abraxaslogs | Why can't I get over?

Istredd can as usual be found teaching magic classes for any beginners, especially new Summoned who are still seeking a way to understand magic, and other young mages from Thorne getting started in more serious magic. He is often in the book shop in the Castle city now, delightedly so since he has money to actually buy books for once. He can be found drinking tea and writing notes for himself in town as well, taking some quiet moments outside of the castle itself. He is also attempting to learn how to ride a bike and while he is now at 'reasonably wobbly' level of riding, it doesn't look natural. He may stop and be kneeling down next to it, tweaking his enchantments.

His main effort in March though is to go to Nott and help them with their increasingly bad situation. Istredd goes down to the harbor and helps people bring their ships in if they're struggling, using his own wind magic to pull sails toward them to get out of the way of the more dangerous air. He carries wood down to people who are mending their boats where they can and helps teach how to create magical wards to protect their property. He is sometimes attempting to hold the wind back with powerful shields long enough to get people back away from it, and willing to teach spells to others hoping to do that.

While there, whenever there is extra time he helps at the renovations for the old hospital that Rhy has put into motion. Istredd casts warming enchantments inside and helps carry supplies around.

Edited 2024-03-11 02:43 (UTC)

The hospital is in better shape ever since the Summoned were put to work on it, but with this storm it's been completely overwhelmed. Thancred can't help but wonder if eventually some of these patients will need to be moved to the castle infirmary, but he knows that Nott is already taking quite the blow by accepting as much help as they have.

To be honest, though, it makes him think more highly of Lyle Vela. He was willing to make the difficult decision for the sake of his people, even though it might not be what any of them truly want. A hard pill to swallow, aye, and yet it must be done.

Thancred has kept busy helping where he can, even if that does primarily mean manual labor, as he already told Istredd over their thought messages. He's linked up with Dante and Alyx to work on repairing boats, and by now his hands are callused and sore from all the wood he's nailed into place or sanded or patched.

That's neither here nor there, though. He arrives at the hospital with another shipment of supplies, dropping them off at the reception desk. He spots Istredd down the hall, casting some sort of spell from the looks of it.

"The fun never stops, does it?" Thancred sidles over, quirking a tired smile in greeting. The two of them had worked well together to help Rhy and Alucard get that locked chest open back in Ikorr, and in general Thancred has come to see Istredd as a stalwart ally here in Thorne.

There's something else he's been meaning to tell him, though. "I forgot to mention this when we spoke last, but I also owe you my thanks."

Istredd is physically and spiritually sore at the moment from all the activity. He may not be the brute squad but he's carried his own end of things, and he's been running back and forth since this began. But magic takes a toll on anyone, and he's ended up using Academic Magic over Chaos after some time. Chaos can burn out and harm the mage using it, so the transition is safer. Each spell will start to weigh on him and eventually hurt, but he is determined.

Lyle did what he had to do, and Istredd understands that. They all knew what was coming and yet he still feels bitter about it, that Lyle was put in that position and the crown couldn't do anything kind. The fact they used his desperation to force a military area here is despicable. But all he can do is help to the best of his ability while he's still conscious.

Istredd is working on a variety of shield wards around the property. He can't make the walls and wards that keep Borrel safe all by himself, but he can at least try to keep what walls they have in this building more stable. He smiles wearily back at Thancred, feeling much the same about the other man. It's always nice to know who the people you can count on are, when their backs may be up the wall.

"So much fun." He replies dryly and the wood in front of him shimmers, warded for now. He raises an eyebrow. "For what?"

Thancred's gaze catches onto that shimmer, and he can only assume that Istredd is shielding and reinforcing the hospital with his magic. This is by no means a small building, and to try and repeat that spell over every inch of the place is a monumental task. No wonder he looks so tired.

"I won't keep you too long, worry not." Both of them have work to do, and are already tired out by what they've done so far, so Thancred realizes now is not the best time for a friendly chat or the like.

"I heard of what happened with Himeka back in Ikorr, something to do with... gelatinous slime? And that you were the one to save her from what might have been an unfortunate fate." He realizes that she might have been just fine on her own, eating her way to safety if that's what it took, but the whims of some playful god (or entity, at least) are not to be underestimated either.

Himeka may have laughed it off, but she could have ended up in some real danger. "I wanted to thank you for looking after her when I was otherwise occupied." He's not her sole protector, nowhere near it, but she is dear to him. So his gratitude toward Istredd is entirely genuine.

"It's probably good for both of us to take a few minutes to breathe." Istredd will continue his shielding but as Lucifer often points out, sloppy work is done when the person is too tired. It is why he has been somewhat good at taking breaks and forcing himself to go home in the evenings when he's worn through. It's better in the morning.

