ He looks over at her, and hands over his empty coffee cup as a peace offering. ]

( Huh. Go figure. He gives Rita an approving little scratch behind the ear — he doesn't really know Geralt, but Lucifer getting goo'd? Totally worth a scritch.

Rita immediately snatches the cup from Kyle and, with the fervor known only to ambitious raccoons, promptly stuffs the entire cup over her head in a desperate attempt to get her tongue to the very bottom so she can lick it clean. )

Hey- speaking of which, do you think could teach me... whatever it was you guys did? That stuff tasted exactly like Baja Blast jello, I'd totally love to make some more of that sometime. The only jello I can conjure right now is Hospital Red flavor.

Yes, good work, Rita. I appreciate the assistance.

[ It was worth it. Geralt just left right away, which made sense, but he did get the satisfaction of Lucifer standing there in it. Naturally his significant other found it very funny, Lucifer loves when Istredd is petty and annoyed at him, but that didn't take away from it. He watches the little creature shove its face into the cup. Strange. ]

I don't think it's a good idea. We'd be calling on whatever that god was to come here.

[ Unwise! Istredd may be interested in learning more about the gods, but he's not so foolish as to invite one here when they know nothing about how to handle them. ]

I suppose it tasted ... fine.

[ It tasted good but he's stubborn. Himeka ate too much of it! It could have been toxic! ]

[ Kahlil laughs again, this time at Rita - then raises an eyebrow at Istredd. He will NOT bring up that time Istredd's partner thought about constructing little god shrines all around Castle Thorne. Or the more much or recent attempt by Lucifer to get in contact with that specific god again. To Jack, he says: ]

It can't be that hard to make. Go make friends with someone in the kitchen.

[ Even he knows there's not so many ingredients to Jello. But he adds, again to Jack: ]

This god speaks in internet symbols. Smiley faces.

[ Or an angry face. ]

[ Istredd gives Kyle a look back saying I know! He's aware Lucifer does whatever he wants. ]

( It can't be that hard to make — Jack shoots him a look that reads Kyle, oh dumb sweet foolish Kyle, you know nothing. Baja Blast is the most secretly guarded perfect recipe known to mankind. It cannot be replicated by anyone who is not a trained Taco Bell chef.

Or so he assumes, having done no research and having no interest in taking on the project himself. That would be a Jerry thing.

Internet symbols is pretty distracting, thankfully, and so all Baja Contemplations are set aside momentarily. )

Emojis? It's an emoji god? Weird. That seems like the kind of thing that's probably significant somehow, I'm just not smart enough to connect the dots.

[ Istredd murmurs a spell which is a subtle kind of sound spell. There is no one around to eavesdrop but he can be a little extra paranoid on this matter. And it's subtle enough not to set off any warnings. ]

If the theory Kyle originally offered about the New Gods being former Summoned, it would make some sense. Whatever these emojis are, it could imply knowledge from a future world like yours. It also had an arcana sign it shared with Lucifer.

[ Istredd has been speculating about Kyle's theory since he shared it, given that he himself worshpped a god who came from another world than his. It syncs up too well with the history of this world and the original Summons happening with the founder of Solvunn, the place known for worshipping gods. This is all known by Kyle, he's uncertain how much Jack has talked about this. Welcome to the paranoid theories gang.]

It said we are awaited. Ominous.

I believe in your ability to connect many dots.

[ Kahlil only shrugs at Jack for the look. There's many gaps in his knowledge of Nayeshi and its food customs, clearly. He catches Istredd setting up his spell, though, and raises an eyebrow. ]

Could you teach me that one? [ If he's able to learn it himself, he'd like to do so, for the times when Istredd isn't around. Kahlil talks to many people, and while he's careful when and where he has his conversations, an extra layer of protection is always useful.