"Ah." Istredd sighs, rubbing a hand through his hair. "I am somewhat responsible, I did ask her about the rune, I never thought she would try to use it herself." Which means he is not responsible, Himeka used it as she saw fit, but he is always willing to make himself the problem. It was a shock still to get that message and know she was in danger, but luckily she was very hard to miss.

"Let's just be glad that it was edible. She managed to get her head out before I got there." At the time Istredd kept trying to make her stop eating more of it because it could be poisonous, but Himeka clearly has a strong mind of her own. And he assumes being trapped, no matter how good-natured she is, was annoying.

"That damned god seemed to be having fun with several of us that night."

Thancred has had to learn the hard way that breaks and taking care of oneself are vitally important, and so he doesn't protest Istredd's words at all. If anything, it's good to be reminded every so often, although he can't help but notice that Istredd is still working. He might need to say something about that if he keeps it up, but for now he just keeps a pointed eye on him.

When Istredd expresses some guilt over the situation, Thancred can't help but let out a small laugh and shake his head. "Himeka will do as she pleases. Believe me, at this point I've given up on trying to control her impulses. She is quite decent at taking care of herself despite that, though, so you should hardly beat yourself up over it." And everything turned out fine in the end, so no harm, no foul.

"She did report back to me on how it tasted, so I think she enjoyed herself rather than considered it any sort of danger." And while it is amusing in retrospect, Thancred is vigilant enough that he has to wonder what might have happened in some worst case scenario. "Himeka loves food, whether it's cooking it or eating it, and her definition of food is a bit... broad."

He still remembers when the Horizon was filling up with the pink goo and she tried to eat it. Granted, she had been under the influence of another god back then, but still, it hadn't been that abnormal for her.

"It was a little unwise to use the rune like that without knowing who it was to, but I do understand, I had the urge myself." It is difficult when it was just sitting there begging to be investigated. He's a very curious person himself. But he has a strong sense of caution too. At the time, Istredd was hoping she might recognize it to a specific god in case they knew who they were dealing with. But he has lamented more than once that he has no access to the gods from Thorne. By now he likely would have tried to summon one himself just to see what it was like.

"I see, well eating an unknown substance is preferable to suffocating, so I'm glad it turned out safe. Although it did seem to leave a glow about her." At the time Istredd was very distraught and also covered in it himself as he desperately dug her out of it. "Lucifer very unhelpfully was simply watching us struggle, so I threw some of it in his face." His partner is a wildcard. Geralt was there too. They were both annoying.

"You know one another from your sphere? It is interesting how some spheres have many here, and some have only one." He knows Urianger is also from Thancred's sphere.

It doesn't surprise Thancred at all to hear that Istredd had also been tempted to simply invoke the rune. He'd been able to stop himself, however, despite his scholarly curiosity. Himeka sometimes gets ahead of herself, assuming that because she's survived so much in the past, surely everything will work out.

To be fair, so far that has remained the case, but it can become exhausting. He doesn't envy Istredd having to deal with that firsthand.

As Istredd describes the situation further, Thancred realizes just how much of a spectacle it had been. "So everyone turned out to watch, eh? Well, I'm just glad that it all worked out without too much incident." It's endearing to hear about the lover's spat between Istredd and Lucifer, if nothing else, and if they were messing about to that degree, it must not have been too serious.

Thancred would have assumed by now that everyone knew that he and Himeka were from the same place, but it is less obvious when they are separated by borders, and so after a moment of blinking in mild shock, he nods. "Aye, we've been friends for many years and have worked together quite often in that time. I would trust her with my life, and she would do the same, I suspect. There used to be more of us from our star, in fact, but for quite some time now it's been just myself, Himeka, and Urianger."

It was quite the spectacle, yes. Including Istredd running across the party with all the panicked quickness of someone fairly certain Himeka was about to die. Then he, Himeka, and Kell ended up covered in the substance afterward. It was definitely the kind of thing that was funny afterward and probably they could joke about it in the future.

"There are six of us from my sphere now, I'm uncertain why we're popular, but there is no telling how the spell works. Or how specific the Summoning it." He suspects it's less specific in the Free Cities than here, but most of the others were Summoned by Thorne and fled to the Free Cities. It could be a coincidence, but they'll never know.

"Himeka is a great person. I am glad you have her here with you." He glances over as he spots someone struggling with carrying too many supplies to the hospital and gestures. "I think they could use our help. It never ends." Not currently, not in Nott, but they're both there on purpose. Hopefully one of these days it will be better, for all of them.

[ If he’s good for anything, it’s heavy lifting, and while he’s no engineer, he knows how to make smaller repairs — what he doesn’t know, he’s a quick study to learn, watching and listening the actual experts show him how to do the work that needs to be done before picking up a tool and working on it himself.

He’s a bit of a familiar face, soon enough, though he gives his name as ‘Cid’ to anyone who asks. It isn’t that he’s trying to hide who he is, just… prolong a legacy.

He’s wiping the sweat from his brow when he spots Istredd coming his way carrying a load of nails and wood, and he raises his hand in greeting, taking the supplies from him as soon as he’s within arms reach. ]

Istredd. How’ve you been?

[ Istredd doesn't correct Clive's name in public because if he prefers Cid, he should be able to use it. He'll even call him it when he's using it out of respect. People have all kinds of reasons to prefer certain names. Yennefer's tried to break him from the habit of his nickname for her and that's never going to happen.

He's genuinely grateful for others who have shown up for Nott because this town sees no end of adversity. With Rhy now gone, Istredd has decided to make certain his work and effort here does not end. He is not great at manual labor although he's gotten better in the time since getting here. As an academic, some traits don't end. He hands over what he has since Clive is offering.

Istredd is worn out because the level of magic he's using is mostly held for emergencies, but he would call this one of them. But it makes him seem thinner, paler, but no less determined. ]

Forcing myself to take five minutes before going back to the hospital.

[ They had to bring a few fishermen who made their way back there. No fatalities yet to be worried about, but that might not stay true. ]

Thank you for coming. As stubborn as I am, I can't do everything alone.

You look like you could use more than five minutes, [ he says, only slightly chiding. If anyone has no room to talk about taking much needed breaks, it’s Clive. He probably needs to take one himself. ] And I’m happy to help. Every pair of hands extra is that many more to get it done faster, and these people need a hospital.

Everyone deserves to be taken care of. [ He pauses, frowning a little. ] Is everything alright there? Do you need me to come with you?

None of us are good at taking two minutes, let alone five.

[ Istredd says dryly. He's noticed Clive isn't much better. They have a lot of hard workers among them, and those tend to be the kind that don't have an easy stopping point. He's not at a point to dropping yet; Lucifer's likely to drag him out of there once he goes too far. His partner knows the point. ]

It's relatively fine, I don't think anyone thought it might be necessary sooner rather than later.

[ The winds are changing everything. ]

This was Rhy's project and he recently was ... sent back home. I owe it to him to make certain it gets done, it was important to him.

[ Istredd likes to make his grief productive. He and Rhy weren't extremely close but they did respect and rely on each other as responsible individuals who wanted the best for their communities. He would be like this anyway, but there is an addition of caring about Rhy's legacy that makes him more intense. ]

[ Clive slips the mention of being sent 'back home' into a mental back pocket to ask Istredd about later. Now isn't the time, not in his obvious grief at losing a friend. But with the other things he's learned about this place...

Clive nods, gesturing with his chin. ]

Lead the way. I won't leave it unfinished, either. You aren't alone in this, Istredd, I promise.

[ It's difficult every time someone leaves. A mixture of missing them and knowing they may never see one another again, and fear of losing others. Lucifer is always on the forefront of his mind that way. With Rhy at least he has the security of knowing that his friend wanted to go home. He had accepted his life here and strove to make things better, but Istredd believes he had good reasons to return. It could be worse. ]

Something I often forget. Thank you.

[ Istredd is too used to being alone. After a year and a half, he should be better at it, but that does not compare against nearly a century of being a loner. It was not by choice, but by necessity, or requirement. He gestures and leads him toward the hospital that is still in the midst of repair. They started from the bottom and constant work has led it to a better place, but there is still so much left to be done. ]

The only upside to this wind is that we have more labor than usual in here. Not much for them to do.

[ That means there is some activity in the old hospital and people are carrying supplies around. ]

The weather won't be a problem?

[ Internally, he probes — but no sign of Garuda, other than the wind magic he knows he still can cast. It eats at him, a little, the fact he can't at least try to stop the winds, if that's something he could even do. But there's nothing for it, and he will do what he can, until he can find a way to do more.

He nods to a few of the townspeople as he passes, shifting the weight in his arms. ]

Does it storm like this here often?

It is a problem. That's part of the struggle. It's hard to know if what we're setting up will survive the damage, but it seems manageable so far.