Then there's the theory. While it came from Kahlil, he has gone back and forth on its likelihood as he's uncovered more information on the past Summoning, what allegedly happened to those people brought here during the Ninth Mage's time. It's possible these New Gods could be those past Summoned in a changed form. It's just as likely possible that these New Gods brought forth the madness those Summoned eventually succumbed to - the invitation makes him wary for all these reasons. Easier to deal with an entity that is outright hostile than whatever it happening right now. ]

Edited 2024-03-27 19:24 (UTC)

That makes one of us.

( He comments, just a touch wry under all that dry delivery. He's said it before: he'd make a terrible detective. It's truly a miracle he survived his unsanctioned research trip to that meth lab that one time. He tends to actively avoid getting roped into mysteries when he can — and he stumbles his way begrudgingly through them when he can't. It's more that the universe engineers Jack into solving things, rather than any real talent on Jack's part.

But maybe that in and of itself is a talent, or a magic, or a power. Weird protag reality-rearranging plot powers. If he spent any real time actively considering this possibility, this might be where Jack's hero arc began.

But he doesn't, and it fizzles, and he'll never look any deeper into it, the end.

He is a little curious though: )

Yeah, what was the arcana sign?

Yes, I can. It's specifically designed to carry so small a ripple it's overlooked.

[ Istredd is a subtle mage and he finds that a gentle touch can get many spells under the radar. He only uses this particular one when there is no one even around to see him speak the words. Showing Kyle, showing most people, is probably a good idea as they keep dealing with their own levels of discretion. ]

The Fool. When the heralds came into our lives, I was stuck in a labyrinth in the Horizon, like a few of us were. Lucifer dragged me out, but the thing is, it had the same arcana sign.

[ Istredd shrugs, crossing his arms. ]

Those may very well be god domains, of Summoned from before. Who have arcanas.

[ What's meth

He gives a small nod of thanks to Istredd - whenever he's free Kahlil will make time to learn the spell from him, and make time for himself to practice. He hasn't been resistant to learning magic, not for a long while, but the list of spells he knows and can perform well is still small: personal wards, some basics of larger wards meant for the castle that he's assisted with, a spell to conjure light, and now soon this one. ]

I told Lucifer - [ which means he just assumes Istredd already knows ] - there's a domain in Horizon that has recreations of those places. A Summoned named Julie created it.

[ RIP bicycles, they are getting distracted. ]

( The fool — did Lucifer mention that when they talked before? Probably, but Jack's forgotten. It all got kind of back-burnered in favor of telling Lucifer about the God Whale, and his memory's notoriously unreliable. He tries very hard to commit it into his brain now — probably with more success, because he's hard-wired into trying to memorize everything Istredd teaches him at this point.

Julie, he says, and Jack's brain instantly says Carrie Underwood. )

Oh yeah, I guess that makes sense, considering-- ( He starts, then stops abruptly. Shit, he's not supposed to bring up her connection to the Singularity. He doesn't know how much Kyle and Istredd already know, and so he pivots with an awkward- ) -nothing in particular. Hey, weren't we supposed to be riding these somewhere?

( Bikes! Bikes, and not potentially exploiting secrets! )

Edited 2024-04-02 22:28 (UTC)

[ Istredd and Lucifer usually share everything, especially on this topic, because two minds are sharper than one and they share the same theories. Albeit sometimes they disagree on the way to approach them. He nods his head to Kyle.]

I may have to go look at them. I don't often go outside of my own.

[ His library is all he needs but also Istredd has this problem where he's on a psychic plane of existence, and he's a psionic mage, which means he feels strange about walking into other people's brains without being invited. Which is funny given he is very welcoming of everyone doing that to his, but he was trained too well to keep out of minds. But this sounds like something that was willingly shared, and so he'll take it.

He arches an eyebrow at Jack. It's clear he was about to say something and is trying to divert attention from it. Istredd is kind enough to just let it slide. ]

But if the gods have domains, they're not in the same place ours are. Those were much larger than ours ever could be. [ They are limited by actual space in the Horizon. ] So ... where are they?

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