[ Istredd has a feeling of dread about all of this, it is a concern when this is so out of their hands. He cares deeply about the Singularity but it's difficult not to get frustrated at it for causing damage that may not be salvageable. If it is the god's fault, fine, but the Singularity is more than any one god. They stand here only able to do so much in the face of it. ]

No, this is the first I've seen of this. When the heralds - three gods - struck the area they did do some damage, but most of it was psychological. It was clear they could have done more if they wanted though. The Singularity is more powerful.

[ If the woman on the network was correct, this is it essentially throwing a temper tantrum. Not very reassuring. Istredd sighs, some anger bubbling inside him at the unfairness of the situation. They can go back to the castle that while oppressive, is still far safer compared to this. And the people of Nott simply have to stay here and suffer. ]

That is the price sometimes of being here, Clive. There are many things outside of our control.

[ It sticks in his craw — the 'many things outside of our control'. It hits too close to home, sounds too much like the hold the Mothercrystals — and their creators — wanted to have on his world. Clive clenches his jaw to try and rid himself of it. A debate with Istredd, now, wouldn't do anyone any good. He was here to help, not argue over whether or not the Singularity had their best interests in mind (and, Clive thinks, the storm is proof it doesn't).

He can't help the sigh he heaves, though, adjusting the weight in his arms as he sweeps his gaze out to the people they're helping. And he can't help the question, rhetorical as it is. ]

But what if it could be?

[ He shakes his head — he isn't expecting, nor does he want, an answer. ] Ignore me. For now, we need to do what we can to make sure these repairs survive the weather. We can worry about anything else after.

If it could, then perhaps frustrations like this would be less.

[ Although Istredd has a feeling that they would just be replaced with new frustrations. New turmoil and trouble. He comes from a land where nothing ever really manages to be full of hope or good, it's an ongoing struggle to survive and thrive day to day. Something he knows that Clive and Jill also know about. None of them come from optimistic lands. Istredd is used to accepting what he has to and looking at successful projects like working in Nott as the only option worth taking. Small incremental changes. ]

But yes, we truly have bigger problems at hand. I do love theoretical conversations though, so feel free to find me if you'd like to talk through one impossible problem after the next another time.

[ Istredd wearily smiles at him and turns his attention to the new emergencies coming in. It's not going to stop any time soon. He squares his shoulders to face it and tries to forget about unfairness and frustration. He'll linger on that when he can't do anything other than rest. ]

Back to work we go.

[ Truly, philosophical conversations are the purvey of his younger brother — while Clive is well read and well bred (despite his mother's attempts to make him feel otherwise), but he's always preferred to hit things with a sword, in the end. Still, talking to Istredd is easy, and it almost feels like talking to Joshua, sometimes, though Istredd's world, inner and out, is so vastly different to his own. The thought of continuing this line, then, intrigues him, and Clive nods, a little surprised at how happy he is that Istredd might want to continue it.

Has it truly been so long since he's made a friend? ]

I will, Istredd.

[ He glances up as one of the townspeople yelps in surprise, struggling to hold a large block of lumber a group are trying to lift towards the roof. ]

It truly is never ending, hm?

[ And he sets forth. ]

Cassian knew how to ride a bike. Specifically, he knew how to ride speeder bikes. And while he had known from the moment he had laid eyes on Viktor's bike in Nocwich that riding it wouldn't be the same as riding the bikes he knew of at home, he figured it couldn't be that difficult to learn how to ride a thing with wood and leather wheels.

Thankfully few (read: just Kyle) had been around to see him fall right over flat with the bike on top of him. Good thing he doesn't have much of an ego anymore. But it's because he's had the bike fall on him that he has some advice to offer Istredd as he learns to ride one himself.

With all of the bikes in use that day, he's resorted to walking the grounds which is how he comes across Istredd in the first place. "Need some help?"

Istredd is not what anyone would call graceful. He's better at it after over a year of combat training but he can be clumsy on his own, and while he has yet to fall on his face, he has had to escape the bike a few times. This only leads him to study it, like he's working on a puzzle.

"I do not understand why this is difficult. I've completed all the enchantments, corrected them a few times." Istredd is also someone who is an overachiever and does not like being bad at things. Lucifer has pointed out to him that he doesn't have to be the best at everything, and he scoffed in response. He certainly can if he tries!

It is a bike, apparently children ride these.

He's seen the man covered in glitter and still manage to look incredibly serious about an investigation. Cassian isn't the sort to find enjoyment in people looking a little silly or frustrated, but he can't deny that he's somewhat amused by the archeologist's frustration over the bike.

"I doubt it has anything to do with your enchantments or spells. It works the way it's supposed to." Crouching beside him he does a once over of the bike. It's worth checking for a loose screw considering how many times people had fallen over in it, himself included.

The last time they had been in Nocwich he'd gotten his hands on a toolkit that he was able to keep in his bag. "This probably won't take long but do you have somewhere to be soon?"

"It wasn't easy to come up with spells that would make a wooden wheel work the way Kyle described for the typical kind. This rubber." Istredd has nothing to compare that to, but considering the bikes work well and everyone else is comfortable on them, he must have made it well enough. So the shaky aspect is probably something else. Kyle has been doing physical upkeep but they are still all learning.

"No, I was just going to make my post-class notes." Istredd keeps extensive notes on everything he does. It is important for him to know the progress of his students and he does that best when there is a list involved. Not that he ever forgets, but for posterity.

"It could be I'm very bad at it, but something does feel loose." It has been used frequently lately as more people are checking it out or using them.

The emphasis on the word rubber results in a soft sound of amusement from him as he kneels down to get a closer look at the bike. Wheels weren't exactly antiqued but they were certainly the cheaper option than repulson tech. Rubber being used for wheels had come as a surprise to him to - but what about this world didn't? It wasn't like there were droids around to use the rubber for. "I doubt it has anything to do with your skill."

Not that Istredd needed the words of subtle praise from him. Cassian knows that if tasked with trying to make rubber he certainly wouldn't have gone the route of magic simply because he didn't have the first clue where to start. Not when it seemed that there was nothing remotely close to it in raw material in Thorne, let alone Abraxas.

Each bolt and screw is examined, giving any loose ones more attention. He works in silence for a few moments before another thought tangentially related to Istredd's classes comes to mind. "River is one of your students, right?"

Istredd holds the bike steady so Cassian can take a look at it. "I haven't fallen off it since that first day, so, progress." He smiles wryly since Istredd is capable of making fun of himself. It is somewhat funny that Kyle set up a situation where many otherwise serious individuals end up crashing to the floor because they've never experienced a bicycle, something children use on earth.

"Yes, she's very bright. I think she'll do well at everything once she adjusts." Istredd can already tell that River is used to being the best or excelling in every possible way, and he understands that, being something of an overachiever himself. This all may come a little slower than she wants, but her mind in particular requires a great deal of work to settle and protect.

She'll eventually surpass what he teaches on average and go up the ladder, but when it comes to the mind, he is possibly the best she could find. "Why do you ask?"

"See? Not a skill issue." The wryness is met with a good natured lilt.

He listens quietly to Istredd recount River's progress, finally coming across a particularly stubborn screw that refuses to be tightened. As he unscrews it again to remove it, he motions to his bag. "Hand me the cloth in there?"

When he's finally got it in hand he finally answers the scholar. "I met her when she first arrived. I worry about her." His answer doesn't allude to the time that he's spent with her since or what she really means to him, but there's an undertone of tenderness to the way he says it that might give that impression.

Istredd hands him the cloth, not really knowing what he's doing but it's clearly on the right track. He isn't very technologically savvy and while this would be the very bare basic concept of technology, Istredd is from a very old sphere. Kyle had to explain to him how bikes worked before he was able to do the spells because of that.

"So do I." Understatement. Istredd was one of the people who took care of her on the island when she was having struggles with the ghosts, and he convinced her to go back to Thorne before it got worse. She's one of the few people who understood what he was mentally going through since he doesn't share how mental trauma can exist in a space and trigger someone.

"She's a powerful untrained psychic, it's a very dangerous thing to be without help." Istredd worries about what she had to go through before coming here; clearly someone did not help her, they made it worse. Her mind is fractured. He's been working on helping her strengthen it. "I'm doing what I can but it's a process."

Cassian has no doubt in his mind that if Istredd wanted to understand technology - even something like a bike - would be easy for him to grasp. Putting together a bike is similar enough to learning a spell from a book. There were just more parts. He's probably simplifying it, but it's as close to a metaphor as he can manage.

His brow furrows some as he sits himself on the ground in order to clean the screw. "A psychic?" It's not a phrase he's heard used before, but he figures he can draw broad strokes about what it could possibly mean based on what he's seen and knows. Then again, he doesn't have a problem asking questions to clarify when he doesn't know as much as another. "What is that?"

Istredd is intrigued by greater technology than what he's used to, having listened intently when anyone ever brings it up. He also reads the books placed within his library that reference futuristic situations with great curiosity. It's not something that comes naturally to him, but he probably would absolutely die for some advancements that he can't fathom. He likes spaceships in particular; exploring the galaxy would be fascinating.

"Someone with psionic magic. It's mind magic. Telepathy, telekinesis. The ability to use your mind for specific abilities. It's not common in my sphere, I was one of the rare people who specialized in it." Istredd's work primarily in the Brotherhood was on the research chapter and he was given the leeway to do that as his job. But it was always expected by his mentor that he would return to them some day and use his abilities to their advantage. It didn't matter he hated Stregobor and the rest of them; the mages always went home eventually. It was true, until it all burned down.

"Stregobor, my teacher, took a great deal of time to teach the use of it. She never had that." From what he could tell, she was making it up as she went along, completely vulnerable to the world around her. "She also has a high amount of empathy, she was able to absorb the psychic damage of the Pit, not everyone can feel that when it lingers in the space." Istredd does but he has walls in place, he has absolute control.

"We're training."

Cassian hadn't forgotten the interest he'd seen peek through Istredd during the welcome party. Nor had he forgotten his word that he'd take Istredd on a ship in the Horizon if he ever made it there. One of those things had since been accomplished. But it was his reluctance to spend more time in the Horizon that stopped him.

All of the words that Istredd lists off sounds like things he's heard from fairy tales, from ages gone by. But this wasn't his galaxy which meant getting used to things that sounded impossible like magic and sentient rocks that had tempers.

"I was wondering what happened when we were there." Now he had an answer. He had spent the night awake with her, telling her stories about his galaxy and asking her to tell him ones from hers. It had resulted in a sleepless night, but that wasn't new to him in the least. And while this certainly helped fill in some of the blanks for him, he still doesn't understand. Not fully. Not enough to help her himself. The fact stings what little ego he has.

But there's comfort in knowing that there are others looking out for her who do know. He nods.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" He knows where his talents lie. So does Istredd because he's seen his weak attempts at what feel like the equivalent of parlor tricks.

"Yes, it is very difficult. I felt it too, but I have protections. Imagine that she could literally experience the pain and fear of those who died there. I already knew of it, having been there, but she was not prepared." Istredd had known immediately upon seeing her having a panic attack what was happening. She agreed to leave after his recommendation, because there was no way she could help them with that happening at the same time.

Istredd went through the Pit on his own, and it was a relief that he had no magic at the time. He did not have to actively battle his own pain and those of others around him, it would certainly make him insane for a time. He did experience a type of madness after healing two people down there, taking their illness onto himself, but his mind was strong, and not strong enough. River is so young. He would give anything to take that away from her.

"You can be there for her." Istredd understands where Cassian is coming from. It is a terrible thing, being unable to help someone you care for. "Be her friend, be her port in the storm. She will thrive with people to hold onto."

News that Istredd had been one of the Summoned in the Pit makes him look up from his cleaning as concern for both he and River forms in the deep furrow between his brow. He'd only seen the aftermath of what had happened there both around them and on the people he had encountered. And while he tells himself that becoming attached to those here is a bad idea (this isn't his world, these aren't the people that need him the most), it stirs a desire in him to ensure that that doesn't happen again all the same.

But the part of him that understands, wills this situation to be temporary, pulls him back to reality. All the same he holds Istredd's gaze before nodding, as he begins to screw the screw back into place.

"I appreciate you teaching her. And looking out for her too." He's dubious about magic and all that comes with it - but he can't deny that if it exists here then having people who know how to wield it is just as important. "It explains why she knows things about me I haven't told her."

Or anyone for that matter.

Istredd feels that he mostly has put the Pit behind him, thanks to their visit to the island and the successful burning of it to the ground. He doubts he'll ever be entirely over it, like many of the others, there are permanent scars on their psyche from the experience. They were triggered by being there but it did give some closure. River going meant she was experiencing far too much pain, and none of it hers, so she couldn't put it anywhere.

"For the record, it's unintentional for her. She's too open, she doesn't know how to close others out, and people can think quite loudly at times." Istredd has intense walls to keep other people's thoughts from getting to him, not only the other way around. He and River can understand one another in a way not many can, and there is something that feels good about that, despite it being unfortunate for her.

"I suppose this means you've taken her under your wing too, as you care so much." Istredd studies him thoughtfully, crossing his arms. Cassian isn't the only person concerned for her, but that can be a good thing. River needs all the help she can get. "I think she doesn't want to be different, so treat her as you would anyone."

Even before knowing all of this - her powers and the challenges that she had with them - he had thought she had so much strength for trying to stay there and help as long as she did. That River's empathy and feeling everything she felt hadn't been intentional sparks admiration. But it also sparks a deep sorrow that she has to feel all of it so deeply that she can't find peace at the same time.

She was smart. He knows even without being in the lessons that she'd learn quickly. He just hoped that it was soon so that she could take her power into her own hands.

"I think it'd be better to say that we're "partners in crime," he offers with a nearly bemused air to his voice. "We're equal." He would never think for a moment that he was in a place to guide another in that way. Not in the way that Yennefer and Istredd were to River. He would do as he always did: watching from the shadows, keeping an eye on things in whatever way he could. All the same, it's his part of their silent agreement. And for the first time since arriving here, there's comfort in that.

With the screw sufficiently cleaned he begins to tighten it back into the bike frame. It doesn't take long and when he's done he straightens up, motioning for Istredd to climb back on. "Ready to try again?"

"As someone who greatly appreciates my own, I think that would be very good for her." He is assuming it's not the same way that he and Lucifer are, but before they were anything else, they were good friends who relied on each other. Friendship can keep people sane through the worst of times, and that is something that River could use more of. He can tell she hasn't had the sort of support she really should have, all this time.

Istredd very gingerly gets on the bike. It doesn't look entirely comfortable for him, he is taller than most people who use it, but he needs to know how to use it to improve it. "Thank you. Don't laugh if I fall." He jokes, and takes off.

Nott has turned to the crown for help against the storms and heavy winds, and the Queen apparently feels that there are enough men in her guard that some can be spared for such a mission. Lord John Grey among their number.

He is still very much a beginning in the ways of magic, but there are other ways he knows he can be of aid to these people. Simply gathering the detritus that has been blown about in the storm, for instance, or being an extra set of hands for those that are more skilled than he in making the necessary repairs. At times even offering a kind word or a firm set of directions, depending on which seems more necessary in the moment.

He has not bothered wearing a hat today -- needless to say it would have been lost hours ago if he had. His long hair whips about his face, doing its best to escape the tie he has fastened it back into as he steps forward to greet Istredd at the docks. He is conscious of the uniform he wears, knowing it marks him as the position of guard as well as the Summoned that his companion knows him to be.

"Lovely weather we've been having," he quips, shielding his eyes with his hand.

Istredd isn't very fond of the uniform but he understands John is doing his best, the same as everyone else. And it is not a bad idea to have a Summoned involved with the army directly. It just is a reminder about the struggle Nott has been forced into. They all knew Lyle would have to give in and ask for help, there was no surviving this situation otherwise, but it's unfortunate all the same. And the hope they have for independence gets further away. At least the crown is sending the help they promised.

He is with keen eyes looking out at the water which is whipping from the wind as well. He's fairly certain they have all the boats they can get back in now, but it does mean they're still unable to do their usual livelihood. There are broken ships all around the docks as John can see, many of them being patched up at the moment. Not water ready, but they're not going out there any time soon.

"Very peaceful time of year," Istredd quips back, glancing toward John. He's already managed a few rounds of magic to keep the winds from crashing into the docks themselves, but with the crown's help, they'll have official wards ready soon. "It has stopped a few times but keeps coming back."

John frowns out toward the water whipping in the harbor, bits and pieces of various debris bobbing on the waves, too dangerous to be retrieved from the anger of the storm. He has experienced various scenarios here in this land by this point — animals appearing from other worlds? Comparatively this disaster is less exotic but perhaps no less dangerous.

“Do you suppose there is any natural explanation for any of this?” he asks, turning back toward his companion with a questioning glance. Istredd is far more knowledgeable about magic and the history of his land, John trusts him to know whether something like this has happened here before. To recognize whether this is common or not. Everything here still feels so foreign to John himself, despite the time he has now spent here.

Istredd knows there were likely some lost fishermen out there. They were too far out when this began. He's been pulling ships in with telekinesis when they get close enough, but there were people who wouldn't be able to make it in time. He has to remind himself sometimes that all they can do is focus on what they did do right.

"No. Winds like this do exist in this world, but to hit all of the territories at the same time? When the Singularity has been causing unnatural lightning across the skies?" It is too coincidental he simply thinks it impossible to be anything else. He looks toward said pain in the ass giant rock, thinking that it is making it very difficult for him at the moment to want to protect it at all costs.

"It doesn't bode well, because Rhy was one of the few people who seemed to have a connection to the Singularity, and he's gone." A reality Istredd is still grappling with, considering the man had been here so long and Istredd relied on him.

John frowns at that. He had not known Rhy personally, but peripherally he had been aware of the young man, and he is vaguely aware of a personal connection between him and Kell. The thought that people can be here and gone again disquiets him more than he can say, especially when he still worries about those who are still back at home, and the situation he had left behind.

“No,” he agrees after a moment. “I do not suppose that it does bode well. But I don’t suppose we know what might have triggered it then? If there is something to be done, or if we must simply — wait it out?”

He shakes his head. “Forgive me if this is an obvious question, or there has already been an obvious answer given. Just when I think I have familiarized myself with this place, I find myself mistaken yet again.”

"The woman that was on the network implied that the Singularity is angry about something or someone and lashing out." Istredd is glad to get communication that way about the Singularity's actions, although it's all guesswork. He has some bitterness in his heart that he has been studying the Singularity for a long time and spends time with it, as much as he can in the Horizon, and yet it still has not touched him. He went to it twice during the Dimming. Alas.

"In the past ... all we've been able to do is wait it out. The heralds' attack, the rifts, they stopped on their own." There is very little control they actually of this world and how it acts. The only real impact they seem capable of making it on a more political or human landscape. And even in those cases, such as in Ikorr, it led to consequences on a higher level.

"Unless someone finds a way to commune with the higher beings directly or with the Singularity, we may always be at their whims." Unfortunate and slightly depressing, yes, but realistic.

John somewhat ashamedly pays very little attention to the network, so he is grateful to have this information shared with him now. That something as powerful as the Singularity could have the capacity to lash out is a dangerous thought, and one he does not like in the least.

His frown deepens.

“In the past,” he repeats. “Dare I ask what happened previously?”

He hopes he was not there at the time. He would like to think that he’d remember another moment he’d been present when the Singularity had thrown a tantrum but then again. John will readily admit there had been some time when he’d first arrived where he had figuratively stuck his head in the sand.

"Name an insane situation we've had before, and it'll be proof enough. The rifts, the heralds. Being stuck in strange places in the Horizon. I was told there was an entity who tried to break into this world and haunted people in their nightmares and there was memory sharing out of no where. When it comes to the gods or the Singularity, it's never been something we ourselves stop."

He did hear that with the entity they did a spell to drive it back, but it's hard to say if that's why it actually stopped. Istredd would still put it down to it deciding to give up or perhaps the Singularity got involved. The point is, they are quite often at the mercy of the world around them.

"As far as I know it's never done this before though." Otherwise Istredd assumes someone would have mentioned it openly. It would be a memory that was shared. Instead everyone seems concerned, but also, helpless. Istredd doesn't like it at all. This is enormously frustrating but he's a realist. Being annoyed won't solve anything.

"Then again, it's not as if we have a great deal of control when it's real world situations either, given we're still under Thorne's thumb." Nocwich, the cult kidnapping, it didn't take the supernatural to do any of that.

The lighthouse library domain seems perfectly staged for ominous lightning and clouds all around the top of it, making that flashing light at the top completely covered up by darkness. Inside, Istredd is very, very upset to find that it is full of sand. The first time he goes inside it's an avalanche of sand, but not long after he's managed to scoop out a decent amount of it into the ground surrounding the stairs. It almost looks like a small desert outside because of that. Istredd can be found multiple times shoveling out sand when it gets too high again.

When visitors can come in there is still plenty of sand on the ground and opening books may get you sand on your clothes, and possibly even sneezing from it if you're not careful. The ravens are decidedly unhappy and constantly fluttering their wings causing sand to come down from upper levels, grooming themselves and a little saltier with visitors than usual. The leosylphs seem content enough with the sand though, snuggled up in their own little sand beds and playing with some of it.

A particular mirror keeps showing up, making him jump each time, and at one point he throws it into the sand, only for it to end up next to the blackboard. He's having a great time.

Istredd recently had a board of all the questions and commentary they had over the Ikorr experience, and it is set to the side, but there is a fresh new chalkboard with commentary on the current situation. Trickster god? Singularity doesn't like it? God is unpopular with the others, showing displeasure? Feel free to add your own or comment on it, Istredd's somewhere.

When he's not in his own domain he can only be found by the Singularity, looking concerned. He often goes out there to read to it or read by it, but now he's bookless and worried, pacing in front of it.

Edited 2024-03-11 20:16 (UTC)

There is an added bonus slithering under and through the sand happy as she can be, so at least someone is enjoying Istredd's current decor.

Dersti is Visiting and is loving this entire situation and seems upset any time Istredd attempts to remove the sand.

At least the flamingos aren't here too.

For Dersti, Istredd keeps a section of the library full of sand so she can be comfortable and happy. Pat pat.

[Have at it!]

Edited 2024-03-10 03:36 (UTC)

Why can't I get over?

Around the Castle & Nott

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

sorry for the wait power outage killed me

no worries! also we can probably wrap this soon?

Let's wrap here!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

sorry for the wait, lost power for days again.

now it's my turn to apologize!!

no worries at all, let's wrap this tho! would love to do something new with them

absolutely!!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

i think we can wind down? 💕

we can wrap here!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Horizon

drive-by??????

no subject

Wildcard